{"id":3038,"date":"2012-06-14T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2012-06-14T08:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=3038"},"modified":"2014-07-17T18:23:15","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T18:23:15","slug":"learn-russian-in-5-minutes-a-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/learn-russian-in-5-minutes-a-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn Russian in 5 Minutes a Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

How much time do you spend learning Russian? \u041f\u043e\u043b-\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0430<\/span>, \u0447\u0430\u0441, \u0434\u0432\u0430 \u0447\u0430\u0441\u0430<\/span>?<\/strong> (Half an hour, an hour, two hours?) Do you spend this much time \u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u044b\u0439 \u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c, \u043f\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0443 \u0440\u0430\u0437 \u0432 \u043d\u0435\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044e, \u0440\u0430\u0437 \u0432 \u043d\u0435\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044e<\/strong> (every day, a couple of times a week, once a week)? In other words, do you spend enough time studying Russian to become fluent in the language?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a very simple way to check. You must\u2019ve heard of \u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u043b\u043e \u0434\u0435\u0441\u044f\u0442\u0438<\/span> \u0442\u044b<\/span>\u0441\u044f\u0447 \u0447\u0430\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0432<\/strong> (the rule of ten thousand hours). This rule was mentioned \u0432 \u043a\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0433\u0435 \u041c\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043c\u0430 \u0413\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u0443\u044d\u043b\u043b\u0430 \u201c\u0413\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0438 \u0438 \u0430\u0443\u0442\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u0434\u0435\u0440\u044b\u201d<\/strong> (in Malcolm Gladwell\u2019s book \u201cOutliers\u201d). If you are curious, read a short excerpt<\/a> from the book on the Russian Forbes.<\/p>\n

Now, do simple math. Divide 10,000 by the number of hours you spend learning Russian every day and you\u2019ll see how many days it will take you to reach native-level fluency. Which might be a bit depressing if you only spend an hour or two a week practicing \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u043f\u043e-\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (speaking Russian).<\/p>\n

For \u0437\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u044f\u0442\u044b\u0435 \u0432\u0437\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u044b\u0435 \u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0434\u0438<\/strong> (busy adults) it is very hard to find an extra hour each day to devote to language practice. So let\u2019s \u043e\u043f\u0443\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0443 \u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0436\u0435<\/strong> (lower the bar) and aim for extra \u043f\u044f\u0442\u044c \u043c\u0438\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442 \u0432 \u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c<\/strong> (five minutes a day). It sounds like it\u2019s nothing, but over a year these \u043f\u044f\u0442\u0438\u043c\u0438\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (five-minute intervals) add up to about 30 hours of active learning. And that\u2019s almost as much as a whole semester of Russian language classes.<\/p>\n

As the well-known old song goes<\/p>\n

\u041f\u044f\u0442\u044c \u043c\u0438\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442, \u043f\u044f\u0442\u044c \u043c\u0438\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442.<\/strong>
\n\u0420\u0430\u0437\u043e\u0431\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0435<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e,<\/strong>
\n\u0414\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0435 \u0432 \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u0438 \u043f\u044f\u0442\u044c \u043c\u0438\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442<\/strong>
\n\u041c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e \u0441\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044c \u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043c\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e.<\/strong>
\n(Five minutes, five minutes.
\nLooking into it keenly,
\nMuch can be accomplished
\nEven in five minutes.)<\/p>\n

How about trying any (or all) of these ideas:<\/p>\n

Bedtime Russian<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Before going to bed read a short news article in Russian. Personally, I try to stay away from any \u0441\u0435\u0440\u044c\u0451<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/strong> (serious news) preferring instead \u043a\u0443\u0440\u044c\u0451<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0437\u0430\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (short articles about oddities and curiosities) and items from \u041d\u0430\u0443<\/span>\u043a\u0430 \u0438 \u0442\u0435\u0445\u043d\u043e\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (Science and technology) sections.<\/p>\n

How can you not get curious about an article titled \u0412 \u041a\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043b\u0438<\/span> \u0441\u043e\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f \u043f\u043e \u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u043e\u0447\u043d\u043e\u043c\u0443 \u0441\u0435\u043c\u0438\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044c\u044e<\/strong> (A fairy-tale heptathlone<\/a> race took place in Kirov). \u00a0And the article itself is even better than the title, a perfect bedtime read for grownups.<\/p>\n

See It Out Loud<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When you have a few minutes to spare during the day (and seriously, even the busiest of us take short breaks), try this activity that I call \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0436\u0443, \u043e \u0442\u043e\u043c \u0438 \u043f\u043e\u044e<\/span><\/strong> (I sing about what I see). No singing skills are necessary. You can just talk, \u0433\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u043a\u043e<\/strong> (loudly), \u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0445\u043e<\/strong> (quietly) or even \u043f\u0440\u043e \u0441\u0435\u0431\u044f<\/span><\/strong> (silently, to oneself). Try saying Russian phrases or even just words describing things you are seeing or doing. Time spent \u0432 \u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0438 \u0432 \u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0441<\/strong>\u0443 (in a checkout line) or \u043d\u0430 \u0431\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0439 \u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043a\u0435 \u0432 \u0441\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0442\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u043b<\/strong>\u0435 (on a treadmill at a gym) will go by faster.<\/p>\n

