learn_russian | May. 27th, 2004

Hi all! I've just started down the self-teaching path, and I've got a question.

I want to learn to read and write Russian, so I bought a book. But after going through the first couple of chapters, it quickly became obvious that it would be hard to get the pronunciation right without hearing it. I was afraid that if I spent a lot of time just studying the written language, that I'd be hurting my ability to listen or speak later on.

So I went out and picked up the small version of the Pimsleur course. The instructions that came with it seem to imply that I shouldn't be referring to any written materials while doing the course, for fear that that would interfere with proper learning of pronuncation.

What are people's opinions on this? I could obviously spend a long time on the Pimsleur course, especially if I start on their real course after I finish the introductory one. Am I going to be impeding my own progress if I study the written language, grammar, etc. concurrently?

Any suggestions welcome. Thanks!