Student interview: Why Riga is the perfect place for young professionals to learn Russian.

As internship application season approaches and students everywhere are exploring career choices and opportunities, now is the perfect time to discuss how learning Russian can benefit your career as a young professional. This week, I met with William James, a Doctor based in Norway, to find out more about how learning Russian at Liden and Denz Riga has benefited his career.
What led you to study Russian?
Born in London, William chose to take a Gap Year before continuing his studies. The six months he spent in Novgorod teaching English as a foreign language at eighteen years old sparked a life-long interest in the Russian language. After taking some time to focus on his career, he started learning Russian again two years ago, in light of the influx of Russian-speaking Ukrainian refugees, as well as Latvian patients.
Regardless of your profession, a working knowledge of Russian is an asset to your career, granting access to emerging markets throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. To read more about this, see my article on why you should learn Russian.
What led you to choose Liden and Denz, Riga ?
As a returning student, who studies with Liden and Denz, Riga for around 3-4 weeks a year, what attracted William most to Liden and Denz is its flexible classes and schedules, not often provided by other language schools. The option to complete short-term placements multiple times a year is perfect for young professionals with demanding schedules or those looking for a quick language refresher course. He also stresses the importance of group classes and class size, as he prefers the approach of having enough students for conversational practice, whilst still having access to the instructor.
What have you enjoyed most about Riga?
William raves about the beauty of Riga and its stunning Art Nouveau architecture, particularly at this time of year. As one of the most walkable cities in Eastern Europe, with accessible and affordable public transport, it’s easy to explore the city.
What’s your advice for someone learning Russian?
For those new to Russian, William advises taking the time to find the right course for you and slowly going through new grammar concepts and vocabulary. It’s important, he stresses, to be patient when learning a language as difficult as Russian. At first, it may feel like you’re not making progress, but, with the right course and motivation, you will succeed!
Darcie Peters is a student at Liden and Denz.