Language

[Ooooops]

I guess that would depend on your definition of newcomer.

That's true.       Yes, 5 years off the boat is still a newcomer in my book.

[Faux Pas]

That's true.       Yes, 5 years off the boat is still a newcomer in my book.

In this particular group 5 years would be a good average. One woman is 8-9 years but her English isn't much better than the rest. All of them can communicate very well in English but it's very easy to see they are thinking in Russian 

[GQBlues]

I don't know FP. The last time I had folks who struggled speaking English, I called 911 and had them arrested! 

[Faux Pas]

I don't know FP. The last time I had folks who struggled speaking English, I called 911 and had them arrested! 

 

The verbalization Nazi

[Vaughn]

Even if they live in the USA, the benefits of a man learning some Russian is very real. Over the years I've seen that men who make at least some effort are rewarded for that effort in terms of respect, the relationship and just a general sense of wholeness when the family travels back to the FSU.

I agree wholeheartedly. Others will not. Personally, I get a kick out of being able to pave my own way overseas - and yeah, to speak plainly to my wife's loved ones that don't know a lick of English. Is that important to everyone? Certainly not, but as one esteemed member here from California once said, "those who choose not to know will never realize what they're missing."
 

[Ooooops]

All of them can communicate very well in English but it's very easy to see they are thinking in Russian 

I guess they watch Russian TV, read Russian books and have Russian speaking friends.   THat doesn't help with deep immersion language study...

[Anotherkiwi]

...one esteemed member here from California once said...

Must have been before I joined! 

[Vaughn]

Must have been before I joined! 

I'm not sure. I was referring to TwoBit Bandit who very occasionally rears his head. IMHO his trip reports were legendary - with near-fluency a great part of the reason.

[Anotherkiwi]

I'm not sure. I was referring to TwoBit Bandit who very occasionally rears his head. IMHO his trip reports were legendary - with near-fluency a great part of the reason.

Yes, I've read them, and was very impressed by his journey of discovery, if not the result.  He did post something two or three weeks ago, but that was his first for quite a while.  However, I was thinking of the more regular Californian posters - "esteem" from other parts of the world (even the USA) seems in short supply at the moment.

[Muzh]

I'm not sure. I was referring to TwoBit Bandit who very occasionally rears his head. IMHO his trip reports were legendary - with near-fluency a great part of the reason.

I think he was the original PUA on this forum. He kept taking about having game.

[mendeleyev]

Perhaps I'm mistaking him for someone else but I believe that TwoBit Bandit married a lovely lady a few years back. I received some stunning photos of their wedding and haven't really heard from him since not long after sending my congratulations.

[Anotherkiwi]

Perhaps I'm mistaking him for someone else but I believe that TwoBit Bandit married a lovely lady a few years back. I received some stunning photos of their wedding and haven't really heard from him since not long after sending my congratulations.

I think that you may be thinking of someone else, Mendy.  He was last online on August 3rd (much longer ago than I thought), and his status shows "Committed 0-1 year."

[mendeleyev]

Thanks, Kiwi. At my age something is first to go--but I can't remember what it is!

[Rational_Julia]

At our class in psycholinguistics we were told that the best teacher is one who shares the native language with you but who has learnt the language you want to learn. I know an American girl, who could agree to give lessons of Russian through skype, maybe, if you are interested, write to my PM.

[die_cast]

Why would she learn English if she can talk to her English-speaking man on Russian?

Simple: work, friends, television, shopping and pretty much everything else.

While his lady lives in Ukraine/Russia this all doesn't work.
But even after moving to USA some people live there speaking very poor English. How they can do it? I don't know.

[Елена]

Often my wife and I are in the company of folks that Russian is their first language and I am the only one that doesn't speak it. I don't ask any of them to speak English unless they are speaking to me. If I join in the conversation or get dragged into it they normally go to English. Usually, it's all women and I don't want to be in it anyways. On occasion I will sit down with them and have some tea and they will mostly speak English. Wouldn't it be rude to ask them to speak English. just so I can understand when I'm likely not interested in the conversation anyway? I don't see it as disrespect. Quite the opposite. I want them comfortable in my presence or in my home. Different strokes for different folks I guess. 

It is very wise

[Lily]

Oh the language    it is never as expressive as we want it to be.
 
Even with a very fluent English, it may be not that easy to tell exactly what you want to communicate. Even the word that we think has a certain meaning, may sound quite differently for the native recipient's ears. When we communicate, every subtle meaning is important. More so if we are in love and we cannot afford being misunderstood. We look at the words that we hear from our beloved through a magnifying glass, trying to figure out, 'what did he really mean by saying that? Is there anything behind it that I should be aware of'?'. Words make us anxious, suspicious, insecure.
 
For example, I had no idea that a word 'cute' in relation to a person may mean a friendzone. I did not know that the text message 'if you say so..' means that the person does not really agree with you. And there are a lot more of them.