A team of students from the Institute of International Cooperation of Penza State University, under the guidance of teachers from the Department of Russian as a Foreign Language, took part in the XI International Olympiad in Russian as a Foreign Language “We Speak Russian” on April 11, which took place at Tambov State Technical University.

More than 600 contestants from 60 foreign and Russian universities took part in the Olympiad in 2025. The purpose of the event was to popularize the Russian language and Russian culture, as well as to develop the communicative competence of international citizens studying Russian. Contestants were asked to demonstrate their knowledge of the Russian language and creative abilities in various categories and nominations. All participants were ranked by their level of the Russian language proficiency to ensure that the assessment is objective.

At the opening of the Olympiad, Mikhail Krasnyansky, Rector of Tambov State Technical University, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. Olga Barabash, Acting Head of the Department of Russian as a Foreign Language, delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of PSU. She emphasized the importance of events that unite representatives of different countries studying Russian.

Penza State University was represented at the Olympiad by students taking the following courses: 44.03.01 "Pedagogical Education. Russian as a Foreign Language", 45.03.02 "Linguistics" and 45.04.01 "Philology". Under the guidance of Olga Barabash, senior lecturer Anna Borovaya and assistant Ksenia Mityurnikova, the students prepared for participation in various nominations and won prizes.

In the nomination "Recitation Competition. Poets about the Great Patriotic War" 1st place was taken by Batul Hami (24ИФРм1 group) and Saba Rozibaeva (24ИПУ1 group). 2nd place - students of 24ИПУ1 group Roza Mirzakulyeva and Roza Khodzhamkulyeva. In the nomination "Essay Competition" gold was taken by Ekaterina Stepanyan (24ИЛК1 group), and silver - by Arzuv Batasheva (24ИПУ1 group). In the nomination "Presentation Competition" 2nd place was won by Jennet Batyrova (24ИПУ1). Students of the 24ИПУ1 group participated in the nomination "Role-playing games": 1st place was awarded to Gurbanjemal Allaberdiyeva, 2nd place - to Arslanbek Dzhorayev and Roza Mirzakulyeva, and 3rd place was received by Saba Rozibayeva.

The participants received diplomas, and the students’ mentors received letters of appreciation.

The trip ended with a short sightseeing tour of Tambov.