Anyone speak or learning Russian? (Or another language)

[will11j]

Здравствуйте!

That's Russian for "Hello"...took me about 5 minutes just to type. I'm taking on the challenge of learning this language and planning on joining the foreign language field when I become a bit more competent in speaking it. Also will be attending a Russian language meeting once a month (closest one is 100 miles away!) with my wife.

Is there anyone else who can speak/is learning, not just Russian but any language....and any advice would be much appreciated!

До свидаиия

[bohemian]

Hi William, are you using the language app to help you? It seems very good.

My wife and I have been learning Czech for some years, and while ai sometimes feel discouraged, I have actually made good progress and can hold a simple conversation in the language, including in the ministry.

My wife is now learning Arabic with the Pimsleur course, but not with the intention of joining a congregation, just so that she can communicate with the Arabic speakers in the territory. (An Arabic congregation uses our hall.)

I use Equipd on iPad in Czech and English, but this is being discontinued, unfortunately.

[will11j]

Christopher,

What a great language to learn! I think the language app is amazing, I have used it to memorise some simple phrases over the past weeks. I have been practising my Russian on my fellow pioneer partners, which is a bit pointless because they don't have a clue what I'm saying.. But they don't seem to mind. I also use Equipd, people who already use it will be able to continue doing so. What I do is study the Watchtower in Russian every week; but instead of studying it as I would in English, I highlight words I already know (I am learning 5 new words a day) and that seems to really help. Also, I am praying really hard for Jehovah to help me.

[Sheep]

I learned French starting about 27 years ago. Back in those days the Society had a French class in the province of Quebec; I was in the second to last class. It's an ongoing process learning. I served as a pioneer in a French congregation for several years. Even though I'm in a English congregation again, I still have an opportunity to speak French frequently, so I'm still learning. French grammar was the stickly part; very hard. But I'm told I have it down pat now (whatever that means). However, at least there are some similarities between English and French, even though they're not related. I can only imagine it would be a lot more difficult learning Russian.

[Tcvancoops]

A friend of mine learned Russian. She was around 50/60 years old when she started learning. She did great! When I use to go to her house to baby sit her cats, she wrote Russian words on her mirror. I guess so that every morning when she got ready she could practice and keep it fresh.

Pimsleur is the best, the best, the best to learn a language. Better than Rosetta stone in my opinion. I used it to start learning Japanese. By tape 1, I remembered everything I was taught more than learning Spanish in school. I haven't listened to more of Pimsleur in a while, but I definitely want to get back to it to learn Japanese and Chinese.

I am pretty good at British/English though.

[will11j]

However, at least there are some similarities between English and French, even though they're not related.

I heard once that about half the English language is derived from French, something like that. Russian and English are cousins both coming from the same route languages but on different branches (English is Germanic / Russian is Slovak.

[well]

Serving in Chinese cong now

[campanula]

Здравствуйте!

That's Russian for "Hello"...took me about 5 minutes just to type. I'm taking on the challenge of learning this language and planning on joining the foreign language field when I become a bit more competent in speaking it. Also will be attending a Russian language meeting once a month (closest one is 100 miles away!) with my wife.

Is there anyone else who can speak/is learning, not just Russian but any language....and any advice would be much appreciated!

До свидаиия

Привет! 

That's Russian for "Hi!" 

 I'm Russian and if you and your wife need any assistance with Russian language I'm ready to help. 

Until new sanctions against Crimea LOL

PM me and I give you my Skype.

[X-Tryman]

Здравствуй! I'm from Russia too. It's great to see that you want to learn new language, especially a challenging one like Russian. But I want to encourage you and if you want to have a chat in Russian or have any question feel free to PM

[gr_rogers]

I learned Russian from my wife Kathy, her family came from the Sochi area many years ago.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ava]

My daughter has been taking Cambodian Classes since first of September.  There is no Cambodian Congregation down here yet, but her group of 10 brothers/sisters just received pre group status from the US Branch.  They will be having their first meeting on Sunday January 4.  They will only be having one meeting a month at this time, so she still be attending our English Congregation.  She has to read one paragraph and make one comment during the WT Study they will be having on Jan 4.  A Cambodian Family just moved to our area last week to assist with the group, so they are thrilled to have this family here to help out, and the husband is also an Elder, so this is great for them.

 

Currently there are about 17,000 people where we live that have Cambodian Last Names.  So that is alot of people to reach.

 

Not only do they need to learn the language, they also have to study the culture. The Cambodian Culture is vastly different from the American Culture.  

 

So far she is loving it, but she is struggling with some aspects of learning the language.

[Sheila]

I learned French starting about 27 years ago. Back in those days the Society had a French class in the province of Quebec; I was in the second to last class. It's an ongoing process learning. I served as a pioneer in a French congregation for several years. Even though I'm in a English congregation again, I still have an opportunity to speak French frequently, so I'm still learning. French grammar was the stickly part; very hard. But I'm told I have it down pat now (whatever that means). However, at least there are some similarities between English and French, even though they're not related. I can only imagine it would be a lot more difficult learning Russian.

Brother Eric - down pat means that you've learned something so well that you dont have to think much about how to say it or do it.  Like an accountant who can look at a page of figures and see immediately whats wrong, or a mechanic who can listen to a motor for ten seconds and pinpoint your engine problem, or a mother automatically correcting a childs words eg 'isn't' instead of 'aint'.   Its information 'bedded and patted down'  which has been shortened to 'down pat'

[bwebwenato]

I like MEMRISE. It's a free spaced-repetition flashcard software/website that is customizable. Not just text, but pictures can be used.

[Txjw]

Привет! My 17 year old son and I are also learning Russian. He can read speak and sing in Russian and I am still learning to read it. What congregation will you be attending?.

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[Victoria]

Привет!Меня зовут Виктория.I'm Russian.I need help with English and I will be glad to answer all your questions about Russian.Do you see movies in Russian with subtitles? For example,"What will I do with my life? ".It would be very useful!

[DStory]

Hello, my husband and I joined Russian congregation almost 2yr ago it has been a challenging experience for me since this is my first time learning another language my husband speaks French and Spanish so his understanding is more advanced  we live about 25min from our congregation so that is a blessing, I find it challenging to speak it, and staying motivated. Yet the loving congregation motivates me and keeps me optimistic. Hopefully this forum will help us both.

DS

[DStory]

We attend Russian Springfield NJ.