Day 89: The Essay He Didn't Write
After a lesson at a school in Cheboksary, a literature teacher asks a pupil to stay behind to talk about his brilliant essay.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title.
- Read the dialogue and its translation. The audio for this lesson is coming soon.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Russian audio, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio for this lesson is coming soon. For now, read the dialogue and its translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day
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A
Денис, задержись на минутку. Прекрасное сочинение, особенно вот это место: «экзистенциальная тоска Онегина как зеркало эпохи».
Denis, stay behind for a minute. A wonderful essay, especially this bit: "Onegin's existential anguish as a mirror of the age".
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B
Спасибо, Сергей Александрович. Я старался, полночи над ним сидел.
Thank you, Sergei Alexandrovich. I worked hard on it, I sat up half the night.
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A
Верю. Тогда объясни своими словами, что такое экзистенциальная тоска и чем она отличается от обычной скуки.
I believe you. Then explain in your own words what existential anguish is and how it differs from ordinary boredom.
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B
Ну... это когда человеку тоскливо не просто так, а... глобально. Как бы в целом.
Well... it's when a person feels down not just for no reason, but... globally. Sort of in general.
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A
Глобально, значит. А знаешь ли ты, кто такой Чаадаев, на которого ты так уверенно ссылаешься?
Globally, I see. And do you know who Chaadaev is, the man you quote so confidently?
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B
Честно? Не знаю. Это нейросеть написала, а я только подписался.
Honestly? No, I don't. A chatbot wrote it, and I just put my name on it.
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A
Спасибо, что хоть не стал лукавить. Выбор такой: либо двойка за плагиат, либо завтра после уроков пишешь новое здесь, без телефона.
Thank you for at least not being sly about it. Here's your choice: either a fail for plagiarism, or tomorrow after school you write a new one here, without your phone.
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B
А если я напишу хуже, чем она? У неё всё так гладко и витиевато, а у меня так не выйдет.
And what if mine is worse than the chatbot's? Everything it writes is so smooth and ornate, and I can't do that.
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A
Пусть будет корявее, зато своё. Мне интересно, что думаешь ты, а не какой-то сервер неизвестно где.
Let it be clumsier, as long as it's yours. I'm interested in what you think, not some server who knows where.
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