Russia – Africa: Learning Russian, Overcoming Challenges, and Results of the Education Season in Kenya
In Nairobi, Kenya, the 2024 education season at the Open Education Center for Russian Language, organized by the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation of TSPU, has concluded. At the end of the season, students passed their exams and received certificates.
Over three months (September to November), 300 Kenyans participated in the program and worked with educators Dina Fedorovna Mymrina, Head of the Department of English Philology and Intercultural Communication, and Lyudmila Viktorovna Kolpakova, Head of the Department of Business Communication in Russian and Foreign Languages.
The program started with the basics. Based on last year's experience, the first challenge for Kenyans learning Russian is understanding the Cyrillic alphabet, as they are familiar only with the Latin script. To address this, the educators developed a special teaching resource for beginners. It used familiar associations from African life to help students learn the Russian alphabet, such as "Б" for baobab, "К" for Kenya, "Н" for Nairobi, and "Х" for hut.
Kenyans improved their Russian writing skills by following the principle of "from simple to complex." Lessons at the Open Education Center began with daily handwriting practice, using workbooks to quickly master the basics of Cyrillic writing. This foundation allowed students to move on to writing words, phrases, and full sentences. They explored a variety of grammar forms through personal stories, family descriptions, games in Russian, and interactive exercises created by teachers using the "LearningApps" platform.
For additional practice at home, students were provided with a range of materials, including videos and short films in Russian, and collections of written exercises to practice grammar rules.
The course also included cultural immersion into Russian traditions. Two special events introduced students to the history, cities, landscapes, and landmarks of Russia. They also participated in three "Russian Language and Culture Days," organized by TSPU educators for Nairobi residents. Students showcased their skills by performing Russian poems and songs, competing in a Russian language Olympiad, and inspiring others to engage with Russian culture during the festivities.
The dedication of Kenyan students and their multilingual abilities—each fluent in English, Swahili, and one or more local African languages—helped them achieve a confident level of Russian in just three months. They successfully demonstrated their knowledge by passing a final exam.
«The final task was to give a presentation on one of the topics studied during the course, such as 'My Family,' 'My Friends,' 'My Hobbies,' or 'My City,' — said Lyudmila Kolpakova. — It was fascinating to listen to the students’ speeches. They came from diverse professions—teachers, lawyers, engineers, physicists, designers, farmers, businesspeople, journalists, and photographers. Each student showcased their knowledge, excellent self-presentation skills, and strong motivation to learn Russian».
In their presentations, students also shared their reasons for learning Russian. Farmer and IT specialist Wachira Kenneth hopes to pursue agricultural studies at a Russian university. Gitari Maureen and Mwlema Ali, both entrepreneurs, aim to strengthen business ties with Russian partners. Salesperson John Felix dreams of traveling to Russian cities, as does journalist Kevin Midibo, whose photographs of Russia might one day appear in Kenyan media.
«Language is a bridge connecting different cultures. Learning Russian, one of the official languages of the United Nations, opens new opportunities for students to engage with Russia in fields like science, technology, and art», — said Hassan Omar Kinyua, Director of the Kenyan Institute of Foreign Languages and Professional Studies.
Graduates of TSPU’s Open Education Center for Russian Language gain more than just a deep knowledge of Russia:
«Students of the Center have an advantage when applying for the Russian Government’s education quota, — explained Vadim Zubanov, Head of the International Cooperation Office at TSPU’s Institute of Foreign Languages. — With prior preparation at the Center, they find it easier to gather and submit the required documents because they are already familiar with Russia’s education system. Our former students are now studying successfully at Russian universities. They learn the language faster, adapt more easily to a new environment, and find part-time work opportunities».
Alongside the main educational program, advanced training courses “Methods of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language” for Russian language teachers from Kenya were implemented, but even this is not the limit:
«Our university plays a key role in promoting the Russian language and culture on the African continent. For two years, the Open Education Center has successfully offered Russian language courses for various proficiency levels, along with educational, outreach, and research activities. Each year, the Center expands its offerings to meet the needs and interests of its students, — said Anna Bogdanova, Director of the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation at TSPU. — This year, in addition to in-person classes, we introduced year-round online sessions to help students maintain and improve their Russian skills through synchronous learning. Two years of productive collaboration have shown that any ambitious goal can become a reality with a well-selected team that has a clear vision for the future».
Looking ahead to 2025, TSPU educators are preparing for the next season of work in Africa. They plan to welcome a new group of Kenyan students and, if requested, organize advanced courses for returning learners.
Background:
The Russian language promotion project in Africa, Asia, and Latin America is supported by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and the "My History" Foundation.