YouTube<\/a>![\"russian-listening-practice-4\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/russian-listening-practice-4.png\")
<\/h3>\nYouTube offers both authentic<\/strong> and learning-based<\/strong> videos<\/strong>. Authentic videos focus on real Russian\u2014the sort of language that native speakers use with each other. For example:<\/p>\n\n- \u041d\u0430\u0443\u0447\u043f\u043e\u043a<\/a> <\/strong>answers common questions through animated drawings and a voiceover.<\/li>\n
- This is \u0425\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e<\/a><\/strong> (\u201cThis is Good\u201d) features a fast-talking Russian guy who gives you the rundown on the most ridiculous videos on the internet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Russian learning channels on YouTube<\/a> focus more on speaking in a manner that Russian students can understand and cover topics that Russian students will benefit from.<\/p>\nLearning-based channels like\u00a0The Russian Grammar Channel<\/a> and Russian from Russia<\/a> offer grammar and vocabulary lessons as well as entertaining listening practice like these New Year stories<\/a> for intermediate learners.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe RussianPod101 channel<\/a> offers videos for listening practice at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. For example, the video below tests your comprehension of dialogues between Russian speakers<\/strong> on a range of topics such as booking a hotel room and ordering food.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\nFluentU<\/a>![\"FluentU](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/iTunesArtwork@1x.png\")
<\/a><\/div><\/span><\/h3>\nFluentU is an excellent resource for listening practice\u2014with a video component for visual learners.
\r\nFluentU takes real-world videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons<\/a>.<\/strong>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\nPlus, the videos are all naturally entertaining since they come from the shows, movies and channels that native Russian-speakers enjoy on the regular. You can watch documentary footage, television show clips, funny commericals and more all while learning the Russian language!\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nTake a quick look at what FluentU has on offer for yourself:\r\n<\/p>\r\n![\"learn-russian-with-videos\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/Russian-5.png\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nDidn't catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? FluentU makes native Russian videos approachable through interactive captions. <\/strong>Tap or click on any word to see a definition, in-context usage examples, audio pronunciation, helpful images and more.\r\n<\/p>\r\n![\"learn-russian-with-video-clips\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/Russian-2.png\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nAccess a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue<\/strong> tab. Easily review words and phrases with audio under Vocab<\/strong>.\r\n<\/p>\r\n![\"learn-russian-with-interactive-dialogue\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/Russian-6.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nDon\u2019t stop there, though! Use FluentU\u2019s quizzes <\/strong>to actively practice all the vocabulary in any video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're on.\r\n<\/p>\r\n![\"practice-russian-with-adaptive-quizzes\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/Russian-7.png\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you\u2019re learning. It uses that information to give you a 100% personalized experience<\/strong> by recommending videos and examples.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\nStart 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.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\nTo give you an idea of what listening practice would be like with the app, here’s how you can learn with this clip from SpongeBob, courtesy of the FluentU Russian YouTube channel<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\nRussian Movies and TV Series<\/h2>\n
Reinforce what you see with what you hear by watching and reading subtitles from these sources:<\/p>\n
Learn Russian Language<\/a>![\"russian-listening-practice-4\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/russian-listening-practice-4-2.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nThis YouTube channel offers various Russian films with English subtitles<\/strong>, so you can get to know Russian culture while learning the language.<\/p>\nIn the beginning, you may have to read the subtitles to understand the content of the films. But as you improve, try to watch without subtitles to test your knowledge.<\/p>\n
To get started, you can check out “\u0421\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043a \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0432\u044b\u0439”<\/strong><\/a> (“The Forty-First”), a Russian classic from 1956 about life during the war in the 40s. Or for something lighter, check out this funny Sherlock Holmes parody<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\nNetflix<\/a>![\"russian-listening-practice-4\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/russian-listening-practice-4-1.png\")
