Today’s spoonful is going to consist of a useful Russian phrase and a poem in Russian. Don’t worry if you don’t understand the poem. The reason for reading out loud is so that you can get more familiar with the Russian sounds. As you’ve probably noticed I started this podcast with the expression Добрый день translated as ‘Good afternoon’. There is also Доброе утро (‘Good morning’) and Добрый вечер (‘Good evening’). So when is the appropriate time of the day to use these expressions? Most Russians use the following time frames for them. For example, use Доброе утро from 6am till noon. Use Добрый день from noon till 6pm...and Добрый вечер is used anytime past 6pm and before bedtime. Now here’s your chance to practice saying Доброе утро, Добрый день, and Добрый вечер in Russian. First I say the phrase, then you’ll hear a sound - that will be your prompt to repeat the phrase after me. Then I repeat the phrase one last time, so you can check your pronunciation. Давайте начнем. Let’s begin. Доброе утро Добрый день Добрый вечер Замечательно! Wonderful! And now for the poem. I will be reading one of the most popular poems written by Sergei Esenin in 1913. It’s called БЕРЕЗА (The Birch-Tree). It was part of my middle school program, and I can still recite it by memory. The Birch-Tree Just below my window Stands a birch-tree white, Under snow in winter Gleaming silver bright. On the fluffy branches Sparkling in a row Dangle pretty tassels Of the purest snow There the birch in silence Slumbers all day long And the snow gleams brightly In the golden sun. And the dawn demurely Going on its rounds With a silver mantle Decks again the boughs (translation by Peter Tempest) This is your spoonful of Russian for today. I encourage you, my Listener, to leave me a voicemail. It can be a question, a comment, a suggestion. Your feedback and ratings on iTunes means a lot to me. I read every single comment. It just makes my day. До свидания and stay hungry for the next Spoonful of Russian! - Leave a quick voicemail calling: 209-980-7877 (209-980-RUSS) - For longer question email: [email protected] - twitter: @russianspoonful (with hashtag #askNataliaW ) - YouTube: youtube.com/spoonfulofrussian