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:) Hi there, I am Anne. I am from NZ. This is the 1st time that I login this Russian study website. Apparently, I want to learn Russian language though I am a new learner. I was wondering if someone can possibly guide me a little at the beginning? Thanks.
Check out the "Getting Started" section for tips and advice. And, there's a website associated with this forum (masterrussian.com, I think).Quote:
Originally Posted by Anne
If at all possible, I would suggest for looking for local classes where you can meet face to face with an instructor. And try to find opportunities in your neighborhood where you can meet native Russian speakers to practice your conversational skills with.
The best idea would be to secretly tape a webcam to the back of a Russian guy's head, then figure out that Russians actually speak Russian-accented English and call each other "comrade" when nobody's looking.
*dawn of realisation*Quote:
Originally Posted by Pravit
That may work, but I can't find any participating Russian men... :lol2:
That's why you do it secretly!
theres this Ukrainian kid in my computer class and he will disappear for a week at a time about once every month. and when i ask when where he has been, he replys in a sly voice "It's a secret."
There's gotta be a more orthodox method out there... somewhere. In New Zealand, there aren't any Russian heads to tape anything to anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pravit
But seriously; The only way you may have is to buy a Russian cassette and book package and a dictionary. And snail your way through the early stuff. And, then you'll find yourself having more specific questions like "How do I turn such and such a sentence into past tense?". This site is very good in this way. You can just throw out specific questions. So long as you know what you're asking, people here always answer well. This forum can be your supplement to your journey through whichever book-cassette package you choose.
Also, you can go down to the "Pen pals" heading, or "English for Russians" where there are Russians who would love for you to swap your English for their Russian.
Thx guys.
I think self-guided language learning is probably worst method to attempt a language. You can be confused about extremely simple things that a teacher could clear up in a second, but that the writers of a book may never think to include. In my opinion, absolutely must be instructed by someone who speaks the language fluently. I do not know how your school system works in NZ, or your age, but you should be able to enroll in a university-level Russian class even if you are in high school. If not, you could try and find a Russian in your community who could tutor you.
Another myth about language learning is that you can learn a language entirely within your own country. This is incorrect, after about 2 years, you just have to go where you are surrounded by native speakers to progress.
I myself am in a university class, and to think how much slower I would be learning if I had to rely on a book and a tape as my only instruction, makes me shudder.
Hey, I did OK after 4-5 years of learning it on and off by myself. I may have a strong accent and have trouble understanding spoken Russian, but I remember people from school who had the same problems(at a worse level) after 4-5 years of the language, so I came to the conclusion that it depends entirely on the person and their will to learn(and sometimes, sadly, just the person). My French teacher was rather wonderful, bless her cotton socks, but I don't speak or understand French as well as I do Russian because I lost interest in learning it around theh 4th year.Quote:
In my opinion, absolutely must be instructed by someone who speaks the language fluently.
Of course, you could say I received instruction from the many wonderful members of MR.com. :)
OK, Pravit, I can't figure out what your native language is. You post questions in the English for Russians forum and you also seem to post questions in the Russian forum. I'm confused.
My native language is Punjabi. Didn't I make it obvious in the "Tech Support and Site Comments" forum?
I can't tell if the second part of that is sarcasm...Quote:
Originally Posted by Pravit
I think that it would be great ....but I don't know anyone with that kind of money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikhail
I think leraning russian is quiyte difficult. The best thin is to live in RUssia for 1 year to learn more quickly
And also try not to post when you're drunk. ;) Just kidding.
SERVED! :O
I think my pronunciation gets better when I am drunk.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Casey
Oh, I know mine does! If I get drunk enough I will tell you that I am fluent in both Russian and German. :lol:
i knew this funny english guy in russia and whenever he got drunk he would actually have use all the muscles in his face to make the words come out - also the volume would be cranked up about 10 fold. sooo funny waching him speak!
He's Super Over-Pronunciation-Guy!
With the power to over-pronunciate everything while saving the world!
...ok, it's Friday. My brain is out of power.
-Fantom
AND, thats not even enough, you have to find soomeone who likes to teach, and you won't find many Russians with that disposition.Quote:
In my opinion, absolutely must be instructed by someone who speaks the language fluently.
I get helpful comments like 'Don't break your brain.' when trying to speak.
Even my wife who speaks fluent russian will rarely help...she says helpful things like 'shhhh, can't you see I'm trying to watch the movie'...(in full english too)...I cannot even get scolded in Russian.
Anyway, it turns out that everyone speaks english, so don't bother.
Oh crud...sorry, I know that wasn't helpful at all, but you know... I've already been studying for a few years....I must be picking up the culture faster than the language.
whooo there roby, back away from the sleeping pills! 8)
russian's tough. find some russians on the internet who aren't that good at english and you'll get more practise (and feel better about yourself)
I've popped into this thread at random, and will also dance at random.
-Dances- Could I say, if I were expressing I was dancing on the internet, -Танцую-?
Anyhoo...Russian can be very difficult. -Glares at conjugation...-
It is actually true; there was some real academic research done on this and the evidence was very conclusive (they studied people speaking english as a foreign language, but it does not matter).Quote:
Originally Posted by kwatts59
Cool. Another good reason to get drunk. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by laxxy
I'd have to agree with that. It's not just my pronunciation that improves when I'm a little drunk, I have far less trouble forming gramatrically-correct sentences and recalling vocabulary fast enough to use it too.
And no, it's not just me thinking that I am speaking better because i am drunk, I've had it confirmed by sober friends a number of times.