Archive for March, 2014
Business trip to Russia: Vocabulary and Tips Posted by Jenya on Mar 12, 2014
Извините, я опаздываю. (Sorry, I am running late.) Давайте встретимся завтра в 10 утра. (Let’s meet tomorrow at 10 am.) Когда бы Вы хотели встретиться? (When would you like to meet?) Извините, Вы не подскажете, где ближайшая станция метро/стоянка такси? (Excuse me, could you tell me where the nearest subway station/place to get a cab…
Things to do/try when in Russia Posted by Jenya on Mar 11, 2014
So you made the decision to go to Russia or, perhaps, somebody made it for you. Either way, now is the perfect time to put some thought into what to do while you are there. There is no shortage of things you can do or see in Moscow or Saint Petersburg but if you find…
Yekaterinburg Rock – Melodic and Poetic Posted by Maria on Mar 10, 2014
Music is a great way to learn a language, but Russian rock music (русский рок) is not well known outside Russia and the surrounding area. People are more likely to know t.A.T.u. or opera singers. This blog has covered Russian rock music before, but there are so many bands (группы) worth checking out that we’ll…
Пирожки – Funny Internet Rhymes Posted by Maria on Mar 6, 2014
Continuing the topic of Russian humor, I would like to draw your attention to a humorous poetry form that emerged on the Russian Internet a few years back. You are probably familiar with limericks (лимерики), which have caught on in Russia(n), as well. However, there is a newer form that gained some popularity online. The…
How to Overcome The Language Barrier Posted by Jenya on Mar 5, 2014
When I came to the United States in the distant 2003, I was certain I had everything necessary to carry on a conversation beyond the the subjects of current weather and favorite things to eat. My arsenal consisted of mostly proper English language structures, a decent amount of polysyllabic adjectives, obsessive fixation on the English…
Russian Perspective on International Women’s Day Posted by Jenya on Mar 4, 2014
In a few short days, on March 8 to be exact, most Russian women will wake up in anticipation of something special. For many of them this feeling will be confirmed with gifts of love and affection from family and friends, yet others will face disappointment when their expectations do not come to pass…
Proper Use of Russian Proper Names Posted by Maria on Mar 3, 2014
One of the first things you might have learned in your Russian course is the Russian names. So, you may know that Миша and Паша are guys’ names and that last names have male and female forms, but some of you may still be confused about the finer points of calling people by their name…