If you want to improve your English vocabulary and pronunciation, don't listen to tapes and CD's. If you do you will forever have a heavy Russian accent. Instead immerse yourself in the foreign culture. Travel, start conversations with strangers, dial the phone and talk to whoever picks up. Become friends with native speakers, listen carefully and try to duplicate their accent. Read newspapers and magazines, try to pick up urban slang and idioms. Don't translate word for word from Russian, try to think in English. If everything else fails, there are always 'English for spies' courses.