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Wondering what the best way to learn Russian is? Break Into Lingo offers one-to-one Russian lessons by videoconference with a native Russian-speaking teacher at a time to suit you. The lessons are tailored to your level and specific needs, whether for professional Russian, business Russian, general Russian or a combination of several uses of Russian.
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The Russian language has distinctive linguistic features that make it a fascinating object of study. It is rooted in a Slavic linguistic tradition and has features that set it apart from many other languages. The following points set out some of these features in more academic terms:
1. Cyrillic script: The Russian language is characterised by the use of the Cyrillic alphabet, a graphic system distinct from the Latin alphabet used in many Western languages. Made up of 33 characters, this alphabet can be enigmatic for the uninitiated.
2. Morphological declensions: Russian falls into the category of declensional languages, meaning that nouns, pronouns, adjectives and numerals undergo morphological changes in accordance with their syntactic function in the sentence and their relationship to other elements. Six distinct cases, namely nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental and prepositional, structure this declensional reality.
3. Grammatical gender: The Russian idiom is part of a trinary system of grammatical gender, characterised by the masculine, feminine and neuter categories. This distinction requires concordance in gender, number and case between adjectives, pronouns and participles and the nouns they qualify.
4. Verbal complexity: The Russian language is characterised by the sophistication of its verbal system, where different aspects (imperfect and perfect), tenses and modes are expressed through various conjugations. Verbs of movement, in particular, are used to depict movements in minute detail.
5. Verbal aspects: Verbal aspects play a fundamental role in Russian. Verbs are divided into two distinct categories: imperfective verbs (designating an action in progress, not limited in time) and perfect verbs (illustrating an accomplished action, limited in time). This dichotomy influences the way in which actions are perceived and expressed.
6. Subtle and varied lexicon: The Russian language has a rich and diverse lexicon, largely influenced by its history, culture and interactions with other languages. While a large number of Russian terms have their roots in Slavonic, there are also borrowings from French, German and English, among others.
7. Word order: Word order in Russian can vary according to the emphasis placed on the elements of the sentence. However, the conventional order is structured around the subject-verb-complement pattern.
8. Linguistic repetition: Russian is characterised by the repetition of consonants or syllables, a linguistic process used to form diminutives or affectionate expressions.
9. Subject omission: The omission of the subject in the sentence is a common practice in Russian, when the subject is implied by the verb forms and the context.
10. Literary heritage: The Russian literary tradition is extremely rich, with such eminent figures as Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Chekhov and Pushkin. The Russian language also plays a key role in science, mathematics and classical music.
These distinctive features make Russian a captivating and complex language, although they can also present significant challenges for foreign learners.
Learning Russian with a Russian-speaking teacher offers several significant advantages in terms of efficiency and in-depth understanding of the language. Here are some of the reasons why teaching with a native or Russian-speaking teacher is often preferred:
1. Authentic command of the language: Russian-speaking teachers are native speakers who have grown up using the Russian language in a natural, everyday context. Their authentic command of the language encompasses grammatical subtleties, idiomatic vocabulary and common expressions which are not always covered in textbooks or courses not taught by native speakers.
2. Correct intonation and pronunciation : Russian has a particular pronunciation and intonation which can be difficult for non-native speakers to master. Learning with a Russian teacher guarantees adequate exposure to these aspects, helping to acquire accurate pronunciation from the outset.
3. Cultural familiarity: The Russian language is closely linked to Russian culture. A Russian-speaking teacher can share specific cultural perspectives, customs and linguistic nuances which enrich the overall understanding of Russian language and culture.
4. Instant correction: Russian-speaking teachers are able to immediately correct linguistic errors and provide clear explanations in Russian, facilitating faster comprehension and constant improvement.
5. Natural immersion: Learning with a Russian teacher offers a more natural immersion in the language. Lessons are generally conducted in Russian, which encourages the rapid acquisition of communication skills and better adaptation to the linguistic environment.
6. Everyday use of the language: A Russian teacher can teach you how to use the language in everyday situations, which reinforces the relevance of the learning and prepares you for practical use of the language.
7. Answering cultural and contextual questions : Russian-speaking teachers can answer questions about Russian culture, history and social customs, which contributes to a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the language and its context.
8. Teaching flexibility: A Russian-speaking teacher can adapt more easily to your learning style, offering a variety of approaches to help you master the language effectively.
In short, learning Russian with a native or competent Russian teacher brings a dose of cultural realism, linguistic precision and authentic interaction with the language, which makes learning much easier and enables you to progress more quickly towards mastery of the Russian language.
