Category: Languages

Why does Puerto Rico speak different Spanish, you may ask? The answer is simple, it’s a melting pot of different cultures and languages. Spanish has been spoken in Puerto Rico since the 16th century, when the first Spanish settlers arrived at the island. Since then, the language has evolved and continues to change today.

There are over 300 million native Spanish speakers. Four million of them are from Puerto Rico. You will have heard that these people speak with a strong accent when they speak in Spanish, but this is not true.

The first thing to know is that Puerto Rico has been a territory of the United States since 1898 when Spain was forced to give it up after losing in The Spanish-American War.  There are still many people who wish for its independence from US rule and have fought hard through protests and political means over the years.

Spanish in Puerto Rico

Spanish is the official language in Puerto Rico. However, due to the island’s diverse culture, there are many dialects of Spanish that are spoken. In fact, different dialects can be traced back to the 16th century when the first Spanish settlers arrived on the island. The language has evolved over time and continues to change today.

The Puerto Rican accent has changed over the years. Slaves were forced to speak this language. The African accent made it hard to roll their R’s, and as a result, they became less pronounced.

One of the most commonly spoken dialects in Puerto Rico is called Spanglish. Spanglish is a mixture of English and Spanish that is used by many people on the island. It’s a way for them to communicate with others who speak both languages.

History of Puerto Rican Spanish

The best way to know about Puerto Rico is through its language. Through it, you will find many borrowed words that have been given Spanish endings. There are also many historic influences on the language that give it more layers.

The history of the language can be traced back to when Christopher Columbus found the island in 1493. It is believed that he thought it was an island off the coast of China because there were no other islands nearby and it seemed similar to one he had seen on his travels.  He named this new land La Isla Española or the Spanish Island.

Columbus and his crew were the first Europeans to visit Puerto Rico. Over time, more Spanish settlers arrived on the island and began to establish settlements. They brought with them their language and culture which slowly began to change the way that Spanish was spoken in Puerto Rico.

A long time ago, it is believed that the first Puerto Ricans came from South America. But we do not know much about how they spoke.

The Spanish conquistadors killed many Taínos. But we can find out something about their language because there are some words still here.

Puerto Rican sentences are like African languages. Linguists study the accent and found it similar to languages in Nigeria.

Today, there are many different dialects of the language that are spoken on the island. In Puerto Rico, it is typical for them to mix English and Spanish when they communicate with others who know both languages.

The Spanish wiped out 90% of the Boricua population. They did this by killing them and giving them smallpox.

Learning Puerto Rican-Specific Spanish

Puerto Rican Spanish is not just slang. There are also lots of great phrases that have to do with Puerto Rico. For example, “mi casa es tu casa” means that your home is my home. Learn some of these phrases and you’ll sound like a Puerto Rican in no time.

In addition to learning vocabulary and grammar, it’s also important to understand Puerto Rican culture. You can learn more about the Spanish language and its history in Puerto Rico by reading this blog post.

Puerto Rican Spanish has two distinct dialects. The influence of English in almost every Puerto Rican’s life is influencing the language.

If you come from a different continent and hear some words or a different way of talking, that doesn’t mean it is wrong. You are just hearing a different type of Spanish. That is okay! Either way is fine. It’s important to keep learning Spanish so that you can speak with people from all over the world

Spanglish (What it Is and Isn’t)

Puerto Rican Spanish is influenced by English. Some people say that this makes it worse than the Spanish from Madrid.

Spanglish is a mix of Spanish and English. It is used for many purposes. One reason to use it is to speak faster. Another reason would be for a word that only exists in one language, or even because you like a certain word in both languages. If you use it often enough, one day Spanglish could become a language of its own.

Spanglish is one word but can be used with more words to create a sentence or phrase. If you are comfortable in Spanish and English, then Spanglish will not take long for you to learn! Use it all the time! You’ll have fun learning this new twist on an old tongue.

Puerto Rican Spanish Accent

Puerto Rican Spanish is different from other dialects. It has soft L’s, dropped final letters, and muted vowels. That makes it probably the smoothest Spanish accent.

The Puerto Rican accent is like that of the Taínos – an indigenous people of Puerto Rico. This language is very soft and it is different than what we know as Spanish.

The Puerto Rican accent has changed over time. Africans were forced to learn the language and the African accent made it hard for them to roll their R’s. So they didn’t do that as much.

Words with the letter S at the end are pronounced like an H. Words that have a consonant and a vowel at the end are pronounced without the last consonant.

Vowel Sounds

The Puerto Rican accent is different from the Mexican accent. There are charts that show how different accents sound. This invention creates a map of the inside of your mouth. Repeat these 4 words “car, mart, far” to see if you can hear the difference. If you can, then your mouth is ready for this lesson.

The Puerto Rican accent has some sounds that are not in American English: the letter C makes a K sound; words like “muy” and boca make an OO-eee sound instead of EE (like we would say it), and there’s no J at all – so words like “jardín” sound more like HARD-in.

The letter S has two sounds in Puerto Rican Spanish; it can be pronounced as an English Z (like in the word salsa) or as a soft SH, almost not there at all. This is because of African influence on Caribbean Spanish.”

The trick to mapping out Puerto Rican vowels is to feel them in your mouth when you are speaking. Think about how they will be on the IPA map. You can even record yourself so that you know what your exact vowels are.

Don’t be shy! Practice with your friends and family. They will appreciate the fact that you are putting in a little extra effort to learn their language. Always try to make new words using both languages as much as possible, this is how Spanglish happens.

The most interesting thing was how much more centered the Puerto Rican vowels are.

The Spanish spoken in Puerto Rico is distinct from other forms of Spanish. It has softly pronounced Ls and dropped final letters, as well as muted vowels. Because of this, it’s quite probable that the Puerto Rican accent is the smoothest form of Spanish.

The Puerto Rican accent has changed over time, with influences from African settlers who were forced to learn Spanish. One difference in pronunciation is that S at the end of a word is often pronounced like an H. Another distinctive feature of Puerto Rican Spanish is the lack of a J sound; words that would typically have a J are pronounced with an H instead.

The letter C also has two sounds in Puerto Rican Spanish; it can be pronounced as an English Z (like in the word salsa), or as a soft SH, almost not there at all. This is because of African influence on Caribbean Spanish.

But what if we compare that diagram to the same 5 sounds in American English? Here is my map overlapped with a General American English Vowel Quadrilateral. To be fair to English, there are around 10 vowel sounds that are not on this map.

Consonant Sounds

Now we know what the tongue is doing when making vowel sounds. Now we can explore some of the consonant sounds. They are a bit harder to show than vowels. We can explore 2 of the most important consonant sounds in Puerto Rican Spanish.

Puerto Rican Spanish has several distinct sound changes. The most prevalent sound change is a softening final vowel. When two vowels come one after the other, there’s also a D that gets contracted. An R that softens to an aspirated or L-like sound is another common variation.

This happens in two places: at the end of words or between two vowels. If your accent is so good people think you are a native, then you will have another problem.

Where to Look for Boricua Teachers & Exchanges

Puerto Rican Spanish teachers are hard to find. Most Puerto Ricans also speak English, so look on Instagram and Facebook for these hashtags and groups.

