Thread: Introducing myself :)

Hello... My name is Amy and I'm from the US. My new goal is to learn Russian and more about Russia. I just happened to run across this forum, have been visiting a lot lately, and decided to join. Oh boy, I do believe I have my work cut out for me. lol I must admit I am quite intimidated by this language, but I'm up for a challenge and I'm finding it exciting. I don't know any other languages except English. I only took one year each of Spanish and German in high school and, unfortunately, didn't learn much in those classes due to being a goofy teenager who wasn't very concerned about my studies at the time. THIS language is very intriguing to me, so I think that is why I've developed an interest in learning it. I am a slow learner though and do realize that it will take me many years. I am very curious and ask a lot of questions. I just downloaded a Russian preschool alphabet app on my phone. I enjoy going through the alphabet and trying to learn the letters and their sounds, some of which I cannot make the sound at all. Someday I would like to visit Russia. First question... how is my name spelled and pronounced in Russian... the same or different than English?

This seems like a respectful, mature forum, and I look forward to making some new friends and learning a lot.

Привет, Эми. Как дела? Как поживаете? Это смелый вызов учить русский язык. Мой скайп: mavr1406 Пишите, я помогу Вам в изучении русского...

Привет Amur... the only thing I figured out on my own was "Hi, Amy"... the rest I had to use a translator online. I've never used Skype, but I will look into it and maybe start using it. By the way, I'm doing fine... how are you?

Here download skype: Download Skype on your computer - Mac, Windows, Linux - Skype

I rarely stop by this site, and I am constantly on Skype, and little by little you could teach Russian language ...

My new goal is to learn Russian

Hi, Amy!

Entering a world of pain?

Welcome to this great site! I am here because I surrendered to learn English and enjoy watching how other people are struggling with a bit more difficult language like Russian

Originally Posted by Amur

Here download skype: Download Skype on your computer - Mac, Windows, Linux - Skype

Originally Posted by Amur

I rarely stop by this site, and I am constantly on Skype, and little by little you could teach Russian language ...

I will do that, Amur. Спасибо!

Originally Posted by maxmixiv

Hi, Amy!

Entering a world of pain?

Yes. lol I'm all too well aware of this fact... it might be better if I wasn't.

Welcome to this great site! I am here because I surrendered to learn English and enjoy watching how other people are struggling with a bit more difficult language like Russian

Спасибо! Hahahahaha Well, I'm a gluten for punishment so... Enjoy!

Welcome to MR! It's a good idea to start learning Russian, I think it will be very useful for u in future. We will try to help you. Good luck!

Привет, Эми. Меня зовут Джейден.
I'm from the US too. The first thing should be to learn the alphabet. I memorized it. Btw, you won't find "W" in the Russian alphabet, lol. But I've seen "OУ" used as an equivalent sound.
Good luck! If you have any questions, just ask.

Originally Posted by lorente

Welcome to MR! It's a good idea to start learning Russian, I think it will be very useful for u in future. We will try to help you. Good luck!

Спасибо! I will need all the help I can get.

Originally Posted by UhOhXplode

Привет, Эми. Меня зовут Джейден.
I'm from the US too. The first thing should be to learn the alphabet. I memorized it. Btw, you won't find "W" in the Russian alphabet, lol. But I've seen "OУ" used as an equivalent sound.
Good luck! If you have any questions, just ask.

Привет, Джейден... Спасибо! I'm from Michigan. I just started this crazy idea of mine. lol I am now wondering what I got myself into. I have been practicing the alphabet... some letters I'm having a very difficult time with, and I'm having a hard time trying to blend the sound of some letters. My mind constantly wants to resort back to English sounds. *sigh* I hope this is normal.

Originally Posted by Amy6710

Привет, Джейден... Спасибо! I'm from Michigan. I just started this crazy idea of mine. lol I am now wondering what I got myself into. I have been practicing the alphabet... some letters I'm having a very difficult time with, and I'm having a hard time trying to blend the sound of some letters. My mind constantly wants to resort back to English sounds. *sigh* I hope this is normal.

LOL! I was lucky because I already studied French and a little German. "ж" is like the French "j". Just put your tongue in the middle of your mouth and don't let it touch the top of your mouth then pronounce "j".
Oh, and "р" is like a trilled "r" but at the back of the mouth. It's fun to learn. Just do what I did and learn a few letters each day till you know them all.
Just one problem. Now when I speak English it sounds like I have a Russian accent, LOL!

Originally Posted by UhOhXplode

LOL! I was lucky because I already studied French and a little German. "ж" is like the French "j". Just put your tongue in the middle of your mouth and don't let it touch the top of your mouth then pronounce "j".
Oh, and "р" is like a trilled "r" but at the back of the mouth. It's fun to learn. Just do what I did and learn a few letters each day till you know them all.
Just one problem. Now when I speak English it sounds like I have a Russian accent, LOL!

Thanks for the advice, my friend! Some of these sounds take a lot of practice to make... wow! I will definitely take a small group of letters at a time and just work on those until I have them mastered. Much easier than going thru the whole alphabet at once. lol about your Russian accent! Well, that means it's sticking, so that's a good thing!

That guy, speaking for Dmitriy, won't get rid of the accent in a hurry too

Originally Posted by Amy6710

Thanks for the advice, my friend! Some of these sounds take a lot of practice to make... wow! I will definitely take a small group of letters at a time and just work on those until I have them mastered. Much easier than going thru the whole alphabet at once. lol about your Russian accent! Well, that means it's sticking, so that's a good thing!

