Thread: Have you taken a course in Russian and what was your experience?

How do you estimate those levels?

Marcus, pasting from Wikipedia below.
Basically it's something that's needed in the EU, but elsewhere too. When people say "I understand this language" or "I speak this language" we have to know what they mean. Can they only order a cup of coffee and ask for their shoe size in a shop? Or can they actually write a business letter carry out academic studies in that language..?
Different countries and cultures have had a different take on what it means to "speak" a language.
A common standard is needed for academic studies or for professional work.

The Russian "TORFL" test uses something similar but with fewer grades.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, abbreviated as CEFR, is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe.

level	description
A1	Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. ---
A2	Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. ---
B1	Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. ---
B2	Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. ---
C1	Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. ---
C2	Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.

And I admit that I am a "borderline" B1, somewhere just above A2 but perhaps not quite B1.
But it would be more fun and challenging to do that level anyway, so I'll try that and see how it goes.
I understand Russian a lot better than I can speak it.

Originally Posted by Hanna

I understand Russian a lot better than I can speak it.

I think this goes for any language
I know a guy who writes in English the way that native speakers couldn't tell him apart but sometimes he can't answer simple question

From my personal experience (and from what I heard from other people) it is one of the stages of learning foreign language by adult. You learn to the point you can understand but can't talk and then you keep on this plateau and then you need a little push and you start talking.
Some people can't start talking for years because they need harder push (change of the environment)