YouTube is a fantastic resource to learn Russian and here’s a list of nine of the channels you should absolutely check out. Most offer a mix of more formal lessons, monologues, conversations and vlogs. Two of the channels focus on vox pops out and about with native Russians.
This post is aimed mainly at beginner and lower intermediate Russian learners. True, most of the channels have something for all levels but as an upper intermediate and advanced learner, you’ll also want to look at channels aimed at native speakers (and we’ll cover some of those another time). Scroll straight on down for the list, but if you’re new to using YouTube in your language learning, check the tips in the next section before you start.
Things to look out for as you choose a YouTube channel to learn Russian
Part of the enjoyment from YouTube comes from getting to “know” the personality in front of the camera, so a lot of your choice will come down to chemistry. I would choose two or three of the channels that “click” for you, subscribe, hit the bell and follow the creators regularly. Check out a few vids first (I’ve included one example vid for each channel below, but each channel offers a lot of variety). An easy way to start to get a sense of the types of content on a channel is to click the channel “Playlist” tab to see themed groups of videos.
But personality and content style aren’t the only important variables.
What do you want YouTube for?
Do you want a free channel to be your main go-to Russian learning resource or (more recommended) will you use it to supplement other materials and work with an exchange partner, a teacher, a self-study book or online course?
More things to consider when you choose your YouTube channels for learning Russian:
- How much English is spoken in the videos and will this help make things clear/speed up the learning process or take away from Russian thinking and listening time?
- Are there embedded subtitles that you can’t turn off do you have a choice with the YouTube on/off subtitles. Are the subtitles in Russian and English or just one language
- Does the creator have a podcast? Do they have presence on other social media (this can be a great way to feel connected, get more exposure to the language and hear about new YouTube vids as they appear).
- Are there paid options from the creator, that could augment your experience. For example a Patreon scheme that unlocks goodies such as a downloadable pdf transcript or worksheets, an offer of tuition or courses from the creator?
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Now, straight to the list (in alphabetical order):
1. About Russian in Russian
As the channel name suggests, Ira teaches Russian through Russian. No English here (not even auto-generated subtitles). Many of the lessons are simple in form: explicit instruction to camera from Ira, standing by her whiteboard. She covers a range of beginner and intermediate topics (The past tense, a series on individual prepositions, How to use svoi. For intermediate and above there are slice of life and travel vlogs (Trip to Kaliningrad region, travel blogs from St Petersburg, Murmansk, Sakhalin). There are videos on method and also on taking Russian language exams. Advanced students will enjoy the “lives” with advanced level learners from various countries (including one with Raffi whom I’ve interviewed here on at Howtogetfluent).
Link to channel home page: About Russian in Russian
2. Be Fluent in Russian
One of the largest channels in the field. Many of teacher Feodor’s lessons are in English with the points being taught shown as text on-screen in Russian only. The format is good for focussing in on a particular point that may have been bugging you (How do natives use li in Russian; Useful phrases with мне in Russian; How to use себя in Russian). The vids flagged as “podcast”, “Super Easy Russian”, “Real Russian” and “Fast Russian” are in Russian only (after a brief intro in English). There are also a handful of method advice videos in English about how to learn Russian (How not to get overwhelmed with grammar; How to make amazing flashcards with ANKI).
Link to channel home page: Be fluent in Russian. Example video:
3. Comprehensible Russian
Inna aims to teach your Russian through Russian directly with the help of gestures and pictures on a whiteboard (no embedded subtitles).
This is the “comprehensible input” method associated with the applied linguist Stephen Krashen. If you’re at the very start of your Russian journey, go for the videos marked “Zero Beginners”. There are vids on many of the essential vocabulary areas: Body parts, food, rooms and furniture… Maybe then move on to the vids flagged “Beginners”. Now she’s covered a lot of the usual beginner topic, Inna has moved on to add lessons on aspects of Russian daily life, culture and history, without compromising on the comprehensible input approach. There’s a video of her making the popular salad “Herring under a fur coat”, one on the end of the Stalin era, even one on the Mongul invasion of old Rus’ in the 13th century. All great for widening your knowledge of Russia and the language and altogether, a unique learn Russian YouTube channel.
Link to channel home page: Comprehensible Russian. Example video:
4. Easy Russian
The “Easy Languages” franchise began with Easy German and channels for other languages have the same brading. The format is usually interviews with passers-by on the streets of Moscow or St Petersburg on a wide range of (safe) topics (What’s your favourite city, The most annoyingly catchy Russian songs).
There are also some monologues to camera and some explicit in-Russian only lessons (e.g. 10 situations where Russians use the genitive case). The Super Easy Russian playlist is very useful for beginners and there are also hand playlists of the grammar and vocabulary lessons.
Anya and Ira front many of the videos but there are several other presenters.
You have no control over the subtitles, unfortnately, as they are embedded in Russian (larger font size) with English (smaller font size underneath).
