Become fluent in Russian in 90 days
Shave hundreds of hours off your journey to Russian fluency with a unique conversation-focused method that beats traditional classes every time!
Ever feel like you'll never be able to learn Russian?
Sometimes it feels like you'll never be able to have a conversation in Russian, however much time and effort you put into it.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
You see, taking classes and messing around with language apps doesn’t work.
This is why Russian seems so hard and has such an intimidating reputation.
But what if I told you it’s not that the Russian language is so hard… but just that you’ve been learning it the wrong way.
You see, most courses, classes, and apps are created by native Russian speakers.
Which means that they learned Russian "the easy way" - they just grew up in a Russian-speaking country.
If you’ve ever tried to explain your native language to a foreigner, you’ll get what I mean. You’re so used to your own language, that it’s just difficult to put yourself in the shoes of someone learning it.
Native Russian teachers have never gone through the pains of learning Russian as an adult. So it’s impossible for them to fully understand how you need to learn as a non-native speaker.
This is why so many Russian learners end up spending thousands of dollars on expensive language classes and studying for months (or even years!)… but still get nowhere.
Do you want to end up like them?
Spending hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars and losing MONTHS of your life… only to be in the exact same place with your Russian as when you started?
Or are you prepared to try something new and do something different?
I get it. It’s hard to learn Russian. You’ve signed up for a class. You’ve installed language apps. Maybe you’ve even signed up for tutors or online courses.
And sure, you learned a couple of words. You grasped some of the easier grammar rules.
But how did that translate into actual conversational ability?
What happened when you tried to speak Russian with a friend, family member, tutor, or even just in a bar somewhere?
You opened your mouth, but nothing came out. After feeling like your head started to spin, you blurted out a phrase that you memorized by heart.
Maybe you were able to give a simple introduction:
“меня зовут … - я из …. я хочу говорить по-русски”
My name is... - I'm from... I want to speak Russian
But when they asked you a question about where you’re working, your hobbies or even why you’re learning Russian, your mind turned blank.
As you figured out the hard way, learning vocabulary and grammar does NOT equal speaking ability.
Taking classes and apps will help you pass grammar tests. But they won’t help you speak well.
Speaking is a separate skill, and if you don’t specifically practice it, you’ll get nowhere.
That's great advice...
... but HOW do you do this?
- How do you practice speaking (and with whom)?
- How do you overcome the fear of speaking with a native speaker?
- How do you turn KNOWING grammar and vocabulary into actual CONVERSATIONAL ability?
Learning to speak Russian can be frustrating because there’s so much you need to think about.
This means that you’ll need to take a completely different approach, one that will help you learn to speak Russian in a more natural and intuitive way.
But what happens when you take the "traditional" way of learning?
This makes it overwhelming to learn Russian. You can do everything perfectly well according to the class that you’re taking, or the app you’re following, and still struggle having a simple conversation with a native speaker.
There’s just so much to learn, and you just don’t know where to start.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
I know because I’ve been where you are now...
Who is Ari?
My name is Ari Helderman and I’m from the Netherlands.
When I started learning Russian at the beginning of 2016, I felt just like you do now.
I had always hated learning languages in school. The first test I ever failed was for a language class, English.
But at university I had met a beautiful Russian girl, and we started dating.
Out of curiosity and interest in where she came from, I decided to try to learn some Russian.
But soon I felt completely lost and overwhelmed.
"All the words looked strange, grammar was frustrating, and I could only say super basic phrases"
Whenever I tried to have conversations, all I managed was:
"Привет, меня зовут Ари. Я голландец. Я учу русский."
Hi, my name is Ari. I'm Dutch. I'm learning Russian.
And that was while dating a Russian girl and seeing her a couple of times per week…
I was frustrated with my progress. And I was thinking of just quitting all together.
But things got nerve-wracking after my Russian girlfriend invited me to Moscow to meet her parents.
They only spoke Russian.
So I had about 3 months to improve my Russian skills.
Otherwise, my trip was going to be depressing, because I would feel isolated from all the people I'd meet.
Me in Saint Petersburg later that trip (we took a 2-day train trip)
Most people would’ve decided to go for Russian classes or hire a tutor. But because of bad experiences in high school with foreign languages (French and German), I decided to do something different.
