Learning Russian can feel overwhelming, especially when you're starting from zero. After spending considerable time learning the language myself, I wanted to share some of the free and low-cost resources that have helped me learn the Cyrillic alphabet, understand basic grammar, and begin working towards CEFR A1 proficiency.
My Recommended Learning Order
If I were starting Russian again from scratch, I would:
- Learn the Cyrillic alphabet
- Complete the RussianMadeEasy podcast
- Start the New Penguin Russian Course
- Work through the Между нами course
- Practice with native speakers whenever possible
Contents
- Understanding the CEFR Language Levels
- Learning the Cyrillic Alphabet
- RussianMadeEasy Podcast Review
- New Penguin Russian Course Review
- Между нами Russian Course Review
- Learning Russian Through Native Speakers
- Recommended Russian Learning Resources
Understanding the CEFR Language Levels
The CEFR is an internationally recognised framework used to measure foreign language proficiency. There are various free online CEFR tests which can be useful to help learners determine which level they have achieved, there are also paid tests that would be more accurate and provide formal certification.
The levels go from A1 to C2. On the CEFR scale, A1 is the lowest level and C2 is the highest. For most people (myself included), even getting to A1 takes a lot of time and effort.
CEFR Language Levels
A1–A2: Beginner
B1–B2: Intermediate
C1–C2: Advanced
I am learning a little of the Russian language, I find it fascinating, and difficult. The best way to learn would probably be if you were immersed in regular conversations with native speakers. If you have easy access to people who speak Russian that's great. Face to face (or online) classes with other learners would also be useful if you can access them. Otherwise there are a bunch of other resources you can use.
Below are some of the resources I am using to learn Russian. Some are better than others, most are free (there is a Russian saying: for free, even vinegar is sweet) and none need you to create an account or sign up or anything like that.
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| St. John the Baptist Cathedral Russian Orthodox Church |
If I were starting Russian again from scratch, I would:
- Learn the Cyrillic alphabet
- Complete the RussianMadeEasy podcast
- Start the New Penguin Russian Course
- Work through the Между нами course
- Practice with native speakers whenever possible
Learning the Cyrillic Alphabet
Cyrillic Alphabet - I am a slow learner and I am getting older. I figured it would take me months to learn the alphabet, or maybe it would be so difficult that I could never learn it. I was pleasantly surprised when it took me under an hour to learn, while my kids took under half an hour to learn how to read Russian using the link below.
Learning the Cyrillic alphabet was surprisingly easy. I didn't start learning the alphabet until I had learned to say a few words and phrases, and I regret not beginning my language journey by learning to read Cyrillic. Learning how to read changed my learning immediately, and made it possible to learn speaking and pronunciation much faster and far more efficient. Learning to read was a game changer. I strongly suggest starting with learning the alphabet. This link is to a free resource that is very good.
https://www.russianforeveryone.com/RufeA/Lessons/Introduction/Alphabet/Alphabet.htm
I think that link is great, but you may get stuck on a letter or not really understand a letter because there are not many examples (plus there are a few letters which have no sound that it does not explain well). If you get stuck there is also a set of videos to learn Cyrillic in three hours. These short videos are very comprehensive, they are interesting, and they also teach a few words. It is made by the same company as the free podcast below. It is more comprehensive than the link above, but it takes longer to get through. The alphabet videos in this link are all free.
https://russianaccelerator.com/read-russian.html
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| Cyrillic alphabet (not my image) is easier to learn than you think |
If you prefer learning from a physical book rather than a website, there are several great beginner Cyrillic workbooks available.
RussianMadeEasy Podcast Review
Podcast - RussianMadeEasy, this is a great resource for the absolute beginner. It has 30 podcasts, each about 20 minutes long, the website has a transcript of the episodes and a media center. There is also an app of the same content if you are the kind of person who is into apps. It provides a foundation of how the language works, the basics of grammar, it explains all six verb conjugations, and teaches some basic sentences, etc. If you prefer reading digitally, many Russian textbooks and dictionaries are also available for Kindle.
RussianMadeEasy uses techniques like contextual learning, construction branching, and pattern recognition for grammar, and has voices from multiple native speakers. I'm told that it teaches around 250 words but am not sure if that includes cognates as I don't feel like I learned many words. The company that made this stresses that this podcast is not enough for you to learn the language, it is just a great place to start, and it is free.
