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Yes and no in Russian: how to say, write, and when to use
Mom asks at dinner, «Do you want seconds?» The child looks up. Says «yeah.» Mom smiles. But she was expecting a different word. This isn't...
Months in Russian: table, pronunciation, and mnemonics for remembering
Months in Russian: table, pronunciation, and memory hacks In kindergarten they ask: «When is your birthday?» Child: «April.» In the evening, mom asks:…
How to say goodbye in Russian: do svidaniya, poka, and all the variations
How to say goodbye in Russian: do svidaniya, poka, and all the variations The call with Grandma is ending. They talked, they laughed. At the end, the child says «bye»...
Russian Reading Program for Bilingual Kids
When a child lives abroad, Russian almost always becomes the «second language»: at kindergarten and school, everyone around speaks in...
How to say "thank you" in Russian: all forms and pronunciation
The grandmother gives her granddaughter cookies. The girl takes them, says «thank you,» and walks away. The grandmother smiles, but inside she's still waiting for something else...
Tender words in Russian: bunny, sunshine, and all the others
Mom is putting her daughter to bed. She's speaking Russian. But at some point, «sweetie» slips out. Then «honey.» Then «sweetie» again. The Russian words have disappeared somewhere...
Russian Alphabet for Bilingual Children: 33 Letters and Three Categories
The child looks at the letter «В.» Confidently says, «It's »bee'." Pause. Mom looks at Dad. Dad looks at Mom. "No, not 'bee'."...
How to say hello in Russian: privet, zdravstvuyte, and all the others
Dad's colleague enters the house. The child looks up. «Hi.» The colleague smiles. A pause. Dad pretends not to notice. But he did notice.…
Happy Birthday in Russian: why kids get stuck on three words and what to do about it
The child calls grandma. Pause. «Happy birthday.» Another pause. «Well, all the best.» The receiver clicks. Grandma smiles, but feels a little empty inside. Parent…
Keep Russian at Home: 7 Easy Habits for Busy Families Abroad
You teach the child Russian yourself. You pick out books, create impromptu assignments, and persuade them to read at least one page. On good days, everything...