Professor _______,
[…] [Many boring details have been omitted.] […]
I am asking a very broad question: do you have any advice or
suggestions if I were trying to find a Russian language tutor or
teacher, so that I am not learning the language entirely alone (with
books and the internet)?
This message is brief to avoid wasting your time. I hope you will not
find this message rude.
I have studied other languages before, including languages that are
much more difficult than Russian (e.g., Chinese). Grammatically, the
language I've studied that most closely resembled Modern Russian is
Ancient Pali (it has the locative, genitive, dative, instrumental and
accusative cases). So, in some sense, I am prepared for how difficult
the work will be.
With thanks for your time and consideration,
Eisel Mazard (Mr.)
—————
[In her reply, the professor seemed to be primarily interested in my motivation for learning the language: she asked if I needed it "for work" or not. Work or play, hm?]
—————
(1) My interest is in (i) politics, (ii) philosophy and (iii) history.
I have studied several languages for these reasons (and, admittedly,
these reasons may not be enough).
(2) I am genetically half Jewish, and my grandparents were
specifically Russian Jewish, so it is possible I will try to make some
kind of contact with the Russian-speaking Jews of Israel and New York,
etc., simply to counteract the isolation of living in Newfoundland. I
am aware of the intensity of antisemitism in Eastern Europe,
generally, and amongst Russians, specifically. I am a visible
minority: although I'm an atheist, I look Jewish, and I am hated for
it. This is a major factor in the decision I now make for the next
ten years of my life.
(3) I am a real intellectual: in Canada, there are none. Learning
Russian would allow me to fly back and forth to various parts of
Europe (and Israel) where some intellectuals exist. Some. I am not
deluding myself into thinking that Eastern Europe is an intellectual
paradise (nor Israel) but I have some optimism about knowing other
intellectuals (who care about history, philosophy and politics) via
the Russian language. With many other languages I've studied (e.g.
Lao and Cambodian) there is no such hope.
I have now published one book in Russian translation. The cover
illustration is attached. It will be published in five or six
languages in total.
E.M.
