Question: The Language Barrier - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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Question: The Language Barrier
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Posted by: searcher

I was pondering writing a few ladies (through an translator), some of them state that they have basic English skills.

My main concern is when arriving in the U.S. (should things work out) what difficulty would they have with the language and how long might it take for them to understand reasonably well?

I would assume that if both people are willing they may find a way to communicate reasonably well, does anyone have any experience with a situation like this?

I know there are some stories on the internet but those delt mainly with traveling to the FSU, none delt with the womens experience upon arriving in the U.S. (or even the U.K.).

Posted by: ConnerVT

The answer is... it depends. It is as individual as the people. In no particular order, some of the things that factor in can be:

How much English is 'limited English'?
How quickly does she learn?
Is she musical? (I have found musical people tend to learn languages quicker)
How motivated is she to learn?
Is she single, or are there children involved? How old are the children?
How old is she?
Has she ever studied other languages? How long ago?

Of course, you need to help also. She can't learn in a vacuum. Besides being patient and supportive, you'll also need to povide opportinities for her to learn, such as ESL classes and personal tutoring.

My fiancee had studied English in college 14 years ago. Like any language, if unused, you lose it. When we first met, she spoke very limited English. She attends a class with 4-6 women twice/week, and we speak for about 2-3 hours a week on the telephone. Her English has improved signifigantly. But she is a very wise woman, and strongly motivated to communicate with me. When I visited her in June, she was my interpreter for the entire month. We occasionally rely on the pocket dictionary or computer when needed, but it takes time to build vocabulary.

Posted by: rtking

I think ConnerVT makes some very good points. I also find that actually living in the environment kind-of forces a person to really learn the language quickly.

But what I've done is to "share in the pain" and learn Russian when I was engaged to my now ex-fiancee. While she studied English, I committed myself to study Russian. I thought this would have a twofold benefit:

1) I could learn a new language and converse with my ex-fiance during moments when she might forget some words in English

2) It would help me to understand the difficulties of learning a new language and allow me to fully empathize with my ex-fiance during her learning process.

What I have learned (after realizing that Russian has a steep learning curve due to the multiple declentions and conjugations of nouns, verbs and adjectives) is that people who come to America go through a huge effort to learn a new language.

I know it might be argued that English is one of the easiest languages to learn... but so is Spanish. And how many of us can speak Spanish proficiently? As ConnerVT stated, the best teacher is time.... and immersion in a language definitely helps also!

Bob K.

Posted by: ConnerVT

Another aspect that learning some Russian helps in understanding your lady's English. I, too, have been learning Russian. Besides making Natalya very happy, it helps as I can now structure my English sentences in a manner that's more Russian.

English may be an easier language to learn, but it can be difficult to become proficient. English has an extremely large vocabulary, which word is chosen sometimes becomes a large part of a sentences meaning. (Example: Put these word in size order: giant, large, jumbo, gigantic, huge, big, gargantuan)

English has one of the largest usages of slang of any language, with the slang used in the media and technical applications, as well as in daily conversation.

English also has the least organized sentence structure, especially compared to Russian.

It's hard to learn the rules, especially when the language is fast and loose with them!

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Searcher...

Rking and ConnerVT have some good suggestions...

I think that if someone comes to the U.S. and is surrounded by an all-English environment, then they are put in a position where they need to learn English...

We know a few Russian women who came to the U.S. knowing almost no English... At first, it was hard for them to not be able to express their true thoughts to someone (in their native language)....

But as time passed, and they went through an ESL (English as a Second Language) program, they made friends and all of those friends of Lena's felt comfortable and adjusted...

Ladies also miss their families, but nowadays, calling Russia is fairly cheap, and so they can stay in pretty good touch with family and friends in their home countries...

I see that you live in L.A., so when your Russian fiance comes to L.A., she will be fortunate that there are so many Russian speakers here, and she can speak Russian if she misses it...

I think it is a good idea, once you hav become engaged, to pay for English lessons for your fiance in her city so that she can be as prepared for moving to the U.S. and speaking English...

Especially because you live in the L.A. area, I don't think language will be that difficult an issue for you.

Lena had one Russian friend of hers who came to the U.S. at the beginning of this year (2003), knowing no English at all... But, as she went to a free English language school in the L.A. area, she could communicate more and more with her husband. And now, she speaks English VERY well, and understands almost everything her husband wants to say, and can communicate almost all of her thoughts...

I think that the MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE regarding differences in language is to make sure that the two of you are able to get to know each other as much as possible during this courting and decision-making period... The language "barrier" can lead either of you to not know someone well enough and choose to be with someone who is not compatible with you...

So, communicate as much as you can with these women, and with the woman who you choose to be the one you want a committed relationship with...

I wish you great success in finding the right person for you....

Khashyar

Posted by: Jutman

You devide the language skills into levels.
1) as a native. A average citizen knows 7000 words. A doctor a little more than 10000.
2) Fluent. To speak a foreign language fluently it requires knowledge of 3000 words. (good a grammar)
3) negotiation level. Close to fluent, but only 2500 (bad a grammar)
4) Conversation level. A person knows 1500 words. (typical dfficult to write the language). To advance to discussion level, its recommended you know 2000 words.
5) Parlour level. At this level you can manage in a foriegn country without help from a native, However difficult to make conservation, many mistakes.

In modern times, you have the advantage than many new words(like, computer, mobile) are the same and a lot of words there origin from latin is the same. (like transport, cominication). So often you start with 1-200 words, where its perhaps the pronouncation there is differently.

BR BN
has Danish at 1) English at 3) German at 4) French at 5)

Swedish and Noregian would be 2). Hopefully Russian at level 5) in the spring of 2004.

Posted by: don

Seacher,

My lady has told me from the start of our relationship that she does not want me to learn Russian. She wants to learn english. When we have trouble with a word we both have Russian/English dictionary to help us.

She had more than a basic level of english when I met her that she learned while she lived in South Korea. She has been taking english lessons in Bishkek but the only teachers she can find are British. The english that they speak is different from American english and she has given up on the classes, it just seems to confuse her. When she gets to the US I am sure she will improve on her english very quickly.

I have talked to the local school district about her son(zero english skills) and placing him in an ESL class when he starts school here. They tell me he will be in a regular class in 8 to 12 weeks after the ESL classes.

I think that anyone will start to pick up the local language if they are totaly exposed to it. I have traveled to many countries and spent 30 to 50 days at one time in various countries and you really do pick up the local language when you have to. You also loose it very quickly when you do not use it.

Our ladies will learn with our help, the help of our friends and the help of classes.

Just my thoughts on this.

Don