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Author Topic: Best Russian language resources  (Read 81185 times)

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Offline pup zemly

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Best Russian language resources
« on: July 16, 2008, 05:56:42 AM »

Please share other useful links and we'll include them in the Resources directory.

Offline Jared2151

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Russian grammar
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2008, 08:41:38 AM »
Excellent link :-*

Offline mendeleyev

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Best Russian language resources
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2008, 10:37:11 AM »
RUA resources:
Learn Russian by reading Cyrillic Signs http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=2257.0

Word of the Day: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=3482.0

Anatomy for Big Dummies: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=6648.0

Russian Phrases: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=5809.0

Learn Russian by listening to Russian Music: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=4897.0

Questions about the Russian Language: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=7127.0

Learn to Count in Russian: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=7127.0

Reading a Menu in Russian: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=9476.0

Russian Cognates: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=6875.0

Russian for Travel-Finance-Food: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=5989.0

Russian Keyboard layouts: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=4084.0

Russian Fonts on the computer: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=3172.0



Helpful books and printed materials (Best quality textbooks that are easy for "normal people" to handle/understand):

Beginners Russian by Anna Kudyma, Frank Miller and Olga Kagan, is perhaps the first course designed for use either as one person at home or as a classroom text. It can be purchased at Amazon or Ebay. Go thru the 24 chapters in the workbook with online support and UCLA says that one can go to the FSU by themselves, navigate directions, purchase items and tickets, order food, read signs, read newspapers at a basic level and hold your own in most conversations.

- Learn Russian the Fast and Fun Way (Fast and Fun Way Series) by Thomas R. Beyer Jr. Ph.D. — Considered the most common text/workbook used in community colleges in the USA for beginning Russian classes. Excellent! You will learn to read, write, listen and speak with correct grammar. Note: If you find it on Ebay or Amazon make sure the cassettes or CDs come with it. It’s a textbook and workbook all in one large soft paperbound and is great especially as the listening and speaking practice is invaluable. With audio included with the work book you can do this at home.

As far as books, the most complete text I recommend is Beginner's Russian from UCLA. Use google to find free links to audio and video supporting the texts. You can purchase good used texts on Amazon and Ebay, etc, and those are the heart of the retention and practice.

In my opinion this is one of the rare University texts that an individual could successfully use for self study--that is possible solely because of the large amounts of free audio and video found on the internet to support each lesson.

- Golosa: A Basic Course in Russian, Book 1 (3rd Edition) by Richard M. Robin, Karen Evans-Romaine, Galina Shatalina, and Joanna M. Robin. Here is the link that supplements Golosa grammar and allows you to listen to the audio files--if you have the textbook and workbook, these audio files will add tremendously to your learning! http://www.gwu.edu/~slavic/golosa/

George Washington University site for free Golosa support materials: http://www.gwu.edu/~slavic/golosa/

St Lawrence University Golosa supplements site: http://it.stlawu.edu/~rkreuzer/golos21.htm

Auburn University, Golosa exercises: http://www.auburn.edu/~mitrege/russian/exercises/golosa-index.html

A Google search will many other Golosa materials sites (free). Texts can be anywhere from $10 to $110+ depending on condition. Well worth any investment.



- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Learning Russian, 2nd Edition (Complete Idiot’s Guide to) by Christopher Froehlich. Great for grammar in a way we idiots can understand it.

- Live From Moscow/Russian Stage One — probably one of the best at University level, yet with the ability to use it by yourself at home. Hardback textbook and large paperback workbook with 2 CD’s and one VHS. Combines visual, audio, video, and you’ll learn to read, speak and write as well as hear/see as you learn. However, it’s been discontinued from active printing and if you buy it on Ebay or Amazon, make certain that the VHS, CDs (or cassettes) are included with the text and workbook…otherwise the learning value diminishes quickly. Getting hard to find the complete package. There is a stage Two for advanced students.

- The Everything Russian Practice Book: Simple Techniques to Improve Your Speaking And Writing Skills (Everything: Language and Literature) – Paperback (Jan 2007) by Nina Wieda

- Colloquial Russian: The Complete Course for Beginners, by Svetlana Le Fleming & Susan E. Kay

- Colloquial Russian 2: The Next Step in Language Learning is next in the series. (Introduction to spoken and written Russian. Includes a course book containing dialogues, grammatical notes, exercises and cultural information, together with two cassettes with recordings of some of the dialogues and exercises. The Russian text is written in the Cyrillic alphabet throughout.)