The best place online is on Facebook groups that teach the language, like this one: Spanish en Puerto Rico (you can find it by searching for “Spanish” and then clicking “Groups”) Or you can message me if you want more info. Here are some other places to find resources to learn Puerto Rican Spanish:

• YouTube has many channels that offer free lessons on the language.
• Puerto Rico Tourism offers a lot of great information about the culture and history of the island, as well as some audio and video resources for learning the language.
• There are also a few websites that offer lessons in the language.
• You can join a Facebook group called “Spanish en Puerto Rico” and ask other members for help or with questions about the language.  This is also an excellent place to find teachers who are willing to give lessons in person, online and over Skype!

You can speak Puerto Rican Spanish with any Boricua person in the world, no matter the location.

This is a perfect time to start doing it! Start now and you’ll have plenty of boricua friends in no time at all 🙂  Use this as an excuse to travel more too!

Blessings from Puerto Rico! There are lots of ways to enjoy Boricua culture even if you aren’t there.

Puerto Rican Culture

Puerto Rican music is the best-known thing from Puerto Rico. Names of people will sound familiar. Salsa, bomba y plena, and reggaeton are the most popular genres of music in Puerto Rico.

The cuisine of Puerto Rico is a mix of Taíno, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and U.S. influences. Some common dishes are mofongo, pasteles, arroz con gandules (rice and beans), pernil (a roasted pork shoulder served with rice), alcapurrias, carne frita (deep fried ground beef) and empanadas.

The island is also known for its rum and cigars! The local brand of beer is Medalla.

Puerto Rico is a melting pot of cultures, and its Spanish reflects that. The language has evolved over time, taking on influences from the many different groups who have inhabited the island.

Did you know that there are over 100 million speakers of Colombian Spanish around the world? It is a popular language due to its beautiful dialect and interesting culture. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most interesting facts about Colombian Spanish.

How to Improve Your Spanish Colombian Accent

In order to improve your Spanish accent, you should practice speaking with people with a good accent. You can also learn from TV or videos.

When Spanish words are pronounced by a native speaker, the language has a certain charm. As foreigners, it is hard to speak like this. For example, Spanish words like taco, pico, and taza are pronounced differently by English speakers.

To become fluent in everyday conversational Spanish, beginners can learn step-by-step lessons that focus on practical conversation skills (like introducing themselves) through video flashcards.

To make it easier for non-native speakers to learn Colombian Spanish pronunciation, there are a few things you can do. Comprehension trumps production, so listening to the language and trying to make sense of what people say will help a lot more than producing your own speech. There are also different dialects in Colombia, so it’s important to pay attention to where someone is from if you want to understand them.

Where Colombian Spanish Originated

Colombian Spanish is spoken in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela as well as small parts of Costa Rica and Panama. It is also often heard in many other Latin American countries where it has undergone some change, such as Chile and Cuba. The dialect of the capital city Bogota is considered standard for all Spanish speakers in Colombia. Colombians have a certain way of pronouncing words and Spanish verbs which is difficult for other Spanish speakers to understand, so it’s important to learn how to speak Colombian Spanish if you want to communicate effectively with a native speaker!

In places where a population has been exposed to both dialects, Colombians tend to have trouble understanding speakers of other Latin American countries because there are some words that they pronounce differently or sometimes don’t say at all. There is a lot of slang too, so many non-Colombians can find it hard to understand Colombians or what they mean.

For example, there’s “vaina,” which is a way of saying “thing” and is pronounced with an ‘s’ on the end of it. Colombians often add the letter ‘s’ at the end of words where other Spanish speakers would not do so. Additionally, some words that end in ‘o’ for other Spanish speakers will be said with an ‘u’ instead of an ‘o’ by Colombians, such as “chucuto” (instead of chulito) and “cachaco” (instead of cachado).

The Colombian accent is extremely difficult to understand for non-native speakers, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to speak like a Colombian.

Hilarious Spanish Slang You Need to Learn

Aside from slang and verb changes, Colombians also use different words for things than other Spanish speakers do. Here are some examples:

• When they want to say “I’m going” in the sense of “I’m leaving,” some Colombians use the verb “tirar” (which would translate to “to throw”), like in the sentence, “Tiro para mi casa.”

• Some people replace the word for ‘a lot’ with más. For example, they might say something like “Tiene un más cuerpo” instead of “Tiene un cuerpo más grande.”

• When asking for things, Colombians often use the verb ‘preguntar’ and not ‘pedir.’ For example, they would say something like “Pregúntale si quiere salir” (instead of “Pídele si quiere salir”).
• “Pacha Mama” is a term Colombians use as a reference to the Earth, similar to calling it “Mother Nature.”
• ‘Pelar el cobre’ translates to ‘to rip someone off’, but Colombians are known to use this phrase when they want to refer to the act of stealing copper wire. A more common term in Colombia is ‘pasar’, which means ‘to steal’ or ‘rob’. However, it’s taken a step further and used specifically for losing an electronic device or taking items from a store without paying for them.

In Colombia, there are over 50 dialects. The most important ones are those from the West side of the country which includes Valle del Cauca and Antioquia and those between the East and Central regions such as Southeastern Colombia, which includes the city of Neiva. People from these areas have a strong accent that makes their speech difficult to understand for other Colombians.

On the other hand, some people from the following regions may not be able to communicate well with those who come from Western parts of the country: Boyacá and Santander (North), Cundinamarca, and Tolima (Central East), and Amazonas, Caquetá, and Putumayo (South).

Colombians also have a very specific way of pronouncing names that may be difficult for other Spanish speakers to understand. For example, they might put stress on the wrong syllable or elongate a letter. For example, “José” would be pronounced as something like “Hosepé.”

Next time you go to Colombia, make sure to watch out for these differences, and don’t be afraid to ask your Colombian friends or language instructors about them!

Learn Spanish through Songs

Colombian Spanish is clearly very different from other dialects of Spanish, which means that it is important to study it if you want to communicate effectively with native speakers. Luckily, Colombian Spanish courses are available all over the Internet for free or for a fee like Rocket Languages which offers several types of online courses.   

There are also plenty of opportunities to practice speaking and dancing if those are not your strong points.

Resources To Learn Spanish Colombian Online

• Colombianspanish.co: a website dedicated to teaching and learning Colombian Spanish. They provide free lessons on the language as well as cultural facts about Colombia and its people.
• Learn more than Spanish: a language school that offers Colombian Spanish lessons online and advice about the country.
• fluentu: This website was created by language experts from the ground up. It offers courses for over 30 languages including Colombian Spanish which can be downloaded or streamed on any device connected to WiFi or a data network.
• Preply : a website where you can find private teachers in Colombia and every major city around the world.

The best way to learn is by going to Colombia and meeting the locals, but there are plenty of ways to do so online as well!

Just remember: it’s all about practice, practice, and more practice.

Do you love traveling to foreign countries?

Do you want to explore business opportunities in Russia or a specific Russian-speaking country?

Or does Your loved one resides in Russia?

Most foreigners make Russia their travel destination due to these reasons. There are many different Russian tourist destinations to explore. Some of the most popular destinations include Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Sochi, North Ossetia, and Kazan. Each destination offers something unique and exciting for visitors.

Similarly, there are a lot of business opportunities in Russia. Whatever the case may be of your travel to Russia one thing is sure that you will have to deal with native Russian speakers. To communicate effectively with them you have to know a little bit of the Russian language. You must be well aware of Russian traveling words and phrases to make your trip successful.

