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I studied Russian language for a few years in college and am now wanting to help my young children learn the language. My children are 5 and 3. I am having an incredibly difficult time finding material for non-native speakers that caters to a young audience and my Russian grammar is too terrible to create my own. Can anyone give me advice on where to find material for this age group?
Thank you.
What exacly at you looking for? Tapes, Books, Videos?
Do you just want children's books that you can read to them?
There are many online Russian stores that are physically located in both America or Russia that you can order items such as books, videos, etc from. However, many of the websites or at least the titles of the books are in Russian so you need to be able to read enough Russian to place your order. Some of them actually have preschool workbooks in Russian under the children's book section.
Here are a few of the websites/stores that I have used. I usually order from the bookstores in the US only because it usually saves on shipping.
www.vasha-kniga.com
www.ruskniga.com
www.RusskieKnigi.com
www.kniga.com
www.ozon.ru
www.russiandvd.com
Hope that helps! I also am teaching my children Russian. Instead of using books, etc. I simply teach them words or phrases in both English and Russian. For example upon being given something they will say thank you in both languages. Around the house we speak Russian as much as possible or use Russian words as much as my vocabulary (which is limited) allows.
Check this thing I found on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1
Thanks for your replies. I'm specifically looking for material that is taught in English for young children-- A real curriculum, perhaps. Whether it is packaged as a video, book, or software is insignificant to me. Although I've found several course curriculums for older children through adult ages, I'm not aware of any that are for young children, which is exactly what I am looking for. Or, perhaps, you have other ideas about how I can help my children learn. My language skills are almost limited to use of nominative case...I can help them learn vocabulary and how to read, however.
I have never found a Russian language program for children and I have looked almost everywhere.
Like the item Kalinka Vinnie found, most of the stuff out there is vocabularly building rather than a fully designed language program.
I would think that it would be difficult to teach really young children from a full program due to the structure and nature of the Russian language. The case system is very challenging for native English speakers. Every learning system I have seen requires an understanding of things such as adjective, adverbs, etc. in order to properly use the different cases.
Perhaps you can start with teaching your children the Russian alphabet. You can make your own flash cards. But as a warning I did that with my three year old twins and now they get their English and Russian letters mixed up, especially the ones that look similiar.
If you ever do find a program please post what you find. I might be interested in it as well.
well if they are young enough, you dont have to teach them grammar. They just learn it on their own.
Non-natives teaching other non-natives tends to not work, especially if you want your children to attain a working fluency in Russian, rather than a working fluency in whatever bastardized version of Russian you speak at home.
Talking of bastardised language....Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackMage
Eat it. Try checking your facts before making an ass of yourself.Quote:
Originally Posted by TATY
I know -ize is the American spelling of -ise, that's the point.Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackMage
I was saying American English is basterdised English.
Seeing how we won the Revolutionary War, I would conjecture that we won the proverbial 'custody battle' and have rights to English. Also we saved your sorry asses in WWs I and II.Quote:
Originally Posted by TATY
But, I digress. We must put aside our differences and focus on... destroying the French!
You seem to have forgotten that the French helped the Yankies to kick the Brits out of what became later the USA. :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackMage
Well you can't really get custody because Britain raised English for for most of her lifetime, then she met that yound stud America who just abused poor English. Then America divorced Britain, and you know the mother always gets custody.Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackMage
And America didn't really do much in WW1. They sort of arrived when the party was almost over. Maybe like- Europe was getting raped in the kitchen and America was in the living room watching the game, and Europe kept screaming for help and America was like "shup biartch, I am watching the game", and by the time he (America) came to help, Germany had cum inside Europe....
Yes.
Anyway... Thanks to everyone who has showed interest in this particular area. While I agree that having a native speaker teach would be ideal, I would rather move forward in some instruction, so long as the information I present is not erroneous. I had signed my children up for classes with a native speaker, but the class was cancelled because my children were the only ones enrolled. Classes with a native speaker may become a possibility later since I will be helping with PR.
My children are advanced in their studies of American English and do know parts of speech. I think they would be able to comprehend some very basic Russian grammar. They know the Cyrillic alphabet now and I've begun teaching them verb conjugation and they do understand that. Still, it would be most helpful if someone recommended something that was helpful in learning Russian as a second language.
As a contribution to the battle of English vs. American English: We don't flog fags in this country! :roll:
I am impressed. Your children must be very smart.Quote:
Originally Posted by AKgrace
Whose mother's child do you know who isn't smart? They are intelligent, but I put more emphasis on nurture vs. nature in most any scenario. I know they are capable of knowing much more, but without guidance I'm feeling a bit incompetent of teaching them any foreign language--an area of study that I place a lot of weight on. Since I have some foundation in Russian, I thought it would be an easy place to start. Now, without material, I'm having my doubts.
What had already become the USA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spiderkat
Mamma KwattsQuote:
Originally Posted by AKgrace
I'd suggest you let your kids play outside, ride bikes, etc., but I see now that you live in Alaska.
