Hottest Language Learning Tip

Russian Idiom: как не знаю кто

Как не знаю кто often cannot be translated directly. It is an idiom meaning “to the extreme degree, too much”. “Я не знаю кто”, literally, I don’t know who, implies that any comparisons with other people or other events would be too weak, too pale. “I don’t know who could be as [something] as you are now”

Here are a few examples for you (thanks, Reverso Context) : 

Эти девушки смотрели на тебя как не знаю кто. These girls have been lookin’ at you like I don’t know what.

Нет, я еду домой, вымотался как не знаю кто. No, I’m going home. I’m completely soaked. 

Надевает наушники и радуется, как не знаю кто. He’s listening on his headsets, happy as a clam.

Ты пьяна как не знаю кто. You’re really drunk.

Воевали как я не знаю кто, чтобы сделать это. You have fought through hell to do so. 

You have no clue how happy I am to be able to translate Improvisation for you guys again! Here's another great episode.

ICONIC

Ivan Vasilievich Changes Professions // Иван Васильевич меняет профессию

Interesting facts about the Russian keyboard layout: Ф is where the English letter A is, and A is where the English letter F is. Also, S is a common plural ending in English, and Ы on the same key is the most common plural ending in Russian.

helpful apps

i know there are a million of these posts out there but here’s a personalized one for the apps that i find helpful during the school year! i won’t mention stuff like forest or duolingo bc obv we all know about those. 

1. pocket schedule - this is my go-to new app for glancing at my schedule. because i am a disaster of a human being, my first few weeks of class are spent continuously checking back on the student website for my timetable in order to figure out what room number i’m in. pocket schedule is a basic timetable and also lets you add in tasks and assignments. 

2. overdrive/libby- overdrive has saved my goddamn life. i RARELY have time to go to the library (just look at my library fines, lmao) and when i do i usually get way too much that i don’t read. if you download libby or overdrive you can access your library’s ebook selection. if i remember correctly libby also has audiobooks for those like me who walk everywhere. 

3. onenote- perfect for a digital bujo if the regular bujo doesn’t work for you. it’s easier to look at on a laptop but i like to check my habit tracker if i’m waiting in line for food or on the bus. 

4. bear- a simple and clean writing app. mostly used for grocery lists. can also be used as a diary if that’s your thing.

5. daylio- a mood journal in which you can track your mood over the course of several months. an awesome tool if you go to therapy and need to check yourself daily.

failure…

failure hurts

don’t panic or stress

keep it under control

you can do it

i know you can

question your wrongs

learn from your mistakes

change your plan

fix your regime

learn from others around you

start with a fresh mind

renew yourself

failure does not define you

"Внимание!

Мокрый пол"

=

"Attention!

Wet floor"

This is my favorite TED talk by Mikhail Kazinik called “The school is dead, long live the school”. 

The point of his TED talk is that the school system is not teaching the right way anymore. The school used to teach to create the image of the world, but it now teaches the subjects without associative thinking.

“We shove information into our poor children like bags […] and where do we put the bags after that? To the junkyard. Because the school’s task is to ignite, and not to shove information.”

The poems Mikhail quoted in this bit: http://www.pushkins-poems.com/Yev704.htm https://ruverses.com/fyodor-tyutchev/we-can-not-divine/8632/

The original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gt6m7RwlYk&t=924s

MAJOR GROM: PLAGUE DOCTOR Extended Version

Я шагаю по Москве - Никита Михалков

This song comes from the 1968 movie of the same name. It’s a good speed if you’re just getting used to listening to Russian and quite catchy :) Any feedback/corrections, please let me know! 

Бывает всё на свете хорошо Sometimes everything in the world is good В чём дело сразу не поймёшь You don’t immediately know what’s the matter А просто летний дождь прошёл And a simple summer rain fell Нормальный летний дождь Normal summer rain

Мелькнёт в толпе знакомое лицо A familiar face will appear among the crowds Весёлые глаза Cheerful eyes А в них бежит Садовое кольцо And in them runs the Garden Circle* А в них блестит Садовое кольцо And in them shines the Garden Ring И летняя гроза And a summer thunderstorm

А я иду шагаю по Москве, And I’m walking around Moscow, Но я пройти ещё смогу, But I can still go further, Солёный Тихий океан The salty Pacific ocean И тундру, и тайгу. The Tundra and Taiga.

Над лодкой белый парус распущу Above the boat I’ll set a white sail Пока не знаю с кем With who I don’t yet know Но если я по дому загрущу But if I start longing for home Под снегом я фиалку отыщу I’ll find a violet under the snow И вспомню о Москве And remember Moscow И вспомню о Москве… And remember Moscow…

*A big ring road around central Moscow