Очень по-русски (Very in Russian) is for upper-intermediate and advanced Russian learners.
This podcast offers thematic episodes on a wide variety of topics. Each episode shares slang, idioms and colloquialisms that are common in Russian but not as common in textbooks.
You can listen to the podcasts on the site or download the MP3s. Each podcast has a corresponding transcript complete with English translations. There’s also an accompanying vocabulary list with each podcast; this is a great way to study notable words and phrases more.
All the podcasts are available for free through the site, but you can also buy additional, affordably-priced, downloadable audio materials. You can subscribe via RSS, iTunes or email.
With over 200 podcasts, Russian Podcast offers great lessons for beginning through advanced learners.
Beginning learners can learn helpful information like common questions, while advanced learners will benefit from very specific vocabulary and lessons, such as psychotherapy-related podcasts. While most of the material is conversational, there are also a number of songs included, so the podcasts are varied and entertaining.
Each podcast comes with a helpful PDF that contains the recorded conversation. For beginning- and intermediate-level podcasts, the PDF also contains word lists with English translations to help you study. In the more advanced podcasts, the words are defined in Russian. You can download the lessons or listen on the site.
The podcasts are free, but you can also sign up for Skype-based Russian lessons here at a charge.
RussianPod101 is a comprehensive resource suitable for learners of all levels. It offers thousands of podcast-style lessons, from beginner to advanced, covering various aspects of the language.
Each episode is designed to be engaging, practical, and suitable for self-study.
With downloadable lessons, transcripts, and an interactive learning platform, RussianPod101 is your one-stop-shop for learning the Russian language.
These humorous episodes delve deep into the world of Russian words and phrases, unraveling their meanings, origins, and usage.
By understanding the fascinating stories behind the words, you’ll not only improve your vocabulary but also gain insight into Russian culture and history.
ПостНауки (PostScience) may not be exclusively a language-learning podcast, but it’s a goldmine for those interested in exploring the Russian language in an intellectual context.
This podcast delves into fascinating topics in science, technology, and culture, all presented in Russian.
It’s a fantastic resource for advanced learners who want to engage with complex subject matter and expand their vocabulary.
Why Listen to Russian Podcasts?
They offer practical listening skills. If you don’t listen to spoken Russian often, you’ll struggle to understand spoken words; this is true even if you can read and write Russian flawlessly. Listening is an entirely different skill. And listening to podcasts will help you hone that skill. This is especially true since podcasts often simulate actual conversations.
Russian podcasts are often conducted by native speakers. Listening to native speakers will help you improve your accent, pronunciation and ability to understand real Russian. It’s the same reason why language services like FluentU base the entire program on native media.
FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.
You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.
Podcasts are episodic and usually short. This means you can focus on specific themes without worrying about having to put forth too much of a time commitment. This makes it easy to pick and choose what you want to learn about and fit it into whatever time you have available.
How to Get the Most out of Russian Podcasts
Study accompanying guides. Many podcasts have accompanying printed guides you can use to aid your learning. Studying them will improve your reading skills and make listening easier at the same time.
Listen often. Whether listening to new podcasts or the same podcast time and again, the more you listen, the more you’ll learn. Remember: Repetition is the key to learning any language.
If a passage is confusing, play it back until you figure it out. Context clues are often key. Considering the focus of the podcast, what might a particular word mean? Forcing yourself to learn from context will help you develop problem-solving skills that can be applied later on to actual conversations.
So, if you want to earn a perfect 10 in Russian listening, give Russian podcasts a try!
If you love learning Russian and want to immerse yourself with authentic materials from Russia, then I should also tell you more about FluentU.
FluentU naturally and gradually eases you into learning the Russian language and culture. You'll learn real Russian as it's spoken by real Russian people!
FluentU has a very broad range of contemporary videos. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of Russian-language content available on FluentU:
FluentU makes these native Russian videos approachable through interactive transcripts. Tap on any word to look it up instantly.
Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab. Easily review words and phrases with audio under Vocab.
All definitions have multiple examples, and they're written for Russian learners like you. Tap to add words you'd like to review to a vocab list.
And FluentU has a learn mode which turns every video into a language learning lesson. You can always swipe left or right to see more examples.
The best part? FluentU keeps track of your vocabulary, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You'll have a 100% personalized experience.
