The Ukrainian language
Back in Soviet times the Ukrainian language was neglected and underestimated. It lost its official status since Ukraine was part of the great Soviet State and was subject to its policy and regulations. Thus, it was not allowed to have its own official language. In 1993, only 31 million Ukrainian residents (slightly over 59%) spoke Ukrainian, but after the country gained its independence, the number of people willing to learn and speak it at home has started to increase. And today about 67.5% of Ukrainian citizens refer to the language as to their mother tongue despite the previously pressing influence of the Soviet Union. A great number of linguists consider Ukrainian to be one of the languages recognized from the earliest times, a few even believe it’s the parent and the oldest one among other Slavic languages. And although it is hard to trace its history down to the pre-written period, it is obvious that the Ukrainian language existed early enough to leave written symbols on items dated back to the beginning of the Bronze Age. Most of those writings looked like Greek, but there is no doubt that they belonged to the local language spoken in the ancient settlements of northern Black Sea area. You are probably wondering what about the situation with Ukrainian is today. Luckily, the government realized the importance of preserving the beautiful songlike Ukrainian language and giving it enough room to develop. And today the great majority of offices and administrative bodies use it for communication as well as correspondence. It is spoken during sessions in Rada, by the President, by the Prime Minister and a considerable part of deputies and officials. Moreover, such extensive use of the language by bureaucracy leads to the widening of Ukrainian language studies both in schools and higher educational establishments. Still more books, textbooks and manuals are published in the national language and indeed more people have started to write books in Ukrainian. Due to mass media, the Ukrainian language has outgrown the country’s borders and is gaining a stable, consolidated and more significant position among other important languages, broadening horizons and introducing our unique Ukrainian culture to other nations. There is no doubt that sooner or later the whole of the population of the country will speak Ukrainian as a mother tongue or, at least, that there will be many bilinguals and polyglots speaking not only the national language, but also Russian and, for example, English, French or German as well.
Discover a new world with our Russian courses
Language has been the common means of communication all over the world for ages. And for sure, if we know more languages, we can communicate with many more people. Our Russian language school offers the chance to study a language which has been spread over 1/6 of the world’s territory, with a population of over 250 million. The majority of this uses Russian as the main language of their everyday life. Russian courses in our School can help you to start Russian or study it from any level Elementary Russian language programs are provided for those who recently discovered Russia, Ukraine and Belarus by themselves and only recently started to meet Russian-speaking people. On the other end of the scale, the most advanced teaching methods are provided for the advanced level students. Any Russian language program can be adapted to your needs to help improving your knowledge and understanding of the nuances and styles of Russian. The Grammar and complicated word-endings of the Russian language will be understandable and accessible for you, due to our individual approach. We also have special teaching methods used only in our Russian courses. Experienced teaching staff has been perfectly trained and carefully selected. They will help you to define the appropriate instruction level for you. After finishing our Russian courses you will be able to understand and use Russian in different situations, such as formal and informal conversations, written tasks, sketching and writing letters and documents etc. And, of course, with our Russian courses the great pieces of Russian literature will be readily available to you. You will find the wisdom and magic of the Russian language, you’ll be able to read masterpieces of great writers and poets in their native language. A lot of works of famous Russian writers have become cornerstones of world literature. Thanks to our Russian courses you will have the possibility to get acquainted with Russian scientific research and achievements. Make new friends and find partners to practise your Russian! Open new opportunities to develop your business! Contact us and our Russian courses will be your guide through the Russian language!
