🧭 Why I decided to build the app alongside my own Russian journey

August 2026

One of the questions I get asked is, "Why did you decide to build your own Russian learning app?"

The answer is simple: because I built the app I wish I had when I started.

It Started with Spanish

My language-learning journey didn't actually begin with Russian—it began with Spanish.

After more than three years of using Duolingo and several years studying Spanish in school, I still didn't feel confident speaking with people in real-life social situations. I could understand a surprising amount of what I heard or read, but when it came time to actually speak, my brain seemed to freeze.

That experience taught me something important:

Understanding a language and confidently speaking it are two very different skills.

Why Russian?

About two years ago, I decided it was finally time to learn Russian.

I've always loved how Russian sounds. Even when I was younger—long before YouTube, smartphones, and AI tutors—I wanted to learn it. Unfortunately, the resources back then were limited, especially if you wanted to hear native pronunciation. Since my schools offered Spanish, that's the path I followed.

Years later, I finally had the opportunity to pursue Russian seriously.

I Didn't Want to Learn the Traditional Way

As I researched different apps and learning methods, I realized something that surprised me.

Most platforms wanted me to learn their way.

They emphasized reading, spelling, grammar rules, sentence structure, and memorization.

Those things absolutely matter—but they weren't why I wanted to learn a language.

My goal wasn't to pass a grammar test.

My goal was to have conversations.

I wanted to understand people when they spoke to me.

I wanted to respond naturally.

I wanted to feel comfortable ordering food, asking questions, making friends, and having everyday conversations.

Everything else could come later.

Discovering Pimsleur

Eventually I stopped using Duolingo and tried several paid programs before discovering Pimsleur.

I absolutely love Pimsleur.

If your primary goal is to develop listening and speaking skills first, I honestly think it's one of the best places to start. It helped me build confidence actually saying Russian out loud instead of simply recognizing words on a screen.

I'll write a separate post in the future explaining why I'm such a fan of Pimsleur, because it deserves one.

The Reality Check

After finishing the Pimsleur courses, I thought I was ready for real conversations.

That's when I discovered Praktika, an AI-powered conversation app.

My first conversation was...humbling.

Everything I had practiced.

Everything I had repeated around the house.

Everything I had confidently said to myself...

...completely disappeared the moment the AI asked me a simple question.

I froze.

It wasn't because I hadn't learned anything.

It was because I simply didn't know enough everyday vocabulary to respond naturally.

Pimsleur had done a fantastic job teaching me conversations through carefully designed lessons, but I realized I needed a much larger vocabulary of common words and phrases that people use every day.

The Problem I Couldn't Find a Solution For

So I started doing what many language learners do.

I'd open Google Translate.

Look up a word.

Write it in a notebook.

Practice saying it.

Then the next day I'd look back at my notes and realize...

"I don't remember how to pronounce this."

That happened over and over again.

Russian pronunciation isn't always obvious from the spelling. Knowing where the stress falls in a word—or understanding when an "о" is pronounced more like "а"—can completely change how natural you sound and whether native speakers understand you.

Reading a word wasn't enough.

I needed to hear it.

Repeatedly.

Whenever I wanted.

That's When GovoriNow Was Born

Eventually I realized I kept wishing for an app that didn't exist.

I wanted to:

• Focus on specific letters that gave me trouble.

• Study vocabulary by topic.

• Practice common everyday phrases.

• Hear every word pronounced correctly.

• Repeat difficult words as many times as I needed.

• Build speaking confidence through vocabulary, not just lessons.

So instead of continuing to search for it...

I decided to build it.

GovoriNow was created from my own frustrations as a language learner.

It's the app I personally wanted while learning Russian, and it's the app I continue to use every day alongside my own studies.

I'm still learning.

I'm still making mistakes.

I'm still expanding my vocabulary.

In many ways, I'm building GovoriNow right alongside my own Russian journey.

I Hope It Helps You Too

If your goal is simply to know about Russian, there are already many excellent resources available.

But if your goal is to become more comfortable speaking, to build your vocabulary, and to hear words pronounced correctly while practicing them out loud, then I hope you'll give GovoriNow—a name that means "Speak Now"—a chance.

I'm not building this because I'm already fluent.

I'm building it because I'm walking the same path as you.

And hopefully, we can make that journey a little easier together.