The washing machine is making a noise
A short in Western 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. Two weeks ago the washing machine began to make a noise and heat up. At first I thought a screw had simply come loose…
Text
- Երկու շաբաթ առաջ լվացքի մեքենան սկսեց աղմկել եւ տաքանալ: Սկզբում մտածեցի, որ պարզապես պտուտակը թուլացել է, եւ մանեկաբանալիով ամրացրի: Հետո լարերը ստուգեցի, բայց խնդիրը չգտա: Զանգեցի սպասարկման կեդրոն եւ հայտ ձեւակերպեցի: Վարպետը եկաւ, ախտորոշում արեց եւ ասաց, որ պահեստամասը պէտք է փոխարինել: Վերանորոգման արժեքը մեծ չէր, իսկ ժամկետը՝ հինգ օր: Բարեբախտաբար մեքենան դեռ երաշխիքի տակ էր, եւ վճարել չպահանջեցին: Հիմա մեքենան հանգիստ է կ'աշխատի, եւ ես ձեռնարկը պահել եմ տուփի մէջ:yergu shapat' arrach lvatsk'i mek'enan sgsets aghmgel yev dak'anal Sgzpum mdadzetsi, vor barzabes bdudagə t'ulatsel e, yev manegapanaliov amratsri Hedo larerə sduketsi, payts khntirə chkda Zanketsi sbasargman getron yev hayd tsevagerbetsi Varbedə yegav, akhdoroshum arets yev asats, vor bahesdamasə bedk' e p'okharinel Veranorokman arzhek'ə medz cher, isg zhamgedə hink or Parepakhdapar mek'enan terr yerashkhik'i dag er, yev vjarel chbahanchetsin Hima mek'enan hankisd e g'ashkhadi, yev yes tserrnargə bahel em dup'i mechTwo weeks ago the washing machine began to make a noise and heat up. At first I thought a screw had simply come loose, and I tightened it with a wrench. Then I checked the wires, but found no problem. I called the service centre and filed a request. The repairman came, made a diagnosis and said a spare part had to be replaced. The cost of the repair was small, and the term was five days. Fortunately, the machine was still under warranty, and no payment was demanded. Now the machine works quietly, and I have kept the manual in the box.
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 happened to the washing machine?
- What did the narrator do himself first?
- What did the repairman say after the diagnosis?
- Why was there no payment?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Western 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.