Quote Originally Posted by bytemare View Post
An alternative view:

Do you wan to speak Russian or become an expert on Russian grammar?

If the former, then forget cases and learn words. In time all the grammar stuff will come. People have a natural tendency to correct major grammar mistakes (they will repeat what you wanted to say but correctly).

Well, maybe take one case in Russian and learn it (I think it's called Accusative or some nonsense like that in English). You can learn this case fairly easily and it's straightforward how to use it.

One thing that will really help is to learn the grammar of your native language. I don't mean all of the technical words, but stuff like what's the order of the words, why do you say I eat/you eat, but he EATS, etc.

Well, like I said, this an alternative view. I believe if you concentrate on words and start speaking, the rest will come.
Totally disagree. The base of any language is grammar. If you don't spend one two years to learn the basic grammar then you will start learn in the wrong way.
And is not my humble opinion, it is the opinion of all successful language educators.