In this blog post, I will tell you some of the most important and common Russian phrases for travelers, tips to memorize these words, Russian translation apps, Russian learning apps, Russian dictionary apps, and things to do before leaving your home.

The importance of Russian phrases for Travelers:

The importance of knowing some Russian phrases for traveling to Russia is very crucial. When you land in Russia, local people or you may find it difficult to communicate with each other if you don’t know anything about Russian. The following points highlight the importance of Russian travel phrases and words for travelers/tourists.

Many native Russian speakers are unaware of English:

You might be thinking that English is an international language and you can rely on English to communicate with native Russian speakers. But in reality, it is not true. Most of the natives don’t know about English. Therefore, it is important for you to know some basic Russian phrases to communicate with them.

• Attempting to speak a little Russian will be a polite gesture:

It will show your respect towards the Russian language and Russian people if you try to talk in Russian with a native Russian speaker.

• If you are lost, the local people would be more helpful :

If you know a few basic Russian travel words and phrases, it will be much easier for you to communicate with someone who does not speak English. They will guide you in a better way if they see that you are trying to speak in their language.

• New opportunities and destinations will open their door for you if you know Russian:

If you don’t know to communicate in Russian then you will solely rely on guides and hotel staff for activities and destinations to visit. On the other hand, if you know the basic Russian language then it will open new doors of opportunities. You can make decisions of your own for visiting tourists destinations by gathering information from other locals.

• Great help for you if you want to learn about Russian culture:

If you love to explore Russian culture then knowing some basic travel words and phrases is very helpful for you. You can intermingle with Russian people and can attend local cultural events with great ease and convenience.

What is the best way to learn Russian phrases for travelers?

There are many different ways to learn Russian. One of the most effective and convenient ways is to use mobile apps. It is a good idea to download any of the Russian language learning apps on your mobile phone which will be really helpful for you to learn quickly. You can use your free time during bus or train journeys, waiting at the airport, etc., to practice your travel words and phrases. Besides using these Russian language learning apps, you can indulge yourself in the following activities to improve your language skills.

• Learn and memorize specific Russian words and phrases that will help you during your travel to Russia: At first glance, the Russian language seems a bit complicated and tough to understand and learn. Memorizing Russian words and phrases seems a daunting task. However, in actuality you don’t have to memorize each and every word in Russian language that you encounter. There are certain common words for travellers. You just have to learn and memorize these common words in order to communicate with the native russian speakers. This will make your Russian language learning process easy.
• Create your own DIY vocabulary and phrase lists : Russian learning apps, dictionaries and translation apps are a great help for the travellers. However, you need to go beyond these learning apps and softwares. You can make your own lists of Russian phrases and words. The DIy vocabulary and phrases will help you to remember words more easily and will also help you not to depend completely on the automated translators.
• Use flash cards to memorize Russian travel words and phrases: You can try to create your own set of flash cards for learning Russian language. It will really help you memorize the travel vocabulary and phrases quickly. You can do this by using index cards, which are available at any stationery store near you. Make ten small cards with Russian words on one side and English meaning on another side. Now play games with friends and family members to test your language skills. It will really speed up the process of memorizing Russian words and phrases for travelling purpose.

As you have become well aware of the importance of Russian Travelling words while visiting Russia, now let’s move to these common and important words that will help you during your visit.

The following are some of the important Russian phrases for travelers.

Basic Expressions:

The following are some basic Russian phrases and words along with their meaning.

1. Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) – Hello is the literal meaning of this Russian phrase.
2. вы говорите по-английски? (Vy govorite po-angliyski?) – Do you speak English?
3. Я говорю по-английски. (ya govoryu po-angliyski) – I speak English.
4. Я не говорю по-русски. (ya ne govoryu po-russki) – I don’t speak Russian.
5. Как дела (Kak dee-lah)- How are you?  
6. Я хорошо (Yah horosho)- I am fine.
7. рад встрече (rad v-streche) – nice to meet you.
8. спасибо (spa-see-bah) – thank you
9. да (dah) – yes     
10. нет (nyet) – no
11. как тебя зовут (kahk tee-bya za-voot) – what is your name?
12. пожалуйста (pah-zhahl-stuh) – please
13. когда (kahg-dah) – when
14. где (gdyeh) – where
15. что (shtoh) – what
16. откуда (aht-koo-dah) – where are you from?
17. кем работаешь (khem rabo-tuh-eesh’) – what do you do for a living?
18. где работаешь (gdyeh rabo-tuh-eesh’) – where do you work?  
19. пока- Goodbye.
20. я не понимаю (yah nee puh-nee-mah-yooh) – I don’t understand.
21. я не знаю (ya nee znuh-yooh) – I don’t know.
22. Куда вы (Koohd-ah vee) – Where are you going?

Russian phrases for travelers used in hotels :

The following are some of the common words that will make your journey easy while you stay in the hotel. These words will help you to convey your message to the hotel staff and hotel managers.

1. Какие у вас номера (kah-kee-ee oo vahs noh-mee-rah) – What type of rooms do you have?
2. Сколько вы взимаете за эту комнату? (sko-l’kuh vy fzee-mah-ee-tee zuh eh-too kohm-nah-tooh) – How much is this room?
3. Могу я поменять комнату? (mah-gooh yah myeh-nee-at’ kohm-nuh-tooh) – May I change the room?
4. Какие блюда я могу заказать на обед или завтрак? (kah-kee-ee bl’oh-duh yah mah-gooh zuh-ka-zat’ nuh uhb’-ehd ee lah zuhft’-rahk) – What dishes can I order for lunch or breakfast?
5. Пожалуйста, мне нужна свежая постель. (pah-zhahl-stuh, mnyeh noohsh’-nah svee-zhhah-yeh pohs-teel’) – “Please give me a clean bed” is the literal meaning of this Russian phrase.
6. У вас хорошие номера (oovahs horoh-shee nuh-mee-ra) – “You have a nice room” is the literal meaning of this Russian statement. 
7. Где супермаркет рядом с этим отелем? (gdyeh soo-pehr-mahr-keet ryat’-uhm saht ee-teem aht-eh-lehm) – Where is the nearest supermarket?
8. Где ближайший автобусный или железнодорожный вокзал? (gdyehblee-zhahy-shi ee-teel’bah-noohsny ee zhi-lyehzhnuhdrahvuhl vahk-zahl’) – Where is the nearest bus stop or train station?
9. Можете закрыть дверь, я еду (mah-zhee-tee sahkryat’ dvyehr’, ya yeduh) – close the door, I am going.

Restaurants:

The following are some common words that you can use to order food in a restaurant.

1. Где можно заказать еду? (gdyeh mohzh-nah zuh-ka-zaht’ eh-dooh) – Where can I order a meal?
2. Какие у вас блюда? (kah-kee-ee oo vahs bl’oh-duh) – What dishes do you have?
3. Мне нравится все это. (mnyeh nrah-veet’ sah ee-tee eh-toh) – I like everything.
4. Где отель? (gdyeht aht-eel’) – Where is the hotel?
5. Какие виды спиртного? (kah-kee vidy spi-rtohng’vuh?) – What types of alcohol do you have?
6. Это не моё. (eh-tah nee mah-yoh) – That is not mine.
7. Сколько вам стоит? (sko-l’kah vahm stoh-eet?) – How much does it cost?
8. Мне это не понравилось. (mnyeh eh-tah nee pah-nrah-veeluhs’) – I didn’t like it.
9. Сколько это? (sko-l’kah ehtah) – How much is it?
10. Сделайте это. (sdyeh-lyat’ eh-tah) – The literal meaning of this phrase is “Do this for me, please.”