So are you suggesting that my children don't play outside or ride bicycles, Mage? Let me defend myself: They are normal kids in a normal family and we do lot's of activities. The fact that we live in Alaska means that they get to sled and snowboard and ride their snowmobiles, learn mountian climbing and ice fishing, hike and camp in some of the most beautiful country on Earth, just to name a few things our family enjoys. And all that is on top of the normal kid stuff like playing in parks and in the sandbox and, of course, ride bikes. Just because my children also enjoy acedemia doesn't mean that they don't lead well balanced lives. I'm not forcing learning on them, it's just a part of our normal lives. Since they are in my constant care, life for them means that whatever we are doing is in the context of a "life" classroom. They are very interested in languages since we have relatives living in various areas of the globe. I'd like to feed their love of learning when they are young so that they have a good foundation for life. I'm disheartened that so many Americans only speak one language, myself included in that group, but I'd like to change that for my children. Therefore, I will do what I am able in order to procure the tools necessary for the nurture and development of those in my care. I would rather not be a passive parent, especiallly in the area of education.Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackMage
I'm not trying to be conceited; I know I can be at times. However, I am merely explaining that I am going against the tide of volunteering my children to the government education of this country that produces lazy, non-thinking spawn. I offer that children in general, but specifically my children, can understand so much more than is required of them by today's standards that letting them be bored by lack of direction and requiring nothing of them except for free-play is an outragous waste of life.
Since you belong to this forum, I'll take a guess that you agree that learning a second language is a valuable endeavor. Perhaps, at least as valuable as riding bikes?
Sometimes I think that there isn't such books and programms at all. But You can start to teach them as the any other young learners, songs, poems, and some simple words, simple grammar. If you need I can copy you some exercises and methods of work from the book of teaching English as a second language for young learners. You can try the same programm and words at first. I think it can be acceptable. And we can find some poems and songs which Russian children sing at this age that you can use with yours. Write me epyatakova@yahoo.com and let's think together. :)
Here there are lots of children songs with MP3: http://masterrussian.net/mforum/viewtopic.php?t=5264 :DQuote:
Originally Posted by jejik
Let us know if you need translation.
You have a 3 year old that rides a snowmobile? Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
Here there are lots of children songs with MP3: http://masterrussian.net/mforum/viewtopic.php?t=5264 :D
Let us know if you need translation.[/quote]
Of course this songs are very good... but too difficult for people who don't know Russian at all, I think they must start from something like
Если весело живется делай так... or Пол, нос, потолок... words can be changed to match the aim of teaching...
So the children will learn some words, pronounciation, and just be developed.
They need something with pictures, simple words...
For example, when you play hide-and-seek, say "Раз, два, три, четыре, пять - я иду искать". They will learn numbers, the word я and two verbs.
And so on...
The site of the product link kalinka_vinnie posted:
http://www.languageadvantage.com/kids/cdromkids.htm
It says the software is specifically for kids and it says 4 and up but that doesn't matter.
Hello AK Grace, I'm having much the same problems. :twisted: It's so frustrating, isn't it? There is so much on offer for children learning English, French and Spanish, yet next to nothing for Russian.
We live in Germany and my daughter is bilingual in English (mother tongue) and German (first foreign language). Where we live, there are a lot of Russians, so we have Russian bookstores, a Russian cultural institute, Russian kindergartens and so on, yet no one offers Russian courses for small children to learn together in a group. I've been trying to find something since she was 1.5 and now she is nearly 6. Even the Russian language center at the Russian cultural institute told me they had no plans to offer any courses for preschoolers.
What are your chances of finding a Russian babysitter where you live? Someone who could paint, play and sing songs with the kids in Russian twice a week. Or perhaps a granny with a bit of time on her hands who could read them stories, chat and sing songs with them?
As to language courses, there doesn't seem to be much about. I found this online but haven't ordered it:
http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/0 ... 83-4568060
There are two levels and it seems to be song-based vocabulary related to daily life. I thought that might be fun.
We have some Russian DVDs (Nu pagodi - which has practically no language, a collection of TV comics and Mogli which she does occasionally watch). She's been attending art school in Russian for nearly 3 years. I don't think she has picked up more than a word or two to be honest. Seems to me, kids need more immersion with a native speaker. They need to recognise an actual need to learn and reproduce the language. At art school for instance, she just replies in German if she's spoken to in Russian because she knows that people will understand her so why bother trying to speak Russian? But that's ok by me, I just wanted her to hear the language and acquire an ear for it.
I am considering taking her to a private school near Moscow in summer which offers cheap Russian courses for school children and young people during school holidays. Don't know if I can post the link without that being advertising? PM me if you'd like to have it.
My daughter's father is Russian and lives in Moscow, the grandparents speak neither English nor German so I would like her to learn the language, be in touch with her roots and be able to communicate with her relatives. It's an uphill battle though.
Russian families here tell me they get Russian TV via satellite. Would that be a possibility for you - to reinforce any teaching you're doing?
Good luck, let me know how you get on. Maybe we can pool ideas!
Lots of free childrens ebooks:
http://www.machaon.ru/kuski/sol/
http://publ.lib.ru/ARCHIVES/_HUD_DTS/_Hud_dts.html
Scott
the kid wont lean russian unless she has a constant flow. should have sent her to the kindergarten with the other russian kids and she would ave got it for free. maybe befriend some russians and get her some exposure
She went to a German kindergarten since it is more important that she learns German and that worked very well. She'll be attending a German school, so it was really essential that she master German. She has contact to Russian children of course but like most children who are non-native speakers of German, they prefer to communicate with each other in German since that is the language of their daily life and I think that is a fairly natural development. Russian parents have great difficulty getting their children to keep up Russian once they're out of the purely Russian home environment and attending kindergarten or school. Russian doesn't have high status here which may be part of the reason for that. There were also a couple of aspects of the way the Russian kindergartens I visited were run which made them unacceptable to me personally - but then that's another story. I never seriously considered them an option for us.
I think I have made the best arrangements for us under our circumstances and I'm happy with that. I just find it a pity that there is practically no organised Russian teaching for non-Russian speaking children here. In contrast, we have excellent teaching facilities for preschool learners of many other languages, including Mandarin and Japanese.