Natural Russian Fluency Through Comprehension
This roadmap graph is based on the Algie equation, with:
Native Language Factor = 0,8 (medium-related languages & cultural backgrounds to Russian, e.g., English)
Ceiling = 100% (no interference in the natural acquisition process)
Percentage of understanding = 70% (the learner understands 70% of overall meaning of input he is getting)
The progression may vary by individual learner traits.
ALG has developed a comprehension growth equation (Algie) using data from thousands of students, resulting in highly accurate listening comprehension roadmap and natural speaking emergence predictions.
"For 10 years I observed natural language entering the brains of 5,000 students and myself." Dr. J. Marvin Brown, the author of ALG method (From the Outside In. The Autobiography of Dr J Marvin Brown, 2003)
[1] Natural speaking is improvising meaningful sentences without pre-thoughts.
The emergence of speaking ability occurs at approximately 65% proficiency. While the speaking roadmap is assumed to follow the same growth curve as comprehension, it begins later. However, unlike comprehension, speaking development has not been studied extensively yet—only through individual case observations.
[2] Start Crosstalk with only Russian from your partner and your native language from you, gradually shifting to spontaneous Russian speech as it emerges naturally from comprehension.
Reading and writing are not part of the natural language acquisition process; they are trained skills requiring deliberate study. Therefore, this roadmap follows the same sequence as literacy development in Russian children, guided by the following principles:
[3] Avoid Early Exposure to Reading – Introducing written forms too soon can interfere with phonetic acquisition. A Cambridge study by Kateřina Chládková found that learners exposed to reading in a new language had reduced ability to perceive stress, pitch, and rhythm compared to those learning purely orally. Early exposure to novel-language speech can also hinder oral comprehension development.
[4] Phonetic Spelling After Advanced Comprehension – Learners should only begin phonetic spelling after reaching an advanced comprehension level, as it requires a strong vocabulary and a well-developed phonological model (e.g., knowing word stress and related words for spelling verification, such as город → "горад").
[5] Grammar-Aware Writing After Advanced Speaking – Grammar-based writing instruction should only start once learners have achieved advanced speaking proficiency, including the correct use of all grammatical cases.