Quick Russian course

[mendeleyev]

Moscow State University (MGU) is offering a unique way to learn some Russian over the holidays.

Winter program Moscow 2011/12 - Group Russian language and culture program of either 2, 3 or 4 weeks from December 2011 to January 2012, Moscow State University

Metro map of Moscow  More about Moscow   Map of downtown Moscow

Together with Moscow State University and the Russian Language Center, we are happy to announce a special 2-4 week Russian language and culture program during January. Arrival in Moscow is on Sun, and departure can be chosen on any Saturday thereafter.  The course will be in groups of maximal 8 persons each with a total of 20 lessons per week (4 academic hours a day for 5 days). Minimum number of participants is 6 persons. Emphasis is on getting to know the basics of the Russian language and culture. No prior knowledge of Russian is required even though familiarity with the cyrillic alphabet will help. Lectures will be given by Russian language instructors and leading University professors and include topics such as   Basics of Spoken Russian Russian Winter Festivals Traditional Russian Cuisine Russia's Social and Economic Situation

Here is the email if you need more info: info@studyrussian.com

Cost: Approx. 920 Euro for the 2 week option (airfare not included) and you'll stay with a Russian family which is a great way to practice what you've learned in class.

A group tour of Red Square and Kolomenskoye will be included.

Space is limited so if interested, email quickly.

Weekend excursions are 200 Euro to the Golden Ring and St. Petersburg.

web info: http://www.studyrussian.com/MGU/winterprogram.html

[Daveman]

Man, I would *love* to be able to do this.  The dates don't work for me this time around, but that would be just about the coolest way possible to get a jump start into the language, or take one's beginning or intermediate Russian language skills to a new level and have a blast doing it. 


Thanks for the Info Mendy! You rock!


Dave

[mendeleyev]

Thanks Dave.

I should disclose that I am not connected with nor have a financial or any sort of relationship with the classes offered. Like you, I thought it to be a very cool idea.

[Vincenzo]

There are many Russian native speakers in the USA and Europe. You can get more knowledge without traveling far.

I just looked on craigslist in the Lessons section.
There are ads like this:

  RUSSIAN GROUP CLASSES
  Adult & Children
   
Certified Native Russian Teachers offer private, group, kids, corporate programs with effective method. You will learn Russian the natural way!   Ultimate Russian course is a great way to learn Russian with little or no knowledge.
 The focus is on conversation for fast learning of daily actions.
It is a practical and enjoyable way to learn Russian.
 Duration: 8 weeks course - one hour weekly classes Groups are formed on a continuous basis
  Groups of minimum 2 and maximum 5 students.

[mendeleyev]

Craigs list is a great way to find a Russian tutor!

I like the MSU option because of the structure (one can accomplish a lot in several hours daily versus several hours monthly) and the cultural tours. Most importantly however is immersion. 20 hours of concentrated study while immersed in a language culture is perhaps equal to months or even a year of study in a non immersed setting.

The other advantage is the certificate from a major Russian university for those who plan to someday teach ESL or do some sort of translation work back home.


But I do like Craigs List option especially now that Craigs list is international and available to folks over borders. That and a good Skype connection can be very useful in learning.

[Vincenzo]

I don't expect much from the group lessons when "No prior knowledge of Russian is required".
After two weeks and spending $1,000, you'll be able to say, "Privet! Do svidaniya!"

[mendeleyev]

From Moscow State University?

I think you'll be able to add at least a few more than those!   

[Daveman]

From Moscow State University?

I think you'll be able to add at least a few more than those!   

Not to mention being hosted by a Russian family, living in total immersion, cultural immersion.... winter festivals, eating home cooked Russian cuisine (man, that alone is nearly worth the trip)... freezin' your...never mind, let's skip that one... experiencing another culture short term within what will be a (relatively) protected environment and core group.  Making some friends who just may last much longer than the trip...  yep, I have to stick to my initial assessment... this is cool and I'd be the first in line to do it if I could swing it, even now after all the trips and months (and more months) I've spent 'over there'.  I bet this will be a blast and a half.

[Jumper]

I don't expect much from the group lessons when "No prior knowledge of Russian is required".
After two weeks and spending $1,000, you'll be able to say, "Privet! Do svidaniya!"

Vin-
Do you think it's a waste of time?
 
 
So Russians coming stateside in similar programs to learn english , are better off just getting a local English tutor?
 
since they likely would just learn *hi and bye?*
 
 
interesting.
 
 
 
Add in that many members here would get something out of the cultural experience and immersion,
and that going to Moscow state university they could meet many RW , it seems worthy of at least looking into for any single men with the time.
 
