‘People Say that My Russian is Good!’: HSE Student and French Language Teacher Shares Experience and Advice

Photo courtesy of Ugo Cavitte

Ugo Cavitte, a 22-year-old student from the north of France, is currently in his second year of studying for a Master's degree in Pedagogy at the HSE Institute of Education. In addition, he teaches French as a foreign language at HSE's School of Foreign Languages and online. In a recent interview, Ugo shared his experience of studying at HSE and teaching French, as well as his advice for those who want to learn a foreign language better and faster. He also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of online learning, and shared his love for Russian cuisine and culture.

Ugo Cavitte

Discovering HSE University

I knew nothing about HSE and had never heard of it until I was offered the Pedagogy programme by the Rosotrudnichestvo department in Paris. I liked the programme, so I applied.

The admission process was not easy, but an employee of the international student recruitment department tried her best to help me. There were various difficulties that we solved together, particularly regarding the allocation of places by the ministry. As for the admission process to HSE itself, it was simpler. University staff answered questions, clarified information and helped me.

Studying at HSE: A Practical Focus

My studies at HSE have been excellent! Combining professional practice with university courses allowed me to reinforce the knowledge and skills I acquired, as well as to specify the theory being taught. I was particularly interested in the Developmental Psychology course by Alexey Obukhov, as I was working in a public school (No. 1288, Moscow) at the time. The course helped me better understand how children ‘work’ (I had always worked with adults before; this was my first time working with children).

I really liked the practical focus of the course and the teacher's ability to explain human behaviour. The learning process was not easy, but not difficult either

I communicate with some students outside of class hours, but I mostly socialise with colleagues from work. It should be noted that we had a lot of online classes.

Photo courtesy of Ugo Cavitte

Online learning allows for different things: it opens up access to online resources, makes it easier to work with electronic resources, and organising classes is simpler (in terms of grouping and so on). However, this form of learning has its drawbacks: understanding foreign speech becomes more difficult, the course content is not as well received (body language and movements play an important role, and students are often distracted), and it is more difficult to socialise with other students.

My message to prospective students is as follows: studying at HSE University will allow you to achieve your own goals and prepare for your future profession. I have good experience, and I am confident that you will too.

Living in Moscow and Enjoying Its International Cuisine

In Moscow, I have always lived in a rented apartment: my first one was in Losinoostrovsky, and now I live in Sviblovo.

I do like Russian food, but one should not limit oneself to it. You can find various national cuisines in Moscow that are worth trying

From Russian cuisine, I like borsch and dumplings, of course.

Languages: Learning and Teaching

I studied Russian at home first, and then on my bachelor's degree. Initially, I learned Polish with my grandmother (she is Polish, but was born in France). Then I switched to studying Russian because there are more job opportunities with it. People say that my Russian is good!

Speaking practice is essential. Before my bachelor's degree, my friend and I would call each other 4–5 times a week and try to speak in a foreign language. He was studying French, and I was studying Russian. This led to very good results very quickly. However, simple oral practice is not enough, as it can reinforce mistakes that are difficult to get rid of later on.

I really like Alexander Belyaev among Russian authors. The books are not adapted for foreign learners, but they are suitable for those at a B2 level. You have to look up words in the dictionary, but the essence of the story is always clear.

In learning French, as with any other foreign language, student motivation is essential

From modern French authors, I can recommend Jean-Christophe Rufin and Laurent Gaudé. I especially enjoyed Le Soleil des Scorta by the latter.

Plans for the Future

I plan to continue my work: teaching at the School of Foreign Languages and online. It is currently difficult for me to imagine what my profession will be in the coming years, as it is impossible to say what will happen in 10 years.