Immersion is the best way to learn Russian 

If you’re reading this blog, you might understand where I’m coming from. You might be a self-motivated student who has never been most comfortable learning in a classroom setting. Maybe you feel uneasy about a lack of formal language experience.

Or maybe you're someone who has always learned best with the help of a teacher.  You might be worried about setting out on your own.

I’m here to say that there is no one correct way to learn a language. Not all learning takes place inside a classroom. There are lessons to be learned in places you might not have expected.

Keep reading to get ideas about new ways and places to improve your conversational skills!

In Country Options

If you have the chance/means, traveling to a country that speaks your target language is an amazing opportunity to improve your conversational skills.

I’ve been to countries where the people I’ve met have been more interested in getting me to teach them English. It was extremely difficult in those situations to practice my target language.

Fortunately, I’ve not found this to be the case in Russia. In my experience, Russians are often very impressed when they meet students of their language and are particularly eager to converse with you and correct your mistakes.

If you’re able to visit a Russian-speaking country, here are some places where you can practice your conversational skills.

1) Hostels

During my last visit to Russia this past summer, I stayed in two hostels, one in Moscow and one in Kazan. My experience at the hostel in Kazan was amazing.

Because I was there for so long, I was able to befriend the staff and the other guests to the point where they actually volunteered to help me with research I was conducting. They gave me tips about conducting interviews and interacting with people that I didn’t know as a non-native.

Even though I’ve studied Russian for five years, I still get nervous striking up conversations. At the hostel, I got out of my comfort zone by just having tea with a group of other guests. They were so friendly, that we ended up going out to dinner, walking around downtown, and adding each other on Facebook.

The great thing about staying in a hostel in the summer is that you’ll meet more people than you would during another time of the year and they’ll likely be from a variety of cities. This is especially helpful for language students because you’ll gain exposure to different accents.

Here I am having dinner with friends I made at the hostel! They were each from different cities and came with very different accents.

2) Homestay

I’ve also been lucky enough to stay with a host family three times in Russia. Staying at someone else’s house is always awkward at first, but if hopefully, you’ll get a friendly host.

Do your best to really integrate into your host setting. Don’t just be anti-social by staying in your room all day. Not only is that rude, you’ll be depriving yourself of an opportunity to practice your speaking and listening skills.

My second Russian host mom and I got along very well. She even invited me to go to a few concerts with her.  The conversation went a bit like this:

It was weird living and functioning in a different language at first, but if you put yourself out there, you can make new friends and improve your Russian.

Out to dinner with my host mom!

3) Library

Here's my Russian State Library card!

Another way I practiced my conversational skills was by spending time at the Russian State Library. I know that sounds counterintuitive because you’re supposed to be quiet in libraries, but my time there was actually very stimulating.

My first challenge was finding the correct entrance. I had looked online and seen that there was a special door for new users, but I didn’t know where it was. Here’s how I found out where to go:

I found the entrance and inside, a nice librarian showed me how to fill out an application for a new card. She took my completed application and then told me to wait to be called into an office.

When my name was called, I went into a small office, and explained where I was from and why I needed a library card. The lady behind the desk then took my picture and printed my card right there. It was a pretty simple process, but it boosted my confidence.

I then walked the wrong way down the hallway and started pulling on the wrong door to enter the library. Yikes! A helpful security guard walked me to the correct entrance.

I was a bit embarrassed, but every interaction is a chance to practice listening comprehension skills, even if I was blushing with shame.

I then entered the library with my new card and asked the helper at the circulation desk how to find books relevant to my research. She led me to the electronic kiosks to search the databases and then another volunteer showed me to the computer hall.

Overall, I spoke to about five or six people in the library. Like I said, there are plenty of opportunities to practice your conversational skills, even in a library!

Opportunities in Country and at Home

The following are a few options that you can take advantage of if you get to go to a Russian-speaking country or at home (depending on where you live).

Some well-known Russian communities in the US include Brighton Beach in New York, Wheeling and Buffalo Grove in Chicago, and Sunny Isles Beach in Miami.

4) Russian Grocery Stores

A few summers ago, I attended a three-week long Russian summer camp in Oklahoma. One of our field trips was to a Russian grocery store. At first, I was skeptical; however, pretending to shop while only speaking Russian with each other and the store staff was great practice.

The store also had Russian newspapers, brochures, and books. It was a bit of a hub for the Russian community in Oklahoma and we practiced speaking with other customers.

5) Restaurants

Whether you’re in Russia or one of the cities I listed above, try going to a restaurant and only speaking Russian. You’ll get to work on your conversational skills with the waitstaff and bonus: Russian food!

6) Church/Temple

If you’re comfortable, you can try to find a church or synagogue with a Russian-speaking community. Some of them will have weekend classes for parents who want their US-born children to learn Russian.

This worked out well for me in Orlando and I took classes on Sundays for two years. This is especially helpful if you don’t have access to Russian lessons through school, but need to find a speaking partner.

In Short

Like I said, not all learning takes place in a classroom. If you look carefully, there are plenty of opportunities to improve your speaking skills all over. So don’t worry if you don’t have access to traditional methods.

If possible, apply to study abroad in a Russian-speaking country. I studied Russian in high school thanks to government scholarships like Startalk and NSLI-Y. There are also tons of travel resources for more mature learners.

