Found a bunch of sites with free emails of RW

[Ben26]

Here's something I've stumbled upon.  I was looking through my old links and found one that someone had posted a long time ago on this board that I had saved.  It led to many sites that give away free email addresses.  The problem is that they are in Russian and obviously the girls most likely are not screened and may not be looking to leave their home country.  However, it may be worth a try to write to them, since they therefore are probably less likely to be scammers and probably are sincere in their search for a pen-pal or more.  And of course, email costs zero dollars.

The site mheart.ru is my favorite and all the girls have email addresses.  Also, many of the sites on their link page (http://mheart.ru/links.php) also lead to free email addresses on other sites such as these which unlike their US counterparts, give away emails for free!!!:
http://www.loveme.ru/
http://www.prettywoman.spb.ru/search.html
http://love.mail.ru/
etc.,
etc.,
etc.

Of course, you may not be able to read Russian,....but neither can I.  Swing your curser over the prominant links on these sites and look in the bottom left-hand corner of your browser.  You will see what the link is in english.  If you see "search", then you've got the right button.  You can fill in the numerical blanks, as they are pretty easy to figure out on most sites...age, weight, height, etc.,

If you get really confused, run that page through the translater found here: http://babelfish.altavista.com/ since it translates the whole page for you.  There are also many other translators available.  You don't need a great translator to figure out the search form and when you translate the girl's description of herself and what she is looking for, most of the basics are easily discernible, even if the sentences make little or no sense.  

Once you have done this, email away! Of course, if you find a girl that writes you back, you may want to hire a real translator from someone on this forum such as that lady who translates (can't think of her name...was it tootsie or someone else?) or Jack's site, or some other reputable translater service.

Later guys

[Vox]

... in response to Found a bunch of sites with free emails ..., posted by Ben26 on Mar 18, 2002

Well, you just discovered one secret place, the goldmine, MissingHeart is just that, it's simply too convenient and direct for both Russian ladies as well as (American) men.
It's not well known to Americans, but very popular with the Russian ladies! Probably most are less acquainted with the Western ways. And yes, some may not be open to coming here, but many are. And if you will be able to understand, help and wait for a good lady until she will go through all the paces of learning English and getting adapted to the life here.
(Those who are studying Russian are much more apt to have patience and understanding with their wives through the process once they themselves experience a new culture and language too. Besides they are meeting the ladies halfway on the road.)
I found some incredible ladies here, not the only place where they are, but here there are less scammers. You should still be careful and aware that there are some guys lurking and baiting in the dark, waiting to scam "strangers", and the ocassional prostitutes, or agencies sneaking in before they are cleaned out by the management.
Not only I had excellent correspondence with some great ladies, and SINCERE, but here I found my "treasure to keep", a most extraordinary girl.
I'm a perfectionist yet she is beyond even my dreams and expectations, she is too incredible, too good to believe, an exception, really an exceptional girl (step by step we are now going through the completion of the official immigration procedure).
She proved true my conviction which I started to have lately, that in the most isolated places, the best, most precious jewels are, they are neglected yet ready to go if the chances are available.
Too bad you guys (at least most of you) are still too shy (too lazy?) to get over this Russian language fear/avoidance thing, and really do it, get serious about it.
Not the silly Pimsleur thing but serious study from books, real grammar and vocabulary. I mean how long will it take, one year two years of serious systematic studying?
Isn't that worth when you consider the advantages?
Then you are the king of the hill, you can finally be independent in so many ways, and you can really have great control over the whole process.
It will then be a whole different life, and totally different approach in all this endeavor ...
Anyway, this place is great, especially if you know what you know what you are doing, are selective, and of course do serious searching!

[Dan]

... in response to Now you are talking!, posted by Vox on Mar 18, 2002

While it does, indeed, need supplemental effort and reinforcement - it is also an excellent starting point. To dismiss it as "silly" and imply it is not a "serious" effort does the program a great injustice and is, in my experience, just flatly false.

