Говорите!

[lupestripe]

Only two lessons to go now and then I will have completed the first year Russian course at one of the local universities. I can't believe it's nearly the end but I hope to return for the second year, which starts in October.

While finding the time to learn amongst my crazy schedule has often been tough, and finding Russian grammar to be insanely complicated, learning the language has generally gone well. I'm still only at a basic level but I know the major grammatical concepts and can form simple sentences so all has gone well. Plus my Russian furry friends have been a fantastic help and a source of inspiration, motivating me to get better.

I'll admit, due to time commitments mainly, I haven't been as diligent a student as I could have been but I have tried my hardest and hope to progress significantly over the summer. Our teacher, a Ukrainian who we should have again next year, has been brilliantly supportive, providing biscuits and lifts after every lesson to ensure i don't miss my bus. I've developed a good relationship with her and being class representative at faculty meetings has also been a huge honour.

I'm glad to say I passed the year, despite not having a huge amount of time to dedicate to my learning. My results were:

Reading - 100%
Listening - 100%
Speaking - 81%
Writing - 74%

I probably couldn't have done much better in all honesty and this was all about personal learning rather than the qualification itself. Obviously I am pleased with the reading and listening, while speaking and writing were the two more subjective elements of the course so getting 100% was probably never going to happen, even if it was actually possible.

The group has been fun, a nice miscellany of different nationalities and aptitudes but I don't know whether many will be back for year two. We are going out for a meal at the Russian Restaurant in a fortnight so I can ask then. I'll miss them though, along with the three sozzled old men who always take the same bus as me home. Still, there's always next year and I hope to be there to learn more.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.