St Petersburg University holds state testing of Russian language for teachers in Mongolia
As part of its work on developing staff qualifications and supporting the Russian language abroad, St Petersburg University together with the Russian House in Ulaanbaatar will hold a state test of Russian as a foreign language (TORFL) for teachers of Russian in Mongolia in spring 2022. More than 500 people have already applied for the test session.
St Petersburg University conducts Russian language testing at 112 centres located in 48 countries around the world. In 2022, it will organise work that will enable teachers of Russian as a foreign language to test their knowledge in Mongolia as well.
According to Dmitry Ptyushkin, Director of St Petersburg University Language Testing Centre and project coordinator, the joint project with the Russian House in Ulaanbaatar is unique.
In the current situation, it is particularly important to support foreign colleagues, to introduce them to current trends in teaching, to create additional opportunities for professional development and additional opportunities to learn Russian.
Dmitry Ptyushkin, Director of St Petersburg University Language Testing Centre and project coordinator
’In the past, Russian organisations in Mongolia have not conducted such large-scale language testing. However, there is a demand from Mongolian colleagues for methodological support and increased cooperation. Furthermore, the need for support in learning Russian is reflected in the demand from students and schoolchildren in this country. I should note that they are actively involved in competitions and Olympiads in Russian as a foreign language,’ he said.
Dmitry Ptyushkin stressed that the requests for partnership development from the Mongolian side have been formed long ago, and the position of the Russian language in this country in recent years needs to be strengthened. The University carries out active work in this direction, financing such activities from its own extra budgetary funds.
In winter 2022, as part of the preparatory work, specialists of the University held consultative online sessions for teachers. During the sessions with teachers, experts from St Petersburg University spoke in detail about the test in Russian as a foreign language, the levels, and materials for successful preparation for the exam. The teachers who registered for the event also took placement tests to better determine their level of Russian language proficiency.
More than 160 candidates will take part in the first round of testing in early April, taking the exams in person and remotely.