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Privyet! Explore the Russian language with this fantastic beginner's guide
With over 260 million speakers around the world, Russian remains one of the most popular and marketable languages you can learn. And for those who have no idea where to begin, Russian For Dummies is the perfect first step!
In this easy-to-understand resource for Russian language beginners, you'll discover basic grammar and common expressions you might use while shopping, dining out, traveling, or conducting business. You'll also find simplified and generalized conjugation rules and a streamlined approach to grammar based on how you actually understand the language, rather than technical rules and details.
This book offers:
* Supplemental online resources so you can hear how native Russian speakers use the words you're trying to learn
* Guidance on identifying Cyrillic letters from the alphabet used by Russian speakers and writers
* Tons of useful exercise and practice opportunities you can take advantage of to sharpen your skills
Perfect for any newcomer to the Russian language trying to pick up their first few phrases, Russian For Dummies is a fantastic first foray into conversational Russian that will have you ordering meals, going shopping, and navigating other day-to-day situations with ease. Good luck!
List of contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Started 7
Chapter 1: Russian in a Nutshell 9
Chapter 2: Checking Out the Russian Alphabet 17
Chapter 3: Warming Up with Russian Grammar Basics 33
Chapter 4: Getting Started with Basic Expressions 67
Chapter 5: Getting Your Numbers, Times, and Measurements Straight 81
Chapter 6: Speaking Russian at Home 101
Part 2: Russian in Action 119
Chapter 7: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 121
Chapter 8: Asking for Directions 137
Chapter 9: Dining Out and Going to the Market 149
Chapter 10: Shopping Made Easy 163
Chapter 11: Going Out on the Town 181
Chapter 12: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunications 195
Chapter 13: Recreation and the Great Outdoors 215
Part 3: Russian on the Go 233
Chapter 14: Planning a Trip 235
Chapter 15: Dealing with Money in a Foreign Land 247
Chapter 16: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, and More 259
Chapter 17: Finding a Place to Stay 273
Chapter 18: Handling Emergencies 289
Part 4: The Part of Tens 307
Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Pick Up Russian Quickly 309
Chapter 20: Ten Things Never to Say in Russian 315
Chapter 21: Ten Favorite Russian Expressions 321
Chapter 22: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Russian 325
Appendix A: Russian-English Mini-Dictionary 331
Appendix B: Verb Tables 351
Appendix C: Answer Keys 357
Index 361
About the author
Andrew D. Kaufman, PhD, is an associate professor, general faculty; lecturer in Slavic Languages and Literatures; and assistant director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Virginia. His work has been featured on
Today, NPR, PBS, and Oprah.com, as well as in
The New York Times and
The Washington Post.
Serafima Gettys, PhD, is Director of the Foreign Language Program at Lewis University, where she also teaches Russian.
Summary
Privyet! Explore the Russian language with this fantastic beginner's guide
With over 260 million speakers around the world, Russian remains one of the most popular and marketable languages you can learn. And for those who have no idea where to begin, Russian For Dummies is the perfect first step!
In this easy-to-understand resource for Russian language beginners, you'll discover basic grammar and common expressions you might use while shopping, dining out, traveling, or conducting business. You'll also find simplified and generalized conjugation rules and a streamlined approach to grammar based on how you actually understand the language, rather than technical rules and details.
This book offers:
* Supplemental online resources so you can hear how native Russian speakers use the words you're trying to learn
* Guidance on identifying Cyrillic letters from the alphabet used by Russian speakers and writers
* Tons of useful exercise and practice opportunities you can take advantage of to sharpen your skills
Perfect for any newcomer to the Russian language trying to pick up their first few phrases, Russian For Dummies is a fantastic first foray into conversational Russian that will have you ordering meals, going shopping, and navigating other day-to-day situations with ease. Good luck!
