How long did it take you to learn Russian?

[Makaku]

I started learning about a year ago and although I can see progress it nevertheless feels very slow. I guess it's because I'm so familiar with the other foreign languages I know and if someone says something in Russian to me, even if I know all the words so, often I've to dissect the sentence word by word to get the right case or ending.
So I'm curious, how is/was your progress when you started learning?

Maku

[Patagonie]

It is generally quicker to take the hand of my lady to go to bed than to explain her in russian. We loose less time. 

[mendeleyev]

Depends on the person and also on your age as we learn languages slower with age. Some scholars say that Russian at a fluent level takes 7+ years and I can't argue although some have done it a lot faster. I read Michele Berdy in the Moscow Times each week on language and she has been there 30 some years and is still learning.

[Kokopelli]

Maku, do you have any Russian speaking friends to practice with?

[Boethius]

Depends on the person and also on your age as we learn languages slower with age. Some scholars say that Russian at a fluent level takes 7+ years and I can't argue although some have done it a lot faster. I read Michele Berdy in the Moscow Times each week on language and she has been there 30 some years and is still learning.

One can learn enough to be understood fairly quickly (less than a year).  But fluency is far more elusive, and I have yet to meet a foreigner who is truly fluent.  Able to understand and be understood?  Absolutely.  Often, they have great vocabulary, too.  But the finer points which mark full fluency are always lacking.  So, I believe the seven year figure. 

When my husband goes back, his mother always tells him "Your Russian sucks."  It's all word order, as he is still thinking in English, even though he reads Russian newspapers daily, and speaks Russian at least once a week.  However, within two days, it is as if he'd never left. 

[SANDRO43]

I guess it's because I'm so familiar with the other foreign languages I know and if someone says something in Russian to me, even if I know all the words so, often I've to dissect the sentence word by word to get the right case or ending.

Russian and other Slavic languages still retain a system of declensions (as in Latin) that went out of fashion LONG ago in most other European languages, except for vestigial traces of the accusative case .

This (http://russianwomendiscussion.com/mwiki/index.php/Declensions_of_Nouns,_Pronouns,_Adjectives) might help you in working out some mnemonics to grasp it, if you're unlike what your nickname suggests .

[Vaughn]

Maku, do you have any Russian speaking friends to practice with?

Kokopelli asks a key question. Until the student has opportunity to practice regularly, meanings almost always require thinking in one's own language. With practice, comprehension becomes more natural, ie instantaneous.

[Chicagoguy]

My daughter is an ESL teacher and she said about 10 years to become fluent if you are living in U.S. I suspect a little longer for some cultures where they live and work only with their own people. Younger is better. And then there are some who just have their brain wired so it is easy. I knew two and they worked for CIA.

[Chicagoguy]

As for myself - I am too old now and my wife is here. It isn't necessary and it isn't fun. At least for me.

[ECOCKS]

As for myself - I am too old now and my wife is here. It isn't necessary and it isn't fun. At least for me.

I can understand this reasoning although some of us need to consider our relationships with the remainder of the family. MIL, step-children, Brothers/Sisters in Law, etc.

Then of course there are those who expect to maintain a home in "the old country", work there or travel elsewhere.

Now that I am back overseas I'm looking at having to restart my Russian language acquisition.

[Makaku]

@Sandro
I can assure you, I got much less facial hair than the bloke in your picture

I agree, practicing regular is a key thing. So far once a week I take lessons with a student from Ukraine and the plan is, just need to get a little bit better though, to find a Russian tandem.
I'm in my mid thirties and I know it'd be barely possible for me to become as fluent as a native speaker but level B2 (if you are familiar with this classification) would be nice.

Being from Germany hell now I have a feeling how hard it must be for people to learn German

[newjason]

It is generally quicker to take the hand of my lady to go to bed than to explain her in russian. We loose less time. 

Can't argue with that 

[chivo]

 

I agree, practicing regular is a key thing. So far once a week I take lessons with a student from Ukraine and the plan is, just need to get a little bit better though, to find a Russian tandem.
I'm in my mid thirties and I know it'd be barely possible for me to become as fluent as a native speaker but level B2 (if you are familiar with this classification) would be nice.

Being from Germany hell now I have a feeling how hard it must be for people to learn German

It took me about 2 years to begin to form somewhat understandable phrases and string them together to make sense in a normal conversation. Another year to begin to process phrases people were saying to me at normal native speed at a reasonable time to respond.
 
I'm one of a growing number of people who believe that age or ability to speak another language factor less than actual practice and just plain "doing it". IOW, everyone has the ability to learn a new language if they apply themselves regardless of age or ability. And yes, certain people can pick things up quicker.
 
