Hello fellow, past and future students of Liden & Denz!
Today’s article will focus on learning Russian outside of class. Sure, at the end of the day your head will be completely full of grammar, but you still have homework to do, and you also want to speed up your progress… So, how do you put in that extra hour that will really help you level up? There are tons of resources, online and offline, and many other Liden & Denz bloggers have written their strategies; still, here are a few sources and methods I’ve been using these past years.
Repetition, repetition, repetition… Sure, but variety is the spice of life!
It’s helpful to review the lesson of the day by looking over other styles of teaching the same thing. Looking at several different grammar tables which use different words helps you notice the patterns in the language. I like to copy the items I really can’t keep in mind, so that I always have references at hand in class, and it makes it easier to memorize.
Here are some compendia of Russian grammar I’ve found. They might have very outdated formats, but they’re really quite exhaustive, making them great for quick consultations – and sometimes they can teach you a little something extra.
Though I would advise you not to abuse it, this can be a lifesaver when you’re stuck on an irregular verb or noun. Plus they add many example sentences: if you pay attention to these, you’ll be able to remember the words much better. Again, writing these down for yourself may be time consuming, but it’ll pay off in the long run.
There are many channels walking you through tricky grammar questions, but my favorite so far has been Russian Grammar – the narrator goes nice and slow, and with a voice as soothing as an ASMR video. It’s perfect for when you feel like you can’t even think about studying anymore: just put it on in the background, close your eyes, and let him gently guide you through those nasty genitive plurals.
Another thing you can put on in the background as you eat or do laundry, or before finally going to sleep: a nice movie or cartoon! The Mosfilm YouTube channel has tons of Russian and Soviet classics freely available, a lot of them with passable English subtitles (though you really should try watching without them). Also online you’ll find nearly all of the best Soviet and Russian cartoons for all ages. Cartoons work really well, because, if you think about it, we are learning the language just like Russian children would! My new favorite is “Незнайка” (“Neznaika”).
Many more of us have written on the topic, so be sure to check the Liden & Denz blog for more suggestions.
Find a song you like and pay attention to the lyrics; sing along, even if you’re not sure what it means. The more you play it over, even in your head, the more your brain will connect the words and figure out their meaning. If in doubt, look up the lyrics, then continue mulling it over.
Here are two Russian summer hits from a few years ago that really stick in your head and won’t let go: “Черные Глаза” (“Dark Eyes”) by Aidamur Mugu, and “Женщина, я не танцую” (“Lady, I don’t dance”) by A-Dessa. Sorry to infect you with these, but I think they’re also really nice songs, to be honest.
Billboards, advertisements, information boards at the school, signs in the toilets – read and re-read the texts and those word combinations will get stuck in your head. (Watch out, though: they might be incorrect, even if written by Russians – it’s a tough language for everyone!)
For instance, “ничего не бросайте в унитаз – он может бросит в ответ” (“don’t throw anything in the toilet – he might throw it back”) is one of my favorite signs I’ve seen here. At the school, it’s much more politely written: “Не выбрасываете посторонные предметы в унитаз!” “Do not discard foreign objects” in there. Which one is easier to remember?
And, last but not least…
This is in some ways the easiest, and in some ways the hardest. Let’s start with the easy part: go out one evening with a classmate, stand around the bar chatting in the foreign language of your choosing, and soon enough people will be flocking to you and will want to know all about you. Then they will want to show you their favorite spots in the city, and voila’ – you have new friends. Now, the hard part is getting them to speak Russian to you: a lot of the locals speak English, and especially the younger people want to practice their skills with you, or just want to be helpful because they see you struggling. The trick: merge into a group of Russians, and just listen to them speaking to each other. You’ll learn pronunciation, inflection, interjections, and curses – all essential elements to gain mastery of this beautifully difficult language!
That’s all for today, but I hope to add more tricks to the list!
Remember: all you have to do is keep at it.
Удачи!
Posted by Russian Courses
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