What motivates you?

[gera.livejournal.com]

Dear Russian learners, may I ask what is your motivation for studying Russian?

I think it would be interesting to many of the community members to know.

Comments

[storm-jack.livejournal.com]

I learned it while in the service, and after getting past the basics, found it to be an elegant and fun language.

It's been several years since I've had cause to use it much, and found I was getting very rusty. So I joined here to help me recover what I once had.

[gera.livejournal.com]

You mean military service?

[lurid-me.livejournal.com]

I have a huge fascination with Russia, and it began with the land's history. I read a few books and then I thought..well...since I'm learning so much about the country it's only natural that I learn the language. I've also always been fascinated by the language, it's so different from the way english sounds, kind of gutteral but melodic.

That's what triggered me to learn, but what pushes me now is my perfectionism, and my wish to be able to speak at least half fluently (Because my teacher is an asshole and HE certainly doesn't motivated me :( ).

[kingzgurl.livejournal.com]

i have friends in ukraine and russia, and i want to be able to speak russian/ukrainian with them, instead of making them speak english all the time.

i'm also studying to teach in russia, so learning the language is a must.

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

Where do you ukrainian frends live?

[kart.livejournal.com]

1. Great-grandparents from Russia/Belarus.
2. I've been to Russia for both business and pleasure, and I plan to return.
3. Russian is the "language of interethnic communication" in central asia.
4. Russia is cool.

[gera.livejournal.com]

1. I bet they were from the Pale? Did they tell you a lot about Russia?
3. Well, theoretically it's the language of of interethnic communication among all peoples of the former USSR. In reality, it turns out, it's not exactly so.
I've heard several funny stories about people who were deliberately avoiding Russian in business communication between different former republics, for example using English instead, despite the fact that both sides had a very poor command of it, or using their native languages even though the other side didn't know it at all.

[kutsuwamushi.livejournal.com]

I think it's pretty. Also, just because I can. =)

[loki-fledermaus.livejournal.com]

I have always loved languages and will hopefully train as an interpreter between Russian and English, working freelance here in London. I started to learn Russian a few years ago and love how expressive and interesting the language is! I also love Russian culture, will hopefully be studying Russian Authors for my degree.

[aclarar.livejournal.com]

Respect. I truly believe that if you are going to travel to another country the least you can do is learn a little about their culture and their language. I have dream about living in Russia since I was ten years so it's just logical to learn Russian before traveling. Oh, well, and I’m addicted to reading and I like to read on the original language of the author. I’m not really a big fan of translations.

[schwarzer-tod.livejournal.com]

Russia is the most interesting country ever, in every aspect.

[branwen.livejournal.com]

Ah!!! Your user icon is from the cutest show in the world!!!!!!!

[oikade.livejournal.com]

I'm learning Russian for my husband, clearly - who is a Russian (but now also a Canadian citizen, which explains how we met!) :)

And also for his father, who keeps asking him when I'll be able to speak to him - as he does not speak any other languages besides Russian.

I don't blame him for being curious to speak with me, but for now all I can muster is a Здравствуйте. ;/!

I really need to put a step on it, I'm very dissapointed in myself for not learning more Russian in the time that I've had.

[oikade.livejournal.com]

Cutest thing ever - the last time Dima's father called and I answered the phone, he managed a very wobbly and very cute "Hellloooo Rachael... my sooon?".

We can't even talk, but that made me love him to death. Plus he bought me an awesome book about St. Petersburg. <3

[ocelotkitten.livejournal.com]

1)I've always been drawn to languages with completely different writing systems
2)I became crazy obsessed with russian literature (mostly Dostoevsky)
3)Eventually, I plan on going on the Trans Siberian Railway, so I'd like to learn a thing or two about the language before jumping into the country
4)Russian sounds hot. Especially when it's sung.

