Week 19, Lesson 37, Thursday
Meet four Russian writers
Every Russian grew up with these four. Today you meet them, learn six words for what people are like, and say which book you like.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 18, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can name four Russian writers, describe what a person is like, and talk about a book.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- Four writers
- What are they like?
- Talking about books
Four writers
Four writers on one shelf. Every Russian has read something by each of them.
| Writer | Famous for |
|---|---|
| Александр Пушкин, 1799–1837 | poems, and the novel in verse «Евгений Онегин» |
| Лев Толстой, 1828–1910 | «Война и мир» and «Анна Каренина» |
| Фёдор Достоевский, 1821–1881 | «Преступление и наказание» |
| Антон Чехов, 1860–1904 | short stories and the play «Вишнёвый сад» |
What are they like?
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| честный, добрый | honest, kind |
| весёлый, серьёзный | cheerful, serious |
| умный, ленивый | clever, lazy |
| Какой он? — Он умный и весёлый. | What is he like? He is clever and cheerful. |
For a woman, -ый and -ой become -ая: весёлая, добрая, умная.
Talking about books
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Мой любимый писатель — Чехов. | My favourite writer is Chekhov. |
| Я читал его рассказы. | I have read his stories. |
| Это роман, рассказ или стихи? | Is it a novel, a story or poems? |
4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: ё is always stressed
весёлый and серьёзный carry the stress on ё: no mark needed, because ё always has it.
- весёлый [vi-SYO-liy] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- серьёзный [sir-YOZ-niy] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
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.
- Мой люби́мый писа́тель — …My favourite writer is …
- Како́й он?What is he like?
- Я чита́л …I have read …
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
писа́тель
рома́н
расска́з
short story
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)стихи́
люби́мый
че́стный
весёлый
серьёзный
до́брый
у́мный
лени́вый
Како́й он?
What is he like?
потому́ что
because
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
- Describe a friend with three adjectives.
- Say who your favourite writer is, and why.
Ника
- Ask: Какой он? Что вы читали?
7Your turn 5 minutes
Describe a writer or a friend in two sentences.
See a model answer
Мой любимый писатель — Чехов. Он умный и очень весёлый.
Saved as you type. It goes to Ника together with Homework 37.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can name four Russian writers, describe what a person is like, and talk about a book.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 37 on Saturday: writers, books and adjectives.
I can name four Russian writers, describe what a person is like, and talk about a book.