I’m a 17-year-old from South Africa , currently in Grade 10 , and I speak fluent English and siSwati. I’ve set a massive goal for myself: I want to learn Russian to near-native fluency. I have exactly 2 years and 1 month left before I finish high school, and I want to completely accelerate my progress during this window.

I know my situation sounds a bit contradictory. My ultimate plan is to go to university and study in Slovakia. I originally wanted to study in Russia, but I can't fulfill that dream because I was born with HIV , and Russia's strict residency/student visa medical restrictions for foreigners make it impossible for me to move there permanently. But I refuse to let that stop me from mastering the language. I still have a deep passion for it, and I'm going to learn it regardless of where I end up.

Right now, I am an absolute beginner, but I’ve picked up some basics phonetically.…