Week 20, Lesson 39, Monday
Your A1 in three minutes
Twenty weeks of Russian fit in one talk: who you are, your days, your past weekend, your plans, your tastes. Build it today, and check it against the five most common mistakes.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 19, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can talk about myself for three minutes, in the present, the past and the future, and ask the same back.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- A model talk
- The top five mistakes
A model talk
Your A1 talk has four parts. Two sentences in each, and you have three minutes.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Меня́ зову́т Ба́йрон, я из Ме́ксики. | My name is Byron, I'm from Mexico. |
| Я живу́ в Ме́хико, в кварти́ре на тре́тьем этаже́. | I live in Mexico City, in a flat on the third floor. |
| Обы́чно я встаю́ в семь часо́в и е́зжу на рабо́ту на метро́. | I usually get up at seven and go to work by metro. |
| Вчера́ я был в теа́тре. | Yesterday I was at the theatre. |
| В суббо́ту я бу́ду смотре́ть фильм. | On Saturday I'll watch a film. |
| Мой день рожде́ния в ма́е. | My birthday is in May. |
| Мне нра́вится Че́хов: я чита́л его́ расска́зы. | I like Chekhov: I have read his stories. |
| А вы? Расскажи́те о себе́! | And you? Tell me about yourself! |
Swap in your own life; every line uses grammar from Months 1 to 5.
The top five mistakes
| Not this | But this |
|---|---|
| подарю́ ма́ма | подарю́ ма́ме |
| в май | в ма́е |
| напро́тив банк | напро́тив ба́нка |
| Поверну́ть нале́во! | Поверни́те нале́во! |
| к музе́й | к музе́ю |
Each breaks one rule: to whom, in which month, after напро́тив, the command form, and к with the to-whom form.
4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: Pause at the full stops
In a long talk, pause at each full stop, not in the middle of a phrase.
- Расскажи́те о себе́. [ras-ka-ZHI-tye a si-BYE]
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.
- Расскажи́те о себе́.Tell me about yourself.
- А вы?And you?
- Мо́жно вопро́с?May I ask a question?
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
Меня́ зову́т Ба́йрон, я из Ме́ксики.
My name is Byron, I'm from Mexico.
Я живу́ в Ме́хико, в кварти́ре на тре́тьем этаже́.
I live in Mexico City, in a flat on the third floor.
Расскажи́те о себе́.
Tell me about yourself.
Обы́чно я встаю́ в семь часо́в и е́зжу на рабо́ту на метро́.
I usually get up at seven and go to work by metro.
Вчера́ я был в теа́тре.
Yesterday I was at the theatre.
В суббо́ту я бу́ду смотре́ть фильм.
On Saturday I'll watch a film.
Мой день рожде́ния в ма́е.
My birthday is in May.
Мне нра́вится Че́хов: я чита́л его́ расска́зы.
I like Chekhov: I have read his stories.
А вы? Расскажи́те о себе́!
And you? Tell me about yourself!
А вы?
And you?
Мо́жно вопро́с?
May I ask a question?
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
- Talk for three minutes: you, your days, last weekend, your plans, your tastes.
- Ask Екатери́на two questions back.
Екатери́на
- Interrupt twice with a question, as in the speaking part of the real exam.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write the first four sentences of your A1 talk.
See a model answer
Меня́ зову́т Ба́йрон, я из Ме́ксики. Я живу́ в Ме́хико. Обы́чно я встаю́ в семь часо́в. Вчера́ я был в теа́тре.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 39.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can talk about myself for three minutes, in the present, the past and the future, and ask the same back.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 39 on Tuesday: write your talk, and practise for the mock exam.
I can talk about myself for three minutes, in the present, the past and the future, and ask the same back.