Group or private Russian lessons: how to choose

Group course, private lessons or both? Real prices per lesson, speaking-time maths and a simple rule for choosing the right Russian course format.

Once you have decided to learn Russian, the next choice is format: a group course, private lessons, or some of each. There is no universally better option - there is the right option for your goal, schedule and budget. Here is the comparison with real numbers.

The price per lesson, honestly

A standard group week at EducaCentre costs 180-210 EUR for 20 lessons - roughly 9-10 EUR per lesson. Private lessons at the school cost 21-24 EUR per lesson depending on how many you book; online, 18-21 EUR. So a private lesson costs about twice a group lesson - the question is what you get for the difference.

What the group gives you

In our groups of up to 4, a lesson is not a lecture - you speak constantly, hear other learners' mistakes (instructive in a way your own never are), and get the rhythm of a fixed Monday-to-Friday schedule. For general progress over several weeks, that structure plus the social pressure of three classmates is worth more than most people expect. It is also the budget-friendly way to get many hours: the same money buys twice the lessons.

What private lessons give you

Private lessons give you one thing above all: precision. The entire lesson bends around your goal - TORFL preparation, medical vocabulary, pronunciation repair, business emails. The pace is exactly yours: no waiting, no being left behind. Scheduling is flexible where group times are fixed. If your goal is narrow or your calendar is chaos, private wins.

The maths of speaking time

In a group of four you might speak a quarter of every lesson; one-to-one you speak roughly half. But the group gives you listening practice with varied accents and speeds - something one teacher's voice cannot provide. Neither number is "better"; they train different muscles.

The combined route

Many of our students take both, and the formats are built for it: Combined 25 is 20 group lessons plus 5 private per week, Combined 30 adds 10 private, Combined 35 is the intensive group plus 5 private. Mornings give structure and classmates; the private block targets whatever the group cannot - your exam, your job, your specific gaps.

A simple rule

Staying two weeks or more with a general goal: start with the group. Narrow professional or exam goal, or an impossible schedule: private. Want both structure and personal focus, and the budget allows: combined. Still unsure - write to us with your goal and dates, and we will recommend a format with the reasoning attached, not just a course name.