At conclusion of Level I, I was able to make very light small-talk and comunicate basic needs/desires. Level II allowed me to feel confident of my communication and I began to hold more regular 'conversations' albeit at a very basic level. Level III reinforced all of the above and with it, I could hold daily conversations with only a few occasions of referring to a dictionary. Sure, I am nowhere near fluent - and I often need to refer to a dictionary. And it is true that I am continually building vocabulary through norml speaking with Russian-speakers. However, without Pimselur and that 100 days (or so) I spent focusing on learning the language, I would be vastly less well-prepared and capable of holding conversations. With it, I am miles ahead.

In case you're wondering - I supplemented Pimselur with guide books and later, with some text books purchased in Ukraine. Still, all-in-all, I think the Pimsleur programs work wonders for someone intent on dedicating 100 days to learn a new language.

FWIW

- Dan

[Vox]

... in response to Disagree About Pimsleur . . ., posted by Dan on Mar 18, 2002

Pimsleur is not a bad method, and I don't doubt it helped many to get started, the problem with it is that Russian being so different and complex, approaching it through the Pimsleur way (mostly auditively) will make one depend on the sound mostly.
My problem with Pimsleur is that it could falsely give the impression to a new user that Russian is very easy and gloss over the complex grammar.
Russian is so complex, highly-inflected and modified as far as grammar is concerned, if you don't know what's going on visually, grammarwise, soon it will be as if trying to learn two different languages, working on two fronts (when going the "written" way will come later).
(The same problem can be encountered by those who start with English and only learn it by speaking and hearing it and then the problems come later because of the spelling and pronunciation specific to English will deprive that person of reading/writing efficiency, and remedying this later will feel like "relearning" the language!
Russian undoubtedly requires some long, systematic work and effort, but when that is done it will give good results, and once one sees its logic and order the work will be much more enjoyable and efficient, and the results will come more naturally, since it's a very precise, orderly language.
It (Pimsleur) absolutely has to be supplemented by written material, and its complex grammar has to be addressed somehow from the beginning.
So working that way, Pimsleur + grammar and written material will be totally different.

[BrianN]

... in response to Well, ..., posted by Vox on Mar 18, 2002

tried several, and finally got on with pimsleur lesson 1.  (5 tapes, a little more than 20 bucks I think I paid at the book store).

Best thing I ever did.  The audio repetition, and the detail and quality for the "right stuff" - words, to learn seem to be the best for me anyway.

So, maybe my other courses and exp helped when listening to pimp-slurp, but it did clarify a LOT of confusing russian lingo that never made any sense before.

I think pimsleur is great.

Just got a crappy name.

[LP]

... in response to Caveat.. Ok, Learning Russian is hard, n..., posted by BrianN on Mar 19, 2002

From another source.....

Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger. Neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are
candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend.

If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them,what do you call it? If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, are humanitarians cannibals?

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? And if I'm uncouth, are you couth?

P.S. Why doesn't Buick rhyme with quick?

[DE]

... in response to Ok, Learning Russian is hard, now try En..., posted by LP on Mar 19, 2002

.

[Vox]

