Russian for lunch • русский язык

I'd like to invite you to join my new B1 Russian group In just 3 months, you'll be able to activate your Russian, speak more confidently, and communicate much more naturally and easily. 🇷🇺 New B1 Russian Group Mondays & Fridays 6:00 PM Moscow time $18 per lesson I'm currently looking for 2 more students to complete the group. 📩 Send me the word "B1" in a private message to sign up and receive all the details. @annpono

What do our lessons look like? One of the things my students often mention is the atmosphere. I believe language learning should be challenging, but it shouldn't feel stressful💜 In my classes, students ask questions, make mistakes, practice speaking, and gradually become more confident. Small groups make a huge difference because everyone has time to participate.

I'm opening a new B1 group soon This group is for students who already have A2 level and would like to continue developing their Russian in a structured and supportive environment. Speaking practice Grammar Vocabulary Listening Small group (3–5 students) Tomorrow I'll share more details about the course and what our lessons look like. DM @annpono to join this group 🫶🏻

What happens when you move from A2 to B1 in Russian? Many students think B1 is just "more grammar" or "more vocabulary." But actually, B1 is the level where Russian starts becoming a real communication tool. You can: ✅express your thoughts more easily; ✅participate in longer conversations; ✅understand more authentic Russian; ✅feel more confident speaking. In other words, you stop focusing on every word and start focusing more on communication. Do you already have A2 level? What is the most difficult thing for you right now in Russian?

Хочу с вами поделиться 2 российскими сериалами, которые я посмотрела недавно. УРОК Самый важный урок преподают не учителя. Бывший рэпер приходит в школу, чтобы учить других, но среди трудных подростков пытается найти ответы на вопросы, от которых убегал всю жизнь. Мне понравилась цитата из сериала: «Мы относимся к другим так, как относимся к себе» Эта мысль отражает идею о том, что отношения во многом строятся на отражениях и проекциях нашего внутреннего мира. АУТСОРС Действие происходит в 90x . В тюрьме особого режима появляется опасная идея: передать исполнение смертных приговоров родственникам жертв. Но чем дальше заходит этот эксперимент, тем сильнее стирается грань между законом, местью и человеческой моралью. ВЫ СМОТРЕЛИ ЭТИ СЕРИАЛЫ?

Дорогие ребята! Сегодня День русского языка, и я хочу сказать вам спасибо. Спасибо за ваш интерес к русскому языку, за ваше терпение и желание узнавать что-то новое. Я знаю, что русский язык бывает непростым. Для меня русский язык - это не только правила и грамматика. Это люди, истории, эмоции, юмор и целый мир, которым я рада делиться с вами. Где бы вы ни жили, спасибо, что делаете русский язык частью своей жизни. С Днём русского языка! Желаю вам вдохновения, уверенности в себе и как можно больше радости от изучения русского❤️

Yesterday, I attended a t.A.T.u. concert, and for me it felt like a journey back in time. When the group was at the height of its popularity in the early 2000s, I never had the chance to see them perform live. Their songs were everywhere, their music videos were constantly on TV, and t.A.T.u. became one of the most recognizable Russian music acts in the world. That is why yesterday's concert felt so special. About 15 years after the group's breakup, I finally got to hear live the songs that I had only known through recordings and television for so many years. For those who are learning Russian and are interested in Russian culture, t.A.T.u. is an important phenomenon. They were one of the few Russian groups to achieve truly global success. They topped charts, performed internationally, and introduced many people around the world to Russian pop music. The group became famous not only for its music but also for its provocative image and its willingness to challenge social norms of the time. In the early 2000s, they sparked huge discussions both in Russia and abroad, becoming much more than just a pop act. Watching them perform again after all these years was a reminder not only of how influential they once were, but also of how much the world has changed since then. For me, this concert was more than just a musical event. It felt like finally experiencing a moment that I had missed when it first happened 💜

