Russian Language Studies

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Art and Art History

• Collection of Russian Art
  Here you can easily find some examples of russian art searching by surnames of painters.
• Russian Museum Collection Online
  Explore a huge collection of russian art by Russian Museum in Saint-Petersburg online. You can also try Virtual Tours round the Russian Museum

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Bibliographies and Citations

• Bibliographic Research Guide to Soviet History
  Some of the links are broken, but that doesn’t matter because most of this great aspect of this resource is the compilation and organization of academic texts published on the subject of Soviet History.
• Bibliographic Citations Guide
  Examples of different types of bibliographies in Russian, provided by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations

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Dictionaries and Thesaurus

• Woordhunt Dictionary
  This is a wonderful dictionary for beginners. You can see synonyms, examples of using a word in sentences. Just type a word in Russian or in English!
• Gramota Russian Dictionary
  Write a Russian word and you’ll see its definition, correct writing and pronunciation. Not recommended for the beginners.
• Lingro Webreader & Real Time Dictionary
  Read Russian Websites with this awesome dictionary that allows you to click on words (in a terribly looking website!) and get their translation. On the main page, choose the respective languages (i.e.Russian–English), insert the website you want to read!
• Bab.la English-Russian Dictionary
  Online multingual dictionary and vocabulary learning resources. Both English and Russian translations are searched in the English-Russian dictionary which means the input language does not matter. Should you be overwhelmed with English-Russian translation results you can limit the number of translations shown by filtering for grammar, region and style.
• Universal Russian Encylopedia
  Russia’s version of Wikipedia, and more widely used by Russians than Wikipedia.
• Yandex
  Russian equivalent of Google, and more widely used by Russians than Google.
• Synonym generator
• Antonym generator

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Film and Video

• MosFilm Youtube Channel
• The soviet movie production company has a YouTube channel that contains a wealth of soviet films.
  Length: 100 - 200 min.
  Level: B1 – C2
  
  
• Eralash Youtube Channel
• The unbelievably hilarious Russian children’s program is great for beginners and advanced speakers alike. The slapstick nature of the show allows one to understand the comedy, even if the viewer doesn’t understand the words. Great for improving listening skills, laughing, and cultivating cultural knowledge.
  Length: 7 - 15 min.
  Level: A1 – C2
  
  
• Soviet Cartoon Youtube Channel
• Some of the best cultural gems of Russia are Soviet cartoons, check out this film channel for endless entertainment.
  Length: 5 - 100 min.
  Level: A2 – C2
  
  
• Игорь Угольников's Youtube Channel
• Good for advanced speakers, Игорь Угольников was the main actor of comedy sketch show, Оба-на, which tends to have a more sophisticated and deep level of humor, akin to Monty Python.
  Length: 5 - 20 min.
  Level: C1 – C2
  
  
• LearnRussianLanguage Youtube Channel
• A lot of videos in Russian (including songs, films and language lessons) for different levels.
  Length: 2 - 4 min.
  Level: A1 – A2
  
  
• KVN Russian Comedy Clips
• Sketches from one of the most popular Russian sketch comedy tv-shows!
  Length: 5 - 240 min.
  Level: A1 – C2
  
  
• Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies Youtube Channel
• This channel includes a wonderful selection of videos, including lectures by Russian Studies Alumni explaining how their studies of Russian affected their lives, fun analyses of material culture of Russia, and much, much more!
  Length: 4 - 60 min.
  Level: A1 – C2
  
  
• RosCosmos Online Clips
• Russia's version of NASA has online videos in Russian. The videos are through YouTube and give the option of having translated subtitles, which are not always correct, but help one follow along.
  Length: 2 - 10 min.
  Level: A2 – C1
  
  
• Culinary Academy
• A kids show about cooking that is spoken in a nice easy pace. Very funny! My only question: just girls in the kitchen?
  Length: 10 min.
  Level: A2 – C1
  
  
• Charlie Rose's Interview with Putin; aired on September 29, 2015
• Interview is in Russian for a Russian audience. See Charlie Rose’s reaction to the interview here: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/charlie-rose-interviews-vladimir-putin/
  Length: 60 min.
  Level: B2 - C2
  
  
• 0SPBTV An Apple app that lets you watch Russian TV for free on your Apple products.
  Level: A1 – C2

