PowerPhrases are a type of mnemonic that will help you instantly recall the Russian words you’ve learned. All language learning experts recommend using mnemonics as a key strategy when learning a new language, and they were essential in helping me recall thousands of Russian words.
I’ve developed something I call a PowerPhrase which helps you remember the meaning and the pronunciation of new words.
You should definitely be using them in your own studies. Check it out below:
If you are just getting started with Russian check out my free audio course. Even if you have experience, please start with Episode 1 as everything you’ll be learning is cumulative.
Check it out here: –> Free Russian audio course? Heck ya!
More technique videos like the one you just watched for Learning Russian Fast are located in the side-bar to the right (scroll down a bit) —>
Hi,
I am a French guy and I have been listening to your podcast for a couple of month now. It helps me a lot since I want to learn Russian as well as consolidating my English.
I think your method is great to learn Russian.
Nevertheless and because I am alone in my learning, I would like to find a good way to learn the alphabet, the numbers and all the basics like greetings, the hours, etc…
Can you recommend me a way to do so ?
Finally your podcast is only 30 episodes long. Have you been thinking in doing a second part for the podcast ?
Spaciba
Julien Garnier
I want learn Russian language
Thank dear Mark, I learned a lot from the staff or lessons you shared with the world.
You and your team are the most charitable guys in the earth i have ever never seen.
thank again.
Hi Mark,
Fantastic podcast, quick question: how are we to use visual memory aids / mnemonic devices if the Russian word has no English equivalent to associate it to, such as ‘Hoarr Cheche (I want)’.
Thanks for the kind words. In my Russian Accelerator course, the mnemonic (PowerPhrase) I use for “I want” (ya hochu) is:
Imagine a kid who wants a biky for his birthday and instead gets a choo-choo trian. He’d make a frowny face and say:
YUCH A CHOO choo train? I want a bike!
YUCH A CHOO sounds roughly like Я хочу
Hope to see you in R.A.! 🙂
For example the Russian word for the Color brown is коричневый korichnevyy. Sounds like crunch.A crunchy biscuit which is ….brown……
The word for quick is быстрый
bystryy which sounds like bistro where you can get a …..quick …..bite to eat.
Those are good PowerPhrases, but it raises an important point:
You first have to learn the word through context. You can’t just tell someone,
blippity-bloop is the word for “(whatever)”. The brain does not want to be TOLD what a word means.
It wants to determine meaning **for itself** by seeing it used in context.
THEN, after they’ve learned it, you can ofter a memory prompt…a PowerPhrase like быстро / bistro for quick.
Hi ,I love learning the russian language with your mnemonic system!
thank you
Dear mark
I really appreciate your work
Iam learning Russian very good by your episodes
Thanks very much
I’m nearing the end of Russian Made Easy and will soon enroll in your Russian Accelerator course. I am curious if you know of anyone using your approach to other languages. Spanish? French? Greek? Really curious about this. Thanks.
Hi Robin,
I know of only one other course that uses my approach: Japanese Method Mastery. I was involved in all aspects of creating the course.
And we are finally making a podcast for it. Feel free to write us at: support@russian-accelerator.com Mention your interest in the Japanese podcast,
and we can notify you when it’s ready.
But for all the other languages you mention…No. No other courses that I’m aware of. And I get asked so often, we are contemplating filling that gap.
Again, feel free to write us for updates.
In the meantime, I look forward to welcoming you to Russian Accelerator. 🙂
Hi
I was learning Russian with a mnemonic ” CD ” language course, so quite some time ago.
But you couldn’t skip levels so always had to start at the beginning.
Also the words I was learning were not everyday words, for example animals not only included dog, cat etc but obscure animals which are really not needed. Waste of time.
I know there is a word ( can’t recall it ) to describe the most common words in everyday use and the number is about 700.
So if you can learn those 700 odd words of a language you will be able to converse more than adequately.
How does your course compare?
Regards
Darryl
Hi Darryl,
There’s really no comparison at all. The course you’re describing sounds poorly made and not well thought out. Russian Accelerator, on the other hand, is a painstakingly planned course which is very comprehensive and goes into great depth. We’ve had graduates test directly into 300 level courses of Russian at their university. So…no comparison at all.