Ever wanted to learn Russian but had no idea where to start?
Start with Russian Level 1 at the University of Victoria.
If you are a complete beginner, this online Russian course gives you a practical introduction to the Russian language without assuming that you already know the Cyrillic alphabet, Russian grammar, or how Russian pronunciation works.
And there’s no need to wait.
📅 Registration deadline: September 17, 2026
Register for Russian Level 1 at UVic
Learn Russian from the very beginning
Russian can look intimidating at first.
Cyrillic letters. Six grammatical cases. Hard and soft consonants. Verb aspects. A completely different way of putting words together.
But you don’t need to learn all of that at once.
Russian Level 1 starts with the foundations and gradually builds your ability to actually use the language.
You’ll learn to:
🇷🇺 read the Russian alphabet
🗣️ pronounce Russian sounds correctly
👋 use formal and informal greetings
🙋 introduce yourself and talk about where you are from
👨👩👧 talk about family, work and everyday life
🔢 count from 0 to 100
📅 talk about dates, days, months and time
❓ ask and answer basic questions
✍️ read and write in Russian
🧩 build simple Russian sentences
🎧 understand basic spoken Russian
And yes, you will start speaking Russian.
Russian for beginners: more than memorizing words
Learning Russian isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary lists.
You need to understand how Russian actually works.
That’s why this course combines grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, writing, listening and speaking. The course uses a communicative approach, so you aren’t simply studying Russian on a page. You are learning how to use it.
The course also introduces you to Russian culture through videos and classroom activities.
What if you don’t know the Cyrillic alphabet?
That’s completely fine.
Russian Level 1 is designed for beginners. You will learn the Cyrillic alphabet and the sounds represented by Russian letters, including important differences between hard and soft consonants and Russian vowel reduction.
In other words, you don’t need to learn Russian before taking Russian Level 1.
That’s what Level 1 is for.
Is Russian Level 1 at UVic online?
Yes.
The course combines live online classes with self-paced learning. Live instruction takes place through Zoom, while Brightspace provides access to course materials and activities between classes.
This makes the University of Victoria Russian course a convenient option if you want to learn Russian online while still having regular opportunities to interact, ask questions and practise speaking.
Who is this Russian course for?
Russian Level 1 is a great starting point if you are:
• completely new to Russian
• interested in Russian language and culture
• planning to travel to a Russian-speaking country
• interested in Russian literature, music, film or history
• reconnecting with Russian family or heritage
• looking for a structured Russian course rather than trying to learn on your own
• looking for Russian classes online through a university
You don’t need to be a language expert.
You just need to be ready to start.
Why learn Russian?
Because Russian opens the door to much more than a new alphabet.
It gives you access to Russian books, songs, films, conversations, traditions, humour, and culture in the original language.
And there is something especially satisfying about the moment when those mysterious Cyrillic letters suddenly start making sense.
Сначала: Что это?
Then: Oh! I can read that!
That moment comes sooner than you might think.
🚨 Registration deadline: September 17
If Russian has been sitting on your “one day I’ll learn it” list, this is your sign to stop postponing it.
Russian Level 1 at the University of Victoria is an online course for beginners, and registration closes September 17, 2026.
👉 Register for Russian Level 1 at UVic
Start with the alphabet.
Learn your first Russian words.
Build your first sentences.
And before you know it, you’ll be saying:
Я говорю по-русски.
I speak Russian. 🇷🇺
Ready to start?
Register for Russian Level 1 at the University of Victoria
Registration deadline: September 17, 2026.