Any conversational Russian classes?

[sleazure]

I guess I might be looking for another new hobby...

Does anyone have any leads as to where I might be able to start learning conversational Russian in Toronto?

I haven't looked into UofT or YorkU yet because they tend to be really expensive. George Brown has a single-semester course, though I doubt that they could even begin to cover the basics in 1 semester.

Anything but night school would be impossible for me.

TIA

 

[Esco!]

Learn the Cyrillic alphabet first.......then go from there.

Pimsleur tapes are your first move

 

[mandrill]

Russian is very difficult. If you're thinking "Oh, I learned Spanish in 6 weeks, so no sweat". Well, think again.

The new alphabet is just the beginning of the problem. The grammar is totally unlike English and insanely complicated. Pronounciation is - shall we say - counter-intuitive. And the vocabulary is pretty much composed of 6 or 7 syllable tongue-twisters which are (of course) in that weird new alphabet I just mentioned.

So unsurprisingly, the cluster of cheap Spanish/ French/ Italian conversation classes has no Russian language equivalent.

Get the Living Language "Ultimate Russian" book and tape set and try and get as far as you can. If you're still really interested when you complete the book (in 5 years or so), you can look around for classes.

 

[Esco!]

Yepper.....Oagre knows best!!

Hey Oagre............KAK JEELA?????????

 

[MuffinMuncher]

Get the Living Language "Ultimate Russian" book and tape set and try and get as far as you can. If you're still really interested when you complete the book (in 5 years or so), you can look around for classes.

Oagre knows of what he speaks! Its a brutal language to learn, I tried for 3 months with one of those Pimsleur CD courses, and although I did manage to learn a few basic phrases, what I really needed was "tell the policeman to give me my passport back" or "please, no more vodka".

 

[james t kirk]

Yepper.....Oagre knows best!!

Hey Oagre............KAK JEELA?????????

Harashaw

 

[Esco!]

Harashaw

Spaseeba

 

[Aardvark154]

Does anyone have any leads as to where I might be able to start learning conversational Russian in Toronto?

I haven't looked into UofT or YorkU yet because they tend to be really expensive. George Brown has a single-semester course, though I doubt that they could even begin to cover the basics in 1 semester.

Esco and the other's are right that Russian is difficult - but don't give up it’s NOT impossible. A lot depends on what your goal happens to be. If it is conversational Russian an excellent place to start are the (previously mentioned) Pimsleur tapes/CDs. As mentioned the place to begin is learning the Cyrillic alphabet. There are a number of good resources on the internet for it and the pronunciation of the letters. There is also a site for "tender words and phrases" which although geared towards native English speakers married to or dating Russians has many other useful phrases (if you can't find it p.m. me and I'll try to look it up).

In general University language courses are writing based (the comprehensive approach) while most people "casually" leaning a language don't really care that they are only semi-literate to almost illiterate they rather want to have "survival/combat" spoken language skills. Another way to go considering the increasing number of Russians in Toronto would be to inquire about private lessons. Not infrequently Russian Orthodox Churches are a good resource for this, the best known in Toronto is Holy Trinity on Henry Street.

Another thing, don't get discouraged. I have very good pronunciation in Parisian French (although I BARELY speak the language close to 30 years on), however, my Russian pronunciation is heavily accented, but unless you’re trying to pass as a Russian - if the person you’re speaking to understands that you’ve asked the direction to the Railroad station, and you understand their reply - that’s the bottom line. Just as an aside almost all people fluent in both languages say that it’s easier for a Russian speaker to become fluent in English, than for an English speaker to become fluent in Russia.

Have fun!

 

[Esco!]

Esco and the other's are right that Russian is difficult - but don't give up it’s NOT impossible. A lot depends on what your goal happens to be.

Da..........Da..................Spaseeba!!!!!!

KAK ...JEELA!!!!

 

[Esco!]

Esco and the other's are right that Russian is difficult

So Aardvark, just let Esco work the Piumsleur, will you?????!!!!!!

 

[Aardvark154]

So Aardvark, just let Esco work the Piumsleur, will you?????!!!!!!

vwee moyachee par ruski?

 

[Esco!]

vwee moyachee par ruski?

Da!!!