காணாமல் போன பெட்டி
A short text in Tamil 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. Yesterday I went to the airport. I took one suitcase and a backpack with me. At check-in I was given a window seat. But…
Text
- நேற்று நான் விமான நிலையத்துக்கு போனன். ஒரு பெட்டியும் ஒரு முதுகுப் பையும் கொண்டு போனன். விமானப் பதிவில எனக்கு ஜன்னல் இருக்கை கிடைச்சது. ஆனா விமானம் ரெண்டு மணி நேரம் தாமதம். கொழும்பில என் பெட்டி வரேல்லை. நான் அங்கே சொன்னன், அவை நாளைக்கு வீட்டுக்கு அனுப்புறம் எண்டு சொன்னினம். கைச் சாமான் மட்டும் என்னட்ட இருந்தது.nēṟṟu nāṉ vimāṉa nilaiyattukku pōṉaṉ. oru peṭṭiyum oru mudugup paiyum koṇḍu pōṉaṉ. vimāṉap padivila eṉakku jaṉṉal irukkai kiḍaiccadu. āṉā vimāṉam reṇḍu maṇi nēram tāmadam. koḻumbila eṉ peṭṭi varēllai. nāṉ aṅgē soṉṉaṉ, avai nāḷaikku vīṭṭukku aṉuppuṟam eṇḍu soṉṉiṉam. kaic sāmāṉ maṭṭum eṉṉaṭṭa irundadu.Yesterday I went to the airport. I took one suitcase and a backpack with me. At check-in I was given a window seat. But the flight was delayed by two hours. In Colombo my suitcase did not arrive. I said so there, and I was told it would be sent to my home tomorrow. Only my hand luggage remained with me.
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 he take with him?
- Which seat was he given?
- What happened in Colombo?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Tamil?
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.