- Teach Yourself Russian Language Life and Culture, by Stephen Webber and Tatyana Webber (Very interesting introduction to Russian society and culture. Covers a wide range of topics, including literature, music, language, art, architecture, cinema, theatre, science, the media, politics, education, health, work, leisure, transport, family and religion. It isn’t a language textbook, though each chapter does include a list of useful Russian words and phrases, and further examples of key vocabulary appear in the main text. This book also contains a guide to additional reading, useful websites and places of interest. If you’re learning Russian, or just interested in Russian, this book is essential reading.)

- Teach Yourself Russian, by Daphne West
(A good, clear introduction to spoken and written Russian. Includes a course book containing dialogues, grammatical notes, exercises and cultural information, together with two CDs with recordings of most of the dialogues and some of the exercises. Excellent for beginners.)

- Teach Yourself Beginner’s Russian Script by Daphne West – learn how to write cursive Russian since it’s very different from printed Russian lettering. Many of you know that Russians rarely print, they write everything from love letters to grocery lists in long-hand cursive. Cyrillic cursive is very different from printed letters. Very helpful book!

- How To Learn Any Language: Quickly, Easily, Inexpensively, Enjoyably and on Your Own by Barry Farber. From member TwoBit, a Russian speaker who recommends this as the best book on the topic of learning languages.

- The New Penguin Russian Course: A Complete Course for Beginners (Penguin Handbooks, Paperback) .


Video Courses
[ Specified attachment is not available ] A great way to start learning Russian as a beginner is to watch the Russian lessons on YouTube by Victor Dmitrievitch Huliganov. (Those who understand Russian will understand the play on his last name.) His lessons are a combination of serious learning and humour, and most will find this a good combination to learn quickly. Each lesson is concluded with a joke or poem and then a song (yes, he does the singing!). On a serious note he is a highly regarded professor, but very eccentric and very, very funny with his accent and use of humour.

All the lessons of Series One and Series Two are now available on YouTube. You can search them by his name or by RL 101 and RL 102. The RL 101 series teaches the alphabet and the concepts behind it and the RL 102 series is for beginning grammar.

Start here with the introduction to learning Russian: for the introduction. The first lesson is here:


Online courses - free study
www.russianforeveryone.com

http://www.russian-language-for-lovers.com/russian-lessons.html   A free online beginners course, features include sound and translation tool.

www.russianpod101.com http://www.russian-plus.comwww.learningrussian.net/

[ Specified attachment is not available ] http://speak-russian.cie.ru/time_new/eng/

http://russianforeveryone.com

http://www.trymango.com

http://www.russianlessons.net

http://listen2russian.com

www.masterrussian.com

http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/russian

http://learnrussian.elanguageschool.net

http://www.open-of-course.org

http://speakrussian.blogspot.com (Known as “A Spoonful of Russian” this popular series no longer provides updates, however the existing material is excellent.)

http://www.ielanguages.com/russian.html

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4296321/Foreign_Service_Institute_Russian_FAST_Course (Russian FAST is the Foreign Service Institute course)

http://www.bridgetorussian.com/



Online courses - paid subscription
http://listen2russian.com   One of the best and highly recommended by the Mendeleyev Journal. Includes an online textbook, downloadable resources, and voice tools to listen and practice.

http://www.russianpod101.com/   This is a very complete yet simple course. The features are awesome and include a way to record and check your accent, grammar checker, pdf downloads of each lesson, and great sound resources. One of the best!  Pricing is FREE for a short beginners course, then $8 monthly for the next level and the premium service is just $25 per month and there are discounts for the longer you study.

Mango Languages: http://mangolanguages.com/   Mango is a well respected online language-learning system that teaches actual conversation skills.

Michel Thomas Method Russian course--recommended by RUA members Stubben and Herrie. http://www.michelthomas.co.uk/

The Russian Accelerator program is just what the name implies--a fast way to learn. This amazingly simple but effective method usings a combination of "contextual learning" with flashcards, short videos and native speakers. http://www.russianaccelerator.com/

http://learn-russian.language101.com/ Recommended by RUA member Nicknick. Several lessons are free to allow you to try the course.

http://www.byki.com  (From the Transparent Language family, an excellent resource. Free and paid instruction available)

http://www.livemocha.com/



CD's and associated resources:
Pimsleur (Google the Internet and select the best source for your needs.)

