Moscow Lesson 5

Welcome to LIVE CONVERSATIONS “MOSCOW: Lesson 5!” Any questions or comments? Please write us at: support@realenglishnow.com

Please watch the video below. Remember: Don’t write anything. Just watch and listen. By the end of the lesson you will understand everything!

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Greg: So, this looks like a busy little street. Was this in….near your apartment? Or Red Square? Or…Where is this?

Mark: I don’t remember exactly where Old Arbat was. I don’t recall it being walking distance. I’m pretty sure we took the metro to get here. As far as I know…I mean, granted, Moscow is a gigantic city of, you know, ten million people or something. But I think this was the only purely (entirely) pedestrian street in the whole city. So, it was a pleasure to come here and not have to deal with traffic, and all that.

Greg: On the left, there’s a guy in a black shirt with yellow sleeves, striped, and behind him it looks like…Are those T-shirts —

Mark: Yeah.

Greg: — with Russian writing on them? Looks like CCP, or something. Is that…You…What is that?

Mark: CCCP is, uh, Russian letters for the USSR. That’s their version of USSR.

Greg: That’s what I was going to guess, actually. And…So those are T-shirts, or what?

Mark: Yeah, that’s…This is actually very touristy. So, if you look at the next picture you can see some of the things that they’re selling. These…You know, you go to any…You go to any touristy area, you’re going to get paintings by the local artists of local architecture, which is what the guy in the headphones is selling. And of course, if you go to the next picture after that, you’re going to get the most touristy thing of all, which are matryoshki (this is a Russian word). The…What we call nesting dolls. Where, you know, you open one, and inside there’s a slightly smaller one, and you open that… Are you familiar with Russian nesting dolls? [12:22]

Greg: Yeah, actually, I am. My friend Dave’s wife is Russian. And when she came from a trip back to Arizona, she brought some of these as a gift. And I thought they were pretty interesting the way they were…They, you know…One doll inside another, inside another, inside another. And it got really tiny. I think there were eight or ten, even (See Lesson 1 first word).

Mark: Yeah, it’s amazing how tiny they get and they still function, you know. What’s funny though is, you know, I live here now: I’ve never met a Russian person who has one. And I have been in dozens and dozens of Russian homes. You know, Russian people do not have these. These are only, as far as I understand, souvenirs.

Greg: Right. Do you know anything about the nesting dolls? Like, what…Why?! What’s…What’s the purpose, or what’s the history behind having a doll inside of a doll, inside of a doll? Does is represent something? Is there some deeper meaning? Or is it just something interesting?

Mark: That’s a good question. I mean, I’m looking at most of them. These are the babushki (russian word for grandmother), the grandmothers, you know? It’s definitely the shape of a grandmother. She’s wearing that kerchief over her head as all the babushkas wear, and she’s got the figure of an older, you know, grandmother. A babushka is a grandmother. So she’s got that figure of a grandmother. So, but yeah…I don’t know “one inside the other,” what that is symbolic of. That’s a good…another good question I don’t know the answer to.

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Mark: And in this last picture, this was—this was my first introduction to the joy of blini, which are crepes with red caviar. It was…Where we had it was on Old Arbat and it is—it was and it still is my favorite Russian meal. It’s just crepes — thin pancakes — and red caviar. Nothing else. And it’s—you know…I’m sure it’s kind of a love or hate it, but I love this meal.

Greg: Hmm…That’s interesting because I’ve been eating it for all this time and I didn’t know that that was actually caviar. I just thought it was salmon eggs.

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Step 1

Listen to Audio #1 below.
Listening before reading is very important. Please, DO NOT read the text yet. If you don’t understand the audio, that’s okay. Listen now, at least two times.

step2

Click below (where it says, ‘Click to reveal #1’) and compare the sentences. See the highlighted phrases? They both have the same meaning. But the 1st one is what students of English say. (For example: “I think, but I’m not certain”). The 2nd one is what native speakers say, (“as far as I know”). Listen one more time, and then go to Step #3.

