![](\"https:\/\/cdn-assets.ziniopro.com\/var\/site_10538\/storage\/images\/media2\/images\/f0034-017\/19840-1-eng-US\/f0034-012.jpg\" "\\"f0034-01\\"")
<\/div>\nRead or watch the interview and find out: Why did he decide to learn Russian? What is the most difficult for English learners? What do American people find scary?<\/p>\n
\u041f\u0440\u043e\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0439\u0442\u0435 \u0438\u043b\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0432\u044c\u044e \u0438 \u0443\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0439\u0442\u0435: \u043f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443 \u0414\u0436\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d \u0440\u0435\u0448\u0438\u043b \u0438\u0437\u0443\u0447\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0440\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a? \u0427\u0442\u043e \u044f\u0432\u043b\u044f\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0441\u0430\u043c\u044b\u043c \u0442\u0440\u0443\u0434\u043d\u044b\u043c \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0438\u0437\u0443\u0447\u0430\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0445 \u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a? \u0427\u0442\u043e \u043f\u0443\u0433\u0430\u0435\u0442 \u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0446\u0435\u0432?<\/p>\n
Justin Hammond, also known as YouTube blogger Justin, is an English teacher who came to St. Petersburg from Toronto to study Russian back in 2016.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u0414\u0436\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d \u0425\u0430\u043c\u043c\u043e\u043d\u0434, \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0436\u0435 \u0438\u0437\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0431\u043b\u043e\u0433\u0435\u0440 YouTube \u0414\u0436\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043a, \u044f\u0432\u043b\u044f\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043f\u0440\u0435\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043c \u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0439\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a\u0430, \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0440\u044b\u0439 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0435\u0445\u0430\u043b \u0432 \u0421\u0430\u043d\u043a\u0442-\u041f\u0435\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0431\u0443\u0440\u0433 \u0438\u0437 \u0422\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0442\u043e \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0438\u0437\u0443\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u044f \u0440\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a\u0430 \u0435\u0449\u0435 \u0432 2016 \u0433\u043e\u0434\u0443 (\u0441\u0435\u0439\u0447\u0430\u0441 \u0432 \u041a\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0434\u0435).<\/p>\n
The move to Russia is related to Justin\u2019s education \u2013 he has a bachelor\u2019s degree* from the University of Ottawa in Russian language and culture. On his arrival in St. Petersburg, Justin confirmed his knowledge by obtaining* his state certification at St. Petersburg State University. In 2014, Justin received a diploma for outstanding achievements* in the promotion of Russian culture and language from the Russian Embassy in Canada. Justin not only teaches Russian but also works as an English language teacher \u2013 his students include both children and adults. In Russia, Justin organizes (online) conversation* clubs and also focuses on developing speaking skills.<\/b><\/p>\n
* \u041f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0435\u0437\u0434 \u0432 \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u044e (\u0432 2016) \u0441\u0432\u044f\u0437\u0430\u043d \u0441 \u043e\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0437\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435\u043c \u0414\u0436\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d\u0430 \u2013 \u043e\u043d \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0438\u043b \u0441\u0442\u0435\u043f\u0435\u043d\u044c* \u0431\u0430\u043a\u0430\u043b\u0430\u0432\u0440\u0430 \u041e\u0442\u0442\u0430\u0432\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0443\u043d\u0438\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0441\u0438\u0442\u0435\u0442\u0430 \u043f\u043e \u0440\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043c\u0443 \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a\u0443 \u0438 \u043a\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0443\u0440\u0435. \u041f\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0431\u044b\u0442\u0438\u0438 \u0432 \u0421\u0430\u043d\u043a\u0442-\u041f\u0435\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0431\u0443\u0440\u0433 \u0414\u0436\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0442\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0434\u0438\u043b \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0438 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f, \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0438\u0432* \u0433\u043e\u0441\u0443\u0434\u0430\u0440\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0443\u044e \u0430\u0442\u0442\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0446\u0438\u044e \u0432 \u0421\u0430\u043d\u043a\u0442-\u041f\u0435\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0431\u0443\u0440\u0433\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043c \u0433\u043e\u0441\u0443\u0434\u0430\u0440\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u043c \u0443\u043d\u0438\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0441\u0438\u0442\u0435\u0442\u0435. \u0412 2014 \u0433\u043e\u0434\u0443 \u0414\u0436\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0438\u043b \u0434\u0438\u043f\u043b\u043e\u043c \u0437\u0430 \u0432\u044b\u0434\u0430\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0435\u0441\u044f \u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u044f* \u0432 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0438\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0438 \u0440\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043a\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0443\u0440\u044b \u0438 \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a\u0430 \u043e\u0442 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430 \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438 \u0432 \u041a\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0434\u0435. \u0414\u0436\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d \u043d\u0435 \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0435\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0430\u0435\u0442 \u0440\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a, \u043d\u043e \u0438 \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0442\u0430\u0435\u0442 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043c \u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0439\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a\u0430 \u2013 \u0441\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0438 \u0435\u0433\u043e \u0443\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u0432 \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0434\u0435\u0442\u0438, \u0442\u0430\u043a \u0438 \u0432\u0437\u0440\u043e\u0441\u043b\u044b\u0435. \u0412 \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438 \u0414\u0436\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d \u043e\u0440\u0433\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0437\u0443\u0435\u0442 (\u043e\u043d\u043b\u0430\u0439\u043d) \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0435* \u043a\u043b\u0443\u0431\u044b, \u0430 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0436\u0435 \u0443\u0434\u0435\u043b\u044f\u0435\u0442 \u043e\u0441\u043e\u0431\u043e\u0435 \u0432\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0432\u0438\u0442\u0438\u044e \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u043d\u0430\u0432\u044b\u043a\u043e\u0432.<\/p>\n
English part of the interview \/\/ \u0427\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0432\u044c\u044e \u043d\u0430 \u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0439\u0438\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043c<\/h3>\n
\u2013 Justin, one question about the magazine, what do you think, will it be convenient for you to learn Russian in this way? (with parallel translation)<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2013 Yeah, it\u2019s always hard to say actually kind of like it when there\u2019s like a sentence in Russian and in English below it, rather than looking like\u2026 I find it hard to go left or right, left or right. But it depends on each person.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Yeah, you see, we have usually short paragraphs \u2013 two sentences, three sentences, and not too much. And with the words highlighted.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2013 Yeah, awesome!<\/p>\n
[02:08] \u2013 So what do you think is the most difficult for English learners to understand?<\/b><\/p>\n \u2013 I think one of the most difficult things is articles \u2013 specifically for Russian speakers, because you don\u2019t have articles in Russian. And I think that there exists this understanding that articles aren\u2019t important<\/p>\n \u2013 why do we need articles? You know, there\u2019s just an extra thing to remember how to do.<\/p>\n And I think there are two points for that. The first point is, when you\u2019re thinking about how, you know, Russians are portrayed in American media, like criminals or gangsters or mafia people that have that really, you know, scary accent. Well, really, all that they\u2019re doing is they\u2019re simply not using articles correctly, and that immediately make somebody sound like a stereotypical, you know, Russian person.<\/p>\n So, when you hear somebody say something like \u2018\u2018I am boy\u2019\u2019, right? Really, that sentence is fine, and everybody understands it, but it\u2019s because you didn\u2019t say I am \u00aba\u00bb boy, it all of a sudden sounds, you know, scary and threatening.