Teaching Approach

This course is designed for learners of the Russian language who seek to improve their pronunciation and listening comprehension. Here you will find information on the articulation and methods of transcription of the sounds of the Russian language and practical exercises to help you apply your new knowledge to your use of Russian, whether you are studying in a formal course, self-studying, or casually learning. 

The course is designed to help you develop your autonomy as a language learner and your confidence in speaking and listening by equipping you with information and practice techniques to coordinate your vocal apparatus and calibrate your ear to the unique sounds of Russian. 

Recommended Prerequisites

The course is an excellent supplement to four-skills language courses in Russian and self-directed study. The materials have proved their use for learners from the beginning to advanced levels. The content of the course was developed to meet the most pressing needs and challenges of learners of Russian who speak English as their first language, though all learners of Russian may benefit from the lessons.

This course is designed for learners who can already read the Russian Cyrillic alphabet, have acquired a basic vocabulary, and have begun learning Russian grammar enough to, for example, know what a "case" is or understand the concept of grammatical gender. In other words, the author recommends to wait until you've completed your first semester or its equivalent of Russian before beginning this course.

Course Organization

Each lesson covers one concrete topic in pronunciation for theoretical understanding and practical application and include guided ear training or listening comprehension practice focused on the features covered.  At the end of each lesson, learners are invited to take a quiz and unlock a challenge: a tongue twister or poem that demonstrates the features of the lesson. 

In addition to a detailed study of the consonant and vowel sounds of Russian, this course covers other topics in phonetics such as intonation, prosody and a selection of the most common and interesting regional pronunciation features. Learners can hope from one lesson to the next in any order they wish and return to review lessons at any time. However, the author recommends working through the material in the sequence presented, and some lessons will refer back to earlier concepts and skills. In particular, the first three lessons provide the nuts and bolts users need to make the most of the later lessons. Lesson three, "Writing Down Sounds," is essential for learners with now prior experience with the International Phonetic Alphabet who wish to benefit from the transcription exercises found throughout the course.