I am so confused and I need help with Russian

Hi guys .....

I want to learn Russian ,There are no schools for Russian language or institutions that can teach it systematically therefore I will start learn it myself , so far I really feel confused because I don't know where to start or how to start , should I start learning grammar and structure or just learn simply conversations by memorizing words and phrases ...ect ?

If I have friends via Skype , how can they help me and what to ask them to do for me ? to teach me conversations or to explain grammatical aspects of the Russian Language ?

I really need your advice and opinion guys ...

Thanks

First, you have to study the alphabet. For example, you could start with this lesson: Russian Alphabet - Cyrillic alphabet
Second, you always can add me to Skype: paul.kotlin
And third, the main thing. You must be motivated to learn Russian, because the language is one of the most complicated languages in the world (I'm sure you don't realise for now how much it is). The rest is just a technical problem.

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I want to learn Russian ,There are no schools for Russian language or institutions that can teach it systematically therefore I will start learn it myself

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Which jungle do you live in? :P

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so far I really feel confused because I don't know where to start or how to start , should I start learning grammar and structure or just learn simply conversations by memorizing words and phrases ...ect ?

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Just start with something, anything, for starters ;)
Get a textbook guide and start with it, you can find some online. Or use websites that teach the basic grammar. I'm sure you can google well. I used Russian Language Lessons - Learn Russian For Free when I just started, it does a decent job of explaining the basics.

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If I have friends via Skype , how can they help me and what to ask them to do for me ? to teach me conversations or to explain grammatical aspects of the Russian Language ?

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If you don't know any Russian, it wouldn't be much use, unless you got specific questions to ask them (but you can do it on the forum as well, they usually reply pretty fast). I recommend to get the basics before you start chatting or writing in Russian. Should take a month or two at least of aquainting yourself with the fundementals and reading some basic phrases, sentences, etc.

To sum it up - You should start by sitting on your a$s and reading newbies guide to Russian. :)

LOL , you're so funny Valda ,
Thanks for the tip ,

I appreciate that ....

RUSSIAN on-line

Dear friend,
do not get discouraged, learn one step at a time.

RUSSIAN on-line - Here you will find basic and elementary levels of learning Russian, with alphabet, phonetics (how sounds are articulated, with pictures and small videos), as well as lots ot exercises in grammar, teaching you basic sentence patterns. My American friend, who studies Russian, finds this website very helpful. I highly recommend it, being a teacher myself. I hope it will help anyone, especially visual learners.

This site also has tons of useful information, check Lampada's references.

I started with the Michel Thomas method, available through Amazon, which is excellent at quickly building your confidence, vocabulary and grammar. I also use/used various on-line resources, textbooks etc. The key for me was to get some Russian-speaking partners through My Language Exchange, who as well as being helpful in the sense that they teach you, provide you with the all-important motivation to learn. It also turns the process into an amazing cultural experience.

I had the same problem as you, well not the same. In my city there are Russians and you can study it. But i wanted to learn on myself.

I have used Princeton Course and i must say that to me, it is a very good self study course. Not perfect but the best i have found. Just google it and you can download it

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Originally Posted by Yulia65

RUSSIAN on-line

Dear friend,
do not get discouraged, learn one step at a time.

RUSSIAN on-line - Here you will find basic and elementary levels of learning Russian, with alphabet, phonetics (how sounds are articulated, with pictures and small videos), as well as lots ot exercises in grammar, teaching you basic sentence patterns. My American friend, who studies Russian, finds this website very helpful. I highly recommend it, being a teacher myself. I hope it will help anyone, especially visual learners.

This site also has tons of useful information, check Lampada's references.

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Thanks sooo much , I checked out the website you gave me and it seems like alot of fun ,
I'll start with that along with Pimsluer , just won't give up

Thanks alot again :)

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Originally Posted by wayno265

I started with the Michel Thomas method, available through Amazon, which is excellent at quickly building your confidence, vocabulary and grammar. I also use/used various on-line resources, textbooks etc. The key for me was to get some Russian-speaking partners through My Language Exchange, who as well as being helpful in the sense that they teach you, provide you with the all-important motivation to learn. It also turns the process into an amazing cultural experience.

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I never heard of that Method , I'll try to look it up online ...... yeah motivation is a key in terms of learning a new language and I have that in spades :cool3:

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Originally Posted by antwerpsupporter

I had the same problem as you, well not the same. In my city there are Russians and you can study it. But i wanted to learn on myself.

I have used Princeton Course and i must say that to me, it is a very good self study course. Not perfect but the best i have found. Just google it and you can download it

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I heard about that course many times before and never really taken it seriously , now that you said you've tried it , I might give it a go
Thanks

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Originally Posted by Paul G.

First, you have to study the alphabet. For example, you could start with this lesson: Russian Alphabet - Cyrillic alphabet
Second, you always can add me to Skype: paul.kotlin
And third, the main thing. You must be motivated to learn Russian, because the language is one of the most complicated languages in the world (I'm sure you don't realise for now how much it is). The rest is just a technical problem.

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It is hard indeed Paul and I do have motivation , Thanks for offering to help , I'll add you when I create a skype account because until now , I don't have one .

