The measurements didn't match
A short in Western 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. We ordered a table for the kitchen and measured the wall — a meter and a half. The seller said the length of the table…
Text
- Խոհանոցի համար սեղան պատվիրեցինք եւ չափեցինք պատը՝ մէկուկես մետր: Վաճառողն ասաց, որ սեղանի երկարութիւնը ճիշտ մէկուկես մետր է, եւ ամեն ինչ կտեղավորվի: Երբ բերեցին, պարզվեց, որ մենք չափել ենք առանց սառնարանի, եւ տասը սանտիմետր պակասում է: Ամեն դեպքում խանութը փոխեց սեղանը, բայց առաքման արժեքը կրկին վճարեցինք: Հիմա գիտեմ. նախ չափիր երկարութիւնը, լայնութիւնը եւ բարձրութիւնը, հետո պատվիրիր:khohanotsi hamar seghan badviretsink' yev chap'etsink' badə meguges medr Vajarroghn asats, vor seghani yergarut'yunə jishd meguges medr e, yev amen inch gdeghavorvi Yerp peretsin, barzvets, vor menk' chap'el enk' arrants sarrnarani, yev dasə sandimedr bagasum e Amen tebk'um khanut'ə p'okhets seghanə, payts arrak'man arzhek'ə grgin vjaretsink' Hima kidem. nakh chap'ir yergarut'yunə, laynut'yunə yev partsrut'yunə, hedo badvirirWe ordered a table for the kitchen and measured the wall — a meter and a half. The seller said the length of the table was exactly a meter and a half and everything would fit. When it was delivered, it turned out we had measured without the fridge, and ten centimeters were missing. In any case the shop exchanged the table, but we paid for the delivery again. Now I know: first measure the length, the width and the height, and only then order.
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 did they measure before the order?
- Why didn't the table fit?
- What did the shop do?
- What did they have to pay for a second time?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Western 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.