Russian is one of the most widely spoken native languages in Europe. It belongs to the Slavic group of the Indo-European language family. The total number of Russian language speakers around the world is estimated to be from 255 to 285 million.

Russian is one of the five official languages of the United Nations, and ranks as the major world language along with Chinese, English, Spanish and Hindi. It is the native language of 142 million citizens of the Russian Federation, the world’s largest country.

As the language is widely spoken and ranked in the major languages of the United Nations there are many benefits from being able to communicate with all kinds of people in all types of situations in Russian-speaking countries and beyond.

They want to make their own decisions, chart their own paths.

But when it comes to learning Russian, charting your own path can be a bit more complicated.

There is so much out there to help you, it can be hard to know where to start.

You can look at great online resources. You can head over to fantastic Russian learning blogs. You can tune in to the best Russian podcasts around. Maybe watching Russian learning videos is more your speed.

There are so many options for how to learn, and you can pick the method you like best.

But there is just one little problem. Where do you start? What do you choose to learn first?

If you would like to learn Russian on your own, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be successful as long as you go about learning in a way that works for you.

• Start watching Russian films and TV series 

As Russian cinema plays such an important cultural role in Europe, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to find something that takes your fancy or suits your own personal interests. Films are a great way of listening to how Russian speakers pronounce their words and articulate sentences, without the added pressure of actually having to converse with a native speaker. If you already have some familiarity with the language, then try watching with Russian subtitles. This way you can read what you hear and increase your chances of retaining new vocabulary.

• You tube 

If the idea of committing to a full-length film or series is too daunting or you simply don’t have time, YouTube videos are perfect. Short video clips talking about your interests are just as effective in developing comprehension and vocabulary skills. The search bar on YouTube is endless so there is certainly something for everyone. If you like cooking then find a French YouTuber who gives tutorials on a recipe you would like to try. Travel, music, make-up, yoga, fashion, gaming, history, politics, comedy – it’s all there.

• Reading online articles on the topics of your interest

To practice reading comprehension skills and to learn new vocabulary, try reading Russian journalism. Not only will this help to develop your language competency, but it will help you to gain a new perspective on what’s going on in Europe. Start off with shorter articles via online newspapers. 

Remember it’s a lot more effort than when you are training under someone!

Reading newspaper

We all know that knowledge is power, well, this way you will be able to understand the attitudes towards work, politics, and society of Russian speaking people. 

Reading the news in a foreign language is hard, so bear in mind that there’s no need to understand all of it. Hence, the first time you read the news in Russian, just try to see how many words you do understand, then, the second time, try to figure out the general idea of what it’s been said. If you don’t put too much pressure on yourself, you’ll get there.

Certainly, we all want to be fluent and be able to speak about interesting topics, but we also know that our vocabulary is limited. By reading newspapers on a daily basis we’ll learn specific vocabulary on up to the minute information about the state of the country.

• Don’t just make time for Russian, make your time Russian!

If you’re inclined to go to a movie, watch a Russian film instead. If you listen to the radio while you’re working, listen to a Russian station. Even traditional forms of study, like reviewing flashcards, can be combined with something you enjoy. Go to a park, a cafe or someplace you can relax. Listen to lessons or podcasts while you’re working out.

No one said it is impossible but you should be a highly self-motivated learner to try this all alone!

Spend time in a Russian-speaking environment.

Another great strategy is to transform your home into a Russian learning hotspot! In fact, to learn Russian, one of the ultimate strategies is to change your environment into a place that promotes Russian learning and education. And the best part? This can be achieved whether you live in a Russian-speaking country or not!

• Using Language exchange App 

Russian apps because they really are workhorses for vocabulary building. Also, they’re mobile and convenient, offering tiny bites of learning whenever you have a free moment.

A good way to put your grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension skills into practice in an authentic way is to practice with a native or fluent Russian speaker. Many Russian people are very keen to learn English too, so a language exchange could be an ideal way to benefit both partners. The good thing about doing an organized exchange is that you don’t need to worry about the other person becoming impatient when you make mistakes as they are in exactly the same position. Searching online and via social media is the easiest way to find a language exchange partner.

In the end, I just want to remind you that talk to yourself might sound weird or strange but speaking aloud can really help you with general fluency as when we talk to ourselves we are not worried about making mistakes and sounding stupid.