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csdandridge
Joined: 29 Aug 2013 Posts: 6
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 6:14 pm Post subject: I know no Russian language... |
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I got an offer from a school in Saint Petersburg. It would start in September.
I would obviously start learning the language now.
But comrades, will I be miserable in Saint Petersburg with only an elementary grasp of the language?
Any advice greatly appreciated. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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Come to the Paradise. Find a pillow dictionary. Make great strides!
No one is ever miserable in the Motherland. Too much joy to be had being free from the Piggies. |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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You can learn to read and pronounce Russian letters in a few days. As most Russian words are spoken exactly as they are spelt (almost the opposite of British English), you will then have the use of a dictionary. Not bad.
My suggestion is to buy a book like the Penguin Russian course and get the first few chapters under your belt. That should include the reading, pronunciation and some basic Russian (please, thank you, I want, etc). If I were you, I would not bother with the handwritten Russian, as it will hold you up when you first start. And buy a pocket Anglo-Russian dictionary (Oxford is ok).
Don't try to learn everything - nobody expects that - but at least get those functional bits mastered. |
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teacher X
Joined: 13 Feb 2013 Posts: 220 Location: Super Sovietsky Apartment Box 918
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 8:59 am Post subject: |
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Russian is a bitch to learn. I'm no linguist, so I find my classes to be rather painful. But as Coledavis states, get the basics under your belt and you'll be alright in general day to day situations.
I can competently order in restaurants, do my shopping, ask for directions and such. I can express myself in a simple manner and have fairly basic conversations, but this has taken about 10 months to achieve. But I'm a real lazy student and rarely do anything outside of class. If I were a dedicated student, I would be speaking pretty well by now.
So, get yourself some lessons, maybe twice a week and you'll do fine.
That said, I know teachers who have been here for years and have a lower level of Russian than I do. So clearly you can get by knowing almost nothing, but you'll be very dependent on Russian friends and colleagues to help you out. |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 9:12 am Post subject: |
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As part of the basics, learn stuff like counting to 10 (up to 20 is better but a bit more difficult), also the days of the week. When making appointments, your life will be so much easier when you know your Tuesday from your Thursday. |
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roywebcafe
Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 9:19 am Post subject: |
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How about Pimsleur? I managed to get (Torrents) Levels 1,2 and 3 of pimsleur language. Has anyone tried it and found it useful? Its from an american perspective " you are an american man talking to a russian etc"
coledavis wrote: |
You can learn to read and pronounce Russian letters in a few days. As most Russian words are spoken exactly as they are spelt (almost the opposite of British English), you will then have the use of a dictionary. Not bad.
My suggestion is to buy a book like the Penguin Russian course and get the first few chapters under your belt. That should include the reading, pronunciation and some basic Russian (please, thank you, I want, etc). If I were you, I would not bother with the handwritten Russian, as it will hold you up when you first start. And buy a pocket Anglo-Russian dictionary (Oxford is ok).
Don't try to learn everything - nobody expects that - but at least get those functional bits mastered. |
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teacher X
Joined: 13 Feb 2013 Posts: 220 Location: Super Sovietsky Apartment Box 918
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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I used Rosetta Stone for a while. It's good initially, but once it starts getting onto cases, you really need to be using a text book to explain the grammar aspect. I found the tasks almost impossible without some extended grammatical study.
https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31.0-8/977380_10152873100585613_1016773808_o.jpg
This will become your very best friend.
What's the point in having the [img] tag on this site when it doesn't work? |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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The Penguin is in British English but at the level you want it, I don't think the cultural references will be all that important. |
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jonniboy
Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Panama City, Panama
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Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 8:57 am Post subject: |
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As a bare minimum learn the alphabet. You'll then find a fair number of recognisable words in common with other major European languages like English or French. "PECTOPAH" makes a lot more sense when you can read Cyrillic |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 9:02 am Post subject: |
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Double plus good comment!
Дубил плус гуд коммент! |
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roywebcafe
Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259
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Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks will look out for penguin.
coledavis wrote: |
The Penguin is in British English but at the level you want it, I don't think the cultural references will be all that important. |
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LAR1SSA
Joined: 02 Nov 2013 Posts: 48 Location: Memphis
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 7:45 am Post subject: Re: I know no Russian language... |
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csdandridge wrote: |
I got an offer from a school in Saint Petersburg. It would start in September.
I would obviously start learning the language now.
But comrades, will I be miserable in Saint Petersburg with only an elementary grasp of the language?
Any advice greatly appreciated. |
There are a LOT of people who speak English in Saint Pete, if you are lazy you could get away with barely knowing Russian and be just fine...
On that note, its better that you get a private teacher or some vocab apps on your phone for the metro rides |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 7:40 am Post subject: |
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But why limit yourself when there is so much richness to be experienced in learning Russian? Crack open the books and open up a new dimension.
Hic! |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 5:08 am Post subject: |
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Sashadroogie wrote: |
But why limit yourself when there is so much richness to be experienced in learning Russian? Crack open the books and open up a new dimension. |
Seconded!
Warm regards,
fat_chris |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:01 am Post subject: |
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Fat_chris, is that you?! Back from your top-secret mission?
You are looking well. Added a few pounds I see.
Welcome back! Hang on... I'll just crack open the Beluga crate lying here under my office desk...
CHEERS!! |
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