I took a systematical approach: I learned several words a day and focused on 1 grammatical subtopic every couple of days.
During these sessions:
- I tried to say sentences from the things I was learning (combined with what I had learned the days before).
- I would say them out loud, and then check whether my sentences were correct through Google Translate.
- And at night I’d watch 1 episode of a Russian series to improve my listening skills.
- Then once in a while I practiced speaking about simple topics with my girlfriend.
So now it was just a matter of practice…
Since I was still busy with my studies, I managed to practice for around 15 to 30 minutes most days. And a couple of hours per week watching series.
So what do you think happened 3 months later when I traveled to Moscow?
To my surprise, I could have decent conversations. I was able to communicate about plenty of topics, like my studies, hobbies, and plans for the future.
I could also have small talk about food, activities, and what my impressions were of Russia.
And even though my vocabulary and grammar were beginner level, my conversations went smoother than I expected.
Me making Plov with my girlfriend's father at their dacha.
I remember one instance where I was talking to my girlfriend's father:
After about 10 minutes of conversation, it suddenly dawned upon me that we were speaking Russian all that time.
It felt so natural, and there were no issues communicating.
I had finally cracked the code. And it felt amazing.
I’ll let you know in a minute how I did it.
I knew from that moment that my Russian would only get better.
And it did.
In March 2019, I uploaded a video on YouTube of me speaking Russian - just for fun.
It got over 1000 views and over 100 great comments from native Russian speakers applauding my Russian.
Fast forward to 2026, and my YouTube channel in Russian has over 160.000 subscribers and over 26 million views.
I'm even performing stand up in Russian throughout Europe every weekend - in front of native speakers:
When people hear me speak Russian now, they often think I'm a native speaker - or that one of my parents is Russian.
It always puts a smile on my face, because it just shows what's possible if you take the right approach to learning a new language.
Being fluent in Russian has gotten me featured on Russian and Ukrainian radio, TV, and many international language learning sites:
How I learned Russian from zero as an adult (and how you can too)
How did I manage to get to this high level of Russian fluency?
Well, thanks to my own "little known" system that's never taught in textbooks, apps, or classroom lessons, I was able to overcome my struggles learning Russian, and finally become fluent in Russian.
So what’s the difference between my method and other programs?
Well, other courses take a traditional approach to learning vocabulary and grammar. They just hammer information into your brain, and that just doesn’t work if your goal is to SPEAK Russian and have conversations.
That’s because these courses are created by native Russian speakers, who cannot imagine what it is like to learn Russian themselves.
My program cuts out ALL the fluff, that you don’t need. We focus only on the essential parts of vocabulary, grammar, listening and speaking skills.
Over the last 5 years I’ve optimized each aspect of my step-by-step system, to give you as much progress in as short of time as possible.
First I experimented on myself, and later I tried different approaches with more than 500 of my other students.
This allows you to learn Russian quickly and effectively, because you take advantage of how your brain works effectively.
Now I feel confident talking about any topic in Russian. It’s such a freedom to be able to speak Russian without feeling anxious.
It’s also a great feeling knowing that I was able to master one of the hardest languages in the world.
And you will experience the same if you follow my step-by-step system.
Picture this:
You now:
You after my course:
So let me help you learn Russian effortlessly
I know firsthand just how life-changing it can be when you learn to speak Russian fluently. The feeling of having conversations in one of the most difficult languages on the planet, feels incredible.
But I also understand just how frustrating and overwhelming Russian can be when you're not sure where to start or what to do next. I want to save you the years of trial and error that I had to endure. So that's why I've created:
Conversations Unlocked 1+2+3
Shave hundreds of hours off your journey to Russian fluency with a unique conversation-focused method that beats traditional classes every time!
5-Star reviews across the board
Here's how it works
Conversations Unlocked is an online course designed to help you learn to have actual conversations in Russian.
So how does it work?
As we said before, you need to focus 4 different skills to speak Russian well:
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Listening
- Speaking
Most courses teach you 2 (or maybe 3) skills. My course focuses on all 4.
The program consists of 90 lessons.
Here's what happens in each lesson...
