Learn Russian with “Masha and the Bear”

No matter how old a person is, when learning a foreign language, everyone goes through the same experiences as in childhood. What do all kids like most (after ice cream and computer games)? Right, cartoons! If you are in the process of studying Russian, why not try an animated television series "Маша и медведь" (“Masha and the Bear”)? It’s about the adventures of a mischievous little girl, and a patient, kind bear.

Why just this one? Let’s look:
1. Each story is short (7 min.), so you won’t get bored.
2. There are no long sentences. Even a beginner should be able to get the meaning.
3. It’s funny. Really funny!
4. Those with a higher level of Russian will find a lot of idioms and useful words widely used in modern speech.

I'll show you, in this example, how the work with this cartoon serial can be managed. First read all phrases and try to translate them. Then watch the cartoon, and check if everything was understood. After that, you may read the comments which I've prepared for you.

Маша+Каша

Давненько не брала я в руки шашек!

Эй, вратарь, готовься к бою!

Ура! Ещё гол! Два ноль в пользу наших. Гол! Гол! Три ноль в пользу наших.

Мишка, мы наигрались. Есть хотим.

Ой, это чо? Каша что ли? Фу. Нееее…я и вкусней накашеварю.

Ух ты, вот это каша!

Мишка, я все оттерла. Есть хочу.

Чо опять?! А ничего другого нету?

Ох, и заварила я кашу!

And here is the cartoon: Cartoon

Comments:

First of all what’s the kasha? I’d translate it as a mash. The dictionary gives such variants of translation:

каша - (кушанье из вареной крупы) hot / cooked cereal; porridge; kasha

жидкая каша — gruel

манная каша — cooked semolina; cream of wheat

гречневая каша — boiled buckwheat, kasha

рисовая каша — cream of rice

овсяная каша — porridge

The word kasha came in American English from Jewish immigrants and mostly it was used talking about the whole roasted buckwheat. In Slavic Europe kasha was one of the oldest known dishes. It could be made from any cereal: wheat or oats, barley, buckwheat, millet and rye.

It is no coincidence that in many Russian fairy tales, songs and proverbs one finds the kasha. About a stubborn person they say "you never make kasha with him". Kasha was a necessary part of everyday life and a feast. Russian proverb says: "Schi and kasha are our meal". At present the diversity of cookery coming in our life with the globalization process diminished the role of this traditional dish.

Давненько не брала я в руки шашек! - In fact, it is a long time since last I had the checkers in my hand! (Here is the game of words. In Russian шашки (the checkers) means also the plural of shashka (sabre).

Эй, вратарь, готовься к бою! - Hey, goalkeeper, prepare for battle! (This is the first line from the famous sport march of Dunaievsky, where the goalkeeper is compared with a watch on the border. Every Russian heard this Song  hundred times. Here you can find the text of this song, if you’re curious.   The film where this song sounded was filmed in 1936. It’s the story of a simple guy who worked in a kolkhoz, carrying watermelons on the boats. Just thanks to the watermelons, he was told that he could become a good goalkeeper and play football.)

Ура! Ещё гол! Два ноль в пользу наших. Гол! Гол! Три ноль в пользу наших. - Hurray! One more goal! Two to zero for us. Goal! Goal! Three to zero for us.

Мишка, мы наигрались. Есть хотим.  - Bear, we’ve played enough. We are hungry.

Ой, это чо? Каша что ли? Фу. Нееее…я и вкусней накашеварю. - Oh, and what’s this? Mash or something? Ugh. Nooooo ... I’ll cook a better one. (Kasha always was one of the main Russian dishes that’s why this word is often used in idioms. Накашеварю (кашеварить – to cook not only kasha but anything).

Ух ты, вот это каша! - Wow, what a kasha! (But the same time it can mean what a mess!)

Мишка, я все оттерла. Есть хочу. - Bear, I’ve cleaned everything. I’m hungry.

Чо опять?! А ничего другого нету? - Why again ?! Haven't we got anything else? (Чо is the informal form of Что? (What?) Long time it was considered poorly to use it but now one can hear it everywhere.)

Ох, и заварила я кашу! - Oh, and I’ve made such a mess! (Заварить кашу it means “stir up trouble, make a mess”. For example, it’s possible to say:  Ну, и заварил он кашу! — hasn't he made a mess of it?, he has made a fine mess of it!)