Transportation :

1. Как доехать до…? (kahg day-eh-khuht’ dah…?) – How do I get to…?
2. Где автобусная стоянка? (gdyeh av-tah-boohsny-yeh stohyahnkuh) – Where is the bus stop?
3. Где автобус/маршрутка до…? (gdyeh av-tah boos/marsh-rooteekah dah…) – Where can I catch a bus to…?
4. Как далеко до…? (kahk dyeh-leek’ dah…?) – “How far is it to…?” is the literal meaning of this Russian phrase.
5. аэропорт (uh-eh-rah-pohrt) – airport
6. Такси (tuhk-see) – Taxi
7. Следуй за мной. (slyeh-dooy zuh mnyeh) – Follow me.
8. Где ж / д вокзал? (gdyeh zh / dvohk-zahl’) – Where is the train station?
9. Фуникулер/метро (fooni-kooh-leer/myeh-tah) – Elevator / Subway

The following are some common words that you can use for public transport.

So these are some common Russian traveling words and phrases. So make sure to memorize, pronounce and practice these words and phrases before you travel to Russia. This will surely help you in your journey, and it will definitely be a unique experience for you. The following are some tips before you leave your home for Russia.

What you should do before leaving your home?

• Repeating your targeted words and phrases will make your memory stronger and will help you in speaking Russian better.
• Listening is important therefore listen to the important traveling words and phrases. 
• Practice conversation in Russian with some of your friends or with your traveling mate
• Practice correct pronunciation with the help of learning apps.
• When you get to Russia and start talking, listening and practicing try to go step by step and don’t rush.
• Don’t forget smiling while speaking Russian its not a bad thing at all! Smile while you’re speaking Russian and even when your’e asking for some directions or trying to understand someone.
• Also make sure to show how happy and pleased you are with Russians and their culture, traditions, lifestyle and way of living.

Conclusion:

In conclusion after reading this article now, you have a clear idea of the Russian speaking phrases, now it is up to you to use those phrases and show everyone how well can you speak Russian.

You know what to do, the only thing left is your desire, courage, passion to speak Russian. Once you have all of that just go for it! believe in yourself and good luck! I hope everything goes great on your trip or journey to Russia! All the best!

Learning a new language can be daunting, but here’s one of the best ways to learn it i.e. learning through podcasts. The best podcasts for learning Russian are actually full of great audio lessons and exercises that will have you speaking from day one! Forget those old school textbooks, this is how kids are learning today.

you might say that there are a bunch of other methods of learning the Russian language then why this method? So here are some of the benefits of learning Russian through podcasts.

What are the benefits of using podcasts for learning Russian?

The benefits of using Russian podcasts to learn the language include the following:

• Flexibility – It’s always nice to have some flexibility in the way you learn something new. Podcasts are great for this because listening to a podcast on your drive to work or while cleaning up around the house is very convenient.
• Challenging yourself – sometimes the best way to learn something is to push yourself. By challenging yourself with some difficult lessons you’ll be able to see your progress which will motivate you even more.
• Perfect for beginners – if you’re a beginner or an intermediate learner of the Russian language, you might not be ready for classroom lessons. Podcasts are a great way to expose yourself to the language and see if it’s something that you want to learn in-depth.
• Convenient for busy professionals– many professionals today are very busy and don’t have the time to attend classrooms or invest hours in some lesson plans. Podcasts are quick, concise, and you can probably listen to your first lesson during your morning commute.
• You can do it anywhere – who knew that learning Russian could be so much fun? Podcasts make this possible.
• Improvement in listening skills – Listening skills of students are greatly improved with the help of these podcasts. They get themselves familiarized with Russian pronunciation. 

So now you know the benefits of using podcasts to learn Russian. Let’s move to our main topic.

The best Russian language podcast for learning Russian:

There are a ton of podcasts available for you to choose from if you want to teach yourself, Russian. Here are some recommendations:

RussianPod101 – For beginner level learners:

This podcast is very popular and has over two hundred different lessons available. This podcast is great for beginners who want more than just basic speaking skills, and it gets them up to intermediate level quickly! If you are an intermediate student then it is also best suited for you too, as it offers a variety of topics and Russian lessons. 

The following are some of the prominent features of this podcast.

• This podcast has Russian language lessons in the form of short audio and video lessons.
• They teach through the real day-to-day Russian conversation between native Russian speakers.
• The host of this podcast pronounces every single word at a very slow pace that non-native speakers understand.
• They have learning lessons for everyone whether you want to travel to Russia, or your love is from Russia. Or you want to learn about Russian culture or you want to trade with Russian people.
• Lessons range from beginner to advance level. So everyone can benefit from this podcast.
• They have voice recording tools so that you can compare your language skills with native Russian speakers.
• Daily Word lists, slides, flashcards, and quizzes make your memory of Russian words stronger.
• Dedicated teachers are there for personalized learning.
• There is social media support as well, so you can connect with others who are also learning Russian.
• The downside to this podcast is that it’s a bit expensive because it’s not free.
• You need to pay some amount to access the full lessons and features of RussianPod101.

Slow Russian by Daria Molchanova – For beginner level learners:

This podcast is another great resource for learning the Russian language. It has a lot of different features and some really unique benefits that you won’t find in most other podcasts. The host Daria Molchanova is a Russian language instructor from Russia with really good English and Russian pronunciation.

The good thing is that she translates the most prominent stories, poems, Russian lessons, and other debates of English into the Russian language. In this way, the English language learns understands Russian quite easily. She also has a youtube channel i.e. Real Russian Club dedicated to Russian language learning.

The following are some of the popular features of this podcast:

• It’s taught by a native Russian speaker, Daria Molchanova, who doesn’t speak or teach like a robot.
• This is the perfect podcast for beginners, who want more detailed explanations of the language and culture.
• They also include short exercises to help you learn some basics about the Russian language.
• This podcast is great for those who want to learn more about Russian culture, as it includes a lot of information about this topic.
• The good thing about this podcast is that it is free. You don’t have to pay anything to hear these podcasts.

News in slow Russian – for intermediate level learners:

This podcast is for intermediate-level learners and advanced-level learners, who want to learn more about Russian. It’s more of an audio news program that gives you news stories with a range of topics in Russian recorded at regular speed and then slowed down so you can easily understand what they’re saying.

The good thing about this podcast is that you’ll learn a lot about the world around you if you listen to it. They talk about random topics like sports, culture, international politics, political news and etc.  It’s also perfect for those who want more exposure to regular speed Russian. You’ll hear some really great Russian language content that’s perfect for learners in this phase.

Some of the benefits and features of this podcast are:

• This podcast has a wide variety of new stories and contemporary discussions on various topics. These topics vary from politics, food, sports to Russian culture. So you’ll be learning about different aspects of the Russian culture and language through this podcast.
• The good thing about this podcast is that it doesn’t rely on any English translations while teaching or discussing anything.
• The native speakers speak at normal speed, while the host slows down the audio for beginners to understand each word clearly.
• The downside is that this podcast is that it’s mainly for people with an intermediate level of Russian, you might feel at a loss sometimes if your Russian isn’t good enough to understand them all.
• This podcast is great for those who want a more casual, regular learning experience with Russian.
• You can get a free trial for this podcast.

