About / FAQ
About the site and frequently asked questions.
Who are you?
I'm Scott, and I've been learning Ukrainian since January 1st 2025. I'm a native English speaker from Canada with Ukrainian heritage.
Who is Looping Ukrainian for?
Looping Ukrainian is designed for learners who want a convenient and consistent way to supplement their Ukrainian studies with level-appropriate material.
One of the greatest challenges learning a language independently is finding high-quality materials that match your current level. Looping Ukrainian addresses this by providing resources and a method that are adaptable to each learner's needs.
The material is built on the foundations of well-known native-Ukrainian sources, and follows a similar structural progression to the Яблуко textbook series. To fill in any gaps, I draw on a variety of other sources, such as Yuri Shevchuk's Beginner's Ukrainian and dedicated grammar references. The result is a modified structure geared towards becoming functional faster - focusing on what is practical and readily applicable in everyday communication.
Think of Looping Ukrainian as supplementary practice. Formal classes and lessons only make up a small portion of your time, and textbooks only take you so far. Most progress happens on your own, and Looping Ukrainian supports that by offering weekly practice material that goes beyond a single source.
What does Looping Ukrainian offer?
Looping Ukrainian combines intensive reading with shared conversations to take you from basic comprehension to confident communication.
Each week you'll work with a new text, focusing on the elements most relevant to your current level. Words, concepts, and ideas appear naturally within the text and are clarified with detailed notes that connect directly to what you've just read.
Writing practice then reinforces what you've learned. Closed-ended questions drawn from the text strengthen understanding, while open-ended questions invite you to actively use the language. This gradual progression turns passive knowledge into active skill and builds confidence for real-world interaction.
Looping Ukrainian also provides downloadable tools to help you work with the language - breaking it down and putting it back together while helping you generate it yourself until those processes become intuitive.
See how it works in practice here.
Is Looping Ukrainian appropriate for beginners?
Looping Ukrainian is designed for learners who have a basic grasp of the language. However, it's still accessible relatively early. That's why I created a free primer to help you reach that point.
The primer teaches you everything you need to know before you begin looping so you can make the most out of your subscription from day one. It covers the foundational things every beginner should start with. This includes:
- The alphabet and basic numerals.
- The primary parts of speech and why knowing them matters.
- How words and sentences are structured.
- How and why the looping method works.
- The best way to make flashcards.
- How to set up Ukrainian typing or texting so you can join the shared conversations on your computer or phone.
By the end of the primer you'll have worked your way from square one to completing your first loops, giving you a clear sense of whether Looping Ukrainian is something you want to commit to.
Check out the primer here.
Why learn from a non-native speaker?
Learning from a non-native speaker offers unique advantages.
As a native English speaker with no prior background in Ukrainian, I've had to build my understanding of the language from the ground up. That means I know where learners are likely to stumble and can explain concepts and ideas in terms that feel more relatable. You don't always need to learn from an expert, just someone a few steps ahead.
Since Ukrainian is the first foreign language I've studied seriously, I've also had to learn how to learn a language. Looping Ukrainian grew out of experimenting with different methods and materials, keeping what worked and was enjoyable.
The materials here aren't meant to replace native resources but to supplement them - filling in the gaps, clarifying complex concepts and ideas, and offering sufficient repetition where native materials may move too quickly.
Do you use "AI" (LLMs)?
Yes, but only to support my own studies. I don't use LLMs to generate the material on this site.
For language learning, LLMs are simply another tool. Like textbooks, dictionaries, and the notes and downloads on this site, their purpose is to help you learn more efficiently.
When I use LLMs, I use them to deepen my own understanding of what I'm studying, and they're only useful when I already have enough knowledge to evaluate their answers critically.
The material on this site is intentionally human-made. Looping Ukrainian exists because I'm learning the language myself and want to communicate with real people. If I relied on LLMs to generate the material it would defeat the entire purpose. The whole project is meant to strengthen my own Ukrainian, not outsource it.
Where can I contact you?
The best way to reach me is via email:
- scott@loopingukrainian.online
If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, don't hesitate to get in touch.
I need some extra help, can I work with you directly?
Yes, you can! I'm available throughout the week so you can get the extra help you need, when you need it.
This isn't a formal lesson, nor is it meant to replace working with a native Ukrainian tutor. Use this if there is something specific you need help with regarding the material on this site. For example:
- Want to figure out the best way to do a loop at your current level? We'll go through the method step by step so you can get the most out of future loops.
- Struggling with tricky concepts like grammatical gender or cases? We'll break them down together until they feel manageable.
- Feel like your flashcards aren't effective? We'll review your process and refine it so your cards do the job they're meant to do.
These are just a few ways we can work together to make sure you're getting the most out of your subscription. Members can find the link to booking in the weekly email.
Becoming a paid subscriber gives you access to everything Looping Ukrainian offers while also supporting work created by hand, not algorithms.
How does the paid subscription work?
In my own studies, the best results have come from a combination of paid and free resources. No single resource can do everything, and a more complete approach to learning means supplementing your main resource with what it lacks.
Textbooks in particular give you structure and a framework to work with, but they often move too quickly or don't provide enough practice to fully grasp the ideas presented. You need additional material on the same topics at an appropriate level.
Looping Ukrainian provides exactly that, saving you the time and effort of searching so you can focus your energy on actually learning the language. The paid subscription gives you access to supplementary material every week and a method that adapts to you.
Just as important is having a dedicated space to use the language. The member discussion section gives you regular opportunities to apply what you're learning. This space is generative, creating more opportunities to read and write as members interact.
Together, the weekly material and shared conversations help connect everything you're using in a way that a single resource can't do on its own.
How much does the paid subscription cost?
The paid subscription costs $125 CAD per year, coming out to just over $10 CAD per month.
Learning a language is a long-term commitment. Results compound over weeks, months, and years of consistent study and repeated use. Looping Ukrainian is built around that idea and offers an annual membership to match. There is no monthly option.
Once you become a member, your subscription will automatically renew at the full rate (even if you joined at a discount), and you'll receive an email reminder seven days before your renewal date.
Unlike many traditional forms of language learning, which can be a major commitment and prohibitively expensive, Looping Ukrainian is designed to be affordable and sustainable.
Try it for yourself! The first four weeks are free. Start here.
How do cancellations work?
You can cancel your subscription at any time.
The cancellation is not pro-rated. You'll retain full access to Looping Ukrainian for the period you've already paid for, and your access will automatically end once that period expires.
I'm committed to making Looping Ukrainian a useful and supportive place to learn. If there's ever anything I can do that would improve your experience as a member, please let me know.