Basic Russian Complete Course: Cassette/Book Package (Living Language Complete Courses Cassette Edition) [Audio Cassette]

Living Language (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0609602683 | ISBN-13: 978-0609602683 | Publication Date: June 16, 1998 | Edition: Book and Cassette

Speak Russian with confidence in just 6 weeks!

Living Language Russian Complete Course is a step-by-step guide to the basics of Russian conversation and grammar. This revised course uses the highly effective speed-learning method developed by U.S. government experts to teach foreign languages to overseas-bound servicemen and diplomats.

40 lessons on two 90-minute cassettes
Begin with simple words and phrases and progress to more complex expressions. Just listen and repeat after the native speakers. Only Russian is spoken on the recordings, so you learn naturally, the way you learned English. The accompanying Russian Coursebook includes the English translations.

Russian Coursebook
The pocket-size book contains all the translated phrases from the recorded lessons, plus additional vocabulary, detailed explanations, and quizzes.

The book also features verb charts with all tenses included and a comprehensive summary of Russian grammar.

Russian-English/English-Russian Dictionary
More than 20,000 words are defined.
Idiomatic expressions and common phrases show how words are used in everyday conversation. The dictionary doubles as a phrasebook.
1,000 of the most frequently used words are highlighted for easy reference.

The best-selling language course that really works--revised, updated, and expanded!

For Beginners or Those Who Want a Thorough Review

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Speak Russian with confidence in just 6 weeks!

Living Language Russian Complete Course is a step-by-step guide to the basics of Russian conversation and grammar. This revised course uses the highly effective speed-learning method developed by U.S. government experts to teach foreign languages to overseas-bound servicemen and diplomats.

40 lessons on two 90-minute cassettes
Begin with simple words and phrases and progress to more complex expressions. Just listen and repeat after the native speakers. Only Russian is spoken on the recordings, so you learn naturally, the way you learned English. The accompanying Russian Coursebook includes the English translations.

Russian Coursebook
The pocket-size book contains all the translated phrases from the recorded lessons, plus additional vocabulary, detailed explanations, and quizzes.

The book also features verb charts with all tenses included and a comprehensive summary of Russian grammar.

Russian-English/English-Russian Dictionary
More than 20,000 words are defined.
Idiomatic expressions and common phrases show how words are used in everyday conversation. The dictionary doubles as a phrasebook.
1,000 of the most frequently used words are highlighted for easy reference.

The best-selling language course that really works--revised, updated, and expanded!

For Beginners or Those Who Want a Thorough Review

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Living Language; Book and Cassette edition (June 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609602683
• ISBN-13: 978-0609602683
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,498,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Books on Cassette > Languages > Russian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good instruction but not for learning while driving, February 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Basic Russian Complete Course: Cassette/Book Package (Living Language Complete Courses Cassette Edition) (Audio Cassette)

This is based on the first eleven lessons or one side of one tape. The course book and tapes together give a good start in learning Russian. They provide a fairly thorough understanding of Russian pronunciation rules. It is not a very good way to learn while driving a car though. It is necessary to read the book at the same time you are listening to the tape. With the Russian only on the tape, all you can do is mimic the sounds and without the book even that is difficult.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really fantastic... a great deal too, March 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Basic Russian Complete Course: Cassette/Book Package (Living Language Complete Courses Cassette Edition) (Audio Cassette)

After returning from a trip to St. Petersburg, where I had to rely on brief guidebooks, I decided to pick up this Living Language course to learn Russian. I bought this one because it was in my price range, but that turned out to be a great thing. The explanations of grammar are really clear, and there are plenty of charts inside. Being able to hear the words as you read them in Cyrillic is wonderful; if you get too used to reading them in regular letters you'll never know how to read the signs for the bathroom! I recently called some Russian friends in St. Petersburg, and they told me my Russian is great! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn Russian correctly, without spending way too much money.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Makes a supplement for grammar and vocabulary, February 19, 2005

By 

Jack - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Russian Complete Course: Cassette/Book Package (Living Language Complete Courses Cassette Edition) (Audio Cassette)

During my struggle to learn Russian, I've had this course for a few years. It has served a good purpose, but not the purpose advertised.

The tapes have proven extreemly helpful in learning pronunciation. Only Russian is spoken, so there's no distraction from the sounds of the language that you're trying to imitate. The dictionary is also somewhat helpful. Though compact, it contains many useful words with simple definitions.

Here's the catch: Though the coursebook contains a lot of useful information, it is not arranged for progessive learning. Some lessons focus on reading, others on pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary. So in stead of learning to communicate in sentences (which don't even occur in the first few chapters) you learn a lot of disconnected facts and rules.

Here's my take: If you need help with pronunciation, or a source for vocabulary, this is a good buy. But if you need a complete course for self-learning, your money may be better spent on a different course.