День 14 из 37: Тихо! Коты спят!
📚 Слова́ дня · Words of the day: 1 new – твой (твоя́, твоё) – and you can read it! And all your words from День 8–13 come back!
🔤 Бу́квы дня · Letters of the day: none – today we repeat. You know all 33 letters – count how many words you can read! 🎉
⏱ Part 1 = 15 minutes – everybody finishes it. Part 2 = more, only if you want. · 🗺️ All days
Stand up! Yesterday's homework: open your fingers one by one – «Раз, два, три, четы́ре, пять! Вот па́льцы!» 🖐️ – then wiggle them: «Я игра́ю!» 🎶
You remembered it – that is your first win today. Today is a review day: no new letters, only one small new thing – твой = your. And today we whisper – the cats are asleep. 🤫
- Don't read anything yet. Listen: Natasha whispers – why? 🤫
- Who eats the cheese – the mice or Scuffles? 🧀
- Who catches the mouse? 🐭
- Tap the words above to hear them.
Say every word aloud and show it – the gesture is under the picture. The movement falls on the loud syllable: ТВОЙ – give something to a friend with your palm up.
Tap the word to hear it. Tap the picture to open the word in the dictionary.
🎁 New today – and you can read it:
- мой = my (День 8) – твой = your. You say it to a friend or to your cat: твой сыр · твоя́ мышь · твоё я́блоко.
🔁 Old friends – the words of today's story, with the gestures you already know:
- Повтори́м! = Let's repeat! – the word of every review day. 🔁
- Ти́хо! = Quiet! – finger on your lips. You read it on День 9. 🤫
👂 Listen first – then read it. You can read every word! Give the thing with your palm up on «твой». 🎁
- Ната́ша: Сли́нки, э́то твоя́ мышь? 🐭
Сли́нки: Да! Моя́ мышь! — Ната́ша: Да! Так! 😊- Ната́ша: Ска́ффлз, э́то твоя́ ла́па? 🐾
Ска́ффлз: Да! Мой ла́па! — Ната́ша: Нет! Моя́ ла́па! — Ска́ффлз: Р-р-р… моя́ ла́па.- Ри́чард 👋: Ната́ша, э́то твоя́ ча́шка? ☕ — Ната́ша: Да, моя́! А где твоя́ кни́га? — Ри́чард: Вот моя́ кни́га! 📚
And you? Point at a thing of a friend (or of your cat): «Э́то твоя́ ми́ска!» – aloud, or just in your head. Both count. 😊 🌱 The seed of the day: твой / твоя́ / твоё = your. It changes like мой / моя́ / моё: твой сыр (он) · твоя́ мышь, твоя́ ла́па (она́) · твоё я́блоко (оно́). I say «моя́ ча́шка», you say «твоя́ ча́шка» – the same cup! Scuffles says «мой ла́па» – Natasha says «Нет!». Just copy – the rules come later.
Say the story aloud, with the actions. Whisper the quiet lines! Then play: do the action – say the word. Mix them up!
Ти́хо! Ти́хо! 🤫
Вот я́щик. Коты́ в я́щике. Коты́ спят. 📦😴
Вот па́льцы. Вот у́хо. Вот щека́. Вот плечо́. 🖐️
Вот хлеб. Вот сыр. Я́блоко, огуре́ц… и шокола́д! 🍞🧀🍏🥒🍫
Ой! Мышь! Мы́ши! Где коты́? – В я́щике. Коты́ спят! 🐭🐭
Мы́ши на столе́! Хлеб! Сыр! Я́блоко! 🎉
Сли́нки! Мышь! – Сли́нки – молоде́ц! 😸
Ска́ффлз! Мышь – там! А ты – сыр?! Нет, нет, нет! Брысь! 😼
👀 read it and say it – the proverb of the day: Без кота́ мыша́м раздо́лье. 🐭
👀 and Richard's saying – heard on День 8, read today: Век живи́ – век учи́сь! 📚
Ри́чард – ве́чный студе́нт! Молоде́ц! 👍
- Finger on your lips and whisper: Ти́хо! Коты́ спят! 🤫
- Touch and whisper: Вот па́льцы. Вот у́хо. Вот щека́. Вот плечо́. 🖐️
- Point at your things – Э́то мой чай. – and at a friend's thing: Э́то твоя́ ча́шка! ☕
- Speaking is optional – listening and doing count too.
Can you do it without the video? – Молоде́ц! Go to the tap quiz.
