Here's what Russians think. ... According to a Levada center poll from 2014, only 11 percent of Russians speak English. Even with such a small number, it's still the most popular foreign language in the country – many Russians study it at school and in universities. However, not many use it often.

Is English widely spoken in Russia?

A third of Russians speak English. About a third of Russians (30 percent) speak English to one degree or another: 20 percent can read and translate using a dictionary, 7 percent are familiar with colloquial language, and 3 percent are fluent speakers, according to Romir research holding.

Is English taught in Russia?

Although many Russian universities offer preparatory language courses to help students gain the necessarily skills to study in Russian, there are a range of English-taught programs available if you'd prefer English as the language of instruction. The majority of courses taught entirely in English are at master's level.