Russian is back on the map as a language to reckon with. Find out how
learning Russian can radically improve your life.
Maybe youve never given it any thought, but learning Russian could very
well be the biggest favor you ever do yourself. Here are four solid
reasons to give it some thought.
What used to be a closed and sealed off country is now opening to the
West more every day, and for a good reason. Russians are not stupid and
they realize very well that if they want to keep up with the rest of the
world, they had better take part in global trade and culture.
The result of this is that US and European investors are jumping at every
opportunity to leverage the potential of doing business in Russia.
You too can benefit from this new trend if you simply learn Russian.
Its Fun and Not as Hard as You Think
You may have seen the Russian alphabet before. Its called Cyrillic Script
and its actually remarkably similar to our own alphabet. The differences
are really easy to learn, and most people learn to read Russian in less
than two weeks.
As for pronunciation, that works pretty much the same way as Spanish.
Roll your Rs and youre halfway there.
Choosing the right study method is important though. There are expensive
and world-famous packages on the market that dont actually teach you very
much. Others are more effective, and for some people a book and cds are
the way to go. Either way, choose one that works for you and start
learning.
Add More Than Just a Language to Your Portfolio
Have you ever considered the added value you can have to an employer if
you speak a foreign language?
Maybe youre about to graduate; maybe youre an investor or an
entrepreneur. In almost all cases, you will open up a world of
opportunities if you speak Russian.
Whether you work for a law firm or a producer of goods, whether youre a
consultant or an English teacher, everyone can land himself a better job
if he or she distinguishes himself from the competition.
Speaking Russian is a great way to do just that.
Now, you might be thinking: "I dont want to live in Russia! And you dont
have to. Imagine a multinational company with a Russian branch. They sure
would be happy to have a US based professional in their team who speaks
Russian and can touch base with their foreign offices. And the amount of
companies investing in Russia at the moment is simply staggering.
Lets say a manufacturer decides to offshore their production and they
choose Russia. That means they need contracts drawn up. Theyll have to
apply for licenses and talk to the tax office. Theyll need to hire staff.
Theyll have to go through endless board meetings with their Russian
branch.
Pretty much every action in successfully setting up a foreign business,
depends on communication skills. So whether youre a lawyer, consultant,
caterer, or youre in HR, they need you if you first learn Russian.
What if youre not that kind of expert, but youd like to live in Russia?
Cool. Can you teach English to foreigners? Then you are sure to get a
job. Russians are avid learners of the English language, so even if youre
not a highly skilled professional, you can still benefit.
Russian is More Important Than You Might Think
Just consider that Russian is one of only six official languages of the
United Nations (UN) and you will understand that its no small deal if you
can speak it.
Just a short list of the different fields in which Russian will be
useful:
NGOs, church organizations, relief agencies
Army related
Scientific Research
Doctors, surgeons, nurses, therapists, consultants
Politics
Journalism
The list can easily cover a page. Im pretty sure that your profession
could also figure. Add Some Culture to Your Life
Russian culture is huge. For centuries, the greatest works of literature
and music have sprung forth from the land. If you learn Russian, you can
access all of that in its original beauty.
The wonders of the internet now make all of that available to us. There
is just so much to be found. You learn one language, and youll be reading
for years. Once you get started, youll be amazed at how rich and
beautiful Russian culture and literature really is.