You can start Russian from zero online. You do not need the alphabet first, and you do not need to live in Moscow.
A beginner course has one job: take you from “I cannot read a single word” to short real phrases — greeting, introducing yourself, asking a simple question, understanding a short answer.
What a complete beginner should learn first
The alphabet and reading
Russian is phonetic enough that reading comes faster than people expect. In a live class this usually takes the first lessons, not months.
A small set of useful phrases
Hello, my name is, I am from, I do not understand, please repeat. These phrases matter more than a long word list.
The first grammar, in speech
Gender of nouns, basic verbs, simple questions. Not a full case table on day one.
Listening to a teacher and answering
This is the part self-study often skips. If you only watch videos, you recognise words. If you answer a teacher, you start to speak.
Why beginners progress faster with a teacher
Russian looks hard because of Cyrillic and cases. For a beginner the real risk is learning alone and fossilising mistakes.
In a live online Russian course for beginners the teacher:
hears your pronunciation
stops you when a phrase is built incorrectly
gives you a next task at the right level
keeps the pace so you do not stay on the alphabet for too long
Groups are small, usually 3–5 students. Individual lessons are available if you need a different speed. You can also take a free trial lesson before you enrol.
How long does the first stage take?
It depends on intensity, not on talent.
With regular live classes, many beginners start reading and using simple phrases within the first weeks.
A stable A1 level needs a programme and practice, not one weekend with an app.
If you want classroom study in Moscow later, you can move to a beginner course in Moscow. If you are studying from another country, stay on the online programme.
How to start this week
Decide: group or one-to-one.
Book a trial lesson on the online Russian course page.
After the trial, follow the teacher’s plan — alphabet, first dialogues, then grammar in use.
Do not wait until you “learn the alphabet at home”. That delay is the most common reason beginners never start speaking.
A beginner course has one job: take you from “I cannot read a single word” to short real phrases — greeting, introducing yourself, asking a simple question, understanding a short answer.
What a complete beginner should learn first
The alphabet and reading
Russian is phonetic enough that reading comes faster than people expect. In a live class this usually takes the first lessons, not months.
A small set of useful phrases
Hello, my name is, I am from, I do not understand, please repeat. These phrases matter more than a long word list.
The first grammar, in speech
Gender of nouns, basic verbs, simple questions. Not a full case table on day one.
Listening to a teacher and answering
This is the part self-study often skips. If you only watch videos, you recognise words. If you answer a teacher, you start to speak.
Why beginners progress faster with a teacher
Russian looks hard because of Cyrillic and cases. For a beginner the real risk is learning alone and fossilising mistakes.
In a live online Russian course for beginners the teacher:
hears your pronunciation
stops you when a phrase is built incorrectly
gives you a next task at the right level
keeps the pace so you do not stay on the alphabet for too long
Groups are small, usually 3–5 students. Individual lessons are available if you need a different speed. You can also take a free trial lesson before you enrol.
How long does the first stage take?
It depends on intensity, not on talent.
With regular live classes, many beginners start reading and using simple phrases within the first weeks.
A stable A1 level needs a programme and practice, not one weekend with an app.
If you want classroom study in Moscow later, you can move to a beginner course in Moscow. If you are studying from another country, stay on the online programme.
How to start this week
Decide: group or one-to-one.
Book a trial lesson on the online Russian course page.
After the trial, follow the teacher’s plan — alphabet, first dialogues, then grammar in use.
Do not wait until you “learn the alphabet at home”. That delay is the most common reason beginners never start speaking.
September, 4