🇷🇺 NEW BEGINNER RUSSIAN GROUP (ZERO → A1) I’m opening a new Russian group for beginners ✨ This group is perfect for you if: 🟣you already know the Russian alphabet 🟣learned some words with Duolingo or by yourself 🟣but still don’t understand Russian grammar or sentence structure 🟣want a clear system instead of random words and phrases During the course you will finally understand how Russian actually works 💡 AFTER THE COURSE YOU WILL: ✅ understand basic Russian grammar ✅ make your own sentences ✅ speak about everyday topics ✅ stop being afraid of grammar and cases ✅ feel more confident speaking Russian Most importantly — you will realize that Russian is NOT impossible and that you absolutely can learn it 💛 HOW THE COURSE WORKS: 💻 Zoom classes 2 times a week 📚 Simple and structured grammar explanations 🗣️ Speaking practice in a small group from the first lessons ✍️ Homework after every lesson ✨ Modern materials 💛 Friendly atmosphere and supportive community ⏳ Course duration: 4 months 📅 Schedule: Monday — 19:00 (Moscow time) Wednesday — 20:00 (Moscow time) Price: $18 per lesson (60 min) 📩 DM @annpono if you want to join the group

Эти выходные про исполнение маленькой мечты ✨ Мой день рождения и концерт Mary Gu, на который я не могла попасть несколько лет подряд в Ростове. Те самые строчки, в которых узнаёшь себя. Которые попадают точно в чувство, в состояние, в момент. Иногда кажется, что их написали за тебя - так точно они описывают то, что внутри. И музыка в такие моменты не просто фон. Это способ прожить, отпустить, пережить. Это поддержка, когда сложно, и усиление, когда хорошо. И, наверное, именно поэтому такие концерты остаются не в сторис, а где-то глубже. А у вас есть артисты, чьи тексты прямо “про вас”? Или концерты, после которых что-то внутри меняется? 💫

Любимая тема 😎НСВ - СВ

ПРОВОДИТЬ - ПРОВЕСТИ 🔹 проводить время — to spend time 👉 Я люблю проводить время с друзьями. 👉 Как ты проводишь выходные? 🔹 проводить (кого-то) — to see someone off 👉 Я провожу тебя до метро. 🔹 проводить (мероприятие) — to hold / organize 👉 Мы проводим встречу в пятницу. 💬 А теперь вопрос для тебя: Как ты проводишь вечер пятницы?

Сегодня в России Пасха. Желаю всем мира, добра и радости. С праздником Светлой Пасхи!

I’m opening a new beginner group 👀 for those who are starting Russian from zero or for those who learned it a while ago and want to start again (alphabet, reading, basics) honestly, the beginning is the hardest part because everything feels confusing at first that’s why we go step by step, in a small group so it actually starts making sense we have 2 lessons per week and each lesson is $18 if you’ve been thinking about starting (or starting again) — you can message me and I’ll send you the details 💬 DM @annpono 📩

Why is starting Russian (and reaching A1) so hard — and why is B1 → B2 just as challenging? At the very beginning, everyone wants quick results. But Russian doesn’t work like that. First, you need patience just to: ⚪️learn a completely new alphabet ⚪️start reading (even slowly and with mistakes) ⚪️memorize your first basic words and phrases And for a while… you understand almost nothing. Not in real conversations, not in audio. Because your vocabulary is still very small, and grammar starts to get in the way. A simple word like “мама” can change its form depending on the case —and suddenly, you don’t even recognize it in speech. ⚠️This is the first difficult stage. Then you reach B1. You can: ✅talk to people ✅have Russian friends or a partner ✅communicate about everyday topics And it feels like you already know a lot. But then… you get stuck. You don’t move forward. And here’s why: At this stage, it’s not really about grammar anymore. You already know the basics. The real problem is: 👉 lack of vocabulary and exposure You don’t have enough words to: ➖understand the news ➖read books in the original ➖follow fast, natural speech And here’s the frustrating part: Just doing exercises or listening to random podcasts often doesn’t help anymore. What actually helps: 🔥targeted vocabulary building 🔥a lot of speaking practice 🔥working with real-life content (but adapted to your level) 🔥and consistent guidance Every stage feels hard — just in a different way. At A1, you feel lost. At B1, you feel stuck. But both are completely normal parts of the process. ✨ So tell me — what’s the hardest part for you in learning Russian right now? What level are you at? If you’re not sure, send me a message and I’ll send you a quick level test ✨ @annpono

