How to get better at Russian after learning the basics?

Multibhashi

Introduction:

Russian is an East Slavic language native to the Russian people of Eastern Europe. Part of the Indo-European language family, Russian is one of four living East Slavic languages, and also part of the larger Balto-Slavic branch. It is an official language in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and is used widely throughout the Caucasus, Central Asia, and—to some extent—in the Baltic states Russian was the de facto language of the Soviet Union (USSR) until its dissolution on 26 December 1991; Russian is used in an official capacity or in public life in all the post-Soviet nation-states. The language is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

Russian is the most common native language in Europe and the most geographically widespread language in Eurasia. Large numbers of Russian speakers are residents of other countries, like Israel and Mongolia. It is the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages, with over 258 million total speakers worldwide. Russian is the seventh-most spoken language in the world by a number of native speakers and the eighth-most spoken language in the world by a total number of speakers. Russian is the second-most widespread language on the Internet, after English.

How to get better at Russian after learning the basics?

Learn Russian through Online resources

There is a very wide variety of materials available for helping English speakers learn Russian online.  

  • Already know some Russian or want to get started? I recommend Multibhashi which teaches you to speak Russian through the power of a native language expert. This comprehensive beginner program teaches you Russian through fun and natural method that makes learning a pleasure, and grammar a breeze! 

Learn The Fundamentals Of Russian

Whether or not you’re following a textbook or course, you will need to get a strong grip on the fundamentals of Russian grammar and vocabulary.

Some of the main topics are the Cyrillic alphabet, pronunciation, verb conjugation, and when and how to use the different cases.

Memorise Key Russian Phrases

You’re right, I told you not to memorize too much. But there are certain words or phrases that you need to learn by heart. These include things like “hello”, “my name is”, “how are you?”, and so on. You know – the essentials.

Don’t Get Too Hung Up On The Grammar

It’s important to understand the main aspects of Russian grammar and be able to use them to express yourself. However, try not to get too hung up on the linguistic theory.

Don’t tell anyone I said this, but if you asked your average Russian why certain rules are the way they are – they wouldn’t really be able to explain. It just sounds right!

Find Russian People To Speak With

You will learn to converse faster and more organically if you have a native speaker to practice with. There are some things textbooks just don’t tell you, like how Russian really sounds, and how Russians really talk to each other.

Whether you find a Skype tutor or a local friend, try to spend as much time as possible practicing what you’ve learned out loud.

Don’t be discouraged! 

If you’re serious about learning to speak Russian, keep at it—the satisfaction you’ll get from reaching milestones in a second language and eventually mastering it will far outweigh the difficulties you encounter along the way. Learning a new language takes time and practice. It won’t happen overnight.

Watch Russian films, cartoons, and videos. 

Get your hands on some Russian DVDs (with subtitles), watch Russian cartoons online, or search YouTube for Russian-speaking YouTubers. This is an easy, entertaining way to get a feel for the sound and structure of the Russian language

Conclusion

Hopefully, with everything this mentioned step, you are now ready to face the Russian language with more confidence than ever.

Remember that there are plenty of people and resources out there that can help you. Choose wisely. Get motivated and keep learning.  

Всего хорошего! 

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