 How to read Russian in 15 minutes For anyone heading overseas to teach English as a foreign language, there are many things to consider before departure. Not least, how will I cope with an unknown language? If you have chosen Russia as your destination, then you should take a look at this useful guide on learning to read Russian in 15 minutes. Although it is unlikely that you will immediately be able to breeze through a Tolstoy novel in Russian without difficulty, it should give you a basic understanding of the language before you arrive on the ground.