Michel Thomas Vocabulary Course

Natasha Bershadski studied at the Moscow State Linguistic University and taught English in Moscow before moving to London, where she has taught Russian at King's College, UCL, LSE, Middlesex University and the Foreign Office.

Ways of forming the plural of nouns Adjectives with various endings: forming adjectives from English cognates and Russian roots More short adjectives (noun-like endings): 'You are right', 'I will do it myself' Describing things/places: 'What/what kind of city is it?' Giving directions: 'Go to the right/left/straight on' Endings/suffixes to form nouns: -tura, -nik, (sputnik), -nost (glasnost), etc. The meaning of prefixes used for forming nouns and verbs: po- with verbs = to do a little/for a while (to read for a while -- pochitat'); v -- in, into; vy -- out, out of; pere- (perestroika) = re-, over, etc. Families of words formed from the same root: prav, chas, etc. Various prepositions: v -- in/into; na - on/onto; k -- towards/in the direction of; po -- along, according to; s -- with, etc. Expressing one's need, interest, wish: 'I need a car with an air conditioner', 'The director needs a good secretary' Giving/asking for advice: 'I advise / recommend you to buy this' Buying / paying for things: 'How much is this?' Passive constructions: 'I was told/given/shown', 'Where is ... sold?', 'How is it spelled/read?' 'as they say ...' 'In order to ... (know /understand, etc.)' 'I want you to do this' Time expressions: always, often, usually, as usual, just, temporarily Food: 'I don't eat meat', 'tea with milk', etc Likes and dislikes: 'I like pizza'/ I like the pizza' Colours Days of the week (+ user guide): 'I don't work on Saturday' Months (+ user guide): 'in May' Countries (+ the user guide) Subjects: 'I'm studying history' Transport: 'We are going by car' Going verbs: 'I am going to the cinema / I often go to the cinema' Visiting places: 'We are going to Moscow', 'an excursion around the city', etc. Visiting people: 'I will come to see you (come to you) tomorrow' There is something somewhere: 'Is there a shower in the room?' The only two irregular verbs: to eat, to give Reflexive verbs: to like, to meet, to close Figurative use of verbs: 'Time will show', 'This blouse suits you', etc. Communicating: 'I spoke with you on the phone', 'I will write (to) you an e-mail' Health/parts of the body: 'I have a headache' Many new nouns, adjectives, adverbs and verbs will be taught including both cognates and those of Russian origin. We are going to use various mnemonics, such as images and short rhymes, to help to memorise the new words.