<\/h3>\nWhile its Russian selection<\/a> isn’t huge, there are some great options on Netflix for learning the language and taking in Russian culture.<\/p>\nAll of its offerings have English subtitles and some also have subtitles in Russian so you can follow along and brush up on your reading skills.<\/p>\n
For example, you can check out the Netflix original film “Dovlatov,”<\/a><\/strong> which follows the true story of the Russian writer in the 1970s. He struggles with wanting to stay in Russia while his writings are rejected by the oppressive regime.<\/p>\n<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\nAmazon Prime Video<\/strong><\/h3>\nAmazon’s Prime Video streaming service has a pretty good selection of Russian films<\/a>. You’ll find war dramas, romantic films and sci-fi thrillers.<\/p>\nFor example, you can watch \u201c\u0412\u043e\u0439\u043d\u0430 \u0438 \u043c\u0438\u0440\u201d<\/a> (War and Peace)<\/strong>, the epic cinematic adaptation of Leo Tolstoy\u2019s monumental novel which won the 1969 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe film was released in four installments spanning over seven hours, so you’ll get plenty of listening practice!\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\nRussian Audiobooks<\/h2>\n
Books serve many purposes\u2014they educate, entertain and expose us to times, places and situations different from our own. Check out these resources for audiobooks in Russian:<\/p>\n
Loyal Books<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Loyal-Books-150x150.png\")
<\/h3>\nThe best part of Loyal Books is that all of the audiobooks are free<\/strong>! Here are our top picks from their library:<\/p>\n\n- “\u041f\u043e\u044d\u043c\u044b”<\/strong><\/a> (“Poems”) \u2014 Listen to 35 poems from the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.<\/li>\n
- “\u0417\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0438 \u0438\u0437 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043f\u043e\u043b\u044c\u044f”<\/a><\/strong> (“Notes from the Underground”) \u2014<\/em> This is an existentialist novel from 19th-century writer Fyodor Dostoevsky.<\/li>\n
- “\u041f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435”<\/a><\/strong> (“A Marriage Proposal”) \u2014 Listen to this amazing play about a marriage proposal by famed Russian author Anton Chekhov.<\/li>\n
- “Aesop\u2019s Fables”<\/strong><\/a> \u2014\u00a0<\/em>This audiobook features a collection of fables collected in Greece between 620 and 564 BC, translated by Russian author Leo Tolstoy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
While these texts might seem difficult for a beginner, it’s important to remember your purpose isn’t to understand every word, but rather to get a feel for the language.<\/p>\n
Getting acquainted with the works of Pushkin, Chekhov, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky can help you immerse yourself in Russian culture<\/strong> and learn more about Russian history\u2014both important parts of learning a foreign language.<\/p>\nAmazon<\/a><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/Audible-icon-logo-1-150x150.png\")
<\/a>Amazon has a wealth of Russian audiobooks available for purchase. They offer a handy way to sort the books by topic<\/strong>, such as politics, fiction, children’s books, travel, romance, etc.<\/p>\nAmazon users who have a Prime membership can listen to some of the titles for free with an Audible trial or subscription<\/a>.<\/p>\nSome titles worthy of checking out:<\/p>\n
\n- “\u0422\u0432\u043e\u0438 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0432\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u043a\u0438”<\/a> <\/strong>(“Your First Fairy Tales”)\u00a0\u2014 <\/em>This audiobook of fairy tales is perfect for those just beginning to learn Russian. Since they’re designed for children, they feature easy-to-understand language.<\/li>\n
- “\u0420\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437-\u0421\u0435\u043d\u0441\u0430\u0446\u0438\u044f”<\/a><\/strong> (“The Sensational Story”) \u2014 <\/em>This audio textbook by Ignaty Dyakov is for elementary\/pre-intermediate levels (A1-A2). It’s in the form of a series of detective stories, this one following the adventures of a Guadeloupian banker named George.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ayguo.com<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nAyguo is a great place to get (free) audio recordings of classic Russian literature<\/strong>, along with texts you can use to read along. You can download books or listen to them directly on the site.<\/p>\nFor more audiobook options, check out these Russian audiobook resources and recommended titles<\/a>.<\/p>\nRussian Podcasts\u00a0<\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/RussianPod101-podcast-logo-150x150.jpeg\")