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Grammar and Vocabulary

• Anki - Flashcards
  Anki is a free program that allows you to create your own flashcards from which to study vocabulary, conjugations, or grammar. Flashcards can be downloaded from Quizlet, and Anki can be used on multiple devices, so you can practice on the go! The program allows you to categorize the cards by how well you know the information, presenting cards you are less familiar with more frequently and helping you learn more quickly!
• Beginner Grammar Lessons Great for the beginners! Many helpful grammar lessons. You can download the audio track for every lesson.
  Level: A1-C2
  • Cooljugator - Verb Conjugator
  A great tool that will conjugate any Russian verb, tell you if it is perfective or imperfective, conjugate in the present, past, and/or future (depending on what is applicable for the particular verb) and give you the imperative form as well. Also available are games to practice Russian grammar, adjectives, and nouns! Each question is graded and offers explanations for any wrong answers. Clean, modern, and easy to use layout.
  Level: B1-C2
  • Wiktionary
  Simply enter the Russian verb you would like to conjugate into the search bar. In the Contents, click on "conjugation" and then click to expand the purple text box which contains the conjugation for the relevant forms of the verb. The Wiktionary entry also provides an audio file pronunciation of the verb and tells you if it is perfective or imperfective.
  
  • Grammar Reference Page
  Confused on a certain aspect of Russian grammar? Look here! A great basic reference for your daily grammar needs.
  Level: A1-C2
  
  • Beginner and Advanced Grammar Lessons
  Starting from the alphabet and ending with the advanced grammar lessons. Site has a Cyrillic keyboard. You also can print (pdf format) grammar tables or topics. Very simple to use and very interesting!
  Level: A1-B2
  
  • Eclectic Beginner Language Lessons
  Grammar tests, games and even picture dictionary will help you to learn Russian. Also has a small collection of Russian music.
  Level: A1-B2
  
  • 100 Russian Signs Vocabulary Practice
  Level: A1-B1
  
  • Bookmix
  A wonderful website with a lot of book reviews. Good for improving language and reading skills.
  Level: A1–C2
  • Russian Lauguage Learning Website
  Listen to and study works by Pushkin, Gogol, Tolsoy and Blok.
  Level: A1-C2
  
  

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Literature and Culture

• Moshkov’s Library A collection of Russian contemporary and past literature, poetry and prose.
  
• Russia’s Bards In this typically confusing Russian website, the determined can discover the inside scoop on what’s happening in the musical communities of Bards in Russia. Includes links to talk shows, and other resources that explain the Russian Bard culture.
  
• Northwestern’s Online Russian Poetry Anthology A great collection of Russian Poetry and Prose in Russian with translations. Also, a great way to seek additional resources for Russian Poetry and Prose. Check out the Resources page here: http://max.mmlc.northwestern.edu/mdenner/Demo/links.htm
  
  • Gazeta.ru
  • Izvestia.ru
  • Pravda.ru
  Here you can read russian news online.
  
  Electronic Library of Russian Literature

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Placement Tests and Practice Exams

• 30 Minute Language Test
• TORFL testing information

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Poscasts

RADIO

• Радио Свобода
  Russia’s equivalent of NPR, a liberal leaning radio offers podcasts to listen or download on various topics:
  Length: N/A
  Level: B1-C2
• Echo Moskva
  One of Russia's most famous and respected talk-radio stations. Shows are available in mp3 format for easy download and often come with written transcripts.
  Length: N/A
  Level: A2-C2

CULTURE

• The Third Bell

A bi-weekly podcast about theatre and related events in Russia. Beware of the user-unfriendly website, but be sure the content is good!
Length: 3 – 5 min.
Level: B1-C2
 

• How to become a Russian

A bi-monthly podcast about Russian life and traditions. Mp3-version is available.
Length: 40 min.
Level: B1-C2


ECONOMICS & IT

• Economy Environment

Useful podcast about different economic situations in the world.
Length: 30 minutes
Level: B2 – C2
 

• Runet segodnya

A wonderful podcast about Russian internet events
Length: 30 minutes
Level: B1 - C2
 

• Radio-T

Famous Russian podcast about IT-sphere.
Length: 2 hours
Level: B2 – C2


HISTORY

• Russian History lessons

A podcast about Russian and world-wide history events. The user-Interface is a little confusing but among the ads, what you’re looking for is there! Mp3-version is available.
Length: 2 – 4 min.
Level: B1 - C2
 

