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Assimil vs The New Penguin Russian Course | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| FromSpain Diglot Newbie Spain Joined 3902 days ago 20 posts - 22 votes Speaks: Spanish*, English Studies: French, Russian | Message 1 of 15 30 July 2014 at 1:54am | IP Logged | ||
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Hi everyone! First of all, I'd like to say that I've never written anything on this
forum, but I'm a frequent reader, so this is my first post. I'm learning many interesting things about languages on this forum, as I'm also passionate about foreign languages like many of you. I'm going to start learning Russian and some doubts on how to approach this language come to my mind. I'm thinking about studying Russian with Assimil or with The New Penguin Russian Course. I've read several reviews about these methods on the internet. However, I don't know which one might be the best. Could a more experienced Russian student give me a piece of advice? Thank you very much for your attention! Edited by FromSpain on 30 July 2014 at 1:56am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| apache güero Diglot Newbie United States Joined 4391 days ago 12 posts - 18 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Russian, German | Message 2 of 15 30 July 2014 at 2:34am | IP Logged | ||
Get both. You will need audio to learn how to pronunce the Russian language correctly and Assimil does a great job. However, if you really want to understand the language, you will need a good grammar book, which the New Penguin Russian Course is. I am currently on Lesson 26 of Assimil and Chapter 5 in the Penguin course. They work well together. Edited by apache güero on 30 July 2014 at 2:35am 7 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Arnaud25 Diglot Senior Member France Joined 3846 days ago 129 posts - 235 votes  Speaks: French*, English Studies: Russian | Message 3 of 15 30 July 2014 at 7:41am | IP Logged | ||
Same opinion. The russian grammar is too complex to be absorbed by "Assimilation": you need to work on it actively by understanding the rules and making simple and repetitive exercices. Perhaps a little boring, but you'll see the reward in the long run. The russian pronunciation is also difficult and subtle (lot of consonant clusters and palatalisation, lot of vowel reductions and a mobile tonic accent): working without audio would be a complete nonsense. Choose the lastest edition of Assimil Russian by Victoria Suchet or the old one written in the 70's. Don't use the one written by Dronov (or use it to revise, not to learn: its progression is too erratic). Another good option would be to start with Michel Thomas Russian: it will give you the basics of grammar and pronounciation, and with that you can continue easily with Assimil + a grammar book. I would also advise that you keep that document (or its English equivalent, if it exists) in your pocket wherever you go to check the right declensions when you speak to yourself in your head, or when you read Assimil or another book in the bus/metro/spaceship :) 5 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| FromSpain Diglot Newbie Spain Joined 3902 days ago 20 posts - 22 votes Speaks: Spanish*, English Studies: French, Russian | Message 4 of 15 30 July 2014 at 11:59am | IP Logged | ||
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I also think that's the best thing I can do. I'll use both methods. It will be
challenging, but I'm looking forward to learning this language. I can already read in Russian (very slowly) and I also know the Russian alphabet. Thanks to both of you! Spasibo! Edited by FromSpain on 30 July 2014 at 12:05pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| fabriciocarraro Hexaglot Winner TAC 2012 Senior Member Brazil russoparabrasileirosRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 4719 days ago 989 posts - 1454 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, EnglishB2, Italian, Spanish, Russian, French Studies: Dutch, German, Japanese | Message 5 of 15 30 July 2014 at 7:10pm | IP Logged | ||
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I agree 100% with the colleagues above.
My "prescription" would be: 1 - Start off with Michel Thomas Russian. Michel Thomas is an amazing course, and it will give you a good gist of language, which is just what you need at the beginning. 2 - A mix of Penguin and Assimil. 3 - Try to chat or Skype with natives online, make friends, look for penpals, watch movies, listen to music, etc etc... This is, IMHO, the best way to get to a good intermediate level in Russian. Edited by fabriciocarraro on 30 July 2014 at 7:10pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| FromSpain Diglot Newbie Spain Joined 3902 days ago 20 posts - 22 votes Speaks: Spanish*, English Studies: French, Russian | Message 6 of 15 31 July 2014 at 1:56pm | IP Logged | ||
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I've started to study my first Assimil lesson! I'll need a lot of motivation during my
learning process, as memorizing words will be pretty hard. Anyway, I hope I will stick to it without giving up. Thank you! 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| FromSpain Diglot Newbie Spain Joined 3902 days ago 20 posts - 22 votes Speaks: Spanish*, English Studies: French, Russian | Message 7 of 15 31 July 2014 at 2:00pm | IP Logged | ||
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By the way, I don't why, but I notice a few similarities between Russian pronunciation
and Spanish pronunciation... 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Arnaud25 Diglot Senior Member France Joined 3846 days ago 129 posts - 235 votes Speaks: French*, English Studies: Russian | Message 8 of 15 31 July 2014 at 5:46pm | IP Logged | ||
Oh, there are more than "a few" similarities. There is a lot in common with the so-called "romance" languages, as russian is an Indo-Europeen language and has "pumped" a lot of words in the Dutch/French/Italian vocabulary during the 18/19th century (and even now for french and English). Just try to note the prosody of the phrases on the audio, the russian is very melodic with the phrases going up and down a melodic scale when they talk. 2 persons have voted this message useful |
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