Very Much Russian – for intermediate level learners:

If you’re an intermediate-level Russian language learner and want to learn more about the Russian language, this podcast is perfect for you. This podcast goes in-depth about different aspects of the Russian language. You can learn a lot more advanced words and phrases with this podcast.

The good thing about this podcast is that it’s super casual, so even if you miss a few episodes, there’s always an old one waiting for you to catch up with. The hosts also speak very slowly and clearly so everyone can understand them perfectly.

This podcast has the following benefits and features for you:

• The voice quality of the podcast is really good. Native speakers indulge in real-life conversations at a normal speed so that the listener hears and understands.
• You will learn a lot about different Russian expressions used in daily life as every episode explains some Russian expressions that are common.
• Their show notes also include some great grammar explanations, so if you’re not sure what’s going on in the podcast, just refer to their show notes.
• You can easily find the Russian transcription and translation of each episode in English.
• They teach Russian through Russian jokes, Russian poems, Russian proverbs, and Russian songs. This really makes the learning process entertaining.
• One of the upsides of this podcast is that it is free. You can hear each and every episode without paying anything.

In Russian Terms – for advance learners:

You’re above the intermediate level? Looking for podcasts about advanced or specialized Russian terms? Well, this is the perfect podcast for you. This podcast is all about explaining different Russian concepts in detail. It’s aimed at teaching people who already have a very good grasp of the language and want to learn more advanced material.

There are quite a few benefits and features of this podcast as well:

• This podcast is as casual as their beginner-level Podcast. You can start from any episode and go back if you missed anything.
• Their voice quality is also very good, so even those with a weaker grasp of Russian won’t feel lost at all. Their explanations are clear and concise enough for you to understand.
• The topics discussed in this podcast relates to Americans in Russia and vice versa. The problems faced by Americans and how they can solve them.
• Their audience also seems to be mostly foreigners living in Russia, so the discussion is geared towards their needs and concerns.
• This podcast gives you a lot of exposure to Russian life and culture. You get to learn about many different aspects of Russian society this way. It’s great for listening comprehension as well.

Arzamas – for advanced learners:

The last podcast on our list is aimed at those who already have a very good grasp of the Russian language and want to embark on learning advanced vocabulary. This podcast is mainly focused on teaching people new words and phrases that they can use in daily life.

Some of the benefits and features of this podcast include:

• This podcast goes deep into advanced Russian, so if you’re looking for a podcast that only talks about simple words and phrases, this might not be the perfect one for you.
• In each episode, Russian experts talk on the topics related to culture, history and many more. This helps to expand your knowledge as well.
• Their experts, who are native speakers, speak at normal speed so that the listener can understand them. The podcasts also have very good voice quality and clarity.
• This podcast is aimed at giving you more exposure to Russian history, culture. It will prepare you to indulge yourself in any kind of Russian debate.

To wrap it up:

Learning Russian can be pretty tough since it doesn’t follow the same grammar rules as many other languages. Luckily, there are plenty of great Russian language podcasts out there that can help you learn Russian. These podcasts are perfect for those who love learning new languages but find classrooms too tiring or don’t have time to attend one. All you need is an internet connection and voila! You can now learn Russian at your own pace without having to worry about stress, fatigue, or any of the problems that come along with attending classes.

Language learning has been a lifelong pursuit for many people. For some, it’s easy to master languages as they grow up by living in different countries and being surrounded by those who speak those native tongues on a daily basis. But for others, language acquisition can be difficult because of the lack of exposure or resources necessary to learn the basics. In this article, I will share my knowledge about learning French online, with little time investment required on your part.

Why is learning French important:

It’s no secret that French is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world – It is the native language of 130 million people worldwide. And with France being one of the most popular tourist destinations, it’s pivotal to understand some basic phrases and never miss an opportunity to ask for directions.  Knowing some French can help you out in a variety of situations – all it takes is knowing how to ask, “Where’s the bathroom?” in French.

The beginning of learning any language is always the same:

Sounding it out, memorizing french vocabulary, blending syllables together to say complete sentences. This can be tedious for some people who struggle with retaining information or want to learn faster than they’re capable of doing so at that moment in time. Fortunately, there are many ways to learn languages online, whether you prefer interactive video French lessons, fun games that help you retain information, or reading books.

“I don’t have time to learn French.”

It’s a phrase that people say all the time – but there are several different methods for learning how to speak any language without putting in a lot of time. In the next sections, we’ll discuss some of the best ways to learn French online from a beginner’s perspective – whether you have little free time or an abundance of it.

What is the best method for learning French online (for complete beginners)?

While there are several different ways to learn French, it’s always best to start with the basics. Before you dive into complicated grammar rules or how to speak like a Parisian (not that they’re difficult, but some people want to learn faster than others), make sure you’ve learned pronunciations and basic words throughout the language.

Depending on how you learn, getting a hold of these beginner skills can take various amounts of time and dedication. For example, some people prefer listening to podcasts or watching YouTube videos that teach beginners how to speak French in a natural way. Others want to learn from books and practice pronunciations with French people through video lessons online.  

Learning the basics in French can be achieved with different resources. With that being said, there are several different ways to learn the language through French language courses online – whether you want to do it in your free time or have a weekly lesson to go over any homework for each week.

Video tutorials are one of the most popular methods for learning French because of their no-frills method of presenting information that’s easy to understand.  In addition, there are many resources that have been used by teachers in classrooms for years – so if it’s good enough for school, it can help you learn French online quite easily.

Learn French with video tutorials on Youtube:

There are several youtube channels that teach french language lessons to beginners – in short videos and in a way that’s easy to follow and understand. In fact, learning french with the help of these youtube channels is the best way to start your French journey. The following are some of the best youtube channels for beginners to learn French from native speakers/teachers.

Learning French online with Alexa:

One of the most popular youtube channels is Learn French with Alexa with over 1.33 million subscribers. The host of this channel is Alexa. She is a native French teacher with a huge experience in teaching French to children and adults. She created this channel in 2011 with an aim to teach french to everyone. This channel helps students learn French at different levels by using video tutorials with native speakers explaining basic words and phrases. While it’s not an exhaustive list of words and phrases, you can learn the most common vocabulary without issue.

Learn French with Vincent:

Another popular youtube channel is Learn French with Vincent, which has over 858 K subscribers. The videos on this channel are helpful for people just starting out – they teach basic French phrases and words that you can’t learn from an English speaker’s perspective. The videos progress by difficulty level so you don’t have to worry about information overload.

In addition, the videos are short and informative – so if you’re short on time, you can look up a couple of words and phrases that will help you get by at the grocery store or order food in French. There’s also a section of the website dedicated to learning French through slang and casual speech which some people find useful.

Learn French by Suchita:

Suchita is a french language teacher and she has a youtube channel with the name Learn French with Suchit with over 187K subscribers. In her free video tutorials, she teaches French to beginners by speaking naturally and slowly so they can understand the basics of the language. In addition, her videos have English subtitles for viewers who need them – which makes it great for people who are just starting out and aren’t yet comfortable enough in speaking French. This channel is a great resource if you want to learn the basics of the language quickly and efficiently – it uses short videos so you can pick up new words and phrases each day.

