Two phrases that solve the problem
A short in Greek text at level A2. The translation sits next to it: reading with a dictionary is still too early at this level, and without support it will not happen at all. Over the phone I hear badly and feel shy about asking again. I learned two phrases that solve the problem: 'what did…
Text
- Στο τηλέφωνο δεν ακούω καλά και ντρέπομαι να ξαναρωτήσω. Έμαθα δύο φράσεις που λύνουν το πρόβλημα: «τι είπατε;» και «αν κατάλαβα καλά». Από τότε κανείς δεν θύμωσε ούτε μία φορά. Το να διευκρινίζεις είναι ευγένεια, όχι αδυναμία.sto tiléfono den akúo kalá ke drépome na ksanarotíso. ématha dío frásis pu línun to próvlima: «ti ípate?» ke «an katálava kalá». apó tóte kanís den thímose úte mía forá. to na diefkrinízis íne evyénia, ókhi adinamíaOver the phone I hear badly and feel shy about asking again. I learned two phrases that solve the problem: 'what did you say?' and 'if I understood correctly'. Since then nobody has ever gotten angry. Clarifying is politeness, not weakness.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- What was the narrator shy about?
- What did he learn?
- How did the interlocutors react?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Greek?
A2. That means: you know the letters and have a stock of everyday words — about two or three hundred.
How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?
First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.