When I learned English (as my second language) as a child, I had to learn how to write the alphabet in cursive. And even though many teachers prefer cursive writing, I never do it. I am currently learning Russian and I can't stand the way my professor writes the cyrillic alphabet in cursive. So, I was wondering... is it common for people in Russia (despite their early learning of writing in cursive) to hand write things in block letters?

I was watching a news clip of the Chinese president being spoken to in Russian by someone but couldn't see if there was an interpreter. Does anyone know if he speaks Russian?
Also, is the US President the only one in the world who is not fluent in a second language?
calm down Ben I never said he's required to know more than one. RE-read my question.

I want to learn a second language one i can use and i am looking for a free site for emersion type of training in russian or ukrainian

Do practically everyone in the former Soviet Republics speak Russian as a native language or second language?
Is there specific data on the number of people who can speak it?
Thanks.

Is the Russian language still being taught as a second language in Serbia, Bosnia or Croatia.