- You learn 5 to 10 new useful Russian words (vocabulary)
- You master 1 grammatical construction (grammar)
- You practice speaking and creating sentences with the new words and grammar (speaking)
- You listen to the correct pronunciation of the sentences (listening)
All you need to do is listen to the lessons, and say a sentence when I prompt you to do so.
Then you listen to the correct answer and use this feedback to speak better yourself.
All the lessons build on each other. So in lesson 18 for example, we build sentences with the grammar and words from that lesson. And we also use what we’ve learned in the previous 17 lessons.
This helps keep the material fresh and engaging, so you look forward to each lesson.
On top of that, you get access to all the transcripts of the lessons and extra material.
These additional resources make sure you master all the material in the course.
So it’s a total of 90 lessons. Most learners will need around 60 to 90 hours total to work through the course from beginning to end.
You get lifetime access. So you can decide for yourself if you go through the lessons in a couple of weeks, or prefer to take your time and go through the course in a couple of months.
What do you get in the course?
I designed the lessons so that you develop the ability to create and say similar sentences on your own. Below you can find an example lesson transcript fragment:
And here's a lesson fragment to listen to.
Take a sneak peek inside the course
If you're curious what the course looks like, take a look at the video below where I'll guide you through the curriculum:
Here is what real students say about the course:
"Finally a Russian language learning course worth it's weight in gold!"
"You explain grammar in such an easy way to understand that I 'get it,' right away."
"I can confidently pronounce Russian for the first time. I am hooked."
"The course cleverly integrated everyday scenarios and dialogues, which I found to be a perfect starting point."
"Challenging but no so much that I want to quit. Your voice and diction are very clear, it's almost like a 1:1 lesson. I'm glad I bought this course."
"This course has enable me to make sentences, and I can use the nouns that I know in the sentences as well as learn new ones."
"I have other resources at my disposal but was hoping to get a nice snapshot of Russian through your course and this is exactly what it's doing for me."
"What I admire most is Ari's ability teach basic conversational items that would immediately be artfully woven into duly impressive more complex structures."
"... also started out with simple words then built from that like you are doing. It has stuck more in my mind that any other learning method I have tried."
"this course is empowering me to construct sentences in order to express my thoughts"
"The lessons have the right amount of content, not too much or too little at one time."
"The words and phrases really stick in my head better than the traditional method and it's fun!"
"A great way to practice and learn in a casual yet structured way"
"I already feel more confident about speaking Russian. Thanks!"
"Your emphasis on output rather than just input is right on the money!"
Why this course is different from other methods
How much time and money you save with Russian Conversations Unlocked
I can estimate how much time and money the average learner usually spends achieving this level of fluency in Russian. Here’s a breakdown of the most common learning resources. Most learners go through a combination of them over months/years:
- University: $3,000-$15,000
- Private classes: $2000 ($20/hour)
- Trips to Russian speaking countries: $3000+
- Books: $100-$400
- Language Apps & Websites: $200-$1000 ($10-$50/month)
Average financial investment for conversational level:
$4,500
Average time investment for conversational level:
200 - 500 hours
That's 1 to 2 years!
BUT, with Conversations Unlocked, my data shows you can progress 3-5 times faster WITHOUT investing in tutors, classes, textbooks, or apps…
Just 60-90 hours!
That's the average approximate time investment to reach conversational level with:
Conversations Unlocked 1+2+3
Shave hundreds of hours off your journey to Russian fluency with a unique conversation-focused method that beats traditional classes every time!
Enroll in Conversations Unlocked today:
Conversations Unlocked 1+2+3
$397
90 day Guarantee
90-Day Money-Back Guarantee
If, for any reason, you don't like this program, you can get a full refund anytime within 90 days after your purchase. If you have any issues, just get in touch with me through email and I'll either help you out until you get the results you need or give you a swift refund.
You Also Get These 4 Bonuses for FREE When You Enroll
I want to reward students who are serious about improving their Russian.
That's why I’m offering 4 valuable bonuses for free that will be added directly to the program membership area after you sign up.
You get these bonuses for FREE when you sign up today (value: $265):
Russian Alphabet Made Easy (Value: $50)
In this 35 minute lesson, you'll learn the Russian alphabet and how to pronounce each letter. Even if you already know the alphabet, you'll pick up on tricks to improve your pronunciation.
