know english

[Sveta & Ron 23]

last night my lawyer called and tell she was little worried that sveta just started learn english last month how important is it sveta knows english well before interview? from what I had read it really does not matter or did i read wrong? as i told lawyer sveta still has few months to learn english before interview sooner i hope

[Inky 1,111]

The only time her English is important is at the interview for her to become a US citizen - which is not for many years.

There are a lot of people who have interpreters at the K-1 interview. I would not worry about this and forget about your lawyer worrying about something that is not that important right now.

[leith@Ievgeniia 8]

if she knows no english and u do not know russian or ukrainian, the question arises on how you communicate with each other. that is the only problem. she can take interview in russian or ukrainian, because if she will be nervous and misunderstood something, that is not the problem. they may challenge if nobody knows how to talk on any level.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

last night my lawyer called and tell she was little worried that sveta just started learn english last month how important is it sveta knows english well before interview? from what I had read it really does not matter or did i read wrong? as i told lawyer sveta still has few months to learn english before interview sooner i hope

Not at all. She will be asked in she wants her interview in Russian, Ukrainian or English. Just say what she wants. Alla has a masters in English from her university in Ukraine and was working as an interpreter. When we walked up to the window the guy collecting documents asked her, in Russian, which language she preferred. She answered "Russian" She never said another word except in Russian and I doubt anyone there could even tell you if she knew any English.

we had no questions asked at the "interview", just called to the window and were told the visa was approved.

I have heard of a few, very few, being asked how they communicate but it has never been made a big issue in Kiev that I have heard. Simply answer honestly.

The next thing you need to do is to be lining up ESL classes for her here so she is ready to start ASAP and I strongly suggest she be in a class EVERY day. If one course only has classes two days per week, then find another for the other 3 days. She is not going to be able towrok and is going to need something to keep her entertained and active, learning English is a good way.

I guess I cannot stress how important it is to have these arrangements made for her when she arrives, start her classes right away, within 1-2 days of arrival if possible, throw her right in the deep end, so to speak. Alla spoke very good English but was totaly confused when she got here. People talk too fast, way to much slang and idioms, funny accents all sorts of things she did not understand. Heck in her first day or two she walked right up to the deli counter at the grocery and ordered "500 grams of this meat, right here (pointing)" This resulted in both Alla and the girl looking like... That's just a minor thing. Being comfortable in her new home will depend on her being able to function and to do that she has to communicate. Otherwise she will feel trapped and that is NOT good.

Also teach her how to get around and get her started with driving lessons, pay someone to do this if you can. I did not and it is a testiment to our dedication that we are still married.

[jimnlena 8]

Curious why you using lawyer? Everything you need is here on VJ

2 of Lena's friend s spoke less than 10 words of english when they got here and no issue with interview.

[Adriene H 89]

I'd encourage her to start learning English like now, you know

so she can read street signs, fill out job applications, and

just plain live in a country that well, speaks English

[Sveta & Ron 23]

i hired lawyer before find site and getting kinda bizy with work guess kinda lucky in that also sveta started english lessons last month thinking about making another visit in may and not going tell her want be surprise going have our friend make her think he has to take her somewhere and shortly after driving tell her going to kyiv to get me from airport some how have make sure she has day off work would be great if can have interview while i am there i know long shot one can hope right