Restoring an old chair
A short in Armenian 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. Grandma's chair stood on the balcony and was already worn out. The wood was faded, one leg was crooked, and the metal…
Text
- Տատիս աթոռը կանգնած էր պատշգամբում և արդեն մաշված էր: Փայտը խունացած էր, մի ոտքը ծուռ, իսկ մետաղական մասերը ժանգոտ: Նախ մաքրեցինք փոշոտ մակերեսը, հետո դրեցինք ներկի բարակ շերտ: Երկրորդ շերտից հետո փայտը դարձավ ողորկ և փայլուն: Հիմա աթոռը ամբողջական է և տեղ չի գրավում խոհանոցում:Tatis at'orrə kangnats er patshgambum yev arden mashvats er. P'aytə khunatsats er, mi votk'ə tsurr, isk metaghakan maserə zhangot. Nakh mak'retsink' p'oshot makeresə, heto dretsink' nerki barak shert. Yerkrord shertits heto p'aytə dardzav voghork yev p'aylun. Hima at'orrə amboghjakan e yev tegh chi gravum khohanotsum.Grandma's chair stood on the balcony and was already worn out. The wood was faded, one leg was crooked, and the metal parts were rusty. First we cleaned the dusty surface, then applied a thin layer of paint. After the second layer the wood became smooth and shiny. Now the chair is whole and doesn't take up space in the kitchen.
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 condition was the chair in at first?
- What did they do before painting?
- What did the wood become like after the second layer?
- Where does the chair stand now?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Armenian?
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.