Posted on January 29th, 2011
I’ve been asked this question by my students many times before. Many of you would say: ”What is the point of the Russian word of the day? I will not learn much Russian by learning just a word a day!” And I absolutely agree with you, guys, you will not learn much by learning just a word a day! Following the Russian word of the day is only useful when it’s as a part of the whole language learning process, and is done in addition to other lessons you take, watch, read, or listen to and exercises you do!
Learning a Russian word a day every day means that you are expanding your vocabulary by adding a new Russian word to it. Having wide vocabulary will help you to communicate effectively what you have in mind when speaking Russian. Think about this:
10 days – 10 new words
30 days – 30 new words
365 days – 365 new words
learned without much effort, in addition to the words that you learn during your Russian language lessons!
As you may have already noticed I group all of the daily words into topics. For example, if you follow my Russian word of the day on Facebook or Twitter you know that the current topic is Food, specifically Vegetables this week. Grouping words in topics make s it easier for you to memorize them, while improving your vocabulary on a specific topic.
How to Get the Maximum out of the Russian Word of the Day?
2. Secondly, it’s no use learning a list of new words. Words stick better in our memory when they are in context. So, when learning a new Russian word next time try to make a phrase or even a sentence with it – it will be easier for you to remember it!
For example, yesterday’s word of the day was огурец.
You could try to make a phrase with it, like this one:
огурец зелёный
or a sentence:
Я люблю огурцы в салате.
3. You can also practice Russian cases and word endings while learning a new word.
For example:
Nominative: огурец
Genitive: огурца
Dative: огурцу
Accusative: огурец
Instrumental: огурцом
Prepositional: об огурце
And so on…
4. Revise. You can revise as often as you like. For example at the end of the week or at the end of the new word topic.
Here is a good exercise that you can try to revise new Russian words:
Write all of the words you had learned within a certain period of time in two columns:
the first column will be for the Russian version of the words and the second – same words in English. Cover the English version column, and try to translate the words from Russian into English, and then cover the Russian version column and try to translate the words from English into Russian.
Strong and healthy vocabulary is very important for building your confidence when speaking Russian. Be prepared to work every day on it, and make sure to have fun while learning! 
Viktoria.
Related Posts:
- Video: Most Common Russian Greetings
- Learning Russian through Fairy Tales
- Russian Grammar Lesson: Russian Names
- Russian Christmas Video Lesson: Traditions and History
- Cases of the Russian Nouns & The Nominative Case
Comments
Садовник и сыновья
Л.Н. Толстой
Хотел садовник сыновей приучить к садовому делу. Когда он стал умирать, позвал их к себе и сказал:
– Дети, когда я умру, вы в виноградном саду поищите, что там спрятано.
Дети думали, что там клад, и, когда отец умер, стали рыть и всю землю перекопали. Клада не нашли, а землю в винограднике так хорошо перекопали, что стало плода родиться много больше. И они стали богаты.
Все бобры для своих бобрят добры.
Приблизительный перевод: All beavers are kind to their baby beavers.
Что посеешь, то и пожнешь.
As you sow, you shall mow.