The neighbor who kept quiet
A short in Armenian text at level B1. 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. The new neighbor was reserved and hardly talked to us. In the courtyard they gossiped that he was supposedly proud and…
Text
- Նոր հարևանը ինքնամփոփ էր և գրեթե չէր խոսում մեզ հետ: Բակում բամբասում էին, թե իբր նա հպարտ է և ուրիշներին չի ճանաչում: Ձմռանը խողովակը պայթեց, և հենց նա առաջինը եկավ օգնելու՝ առանց հապաղելու: Պարզվեց, որ նա պարզապես ամաչկոտ է, բայց շատ կարեկից: Հիմա բոլորը կշտամբում են իրենք իրենց. մարդուն պարսավեցին՝ առանց ճանաչելու:Nor harevanə ink'namp'op' er yev gret'e cher khosum mez het. Bakum bambasum ein, t'e ibr na hpart e yev urishnerin chi chanachum. Dzmrranə khoghovakə payt'ets, yev hents na arrajinə yekav ognelu — arrants hapaghelu. Parzvets, vor na parzapes amachkot e, bayts shat karekits. Hima bolorə kshtambum en irenk' irents — mardun parsavetsin — arrants chanachelu.The new neighbor was reserved and hardly talked to us. In the courtyard they gossiped that he was supposedly proud and didn't acknowledge others. In winter the pipe burst, and it was he who came first to help — without hesitation. It turned out he was simply shy, but very responsive. Now everyone blames themselves: they judged a man without knowing him.
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 new neighbor like?
- What did they say about him in the courtyard?
- What happened in winter?
- What did the neighbors come to?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Armenian?
B1. 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.