Anybody know anyone Russian?

[superstacker]

Perhaps a weird request, perhaps a long shot. But there are people from all over the place and in all types of jobs on this site, so its worth a punt!

Basically Im studying Russian, on a self study basis, for no other reason then the challenge, and perhaps a chance to move to a better job within the military/MOD..

I have various CD courses to learn the speaking side of things, and some torrented stuff to help me with grammar and vocab.

What im after is someone Russian who is online a bit who would be able to correct some of my pronounciation and maybe confirm that things I am saying are understandable and still said today.

There are a few websites that offer this kind of help, and they work to varying degrees, and if im after a wife, there are several hundred sites for that as well...

So fellow bikers? Who do you know that could help me?

Спасибо! (thanks)

Superstacker

[Annabella]

I studied Russian at school and to be honest, the best way to get your pronunciation up to scratch is to go there. It's so varied across the country too it's almost a different language.

I met someone who learnt Russian out in Siberia and could barely understand them

However, I am no help whatsoever to you (can help with pronunciation a little) but am incredibly excited about someone else learning Russian, it's a fab language. I love it
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[Itchy]

Look up Gumtree language swaps there are always plenty of people who trade russian for english.

Also don't overlook polish people as polish is very similar (according to polish people I've spoken to) Russian.

Heh I'm supposed to be riding across the Stans and Russia and I only know a limited selection of words:

Benzine ~ petrol
Malka ~ milk
Mittel vodka ~ which means lets get completely and utterly mashed out of our skulls on vodka for the next couple of days and become excellent friends.
Konyeshna ~ of course
C Peveeto Treyem ~ its ok with beer (the universal get out clause in Russian).

Should get us Across russia fine
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[karoshi]

beginners russian

^ book and cd package is a good one to get to start you off, and it's the one that my local adult learning place uses as the course reference for the first two years of learning (entry1 & 2 are like pre-gcse level).. i'm about halfway through

pronunciation is the hardest part, especially "stressed" vowels in words.. the cd gives some fairly good examples of russian people speaking, and an idea of how fast they speak also.

if you're starting from no knowledge then this: Eli Russian picture dictionary is a good buy.. it's very basic (aimed at ~5yearold teaching level) but it's good to increase your vocabulary with
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[Annabella]

[superstacker]

Thanks so far, I've been doing the Michel Thomas course for speaking, and ive nearly finished the first 8 disk set.

Writing seems quite difficult, so ill be looking more into it soon...

It is a fab language, and at least the grammar is starting to make sense!

[superstacker]