Viewing topic: New Forum categories

I have some ideas:

1) Language learning - English, Russian - grammar questions, etc...
2) Accommodation
3) Forums for different cities?
4) Travel questions
5) General 'talkroom'

I know it's not good to have too many categories in an empty forum, but now I think people will use the new Forum. New categories could be made one-at-a-time?

Yes, those are good ideas. I'd thought about language forums, but then there are already many such forums all over the internet.

Maybe a forum for classroom Russian could be useful though, that's somewhere you could make yourself useful

Let's wait and see what others say first? In the meantime I don't want too many empty forums, like you say. It might take longer than you think for the new forum to take off!

Ok, here I am jumping on the band wagon again with Tatiana. Acouple of new forums would be nice, I agree that people will start using the forum if it stays this easy to use.

About the catagories, Language is good, You might post a link to the phrases I sent you and call it "Russian for Western Americans". Also a "Where have you been" and "What did you think" section. Let people ask question about our people's experiences. I like that I deal. That way people won't feel acward about posting and might jump in faster.
Just a thought.
Will

Tania's usually right

You're right too, Will - somewhere for swapping stories about trips & unusual places would be good, and I like the 'where have you been/what did you think' idea. Especially good for the adventurers among us, maybe it could go under something like a travel forum section?

There is a lot of interest in more out of the way teaching destinations (judging by the emails I get) - you've got experience in more remote locations I get a lot of people asking 'what's it like in suchandsuch or soandso' and I don't know 'cause I ain't never been there!

I would be happy to post in that section Robert. I have been expanding on the Article I posted about Oktyabrsky. There is a lot more to the trip. I would love to share more. I don't know about the other way out places, but maybe I can give people an idea of what to expect.

I am also re-doing my "phrase book" For lack of another way to put it. For those that don't know what I am talking about. I have been learning Russian at home with Pimslar CD's. I am about half way through the first 30 lessons. I was told I was pretty good with what I had learn too. But, I have been re-writing the words in English phonetics for people like myself. I would be glad to share a few of the more useable phrases there too. Sorry no pickup lines, but you can ask "My place or yours".

Will

I'll make that forum soon and I'll let you know when it's up, just need to think about what to call it and what section to put it under.

There are members in some pretty unusual places here. I've tried to get articles out of them, but maybe writing in a forum is a less daunting prospect. There is a very good post in the old forum that I'll transfer over to the new one after new year.

I'll be looking forward to more stories from the Oktyabrskiy Cowboy! Anyone who walks round Oktyabrskiy in a ten-gallon hat must have some stories to tell...

Also, I've had an interesting email from a young lady in N. Novgorod who wants to teach Russian to foreigners. I might be able to get her in as a guest 'teacher' on the forum, and who knows, maybe she can get some distance students somehow.

The forum would be a good place for a phrasebook, because people can ask for things they need to know and build up the phrasebook together. A moderater can check the entries (or replies) for correctness?

Does it take long to make a new forum?

Hay, I like that new title you gave me there Robert.

I thought I would give a small example of the "Phrasebook" as we are calling it. There were two line that came in very handy while I was in Russia.

It is (not) important
Eta (knee) vash-naw

I don’t understand
Ya knee paw-knee myo

I am curious to see what people that don't speak Russian can make of it.

Will

Glad you like it no problem to change it if you get sick of it though!

Yes, the 'Phrasebook' could be a forum in itself, under a 'Language learning' category. I'd quite like to have an English learning forum in here too to bring students in. Could be good for picking up private students.

In case anyone happens to be looking in here, there's a new category of forums for Saint Petersburg. Others will be appearing soon!

As Tatiana said, it's normally good to have a 'General' messageboard where people can discuss random stuff - news, sport, politics, funny stories & experiences etc. Tends to encourage a sense of community.

As a newbie, 'Accommodation' and 'Travel and Visas' MBs would be good too.

Those are coming up - I'm a bit slow at deciding how to categorise things! I'll be getting a proper report on visas, registration and legal issues for teachers put together and kept updated.

There is a section on www.waytorussia.net though I'm not sure how up to date it is.

General talkroom added!

Yes Accomodation would be a good forum, where people who have a room/bed/floor are willing to help out newcomers and for those who want accomodation to lodge expressions of interest.

I'll put up an accommodation message board shortly. I think somehow a forum would work better than an actual 'catalogue'-type section on this site.

Quite a few people are now looking around for accommodation. However, the board will only really work with a good number of users as there will always be disparity between the number of people looking and seeking.

Help by referring anyone looking/offering to the forum, it should pick up.