10 Language-Learning Channels from Eastern Europe

We have all seen a South Korean who was offended when mistaken for a Japanese person or a Japanese person offended when mistaken for a Chinese person. Although to Europeans, all those Asians might look the same, in reality, they are very different. The same goes for languages: when someone from Western Europe hears Polish and Ukrainian, they might think it’s the same “dish” with different names on the menu from different “restaurants.” But this is not the case…

Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, and Slovak, although derived from the ancient Proto-Slavic language, differ significantly today. And in addition, the Eastern European region also has Romanian, part of the Balkan-Romance subgroup, and Hungarian, from the Finno-Ugric language family. So, if you want to avoid being ignorant about the languages of Eastern Europe, it’s worth learning a bit about them. These philological channels will effectively guide you.

Oleksandr Avramenko

A well-known teacher of the highest category in Ukraine, Oleksandr Avramenko has been promoting the Ukrainian language for over two decades. He has authored around fifty textbooks and developed exam tests in Ukrainian for schoolchildren preparing to enter university. He was also the tutor who taught the Ukrainian language to Volodymyr Zelensky, a native of once predominantly Russian-speaking Kryvyi Rih. However, you don’t need to be the president of Ukraine to get a masterclass from Avramenko. Since 2015, he has hosted the popular TV segment Express Lessons, where he covers fascinating aspects of the Ukrainian language in 1.5-minute episodes.

Because Czech Is Cool!

Every traveller has “Go on a beer gastro-tour to Prague” on their wish list. But to fully enjoy the Czech bar culture, you need more than just an online guide to the best spots; it helps to learn some Czech too. Otherwise, you may end up with ale or porter instead of your preferred lager, or vice versa. And when the waitstaff asks what’s wrong, you’ll find yourself trying to explain brewing nuances in sign language. Better to prepare in advance—Prague native Eliška’s channel is here to help expats and foreigners master Czech. With her, you can refine your grammar, expand your vocabulary, and overcome language barriers. A great place to start is with these ten tips for beginners.

polski.online

After the full-scale invasion, millions of Ukrainians sought refuge from the war in Poland, but Ukrainians had already been building strong ties with their neighbour beforehand. Some have even settled so well that they’ve organised courses for anyone interested in learning Polish. For instance, Ivanna Mnykh, founder of polski.online, has created a channel perfect for both those who already speak a bit of Polish and want to improve, and for newcomers curious about Polish language and culture. Ivanna is the kind of teacher who will make you fall in love with every single Polish letter right from the start.

Maksym Prudeus

After the full-scale invasion by Russian forces, tens of thousands of Ukrainians decided to abandon Russian entirely and switch to Ukrainian. One of the people instrumental in this shift was Maksym Prudeus, an expert in presentations, negotiations, and public speaking, who long before February 24, 2022, started his own campaign for transitioning to Ukrainian. Formerly Russian-speaking himself, Maksym realised he disliked being mistaken for a Russian during his travels in Europe. On his channel, Maksym provides detailed insights into learning Ukrainian and addresses common grammar mistakes.

Learn Hungarian

Given Viktor Orbán’s close friendship with Putin, one might assume that Hungary is full of Russian sympathisers, or perhaps that everyone there speaks Russian and Russia is on the verge of sending its rusty tanks to Budapest to "protect" Russian-speaking Hungarians, as it "protected" Russian-speaking Ukrainians in Donbas by literally flattening their towns and villages. In reality, however, what Russia sends to Hungary is something else entirely – cheap gas. This is why Orbán is so fond of Putin. The average Hungarian, however, is far from thrilled about this energy dependence, as they understand they are following the same tragic path as the Ukrainians. First, they rejoice over the low price of gas from their "brotherly" Russian neighbours, only to later regret it when it becomes clear that these imperial "gifts" are merely a way to lull them into complacency before eventually invading and occupying them. Russia wants all of Eastern Europe to speak Russian, so the more people who know Hungarian, for instance, the better. And to learn it, HungarianPod101 is here to help.

Acum înțeleg!

Romanian-born Camelia moved to Norway long ago, where she spent many years teaching Norwegian and yoga – an unusual combination, perhaps, but why not? Over time, she experienced the familiar nostalgia most immigrants feel for their homeland and native language. Eventually, she decided to create a channel to teach Romanian, covering grammar, phonetics, and all aspects of conversational Romanian. For example, did you know that Romania’s communist and dictatorial past left a trace on the language? Even today, Romanians sometimes use communist-era terms like "comrade" or "militia," but typically in special contexts and often with sarcasm. Camelia explores this topic in detail in a dedicated video.

Learn Slovak with Stories

There are countless ways to learn a new language. For instance, the worst way might be to learn Russian under the barrel of a gun wielded by a Buryat. The best way, however, is to study a foreign language through engaging stories, as people are naturally wired to remember fascinating tales the first time and for life. So when this Slovak girl decided to popularise her native language, she chose to do so through various fables, folk tales, and legends. However, if you are someone, shall we say, more gastronomically inclined and better remember new information through your stomach and taste buds, this channel also includes a playlist for learning Slovak through culinary recipes.

Olha Kulikova – Ukrainian Ambassador

To master a foreign language quickly, you need to immerse yourself in the environment of its native speakers. In the case of Ukrainian, that’s quite challenging at the moment, as the skies over Ukraine are daily filled with Iranian Shaheds or Russian Iskanders. For safety’s sake, a good alternative might be reading classic Ukrainian literature – if you’re already an advanced student. For beginners, however, Olha Kulikova offers concise summaries of works by notable Ukrainian authors, from Ivan Kotliarevsky’s Eneida to Mykola Khvylovy’s I am (Romance), on her YouTube channel. 

Let's Polish

Less experienced learners often start with grammar and phonetics, while the seasoned traveller knows there are four essentials when visiting a new country: how to say hello, goodbye, thank you, and most importantly – how to curse! After all, colourful language is part of a living language, often omitted in formal academic settings, but readily accessible on YouTube. For instance, if you’re heading to Poland and want to pick up some robust expressions, the channel Let's Polish has a collection ready just for you.

Idea Oleksandrivna

Most Polish swear words will come in handy in Ukraine, too, although Ukraine’s slang lexicon is even larger – a booklet in itself. But if you’re serious about understanding Ukrainian, it’s best to delve into its dialects. While the Poltava dialect (the literary standard) dominates, numerous other dialects exist across Ukraine, differing so much that a Ukrainian from Dnipro might hardly understand someone from Kalush. On her channel, linguist Idea Oleksandrivna discusses these dialectical nuances. For beginners, she recommends starting with an overview of the dialects.