Link to channel home page: Easy Russian. Example video:
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5. Real Russian Club with Daria
The largest channel in this line up, is Daria, a Russian teacher now based in Colorado. There’s a mixture of content and styles here. At one end, there are some live lessons on grammar and delivered mainly in English (for example, looking at the different cases). There’s a recent series on individual verbs, with conjugation and example phrases (each vid is mainly in Russian). Another format is longer vids (over an hour) in which Daria reads a children’s story, stopping to explain words and phrases and showing the relevant pages with illustrations on screen. There are vids about Daria’s life and travels just in Russian, both pieces to camera (Why I moved to Slovakia) and in a vlog style (Ukrainian doctor fixed my neck, Burnt village in Belarus).
Link to channel home page: Real Russian Club. Example video:
6. RuLand Club with Nina Minchenko
Nina Minchenko is a first-language Russian teacher based in Ukraine. The channel offers quite formal explicit instruction sometimes mainly in Russian, with English used sparingly to help you along, sometimes with more English. Nina mainly teachers to camera. There are often pictures, props or static text (often with English in a smaller font) to aid comprehension. Lessons cover a wide range of topics: vocab, grammar, how to learn a language, Nina talking about her life. VIds are typically ten to twenty minutes long. To help you find something at your level, a lot of the vids are labelled on the the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages attainment scale (A1 beginners, A2 upper beginners and the B1 and B2 intermediate levels). No embedded subtitles (a plus) but you could switch on the auto subtitles in Russian or English.
Link to channel home page: RuLand Club. Example video:
7. Russian Progress
The channel is run by Artyem, himself an accomplished language learner whom I know from the Polyglot Gathering. Many of the videos are pieces to camera (also released as a podcast). Artyem may be talking about something in his life (A week in Hong Kong, My experience learning Polish) or teaching a particular expression. Very useful transcripts are available for some videos (and for all for Patreon supporters). There are also vlogs where Artyem shares his thoughts and impressions as he walks about in various places, interviews and less formal, unscripted conversations (Artyem’s babushka is a regular guest).
Everything is in Russian only, making this channel a must for intermediate learners and above. Very helpful thematic playlist.
Link to channel website: Russian Progress
8. Russian with Dasha
Dasha is from St Petersburg. Vlogs cover what’s going on in her own life (My district, Summer Camping, My tough Siberian Babushka), Russian traditions (Mushroom Hunting, Beekeeping in Russia) and vids shot on the road (Karelia in winter, Exploring Kronstadt). The channel’s strap-line “Culture, Language, Travel” is thus right on the money.
Besides the vlogs, you’ll also find more formal grammar, vocab and phrase-focussed lessons here, some taught in English (try the vid on Survival Russian and see Dasha’s Russian for Beginners playlist).
Link to channel home page: Russian with Dasha. Example vid:
9. Russian with Max
Max is a warm and communicative on-screen presence who thinks like a vlogger. The channel coheres well with clear thumbnail labelling and well-curated play lists helping is find our way through a wide mix of thematic lessons (Twelve Russian Idioms, Let’s talk about friendship), one-to-one conversations on the sofa between Max and his partner Julia (including one where proposed to her in one video) and out-and-about vlogs (including most recently in exile in Yerevan). It’s great that there’s a strong emphasis on comprehensible input and teaching through Russian in the videos aimed at beginner. For the more recent vids on the channel, you can get pdf transcripts and vocab if you join the lowest level of Max’ Patreon.
Link to channel home page: Russian with Max. Example vid:
9. 1420
Vox-pop vids from a young guy called Daniil Orain. Russian passers by are on screen while Daniil remains off camera asking the questions. Each video has a set subject, these range widely, from the trivial through public opinion, including the risqué and topical questions: How beautiful are you from 0 to 10? Russians name a country they don’t like. Russians react to LGBT flag on US embassy, What do Russians think about “Z”? and so on.
Vids are often only about four or five minutes long: a real plus if you’re lower intermediate and looking to listen through several times or maybe try a dictation exercise (which you could then correct with a teacher) but you’d have to block out the embedded English subtitles. Cover up that part of your screen!
Well worth watching for an unfiltered cross-section of Russian public opinion in all its frightening variety (not suggesting that opinion elsewhere is any less so!).
Ling to channel home page: 1420. Example video:
Over to you
That’s my round up of learn Russian YouTube channels. Are you already a fan of any of my choices? If so, why? Are there any channels I’ve missed? Why should I add them to the list? How do you use YouTube in your Russian learning? Share your thoughts in the comments below. I can’t wait to read them!
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My level of Russian, which I’m relearning, is extremely basic.
The channels I watch are
In Russian from Afar. He has beginner level material, and is heartfelt and entertaining.
And this gem:
Киножурнал Ералаш
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMMUgK3hAfc
With both of these channels I feel that I’m gently absorbing the language rather than learning it.
There is also Russian from the Heart.
Very helpful tips. Спасибо, Aviva!