Marina Pogosova

"I believe that teaching Russian should be woven into a broader immersion in cultural context. This is especially important when working with bilingual children, for whom Russian isn't always the language of everyday communication. Over the years, I've come to understand that language can be taught not only by explaining grammar rules and building vocabulary, but also by introducing children to art — painting in particular. That's how the idea for the "Introduction to a Painting" project was born: through it, we opened a door for children into the world of painting and introduced them to some of its most celebrated figures.

But why paintings specifically? It's well known that painting, like literature, shapes a child's mind — teaching them to see, feel, understand, and appreciate beauty. Studying paintings builds observation skills, imagination, logical thinking, and, of course, language. Through this project, we discovered that even children for whom Russian isn't their primary language can join the conversation with enthusiasm and without fear, as long as they're surrounded by a creative atmosphere. Now I can say with confidence: language is not just rules and exercises — it's a path to understanding the world, and oneself."