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In-depth explorations, actionable tips and inspiring conversations for language learners who REALLY want to get fluent…..plus a little but of fun along the way.

The most advanced Russian exam? Guy aces the TRKI 4th certificate (interview)

By Gareth 2 Comments

Here's the latest a series of interviews with successful candidates for the most advanced Russian exam, the TRKI 4th Certificate. The Тест по русскому языку как иностранному Четвертый сертификационный уровень (ТРКИ-4), as it's known in Russian, is the top exam for Russian as a foreign language. The exam guidelines are set by the Russian Ministry of Education.  The level is … [Read more...]

The TRKI 4 advanced Russian exam: successful candidate interview (3)

By Gareth 2 Comments

Advanced Russian learner Aga has been telling me how she passed the top official exam in Russian as a foreign language, the dreaded Test of Russian as a Foreign Language 4th Certificate (ToRFL or TRKI 4) (Тест по русскому языку как иностранному Четвертый сертификационный уровень (ТРКИ 4))... Is the Fourth Certificate really as fiendishly difficult as it's rumoured to be? … [Read more...]

The TRKI 4 advanced Russian exam: successful candidate interview (2)

By Gareth 4 Comments

The TRKI 4th Certificate or Тест по русскому языку как иностранному Четвертый сертификационный уровень (ТРКИ 4) is  the top official Russian as a foreign language. My earlier interview with Daria, a successful TRKI4 candidate from Poland, provided some scarce first-hand information about an exam that is seemingly shrouded in mystery and rumoured to be fiendishly difficult.  I'm … [Read more...]

Improving intermediate to advanced writing skills in a foreign language: Operation Write Russian Right

By Gareth 1 Comment

This post is about improving your intermediate to advanced writing skills, about how you might use language exams as a constructive learning tool and about being a committed language learner, in for the long haul, through thick and thin.  Oh, and I get to launch my next language learning project. Ding, ding, back in the ring!  In the middle, brandishing gloves and … [Read more...]

The TRKI 4th certificate: this top Russian exam really does exist and CAN be passed (interview with a successful candidate)

By Gareth 15 Comments

A lot of mystery surrounds the TRKI 4th Certificate, the top exam for Russian as a foreign language within the framework guidelines established by the Russian Ministry of Education (тест по русскому языку как иностранному Четвертый сертификационный уровень (ТРКИ-4)).  It's "the ultimate" Russian exam, the equivalent of the C2  level ("Mastery or proficiency") on the … [Read more...]

Project Advanced Russian or steppe-ing up for the TRKI 3rd Certificate

By Gareth 3 Comments

What we should be doing when trying to "level up" our foreign language abilities effectively at the advanced level?  This is topical again for me after I took an advanced German exam a few months ago, because I'm a  month into a three-month project: to improve my Russian and take an advanced Russian exam.  If you're interested in levelling up your language decisively, at … [Read more...]

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