HSE Prep Year Students among Finalists and Winners of Russian Language Olympiad

Olympiad winner Nguyen Xuan Thanh

Photo courtesy of Nguyen Xuan Thanh

In February and March 2025, four students of the HSE Preparatory Year took part in the Russian Language Olympiad for Students of Preparatory Faculties, which was held online via the website of the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute.

Nguyen Xuan Thanh, from Vietnam, was named one of the winners of the competition, and Dong Xiaoyu, Zhao Xinya, and Liu Wenshu, from China, all successfully passed the selection stage and made it to the finals. After completing the Prep Year, the students will begin their studies at HSE in bachelor’s programmes in economics, management, and international relations.

The HSE News Service spoke to Nguyen Xuan Thanh and Natalia Nikitskaya, the teacher who trained the students for the olympiad, about why it is important and rewarding for international students to take part in such events.

Natalia Nikitskaya

Russian Language Teacher and Visiting Lecturer, International Preparatory Year

‘The students joined the Preparatory Year programme in October 2024, but had already started learning about Russian language and culture in their home countries. Here in Moscow, under the guidance of teachers in the Preparatory Year, they significantly improved their command of the language and expanded their knowledge enough to be able to represent our university in this international competition. And they not only represented us, but made it to the final and even ended up among the winners!

We design our lessons to ensure that they involve extensive practical language training and develop all language skills: grammar, reading, writing, speaking, and listening

We understand that these are not only future students of Russian universities, but also potential participants of competitions, conferences, and other events. As such, they should be ready to adequately represent themselves and their university at any time!

In the qualifying stage of the olympiad, they had to complete a number of competition tasks in a chosen field: humanities or economics. They all passed and made it into the final.

The finals consisted of a creative task: participants were asked to choose one of two pictures they liked, prepare a story about it, and record it on video. It was a very interesting task; the contestants had only 30 minutes to prepare for it, complete it, and upload it to the website. But our students, who speak Russian at quite a high level (B2), managed to do it. Their videos were interesting, insightful, and of a high quality.

Our students didn’t encounter anything unexpected in the olympiad. They completed the tasks with great interest and—particularly in the case of the final creative task—even zeal

Russian is not an easy language to study and understand. The success achieved by these Prep Year students is a testament to the quality and efficacy of the work we’ve done together.

We would like to thank our students for achieving such good results and wish them further victories!’

Nguyen Xuan Thanh

HSE Preparatory Year student and Olympiad winner

Since childhood, I have been passionate about languages and different cultures, which motivated me to study Russian. I decided to come to Moscow to study because Russia has a rich history, strong educational traditions, and an immersive environment for learning the Russian language. Studying here allows me to practice the language daily and experience Russian culture firsthand.

My experience in Moscow has been incredible so far. What I love the most about studying here is the opportunity to interact with native speakers and learn about Russian traditions firsthand

I chose HSE University because of its academic excellence and international recognition. The university offers a strong Russian language programme and many opportunities for personal and professional growth. After the Preparatory Year, I plan to enrol in the Faculty of International Relations. This programme aligns with my academic interests and career aspirations.

I was motivated to take part in the Russian Language Olympiad because I wanted to challenge myself, improve my language skills, and connect with other students who share my passion for Russian. To prepare, I practiced regularly by reading Russian literature, watching Russian films, and engaging in conversations with native speakers. Additionally, I focused on grammar exercises and vocabulary expansion.

The most difficult part of the preparation process for me was mastering complex grammar structures and expanding my vocabulary to understand academic and literary texts better.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was pronunciation and listening comprehension, especially when dealing with fast speech and idiomatic expressions.

My teachers played a crucial role in my preparation by providing guidance, correcting my mistakes, and encouraging me to practice consistently. Their support and expertise helped me build confidence for the competition

The most exciting part of the olympiad was the opportunity to meet participants from different countries who shared the same enthusiasm for the Russian language. It was inspiring to see so many people passionate about learning Russian.

During the competition, I experienced a mix of emotions. I was both nervous and excited, but as the event progressed, I gained more confidence and enjoyed the challenge. I had many interesting interactions with other participants, exchanging experiences, learning about their cultures, and forming new friendships.

The experience taught me the importance of perseverance and effective communication. It reinforced my appreciation for the Russian language and motivated me to continue improving my skills.

In the future, I plan to keep learning Russian and use it in my career. Whether in academia, international relations, or business, I believe that my knowledge of Russian will open many doors for me.

The International Preparatory Year at HSE University provides international students with essential language skills and cultural knowledge for living and studying in Russia. Upon completion of the programme, students will be ready to apply to Russian universities, use subject-specific terminology in Russian-taught programmes, and fully immerse themselves in social and cultural life. More information about the curriculum and application process is available on the website.