First things First

[Ste]

Nadia tells me when I speak Russian I have a Georgian accent of all things.

Ste Stalin

[Tagger585]

Hi all,

Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice..  most makes a lot of sense.  I have a heavy texas accent.. or so I have been told..  so I wonder how bad I would mess up the russian anyway.   Best wishes to all and again... thanks for the input,

doug

[KenC]

Tagger,

So how will you proceed?

KenC

[PeeWee]

Tagger,

So how will you proceed?

KenC

It would seem that he should work on eradicating the Texas twang and learn to speak English first!  I really don't think that you need to learn Russian. Here is why. From a recent email that I received from Lena who struggles to learn English.

"Well,about our language. I am much obliged to you that my Russian language kindles your's interest. Russian language is very rich and beautiful language not only aurally but the way of his thoughts and his expressions is wonderful. This is a very 'curly" language. Now it is difficult for me to explaine this my thought to you in letter. Well, of course, I continue to study English language. It is so difficult but so enjoyable job for me. Every time I cognize something new. I really want to speak good English, my dear. People are thinking by their imaginations not by words. You can't imagine the great distance between Russian way of thoughts and English. However you began to study the speaking Russian language. Every foreign being needs to know all collocations and idioms of language for the best understanding and I think that it is very important "to feel" other language. This is why any computer can't translate languages. If computer will try to translate any text whereupon people will receive the accurate conversion of mindless composition of words!"

With this in mind are you sure that you want to under take a language that could even be diffuult for even Russian, who speaks Russian, to learn?

 

Peewee

[Tagger585]

Ken,

Probably next thing I sould do is get the pimsler CD's .  volume 2.  I have volume 1 which is 28 or so lessons.  I would like to learn the congigation of verbs and how they are pronounced.  Haven't found anything on just that, though.  Pronounciation of common adjectives and thier femine and masculan versions would be nice.  Next, I think I will head overseas.  Don't know if I will do one of those group trips yet like through a dating agency or try it on my own.. would be nice to hook up with other guys from here on the same mission and go over as a group.  Haven't put that much thought into the actual trip yet.

[KenC]

Tagger,

I think for your maiden voyage, an agency might be a good way to go.  You can always take an independent trip or two after you get the lay of the land.  I might suggest contacting Jack Bragg at Firstdreams.com.  He has put together a nice package where the group travels from one city to the next.  I had a friend go on one of these and he was quite impressed.  He developed the comaraderie that you suggested from going as a group.

What ever your plans are, you need to go there to really know what you are dealing with.  No amount of conversation can replace the experience of actually being there.

KenC

[BC]

Have an interest or hobby even remotely related to FSU that is not marriage/relationship related?  Art, history, literature, chess, business, software,  whatever..  research and find folks that share your interest and are willing to introduce you to their country.  Seek and you shall find.

The vast majority of folks going to FSU are NOT looking for a wife.. join them and you will meet many nice women along the way.

Just go without expectation or goals.. live learn and have fun.

[Turboguy]

There is a Berlitz book which is only about $ 10.00 that has a lot of verb tenses and is good for the reading side of learning Russian.   Actually considering I have tried everything from Rosetta stone to Pimsler.  (I am just ready to start on Pimsler 3) it was probably the best 10 bucks I have spent in the perusit.

I can say that my attempts to learn Russian have really brought my choice of reading materials into the literary stratosphere.   I gave up trying to read a 500 page Russian version of an Agatha Chrisy book 30 pages into it and just spent $ 6.00 on eBay for Bambi.   Alice in Wonderland might be next

I have never done on of Jack's tours.  That may change one of these days soon but have done some tours and did like the blind leading the blind part of it and the fellowship with the other guys who were falling in and out of love daily.

 

[PeeWee]

[user=98]Tagger585[/user] wrote:

Ken,

Probably next thing I sould do is get the pimsler CD's .  volume 2.  I have volume 1 which is 28 or so lessons.  I would like to learn the congigation of verbs and how they are pronounced.  Haven't found anything on just that, though.  Pronounciation of common adjectives and thier femine and masculan versions would be nice.  Next, I think I will head overseas.  Don't know if I will do one of those group trips yet like through a dating agency or try it on my own.. would be nice to hook up with other guys from here on the same mission and go over as a group.  Haven't put that much thought into the actual trip yet.

I think the Pimsler is good. If I can learn something from it then anyone can.

Did you see the movie "A Foreign Affair"?  It seemed pretty accurate to me. I have not done the tour, only one on one meetings. I am not one for organized functions is why.

 

Peewee

[Turboguy]

Pimlsler is good.  One of the things I like best about it is you can do it in time that would be wasted otherwise.    The only drawback is that it is such a slow way to learn.   I probably average 5 hours per new word.    From a just learning new word standpoint I can learn much faster other wasy such as Rosetta stone but finding the time is the tough part.

Personally I thought the group thingy was a lot of fun.  The ones I did where EC's.  I think AFA's are close enough to the same.  The only problem I had was that too many of the gals were either pro daters or scammers.  If I ever do another I think it would likely be with Jack. 

[KenC]

Peewee,

Jack's tours are a lot different than FA's.  He takes the same group of guys from city to city.  He hooks them up with the best local agency in each city.  The guys also set up women from the various agencies that they are interested in meeting to come to the parties.  There is also an interplay with each individual agency at discounted rates.

If I were a man seeking a Russian wife, I would use Jack's system.  As I said, I advised a friend to use him and he came back with a glowing report. 

KenC

 (You listening Turbo?)

 

[Tagger585]

What has been frustrating for me is having the books,, and spelling but not knowing the correct pronounciation.  his is probably from being unfamiliar with the crylic letters and spelling/pronounciation rules.. not to mention they never tell you which sylable you should be accenting.   It is easier for me to hear the word.  My retention is a bit better than 5 hours per word, but I learn better from audio.  I can read a word with the approximate pronouciation in english listed beside it, but for some reason it takes me forever to remember it and it is only in short term memory.

[bgreed]

Tagger,

Yep you sound exactly like both my kids you have ADD.  Not to woory though most people with ADD or ADHD have a higher than normal I.Q.

Now on to learning Russian.  I have been try to get a real handle on this language for about a year.  Understand for a Native English speaker learning Russian is about a 4 on a scale of 5.  So relax get some basics down hello, good-bye, please, thank you, some numbers, how to ask for tickets, or where the bsathroom is ,or take me to the train station.  The simple stuff beyond that it would be a life time study even when you marry a girl.  I know one guy that his wife won't teach him any Russian until he learns to speak better (What's up with that??)  Anyway you can go a long way with a few phrases and yes your girl will think your accent is just the cutest thing on earth just the same way you will like hers. (Man I can't wait for our phone date tomorrow:D:D)

So just my .02 best of luck

[Turboguy]

Yes, Ken,  I am listening.  I would not be surprised if one of these days I can do a trip report on one of Jack's tours.   I would say most likely then next ones he does after the ones coming up in a month or so.

[PeeWee]

Yes, Ken,  I am listening.  I would not be surprised if one of these days I can do a trip report on one of Jack's tours.   I would say most likely then next ones he does after the ones coming up in a month or so.

Turbo, by your photo you are an honest good looking fellow. Why so long in this hunt for you, lad?

Peewee

[Turboguy]

Thanks for the nice comments PeeWee,  not sure about the good looking part but I do try to be as honest as I can.

Actually probably different reasons at different times.  In the early stages which is way back, I think I had the grass is greener on the other side of the fence syndrome.  There were so many stunning gals that were interested I was afraid to lock on one for fear a better one would come along.  After that it proabably an attraction for the wrong gals.   I would probably shock some people with the letters I was writing today.  I was actully writing some with as little as 14 years age difference.

I think most of us who have not succeeded have done so because of our own mistakes and bad choices.   I think most things in life are that way.

[PeeWee]

Thanks for the nice comments PeeWee,  not sure about the good looking part but I do try to be as honest as I can.

Actually probably different reasons at different times.  In the early stages which is way back, I think I had the grass is greener on the other side of the fence syndrome.  There were so many stunning gals that were interested I was afraid to lock on one for fear a better one would come along.  After that it proabably an attraction for the wrong gals.   I would probably shock some people with the letters I was writing today.  I was actully writing some with as little as 14 years age difference.

I think most of us who have not succeeded have done so because of our own mistakes and bad choices.   I think most things in life are that way.

Well, I hate to see you grow old while you are trying this, Turbo. I'm pretty sure that you could have any woman that you set your mind, and heart, to get. You might be picky. I know I am. I put my profile on Elena's Models and go a good number of emails. I then wrote to a few that wrote to me first. That way I knew she had an interest in me. I found a very nice lady, who is a bit older than I was looking for and a bit shorter, but her personality and intellect is very delight full. Today, for example, when I was asking her about her favorite music she began to tell me how she used to find Beatles records on the black market, much to the disapproval of her parents and her government. Her range of music is from hard rock to classical but her favorite music group when she was a teen was Deep Purple. Now that somewhat abstract I think. But you know, there is real depth to that lady.

 

Turbo, make a promise to yourself that this year will be the year that you broaden the range, like I did, and take a chance on one. I know you know what  you are doing but what bothers me is that you are too good not to have something going on.

Peewee

[Gef]

Doug I sent you a private message.

Gef

[2tallbill]

I guess the most important thing I learned from this relationship is the importance for clear communication......  which leads me to my dilemma.  I feel that I need to learn the Russian language for this to be successful...  How do you really get to know someone well enough to make a life time decision when you cannot adequately communicate what is in your mind and in your heart?   

I figure it would take me a year or more to take classes to learn to communicate in Russian.  Or... my second choice is this...  Since I live in a 4 bedroom 4 bath home up in Bailey colorado,

Blah, blah, unimportant stuff.
Blah, blah, unimportant stuff.
Blah, blah, unimportant stuff.

You will not find anyone in the USA to live with you plus teach you Russian for a few kopecks per month.
You could hire someone in the FSU to teach you Russian for Kopecks but they would have to live in the
FSU to live on Kopecks.

It takes longer than you think to learn Russian. Rushglish with a woman who is seriously into you comes
much, much faster.

OR you find a woman who speaks English.

[ML]

NEVER spend any time learning a language . . . unless you are going to go live in that country full time.