"Fast Fluency Flashcard" Deck (Value: $40)
You'll find each of the 802 prompts from the lessons in my structured flashcard deck (available on PC/Android/IOS). This will help you master the lesson material and allows you to practice on the go.
Russian Series Vault (Value: $50)
This is a collection of 100 modern and classic Russian series that you can watch to help you learn Russian in a fun and engaging way. Of the 100 series, 50 include English subtitles, so they're good for beginners all the way up to advanced learners.
Direct Access to Me (Value $125):
For 90 days after purchasing, you have personal email access to me to ask all the questions you want about learning Russian. Whether you don’t understand the cases, struggle with motivation, or want feedback on your accent - just send me an email, and I’ll help.
Who should buy this program (and who shouldn't)?
NOW is the best time to exploit this new approach and upgrade your Russian skills
What do you think will happen if you continue learning Russian like before?
Imagine yourself speaking Russian in 3 months.
You’re trying to have a conversation in Russian with Russian friends, family, partner, or someone you met out on the streets…
… do you feel comfortable opening your mouth and saying what you want to say in Russian?
Or are you afraid you'll stumble over words and have to repeat yourself 5 times before they understand what you're saying?
Practicing speaking Russian is essential if you want to have conversations in Russian. Period.
If you continue what you're doing, your conversational skills are going to stay the way they are.
Speaking is a huge part of learning Russian, so it makes sense to prioritize it.
Start building your conversational skills today.
It’s a small commitment but it will give you huge results.
Give it a couple of weeks and you will already:
- Have learned an extra hundred useful Russian words and better understand Russian verb conjugation.
- Be able to express yourself in more detail when speaking with native Russian speakers.
- Have found a fun way to learn Russian, even if you're having a busy day.
Imagine what that can do in your life.
You’ll no longer be afraid to speak Russian with native speakers.
You’ll have the confidence to open your mouth and say what you want to say - on the spot.
And you can be proud of yourself that you are mastering one of the most difficult languages on the planet.
That feeling when you meet a native speaker and you can say what you want to say in Russian...
… is just incredible.
If you are frustrated with Russian, you may think there's something wrong with you.
But all you need to do is to start using the correct methods, exercises, and materials.
Conversations Unlocked teaches you real-world Russian so you can say what you want to say in Russian.
Here is what other students say about the course:
"I love how this course works"
"This course makes it very easy to jump in and start learning Russian without feeling intimidated or overwhelmed"
"Teaches a lot of the basics in a way that develops active vocabulary"
"I liked this approach. It covers a couple of very fundamental differences between English and Russian."
"What I'm particularly happy about is the syllable-by-syllable repeats."
"definitely worth the money, I'd like to see more."
"While completing the lessons I rarely have to think about 'what does this mean in English?' because I am so deeply connected to trying to explain a particular concept in Russian."
"The course is a perfect blend of seriousness & subtle humour"
"My Ukrainian husband is blown away with the progress."
Frequently Asked Questions:
If you have any questions about the program, read the questions below and find your answer there. Have another question? Send me an email to: ari [at] learntherussianlanguage [dot] com
You are accessing the most efficient, straightforward, and fun path to Russian conversational skills with a highly knowledgeable, experienced, and a motivating teacher who is with you every step of the way.
Put another way: you are getting years of saved time and avoiding all the boredom and stress that comes with conventional language-learning methods.
You’re gaining lifetime access to Conversations Unlocked.
First off, let’s bust a myth: Russian is NOT difficult anymore.
My method has transformed the hard parts of Russian — the grammar — into a piece of cake. As for being bad at languages? Nuh-uh.
We are ALL language-learning machines. Remember, you’ve already achieved fluency in your native language. To do the same for Russian, you just need to listen and practice Russian a lot. Conversations Unlocked will guide you through this, one step at a time.
I'm glad you asked. Conversations Unlocked stands out from the crowd with a unique, immersive, and methodical approach to teaching Russian. If your previous attempts at learning Russian didn’t pan out, it might have been due to a teaching method that wasn’t the best fit for you. Here’s how I do things differently:
Firstly, Conversations Unlocked prioritizes engagement and fun. I believe that enjoying the learning process is key to long-term success in any language. My lessons are designed to be dynamic and interesting, keeping you motivated and eager to learn more.
