Learning Russian (how on-topic!)

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

Hey, everybody.

So, I have the book Голоса, and I've been sort of half-heartedly messing around with it for quite a while. If I were actually applying myself, I think I'd probably have a better grasp on the language by now. I think that I need daily exercises.

Can anyone recommend some sort of daily exercises? I'd prefer ones that quizzed mainly on vocabulary and not so much on grammar — I pick up grammar okay, but vocabulary is very, very difficult for me.

Спасибо болшое.

Comments

[belacane.livejournal.com]

find someone to speak russian with..... chances are, especially if you're a beginner, that words will pop up in conversation that you don't know.

that's the best way to learn.... if you can find someone.

Why is vocab difficult for you?
do you have troubles picking up vocab by ear? or when you see it in writing? or both?
or is it easier to learn it if you hear it and see it and use it?
or....?

what I do is write words repeatedly on paper, saying them, and of course looking at them. This way I get the word into all my sences that need to know it (touch, hearing, sight, and vision). I'll alternate between words, and consistantly add new words into the list.
I find it works better if I keep the groups of words I repeat small... so no more thatn 10 words at at time.
once i've got them down by repitition, I make sentences for myself.

time consuming yes, but it works.

Plus, I'm always running russian through my head. If i say it in english, if i can say it in russian in my head, I do.
I also have a lot of people to practice with.

gl!

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

My main issue with vocabulary is just ... vocabulary itself. In whatever language, I find it easier to memorize the endings of words than the words themselves. It's odd.

I'm not sure that I have anyone I can speak Russian aloud to. I've tried across instant message, but I have a feeling that I'm not advanced enough to grasp some of the grammatical stuff needed for that.

[swiggett.livejournal.com]

Do you live near a large University? if so, then there may be a Russian department, and you could probably find someone who would be willing to tutor you. At my university, several grad students tutor on the side for a little extra money... varying rates. Other grad students, or upper level undergrads, may be thankful for the practice themselves, in teaching/ explaining.

[cheetr.livejournal.com]

At my university the language programs offer informal meetings, usually at local venues or in campus buildings, for people to get together and speak. Something like that would be an excellent free option if it was available.

[belacane.livejournal.com]

also, if you have a word running through your head, in either language, and don't remember the definition, look it up as soon as you can. Then it will continue to run through your head and you'll know the meaning!

[oryx_and_crake]

When I studied French, I used to write new words on a Post-It notes and stick them to the bathroom mirror. That way I could revise them twice a day while brushing my teeth etc. Hope it helps...

[capricosha.livejournal.com]

Martin Eden's experience :-))
The same method used to help me to memorize Spanish words

[sveta-ko.livejournal.com]

It helped me with German, it's a really good method for some people. My husband listen to the audio a lot, it doesn't help me, though. You need to try different stuff to find you way of memorizing words.
I think most people would agree, that the best way to pick up vocabulary, is talking too the native speaker.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

My only way to pick up vocabulary was to read books. I would not stop if I encountered words that I didn't know: some I would look up in the dictionary, the meaning of some I would try to find out of the context. I guess that it's easier in Russian than in English, since you are almost always sure how this or that new word is pronounced :))

BTW it's спасибо большое, not болшое.

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

Haha, sorry. Ь is the letter that gives me the most trouble — usually, it seems, when following л.

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

And that's definitely a good idea. I have a copy of Isaac Asimov's I, Robot in Russian, as well as the complete "Winnie the Pooh". I think I may start on the latter soon.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Note that if it's Boris Zakhoder translation, it's rather a separate new book (a really good one, though) than an exact translation.

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

Ah! That makes sense. I tried to start reading it once with my English copy, and it didn't seem at all the same … I guess that'd be why.

Вини-Пух И Всё-Всё-Всё it is, then; I'll get to Я Робот later. :)

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Note that in Russian, it's "Винни-Пух и все-все-все" (http://lib.ru/MILN/winnizah.txt), not всё-всё-всё :)) Note also that it's Boris Zakhoder's retelling (пересказ) - an adapted version, intended to be understandable for Russian children without explanations and culture differences commentary, - rather than a translation (перевод).

[standigio.livejournal.com]

This is probably unhelpful, but I love that book! I have it and am studying from it at my local uni

[spazzling21.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this will help, but I used Nachalo when I first started learning Russian and there happens to be a very useful website (http://www.auburn.edu/forlang/russian/Nachalo/) that goes along with it. If you click on the lessons, there are Russian-English and English-Russian vocabulary quizzes. If you've been studying Russian for very long, you'll probably know a lot of the words, but I like the online quizzes simply because I hate making flashcards. :-) Good luck!