<\/a>RussianPod101<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nThis is a highly professional Russian-learning podcast for beginning to advanced levels. The dialogues are fun and realistic and the podcast does a great job at going in-depth with the language and culture notes<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThat said, RussianPod101 can be a bit pricey if you want to take full advantage. Check out our full review of RussianPod101 here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\nSBS Russian<\/a><\/h3>\n![\"russian-listening-practice-4\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/russian-listening-practice-4-5.png\")
<\/a>SBS Russian is a great podcast for listening to the news in Russian. The episodes primarily focus on the goings-on in Russia and Australia<\/strong>.<\/p>\nYou’ll listen to clips such as “Victoria bans mobile phones at schools,” “Russian community is outraged over travel agency collapse” and “Calls for strong government action as drug deaths spike.”<\/p>\n
There’s also a regular “This week in Russia”<\/strong> segment to keep you up to date on the culture and events in the country.<\/p>\nSpeaking Russian<\/a><\/h3>\n![\"russian-listening-practice-4\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/russian-listening-practice-4-6.png\")
<\/a>Speaking Russian is an educational podcast that helps its listeners learn the basics of the Russian language.<\/p>\nIt’s an ideal podcast for beginners<\/strong>, as it covers simple concepts like how to address people in Russian, how to say goodbye, how to count and how to say the days of the week.<\/p>\nEpisodes are under five minutes long, so Speaking Russian is perfect for learners with limited time on their hands.<\/p>\n
Russian Podcast<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n![\"russian-podcast-logo\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/russian-podcast-logo.png\")
Russian Podcast offers <\/span>over 300 free podcasts<\/b> with great conversational lessons for beginners through advanced learners. You can download the lessons or listen on the site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEach podcast comes with a <\/span>PDF transcript of the conversation<\/b> as well as a word list with English translations for the beginner and intermediate podcasts and definitions in Russian for the advanced ones.<\/span><\/p>\nIf podcasts are your thing, check out this list of other <\/span>podcasts for Russian learners<\/span><\/a>, many of them free.<\/span><\/p>\nAuthentic Russian Music<\/h2>\nStation.ru<\/a><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Station.ru_.png\")
<\/a>This is Moscow’s Dance Radio station featuring music videos, clips and other programs. The music can be heard online or through a mobile phone or tablet.<\/p>\nStation.ru allows users to pick between different streaming radio stations<\/strong>. The stations list many of the artists’ names in English and you can easily add the artists you like to your favorites list.<\/p>\nCheck out this channel<\/a> for relaxing music to help you fall asleep. And since the music is slower, it’s much easier to understand the lyrics than on fast tracks.<\/p>\nRusRadio.ru<\/a><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/russian-listening-practice-3-3.jpg\")
<\/a>Lyrics can be difficult enough to understand in your native language. Listening practice through music is definitely for the advanced Russian student<\/strong>.<\/p>\nWith this online music channel, you can listen to current Russian radio, hits from the 90s and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
You can get familiar with top Russian artists like \u041f\u043e\u043b\u0438\u043d\u0430 \u0413\u0430\u0433\u0430\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0430<\/a> (Polina Gagarina), SEREBRO<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0\u0421\u043b\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/a>\u00a0(Slava).<\/p>\nRadio.net<\/a><\/h3>\n![\"radio.net-logo\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/radio.net-logo.png\")
Radio.net lets you listen to radio stations from around the world, including Russia.<\/p>\n
You can listen to over 700 Russian<\/span> radio stations<\/strong> online covering pretty much every genre.\u00a0<\/p>\nIn addition to music, there’s also talk radio<\/strong> which will expose you to authentic conversation at a natural speed. You can listen online or download the app for iOS<\/a> or Android devices<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\nOnline Russian Courses<\/h2>\nLanguage Trainers’ Listening Tests<\/a><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/russian-listening-practice-3.png\")
<\/a>Before you start perfecting your Russian listening skills, it’s very helpful to know your starting point. Language Trainers provides free tests to verify how much Russian you actually understand<\/strong>.<\/p>\nTheir elementary and intermediate tests feature a listening component in Russian along with comprehension questions in English.<\/p>\n
Once you know where you stand with your Russian skills, you can choose the appropriate sources to learn Russian online.<\/p>\n
Russian for Free Dialogues<\/a><\/h3>\n![\"russian-listening-practice-4\"](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/2\/russian-listening-practice-4-8.png\")