Guess, then tap. A wrong tap is not a mistake – it is a guess. 😊
Хорошо́! Молоде́ц! Two small things left – two minutes.
On День 8 you heard: О without stress sounds like «а». Today its little sisters:
- Е away from the loud syllable sounds like «и»: щека́ = «щика́», плечо́ = «пличо́», стена́ = «стина́», телефо́н = «тилифо́н».
- Я away from the loud syllable sounds like «и» too: язы́к (tongue) = «изы́к», пятно́ (a spot) = «питно́».
- On the loud syllable they stay clear: хлеб, нет, я́щик, спят.
- Read it with Е – say it with И. Whisper it, then say it loud: «Щика́! – ЩИКА́!» 😄
- 30 seconds, every day. The tongue is a muscle – this is aerobics. 💪
Tomorrow, point at your own things: «Э́то мой чай. Э́то моя́ ча́шка.» ☕ – then at a thing of your cat, or of a friend: «Э́то твоя́ ми́ска!» 🐈
That is the first minute of День 15. You already know it – so День 15 starts with a win.
You may stop here – see you tomorrow: День 15 · Где Ска́ффлз? В су́мке! ▶
«Мышь – ти́хо, кот – гро́мко!» – a mouse is small and quiet, a cat is big and loud. Mouse lines: whisper and make small moves with your fingers. Cat lines: say it loud with big moves. 👂 Listen and play – you can read every line!
| Say | Do |
|---|---|
| Мышь – ти́хо: пи-пи-пи. | whisper; two fingers run like a little mouse along your arm 🐭 |
| Кот – гро́мко: Мя́у! | loud; both hands up like big cat's paws on МЯ 🐈 |
| Па́льцы – ти́хо. | whisper; wiggle your fingers very small 🖐️ |
| Ру́ки – гро́мко: хлоп! | loud; one big clap on ХЛОП 👏 |
| Но́ги – ти́хо: топ… | whisper; one tiny step on tiptoe |
| Но́ги – гро́мко: ТОП! | loud; one big stamp on ТОП 🦶 |
| Коты́ спят – ти́хо! Хр-р-р… | finger on your lips, then hands under your cheek – snore! 😴 |
- Play it three times – a little faster each time.
- Gesture → word. Don't look at the cards. Make a gesture – say the word. Mixed order: 🤫 · 🐭 · 🧀 · 🖐️ · 📦 · 🍏 · 🚪 · 👂
- Yesterday comes back. Mix in four words from День 13: па́льцы 🖐️ · дверь 🚪 · соль 🧂 · мышь 🐭. Careful – мышь and па́льцы: for «мышь» two fingers run along your arm, for «па́льцы» wiggle all ten!
Saying a word quietly and then loudly is a little game for the voice – and every time you say it, you remember it better. 😄
Кот на кры́ше. 🏠🐈
Кто не слы́шал, 👂
Тот и вы́шел! 👉
Quieter, mice – the cat is on the roof. Who didn't hear – is out!
A folk rhyme. Gesture: finger on your lips on «ТИ́-ше», hands make a roof over your head on «КРЫ́-ше», hand to your ear on «СЛЫ́-шал», point at a friend (or your cat) on «ВЫ́-шел». ти́ше = quieter – from ти́хо, like in «Ти́ше е́дешь…» (День 1). You can read every word – but you don't have to learn it. Just say it and smile. 😊
Car alphabet – cars from А to Я: А́уди, Ла́да, Пежо́, Тойо́та…
You know all 33 letters – read every name yourself. Tap the title – the page opens; the bar at its top brings you back here.
Picture alphabet – little Maya says the alphabet: А – арбу́з, Б – ба́бочка, В – волк…
You know all 33 letters – one picture for each. Tap the title – the page opens; the bar at its top brings you back here.
Whose hands are these? – Natasha asks her student: Чей э́то нос? Мой и́ли твой? 😄
Today's word твой – твой нос, твоя́ рука́. Tap the title – the page opens; the bar at its top brings you back here.
