Russian Certification Testing (TORFL)

We cater for students who need to gain a TORFL certificate, but have some specific requirements, such as:

• you need extra help to gain confidence and prepare for the test
• you have studied Russian some time ago, but have forgotten and need help refreshing your knowledge
• you would like to focus on some specific areas of weakness
• you need help understanding the structure of the test and the exam procedure
• you would like to take a sample test and do some practice tasks.

Students who take our course have an increased chance of passing the test and of getting a high score.

The first step is always to take our online test to determine the level of language proficiency. After this, you will be allocated to a teacher, who will explain the structure of the test, the types of tasks you will need to undertake and the test procedure.

Your teacher will assess your strengths and weaknesses, so that you can agree where to focus the classes. You will be given an individual preparation programme, covering vocabulary and grammar, reading, writing, listening and speaking.

In the classroom, we use:

• samples of certification tests and practice tests for your level;
• textbooks and materials prepared by our own teachers;
• tables, diagrams and illustrations.

We also use resources from many external platforms, such as Quizlet, Youtube and much more.

Lessons can be very varied. We usually spend some time working on vocabulary and grammar, as well as reading and working with texts. You will also write essays, letters and other types of written work (depending on the test). Audio and video are used extensively, to develop listening skills. We focus on speaking skills through communications with the teacher, participating in role-playing games and modelling communication situations. All of these elementsare prerequisites for successfully passing the test.

We cannot give a simple answer, because it depends on various factors, such as how well you know the language at the level that you decided to take; how much time you can devote to independent work; whether do all the homework that the teacher will suggest. However, based on many years of experience in preparing students, we recommend a minimum of 10 academic hours. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the test, take a practice test, analyze mistakes with the teacher, and understand your main problems and difficulties. You may need to take additional lessons, for example, if you are weak on vocabulary and grammar, need to improve listening, speaking, or practise writing assignments.

All our teachers have higher education in linguistics. They are all professionals in teaching Russian to foreign citizens and have at least five years of experience in speciality area. We make sure that the teachers know the programmes and keep up with changing requirements. As part of their training at NovaMova, all of our teachers attend lectures by leading specialists of the A.S. Pushkin State Institute of the Russian Language, covering teaching and assessment methods. Teachers participate in conferences and seminars in the field of teaching foreign languages, including EAQUALS webinars.

Yes, our teacher will give you a sample test in class, suggest practice tests, along with the necessary preparation materials.

Each part of the test is assessed on a 100-point system, which includes lexical and grammatical knowledge, as well as skills and abilities in reading, speaking, writing and listening.

You can take the test at any RFL testing centre, which are located in many different countries. Preparation for the test with NovaMova teachers can be undertaken online or at our school in Kyiv, Ukraine.