Privet, you can learn English using the Russian language here at Italki: http://www.italki.com/knowledge/Learn-english-russian.htm Here are English teachers who speak Russian at Italki: http://www.italki.com/teachers/1-3-English-Russian0-999999-0-0-1.htm You can find an English language partner who speaks Russian. Send them a message and ask them to be a friend, then you can arrange to talk on skype or msn etc. http://www.italki.com/partners/1-Russian-English200-0--0-0.htm Here You can order American Movies Translated on Russian with subtitles. http://www.russiancddvd.com/movies.html You can select English audio with Russian Subtitles or Russian audio and English Subtitles. Or Russian Audio and Subtitles.

Translation is a useful exercise, but you could be make mistakes with syntax and you will need to get someone else to proof read your work. Start with simple paragraphs first.

I think the only thing it can improve is spelling. For example french, greek borrowings. + enrich your vocabulary (depends on books)

Uncommon way but, yes, I think it could work. Why not? Have you tried that? I personally like different ways of learning.

Honestly, I really don't think that's a good idea. I think something you can do is write a bunch of words that you don't really understand( Or know how to say) on notecards and then practice them for a week, then have someone give you a test over them. (Kind of like a spelling test... yeah, it sounds boring, but it works:) After the spelling test, put the words you got wrong into sentences and then see if the words around can give you hints as to what it means. Something like that... you can always modify. (: You can also put prefixes and suffixes on notecards...