How to Learn Russian by Yourself in 13 Simple Steps

1.Finding Learning Resources

Sign up for a class at your local college or university. One of the easiest ways to start learning a language is to take a class. If you’re in college, look at the course catalog and see if Russian is offered. Even if you’re not currently enrolled in a college or university, you may be able to sign up for a Russian class at a school in your area.

For example, many community colleges in the United States offer continuing education language classes that are open to anyone.

2.Try a language-learning book or program if you’re a self-guided learner.

If you don’t need the structure and guidance offered by a class, then you might find it helpful to use a language-learning book or software. For example, you might try Rosetta Stone’s Learn Russian software, or purchase a book like Beginner’s Russian by Anna Kudyma, Frank Miller, et al.

3.Search for online resources to get additional help.

There are numerous online resources for people who are interested in learning Russian, and many of them are free. For example, you can find introductory lessons on Russian grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and more on websites like Russianlessons.net or Russianforeveryone.

4.Use language learning apps to brush up your vocabulary and grammar.

While you probably won’t become fluent using language learning apps, they can help you master some of the basics. These apps can beef up your vocabulary, help you review basic grammar, or teach you useful phrases. A few popular options include:

Duolinguo
Memrise
Busuu
Beelinguapp

5.Find a fluent Russian speaker who can practice with you.

Finding a language exchange partner is a great way to refine your skills and apply what you’ve learned. If you don’t know any native Russian speakers, try searching for Russian penpals online or joining a Russian language forum.

6.Look into immersion programs if you want to become fluent.

If you’re serious about becoming fluent in Russian, an immersion program may be your best bet. Immersion-style learning can help you learn the language on a deeper level and retain it longer than other approaches, even if you go for a while without using the language afterwards.

7.Learn some common words and phrases.

As you’re just beginning to learn Russian, it can be useful to get some common vocabulary and phrases under your belt. Focus on words or expressions that are likely to come up in everyday conversation. You can use these to help break the ice when you converse with your teachers, classmates, language exchange partners, or native speakers. For example:

“Hello” is “Здравствуйте” (Zdravstvujte).
“Goodbye” is “До свидания” (Do svidanija).
To introduce yourself, say, “Меня зовут . . .” (“My name is . . .”). For example, “Меня зовут Джэнайфр” (“My name is Jennifer”).

8.Familiarize yourself with the Russian alphabet.

Russian is written in an alphabet called Cyrillic, which is quite different from the Latin alphabet used to write English and many other European languages. If you’re not familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet, you’ll have to learn it in order to read and write Russian. You can find the Cyrillic alphabet online or in any Russian textbook or language learning program.

9.Work on your pronunciation.

Russian pronunciation is often a challenge for non-native speakers to master. Read up on Russian pronunciation in a textbook or other language learning guide, and listen to people speaking Russian either in person or in recordings so that you understand how the different sounds are pronounced. Keep in mind some of the following rules:

Most Russian consonants come in either a “plain” or “palatalized” form. In general, the palatalized sound is much like the plain form except that it sounds as though it has a “y” sound after it. To understand this, think of the difference between the way the combination of “p” and “oo/u” is pronounced in the English words “poor” versus “pure.”
You can tell whether a consonant is pronounced in its plain or palatalized form by looking at the form of the vowel that comes after it. For example, мэ is plain (pronounced like “meh”), while ме is palatalized (pronounced “myeh”).

10.Study the basics of grammar.

Much like English, Russian words can be divided up into a variety of different types or “parts of speech.” These include nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and pronouns. However, these parts of speech may behave in ways that are quite different from what you are used to. You’ll need to study and memorize the rules for understanding how the different parts of speech operate in Russian.

For example, English nouns change form slightly depending on whether they are singular or plural (e.g., “child, children” or “cat, cats”). Russian nouns have a much wider variety of forms depending on factors like gender, number, and case.

11.Master the different sentence structures.

Most English sentences need a subject (typically a noun or a pronoun) and a verb at minimum in order to be grammatically correct. However, Russian sentences can be constructed without any kind of noun or pronoun subject.

12.Set aside a specific time to study each day.

If you’re taking a formal class or working with a tutor, you’ll probably already have a set class schedule a few days a week. To really reinforce what you’re learning, though, it’s important to also study on your own. Set aside some time every day—for example, 1 hour in the evening—to review vocabulary, grammar, or whatever you are currently working on.

13.Quiz yourself to retain your knowledge better.

Testing yourself is not only a great way to review the material, but it can also help you pinpoint areas where you need to improve your knowledge and understanding.If you’re using a textbook or language learning program that includes quizzes or knowledge checks, take advantage of those. You can also use flashcards or ask a friend to test you.