Week 4, Lesson 7, Monday
Introduce yourself for two minutes
Everything from the month fits into one short speech. Today you build yours, and learn the four phrases that save any conversation you cannot follow.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 3, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can introduce myself for two minutes, ask four questions back, and rescue a conversation when I am lost.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- A model introduction
- Four questions to ask back
- Phrases that save you
A model introduction
Your introduction has four parts. Put two sentences in each, and you have your two minutes.
A good introduction is four moves: greeting and name, job, where you are from, languages. Each move is a sentence you already know; together they make two confident minutes.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Здра́вствуйте! Меня́ зову́т Ба́йрон. | Hello! My name is Byron. |
| Я из Ме́ксики, я живу́ в Ме́хико. | I am from Mexico; I live in Mexico City. |
| Я ме́неджер. | I am a manager. |
| Я говорю́ по-испа́нски и по-англи́йски. | I speak Spanish and English. |
| Я немно́го говорю́ по-ру́сски. | I speak a little Russian. |
| Я чита́ю по-ру́сски ме́дленно. | I read Russian slowly. |
| Спаси́бо! | Thank you! |
живу́ means I live; ме́дленно means slowly. Swap in your own details.
Four questions to ask back
Asking back turns a speech into a conversation. These four questions mirror your four moves.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Как вас зову́т? | What is your name? |
| Отку́да вы? | Where are you from? |
| Кто вы по профе́ссии? | What is your job? |
| Вы говори́те по-англи́йски? | Do you speak English? |
Phrases that save you
Every learner gets lost. These phrases keep the conversation going in Russian instead of switching to English, and Russians notice the effort.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Повтори́те, пожа́луйста. | Please repeat. |
| Говори́те, пожа́луйста, ме́дленно. | Please speak slowly. |
| Я не понима́ю. | I don't understand. |
| Как по-ру́сски …? | How do you say … in Russian? |
4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: Questions rise on the key word
A yes-or-no question keeps normal word order. Your voice jumps up on the word you are asking about, then drops.
- Вы говори́те по-ру́сски? [rise on РУС]
- Вы из Москвы́? [rise on the end of Москвы́]
Listen to the textbook
The book's own recordings for this topic, free on the publisher's site. Listen once for the gist, then again with the book open.
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Повтори́те, пожа́луйста.Repeat, please.
- Ме́дленно, пожа́луйста.Slowly, please.
- Я не понима́ю.I don't understand.
- Как по-ру́сски …?How do you say … in Russian?
- А вы?And you?
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
Повтори́те, пожа́луйста.
Please repeat.
Говори́те, пожа́луйста, ме́дленно.
Please speak slowly.
Я не понима́ю.
I don't understand.
Как по-ру́сски …?
How do you say … in Russian?
живу́
ме́дленно
пожа́луйста
6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Give your two-minute introduction.
- Ask Екатери́на the four questions back.
Екатери́на
- Interrupt once with a question: you answer with a rescue phrase.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write the first four sentences of your two-minute introduction.
See a model answer
Здра́вствуйте! Меня́ зову́т Ба́йрон. Я из Ме́ксики. Я ме́неджер.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 7.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can introduce myself for two minutes, ask four questions back, and rescue a conversation when I am lost.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 7 on Tuesday: write your own introduction and three questions for Екатери́на.
I can introduce myself for two minutes, ask four questions back, and rescue a conversation when I am lost.