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What dictionary and learning package?

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Posted by: vic2012

Hi Guys,
Just wanted to say that 8 months have already flown by since Victoria came. She works part time now in Lowestoft and her English is so good, it’s fluent. Little Ilya (5 years old) is in school and he’s learning to read at the same time as learning to speak. He understands a lot, but doesn’t talk a lot. But, now and again, he comes out with some little gem, which leaves everyone surprised. They are very pleased with his progress at school.

Problem is that, he always converses in Russian with Victoria and, of course, when he speaks to the family back in Omsk, which is every day! And I find myself a bit on the sidelines.

He watches Russian films and animation, which I don’t mind, because I’m not much of a tele watcher myself. But recently, he’s been starting to translate bits for me! And, this has led to me having visions of us in Russian this summer, with this little 5 year old having to act as translator for me.

No way, So, I decided to take up the Russian language myself and it’s already coming on quite well. Mind you, I don’t think I’ll ever get the hang of the exact word endings, a possible 24 endings for each noun and then there’s the anomalies.

Anyway this gets me on to the subject of learning. And I want to say that, after a lot of looking (in my library and some book shops) I’ve found that the best dictionary to have is The Oxford Beginner’s Russian Dictionary. It’s compact (330 pages) and gives examples of word usage as well as translation. And, words are printed in Blue to make reading it easier. It also has a complete section on grammar, phrases, pronunciation etc.

Amazingly, you can buy this dictionary new, on Amazon, for under a pound:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-li...05717334&sr=8-1
A little more in US, at $6:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...05717680&sr=1-1

I’ve also sussed out the learning packages. And my choice is Beginner’s Russian, by Rachel Farmer. The book comes with two CDs. It takes things slowly and gives you a chance to learn things before you move on. It's a really good book. Available for £15 (but under a fiver, if you just want the book):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-li...05717973&sr=1-5
But in US only $12:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...05714865&sr=8-1

I hope some of you find the information helpful.

I’ll write soon.


Posted by: Chrismc

Great to hear things are going well Vic, I need the same but for Ukrainian I stated off learning Russian and now have to learn Ukrainian, it is not easy but I am trying a little.

BTW my future stepdaughter is 7 and only speaks very very basic English, so I will be arranging private lessons for her when I go in 2 days time, to try and get her moving forward a little faster, ready for when they come to the UK in June.

I have spoken to local schools about this and they tell me they have no worries about her English skills and say she will be speaking almost fluently in a few months, so that gives me confidence, but as we all now kids do pick up things very quickly.

I would be interested in hearing how Ilya gets on.


Posted by: vic2012

The answer is amazing Chris!

In just a few months Ilya already understands most of what is being said to him, It will take a little longer for him to come out of his shell and converse. When stangers talk to him, like in the supermarket, he just stands there....silent, looking bewildered. But he knows exactly what they're saying!

Dont worry about your seven year old. Immersion is the fastest way to learn. And thats what she'll get in school. In six months, she will understand most of what is being said. And, the amazing thing is, kids think in the language being used. They dont have to translate.

Of course I'll stay in touch. I'd love to know how you get on.

Ps watch out for misunderstandings. Its the only problems I seem to have with V.


Posted by: azamuner

Thanks for the info Vic, I'll see if I can find these at my local bookstore.


Posted by: Chrismc

Thats great Vic that Ilya is picking it up so well, I think adults have a lot more worries about the language than kids, to them it is just soaked up so easily.

Great to hear you are all getting on so well Vic.


Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:
Originally Posted by vic2012
Hi Guys,
Just wanted to say that 8 months have already flown by since Victoria came. She works part time now in Lowestoft and her English is so good, it’s fluent. Little Ilya (5 years old) is in school and he’s learning to read at the same time as learning to speak. He understands a lot, but doesn’t talk a lot. But, now and again, he comes out with some little gem, which leaves everyone surprised. They are very pleased with his progress at school.

Problem is that, he always converses in Russian with Victoria and, of course, when he speaks to the family back in Omsk, which is every day! And I find myself a bit on the sidelines.

He watches Russian films and animation, which I don’t mind, because I’m not much of a tele watcher myself. But recently, he’s been starting to translate bits for me! And, this has led to me having visions of us in Russian this summer, with this little 5 year old having to act as translator for me.

No way, So, I decided to take up the Russian language myself and it’s already coming on quite well. Mind you, I don’t think I’ll ever get the hang of the exact word endings, a possible 24 endings for each noun and then there’s the anomalies.

Anyway this gets me on to the subject of learning. And I want to say that, after a lot of looking (in my library and some book shops) I’ve found that the best dictionary to have is The Oxford Beginner’s Russian Dictionary. It’s compact (330 pages) and gives examples of word usage as well as translation. And, words are printed in Blue to make reading it easier. It also has a complete section on grammar, phrases, pronunciation etc.

Amazingly, you can buy this dictionary new, on Amazon, for under a pound:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-li...05717334&sr=8-1
A little more in US, at $6:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...05717680&sr=1-1

I’ve also sussed out the learning packages. And my choice is Beginner’s Russian, by Rachel Farmer. The book comes with two CDs. It takes things slowly and gives you a chance to learn things before you move on. It's a really good book. Available for £15 (but under a fiver, if you just want the book):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-li...05717973&sr=1-5
But in US only $12:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...05714865&sr=8-1

I hope some of you find the information helpful.

I’ll write soon.

Thanks Vic,
I will look into these, I have in the past used "Rosetta Stone" on the internet and also purchased "Russian 1" from Pimsleur, have learned from both but they both have their draw backs. Just recently started getting some personal tutoring from a Russian woman at the local university, but she is only here until beginning of May and then goes back to Volgograd where she teaches English there.
I do not have great skill in learning languages, hell I propably should take a class of "English as a second language". Which is really funny considering my younger sister is an English major, studing 2 years at Oxford.


Posted by: vic2012

You write a long message and then find you missed out the reason for sending it.

It costs next to nothing. Thats what it was about.

Complete New Russing learning course, book with CD's for $12!!! And it's a really good learnable programme.

And the Dictionary is an excellent one and available for next to nothing.
But someone must have read this thread, because the one pound ones have all gone. but still available for £2.60!


Posted by: Chrismc

I spent an hour today in an English class here in Chernivsti with Irena and her daughter, they had an open lesson. Quite enlightening, the whole lesson was spoken in English and Ukrainian was never spoken once.

There were 6 pupils in the class all around 7 or 8 years old and were quite good, but I can see that speaking English in class when prompted by others and speaking it in real life without ther prompts if very different.

Anyway I have a meeting with the school tomorrow to sort out some private lessons for Nata through to June when they come to England, we shall have to see how much of an improvement it makes to her.


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