Rosetta Stone (Google the Internet and select the best source for your needs.)



Dictionaries (bound)
The Oxford Russian Dictionary: Russian-English English-Russian, by Della Thompson .Ediitor   (Excellent, up-to-date Russian-English, English-Russian dictionary containing over 45,000 words and phrases.)



Dictionaries (online)
The Russian Dictionary Tree is produced by the Slavic Languages Dept at Cornell University. http://russian.dmll.cornell.edu/rdt/

http://www.learnrussianfree.com/vocabulary/word  Great suggestion from RUA member Lee from Houston.


Word of the Day
Transparent Languages: http://www.transparent.com/wotd/today/russian.htm

Word of the Day with explantions on grammar from a very capable professor of Russian at Arizona State University: http://shininghappypeople.net/rwotd/blog4.php

http://www.funrussian.com



Flashcards
http://ichi2.net/anki/



Keyboards
www.imtranslator.com   (Includes online keyboard, a dictionary and allows you to hear words spoken.)

http://www.rusklaviatura.com/



Translators (online)
www.imtranslator.com   (Includes online keyboard, a dictionary and allows you to hear words spoken.)

Google Translate: http://translate.google.com/#en|ru|



Voice Pronunciation online
http://www.oddcast.com/home/demos/tts/tts_example.php   Paste words and listen to Russian speakers.

http://www.acapela-group.com/text-to-speech-interactive-demo.html    Paste words and listen to Russian speakers.



Grammar resources:
- A Comprehensive Russian Grammar, by Terence Wade
(Comprehensive, in-depth guide to the grammar of written and spoken Russian. Includes numerous example sentences taken from comtemporary literature and media sources illustrating the grammatical points. This book is suitable for intermediate to advanced level students of Russian.)

- The Big Silver Book of Russian Verbs. Member Hrafn highly recommends this verb book with 555 fully conjugated verbs. This includes each verb in both imperfective/perfective aspect, all tenses, subjunctive form, participles, verbal adverbs, and imperatives. It also gives the cases the verb applies as well as several sample sentences. Additionally for the "top 100" verbs, there's a whole page for the verb just devoted to phrases using that verb in both Russian and English. The beginning of the book explains the common rules of grammar, and the back contains verb exercises + irregular verbs.

It was written by a former teacher of his - an American who got his PhD in Russian at Moscow Uni and married a Russian. Incredibly intelligent man, and the second edition of the book due in October 2011 on Amazon.

- 501 Russian Verbs: Fully Conjugated in All the Tenses Alphabetically Arranged, by Thomas R., Jr. Beyer
(Great little resource!)

- The Oxford Russian Grammar and Verbs, by Terence Wade
(Excellent, clear, concise guide to the grammar of written and spoken Russian. Covers all the essentials and also the exceptions. Includes numerous example sentences illustrating the grammatical points.)

- Schaums Russian Grammar, by James Levine (http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-Russian-Grammar-Second/dp/007161169X/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t)

- Russian grammar rules explained: http://www.gramota.ru/spravka/rules/?rub=zap




Conversational Practice
http://www.livemocha.com/

http://applause-voice.com/




Test and Quiz resources
www.practicerussian.com

http://www.learnrussianfree.com/vocabulary/word - Excellent quizzes and vocabulary building.


Additional resources include:
http://www.declan-software.com/russian/wordfiles_russian.htm
http://babel.uoregon.edu/russian
http://www.uni.edu/becker/Russian2.html#photos
http://www.alphadictionary.com/rusgrammar/index.html
http://www.ilearnwords.com
http://www.russianclass.co.uk
http://tasteofrussian.com (Podcasts to listen to beginning lessons)
http://www.meighan.net/alexander/Chapter13.htm  Learn Ladies names
http://learningrussian.wordpress.com


Watch-Listen-Read Russian Media
Russian Remote is an online movie, TV, radio site with many free titles. http://russianremote.com/

Movie for the Weekend on the Kyle Keaton website features a Russian language film but English subtitles allow you to follow along. Its a great way to immerse yourself for listening and comprehension practice. http://video.kylekeeton.com/category/movie-for-the-weekend



Suggested Lesson Plan for beginners:

1- Daily lessons from Beginning Russian (UCLA) for consistent step by step instruction, with correct pronunciation by native speakers.