[kottu.livejournal.com]

try reading Bulgakov, Platonov and Lermontov.
Dostoyevsky... umm well he is excellent in picturing charachters, his language is a great snapshop of Russian culture in the late 19 th century, no doubt, i'd say - a very rich language. But to me Dostoyevsky lacks philosphy (i know that can sound quite odd). But you know, i always rated writers who deliver some powerful philosophy higher than those who just write beautifully. By the way, here is my book list http://kottu.ru/special/books000.html

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

I decided to start learning Russian because I've always been interested in Russian history and culture. Also, it being Slavic, I find it to teach one a bit about the Slavic mentality, soul, whatever you'd like to call it... ...I'm hugely fascinated with that, being a cultural thing. I also would like to visit Russia, but I don't want to before I know a fair bit of Russian.

[cema.livejournal.com]

Rumors about the Slavic soul have been exaggerated. However, the language is beautiful and very interesting; keep learning.

[soidisantfille.livejournal.com]

I knew I wanted to go to grad school to study Russian history (which meant I would have to do research in Russian here and in Russia), so I started learning it two years ago.

[procrastino.livejournal.com]

various. russian culture seems to be a gravity point for the entire eastern europe, no matter how much some of us dislike that. i got fascinated with russian literature, art, and cinema, and soon enoguh understood that russian as a language is incredibly expressive.

so i decided to learn it. i am not up to the point that i understand practically everything, but my speaking and writting abilities are barely such that russians understand me (appreciating the effort, and ignoring the numerous grammar mistakes i make).

but i am Bulgarian, by birth and by virtue =] so i'm excused.

[gera.livejournal.com]

Do you know Bulgarian?

[philena.livejournal.com]

I went to the language fair before registering for classes my first year at college, and there was this (very cute) fellow (who later confessed he'd been completely hung-over that day) pushing his new class: Russian through Pushkin. Instead of reading little paragraphs about what Russian museums we'd like to see the next time we go to Russia, we read Медный всадник and various short plays. I was hooked. The second year was the same thing, only we read instead Мастер и Маргарита, and this year I started taking Russian linguistics classes. I know nothing about the history or literature, however. I leave that to my Boy.

[gera.livejournal.com]

Instead of reading little paragraphs about what Russian museums we'd like to see the next time we go to Russia, we read Медный всадник and various short plays.

I am confused. Was it a traslation? Because understanding the original requires a pretty good level of knowledge.

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

Honestly, this is going to sound soooooo stupid, but I absolutely loved tatu when they came to America. I ended up getting to all of their English tracks. I was curious to see what their Russian tracks sounded like, especically since they have so many more tracks in Russian than they do in English. I ended up LOVING the Russian tracks, and then thought about learning Russian (I dunno what came over me... it just kinda happened lol).

Now, I'm learning 7 languages and about 80% of my music isn't even in English! Russian is my gateway language I think ^_^

[ducking.livejournal.com]

7 languages. Wow. And wow again.

The Shapovalov-free Tatu now have a long-awaited brand new album coming up. And they're more insane than ever. The new song is called - wait for it - "Обезьянка-ноль" ("Little Monkey Zero").

[bricoleura.livejournal.com]

simply put, i love Russia. I originally started studying the language since i always dreamed of traveling there. once i finally made it to Russia, well, there was no turning back!:) I had the most amazing , magical time and met some great people. Some of my best friends are from Russia, and they continue to motivate me. i would love to one day speak Russian semi fluently- it may take me 40 years, but one day...

[sisyphus.livejournal.com]

This woman of mine is from Vologda...although aside from that it's useful in that I work in computers, and secondary language of the internet seems certain to be Russian. Plus, you know, Pushkin.

[gera.livejournal.com]

secondary language of the internet seems certain to be Russian

In LiveJounal - yes, on the Internet - no (http://www.internetworldstats.com/top20.htm).

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

As someone else said, I love learning languages with different writing systems. Feels more like a code than a language. And only super secret spies can understand this code. I feel cool like that.

I love it all. The history. The culture. The chocolate (Красный Октябрь makes some DELICIOUS chocolates with some kick-ass wrappers).

I love speaking it. I love it when people speak it. It's such a turn on. And Russians have some pretty hot people. I'd like to seduce one with my own Russian with cute little mistakes. Heh heh...

