I am almost 70 and have been working on learning Russian over the years. “Texts in Slow Russian” has been a tremendous help because it delivers contemporary language (selfie, drone, etc.) rather than tourist dialogs (Where is the hotel?), and because I have found that the best way to acquire a language is by listening to the language (Russian) spoken clearly, slowly and with proper pronunciation and intonation. I look forward to each new podcast, and I am also a big fan of your adaptions of literature. I hope you continue to provide this great approach to learning Russian. You have really helped me to acquire the Russian language.

      I have found Texts in Slow Russian a really useful aid to learning Russian. Each unit introduces new words and phrases so it provides a good way to extend my vocabulary.

 William Tate
United Kingdom

      The Texts in Slow Russian program is fantastic! Suddenly I am reading and understanding Russian in lightening speed. After years of study, the Texts in Slow Russian program has finally taught me what I needed to learn and speak Russian. Thanks!

Alecks Graves
USA

      Your course is a brilliant idea brilliantly executed. This is the best way to learn a language. It combines reading and listening comprehension in interesting articles with essential vocabulary, all crucial to fluent speaking and serious reading. The course is really enjoyable and very effective. I really appreciate your energy and your sustained attention to your students over the long haul. I would definitely recommend this course – and your YouTube Channel – to anyone seeking to Boost their Russian!

David
USA

     Priviet Kristina, during this difficult time of reflection, learning the Russian language is a balm for the soul ! It is a transcendental marathon, that takes us on a wonderful journey of russian culture and admirable civilization ! The fact that we have such well trained teaters as Kristina, is a blessing! Her friendlines, attentiveness and helpfulness increases motivation and joy of learnng ! As a BRICS citizen , my wish would be that all children of this countries could have the opportunity to learning this transcendental, beautiful and soft language ! Hurra Russia!!! Thank you very much for this great opportunity!!!

Elma Domeisen
Schweiz

      I’ve been using Texts in Slow Russian for a month now and I’m amazed at what I’ve learned in such a short period. Everyday I’ve been writing down one article to improve my writing skills and my overall vocabulary. The audio (both slow and normal speed) are really useful to learn how to pronounce a new word but also to feel the rhythm of spoken Russian. In addition, every week I choose one article and use the audio recording for a dictation exercise. This has been a tremendous help for me, and I would definitively recommend this resource, especially for those who aim to acquire a high level of proficiency! Thank you Kristina!

Hélène
France

      The Slow Texts concept is very useful. It can be frustrating to spend a long time learning grammar, reading articles & stories, and still not have any understanding of an actual Russian news cast, film or conversation. The Slow Texts stories enable to pick subjects that interest me, widen my vocabulary to words & concepts that are in actual everyday use but don’t normally make it into learning texts. By listening & re-listening, even when just walking to work or walking the dog, you develop an ear for the language. Yes, the mind will wander, but this happens even when listening in English. Each time something new grabs the attention.Thanks for the articles.

Colin Sheppard
Australia

     “Slow Russian” helps the listener not just to acquire vocabulary and see/hear complex grammar in action, it’s also an excellent way of training the ear, to the point where I can now understand regular news broadcasts in Russian much better than I did before.

Peter Swarbrick
USA

    Texts in a Slow a Russian is an amazing resource. I’m so happy I found it and I can already see how much it’s improved my vocabulary and comprehension.

Daniel Zuckerman
USA

      I am a big fan of ”Texts In Slow Russian.” I have long looked for a similar service which would allow me to better my Russian vocabulary and listening skills and Kristina’s work has been a godsend!

Barry Lane
Canada

       Excellent method for listening to and understanding spoken Russian. Offering different levels based on the listeners competence and lots of vocabulary support the articles are interesting and accessible. Strongly recommended

Timothy Drohan
Cyprus

        I enjoy the Texts in Slow Russian course because it offers such a wide variety of reading materials. It’s current, interesting, and there are so many articles to read for different levels. I can listen to an article as many times as it takes me to get the gist of what was said. The words that are written in bold with an English translation are so helpful and accessible. I can’t thank you enough for this resource! Such a great way to expand your vocabulary without pouring over long lists of words that seem to take forever to memorize. There is such a need for reading material for those in between Beginner and Advanced levels of Russian. Kristina is a master for having created such a tool for students to learn her native language. Great program!

