How I am learning the language
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. A year has passed since I started learning Kazakh on my own. I memorize ten words a day, and once a month I take a test…
Text
- Қазақ тілін өз бетімше үйрене бастағаныма бір жыл болды. Күніне он сөз жаттаймын, ал айына бір рет тіл деңгейін тексеретін тест тапсырамын. Ең қиыны — естіп түсіну: жазғанды түсінемін, бірақ жылдам сөйлегенде шатасып кетемін. Мұғалім маған ескерту жасады: «Грамматиканы қуып кетпе, көбірек сөйле», — деді. Әр жолы жақсырақ шығып жатыр, сондықтан жарты жолда тастағым келмейді.A year has passed since I started learning Kazakh on my own. I memorize ten words a day, and once a month I take a test of my language level. The hardest thing is listening comprehension: I understand what is written, but when people speak fast I get confused. The teacher made me a remark: "Do not chase grammar, speak more," he said. It turns out better each time, so I do not want to quit halfway.
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 long has the narrator been learning the language?
- How many words does he learn a day?
- What is hardest for him?
- What did the teacher advise?
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.