Way to Russia Talk Lounge

nlj819 · Just Starting Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 8

I am looking for a good English Language for Russian speakers cassete set for my fiancee. Is the Pimsleaur lessons set any good? It is quite expensive, but if it is good, I would consider it worthwhile.

I already gave her the Barron's "English Language the Fun and Fast Way", but I would like to supplement her learning.

Thank you!

David M Rowell · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 3:31 am Post subject:

I can only speak for the Pimsleur courses on Russian for English speakers, not vice versa, but probably similar issues apply.

For me, the Pimsleur programs were excellent. There are three sets, each of 30 lessons. After the first 30 lessons, you know almost nothing useful at all. After the second 30, you start to have some basic survival skills, and after the third set of 30, you're able to conduct simple Russian conversations quite successfully.

I had thought that Pimsleur only had a single 30 lesson set of English for Russians. In which case, forget it. Presumably your fiancee already speaks English to that level or better. Or, if she doesn't, she'll still be totally unequipped for life in an English speaking country after completing it.

The very best solution is to simply buy her private one on one English lessons. They aren't expensive - sometimes as little as $5-10 per academic hour. The second best solution is to put her in a group course.

Just giving her books/tapes and requiring her to self-educate is no good at all, especially for people learning English (because it is not a self-pronouncing language, unlike Russian).

Guest · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:09 am Post subject: English for your fiancee

I agree with Mr Rowell. I am married to a Russian lady, and know from experience that it would be best to pay for tutorial English language classes for your future wife. When my wife and I met in 1993 she spoke no English, but had the desire to learn. it has been very difficult for her, but she was determined to succeed. We were married in 2001, she still studies the English language, and does very well now. Here is a bit of, unsolicited, advise to consider. I hope you are a very patient person because you will be answering all her questions about English words, spelling, puncuation, phrases, and so on. You can be her best teacher since you will be with her every day. To help my wife I bought her the Russian/English pocket dictionary, which is not the best, but it does help. We each speak Russian and English most everyday, but for my wife, it has been total emersion, real tough. I also located two other Russian ladies, married to American men near our community. I called them, introduced myself, and also met their husbands. Now my wife has friends who speak her native language nearby. This really helps a lot when she is overwhelmed with homesickness. Good luck in your future married life. Randy

nlj819 · Just Starting Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 8

David, Randy, thank you for your responses. It sounds as though the Pimsleur course is a quality investment. My fiancee is enthusiastic about learning English, and already has a grasp of the basics. Between the English she knows and the Russian I know we can communicate well. I am patient and very much looking forward to being her sounding board/full-time de facto English instructor.

Earlier this year I advertised for a Russian tutor in the paper. A woman who came from the Ukraine last year to marry a man in my town answered my ad and gave me a series of lessons. She is looking forward to being friends with my fiancee, and they have spoken on the phone several times already. There is also about ten other people in my town who have emmigrated from Russia.