ABOUT
EXPERIENCE
- Lived in Russian Speaking Ukraine for two consecutive years (’92-’94)
- Taught Russian for 3 years (’96-’98)
- BA in Russian
- Interpreted for several non-profits
- Lived in the “Russian House” for two years at college
- Former president of my college’s Russian Club
- Sole creator of everything on this site.
WHY LEARN WITH ME
- No trite touristy phrases or pre-memorized conversations
- I make the Russian grammar easy
- I don’t use English grammar to teach Russian grammar
- My method is easier, more intuitive, less frustrating and more fun!
- Speaking Russian is one skill, teaching it is another. I taught Russian for 3 years.
- Lived in Russian speaking Ukraine for 2 years.
School wasn’t easy for me and English grammar was worse. It was boring and “pointless” and only one of two classes that got me sent to the principal’s office. Sorry Ms. Replinger.
Russian is typically taught via English grammar, obviously problematic for me. After learning Russian I realized there was a much simpler and more effective approach to teaching it. First I teach why certain Russian endings are needed and THEN I throw in the grammar principle, almost as an afterthought.
my introduction to Russian
I graduated high school in ’91 so my interest in Russia grew by watching the fall of communism that same year.
In ’92 my church sent me to Ukraine for two years where I learned to speak Russian. A few days after arriving I was riding a трамвай (tram) and another passenger, seeing I was a foreigner (very uncommon at that time), kept staring at me. I leaned over and in my best Russian said:
Me: Здравствуйте / Hello
Him: Что? / What
Me: Здравствуйте / Hello – A little slower and with more intent
Him: Что? / What
Me: Здравствуйте / Hello – Being a little confused as to why he wasn’t understanding this common Russian word.
Him: Не понял / I don’t understand. Turning away and ignoring me.
My Friend: Он сказал здравствуйте. / He said hello. (said with a better accent)
Him: Oh Здравствуйте / Oh, Hello
That was frustrating!
While living there I fell in love with most everything Russian/Ukrainian. The fall of communism was in ’91 and Ukraine, though independent, was still largely “Russian.”
My Russian Favorites
Author – Лев Толстой / Leo Tolstoy
Book – Анна Каренина / Anna Karenina
Short Story – Где Любовь, Там и Бог / Where Love Is, God Is
Composer – Петр Ильич Чайковский / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky for his 1812 Overture
Food – Пельмени / Pelmeni (similar to dumplings)
Slang – Да нет / Yeah right
Superstition – Кому нравится горбушка, тот нравиться целовать / Those that like the heal (of bread), like to kiss.
Contact
Email me directly at jared@thegreenstk.com