Learn by watching French movies:

Language learning doesn’t have to be dull and boring. By watching French movies, you will not only get access to a wide variety of vocabulary, sentence structures, and other useful knowledge, but you’ll also be able to practice your listening comprehension skills while having fun. It’s a win-win situation!

1) Begin by trying to pick out a movie you would be interested in watching.

2) Once you’ve chosen a movie, try to watch it all the way through without subtitles at first.

3) After that, choose a scene from the film and follow it with English subtitles if needed. In turn, play that same scene again but this time with French subtitles for the full immersion experience.

4) Repeat this process for other movies you like watching. Make sure you watch the movie in its entirety at least once before trying to follow along with French subtitles – or else you won’t be able to get past the first scene without losing interest!

Learn French through French songs:

If you are looking for an effective yet enjoyable way to learn French, then let me tell you about how learning French by songs is one of the best methods.

Listening to songs in a foreign language is not only helpful in understanding the lyrics but also helps memorize phrases easily. If you are planning on learning French then listening to french songs is the ideal solution which you will not receive in any French course.

Learning french by songs is very easy and simple:

First of all, choose a song that you like and try to find its lyrics in French and English so that it becomes easy for you to understand the meaning of the lyrics. On finding the translation, listen to the song many times till you are able to memorize it.

The next step is to try and sing the song yourself in order to learn pronunciation, accent, etc. If you are not confident enough then do it in front of a mirror or with your family members. This will help you improve your singing talent as well as fluency in the French language.

Do not make the mistake of assuming that you will remember all the lyrics correctly, so it is better to write down or type out a short summary of what you have learned just as a reference.

Though the “Learn French by songs” method is amazing but still, being a beginner it is advised that you should try to learn basic phrases and grammar before trying to learn songs.

Popular French Songs in English:

Some of the popular French songs in English are as follow

• Indila – Dernière Danse, with over 831 Million views on youtube
• Aya Nakamura – Djadja, with 829 Million views on youTube
• Magic In The Air Feat. Chawki with over 356 Million views on youtube
• Kendji Girac – Color Gitano , 142 Million views on youtube
• Natasha St-Pier – Tu trouveras , 51 Million views.

Hire a professional native french teacher online:

There are a few reasons why it is important to hire a professional native french teacher to learn the French language. First and foremost, a professional teacher can help you learn the language faster and more effectively than if you were to try to learn it on your own. They can also help you avoid making common mistakes that beginners often make, and will be able to correct your mistakes as you make them. Lastly, a professional teacher can give you feedback on your progress and provide advice on how to improve.

There are a few ways that you can go about hiring a professional french teacher. The internet has made this world a global village. Now you can do anything with just one click. The same is true with hiring a professional french teacher. One of the best ways to hire a teacher is by looking online for teachers who offer online lessons. Similarly, you can also ask friends or family members if they know of any good teachers, or you can check with your local French Cultural Center.

Helpful apps and websites for learning french online:

On the internet, there are a wide variety of apps and websites that can help you learn french. Here are some of the best ones:

• French Podcast  (mobile app): This is probably one of the most helpful apps for beginner-level learners. It was created by Radio France Internationale in 2012 in order to offer listeners all over the world a way to learn French at their own convenience. In this app, there are 4 different categories of podcasts: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and vocabulary. Each category contains over 100 lessons that range from 10-minute casts designed for beginners all the way up to 1 hour long casts for more advanced learners.

• Duolingo (mobile app and website): This is a great app for beginners to learn french. Duolingo offers a wide variety of lessons in order to help you learn French at your own pace. You can start by learning vocabulary, verbs, phrases, and grammar in beginner lessons that are short and easy to understand. Overall, this is an excellent tool for anyone who would like to learn french on their mobile phone.

• French Pod 101 (mobile app and website): This is a great app and website for beginners who want to learn french. The French Pod Team was created by three native French speakers who wanted to design an app that would make learning French as easy as possible for anyone with a computer or mobile phone. There are over 1800 lessons within 7 different categories: verb, vocabulary, grammar, flashcards, podcasts, video, and a discussion board.

• Rosetta Stone (website + App): This program was created in 1992 by Allen Stoltzfus, John Fairfield, and Eugene Stoltzfus. It is one of the top-rated language learning programs around. Since its inception, millions of people have used Rosetta Stone to learn 31 different languages including french. There are 3 levels for each language: beginner, intermediate and advanced. The lessons mostly consist of pictures and words, which help the student to retain what they have learned. The program incorporates speech recognition technology as well as text-to-speech software.

Tips on learning French fast and effectively:

The following are some helpful tips to learn the French language fast and effectively:

– Don’t give up. Learning a new language is never easy. However, it is definitely worth the effort in the end. If you can stay motivated throughout the whole process, then chances are that French will come quite naturally to you.

– Make sure to practice what you learn. Learning something new can be exciting, but applying it is much more rewarding. The more you practice what you know, the faster your progress will be.

– Learn slang expressions and popular phrases as well as common words and verbs first. These are extremely helpful when learning French since they were developed by regular people.

– Keep a French dictionary by your side at all times. There will be many tough words and phrases that you don’t know the meaning of. You can look these up in a French dictionary to learn their definition and how to pronounce them, which will help you immensely when learning the french language.

– Always listen more than you speak. This is an excellent tip for anyone who has trouble learning another language. If you listen to the way people speak, then chances are that you will pick up their accent and be able to mimic it yourself.

– Don’t rely on subtitles. Although subtitles can be extremely helpful when helping beginner french learners understand a movie or show, they can also slow down the learning process. If you constantly rely on subtitles, then you are less likely to pick up on the actual language that is being spoken by native speakers.

– Practice makes perfect. The more often that you practice what you have learned, the faster it will all come naturally to you. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because this is the only way to learn.

– Surround yourself with those who speak French as often as possible. This is important if you want to maintain good pronunciation and become fluent in French much faster. Practicing with native speakers will make it much easier for you to pick up on common phrases, slang expressions, and even the accent of the language.

– Memorize common words and phrases rather than just individual words. Although it is helpful to know how to say one word, learning how to use it in a sentence will give you much more freedom.

– Use free online resources such as those listed above so that you can practice your French for free anytime and anywhere!

Remember: Learning any new language takes hard work and patience. Keep at it!

Conclusion:

So now you have all of the information that you need to begin learning French online. You can even mix and match between many of the different ways to study, depending on your personal preference. The most important thing is to stay motivated!  

If you follow these tips, then it won’t be long before you will become fluent in French!

 

Related post: French funny idioms

People often think that in order to learn a language, they have to go abroad and spend time with native speakers. But it’s not true in reality. In this age of technology and social media, the internet has made it possible to learn any language of the word online while staying at home. The same is true with the Russian language. There are many resources available for those looking for Russian listening practice.

This article will share some of the best resources out there, including YouTube videos, podcasts on iTunes, and free online lessons. These will improve your Russian listening comprehension. But before moving to the listening resources, let’s find out why listening to Russian is important and how it can enhance your Russian language ability.

Why listening practice is important to learning the Russian language?

When it comes to learning a new language, one of the most difficult things for people to do is understand the other person’s accent. If you learn Russian by watching TV shows or movies with subtitles, you are not able to imitate the accent well or even understand it. When learning Russian, you need to learn the language as it is spoken by native speakers so that you can pick up their intonation and pronunciation style. So this can be done by only hearing the native Russian speakers and imitating their style. The following are some benefits of the listening practice of Russian.

