Thread: Newby

Hello. Just dropped in.
I am brand new, and only know a few basic words in Russian. More then anything, I am looking for people to practice with.
Introduce yourselves to me if you will.

Hi!
You need to know more than a few basic words. And it will be extremely difficult to practice with people if you don't know anything, both for you and the person you're practicing with. Try to enroll in a class or find a tutor(or, in the worst case, get some books to teach yourself with). Good luck.

What do you mean 'In the worst case'? Self-study is the most gratifying and fun form of learning a language. You can adjust the pace yourself, and you feel as if you've actually accomplished something.

Because most people aren't like you, and it's hard for them to stick to a self-study course. If they actually do, they usually don't learn things very well. And no matter how good you are, your listening comprehension and speaking will always suck if you taught yourself.

I agree with both of you. I am a very good learner, when I go at my own pace, and do extremely bad when at group pace. However, I also am quite aware that hands on education of speaking with other people is imminent.
Sadly, I don't know anyone locally who speaks Russian and I don't have enough time to be taking courses. I study mostly in pockets of free time.

And no matter how good you are, your listening comprehension and speaking will always suck if you taught yourself

Wouldn't say that now. What about all those people who learn English from television? I don't think anyone in my class has learnt anything from English lessons. They just watch American movies, the Discovery Channel, BBC, crap series like 'Friends' or 'Will and Grace' and I'm sure they would understand it fine if the subtitles fell out. That's why I'm bugging my parents for satellite-tv, so I can receive Russian channels. Yes, yes, oh yay. I can't see why studying at university helps your listening comprehension and oral communication any more than respectively watching tv and going to Russia.