Best Online Tools to Learn Russian

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How to learn Russian online? Which tools to use?

Learning new languages is an entertaining process that will help you to discover the soul of other nations in the world. In addition, it allows people to study educational literature in different languages and potentially improve their career and financial life. Are you interested in the Russian language and Russian culture?

No matter what your goal is, language learning is not a fast process, it requires time, dedication, and the right tools, or ways to study. In this article, we will highlight the best online tools to learn Russian to make your journey a lot easier.

Online tools to learn Russian

According to HowDoYou, English is the most popular language of study. The list continues with French, Spanish, German, etc. The Russian language is not at the top of that list, but that doesn’t mean it does not deserve your attention.

Currently, Russian is the 8th most spoken language in the world. It is also an official language in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Moreover, many people in Central Asia, as well as in Baltic countries understand it and use it as well. Hence, knowing the Russian language will allow you to communicate with people in many different countries.

Moreover, to ensure that your commitment to language learning stands the test of time, decide for yourself what is your motivation to learn the Russian language and define a schedule and a study plan.

Related: How to Learn Russian Fast

The question is – how to learn Russian as a beginner? Fortunately for you, 21st century is an era of advanced technology where all pieces of information are available. Let’s start!

Online Russian Lessons

Among online tools to learn Russian, we would definitely list Russian lessons.

Learning with a certified Russian teacher is by far the best way to progress with your Russian. This option is, however, costly, but it is also the most engaging, because you have the undivided attention from your teacher who will adapt the program to your needs and correct your mistakes on the go. You may already be following a bunch of Instagram or YouTube accounts dedicated to Russian language study. Why not take a lesson from your favorite online tutor?

Online Russian Courses

Online Russian courses are usually organized by level (beginner, intermediate, etc) or by a specific need (for businessmen, for tourists), some are based on a popular movie or a book including a vocabulary list and some speaking practice, some are pre-recorded and some take place live. Depending on the level of teacher involvement and feedback, the price will differ. This is probably the best way to start if you are restrained by money or time.

Which other ways or online tools to learn Russian can be helpful?

Language-Learning E-Books

There are many reasons why e-books can be an excellent choice. They are affordable, the content they contain usually comes with supporting visuals or audio, and they are mostly suitable for all levels. You may want to check out books from our list after reading this article.

Russian Step-By-Step for Children

Russian Step-by-Step comes in three different parts – Workbook 1-5. The name of the book may contain the phrase “for children”. However, the lessons you can find there are excellent for people of all ages. All books are divided into four different parts:

Primary Course
Grammar Skills
Answer Key
Dictionary

Each book you read will upgrade the knowledge you previously got. After passing through all three of them, you will be prepared enough to start studying some more advanced lessons.

Russian Reading: 20 Easy Stories for Beginners

This book of 20 easy stories in Russian is written by native Russian speakers with the purpose to improve vocabulary and grammar of Russian language learners. Each story describes the everyday conversation of people. They will also allow you to get insights into the basics of Russian culture.

The English-Russian Joke Book

A joke book may not seem like an ideal learning method at first glance. However, when you start reading them, you will see that reading jokes is an entertaining way to improve your Russian language.

First of all – you will manage to understand the Russian mentality a little. Despite that, keep in mind that these joke lessons are memorable. You will easily remember some grammar and spelling rules that usually seem confusing when reading long-form lessons. In the end, if you ever go to Russia, you may manage to make someone else’s time more entertaining and potentially make new friendships.

For Intermediate+ learners, we recommend checking this page with suggested readings and listening practice.

Russian Language Podcasts

Podcasts made by native Russian speakers are a great way to polish your comprehension skills. For beginners, we recommend checking if the podcast author has the supporting text as well, so that you could print it out and make notes. For intermediate Russian learners (level B1 +), try to listen without supporting text – you can start with a slower speed, though.

Websites to Hear Russian Pronunciation

The best way to hear correct Russian pronunciation is through listening to podcasts, YouTube videos and movies made by native Russian speakers. For example, try this playlist with pronunciation of Russian common words organised by topics.

Otherwise, there are plenty of online dictionaries – one language only (explaining Russian in Russian) and double language (translating Russian into other languages) allowing you to see transcription and sometimes pronunciation with audio. The most accessible and free is good old Google Translate – use it on desktop or download a Google Translate App.

How to use: put a word in your language – then pick Translate language “Russian “ and next to the word in Russian you will see a 🔉 symbol – tap to hear pronunciation. See example below:

How to check pronunciation in Russian

Apps for Language Learning

If lessons and long-form contents are something you don’t like, language learning apps will be an excellent option.

You probably have many apps on your phone that usually make your free time more entertaining. However, apps can definitely be one of many educational online tools to learn Russian in combination with other educational resources. Some of them can be an excellent choice for people that plan to make the first steps.

Duolingo App

There is a big chance you have heard about Duolingo already. It is a language-learning app that comes with entertaining animations and designs as well as simple navigation. You will get the chance to go through different exercises that can teach you the conversational basics in Russian. When your vocabulary starts to grow, you can subscribe to a paid version of the app and continue your progress.

Russian Cyrillic App

Russian alphabet or Russian Cyrillic is going to be the toughest challenge for non-native speakers. However, the good news is that apps like Cyrillic (Russian Alphabet) can help you become fast in learning and writing. You can find it on Google Play and Apple Store for free.

Busuu App

Busuu app provides around 150 Russian lesson units that come together with a number of dialogues and quizzes that make the entire process more interesting. Everyday conversations that this app provides will help you improve your vocabulary and help you avoid using only formal terms and phrases.

The best thing of all – you can use the app even offline. That would mean you can improve your language while you are at the bus station, in your office, etc.

HiNative App

HiNative is a Q&A platform for language learners. Ask questions about Russian language and culture and expect an answer from a native speaker.

Apps, however, have certain disadvantages – they will train your memory and grow your vocab but they do not provide the necessary assistance. There are many details you may not manage to understand as a beginner, especially if it concerns Russian grammar. Because of that, you may need additional help of a Russian teacher, preferably one that is trained to teach Russian to foreigners, as the materials and the method will be quite different from those which are made for native language learners.

Final Thoughts on Learning Russian

Learning the Russian language requires patience, time, and self-organization. It will probably be challenging to learn the basics at the beginning. However, with clear explanations and entertaining visuals, you will manage to make mini-progress every single day. When you feel like the basics are completely clear to you, move to an advanced level and try to start a conversation with native Russian speakers, try to read and listen as much as possible in Russian.

Watching and reading in Russian is the best way to improve your vocabulary!

After all, the online tools to learn Russian mentioned in this article will definitely come in handy.

Article written in collaboration with Jessica Fender, a professional writer and educational blogger at BestWritingAdvisor (academic writing services) and GetGoodGrade, an aggregator for useful college resources and websites. Jessica enjoys sharing her ideas to make writing and learning fun.