Thread: Help! Boyfriend Speaks Russian... I Don't! :P

You guys have all been very helpfull. I don't know where I would have been without your help. Probably combing libraries and book stores fruitlessly for hours on end for the info I need no doubt. Lol. :P

I want so bad to be able to speak russian... but it's going incredibly slow... I know these things take time... but everything I try to learn I can never remember. I've always kind of been like that though. Oh well... I'm sure I'll learn somehow. Heh.

My boyfriend, Said (pronounced Sigh-eed) has a unique background. He was born in Afgahnistan, then moved to russia years later. So he speaks primarily russian. He also speaks 5 languages, but that includes Russian. I've been contemplating learning Hindi and Urdu, which would both be considered his native languages. Also, I've been thinking of learning Arabic and Hebrew. Those two languages I've just always found fascinating.

Since I've been with him I've been ovecome by this incredible thirst for learning that I've never had before. It's great! Before him I just didn't care. I pretty much just did whatever with out concern for where I was going. But now I feel as though I can see the path I walk beneath my feet. I know that sounds cheesey, but I honestly don't know how else to describe this amazing feeling that this man has instilled within me. But you guys are probably gagging right now on the over-sweetness, so I suppose I can stop my rambling about now. Thanx for sitting through it. Now it's off to bed in a bit so I can get up early and buy the new Harry Potter book! WOOOOHOOOO!

P.S: Yeah.. in case I didn't mention it before... I can be a bit of a dork! And before u ask... I'm 25! Not 11... like how I just acted with the book thing... lol.

Good luck to you, Eva.

If I can add one tiny suggestion, to all the good ideas posted here...
Find something in Russian culture that draws you to it (her), and that has nothing to do with your boyfriend or anyone else. Something that you cherish in your soul, that becomes deeply you, is very personal, and causes you to yearn, and to grow as an individual.

For me it began with the films of Tarkovsky. They first drew me into Russia and I've never looked back.

Russia's like that...it's magical and philosophical...good and bad.

Good journeys to you.

I have a girl in Ukraine, who speaks both Russian and Ukrainian, it gets a little confusing, i just use flashcards myself, ohh and the loyal phrase book. if u find an easier way give me a shout eva, cause I cant remember anything.

Originally Posted by Agent Eva

So in closing, I am learning russian for love. I love him very much. Being with him, for me, is like breathing. I would do anything to be closer to him.

Wow. Does anybody know where can I find that kind of girl?

Originally Posted by Agent Eva

Being with you, for me, is like breathing.

As a native russian speaker I would prefer to hear something like
"Быть с тобой для меня такая же необходимость, как дышать"
or even simplier:
"Ты мне необходим как воздух"

Originally Posted by Agent Eva

So... yeah. What is "bobnik"? Confused

m.b. "babnik" ?
It means "someone, who likes many women and usually has short sexual relationships with them". The synonym is Don Juan.

Hello Eva,
Are you sure you boy friend is not speaking Dari or Pashtou, since he is from Afghanistan? Anyway, I am also sitting in Afghanistan trying to learn Russian by myself. I found that I can only learn visually, and I forget most new words spoken to me.
I agree with you that love is a compelling reason to make the necessary efforts to learn a new language. Go for it, you will discover a new culture.
Cheers,

He was born in Afgahnistan but moved to Russia when he was about 17 or 18. He also speaks Hindi and Urdu. Speaking of which, I bought a Hindi/Urdu phrasebook just this past saturday so I can attempt to learn a little. I love Hindi music and Hindi movies! Said has exposed me to so many interesting things!

But MAN... Been away from here for too long... All I can say is that my Russian is progressing very slowly... Said keeps me very busy I must say... heh. I mean if I could post a pic of him here to show you all then you might unerstand why I'm so "pre-occupied"

It's great to see I'm still getting replies on this thread even after so long. I saw this one book in chapters that I might get on my next paycheck. It's like an exerscise book with flashcards and different lessons and stuff. It looks really neat. It might help a little more because I learn better when I have something visual to work with. So perhaps if anyone needs something more along those lines to help them I would suggest that. I will get back to you on the title though. I can't quite remember it. (it was something like "Learning Russian in 10 Minutes a Day"... but don't quote me on that... lol)

But thanx to everyone for their suggestions and I will try to frequent here more often! Tah tah!

P.S: Can anyone tell me how to post a pic in here? I tried to but I can't seem to get it to show up...

The easiest way (since files/photos cannot be attached to posts) is to go to a free photo hosting site (shutterfly, ofoto, yahoophoto, snapfish, etc) and upload your photos, and once you do, go to the photo you want, right-click on it, and click "properties". In the middle, you will see the web address for this photo, copy this, and in the forum, put

<*img src = "http://www.yoursite.com/picaddress">

without the "*" and paste the address you want in the quotations.

-Fantom

Thanx Fantom! I'll have to try that. I did manage to use a pic of Said as my profile pic. It's a little small but you can kind of get the idea of what he looks like. I'll try to post a larger one later when I get the chance! :P

I forgot to ask last time I posted--> Fisher, can you tell me how to pronounce those translations you wrote? I'm still learning russian script so I'm having difficulties reading it just yet. Your help would be most gracious! And you have certainly been much help already with your input as well as everyone who has replied to my lil' thread!

privjet

I'm a new member, and this is my first post on this forum, so I'd like to greet all of you.

I have even worse scenario than you guys, since my girlfriend is russian, and I'm serbian and none of is is quite fluent in english, so we're really struggling in conversation! our native languages are quite similar though, we can sometimes understand each other when we can't find a word in english.

the question is, should it be easier for me to learn russian, considering that similarity, or that may make even more difficulties? I've noticed that grammar is very similar, and some similar words have different endings, but pronunciation of letters and sentences is very different. At this very moment, I'm complete beginner in russian, and almost all words I know are swear words
I know it's much easier to improve our english and we are doing so, but I'd really like to learn some russian when I was given that opportunity.

I'm trying to use pimsleur and rosseta stone method, but I'm not satisfied with my progress! also, I'm very bad in learning grammar and I'm looking for some more natural method of learning.

I would think learning Russian would be easier, since it is close to Serbian and she speaks fluent Russian. If you both speak English as a second language, I think it would be harder on the relationship. Unless you both become very fluent in it... Anyway, Russian is a great language!