Thanks again

1. Buy a keyboard with Russian stickers or the stickers separately and glue them on the keys.
2. Learn the alphabet, you are welcome to use the alphabet lesson here on Masterrussian or whatever works best.
3. Learn sounds of Russian letters, because a letter can produce several sounds depending on where it is.
4. Learn word stresses. It's a tricky part of the language, words often change their meaning depending on the stress.
5. Learn to read the most common combinations of certain letters, reading rules.
6. Find a decent dictionary, I recommend this one, red letter means stressed vowel. Click the icon to listen.

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Originally Posted by Medved

1. Buy a keyboard with Russian stickers or the stickers separately and glue them on the keys.
2. Learn the alphabet, you are welcome to use the alphabet lesson here on Masterrussian or whatever works best.
3. Learn sounds of Russian letters, because a letter can produce several sounds depending on where it is.
4. Learn word stresses. It's a tricky part of the language, words often change their meaning depending on the stress.
5. Learn to read the most common combinations of certain letters, reading rules.
6. Find a decent dictionary, I recommend this one, red letter means stressed vowel. Click the icon to listen.

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Thanks , unfortunately , I don't have the stickers but I know the Russian alphabet :)
pronounciation has been a tricky issue so far along with stress , Thanks for the dictionary link ,

much appreciated indeed

Try my new lesson, it's in "Getting started" part of the forum.

Thanks Medved , I'll check it out

OK I will , thanks

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Originally Posted by Russian85

Thanks , unfortunately , I don't have the stickers

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US $1.50
Russian, Arabic items in Keyboard Sticker store on eBay!

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Originally Posted by Russian85

Thanks , unfortunately , I don't have the stickers but I know the Russian alphabet :)
pronounciation has been a tricky issue so far along with stress , Thanks for the dictionary link ,

much appreciated indeed

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I don't see what's the big deal about the stickers, just take a friggin' white duct tape, cut it to fit the keyboard keys and write with pen the russian letters on each of them (based on a russian keyboard layout example which you can easily google). That's what I did before getting proper stickers in an office depot outlet - just that easy. Включи мозг ;)

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Включи мозг

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Great idea :bravo:

All you need is a tape and a permanent marker for CDs

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Originally Posted by Valda

I don't see what's the big deal about the stickers, just take a friggin' white duct tape, cut it to fit the keyboard keys and write with pen the russian letters on each of them (based on a russian keyboard layout example which you can easily google). That's what I did before getting proper stickers in an office depot outlet - just that easy. Включи мозг ;)

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lol , nothing is wrong with that it's a helluva n idea but I am kinda lazy to do that , but I must do it for sure

The Cyrillic keyboard is laid out by letter frequency/usage. No need for any stickers. Just learn the home keys and go from there, touch type. Easy.

You can just as easily install a phonetic keyboard layout (like this one Russian keyboard and Typing Russian: download Phonetic Russian Keyboard layout (transliterated, homophonic, photos) and Standard Russian Keyboard layout). ЙЦУКЕН is going to come in handy in case you are planning to live in Russia, otherwise it is hardly of any use to you. Well, I didn't have any problems using Microsoft IME for Japanese and just typing the words in any roman transcription I want.

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Russian keyboard and Typing Russian: download Phonetic Russian Keyboard layout (transliterated, homophonic, photos) and Standard Russian Keyboard layout)

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SERIOUSLY!? Again!! Again with the undercover gay propaganda!? Sodomizing your fellow man is against Russian laws!


The power of Christ compels you!

The power of Christ compels you..

The power of Christ compels you...

Are you kidding?

Adj.	1.	homophonic - having the same sound same - closely similar or comparable in kind or quality or quantity or degree; "curtains the same color as the walls"; "two girls of the same age"; "mother and son have the same blue eyes"; "animals of the same species"; "the same rules as before"; "two boxes having the same dimensions"; "the same day next year"
	2.	homophonic - having a single melodic line with accompaniment monophonic - consisting of a single melodic line

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Are you kidding?

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You're on to me ;)

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Originally Posted by Valda

You're on to me ;)

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Бывает. Не врубилась, что это была шутка.

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Originally Posted by Valda

SERIOUSLY!? Again!! Again with the undercover gay propaganda!? Sodomizing your fellow man is against Russian laws!

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TEACHER: Who can tell me what "homeopathy" means?
STUDENT: It's the same thing as telepathy, but only gay people can do it.

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Originally Posted by Valda

The power of Christ compels you!
The power of Christ compels you..
The power of Christ compels you...

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PRIEST: If you're really the Devil, say "орёл -- пароль" five times, fast.
GIRL: That would be much too vulgar a display of power!!

And here's my attempt to render it in Russian:

СВЯЩЕННИК: Если ты действительно дьявол, то быстро повтори-ка скороговорку "орёл -- пароль" пять раз.
ДЕВУШКА: Такой показ могущества выглядел бы слишком вульгарным!!

(Of course, in the original movie, the priest's line was something like "If you're really the Devil, then break the chains that bind you"; but in one of the hundreds of parodies of The Exorcist, the priest challenges the Devil to repeat a tongue-twister.)