Thread: Learning in University

I plan on learning Russian in University.
I haven't had much exposure to the language thus far. My boyfriend is from Ukraine and his family speaks Russian at home. I know some phrases, and I have begun to understand what people say only because I understand words here and there, and I put the sentences together in my head.

I wanted to take a course at University of Toronto. I was wondering, has anyone taken such a course? Do they expect you to have prior knowledge of the language?
I tried looking for a professor, or anyone that I could e-mail, but I have found none.

Thank you for any advice, or stories you have about learning Russian in University (or another school setting, where you have absolutely no background).
((By no background, I mean, your family is not even Russian/Ukranian. For example, I am Italian.))

Well there is nothing unique about being a learner of Russian with no Russian background. Most people on my course don't have any background. And I know a few Italians (from Italy) studying the language.

Originally Posted by piano.lisa

I plan on learning Russian in University.
I haven't had much exposure to the language thus far.

Relax. Like TATY said, anybody can walk in from the registrar's office and join a class, as long as it's a beginner level course. Even in our crazy neighbor to the north, I don't think they bar Italians from study of Russian! And for what it's worth, I a)had 0 background in Russian and b)had no Russian ethnicity or any ties whatsoever, actually.

Originally Posted by Barmaley

Relax. Like TATY said, anybody can walk in from the registrar's office and join a class, as long as it's a beginner level course. Even in our crazy neighbor to the north, I don't think they bar Italians from study of Russian! And for what it's worth, I a)had 0 background in Russian and b)had no Russian ethnicity or any ties whatsoever, actually.

They assigned me to Russian in high-school. I didn't even get a choice!

Originally Posted by BlackMage

They assigned me to Russian in high-school. I didn't even get a choice!

Wow. What a fascist school! That's really lame. Although, I'd much rather get Russian than, say, Portugese.

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by Barmaley

Relax. Like TATY said, anybody can walk in from the registrar's office and join a class, as long as it's a beginner level course. Even in our crazy neighbor to the north, I don't think they bar Italians from study of Russian! And for what it's worth, I a)had 0 background in Russian and b)had no Russian ethnicity or any ties whatsoever, actually.

They assigned me to Russian in high-school. I didn't even get a choice!

Lucky you. My High School would never have even considered offering Russian, and the rest of the language courses offered were total slim-pickings. But times were different then . . .

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by Barmaley

Relax. Like TATY said, anybody can walk in from the registrar's office and join a class, as long as it's a beginner level course. Even in our crazy neighbor to the north, I don't think they bar Italians from study of Russian! And for what it's worth, I a)had 0 background in Russian and b)had no Russian ethnicity or any ties whatsoever, actually.

They assigned me to Russian in high-school. I didn't even get a choice!

WOw, Russian at high school! The real questiion is however, was it any good?

Originally Posted by basurero

WOw, Russian at high school! The real questiion is however, was it any good?

I can't say because I never studied a language anywhere else. A good deal of my classmates think they're incredible Russian speakers resultant of taking the classes though. I don't mean to sound elitist, but they aren't very good at all.

Originally Posted by Barmaley

Wow. What a fascist school!

More than you know.

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by basurero

WOw, Russian at high school! The real questiion is however, was it any good?

I can't say because I never studied a language anywhere else. A good deal of my classmates think they're incredible Russian speakers resultant of taking the classes though. I don't mean to sound elitist, but they aren't very good at all.

So you are better or what? How long did it last?

Yes and 3 years.
(I have MR, netsurfer, and Русский Размер to thank for the former)

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Yes and 3 years.
(I have MR, netsurfer, and Русский Размер to thank for the former)

ДА ЗДРАВСТВУЕТ РУССКИЙ РАЗМЕР!!! И ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМ Я ПО ТЕБЕ СКУЧАЮ>>.....

Originally Posted by basurero

ДА ЗДРАВСТВУЕТ РУССКИЙ РАЗМЕР!!! И ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМ Я ПО ТЕБЕ СКУЧАЮ>>.....

КРИЧАТЬ НЕ НАДО!

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by basurero

ДА ЗДРАВСТВУЕТ РУССКИЙ РАЗМЕР!!! И ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМ Я ПО ТЕБЕ СКУЧАЮ>>.....

КРИЧАТЬ НЕ НАДО!

Извини, я просто вошел в азарт от того, что ты заметил лучшую группу в мире..

Originally Posted by basurero

Извини, я просто вошел в азарт от того, что ты заметил лучшую группу в мире..

Ну и что? Я их давно уже заметил.

Ну, это первый раз, что кто-то замечает эту группу при мне... К тому же, каждый раз - новое восхищение!

hey im from cambridge ontario and im starting russian at university this september. sorry i cant help you with jumping into a language but im in the same boat. i have the alphabet almost down pat and im starting to see the patterns but school moves pretty fast. let me know if you find any advice. and good luck

UofT has a great Russian program, or so I hear. I know this because I go to York, and I was looking into taking a course at UofT (SL 3<something>). Alas, the bureaucractic latter of both universtieis were high to attain, hence why I figured I should just tkae it next fall.

fair enough. im going to u of waterloo. really dont know what kind of language program they have but will soon find out.