The Nauryz holiday
A short in Kazakh 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. Nauryz is the biggest holiday, celebrated every year in March, and the whole country awaits it. A flag is hung on the…
Text
- Наурыз — жыл сайын наурыз айында тойланатын ең үлкен мереке, және оны бүкіл ел күтеді. Алаңға ту ілінеді, шеру өтеді, адамдар ұлттық киім киіп, халық биін билейді. Әжем таңертеңнен бастап қонақасы дайындайды, себебі бізге көп туыс келеді. Балалар сыйлық алады, ал ересектер бір-бірін құттықтап, дәстүр бойынша ақсақалдан бата сұрайды. Кешке жәрмеңке ашылып, отшашу болады.Nauryz is the biggest holiday, celebrated every year in March, and the whole country awaits it. A flag is hung on the square, a parade is held, people put on national costumes and dance a folk dance. Grandmother prepares a feast from the morning, because many relatives come to us. Children receive gifts, and adults congratulate one another and, by tradition, ask an elder for a blessing. In the evening a fair opens and there are fireworks.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- When is Nauryz celebrated?
- What do people do on the square?
- Why does grandmother cook from the morning?
- What happens in the evening?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Kazakh?
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.