Free classes in Russian and English
Once a week, one hour, online — from a phone. Volunteers aged 16 to 19 teach from a curriculum we write ourselves. Nothing is paid for: not now, not later.
Lessons are taught in Russian. If Russian is hard going, there is a helper in the lesson who explains in Tajik, Uzbek or Kyrgyz.
It really is free
We understand why that is hard to believe. Usually "free" means the first lesson, and then you are asked to pay. Here a paid version does not exist at all. The teaching is done by volunteers: school and university students aged 16 to 19 who teach for the experience. Lessons run on an ordinary video call, and nobody pays for that either.
We will never ask for
- A bank card
- A passport or birth certificate
- Registration or migration papers
- Proof of income
- Money — not at the start and not at the end of the course
There is no payment page anywhere on this site. If someone asks you for money in BRIDGE's name, it is not us. Tell us about it
Who we help
Children aged 12 to 17
If school is hard for your child because of the language, this is for you. Most of our students are children from families who moved to Russia recently.
Families for whom a tutor is expensive
We do not check income and we ask for no paperwork. Your word is enough.
Complete beginners
You do not need any English to start. There are groups for people who do not know a single word.
Adults from 18
If you are already 18 you can sign up yourself — no school and no code needed.
Once a week, one hour, from a phone
- 60
- minutes a lesson
- 10
- weeks a course
- 8–12
- people in a group
You do not have to turn the camera on
You can just listen and write in the chat. Nobody will make you show yourself or your room.
A phone is enough
There is nothing to install. You open a link and you are in the lesson.
If your connection is poor
That is fine: we send the recording of the lesson and the exercises. A missed lesson can be watched later.
Two people run every lesson
A teacher and a helper. The helper explains the hard parts in the child's own language when Russian is not getting through.
The question every parent asks
It is the right question. Our teachers are not strangers off the internet. Each one goes through nine selection steps: a video interview, two references, safeguarding training and a trial lesson. Anyone under 18 needs their own parents' written consent.
- Lessons are group-only. A one-to-one lesson is impossible — there is no such thing in the system.
- Two people run every lesson, not one. They see each other's work.
- There are no private messages. A teacher cannot write to a child apart from the group.
- We do not hold a surname, an address or a photograph of your child. They are not in the system, so there is nothing for anyone to see.
- You may sit in on any lesson. Parents are always allowed, and do not have to say in advance.
Four steps
- 1
Fill in the application
About 10 minutes. First name, age, home language and the days that suit your child. We do not ask for a surname.
- 2
A code from a school or organisation
If your child is under 18, a code is needed. It comes from a school, a centre or an organisation that works with your family. If you do not have one, see below.
- 3
A short level test
So we can find a group that is neither too easy nor too hard. There are no marks, and it cannot be failed.
- 4
We write to you when the intake opens
Groups are put together before a course starts. You will know the day and time in advance.
You do not have a code?
The code is not paperwork. It means there is an adult near the child who knows about the lessons and agrees to them. That is safer for the child. The code costs the school nothing and commits it to nothing.
Show this message to the class teacher, the deputy head or a member of staff at your centre — or simply send it to them.
Hello! My child would like to study with BRIDGE. These are free online classes in Russian and English for children who are struggling at school because of the language. The site is bridge-edu.tech. To enrol a child, a school or organisation needs to register and give us a code. It is free and commits you to nothing. Please have a look at bridge-edu.tech/en/partners, where it is all explained.
What people usually ask
Is it definitely free?
Yes. A paid version does not exist. We will not ask for a card, for money or for documents — not at the start and not at the end of the course.
My child knows no English at all.
That is normal, and most of our students are in the same position. We run a short level test at the start so that everyone in a group can keep up. There is a group for complete beginners too.
My child is shy and will not speak.
For the first lessons they can just listen and write in the chat. The camera does not have to be on, and nobody is called to the board. Our teachers know this happens and do not push.
We are not Russian citizens and have no registration.
It makes no difference. We do not ask about citizenship, registration or documents of any kind. We teach children; we do not check papers.
Can I sit with my child during the lesson?
Yes, always. Parents may be present at any lesson and do not need to tell us beforehand.
What if we miss a lesson?
That is fine. We send the recording and the exercises. The certificate goes to students who attended 80% of lessons — so two lessons can be missed over a course.
What do you do with our data?
We keep a first name, an age, a home language and the times that suit you. No surname, no address, no photographs, no documents. You can ask us to delete all of it at any time.
My child is already 18.
Then no code is needed — apply directly through the form.
Ready to sign up?
The application takes about 10 minutes. No documents and no payment.