The Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University makes studying Russian abroad even more accessible
It can be difficult for foreign citizens to find reliable and understandable information in their native language on how to prepare for the Russian language exam. The Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University has solved this issue and produced videos about the test of Russian as a foreign language in four languages.
The demand for testing in Russian as a foreign language in foreign countries is traditionally high: more than 200,000 people take the exam each year. However, foreign nationals often have no preparatory information materials on what the test is, what approaches to Russian language teaching there are, and how one level differs from another.
It is possible to take the exam not only in Russia, but also abroad: the University cooperates in this sphere with 115 centres in 50 countries around the world.
Experts from the Language Testing Centre, together with the Centre of E-Learning Development at St Petersburg University, have prepared video presentations on testing in Russian as a foreign language in Turkish, French, Chinese, and Korean.
In each video, practicing test-takers briefly and clearly explain the main things about the exam: the test structure, levels and requirements.
The Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University has been administering the test of Russian as a foreign language since 1997. Since 2020, the test can be taken remotely.
According to Dmitry Ptyushkin, Director of the Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University, the availability of an accessible and reliable source of information in foreign languages makes studying Russian abroad more attractive. Additionally, the choice in favour of the test in Russian as a foreign language over other exam systems becomes obvious.
The videos are available on RuTube. The Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University is now preparing similar presentations in 10 more languages.