Week 49, Lesson 97, Monday
Read a Pushkin fairy tale
Every Russian knows this tale from childhood: a poor fisherman catches a golden fish that grants wishes, and his wife never has enough.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Month 12, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can read an adapted Pushkin fairy tale and follow what happens.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- The tale, retold
- The wishes
The tale, retold
Four wishes, each bigger than the last. Read them before the tale.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Жил стари́к со свое́ю стару́хой у са́мого си́него мо́ря. | An old man lived with his old wife by the very blue sea. |
| Одна́жды стари́к пойма́л золоту́ю ры́бку. | One day the old man caught a golden fish. |
| Ры́бка сказа́ла: «Отпусти́ меня́, я дам тебе́ всё, что хо́чешь». | The fish said: let me go, I'll give you whatever you want. |
| Стари́к её отпусти́л и ничего́ не попроси́л. | The old man let it go and asked for nothing. |
The first line follows Pushkin's own opening; the rest is a simple retelling.
The wishes
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Стару́ха попроси́ла но́вое коры́то. | The old woman asked for a new washtub. |
| Пото́м она́ захоте́ла но́вую избу́. | Then she wanted a new house. |
| Пото́м она́ захоте́ла стать цари́цей. | Then she wanted to become tsaritsa. |
| В конце́ она́ хоте́ла стать влады́чицей мо́ря. | In the end she wanted to rule the sea. |
4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: ры́бка
ры́бка: the stress is on ры, and ы is said with the tongue pulled back.
- ры́бка [RYP-ka] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- коры́то [ka-RY-ta] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
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.
- Жи́л-бы́л …Once upon a time there was …
- Отпусти́ меня́!Let me go!
- золота́я ры́бкаthe golden fish
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
стари́к, стару́ха
old man, old woman
ры́бка
little fish
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)золота́я ры́бка
the golden fish
коры́то
изба́
peasant house
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)цари́ца
tsaritsa, queen
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)пойма́ть
попроси́ть
to ask for
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)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
- Retell the tale in five sentences.
Екатери́на
- Play the golden fish: answer each wish with Не печа́лься, ступа́й себе́ с Бо́гом.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write what the old woman asked for first and last.
See a model answer
Снача́ла она́ попроси́ла но́вое коры́то, а в конце́ захоте́ла стать влады́чицей мо́ря.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 97.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can read an adapted Pushkin fairy tale and follow what happens.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 97 on Tuesday: the tale.
I can read an adapted Pushkin fairy tale and follow what happens.