Product Description

`Teach Yourself Beginner's Russian' is the right course for you if you really want to learn Russian but are daunted by the prospect of complicated grammar, classes and coursebooks. This book starts right from the beginning and explains everything in simple English. By the end of the course you'll be able to communicate in a wide range of real-life situations and have all the practical information you need to enjoy your next trip to Russia.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #175803 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-26
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Synopsis
"Teach Yourself Beginner's Russian" is the right course for you if you really want to learn Russian but are daunted by the prospect of complicated grammar, classes and coursebooks. This book starts right from the beginning and explains everything in simple English. There are hints throughout to make learning easy and you can learn at your own pace with plenty of practice of each new point. It is a friendly introduction to the language which will help you to understand and speak Russian sufficiently well to function effectively in basic everyday situations. The course will also offer you an insight into Russian culture. The book is divided into three main parts. Units 1-2 introduce you to the Russian alphabet. Units 3-10 cover the basic structures and grammatical points you'll need in everyday situations. In Units 12-20 you will learn how to cope with practical, everyday situations, such as eating out, travelling and making a phone call in more detail. They give you the opportunity to put into practice and consolidate the language you have learnt in the first 10 units.

Unit 11 is a special unit designed to give you the chance to find out something about the handwritten Russian script and to write it if you choose. If you would rather miss this unit out and concentrate on reading, speaking and listening, you can do so without it affecting your understanding of the other units. By the end of the course you'll be able to communicate in a wide range of real-life situations and have all the practical information you need to enjoy your next trip to Russia. Two accompanying cassettes or CDs are available separately or in a pack with the book. The leader in self-learning with more than 300 titles, covering all subjects. Be where you want to be with "Teach Yourself".

About the Author
Rachel Farmer is Lecturer in Russian at University of Nottingham.

Customer Reviews

Great, great book!
Surely this is one of the easiest, most enjoyable, most enticing introduction courses for any foreign language available. My only quibble is that I'd have liked just a little more detail on the grammar. And yes, the cover photo is bizarre to say the least!!!

Terrific little guide
At first I thought this book looked a bit dry and hard-going, compared to just buying a phrase book or vocab builder. But it's concise and well structured. I've really come to enjoy reading it.. Every few days I take on a new lesson, which builds vocabulary, familiarity with the script, and fundamental grammar, with practical exercises. I'm also taking language classes which are conducted entirely in Russian, and I've found I can easily stay ahead of the class if I do a bit of work from this book rather than the home study suggested in class.

Helpful intro to the subject
I agree with the reviews already but why is there a picture of a plainly terrified scuba diver on the front cover? Depicted in icy waters he's surrounded by what look like sharks. Some kind of analogy with life in Russia? It makes me smile every time I pick the book up.