The audio dialogues from Russian for Free will let you hear native speakers in natural conversations <\/strong>talking about everyday topics such as housework, holidays and traveling.<\/p>\nYou can select from beginner, intermediate or advanced dialogues. For focused practice, this site offers the transcript for the dialogues in both English and Russian<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThis allows you to find the translation of unfamiliar words and phrases while you listen and practice saying the sentences after hearing them.<\/p>\n
How to Learn Russian Through Listening Practice<\/h2>\n
By following the right strategies, you can tune into these listening resources with purpose and precision. Here are some steps to maximize your Russian listening practice:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n- Practice active listening.<\/strong> Active listening requires you to focus on the task at hand only. Be sure to free yourself from any other distractions while listening to ensure you take something away from the content. That being said, engaging in some passive listening while you do mindless tasks will also increase your exposure and familiarity with the language.<\/li>\n
- Listen and repeat<\/strong>. While you’re listening to Russian audio, pause and repeat difficult and common words and phrases. This will help you learn the right pronunciation and train your brain to say them correctly. It’s especially important for those infamously long Russian words that are full of consonants, accent marks and neuter signs.<\/li>\n
- Accept that you won’t understand everything.<\/strong> When you\u2019re trying to improve your listening skills, you won\u2019t understand everything\u2026 and you don\u2019t have to. Don\u2019t get hung up on what you don\u2019t know unless it seems to be a key point. Instead, as you listen, take what you understand of the context and try to make inferences on what you\u2019ve missed.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Look up the meanings of new words.<\/strong> While you won’t understand everything, you can use your listening practice to learn new words. To avoid interrupting the flow, you can write down unfamiliar words and look them up afterward with a Russian dictionary app<\/a>. Then add them to your flashcard app<\/a> to practice until they’re part of your vocabulary.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Train your ear with scripts and subtitles. <\/strong>When you watch a Russian movie with same-language subtitles or listen to an audiobook while reading along with the print version, you can compare the words as they\u2019re written to the words as they\u2019re actually spoken. That\u2019ll train you to recognize full sentences even when some of the words get under-stressed or swallowed.<\/li>\n
- Use technology to slow down the audio. <\/strong>If you have a copy of a Russian-language audio file, audio editing programs such as\u00a0Audacity<\/a> allow you to slow down the playback to a more manageable pace. That means you can enjoy all kinds of authentic Russian content at the best pace for your proficiency level.<\/li>\n
- Answer questions to test your comprehension. <\/strong>Take advantage of the comprehension questions included with some listening resources, or come up with your own questions to ask yourself. As you listen, take notes on words, phrases or ideas that you didn\u2019t quite understand. Try to pinpoint and address what exactly blocked your understanding.<\/li>\n
- Create a summary of what you’ve listened to. <\/strong>To improve your focus while listening to a given audio or video resource, assign yourself a summary of the main points and\/or details afterward. You can do this by writing or speaking. Knowing that you\u2019ll have to summarize will force you to listen attentively, and you\u2019ll get practice mentally organizing and recalling what you hear.<\/li>\n
- Diversify your listening sources. <\/strong>Don\u2019t just stick to one type of input. Branch out! Have fun with podcasts for learners, podcasts for native speakers, films, TV shows and real conversations with language partners<\/a>, online or offline. Enjoy information\u00a0and <\/em>entertainment, pre-recorded\u00a0and <\/em>live speech, learner-directed\u00a0and <\/em>authentic materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
When it comes to Russian listening practice, great resources like the ones above will make your study time more effective and enjoyable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a variety of different kinds of audio resources, you can choose what best fits your learning style and keeps you engaged as you grow your language skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Whether you’re a beginner or striving for fluency, honing your listening skills is a game-changer, so you need the right tools that cater to your learning style. Discover our top…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":422,"featured_media":249947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"17 Resources for Russian Listening Practice | FluentU Russian Blog","description":"Russian listening practice is key for improving your comprehension skills and understanding native speakers. Check out these 17 top-notch resources for listening practice, from audiobooks and podcasts to music and movies. Plus, learn some key strategies to maximize your listening time and build your skills quicker!"