I know it is
But very want to speak about
Quote Originally Posted by bitpicker
Well, and now that I really start to think about it, it's not quite so easy anymore......
My mind has been becoming lighter after your explanation.
Actually, I started to understand English grammar from the books where every explaining was catching a likeness with Russian. Also I have liked the text-book for English studying by Cambridge University Press. There are all explaining in English, without any Russian words at all. But explaining build on everyday situations. I suppose, these ways of learning are the best.
In Russian we have short expression «Объяснить на пальцах». It means to be able to explain hard things with using of easy (down-to-earth language) words. I think, an ability like that is the hi level of mastery. It seems to me, I met here persons like one.
Quote Originally Posted by bitpicker
However, it is refreshing to see what (to us) simple things are hard for native speakers of Russian, so we don't have to feel so stupid when we have a hard time with the peculiarities of Russian.
Well, I constantly remember one thing, everybody has aptitude for foreign languages. Otherwise, Why can we speak in our own languages?
just we (Russian and English, German and English, Russian and German and so on) think in different ways.
Ищущий – да найдет!
Quote Originally Posted by rockzmom
If you had to ask a native the same questions that an immigrant needs to know to become a citizen, all of us natural born citizens would be deported!
It is strange, but after my studying of English I started to understand better my own languages. I think, my knowledge of Russian is more deeper now.
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English native speakers, people who studying Russian, and persons who knows English, please help us with translations of song, for example “Brunette” song. There are many of using of articles (“the”, “a(an)”). And the text is simple. Look at viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18854 . There are many Russian songs there. May be somebody wants to translate some. Ask about it. English songs for translation into Russian are interesting too!

For example a piece from “Clock” by Coldplay:

Come out of things unsaid
Shoot an apple off my head and a
Trouble that can't be named
A tiger's waiting to be tamed, singing

What does “an apple of….” mean? I don’t think that it is about an apple as a fruit! Please, help!