From experience, I found it hard to learn Ukrainian at school. But my fiance is Ukrainian so I thought I really had to learn it, even just the basics. I opted for an online school called Preply.com ( http://preply.com/en/ukrainian-by-skype ) and they helped me learn fast. I am not yet as fluent as I would like to be but my now husband appreciates the effort I am putting in learning about his culture and language. I am a Filipina, by the way. :)