Studying languages is one of my hobbies. On this page I add resources that I like, specifically for languages that relate to the parts of the world that we blog about. Hopefully these will be useful to someone else!
Afghan Languages – Dari and Pashto
I really like Pimsleur as an introduction to speaking and developing good pronunciation. Pimsleur offers 2 levels of the Dari language, for a total of 30 hours. It is expensive to buy, but there is a much more affordable monthly subscription offered. Try the 7 -day free trial first!
I really like Pimsleur as an introduction to speaking and developing good pronunciation. Pimsleur offers 2 levels of the Pashto language (Northern dialect as spoken in Kabul), for a total of 30 hours. It is expensive to buy, but there is a much more affordable monthly subscription offered. Try the 7 -day free trial first!
uTalk offers an impressive variety of languages, and crucially, language combinations. It is a good way to learn basic phrases. I like that it features recordings of both male and female voices. It does follow a cookie-cutter approach however: the phrase “two beers, please” in Dari is not particularly useful or appropriate.
I’ve only tried a trial version of this. It feels a bit clunkly and outdated, but offers more depth of content than most other apps or online courses I have come across. Includes some free features such as a blog and “word of the day” by email or tweet.
Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
Their Global Language Online Support System offers an amazing library of resources in both Pashto and Dari. It isn’t always the easiest to navigate, and it is very military-focused, but offers a huge wealth of audio and written materials for intermediate and advanced learners.
Tolo TV’s YouTube channels are a great place to start for Dari and Pashto content. I particularly like this channel for its focus on Afghan culture and informal dialogue. Mostly in Dari, but some Pashto as well.
Russian Language
Glossika uses a spaced-repitition system and teaches full sentences at normal speed from the beginning. It is an excellent resource for building fluency and developing listening comprehension skills.
An audio-based course taught by Russian professor Natasha Bershadski. Useful for explaining grammar in a simple and accessible way.
I really like Pimsleur as an introduction to speaking and developing good pronunciation. Pimsleur offers 5 levels of the Russian language, for a total of 75 hours. It is expensive to buy, but there is a much more affordable monthly subscription offered. Try the 7 -day free trial first!
A nicely-designed app that I have enjoyed using for building vocabulary and reading skills. The free version is very limited, but still useful for bitesize practice.
A learning platform set up by Russian language teacher and professor Daria Molchanova. Includes free resources and podcasts. Daria also has interesting and helpful YouTube channel.
A popular app that teaches grammar and vocabulary in a gamified way. Entirely free to use.
Other Side of the Mountains 