Russiaphobia

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• gripping
• are you kidding me
• freaking out
• deal

• overreacting
• inexplicable
• panic
• mere

• hyperventilate
• guess what

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

A few weeks ago, Devan and Amanda got pretty worried when Beren starting eating and drinking things that she usually doesn’t. Maybe they were overreacting. After all, it’s not all that weird to try a new kind of soda.

But you know what is weird? A sudden and inexplicable fear of all things Russian. Watch as Beren panics at the mere mention of vodka and ballet.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Beren

Amanda

Devan

Jason

Marni:  Oh my God. Guess what?

Beren:  What?

Marni:  I just got tickets for the ballet and guess who’s going to be here?

Beren:  Who?

Marni:  Mikhail Baryshnikov. Do you want to go?

Beren:  No! No. No. No. I do not want to…No.

Marni:  I’m in love with Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Amanda:  Shhh! I’m trying to read this book, Crime and Punishment, by Dostoevsky. Is that how you say it?

Beren:  I don’t know. I have no idea. I don’t know.

Amanda:  It’s so gripping.

Beren:  I don’t know.

Devan:  Hey guys.

Beren:  I don’t know.

Devan:  Look! I brought borscht.

Beren:  What? Are you kidding? No! It’s hot in here. I feel sweaty.

Jason:  Does anyone want a vodka tonic?

Beren:  Oh my God!

Jason:  I’ve had way too many of these.

Beren:  I am freaking out.

Jason:  You want some?

Beren:  No. No, no, no, no.

Amanda:  What do I have to do for some peace and quiet around here?

Jason:  What was that all about?

Devan:  What is her deal?

Jason:  That was so weird.

Marni:  I don’t know.

Devan:  Does she not like vodka and borscht?

Marni:  And ballet? Who doesn’t love Baryshnikov?

Jason:  Yeah. Who doesn’t love borscht and vodka?

Marni:  And Dostoevsky?

Jason:  A crazy person.

Amanda:  Oh, is that how you say it?

Marni:  Yes.

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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