I’ve been teaching Russian for years now and through that experience have met a lot of amazing people. Since it’s my native language, I always couldn’t help but wonder what other non-native speakers like about it. Some say it simply sounds nice, which for me was at first a bit hard to believe (obviously they haven’t heard my uncle yelling in the kitchen while he’s trying to cook breakfast), others - that speaking Russian makes them feel like spies from a bad-ass movie. So, after brooding over a cup of black tea, I’ve decided to add my own 10 kopeks to that list. Lo and behold, here are the 4 reasons that make learning Russian language so useful (in my opinion, anyway): 1. Plenty of places to practise. That’s right! With over 258 million speakers worldwide, Russian is the most widely spoken Slavic language and the eighth most spoken language in the world. So it will definitely be useful if you plan to visit one of the former Soviet countries. 2. Read Dostoevsky in the original to feel enlightened. Russian literature and culture have had a significant impact on the world, with great writers such as Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Bulgakov and Chekhov. Being fluent in Russian language allows for a deep appreciation of these works in their original language. 3. Funny way to say it… The Russian language has a rich collection of idioms and proverbs that are unique to the language, such as "if you enjoy riding, you should also enjoy to carry your sledge" or “if you love honey, you should also love cold” to describe a person’s need to work hard. Very fitting when it comes to learning such a complex language! 4. Cultural heritage. Russia has a rich cultural heritage that spans over centuries, from the art and music of the Tsarist era to the avant-garde movements of the Soviet period. Want to learn more? Let me know in the comments below :)