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Russian speaking·C1 to C2

Speaking Russian at C1 and C2

Holding your own in a debate, steering a discussion, giving a presentation, and sounding natural while you think. These are the phrases that let you manage a conversation in Russian, not just take part in it.

12 discussion moves·8 discourse markers·3 timed tasks
Я не совсе́м согла́сен…I don’t quite agree…А почему́ вы так счита́ете?And why do you think so?
Polite disagreement softens with не совсе́м, “not quite”, and answers with a question rather than a flat “no”.
The short answer

Advanced speaking is about managing the conversation: stating a view (я счита́ю, что…), agreeing and disagreeing politely (я не совсе́м согла́сен), taking a turn (мо́жно я доба́влю?) and gaining thinking time (как бы э́то сказа́ть…). Small discourse markers like ну, вот and кста́ти make speech sound native. In a presentation, signpost every step: снача́ла, зате́м, подведём ито́ги.

Discussion moves

Twelve phrases for the six things you do most in a discussion. Russian disagreement tends to be more direct than English, so softeners like не совсе́м and мне ка́жется matter. A woman says согла́сна, a man согла́сен. Tap any phrase to hear it. The same techniques work in English; see our guide to public speaking.

Discourse markers: sounding native

Discourse markers are small words that carry no content but steer the conversation: they hold your turn while you think, change the subject, or sum up. Natives use them constantly; learners who use them sound fluent. The register tag tells you where each belongs. See also particles.

Ну, я, кста́ти, вчера́ был в э́том музе́е. Вот. wellIby the wayyesterday was in that museumso, there nu, ya, kSTA-ti, fchi-RA byl v E-tam mu-ZYE-ye. vot ну opens and buys a second · кстати flags a side point · вот closes the thought Without the red words: “I was in that museum yesterday.” Same content, but it sounds read aloud.
Discourse markers carry no content, only stance and rhythm. Two or three per minute sound natural; one in every sentence sounds nervous.

Giving a presentation

A Russian presentation (выступле́ние, докла́д) is more formal than an English one and signposts its structure out loud. These five steps and their phrases work for a seminar, a conference or a work meeting.

Three timed speaking tasks

Exam-style prompts. Take 30 seconds to plan, then start the timer and speak aloud for the full time without stopping. Record yourself if you can. Afterwards, open the model outline and compare.

2:00
Monologue · 2 minutes Talk about a book or film that changed your mind about something.
Debate · 3 minutes Agree or disagree: “Artificial intelligence will make many professions unnecessary.”
Presentation · 3 minutes Present your town or region to foreign tourists.

Related guides

Speaking practice Everyday speaking tasks from A1 to B2. Intonation How tone turns statements into questions and shows emotion. Particles же, ведь, -то and the small words of tone. Ideas and argument The vocabulary behind a strong argument. Advanced writing The written versions of these structures. Russian slang Where коро́че and other casual markers live.