Рюмочная… is it a characteristically St. Petersburg kind of establishment? How to translate this word into English, or do we have something equivalent in North America? These questions came up during a lesson recently and here’s my best answer…but correct me if I’m wrong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dive_bar
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Hello everyone! For one of my business English speaking clubs this week, we’ll be discussing the topic of how Russian cities will change in the future, based on this article: https://www.futuresplatform.com/blog/city-of-the-future-through-7-themes . What are your opinions? Please fill in the form above, or message me with your comments!
Futures Platform
22 Trends That Will Shape The Future Of Our Cities — Futures Platform
The most relevant trends affecting the future cities were categorized into major themes and closely examined.
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How fast can you progress with your English ❓
Recently I was talking with some students about what would be the fastest way of learning any language, and we decided that with the help of AI (or one’s own 🧠 and research) it would be possible to parse any language into its most commonly used words, phrases, questions, answers, and basic grammar, learn it all by memory and practice it thoroughly, achieving fluency very quickly. Sounds great, right? Fluency in 6 months or much less, impress your friends, get thousands of subscribers on YouTube… 🤩 But what’s the catch?
You’ll be communicating like a robot! Only matching basic questions with logical answers, and getting the same information back in return. No higher-level ideas, expressions, emotions, slang, swearing, and shades of politeness or impoliteness.🤖
Really “knowing” a language takes time, years of constant study and practice usually, and you have to treat the foreign language as something like a separate “operating system” in your head through which your ideas and emotions are expressed. Students who consciously do this, compartmentalising the foreign language in their mind, only using the foreign language without constant mental translations and interactions with their native language, are the ones who make the fastest and most effective progress in language learning, as I’ve seen. 👈
There’s no shortcut here, only finding the motivation to regularly “put your brain in gear”, use the foreign language, add something new to your knowledge, address mistakes you might be making, and practice, practice, practice… 🤓
So, how’s your English coming along? 😁
Recently I was talking with some students about what would be the fastest way of learning any language, and we decided that with the help of AI (or one’s own 🧠 and research) it would be possible to parse any language into its most commonly used words, phrases, questions, answers, and basic grammar, learn it all by memory and practice it thoroughly, achieving fluency very quickly. Sounds great, right? Fluency in 6 months or much less, impress your friends, get thousands of subscribers on YouTube… 🤩 But what’s the catch?
You’ll be communicating like a robot! Only matching basic questions with logical answers, and getting the same information back in return. No higher-level ideas, expressions, emotions, slang, swearing, and shades of politeness or impoliteness.
Really “knowing” a language takes time, years of constant study and practice usually, and you have to treat the foreign language as something like a separate “operating system” in your head through which your ideas and emotions are expressed. Students who consciously do this, compartmentalising the foreign language in their mind, only using the foreign language without constant mental translations and interactions with their native language, are the ones who make the fastest and most effective progress in language learning, as I’ve seen. 👈
There’s no shortcut here, only finding the motivation to regularly “put your brain in gear”, use the foreign language, add something new to your knowledge, address mistakes you might be making, and practice, practice, practice… 🤓
So, how’s your English coming along? 😁
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Всем с наступающим Новым Годом!!! 🎄 желаю вам успехов, здоровья, новых знаний, интересных путешествий, и всего наилучшего в следующем году! 💫🎁
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Hello all! My student and I have just come across another false-friend word that you should be aware of. In Russian, you call it a душ. In English, please translate it as a SHOWER. If you use the word “douche”, the meaning is VERY different and it’s usually an offensive term, like calling someone an idiot. Take a look at the dictionary definition 👇
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douche | duːʃ |
noun
1 a jet of liquid applied to a bodily cavity or body part for cleansing or medicinal purposes: the mixture may be used as an antiseptic douche or as a gargle.
• a device for washing out the vagina.
• a shower of water: I felt better for taking a daily douche.
2 North American English informal, derogatory an obnoxious or contemptible person (typically used of a man): that guy is such a douche.
verb [with object]
spray or shower with water: the patient was advised to douche the nose with saline.
• [no object] wash out the vagina with a douche.
origin
mid 18th century (as a noun): via French from Italian doccia ‘conduit pipe’, from docciare ‘pour by drops’, based on Latin ductus ‘leading’ (see duct).
noun
1 a jet of liquid applied to a bodily cavity or body part for cleansing or medicinal purposes: the mixture may be used as an antiseptic douche or as a gargle.
• a device for washing out the vagina.
• a shower of water: I felt better for taking a daily douche.
2 North American English informal, derogatory an obnoxious or contemptible person (typically used of a man): that guy is such a douche.
verb [with object]
spray or shower with water: the patient was advised to douche the nose with saline.
• [no object] wash out the vagina with a douche.
origin
mid 18th century (as a noun): via French from Italian doccia ‘conduit pipe’, from docciare ‘pour by drops’, based on Latin ductus ‘leading’ (see duct).
