Generally, Russian is one of the most challenging languages you can learn thanks to the Cyrillic writing system, lack of articles, complex grammar rules like the noun cases and verb conjugations, and expressive yet flexible sentence structure.
But it doesn’t have to be. If you are excited about learning Russian and feel motivated, you can master the language with relative ease.
Russian is my native language, but Daniel, my German husband, has been learning Russian for some time. I asked him about his proven tips and techniques for learning Russian so I could share valuable insights with you to make your language-learning journey easier.
Here are my husband’s tried and tested Russian learning techniques and hacks!
7 Best Methods to Learn Russian
Daniel swears that these 7 learning methods have helped him improve his Russian language skills.
So to learn Russian, you can:
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Watch Russian Series on Netflix and Other Platforms
One of the best ways to start learning a new language like Russian is by watching TV shows and movies in the target language. Daniel loves watching Russian series on Netflix, but before that, he watched familiar shows like Friends in Russian.
The Russian shows and movies that are available on Netflix will depend on where you live. But worthwhile options are Better Than Us, Masha and the Bear, Silver Skates, To the Lake, Sparta, and Chernobyl 1986.
Of course, you can also check out Russian shows and movies on Amazon Prime.
Watch Children's Fairy Tales in Russian on YouTube
You may wonder why an adult would want to watch kid’s fairy tales to learn Russian. The answer is quite simple – these stories are written for children who are beginner Russian speakers, like you. That makes these stories an ideal place to start your learning journey.
Check out the kids’ stories and fairy tale channels and videos:
Read in Russian
Once you’ve mastered the Russian alphabet and learned some vocabulary, you can start reading in Russian. My husband began with children’s books and short stories, and even looked for the Russian edition of his favorite novels, like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Little Prince.
As your language skills progress, you can read Russian more mature literature (Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Pushkin, and Anton Chekhov) in the original language.
Watch YouTube Channels Like “Russian With a Native”
There are various YouTube Channels you can use to help you learn Russian. Daniel is a fan of Russian with a Native, which has 83.1 thousand followers and nearly 900 videos. That’s a lot of content to work through!
The channel has Russian for Traveling, Spoken Russian, Russian Language Tests, and Russian for Beginners, Intermediates, and Advanced students.
You can also check out Native Russian, which has more than a 100 videos on Russian grammar, slang, travel lessons, and more!
Do Russian Lessons on italki and Preply
While my husband can practice his Russian with me, not every Russian student has that luxury. You can hire a Russian tutor from italki or Preply so you can get individual attention and feedback, which will help you improve your language skills significantly.
Actively Use Russian on Social Media
Daniel and I recommend using Russian on your social media platforms. Find influencers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, and comment on their content in Russian (plus, follow the comments in Russian, too).
The benefit is that you only have to write a short sentence or two, and sometimes, even a short phrase works! This is ideal for beginner students.
Test Language-Learning Apps and Find the Right One
There are many language-learning apps you can use to help you learn Russian. But since not every app is the same, you have to test a few to see which one(s) will suit your learning methods and budget the best.
I like to use a combination of apps when I learn a language, and Daniel has adopted the same approach. He is busy learning Russian on Duolingo, Mondly, and Babbel, and here’s why he likes these three:
Duolingo was created in 2012, and it’s one of the most popular apps for learning languages.
The app teaches you via interactive lessons and the Practice Hub. And you’ll keep coming back for more since you’d want to complete the daily and friend quests and compete in the Leagues.
Russian is one of the 40+ languages that are available on Duolingo.
Cost:
You can learn Russian for free on Duolingo, but you’ll have to put up with ads after each lesson
Access unlimited hearts (aka lives) and more with Super Duolingo, starting at US$7.99 per month, or Duolingo Max, starting at around US$30.00 per month.
Why Duolingo?
Game-like interface that’s geared to keep you motivated and learning
You can learn the Russian alphabet
Complete 3 sections with nearly 50 units of lessons
A great starting tool to learn the basics
Created in 2014 and part of Pearson, Mondly wants to ensure you have fun learning while it leverages the latest that technology has to offer.
Learn via interactive lessons, quizzes, challenges, and chatbot conversations, or opt for more immersive experiences with Mondly’s augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) apps.
While you can learn Russian on Mondly, you are spoiled for choice with 40+ other languages.
Cost:
Mondly has a limited freemium version so you can test the app. But you can also do the daily, weekly, and monthly lessons/challenges at no cost.
To access the premium features and all the lessons a language like Russian offers, you’ll pay at least US$9.99 per month.
Why Mondly?