Spreading of Russian
The Russian language traces its origins back to ancient Russian, one of the first Slavic languages, an ancestor to contemporary Russian, Ukrainian and Belorussian. Though all these languages belong to one Slavic group of languages which explains their similarity, Russian differs from the above mentioned by its phonetical, morphological and lexical peculiarities. Written Russian is based on Cyrillic script. It originates from Ancient Rus. The Ostromirovo Gospel (1056) and Izborniki (1073) were the earliest books written in the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. Great impulse to the development of the modern Russian language was given by the industrial revolution and technical progress during 18th century. It is also the period of foundation of Russian literature. Russian folklore became the basic material for creativity of Russian writers and poets. One of the most famous figures of that time — Alexander Pushkin — united in his works different language tendencies. Those works have become the masterpieces of standard literary Russian. We can find their further development in the works of outstanding writers such as Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Turgenev and others. The foundation and subsequent influence of the Russian State on world history assisted in spreading Russian all over the world, especially in European countries. The foundation of the USSR, where Russian was used as a means of international communication made it possible to be understood on the whole territory of former socialist countries with a population over 250 million people. The long period of the ‘cold war’ attracted the world’s attention to this country and arose interest in the ‘mysterious Russian Soul’. The unique possibility to communicate with the ‘threatening Russian bear’ was — and still is — the Russian language. The 21st century, with modern economical and political reforms lead Russia and the former socialist countries to a new level of development. The Russian language helps in scientific, economical and cultural communication, creating new interest and importance in its study. Russian is taught in more than 100 countries of the world. Nowadays Russian is one of the most wide-spread languages of the world. It is used as one of the six official working languages in the UN and many other international organizations. The Government of Russia takes great care in popularizing the Russian language all over the world. According to a presidential decree 2007 was proclaimed the Year of the Russian language in the world. Within the framework of this project, the campaign under the slogan ‘We recommend Russian’ was developed in many countries. It was good advertising for and a measure of importance of the Russian language vis-a-vis modern life and progress.
Why Learn Russian in Kyiv
If you ask Ukrainians why one should learn Russian in Kiev, the first answer that will be on the tip of their tongues is “Why not?” Just like people learning other languages (Polish, Turkish or Mandarin Chinese) have their reasons to do so, there are people in Kiev who are willing to speak Russian fluently and flawlessly. The only difference is that being the second widespread language in Ukraine, Russian is a lot more popular than other languages. The question also has a more serious background. Although Ukraine has turned to “Ukrainian-only” policy within administrative bodies, there are still about 90% of the residents of Kiev who speak Russian as their native language in everyday life. The remaining 10% can understand and converse in Russian anyway. The matter is that Kiev is multinational and therefore a multilingual center, with a great number of Russian-speaking people working and living here. To visit, work and live in Kiev, you have to know Russian. As we see it, the Russian language remains dominant in the central (Kiev), eastern and southern parts of Ukraine as before while practically all people in the West of the country now speak Ukrainian. So, here is the answer to the question “why learn Russian?”: Because, when moving to Kiev, you enter a Russian-speaking environment where you can learn Russian simply and easily. Another reason for learning Russian in Kiev is that there are lots of job and business opportunities, especially in the Eastern and Southern regions of the country for Russian-speakers. And living in Kiev does not mean you will never leave the city either for working or travel purposes. You may also visit relatives and friends located in Russia, easily accessible from our city. You can take classes at a location that is convenient for you — close to your place of work or at home. Finally, why learn Russian in Kiev together with the native Ukrainian language? One of the most successful bilingual countries, Canada, has proved how feasible it is to speak both languages fluently. Bilingual people get better business opportunities and tend to be more successful than those who only speak one language. Canada is a great example of how you can take advantage of something other people consider to be an obstacle. So, the people in Kiev are getting it absolutely right when learning Russian together with Ukrainian: they will surely take profit from it.
