Natalia Kochneva

Today I had my first lesson with Natalia. She was very supportive and patient and it was a real pleasure talking to her. I recommend her to anyone who has a basic understanding of Russian, who wants to learn from an excellent teacher, and especially to those who want to learn more about Russian culture. Spasibo bolshoe!

I am always glad of my lessons with Natalia! I feel like I am already making progress with my spoken Russian due to how she structures her lessons and supports my learning. At the moment I am watching a film in parts, which we then discuss during our time together. Her kind and warm nature means that I am not afraid to try to use Russian (even though I make many mistakes). Natalia helps me find the best way to say something and explains difficult vocabulary, whilst at the same time it feels as though I'm simply chatting about a wonderful film that I've just watched with a friend! I recommend her lessons highly!

None of the adjectives in Question 4 are sufficient to describe how good she is. In fact, I can't think of such a word myself, so I will make do with "superlative".

Great lesson with Natalia !

Natalia is an excellent and engaging Russian teacher—smart, talented, and enjoyable to talk to. I had a great trial lesson and plan to continue. Her immersive, Russian-only teaching style is challenging at first but becomes effective with time. While best suited for those with some prior knowledge of Russian (like myself—I understand but make many mistakes), even beginners can benefit if they're ready for a serious challenge. Her lessons are intense, with no sugarcoating, but they push you to think, improve, and build a strong foundation not only in Russian but in future language learning as well.

Amazing teacher