If you're planning to work in Russia or simply tour round some of the major cities then Russian language learning classes or courses are a must. Having a basic understanding of the language will make your stay far more enjoyable and multiply your chances of employment success.

There are about 150 million people in the world that speak Russian as a first or second language so it certainly won't be a waste of your time putting in some effort to pick up at least a basic level of conversational skills.

Learning to speak Russian means learning specific pronunciations of the consonants and words. You might want to start by learning the constructs of the Russian Language, for example the alphabet followed by the different genders of nouns such as neutral, masculine and feminine. Learning the different meaning of words and phrases in Russian is important if you want to make sure you avoid conversation mishaps.

What Is The Best Method To Learn Russian?

There are a number of option open to you for learning Russian. One of the most popular methods these days and a great starting point of any research is using the Internet.

Online Courses

There are plenty of online courses that are designed to help you learn Russian accurately and fluently. A website called byni.com (Before You Know It) offers a free software download so you can start learning straight away. Online courses and software programs are great lower cost option. You have the opportunity to work and learn at your own pace and finding these programs is easy. All you need to do is visit Google or Yahoo and type in "Russian Language Learning", you will be provided with a variety of results that can help you. Many sites, such as MasterRussian.com offer a variety of different ways to learn. For example, you can take lessons in nouns, numerals, pronouns, adjectives, vocabulary, cases, verbs. They also provide you with great tips and tricks for learning quickly.

Attending Classes

This is a great option if time and money are not a constraint. Classes can be found in two places. You can learn in your own country or you can learn Russian in Russia.

This can be a viable option for you because it allows you to experience in class demonstration of the language and get a better feel for how to form the words and pronunciation.

To find classes in your area, you can look in your phone book or even call your local high school to see if they have any resources. Individual Tuition An even better, all be it more pricy option is One on One Tuition. This is a great way to learn as it is completely personalised to your style and speed of learning. This gives you specialized attention and even more opportunity to speak and interact in the language. Of course, it is always a good idea to choose a tutor that is fluent in both Russian as well as your own native language to get the best results.

Finding a Russian tutor can be a little easy or difficult depending on where you live. You might want to place an ad in your local newspaper asking for a tutor or you can even call a college or university in your area to see if any students are willing to help you.

Books

You local bookstore shouldn't be overlooked as a helpful resources. Reading up of some of the famous Russian cities, such as St Petersburg or of course the capital, Moscow will help you get an idea of what to do when you get there. A Russian to English dictionary must have and should be one of the first things you pick up during your tip to the bookstore.

Having Fun Is Key To Learning

Of course, many people find learning a new language such as Russian to be easier if they are having fun doing it at the same time. Some sites, such as the one mentioned above, offers fun ways to implement your learned skills. This includes word games, quizzes and downloadable MP3 music tracks.

If you are looking to learn a little faster, there are some ways you can accelerate your learning. For example, you can simply visit any Russian speaking country. Ukraine, Latvia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are some that you might consider in addition to Russia of course.

Visiting these countries will almost force you to pick up on many aspects of the language in a short period of time.

Pen Pals and Forums

If you would rather learn more before your arrival, why not get yourself a Russian speaking pen pal. They can often teach you the right and wrongs of the language.

You could also join forums, watch movies in the Russian Language, watch Russian television, or even listen to Russian radio. The choice is yours.

No matter why you want to learn the Russian language, it is important to understand that you have many different avenues of going about your learning. Some may be better suited to your learning style than others. It's key that you select a course that matches your style of learning, how much you can afford and your time and work constraints.