Learning a foreign language is an interesting, exciting, multi-level process. It can be compared to a journey through a new country.

The more you get to know a country, the better you understand the history, traditions, culture and mentality of the people living in it.

The deeper your knowledge of a foreign language, the more ways to improve it you have.

Learning a foreign language is an interesting, exciting, multi-level process. It can be compared to a journey through a new country.

The more you get to know a country, the better you understand the history, traditions, culture and mentality of the people living in it.

The deeper your knowledge of a foreign language, the more ways to improve it you have.

One such path is the study of poetry.

And today I would like to present you a poem by one of my favorite Ukrainian poets Lina Kostenko “By the Way.”

The poem was translated by one of my best students, Hannah Buggeln.


There will be seasons

Of bleak and gloom

Even then—for you I’ll shine

Another? Worth not a dime

Some have said and known me:

Reckless, feckless, heartless, toxic

I won’t go on, the point is spent

Forever, though, I promise, only good intent

Without example, without a vision

I have stood defenseless, jumbled

The world, my soul it fumbled

I’ve reached out to others – luckier far than I

My hidden soul, bruised and battered

I showed a mere veneer of glee,

Though not one could see.

This life I’d call a minefield

I ask now this generation

A common courtesy, simple but firm:

–Treat each other gently and with care

And if they’d listen, I’d add, intently:

–There is much too darkness already,

For one another shine ever brightly!


As you have noticed, the poem is divided into logical parts.

This was done for the convenience of working with the text.

Study each part of the poem separately.


МІЖ ІНШИМ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTgR0OddApE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4xc8tgCs0c (read by teacher)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVuB_OEHRe4 (read by poet) – slowest

After the title of the poem you can see a link to the video.

By clicking on the link, you will be able to open the video and listen to the poem performed by a native speaker.


сивий – gray (poem: older)

мряка – drizzle (poem: “bad weather”)

ніякий – whatever, neither, no, (poem: nothing special)

лихий – malevolent, black hearted

впертий – stubborn

відьма – witch

кобра – cobra

навіть – even (if)

між іншим – by the way

відверто – openly

дурнаignorant, thoughtless, foolish, naive  (does things for others, but can’t do for oneself)

безборонний – defenseless

несинхронний – non-synchronous

іронія – irony

ліктик – elbow

галактика – galaxy

міщанське кодло – petty bourgeois (neg. connotation, no conscience/without deep thought & compassion, obsessed with social/monetary status)

захлинатися – захлинутися лихом – to choke with grief (drowning in water, choking on water)

душаsoul

виходити – вийти між люди – to go out between people

забинтований – bandaged

білий сміх – white laughter

мінне поле – minefield

в цьому сторіччі – in this century

хоч би – at least

будьте взаємно ввічливі – be polite to each other

моя воля –  my will

курсив – cursive

горе – grief

будьте взаємно красивими – be mutually beautiful


As you have noticed, the poem is divided into logical parts.

This was done for the convenience of working with the text.

Study each part of the poem separately.

After the title of the poem you can see a link to the video.

By clicking on the link, you will be able to open the video and listen to the poem performed by a native speaker.

And now let’s talk in terms of languages learning about how best to work with poetry to benefit most from it.

  1. First, read the new words with the translations and try to memorize them. Pay attention to where the emphasis is and the correct pronunciation.
  2. Then read each strophe and translate it yourself.
  3. Now read aloud that portion of the poem.
  4. Listen to that part of the poem on the video. When listening for the first time, look at the text.
  5. The second time, listen to the part of the poem without the text. Compare your perception and understanding of this part by ear.
  6. Listen to the video and repeat after it. Try to copy the pronunciation and intonation of the native speaker.
  7. Study each part of the poem according to the previously mentioned algorithm.
  8. Compare your translation with the translation of Hannah Buggeln.
  9. Now listen to the poem in its entirety and enjoy it.
  10. You can memorize it if you want. But even if you don’t, your vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening skills will improve significantly.

Sincerely yours, Tamila and Hannah.

25 Replies to “Lina Kostenko: A Ukrainian heart for the Ukrainian soul”

  1. I thought it was going to be some boring old post, but it really compensated for my time. I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.

  2. After checking out a number of the blog articles on your website, I honestly like your technique of blogging. I added it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my website as well and tell me how you feel. Marlo Alistair Spindell

  3. Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your theme. Thanks Libby Lemuel Irisa

  4. Took me time for you to read all the observations, but I truly enjoyed the post. It proved to be in actuality helpful to me and I’m sure to all of the commenters right here! It’s usually huge when you can not just be informed, but additionally engaged! I’m certain you had enjoyable writing this write-up.

  5. Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it,
    you might be a great author. I will be sure to bookmark your blog
    and may come back very soon. I want to encourage continue your great posts, have a
    nice evening!

  6. I admire the valuable information and facts you provide inside your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and also have my youngsters examine up here often. Im very sure they will learn a lot of new things here than anyone else!

  7. Thankx so much for this! I havent been this thrilled by a post for a long period of time! Youve got it, whatever that means in blogging. Anyway, You are certainly someone that has something to say that people need to hear. Keep up the good job. Keep on inspiring the people!

  8. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon our weblog
    and wanted tto say that I have truly loved broesing your blog posts.
    In any case I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I’m hoping you write once more soon!

    Check out my web-site … Leonore

  9. Can I just say what a relief to discover someone that truly understands what they are discussing on the internet.
    You definitely know how to bring an issue to light
    and make it important. More and more people really need to look at this
    and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that
    you’re not more popular since you most certainly have the gift.

  10. I simply want to mention I am very new to blogging and site-building and really liked this web blog. Very likely I’m likely to bookmark your blog . You actually come with good writings. Appreciate it for sharing with us your blog site.

  11. It’s really a nice and useful piece of info.
    I am happy that you just shared this useful information with us.
    Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *