Russian Language School for English Speakers in Russia?

[curiousdaltex]

Hi Everyone.    I checked out some of the more recent threads on this board, and I did not see this question posted.    I am interested in learning to speak Russian.    I have checked out a few websites, that offer to teach you to speak Russian in Moscow or Kiev.    I am interested to know, if anyone has tried that service, and what they thought about it.   

Also if anyone has tried Rosetta Stone or any other methods for learning Russian, please post.   

Thanks.

[Faux Pas]

curiousdaltex


If you mention why you are wishing to learn Russian you might have a few more responses to your question 


Welcome to RWD

[alex330]

Rosetta Stone is ok, but gets a bit tedious. Immersion is a better method or you can search for Russian language Meetup groups.
The groups can be more interesting and you may meet native speakers as well.

[curiousdaltex]

curiousdaltex


If you mention why you are wishing to learn Russian you might have a few more responses to your question 


Welcome to RWD

Well couple of different reasons.    First, I am interested in Russian women.   Of course, I have to learn to speak Russian first.   Also, I will be completing school at the end of 2012, and I am interested in working for a company that has operations in Russia.    Speaking the language at some level will look nice on my resume, and make it easier for me to get that job.   Plus, I am looking to take a vacation in Russia once I graduate, I figure that a language program might be fun.   

[Vincenzo]

You won't get much for the money spent for traveling if your language level is zero.

It's better to use computers for learning basic skills.
There are many online classes.

For example, this one via Skype: http://www.myrussian.ru/content/view/56/87/lang,en/

The tuition is based on the IT-program Skype which can be found at http://skype.com. Downloading Skype is free. Talking to us though Skype will be free for you.
You will also need headphones and microphone to learn Russian online. You will communicate with the teacher supplementing it by chat and file exchange. The program and schedule is flexible to suit your preferences and needs. Of course, the online course is particularly suited to advance conversational skills, although it also allows working on grammar, writing, vocabulary, etc. You will learn Russian online on the same principles as you take them in Kaliningrad: 45 minutes. First lesson is going to be free for you. If you like that opportunity to continue learning Russian Language you will be able to get additional lessons for 12 euros/hour.

Also, ask for a teacher who is young, female, and beautiful.
It seems that they have a couple:

[mendeleyev]

Many of the Moscow and Kyiv schools are excellent. Moscow State University has a great program with several participation options.

Since you have suggested that learning Russian would be good for job prospects and look good on a resume, stick with major universities where the name and diploma means something to those doing hiring. I'd recommend Moscow State University: http://www.mgu-russian.com/


As for online, I recommend these links--

Language resources: http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russian-language/russian-language-resources/

Cyrillic alphabet: http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russian-language/learn-the-cyrillic-alphabet/

Grammar: http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russian-language/russian-grammar/


Rosetta Stone or Pimsleur are okay at best but both have major weaknesses. Both are good for vocal and learning phrases but last time I checked the definition of illiteracy was not being able to read or write what one speaks. If I'm going to make an investment in time, energy and money to learn a new language, the illiteracy option just doesn't seem that attractive. Go to the language resources link above and get a college level text with workbook and CDs which you can find cheaply at Amazon or Ebay.

[Kuna]

Many of the Moscow and Kyiv schools are excellent. Moscow State University has a great program with several participation options.

Since you have suggested that learning Russian would be good for job prospects and look good on a resume, stick with major universities where the name and diploma means something to those doing hiring. I'd recommend Moscow State University: http://www.mgu-russian.com/


As for online, I recommend these links--

Language resources: http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russian-language/russian-language-resources/

Cyrillic alphabet: http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russian-language/learn-the-cyrillic-alphabet/

Grammar: http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russian-language/russian-grammar/


Rosetta Stone or Pimsleur are okay at best but both have major weaknesses. Both are good for vocal and learning phrases but last time I checked the definition of illiteracy was not being able to read or write what one speaks. If I'm going to make an investment in time, energy and money to learn a new language, the illiteracy option just doesn't seem that attractive. Go to the language resources link above and get a college level text with workbook and CDs which you can find cheaply at Amazon or Ebay.

You have an incredible list of resources on your site mendeleyev...  Your blog MUST be one of the best around!

[Misha]

Hi Everyone.    I checked out some of the more recent threads on this board, and I did not see this question posted.    I am interested in learning to speak Russian.    I have checked out a few websites, that offer to teach you to speak Russian in Moscow or Kiev.    I am interested to know, if anyone has tried that service, and what they thought about it.   

Also if anyone has tried Rosetta Stone or any other methods for learning Russian, please post.   

Thanks.

Have you checked out any local colleges or universities? They may offer Russian language courses and if they do they might be able to recommend good immersion programs to study Russian in Russia or elsewhere.

[TwoBitBandit]

My advice is to use Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone until you've mastered them.  They're good products and they work.  They're also available at a significant discount to their full price on bittorrent.


Once you're at that point you can find a teacher.  There's a lot of them that use Skype: you can find them on VerbalPlanet.com and edufire.com.  The going rate seem to be about $20-$30 an hour.  Some of them are pretty good.


I've also participated in Russian Language programs in Novosibirsk, Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod.  I'm aware of (but haven't used) language programs in Kazan, Samara, Irkutsk and St. Petersburg.  I'm sure there are others around.  The quality and attitude of these programs vary significantly.  (Most of them are connected with universities and seem to still have a Soviet-era attitude toward helping the "customer")  However, I've seen my best increases in speaking Russian when I'm abroad in an immersion program.  Being forced to speak in Russian all day, every day really pushes you to start thinking in Russian which is an important step to speaking it freely.

[mendeleyev]

You have an incredible list of resources on your site mendeleyev...  Your blog MUST be one of the best around!

Thank you, Kuna.

This year we were grateful to receive "Overseas Top  Blog: Russia" and "Best of the Web" awards by independent web journalist organizations.

But one of the coolest endorsements was back in 2010 from the very funny (and effective teacher) "Victor Huliganov" who wrote "Many thanks for your ringing endorsement of my series and my humour, although of course I wasn’t aware of having used any of the latter…Recently I got up to lesson 21 in the second series, but I don’t think I’m even one third of the way to what I really envisage in my mind for this series yet."

[curiousdaltex]

Many of the Moscow and Kyiv schools are excellent. Moscow State University has a great program with several participation options.

Since you have suggested that learning Russian would be good for job prospects and look good on a resume, stick with major universities where the name and diploma means something to those doing hiring. I'd recommend Moscow State University: http://www.mgu-russian.com/


As for online, I recommend these links--

Language resources: http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russian-language/russian-language-resources/

Cyrillic alphabet: http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russian-language/learn-the-cyrillic-alphabet/

Grammar: http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russian-language/russian-grammar/


Rosetta Stone or Pimsleur are okay at best but both have major weaknesses. Both are good for vocal and learning phrases but last time I checked the definition of illiteracy was not being able to read or write what one speaks. If I'm going to make an investment in time, energy and money to learn a new language, the illiteracy option just doesn't seem that attractive. Go to the language resources link above and get a college level text with workbook and CDs which you can find cheaply at Amazon or Ebay.

I would like to thank everyone for their input, especially Mendeleyev.    For some reason, it never occurred to me to try a university or college in Russia.   But the good news is, I recently bought a few books from a local bookstore, and I am on my way memorizing some common phrases.     Thanks again.