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Welcome at my site! Here I publish resources on mastering TORFL / ТРКИ exams (of all levels) for my students or for anyone else who wants to learn Russian!
My name is Natalie. I received my degree in Russian Philology from Kharkiv National University, and I am Ukrainian. All my life I have been teaching Russian language and literature to children, adults and foreigners. Since 2019 I am teaching Russian over video chat, like Skype, Zoom, and even face-to-face – if you are brave enough to come to Kiev.
I help my students hone their Russian Language skills to achive higher scores on the Russian lanquage Placement Test and TORFL (also known as ТРКИ).
I specialize for prepping students for TORFL-I/B1, TORFL-II/B2, TORFL-III /C1 and C2 certifications.
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Newsletter
Every week I send out a newsletter for my students, helping you prepare to TORFL exam and to learn something insightful about multifaceted, multilayered Russian language and sometimes contradictory culture.
What you can expect:
Language Tests
MEME Analysis 🙂
TORFL Pro Tips
Articles on Russian Grammar
and other resources that caught my attention
My name is Natalie and I am a Russian teacher for foreign speakers who want to pass TORFL (aka ТРКИ) – beginners and more advanced alike!
I am a professionally qualified native russian speaker from Kiev, Ukraine with a Master Degree in Russian Language and Literature. I have been teaching Russian for over 20 years, in Ukraine, Israel and US.
For the past few years – and especially after COVID struck us all in 2020 – I have been teaching one-to-one via Skype, iMessage, WhatsApp and Zoom which I found to be extremely convenient, time and energy saving way to learn. I specialize on Medium and Advanced levels and of course TORFL / ТРКИ Level certifications but some of my students haven’t spoken a word of Russian before they started with my lessons! I think fun and communication are important elements of language learning and my students never finish a lesson without learning something practically useful and fun!
I do most of my teaching over video chat but some of my students even come to Kiev for extensive preparation and TORFL / ТРКИ exam cramming! I assist with accommodation to make the stay smooth and focused. WhatsApp me if you are looking for this. [Update from Feb 24th 2022: this offer still stays, but only for the bravest of heart… ]
ТРКИ / TORFL-II (B2) Test
If you wish to check your russian test for the TORFL-II B2 level, I have put a sample test for you. Enjoy! And let me know your results ?
My students
I have worked with students from (so far) USA, Germany, Azerbaidjan, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, Denmark, Mexico, Argentina, Japan, Italy, France and Netherlands
Sometimes it was not easy to adjust to some cultures and personality types, but I am proud I found a successful solution that made it possible to teach Russian successfully!
business people
A few of my students are starting businesses in Kiev, they did speak some Russian before but it was essential for them to master everyday speaking in order to be fluent with customers and local authorities;
One guy from USA specializing in logistics was determined to back up his business activities with Russian as a necessity for dealing in “post-Soviet” countries.
These students often require “intensive” program, up to 4-6 hours a day on 2 to 3 weeks basis which allows to “immerse” into language and make the learning process very fast!
language tourists
Language tourists are coming to Ukraine to make first acquaintance with Russian as another addition to their basic profession or skill; they frequently start their language program from “zero” level, combining the tuition course with traveling Ukraine or remote work.
Even 1-week course may be sufficient for these
students, but 2 to 3 weeks are more usual!
[Update Feb 24th 2022: approach me if you are in Kiev and need any assistance with Russian]
members of diplomatic corps
I taught an advanced Russian course for an International Red Cross officer from Switzerland whose language target was to refine his reception and speaking abilities when dealing with locals in Eastern parts of Ukraine affected by war conflict.
Very often such clients of mine require specialized approach as they target a specific area of language.
foreign journalists
A Danish journalist was covering Ukraine for Danish media was interested on interviewing Ukrainians and embracing deeply Ukrainian scene. These cases required elaborated work on exposing and filling language deficiencies, acquirement of specific colloquial and locally conditioned language patterns.
Usually in such cases I work out a tailored approach with the student.
