Thread: TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language)

Has anybody taken anything like this? (below)
I strongly suspect this is a fairly new test and I wonder, has anybody actually heard of it? It sounds like it's officially supported though, Ministry of Education etc...

Just interested to find out what standard tests are out there for Russian and what your thoughts on it are. I'd really love to see a sample test paper for the first level...!

What is TORFL (ТРКИ)

TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language)

In this section you will find information about TROFL and can try sample tests. National Certificate of International Standard (TORFL) may be needed:
for studying in Russian Universities
to work in companies, cooperating with Russian speaking firms
for working with Russian speaking clients and tourists
for working in Russia speaking countries
to teach Russian language.
The TORFL is a 5-level test based on Standards of the Russian Educational System and Requirements for foreign learners approved by Russian Ministry of Education. The TORFL levels are the following: Basic level

* TORFL-1 – 1st Certificate level, required when entering all higher educational institutions
* TORFL-2 – 2nd Certificate level
* TORFL-3 – 3rd Certificate level
* TORFL-4 – 4th Certificate level

Each level is a combination of tests on all types of language activities (grammar, speaking skills, written skills, reading, listening) intended to estimate proficiency in the Russian language. If you pass ТРКИ-1 then you can be admitted to a Russian university with a requirement to sign up for more advanced Russian language classes. If you pass ТРКИ-2 then you can be admitted to a Russian university without additional requirements, unless you are studying for a translator, editor, reporter, etc. working among Russians. ТРКИ-3 allows you to work/study in any field. ТРКИ-4 represents the same fluency as native Russian speakers have. Stages of TORFL testing:
The aim of testing - to determine Russian language proficiency according to "National Educational Standards of Russian as a Foreign language".
TORFL test includes 5 subtests

* Subtest 1. Vocabulary. Grammar. In process of testing is checked the ability: to use the cases, declensional endings, verbal forms in the defined context, including infinitival constructions All the tasks are worked out on the base of vocabulary minimum according to coressponding level.
* Subtest 2. Reading. From the candidate the following skills are required: the ability to understand the described situation. The volume of the text - from 500 words. Tasks with multiple selection are used. Texts (literary text, newspaper), based on familiar vocabulary and grammar material.
* Subtest 3. Auding. From the candidate the following skills are required: the ability to understand the theme and to perceive the information orally.
* Subtest 4. Writing.
* Subtest 5. Speaking. The aim of the test - to define the level of speech skills.

Levels of testing
Elementary:
The successful completion of the Elementary level test confirms that candidate possess the minimal level of commucative skills, allowing to satisfy the minimal requirements in everyday communication.
Test of Russian as a foreign language. Basic level (TORFL-0):
The successful completion of the Basic level test confirms that candidate possess the beginning level of commucative skills, allowing to satisfy the minimal requirements in social and cultural communication. Test of Russian as a foreign language. Level 1 (TORFL-1). First Certificate Level.
The successful completion of this level confirms that candidate possess the basic level of commucative skills, allowing to satisfy the requirements in social, cultural communication, educational, professional spheres. The First Certificate is an official document, which allows foreign citizens to enter the Russian University. Test of Russian as a foreign language. Level 2 (TORFL-2).
The successful completion of TORFL-2 confirms that candidate possess rather high level in the all areas of communication, and allows to conduct a professional activity in Russian as an expert in the areas of humanities (excepting philology), engineering and science. This Certificate is needed for obtaining a bachelor`s and master`s degree (excepting degree in philology). to do sample tests and check your level please click Basic test

well timed! just yesterday i made a post about on my blog ( http://england-mosocw.blogspot.com/2009 ... -test.html )
i managed to get links to all the papers bar the first one!

the test has been around for a while now. i passed the second and third levels, might go for the fourth early next year

Wow, respect!
I'm going to sign up for the RSS feed of your blog - you've got lots of useful info there.

Well, you live there, and you are a foreigner.. I guess that settles it -- this is a worthwhile exam.

