Telefonoan
A short in Basque text at level A1. 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. Tomorrow is mom's birthday, and today I want to call her. But my phone will not turn on: the battery is dead. I forgot…
Text
- Bihar amaren urtebetetzea da eta gaur deitu nahi diot. Baina nire telefonoa ez da pizten: bateria agortuta dago. Kargagailua lagunaren etxean ahaztuta dut. Orain lagunaren telefonoz deituko dut eta mezua bidaliko diot: «Zorionak biharrerako!»Tomorrow is mom's birthday, and today I want to call her. But my phone will not turn on: the battery is dead. I forgot the charger at my friend's home. Now I will call from my friend's phone and send a message: "Happy birthday!"
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- When is mom's birthday?
- Why does the narrator's phone not work?
- Where is the charger forgotten?
- What will he send mom?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Basque?
A1. 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.