Weekly digest

To contact us Click HERE
1. The DATE 

The anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad.


The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade (блокада Ленинграда) was a prolonged military operation undertaken by the German Army Group North against Leningrad—historically and currently known as Saint Petersburg—in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. The siege started on 8 September 1941, when the last land connection to the city was severed. Although the Soviets managed to open a narrow land corridor to the city on 18 January 1943, lifting of the siege took place on 27 January 1944, 872 days after it began. It was one of the longest and most destructive sieges in history and overwhelmingly the most costly in terms of casualties. (from wikipedia) 

poster from RIA-novosti


more detailed information see in our next post 


2. Interesting personality.

Not many Russian still do not know Ivan Okhlobystin. Film director, writer, actor, politician, priest, father of a big family, creative director in 'Evroset', person of sharp mind and sharp tongue ...that is all about him. This week we had a chance to see him on a film of 1991 'The Leg' based on W.Faulker's story. In that far 1991 he appeared so young and energetic, that's interesting to see how he learnt to manage his energy - it's not  even a joke that he had a plan to participate in president's election on 2012, but not long before the due date he changed his mind. Well, honestly, why not??

Where to learn more about him?
In English and even more in Russian


Where to see now?
tv-series 'Interns' about the everyday life of young doctors. Okhlobystin plays a role of severe but loving mentor of interns.

Интерны, СериÑ� №96

По�ле долгих уговоров Купитмана Быков �огла�ил�� �делать �ебе ма�ку дл� лица. Люба в�е �то увидела и теперь требует за молчание �опроводить �еб� на танцы. Романенко решил, что Лобанов должен вернуть ему в�е долги.

3. Workshop with Russian mums.

Drawing a sheep with Kira Salimova



Step by step and comments (in Russian) 

4. Learning Russian. Introductory words to 'decorate' your Russian (words from here).

1) to express certainty or uncertainty (Уверенно�ть или неуверенно�ть)

• конечно, of course,  
• неÑ�омненно, no doubt 
• очевидно, it's obvious 
• безуÑ�ловно, of course,  
• разумеетÑ�Ñ�, of course,  
• Ñ�амо Ñ�обой разумеетÑ�Ñ�, it goes without saying 
• беÑ�Ñ�порно, no doubt (='no need to argue') 
• дейÑ�твительно, really 
• наверное, perhaps 
• возможно, possibly
• вероÑ�тно, probably 
• может, may be 
• может быть,,,
• кажетÑ�Ñ�, it seems that  
• видимо, it seems that ('it is seen that') 
• пожалуй, perhaps 
• в Ñ�амом деле, indeed
• думаю, I think 
• надеюÑ�ÑŒ, I hope
• полагаю, I suppose

Examples,

• СовÑ�ем Ñ�коро, безуÑ�ловно, птицы улетÑ�Ñ‚ на юг.
• Ð’ Ñ�то воÑ�креÑ�енье мы, возможно, пойдем на рыбалку.

Go here for more detailed information and exercises with keys