But yeah, at first I started learning it simply because it has a different writing system. But as I found out more and more about it, and how much sense the language makes (I am proud to state that I knew what высказать meant without looking it up in the dictionary through putting 2+2 together... the вы and the сказать... ok, so it's silly, but I'm still proud of it).

And I love languages in general. D'uh.

[gera.livejournal.com]

Ну, если на то пошло, то и бывшие республики тоже немало добавляют.. Feels more like a code than a language. And only super secret spies can
understand this code. I feel cool like that.

I just wish all other languages were as easy to decode as the Russian language. For example, in French you may know all the letters and not know how to read a single word.
Same is true about English more or less :)

[mekkababble.livejournal.com]

For me, Russian was just something different. For some reason, I've had a fascination with most things Russian for a long, long time. I really wish I could elaborate beyond that, but learning Russian has just evolved into something that I have to do.

[giggle-chick.livejournal.com]

i first started learning because of my russian boyfriend. i began picking it up naturally since i LOVE learning new languages. i've previously taken classes in spanish, german, and chinese; but this time i'm learning russian on my own (very challenging... especially when i don't have anyone to practice with). also, the language is just so foreign to me and so exciting. and being a little asian girl, i like to surprise people with my russian (albeit EXTREMELY limited)

but my goals in learning russian are to:
1) be able to hold a conversation with my boyfriend's family
2) be able to provide health care to the russian speaking population (i'm studying to become a nurse practitioner, so knowing multiple languages will DEFINITELY be an asset)

[branwen.livejournal.com]

I'd like to talk with you, if that's okay...e-mail me at queen_twister@hotmail.com?

[missa-gorightry.livejournal.com]

Literature, first and foremost. I read the Brothers Karamazov when I was 12 and decided I wanted to BE Russian, haha. I think it goes without saying, Russia and her people are awesome.

Second, I happened to find an independent study program to take Russian in high school, so that I didn't have to be like everyone else and take Spanish. I like to be different. :)

Probably what has kept me going in my study, though, is the fact that on a basic level, I really like the language--the sound, the alphabet, and the grammar. I've learned bits of other languages and I just don't care for any of them the same way.

I think it was just an accident of birth that I was born in America, to French-Canadian parents. ;)

[branwen.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend is from Uzbekistan, and he and his family speak Russian, as do all of his good friends. Not only do I want to be able to speak his native language as he has learned to speak mine, but I would like to feel more included when with his friends (they usually speak in Russian, even when I am with them), and be able to speak with his parents easier (they do not know much English). After that, I have always wanted to learn another language, but never had enough reason to. I tried to learn French for a while because it's a beautiful language, but I didn't have any real reason to, or usage for it. I tried to learn German because I have family from Germany, but I find it very difficult to pronounce, and not very attractive to hear for the most part. Spanish would be very useful for me because of the large Mexican population where I live, but I do not much care for the language. Besides programming/web languages, Russian is the only one I both want to learn and will find use for.

[margaritka.livejournal.com]

russian was accidental. my family ancestry is
ukrainian, and as a kid i was learning ukrainian
at school. then i moved several provinces over
and only russian was taught...so i made the
switch.

now it is useful as i have more russian-speaking
friends than ukrainian-speaking ones!

someday i hope to go to ukraine and russia to put
all this theory into practice :)

Because I hate German!

[kaersaij.livejournal.com]

After 10 years of not getting a clue of German, I said hell with this. I went to a new school, Bloomsburg Uni. in Bloomsburg, PA, and they offered one semester of Russian. It instantly became an obsession, and I found learning it so much easier. Really, I'm not kidding. German just bored me to death, and I wasn't interested in Spanish, French, nor anything Oriental. I really wish I could focus on the Scandinavian languages, but I didn't search for that when I was scouting for colleges, and also, I didn't know what I was interested in until late, i.e. languages. Now I'm going to Indiana University again this summer for a third year curse in Russian. This is just fun for me now. I'm not seeking a degree.

Thanks for asking. I'm going to keep this post as a memory, to read what everyone else eventually says and possibly learn something.

[thedevilishone.livejournal.com]

I love the sound of the language.