Week 50, Lesson 99, Thursday
Read a Chekhov story
Chekhov wrote short, sharp stories about ordinary people. In this one, two old friends are delighted to meet, until one hears the other's rank.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 49, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can read an adapted Chekhov story and explain why a character changes.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- The story, retold
- Fatter, thinner
The story, retold
Two old friends at a station. Chekhov names them Misha and Porfiry.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| На вокзале встретились два друга детства: толстый и тонкий. | At a station two childhood friends met: a fat one and a thin one. |
| Сначала они радостно вспоминали школу. | At first they happily remembered school. |
| Потом тонкий узнал, что толстый — большой начальник. | Then the thin one found out the fat one was a big boss. |
| Тонкий сразу стал очень почтительным, и разговор кончился. | The thin one at once became very deferential, and the conversation ended. |
Fatter, thinner
| Adjective | Comparative |
|---|---|
| толстый | толще |
| тонкий | тоньше |
| молодой | моложе |
| старый | старше |
More irregular comparatives. After them, the genitive can replace чем: толще тонкого.
4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: то́лще, то́ньше
то́лще ends in a long soft щ; то́ньше in a hard ш.
- то́лще [TOL-shche] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- то́ньше [TON'-she] 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.
- Ско́лько лет!It's been years!
- друг де́тстваchildhood friend
- Он узна́л, что …He found out that …
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
вокза́л
railway station
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)друг де́тства
childhood friend
встре́титься
то́лстый, то́нкий
fat, thin
чино́вник
нача́льник
узна́ть, что …
to find out that …
почти́тельно
respectfully
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
- Play the thin one: delighted first, then too respectful.
Ника
- Play the fat one, who wants an ordinary chat.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write why the thin man changed.
See a model answer
Тонкий изменился, потому что узнал, что его друг — большой начальник.
Saved as you type. It goes to Ника together with Homework 99.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can read an adapted Chekhov story and explain why a character changes.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 99 on Saturday: the story.
I can read an adapted Chekhov story and explain why a character changes.