Learning Russian can be a rewarding yet challenging endeavor, and finding the right language program is crucial for success. Rocket Languages, known for its comprehensive and interactive approach, offers a Russian language course designed to cater to learners of all levels. In this review, we’ll explore the features, effectiveness, and overall user experience of Rocket Languages’ Russian program to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your language learning journey.
Rocket Languages
- Free Trial
- Money Back Guarantee
Pros
- Large discounts available (60% off)
- Extremely robust course that covers all aspects of the Russian language
- In-depth audio exercises that feature fluent Russian speakers
- Detailed and helpful grammar lessons
- Quick, accurate speech software for pronunciation feedback
Cons
- No monthly plans available (only lifetime)
- Lessons are time-intensive
How The Rocket Russian Course Is Organized
Zooming out for a broader perspective, the Rocket Russian program is structured into three main tiers: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Each of these tiers is further divided into roughly eight modules, which in turn are broken down into numerous lessons.
A crucial aspect to note is the program’s variety of lesson formats—audio lessons, writing lessons, and language and culture lessons. While we’ll delve into the specifics of each lesson type later, the audio lessons are designed to sharpen listening and speaking skills, writing lessons enhance writing proficiency, and language and culture lessons provide in-depth grammar instruction alongside cultural insights.
In essence, the Rocket Russian program is organized into three tiers, each containing around eight modules, and each module consists of various lesson formats.
How Much Is The Rocket Languages Russian Course?
Rocket Languages stands out by exclusively offering lifetime plans, unlike competitors like Babbel and Rosetta Stone, which provide monthly subscriptions. You can access Rocket Russian level 1 for about $60, levels 1 and 2 together for $120, or get all three levels for approximately $180.
Keep in mind, these prices reflect discounts since Rocket Languages frequently has sales and promotions. It’s wise to look for promo codes, as you can often get 50% to 60% off the retail price listed on their website.
When comparing pricing, it’s tricky to match Rocket’s plans with others due to the absence of monthly options. However, when evaluating lifetime options, the Rocket Russian program offers a compelling deal at roughly $180. For reference, Babbel’s lifetime plan for Russian is around $350, and Pimsleur’s Russian program is over $400, making Rocket an attractive choice.
Pros Explained
Now that you have an idea of what the Rocket Russian course costs, and how their program generally works, let’s discuss the biggest advantages of using Rocket Languages to learn Russian.
Ideal Choice For Auditory Learners
Among the language apps we’ve reviewed, Rocket Languages excels for auditory learners. Their audio exercises are outstanding and form the core of their teaching approach, making the learning experience highly effective for those who prefer listening over other methods.
For those who learn best by listening, the Rocket Russian program could be an ideal choice. Its audio-based lessons offer flexibility, allowing you to study whenever and wherever you prefer. Whether you’re multitasking at home or on the go, Rocket Languages empowers you to integrate language learning seamlessly into your daily life. This flexibility ensures you can continue your language journey without being tied to a desk or a screen.
Helpful Audio Lessons
As mentioned above, one of the standout features of Rocket Russian is undoubtedly its audio lessons, which form the foundation of the entire curriculum. We believe these exercises significantly surpass those offered by other popular apps like Duolingo and Memrise. Each lesson begins with a 20- to 30-minute audio exercise, guided by an English-speaking host who introduces and contextualizes a conversation between two fluent Russian speakers.
Throughout the conversation, the host pauses to explain essential grammar points, clarify key concepts, and, importantly, ask you questions to keep you engaged and ensure comprehension. This method not only provides exposure to authentic Russian dialogue but also actively involves you in the learning process.
By immersing you in contextualized conversations, these lessons simulate a one-on-one tutoring session, making it one of the most effective ways to learn Russian without the cost of a personal tutor.
Robust Verbal Practice
After each audio lesson, Rocket Languages provides “reinforcement drills” aimed at refining your reading, writing, and pronunciation skills. These exercises are essential for developing expressive language abilities. Notably, Rocket’s verbal reinforcement drills are more comprehensive and practical than what many other language programs offer.
Unlike Duolingo, for example, which often has you repeat words or phrases without context, Rocket allows you to replay the audio lesson’s conversation, stepping into the role of one of the fluent speakers. This immersive practice puts you in real-world conversational scenarios, enhancing your learning experience far beyond simple repetition.
Rocket’s speech recognition technology, powered by Google’s Web Speech API, further elevates the program. As you engage in these simulated conversations and other verbal drills, the software listens and evaluates your pronunciation on a scale from 1 to 100. Our team, having tested numerous speech recognition tools, finds Rocket’s technology to be among the best—user-friendly, responsive, and highly accurate.
Insightful Grammar Lessons
Many language learning platforms, like Mondly, offer basic conjugation charts without much explanation. Rocket Languages, however, elevates grammar instruction by providing dedicated grammar lessons.
These lessons help you familiarize yourself with Russian grammar rules as you advance in your studies. The detailed and insightful commentary, coupled with interactive drills, ensures you thoroughly understand and retain the concepts. Additionally, Rocket weaves in cultural insights to acquaint you with local customs and traditions, adding an extra layer of value to the learning experience.
Cons Explained
Now that you have a better understanding of the strengths of the Rocket Russian language program, let’s turn the tables and discuss the weaknesses.
Long Lesson Format
One drawback of the Rocket Russian program is the length of its lessons. The audio exercises alone take between 20 to 30 minutes to finish, followed by another 30 minutes for the reinforcement drills.
In total, you’re looking at around 50 to 60 minutes for one complete lesson, not including the additional grammar lessons. If you’re pressed for time and can only spare a few minutes each day, a program like Babbel or Mondly, which offers shorter 10-minute lessons, might be a better fit.
Lack of Visual Elements
By now, it’s clear that Rocket might not be the best fit for visual learners. The course lacks a video component and uses very few images or graphics.
If you find that visual aids help you grasp and retain information more effectively, you might want to consider alternatives like Rosetta Stone Russian, LingoPie or Busuu, which offer more visual elements to support your learning.
Verdict: Is Rocket Russian Worth It?
By now you’ve probably gathered that Rocket Russian is an extremely in-depth and demanding course, so if you’re only looking to pick up a few phrases for an upcoming trip or to impress your in-laws, there might be more suitable options available for you.
However, if you’re committed to learning Russian seriously, Rocket Russian is definitely worth the money. It stands out as one of the most effective and well-rounded programs available, offering extensive audio exercises with fluent speakers, practical speaking practice, helpful speech recognition technology, thorough grammar instruction, and interesting cultural insights. All in all, our team was thoroughly impressed.
Additionally, Rocket’s lifetime subscription packages are competitively priced compared to many other programs, adding extra value to an already incredible offering.
👉 Next: Our Guide To The Best Russian Apps
Finishing the Rocket Russian program will require over 200 hours of dedication. By the time you’ve worked through all the lessons, you can anticipate achieving an intermediate to advanced level of fluency in Russian.
Indeed, Rocket Russian stands out as one of the most thorough and well-rounded language programs we’ve evaluated. Our team found their approach and lesson structure to be highly effective for mastering Russian.