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[399,394,395,398,406],"tags":[],"coauthors":[413],"class_list":["post-64721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-audio-russian-learning-resources","category-russian","category-russian-learning-resources","category-russian-learning-tips","category-speaking-and-listening-to-russian"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/422"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64721"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":254220,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64721\/revisions\/254220"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64721"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=64721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- \n
- \u041d\u0430\u0443\u0447\u043f\u043e\u043a<\/a> <\/strong>answers common questions through animated drawings and a voiceover.<\/li>\n
- This is \u0425\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e<\/a><\/strong> (\u201cThis is Good\u201d) features a fast-talking Russian guy who gives you the rundown on the most ridiculous videos on the internet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Russian learning channels on YouTube<\/a> focus more on speaking in a manner that Russian students can understand and cover topics that Russian students will benefit from.<\/p>\n
Learning-based channels like\u00a0The Russian Grammar Channel<\/a> and Russian from Russia<\/a> offer grammar and vocabulary lessons as well as entertaining listening practice like these New Year stories<\/a> for intermediate learners.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The RussianPod101 channel<\/a> offers videos for listening practice at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. For example, the video below tests your comprehension of dialogues between Russian speakers<\/strong> on a range of topics such as booking a hotel room and ordering food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n FluentU<\/a>
<\/a><\/div><\/span><\/h3>\nFluentU is an excellent resource for listening practice\u2014with a video component for visual learners.
\r\nFluentU takes real-world videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons<\/a>.<\/strong>\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nPlus, the videos are all naturally entertaining since they come from the shows, movies and channels that native Russian-speakers enjoy on the regular. You can watch documentary footage, television show clips, funny commericals and more all while learning the Russian language!\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nTake a quick look at what FluentU has on offer for yourself:\r\n<\/p>\r\n
<\/a>\r\n\r\nDidn't catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? FluentU makes native Russian videos approachable through interactive captions. <\/strong>Tap or click on any word to see a definition, in-context usage examples, audio pronunciation, helpful images and more.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
<\/a>\r\n\r\nAccess a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue<\/strong> tab. Easily review words and phrases with audio under Vocab<\/strong>.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
<\/a>\r\n\r\nDon\u2019t stop there, though! Use FluentU\u2019s quizzes <\/strong>to actively practice all the vocabulary in any video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're on.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
<\/a>\r\n\r\nAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you\u2019re learning. It uses that information to give you a 100% personalized experience<\/strong> by recommending videos and examples.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nStart 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.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\nTo give you an idea of what listening practice would be like with the app, here’s how you can learn with this clip from SpongeBob, courtesy of the FluentU Russian YouTube channel<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n Russian Movies and TV Series<\/h2>\n
Reinforce what you see with what you hear by watching and reading subtitles from these sources:<\/p>\n
Learn Russian Language<\/a>
<\/h3>\nThis YouTube channel offers various Russian films with English subtitles<\/strong>, so you can get to know Russian culture while learning the language.<\/p>\n
In the beginning, you may have to read the subtitles to understand the content of the films. But as you improve, try to watch without subtitles to test your knowledge.<\/p>\n
To get started, you can check out “\u0421\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043a \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0432\u044b\u0439”<\/strong><\/a> (“The Forty-First”), a Russian classic from 1956 about life during the war in the 40s. Or for something lighter, check out this funny Sherlock Holmes parody<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Netflix<\/a>
