LingoflyLost in the forest
A short text in Western Armenian 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. On Saturday we went to the forest and decided to go straight across. Half an hour later we realized we were lost…
Text
- Շաբաթ օրը գացինք անտառ եւ որոշեցինք երթալ ուղիղ ճանապարհով։ Կէս ժամ ետք հասկցանք, որ մոլորած ենք. շուրջբոլորը նոյն ծառերն էին։ Հեռուն կը լսուէր գետին ձայնը, եւ մենք գացինք դէպի այն կողմ։ Անցանք ինկած գերանին կողքով, ետքը թուփերուն միջով հասանք ջուրին։ Գետին եզրին կանգնած էր հին ջրաղացը՝ լաւագոյն ուղենիշը այդ շրջակայքին մէջ։shapat' orə katsink' andarr yev voroshetsink' yert'al ughigh janabarhov Ges zham yedk' hasgtsank', vor moloradz enk'. shurchpolorə nuyn dzarrern ein Herrun gə lsuer kedin tsaynə, yev menk' katsink' tebi ayn goghm Antsank' ingadz keranin goghk'ov, yedk'ə t'up'erun michov hasank' churin Kedin yezrin ganknadz er hin chraghatsə lavakuyn ughenishə ayt shrchagayk'in mechOn Saturday we went to the forest and decided to go straight across. Half an hour later we realized we were lost: around there were identical trees. In the distance the noise of a river was heard, and we went in that direction. We passed a fallen log, then through the bushes came out to the water. On the edge of the river stood an old watermill — the best landmark in those parts.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- How did they decide to go?
- What did they hear in the distance?
- What did they pass?
- What stood on the edge of the river?
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.