This is how I usually teach
I start first with establishing an understanding what my student needs! For some it is speaking russian fluently, for some it is writing (and for none the grammar!). Based on this we develop together the strategy and the study plan. Usually I recommend very tight, focused and intensive plan that involves at least 1 to 1.5 hours of continuous study over one to three weeks daily. This has proven to bring the best results! But your mileage may vary, and some prefer to stretch it over a larger period.
tailored
We develop the study plan together based on student’s study goals. It helps if you already have a date for your TORFL test 😉
immersive
I don’t speak english during the excercise. We immerse into russian language and culture.
efficient
Work hard, play hard is my motto, so don’t expect it to be easy. We are here for results.
based on experience
Based on my 20-year teaching experience, I know what works and what doesn’t.
Teaching Russian over Zoom and Skype
Until Feb 2020 about half of my students preferred Skype, Zoom, Google Meet or similar over face-to-face meetings. Now it is almost 100% :DI have setup a small studio with professional video and sound equipment to make sure the voice quality is good and my students can hear me perfectly well.
Instead of a venerable white-board I use a tool called ConceptBoard – to draw and scribble together and may be even work on your hand-writing style!
Please reach out to natalibat over Skype for a test session – we need to check Internet connectivity / equipment to make sure it works for both of us.
equipment
I suggest you use a semi-professional headset, such as Sennheiser PC 8 or similar for best results. Appe iPhone or iPad with stock headphones worked fine in my experience as well.
Fast Internet connectivity is mandatory as it can influence the learning a lot.
grammar and exercise
I share electronic copies of learning materials with you for homework and exercises. Grammar is KEY for successful TORFL / ТРКИ of all levels!
Sometimes I work with cards and a whiteboard for grammar-heavy parts.
suggested schedule
Most of my students end up with a schedule of 2 to 3 learning sessions per week, 60 minutes per session.
cramming – “intensive”
For those of you preparing for exams I offer 4-hour sessions daily, however you have to bring some determination for this to be successful! Mostly my students want to cram if they are prepping for ТРКИ.
Opposition in Russian Literature
You always wanted to read Gogol in original? You have come to the right place!
Russian literature – classic and modern times (Soviet period included) – is my special personal area of interest! Some of my students read and discuss Gogol, Dostoyevsky and Leo Tolstoy with me.
I also help with:
essays on Russian literature, history & culture required for MA/PhD degrees
text analysis of Russian literature works
cultural, historical and language peculiarities that might be ambiguous for foreign readers
multi-layers language and facts usage (Aesopian language) under Russian and Soviet political censorship regimes
understanding of Russian and Soviet humour and metaphoric narrative
6
R
Russian Literature and Culture – Really?
Pricing and Payments
Most of my remote students use PayPal payment system, which has proven to be quite convenient.. I accept VISA and MasterCard credit card payments as well.
Cost of my lessons as of August 2022: – Individual sessions 30€ / 30$ per 60-minute lesson – For more than 5 lessons learning plan I offer a 20 % discount as it reduces my overhead.
And of course our initial session and the study goals discussion is completely free! No strings attached.
Update Feb 24th 2022:
I offer special conditions for diplomatic, first-aid, humanitarian and military learners fighting Russian aggression. I will get you up-to-speed in no time.
This is what my students say about me
They have kindly allowed me to publish their feedback on my site
I did 3 week intensive course with Natalie, 3 hours russian daily. It was hard but I passed ТРКИ after that!
Beat
United Nations, Switzerland
Спасибо Наталье, за 3 недели я научился бегло читать по-русски
John
United Parcel Service of America, Inc., USA
Я пишу про события в Украине для датской прессы, Наталья помогла мне понимать лучше и разговаривать по-русски
Christian
Associated Press, Denmark
Get in touch
I am delighted to have a chat with you about your journey to become a Russian speaker! Please drop me an email at natalie.batsiy@gmail.com, chat over Skype (natalibat), or WhatsApp (the green button in the bottom right corner)
– or use the form below