Russian Summer Wardrobe: Get Your Speedo Ready! Posted by Jenya on May 20, 2015
Summer is upon us and with it the desire to finally shed multiple layers of clothing and feel the warmth of the Sun on our skin. Of course, if you live in Florida, California or some other place that is just as warm, you probably don’t get quite as excited. But what if you live…
Russian for Travel Posted by Maria on May 18, 2015
With the summer upon us, many of our readers may be making travel plans. Perhaps some are going to Russia or the region for a study abroad or on business. This experience can be overwhelming on its own, and limited Russian skills may add to the stress. To make the process smoother, I would…
Victory Day Parade in Russia Posted by Jenya on May 13, 2015
May 9, 2015 saw Russia’s annual Victory Day Parade in a momentous fashion. The Russian government spared no expense in pomp and circumstance. The parade celebrated the seventieth anniversary of the Allied victory on the Eastern Front against the Nazis. Several world leaders were in attendance, several key members that have attended in the past…
Using Cell Phones in Russia Posted by Maria on May 11, 2015
If you are traveling to Russia or staying there for a long time, you probably want to keep in touch with your friends back home. Besides Skype and other similar programs, cell phones are an important tool for staying in touch. No Strings Attached Almost everyone in (urban) Russia has a mobile phone (моби́льный…
Ready, Set, Watch! Russian TV Shows that Is Posted by Jenya on May 6, 2015
If you are really serious about learning Russian, you have to immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. How can you do that if you are not planning a six month trip to Russia? Aside from befriending a few Russian expats, YouTube can be the next best thing in terms of language immersion…
Learning Russian After English Posted by Maria on May 4, 2015
We are continuing last week’s discussion of how learning a different second language first may have helped — or impeded — you in learning Russian. Since English is the most commonly studied foreign language, it’s only natural we discuss it next. I would guess for speakers of other European languages Russian may seem infinitely more…
Learning Russian After Spanish Posted by Maria on Apr 27, 2015
I’ve often heard that after learning one foreign language every additional language becomes progressively easier. I suppose there may be truth to it in that you internalize certain principles common to many languages and develop good study and research habits. However, your first foreign language can also mislead you in your efforts to learn…