In the new district
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. Last month we moved to the outskirts of the city. It is calmer here, the air is clean and there are few cars. But the…
Text
- Անցյալ ամիս տեղափոխվեցինք քաղաքի ծայրամաս: Այստեղ աւելի հանգիստ է, մաքուր օդ եւ քիչ ինքնաշարժ: Բայց առաջին շաբաթը դժուար էր. ես չգիտէի երթուղիների համարները: Առաջին օրը կանգառս անցա եւ իջա երկու կանգառ ուշ: Հարցրի մի կնոջ, եւ ան ցույց տուեց քարտեզի վրա, թե որտեղ եմ: Ասաց՝ գնացեք մայթով մինչեւ խաչմերուկ, կամուրջն անցեք, եւ տունը պիտի ըլլայ ձեր դիմաց: Հիմա ամեն առաւօտ ոտքով եմ գնում մետրո, տասը րոպե: Պիկ ժամին աւտոբուսում մարդաշատ է, եւ ես նախընտրում եմ քայլել:antsyal amis deghap'okhvetsink' k'aghak'i dzayramas Aysdegh aveli hankisd e, mak'ur ot yev k'ich ink'nasharzh Payts arrachin shapat'ə tzhuar er. yes chkidei yert'ughineri hamarnerə Arrachin orə gankarrs antsa yev icha yergu gankarr ush Hartsri mi gnoch, yev an tsuyts duets k'ardezi vra, t'e vordegh em Asats knatsek' mayt'ov minchev khachmerug, gamurchn antsek', yev dunə bidi əllay tser timats Hima amen arravod vodk'ov em knum medro, dasə robe Big zhamin avdopusum martashad e, yev yes nakhəndrum em k'aylelLast month we moved to the outskirts of the city. It is calmer here, the air is clean and there are few cars. But the first week was hard: I did not know the route numbers. On the first day I missed my stop and got off two stops later. I asked a woman, and she showed me on the map where I was. She said: walk along the sidewalk to the crossroads, cross the bridge, and the house will be opposite you. Now every morning I walk to the metro on foot, ten minutes. At rush hour the bus is crowded, and I prefer to walk.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- Where did the narrator move?
- What happened on the first day?
- What did the woman advise?
- Why does the narrator walk?
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.