• A lot of people assume that they already know how to listen in a language because most times they read it before hearing it or vice versa; however if you want to be an expert in a language, listening is as important as speaking and writing.
• Listening to the Russian language helps you absorb, understand and retain new information faster.
• By listening to the Russian language, you are able to build your vocabulary and improve your pronunciation.
• Listening practice can also help develop your skills of understanding spoken Russian.
• It will help you in improving your Russian speaking and accent.
• Listening to the Russian language helps you be immersed in the culture and context of using certain words and phrases.
• In addition to being good for enhancing your learning of the Russian language, listening is also a really fun way of building vocabulary. Make it a competition with your friends on who can find the most words in a foreign language video or movie. Also, you can find songs in Russian that are appropriate for your level.

Now that you have a better understanding of why it is so important to learn the language using listening resources, let’s move on to the best audio resources available online.

• Russian music
• Podcasts
• Youtube
• Netflix
• audiobooks

Russian Music for listening practice:

Music is a great way of learning a foreign language. Russian music is one of the best resources for those looking to learn the Russian language. Since listening to songs or music can be more engaging, people are able to retain more information while having fun at the same time. This section will talk about some of the Russian songs you can listen to so that you can improve your Russian language.

• Russian Musicbox – This website is a great resource for those looking to find songs in Russian. They have a large collection of Russian music. People can find a wide range of genres to suit their taste in music. You can find the latest hits of the year. It is basically an entertainment industry website where you can find the latest songs, popular Russian songs of all time as well as interviews, films, and much more. You can select songs for the categories of Top 40 hits, Euro top20, 15! Real hit parade, leading stars and others. Therefore, if you are looking for some latest hits in the Russian language then do visit Russian Musicbox.

• Station.ru– This is a music platform where you can find music from different artists. It has over 100,000 songs in its collection. The platform features various genres of music including rock, rap, hip hop, trance, and others. You don’t need anything special to listen to these Russian songs available on the website. You can access the website from your phone and improve your Russian language by listening to Russian songs.

It is highly recommended that you also read song lyrics before or after enjoying the song if you are a beginner or intermediate learner.

Podcasts for Russian listening practice:

Podcasts are a great way to listen to Russian. For those who don’t have that much time to listen and watch Russian movies, podcasts are a good option. Busy professionals can also take advantage of these podcasts as they don’t have much time to practice speaking and listening to the Russian language with native speakers.

• Podcasts are basically audio or video contents available for free on the internet or iTunes which can be downloaded by anyone across the world. There is a wide range of podcasts in different genres that one can listen to improve their Russian language. You can find and select according to your taste and liking. The following are three podcasts that are really popular and have been designed specifically for beginner lever, intermediate-level, and advanced-level learners, respectively.

• RussianPod101 – For beginner level learners
• News in slow Russian – for intermediate level learners
• In Russian Terms – for advance learners

• RussianPod101: RussianPod101 is a great podcast for those who are learning the basics of the Russian language. This free website has various podcasts available in the Russian language. These podcasts are useful because they are divided according to different levels, so anyone can listen to them accordingly. The topics for these podcasts include phrases, grammar structures, collocations, idioms, pronunciation, vocabulary, verb conjugations, and much more.

• News in slow Russian :  This is the best podcast for those who want to improve their Russian language by listening to news stories in the Russian language. The podcast was launched with the purpose of helping people learn basic phrases quickly. There are fun exercises given at the end of the podcast where the listeners can test their knowledge.

• In Russian Terms :     This podcast is for advanced learners of the Russian language who want to improve their vocabulary skills. This podcast is on the topics related to Americans in Russian and vice versa. This podcast aims at improving your conversational level of Russian to debating Russian level. Therefore, for advanced students of the Russian language, this podcast is best to listen to.

Youtube for Russian listening practice:

Everyone knows about youtube. And it’s one of the best sources for finding some good Russian videos. YouTube is where you can find all types of videos, from music to TV shows and movies. You just need to search for your topic on YouTube and it will give you many options related to that particular topic. Youtube is the best option to practice your Russian language listening skills as compared to other resources i.e. podcasts, radio, audiobooks and etc. This is because the audiovisual effect keeps you engaging. So you can watch and listen to the following over youtube to improve your Russian listening skills.

• Watch Russian movies with Russian subtitles and English subtitles.
• Watch Russian news channels.
• Russian music with lyrics will also improve your listening abilities.
• Listen to current radio shows in the Russian language.
• Watch YouTube videos with subtitles, both original and translated into English or another language.
• Subscribe to a Russian language learning channel and learn from the lessons available there.

There are many Russian language channels you can find on YouTube, so it could be an effective way to improve your listening skill through multiple video channels. The following are some of them.

• Real Russian Club:

Real Russian Club is a great YouTube channel for those who are learning the basics of the Russian language. This channel has basic Russian lessons which clear all your doubts. It also provides videos on various day-to-day subjects like how to deal with taxi drivers, tipping in Russia, the health care system, what to say at the customs, and much more.

• Cafe Russian:

CafeRussian is a perfect channel for those learning the basic concepts of the Russian language. This channel covers all the things you need to know about Russia and its people. Another great feature of this channel is that it provides very simple explanations of various phrases and words in Russian with English subtitles.

Netflix:

Netflix is a company that offers on-demand streaming of TV shows and movies to its members. The site’s library is divided into sections like drama, comedy, action, etc. Netflix also produces original content like “House of Cards” and “Stranger Things.”

Netflix is an excellent resource for learning the Russian language because it has a huge collection of Russian movies, documentaries, and TV shows. The quality of the site’s videos is great and subtitles in English are available in most videos. This makes it easier for beginners to learn by watching these videos with subtitles in their native language.

This will not only allow them to practice their Russian listening skills but also improve their vocabulary and grammar. The following are some of the best Russian hits on Netflix.

• Silver Spoon
• Sparta
• Better than us
• Fartsa
• Chernobyl 1986
• Masha and the bear
• Major Grome: Plague doctor

Audiobooks:

Audiobooks are a good resource to use for engaging in Russian listening practice because it’s much easier to listen to audiobooks than reading books. You can listen to it anywhere, whether you’re driving or cooking. Audiobooks are especially helpful when you’re following along with the content. For example, if you’re learning about Russia and its people, then listening to an audiobook version of the “Cafe Russian” channel on YouTube will provide great content in an engaging manner.

The following are some useful audiobook platforms where you can find your favorite Russian books in audio form.

Loyal books:

Loyal Books offer various audiobooks in the Russian language. These audiobooks are read by professional voice actors and they come with amazing sound quality. You can listen to these audiobooks on your computer or mobile phone through LoyalBooks’ free app.

Bookmate:

Bookmate has a collection of 90,000+ audiobooks in over 20 languages. It has a premium service, which allows you to access the full collection of audiobooks, without any ads. You can listen to these audiobooks on Bookmate’s website or use its mobile app on your smartphone.

Amazon:

Amazon has a huge collection of audiobooks. These books are available in different languages and formats. Amazon also provides a one-month free trial for its premium service, which allows you to listen to audiobooks in their full form without any ads. After the expiry of this one-month period, you can continue listening to them by buying.