2- Practice projects, 1 day per week or weekends: Use above resources such as http://www.russianlessons.net or http://spoonfedrussian.com for supplementary homework or projects. Use the “homework” to learn to master the alphabet, how to use numbers/counting, pronounce names/titles of relatives, how to tell time, and some other basics. This supplemental homework will take you further in your ability to put sentences and phrases together.

3- Weeks ONE and THREE: Watch YOUTUBE.com for RL101 and the other Russian lessons in both the RL 101 and the RL 102 series. Complete all the lessons, both series.

4- Twice a week, read one chapter and make notes from "The Idiot's Guide to Learning Russian." Re-read the same chapter again later in the week.



Footnote: What is the meaning of the Red Star?
As in Soviet times, it denotes something special. From an RUA member doing exceptional Russian homework, resources added to our list by an RUA member, resources operated by RUA members,  resources which have made it to the Mendeleyev Journal's "Red Star" list, or resources which participate with RUA's commercial member banner exchange program.

There is no monetary or any other consideration given or received for the Red Star designation.



RUA Resource List: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php/topic,4177.msg52213.html#msg52213 (Updated October 2012. Please report any broken or missing links to Moderator.)



Here is just one suggested additon to RUA's Internet Russian learning and it's FREE!

I enjoy Natalia's "Russian by the Spoonful" but this new program, produced by a Russian lady, is even better, more organized, has FREE printable pdf files with exercises, and I could go on and on and on about it's unique advantages.

Go to the home page: http://spoonfedrussian.com/

This is a true blog so to find the first lessons you'll need to scroll down the left side of the page and click on the May archive.  Lesson 1 begins with alphabet and you can work your way up from there lesson by lesson.  The mp3 links allow you to listen as you study or you can download to an ipod device and take the lessons with you.

The written lessons are done in professional form so that you can bind them in a 3 ring notebook lesson by lesson and build a text/workbook as you study. Very unique and well done!



Resources for Advanced Students:

RAILS Lessons http://www.languageinstitute.wisc.edu/rails/lessons.html
http://janeytop83.wordpress.com/

Grammar: http://www.russianpodcast.eu/



Offline Catman

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Russian grammar
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2008, 06:33:37 AM »
Last night I tried this spoonfed Russian and really like it. I guess there is no super easy way to learn Russian but many hours of practice.

Online AvHdB

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Re: Russian word of the Day
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2010, 12:34:24 AM »
Is there a way for a disgraphic/dyslexic to learn Russian?

I did learn Dutch by myself and can handle and have done up to 8 zeroes plus a number in Dutch.

But Russian . . . ? ? ?
“If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” T.S. Eliot

Offline el_guero

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2010, 11:05:26 PM »
Before I start a new thread, are there any decent frequency lists for Russian?

I would prefer a Moscow dialect or Ukrainian list?

I know there is a 'good' one from classic Russian literature, but I think that would include 10% of wasted words at least.

I do not mind a 100; 500; 1000; or even 10000 word list.

But, I would like a 5000 word list (even if I won't conquer it within a year).

It took me FOREVER to find a decent list for Spanish.

Offline Wild Orchid

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Russian for dummies (book)
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2010, 09:45:08 PM »
I can email that book of 300+ pages to anyone who interested in getting it. Please provide your email via PM to me.

Offline ADAMWR

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LANGUAGE SOFTWARE
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2010, 10:42:11 PM »
  I have read some older post about learning russian.  It seems to take between 5-7 years to get fluent.  I have bought the full set of rosetta stone and was wondering if there was anything else I could do. I also have the alphabet downloaded on my ipod with test modes to start learning it.  Since I am looking at women in Ukraine is Russian going to be good enough or do I need to go another route. Rosetta stone does not have anything in Ukrainian.

Offline BCKev

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Re: LANGUAGE SOFTWARE
« Reply #8 on: June 27, 2010, 11:40:48 PM »
The Russian/Ukrainian language question was discussed on this thread:
 http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php?topic=7550.0;

Offline dbneeley

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Re: LANGUAGE SOFTWARE
« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2010, 12:02:02 AM »
You might also download the Foreign Service Institute Russian course called Russian FAST. It's free, by the way, and available on many of the bit torrent sites.

