Comments on: phase two complete http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/ Interesting sights along the road of life. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:23:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Jason http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-48 Jason Thu, 31 Aug 2006 03:05:38 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-48 Enjoy learning about the 6 grammar cases in Russian... truly thrilling. In all seriousness, it is a beautiful language, and is easier to retain (at least in my humble experience) Best of luck! Enjoy learning about the 6 grammar cases in Russian… truly thrilling. In all seriousness, it is a beautiful language, and is easier to retain (at least in my humble experience) Best of luck!

]]> By: Nik Havert http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-47 Nik Havert Mon, 28 Aug 2006 17:42:08 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-47 80's movies with Russians? I'm all over that. "Gorky Park," "Moscow on the Hudson" (see Robin Williams grabbing his crotch and yelling Russian-accented insults!), "2010" (a whole space ship full of Russians!), "White Nights" (Gregory Haines AND Mikhail Baryshnikov? What more could you want?), "Red Heat" (the Govenator AND Jim Belushi? What more could you want? Haines and Baryshnikov?), and I think anyone working in the foreign service should watch "Dr. Strangelove." 80’s movies with Russians? I’m all over that.

“Gorky Park,” “Moscow on the Hudson” (see Robin Williams grabbing his crotch and yelling Russian-accented insults!), “2010″ (a whole space ship full of Russians!), “White Nights” (Gregory Haines AND Mikhail Baryshnikov? What more could you want?), “Red Heat” (the Govenator AND Jim Belushi? What more could you want? Haines and Baryshnikov?), and I think anyone working in the foreign service should watch “Dr. Strangelove.”

]]> By: Phil http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-46 Phil Mon, 28 Aug 2006 17:15:47 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-46 Not Russian, per se, but then again, neither is Ukraine... But it's an '80s cold war action flick in spades, so my vote for your video list is Gotcha. It's got everything, including Goose from Top Gun in it! Oh, and Red Heat, starring a sitting Governor, no less! Enjoy language training. Not Russian, per se, but then again, neither is Ukraine…

But it’s an ’80s cold war action flick in spades, so my vote for your video list is Gotcha. It’s got everything, including Goose from Top Gun in it!

Oh, and Red Heat, starring a sitting Governor, no less!

Enjoy language training.

]]> By: MC http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-45 MC Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:26:29 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-45 Hmmm... Spies Like Us? As for the language training itself, my best advice is to be aware that you'll be extremely frustrated about half the time. Also, try to have someone who really understands (usually, this means a person who is or has been in an FSI language course) and to whom you can complain who won't go, "Hey, you're getting paid to learn a language - what could be easier?" That said, it's definitely an enlightening experience and will open up whole new doors. Good luck!! Hmmm… Spies Like Us? As for the language training itself, my best advice is to be aware that you’ll be extremely frustrated about half the time. Also, try to have someone who really understands (usually, this means a person who is or has been in an FSI language course) and to whom you can complain who won’t go, “Hey, you’re getting paid to learn a language - what could be easier?” That said, it’s definitely an enlightening experience and will open up whole new doors. Good luck!!

]]> By: Angela http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-44 Angela Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:04:30 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-44 Congrats on finishing GSO training! Now I know who to pepper with all my travel and packout questions ;-), but at least I'll try to ask them in English..or...Polish (ack, 7 months of language training too!). Congrats on finishing GSO training! Now I know who to pepper with all my travel and packout questions ;-), but at least I’ll try to ask them in English..or…Polish (ack, 7 months of language training too!).

]]> By: ryan http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-43 ryan Sun, 27 Aug 2006 12:20:12 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-43 Congrats on finishing that beast of a course! I have never envied anyone taking it... It was over a year after I did my HR training that I actually started working in HR. Yes, I forgot all the details, but that's why we have our LES employees, right? Good luck witn the Russian. If you get the choice, I loved Elena McCoy. But her teaching style meshed with my learning style really well, so you may hate her. As for movies? I suggest Hunt For Red October (although it's a 1990 flick, but is that close enough?), and although it has no Russian in it, and isn't really an action flick, just a fun blast to childhood, War Games w/ Matthew Broderick. Congrats on finishing that beast of a course! I have never envied anyone taking it…
It was over a year after I did my HR training that I actually started working in HR. Yes, I forgot all the details, but that’s why we have our LES employees, right?
Good luck witn the Russian. If you get the choice, I loved Elena McCoy. But her teaching style meshed with my learning style really well, so you may hate her.
As for movies? I suggest Hunt For Red October (although it’s a 1990 flick, but is that close enough?), and although it has no Russian in it, and isn’t really an action flick, just a fun blast to childhood, War Games w/ Matthew Broderick.

]]> By: Editfish http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-42 Editfish Sun, 27 Aug 2006 06:15:47 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-42 Focus on the alphabet as soon as you can. It's phonetic, which means once you learn it, you can pronounce just about any word you see (and spell about any word you hear). This will give you a good start on a fun and interesting language. Oh, and buy 501 Russian verbs if you haven't already. That'll be the challenging part... :D Looking forward to hearing all about it! Focus on the alphabet as soon as you can. It’s phonetic, which means once you learn it, you can pronounce just about any word you see (and spell about any word you hear). This will give you a good start on a fun and interesting language. Oh, and buy 501 Russian verbs if you haven’t already. That’ll be the challenging part… :D

Looking forward to hearing all about it!

]]> By: Ben http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-41 Ben Sun, 27 Aug 2006 05:14:37 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/08/26/phase-two-complete/#comment-41 Good luck on the upcoming movie marathon! From Russia With Love, despite being pre-eighties, is definitely in order, as well as the obvious Red October. But don't overlook Firefox, the Eastwood espionage film- not to be confused with the NES game. I wish the best to you and Jen! Good luck on the upcoming movie marathon! From Russia With Love, despite being pre-eighties, is definitely in order, as well as the obvious Red October. But don’t overlook Firefox, the Eastwood espionage film- not to be confused with the NES game. I wish the best to you and Jen!

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