... in response to Well, ..., posted by Vox on Mar 18, 2002

Of course I’ll agree that you guys all have a point and this is also an issue where experiences, situations and goals give different perspectives, and they are not necessarily in contradiction with each other, we simply talk about different things.
My initial point was (and remember we were talking about corresponding with Russian girls on Russian sites) that it’s a pity so few American men are not able to use Russian to some degree toward that purpose—speaking from my own experience I can really say that the BEST prospects I found were not very efficient in English, some knowledge of Russian for the guys can open the door wide to incredible opportunities.
It so happens, for different reasons and not time to discuss them here now entirely, but in my view and based on my experience, the best girls, AND the most sincere are usually at the very beginning concerning English.
If you know some Russian this will give you tremendous freedom to choose, your pool of potential ladies increases considerably. You’ll have access to basically any lady. Unless you got to see this difference personally, you won’t know what I’m talking about.
(As for her being able to learn English that’s not a concern for me, ANY lady of average intellectual ability will learn fast here if she wants and with even minimum conditions, after all this is the prime immigrant country! I know what can and what can not be done having gone through the process myself, besides I’m too well acquainted personally with a multitude of first and second generation immigrants, one has to be plain lazy, stubborn, or blind and mute to not learn English in this environment! Not the case for an intellectual, energetic, ambitious lady!)
So, my point was, is, if you are able to do that you are in a much better position, and I simply couldn’t see how someone with just the Pimsleur practice will be able to do that, for instance be able to understand all that is being written in MissingHeart personals (here, if you are familiar with this site, many ladies really take the opportunity to express themselves freely, very artistically and very creatively, almost no holds barred, they are really fun, unlike the other more static places—Russian girls can really be very creative, especially when they are in their element, expressing themselves in their own language, this in itself is worth the effort, it’s an excellent place to see them but if you haven’t tried you won’t know what you miss!) but if you do, hey, that’s great, my kudos to you!
Whatever you had success with or were comfortable with be happy with, we are different and ultimately the goal is to learn the language!
If one had a great start with Pimsleur or it got them interested that’s fine, some people are more auditive, some other more visual, "different strokes for different folks", but in my book it would be a pity to stop here, why not go further? Why not learn more words, study, use some dictionary?
Of course you’ll have some results even only using English, but how in the world will you even know what’s going on, experience the Russian culture, people’s soul if all that comes to you is distilled through English? You simply deprive yourself of the real tool for direct knowledge, and why, only because of misguided comfort?
You’ll be able to find the gem before anyone else will, she will be in her best native (unadulterated) shape, untouched by the very Western influence which we try to avoid and which destroyed or affected so negatively the women here! It’s interesting but in my experience the ones who proved to be scammers (not that they scammed, they didn’t have the chance), who were blunt or well-versed and did fine work, were well Westernized, familiar with the lifestyle and our ways, and sure they knew English rather well! You may not realize, but a determined, career schemer/scammer is very interested to learn English or any other foreign language, it makes sense because that’s their source of revenue.
Most of the honest people have busy lives, even the girls in college many times work at the same time (and the really honest ones especially) and the little time left after all the domestic work and normal shopping is done is usually spend with friends, they are simply too tired for a rigorous work with languages. If you don’t believe it, go there and live some, and see for yourself, how “easy” it is!
Of course because of the conditions they live and since there is no future there it would make sense for a Russian girl to start learning English as early as possible, but the ideal, best plans are not always known to them then, life is very engaging for them and keeps them busy even just with the basics, and then after college the pressure to get married, to get fast their man gets too big on them, there is strong competition, one classmate does it, a neighbor, etc. … off they run to the ad agencies to place their ad, and so there is little time for actually studying the language itself!
There are many things which should be done more logically and orderly, but in the real life things don’t always happen that way, after all how many of you do everything entirely logically and properly? We are fallible humans, so don’t expect too much from the Russian ladies in regard to the English language. It’s interesting and unfortunate, but the ones who have the highest expectations from the Russian ladies and impatient with them, the native Americans, are the ones who have the least experience related with learning a different language, with the process of accommodation to a new culture, though no doubt many Americans did travel and live overseas in many cases.
When I lived on the other side of the pond, and this was true especially during the time of harsh communist regimes, most of the crooks who worked the “better field”, the really lucrative area, dealt with foreigners, this was where real money was, “business deals of many kinds” … (and of course that included the prostitutes working at that level). So naturally they were into foreign languages in a very practical way. While many regular folks simply were not able to use foreign languages for different reasons, for them life was too busy too difficult to be able to spend much time on such luxuries. Which of course doesn’t mean that all people who knew foreign languages were crooks either, (now I hope I don’t have to explain or debate that endlessly, getting new threads just on that!), but many times the drudgery of life was (and still is for some) too much for most.
As I remember many times the ones who were really fluent in English then were the floozies, the ones who flunked in school and spent their time mostly on the promenade, living the fast life … Something to think about if your criteria for a girl as English is so high … Don’t be surprised if some good ladies perfect their English (and have much room to improve) only after college. Even if they get to study it well in school, don’t forget that to be proficient in it requires much more than what can be done over here in the classroom. Here in a short while can be accomplished a whole lot more because for English this is the proper environment, and because in fact learning a new language is ultimately learning the culture.
But again, my main point was and is that if you (are able to) use Russian you are in a much better position and at a net advantage in this research, and it will come handy anytime afterwards also, I hope we all agree on that one, but if not, we all are free to do that also!

