Most students face problems while learning a foreign language. If you study Russian, you may be afraid to make mistakes in your speech. Actually, limited vocabulary, wrong grammar, or strong accent are completely natural and are an important part of the learning process. In fact, these are your steps in reaching fluency in Russian.
Here is what might cause difficulties on your way of learning the language:
1. You are afraid of making mistakes
The mistakes are an important part of learning Russian. Don’t beat yourself up about them.
It is impossible to speak fluent Russian until you make a number of different mistakes. The point is to learn from them. If you are afraid to speak a language just because you have not yet achieved a “perfect” pronunciation, then you will never speak. The fear of making a mistake will paralyze you just when you really need to say something to a native 🙂
Always remember that mistakes are the bridge to excellence and play a significant role in fluency development. The progress will slow down without making mistakes.
2. You think you can never pronounce the words right
The Russian language is one of the hardest regarding pronunciation. One of the challenging things is to pronounce words with long consonant combinations. But do not give up so soon. The Russian language may seem easier comparing to Chinese with its different intonations and meanings of the same words.
We advise you to make a list of the hardest words for you. You can check the pronunciation of a word on Forvo.com. After a while, you will begin to learn patterns in pronunciation. Repeat the words over and over, and muscle memory will eventually work on its own. Your mouth and tongue will take time to get used to the new sounds. But repetition will help you cope with even the most difficult words.
3. You are memorizing the wrong words
One of the biggest mistakes you can make while learning words is choosing the wrong words.
Words are easier to remember if they apply specifically to you and your life. This way you can quickly build up your vocabulary and use it in a conversation.
Never use lists like “Top 1000 Words”!
Many of these words you will not even use in the future.
Before you start learning a language, write a short text about yourself, your life, family, hobbies, etc. Then identify the words that are the most meaningful to you in the text and learn them first. It is also better to memorize words that complement the main ones.
4. You think that immersion in the language environment is possible only abroad
There is no doubt that learning Russian in Russia can be a very efficient and useful option. However, many people neglect such language practice as communicating with foreigners online. This is one of the most common mistakes in foreign language learning!
Our advice is to chat online with native speakers, watch Russian movies and listen to Russian music. Do this every day and your skills will develop much faster. Do not forget about learning Russian with a tutor by Skype or Zoom:
here we’ve told why lessons online at EDUCA are the best option of learning Russian online.
6. You get upset when you can’t understand a native speaker
Do not worry. This problem can be solved by developing listening skills.
When you start learning a foreign language, you immediately notice how quickly native speakers speak. Even when you learn to read, it is worth listening to a foreigner, and it will seem that you hear only a set of incomprehensible sounds instead of words.
In order to learn to distinguish a foreign speech, start watching your favorite TV shows or movies with subtitles in a foreign language.
7. You think that it is hard to learn Russian
Believing that learning a foreign language is very difficult is probably the biggest mistake in learning a foreign language. Learning does take time and perseverance. The other language, in fact, can scare away. But learning the language isn’t difficult. Your attitude towards learning is the main factor on whether it will be difficult or easy for you. The truth is that the complexity of a language lies not in the language itself, but in the teaching methods and materials used.
Do not make your goal to achieve absolute perfection in the language, and do not use excuses like “bad genes” and bad luck. Focus on simple goals and look for methods and techniques that can help you optimize learning and save tons of time.
Do not forget to get inspiration for moving on in learning Russian! Here’s where you can get some:
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