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B1 Свобо́дно Independence

Months 12 to 19, Weeks 45 to 76. Each month has a four-page study guide and a cheat sheet to download, and every lesson's goal.

Month 12 · Weeks 45 to 48

Биогра́фия Tell life stories: years, dates, life events and a real biography

• Say years and full dates
• Tell the main events of a life
• Read and write a short biography with кото́рый
• Pass the Month 12 test at 66%

Study guide, PDF (4 pages) Cheat sheet, PNG

Week 45 Week 46 Week 47 Week 48

What each lesson teaches

• Lesson 89: I can say and understand in which year something happened.
• Lesson 90: I can give a full date, say how long ago something happened and from when to when.
• Lesson 91: I can tell the main events of a life: born, grew up, studied, married, moved.
• Lesson 92: I can tell a life story with background and events in the right order.
• Lesson 93: I can read a short real biography and answer questions about the dates and events.
• Lesson 94: I can write a short biography of someone I admire, joining facts with кото́рый.
• Lesson 95: I can tell my life story for two minutes, with dates, scene and events, and ask the same back.
• Lesson 96: I can show what I learned this month: years and dates, life events, and reading a biography.

Month 13 · Weeks 49 to 52

Культу́ра Read adapted Russian classics, and talk about books, art and films

• Read and retell an adapted Pushkin or Chekhov story
• Describe people's character
• Talk about art, music and books, and recommend one
• Pass the Month 13 test at 66%

Study guide, PDF (4 pages) Cheat sheet, PNG

Week 49 Week 50 Week 51 Week 52

What each lesson teaches

• Lesson 97: I can read an adapted Pushkin fairy tale and follow what happens.
• Lesson 98: I can retell a story in order and use the idiom it gave Russian.
• Lesson 99: I can read an adapted Chekhov story and explain why a character changes.
• Lesson 100: I can describe someone's character and give my opinion of a character in a story.
• Lesson 101: I can say where I went, what I saw and what I liked.
• Lesson 102: I can say what a book or film is about, what I liked, and recommend it.
• Lesson 103: I can talk for two minutes about books, art and music I like, and recommend something.
• Lesson 104: I can show what I learned this month: Pushkin, Chekhov, and talking about art, music and books.

Month 14 · Weeks 53 to 56

Но́вости Follow simple news, report what people said, and talk about what you read

• Understand headlines and short news
• Report what people said, asked and asked for
• Recognise the short forms of the news
• Pass the Month 14 test at 66%

Study guide, PDF (4 pages) Cheat sheet, PNG

Week 53 Week 54 Week 55 Week 56

What each lesson teaches

• Lesson 105: I can understand simple headlines and say what happened.
• Lesson 106: I can understand a short news item: who, what, where, when and how many.
• Lesson 107: I can report what someone said and asked.
• Lesson 108: I can pass on requests and messages, choosing спроси́ть or попроси́ть correctly.
• Lesson 109: I can recognise the short forms used on signs and in the news, and understand them.
• Lesson 110: I can pass on news I read or heard, and add my opinion.
• Lesson 111: I can tell my news of the week for two minutes: what happened, what people said, and my opinion.
• Lesson 112: I can show what I learned this month: headlines and news, reported speech, and the language of the news.

Month 15 · Weeks 57 to 60

Мне́ния Give and defend an opinion, agree and disagree politely

• Give an opinion, firmly or carefully
• Agree and disagree politely, weighing both sides
• Give reasons, results and contrasts
• Pass the Month 15 test at 66%

Study guide, PDF (4 pages) Cheat sheet, PNG

Week 57 Week 58 Week 59 Week 60

What each lesson teaches

• Lesson 113: I can give my opinion, firmly or carefully, on everyday topics.
• Lesson 114: I can ask other people what they think and react to their answers.
• Lesson 115: I can agree and disagree clearly, with the right forms.
• Lesson 116: I can disagree politely, weigh both sides and suggest a compromise.
• Lesson 117: I can give reasons and results without mixing up потому́ что and поэ́тому.
• Lesson 118: I can add a contrast and give a short, structured opinion.
• Lesson 119: I can give a structured opinion for a minute, answer a different view politely, and ask for the other person's.
• Lesson 120: I can show what I learned this month: giving opinions, agreeing and disagreeing, reasons and contrasts.

