ABSTRACT
The issue of teaching Russian in Brazil is barely addressed in scholarly literature. In the present work, we outline the context of teaching and learning Russian in Brazil, describe the application of a task-based approach, and report our experience in implementing the TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language). The majority of Brazilians study Russian in private language schools or with private instructors. Most teachers are native Russian speakers. In the Brazilian context, they focus on communicative strategies and use a task-based approach. We detail nine tasks commonly applied in three language schools. Finally, we describe our experience in introducing the TORFL in Brazil. The Speaking subtest revealed excellent communication skills of Brazilian test takers, even at beginner levels.