Christina Polk

        I thought that Texts in Slow Russian would be a great opportunity to progress in my language learning but put off buying it because I wasn’t sure if it would be worth it. I found out that only by paying for full complement of articles could I get the most out of the program.
I read and listen to articles every day, listening over and over the same articles and slowly adding new ones. What I’ve noticed is that the articles repeat words and phrases, which reinforces the learning. Considering how much time I’ve spent trying to learn Russian, this great tool is worth the cost.

Nate

      Texts in Slow Russian is an excellent program for maintaining listening skills and improving vocabulary. After spending the summer of 1975 at Moscow University, I achieved a certain level of proficiency in the language.  After many years with little practice, I find Texts in Slow Russian a great help in getting back my listening comprehension.  The texts are interesting as they cover many timely aspects of society and culture.  The accents are given, so it isn’t necessary to check where they fall, if they have shifted from a basic form or not.  The material could well be used by a small group for practicing the spoken language through simple questions or retelling the basic points of the article, which are always worth thinking about.  The slower Russian is a big help in getting ready for the normal speed.  When I listen to the news from Moscow (I can get Segodnya, Vesti and Novosti on my computer), I understand the speakers so much better after the preparation of 30 minutes or so right before.  Language study takes time and endurance like most worthwhile projects in life.  The preparation with Texts in Slow Russian for me is like doing warm-up exercises before running or doing vocalises before singing.  Just hearing the magnificent language is like listening to my favorite music, it’s a great experience, a long journey I started when I was 20 and now at 88 it still gets better as I go  along. I really enjoy the sound of the language at the slow speed and I think to myself that is is the Russian language of Lermontov, Chekhov and Akhmatova. I read the article out loud before listening to it and think to myself that I am speaking this wonderful language too. The course is a real help in developing language skills and in keeping them alive and well.

Richard Fortune
USA

       I have been looking for a long time for a good source of graded real Russian to study. The separation of articles into levels really helps me find something which is both of interest, but not as far above my own progress as articles for native speakers.

Richard Davies
UK

        Texts in Slow Russian has greatly improved my vocabulary and pronunciation over the past year. The articles are interesting and short enough to fit into a busy schedule. Sometimes, I’m even surprised to learn of a news story in Russian before hearing it from US news sources! I recommend this site to all who want to learn the Russian language. Thanks Kristina!

Kevin Ching

        I’ve only just started Texts in Slow Russian but so far I’ve been really impressed. I like the way Christina explains how to say the hardest Russian sounds and then gives exercises to help your mouth and tongue get used to making the new sounds. I think listening to the articles in slow Russian Is really helping me to hear and understand Russian. I would recommend this course.

Wendy Newcomer

       What I have found most difficult in the very important area of LISTENING to spoken Russian, is telling where the breaks are between words. Here we have interesting topical situations to read, and then follow the written word listening to slow and clear diction. Then we can listen at normal speed, when we can now hear the word breaks and even make out those tricky one-letter prepositions!

Neil Ferguson
Lithuania

      I am very thankful for Kristina that she made such a site. This one of my ideal ways of learning a language. There is the audio that helps you learn how the words are pronounced. There are stress marks that help you to read everything correctly. And on top of that there are the additional translations of the difficult word and phrases. Which you can not easlily translate on internet. And if you could translate it would take too much time. After trying couple of free podcasts I subscribed for lifelong membership. Its really worth it. I use it everyday. It has become part of my daily language practice.

Ahmet Donmez
The Netherlands

      I find the news articles to be a unique learning experience; providing such great language support while reading a vast variety of current news articles has helped me revive my Russian reading ability. I love the slow/normal audios to go along with the articles! And the glosses are also great helping fluency.

