Sosed, ki drži besedo
A short in Slovenian text at level B1. 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. Our neighbor is withdrawn and doesn’t talk much with anyone. At first we thought he was vain, but it turned out he is…
Text
- Naš sosed je zaprt vase in z nikomer ne govori veliko. Sprva smo mislili, da je samovšečen, a se je izkazalo, da je samo sramežljiv. Ko nam je pozimi počila cev, je bil ob petih zjutraj že pri roki z orodjem. Nikoli se ni hvalil in ni pričakoval, da mu bomo dali pohvalo. Ljudje v bloku so ga prej opravljali, zdaj pa ga imajo za človeka, ki drži besedo. Z ženo sva se z njim počasi ujela in zdaj se pogovarjamo kot enak z enakim.Our neighbor is withdrawn and doesn’t talk much with anyone. At first we thought he was vain, but it turned out he is simply shy. When our pipe burst in winter, he was already there at five in the morning with his tools. He never boasted and never expected praise. People in the building used to gossip about him, and now they consider him a man who keeps his word. My wife and I gradually got along with him and now talk as equals.
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 the neighbor seem like at first?
- What turned out to be the truth?
- What did he do when the pipe burst?
- How did the neighbors’ attitude change?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Slovenian?
B1. 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.