Easiest way to learn a new language?

[katushkin]

I am trying to learn Russian... Again...

I bought a Rosetta Stone software package about 4 years ago to try and teach myself it but I got bored. I think.

I've now got a new computer and I don't think the license will have carried over, although I have moved the HDDs over as well.

I was just wondering, all those who have learned a language other than their native one, how did you learn? Self taught? Classes?

[CPTBadAss]

Immerse yourself in it. I found my Cantonese leveled up after going to Hong Kong. It kind of forces you to learn faster if you need to order food and the person doesn't speak English.

I saw this ad the other day where this guy offered what he calls "coffee shop Spanish classes" where you meet up with him at a coffee shop to chat only in Spanish. I thought this was really clever as it kind of gets you more in tune with how you'll be using the language.

I have family members who have taught themselves a language with the help of TV as well. Perhaps there's Russian language programming you'd be into watching. Pop that closed captioning on and see how much you can absorb?

[azhdar]

I learned 80% of my english watch VO+subtitles show/movie, 10% by gaming, only the basics in school.

Otherwise I think living in the country that speaks said language is the best way.

[Signature]

I was going to say vodka at first, but movies + subtitles or a site like polygnotclub.com is really good ways to learn the language. Iri could prob help you aswell!

[jdcarpe]

Immerse yourself in it. I found my Cantonese leveled up after going to Hong Kong. It kind of forces you to learn faster if you need to order food and the person doesn't speak English.

I saw this ad the other day where this guy offered what he calls "coffee shop Spanish classes" where you meet up with him at a coffee shop to chat only in Spanish. I thought this was really clever as it kind of gets you more in tune with how you'll be using the language.

I have family members who have taught themselves a language with the help of TV as well. Perhaps there's Russian language programming you'd be into watching. Pop that closed captioning on and see how much you can absorb?

Yeah, Moscow is full of workers who speak English, but Saint Petersburg, not so much. To get around, or even to order food at a restaurant, it helps immensely to be able to have a conversation in Russian.

I would also recommend watching Russian language news broadcasts. They speak at a fast pace, though, so be prepared for that. However, the vocabulary they use is not that difficult.

[iri]

if you are going to watch films to enrich your language knowledge, you better choose those made in soviet times. first, they are not ****e. second, modern russian actors just can't speak clearly.

Yeah, Moscow is full of workers who speak English, but Saint Petersburg, not so much.

moscow is full of workers who don't speak russian, let alone english.

[katushkin]

Immerse yourself in it. I found my Cantonese leveled up after going to Hong Kong. It kind of forces you to learn faster if you need to order food and the person doesn't speak English.

I saw this ad the other day where this guy offered what he calls "coffee shop Spanish classes" where you meet up with him at a coffee shop to chat only in Spanish. I thought this was really clever as it kind of gets you more in tune with how you'll be using the language.

I have family members who have taught themselves a language with the help of TV as well. Perhaps there's Russian language programming you'd be into watching. Pop that closed captioning on and see how much you can absorb?

I think the TV show is a good idea. I'm not sure how I would go about finding  one with English subtitles, but I think I will learn the basics like the alphabet and pronunciations and stuff first before I try to understand native speakers.

[jdcarpe]

if you are going to watch films to enrich your language knowledge, you better choose those made in soviet times. first, they are not ****e. second, modern russian actors just can't speak clearly.

You don't like this one? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111579/?ref_=nv_sr_2

moscow is full of workers who don't speak russian, let alone english.

Haha, I'm sure this is true.

[iri]

if you are going to watch films to enrich your language knowledge, you better choose those made in soviet times. first, they are not ****e. second, modern russian actors just can't speak clearly.

You don't like this one? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111579/?ref_=nv_sr_2

no, it was directed by mikhalkov.

[NoblesseOblige]

It's easier to learn a language that has the most similarities to one you already know. Also one which has plenty of resources. Typically German is a good second language to learn for a native English speaker. Dutch is close however there is fewer resources. Once you learn a second language it becomes easier to learn a third and so on. Also there's free places such as Duolingo to learn/practice another language.

[iri]

It's easier to learn a language that has the most similarities to one you already know. Also one which has plenty of resources. Typically German is a good second language to learn for a native English speaker.

And Russian is only 3rd most difficult to learn for a native English speaker.

[katushkin]

It's easier to learn a language that has the most similarities to one you already know. Also one which has plenty of resources. Typically German is a good second language to learn for a native English speaker. Dutch is close however there is fewer resources. Once you learn a second language it becomes easier to learn a third and so on. Also there's free places such as Duolingo to learn/practice another language.

I have a decent grasp of German already, after doing it at school a while ago, but I have always wanted to learn Russian, so that is the way I am going to go.

Unfortunately, Duolingo does not do Russian yet, not even in beta, even though it's the most widely spoken Slavic language. Strange. I do have 6 months of Babbel to try though, so I will see how I get on with that. If my tethering ever works...