✈️ Вернулась из Китая! После поездки я даже захотела начать учить китайский - и немного уже начала😳 В Китае вообще не говорили по-английски. Понимаю теперь, что чувствуют те, кто приезжает в Россию без знания русского. (Тут у нас тоже не говорят по-английски) Сейчас я набираю: ⚪️Групповые уроки русского (с нуля до В2) ⚪️Индивидуальные занятия (хочу взять пару учеников) Если давно хотели начать говорить на русском - welcome! 💬 Напишите «+» в комментариях или в личку, и я пришлю все детали 📩 @annpono I’m back from China! After this trip, I even wanted to start learning Chinese - and I’ve already started a bit 😳 In China, people basically didn’t speak English at all. Now I understand how people feel when they come to Russia without knowing Russian. (Here, we don’t really speak English either.) Right now I’m opening enrollment for: ⚪️Group Russian lessons (from zero to B2) ⚪️Individual lessons (I’m taking a couple of students) If you’ve been wanting to start speaking Russian - welcome! 💬 Write “+” in the comments or message me, and I’ll send all the details 📩 @annpono Prices: 1 group lesson $18 1 individual lesson $40

ВСТРЕЧАТЬ vs ВСТРЕЧАТЬСЯ Why students confuse встречать and встречаться 1️⃣ ВСТРЕЧАТЬ встречать + Accusative Я встречаю друга в аэропорту. Я встречаю маму на вокзале. You meet someone who is arriving. But it’s not only about airports. You can also say: Я часто встречаю его в центре города. (I often run into him in the city.) Here it means: to encounter / to come across someone. No preposition. Just a direct object (Accusative). 2️⃣ ВСТРЕЧАТЬСЯ встречаться + с + Instrumental Я встречаюсь с другом. Я встречаюсь с коллегами. Они встречаются уже год. Now it’s not about “meeting someone at arrival”. It’s about interaction: – meeting up – spending time together – dating The reflexive form changes everything. And you need с + Instrumental. These are the details that make your Russian sound natural. If you understand the structure, Russian becomes much less scary.

Russian cases are not scary (I promise) Every student at some point says: “Cases are impossible.” “There are SIX of them.” “Why do Russians need so many endings??” Fair question 😅 But here’s the truth: Cases are not evil. They’re just… organised. The real mistake? Trying to memorise all six cases in one week. That’s like going to the gym once and trying to lift everything at the same time. It doesn’t work. Step 1 — Understand the function first Before learning endings, you need to understand what each case actually does. What is its job? ✅Nominative → who / what Prepositional → where / about what (Я живу в Москве. Я думаю о работе.) ✅Accusative → whom / what (object) (Я люблю маму.) ✅Dative → to whom / for whom (Мне 30 лет. Я даю книгу другу.) ✅Genitive → possession / absence (машина моего брата/ у меня нет времени) ❗️If you don’t understand the function, endings will feel random. When you understand the function, the logic starts to appear. Step 2 — Then learn the endings Not all endings. Not for everything. Start with nouns only. Group them: – masculine – feminine – neuter Look for patterns. Step 3 — And yes… do many exercises There is no magic trick. You understand the function. You learn the endings. And then you practise. A lot. Simple sentences: Я живу в Москве. Мне 30 лет. Это машина моего брата. Again. And again. And again. Not glamorous. But very effective. ❕❕❕ Cases are not about talent. They’re about structure, repetition, and patience. That’s how adults learn best.

Vietnam, adults, and learning Russian Right now I’m in Vietnam. Different time zone, different rhythm, different pace. And it makes me think a lot about how adults actually learn. Adults don’t need pressure. They don’t need to be treated like children. They don’t need “motivation tricks”. They need clarity. They need structure. They need space to think. That’s why in my individual lessons I focus on: ✅clear grammar explanations ✅real conversation ✅adapting to your pace ✅reducing stress around speaking I enjoy working with adults who want to understand the language deeply and feel confident when they speak 💜 If you’re thinking about starting (or restarting) Russian, you can message me. @annpono

С наступающим НГ 🎅🎄🍾 I wish you a New Year that isn't a race for results and goal achievement, but rather a year of peaceful presence, mindful moments, and genuine enjoyment of the present, free from stress. And of course, I wish you to truly enjoy learning Russian; may it all come with ease and interest. 🙏 P.S. As for me, I'm celebrating the New Year in wonderful Vietnam, 🇻🇳enjoying a tropical setting, which feels quite unusual. Meanwhile, in my hometown, it's experiencing its first snowfall in several years.❄️