Best Websites for Russian Audio Lessons

Whether you’re trying to learn spoken Russian from scratch, or just want to improve your Russian conversation skills, there are a ton of audio materials you can choose from and listen to.

Check out four of the best resources to learn Russian with audio.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

1. Pimsleur

Pimsleur is arguably the classic choice for those who want to learn to speak Russian well on their own. In this program, the level of Russian progresses from the very basics up until a high intermediate level.

Pimsleur focuses on frequently-used vocabulary and phrases. You’ll be listening to native speaker audio files, learning what they mean and repeating them accordingly. From the get-go, you’re encouraged to speak in Russian as much as possible.

Since you’re not getting immediate feedback, however, you may want to record yourself and polish your pronunciation separately while using Pimsleur.

If you want to know more about the program, check out this complete Pimsleur review.

2. FluentU

FluentU is an excellent resource for listening practice. You’ll learn Russian by watching short clips from authentic media like Russian music videos, movie trailers, news segments and more. 

Each video comes with a downloadable transcript and interactive subtitles so you can read along as you listen. You can toggle the Russian and English subtitles on and off as you watch, allowing you to focus solely on your listening comprehension or get extra support when you need it. 

Hover over or click on any word in the subtitles to see its meaning, hear its audio pronunciation (at normal and slow speeds), find other videos where it’s used and more. Personalized quizzes after each video and a flashcard feature will help you review key vocabulary. 

3. Everyday Russian

Despite its name, Everyday Russian goes beyond conversational topics. It also covers vocabulary, grammar topics (such as verb conjugation and cases) and reading comprehension activities, among others.

All of the audio files are recorded by native speakers, ensuring that you get an authentic listening experience. You have the option to listen to the audio files on their own, or take a sneak peek at the transcripts that come with each lesson.

Sometimes, the lessons come with helpful links to related resources, making this site extra helpful for added study.

4. RussianPod101

RussianPod101 features thousands of audio and video lessons to help you learn Russian. The lessons feature experienced and energetic hosts, which can make your study sessions feel a little livelier.

In addition, the program has vocabulary learning tools, detailed PDF lesson notes and spaced repetition flashcards to help you learn on the go. And if you need a little more help using the platform, you can connect with other Russian learners through community forums and ask questions.

Read this complete RussianPod101 review to help you decide whether the program is for you.

Benefits of Learning Russian with Audio

Other than rocking out to famous Russian songs like “Katyusha” and “All the Things She Said,” there’s a good case to be made for using Russian audio lessons:

• It’s a better method for auditory learners: If you’re an auditory learner, you understand and retain material better when you listen to it than through other learning methods (reading, visualizing, etc.).

• You get to hear pronunciations: In a language like Russian which uses a different alphabet and accent from English, it’s easy to mispronounce words—not to mention get misunderstood by native speakers. When you listen carefully to Russian words and phrases before attempting to say them yourself, it can be a great help in learning to speak like a native.

• They’re helpful for multitasking: Like most adults, you likely have other priorities that may compete with the time you need to spend learning Russian. The beauty of Russian audio lessons is that you can listen to them while doing something else without worrying too much about sacrificing one for the other. You could drive to work, run errands, go jogging or even relax in a soothing bath while listening to a Russian audio course.

Check out one, a couple or even all of the above resources, pop in your headphones and start learning.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

And One More Thing...

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.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)