Here are five tips that can help you start and make the learning process easier.
Tip 1: Know your ABCs
Use similarities between the English and Russian alphabets to understand it better. You can divide Russian letters into four groups.
1. Group one has letters that look and sound the same. (А, О, Т, М, К )
2. Group two consist of letters look alike but sound different. (В=V, И=E, Н=N, С= S, Х=H, Р=R, Е=YE)
3. Group three consist of letters which sound the same but look different.
(Б=B, Г=G, Д=D, З=Z, Л=L, П=P, Ф=F)
4. The final group has uncommon Russian letters used rarely or have peculiar sounds.
(Ё=YOUR, Ж= JE, Й=ii, У=OO, Ц=TSE, Ч=CH, Ш=SH, Щ=SH', Ъ=has no sound, used as a break in a word, Ы=hard E, Ь=used to soften consonants, Э=sounds like "A" in apple, Ю=YOU, Я=YA).
Becoming familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet is one of the first steps in learning the language.
Tip 2: Know your roots
In the Russian language, large groups of vocabulary have the same root. While in English, you would need to memorize ten different words; in Russian, you need to know just one root and modify it with prefixes and suffixes. Here is an example: "ХОД" - is the root for walking, ХОДить - means to walk, проХОД - is a passway, выХОД - means exit, вХОД- is an entrance, поХОД - is the word for a camping trip, подХОДящий - means suitable, проХОЖий - is pedestrian, пароХОД - means steamboat, выХОДные is a word for weekends.
Each root carries a special meaning which links the group together. Can you guess why these words share the same root?
Tip 3: Learn in your free time with Quizlet
Quizlet is a free online platform for learning. It is a great help when you start to learn a new language. This network is free for students. It has a lot of flashcards with the alphabet and basic vocabulary. You can go through any set. This network highlight projects from certified teachers. Some of the card sets include online games and puzzles.
Tip 4: Practice your writing and reading skills with "Russian Facebook."
Do you want to interact with native speakers and practice writing? Register on the Russian social network! It is called "VK" or v-kontaktye (in contact) rus. On this network, you can meet a lot of Russian speakers. After you create an account, follow any language exchange group or a language school. Many schools in Russia are eager to work with native English speakers. You will end up making new friends and learning Russian.
Additionally, Vkontakte is full of funny memes and cute cartoons. When you reach an intermediate level, this can be a great tool to learn about Russian humor and culture.
Tip 5: Improve your conversational skills by visiting Russian places in Denver!
Denver metro area is a home for over 100,000 Russian speakers. This local community has grocery stores, restaurants, and even a souvenir shop. The most popular places are Masha and the Bear, M&I international market, and Red Square Bistro. Visit these local businesses, interact with Russian-speaking staff and work on your conversational Russian! For the full list, click here.
Conclusion
Russian can seem overwhelming, but it can become a fun and creative game with the right tools and support. To get more out of your Russian learning experience, take a couple of classes with
!
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