Rick Hobbs

      This is a great resource for my language study in St. Petersburg, Russia. I listen to the audios while I walk around the city, and I read the articles while I’m on the metro and in between my English classes. (I teach English in Russia.) During my language exchanges, my friends will correct my pronunciation and we discuss the news together. Great product!

Mark Yager
St. Petersburg, Russia

      I find “ Texts in Slow Russian” to be very helpful. I see new vocabulary words each time which is always good. I’ve been studying Russian on my own for some time now so I can speak it well enough to say most things I need to. My problem has been my listening skills–native speakers go too fast! Therefore, I’ve been uncomfortable engaging native speakers in conversation, which means I don’t improve! The various speeds offered in NISR has allowed me to improve my listening without the “fear factor.” I’ve reached the point where I just listen to the news at the “normal” speed pretty much every time. I have noticed I am better able to follow conversations with Russian speakers now. My 17 year old step-son heard me carry on a conversation with his Russian grandparents last week and commented how much more confident I sounded. (And he’s a typical 17 year old who does not give out compliments much!

Hal Freeman

      The best purchase I ever did was my subscription to news in slow russian. It motivates me so much to read and learn russian every day. The articles are not too long, so there is no excuse not to do it! And besides that, they are almost always interesting. The two versions of audio makes it perfect. Thank you Kristina for this perfect website, and for making the learning process so stimulating, interesting and what’s more… effective. It is totally worth the money!

Karin van Beek
Amsterdam, the Netherlands

      I´ve been learning Russian for about 3 years and have always been very careful not to waste money on tutors or group classes. So the fact that I would spend almost two hundred of dollars on a Russian course is crazy to me! But I did it because I know you have to invest into your education to reach your goal as quickly as possible and I knew it would be good! I don’t regret it one bit. Texts in Slow Russian is worth that and more! Now I’m happy to study Russian at home or on the go whenever I have free time. My vocabulary and listening skills skyrocketed! And I´m happy that now I have a lifetime access to all the articles and audio files and don´t have to pay for monthly subscription. Thanks a lot!

Ian Smets
Brussels, Belgium

      I´ve been learning Russian for about 3 years and have always been very careful not to waste money on tutors or group classes. So the fact that I would spend almost three hundred of dollars on a Russian course is crazy to me! But I did it because I know you have to invest into your education to reach your goal as quickly as possible and I knew it would be good! I don’t regret it one bit. Texts in Slow Russian is worth that and more! Now I’m happy to study Russian at home or on the go whenever I have free time. My vocabulary and listening skills skyrocketed! And I´m happy that now I have a lifetime access to all the articles and audio files and don´t have to pay for monthly subscription. Thanks a lot!

Ian Smets
Brussels, Belgium

      Language learners tend to have more difficulty with listening than with speaking, because we can always limit the speed and complexity of what we are saying, but we can’t always force other people to speak slowly and use only simple words. Therefore, listening practice is essential once we get past the beginning learner stage. Texts in Slow Russian site does listening practice the correct way: both slow and normal speed audio; transcript of the audio; interesting and often positive news (not just depressing news about earthquakes and airplane crashes and terrorist bombings, like some Russian news podcasts); articles not too long and not too short; pleasant-sounding and clear voice for the audio. Cost of a month of news articles is similar to cost of e-books of similar length with audio, so fairly priced. Highly recommended.

Frank Revelo
Reno, USA

      Texts in Slow Russian now is an essential part of my studies. I work full time and don´t really have much time to study languages. Nevertheless, I managed to incorporate daily news in my busy schedule. I normally read new articles in the morning when I am taking the metro, then listen to slow audio when I walk from the metro to the office, and on the way back I listen to the audio in normal speed. For me, this is an amazing stress free way to improve my Russian. All together I think it takes no more than half an hour a day and always on the go. Thank you for building this wonderful service! PS. Post more news about politics, please.

Juan Morales
Mexico