I think RussianMadeEasy is a great podcast and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It took me a long time to complete this as I wanted to master each lesson before moving onto the next, and I went back to older lessons to review as I progressed. After completing this I did an online CEFR test. It was a multiple choice test, and out of 50 questions I only got about 12 correct. Meaning I am rated below A1. Some of my correct answers were only because I knew some words outside of the podcast. I think the podcast is great, I learned a lot and I highly recommend completing it if you are a beginner, but you need to realise that completing these lessons won't get you to A1 language proficiency. That's ok, you need to start somewhere, and those podcasts are a great place to begin.
That company also produced a free podcast on understanding spoken Russian. I would link to it but don't know how as I found this on Spotify. These also seem good, they are intended to help you get an ear for the language, and you pick up a few words and grammar as you go.
This company also made a few paid courses, I have no opinion as I haven't seen them. I don't even know if the company is still in operation. I sent them an email with a question over their paid course and never received a reply. Regardless, the free podcasts are excellent and well worth your time if you are a beginner.
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| Russian Orthodox Church - Divine Liturgy about to begin |
New Penguin Russian Course Review
Book - New Penguin Russian Course, this is said to be the best Russian language text book for beginners. This is meant to be good at teaching grammar, which is essential when learning a language. It contains a few exercises, but not enough for a beginner beginner like myself. It also has lists of words to learn, which I struggle with.
Some people prefer learning vocabulary using flash cards or picture-based vocabulary books.
I have not completed this book yet, I am told it takes about a year for most people to complete. I have a feeling it may take me longer than a year. I am slowly working my way through this book, and am learning a lot as I go.
I think this is a great book for beginners with a little knowledge of the language. I don't think I would have a hope of using it had I not learned the alphabet and completed the podcast lessons first.
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| Russian Orthodox Church |
Между нами Russian Course Review
Между нами Course - free web based text book. This description is from their website: Между нами is a complete first-year college level Russian course that has been designed for programs that have roughly 150 contact hours of instruction. The material is organized into nine units (уроки) and an epilogue, with each урок subdivided into three parts (части). Each часть shares common thematic and grammatical content which unfolds over the course of several episodes (эпизоды). Еach эпизод on the website consists of a Текст, a related set of comprehension activities called Вы всё поняли? (Did You Get All of Тhat?) and a related grammar explanation called Немно́го о языке́ (A Bit About the Language). In addition to the website, there is a print-on-demand workbook of classroom activities (Работа в аудитории) and homework activities (Домашние задания). The authors envision users working through these materials in small cycles, moving between the website and the two printable workbooks.
https://mezhdunami.org/unit01/1_1/index.shtml
I have barely started this course, and am already learning a lot. Already knowing the alphabet, having an understanding of the verb conjugations, and knowing a few words and phrases before starting is helping make this course a lot more achievable. I think it would be less fun if I started with no knowledge at all. Completing the podcasts and learning to read Cyrillic first made this course far more enjoyable.
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| Pascha service - many people were there (sorry it is so blurry) |
Learning Russian Through Native Speakers
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| Divine Liturgy was about to begin so I took some sneaky photos |
Recommended Russian Learning Resources
The following are the low-cost resources I currently use and have found helpful while learning Russian.
- New Penguin Russian Course My favourite beginner grammar textbook and the resource I use most often.
- Russian-English Dictionary Useful when studying away from a computer or phone.
- Russian Short Stories for Beginners An easy way to transition from exercises to reading real Russian.
- First Thousand words in Russian Good for building practical vocabulary.
- Dedicated Study Notebook I write new vocabulary, grammar notes, and practice exercises in mine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn the Russian alphabet?
For me it took under an hour to learn the basics, although becoming comfortable reading took much longer.
Can you learn Russian for free?
Yes. Many excellent resources are available online for free, including podcasts, websites, and courses.
What CEFR level is considered beginner Russian?
A1 and A2 are beginner levels on the CEFR scale.
Is Russian difficult for English speakers?
Russian can be challenging due to its grammar and Cyrillic alphabet, but learning the alphabet is much faster and easier than people expect.
Please keep comments focused on language learning and educational resources.
If you have suggestions of other good Russian language resources, I will gladly publish those. большое спасибо!
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