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As far as I know = I think (but I’m not certain)

Remember, in these four groups of sentences below, a native speaker will usually use the 2nd version. So, "to draw a crowd" is the advanced phrase we want to learn.

I think, but I’m not certain, I’m the only Lithuanian at Harvard right now.
As far as I know, I’m the only Lithuanian at Harvard right now.

I think, but I’m not certain, she’s working.
As far as I know, she’s working.

I think, but I’m not certain, Chris is at home.
As far as I know, Chris is at home.

I think, but I’m not certain, Old Arbat is the only walking street in all of Moscow.
As far as I know, Old Arbat is the only walking street in all of Moscow.

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step3

Make a flashcard. Write one of the example sentences on your card, and underline the new word. On the other side of the card, write the translation in your first language. Please make these flashcards now, as you go through the lesson. Then repeat Steps 1 – 3 for each word below.

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to deal with = to tolerate

Remember, the 2nd version (using "to deal with") is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences.

I can’t tolerate the noise in this dormitory anymore. I’m going to the library.
I can’t deal with the noise in this dormitory anymore. I’m going to the library.

If you can’t tolerate the pressure, you should quit your job.
If you can’t deal with the pressure, you should quit your job.

I can’t tolerate my boss.
I can’t deal with my boss.

It was a pleasure to come to Old Arbat Street and not have to tolerate traffic.
It was a pleasure to come to Old Arbat Street and not have to deal with traffic.

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dozens of = many

I have many recipes for chocolate cake.
I have dozens of recipes for chocolate cake.

Our company has many websites.
Our company has dozens of websites.

My friend has many games on his computer.
My friend has dozens of games on his computer.

I have been in many Russian homes and have never seen a nesting doll.
I have been in dozens of Russian homes and have never seen a nesting doll.

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figure = body, or body shape (usually regarding a woman)

That woman sure has a beautiful body.
That woman sure has a beautiful figure.

My wife doesn’t like her body, but I I think she looks great.
My wife doesn’t like her figure, but I I think she looks great.

She has the body of a weightlifter.
She has the figure of a weightlifter.

This nesting doll has the body shape of a Russian grandmother.
This nesting doll has the figure of a Russian grandmother.

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the joy of = the pleasure of

One of the pleasures of working at home is being able to spend more time with your kids.
One of the joys of working at home is being able to spend more time with your kids.

Children are the pleasure of life.
Children are the great joy of life.

It was a pleasure singing in that choir.
It was a joy singing in that choir.

This was my first introduction to the pleasure of Russian crepes.
This was my first introduction to the joy of Russian crepes.

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you either love it or hate it = people really like or really dislike

Rap music is usually something that people either really like or really dislike.
Rap music is usually something that you either love it or hate it.

Golf is a sport that people either really like or really dislike.
Golf is a sport that you either love it or hate it.

Broccoli: People either really like it or really dislike it.
Broccoli: You either love it or hate it.

Caviar is one of those things that people either love or hate, but I love red caviar.
Caviar is one of those things that you either love it or hate it, but I love red caviar.

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Step 1.

First, read the “Easy” sentence. Then, try to think of the advanced expression that we learned which has the same meaning as the highlighted expression.

Easy: I think, but I’m not certain, I’m the only Lithuanian at Harvard right now.

Advanced: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ , I’m the only Lithuanian at Harvard right now.

Step 2.

Play the audio file to check your answer.

Step 3.

Play the audio again, and repeat, until you can say it from memory.

Step 4.

Repeat Steps 1 – 3 for each set below.

Easy: I can’t tolerate the noise in this dormitory anymore. I’m going to the library.
Advanced: I can’t ___ ___ the noise in this dormitory anymore. I’m going to the library.

Easy: I have many recipes for chocolate cake.
Advanced: I have ___ ___ recipes for chocolate cake.

Easy: That woman sure has a beautiful body.
Advanced: That woman sure has a beautiful ___ .

Easy: One of the pleasures of working at home is being able to spend more time with your kids.
Advanced: One of ___ ___ ___ working at home is being able to spend more time with your kids.

Easy: Rap music is usually something that people either really like or really dislike.
Advanced: Rap music is usually something that ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ .