Russian is the most widely used and popular Slavic language and it is spoken as first language by approximately 164 million people. Add 120 million people to this number as secondary language. Overall, it is one of the most popular languages of Eastern Europe and almost all upper Asia. Russian is one of the six officially accepted languages of UN.

By learning Russian, you will be able to communicate with people not only in Russia, but also in many former Soviet Union countries including Ukraine. Other Slavic languages also similar to Russian and do not be amazed that you can understand some Bulgarian, Ukrainian and even some Polish words.

Russia is one of the most powerful countries of our times, not only in military sense but economically. If you learn Russian, you can open lots of opportunities in Russia as a career. Your company can send you as an expat with high monthly wages. Russian businessmen are also very interested in people who can talk & communicate with them in Russian. They will certainly appreciate your efforts in developing business relations.

I would suggest buying Rosetta Stone Russian program for those who want to learn this beautiful language in depth. This is the best and most comprehensive Russian language learning program in the market. By completing the visual lessons, you can progress into upper intermediate level in a few months and can talk freely in Russian in 6 months.

Rosetta Stone Russian Level 1

If you think that this Russian learning software is expensive, then you can use more traditional books & cds. I have listed the other popular and useful Russian language methods below.

The New Penguin Russian Course: A Complete Course for Beginners

Russian Phrasebook (Eton Institute – Language Phrasebooks)

Learn Russian – Level 1: Introduction to Russian Volume 1 (Enhanced Version): Lessons 1-25 with Audio (Innovative Language Series – Learn Russian from Absolute Beginner to Advanced)

Everything Learning Russian Book with CD: Speak, write, and understand Russian in no time! (Everything: Language and Literature)

The last and the best alternative method is to meet a native Russian person over internet who is interested to learn your language and start exchanging information on both languages. This way, you can much faster develop your Russian comprehension skills.

Useful Links about Russian Language

Russian Films

Learning Russian Language

Russian Language Usage World Map

Instead of this shoot or miss approach, I suggest using the services of Anastasia Date. It is the most established business in dating sector and provides only verified profiles. Their galleries include mostly very beautiful, young, educated and intelligent women who are looking for serious relationships which aim to conclude in a marriage.

The membership is simple. You pay for credits to use for live video chats with Russian women you want to meet. Video chat is the most powerful feature and you will see your potential future wife face to face. Technology has no borders and you can even hire a live translator if language is a barrier for you or the woman.

Overall, it is a guaranteed dating for the success because there are over 1000 verified profiles there to communicate and the best part is that these women are eager to meet you!

Remember that stress-free dating where people express themselves freely without any fear of rejection or misunderstandings is the best way. I liked the idea of fun dating and strongly recommend this website to my blog readers.

Joining is very easy. Fill a very short form and you are already in profile search page! There are many online tools for success, such as easy to use chat rooms, blogs where you can open one and express yourself and impress your future partner with your writing skills!

By the way, the women can join totally for free to BeNaughty.com, it is actually a plus for men because many other sites lack of enough women in their systems.

The Irony of Fate

First of all, it is traditional to watch The Irony of Fate (Ironiya Sudbi in Russian) in New Year’s Eve every year. This fantastic romantic comedy made in 70s tells a love story which is a result of interesting consequences. Four friends in Moscow each year go to a bathing house to drink vodka & celebrate the incoming year. The main hero of the film who is planned to be married to a girl in a few days, accidentally sent to Saint Petersburg by plane instead of other man in the group. Note that all are drunk like elephants! The next point is very funny & historically important. In 70s, architectures of Soviet times built the same streets, same buildings even with the same apartment numbers, even the keys. He, while very drunk, goes to his such twin home in Saint Petersburg and opens the door with his own key! After that, hilarious things begin to happen with the involvement of the woman who lives there, beautiful Nadya..

Watch this very warm film. It has also very melodramatic moments .You will understand Russian culture and how really these people are living with their real emotions with love & naiveness actually. The music scores in the film are excellent as well. It is one of the gems of talented, legendary Russian film director Eldar Ryazanov. Watch this film in Russian with English subtitles better.

p.s : They made another film (The Irony of Fate, Continuation) after 30 years with the involvement of the very same actors of 70s. It is also well played but surely nothing can be a replacement like the original one.

Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (Moskva Slezam ni Verit in Russian)

This is a very sentimental Russian film from 70s. Pure depressive happiness & eternal hopes!  I adore the way that very sad & funny moments are mixed together so naturally that you don’t notice how film flies away in 2 hours without a single cliche of mainstream movies. Awarded by Academy for Best Foreign Film in 1981, Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears begins with a story of three girlfriends in a Soviet time dormitory which completely tells you life style & manners of communist 50s. Starting with real warm moments, we first see the biggest heartbreak of one of the girls in the company, actually our main character. After that, the second part of the film is opened after skipping 20 years. We see how they deal with new era of 70s and how changed their dreams about future.

After watching this film, it is easy to understand how warm Russian movies from especially 70s. I especially note that the character of real Russian woman. They are strong even to work in factories in heavy conditions, but never forget their feminine, sentimental side. Watch this film, you will understand what I mean. As always, my suggestion is with subtitles in original Russian language.

Now, in 2010s the situation is completely different. Today’s Russian & Ukrainian women have more financial freedom than before. A typical Russian woman will never marry a Western man only for the dream of a rich life. Most Russian women are well educated, can talk in many languages and know their self values. Forget about this cliche. You should approach a Russian lady by showing your culture, personal values and character. If you have family values, this is top priority. Eventhough Russian women look very free, they actually behave in their private lifes according to family values. Today, Russian women want to marry a Western man since they want to find an educated person with whom can share the life, happiness. It is now possible through online dating sites to search for women and make contact beforehand as to get to know them better.

They seek a person who will be near them and support them in good & bad days. It is where some Russian men lack of and why Russian women try to find trustful men who will not leave them in the future.

If you can take the heart of a Russian woman, they will give all their love to you without any conditions.

If you visit AnastasiaDate Russian Brides website, you can read other success stories. The most famous Russian dating agency provides all tools to meet Russian ladies including letters translation, online messaging, live video chat and Russia, Ukraine tours.

As a characteristic of many Russian women, she is looking for a man who is reliable and serious.

You can meet her here.

1. The New Penguin Russian Complete Course for Beginners
2. Learn to Speak and Understand Russian with Pimsleur Language Programs

Read the reviews at Amazon store. You will understand why they are #1 for Russian language learning.