 
 

[Vincenzo]

My Spanish is very basic.
When my Spanish friends talk, I can hardly understand them.

If I travel to Madrid and spend a couple weeks studying Spanish at the best university, will my Spanish improve tremendously? I'm sure that the professors in Madrid know something that the local Spanish teachers don't.

[SANDRO43]

Most importantly however is immersion.

I agree. However...

20 hours of concentrated study while immersed in a language culture is perhaps equal to months or even a year of study in a non immersed setting.

...this is doubtful, particularly in the case of those with NO previous experience -  i.e. no existent Russian skills, as advertised .

In the case of Russian, the concept of declension and 6 cases is quite foreign to most foreigners - except to the few who had the misfortune of studying a dead language like Latin. Cyrillic is also an initial stumbling block for many - again, the few who studied Greek may have less problems, as well as those who are familiar with non-Latin scripts.   

Success in teaching a foreign language depends on the teacher, the method and the student - the more 'different' the latter's mother language is from the target language, the longer the process.

While the 'existential' experience may be enjoyable anyway, its short duration may not be as productive as expected.

[mendeleyev]

<blockquote>20 hours of concentrated study while immersed in a language culture is perhaps equal to months or even a year of study in a non immersed setting.</blockquote>...this is doubtful, particularly in the case of those with NO previous experience -  i.e. no existent Russian skills, as advertised

I don't think we can value enough what extended immersion, even for 2-4 weeks, does for a student. Now of course nobody is going to come home fluent from a 2 week or a 4 week setting, but with the immersion and 4 hours of concentrated study, I'd easily bet the results would be a lot farther down the road than a person who stayed home and did the same 20 hours a few times weekly in a non immersed setting.

[chivo]

First of all, I think the trip would be fun for anyone who is really interested in finding a RW or who just wants to learn a bit about the culture.
 
I'm not suggesting that you will find a RW on this trip, but you will have a better understanding of what you're getting yourself into overall, language skills notwithstanding. Certainly it is worth the price of admission, although for anyone older than forty or fifty it might be a little strange staying with a Russian family where no one speaks your language. Hopefully there is a young Dev or two living with the 'family' to help ease matters  .
 
As far as actually learning the language, well I agree with those who suggest that overall you won't learn much, but you will learn some basic phrases and the alphabet. You can forget about really understanding the grammar unless as Sandro says "you already have some basic skills in Greek, Latin or any other non-Latin scripts".
 
Total immersion is best no doubt, and you will pick up very simple phrases, but understanding what is being said to you will definitely be the most challenging part. Two to four weeks is just not enough time to grasp anything unless your Russian level is at least pre-intermediate.
 
That being said, the overall experience would be priceless for someone interested in the possibility of finding a RW and to help you later on any subsequent trips. I think the real benefit would be the experience first and foremost and a better understanding of the culture. And for anyone really interested in a woman from these parts this is a must IMO.

[chivo]

Success in teaching a foreign language depends on the teacher, the method and the student - the more 'different' the latter's mother language is from the target language, the longer the process.

Sandro, I have always been of the opinion that no matter how good the method or teacher, the student really is the one who makes it all work. IOW no matter how good the teacher or method, if the student is lazy it is all an exercise in futility.
 
I was wondering what methods you find best as I not only respect your knowledge in general, but your expertise in languages? And I would be very interested in both theory and motivation. As always my mind is open to new ideas and change in beliefs.
 
P.S. sorry if this is a little  .

[SANDRO43]

Sandro, I have always been of the opinion that no matter how good the method or teacher, the student really is the one who makes it all work. IOW no matter how good the teacher or method, if the student is lazy it is all an exercise in futility.

That is a given not only for languages but for ANY subject matter being taught . In my 15 years as an IBM Instructor of some fairly technical subjects to customer staff and colleagues - most motivated to learn, some just ordered to attend - I became aware very soon that it was a juggler's act to keep my audience's attention alive.
 

I was wondering what methods you find best

Alternating theory to practice (teach/drill) seemed to be working best, and finding ways to present theory interestingly - and sometimes funnily - was crucial, given that a student's attention span tends to wane after 30' or so .
 
IMO, the same principles apply to teaching in general, languages included: the student must be interested to begin with, and kept interested by the teacher and the method the latter uses. 

Learning grammar can be boring, unless it is soon used as a means to something else: Latin used to be taught in our grammar schools in my time, and for instance I remember awaking from my torpor when bits from Julius Caesar's De bello gallico were used by our teacher as textual examples: battles catch a kid's attention .
 