<\/h3>\nWhile its Russian selection<\/a> isn’t huge, there are some great options on Netflix for learning the language and taking in Russian culture.<\/p>\n
All of its offerings have English subtitles and some also have subtitles in Russian so you can follow along and brush up on your reading skills.<\/p>\n
For example, you can check out the Netflix original film “Dovlatov,”<\/a><\/strong> which follows the true story of the Russian writer in the 1970s. He struggles with wanting to stay in Russia while his writings are rejected by the oppressive regime.<\/p>\n
<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n Amazon Prime Video<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service has a pretty good selection of Russian films<\/a>. You’ll find war dramas, romantic films and sci-fi thrillers.<\/p>\n
For example, you can watch \u201c\u0412\u043e\u0439\u043d\u0430 \u0438 \u043c\u0438\u0440\u201d<\/a> (War and Peace)<\/strong>, the epic cinematic adaptation of Leo Tolstoy\u2019s monumental novel which won the 1969 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The film was released in four installments spanning over seven hours, so you’ll get plenty of listening practice!\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n Russian Audiobooks<\/h2>\n
Books serve many purposes\u2014they educate, entertain and expose us to times, places and situations different from our own. Check out these resources for audiobooks in Russian:<\/p>\n
Loyal Books<\/a>
<\/h3>\nThe best part of Loyal Books is that all of the audiobooks are free<\/strong>! Here are our top picks from their library:<\/p>\n
- \n
- “\u041f\u043e\u044d\u043c\u044b”<\/strong><\/a> (“Poems”) \u2014 Listen to 35 poems from the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.<\/li>\n
- “\u0417\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0438 \u0438\u0437 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043f\u043e\u043b\u044c\u044f”<\/a><\/strong> (“Notes from the Underground”) \u2014<\/em> This is an existentialist novel from 19th-century writer Fyodor Dostoevsky.<\/li>\n
- “\u041f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435”<\/a><\/strong> (“A Marriage Proposal”) \u2014 Listen to this amazing play about a marriage proposal by famed Russian author Anton Chekhov.<\/li>\n
- “Aesop\u2019s Fables”<\/strong><\/a> \u2014\u00a0<\/em>This audiobook features a collection of fables collected in Greece between 620 and 564 BC, translated by Russian author Leo Tolstoy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
While these texts might seem difficult for a beginner, it’s important to remember your purpose isn’t to understand every word, but rather to get a feel for the language.<\/p>\n
Getting acquainted with the works of Pushkin, Chekhov, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky can help you immerse yourself in Russian culture<\/strong> and learn more about Russian history\u2014both important parts of learning a foreign language.<\/p>\n
Amazon<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Amazon has a wealth of Russian audiobooks available for purchase. They offer a handy way to sort the books by topic<\/strong>, such as politics, fiction, children’s books, travel, romance, etc.<\/p>\nAmazon users who have a Prime membership can listen to some of the titles for free with an Audible trial or subscription<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Some titles worthy of checking out:<\/p>\n
- \n
- “\u0422\u0432\u043e\u0438 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0432\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u043a\u0438”<\/a> <\/strong>(“Your First Fairy Tales”)\u00a0\u2014 <\/em>This audiobook of fairy tales is perfect for those just beginning to learn Russian. Since they’re designed for children, they feature easy-to-understand language.<\/li>\n
- “\u0420\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437-\u0421\u0435\u043d\u0441\u0430\u0446\u0438\u044f”<\/a><\/strong> (“The Sensational Story”) \u2014 <\/em>This audio textbook by Ignaty Dyakov is for elementary\/pre-intermediate levels (A1-A2). It’s in the form of a series of detective stories, this one following the adventures of a Guadeloupian banker named George.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ayguo.com<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ayguo is a great place to get (free) audio recordings of classic Russian literature<\/strong>, along with texts you can use to read along. You can download books or listen to them directly on the site.<\/p>\n
For more audiobook options, check out these Russian audiobook resources and recommended titles<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Russian Podcasts\u00a0<\/h2>\n
<\/a>RussianPod101<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nThis is a highly professional Russian-learning podcast for beginning to advanced levels. The dialogues are fun and realistic and the podcast does a great job at going in-depth with the language and culture notes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
That said, RussianPod101 can be a bit pricey if you want to take full advantage. Check out our full review of RussianPod101 here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
