Little-Known Learning
Sophia Tupolev is a Russian-American who spends her summers in Moscow, where she leads the Russian Conversation Club, which she founded in 2009. She is the Russia Representative for American Citizens Abroad, an advocacy group for American expatsâ rights. Her expat Q&A blog is at www.asksophie.ru for any questions about living in Russia.
Sophia Tupolev
For a city where everything is for sale, there are a surprising number of free and non-profit classes and educational activities. This seasonâs column is all about what you can learn this summer and beyond. These are the addresses to know to discover Moscowâs bubbling fountains of knowledge. Russian fluency is not a requirement for most of the following, but you should know the words ÑÑок (lesson) oÑкÑÑÑÑй ÑÑок (free lesson), and маÑÑÐµÑ ÐºÐ»Ð°ÑÑ (master class, workshop).
This list will be up on the AskSophie blog.
ART
The Russian Academy of Arts at 19 Prechistenka St., hosts oil painters of all ages at Zurab Tsereteliâs studio on some weekends. Participation is free and materials are provided, too. Call on the preceding Thursday to confirm if itâs on that weekend. +7 495 637 4150.
The Strelka Institute has a fascinating, bilingual summer lecture series, films, and cultural events. http://www.strelka.com/en/summer
There are periodic art classes and workshops at the Flacon Design Center http://flacon.ru/ and Garage Center http://garageccc.com/.
With two locations at Vinzavod and VDNKh, Tvorchmaster has fairly-priced art classes for children and full day programs, too. There are also pottery classes for adults. http://tvorchmaster.ru/
FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURES
The ZIL Culture Center has a variety of classes and workshops, such as the free French conversation club, La boîte noirе. http://www.zilcc.ru/
http://russia.korean-culture.org/
http://www.iccrindia.net/moscow.html
Of course, I have to mention my own Russian Conversation Club, which welcomes speakers of Russian from novice to native on Sunday afternoons. http://www.key2moscow.com
The Foreign Literature Library at 1 Nikoloyamskaya Street is home to the following foreign cultural centers:
The Azerbaijani Center offers Azerbaijani language and history classes. [email protected]
The American Center packs the calendar with free lectures, films, workshops, and clubs in English such as a debate club and a public speaking club. http://amc.ru/
The Bulgarian Center teaches Bulgarian language and folk dancing. http://www.bci-moscow.ru/en/
The British Council has classes for English teachers. http://www.britishcouncil.ru/
The Japan Foundation offers courses in Japanese, tea ceremony, origami, calligraphy, Shogi, and even kimono. http://www.jpfmw.ru/
SPORTS, DANCE, AND YOGA
The iYoga Center at Trubnaya has free yoga classes every other Saturday. http://vedalife.ru/raspisanie
Kundalini Yoga has free classes in English and Russian. http://moscow.sahajayoga.ru/
http://www.park-gorkogo.com/eng/sport/
http://park.sokolniki.com/rus/visitors/clubs/dancingclub.aspx
SPIRITUALITY
The Moscow Buddhist Center has classes and meditation. http://www.mantra.ru/en/
Russian speakers can take Judaica classes at Sredi Svoikh, near Park Kultury.
St. Andrewâs Anglican Church has Sunday School in English for children of different age groups.