Thread: Where to go next

I have just started on NJ Brown's New Penguin Course. (On chapter 2 - only just started )

I was wondering a few things though. I personaly prefer a heavy grammatical approach (NPRC seems to be good for that, good for modern language courses anyway), but if there is one which is more involved then great, as I would really love to be highly fluent ASAP.

Also, my main goal is to read Russian literature (Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky etc), so what should I do after NPRC, and what authors/books should I start with?


Thanks

Dear Androvsky,

You are awesome. I love grammar. Away with these shiny colorful sticker-decal Learn Russian in 5 Minutes books! Anyhow, New Penguin is good, so finish that before you start worrying about other books. Jasper used it and he seems to have a pretty good grip on grammar(much as I love to point out his mistakes, I'm simply jealous). You could try looking for used college textbooks. And, please do continue to visit this site.

You know, I have a rather nice reader "From Pushkin to Pasternak" that takes selections from authors you mentioned and provides vocabulary and explanations of more complex constructions. You could look for it after you get deeper into NPR. Have fun.

The thing that taught me the usefulness of grammer is actually a text book on classical greek by Anne Groton (i got halfway through then stopped to do russian.)

Until then all my brushes with languages consisted of learning how to say 'I have a pink bedroom and I want to buy a green bag.'

Luckily for me, the Russian case system is not to different from greek, so I have a slight head start

As for the site, when i can say a few more things, then i intend to use the russian only bit. I mean, how many times have i heard of people becoming fluent (incredibly fluent) in English using the net, its my turn now


ty for the help, I will keep an eye out for the book you mentioned.

Dogboy learned Russian to a respectable level using only the net, it's rather interesting(well, he does live near lots of Russians, but it is my understanding they generally don't spend much time teaching him). If your main aim is simply to read authors in the original Russian, you should have no problem. If you want to speak and understand spoken language, though, books and internet may not be adequate.

Well, I was going to use it to watch Tarkovsky aswell

And I also have a world Radio and have found Voice of Russia's russianm broadcast to the UK, which should be useful.


btw, how do i type in russian on these forums?

ty again

Mr. Androvsky, you know, there needs to be a FAQ on the topic, really. Anyhow, I'll repeat it for you, only because I have nothing else to do:

(Windows 2000/XP)
Control Panel
Regional and Language Options
Languages tab
Details
Add Russian
OK
Advanced
Select Russian
OK

You might need the Windows XP disc for it, but I only needed it when I installed support for East Asian languages. As for Windows 95/98/ME, the process is similar, except that you have to go to "Keyboard" section as well and add Russian manually. Have fun.

У меня розовая спальня и хочу купить зелёный мешок! Your first brush with the Russian language.

ПривЕт, я атАковал КанАду. Вы хотИте шоколАд?

атаковал

Здравствуйте, я убил вашу маму! Не хотите прогуляться?

I have no idea what you are all saying, but спасибо all the same

Were you able to set up your computer to type in Russian? You know, it'd be a good idea simply to make a page on my website about this and link people to it.

Yeah, I uses regional tools etc.

Making an FAQ thing might be a good idea.

The new MasterRussian Fan Site has opened. Currently all it does is tell you how to set up your computer to type in Russian.

http://www.freewebs.com/pravit/