Week 47, Lesson 93, Thursday
Read the life of Yuri Gagarin
On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. His life is a short, clear biography, and every grammar point from B1 so far appears in it.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 46, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can read a short real biography and answer questions about the dates and events.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- A short biography
- The first woman in space
A short biography
12 April 1961: the first human flight into space.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Юрий Гагарин родился девятого марта тысяча девятьсот тридцать четвёртого года. | Yuri Gagarin was born on 9 March 1934. |
| Он учился и стал лётчиком. | He studied and became a pilot. |
| Двенадцатого апреля тысяча девятьсот шестьдесят первого года он полетел в космос. | On 12 April 1961 he flew into space. |
| Полёт длился сто восемь минут. | The flight lasted 108 minutes. |
| После полёта Гагарин стал знаменитым на весь мир. | After the flight, Gagarin became famous all over the world. |
Before take-off he said «Поехали!», let's go. Russia celebrates День космонавтики on 12 April.
The first woman in space
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Валентина Терешкова полетела в космос шестнадцатого июня тысяча девятьсот шестьдесят третьего года. | Valentina Tereshkova flew into space on 16 June 1963. |
| Она стала первой женщиной в космосе. | She became the first woman in space. |

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: Пое́хали!
Пое́хали!: the stress is on е, pa-YE-kha-li.
- Пое́хали! [pa-YE-kha-li] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- космона́вт [kas-ma-NAFT] 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.
- Пое́хали!Let's go!
- пе́рвый челове́к в ко́смосеthe first man in space
- знамени́т на весь мирworld-famous
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
космона́вт
ко́смос
полёт
лётчик
Пое́хали!
знамени́тый
на весь мир
all over the world
День космона́втики
Cosmonautics Day, 12 April
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 Gagarin's life in five sentences.
Ника
- Ask about the dates; correct one on purpose and see if you notice.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write two facts about Gagarin.
See a model answer
Гагарин родился в тысяча девятьсот тридцать четвёртом году. Он стал первым человеком в космосе.
Saved as you type. It goes to Ника together with Homework 93.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can read a short real biography and answer questions about the dates and events.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 93 on Saturday: the biography.
I can read a short real biography and answer questions about the dates and events.