We absorb the nuances of our native language from early childhood. We intuitively understand how a clock can both “hang” and “run,” or how a cat can “sit” on a chair just like a dress can “sit” on a figure. Russian is full of shades of meaning, contradictions, and constructions that are hard to explain. But why is it so?
What Makes Russian So Challenging?
Complex Phonetics
The sound “ы” is notoriously difficult. Many foreign learners end up replacing it with “и,” saying “meesh” instead of “mysh” (“mouse”). And that’s just the beginning. The trilled “r” and sharp “ts” sounds can also cause confusion. Not to mention the soft and hard signs (ь and ъ) — they’re written, but not pronounced.
Unpredictable Stress and Reading Rules
Why do we pronounce “холод” (“cold”) as kholot, but not “холодный” as kholotny, and instead as khalodny? Native speakers just know. We hear these words often enough to remember the correct stress and instinctively use “check words” that follow phonetic rules. This is how we learn pronunciation — through experience and context.
Complicated Grammar
Russian grammar is another challenge. We have six grammatical cases. Native speakers automatically change endings based on gender, number, and case, and easily distinguish subtle differences between “ate” and “had a bite.” Much of this is intuitive — we simply recall what our grandparents used to say: “You’re not leaving the table until you finish your food.”
Exceptions to Almost Every Rule
We’re used to bending the rules. For example, we usually write “и” after the letter “ц,” unless it’s a word from the phrase “the gypsy on tiptoes hissed at the chick” — a popular way to remember the exceptions. Or take the phrase “fried potatoes.” If you add something like mushrooms, you suddenly need two “n”s in “fried.” Confusing? For sure.
Language reflects how we think. Russians don’t just follow rules — we’re constantly looking for ways around them, interpreting shades of meaning, gestures, and reading between the lines. And somehow, we always find a way to adapt and make things work.
Why Teaching Russian to Children Is So Difficult for Parents
Parents often say, “Russian is my native language, but I still can’t get my child to speak it.” Why does that happen?
- Many forget how Russian grammar works. Living in an English-speaking country, they start using sentence structures and word choices from English.
- Vocabulary naturally changes with lifestyle. Different foods, holidays, and habits — all of these influence the words we use daily.
- Pronunciation shifts. Constant exposure to English and a mix of accents makes it harder to maintain a native Russian sound. As a result, children may struggle to understand and reproduce words the way they’re spoken in Russia.
- Parents aren’t professional educators. Knowing Russian isn’t enough — you also need to understand how a child processes information, how to explain grammar clearly, and how to make the lessons stick.
We actually talked more about the importance of learning Russian and math in this article.
The most effective approach is to learn Russian as a foreign language — with native-speaking teachers. They know exactly what to teach and how to teach it, so children can succeed.
At our school, every lesson is taught by experienced, native Russian-speaking teachers who know how to engage kids and spark their interest in the language. You can try it for free — sign up for a trial lesson below:
