Learning English for Russians

[Turboguy]

Does anyone know where I can get books that are written for a Russian speaking person to help them learn English?

I have searched my usual sources which are Ebay and Amazon and there is nothing, or the only thing I see is a Pimseur level one course and I really don't want that.  For one, her english is beyond what they teach and for another I own a bunch or Pimsleur courses and am not that impressed with them.

I am sure when I was in Russia and floating around the kiosks and books stores that I saw a number of books that were exactly what I was looking for but I don't plan to be back for a long time.   I can't find them for sale here.   I have bought a number of the generic ESL books that are written for anyone from any country but she does not like them that well becasue she would like something that tells her in Russian what is going on.

I will just make a comment here while I am on this subject.   It is amazing how much you forget about your native language and just do out of habit.   When we bought the first book about ESL the first thing she turned to was a section on when to use much and when to use many.   

We say.

I have many shoes, not I have much shoes.
I have much money, not many money.
I have many cars, not much cars.
I have much work, not many work.

She asked me how you knew which to use and I looked at that forever and really could not figure it out, and then she was able to tell me and I am not sure if she had not that I would ever have understood it.  I am just curious, Am I the only dumb one or is it just that I have been out of school a lot longer.   Englsh never was my best subject.   I did excell at study hall and gym.    In case you don't know the rule that governs it the next sentance is the answer written backwards.

  .hcum esiwrehto ynam esu uoy s ni sdne drow eht fI

 

[Ste]

To be honest TG, if feel the best way to learn any language is total immersion. She's in USA now isn't she, surely the best way is go out and listen and converse?

I know my Russian shoots ahead several points when I go there. I read Russian grammar book when sat on the toilet and it doesn't help my gerunds much! Nor my grammar!

Nadia and I have a russian only day every so often here (her English is A1), and it's been going very well, I really feel it coming along. However, I made the mistake of asking her what she thought my new level of russian was, she said 'elementary'! Presumably previously I was 'simpleton'.....

Talk about letting folks down lightly....

Ste

[Bruno]

Does anyone know where I can get books that are written for a Russian speaking person to help them learn English?

I don't know if i can help you but i have a basic english course for russian on my site...

Go to http://www.love-from-russia.be/ebook.htm

On the right pannel ( writen in russian ), you have the 13 part of the book in PDF format... right click each link and "save as"... after, you can use it on your own computer or print it... 

[catzenmouse]

Turbo,

 Check with your local community college and also with some of the local churches for ESL classes. Elena took some classes at a local church for a bit and it gave her a good start on the language.

Ken

[Turboguy]

Thanks Bruno and Ken,

I do have Luda signed up for ESL classes Ken.  She started last Tue for the part 1 and tomorrow is attending both the basic english classes and the advanced English classes.   She is wanting to do some home studies.   I have purchased about 4 books for her so far but she would like to have Russian explainations on things.   I will download what you have Bruno and thanks

[Bruno]

I will download what you have Bruno and thanks

It is very basic... and it was on my site from the very beginning... but you know, nobody or almost nobody visit the advice section from a site... much more boring that a forum

I have loose the link but previously, Elen have inform me about a site in russian where people can find several thing for learn other languages... by example, you have roman in two language, of joke... these site was with a big list of language... it was possible to find course over russian-old egyptian ...

PM to Elen, maybe she remember the site...

 

[catzenmouse]

Turbo,

 Perhaps a site like http://www.kniga.com would have some English Language learning books. I didn't have time to have Elena look this morning and the site is in Russian which I am lower than a toddler at reading.

 There are also plenty of online practice tests/lessons for the TOEFL. I did a quick search on google and here's a couple of hits:

http://www.stuff.co.uk/toefl.htm

http://www.free-english.com/

http://www.4tests.com/exams/examdetail.asp?eid=57

http://encomium.com/

http://esl.about.com/cs/toefl/

Best of luck and hope all is going well with you and Luda,

 Ken

[franklloyd]

Turbo,

My wife Marina (K-3 pending, ETA spring 2006) asked me for Russian-English ESL videos and computer CD's to assist her rapidly improving English. She has typical ESL issues like the ones you describe, particularly a lot of trouble with "all the little words" like a, the, as, an, and, with, to, at, for, by.

I googled "ESL for Russian Speakers" and came up with the Pimsleur courses, also a video series called "Talk To Me"; and a few others. They are quite expensive but I expect that the investment will be worth it.

The websites I visited were "multilingualbooks.com; worldlanguage.com; iteslj.com; languagebooks.com; audiobooksonline.com; worldkitchen.com; esl.net; etc.

Franklloyd

PS - Hello to all RWD members from another 2.5 year RWG member. Still cool with RWG, just expanding my horizons.

 

[aikorob]

I am fortunate in that N's English is pretty good; but she wanted help with learning American    I found a few slang and idiom books and CD's on Amazon that helped her out.  

With some of Ectaco's higher end products, you can get Russian->English courses with books and a memory chip--so you will have pronunciation from the machine