any Russian-Torontonians out there?

[soidisantfille.livejournal.com]

I'm as happy as anyone else that classes ended yesterday for us at the University of Toronto, but I'm worried about what four months of laziness might to do my tenuous grasp of Russian. Unfortunately, U of T doesn't offer any of its Slavic Studies courses in the summer term, and I can't afford a trip to Russia this summer, time-wise or financially. I'm starting my MA in Russian History at the Center for Russian and East European Studies in the fall and will resume language study then, but in the meantime, I'm looking for structured ways to practice my Russian over the summer beyond attempting to read literature in the original with my trusty dictionary nearby. I'm wondering if there are Canadian members of this community who know of any formal Russian language schools in the Greater Toronto Area, or who are in a similar predicament, or just have advice to share.

Barring that, is there anyone who would be willing to chat on MSN or even e-mail back and forth with me (in this case, you wouldn't necessarily need to be from Toronto)? I just finished intermediate level Russian, so I know the essentials of Russian grammar, but I'm looking to improve my conversational abilities and learn new vocabulary and idioms.

Thanks,
Kristy (kristyironside@hotmail.com or kristyironside@gmail.com)

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lee_loo_/]

I know there is a Russian language programm in Hansa language center, but I'm not sure if they do offer this programm in the summer time.By the way, I would like to try to help you, I'm native Russian speaker, and you can contact if you still want to, my icq is 349134194.And I do live in Toronto:)HAND)))

[soidisantfille.livejournal.com]

I don't have ICQ... I used to, but not on my new computer. It seems like a lot of Russians use it instead of MSN.

Thanks for the offer... I will add you on ICQ once I download it!

[soidisantfille.livejournal.com]

Also, I looked into the Hansa program, but it's almost $40 per hour! Plus, I think my grammar is too advanced for the level of Russian they offer.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lee_loo_/]

Wow, that's really expensive...And I'll be waiting for you in ICQ)

[lifetraveller.livejournal.com]

icq # 309060205 , u're welcome)))

[a-garvey.livejournal.com]

icq 117165196, e-mail algarvey at gmail dot com

We have a club for Russian quiz-similar game "What? Where? When?" in Earl Bales Park community centre every Sunday, it could be good practice in speaking and listening.

[ars-longa.livejournal.com]

Well, I probably will be too busy until the end of the semester and then up until June 20, but after that... Anyway, you can knock at arsllonga@hotmail.com in MSN and we can chat. You can even help me with some of issues I still have with English. :) Just don't get offended if I say I'm too busy for chat right now...

[soidisantfille.livejournal.com]

Oh, I totally understand. One of the worst things I ever did was put MSN on my parents' computer... my mom doesn't understand that I don't sit by the computer all day, waiting for her to appear online, or that I'm usually busy writing papers when I am at the computer.

But I will take you up on your offer! Thanks.

[ars-longa.livejournal.com]

(blink) I think all moms are the same, regardless of cultural background. I had to became very strict with mine about that. Throwing 8-hours time difference to the mix, I can say it certainly wasn't pleasant to fulfil her wish to chat at 1 or 2 am...

[fox-c.livejournal.com]

One thing I've found to be very helpful is reading books in Russian. The Harry Potter books are on about the same level in Russian as they are in English. It'll be fairly dictionary intensive for the first chapter or two, but after that the vocabulary becomes repetative and you can start reading pages at a time without looking anything up. I only get about 5 mins a day of language "practice", but I've found that the reading does help my active vocabularly substantially.

Good luck!

[suku-vse.livejournal.com]

I can exchange e-mails with you. krikousha@hotmail.com