Learning Russian

Discussion in 'Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, & the former Soviet Repu' started by ProfZodiac, Feb 7, 2003.

  1. ProfZodiac

    ProfZodiac Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jan 17, 2003
    Boston, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Okay, so I'm using the Pimsleur Traveler's Edition in Russian, but I'd like to be able to read and write Russian as well. Where would I go to find such a course?

    Ya tolka nimanoga ponymayo barusskia.

    Prof
     
  2. Zenit

    Zenit Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 3, 2000
    Above the Tear Line
    Club:
    Zenit St Petersburg
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Congrats on starting out...I really hope you stick with it and become proficient with the language, you will find that it is a very rich and melodic language.

    Certainly, as I suggested before, I would consider taking an extension or night course to supplement your Pimsleur course. The full Pimsleur courses (which are quite a bit more extensive that the Traveler's Edition) are the best you can do w/o classroom instruction or a 6 year hitch in the military. However, here is another suggestion you may consider that have been pretty effective for a lot of people, and doesn't cost a dime:

    http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/rvp/pubaf/chronicle/v8/o28/russian.html

    Like most European countries, Russians get a lot more exposure to second language instruction than Americans do, and English & German are the most popular languages in Russian secondary education; it is quite common to find Russians that have at least a conversational or working knowledge of English, while it is extremely rare to find an American that has the same ability in Russian. I have no doubt that you could find someone in your area that wants to improve their conversational knowledge of English and who would be willing to provide basic Russian language instruction, filling in the gaps that Pimsleur doesn't cover, in exchange for your tutelage & instruction of intermediate level English. Happens all the time locally, the local emigre paper here seems to always have one or two ads requesting exchange instruction with every issue.

    Place a classified at either http://www.russianamerica.com/ or
    http://www.russianboston.com/ ; I'd bet you'll get a response quickly. You can write the classified in English and send it to me, I'll type it up in Russian for you if you wish.
     
  3. Shurik

    Shurik New Member

    Nov 2, 1999
    Baltimore, MD
    Sign up for Shurik's Express Course of Practical Russian! It's fast! It's fun!! It's useful!!! And, best of all, it's FREE!!!!

    Lesson #1: Confronting Souvenir Vendors on the Red Square.

    Spasibo, ne nado [spa-SEE-bah, nen-AH-dah]: I am not interested in your crap.

    Poshel ty! [PSHOL tyh]: Leave me alone, commie!

    Ty che, komandir, ya zh ryazanskiy! [Tyh CHYOH, koh-mahn-DEER, ya-zh ryah-ZAHN-ski]: My beloved President George Bush shall not stand for this assault on one of his subjects. Why, he is saddling his cowboy horse right now and coming here with a baseball bat, NATO and UN be damned, you effin' terrorist!

    Lesson #2: Riding the Metro!

    Vyhodite? [Vyh-HOE-dee-teh]: Could you get your unshaven arse out of the way lest I miss my stop, please?

    Na Teatral'nuyu zdes' perehodyat?: [nuh teah-TRAL-noo-yoo ZDES peh-reh-HOE-dyat]: I am a silly foreigner who has been duped to go to Bolshoi and see ballet. I hope it's as much fun as monster trucking. Is this the station where I transfer to the Theatre Square?

    Lesson #3: Buying provisions!

    Devushka, polpalochki lyubitel'skoi, pozhaluysta!: [DEH-voosh-kah pol-PAH-lotch-kee lyoo-BEE-tel-skoy po-ZHAH-LOOY-stah]: Hey there, hot mama, why don't you gimme some o' that lovin'. An' that fatty yet delicious Russian sausage too. Then, maybe, I show you mine

    (Note: the above Russian statement is only applicable when referring to 50-year-old counter ladies with varicose veins on their forehead.)

    Che-che? Ya zdesya s utra stoyu, da! Sama dura! [CHYO-CHYO ya ZDEH-sya soo-TRAH stoh-YOO DA sah-MAH DOO-rah]: Please, do not force the issue, as I have taken a spot in this line several hours ago and by no means am I violating the sacred laws of queuing
     
  4. Zenit

    Zenit Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 3, 2000
    Above the Tear Line
    Club:
    Zenit St Petersburg
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good stuff Shurik ;)
     
  5. Slitty

    Slitty Member

    Apr 17, 2005
    Russia

    Effing lovely! :D :D :D I am actually laughing outloud... oh oh... still... something must be wrong. In any case, I see why the call you St. Shurik. Brilliant work.
     
  6. yasik19

    yasik19 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chelsea
    Ukraine
    Oct 21, 2004
    Daly City
    You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Shurik again.
    :D
     
  7. ProfZodiac

    ProfZodiac Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jan 17, 2003
    Boston, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wow, this thread is old.

    What possessed you to go digging in the Russian forum, Slitty?
     
  8. gaijin

    gaijin New Member

    Aug 1, 2004
    Malaysia
    ya gavaryoo pa-russki

    Crap, that's not right is it?

    Slitty likes to dig up old fossils. But that's enough about his taste in women.....



    Whooooah Oh...calm down. I'm only joking. You know I love you really... How about a big old ':p' for you beloved ganu.

    Christ Prof, you look really young in that thread, so care-free - like with I don't give a damn attitude, so rebellious.
     
  9. Slitty

    Slitty Member

    Apr 17, 2005
    Russia

    I just realized there was a "1 month", "since the beginning", ect feature to display old threads. So I chose "since the begining" and clicked on the last page for kicks, this caught my eye and I am glad it did :)






    Hey hey, your momma wouldn't appreciate you calling her a fossil :cool: (Really sorry, I dont have the talent of others on these boards and sadly this is the best I could think of on the spot :( )
     
  10. TORPEDO

    TORPEDO Member

    Sep 19, 1999
    Za nakryityim stolom
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Russia
    Don't talk like dat 'bout "g" ' s Momma - how would you feel as a byproduct of the foist and only "Kalmyik cloning male impregnation" experiment - KACMI - mit an Uigur jizm? :cool:
     
  11. gaijin

    gaijin New Member

    Aug 1, 2004
    Malaysia
    You cheeky bastard. How dare you....







    It was Zhuang jizz you idiot. :rolleyes:
     
  12. TORPEDO

    TORPEDO Member

    Sep 19, 1999
    Za nakryityim stolom
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Russia
    The Macedonian one testicled shepherders knows his buddies fin de steppes, and joo wrong KACMI was a symbolic step towards Uigur - Kalmyik warm (as in 7 "halats" warm) and prosperous (as in pilaf mit the fat form the behind of de fat tail lamb) relationships.
     
  13. gaijin

    gaijin New Member

    Aug 1, 2004
    Malaysia
    *insert Forza Moskva's childish retort here*
     
  14. DynamoKiev_USA

    DynamoKiev_USA New Member

    Jul 6, 2003
    Silver Spring, MD
    HAHAHA SHURIK :D :D Genius stuff.

    Come on man, where's the book!
     

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