• History Lessons

A podcast about different history events.
Length: 3 minutes
Level: A2 – C2


MUSIC

• Soviet Radio

Lots of old Russian hits, in an atmospheric, old-fashioned, interface that makes you feel like you’re back in the CCCP!
Length: N/A
Level: A1-C2
 

• “Aerostat,” a music podcast

Hosted by the father of Russian Rock Boris Grebenchikov, the podcast is essentially a music hour with Grebenchikov where he plays what he is listening to and provides commentary on the contemporary global music landscape.
Length: 40 – 50 min.
Level: A1-C2


POETRY

• Lyrik Line

This website allows you to listen to poems from a huge selection of languages and countries read by their authors. It also provides written translations in several languages depending on the poem. An excellent resource for all language learners to improve listening and reading skills.
Length: 2-20 min
Level: A1 - C2


FILM

• Longtake Film Podcast

A great, but long podcast about films. Mp3-version is available.
Level: B2 – C2
Length: 120 min.
 

• Trendets Weekly Update Podcast

A wonderful, weekly-update podcast about news in the world of series. Mp3-version is available.
Length: 3 - 5 min.
Level: B1 – C2
 

• 100 best movies of 20th century

The name of the podcast tells everything: here you can find a talk about the best movies. Mp3-version is available.
Length: 40 minutes
Level: A2 - C2


SCIENCE

• Nauka 2.0

Wonderful podcast about science including conversations with many scientists from around the world.
Length: 40 minutes
Level: B1 – C2
 

• Evrika

Great podcast about scientific researches and its impact on our society.
Length: 30- 40 minutes
Level: B1 – C2

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Research and Encylopedias

• The Harvard Project on the Soviet Social System Online
  A series of anonymous interviews conducted in the 1950s by Harvard Social scientists. A great collection of stories and experiences of the Soviet Union.
• KGB Online Archives
  A collection of old letters that were written by the great Russian military institution.
• Russian Satirical Journal “Krakodil” Archive
  A collection of pdfs of the satirical journal “Krakodil,” which means crocodile.
• Collections from the Tomsk Oblast Museum of Regional History and Folklife (TOKM)
  Great for those interested in Regional Studies, Siberian Art History and History, Russian Folk History and more!
• Big Russian Soviet Encyclopedia: Большая Советская Энциклопедия (БСЭ)
  This is one of the most extensive encyclopedias ever created, which contains about 100,000 entries and 50,000 illustrations!
• Universal Russian Encylopedia
  A Russian version of Wikipedia, and more widely used by Russians, this is a contemporary encyclopedia, which includes contemporary and popular science, and contemporary culture.
• History of the Moscow Metro
  Contains historic documents, maps, photos and accounts of the building of the Moscow Metro.

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Software and Keyboards

• Phonetic Keyboard for PC [download]
  AKA the Homophonic Keyboard. The easiest way to type in Russian on your computer is by using a phonetic keyboard. This allows you to type, for example, П when you press P or Г when you press G. Click the link above and follow the instructions to install it on your PC
  
  Phonetic Keyboard for Mac [download]
  AKA the Homophonic Keyboard. The easiest way to type in Russian on your computer is by using a phonetic keyboard. This allows you to type, for example, П when you press P or Г when you press G. Click the link above and follow the instructions to install it on your Mac
  
  Phonetic Keyboard [online]
  Provides an online interface for typing the Russian alphabet. Phonetically based.
  
  Traditional Keyboard [online]
  Provides an online interface for typing the Russian alphabet. Traditionally based - letters are located where they would be on a Russian computer.
  
  If you choose to install a traditional Russian keyboard on your computer, there are keyboard covers and keyboard stickers available online (for example, at Amazon) which will enable you to know which key corresponds to which letter. Simply search "Russian keyboard cover" or "Russian keyboard stickers".
  

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Speaking and Comprehension

• Speaking, Word Use and Pronunciation Podcast Don’t be turned off by the user-interface! These podcasts can add a lot to your knowledge of the ins and outs of Russian language!
  Level: A1-B1
  Length: 2 - 4 min.
• HelloTalk An application that connects you to native speakers of a language so that you can practice chatting with them. Helps boost your conversation skills. Has voice to text and text to voice options. Premium version (subscription based) costs money, but you can learn in one language for free with some limitations. Available for iPhone and Android.
• Forvo A website that has audio recordings of native/fluent speakers pronouncing words for your use! Just click "Translate + Pronounce" on the home page by the search bar.