My advice would be not to stop, or even think about time, but just learn. Practice as much as possible, listen to the target language, and all around stay in the target language as much as possible. I find languages just sort of happen, at least for me. No real timetable, just one day the light turns on after wrestling with it for months. Be sure that you're doing something in your target language every day.
 
With things like the internet, being in country doesn't factor as much as in the past. Definitely find someone who will speak to you only in your target language. Remember that Russian only has 3 tenses (present, past and future) with 6 cases. Each case can be equated to a particular tense in English to some degree, so you can at least see some patterns with the language.
 
Never give up and you'll reach where you want to be sooner or later. Also understand that you will have good and bad days speaking your new language until you more or less master it. Good luck.
 

It is generally quicker to take the hand of my lady to go to bed than to explain her in russian. We loose less time. 

And then what?
 
I find that when I speak Russian (in a certain way) to my lady during lovemaking, it makes for a much livelier and enjoyable session.

[SANDRO43]

I'm one of a growing number of people who believe that age or ability to speak another language factor less than actual practice and just plain "doing it".

It depends on all 3 factors IMO, but their 'weight' varies with the individual concerned .

Constant practice in the target environment is probably the most decisive, but it comes all the more easily to younger people who care less about making the occasional blunder.

[Kokopelli]

Join this site:
http://www.englishbaby.com/

Post a topic in "Life Talk" stating you would like help in speaking Russian using Skype or some other program.

[Eduard]

I'm still learning... 

[Patagonie]

It took me about 2 years to begin to form somewhat understandable phrases and string them together to make sense in a normal conversation. Another year to begin to process phrases people were saying to me at normal native speed at a reasonable time to respond.
 
I'm one of a growing number of people who believe that age or ability to speak another language factor less than actual practice and just plain "doing it". IOW, everyone has the ability to learn a new language if they apply themselves regardless of age or ability. And yes, certain people can pick things up quicker.
 
My advice would be not to stop, or even think about time, but just learn. Practice as much as possible, listen to the target language, and all around stay in the target language as much as possible. I find languages just sort of happen, at least for me. No real timetable, just one day the light turns on after wrestling with it for months. Be sure that you're doing something in your target language every day.
 
With things like the internet, being in country doesn't factor as much as in the past. Definitely find someone who will speak to you only in your target language. Remember that Russian only has 3 tenses (present, past and future) with 6 cases. Each case can be equated to a particular tense in English to some degree, so you can at least see some patterns with the language.
 
Never give up and you'll reach where you want to be sooner or later. Also understand that you will have good and bad days speaking your new language until you more or less master it. Good luck.
 And then what?
 
I find that when I speak Russian (in a certain way) to my lady during lovemaking, it makes for a much livelier and enjoyable session.

Hello Chivo. I was kidding. For her the better time, the most exciting one is when i speak french. But speak a little russian in the beginning of dating is surely and asset. I joked about what i said but learn russian is one of my main goal in the next two years.

[chivo]

 Hi Pat, yes I thought you were kidding, but I just wanted to point out another way of looking at things. My intention wasn't to offend.
 
And yes French or Spanish/Italian can be quite pleasant to the ears of a woman, but IMO, I've seen first hand the reaction of a RW when a foreigner talks to them romantically in their language and think nothing else compares (I can speak Spanish to some extent for the record).
 
Could be they just appreciate the effort or just think it's funny  .
 

I'm still learning... 

Me too Ed, and I'm talking about English.

[chivo]

Constant practice in the target environment is probably the most decisive, but it comes all the more easily to younger people who care less about making the occasional blunder.

Care less, or just haven't become analytical yet.
 
Another tip would be to learn like a child. To not ask so many questions as to why, and just accept it as the way you say things. Something adults have more of a problem with for sure.

[Eduard]

I've seen first hand the reaction of a RW when a foreigner talks to them romantically in their language and think nothing else compares (I can speak Spanish to some extent for the record).
 

this works because it gets to them on a subconcious level, something that their dad and mom used to say to them when they were kids, i.e. "malishka, zain'ka, solnishko, zaychik, moya sladkaya" etc.. When you say the same things in a foregn language it can never have the same effect.

[Eduard]

 Me too Ed, and I'm talking about English.

the more we know, the more we realise how little we know. It's amazing to meet people on these fora who know it all! Humbling...

[Eduard]

Care less, or just haven't become analytical yet.
 
Another tip would be to learn like a child. To not ask so many questions as to why, and just accept it as the way you say things. Something adults have more of a problem with for sure.

good advice! Adults tend to overthink things while children just pick it up by memorising. Really interesting to watch my little daughter (will be 3 in June) learning both Russian and English at the same time. Until a few months ago she only understood Russian but I've been reading her children's books in English lately and talking with her both in English and Russian and she is really picking English up fast! Funny, if I ask her something in English she will respond in English, and when I ask in Russian she responds in Russian.