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American learning Spanish in Russia

  Tags: Russia | Spanish
 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log Post Reply
Bradley326
Groupie
Joined 6168 days ago

78 posts - 104 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Russian, Kazakh, Spanish

 
 Message 1 of 6
05 October 2008 at 12:52pm | IP Logged 
I'm am American student studying Russian at a Moscow university for 4 months. In an effort to both learn a new language and improve my Russian, I recently purchased a Russian-language Spanish textbook.

My Russian is intermediate and my Spanish is beginner. I am learning Spanish via Russian and thus trying not to use English in the process at all.

My method: I'm reading through the textbook and when I come across a Russian word I don't know I look it up and try to learn it. All the Spanish exercises I do I also translate into Russian. I divided each page of my notebook in half and mirror each side: one Russian, the other Spanish.

I'm one week in now and so far, so good. I already have some thoughts on this learning method and I'll post them in my next update.
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ymapazagain
Senior Member
Australia
myspace.com/amywiles
Joined 6951 days ago

504 posts - 538 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: SpanishB2

 
 Message 2 of 6
05 October 2008 at 2:34pm | IP Logged 
I was thinking of doing something similar. I am intermediate Spanish and beginner Russian. I don't have lot of time at the moment so because I will be moving to Russia next year I have decided to focus on Russian. I really don't want my Spanish to suffer though so I thought I would get the Spanish based Assimil program to learn Russian.

My only concern was that my Russian would suffer from my Spanish not being 100% yet. Let me know how this is going for you, i'm really interested to hear how it works!
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Crassyo
Diglot
Groupie
United States
Joined 6107 days ago

92 posts - 92 votes 
Speaks: Spanish, English*
Studies: Russian, French, German, Italian

 
 Message 3 of 6
05 October 2008 at 2:41pm | IP Logged 
Wait they have a Spanish version of Russian Assimil?! Oh wow I must get that! I've been wanting to use that but I was sad to find out they didn't have an English version...so I was highly considering using the French Assimil for Russian but I share the same concerns as you ymapazagain.
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ymapazagain
Senior Member
Australia
myspace.com/amywiles
Joined 6951 days ago

504 posts - 538 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: SpanishB2

 
 Message 4 of 6
05 October 2008 at 4:53pm | IP Logged 
Sorry to hijack your journal with one more post Bradley! I think I will order Assimil and give it a go. If it doesn't work out straight away there can be no harm in using it as a revision tool when both languages are further advanced.

I found it directly from www.assimil.com , Ruso Sin Esfuerzo I think it's called.

Edited by ymapazagain on 05 October 2008 at 4:57pm

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Bradley326
Groupie
Joined 6168 days ago

78 posts - 104 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Russian, Kazakh, Spanish

 
 Message 5 of 6
08 October 2008 at 3:30am | IP Logged 
No worries, I'm glad people are reading and posting. :-)

Method: I really think this will be an effective method. I have actively studied Russian grammar and thus know the whys and hows of it far better than English. Because of this, the grammar of Spanish is easier to understand and learn because I'm comparing it to what I've actively learned instead of what I passively know but don't fully understand. Plus Russian and Spanish are starkly different. I think that contrast emphasizes the rules well.

Results: I'm getting a good grasp of basic Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. I'm also actively improving my Russian reading ability and vocabulary, as well as ample Russian grammar practice as I translate from Spanish to Russian.

Future: My current book was the cheapest in the store because I wasn't sure if this would work. Now that I'm sure, I plan on finishing this small book and laying down the cash for a fully-featured, comprehensive Spanish book. I might even buy a Russian-Spanish dictionary.
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Bradley326
Groupie
Joined 6168 days ago

78 posts - 104 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Russian, Kazakh, Spanish

 
 Message 6 of 6
15 October 2008 at 1:41pm | IP Logged 
Time for an update.

I'm about 1/3 through my Spanish book. I have already noticed my Russian improving as a result. Most noticeably at school in my Russian grammar class; many Russian grammar terms which I've learned while studying Spanish come up, and I understand the teacher much better now.

I try to do about an hour worth of my Spanish grammar book a day. Is isn't a lot, but I don't intend on reaching Spanish fluency here, but rather get the basics of the language as a base for study in America while also improving my Russian while here.

It is fascinating to view Spanish through the eyes of a Russian. For example, how articles are explained (Because they don't exist in Russian) and Russian views on Spanish culture (Spaniards are modest, and if a woman dresses in high heels and a skirt it means she is probably a prostitute because they don't dress like that in Spain, unlike in Russia). It adds a new level of interest to language learning. Kind of like peeking into a private clubhouse.


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