Foreign Languages and Literatures - Colorado State University

Why Study Russian?

The Russian language itself is one of the central identifying features of Russian national identity. Mikhail Lomonosov's comments on the qualities of his language are shared by many Russians:” The Holy Roman Emperor Carl the Fifth used to say that one should speak Spanish with God, French with one's friends, German with one's enemies, and Italian with the fair sex. But had he been skilled in Russian he would of course have added that it would be appropriate to speak with all of these in it, for he would have found in it the greatness of Spanish, the liveliness of French, the force of German, the tenderness of Italian, and, in addition, the richness and strong terse descriptiveness of Greek and Latin”.

Our students learn the entire Russian alphabet in the first week of class and write and read it well by the end of the third week. After all, about 18 of the letters should at least look familiar to you already.

Knowing Russian can open up a window onto a fascinating and enchanting nation, from the fairytale cupolas of Saint Basil's Cathedral to the majesty and power of the Red Square and the Kremlin.

Saint Petersburg , capital to the tsars from Peter the Great until Nicholas II, offers a marvelous blend of picturesque architecture highlighted by the White Nights. Here too

are the glorious palaces – the magnificent Winter palace-Hermitage Art Museum .

Knowing Russian will get you around in a number of beautiful and exciting places (11 time zones). Like to climb? Visit the Caucasus Mountains !

WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES OF 2014 WILL TAKE PLACE IN RUSSIA , IN THE CITY OF SOCHI ON THE BLACK SEA COAST

You have time to learn Russian.

There Are A Lot of Good Reasons For Studying Russian:

1 .Who could ever learn to read that crazy alphabet? YOU CAN.

2 That easy and logical Russian grammar!

3. Fool your friends, make them think you are talking backwards.

4 You'll pick up any Slavic language faster.

5. For those of us with perfective tastes.

6. It brings personal and intellectual satisfaction.

7. Is Russian a marketable skill? DEFINITELY YES.


	Why Study Russian? The Russian language itself is one of the central identifying features of Russian national identity. Mikhail Lomonosov's comments on the qualities of his language are shared by many Russians:” The Holy Roman Emperor Carl the Fifth used to say that one should speak Spanish with God, French with one's friends, German with one's enemies, and Italian with the fair sex. But had he been skilled in Russian he would of course have added that it would be appropriate to speak with all of these in it, for he would have found in it the greatness of Spanish, the liveliness of French, the force of German, the tenderness of Italian, and, in addition, the richness and strong terse descriptiveness of Greek and Latin”. Our students learn the entire Russian alphabet in the first week of class and write and read it well by the end of the third week. After all, about 18 of the letters should at least look familiar to you already. Knowing Russian can open up a window onto a fascinating and enchanting nation, from the fairytale cupolas of Saint Basil's Cathedral to the majesty and power of the Red Square and the Kremlin. Saint Petersburg , capital to the tsars from Peter the Great until Nicholas II, offers a marvelous blend of picturesque architecture highlighted by the White Nights. Here too are the glorious palaces – the magnificent Winter palace-Hermitage Art Museum . Knowing Russian will get you around in a number of beautiful and exciting places (11 time zones). Like to climb? Visit the Caucasus Mountains ! WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES OF 2014 WILL TAKE PLACE IN RUSSIA , IN THE CITY OF SOCHI ON THE BLACK SEA COAST You have time to learn Russian. There Are A Lot of Good Reasons For Studying Russian: 1 .Who could ever learn to read that crazy alphabet? YOU CAN. 2 That easy and logical Russian grammar! 3. Fool your friends, make them think you are talking backwards. 4 You'll pick up any Slavic language faster. 5. For those of us with perfective tastes. 6. It brings personal and intellectual satisfaction. 7. Is Russian a marketable skill? DEFINITELY YES.