Rating: 
Summary: This will not teach you Russian
Review: Although this is not a bad supplement to learning Russian it is just that, a supplement. Unlike a college textbook this will not teach the Cyrillic alphabet (even though it assumes the student knows it) nor will it teach verb conjugation and doesn't seem to have any kind of dictionary or grammar guide. However, it will help both begining and intermediate students improve their speaking ability and reinforce their vocabulary. If you're not taking a Russian class but learning from a book this will serve as a good language lab (it has the ability to record and play back your pronounciation). In conclusion, don't buy this title mistakenly believing that it alone can teach you to do anything but learn to speak the most basic vocabulary and phrases.
Rating: 
Summary: Nouns, nouns, nouns
Review: Before you can learn any language, you have to know the names of things. That is the key. This CD-set understands that and challenges you, in a game-show fashion, to play along with the game and gain points in order to progress, to advance to the next level. After all, you can't learn to conjugate verbs or understand the "gender value" (mostly foreign to native English speakers) attributed to the nouns and their relative verb conjugations if you have never heard the nouns before. It is a very complicated thing, Russian and Ukrainian. If it came in a pill, everyone could take one! Too many courses go way too fast by talking about the possessive of a certain female pronoun adjective (huh?)- but this one is just the right speed- slow and simple. Sure, it could have utilized more sophisticated graphics but remember, when you're a "kid" in a language, you have to be treated like one. And being a kid again is actually quite fun!
Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't work on XP
Review: Despite what it says on the review this does not work on Windows XP
Rating:
Summary: useful tool in your language arsenal
Review: First, to address some practical issues from other reviews: 1) I have XP. This CD works on XP.
2) This company does not make a more advanced program in Russian as they do in other languages. As far as I can tell, this 2 CD set is the full extent of their offerings in Russian. I found this program very useful in learning some important basic vocabulary and getting more comfortable hearing and interacting with spoken Russian. The first CD is set up as a series of lessons and games on 8 different topics -- basic words (hello, goodbye, excuse me, etc.), foods, numbers, time of day, basic phrases, body parts, countries, and objects you might buy shopping like clothes. In the lesson, a picture is shown, for example a plane. The word for plane is shown in English and in Russian (in cyrillic) and a Russian speaker says the word. There are two speakers on the CD, with noticeably different accents. It is interesting to compare the two accents and sort of triangulate the standard pronunciation. It also helps when you can't understand one of them, listening to the other one usually clarifies. SO, you see the meaning of the word, you see the word in English, you see the word in Russian, and you listen to a native speaker say the word. This is GREAT! I can't tell you how much of this I retained from all this great linguistic input! So then there is a game to go along with each lesson, which is basically memory. They say a word in Russian and you have to click on the right picture. Simple. There are four different games you can play of varying difficulty levels. And it's really more of a test than a game, but hey when i graduated from college i got an engraved plaque saying i never had to take another test in my life. Didn't you? Anyways... This first CD was really helpful. I really have retained about all of the words on the CD, which is pretty amazing to me. There is also a speech/pronunciation section, but I didn't use it. The second CD is a little different. It's more of the "immersion" that the title claims. They start spouting sentences full of words you probably don't know, and you're supposed to pick out like which picture they're talking about based on the fact that you heard the word "red" and "shirt" in there somewhere. But it's a little baffling. I'm going to hold off on doing the second CD until I go through some of my other books a bit more. But it's essentially set up the same -- lessons and then "games" to test and reinforce what you learned. IN SUMMARY, very valuable vocabulary building. The setup of the lessons lends itself to a high level of retention, and the native Russian speakers are great for self-taught book people to hear. There are no grammar lessons, there are no writing exercises, there is no conversation on your part, there is no instruction in cyrillic, the list of vocabulary could have been a bit more extensive, and you don't even necessarily learn how to spell the words you learn. Therefore, it is only ONE weapon among many you should have if you really intend to beat the Russian language into submission. (just kidding) But it is very good at what it undertakes. And need I repeat that for the price, you can't beat it.
Rating:
Summary: useful tool in your language arsenal
Review: First, to address some practical issues from other reviews: 1) I have XP. This CD works on XP.