Practice Russian with Professional Results
Practice Russian, and you’re opening the door to your education in a growing language spoken by one of the world’s most prominent centers of economy and culture. The Russian language is a living one, used by more than 140 million native speakers on a regular basis, with many more around the world who have learned the tongue to communicate for business, education, and socializing. To get from beginner to fluent, however, you need the best practice, and that involves language exercises crafted by professionals and suited for students at every level of expertise. Learning Russian doesn’t have to be difficult, especially when you’re learning it from experts in the language instruction business. Our Russian Language Exercises The ECHO Eastern Europe Language Centre offers a variety of different Russian courses, training exercises, tests, and other resources dedicated to helping students to learn the language. Some of our practice Russian language exercises include: One-on-one instruction with qualified tutors that are native Russian speakers. With individual programs that are customized to fit your current needs, practice with a tutor can truly help you to progress your language skills, both in written and verbal forms. Tours and cultural destinations that include downtown areas of Odessa, Kyiv, and . Practice your language with our Russian programs at the heart of the culture itself, with many opportunities to converse with locals and enjoy culturally and historically significant works that include Russian Opera and Theatre productions. Group exercises that can allow you to learn with students who are at your level. Conversational Russian is important, as is the ability to speak with other students. Group exercises can allow you to know more about your current level of progress, as well as help to keep you motivated to continue to learn and improve. Exercises for expats and business that can help you to practice the key phrases, sentences, and conversations that are important for life and work. Focus in on the subjects that matter the most, with plenty of opportunities to practice friendly conversational Russian as well. Practice Russian with Online Resources and Tutors ECHO also offers students the ability to access online resources, such as online lessons and conversations through Skype, Russian and Ukrainian books and other forms of literature, and Russian news media. Combining ECHO’s online resources with our courses and practice exercises can help to accelerate your understanding of the language, and of Russia itself in the process, giving students many opportunities to get the type of immersion necessary to truly master the tongue. Find your tutor today. Just click on Teach Me Russian and learn more about the private tutoring services that are available through the ECHO Eastern European Language Centre. You can also find more information on the resources that ECHO makes available to help students, including Russian language exercises that you can start right away.
Learn to Read Russian short texts
If you want learn to read Russian, then you have to learn how to read Russian as well. The Russian alphabet is the Cyrillic alphabet, which has 33 letters as opposed to the 26 that you find in the Latin alphabet. As with the alphabet you’re likely already familiar with, Cyrillic has both hard vowels and soft vowels. Many of the letters that you will read are actually similar to your own alphabet, which can make the process of learning quicker than you may have imagined. So what are the benefits of learning to read Russian quickly? Phrasebooks: By learning to read the language, you can also rely on phrasebooks, or phone apps that have a database of Russian phrases for you to use. This can be an easy reference if you forget a term or need to look one up. Newspapers and literature: Reading these can be a very strong way to improve your Russian, and it can also help you to better understand Russian culture. Culture and language go hand in hand. Basic news reports and literature can both provide context to the language. Examinations: Simply put, to pass any examination of the Russian language, you will need to be able to read the alphabet as well. Signs: When traveling in Russia or Ukraine, you will need to be able to read Cyrillic script to know where your hotel is, which directions you should take when driving, and other important information. To practice Russian and learn to read quickly, you would need to understand the alphabet. The Cyrillic Alphabet Below, you will find the Cyrillic alphabet, along with approximate pronunciations in English. А – A Б – Be В – Ve Г – Ge Д – De Е – Ye Ё – Yo Ж – Zhe З – Ze И – Ee Й – Ee ( Short “i”, such as the y in “toy”) К – Ka Л – El М – Em Н – En О – O П – Pe Р – Er С – Es Т – Te У – Oo Ф – Ef Х – Kha Ц – Tse Ч – Che Ш – Sha ъ – (Hard sign, no sound. Pronounced “Tviordiy znak”) ы – Ih ь – (Soft sign, no sound. Pronounced “Myagkiy znak”) Э – E Ю – Yoo Я – Ya Books to Learn Russian: There are many great books to learn Russian phrases, practice your vocabulary, and even learn more about Russian history and culture, including: Russian For Dummies (2nd Edition) ( ISBN-13: 978-1118127698 ISBN-10: 1118127692 ) The New Penguin Russian Course: A Complete Course for Beginners ( ISBN-13: 978-0140120417 ISBN-10: 0140120416 ) Russian for Beginners: The Best Handbook for learning to speak Russian! ( ISBN-10: 1329641957 ISBN-13: 978-1329641952 )
