Posted on February 22nd, 2012

If you are a little tired of the traditional methods of learning Russian language by memorizing words from textbooks, you can always look into new study methods to make your self-study more interesting and fun.

One of the new exciting methods of learning Russian language is learning through interactive phone apps that will certainly make your studies more enjoyable and would allow you to learn Russian on-the-go.

While shopping at Amazon.com store, I’ve noticed a new section on the site Appstore for Android. Being an owner of Android phone, I decided to browse the apps and see if I find anything interesting. This is how I’ve come across all of the cool apps for the Russian learners below.

I tested most of the apps available for Russian language students offered by Amazon Appstore. However, some of them didn’t seem to be that cool or were a little buggy, so I picked a few favorites that I decided to share with you.

SpeakEasy Russian App by Pocketglow Inc.

This is my favorite app so far. SpeakEasy Russian app for Android is a Russian phrasebook and it is perfect for those traveling to a Russian speaking country. The app offers over 1,400 words and expressions translated into Russian, along with their phonetic pronunciation and an audio recording by a native Russian speaker to help you master Russian pronunciation. All of the phrases are grouped in many different topics: Communication, Emergency, Border and Customs, Getting Around, Eating Out, Shopping, Hotel, Money, Calendar, Time, Numbers and many more. Search function of the app allows to you search for the words and phrases in both Russian and English.

The greatest thing about this app is that you can play the same words and expressions as many times as you like to practice your pronunciation along with the recording.

If you get this app, I highly recommend by starting with the Information section of the app, where you can read about the Russian alphabet and pronunciation. You can purchase SpeakEasy Russian app at Amazon.com store.

Russian Flashcards by Movable Tech

This is another great app for Russian language learners. If you feel that you learn better with flash cards, then you can use it to test your knowledge of Russian common words and expressions. The app allows you to display up to 75 flashcards on a chosen topic from the many topics, such as Asking for Directions, Colors, Computers, Days of the Week and many more. You can also combine several topics in a single quiz if you like. The app is very easy to use and navigate.

Russian Flashcards Russian Flashcards app is available at the Amazon.com app store for only $0.99.

Learn Russian App by WagMob.com

Learn Russian app is another useful resource for learning Russian language. It allows you to learn numbers, colors and other vocabulary from the Flashcards section, and new interesting expressions from the Phrasebook.

The downside of this app is that phonetic transcription is not very accurate sometimes. For example, phonetic pronunciation of the word “понимаю” from Russian “Я не понимаю” (I don’t understand) should be [paneemayu], indicating that first “o” is pronounced as “a” and not “o”.

Also, the phonetic transcription in this app is not completely in English. For example, symbols “ё” and “ï” are used to display sounds for Russian letters “ё” and “й”.

However, if you can read in Russian, you will find this app very useful for its vocabulary selection in the Phrase Book section of the app. You can download the Learn Russian app from Amazon.com app store for only $0.99.

 

Audio Collins Mini Gem English-Russian & Russian-English Dictionary

This is an easy-to use dictionary on-the-go that covers about 10,000 words and provides an audio recording for each one of the words. You can quickly switch between Russian and English languages from the Menu setting.

Search function of the dictionary allows you to quickly find a necessary word and listen to its pronunciation either in Russian or in English.

It’s accurate, it’s quick and it’s easy to use. This on-the-go Audio Collins Mini Gem English-Russian & Russian-English Dictionary is also available for your Android at Amazon.com app store.

Russian Audio Flash Cards by Declan Software

This is another very cool app for Russian learners. Russian Audio FlashCards app allows you to learn and practice new Russian words.

Start by loading WordFile on any chosen topic and reviewing all of the words included in it. Every word is accompanied with an audio recording of a native Russian speaker. It also allows you to listen to the recording multiple types to practice your pronunciation.

The most fun feature of the app is the exercises section that allows you to test your knowledge of the new words.

The only downside of this app is that it doesn’t provide you with the phonetic spelling of the words. However, if you know Russian alphabet this should not be a problem for you, besides you can always listen to the recording to make sure you get the pronunciation right. Check out Russian Audio FlashCards at Amazon.com app store.

How to Purchase Android Apps from Amazon.com?

Buying apps on Amazon may seem a little confusing, especially if you have never purchased apps from Amazon.com before, but actually it’s very easy to do.

Here is how to purchase Android Apps on Amazon.com store in three easy steps:

1. Install Amazon Appstore app on your phone, you can find it in the Play Store (used to be Marketplace) on your phone. Make sure to set up the app by following the prompts.

2. Now, you can purchase Android apps while doing your other shopping on Amazon.com from your computer. Note: you don’t need to specifically go to the Amazon Appstore app on your phone to shop for the apps. Unless you really want to, of course.

3.  After you submit your order on Amazon, you will receive an order confirmation email and a notification on the status bar on your phone from the Amazon Appstore app, confirming that the app you purchased from Amazon is available for download. Now you can click on the notifier and you will be redirected to the download menu in your Amazon Appstore app.

Of course, you can always go to Amazon Appstore app on your phone to get any apps you like. I think it’s a matter of personal preference. I like shopping for my Android apps while shopping for other things on Amazon.com on my computer. Also, I like the fact that you can test your apps here on Amazon.com website on the big computer screen prior to purchasing them. Then you can put them in your basket, shop around more, submit your order and voilà! you get a message on your phone with a download link. Very easy!

I hope you find these apps useful.

Have you tried any of these or any other apps for Russian language learners? Did you like them? I’d love to hear your opinion!

Viktoria.

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• Russian Version of Winnie the Pooh
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Comments

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