Month 16 · Weeks 61 to 64

Росси́я: города́ и исто́рия Talk about Russian cities and their history, and plan a trip

• Talk about Moscow and St Petersburg
• Read short texts about history
• Plan a trip to Russia
• Pass the Month 16 test at 66%

Study guide, PDF (4 pages) Cheat sheet, PNG

Week 61 Week 62 Week 63 Week 64

What each lesson teaches

• Lesson 121: I can describe Moscow's main sights and compare two cities.
• Lesson 122: I can describe St Petersburg and say when and by whom it was founded.
• Lesson 123: I can talk about the towns of the Golden Ring and plan a day trip.
• Lesson 124: I can read a short history text and retell it with dates and centuries.
• Lesson 125: I can plan a route through Russia: where, in what order, for how long and how to travel.
• Lesson 126: I can book what I need, choose the season and pack for the weather.
• Lesson 127: I can present a trip to Russia for two minutes: cities, history, route, season and bookings.
• Lesson 128: I can show what I learned this month: the two capitals, the Golden Ring and history, planning a trip.

Month 17 · Weeks 65 to 68

Официа́льный ру́сский Choose the register, write formal emails and requests, and handle forms and documents

• Choose ты or вы and use polite formulas
• Write formal requests, replies, complaints and apologies
• Fill in forms and ask for documents
• Pass the Month 17 test at 66%

Study guide, PDF (4 pages) Cheat sheet, PNG

Week 65 Week 66 Week 67 Week 68

What each lesson teaches

• Lesson 129: I can choose ты or вы, address people correctly and agree to switch to ты.
• Lesson 130: I can make very polite requests and use the formulas of offices and letters.
• Lesson 131: I can write a formal request and a short written application.
• Lesson 132: I can reply to a formal email, complain politely and apologise formally.
• Lesson 133: I can understand and fill in a standard Russian form.
• Lesson 134: I can ask for a document, say what I need and get through a visit to an office.
• Lesson 135: I can write a complete formal email with a request, and handle the forms and documents it leads to.
• Lesson 136: I can show what I learned this month: registers and formulas, formal requests and replies, forms and documents.

Month 18 · Weeks 69 to 72

Тради́ции и пра́здники Describe holidays and customs, and say what you would do

• Describe Russian holidays and congratulate people
• Behave as a guest and describe customs fairly
• Talk about wishes and advice with бы
• Pass the Month 18 test at 66%

Study guide, PDF (4 pages) Cheat sheet, PNG

Week 69 Week 70 Week 71 Week 72

What each lesson teaches

• Lesson 137: I can describe how New Year and Christmas are celebrated in Russia, and congratulate people.
• Lesson 138: I can describe Ма́сленица and name days, and say how a holiday is celebrated.
• Lesson 139: I can behave as a good guest in a Russian home and say the right things at the table.
• Lesson 140: I can describe customs and superstitions, fairly and without stereotypes.
• Lesson 141: I can talk about unreal situations and dreams with е́сли бы.
• Lesson 142: I can express wishes, give advice and make polite requests with бы.
• Lesson 143: I can talk about a holiday for two minutes, describe customs fairly and say what I would do in Russia.
• Lesson 144: I can show what I learned this month: holidays, customs and the conditional with бы.

Month 19 · Weeks 73 to 76

Повторе́ние и экза́мен B1 Review Months 12 to 18 and pass the B1 mock exam

• Recall Months 12 to 18, mixed
• Know how ТРКИ-1 works, part by part
• Give a three-minute B1 talk
• Pass the B1 mock exam at 66%

Study guide, PDF (4 pages) Cheat sheet, PNG

Week 73 Week 74 Week 75 Week 76

What each lesson teaches

• Lesson 145: I can tell a life story with dates, join sentences with кото́рый and talk about books and art.
• Lesson 146: I can follow simple news and report what people said, asked and asked for.
• Lesson 147: I can give and defend an opinion, and talk about Russian cities and their history.
• Lesson 148: I can write a formal request, reply formally and handle forms and documents.
• Lesson 149: I can describe holidays and customs, congratulate people and talk about wishes with бы.
• Lesson 150: I can describe the B1 exam, its parts and pass mark, and choose a strategy for each part.
• Lesson 151: I can talk about myself for three minutes using the language of Months 12 to 18, and ask questions back.
• Lesson 152: I can pass a B1 mock exam: 30 questions from Months 13 to 18, at 66% or more.