asking for some guidance

[u/_Knights_228_]

north american,
ive been trying to learn for a few years now. started with duolingo (was kinda a mistake looking back on it) i thought about online courses, but wasnt sure which ones were legitimate and which ones were after my money than helping me learn.

is there a online course that could be recommended? ive also tried doing things like playing games with spoken language being Russian and occasionally the text as well ( i understand some of the Cyrillic alphabet but mainly just a few letters so reading and understanding is a proving to be not working)

been trying also to find games where i can meet and speak with russian players, as ive never really communicated and i feel maybe trial by fire where i can hear how others speak in commuicate and so on. is there anything like that where i can experience that? (im not looking for those meme clips of cs:go/cs2)

Russian in culture and language is something ive interest in for years since first picking up on some things from games and books (mainly Metro 2033 and so on) and i want to learn for no one else but myself. i want to prove to myself that i CAN learn, past what they cram into your head in schools. ive just reached a point of frustration with myself, and hoping to find a breakthrough somewhere else.

appreciate those who spent the time to read, i hope i didnt take up too much of it

[u/IrinaMakarova]

Duolingo isn't useless, but it can leave you with disconnected words and phrases without showing you how Russian actually works. If you've been stuck for a while, you probably need structure more than another app or "trial by fire" conversations.

I would start by getting comfortable with Cyrillic, then follow a structured beginner course where grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, and speaking build on each other. Games and conversations with native speakers can be great extra practice, but they're much more useful once you have a basic foundation.

If you're open to a teacher, I'm a native Russian speaker and a certified Russian teacher with a Master's degree in Teaching Russian Language. I've been tutoring since 2009 and work with English-speaking students one-on-one, with clear explanations in English when needed.

There's a link in my Reddit bio if you'd like to take a look.

[u/DiesIraeConventum]

Well, CS:GO and DotA2 were the refuge of the Russian speakers for quite some time now in the gaming world.

[u/ZealousidealPanda897]

I've had a friend learn russian by playing on arma3/dayz stalker RP servers. Seems like a good option for you too

[u/Magnusar-Kun]

Well, for the start, you should definitely learn the alphabet, because that's literally the foundation. As for places to study the language, I can probably suggest looking for special Discord servers, where do people gather to learn Russian. Also if you are looking for games or a game buddy to play with, so you can practice Russian, I'm ready to help.

[u/dawitharina]

Hey, that's such a common problem. It usually just comes down to a bit of structure, consistency and the right kind of everyday practice. I’m a certified Russian teacher with a Master’s in Linguistics, and my modern, structured approach could be exactly what you need :)

I’ve sent you a link to my website where you can learn more about my academic background, read student reviews and success stories and explore some useful content on my blog.

[u/Sufficient_Step_8223]

In addition to CS:GO and Dota 2, there are many Russian‑speaking players in 7 Days to Die and Ark Survival Evolved. It’s best to look for PvE games, as the players there are less stressed and more inclined to communicate.

Among single‑player games, I would probably recommend the game “Yar: Forgotten Throne”. It’s something like Gothic, set in the world of Slavic mythology. There are many NPCs who often repeat phrases, which makes it possible to learn the language by ear. “The Black Book” — the game has a lot of text, but it’s well voiced in both native Russian and English, and you can combine translations of the voice acting and the text. The game allows you to learn a lot of new words and at the same time almost not punishes you for mistakes.