So what was your exact motivation for taking it? You are working as an ESL teacher, right?
In what way will it help you to have this exam?

Update: I read Lt Colombo's blog post - very interesting and informative. But the above questions remain. Here is the certificate that he got:

i dont need it, i just wanted to do it for myself and because it might come in handy one day when im back in England. All foreign students here have to take it if they want to study here but they dont normally do more than the 1st level.
it's very annoying that i cant find a pdf for it but ill keep searching.
i translate and teach here but nobody has ever asked me about Russian qualification, still i find at least having these test gives me a goal to shoot for
anyone who is interested can just save the pdf files and print the practise papers, it should give you a good idea of what to expect from the trki test

Ah I was looking for a test like this. Good to know that it actually exists Now I just need to find a place where I can get it.

EDIT: The first 3 levels seem fairly easy to me. That kinda surprises me. Coz my Russian isn't that good yet. That makes me even more confused. I have no clue what level I could say my Russian is at the moment.

Generally the listening, spoken and writing are the hardest parts, for me at least

Originally Posted by Lt. Columbo

Generally the listening, spoken and writing are the hardest parts, for me at least

Do you have to write in script?

Um, you just need to write legibly, i dont think they would penalise you if it was, say, not joined up. It's hard because you dont have a lot of time, you need to include a lot of points in your answer and try not to make anything other than style mistakes. Although the written for 2 was quite easy and i hear ! is ok too

There is also a TORFL exam in the US. I found the description once but have never taken it.

Originally Posted by chaika

There is also a TORFL exam in the US. I found the description once but have never taken it.

Where is it offered?

Originally Posted by sperk

Originally Posted by chaika

There is also a TORFL exam in the US. I found the description once but have never taken it.

Where is it offered?

I emailed a school in St. Petersburg that gives the test with that question and they answered:

Thank you for your letter and the interest in TRKI/ TORFL exam. In the USA you can have TORFL exams in Duke University.

I suspect my Russian is not yet good enough to take the test.

Scott

Originally Posted by fortheether

Originally Posted by sperk

Originally Posted by chaika

There is also a TORFL exam in the US. I found the description once but have never taken it.

Where is it offered?

I emailed a school in St. Petersburg that gives the test with that question and they answered:

Thank you for your letter and the interest in TRKI/ TORFL exam. In the USA you can have TORFL exams in Duke University.

I suspect my Russian is not yet good enough to take the test.

Scott

Спасибо!

Where is it offered?

I emailed a school in St. Petersburg that gives the test with that question and they answered:

Thank you for your letter and the interest in TRKI/ TORFL exam. In the USA you can have TORFL exams in Duke University.

I suspect my Russian is not yet good enough to take the test.

Scott

Спасибо!

No sweat.

Scott, they have lots of levels.
I am aiming for the basic level for the time being.
For Europeans reading this, it seems to be available in all European countries, the problem is getting good enough to pass the test, not finding somewhere to take it.
I've decided to use it as a milestone though. Still haven't got over practically being thrown out of the Russian class at school for being a hopeless case. Passing this exam will be my comeback.. That event was one of the alltime lows in my academic history.

Originally Posted by Johanna

Scott, they have lots of levels.
I am aiming for the basic level for the time being.
For Europeans reading this, it seems to be available in all European countries, the problem is getting good enough to pass the test, not finding somewhere to take it.
I've decided to use it as a milestone though. Still haven't got over practically being thrown out of the Russian class at school for being a hopeless case. Passing this exam will be my comeback.. That event was one of the alltime lows in my academic history.

I am also aiming for the basic level. What study materials are you using? The only thing I found for self study is:

http://www.amazon.com/Rossiiskaia-gosud ... 338&sr=8-1

Is that the official study book for the tests? The book is only 56 pages long.

Scott - I don't NEED this certificate right now, and I don't urgently need to be able to speak Russian for work. But I *want* it.

It's more a case that I have identified that a) Russian would be useful in my line of work, and b) I am quite fascinated by the country and its' culture.
Plus some other reasons.

