i'm sure this has been asked a million times..sorry.

[megaflittchen.livejournal.com]

I am a senior in high school, and college seems to be the only thing on my mind. I want to study International Relations, and I would like to learn Russian, but I have absolutely no experience with the language. I have used websites and books, but I can't seem to get the Cyrlic alphabet.
I live in the middle of nowhere, and there are no Russian classes available. [The only language class in general I could find outside of school that isn't Spanish, was an Italian class, and there were only two people in the class..including me] I don't want to give up..I think with a formal class I could get it, but I don't want to wait until college [just so I can get somewhat of an idea if I like the language or not], but I'm wondering if because I don't understand now should I give up because I never will? Do you have any advice?
What really helped me with pronouncing French is listening to music...any recommendations? Preferable things that aren't too fast or anything that would make is even more difficult to understand. My music tastes are in my profile, but it's okay if I don't like it. [I'm also looking for good Russian movies if you have an recommendations for that either..]

Comments

[standigio.livejournal.com]

haha t.a.t.u. has some russian versions to their english songs. maybe that would be useful?
otherwise, my vote is wait until college and take a russian intro course.
you could always get a language learning program.

try golosa.com
golosa (i believe it means voices) is a college textbook at the beginner level. that website has vocal exercises, etc. plus, you can order the textbook if you so wish.


i hope this helped.
i'm also a senior in high school. where are you thinking of applying?
:)
-rebecca

[remedychild.livejournal.com]

tatu is actually what made me want to learn russian initially just because i'd sing along and not know what in the hell i'd be saying lol. and then when i researched it more it just became an obsession. an on and off obsession, seeing as how i have audio cds, three books and a course i downloaded off the internet and i still can't form a sentence...a sentence that would make sense anyway. =p

i figure once i make it a daily habit, it'll help. i could read the cyrlic alphabet though and pronounce most, just need more focus/determination.

i hope you find some class to help! and there might even be online classes, too!

[frolicsome.livejournal.com]

http://www.alphadictionary.com/rusgrammar/alphabet.html

[cheetr.livejournal.com]

My recommendations are really, really study the alphabet now. Keep at it until you get it. Flash cards with pronunciations may work or writing it or something.

Visit http://www.masterrussian.com/ and poke around.

As for the music, there's tons of stuff out there but I think the songs from the Чебурашка cartoons are pretty easy to pick up for beginning. I know they're not exactly exciting but it might help. http://chebur.hobby.ru/music.html

As for the movies I remember in my high school class we watched баллада о солдате (ballad of a soldier) or maybe Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000714AX/104-3368579-1925535?v=glance&n=130).

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

> I can't seem to get the Cyrlic alphabet.
Well, you have to memorize it - believe it or not :) There is no other way than just learn it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_alphabet

[lovimoment.livejournal.com]

Strict memorization doesn't work for everyone. I, for one, do better with active learning, like on this site (http://catcode.com/). I used this site for his Korean tutorial, actually, and my Korean friends were really impressed that I picked it up so well.

[livelena.livejournal.com]

to learn any language, russian as well, you need to get some knowledge about the structure of the language, the ways words and sentences are built. After you get some theoretical information it will be more easier for you to do with any material you have at hand either songs by tatu, or any book in Russian. If you any any furhter recommendations, you are welcome to ask! Better off come here and learn the language!

[alamar.livejournal.com]

As for music, try Nautilus Pompilius and Мельница, their slow songs like Утро Полины and Господин Горных Дорог respectively.

Also you might try audiobooks in russian.
This way you can see the text and listen to it in one moment, might be helpful.

[omgitspadfoot.livejournal.com]

I'm just starting to learn Russian myself, so I'll link you to some sites I've found helpful:

http://www.alphadictionary.com/rusgrammar/alphabet.html - This site I found was very very useful in helping me to begin to recognise the letters. It has things written in Russian (or at least English words written in the Cyrillic alphabet, I'm not sure) and then it has clues next to it to help you work it out.

Infact, that was the only resource I used and I can now pretty much read Russian (apart from the fact I don't know what the words mean! Haha)

Something else I found helpful to start learning some actual words was BYKI (http://www.byki.com/) - A programs that uses recordings and flash cards to help you learn basic sentences, etc.

Both of those I have used myself and found them really helpful. :D Good luck.

[prfctnstfreak.livejournal.com]

I second that site for the alphabet. That how I learned to read it :)

[jadore-vin.livejournal.com]

Before I began taking Russian college courses, I learned the alphabet and basic sounds using the Living Language audio CD and book, I'm sure you can find it on Ebay for dirt cheap. It helps to see the words and hear the sounds simultaneously.

I think step 2 is to learn a lot of cognates and then go from there. You can also download or buy the Pimsleur Russian 1 course which is really helpful to start.

I also used Golosa my first year.

Good luck!

[lady-of-the-sea.livejournal.com]

If you're planning on taking the earliest level of Russian when you get to college, they'll probably teach you -all- the beginning stuff. That's how my course worked, anyway (We used the Golosa book mentioned in other comments). The first week was spent learning the alphabet, mostly. So I'd say don't worry about it! :)

If you just -want- to start learning earlier though, I'd second Golosa as a good book, BYKI's flashcard system is great, and they might be hard to find at your average bookstores, but Learn Russian CD's or tapes exist somewhere, and would probably be helpful. Good luck!

[idealforcolors.livejournal.com]

It's hard to learn a language without other people to speak it with and a structured lesson plan. Good luck, but if you do end up waiting until college for it, it's not a big deal. You'll have electives.

[cheryltheperil.livejournal.com]

Personally I'm a huge fan of Aria, which is a pretty decent rock band. I have also been recommended a band called Epidemia (another rock band).

I had similar doubts as you when I started uni, as my efforts to make headway with the language on my own never seemed to get very far, but once I got there things went fine. I think you should keep trying to get a grasp of the alphabet (and don't be discouraged because it really does take some getting used to!) and throw yourself into it once you get to college and you'll be fine :)

2 options

[captainfisto.livejournal.com]

1- bite the bullet and buy a computer program. this will give you pronunciation help and a good way to structure your study. this plus some willpower will get you off to a good start.

2- move to russia or a russian speaking country. tough but effective.

[adomatic.livejournal.com]

I can teach you Russian... and that's for free. I have my personal reasons for doing this... don't ask why. I'm a native Russian speaker. Of course I'm not promising anything superb, but if you have enough enthusiasm, at least you'll eventually be able to understand what Russian pop-stars are singing about and read some news on Russian at www.mail.ru or something like this... trust me. My ICQ #308590771.