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Parent guide · Grade 3 Russian · Unit 1

Lesson 1.2 Меня́ зову́т…: Introducing Yourself

Written for the parent. The Read aloud parts are written to your child; read them as they are. Do this parts are for you. Answers for you are marked Listen for.

At a glance

Time
3 sessions of 20–30 minutes
Goal
Introduce yourself in Russian. Ask someone’s name politely and in a friendly way. Say where you are from.
You need
  • Paper or cardstock
  • Markers
  • A photo or self-portrait
  • Tape or a safety pin
  • A sketchbook or plain paper, and crayons
  • A King James Bible
Print
Worksheet A · the lesson page (it also has a short video (3:47))

Steps

  1. Do this together: Greet a parent politely and ask Как дела́? Now imagine you are meeting a Russian family for the first time. What will you tell them about yourself? Today you learn how.

  2. Read aloud: The story. Through the prophet Isaiah, God spoke to His people Israel: Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. God does not know us only as a crowd. He knows each person by name. When you tell someone your name, remember that God knew it first.

    Read aloud: How Russian works. Russians do not say “my name is”. They say Меня́ зову́т, “they call me”: Меня́ зову́т Са́ра. To ask a grown-up, say Как вас зову́т? and to ask a child, Как тебя́ зову́т? After the names, both people say О́чень прия́тно! (nice to meet you).

    Read aloud: Where are you from? Отку́да ты? or Отку́да вы? means where are you from. Answer with Я из and a place: Я из Аме́рики (from America), Я из Теха́са (from Texas), Я из Москвы́ (from Moscow). After из the name of the place changes its ending a little; for now, learn it as a whole phrase.

  3. Do this: Say each word clearly; your child says it back twice. Point to a picture or the real thing when you can.

    • меня́ зову́т (menya zovut) [mee-NYAH zah-VOOT]: my name is
    • как вас зову́т? (kak vas zovut?) [kahk vahs zah-VOOT]: what is your name?
    • о́чень прия́тно (ochen priyatno) [OH-cheen pree-YAHT-nuh]: nice to meet you
    • я из Аме́рики (ya iz Ameriki) [yah eez ah-MYEH-ree-kee]: I am from America
    • отку́да (otkuda) [aht-KOO-duh]: where from

  4. Show: You meet a Russian grandmother at church. Introduce yourself and ask her name.

    Say this: “She is a grown-up: use вы.”

    Say this: “Greeting, your name, then Как вас зову́т?”

    Answer: Здра́вствуйте! Меня́ зову́т … Как вас зову́т?

    Show: A boy says Меня́ зову́т Ми́ша. What do you say back?

    Say this: “Tell him your name.”

    Say this: “Add nice to meet you.”

    Answer: Меня́ зову́т … О́чень прия́тно!

  5. Do this: Ask out loud. Let your child try first; help only after a real try.

    Ask: Say your name in Russian.

    Listen for: Меня́ зову́т … (your name).

    Ask: Say nice to meet you in Russian.

    Listen for: О́чень прия́тно!

    Ask: Say I am from America.

    Listen for: Я из Аме́рики.

    3 more on the lesson page.

  6. Read aloud: Make a name badge and a little “passport” page about yourself in Russian.

    Steps:

    1. Make a badge: write Меня́ зову́т … and your name in Cyrillic with a parent’s help.
    2. Fold a paper in half for a passport. Glue your photo or draw yourself inside.
    3. Write: Меня́ зову́т … Я из … (your country or state).
    4. Wear the badge and introduce yourself to three family members, who answer О́чень прия́тно!

    Tips for you:

    • Write your name in Cyrillic: Sarah is Са́ра, John is Джон, Grace is Грейс, Daniel is Дэ́ниел.

    Done when your child can say:

    • My badge and passport are in Russian.
    • I can introduce myself without looking.

  7. Do this: Your child picks one or more; you write the date.

    1. In your notebook, write a three-line introduction: a greeting, Меня́ зову́т …, Я из …. Then write the two ways to ask a name.

  8. Read aloud: Russians have three names: a first name, a patronymic made from the father’s name, and a family name. A boy named Ива́н whose father is Пётр is Ива́н Петро́вич. His sister О́льга is О́льга Петро́вна. Grown-ups are politely called by first name and patronymic together.

    • Saying Моё и́мя… for my name is. It is correct but stiff; Russians say Меня́ зову́т….
    • Using тебя́ with a grown-up you do not know. Ask Как вас зову́т?

  10. A parent pretends to be a famous Bible person or a character from a book and enters saying Здра́вствуйте! The student asks Как вас зову́т? and Отку́да вы? The guest answers in Russian (Меня́ зову́т Дави́д. Я из Вифлее́ма.) and the student guesses.

  11. Say this: “Tell me what you learned today.”

    Listen for: Introduce yourself in Russian.; Ask someone’s name politely and in a friendly way.; Say where you are from.

  12. But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

    Isaiah 43:1 (KJV)

    Russian Synodal Bible (1876): <i class="ru-bible" lang="ru">назвал тебя по имени твоему; ты Мой</i> God knows each of His people by name. Your name matters to Him.

Spread over the week

3 sessions of 20–30 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

  1. Session 1. Warm-up, then read and teach the new idea and the new words. Show how.
  2. Session 2. Practice together, then start the project. Finish the project, then the sketchbook.
  3. Session 3. Narration, the game and the Scripture.