Learn Cyrillic + simple Russian, free.
 

Every road traveller in Russia needs to understand the Cyrillic alphabet (at least) to be able to follow road signs. Then a few basic phrases makes live much easier.

On this page from RT (Russian English language TV) are links to 3 separate free, simple, basic, fun, learning courses :-

Learn russian — RT

Желаю успехов!

Thanks for the link Tony - looks really useful and I will be taking some time getting to grips with some more useful phrases.

I learned my Cyrillic alphabet by downloading an app onto my ipod and spent two or three weeks perfecting the dark art - it's so easy when you finally get it and I would have been quite literally lost without it.

My daughter has just started dating a Russian guy (now a UK citizen) so I am hoping to get some free lessons in readiness for our return to Vlad next year.

Martin

thanks Tony

Strim- what app if you don't mind me asking?

APP
 

Take a look at this APP ,,
RussianAlphabetFlashCards
Simple and easy,,,

For Russian phrases ,,
Byki ,,

For instant voice translation of English to 26+ languages,,
Talk To Me

Hi Fern

The App is called "Russian Alphabet" written by Andre Khromov - got it from the Apple App store.

Martin

And for Serbia and the Serbian influenced portion of BiH.
Are there any other countries using the cyrillic alphabet?

Cyrillic is the Script of the National/Official languages of Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovinia, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kurgyzstan, Macedonia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan and Ukraine.


It is also third Official Script of the EU - behind Roman/Latin and Greek scripts.
Some EU member states have very high percentages of population that speak Russian as a first (and even only) language. Naturally those communities will use the cyrillic aplhabet as part of their daily language although it is not the official language of those states and therefore not an Official Script.

Cyrillic alphabet occurs in over 70 languages - mostly smaller, local, 'ethnic' languages as well as the official/national languages of the above list.

Some letters are common with Roman/Latin and Greek alphabets - some representing similar sounds, some quite dissimilar sounds!

And the Russian language, which uses Cyrillic, is the 4th most spoken language in the World - reason enough to try to understand a little?

Im currently going to evening classes at Bath University. into the 2nd Semester now, learn't a lot. Yes it costs money, but there is no way I could have taught myself this much in so little time. Well worth it.

G

My experience from Russia
 

Hi,
I recently came back from Russia where I sped a few month. It was really amazing time although at the beginning lack of my knowledge of their culture put me into some situation I would have rather avoided. But as you probably know ,the crucial think in Russia is to know the alphabet. Labels in Cyrillic are everywhere. Flesh cards always help me to memorize

Learning Cyrillic
 

Tony, thanks for this.

Old thread I know, I was searching for a good Russian intro course and that link above is dead.

I assume this is the updated link:

LearnRussian

If anyone wants to learn some Russian I suggest trying out the DuoLingo website and/or mobile app.

Makes it very easy and sort of fun to learn.