There is already a course of the Russian alphabet on this site (you can find it by following the URL http://www.ikindalikelanguages.com/courses/IntroductionToRussian/ any time) and I recommend you to take it first before taking this course. Moreover, I suggest you install a phonetic spelling Russian keyboard and start learning to type it right from the start because you will still need it if you wish to continue your studies. Otherwise you could just give your answers to this course by writing them by hand on a sheet of paper and avoid typing it. Let’s begin the course.
Russian word for I is я.
It is a very simple word because it consists of a sound combination ja like in yard or in German ja which means jes.
Russian for it is это.
Russians don’t really use the words for is, am, are and so on. They just skip them in the sentence. How would you thus say it is me which in Russian comes out as it is I:
1 translation: It is me.
Russian for Russia is Россия.
Now it is easy for you to say:
2 translation: It is Russia.
Russian for from iz из.
If you want to put iz in front of some word, you usually have to modify the ending of that word. For example, if you want to say from Russia, that я in Россия becomes и. Thus how would you say:
3 translation: It is from Russia.
What would be:
4 translation: I am from Russia.
England in Russian is Англия.
Guess how to say:
5 translation: I am from England.
The same last letter to и thing works for America as well.
America in Russian is Америка.
How would you say:
6 translation: I am from America.
Let’s learn a Russian word for you. The first word is when you talk to somebody informally.
The Russian word for informal you is ты.
You have to hear this ы letter because it is awesome. How would you say:
7 translation: You are from England.
Try to guess how you would say:
8 translation: Are from Russia?
In Russian you don’t have to ask where from because you can say that in one single word.
Russian for where from (literally from where) is откуда.
So instead of asking where are you from you say where from you. That, in Russian, is:
9 translation: Where are you from?
And answer that question.
10 translation: I am from America.
Finally lets learn negating things. You have two words in English: no and not. In Russian you have it backwards because:
The word for no is нет and the word for not is не.
So in English you add a t to make no into not, in Russian you remove that t instead.
Just remember the Russian word for no which is нет to remember both words. When you use the word for not, you have to say it before the verb unlike in English so you say I not am from England or I not see, I not understand and so on. It doesn’t really matter in sentences like I am not because you don’t have the word for am there anyway.
How would you say:
11 translation: It is not from England.
Finally say:
12 translation: I am not from Russia.
That wraps up the first lesson.