Learning Russian is an opportunity you should take advantage of. It is a language spoken by more than 260 million people around the world, making it one of the most widely spoken languages on the planet - eighth, to be precise. Did you know that it is not only the official language of Russia? It is also spoken in other countries such as Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. It is also spoken in Israel, the Balkans, Ukraine, Armenia and the United States. Unlike other languages such as Italian or French, Russian is a Slavic language and shares similarities with languages such as Polish, Bulgarian, Czech and Ukrainian. Some of the population of the countries that were part of the former Soviet Union retained their knowledge of Russian. In the United States, it is estimated that around 850,000 people speak the language. One of the key factors why you should know this language is its culture - what literature lover wouldn't like to read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky and Pushkin in their original language? Music is also a pillar of their culture, and Russians have always been able to identify themselves through music. As usual, their way of life and culture has been mixed with others, but they have always remained true to their origins. Russia is the largest country in the world - wouldn't you like to see it? It is home to 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Kremlin, Lake Baikal or the Golden Mountains of Altai (Saint Petersburg). It is also a country with a strong economic and historical culture, from the Tsars, Stalin, communism, the USSR, the Cold War and, more currently, Putin and his government. When you learn Russian, the way you experience travel changes. In Russia, a large part of the population does not speak English or any other European language, which makes communication difficult. By learning their language, you will not be seen as a tourist, but as a person who wants to learn their language and culture. This is important, as Russians are not exactly known for their smiles and friendliness.
