Odesa Language Study Centre

The best place in Odessa to study foreign languages as well as Russian and Ukrainian for foreigners

Odessa Language Study Centre was recommended to me many years ago. I decided to act upon the recommendation given to me, this year in 2019. I decided to go for individual lesson, for a more intense experience and better results. The school was kind enough to adapt the course structure to my individual need, so that I could start speaking again, repeat some of the import aspects of Russian grammar and also work with the vocabulary for logistics. I hadn't used Russian for about 8 years and I could finally get started and learn how to speak again :). I am very happy with the content of the teacher Svetlana’s classes and the additional informational service provided by Marina and the school. They have a speaking club you can join, to meet the locals people. The location of the school gives you the freedom to explore the Tarasa Shevchenka park, the Lanzheron beach and the city center, after classes. What I enjoyed the most was to live close to the school, go for a morning run in the park for 30-40 min, attend classes and eat out now and then. Try Ukrainian, Georgian and Italian food in Odessa. Go to Kanatna Doroha. Go for long walks, not only from Lazheron beach to Arkadia, but also to streets where you can see how ordinary people live. Cuddle the street cats, not the dogs. Let Odessa surprise you in a positive way :). You will like Odessa very much, people are friendly when they see that you are making an effort to speak in Russian. I am looking forward to returning to the schools next year and I hope that you decide to choose to go to Odessa and learn Russian at this school as well. Good luck :) From Soma Guha, Oslo-Norway

The school is great. My teacher Lyudmila was really nice and adapted the course to my needs. She was brilliant at explaining some grammar points that I've struggled with for years. But at the same time kept the course interesting and engaging with lots of fascinating conversations about Ukrainian politics, society and history. Marina is very helpful and friendly and organises everything extremely efficiently. I really enjoyed my intensive one week course in Odessa, and would very much like to return again for more Russian lessons! Thank you all for a great week!

Awful place - It cost me $200 for ONE LESSON. I had just a horrible experience. I went there and signed up for 10 lessons. And I was new to the city so I didn't know what to expect. The rates were exorbitant!! But I only completed 1 lesson because I had to leave Ukraine for a few months (due to a family emergency). I asked for a refund, and they complied. But they only gave back half the amount. Basically, it cost me $200 for one lesson. This place is kind of a scam. I'd stay away. And if you come and stay in Odessa, there are TONS of private teachers which cost $8-12/hour. Just come here and network, don't go to a greedy school.

I cannot fault my experience with the OLSC. Marina, the school's office manager was very helpful and quick to reply to email queries before I traveled. She went above and beyond to make sure that my transfers from the train station/ to the airport were well organised and that I was picked up and dropped off in good time. The invoicing, payment and issuing of my certificate were all slick and efficient. The school was very well prepared and my study materials were ready and waiting for me along with my paperwork, the moment I walked in. Host family My host family was outstanding. The flat was very clean, central and meals were delicious, wholesome, filling and traditionally Ukrainian/ Russian. My hosts were an older couple, who took an interest in speaking to me in Russian and were happy to find out where certain concerts/ events were due to take place for me. They gave me complete privacy, but were always happy to welcome me into their living room to watch TV and chat. Tuition My teacher (Julia) was focused, fully committed to my lessons and made sure to continually adapt to what I wanted to focus on, so that I would get the most out of my week at the school, during which I completed 30 hours on the intensive programme. I found the price for tuition and accommodation very reasonable. I certainly intend on returning to the school, as Odessa just has so much to offer, beyond language practice. My best experience of a language school so far.