[amerikanka99]

... in response to Well, ..., posted by Vox on Mar 18, 2002

I learned Russian and Ukrainian without studying grammar initially, and if I had spent much time on grammar I wouldn't have become fluent, because I would have spent too much time trying to figure out what ending to attach to words instead of trying to communicate my thoughts.

If Pimsleur teaches one to speak, this is most likely the most useful approach.  Get to the grammar once you have a basic grasp of sounds, the alphabet, etc.  Though I can say virtually anything I need to in Russian or Ukrainian, my writing skills are basic, but for my needs that is just fine.  I have conducted business in Ukrainian/Russian for years, and don't see a reason to improve my writing skills.  Translators are going to get the job done more eloquently, and I can read and write well enough to check the translations to make sure they are accurate.  But I do value being able to go into any situation without needing an interpreter to tell me what is going on.

[Bob S]

... in response to I don't know anything about Pimsleur but, posted by amerikanka99 on Mar 18, 2002

"If Pimsleur teaches one to speak, this is most likely the most useful approach. Get to the grammar once you have a basic grasp of sounds, the alphabet, etc."

This is true.  So much of our daily speech is composed of basic phrases (Please, thank you, good morning, pleased to meet you, nice weather isn't it, etc).  Learning to say these with proper pronunciation and learning to hear and recognize them goes a long way to beginning to speak the language.  Modern language learning will start with these pat phrases, then moves on to proper tense conjugation later.  Isn't this the way a child normally learns to speak?  The more they use and hear it, the better they get, and the more they can be understood.  Textbook grammar just refines it.

[tim360z]

... in response to Well, ..., posted by Vox on Mar 18, 2002

may want to learn Russian.  Pimsleur does have limitations!  But it is a beginning and it can help one alot,  when they are at Zero.  It can turn "no communication" into some communication...albiet,   never as good as a real Russian speaker.  The real question is " just what is your goal"  Personally,  I have met a few Russian State Dept translators who spent years immersed in English,  who work at the UN for Russian Diplomats.  Their English is nearly perfect...but having grown up with English I can hear the nuances and the syntax and I know this is a language learned...not a native speaker.  Of course,  they are a little embarrassed that I can tag them as Russian.  For myself,  I see no reason to be completely fluent in Russian,  if one is to marry a Russian and live here, ( of course as fluent as I maybe,  I too would easily be recognized as merely being fluent and not a native speaker).  

   I find Pimsleur quite good for one beginning at Zero.  There are many things missed and I am one of those who needs printed words to help to reinforce the spoken word.  Pimsleur is much better than No Russian.  Myself,  I do not feel the need to read Pushkin in Russian.

  Now,  a few of my friends there,  I send them Pimsleur ESL.  It is a great introduction for them.  They go from Zero....to some English.  Not too bad of a thing.

  Language is a funny thing.  A couple days ago I spoke on the telephone with a friend in Ukraine.  She's rather intelluctual and quite smart,  very educated.  Her written English is very very good.  Remarkable!  Well,  she had 2 years of English at a University outside of Moscow.  But,  the spoken,  while good,   is nowhere near as good as her written English.  I found myself straining sometimes to decipher just what she was saying.  The pronunciation was loaded with Russian emphasis on the sounds and the forming of words.  I realize too,  she seldom speaks English and a new language: "if you don't use it...you loose it."  I have little doubt that if she spoke English everyday with Americans...that in a short time...her spoken English would rival her written.  

