Thread: TORFL for native Russian speaker? Sounds silly but please read and i'll explain

Hi, I am new on the forum and have a question regarding the TORFL exams. When I was 8 I moved from Russia to Australia . I doubt anyone would be surprised when I say that my Russian is very rusty and if I ever want to study in Russia (which I do) it needs to be at a much higher level. At this stage, I would describe my Russian as being alright for a foreigner but very poor for a native. I understand everything but get tired really quickly when reading or talking...won't even mention punctuation and grammar

My main question is: Is it possible to take the TORFL exams and then undertake study as an international student despite being a native speaker? I know TORFL is Test of Russian as a FOREIGN Language and I do not deny that my background would be an advantage, I am just curious if TORFL is an option. If I start on level 1 it would help me build up my fluency and improve my skills as in my current situation, there is no way I could ever pass the university entry Russian test that the native speakers are required to take.

Hi Lina,

This isn't a direct answer to your question.

Here in the US in my county we have classes high school for credit called Spanish for Spanish Speakers and it is sort of for people like you. It is for children of native Spanish speakers who grew up in a Spanish speaking household yet maybe have not learned to read or write in Spanish: they only know how to speak Spanish and don't know it very well or the proper rules of Spanish. They have all the proper connections in their brain for the skills and pronunciation that US kids don't have and they have vocabulary there that starts to come out once they get going so they shouldn't be in regular Spanish classes, otherwise they just get bored.

Maybe you can find a class like that?

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Hi Lina,

This isn't a direct answer to your question.

Here in the US in my county we have classes high school for credit called Spanish for Spanish Speakers and it is sort of for people like you. It is for children of native Spanish speakers who grew up in a Spanish speaking household yet maybe have not learned to read or write in Spanish: they only know how to speak Spanish and don't know it very well or the proper rules of Spanish. They have all the proper connections in their brain for the skills and pronunciation that US kids don't have and they have vocabulary there that starts to come out once they get going so they shouldn't be in regular Spanish classes, otherwise they just get bored.

Maybe you can find a class like that?

Hi, thanks for the reply

There are late night college classes at my school, however these are for adults and I do no think they offer Russian. I am leaving school at the end of next year. In a way, I regret not choosing to doing Russian background speakers through Open High School which is a distance education program. However, it is too late now and I do not want to go to Russia straight after finishing school, but maybe later. So there is time, I am just looking into it now because I want to improve my Russian skills in general as well. The universities I am having a look at say something like this: Поступающий должен владеть русским языком на среднем уровне или выше. Все поступающие должны сдать экзамен по русскому языку -> An incoming student must speak Russian at an average level or higher. All incoming students must pass a Russian language exam. I do not know maybe it is still to early to worry about it but I am just curious as to what my options are...