I made this a long time ago from stuff I found online. I cutout the script stuff and organized it with a copy of the alphabet that I made. Maybe you can copy it and it can help you too.

Line 1 = the Russian alphabet.
Line 2 = If you switch the keyboard mode of your PC to Russian, in windows, these are the English keys to use to get each of the letters.
Line 3 = What each letter kinda sounds like.
Line 4 = The Russian alphabet in cursive.
Line 5 = Examples of how to connect the cursive letters.
The rest = Some notes about some of the letters and symbols.

I lined the letters up vertically to make them easier to find.

Originally Posted by UhOhXplode

I made this a long time ago from stuff I found online. I cutout the script stuff and organized it with a copy of the alphabet that I made. Maybe you can copy it and it can help you too.

Line 1 = the Russian alphabet.
Line 2 = If you switch the keyboard mode of your PC to Russian, in windows, these are the English keys to use to get each of the letters.
Line 3 = What each letter kinda sounds like.
Line 4 = The Russian alphabet in cursive.
Line 5 = Examples of how to connect the cursive letters.
The rest = Some notes about some of the letters and symbols.

I lined the letters up vertically to make them easier to find.

Wow... this is awesome! Thanks so much! I'm definitely going to print this off and use it. I didn't know I could switch my keyboard over to Russian... good deal! I'm still working on the alphabet. I haven't done much of anything the past couple days due to being busy and not feeling very well. Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Amy6710

Wow... this is awesome! Thanks so much! I'm definitely going to print this off and use it. I didn't know I could switch my keyboard over to Russian... good deal! I'm still working on the alphabet. I haven't done much of anything the past couple days due to being busy and not feeling very well. Thanks again!

Ouch! I hope you get well.
If you have Windows 7, it's really easy. Here's a link.

Add or change an input language

Ummm... That vid is really fast so here's what it's saying:

1. Click 'Start' in the task bar. (the Windows button)
2. In the right-side list, click 'Control Panel'.
3. The pop-up box: In the upper right corner Search box, type 'input language'.
4. Click 'Change keyboards or other input methods'.
5. The pop-up box: Click 'Change Keyboards'.
6. The pop-up box: Click 'Add'.
7. The pop-up box: Scroll around and locate a language you want to add.
8. Click the '+' box beside it. When you get to a list with empty boxes, click to put a check mark in the box you want.
9. Click 'Okay'. -- Click 'Okay' on the previous pop-up box. -- Click 'Okay' on the previous pop-up box.
10. 'X' out the first pop-up box. -- Now all the pop-up boxes are gone.
11. On the task bar, near the right side, look for the letters 'EN'. -- That's the language bar thing.
12. Left-click that.
13. In the drop-box, just click on the language you want to be typing with. -- It will be the language used when you post, use WordPad, or use Paint or other apps.

AN EASY METHOD: If you want to add another language to your list, do this.

1. Right-click the 'EN' thing on the task bar.
2. In the drop-box, click 'Settings'.
3. The pop-up box: Click 'Add'.
4. The pop-up box is the same one you saw in the other list (above). -- Scroll around and locate a language you want to add.
5. Click the '+' box beside it. When you get to a list with empty boxes, click to put a check mark in the box you want.
6. Click 'Okay'.
7. Click 'Okay' on the previous box.
8. 'X' out the final box.
9. Now if you click 'EN', the new language will be in your list.

If you don't have Windows 7 or have any issues trying to get a new language, let me know.

Originally Posted by UhOhXplode

Ouch! I hope you get well.
If you have Windows 7, it's really easy. Here's a link.

Add or change an input language

Ummm... That vid is really fast so here's what it's saying:

1. Click 'Start' in the task bar. (the Windows button)
2. In the right-side list, click 'Control Panel'.
3. The pop-up box: In the upper right corner Search box, type 'input language'.
4. Click 'Change keyboards or other input methods'.
5. The pop-up box: Click 'Change Keyboards'.
6. The pop-up box: Click 'Add'.
7. The pop-up box: Scroll around and locate a language you want to add.
8. Click the '+' box beside it. When you get to a list with empty boxes, click to put a check mark in the box you want.
9. Click 'Okay'. -- Click 'Okay' on the previous pop-up box. -- Click 'Okay' on the previous pop-up box.
10. 'X' out the first pop-up box. -- Now all the pop-up boxes are gone.
11. On the task bar, near the right side, look for the letters 'EN'. -- That's the language bar thing.
12. Left-click that.
13. In the drop-box, just click on the language you want to be typing with. -- It will be the language used when you post, use WordPad, or use Paint or other apps.

AN EASY METHOD: If you want to add another language to your list, do this.

1. Right-click the 'EN' thing on the task bar.
2. In the drop-box, click 'Settings'.
3. The pop-up box: Click 'Add'.
4. The pop-up box is the same one you saw in the other list (above). -- Scroll around and locate a language you want to add.
5. Click the '+' box beside it. When you get to a list with empty boxes, click to put a check mark in the box you want.
6. Click 'Okay'.
7. Click 'Okay' on the previous box.
8. 'X' out the final box.
9. Now if you click 'EN', the new language will be in your list.

If you don't have Windows 7 or have any issues trying to get a new language, let me know.

Thanks for all the info and being so helpful!