You’ve spent months or even years studying Russian: memorising grammar rules, translating dense texts, and preparing for assessments. 

But now your year abroad is approaching and, deep down, you know you are not ready.

Most likely, you are neither confident speaking everyday Russian, nor are you sure how to handle everyday interactions in the Post-Soviet space. 

Despite all the work you have put in, Russian still feels like something you "should" be better at by now.

You are not alone. 

Most students heading abroad feel underprepared, not just linguistically, but culturally and mentally too.

Steppe with Confidence is designed to change that...

...and living independently in a very different cultural and linguistic environment. Often, this experience shapes how you relate to Russian for years to come.

Some students enjoy learning everything on the fly, and are unphased by the consequences of making serious linguistic or cultural errors, even when the stakes can get quite high.

However, most students are not wired like this; most of us do not thrive in a constant state of fight or flight, and staying in this state can literally disable the more logical sides of our brains. And this actually does happen to many students who arrive underprepared...

Without a solid foundation, students often spend months just finding their feet. 

That’s not a failure.

In fact, it’s very common!

However... it can delay or even prevent the real progress in your Russian happens only after you know you have your basic functional language skills met. 

In fact, in many cases, many less prepared students:

• have been financially scammed or robbed (appartments, taxis, in the market and other places), 

• said the wrong things to the wrong people

• some have felt so alien that they leave early with little improvement in their Russian

• leading to an understandably negative attitude towards their own Russian. 

And with ever-changing laws about what is and isn't allowed to be done or said in these countries, there is an increasing risk of being arrested or detained without the right cultural (and linguistic) grounding.

Underprepared students who chose to stay often report getting into the following vicious cycle, which could have been easily prevented if they had already spoken Russian on a functional level before they got there:

The programme is designed around three core goals:

• Build practical Russian you can actually use

• Understand the cultural context you’re stepping into

• Develop a mindset that supports progress, not perfection

By the end of the programme, you’ll have a functional base you can rely on, a realistic plan for continuing to improve, and the confidence to participate, connect, and grow.

Steppe with Confidence doesn’t promise fluency. It gives you something more realistic and equally valuable: readiness - and the momentum to make the most of a once-in-a-lifetime year abroad.

You’ll be able to handle everyday tasks confidently from week one.

You’ll know what’s normal, what’s risky, and what’s just unfamiliar.

You’ll arrive with knowledge, strategies, and skills already in place.

You’ll likely find this a good fit if:

• You want a clear, realistic plan for improving your speaking and listening outside university classes.

• You’re heading to the Post-Soviet space* and want to make the most of your year abroad, not just get it over and done with.

• You’ve studied Russian for a while, but using it in real conversations still feel challenging.

• Culturally, you don't know what to expect 

• You care about integrating locally and building genuine connections, not staying in an English-speaking bubble.

• You’re willing to show up consistently, even when things feel imperfect.

*The course largely draws on Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as case studies, but those travelling to other destinations will still hugely benefit from what's on offer

You do not need to be fluent at this stage, feel confident all the time, or have everything figured out before you start.

However, you do need:

• a basic foundation in Russian (solid A1 or low A2, more below)

• the willingness to practise regularly

• openness to guidance, feedback, and trying things out.

If you recognise yourself here, Steppe with Confidence was designed with you in mind.

This programme is not for:

• complete beginners (A0)

• heritage speakers (unless they also struggle with speaking and/or lack confidence)

• those who want a short crash course

• those who want to just “get fluent” (i.e. high C1 or C2) before they go abroad.

• Weekly video lessons - Each week, you watch a 20-50 minute video covering cultural context and language input for situations you’re very likely to encounter.

• Targeted homework that builds real fluency - Instead of endless worksheets from the Terence Wade workbook, you will complete short, focused tasks to develop your comprehension and fluency.

• Weekly live small-group speaking sessions - Weekly 90-minute online sessions in a small group of no more than six students.

• Module recap sessions with a native speaker - At the end of each module, you join a recap session led by a native speaker to revisit key language and test your understanding in real interaction.

• Q&A sessions with locals and former students - Throughout the programme, you have access to Q&A sessions with Central Asian locals and former year-abroad students, offering insight into daily life, expectations, and common challenges, and most importantly, their own advice!

• Individual guidance for your transition abroad - Towards the end of the programme, you have a one-to-one check-in focused on your next steps: how you’ll integrate, practise, and stay motivated once you arrive. This will keep you on track and give you that extra push and motivation for your time abroad.

• A supportive student and alumni community - You become part of an online community of current and former Steppe with Confidence students to broaden your network, support each other and future students.

Download the course brochure through the Jotform below for more details about each module 👇

If Steppe with Confidence sounds like the support you have been looking for, the next step is to fill in a short application form so we can check that this programme is the right fit for you.

Once you submit the form, I will read your answers and invite you to that free 30-minute call. 

Most applicants are nervous before this call. Remember, the call is not a Russian test! 

The discussion is exactly for those who are unsure as to whether they should take the course or not; it’s a conversation between you and me to see if it’s your right call.

There is no pressure to decide on the spot, and you can ask questions you might have pertaining to the course and more generic year abroad advice.