Russian Chocolates

 I feel my Russian studies have been on the back burner for some time, but it doesn't mean I'm not still interested in it. I hear Russian being spoken occasionally and though I can't understand anything from what the people say, I still recognize it as Russian. And I still feel it is a part of me and has been a part of my journey. 

For instance, the learner I am tutoring in English literacy is Russian. Her native language is Russian and we instantly connected upon that. And just the other day she gifted me a box of Russian chocolates! I have never had Russian desserts and hardly know some of the main dishes, but it was a sweet surprise and also trying to pronounce and read the label on the box. 

Notebook

 

I just finished this notebook yesterday, my Russian notebook. I started to learn Russian back in 2015 late January and my sister gifted me with this notebook for Christmas 2014, so what better way to use it than for language purposes?

She also decorated it nicely the first few pages with collages and a little bit of her creative writing, I love it! But it makes me a little nostalgic now that I've completed it, after all these years! Of course, it wasn't every day, and there were a lot of other notes in here- drifting off from Russian study like Czech, Polish, which are language Slavic cousins to Russian. But it started and ended with Russian.

My sister and I are doing a daily language challenge. So, Russian is what I'll be study and picking up back again! 

These past 2 days I've been reviewing some former things such as vocab and getting more into plurals, feminine, masculine, neuter and adjectives. There is so much I don't know, or just learned once and then forgot and didn't put into practice. 

So, even better reason to continue on a daily regimen of study, review and fun. Of course, it has to be fun and enjoyable or else it won't stick. 

Vocab used in this post: 

* журнал journal in Russian 

* книга book in Russian

*   Рождество   Christmas in Russian

* язык  language in Russian

*Русский  Russian in Russian 

By the Fire

 I haven't thought about Russian study for a while. (Like I mentioned in my previous posts.) But all of a sudden, it came upon me last night as I was reading by the fire- to rekindle and review Russian again!

I think partly it was due to feeling inspired again. Rereading this book, 'The Stories We Tell' by Joanna Gaines brought me back to the beginning of the year, and that was an inspiring and exciting time. It was also a time of studying Russian (still), and doing what I could to keep it alive, interesting and life giving. That's when it clicked last night.

But it's been a while to feel like this.

I was just telling my sister, that I haven't felt too inspired with language study, and also don't know the point, the purpose. Is it really meant to be done alone, quietly and independently? But upon reviewing and studying last night, those thoughts and feelings didn't arise. 

There was joy, there was goodness, and inspiration. It felt like catching up with a long-lost friend, or playing the same song on the piano after a long time- the memory all came back, the reasons, as little as they are at times returned with a sense of excitement and purpose, to continue. 

It's really also to just call something my own- this journey, this learning experience, this language, association and progress. The beautiful pauses, stop and go, breaks and study to feel it's part of me again- my story, my language journey, that at times doesn't makes sense. But then somehow it does. 

Recording Russian

 I was looking back at my Russian videos recently. I haven't done one in about a year, and I was trying to get inspired with it again. The memories easily come back to me from that time, and I am so grateful language learning can bring upon its own motivation, goals and interest. But I must say, there are definitely ebbs and flows. 

To rekindle it again, I recently wrote down a list of Russian words on my whiteboard to recall my memory. Some of the spelling I didn't do perfectly, and it was basic vocabulary, but it was good and refreshing to practice after a long time!

Maybe at some point I will create another video, and in order to do that I need to keep on learning and studying (even just 10 mins a day!) to keep my mind active in this language once again. :)

Where Progress is Made

 I feel I have come back full circle. I have decided that I want to continue with learning Russian, despite what I wrote in my last post. Why stop and quit now when things are progressing? Is it just because novelty is more exciting and engaging? What are my true goals and interests? These are some of the questions I've been asking myself. 

I do think and believe that Russian is a strong interest- and I want to get better at the language and speaking. And this could also lead to more speaking videos. 

I read in the book, Atomic Habits by James Clear about building good habits and creating a system for this. He says, "The only way to become excellent is to be endlessly fascinated by doing the same thing over and over. You have to fall in love with boredom." 

I usually have a high tolerance for things, but somehow boredom can get in that way and lead you to want to do something else. I really resonated with this quote since I found myself (my dilemma) in it. To keep doing the same thing- that's where the growth lies and where progress is made! 

Photo credit: Google/ Achievement

Finding Russian Again

 I haven't thought about Russian for a while. I also haven't studied Russian in a long time! I'm not sure if my passion and interest have shifted, or if it's just a season. I know that I have enjoyed learning Russian, and just when I felt like things were progressing and clicking (months ago now), I was taking a step back, got busy, distracted and didn't make it a real effort. to keep studying.

I find this common with language learning. It's difficult to make it a ritual, a regular habit, a wanting and desiring to cultivate in the schedule. It's easy to become excited at first, but then neglect your ideas and plans.

Maybe it's trying to find the new vigor and attitude and habits. Because I know there is still an interest, a potential spark with Russian. I have a good Russian study book, and a few other resources, as well as lots of resources online. I still think it's a beautiful language, though complex, but useful.

But...

My mind goes to other things, other languages I need. I've been slowly learning Korean, and have thought about other languages, like even relearning Hebrew, or other languages. Ahh so many ideas and thoughts that lead to distractions but cultivate to inspiration. 

I would like to continue with this blog for more content related to Russian. Da! 

Russian Look Back

 I was thinking recently how last summer I restarted to learn Russian. I was reviewing the alphabet on a bench near the beach with a beautiful look out. Now it's already been a year! This year has (mostly) been dedicated to learning Russian and here are some things that I have done along the way.

1) Learn how to read and pronounce Russian words. (This is the 3rd time attempting to learn Russian, and it finally clicked with the alphabet)

2) Did a daily language challenge in August, with reviewing and studying every day for 15-20 mins.

3) Got a Russian language partner in the beginning of the year.

4) Wrote a Russian Word of the Day on the whiteboard in my classroom throughout the school year.

5) Read some of the book Sovietstan, and Animal Farm (want to continue with these).

6) Made videos for Russian language

And there is more to come! :)