  Anyway,  with any new language,  one must begin at some point and then refine it according to their personal goals.  And they should use it everyday.  Pimsleur,  I think,  is a very good introduction and a beginning.  I have no desire to be fluent in Russian...simply to motoviate on my own.  If,  I am to marry a Russian or Ukrainian girl...the burden will be on her to learn the language of the new world she has come to....just like my Russian immigrant great grandparents did many years ago.  And,  I beleive most,  with some help will learn rapidly.  Pimsleur is OK with me.

[Dan]

... in response to Well, ..., posted by Vox on Mar 18, 2002

Need to be considered so complex - particularly in order to make a simple start.

I suppose we may be talking from 2 perspectives - and we may need to simply agree to disagree. I can only speak from my own experiences.

Having lived in Taiwan and in Germany - and growing up in Arizona - I have made several failed attempts to gain some proficiency with a foreign language. The first several were attempted the more conventional route using teachers and textbooks, etc. It was only through the 'kick-start' offered by the Pimsleur programs that I was able to finally overcome the initial entry barrier, and feel myself sufficiently confident so as to 'break through' to be able to start the real learning process.

I don't concur that you absolutely need to supplement the program with written material - though I admit that I did so, and I did find it helpful - just not central to the learning process.

Finally, it really does need to be pointed out that I am a huge distance from being fluent. I am fully-capable, however, of being able to communicate on a daily basis all day long without using English - at least, with someone that has worked with me a bit and understands the limitations of my Russian abilities. I always find it difficult when I first meet someone new and they have to learn how little I know. They often assume I know more than I do because my spoken Russian is more advanced than my listening and my vocabulary. Still, I credit the Pimsleur programs with providing an enormous lift and rapid assimilation of enough Russian to be able to conduct my self quite comfortably. I'd recommend it to anyone wishing to establish a good foundation and become quickly conversant.

FWIW
- Dan

[Richard]

... in response to Well, ..., posted by Vox on Mar 18, 2002

When I was in junior & senior high school my school district taught French using a similar method:  showing film strips and having the students memorize the dialog that went along with the film strips. I always had trouble learning french.

Finaly, in we were alowwed more flexibility in selecting our classes.  In ninth grade, I took French and Latin. Now, obviously, you won't teach spoken Latin since it's a dead language.  I breazed through the written Latin materials getting good grades with little effort and struggled to barely pass French.

When I started learning Russian with a combination of written and spoken lessons, I did much better that I did with my high school french but not quite as well as I did in Latin.

The moral of the story: I don't think Pimsleur alone is sufficient.  

[BrianN]

... in response to Agreed ..., posted by Richard on Mar 18, 2002

I think it's the way that words in french are vocalized, that makes everything so difficult to remember / understand.  as well as the phonetic references in print... ee-gads.. to english?  

However, french, and french canadian women that speak english sound incredibly sexy... funny though that it seems as if it's like the french canadians speak more proper french, than the french (of france) do, as a comparison, to the brits vs the usa slang language assaulters here.

(and the brits talk at warp speed with their accent, I often wonder how they even understand themselves... like a brit-bonics kind of thing).

To each his own bloody way.

lol.

Yeah, the next french flying manual translated to english to hit the shelves, will be "Mon-Slewer®", the easy way, by LP, narrated by Micha.

[Quick Fix]

... in response to French is definitely harder to learn tha..., posted by BrianN on Mar 19, 2002

Brian with all due respect you don't have a clue what you are talking about.
First of all the french canadian accent is terrible in comparison with the way french is spoken in France. I think 95% of the people in Quebec would agree with that what they speak is a bastardize version of french. What are you listening to? They use many slang words that are what is known as "franglais" (half french, half english). To compare this to the beautiful french language spoken in France is upsurd.
Secondly, french is a much easier language to learn than Russian, as are all the latin laguages. They all follow form. Masculine and feminine and proper tenses.
The russian language is extremely difficult as I am finding out with the cyrillic alphabet etc.
By the way I speak french fluentely  :-)