Learn another language the way you learnt your own
You learnt your own language naturally and enjoyably: now you can learn Russian in the same way.
You’ll stick with it because you’ll love it
· Use the unique method perfected over fifty years by the celebrated psychologist and linguist Michel Thomas.
· This method works with your brain, helping you to build up your Russian in manageable, enjoyable steps by thinking out the answers for yourself.
· You learn through listening and speaking – without the pressure of writing or memorising.
·
CONCENTRATES ON TEACHING VOCABULARY – plugs a perceived gap in the Foundation and Advanced titles
SAME TRIED-AND-TESTED FORMAT – teacher instructing two genuine students in real time
ACCOMPANYING BOOKLET – for those who want to see the written language: consolidates learning and helps navigate the course
DEMYSTIFIES THE LANGUAGE – Russian is no longer seen as a ‘difficult’, impenetrable language
CONCENTRATES ON EVERYDAY WORDS AND PHRASES – teaches what you will need when you are in Russia
Table of Contents:
Ways of forming the plural of nouns
Adjectives with various endings: forming adjectives from English cognates and Russian roots
More short adjectives (noun-like endings): ‘You are right’, ‘I will do it myself’
Describing things/places: ‘What/what kind of city is it?’
Giving directions: ‘Go to the right/left/straight on’
Endings/suffixes to form nouns: -tura, -nik, (sputnik), -nost (glasnost), etc.
The meaning of prefixes used for forming nouns and verbs: po- with verbs = to do a little/for a while (to read for a while – pochitat'); v – in, into; vy – out, out of; pere- (perestroika) = re-, over, etc.
Families of words formed from the same root: prav, chas, etc.
Various prepositions: v – in/into; na - on/onto; k – towards/in the direction of; po – along, according to; s – with, etc.
Expressing one’s need, interest, wish: ‘I need a car with an air conditioner’, ‘The director needs a good secretary’
Giving/asking for advice: ‘I advise / recommend you to buy this’
Buying / paying for things: ‘How much is this?’
Passive constructions: ‘I was told/given/shown’, ‘Where is ... sold?’, ‘How is it spelled/read?’ ‘as they say ...’
‘In order to ... (know /understand, etc.)’
‘I want you to do this’
Time expressions: always, often, usually, as usual, just, temporarily
Food: ‘I don’t eat meat’, ‘tea with milk’, etc
Likes and dislikes: ‘I like pizza’/ I like the pizza’
Colours
Days of the week (+ user guide): ‘I don’t work on Saturday'
Months (+ user guide): ‘in May’
Countries (+ the user guide)
Subjects: ‘I’m studying history’
Transport: ‘We are going by car’
Going verbs: ‘I am going to the cinema / I often go to the cinema’
Visiting places: ‘We are going to Moscow’, ‘an excursion around the city’, etc.
Visiting people: ‘I will come to see you (come to you) tomorrow’
There is something somewhere: ‘Is there a shower in the room?’
The only two irregular verbs: to eat, to give
Reflexive verbs: to like, to meet, to close
Figurative use of verbs: ‘Time will show’, ‘This blouse suits you’, etc.
Communicating: ‘I spoke with you on the phone’, ‘I will write (to) you an e-mail’
Health/parts of the body: ‘I have a headache’
Many new nouns, adjectives, adverbs and verbs will be taught including both cognates and those of Russian origin. We are going to use various mnemonics, such as images and short rhymes, to help to memorise the new words.