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Man overboard!!! 😨🛟 that’s what to call out if you notice that someone has fallen off your ship. Or you could talk about throwing someone or something overboard, again referring to boats at sea and unplanned exits from them. I’ve never seen or heard that term in any other context… except in the Lastochka train 😁
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В рубрике культурных разниц… 🇨🇦🇷🇺🤯
Guess what I did that produced a look of shock and horror on the faces of my Russian friends, a gaze of perplexity, incredulity, and fear? I had been doing this all my life in Canada and I hadn’t developed any diseases or disorders, physical or mental, but to Russians this was obviously extremely dangerous. 🤔
I nuked a cup of tea in the microwave oven! 😵 I put a tea bag into a cup, filled the cup with cold water, and put it in the microwave to heat up for a few minutes. No need for a stove or an electric kettle! Science is on my side too, that no radiation or other contamination could possibly be spoiling my tea.
Having heard my explanations, my Russian friends agreed with me that microwaved tea is probably viable and safe, but they insisted that they would still continue using traditional kettles to make tea. 😁
Guess what I did that produced a look of shock and horror on the faces of my Russian friends, a gaze of perplexity, incredulity, and fear? I had been doing this all my life in Canada and I hadn’t developed any diseases or disorders, physical or mental, but to Russians this was obviously extremely dangerous. 🤔
I nuked a cup of tea in the microwave oven! 😵 I put a tea bag into a cup, filled the cup with cold water, and put it in the microwave to heat up for a few minutes. No need for a stove or an electric kettle! Science is on my side too, that no radiation or other contamination could possibly be spoiling my tea.
Having heard my explanations, my Russian friends agreed with me that microwaved tea is probably viable and safe, but they insisted that they would still continue using traditional kettles to make tea. 😁
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Should you use a microwave oven for making tea?
Anonymous Poll
63%
No way Nick that’s crazy 😵💫
23%
Sure why not it’s not harmful 👍
14%
Haven’t decided 🤷
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Code-switching: my two cents
Я сегодня читаю some different blogs на теме English language learning and instruction и я столкнулся несколько раз с code-sharing, the practice of using one’s родной язык while learning a foreign language… 🤯
Ladno, from now on only in English. When I studied in a TEFL program, way back before I moved to Russia, we were instructed based on the theory that total immersion in the foreign language leads to better results in developing proficiency. I compare it to having a “second operating system” in your head, that’s based on the vocabulary, grammar and cultural fabric of your experience in the foreign language. One big problem that I see in students trying to develop fluency, is constantly thinking in their native language and trying to translate between their native language and the language they’re learning. The solution to that problem is to “dial down” the level of complexity in practice to the student’s current actual level, and gradually work on building up their vocabulary, grammar, and confidence in English… from their current point of comfort and proficiency.
BUT, code-switching may have its uses for beginners to quickly prompt them with new vocabulary. And, when two people are already advanced and proficient in the same two languages, it’s natural to express thoughts in both languages, sometimes switching languages mid-sentence or choosing particularly juicy vocabulary from one or the other language, to better express ideas and emotions. 🤷
Я сегодня читаю some different blogs на теме English language learning and instruction и я столкнулся несколько раз с code-sharing, the practice of using one’s родной язык while learning a foreign language… 🤯
Ladno, from now on only in English. When I studied in a TEFL program, way back before I moved to Russia, we were instructed based on the theory that total immersion in the foreign language leads to better results in developing proficiency. I compare it to having a “second operating system” in your head, that’s based on the vocabulary, grammar and cultural fabric of your experience in the foreign language. One big problem that I see in students trying to develop fluency, is constantly thinking in their native language and trying to translate between their native language and the language they’re learning. The solution to that problem is to “dial down” the level of complexity in practice to the student’s current actual level, and gradually work on building up their vocabulary, grammar, and confidence in English… from their current point of comfort and proficiency.
BUT, code-switching may have its uses for beginners to quickly prompt them with new vocabulary. And, when two people are already advanced and proficient in the same two languages, it’s natural to express thoughts in both languages, sometimes switching languages mid-sentence or choosing particularly juicy vocabulary from one or the other language, to better express ideas and emotions. 🤷
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Is code-switching useful in learning English?
Anonymous Poll
32%
Yes, mostly for beginners to prompt with vocabulary
32%
Yes, for all levels
26%
No, immersion in the foreign language is best
11%
Not sure 🤷
Hello everyone! I hope that your summer is going great so far! At the moment I’m running group classes for general and business English on Tuesdays at 20:00, Wednesdays at 19:00, and Thursdays at 20:00. Topics for this week’s meetings are comparing quality of life indicators internationally (general English), and the “Made in Russia” brand, what’s being successfully produced here, and what hasn’t been so successful. Send me a message if you’d like to join any of those groups! 👍 https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/compare/netherlands/russia
Mylifeelsewhere
Netherlands compared to Russia
Netherlands and Russia living comparison. Explore similarities and differences. Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb…
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More funny vocabulary for you 😁 for the longest time I was translating “сырочки” as “mini cheesecakes” because I couldn’t think of a similar equivalent in Canadian shops- там сырочков нет! They’re made of творог, which is almost the same as “cottage cheese” in Canada. In any case, my dictionary translates “сырочки” as “curd cheese” but I’ve never seen that in Canada and the name doesn’t sound appetising to me 😂
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Congratulations everyone with the start of the new academic year! 💫 if I can help anyone here with English, let me know. At the moment I’ve got group lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 20:00, and my schedule is also filling up with individual lessons. In addition, if anyone here knows some sites abroad (similar to Profi or Avito) for finding English students outside of Russia, please let me know. It would be interesting for me to not only work with individual international students, but to set up some international group lessons in the coming months. 🙏
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