David

Offline Tim1970

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2010, 04:48:03 AM »
Hi,

Has anyone ever used the Berlitz Russian course? I am just wondering if it will be of use to me. I am at let's say 'pre-intermediate' level in Russian and I wanted to brush up my Russian for an upcoming trip to Russia later on this year. Thanks.

Offline dbneeley

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2010, 06:26:21 AM »
With so many listings, I am surprised that Russian FAST is not included. This is the Foreign Service Institute course that is available from various bit torrent sites as a free download. It contains both .pdf files and .mp3 audio files. (For your information, the "FAST" part stands for "Familiarization and Short Term Training"). This is a course that is for very basic survival Russian for travelers or visitors.

Google "FSI Russian FAST" and you will find many places where it can be downloaded.

David

Offline mendeleyev

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2010, 09:08:26 AM »
Thanks, and it is added!  tiphat

Offline TVC15

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Learn Russian Online Or On Your Computer
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2010, 07:23:18 AM »
I'm just starting with this now. They have a free version so pretty easy there. If you want to get more advanced there's that possibility there as well.

It gives you visual and audio learning aids, so you see a card with a phrase and then hear how to pronounce it as well. So far seems pretty cool and an easy ( well debatable there) way to at least get a foot hold on learning Russian.

Here's the link:

http://www.byki.com

Offline mendeleyev

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2010, 12:09:47 PM »
TVC15, thanks for the excellent addition!

Byki is a member of the Transparent Languages family and an excellent resource. We've added it to the RUA Language Resource list: http://ruadventures.com/forum/index.php/topic,4177.msg52213.html#msg52213

Offline BURNT

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #15 on: September 20, 2010, 10:41:51 AM »
Thanks for the links  Mendeleyev

Offline mendeleyev

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #16 on: September 20, 2010, 10:27:43 PM »
Пожалуйста! (serves as both please and you're welcome)

Offline mendeleyev

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #17 on: September 25, 2010, 11:57:04 PM »
We've added several new resources to the list upthread, including a valuable online dictionary from the Russian dept at Cornell University.

Also added is "Russian Remote" a site to watch Russian language movies and TV and listen to Radio.

Offline Charles

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #18 on: September 30, 2010, 02:28:23 PM »
I think the best way to learn a language is the Pimsleur program.  I don't work for them, etc.  The key to this program is it is all-audio - no books - You just listen in your car or on your ipod/mp3 player 30 minutes per day while commuting or jogging, etc.  I would listen to each lesson twice.  If you have time to spend on computer, great.  But if you want efficient learning, this is it.  Also, by audio only, you can't learn to mispronounce the words by reading because you don't read.   It also covers the most useful words first and you learn conversation.  The only drawback is the price.  Russian I, II and III are a little over $200 each.  BTW, there is a reading lesson at the end of Russian I - after 30 days of audio - by that time you can't pronounce these words incorrectly because you heard them over and over again. 

Offline mendeleyev

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #19 on: September 30, 2010, 08:16:46 PM »
Charles, I too advocate Pimsleur as an excellent resource. However the problem with using Pimsleur to the exclusion of written instruction supplements are twofold. First, you learn to speak in the vernacular but fail to learn the "why" (grammar) words work (or don't work) in structured forms. Second, language is truly visual and if you went thru all levels of a good program like Pimsleur, yet landed in Russia not knowing how to read and write, you'd be at the literacy level of anyone else who knows how to talk but can't read.

When practicing both auditory and visual there are plenty of "ah ha, now I get it!" moments as the written helps understand the spoken and vice versa. In fact, once my reading/writing skills began to advance, suddenly my verbal skills and comprehension skyrocketed.

By the way, Pimsleur is freer than most realize. Most US city libraries are members of a national library resource system, on which Pimsleur downloads are free via mp3. You might wish to speak to a local librarian to arrange a reservation form to access the downloads.

Offline dbneeley

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #20 on: October 14, 2010, 06:19:33 AM »
I have just stumbled upon a computer "flash card" program that has over a dozen "decks" of Russian instruction--ranging from the basics like the Cyrillic alphabet through grammar (including the word frequency lists that Wayne was asking about), and even one with complete Russian sentences including various idioms. I have downloaded it along with about a dozen of these "decks" and have begun working with it.

The program allows you to see a word, give the answer, then immediately see the proper definition--and you rate it from "again" to "very easy"--and the frequency the words is repeated varies with the rating you assign and, over time, with the number of times you get the word right. An extremely useful tool--and you can create your own "decks" if you wish, and you are encouraged to share the ones you make with others. It also supports multimedia files, so some of the decks come with pronunciation files. Very cool--and it looks like a terrific resource.

