I must include a link to Isabella Mori's guest post.
As a sidebar to the Russian connection, my passion for languages had a similar origin (albeit sans ex-german-soldier teachers). I was very fortunate to study Latin in high school (elementary school would have been even better, especially if Greek had also been part of the curriculum). Typically, it was part of the 'alternative curriculum' and was not even offered in the main high school building - although I didn't mind trekking over to the nearby mini-school.
I am very glad that Isabella emphasizes the usefulness of studying these languages, and the way it can "open up language and make it easy".
After all, human knowledge and culture are almost entirely encoded in language.
Showing posts with label Russian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russian. Show all posts
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Russian connection
Thanks to Isabella Mori for this suggestion!
This also qualifies as a good childhood memory...
As far as I know (though at some point surely I must) I have no Russian ancestry. However, I was very fortunate, as a child, that my father made up stories for my brother and I (he refused to have a television in the house). In fact, Dad invented a mytho-comedic cycle that began on the Volga river and featured the famous boatmen of that area.
(I am not sure how he came to choose that setting, but I do recall a book of Russian folk tales that I read several times).
In any case, partly as a result, I was always curious about Russia. During the space race, that interest naturally grew. I remember visiting a booth at Expo 86 and purchasing a children's book by Yuri Gagarin.
Many years later, as a UBC employee, I was able to take a first year Russian language course. Since then I continue to take advantage of every opportunity to increase my vocabulary, although it is a slow process!
This also qualifies as a good childhood memory...
As far as I know (though at some point surely I must) I have no Russian ancestry. However, I was very fortunate, as a child, that my father made up stories for my brother and I (he refused to have a television in the house). In fact, Dad invented a mytho-comedic cycle that began on the Volga river and featured the famous boatmen of that area.
(I am not sure how he came to choose that setting, but I do recall a book of Russian folk tales that I read several times).
In any case, partly as a result, I was always curious about Russia. During the space race, that interest naturally grew. I remember visiting a booth at Expo 86 and purchasing a children's book by Yuri Gagarin.
Many years later, as a UBC employee, I was able to take a first year Russian language course. Since then I continue to take advantage of every opportunity to increase my vocabulary, although it is a slow process!
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