Secondly, I put a strong emphasis on practice. Russian is a language that gets easier the more you use it. My lessons provide plenty of opportunities to practice Russian, ensuring you constantly apply what you’ve learned.
Thirdly, I focus on teaching you not just individual Russian words and grammar, but also how to use them contextually. Knowing words and grammar is one thing, but knowing how to effectively use it when speaking Russian is another. We ensure you grasp the nuances of each word and grammar rule, so you can confidently use them in conversation.
Lastly, my approach is methodical. I’ve structured my course so you gradually build on your knowledge, ensuring a solid foundation before moving on to more complex aspects of the language.
Conversations Unlocked is designed with the learner in mind, ensuring you have the tools and support you need to succeed where you may have struggled in the past. Ready to give learning Russian another shot, but this time with a unique, engaging, and effective approach? Sign up today.
Would you ask someone born into wealth about how to get rich?
Native speakers have been able to speak Russian accurately and with excellent pronunciation since childhood, and they generally don’t know how to acquire the language effectively as adults.
I, on the other hand, achieved high level of fluency in Russian as an adult using the very same science-backed methods and tools I share with you on the course.
All the content in Conversations Unlocked is checked and made with the help of native speakers though. And I high recommend using native tutors for speaking practice later on. But when it comes to the language acquisition process itself, best leave that to someone who's gone through it himself.
I guarantee that you will become proficient in Russian (and have a blast while doing it) as long as you follow our instructions.
If you follow the lessons within Conversations Unlocked, and answer the prompts in them, then you WILL be able tohave conversationsin Russian.
I'm so confident you’ll experience the power of Russian learning with this method that I have a “no-matter what” 90-day money back guarantee.
Absolutely not. Conversations Unlocked is designed to accommodate learners of all ages, and I have many successful students across different age groups. Some of my most senior students are seeing the best results. They are consistently practicing Russian and expanding their knowldedge of the Russian language every day.
The structure of my course helps in breaking down the Russian language into manageable pieces, making it easier for you to understand, remember, and use them while speaking. It doesn’t matter if you’re 18 or 80 — as long as you have the passion to learn, my course can guide you to Russian conversational proficiency. So, don’t let age deter you from starting your language-learning journey.
As soon as you join, you'll get access to the Conversations Unlocked membership area - so you get to start upgrading your Russian speaking skills right away.
No waiting!
The program has 90 lessons. Most people will need around 60 to 90 hours to go through the course.
But you will already start seeing an improvement in how well you can have conversations in Russian after a few hours of practicing.
You can decide for yourself how you want to practice. My recommendation would be to do 1 lesson per day for at least 4 days per week. But you can always practice more if you have the time and energy. Or divide each lesson over a couple of days.
You get lifetime access so this is a resource you’ll be able to come back and refer to over and over again throughout your Russian journey.
Yes, you can. For the majority of students, I recommend doing about 1 lesson per day. But if you want to take your time to digest the material, you can do 1 lesson every 2 or 3 days. Or if you want to go faster, you can do multiple lessons per day.
It's a self-paced program, so you can choose at which speed you go.
Yes, you can either listen to the lessons online or you can download the mp3 files to your computer or phone. That way you can listen while you’re offline, which can be handy when traveling.
You’ll have lifetime access. You just pay once, and get access to the program forever. That also means that you’ll be getting free access to all updates I make to the program in the future.
I get students from all over the world, and the USD is the most widely accepted currency. But you can purchase the program with any credit or debit card, PayPal account, or Google Pay. Your bank will convert the USD to your currency at market rate.
Conversations Unlocked comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee, so you can try out the program for yourself and then make a decision. If you aren’t happy with the program or feel that it’s not for you, just email me at ari [at] learntherussianlanguage [dot] com, and I’ll refund you in full.
When you sign up for the course, things like this happen:
ATTENTION: The Black Friday deal closes Monday 1st of December at 11.59 AM Eastern Time (the bonuses disappear and the price goes back up to $397)
ATTENTION: The special summer offer closes Thursday 17nd of July at 11.59 AM Eastern Time (and the price goes back up to $391)