When I first arrived in Moscow, I would take a seat in the restaurant and the waitrons would avoid me like the plague.
I'm an Englishman in Russia. I'm part of the minority.
It's strange to know that they aren't trying to be rude, they are just scared to talk to me.
It's a necessity for Russian restaurants to have an English menu, but having an English waiter is another matter entirely. Often you will see the waiters tripping over themselves to find someone who can understand this strange alien.
The bizarre thing is I guarantee they all own clothing that has some English expression or words on it. In the subway are English advertisements. Then why is the only phrase most Russians remember is "London is the capital of Great Britain?"
I've even asked Russian strangers if they speak English, to which they reply to me in English; "no I don't speak English."
Russians study English in school for 10 years- you still can't speak it? Really?
The older generation I can forgive, but the younger generation it comes across as a tad ignorant (coming from a semi-old dog learning a new trick.)
I've written more than five books (Save the World Academy). It's safe to say I know a thing or two about English grammar. Though Russians learn English in school, their grammar and pronunciation is not ideal. They drag out their H's with a guttural sound (example; Harry Potter is Gary Potter) and they tend to replace 'th' with a prolonged 's' sound ( "I sink" instead of "I think.") The average Russian suffers from this as a result of the public school system. Their English teachers are not exactly Mr Belvedere (or native English) and pass on their bad habits to the pupils. In other words a Russian is teaching them English.
For arguments sake though, we can say most Russians know the fundamentals of English but suffer from lack of practice, or are either too embarrassed to speak. They love English songs... Don't they know what the person is saying? I'm also guilty of singing the las ketchup song but that's one in a thousand, not a thousand over one.
Russians with a high command of English are clearly privately tutored (as that's where all the money is; £50 an hour session I'm told.)
The fact they are learning English tells me they are thinking ahead (God knows the British could stand to learn Russian rather than some simpler languages.)
Russian words themselves seem so long and dragged out you know for a fact you won't be able to recall it. It took me six months to say the metro station I lived nearest to.
Next is manners.
From a casual observer, it would appear that Russians are verbally mannerless. This isn't the case. Their language has a formal and informal. The formal automatically implies politeness without having to add "please" and "thank you" as often as the Brits do. It’s often bizarre to hear when Russian friends will say things like “give me this” instead of “can you please give me this.”
Lastly, Russians tend to discuss things very heatedly. It looks like they are arguing to an English speaker, but in fact they are just discussing. Must be all the raised tonality that confuses me.
Further observation required :) Thanks for reading and check out www.jamesbrough.com
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