But I'm not going to stress myself out overly about it.
I'll take the test when I'm ready. Next spring or summer, I think. I

As for material, I am using / planning to use:

1) Pimsleur (I know that Olya and others think it's rather bad, but nevertheless it's 35 full hours of recorded material - can be used anywhere.)

2) Assimil - a French programme which is VERY extensive (audio). It's supposedly a lot better than Pimsleur, but a slight problem – my French is very weak... I will use it because it's considered to be the best audio course there is in the Russian language.

3) The Swedish secondary school standard course in Russian. It comes in a format that is very familiar to me from other langauges I studied. For that reason it's helpful. It has a text book, excercise book and recordings.

4) Anki Flashcard application (massive collection of cards - that thing is ADDICTIVE.... !) google it.

5) A Russian-Swedish grammar book and its' exercise book.

The difficulty I am facing is that Russian is a lot harder and more time consuming than I had thought - stuying Russian can't be compared with studying any Western European language.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What material are you using and what is your approach?

Originally Posted by Johanna

Scott - I don't NEED this certificate right now, and I don't urgently need to be able to speak Russian for work. But I *want* it.

It's more a case that I have identified that a) Russian would be useful in my line of work, and b) I am quite fascinated by the country and its' culture.
Plus some other reasons.

But I'm not going to stress myself out overly about it.
I'll take the test when I'm ready. Next spring or summer, I think. I

As for material, I am using / planning to use:

1) Pimsleur (I know that Olya and others think it's rather bad, but nevertheless it's 35 full hours of recorded material - can be used anywhere.)

2) Assimil - a French programme which is VERY extensive (audio). It's supposedly a lot better than Pimsleur, but a slight problem – my French is very weak... I will use it because it's considered to be the best audio course there is in the Russian language.

3) The Swedish secondary school standard course in Russian. It comes in a format that is very familiar to me from other langauges I studied. For that reason it's helpful. It has a text book, excercise book and recordings.

4) Anki Flashcard application (massive collection of cards - that thing is ADDICTIVE.... !) google it.

5) A Russian-Swedish grammar book and its' exercise book.

The difficulty I am facing is that Russian is a lot harder and more time consuming than I had thought - stuying Russian can't be compared with studying any Western European language.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What material are you using and what is your approach?

Johanna,
I do not need this cert for anything. This is a hobby for me. My Grandmother was from Belarus and my Grandfather from Ukraine. For the TORFL test I need to know what to study. I use Skype with multiple people to practice. I do pay for lessons. Also, lots of folks want to learn English. I get Russian channels from Directv. I guess my approach is to do whatever I can do to study with a full time job (very far commute) and a family. Thank you I'll look into Anki. I've used Interlex (http://www.vocab.co.uk/) to help me.

Scott

Originally Posted by Johanna

As for material, I am using / planning to use:

1) Pimsleur (I know that Olya and others think it's rather bad, but nevertheless it's 35 full hours of recorded material - can be used anywhere.)
approach? [/i][/b]

There is nothing wrong with Pimsleur. In fact using Pimsleur will give you a large headstart on any formal lessons undertaken, particularly useful for your pronunciation. Everyone needs to hear the spoken target language while learning. Do not be put off by the nay sayers.

Originally Posted by DDT

There is nothing wrong with Pimsleur.

The wrong thing about Pimsleur is that it uses extremely unnatural sentences and typically English word order.

Originally Posted by Оля

Originally Posted by DDT

There is nothing wrong with Pimsleur.

The wrong thing about Pimsleur is that it uses extremely unnatural sentences and typically English word order.

Well, that may be true, but it is the best and most thorough CD course available, as far as I know, and i have looked all over the place. All CD courses have something wrong with them. The point is that Russian speakers will understand anyway, even if it does sound awkward. The main thing is, is to get people started speaking the new language. They will sound awkward anyway!.... and they will soon figure out better ways to say things.

The worst thing about Pimsleur is the price. I would never pay that much. That's why i use "share-ware" for everything.