38 Russian topic stacks with a minimum of 8 lessons each
Can use Mondly AR to immerse yourself in Russian
Ideal for beginner and intermediate Russian students to learn and review
Babbel launched to the public in 2008, and the app is geared toward improving your conversational skills.
Russian is one of the 14 languages that Babbel offers.
Cost:
Babbel offers a limited free trial so you can get a feel for the app.
Complete interactive lessons with the Babbel Self-Study subscription at US$13.95 per month, or do interactive and live group lessons with Babbel Live at US$99.00 per month.
Why Babbel?
- Also a great starting point with level A1 and A2 courses and specialized courses on grammar, words and sentences, countries and traditions, and the Russian alphabet
- Excellent review feature
- Valuable conversation practice
Want to learn more about language learning apps? Here are my reviews:
Learning Russian: 8 Tips for Making Quick Progress
To progress as fast as you can with Russian and meet your language goals, follow these tips:
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1. Start Easy
It’s best to start with the basics, and when it comes to Russian, that’s the Cyrillic alphabet.
Use tools like Duolingo and Babbel to introduce you to the Russian writing system, but supplement your learning with resources like Russian for Free, YouTube videos dedicated to teaching you, and books like Russian Alphabet Made Easy and Master the Russian Alphabet.
2. Minimum Change, Maximum Effect
The minimum change, maximum effect is attributed to James Clear. In his book, Atomic Habits, Clear writes about the 1% method, which states that a tiny improvement you make consistently can have an astounding effect over time.
So if you can improve your Russian language skills by 1% every day for a year, your Russian will be 37 times better than when you started. So spending 5-15 minutes a day to learn Russian will pay off big time over the long run.
3. Get Rid of Language Inhibitions
When you first start learning a language, especially when it’s in a different language family than what you speak natively, it’s mighty strange. And it’s normal that you will feel awkward about speaking out loud and pronouncing the words.
But the sooner you get over your inhibitions, the better. Speak Russian from the start, as much as you can. Speak to a tutor, yourself, and with anyone whom you can meet up with in your town that speaks Russian so you can practice.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes!
We all make mistakes. And thinking you won’t or that you should be afraid of making mistakes will only hold you back from trying and improving.
Afterall, it isn’t the mistake that counts but what you do afterwards. Do you learn from the mistake? Do you implement strategies, like studying more, so you don’t make the same subject-verb conjugation mistake again?
5. Immerse Yourself in the World of Russian Communication
I’m a huge fan of immersive learning methods. So communicate in Russian as much and as often as you can. Stand in front of the mirror in the mornings after you’ve brushed your hair and teeth or while doing makeup or getting dressed and converse with yourself in Russian.
Or use the internet to find legit opportunities to talk to Russians via written and spoken communication. The more you practice, the better you’ll be at speaking, understanding, listening, reading, and writing in Russian.
6. Learn Useful Vocabulary First
It’s essential to learn active vocabulary – the words and phrases you’ll use the most – first. While it’ll be awesome to learn about politics and economics in Russian and have a high-level conversation with a college professor, remember that you’ll get there … but start with the basics.
Learn the vocabulary you need and can use for now. You’ll need to know how to greet people and ask them how they are, how to introduce yourself, and talk about basics like food, numbers, colors, shapes, clothes, jobs, and everyday activities before you can get into the more involved topics.
7. Repetition Is Key: Again and Again and Again!
When you repeat what you’ve learned, you’ll have a better chance to retain and remember the information. That’s why language teachers often engage in drill and repeat exercises and why language-learning apps have review features.
Make sure you spend time repeating what you’ve learned so it can stick in your brain. So redo exercises, ask your tutor if you can repeat that conversation about hobbies, and recall what you’ve learned when you have time during the day.
8. Motivation Is the Key to Success
You won’t get anywhere with your Russian studies if you aren’t motivated. Your motivation helps you to push through when learning Russian gets challenging and it feels like you aren’t making progress.
Make learning fun, but set clear and achievable goals for yourself.
For Daniel, for example, it started with telling me that he loves me and then asking me about my day. Another goal for him was being able to better communicate with my Russian-speaking friends and family.
So go back to why you want to learn Russian and use that to create goals to motivate you to achieve success.
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Conclusion: Learning Russian Isn’t That Difficult
Many people think that Russian is a very difficult language to learn, but when you use the right learning methods and follow my best tips for learning a new language, you’ll find that Russian isn’t that difficult.
Keep a positive attitude, remain true to your goals, and ensure you stay motivated. Implement the 1% method by learning a little bit of Russian every day, and you’ll be amazed by the progress you’ve made in a month, 3 months, or a year from now.
Happy learning!
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Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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