In this post I put a sample test to measure your proficiency in Russian toward TORFL-II / B2 criteria. It consists of 64 questions, to be passed in 1 hour. Good luck!

This is a sample test for the First Certification Level (TORFL-I / B1). Good luck!

In this post I describe different kinds of TORFL tests and also provide a sample test for the A1 level (TEL). Good luck!

Please, put your answers in the comments. Anyone who has done the test will get my assessment rate and correct answers. (Example: 1A, 2B, 3Б, 4Г)

Элементарный уровень А-1

Базовый уровень А-2

Продвинутый уровень В-1

Please, put your answers in the comments. Anyone who has done the test will get my assessment rate and correct answers. (Example: 1A, 2B, 3Б, 4Г)

Всегда приятно блеснуть знаниями идиоматических выражений перед собеседником, русские это особенно ценят. (Кстати, Рональд Рейган этим активно пользовался!)

30 РУССКИХ ПОГОВОРОК И ПОСЛОВИЦ

1 Лучше поздно, чем никогда! – Better late than never!
2 В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше! – East or West home is best! / There is no place like home
3 С глаз долой, из сердца вон! – Out of sight out of mind!
4 Новая метла метёт по-новому – New lords new laws
5 (Тебе это) идёт, как корове седло – It’s like putting a saddle on a cow
6 Слишком хорошо, чтобы быть правдой! – Too good to be true !
7 Не попробовав горького, не узнаешь и сладкого! – No sweet without sweat
8 Сэкономил – значит, заработал! – A penny saved is a penny gained
9 Не бывает розы без шипов – There is no rose without а thorn
10 На всякого мудреца довольно простоты! – Every man has a fool in his sleeve

11 Нет дыма без огня – There is no smoke without fire
12 У природы нет плохой погоды! – Lovely weather for ducks!
13 И на солнце есть пятна! – There are spots even on the sun
14 От судьбы не уйдёшь ! – There is no flying from fate
15 Пока живу – надеюсь! – While there is life, there is hope
16 Отсутствие новостей – хорошая новость – No news is a good news
17 На вкус и цвет товарищей нет! – Tastes differ!
18 Что русскому хорошо, то немцу – смерть! – One man’s meat is another man’s poison
19 Кто рано встаёт, тому Бог даёт! – The early bird catches the worm!

20 Дело мастера боится! – Practice makes perfect!
21 Сыпать соль на рану – Twist the knife in the wound
22 По пальцам можно пересчитать – You can count it on your fingers
23 Нельзя служить двум господам сразу – No man can serve two masters
24 Не откладывай на завтра то, что можно сделать сегодня! – Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today
25 Выше головы не прыгнешь! – A man can do no more than he can
26 Деньги на улице не валяются! – Money doesn’t grow on trees
27 Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается! – All is well that ends well
28 Куй железо, пока горячо! – Make hay while the sun shines
29 Нет дыма без огня! – Nothing is stolen without hands!
30 Было бы желание, а возможность всегда найдётся! – Nothing is impossible to a willing heart!

Было бы желание выучить русский язык – а возможность всегда найдётся! :)!!

WHY RUSSIAN? WHY IN UKRAINE?

2017 appears to have become the Language Tuition Year in Ukraine as we have observed the influx of foreigners into the national capital Kyiv seeking to refresh their Russian or master the language from scratch.  Non-visa regime, open-minded and hospitable people, inviting prices for accommodation, everyday commodities and services, lots of places to visit – all  add to highly trained Russian native speaking tutors accustomed to various students’ language needs and demands.

Here are some basic categories of Russian students we’ve come across so far:

• language tourists 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, combine the tuition course with travelling Ukraine or telework. Even 1 week course may be sufficient for these students, although it often takes up to 2-3 weeks.
• business people starting their projects in Ukraine; my students Fabricio (Italy) and Ian (Poland) are starting their restaurateur business in Kyiv, 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; Joshua 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 6 hours a day on a 2 to 3 weeks basis which helps to “immerse” into the language.
• members of diplomatic corps and international organizations, foreign journalists; I had an opportunity to arrange an advanced Russian course for an International Red Cross officer from Switzerland whose learning goal was to  refine his perception and speaking abilities when dealing with locals in Eastern parts of Ukraine  affected by war conflict. A Danish journalist Jens covering Ukraine for Danish media was interested in interviewing Ukrainians and embracing Ukrainian scene from within.  These cases required elaborate work on exposing and filling language lacunas, acquiring specific colloquial and locally conditioned language patterns.

Russian can be possible/accessible and enjoyable for anyone coming to Kyiv, no matter  whether it’s only for few days or a longer period of time.

Фразеологизмы и поговорки в русской речи.

Фраза дня.

Афоризмы, поговорки, исторические цитаты являются неизменным атрибутом развитой речи. Мы сосредоточим свое внимание на тех из них, которые характерны для «живой» речи: устной либо адаптированной письменной (переписка, общение в мессенджерах и т.п.). Характерной особенностью функционирования фразеологизмов в данном случае является   частое употребление их в «усеченном» виде, в расчете на информированность адресата высказывания  о полном виде выражения и его значении. Такие случаи могут вызвать определенные трудности у человека, только начавшего изучать язык и сферу его «живого» использования.

Именно для таких людей мы организовали  рубрику «Фраза дня».

Idioms in everyday Russian.

Expression of the day

Aphorisms, proverbs, historical citations are integral elements of advanced speaking. We are going to concentrate on those  frequently used in “everyday” speech: conversation, oral reports or written Russian “adapted” for “live” situations (correspondence, emailing, communicating via messengers etc.). Specificity  of idioms usage in these situations lies in “shortcuts”, abbreviated forms of expressions (when the dialogue partner is supposed to be aware of the full form of the expression  and its meaning). It is common for students to experience certain difficulties when dealing with the “living language” of this sort.

It is just for these learners that we have started the “Expression of the day” column.