Other considerations may be more subjective: I've always preferred a top-down approach both as a teacher and a student - give me the general picture first, then show me how to work out the details.

In this connection, the Arabic course I attended was an example of how NOT to teach a language effectively . After devoting a necessarily long time to explaining the alphabet and drilling us in reading/writing, our teacher used an exercise book with those lame situational examples (At the airport, At the hotel, etc.) rather than starting with simpler sentences. I had to buy myself an Arabic grammar in order to discover that the language had 3 cases, and that its basic sentence structure was unfamiliar. For instance:

The pretty girl = The girl the pretty
The girl is pretty = The girl a pretty
The pretty girl walks = Walks the girl the pretty

One can catch the attention of at least male students with drills based on pretty girls .

[ML]

As a 2-4 week vacation tour to Russia, this could be a great experience.

But just don't expect you are going to learn much in the way of the Russian language.

My Gal has been here going on 4 months and goes to University taking English classes full time 5 days a week.  21 semester hours.

She had level 6-7 English speaking and understanding, and level 4-5 writing even when she arrived.

She is making great progress I think, but still probably at only 8 level speaking and understanding and 6 level at writing.  And this after tons of homework every night and weekends.  I know how much it is because I 'grade' all of her homework.

And learning English is much easier than learning Russian.

As a side note;  our th sound is really a bitch for these people.  She can get it mostly right if I ask her to repeat a word, and she speaks it slowly with great concentration.  But when not doing school work and just 'shooting the breeze,' she reverts to the f sound  as in 'what is the truf (truth)', I fought (thought) it was a good movie, a leavfer (leather) coat, etc.

[Jumper]

My Spanish is very basic.
When my Spanish friends talk, I can hardly understand them.

If I travel to Madrid and spend a couple weeks studying Spanish at the best university, will my Spanish improve tremendously? I'm sure that the professors in Madrid know something that the local Spanish teachers don't.

Improve Tremendously?
 no.
 
 
Improve as much , or more, as with your local teachers in the same time frame?
 
absolutely
 
with the added bonus of immersion, culture and meeting spanish women ?
( since in the context, this boards members are mostly wanting to meet RW ,  the sole goal not being to learn the languiage )
 
 
 
Having actually lived in a few countries and learning the language in that way, immersion is one of the better means.
 
Even if its only a few weeks you should  improve far more
than some weekly classes in your own backyard in those same few weeks.
 
no you certainly wont be fluent, and may not get past some basics.
 
As a man looking into the RW adventure this board is based on, you certainly would get a better grasp of the language, culture ,and RW , than by staying home with a weekly tutor.
  
 
 
 
So yes, I think two weeks in Madrid staying with a Spanish speaking family and going to a university, would leap you a bit ahead of where your Spanish is now.
 

I'm certain mine would.
 

[chivo]

And learning English is much easier than learning Russian.

I used to think this before I moved here but I don't think this anymore. If you're talking about grammar, then yes, Russian grammar is more difficult. But there are parts of the English language that are very difficult for Russians, and after hearing Russians speak English who have been speaking it for years (and not very well), I've changed my mind.
 
If you're of the mindset that Russian is more difficult then fine, but much more, I don't/won't agree with you at all.

IMO, the same principles apply to teaching in general, languages included: the student must be interested to begin with, and kept interested by the teacher and the method the latter uses. 

Learning grammar can be boring, unless it is soon used as a means to something else: Latin used to be taught in our grammar schools in my time, and for instance I remember awaking from my torpor when bits from Julius Caesar's De bello gallico were used by our teacher as textual examples: battles catch a kid's attention .

Nice  .

Other considerations may be more subjective: I've always preferred a top-down approach both as a teacher and a student - give me the general picture first, then show me how to work out the details.

I also find this method works best for me with Russian grammar rules, especially cases and declination.

In this connection, the Arabic course I attended was an example of how NOT to teach a language effectively . After devoting a necessarily long time to explaining the alphabet and drilling us in reading/writing, our teacher used an exercise book with those lame situational examples (At the airport, At the hotel, etc.) rather than starting with simpler sentences. I had to buy myself an Arabic grammar in order to discover that the language had 3 cases, and that its basic sentence structure was unfamiliar. For instance:

The pretty girl = The girl the pretty
The girl is pretty = The girl a pretty
The pretty girl walks = Walks the girl the pretty

One can catch the attention of at least male students with drills based on pretty girls .

Good example and great points as usual Sandro, thanks for taking the time to explain this to me and the forum.