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Recommendations on Learning Russian
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Posted by: CheyennePress

Okay, first of all, my time is severely limited as a medical school student. As in, my classes start at 8 AM and study lasts until about 11 PM. I do have a few minutes here and there, and I've started the Pimsleur series during my commute.

I have free access to all 90 lessens. I've pretty much just decided that I'm going to ignore the alphabet and spelling at this point. Over the summer I'll be doing research and should be close to finishing the Pimsleur CDs by then, at which point I'll have more free time.

I also have free access to all the Rosetta Stone software. Would it be good to start there after I finish Pimsleur or somewhere else? This is really the gist of my question: what comes after Pimsleur?

I have a decent capacity for language. I'm pretty proficient in French and can revive my Spanish pretty easily (by the way, I think Spanish is perhaps the most intuitive and the easiest language on earth--far more efficient than English). Russian is turning out to be a bit more of a chore than the others. In the past I've done best with writing things out. That's how I learn, but that's not going to be an option now.

Just looking for general suggestions. Thanks!

Posted by: Helios

I don't know how Pimseur is with Russian, but I tried learning another language with this program and I think it was really really bad LOL
They would repeat the same sentences and phrases over and over again for the duration of several lessons...a monkey would memorize them.
I think that Pimseur doesn't have good instructional techniques. At some point I thought that they would stop using the same sentences...but a few lessons forward, still same thing. Overly repetitive.

Posted by: Stas

I' ve met plenty of people from many countries coming to Russia; none of them has mastered the language using the courses you are mentioning, I speak 3 foreign languages myself, and I've never used such courses. The most efficient way to speaking a foreign language is to find a good language school in the country. At least when the BBC, Der Spelgel, Swiss banks, or different diplomatic services need some of their people to speak Russian, they don't use any "magic" CDs, but book professional language courses. If interested, you are welcome to visit: www.learnrussian.ru
Learning this way is much more fun, too! And you will get familiar with much more than just the language...

Posted by: clever1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stas

I' ve met plenty of people from many countries coming to Russia; none of them has mastered the language using the courses you are mentioning, I speak 3 foreign languages myself, and I've never used such courses. The most efficient way to speaking a foreign language is to find a good language school in the country. At least when the BBC, Der Spelgel, Swiss banks, or different diplomatic services need some of their people to speak Russian, they don't use any "magic" CDs, but book professional language courses. If interested, you are welcome to visit: www.learnrussian.ru
Learning this way is much more fun, too! And you will get familiar with much more than just the language...

I forgot to check my bank balance, I just realised I earn as much as these four institutions, I'll book my course straight away.
Think about it Stas, all the Institutions you mention are paid for with our money, do you really believe that ordinary working people can afford to use the places they use, GET REAL .
Please tell us what languages you have mastered and what Language courses you used ?

John

Posted by: clever1

Oh yeah, did you get permission to advertise that website before you posted it ?
Or did the Forum Rules get lost in the translation ?

John

Posted by: Stas

I'm sorry if I have violated anything, but I was thinking my post was not very different from "advertising" Pimsleur or Rosetts Stone. As for my personal experience in learning languages, the three I've learnt are English, French, and German, all at language courses and practicing with native speakers. Watching subtitled movies, when you've reached a certain level, also helps a lot (subtitles shouldn't be a translation, but in the language you are learning - just to look up new words, or in case you've misheard smth. As for the prices, I know CDs are cheaper, but it also depends on how motivated one is. I know an American now studying in Russia for about USD 1000/month including courses and accommodation, half board. Realistically, you spend something staying at home too, don't you?
Hope it can help someone.

Posted by: clever1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stas

I'm sorry if I have violated anything, but I was thinking my post was not very different from "advertising" Pimsleur or Rosetts Stone. As for my personal experience in learning languages, the three I've learnt are English, French, and German, all at language courses and practicing with native speakers. Watching subtitled movies, when you've reached a certain level, also helps a lot (subtitles shouldn't be a translation, but in the language you are learning - just to look up new words, or in case you've misheard smth. As for the prices, I know CDs are cheaper, but it also depends on how motivated one is. I know an American now studying in Russia for about USD 1000/month including courses and accommodation, half board. Realistically, you spend something staying at home too, don't you?
Hope it can help someone.

Well they only mentioned the cd's, you put a link up to website, thats that one covered.

How is he paying for his stay in Russia?
If he doesn't speak the language I doubt he's working.
How long does his course last?

John

Posted by: Stas

Well, he's paying the course with the money he has saved for the trip, but I think it's possible to earn some money as an assistant teacher for conversational practice at English courses for Russians (no degree or certificate is required, if you're a native speaker). It's not enough to earn your living in Russia, but it can partly pay your expenses. Any way a course with accommodation and HB is cheaper than just staying in a cheap hotel.
A good course should take about 2 months, which usually enables one to communicate in Russian.
Best regards

Posted by: clever1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stas

Well, he's paying the course with the money he has saved for the trip, but I think it's possible to earn some money as an assistant teacher for conversational practice at English courses for Russians (no degree or certificate is required, if you're a native speaker). It's not enough to earn your living in Russia, but it can partly pay your expenses. Any way a course with accommodation and HB is cheaper than just staying in a cheap hotel.
[U]A good course should take about 2 months, which usually enables one to communicate in Russian.[/U]
Best regards

After a 6 months course, albeit at night school, learning Japanese, I don't think I was anywhere near the conversing stage.
I would think Russian with all its little quirks would be on a par to someone learning Japanese.

John

Posted by: Stas

Yes, language courses ARE different, and so are people who teach them. Also, I mean immersion courses in the country where the language is spoken, host family accommodation, and classes 20 hours a week.
And certainly, Russian is easier than Japanese, because it belongs to the same Indo-European family as English, and is much closer to it. For example, spelling is based on the same principle: letters denoting sounds. Moreover, quite a lot of letters and words are similar. Russian is not as exotic as it might seem because of the iron curtain and the Cold War.
Finally, after 3-4 months of good language instruction European students are able to pass TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) exams, and get university certificates. I think not so many people need tham, but it's kind of a proof that one can learn Russian up to a decent level in less than half a year.