Free Russian Audiobooks That Come with Text

This learner knew the value of using audiobooks to study the language. They also knew that reading is a fantastic way to study Russian.But they never thought to combine the two…

Until now!

Russian audiobooks are excellent for immersing yourself in the language and honing your listening skills. Written text is crucial for learning the Cyrillic writing system and focusing on grammar and spelling. In this post, we bring you the best of both worlds, thanks to six amazing resources that present both audio and text—all entirely for free!

How to Learn Russian by Reading Along with Audiobooks

Reading along with Russian audiobooks allows you to really focus all your senses on the language. With this powerful combination, you can practice every aspect of Russian! Here’s how:

• Scan and learn. Before you press play, scan the text for unknown words. This will prevent you from stumbling once you begin.

• Bolster your reading skills. Hearing the text spoken out loud makes reading along easier, and is a great way to help you recognize Russian words by both sound and sight. Try to get your reading speed up until you can follow along with the audio.

• Shadow the audio. Much like the previous tip, the audio-text combination is perfect for some speaking practice. Use the shadowing technique: read out loud while you listen, trying to match the speed of the audio. Mimic the words, sounds, and intonation.

• Hone your listening skills. Of course, audio is best for listening practice! Listen to and read a short segment. Then close your eyes and focus on listening. How much can you understand?

• Write what you hear. Repeat the previous practice tip, pausing after just one sentence. Then, write the sentence down as you hear it. Compare it to the actual text: how close is your version?

If you enjoy learning this way, take it a step further with FluentU.

You’ll get interactive subtitles, vocabulary lists, and tailor-made flashcard decks to help you learn actively while watching your favorite videos. While you watch and listen, you can tap the subtitles for a definition and native pronunciation of any word. The video will automatically pause, making it super simple to boost your listening and reading skills simultaneously in a focused way.

Plus, since this video content is stuff that native Russian speakers actually watch, you’ll get the opportunity to learn real Russian—the way it’s spoken in modern life.

As you continue advancing in your Russian studies, FluentU keeps track of all the grammar and vocabulary that you’ve been learning. It uses your viewed videos and mastered language lessons to recommend more useful videos and give you a 100% personalized experience. Start exploring the FluentU video library for free with a 15-day trial.