SBS Russian<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/a>SBS Russian is a great podcast for listening to the news in Russian. The episodes primarily focus on the goings-on in Russia and Australia<\/strong>.<\/p>\nYou’ll listen to clips such as “Victoria bans mobile phones at schools,” “Russian community is outraged over travel agency collapse” and “Calls for strong government action as drug deaths spike.”<\/p>\n
There’s also a regular “This week in Russia”<\/strong> segment to keep you up to date on the culture and events in the country.<\/p>\n
Speaking Russian<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Speaking Russian is an educational podcast that helps its listeners learn the basics of the Russian language.<\/p>\nIt’s an ideal podcast for beginners<\/strong>, as it covers simple concepts like how to address people in Russian, how to say goodbye, how to count and how to say the days of the week.<\/p>\n
Episodes are under five minutes long, so Speaking Russian is perfect for learners with limited time on their hands.<\/p>\n
Russian Podcast<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n
Russian Podcast offers <\/span>over 300 free podcasts<\/b> with great conversational lessons for beginners through advanced learners. You can download the lessons or listen on the site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEach podcast comes with a <\/span>PDF transcript of the conversation<\/b> as well as a word list with English translations for the beginner and intermediate podcasts and definitions in Russian for the advanced ones.<\/span><\/p>\n
If podcasts are your thing, check out this list of other <\/span>podcasts for Russian learners<\/span><\/a>, many of them free.<\/span><\/p>\n
Authentic Russian Music<\/h2>\n
Station.ru<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/a>This is Moscow’s Dance Radio station featuring music videos, clips and other programs. The music can be heard online or through a mobile phone or tablet.<\/p>\nStation.ru allows users to pick between different streaming radio stations<\/strong>. The stations list many of the artists’ names in English and you can easily add the artists you like to your favorites list.<\/p>\n
Check out this channel<\/a> for relaxing music to help you fall asleep. And since the music is slower, it’s much easier to understand the lyrics than on fast tracks.<\/p>\n
RusRadio.ru<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Lyrics can be difficult enough to understand in your native language. Listening practice through music is definitely for the advanced Russian student<\/strong>.<\/p>\nWith this online music channel, you can listen to current Russian radio, hits from the 90s and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
You can get familiar with top Russian artists like \u041f\u043e\u043b\u0438\u043d\u0430 \u0413\u0430\u0433\u0430\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0430<\/a> (Polina Gagarina), SEREBRO<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0\u0421\u043b\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/a>\u00a0(Slava).<\/p>\n
Radio.net<\/a><\/h3>\n
Radio.net lets you listen to radio stations from around the world, including Russia.<\/p>\nYou can listen to over 700 Russian<\/span> radio stations<\/strong> online covering pretty much every genre.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In addition to music, there’s also talk radio<\/strong> which will expose you to authentic conversation at a natural speed. You can listen online or download the app for iOS<\/a> or Android devices<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Online Russian Courses<\/h2>\n
Language Trainers’ Listening Tests<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Before you start perfecting your Russian listening skills, it’s very helpful to know your starting point. Language Trainers provides free tests to verify how much Russian you actually understand<\/strong>.<\/p>\nTheir elementary and intermediate tests feature a listening component in Russian along with comprehension questions in English.<\/p>\n
Once you know where you stand with your Russian skills, you can choose the appropriate sources to learn Russian online.<\/p>\n
Russian for Free Dialogues<\/a><\/h3>\n
The audio dialogues from Russian for Free will let you hear native speakers in natural conversations <\/strong>talking about everyday topics such as housework, holidays and traveling.<\/p>\nYou can select from beginner, intermediate or advanced dialogues. For focused practice, this site offers the transcript for the dialogues in both English and Russian<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
This allows you to find the translation of unfamiliar words and phrases while you listen and practice saying the sentences after hearing them.<\/p>\n
How to Learn Russian Through Listening Practice<\/h2>\n
By following the right strategies, you can tune into these listening resources with purpose and precision. Here are some steps to maximize your Russian listening practice:\u00a0<\/p>\n
- \n
