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Read Russian: A 7-Day Starter Course
Rating: 5.0 out of 5(2 ratings)
308 students

Read Russian: A 7-Day Starter Course

With Final Practice Test. Russian language made easy: quick reading skills for travel, study, and family
Created byLidia Pyzhik
Last updated 12/2025
English

What you'll learn

  • Recognize and pronounce all Russian letters — Students will be able to identify every letter of the Cyrillic alphabet and pronounce it correctly.
  • Read simple syllables and words aloud — Students will gain the skill to combine letters into syllables and pronounce basic Russian words with confidence.
  • Understand key reading rules — Students will learn essential rules of Russian reading, including stress patterns, soft and hard consonants, and special letters.
  • Read short authentic texts — Students will be able to read simple Russian texts such as greetings, names, city signs, and short dialogues.

Course content

7 sections • 8 lectures • 1h 23m total length

  • Introduction to the Russian Alphabet7:07

    Welcome to your first lesson! Today you will learn the Russian alphabet.
    Russian has 33 letters. Some look the same as English letters and sound the same. But some letters look the same but sound different — these are “tricky letters.”
    In the first video, just listen to how Google pronounces each letter. Don’t rush — simply listen.
    If you forget something — don’t worry! Just type the letter in Google, and you’ll remember.

    In the second video, I’ll read the alphabet to you again.
    I’ll first say the name of the letter, and then its sound — how it’s pronounced.
    Don’t be surprised: each Russian letter has a name.
    Sometimes the name and the sound are the same — but sometimes they’re different!
    And some letters don’t make a sound at all — they are used to soften the previous consonant or separate syllables.

    Don’t be afraid — it’s not hard :)
    Take your time. Don’t try to understand or memorize everything at once.
    Good luck!


  • Russian Alphabet4:50

    Don’t worry if you can’t remember all the letters right away — that’s completely normal!
    You’re not supposed to memorize everything at once.

    Later, we’ll learn each letter separately and start reading — first syllables, then simple words.
    These first videos are just your introduction to the Russian alphabet.

    Take it slow and enjoy the process!

Requirements

  • Motivation and practice time

Description

Are you ready to finally unlock the Russian language?
This course is designed for absolute beginners who want to start learning to read Russian through a structured 7-day course.

You don’t need any prior knowledge of Russian. Step by step, you will learn the Cyrillic alphabet, discover how each letter is pronounced, and practice reading real Russian words and phrases. With clear explanations in English and “listen and repeat” practice, you will build confidence from the very first lesson.

By the end of the course, you will:

  • Recognize all 33 letters of the Russian alphabet.

  • Understand the difference between “easy” letters, “tricky” letters, and unique Russian sounds.

  • Read simple Russian words such as мама (mama), дом (dom = house), хлеб (khleb = bread).

  • Apply essential reading rules: stress in words, O → A in unstressed syllables, E → I, soft and hard consonants.

  • Read short authentic texts: greetings, signs, announcements, and simple messages.

This course is practical and interactive: each lesson includes an explanation, “listen and repeat” drills, a mini word list, and a quick check-up.

Whether you want Russian for travel, study, business, or family connections, this course gives you the perfect start. In just one week, you will confidently read Russian words and take your first real step in the Russian language.

Who this course is for:

  • This course is designed for absolute beginners who want to start reading Russian quickly and with confidence. It is especially useful for: Travelers and tourists who are planning a trip to Russia or Russian-speaking countries and want to read signs, menus, and basic information. Students of Russian language at the very beginning of their learning journey, who want to build a strong foundation in reading before moving on to speaking and writing. Professionals and expats working with Russian colleagues, companies, or institutions who need to recognize names, emails, and simple documents written in Cyrillic. Heritage learners with Russian-speaking family or friends who want to connect through reading names, greetings, and short messages in Russian. Language enthusiasts who enjoy learning new alphabets and exploring the basics of a foreign language in a structured, practical way. This course is not for intermediate or advanced learners of Russian who already know how to read Cyrillic.

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