Renting a flat
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. We looked for a flat close to the new job, and the agent showed us three options. The first flat was cheap and bright…
Text
- Жаңа жұмысқа жақын пәтер іздедік және риелтор үш нұсқа көрсетті. Бірінші пәтер арзан әрі жарық еді, бірақ жиһазы жоқ болатын. Екіншісі жиһазды, алайда жалдау ақысы тым қымбат: айына үш жүз мың теңге. Үшінші пәтерді қарауға барғанда, ас үйде құбыр ағып тұрғанын байқадық — иесі жөндеуге уәде берді. Ақыры сол пәтерді таңдап, бір жылға жалдау шартына қол қойдық және сенбіде көшіп кірдік.We looked for a flat close to the new job, and the agent showed us three options. The first flat was cheap and bright, but had no furniture. The second was furnished, but the rent was too high: three hundred thousand tenge a month. When we came to see the third flat, we noticed a leaking pipe in the kitchen — the owner promised to fix it. In the end we chose that very flat, signed a one-year rental contract and moved in on Saturday.
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 many options did the agent show?
- Why did the first flat not fit?
- What did they notice in the third flat?
- For what term did they sign the contract?
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.