Learning a new language can be a transformative experience, offering fresh perspectives and opportunities. Babbel’s Russian language program aims to provide a comprehensive, user-friendly platform for beginners and intermediate learners alike. This review delves into the program’s structure, effectiveness, and unique features, helping potential learners make an informed decision about their language journey.
Babbel
- Multiple Subscription Options
- Money Back Guarantee
Pros
- Affordable pricing (less than $10/mo)
- Short, diverse lessons (5-10 minutes each)
- Awesome speech software for pronunciation feedback
- Ideal program for busy professionals and students
- Grammar instruction that is easy to understand and digest
Cons
- May be too basic for advanced learners
- Wish verbal practice drills included context
How The Babbel Russian Program Is Organized
When you register with Babbel, the platform prompts you with a series of questions to gauge your familiarity with the Russian language, your daily time commitment, and your overall learning objectives.
Based on your responses, you can choose a learning path aligned with your current proficiency or based on specific themes like business or travel. Typically, beginners will start at the introductory level unless they’ve previously studied Russian or are targeting a particular theme.
The Babbel Russian course is structured hierarchically with levels comprising multiple courses, each containing 10 to 15 lessons.
How Does Babbel Teach You Russian?
In terms of learning methodology, Babbel’s Russian language course distinguishes itself with a more balanced, comprehensive approach compared to other language apps that tend to specialize in a single lesson format, like Pimsleur’s focus on audio, for example.
Babbel’s lessons are designed to hone both receptive and expressive skills—including listening, reading, writing, and speaking—as well as grammar. The exercises are diverse, ensuring you practice all these aspects.
Then to help solidify your learning and progress, Babbel integrates regular review sessions to transition new vocabulary from short-term to long-term memory. Babbel’s philosophy is that a well-rounded approach, delivered through concise and engaging lessons with continuous reinforcement, is the most effective way to master Russian.
Babbel Russian Cost
Babbel provides several subscription options: a month-to-month plan for $18, a three-month plan for $45, a six-month plan at $75, and an annual subscription priced at $100. This translates to a monthly cost ranging from $8 to $18, depending on your chosen plan. For those who prefer a single, upfront payment, Babbel also offers a lifetime access option for approximately $300.
In the grand scheme of language learning apps, Babbel’s pricing falls in the middle of the spectrum. It’s pricier than Duolingo and Busuu, right in line with the likes of Rosetta Stone, and more affordable than Pimsleur and Rocket Languages.
Pros Explained
Now that we’ve covered pricing and how the Babbel Russian program works, let’s discuss the pros and cons that our team discovered as we tested this course.
Short, Engaging Lesson Format
One of the standout features of Babbel is its brief and varied lesson structure, which ensures you stay involved and interested. Our team appreciates that these lessons integrate reading, writing, listening, and speaking, making the learning experience lively and enjoyable. Moreover, each lesson is just around 10 minutes long, perfect for fitting into a hectic schedule.
Whether you’re on a lunch break or waiting in the school pickup line, you can easily squeeze in a lesson or two. This constant sense of progress in your language learning keeps your motivation high.
Customizable Review Sessions
Earlier, we touched on Babbel’s review sessions, but we didn’t fully dive into the flexibility they offer. Babbel allows you to pick your preferred review method—be it flashcards, listening, speaking, or writing.
So, if you feel you’re struggling with something specific, such as writing, you can focus on that area and practice until you see improvement.
Streamlined Grammar Instruction
Babbel’s approach to grammar instruction is worth noting. It’s a topic that often sparks debate among language experts—some argue against explicit grammar instruction, while others see it as essential for a solid foundation. Babbel strikes a balance between these viewpoints.
Rather than overwhelming you with tedious textbook-style definitions, Babbel incorporates brief and clear grammar explanations seamlessly into their lessons, helping you grasp basic Russian grammar without feeling burdened. In my view, Babbel handles this aspect with finesse, providing just enough guidance to aid your understanding.
Quick, Accurate Speech Software
After trying out a wide range of speech software tools, our consensus is that Babbel ranks among the best. The platform is user-friendly, fast, and precise, allowing you to effectively polish your pronunciation.
As you work through the different verbal exercises, Babbel helps you develop a pronunciation that closely resembles that of a native speaker.
Easy-To-Use Digital Platform/Mobile App
Lastly, we want to highlight Babbel’s digital platform and mobile app. The user experience is outstanding, thanks to its sleek and intuitive interface. Overall, our team was thoroughly impressed, and we believe it ranks among the top language apps available in terms of user experience.
Cons Explained
Now that you have an idea of the areas in which Babbel excels, it’s only fair we also discuss some of the negative aspects of the Babbel Russian program.
Not Ideal For Visual Learners
One downside of the Babbel Russian program is the lack of a video component in its lessons, and even the use of visuals, such as images and graphics, is quite minimal.
Therefore, visual learners should keep this in mind. If you find that you absorb information most effectively through visual cues, you might find programs like Lingopie or Memrise to be a better match. Additionally, the Rosetta Stone Russian course is another alternative, as their lessons heavily incorporate imagery.
Verbal Practice Is Somewhat Elementary
Although our team appreciates Babbel’s speech recognition technology, we found the verbal practice exercises to be somewhat basic. They mainly involve repeating words, phrases, and sentences right after hearing them, without much context.
Ideally, Babbel would provide opportunities for more dynamic and pressured language use, mimicking real-world scenarios. This approach tends to be more effective for language acquisition. For instance, Rocket Russian offers simulated conversations with fluent speakers, which provides a more immersive practice experience.
No Live Class Options
The last drawback is that Babbel doesn’t offer live Russian classes, unlike their offerings for Spanish, German, French, and Italian students, for example. For those who thrive on live instruction, this can be a missed opportunity.
Live classes provide valuable interaction with peers at a similar proficiency level and direct feedback from experienced teachers, which can significantly enhance the learning experience.
Verdict: Is Babbel Good For Learning Russian?
Ultimately, we find Babbel to be a strong choice for learning Russian. While we have a few minor concerns, such as the absence of video content in lessons and the relatively basic verbal practice drills, the overall effectiveness of the program shines through.
Babbel’s quick, varied lessons, adaptable review options, precise speech recognition, and straightforward grammar instruction are standout features. For beginners, Babbel offers an excellent foundation, though it’s important to note that the course only covers up to the CEFR A2 level. As you advance beyond this stage, you may need to seek additional resources to continue progressing towards a higher level of Russian fluency.
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After thoroughly evaluating the Babbel program, our team agrees that the Babbel Russian course is a valuable option. The monthly subscription rates are quite reasonable, and the company’s instructional approach proves to be highly effective.
Babbel provides a range of subscription choices. Monthly plans are priced between $8 and $18, while a one-time lifetime access plan is available for approximately $300 (after discounts).
