Why Do Many Persons Decide to Learn the Russian Language?

According to data from the Modern Language Association (MLA), Russian language enrollments in U.S. universities increased by 8.2% between 2006 and 2016, indicating a growing interest in learning the language.

Russian is the most widely spoken Slavic language and serves as an important language in Russia, neighboring countries, and former Soviet republics. Its significance in politics, trade, and literature adds to its popularity. Many people who start studying this language want, above all, to know the culture of Russia, and its history, and to delve into certain aspects of modern life.

For this reason, it is always better to study the Russian language with a person born in Russia. A simple translation is often not enough for an enthusiast seeking an immersion in a culture very different from her own.

Who Am I and Why Do I Teach the Russian Language

I am a teacher of foreign languages, graduated in 1984 from Pjatigorsk Linguistic University, and teach languages from those times till nowadays. I have been living in Italy since 1995 where I mainly teach the Russian language and culture.

In my articles, I want to tell you about my observations and experiences. Not only from the point of view of a teacher but also as a person who had to learn multiple languages herself in order to work and live in a different country.

Why Learn the Russian Language With the Help of Poetry

Today I’m going to tell you about one of my favourite methods of teaching pronunciation and especially the accent of sentences. Let’s talk about poetry.

Any culture and literature began with poetry back in those days when a person had just left the cave. He used music even earlier, as soon as he got down from the tree. Unlike many other languages, Russian does not have a fixed tone structure. Narrative, interrogative, demand, and request differ in tone, not in the position of the words. Therefore, the Russian text easily falls on the music, if only its rhythm coincides with the rhythm of the music.

Ёж? (josh or iozh = hedgehog)

Ёж!

Ёж…

The difference as you can see from the punctuation is only in the tone of voice

Almost always in Russian, a verse first of all forms a pattern of syllables, and the presence of consonances in some syllables in close lines is also required. That is, the accents and pronunciation of the lines are similar. This is why we can use poems to facilitate our task of learning the language. The verses put in place the correct pronunciation and accents, which we then automatically use in the texts we study. That’s why we have to devote ourselves passionately to memorizing the pronunciation of Russian verses.

Crocodile Gena’s Birthday Song

1. Let’s learn 3 lines of this song

Read the second line (transcription) with attention to the accent (‘) of the word.

Read so many times you need to be fluent enough.

At this point, you will understand the letters of the Russian alphabet (first line) and the meaning of words used in this verse, too (translation in English at right).

Very important is that you read fluently.

Don’t go to the video before!

“ь” in the first word, пусть, is a soft sign. In this case, t is soft. The fundamental part of Russian pronunciation is that all consonants can be soft and hard. Sometimes it’s clear without ь, sometimes we need it.

Пусть бегут неуклюже — Let run clumsily

P’ust beg’ut neukl’uzhe

Пешеходы по лужам — Pedestrians through puddles

Peshekh’ody p’o l’uzham

А вода по асфальту рекой — And the water on the asphalt (is like a) river

A wod’a p’o asf’altu rek’oj

2. Now you can watch video sec. 0:23–0:30

Your task now is to listen to the pronunciation so many times you require it. Pay attention to the WORDS. It is very critical to distinguish the words when the singer pronounces them.

In the 1. Task you’ve just learned the letters/words, so you will be able to read the subtitles.

BUT don’t look at them when you listen. Absolutely not! Subtitles attract your attention, and you are not able to listen to the voice.

3. The last task of this lesson is to chant with the video

This means pronouncing words with the speed of a Russian. You can register your voice, but it is not essential: since this is your first lesson, you cannot be perfect. We have not even focused on aspects such as grammar etc. The main action is to pronounce the words with natural speed.

What Have We Learned Today?

1. Letters: p, u, s, t, b, e, g, n, k, l, zh, sh, kh, o, d, y, a, m, v, s, f, r, j — 23+1 (ь — is a soft sign) letters from 33 of the Russian alphabet.
2. Words: пусть, бегут, неуклюже, пешеходы, по, лужам, а, вода, асфальту, рекой — 10 words
3. You can distinguish 10 words when a native speaker chants them.
4. You can chant 10 words with the speed of a native speaker.

Not bad for fun, right? Now, you can go back to the tasks of your everyday life.

Wish you a good, positive day!

PS
Did you like this lesson? Write to me with your comment.

PPS
The song, sung by the crocodile G’ena, tells that the birthday will not be spoiled by bad weather and that passers-by are perplexed that someone is happy because they do not know that it is his birthday. And maybe a magician will fly in, show a movie and gift him an ice cream.