![\"That's](\"http:\/\/69.89.31.195\/~sukofami\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/DSC01708.jpg\")
<\/a>That’s me teaching a seminar in Russian in Nickolaev, Ukraine<\/p><\/div>\n
Five and a half years later I am glad to report that I have made progress. I preach and teach in Russian but it’s still difficult. Learning any language is really a life long task so I’m not discouraged when I run across a word or figure of speech that I don’t know. The important thing for me is to keep adding to my knowledge and working on my language skills.<\/p>\n
I want to share with you a few tips I’ve picked up along the way. These are ideas and methods that have helped me and I hope will help you too.<\/p>\n
Except for the first tip the list is not in any particular order.<\/p>\n
Practice is king<\/h3>\n
By “practice” I mean finding situations where you regularly hear spoken language and have the opportunity for interaction. For me this happens at church, work, when we have guests over, in the store and with my neighbors. If you have more of an “out going” personality this may be easier for you but don’t lose heart if you don’t. That just means you need to work on finding those opportunities regularly and consistently.<\/p>\n
Don’t compare yourself to others<\/h3>\n
You need to focus on your own progress. Some will learn faster, that’s just they way it is.<\/p>\n
Have the courage to sound stupid<\/h3>\n
If you’re not used to saying stupid things and sounding like a three-year old then you’re probably not ready to learn a new language. The faster you can get over this hurdle the sooner you’ll be on your way to speaking with proficiency!<\/p>\n
Focus on using what you already know<\/h3>\n
It can be discouraging you when you think about what you don’t know. You need to realize that there will always be unfamiliar words and figures of speech. I’m still learning new words in English. Focus on using what you do know and using it correctly. Add new concepts as they come.<\/p>\n
Don’t use the excuse “I’m just not gifted in language”<\/h3>\n
If you speak any language then you have what it takes to learn another language. Too many people have given up because someone told them they are not “gifted” in language. Personally, I have never felt that I’m gifted in language and I still don’t feel that way. However, that doesn’t stop me from standing in front of 100 or more native Russian speakers every week and giving it my best!<\/p>\n
Be a copy cat<\/h3>\n
First of all I do this in my head by constantly repeating phrases and pronunciations that I hear while listening to a native speaker. When you talk try to imitate a native speaker you know well. You might feel weird doing it but trust me, others will think it quite normal.<\/p>\n
Always be in a learning mode<\/h3>\n
Read everything and always be alert. You may not think that your brain is taking it all in but your brain can amaze you. I have often used new words that I don’t even know where they came from. They just sounded right and so I used them. The brain has a way of filing everything and then bringing it up later when we need it. It helps when we are aware of this process.<\/p>\n
Give yourself time<\/h3>\n
Don’t expect to be fluent in any language in 3 months. Some people may promise this but it’s not realistic. Yes, you may be able to hold a basic conversation after 3 months but if you want fluency you need to be in it for the long haul.<\/p>\n
Don’t hit the books too hard at first<\/h3>\n
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t use books or study grammar I’m just saying that it works best once you gain a little experience in language. Learn like a child; listen and understand first, then work on speaking and finally work on reading and grammar.<\/p>\n
Find a teacher who will only speak to you in the new language<\/h3>\n
Conversing with a native speaker who understands your language needs is vital. Especially in the first few months of study you need a teacher who will under no circumstances speak to you in your native language. This will force your brain to began making the new connections that it needs for this language!<\/p>\n
Force yourself to talk with different people<\/h3>\n
You will be able to understand those with whom you speak most often. Try to broaden your circle so you can talk with people who might have a different accent or use different vocabulary.<\/p>\n
Remember to engage in all aspects of the language<\/h3>\n
Listening, speaking, reading and writing are the main aspects of every language. Try to be engaged in every aspect.<\/p>\n
Work on pronunciation as early on as possible<\/h3>\n
My wife, who speaks Russian as her first language, was a great help to me on this. I realize that not everyone has a spouse who is a native speaker. However, it can be helpful to find a native speaker who is willing to work with you specifically on pronunciation. You may even want to consider finding a professional speech therapist. The problem is that once you set your pronunciation it is very difficult to go back and correct it.<\/p>\n
Question: What tips could you add to my list?<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There were times during my first year in Ukraine when I\u00a0literally\u00a0thought my brain was melting. I was working so hard a learning Russian that I started to forget English!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[31],"tags":[267,55],"class_list":["post-1872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing","tag-language","tag-russian"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/DSC01708.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3izZc-uc","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6222,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/why-i-went-back-to-language-school-after-6-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":1872,"position":0},"title":"Why I Went Back to Language School After 6 Years","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"January 26, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"For the last 6 years I've gotten by without out seriously studying Russian language but that all changed recently when I decided to go back to my studies. You might wonder why I decided to go back to Russian language study after a 6 year break. Let me share with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New"","block_context":{"text":"New","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/new\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Screen-Shot-2016-01-26-at-8.46.11-AM-e1453790931820.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Screen-Shot-2016-01-26-at-8.46.11-AM-e1453790931820.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Screen-Shot-2016-01-26-at-8.46.11-AM-e1453790931820.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5355,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/53-manipulative-preaching-vs-persuasive-preaching\/","url_meta":{"origin":1872,"position":1},"title":"#53 Manipulative Preaching vs. Persuasive Preaching","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"April 11, 2015","format":"audio","excerpt":"What's the difference between preaching that manipulates people for the preacher's own purposes and preaching that persuades people in the truth claims of Scripture? We talk about persuasive preaching and more in this episode of \"Now Is the Time.\" My guest is professor and author Dr. Larry Overstreet (interview starts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Gospel Today"","block_context":{"text":"The Gospel Today","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/podcast\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/pablo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/pablo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/pablo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5963,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/15-truths-language-learning-has-taught-me-about-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":1872,"position":2},"title":"15 Truths Language Learning has Taught Me About Life","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"January 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Language is the fabric of every culture. You can learn about a culture without learning the language but you can't experience and know a culture until you have assimilated its unique tones, nuanced meanings, and intriguing idioms deep with-in your mind. Learning a new language is like waking slowly from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/pablo-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/pablo-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/pablo-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3928,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/violence-will-continue-in-ukraine-until-this-happens\/","url_meta":{"origin":1872,"position":3},"title":"Violence Will Continue in Ukraine until This Happens!","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"May 7, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The death of 46 people which occurred in Odessa, Ukraine this past Friday as a result of conflicts between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian groups served only to widen the gap of hatred, fear and resentment that has been growing steadily over the past few months. In the video above I share\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/odessa-gun-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/odessa-gun-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/odessa-gun-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":435,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/missions-roundtable-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":1872,"position":4},"title":"Missions Roundtable","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"November 5, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Around 50 participants from over 14 countries: Ukraine, Russia, Slovakia, Poland, Albania, Israel, Croatia, Bosnia, -----stan, Hungary, USA, Canada, Moldova and Romania. I really appreciated hearing how God is sending out missionaries from unexpected places like Moldova and ------stan. Pastor Eduard from Moldova shares his missions experience with church leaders\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/DSC04340.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/DSC04340.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/DSC04340.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6980,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/refugees-have-left-live-ministry-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":1872,"position":5},"title":"Refugees have left -Live Ministry Update","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"October 14, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Last night we chatted with a bunch of you about life and ministry here in Odessa Ukraine. Just in case you missed the live video, I've posted it below. A number of people commented that they enjoyed the format, so I think we'll try to do this again. It's a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Screen-Shot-2016-10-14-at-9.46.58-AM-e1476427719350.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Screen-Shot-2016-10-14-at-9.46.58-AM-e1476427719350.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Screen-Shot-2016-10-14-at-9.46.58-AM-e1476427719350.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1872"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4980,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1872\/revisions\/4980"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}