If you can’t go abroad, don’t sweat it. Your own city might hold the key to your language learning wishes. And don’t forget apps and online resources like Memrise, Duolingo, and Udemy.

Let me know if you have any questions or other suggestions in the comments, and good luck with your Russian studies, wherever they may take place!

​Red Square.

The Kremlin.

​The Tretyakov Gallery.

Have you ever heard of Kazan?​  A few months ago, I would have bet money that you hadn't. Even though this summer's FIFA Confederations Cup soccer tournament took place in Kazan, the city still suffers from a pretty low international profile.

In case you didn't know, Kazan is the sixth largest city in Russia. It's the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, a majority Muslim region that has been doing extraordinarily well since the fall of the Soviet Union.​​

​It's always fun to play the tourist in new cities, but if you're looking to get more of a glimpse into the every day life of a Muscovite or a Kazan resident, you need to dig deeper.

​I've been to Russia three times over the past five years and have visited six cities there including four of the ten largest ones. I've had the good fortune to really get to know and "live" in Moscow and Kazan for an extended period of time. ​

If you're looking for a few less touristy spots to visit in Russia, this post is for you.​  

1) Ziferblat Anti-Cafe

(Locations in Moscow, Kazan, St. Petersburg, and more!)

This is hands-down my favorite establishment in all of Russia. If you’ve never heard of an anti-cafe, the concept is this: you only pay for the time you spend.

Just grab a clock when you walk in and give your name at the front desk. You can then have as many cups of tea or coffee and pastries as you want. It’s only 3 rubles/minute for the first hour, 2 rubles/minute for the second hour. They stop counting after five hours so the most you can pay is 540 rubles which is about $10.

Grab a clock when you walk in! (Image from Tsiferblat VK page)

I’ve been to four different locations in Russia and each has had at least one piano, often a guitar, a small library, and a collection of board games.  There are also different weekly events like salsa lessons, movie nights, language clubs, and lectures.

Main room at the Ziferblat on Ulitsa Universitetskaya in Kazan (Image taken from Tsiferblat VK page)

It’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you’re in Ziferblat. Everyone is super welcoming. There are always tons of people willing to help you with your Russian and practice their English. It’s a great place to meet up with old friends and make new ones.

2) Moscow Underground

Here's a picture I took of a Metro sign next to the Izvestia building. Izvestia was a popular newspaper during the Soviet-era

This isn’t exactly one spot, but the Moscow Metro and underground pedestrian tunnels are magic.  The metro stations often boast ornate Soviet-era murals and statues, while musicians regularly perform in the underground tunnels.

​One artist who performs in the Arbat tunnel with whom I was extremely impressed was Yasha Mulerman.  Check him out on YouTube, VK, and Instagram!

You can even take an online tour of the metro!

3) Khachapuri (Moscow)

Eating Georgian food is always the highlight of my trips to Russia. (I’m only half-kidding.) Khachapuri is actually the name of a delicious dish consisting of bread, cheese, and eggs, but it’s also the name of a chain of restaurants in Moscow.

Taken from the restaurant's facebook page

Each location that I've been to has a beautiful decor, live music, great service, and most importantly: phenomenal food!  Georgian food is known for its rich use of herbs like tarragon, dill, and parsley and sumptuous wines.

My go-to dishes are хачапури по-аджарски (khachapuri po adzharski) and хинкали​ (khinkali) with a tall glass of тархун (tarkhun) which is tarragon juice.

Khachapuri po adzharski, assorted smoked cheese plate, fried cheese and tomatoes, lemonade (Photo credits: Toni Cross)

​Khachapuri is basically cheese-stuffed​ bread (when there's an egg cracked in the middle, that's called khachapuri po-adzharski). Khinkali are dumplings filled with meat and herbs.

4) SMENA (Kazan)

The first time I walked in to SMENA Center for Modern Culture gallery, I definitely judged it because it is unabashedly hipster. Fortunately, it grew on me and I can now say that it is a must-see in Kazan!

​From the outside, it looks like an empty warehouse, but inside there's a small bookstore, cafe, lounge, and even an art gallery.  You can browse poetry volumes, regional history books, and of course, art textbooks.

​The gallery is always hosting interesting events such as a four day series on British documentary films, a month long French modern art exhibit, and a Feminist Weekend with guest lecturers.

If you want to meet local intelligentsia, professors, artists, and thinkers in Kazan, SMENA is definitely the place to go!​

5) Bubble Mania (Kazan)

Taken from the business' VK page

​I had never tried bubble tea before stumbling upon Bubble Mania, but now I'm hooked! Originating in Taiwan, bubble tea consists of milky tea, fruit, and tapioca balls.

Located on Bauman (Kazan’s main pedestrian street), the store's outdoor seating opens up onto a stunning view of the walls of the Kazan Kremlin and the beautiful Nikol’skii Cathedral.

Street view taken from business' VK page

They often have movie nights, live music, and other events, plus, I found the Russian version of quesadillas here!

Taken from the business' VK page

​In Closing

​In the midst of these strange times for US-Russia relations, I think it's more important than ever that every day Americans and Russians reach out and try to understand each other.  

I'm fortunate enough to have found many places to call my home away from home in Russia.  If you have the opportunity to visit Moscow, Kazan, or any other Russian city, I would encourage you to go for it!

Have you been to Russia? What were some of your favorite spots?  Let me know in the comment section!