By the way--I noticed one of the book series is called Colosa"--and Anki contains decks with vocabulary from that book, separated into the respective chapters.

The program is called "Anki"--and is available for all major platforms--Windows, Mac, Linux, and now even a mobile version for a smart phone...and it is free!

See  http://ichi2.net/anki/

Enjoy!

David

Offline mendeleyev

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #21 on: October 14, 2010, 10:45:13 PM »
We've added David's excellent suggestion to the resources list.  tiphat

Offline nicknick

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #22 on: October 30, 2010, 03:12:48 PM »
As the previous comments have said, I've found Pimsleur very useful for learning spoken Russian.  In fact what I learnt using Pimsleur I've found that I remember the most easily and it comes to me automatically when I speak with Russians without having to think.

But, as Mendeleyev says, it really does miss out on explaining the structure of Russian so you really do need something to explain the grammar behind it all.

As an alternative to Pimsleur there is also this website which works in a similar way to Pimsleur:-

http://learn-russian.language101.com/

Apologies if this has laready been listed above and I didn't notice it.  They have a few small free lessons and one that first attracted my attention to them was this one:-

http://learn-russian.language101.com/lesson/?id=83522319

which is the song Если у вас нету тёти from Ирония судьбы which, as well as being a  nice song, also deals with a lot of the genitive case.

However, if I had to choose between the two I would pick Pimsleur over this website.

Something else that I have found helpful in learning Russian is watching Russian films with English subtitles.  I've got a few DVDs from previous trips to Russia but I've also come across a website where you can watch them for free:-

http://video.kylekeeton.com/category/movie-for-the-weekend

They've got a whole load of films in the original Russian with English subtitles.  If you've got a plugin that lets you download videos from youtube etc you can also download them.

They've got a lot of classic Soviet films and some more modern ones there including:-

Александр Невский
Бриллиантовая рука
Мимино
Кавказская пленница
Белое солнце пустыни
Ирония судьбы
Ирония судьбы. Продолжение
Особенности национальной охоты в осенний период

Although they don't have Москва слезам не верит

You might also want to look on youtube as there are quite a few Russian cartoons with English subtitles.  One I think is really cute is The Kitten named Woof  Котёнок по имени Гав:-

http://www.youtube.com/user/monsieuricon


I've also used Rosetta Stone for learning Russian and, although it was useful for some vocabulary, I didn't really find it very helpful from a practical, actually talking to Russians point of view and I really would not recommend anyone paying a large amount of money for it.  On the other hand, if you know a way of getting it for free then it's certainly better than nothing.

As mentioned above I can also recommend the New Penguin Russian course.  However, one book that deals just with grammar that it might be worth adding to the list is Schaum's Outline.  I first came across this series at university - they mainly deal with things like maths, statistics, physics etc but they do also cover languages and are absolutely excellent.  However, it is NOT a language course, it really is just about the grammar.

Here is a link to amazon reviews of the book:-

http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-Russian-Grammar-Levine/product-reviews/0070382387/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

However, they've just brought out a new edition of the book so don't try to buy this old edition from Amazon - or anywhere else.



This is my first post although I've been a lurker for a little while.  I've been to Russia a number of times over the last few years, either on business or holiday, and picked up a smattering of the language - enough to get by.  However, I'm now recently divorced and I'm looking to go back over there in the Spring to see if I can meet someone so I'll do a TR then.

Offline mendeleyev

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #23 on: October 30, 2010, 08:17:45 PM »
Nicknick, thank you for the very helpful suggestions! We'll gladly add those to the list.

Our family also enjoys watching Russian movies on YouTube and RuTube and there is a nice selection of some of the classic titles which are great for Russian immersion (with subtitles) and in gaining knowledge of the history and culture of the FSU.

Offline Vithar

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Re: Russian language resources
« Reply #24 on: November 09, 2010, 09:58:57 PM »
I'm mostly a lurker, and noticed that among your online webpages, you missed one that I have enjoyed.

http://www.livemocha.com/

It covers much more than Russian, but there are a lot of Russian speakers on the site who will help you with the lessons, and give you the chance to talk to them also.  Though it comes at the cost of helping people learning your native language.


 

 

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