[NoblesseOblige]

Unfortunately, Duolingo does not do Russian yet, not even in beta, even though it's the most widely spoken Slavic language. Strange. I do have 6 months of Babbel to try though, so I will see how I get on with that. If my tethering ever works...

I'm not surprised by Duolingo's lack of Russian language learning. It's not as sexy to learn in the States compared to languages like Spanish, French, and German. I haven't tackled Russian myself so I don't know of any resources particular to it.

[iri]

Immerse yourself in it. I found my Cantonese leveled up after going to Hong Kong. It kind of forces you to learn faster if you need to order food and the person doesn't speak English.

I saw this ad the other day where this guy offered what he calls "coffee shop Spanish classes" where you meet up with him at a coffee shop to chat only in Spanish. I thought this was really clever as it kind of gets you more in tune with how you'll be using the language.

I have family members who have taught themselves a language with the help of TV as well. Perhaps there's Russian language programming you'd be into watching. Pop that closed captioning on and see how much you can absorb?

I think the TV show is a good idea. I'm not sure how I would go about finding  one with English subtitles

example: go here and look for the films labeled . they should be on youtube with english subtitles (i just checked that with Afonya).

[Puddsy]

basically what CPT said

after I went to Japan, I found that I was suddenly alright at Japanese, instead of the less-than-good I had been before.

[iri]

Are you guys implying that katushkin should go to the bloody oppressive dictatorship named Russia?

[jdcarpe]

Putin dictator game too stronk.

[cmadrid]

Yeah.. I put Putin right up there in badness levels with our latest two presidents

[jdcarpe]

Our latest two presidents probably have an IQ of 85, combined. But that's what you want in a figurehead, right? Neither is a bad person, they just mistakenly think they are running things.

Putin is an evil genius, probably bent on world domination. Classic megalomaniac.

[cmadrid]

Fair enough.. last two administrations, and probably the next two >_<

[katushkin]

Are you guys implying that katushkin should go to the bloody oppressive dictatorship named Russia?

I am tempted to go on holiday to Russia. Maybe Sochi. But more than likely Moscow. Or Volgograd. I actually used to be fascinated by Soviet Russia and it's been a dream of mine for like 10 years to visit...

[paicrai]

just learn what the words mean and trial and error your way through it until it sounds good and you get got gud grammar, git

[jdcarpe]

Are you guys implying that katushkin should go to the bloody oppressive dictatorship named Russia?

I am tempted to go on holiday to Russia. Maybe Sochi. But more than likely Moscow. Or Volgograd. I actually used to be fascinated by Soviet Russia and it's been a dream of mine for like 10 years to visit...

Saint Petersburg. It's forever the cultural capital of Russia. Visit the Hermitage/Winter Palace, the Church of the Savior on the Spilt Blood, and take in a ballet or opera at the Mariinsky Theatre.

[katushkin]

Are you guys implying that katushkin should go to the bloody oppressive dictatorship named Russia?

I am tempted to go on holiday to Russia. Maybe Sochi. But more than likely Moscow. Or Volgograd. I actually used to be fascinated by Soviet Russia and it's been a dream of mine for like 10 years to visit...

Saint Petersburg. It's forever the cultural capital of Russia. Visit the Hermitage/Winter Palace, the Church of the Savior on the Spilt Blood, and take in a ballet or opera at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Yeah, that too. I would love to see The Motherland Calls though. Might have to do an eastern Russia road trip.

[iri]

muh eastern russia <3



but best of all, muh kamchatka <3

[vivalarevolución]

muh eastern russia <3

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but best of all, muh kamchatka <3

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Sign me up for the next tour.  Good lord.

[katushkin]

The first picture looks like a ****. Lol.

But yeah, it does look like a seriously beautiful country if you look past the obvious social and foreign policy problems.

Not unlike Afghanistan.

[opensecret]

I’ll put in a vote for Pimsleur as an excellent way to learn to hear and speak almost any language, including Russian.  Pimsleur courses aren’t cheap, and they’re not particularly useful for learning to read or write a language, but an excellent way to learn to speak a language with near-native pronunciation.   I’ve used them for nine different languages, Russian included.  Because Pimsleur is basically an audio course, it has the big advantage for me that I can study a language while driving or working out.
Russian is a tough language for people who speak almost anything other than a Slavic language.  The grammar is amazingly complex, and there’s not a lot of vocabulary that’s familiar to speakers of non-Slavic languages (though Russian does have some words, mostly for urban amenities, borrowed from English or French:  лидер (lider) = leader, and  парк (park) is just what you’d think it is).  The part that’s easier than outsiders sometimes think is the Cyrillic alphabet – you can learn that pretty quick. 

[Lain1911]

Human interaction with the language. Like a study partner or friend too.

[jacobolus]

Our latest two presidents probably have an IQ of 85, combined.

Bush isn’t smart by president standards, but he’s way way above average IQ for a Texas Republican.

[baldgye]

Watching TV shows in Russian with English subs would help, helped me a lot learning Italian.

But there isn't an easy trick or anything