Week 44, Lesson 87, Monday
Your A2 in three minutes
Six months fit in one talk. Build it today, check it against the five most common A2 mistakes, and practise it like the speaking part of the exam.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 43, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can talk about myself for three minutes, across travel, health, shopping, weather, plans and work.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- A model talk
- The top five mistakes
A model talk
Your A2 talk has four parts. Two sentences each, and you have three minutes.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Меня́ зову́т Ба́йрон. Я рабо́таю ме́неджером в ба́нке. | My name is Byron. I work as a manager at a bank. |
| Ле́том я е́здил в Каза́нь: я купи́л биле́т, прие́хал у́тром и жил в гости́нице. | In the summer I went to Kazan: I bought a ticket, arrived in the morning and stayed in a hotel. |
| Там я заболе́л, но врач сказа́л, что мне на́до про́сто отдыха́ть. | I fell ill there, but the doctor said I just needed to rest. |
| Я люблю́ ходи́ть по магази́нам: вчера́ я купи́л си́нюю ку́ртку, она́ была́ деше́вле, чем в це́нтре. | I like shopping: yesterday I bought a blue jacket; it was cheaper than in the centre. |
| Моё люби́мое вре́мя го́да — о́сень. | My favourite season is autumn. |
| Е́сли в суббо́ту бу́дет со́лнечно, мы пое́дем за́ город. | If it's sunny on Saturday, we'll go out of town. |
| А вы? Расскажи́те о себе́! | And you? Tell me about yourself! |
Swap in your own life; every line uses A2 grammar.
The top five mistakes
| Not this | But this |
|---|---|
| два биле́т | два биле́та |
| боли́т но́ги | боля́т но́ги |
| пять ты́сячи | пять ты́сяч |
| е́сли дождь, оста́лись | е́сли бу́дет дождь, оста́немся |
| был учи́тель | был учи́телем |
Each breaks one rule: after два, боля́т for several, ты́сяча counts, е́сли with the future, and the instrumental after был.

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: Three minutes
In a long talk, breathe at the full stops, not mid-phrase.
- Расскажи́те о себе́. [ras-ka-ZHI-tye a si-BYE]
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Расскажи́те о себе́.Tell me about yourself.
- А вы?And you?
- Мо́жно вопро́с?May I ask a question?
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
Меня́ зову́т Ба́йрон. Я рабо́таю ме́неджером в ба́нке.
My name is Byron. I work as a manager at a bank.
Ле́том я е́здил в Каза́нь: я купи́л биле́т, прие́хал у́тром и жил в гости́нице.
In the summer I went to Kazan: I bought a ticket, arrived in the morning and stayed in a hotel.
Там я заболе́л, но врач сказа́л, что мне на́до про́сто отдыха́ть.
I fell ill there, but the doctor said I just needed to rest.
Я люблю́ ходи́ть по магази́нам: вчера́ я купи́л си́нюю ку́ртку, она́ была́ деше́вле, чем в це́нтре.
I like shopping: yesterday I bought a blue jacket; it was cheaper than in the centre.
Моё люби́мое вре́мя го́да — о́сень.
My favourite season is autumn.
Е́сли в суббо́ту бу́дет со́лнечно, мы пое́дем за́ город.
If it's sunny on Saturday, we'll go out of town.
А вы? Расскажи́те о себе́!
And you? Tell me about yourself!
Расскажи́те о себе́.
Tell me about yourself.
А вы?
And you?
Мо́жно вопро́с?
May I ask a question?
6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Give the talk, then answer four questions in full sentences.
Екатери́на
- Play the examiner; interrupt once.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write the first three sentences of your A2 talk.
See a model answer
Меня́ зову́т Ба́йрон. Я рабо́таю ме́неджером. Ле́том я е́здил в Каза́нь.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 87.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can talk about myself for three minutes, across travel, health, shopping, weather, plans and work.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 87 on Tuesday: write your A2 talk.
I can talk about myself for three minutes, across travel, health, shopping, weather, plans and work.