Conclusion:

Russian is a great language to learn for those who’re looking to connect with the people of Eastern Europe. There are many resources available online, which allow you to engage in Russian listening practice and improve your Russian speaking skills. Some of these resources include YouTube channels, audiobooks, and free online lessons. With the help of these resources, learning the Russian language doesn’t have to be an uphill task anymore.

To learn more about how you can engage in effective, useful, and fun Russian learning practice check out some of our other articles on the blog!

Related post on Russian lnguge: 6 best podcasts

 

There can be many reasons to learn Russian. Perhaps you are visiting Russia for business, or maybe your significant other is from the country. Or perhaps you simply love this beautiful language. Regardless of what has driven you to begin learning Russian, the biggest obstacle for many people is not having enough money to pay a tutor or take classes at a school. Fortunately, there are quite a few free options to learn Russian for free!

In this blog post, I will tell you about the best free resources to learn Russian on your own. I will also tell you about tips and tricks that will help you to master the art of Russian.

First of all, let’s clear up a common misconception: It is possible to learn Russian by yourself! You do not have to attend weekly classes or pay a tutor – all that is needed is motivation and some time.

Of course, learning on your own may not be as pleasant and exciting as attending classes with others, but it is definitely possible to do so on a budget. So let’s get started.

How to start learning Russian for free:

The first and most important thing to do when learning Russian is to know what you want. Do you need to learn the basics of the language in order to visit Russia? Are you interested in talking to your significant other? Or maybe you simply want to be able to read a book in the original version.

Whatever it may be, it’s important to start with a clear picture of what you want to achieve. Once you figure this out, it’s time to choose your resources.

Use the internet to learn Russian:

Start by browsing the Internet for free Russian courses. There are plenty! For example, try searching Google for “free Russian lessons” or “learn Russian online”. You will find many websites where you can learn the basics of Russian for free.

Here are some free online courses that I recommend:

1) Russianlessons.net:

This website offers videos that will teach you the Cyrillic alphabet and phrases, to begin with. It also provides listening comprehension exercises, word-for-word translations, grammar lessons, quizzes, and more!

This website is for absolute beginners. The good thing about this website is that you can adjust the speed of your lessons. This way, you can go at a pace that suits you and your needs best.

2) Russianforeveryone.com:

This website offers a great course for learning Russian online. The lessons contain grammar explanations, vocabulary and pronunciation exercises as well as interactive Russian-English translations. And all of these lessons and courses are free! So if you are a beginner then you should also try this amazing free resource to learn Russian.

3) Russianforfree.com:

This website offers a lot of resources for learning and practicing the language. You will find free Russian courses with audio, Russian texts & dialogues with audio, Russian phrases with audio, and Russian grammar and exercises. The website is free, but it also provides advanced courses with audio subtitles if you want to access those. The website mainly focuses on spoken Russian, but it also offers the basics.

4) Rosetta Stone:

This website offers a great course to learn Russian with state-of-the-art learning technology. The course is so popular that it has already reached over one million users! It contains four different levels. The best thing about Rosetta Stone is that it adapts to your needs, so you will always be learning the material that you struggle with. You can access this website on your computer or on your phone as well. This website is not free. However, you can get free trials.

5) Duolingo :

This is one of the popular language-learning websites across the globe. It has courses in Spanish, French, German and many other languages. But there are also Russian courses to choose from! It offers lessons for beginners and more advanced students. Duolingo is free, but it also offers premium subscriptions that The website is free, but if you want to get access to all app features you will have to pay for it. The best thing about Duolingo is that it offers speaking activities. This way, you will learn to speak Russian while completing online courses.

Learn Russian for free with the help of Youtube:

Another way to learn Russian for free is by using Youtube. There are many channels that offer free lessons in Russian, including grammar explanations and vocabulary lists!

Here are some of my favorite YouTube channels:

1) Real Russian Club:

This youtube channel is run by a beautiful and professional language instructor Daria from Moscow. She teaches Russian to non-native speakers from all over the world with her free youtube videos. You can find lessons on each and every aspect of the language. For example, she has made videos on Russian from zero to fluency, Russian pronunciation, Russian speaking lessons, Russian vocabulary, tips on learning Russian, weekly Russian reading lessons, and much more. The good thing about Daria is that her method of teaching is really impressive. The English subtitles on the videos also help the understanding of the language easier. Her English pronunciation is really good and this is what makes her favorite of English learners of Russian.

2) Be Fluent in Russian:

This YouTube channel has a lot of video lessons to offer so you can learn Russian for free. They have daily videos on Russian pronunciation, learning words and phrases. What I love about this channel is that they also have podcasts available for download. This youtube channel explains the basics of Russian step-by-step and in an easy-to-understand manner. You will also learn a lot about Russian culture as there are videos too on Russian culture.

3) Learn Russian TV:

This is another good youtube channel that has free Russian videos to watch. The video lessons are well-made and there is a variety of topics covered in them. Whether you want to learn simple phrases or grammar rules this youtube channel will teach it to you fluently!

This Russian language learning channel is run by Stacy with more than 17 thousand subscribers. Russian learners will also find this channel really helpful in their Russian journey.

4) Cafe Russian:

Another gem for Russian learners. This channel is run by a blue-eyed Russian instructor namely Kris from Russia. She offers lessons on the Russian language basics, pronunciation, speaking, grammar, culture, and more!

So these were the free online resources. You can consume these resources but one thing is important to learn any language and that is practice. If you don’t practice your language skills it will be really hard to get fluency in any language. Now let us find out the most effective ways to practice your Russian skills.

Practice your new language skills with a native speaker online:

In this age of social media platforms, it is really easy to find a native Russian speaker to practice your language skills. You can take advantage of Facebook groups, pages, and other social media platforms. You just have to surf the internet and find the most appropriate groups that offer language exchange opportunities. There are many such pages, groups, and platforms offering Russian language lessons for free.

Typing practice:

This is another easy way to practice your new skill in Russian. Typing in Russian is kind of difficult and you need to practice it a lot because the Russian letters come from different alphabets. This makes typing in Russian hard as there are 33 letters! You can use the Google transliteration tool to type your messages, words, phrases, etc which will be displayed in the Russian alphabet. There is also a lot of typing practice websites that offer Russian typing lessons and exercises to improve your language skills.

Attend free conversational classes for adults in your area :

You might be wondering how to learn Russian in your area when you are staying far away? This is possible now even if you stay in the other end of the world. Thanks to modern technology that makes it much easier for people to gather and learn. something online or offline! You can find many free conversational classes in your city, town, village, etc. If you have a computer with an internet connection, laptop, or tablet, you can attend these classes remotely. To find out whether there are free conversational classes in your area refer to this website that has listed down the free conversational Russian language courses for adults.

Watch movies and TV shows that are subtitled or dubbed in Russian :

This is a really fun and interesting way to learn Russian. To improve your listening skill in Russian, you can watch movies and TV shows in Russian. The best part about watching movies or TV shows in any language is that you learn new words from different fields while still enjoying the entertainment! You have access to all kinds of movies and TV shows on Youtube and other streaming websites.

Conclusion:  

To conclude, there are many ways to learn Russian for free even if you don’t have money or travel to Russia where people speak Russian as their first language. You can easily learn Russian online and by attending free conversational classes in your area. So start learning the Russian language right away and be a part of one of the largest communities of Russian language learners!

 

Related post: Common Russian words for travelers.