- Practice active listening.<\/strong> Active listening requires you to focus on the task at hand only. Be sure to free yourself from any other distractions while listening to ensure you take something away from the content. That being said, engaging in some passive listening while you do mindless tasks will also increase your exposure and familiarity with the language.<\/li>\n
- Listen and repeat<\/strong>. While you’re listening to Russian audio, pause and repeat difficult and common words and phrases. This will help you learn the right pronunciation and train your brain to say them correctly. It’s especially important for those infamously long Russian words that are full of consonants, accent marks and neuter signs.<\/li>\n
- Accept that you won’t understand everything.<\/strong> When you\u2019re trying to improve your listening skills, you won\u2019t understand everything\u2026 and you don\u2019t have to. Don\u2019t get hung up on what you don\u2019t know unless it seems to be a key point. Instead, as you listen, take what you understand of the context and try to make inferences on what you\u2019ve missed.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Look up the meanings of new words.<\/strong> While you won’t understand everything, you can use your listening practice to learn new words. To avoid interrupting the flow, you can write down unfamiliar words and look them up afterward with a Russian dictionary app<\/a>. Then add them to your flashcard app<\/a> to practice until they’re part of your vocabulary.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Train your ear with scripts and subtitles. <\/strong>When you watch a Russian movie with same-language subtitles or listen to an audiobook while reading along with the print version, you can compare the words as they\u2019re written to the words as they\u2019re actually spoken. That\u2019ll train you to recognize full sentences even when some of the words get under-stressed or swallowed.<\/li>\n
- Use technology to slow down the audio. <\/strong>If you have a copy of a Russian-language audio file, audio editing programs such as\u00a0Audacity<\/a> allow you to slow down the playback to a more manageable pace. That means you can enjoy all kinds of authentic Russian content at the best pace for your proficiency level.<\/li>\n
- Answer questions to test your comprehension. <\/strong>Take advantage of the comprehension questions included with some listening resources, or come up with your own questions to ask yourself. As you listen, take notes on words, phrases or ideas that you didn\u2019t quite understand. Try to pinpoint and address what exactly blocked your understanding.<\/li>\n
- Create a summary of what you’ve listened to. <\/strong>To improve your focus while listening to a given audio or video resource, assign yourself a summary of the main points and\/or details afterward. You can do this by writing or speaking. Knowing that you\u2019ll have to summarize will force you to listen attentively, and you\u2019ll get practice mentally organizing and recalling what you hear.<\/li>\n
- Diversify your listening sources. <\/strong>Don\u2019t just stick to one type of input. Branch out! Have fun with podcasts for learners, podcasts for native speakers, films, TV shows and real conversations with language partners<\/a>, online or offline. Enjoy information\u00a0and <\/em>entertainment, pre-recorded\u00a0and <\/em>live speech, learner-directed\u00a0and <\/em>authentic materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
When it comes to Russian listening practice, great resources like the ones above will make your study time more effective and enjoyable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a variety of different kinds of audio resources, you can choose what best fits your learning style and keeps you engaged as you grow your language skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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- Listen and repeat<\/strong>. While you’re listening to Russian audio, pause and repeat difficult and common words and phrases. This will help you learn the right pronunciation and train your brain to say them correctly. It’s especially important for those infamously long Russian words that are full of consonants, accent marks and neuter signs.<\/li>\n
- “\u0420\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437-\u0421\u0435\u043d\u0441\u0430\u0446\u0438\u044f”<\/a><\/strong> (“The Sensational Story”) \u2014 <\/em>This audio textbook by Ignaty Dyakov is for elementary\/pre-intermediate levels (A1-A2). It’s in the form of a series of detective stories, this one following the adventures of a Guadeloupian banker named George.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- “\u0417\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0438 \u0438\u0437 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043f\u043e\u043b\u044c\u044f”<\/a><\/strong> (“Notes from the Underground”) \u2014<\/em> This is an existentialist novel from 19th-century writer Fyodor Dostoevsky.<\/li>\n
- This is \u0425\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e<\/a><\/strong> (\u201cThis is Good\u201d) features a fast-talking Russian guy who gives you the rundown on the most ridiculous videos on the internet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n