{"id":693,"date":"2010-04-26T10:00:46","date_gmt":"2010-04-26T10:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=693"},"modified":"2014-07-16T20:00:08","modified_gmt":"2014-07-16T20:00:08","slug":"diy-russian-language-immersion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/diy-russian-language-immersion\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY Russian Language Immersion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some time ago we asked just this question – What is the most difficult part about learning Russian? \u2013 on our Learn Russian Facebook page<\/a>. Evidently, the question touched the nerve since we\u2019ve got over 150 responses in just a couple of days.<\/p>\n

One of our participants, Alice, brought up an excellent point in her comment when she said that \u201cthe books and tapes teach you one way but then no one really speaks like that in real life.\u201d But how can a student of Russian, especially the one studying this language on his\/her own, get lots and lots of real life experience?<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0420\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0422\u0412 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian TV and radio]<\/p>\n

Thanks to Internet, you can now get Russian-language TV and radio programming even if you don\u2019t live anywhere near a sizeable Russian community. All you have to do is search for the following keywords \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian TV] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian radio]. If you are interested only in streaming your video\/audio online, as opposed to adding satellite dish channels, then add \u00a0the word \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u043d\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [online] at the end of your search.<\/p>\n

Some of the sites, such as \u0421\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0438TV<\/a>, require no registration and are \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0441\u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [free of charge]. Others, like eTVnet<\/a>, require paid subscription, but offer a variety of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0444\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [price options].<\/p>\n

As for radio broadcasts, I personally like the imaginatively named \u00ab\u0420\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u0420\u0430\u0434\u0438\u043e\u00bb. <\/a>It is mostly music, but they do have a morning show and regular news updates (warning: they talk FAST).<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0413\u0430\u0437\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0436\u0443\u0440\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [Newspapers and magazines]<\/p>\n

There are quite a few Russian-language newspapers printed in the US, including \u00ab\u0410\u0440\u0433\u0443\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u044b \u0438 \u0424\u0430\u043a\u0442\u044b<\/a>\u00bb [Arguments and Facts], \u00ab\u041d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0435 \u0420\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u0421\u043b\u043e\u0432\u043e<\/a>\u00bb [New Russian Word], \u00ab\u0420\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0420\u0435\u043a\u043b\u0430\u043c\u0430<\/a>\u00bb [Russian Advertising] and some others. Most have online versions.<\/p>\n

Personally, I am not big on reading or watching the news. So I always try to find something related to my hobbies. I just learn best this way. If you are like me, then you might be more interested in niche newspapers and magazines. Well, here we have the \u201cgood news, bad news\u201d situation. The bad news is that print editions are very expensive and availability is limited to a handful of top-sellers. The good news, of course, is that most of these niche papers and \u2018zines have at least some presence online. RussianAmerica.com<\/a> has exhaustive lists of Russian-language newspapers<\/a> and magazines<\/a>\u00a0 with links to their online editions. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0420\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [Real Conversations]<\/p>\n

Of course, nothing can replace active learning through real conversations. If you have some time and money to spare, then your best bet is travelling to Russia for a language immersion program. Or at least taking the Q train to Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, NY to eat some \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0436\u043a\u0438<\/span> <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [cabbage turnovers] and listen to Americanized and New York-ized Russians speaking Rusglish, such as \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u044f, <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u0430\u0440\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0439 <\/strong>\u0437\u0434\u0435\u0441\u044c <\/strong>\u043c\u0430\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0443, <\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043a\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443<\/span>\u0447\u0438\u0448\u044c\u00bb <\/strong>[Vasya, don\u2019t park the car here or you\u2019ll definitely get a ticket.]<\/p>\n

If you live in a major metropolitan area, you don\u2019t have to travel far to find a thriving Russian-speaking community (which might include, apart from ethnic Russians, Russian-speaking Jews, Ukrainians, Georgians, etc). So if you are in or close to Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Detroit, San Francisco, Miami, or Houston, TX, you will have no problem immersing yourself into real life Russian.<\/p>\n

But even if you are nowhere near Brooklyn, there might be quite a few Russian speakers around you. You just have to be a bit more creative in finding them.<\/p>\n

Craigslist<\/strong> \u2013 search for \u201cRussian\u201d and you might find someone offering Russian tutoring. Don\u2019t be afraid to contact them and ask about Russian community in your area. Ask whether they know of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u043c\u0430\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian store, usually grocery store], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0434\u0438\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian disco], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0446\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u043e\u0432\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian Orthodox church], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u043b\u0435\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian art gallery], or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian restaurant].<\/p>\n

College or University<\/strong> \u00a0\u2013 first of all, chances are there will be Russian language classes and cultural events held on campus. Second, there will ALWAYS be at least a couple of Russian students. And a couple of Russian students are all it takes to form a Russian club.<\/p>\n

Meetup.com<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 There are over 200 groups on Meetup that get together to learn about and speak Russian. True, most of them are in the major metropolitan areas that I already mentioned. But you\u2019d be surprised at how many are not \u2013 Saint Johns, FL; Smyrna, GA; Denver, CO;\u00a0 Raleigh, NC; Scottsdale, AZ; etc. And if there isn\u2019t one yet, you can either request to be notified when a new Russian group opens or start your own.<\/p>\n

Forums<\/strong> \u2013 one of the Russian-language forums that I like is \u0413\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u043c \u043f\u0440\u043e \u0410\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0443<\/a> [Talking about America]. It is a forum for expat and expat-wanna-be Russians where they share \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043f\u0435\u0447\u0430\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f <\/strong>\u043e <\/strong>\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u0438 <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0410\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [impressions of life in America]. Head straight to the \u0413\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u043c \u043f\u0440\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0441 \u0432 \u0410\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0435<\/a> [Talking about ourselves in America] \u00a0and select the forum section based on your location \u2013 North East, Mid West, South or West. Then look for someone in your area to start a conversation with. (BTW, my favorite topic so far is \u00abMississippi \u2013 <\/strong>\u0415\u0441\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043b\u0438 <\/strong>\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u044c <\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u043c?\u00bb<\/strong> [Is there life in Mississippi?]). RussianAmerica.com<\/a> is another site that offers an established and active discussion forum.<\/p>\n

Finally, listen<\/strong> for snippets of Russian conversations or Eastern European accent all around you \u2013 at a grocery store, park, at a mall\u2026 Then don\u2019t be afraid to say hello. Ask what language they speak. If indeed it is Russian, mention that you are learning Russian. With so many first- and second-generation Russian speakers in the US, chances are good you\u2019ll meet them just as you are running your regular errands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"Speak

Some time ago we asked just this question – What is the most difficult part about learning Russian? \u2013 on our Learn Russian Facebook page. Evidently, the question touched the nerve since we\u2019ve got over 150 responses in just a couple of days. One of our participants, Alice, brought up an excellent point in her…<\/p>\n

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