Best Russian Language Learning Resources
Here are my most highly recommended resources for learning the Russian language.
I frequently refer to them in many of the articles I write on this site because I know they’re fantastic and they’ve been crucial to my own learning.
From time to time I use affiliate links for paid products on this site which means I get a small commission for referrals. It doesn’t affect the price of anything but doing so has helped me continue to maintain and improve this site over the last 10+ years as a helpful resource for language learners.
Best online Russian audio course
Rocket Russian
This is one of my favorite online courses which has some of the highest quality Russian dialogue material available.
Rocket Russian doesn’t follow a ‘cookie cutter’ approach like other well-known programs such as Rosetta Stone or Pimsleur, and it has a tonne of excellent audio content for all levels ranging from beginner to advanced.
Join The Guild by clicking here, select Russian and I'll send you a unique offer for Rocket Russian exclusive to my readers only.
Russian Uncovered
An extremely well-made and very unique Russian course aimed at teaching Russian through a unique “story learning method”.
If you’re looking for a full Russian curriculum that leads you all the way through to fluency, and are facing difficulties getting your head around how Russian works, this will definitely help you.
Learn Russian with podcasts
RussianPod101
This is an excellent Russian course in the form of audio podcasts and downloadable lessons.
As well as podcast-style lessons, you’ll find videos, a vocabulary database and dictionary, grammar explanations and various other useful features.
Use code MEZZOGUILD for 25% off any of their course options.
Learn to speak Russian with music
Rapid Russian
This is the most unique and effective Russian phrasebook alternative I’ve ever seen and one I frequently recommend on this site.
Based on solid research into memory and ‘stuck song syndrome’, Rapid Russian teaches you the language over the top of highly repetitive tunes that cause the phrases to ‘get stuck’ in your head.
It’s surprisingly effective and is so enjoyable that it doesn’t feel like study at all (read my Earworms review for more info).
Russian fluency courses and guides
Glossika Russian
This is another very unique product that improves your fluency through a highly repetitive ‘listen and repeat’ approach.
It is, in my opinion, one of the the most useful resources I’ve seen for training Russian listening comprehension. Definitely not a conventional course but you’ll be amazed at how effective it is at improving your Russian fluency if you use it daily (read my Glossika review).
Inexpensive Russian lessons via Skype
italki
Not too long ago it was really difficult or impossible to practice Russian without actually traveling to Russia.
Thankfully, tools like italki have made it possible to connect with native speakers from all over the world to practice or to take personalized lessons over Skype (read my italki review).
The great news is, Russian lessons over Skype through italki are incredibly cheap compared to most teachers in person (many are as low as $6-8 an hour depending on what language you’re learning!). All the frustration of payments and scheduling is handled brilliantly by italki too which makes it very easy and stress free to arrange sessions.
Learn Russian through online video
LingoPie
LingoPie is an outstanding library of high quality, interactive TV shows in 6 major European languages, including Russian.
If you enjoy learning from your favorite sitcoms and other genres, this is your best option.
FluentU Russian
This is a fantastic tool for studying Russian using subtitled video (check out my FluentU review).
It’s very similar to Yabla (not available for Russian) but has a wider array of video content to choose from.
Other free tools and resources to help your Russian
Memrise: This is an outstanding online vocabulary training tool that lets you select Russian ‘courses’ to study (or create one yourself). Many of the courses also include audio.
AnkiSRS: A highly versatile flashcard app.
3ears: An amazing free (for now) video tool for watching Russian videos.
Forvo: If there’s ever a Russian word or expression that you’ve seen written but don’t know how to pronounce, you can search for it here (or request it) and hear a native speaker pronounce it for you.
Duolingo Russian: Duolingo is a fun, free and effective way to study Russian grammar.
Check out these relevant posts and Russian resources:
- How To Say Thank You In Russian: Different Ways To Say It
- Best Apps To Learn Russian In 2024 (Tried And Tested)
- How To Read And Pronounce The Russian Alphabet (Cyrillic)
- If I Started Learning Russian Again, Here’s How I’d Do It
- Review Of Russian Short Stories For Beginners (By Olly Richards)
- 20 Outstanding Listening Resources For Russian Learners Of All Levels
- How Cooking Has Helped Me Learn To Speak Russian
- 6 Lessons Learned Dating In Russia While Learning Russian
- 6 Things I’ve Learned About Russian Since Moving To Russia (And Resources That Helped)
- 3 Challenging Features Of The Russian Language And How To Overcome Them
- Balanced, Honest and Detailed RussianPod101 Review
- 10 Reasons Why The Russian Language Isn’t That Difficult
- Back From Georgia (Country Not The State) + [VIDEO]
- Rocket Russian Review (2024 Edition) - Fair And Balanced
- How To Start Learning Russian
- 11 Incredible (Random) Things I Learned Living In Russia
- Language Immersion In Russia - First Impressions After 1 Month
- New Language Challenge: Russia Here I Come!
- Russian Uncovered (StoryLearning) Review: I Love This Course
- 27 Best (And Worst) Online Russian Courses In 2024