2) This company does not make a more advanced program in Russian as they do in other languages. As far as I can tell, this 2 CD set is the full extent of their offerings in Russian. I found this program very useful in learning some important basic vocabulary and getting more comfortable hearing and interacting with spoken Russian. The first CD is set up as a series of lessons and games on 8 different topics -- basic words (hello, goodbye, excuse me, etc.), foods, numbers, time of day, basic phrases, body parts, countries, and objects you might buy shopping like clothes. In the lesson, a picture is shown, for example a plane. The word for plane is shown in English and in Russian (in cyrillic) and a Russian speaker says the word. There are two speakers on the CD, with noticeably different accents. It is interesting to compare the two accents and sort of triangulate the standard pronunciation. It also helps when you can't understand one of them, listening to the other one usually clarifies. SO, you see the meaning of the word, you see the word in English, you see the word in Russian, and you listen to a native speaker say the word. This is GREAT! I can't tell you how much of this I retained from all this great linguistic input! So then there is a game to go along with each lesson, which is basically memory. They say a word in Russian and you have to click on the right picture. Simple. There are four different games you can play of varying difficulty levels. And it's really more of a test than a game, but hey when i graduated from college i got an engraved plaque saying i never had to take another test in my life. Didn't you? Anyways... This first CD was really helpful. I really have retained about all of the words on the CD, which is pretty amazing to me. There is also a speech/pronunciation section, but I didn't use it. The second CD is a little different. It's more of the "immersion" that the title claims. They start spouting sentences full of words you probably don't know, and you're supposed to pick out like which picture they're talking about based on the fact that you heard the word "red" and "shirt" in there somewhere. But it's a little baffling. I'm going to hold off on doing the second CD until I go through some of my other books a bit more. But it's essentially set up the same -- lessons and then "games" to test and reinforce what you learned. IN SUMMARY, very valuable vocabulary building. The setup of the lessons lends itself to a high level of retention, and the native Russian speakers are great for self-taught book people to hear. There are no grammar lessons, there are no writing exercises, there is no conversation on your part, there is no instruction in cyrillic, the list of vocabulary could have been a bit more extensive, and you don't even necessarily learn how to spell the words you learn. Therefore, it is only ONE weapon among many you should have if you really intend to beat the Russian language into submission. (just kidding) But it is very good at what it undertakes. And need I repeat that for the price, you can't beat it.
Rating:
Summary: Crawl before you walk, walk before you run
Review: I am a newborn child, trying to grasp what all those sounds are that the bigger versions of me are making. I started out saying single words, doing a lot of pointing, and eventually, was able to put the words together. After 45 years, I seemed to have figured it out.
This program is the same way. Each lesson is broken down into groups of words, ie first words, numbers, colors, eating out, around the house, etc. Four pictures are shown, with writing in English, and spoken in Russian. On the next screen, you are given one Russian name and asked to chose what it means from the words 4 words listed in English. House? car? Boat? Taxi? Bathroom? Through constant repetition, the words finally start to stick.
Repetition is the way I learned to speak English when I was a baby and I believe that repetition is the way I will learn to speak Russian. Having both a man and a woman say the Russian words helps, too.
You have to crawl before you walk, walk before you run. The foundation must be built. Talk to a two year old. They don't say it right (yet), but they can get their meaning across. Hopefully, I will be able to do the same, minus the temper tantrums!
I gave this program 3 stars, since I feel the Rosetta Stone CD is better (although I think this is a good companion program) and I'm leaving 5 stars open for the ultimate, which I hope is out there.
Happy trekking!
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the price, but that's not saying much...
Review: I bought this thinking hey, it's ten bucks, what have I got to lose? Well, the answer to that question is ten bucks. If you're broke and want to learn Russian, save your money for food and get a library card. Pass on this. I'd only give it one star, but I'll give it two because it's so cheap and you could learn something from this if you put forth serious effort. But you'd be better off buying the Penguin Russian course instead for almost the same price.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the price, but that's not saying much...
Review: I bought this thinking hey, it's ten bucks, what have I got to lose? Well, the answer to that question is ten bucks. If you're broke and want to learn Russian, save your money for food and get a library card. Pass on this. I'd only give it one star, but I'll give it two because it's so cheap and you could learn something from this if you put forth serious effort. But you'd be better off buying the Penguin Russian course instead for almost the same price.
Rating:
Summary: Worse Software for beginners
Review: I bought this to learn Russian, as it says it's easy, inexpensive and a fast way to learn. Don't be fooled! It mostly teaches you words not sentances or conversations, believe me it is the worse. The first CD teaches you colors, numbers, time, the alphabet and so on but it doesn't help with actually communicating with the people.
Though I agree that it is a five star product for teaching children with the colorful games and basic words.
And Three stars for tourists who want just to get around with basic words, but to learn the actually language I find that it is impossible to.
This is also a nice way just to review but it is limited by only it's basic words.
Again don't be fooled, spend the extra ten bucks and get the Rosetta Stone Russian Explorer, it has more programs and conversational teachings. I recommend that better than this product.
Rating: 
Summary: Learn Russian quickly & interactively
Review: I found this product easy to understand and use. It was organized as a game playing experience that made learning fun. I wanted the English version but it also supported 50 other languages so if you were French it spoke to you in your native language and taught you Russian. Have purchased several other products and I have found this one the best introduction to Russian, and the easiest to use. It's fun.
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