Quickly Learn Russian Phrases
Immersion is one of the quickest way to learn any language, and Russian is no exception. A popular way to immerse yourself in a language is to discover the phrases and words that common people use every day. In greetings and in conversation, many of these words and phrases contain articles, tenses, proper pronouns, and even the intricacies of etiquette in language that can really take your understanding of Russian to the next level. By remembering a few of these key phrases, you can automatically make any travel to Russia or Ukraine far easier. You will also be able to examine the differences between those phrases, who you’re addressing, and how they respond. Just as there are subtle differences between greetings in English, you will find that when you learn Russian phrases, similar subtleties exist. Below, you will find examples of some of the most common phrases in Russian, along with a brief sample dialogue. Some Common Russian Phrases: Hello / Здравствуйте ( Zdravstvuyte ) Good morning / Доброе утро ( Dobroye utro ) I do not understand / Я не понимаю ( Ya ne ponimayu ) Thank you / Спасибо ( Spaseeba ) Excuse me / Простите ( Prasteete ) Do you speak English? / Вы говорите по-английски? ( Vi gavareety pa angleeski? ) What is your name? / Как Вас зовут? ( Kak vas zavoot? ) My name is / Меня зовут ( Meenya zavoot ) An Example of a Simple Russian Dialog: John: Здравствуйте. ( Hello. ) Jane: Добрый день. ( Good afternoon ) John: Вы говорите по-английски? ( Do you speak English? ) Jane: Нет. ( No ) John: Извините! Я плохо говорю по-русски! ( Sorry! My Russian is bad. ) Jane: Ничего, ничего, пожалуйста. Как Вас зовут? ( That’s alright. What is your name? ) John: Меня зовут Джон. ( My name is John ) Jane: Очень приятно. ( Pleased to meet you ) Learning the Language Through Phrases As you can see, it’s easy to practice Russian when you start with a few simple phrases. Conversation with Native Russian speakers can provide you with a greater context on formal versus informal greetings, proper pronunciations, and even some of the turns of phrase and idioms that are common in Russia and Ukraine. Continued practice, combined with exams and conversations that you can have in person or over Skype, can unlock your fluency in Russian, and lead the way toward understanding both the written and spoken forms of the language. While there are many differences between Russian and English, you will find that there is also quite a bit of common ground in greetings, questions, and in friendly conversation. Echo Eastern Europe offers several courses that can assist you in learning the everyday Russian language, including words and phrases that can help both students and international professionals to quickly adapt to their surroundings and the Russian culture.
Learning Everyday Russian Language
The heart of a language is often in how it is used every day. While we may not consider it, there are a lot of different historical references and alterations in English words and phrases that continue to be commonly used. They aren’t always well understood by foreigners who are attempting to learn our language, so you can imagine that learning Russian will also mean being able to pick up on those nuances of the language as well. To better understand everyday usage of Russian for foreigners, the best place to start is with language exercises. Everyday Russian language exercises include: Conversational instruction. Speaking Russian everyday means understanding phrases, intonation, pronunciation, and context. To get there, you need to be able to both read Russian and speak it in plain conversation. Written materials and examinations. To reinforce what you’ve learned and to test your level of comprehension in everyday Russian, written materials and examinations can assist you in finding your strengths and weaknesses in the language. Immersion. For students that choose programs in the Ukraine or Kiev, being able to speak Russian with Native Russians is the single best way to quickly learn and understand everyday Russian language. Common Russian Words and Phrases: Yes – Да (Da) No – Нет (Nyet) Thank you – Спасибо (Spa`siba) Goodbye, formal – До свидания (Da svidaniya) Goodbye, informal – Пока (pa’ka) I don’t understand – Я не понимаю (Ya ne pani’mayu) Have a nice day – Хорошего дня (Horosheva dnja) Online Lessons for Everyday Russian To get the best of immersion, conversation, and written instruction, online lessons are one of the strongest ways for foreigners to practice Russian at a pace that’s right for them. With instructors and materials available on your own schedule, you could become fluent before you know it. Online classes can allow you to connect with native Russian speakers, and to access materials that you may not be able to find anywhere else. In the process, you can try examinations, learn more about the changing nature of the language itself, and speak with Russians through online voice programs like Skype. Learning everyday Russian through online courses may be one of the single most effective ways to pick up on the language outside of moving to Moscow yourself. If you’re a student that’s interested in getting certified in the Russian language, or a professional that wants to do business with Russian businesses, ECHO Eastern Europe offers professional-level Russian educational courses that can have you reading and speaking the language in much less time than you think.
