Recently we have received an email from our customer with the following question: how can I learn Russian words and phrases without looking for them in dictionary? How this “Learn Like a Child” technique works?  

Actually I was learning English using the same technique (and still listen a lot and improving) and had the same questions in my mind when first started to use it. I needed to pass a several interviews in English but couldn’t speak. After 3-4 weeks of active listening (especially Mini-stories gave me a breakthrough) I understood that I started to think partly in English! Now I speak fluently and really without thinking (inner translation).

Articles in every our lesson have 20-30 difficult words and expressions. The idea is to describe them in Vocabulary Lesson using easy language – so you will be able to understand it without thinking (inner translation). If you still cannot guess what this word/phrase means, use dictionary (it’s very fast on computer) and finally you will understand it without thinking (translation). For example, the expression идти по стопам (to follow in smb.'s footsteps) is described in vocabulary as делать то, что делали твои родители, продолжать традицию (do what your parents did, continue the tradition). Or подкосились ноги (if you start to translate, it will be like: legs have been cut) - когда человеку очень страшно, и он чувствует слабость в ногах (when person feels fear and weakness in legs).

Second, we have a really unique mini-stories (истории) lesson – every difficult word and expression used in article and described in vocabulary now appears in a different context, different situation. Since the stories are crazy and very unusual, you will remember words very deeply. Sometimes when I use words and expressions in my English speech I suddenly remember parts of mini-stories I learned before. It’s happen unconsciously – like native speaker! The task is to listen to mini-stories a lot (I always carry mp3 player with me), answer a questions (even if it is just да-yes or нет-no) and use emotions (mini-stories are made with a huge part of humor). 

It is also very helpful when you use Skype to talk with native speakers/learners of Russian. I was talking a lot even though I haven’t spoken well. It made me motivated! We’re developing our Club and hope learners will communicate on Forum, exchanging Skype and messenger names to communicate actively. 

So, in brief, you see difficult word/phrase in article, listen the Vocabulary lesson - understand the meaning (sometimes see the picture) and then listen this word/phrase in mini-story and learn it deeply, on emotional, unconscious level. We really believe that our lessons will be helpful for you and let you speak Russian easily.

Oleg Vinzhegin