Phrase of the Day<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We post Words of the Day in our Facebook and Twitter feeds and if you are learning those, that\u2019s great. From my experience learning a foreign language (English), I find that words of the day aren\u2019t all that helpful when you are just starting out. Instead, commit to learning one simple phrase each day, preferably something that describes your daily routine. Now, every time you perform this routine task or encounter a routine event, say the phrase and its permutations:<\/p>\n

\u042f \u043f\u044c\u044e \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435<\/strong> – I am drinking coffee
\n\u042f \u00a0\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u044c\u044e \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435 <\/strong>or \u042f \u043f\u043e\u043f\u044c\u044e<\/span> \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435\u00a0<\/strong>– I will drink coffee (say it to yourself while standing in line at a Starbucks)
\n\u042f \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u0438\u043b\/\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435<\/strong> – I finished drinking coffee
\n\u042f \u043f\u044c\u044e \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435 \u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u043e\u0435 \u0443<\/span>\u0442\u0440\u043e. \u042f \u043f\u044c\u044e \u0441\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u043e\u043c \u043c\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435<\/strong> – I drink coffee every morning. I drink too much coffee.
\n\u042d<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u043e\u0442\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435<\/strong> – This is excellent coffee
\n\u042d<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u043e\u0442\u0432\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435<\/strong> – This coffee is disgusting (say it if you had to skip Starbucks and instead had a cup of joe at a gas station)<\/p>\n

Next day, repeat your coffee phrase(s), but add something new, like \u044f \u0437\u0430\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u044e \u043c\u0430\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0443 \u0431\u0435\u043d\u0437\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u043c<\/strong> (I am putting gas into the car).<\/p>\n

Listen to Pop Music<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ok, you might argue about this one, but hear me out. Here\u2019s why I think \u0440\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u043f\u043e\u043f\u0441\u0430<\/span><\/strong> (Russian pop music) is one of the most powerful 5-minutes a day Russian language learning techniques. First, it is easy to find and free to listen to. I subscribed to ELLO<\/a> YouTube channel for my daily dose. Second – simple, repetitive melodies do not distract from the lyrics. Third, most importantly, the tunes are catchy and have an amazing ability to stay with you throughout the day.<\/p>\n

So you listen to a single song (less than 5 minutes) and it gets stuck in your head for the rest of the day. The only way to get rid of this \u043d\u0430\u0432\u044f<\/span>\u0437\u0447\u0438\u0432\u0430\u044f \u043c\u0435\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (earworm) is to sing the lyrics of the song and maybe even memorize them. Don\u2019t get worried though, the lyrics is usually as untaxing as the music. Consider this song \u0422\u0430\u043d\u0446\u0443<\/span>\u0439, \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u044f<\/strong>! (Dance, Russia!) by \u0413\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u043a\u043e\u0437\u0430<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YHKu-mPrrQ0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u0422\u0430\u043d\u0446\u0443<\/span>\u0439 \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u044f \u0438 \u043f\u043b\u0430\u0447\u044c \u0415\u0432\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043f\u0430 <\/strong>
\n\u0410 \u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/span> \u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u0430\u044f, \u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u0430\u044f, \u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u0430\u044f \u043a\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u0430\u044f \u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043f\u0430<\/strong>
\n(Dance, Russia and cry Europe
\nBut I have the most, the most, the most beautiful butt)<\/p>\n

And there you go! Do just one of these 5-minute exercises daily and your Russian will improve by the end of this summer.<\/p>\n

What other exercises to practice Russian can we do in 5 minutes?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How much time do you spend learning Russian? \u041f\u043e\u043b-\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0430, \u0447\u0430\u0441, \u0434\u0432\u0430 \u0447\u0430\u0441\u0430? (Half an hour, an hour, two hours?) Do you spend this much time \u043a\u0430\u0436\u0434\u044b\u0439 \u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c, \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0443 \u0440\u0430\u0437 \u0432 \u043d\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043b\u044e, \u0440\u0430\u0437 \u0432 \u043d\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043b\u044e (every day, a couple of times a week, once a week)? In other words, do you spend enough time studying…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8,7828],"tags":[117602,117599,117601,117600,1131,117603,12784,60729],"class_list":["post-3038","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-language","category-russian-for-beginners","tag-10000-hours-rule","tag-5-minute-russian","tag-fun-ways-to-learn-russian","tag-how-to-learn-russian-quickly","tag-learning-russian","tag-outliers","tag-russian-music","tag-russian-pop-music"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3038"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6452,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3038\/revisions\/6452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}