Learning Russian Language Basics
Russian language basics are the foundation of Russian itself. You may want to learn Russian words quickly because you’re planning a trip in the near future, or you may just want to begin to familiarize yourself with the language so that you can begin a more formal education soon. Whatever the case may be, picking up on the differences between Russian and most Western languages is a good way to start. To learn Russian basics, you’ll first need to understand that Russian uses the Cyrillic character set. Originating in Greece, Cyrillic is markedly different from the Roman alphabet used in Romance languages, and although it may at first seem alien, it is actually quite intuitive once you learn the pronunciations of the letters themselves. For example, д is pronounced as a hard “d” sound. If you look closely, it even slightly resembles the letter you’re already familiar with. For the basics of the language itself, we’ll cover a few of the basic words and phrases that are commonly used. Basic Russian Words and Phrases Да (Yes, or “da”) contains the aformentioned “д” character. As you can see, the letter following it is the familiar а. Нет (No, or “nyet”) contains the character Н, which in this case is pronounced as an “n”. До свидания (Goodbye, or “das-ve-dan-ye”) has more characters than previously mentioned, but you can already see that the “д” makes an appearance at the beginning to mark the use of the “da” sound. Доброе утро (Good morning, or “do-bray-oo-tro”) is a common greeting that you can use to say hello. Keep in mind that as with other languages, there are neutral, familiar, and formal ways to say all kinds of greetings. Спасибо (Thank you, or “spa-see-bah”) is a good word to learn as well. Whenever you learn a new language, it’s best to learn how to be polite as well, especially if you are visiting a new country for the first time. Learn Russian Basics Online The Russian language basics are just the first step toward learning the language itself. When you want to practice Russian for the best results, ECHO Eastern European Language Centre has a wealth of online resources that will have you saying «Я говорю по-русски!» Find out more about ECHO’s online courses, Russian summer language camps, and private tutors that can help students at every level of language.
Russian Study Abroad Programs at ECHOE
Learning a new language is much easier, and much more rewarding, when done in that language’s native country. Students and professionals who have the opportunity should take advantage of Echo Eastern Europe Language School’s Russian Study Abroad program, which can offer enrollees the ability to learn, speak, and enjoy Russian while in the country proper. Russian study abroad programs can give students a brand new perspective on the language itself, its cultural significance, and the ways in which it is used in everyday conversation and life. Professionals who are interested in seeking higher education or employment in Russia can especially benefit from learning more about the country itself. From learning and understanding road signs, to discussing professional matters with others in your line of work, the opportunities allowed by a study abroad program can open the door to a greater understanding of the language. Start to learn Russian Abroad with EchoEE Echo Eastern Europe School offers Study Abroad Programs in both its Russian and Ukrainian language centers, with further opportunities that include Summer School, Intensive Russian courses, preparation for examinations like TORFL, and access to online courses that include Skype lessons. Study Abroad students can also work with our language centers’ private tutors, who are trained and experienced in language instruction, and who can provide one-on-one education and instruction for students at every level. EchoEE offers services for students studying abroad that include connecting with hosting families, renting private apartments, reserving affordable rooms at hotels, and more. Students who enroll in our 1 year program will also have access to student dormitories, and student groups may have access to shared apartments during their stay for other programs. Classes include: Instruction in everyday Russian, including Russian for beginners. Access to local towns and landmarks, such as Kiev and Odessa, with information and helpful guides that can help you to learn more about the cultural significance of the Russian language. Immersion in the Russian language, from reading and writing in Cyrillic, to learning more about profession-specific Russian terminology. Russian courses that can help students to prepare for the Test of Russian as a Foreign Language, including the second level required to apply for Russian citizenship. For students both new and experienced in Russian, studying abroad is the best way to progress in your understanding of the language, and to further your education as a whole. You will also get to see Russia or Ukraine first hand, and enjoy their rich culture and history for yourself. Hotel and Transfer EchoEE has several locations that are within close distance of many 3, 4, and 5 star hotels, including the Radisson. Our language centers can assist students with reserving accommodations near both our Russian and Ukrainian language centers. We also offer easy transfer services between language centers, along with the appropriate reservations of hotel and living accommodations for students that are interested in traveling to or from Russia or Ukraine while staying with our program. Contact an EchoEE representative to learn more about transfer opportunities, as well as for information on assistance with travel plans.