Stay motivated while studying for the TRKI-4

Studying for the TRKI-4, as you may or may not know, is an uncharted territory. There exist no guidebooks and no practice sheets to aid you in exam preparation. And then it gets even worse when you realize that the TRKI-4 requirements exceed linguistic competence of your average native speaker, that many tasks come with convoluted instructions and that the time limits are infamously stringent. As you begin your TORFL-4 journey, you’re quickly finding yourself alone, facing what may seem like an impossible task. Mapping the territory that is the TRKI-4 is a lonesome endeavor–one where nagging self-doubt and weariness become your only companions. So keeping your mojo while studying for the TRKI-4, as we’ve been finding in the years this blog’s been around, is not easy at all.

Let me reassure you that the Russian language exams are all pretty hard, but the fourth and last of them really takes the cake. It’s unlike any other language exam at this level and I’ve delved into that previously. Since the requirements for the TRKI-4 far exceed what we’re used to, you can expect to be frustrated.

Why it may be hard to stay motivated while studying for the TRKI-4

Some of the people I now regularly correspond with hate the fact that their near-perfect and decidedly fluent Russian is not enough to pass the test. Others feel living outside Russia means they don’t have access to the tools necessary to up their skills to the required level. Still others question whether the ordeal is even worth their time considering so much of what they have to learn will be of no use to them once the exam is over. They all have a point, I’m not denying that. But while I sympathize with these frustrations, I also believe they provide us with guideposts for success.

So let’s begin at the beginning which is your current mindset.

Reassess your level

You may or may not be at a pre-C2 level. You can’t know for sure—not even if you’re a proud holder of the C1 certification (сертификат ТРКИ-3) as the two exams are far apart on skill level. There are a few clues you can get from the tests here on grammar, vocabulary and understanding Russian on a deep level however. If your results are at about 70-80%, you’re definitely at a pre-C2 level and with some structured studying—likely to succeed in a few weeks’ time. Anything lower than that means you’re not ready just yet in which case I suggest you begin afresh, read through the articles on this site, and retake these tests in a while. Either way, once you’ve correctly assessed your level, you can proceed to drawing up your own study plan.

Be realistic

As an active speaker of Russian pursuing an official certification in the language, you’re likely already at an advanced level. You know by now, as well as anyone who’s ever learned a foreign language, that it’s a lengthy process in which growth is exponential rather than linear. It takes time for different language skills to integrate, it takes practice for new words and phrases to enter your active lexicon, and it takes heaps of patience to pore over ample amount of written texts in search of new things to learn. Being ambitious is a great thing, don’t get me wrong, but don’t set the bar too high. The biggest favor you can do to yourself at this stage is to accept your preparation is going to take longer than initially planned or desired. Also accept that there’s nothing wrong with that.

Network

As a salve from the inevitably wearisome study routine, you might consider reaching out. Use social media, polyglot and language learning blogs to interact with other torlf candidates. These kinds of communities are a great source of study tips and inspiring success stories. Keeping in touch with the TORFL learning community will help you stave off the burnt-out syndrome, not least because you’ll always be in need of assistance, but perhaps because you’ll have some to offer yourself.

Stay organized

It’s difficult to stay motivated when you don’t have all the necessary resources to learn from or a plan to follow. You should have these at hand. You only have yourself as a tutor so you might as well act like one. Whether your method of choice is focused study when you spend hours per day for a limited period of time, or a more regular routine stretched over time, you need to hash out a study plan for yourself. You should know how you will organize your study sessions in terms of time and location, as well as what you will need to make them productive. Let the study process soak into your life, not overwhelm it.

Take meaningful breaks

The Russian language is not all study and no fun. Beside 19^th century classics and voluminous 20^th century literary criticism there’s tons of pop culture for you to immerse yourself in. You’re not learning a dead language after all. Reward yourself with a great Russian show to watch regularly, an occasional movie or a book in Russian on the topic of your choice. Not only does it keep you motivated, it allows you to learn even when you’re unable (or completely unwilling) to study—while commuting, during lunch breaks, when unwell, etc.

Give yourself some credit

You’ve come so far already. You’ve achieved relative fluency in an admittedly difficult language and now have access to a whole new culture. The very fact of you aiming for a TORFL-4 certificate means you’re getting better at Russian–even if you don’t become exam-ready overnight. You chose to sacrifice hours of your life to achieve this very ambitious goal. You deserve to be proud of your progress.

Eyes on the prize

Remember why you’re doing this. Define your exact goal, especially if you’re unsure of it. Think of all the ways the certificate could benefit you personally and professionally. If everything else fails, this should really keep you on track.

Ultimately, we need to accept the fact that the TORFL-4 is a challenge beyond mere linguistic abilities. TORFL, more than any other test we’ve known about, will test your mettle, you perseverance, your maturity. It will make heavy demands on your patience and your ability to stay focused.

Be ready to reassess your readiness for the test multiple times. And, remember, if you don’t score high enough on the sample tests, it doesn’t mean you failed. It just means you aren’t ready yet. Keep going.

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