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ITMO at a Glance

Search by tag «Russian culture» 101 results

  • Love Diversity (and Exploring!) Like a Russian

    So have an irresistible urge to travel around Russia but that’s not exactly feasible right now? Besides, your attention span is down to a nanosecond? Cue in Multi-Russia, 55 postcard-style cartoons about the country’s various regions told by who else? A bear!

    01.06.2020

  • White Nights in St. Petersburg

    You might already know that St. Petersburg is renowned for the fascinating natural phenomenon of white nights. But what are they, and what is it that makes them so special? Let’s find out.

    22.05.2020

  • Swear Like a Russian: of the Fool and the Devil

    As I promised, this article will be about “safe” Russian swear words, and first off, we’ll take a look at two that are very simple and common, yet very special to the Russian culture. 

    18.05.2020

  • Swear like a Russian (not): Russian Mat

    It's a common thing to ask someone to teach you a swear word in their native language: you think it’s funny and cool and wins you points. For some, knowing how to swear even helps build their confidence with a language. Then again, swear words and slang hold a special place in every culture, and are very easy to misuse. For this reason, we’ve decided to touch upon this topic, and start with Russia’s most notorious way of speaking: the infamous “mat”.

    23.03.2020

  • Speak Like a Russian: the Unfathomable

    To tell you the truth, today started as a total disaster for me. Just yesterday, I had plans to post a nice winter-themed article, and the first thing that I didn't see this morning were any traces of snow. A few hours later, when I was working on a gloomier backup topic, the heavy morning rain gave way to some glorious sunshine, which messed up my plans once again. Needless to say, I was ready to burst out in anger! Then suddenly, I remembered one peculiar Russian expression which helped me calm down, contemplate on the situation that I got myself into, and recall the one word that you definitely have to learn in order to truly understand the Russian culture. 

    18.02.2020

  • Russian Language Summer School: Behind the Curtain

    After asking students about their experience of learning the Russian language we decided to take a peek behind the scenes and ask the teachers about their experiences teaching the Russian language to foreign students. 

    22.08.2019

  • The Magic of the ‘90s

    From runways to video games, the ‘90s are hot right now. What were they like for us and our families? Were they the “wild” years of the post-Soviet era when money vanished and mafia ruled? Or the times of frizzy hair and first music videos? Or just a childhood when all of this seemed normal? We asked around:

    02.07.2019

  • “Calmness, Only Calmness.” Classic Soviet Cartoons to the Rescue

    As we get to the end of the semester, here are some words of wisdom from the cartoons we grew up with that will help you go out with a bang!

    20.05.2019

  • Anecdotes: Telling Jokes the Russian Way

    The teacher asks the class: “Did you know that elements contract in the cold and expand in the heat?” Vovochka raises his hand… This is how anecdotes, a particular type of a Russian joke, often start out. With April Fools' Day just around the corner, we’re taking a deeper dive into this cultural phenomenon that is the most popular form of Russian humor.

    26.03.2019

  • Six Tips to Help You Navigate in Russia

    Moving to a new country can be daunting and it comes with many twists and challenges. I know this from my own experience and talking to friends who have lived abroad. Here are some tips that I hope will help you when you move to Russia!

    20.03.2019