Monday, November 17, 2008

Learning Ukrainian


It's been a while since I've written about Ukrainian lessons. We're still plugging away on Mondays. I don't know how much I'm learning, but Lena's doing great with English, and we're having fun! This week I've been listening to and reading The Mitten, a Ukrainian folk tale. (Funny. We have two versions of it in English in our children's books.) It's usually kind of hard for me to hear over the questions and noise around me, but my helpers and I have liked it. I've also been reading a biography of Taras Shevchenko*, written for children. I do great with that, reading quietly to myself. But then I have to painstakingly, painfully, slowly sound it out aloud for Lena to check. The words are close enough to Russian that I can easily guess at what they mean, but the pronunciation. . . mamochka! Our lessons are as much a time of fellowship as anything else, although, like I said, Lena is making progress. Oh, for the first time, tonight I asked her what a Ukrainian word meant, and instead of just blurting it out in Russian, she stopped, thought for a few minutes, then answered in English! Our Monday evenings are the highlight of my week.

(Raia and Asya enjoyed some time with Lena before lessons today. That's the photo above. )

*Taras Shevchenko was "a Ukrainian poet and artist, iconic figure of Ukrainian culture."

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Both Raia and Asya look so much older!

Love to all...

Baba Julie said...

I agree! They look BIGGER!! (I guess they are!!(: ) Beautiful! Love, Baba Julie

Matt said...

Oh my gosh! Asya is so big!!

Anonymous said...

I so agree with your Mom. And I just saw them! I need to try mamachka on my teacher. She has grown used to dagnabit. Keep up the good work and pass my hellos to Lena.

Caroline said...

Hi Phyllis, Thank you so much for your comment on my blog for Aaron and Kristin's wedding pictures! I am so glad you were able to see them even though you weren't able to be there. Though I have never met you, I have heard a lot about you through Shannon! Thanks again and God bless!

Anonymous said...

I just have to say I love the "autumn nature" of your blog these days. It's just beautiful!!! And so are your children.

Keep praying for my little Peanut to get head down soon. I got a chiropractic adjustment (almost by accident- I'll explain more later!) and baby has been moving a TON for about a week. Any time to turn would be a good one!

Love you!!

Anna said...

hmm, so I did feedburner, but it seems to only be letting people get a feed on their yahoo page etc. I was wanting it to be on the blogsite as well, like yours, so that people could add it from there. Any thoughts about what I did or need to do?

A day in the life... said...

Phyllis.. just wanted to say I miss you!! (sorry for the life of me can't find your e-mail address.... so sorry for a personal note on your site). We're doing good ~ I am just really trying to focus on schooling right now and it seems I can NOT multi-task anymore so at least I do school and feed the kids... and that's like IT! :) hah! We hope to be back in January.. hopefully before Orthodox Christmas. I've loved your last few posts.. the kids are so big and SO SWEET! I just want to pinch Asya's cheeks.. but I'm sure she gets enough of that from the local Babushkas.

Tell Jaan Caleb misses him.. I need to try to talk with you sometime on Skype and let the kiddos chat. Do you have fast internet?? Here's something we enjoyed watching today
ttp://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments.html
For some reason it made me think of Jaan :)
Much love~~!
Susan for the Beairds

Unknown said...

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