This unique scene is captured at Điện Biên provincial Boarding High School for Ethnic Minorities, where Russian classes are held every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoon. Though the sounds are unfamiliar and the pronunciation occasionally stutters or hesitates, the atmosphere is filled with an excitement as 10th-grade students embark on a journey with an entirely new linguistic world.

The environment in these sessions is a stark departure from traditional lessons. On the board, Russian Cyrillic characters are displayed, while below, students watch intently and recite every sound and word in unison. Moments of awkwardness or mispronunciation are met with shared laughter, followed by patient repetition under the lecturer’s guidance. This initial shyness has quickly transformed into a spirit of determination to master the challenge.

At the center of the room, the Russian lecturer pronounces words slowly, using hand gestures and facial expressions to help students visualize the meaning. When deeper explanations are required, both teacher and students switch to English, which serves as a vital “bridge” for smooth interaction. Short questions, nods of understanding, and smiles create a unique rhythm for this special foreign language class.

Alongside traditional blackboard teaching, each student is provided with personal documents and online resources curated by the lecturer. Lessons are designed to integrate pronunciation with the four key skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. At times, the class listens to short dialogues before practicing in groups; at others, they pair up to correct each other’s mistakes on the spot. The pace is consistent but not stressful, as each topic is linked to specific, easy-to-imagine communication scenarios that are immediately applicable.

Lò Thị Kim Oanh, a student in class 10A6, shared that she enrolled because of her passion for languages and a desire to challenge herself. Through these sessions, she has gained not only vocabulary but also insights into Russian culture and people, elements she previously only encountered in books. Her classmate, Cà Thế Hoàng, admitted that Russian is not easy due to the distinct reading and writing styles, but the novelty keeps him engaged. After a short period, he can now pronounce basic words and feels significantly more confident communicating in class.

Natalia Lisochenko, a lecturer from Herzen State Pedagogical University, expressed great affection for her Điện Biên students. She finds them friendly, respectful, and always ready to interact, which facilitates the transfer of knowledge despite cultural and linguistic differences. She noted that many students grasp the material quickly and are increasingly willing to try longer sentences as the sessions progress.

The school’s leadership initiated extensive preparation to ensure these classes were successful. Phạm Thị Thanh Huyền, Vice Principal of the school, explained that they conducted a survey of student needs, resulting in the selection of 50 qualified students divided into two classes. These extracurricular sessions are scheduled to ensure they do not interfere with the main curriculum. To minimize barriers, two of the school’s English teachers act as class facilitators, assisting the Russian lecturer and fostering two-way communication during the early stages of the program.

This 105-period program is part of the 2018 General Education Program, which encourages a second foreign language to expand students’ knowledge and international integration. It is also a concrete outcome of the cooperation agreement between Điện Biên province and the city of Saint Petersburg across various socioeconomic and humanitarian fields. The presence of native speakers from Russia provides more than just linguistic knowledge; it allows students to interact directly with a foreign culture and visualize a global learning environment.

As the classes conclude, many students stay behind to clarify difficult words or exchange further ideas. These Russian sounds follow them out of the classroom and into the hallways, turning an after-school class into a memorable experience that opens new doors for the future of these highland students.