Teachers

The Benedict School was founded in Saint-Petersburg with the help of some of the best-known specialists in Russian linguistics and culture from the Saint-Petersburg State University: professor I.V. Belyakova, O.I. Kaynova, T. A. Gorchakova. Since that time, hundreds of students have been successfully taught every year.
All the teaching staff are highly qualified Russian language specialist with considerable experience in teaching at University level both in Russia and abroad.

Key people in the Russian Language Department

Olga Kaynova

Head of the Benedict School Russian Department, PhD in Russian as a Foreign Language
Olga graduated from St.-Petersburg State University and, after completing a postgraduate training program, she worked there for several years. Olga has been working at the Benedict School since it was founded in 1992. She has got a great wealth of experience in teaching students of different nationalities, especially British students. Olga has taught Russian in language schools in Sweden and Switzerland, Lincoln School and Universities of Manchester and Wolverhampton in the UK.
Olga is considered to be one of the best teachers in the city in Business Russian and the Russian language for media. She teaches several aspects of the Russian Language: phonology, grammar, the language of media, spoken conversation, Business Russian, modern Russian movies and Russian for beginners. She is the author of several course books, learning materials, teaching resources, curriculum. Olga is loved and worshiped by all students.

Tatyana Kulikova

Tatiana has been teaching Russian as a Foreign Language for 25 years, and since 1992 she has been working at the Benedict School as well as at British Universities.
Tatiana has worked with students from different countries. The experience she received at Wolverhampton University in the UK is very useful for her present work with British students.
As a teacher, Tatiana can work with students of all levels from complete beginners right through to advanced, as well as those who are interested in very special aspects of the language. Although Tatiana can teach all aspects of the language, her main area of study is oral practice.

Tatyana Esmantova

After graduating St.-Petersburg State University, she started teaching Russian language for Russians first, and since 1997 she has been teaching Russian as a Foreign Language.
Tatiana has written several course books (three level course “Five Elements”) that help foreign students to develop all language-skill areas and realize the beauty and logic of the Russian language. She tries to develop new teaching methods and techniques. Tatiana is one of the authors of special game course for learning Russian.

Nina Filipp

Nina worked at St.-Petersburg State University and at Manchester University for several years. She started teaching Russian as a foreign language at the Benedict School in 1998. Nina has a great experience in working with British students after working in Manchester University.
Nina teaches all levels and concentrates on teaching phonetics and writing skills. She has taken part in creating learning materials and programs. She is also developing a special course of teaching Russian vocabulary.

Tamara Gorchakova

Tamara has great international teaching experience. After graduating from St.-Petersburg State University and teaching there, she worked in China (Guangzhou Institute of Foreign Languages, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies), India (Panjab University, Chandigarh), United Kingdom (University of Wolverhampton and University of Manchester). She has been working at the Benedict School since it was founded in 1992.
Tamara is one of the best specialists in teaching grammar, especially practical grammar that enables student to use it immediately in a real life situations. She also teaches conversation, phonetics and Russian movie. Tamara is the author of several textbooks and manuals which are used in Benedict School lessons.