Week 72, Lesson 143, Monday
Your favourite holiday
One talk uses the whole month: a holiday, how it's celebrated, a custom or two, and a dream with бы.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 71, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can talk about a holiday for two minutes, describe customs fairly and say what I would do in Russia.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- A model talk
- The month's top mistakes
A model talk
Your holiday talk has four parts.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Мой люби́мый пра́здник — Но́вый год. | My favourite holiday is New Year. |
| Мы встреча́ем его́ с семьёй: у нас большо́й у́жин и пода́рки. | We see it in with the family: a big dinner and presents. |
| В по́лночь мы зага́дываем жела́ние. | At midnight we make a wish. |
| В Росси́и в э́ту ночь бьют кура́нты, а на столе́ стои́т ёлка. | In Russia the chimes strike that night, and there is a tree. |
| Е́сли бы я был в Москве́ на Ма́сленицу, я бы ел блины́ ка́ждый день. | If I were in Moscow for Ма́сленица, I'd eat blini every day. |
| А в гостя́х я бы обяза́тельно снял о́бувь и сказа́л тост за хозя́ев. | And as a guest I'd certainly take off my shoes and toast the hosts. |
| А како́й ваш люби́мый пра́здник? | And what is your favourite holiday? |
Swap in your own favourite holiday; every line uses this month's Russian.
The month's top mistakes
| Not this | But this |
|---|---|
| С Но́вый год! | С Но́вым го́дом! |
| Е́сли бы я зна́ю | Е́сли бы я знал |
| Я бы хочу́ | Я бы хоте́л |
| на ва́ше ме́сто | на ва́шем ме́сте |
| за хозя́ева | за хозя́ев |
Each breaks one rule: с + the instrumental, the past form after бы, хоте́л after бы, на ва́шем ме́сте, and за хозя́ев.

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: A holiday voice
Greetings rise at the end: С Но́вым го́дом!
- Жела́ю вам сча́стья! [zhi-LA-yu vam SHCHAS-t'ya]
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.
- Мой люби́мый пра́здник — …My favourite holiday is …
- Жела́ю вам сча́стья!I wish you happiness!
- А како́й ваш?And yours?
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
Мой люби́мый пра́здник — Но́вый год.
My favourite holiday is New Year.
Мы встреча́ем его́ с семьёй: у нас большо́й у́жин и пода́рки.
We see it in with the family: a big dinner and presents.
Жела́ю вам сча́стья!
I wish you happiness!
обяза́тельно
В по́лночь мы зага́дываем жела́ние.
At midnight we make a wish.
В Росси́и в э́ту ночь бьют кура́нты, а на столе́ стои́т ёлка.
In Russia the chimes strike that night, and there is a tree.
Е́сли бы я был в Москве́ на Ма́сленицу, я бы ел блины́ ка́ждый день.
If I were in Moscow for Ма́сленица, I'd eat blini every day.
А в гостя́х я бы обяза́тельно снял о́бувь и сказа́л тост за хозя́ев.
And as a guest I'd certainly take off my shoes and toast the hosts.
А како́й ваш люби́мый пра́здник?
And what is your favourite holiday?
Мой люби́мый пра́здник — …
My favourite holiday is …
А како́й ваш?
And yours?
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 your holiday talk, then wish Екатери́на happiness and health.
Екатери́на
- Tell you about her favourite Russian holiday.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write the first three sentences of your holiday talk.
See a model answer
Мой люби́мый пра́здник — Но́вый год. Мы встреча́ем его́ с семьёй. В по́лночь мы зага́дываем жела́ние.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 143.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can talk about a holiday for two minutes, describe customs fairly and say what I would do in Russia.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 143 on Tuesday: your holiday talk.
I can talk about a holiday for two minutes, describe customs fairly and say what I would do in Russia.