<\/p>\n So, I think that\u2019s sort of one point. And the other point is just using articles incorrectly can really have a massive impact on the meaning of the sentence. So I remember a friend of mine, she was Russian, and she was supposed to meet me at the airport before I left. And she was taking a taxi. And she was late to the airport. And so I was texting her saying, where are you? And she said, like, I\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m talking to a taxi driver. And I thought to myself, like, what do you\u2026 what do you? Why? Why are you talking to a taxi driver like, You\u2019re late, you need to come. And what she meant to say I was talking to \u00abthe\u00bb taxi driver. And if she had said \u00abthe\u00bb taxi driver, I would understand that she\u2019s talking to the taxi driver who drove her to the airport. Maybe she\u2019s asking for directions or maybe she\u2019s paying, right? But when you say \u00aba\u00bb taxi driver, it sounds like you\u2019re just having a chat with somebody. And given she was already late, that made it, like really anger me I was like \u00abno, stop!\u00bb. So it really does make a big difference.<\/p>\n Articles are tough to learn, but they will make a huge difference to make you sound like an advanced English speaker like really fast in English, if you can do them (articles).<\/p>\n [05:02] Interesting\u2026 And actually, what was your first experience in learning Russian? When was it?<\/b><\/p>\n I<\/b>t was probably in 2013. And I really enjoyed it. I think that first you see the alphabet. And you think that it\u2019s going to be very, very intimidating*. However, you learn very quickly that the alphabet\u2019s actually very phonetic and very easy to learn in Russian, that\u2019s not the difficult part of the language. And the sounds \u2013 it was very phonetic, right? So once you learn the alphabet, you make progress very fast, but then you immediately hit a roadblock* when you get to cases*, because the concept of cases doesn\u2019t exist in English. And so you have to learn, you know, this idea that you can change words and put them in any order that you want. And the meaning will be the same as long as you\u2019ve used the right cases. And that\u2019s a very foreign concept to us. So learning how to use that and understand that was really interesting.<\/p>\n Yeah. So maybe, for the first time, it was not easy for you to change just the words in the sentence in different orders to make a sentence correctly.<\/b><\/p>\n Absolutely. Very difficult, very complex.<\/p>\n And to understand, yes? I think a bit\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n It does make understanding more difficult because people can do things in a different order. But I don\u2019t think that it makes it so much more complex for understanding it really is just for, like, creating sentences and stuff you need to get used to. You know what people mean, because you also don\u2019t necessarily need to use personal pronouns* a lot, because you can use things in the right case and in the right conjugation*. So you can really get rid of pronouns, whereas in English, you can\u2019t. So it\u2019s interesting.<\/p>\n [07:20] Actually, one question was from our subscriber, and your fan, Kate asked, \u00abSo why Russian? Why did Justin decide to learn Russian?\u00bb Not, I don\u2019t know, not Spanish, not Italian, but Russian. Why did you decide this way?<\/b><\/p>\n Yeah, good question. So at the time, when I started, I already knew French. And I did want to learn Spanish. But when you study a really popular language, like French or Spanish in the West, in university, for example, your classroom is like 300 people. It\u2019s not super convenient. And so I really wanted, you know, a language where it was very different than English. Like, even if you speak English, if you look at like a Spanish text, or you look at a French text, you can still understand like 20% of it. Whereas with Russian, it was totally different. And I like that, I liked that idea. Also, I had studied Chinese before Russian, and I realized that, if I really, really want to get good in a language, I\u2019ll have to live there for a few years. And I think I didn\u2019t really like the idea of going to live in China, because you will always be a foreigner, in the sense of, you know, I don\u2019t look Chinese and so wherever you go on streets, you\u2019re always going to be treated like a foreigner. Whereas in Russia, people know if I talk to them, but generally on the street, I can just dress like normal and only wants to start having a conversation people really kind of understand. So you can feel, I think a lot more like you\u2019re a local living there.<\/p>\n [09:05] Actually, and how often I don\u2019t know maybe people treated you like a local in Russia?<\/b><\/p>\n How often do they treat me like a local? Often, I think, you know, it depends on the interaction, right? Like, if I go and I\u2019m talking to a cashier*, they understand right as they hear my accent you know, but if you\u2019re just walking around, yeah, nobody notices I think.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn-assets.ziniopro.com\/var\/site_10538\/storage\/images\/media2\/images\/f0034-045\/19819-1-eng-US\/f0034-042.jpg\" "\\"f0034-04\\"")
<\/div>\n