You know all 33 letters. Read every word aloud, then tap it to check. Count the words you read! ✋
День 8: МОЙ · МОЯ́ · МОЁ · КОЛЬЦО́
День 9: РУ́КИ · НО́ГИ · ЛА́ПЫ · КОТЫ́ · СТОЛЫ́ · ТЫ · МЫ · У́ХО · ХЛЕБ · СЫР · РЫ́БА · МЫ́ЛО · СЫН · МУ́ХА · ХВОСТ · МАЙ · ТИ́ХО
День 10: ША́ПКА · ЧАЙ · ЧА́ШКА · ШОКОЛА́Д · АКВА́РИУМ · ПЛЕЧО́ · У́ШИ · ЖИВО́Т · ЩЕКА́ · ЖУК · КА́ША · ЩИ · ДУШ · ЧАС · ШКО́ЛА · МАШИ́НА · ЖУРНА́Л · ША́ХМАТЫ · ЧТО
День 11: ЛИЦО́ · МО́РДА · ЦВЕТО́К · ОГУРЕ́Ц · У́ЛИЦА · МОЛОДЕ́Ц · Э́ТО · ЭЙ · МОЛОДЦЫ́ · Э́ХО · ПТИ́ЦА · КУ́РИЦА · ПЕВЕ́Ц · ЭКРА́Н · СТО · СПАСИ́БО
День 12: Я · ПРА́ВАЯ · ЛЕ́ВАЯ · Я́БЛОКО · Я́ЩИК · ЁЖ · МЁД · МЯЧ · Ю́БКА · КЛЮЧ · ЛЮБЛЮ́
День 13: ПА́ЛЬЦЫ · ПА́ЛЕЦ · ДВЕРЬ · СОЛЬ · МЫШЬ · МЫ́ШИ · ДЕНЬ · НОЧЬ · ПЯТЬ · СЕМЬ · КОНЬ · ТЕТРА́ДЬ
День 14 – today: ТВОЙ · ТВОЯ́ · ТВОЁ · СПЯТ · ГРО́МКО · СТУДЕ́НТ · ВЕ́ЧНЫЙ · ВЕК
Now whole sentences:
ТИ́ХО! КОТЫ́ СПЯТ! · КОТЫ́ В Я́ЩИКЕ. · ОЙ! МЫШЬ! · МЫ́ШИ НА СТОЛЕ́! · ХЛЕБ! СЫР! Я́БЛОКО! · СЛИ́НКИ – МОЛОДЕ́Ц! · СКА́ФФЛЗ! МЫШЬ – ТАМ! А ТЫ – СЫР?! · СЛИ́НКИ, Э́ТО ТВОЯ́ МЫШЬ? – ДА! МОЯ́ МЫШЬ! · Э́ТО ТВОЯ́ ЧА́ШКА? – ДА, МОЯ́! · РИ́ЧАРД – ВЕ́ЧНЫЙ СТУДЕ́НТ!
👀 Richard's saying – it waited for the review day:
ВЕК ЖИВИ́ – ВЕК УЧИ́СЬ. (heard on День 8)
👀 And the proverb of the day:
БЕЗ КОТА́ МЫША́М РАЗДО́ЛЬЕ.
And sixteen proverbs. Two weeks ago you could not read one Russian word. Молоде́ц!
век = a hundred years, a whole life. ве́чный = for ever, everlasting – so a ве́чный студе́нт learns all his life, like Richard: «Век живи́ – век учи́сь!» 📚 ве́чно = always, for ever · ве́чность = eternity · наве́к = for ever. Careful: ве́чер (evening) looks like them, but it is from another family. Just look and smile – you don't have to learn these now. 😊
Without the cat – freedom for the mice.
The cats were asleep in the box – and the mice had a party on the table. Russians say it when the boss, the teacher or the parents are away and everybody does what they like. It is the sister of yesterday's proverb «Когда́ нет кота́ в дому́, игра́ют мы́ши по столу́» – in English both are When the cat's away, the mice will play. 🐭 раздо́лье = wide open space, freedom – a field with no fence. мыша́м = for the mice. Gesture: shake your finger on «без кота́», open your arms wide on «раздо́лье». (Proverb page and mp3 to add.)
Live a century – learn a century = you learn all your life.
Richard said it on День 8 – today you read it. It is the motto of the review days – and of our everlasting student. 📚
Ти́хо! Ти́хо! Вот я́щик. Коты́ в я́щике. Коты́ спят. – Хр-р-р… Вот па́льцы. Вот у́хо. Вот щека́. Вот плечо́. Вот хлеб. Вот сыр. Я́блоко, огуре́ц… и шокола́д! Ой! Мышь! Мы́ши! Где коты́? В я́щике. Коты́ спят! Мы́ши на столе́! Хлеб! Сыр! Я́блоко! Сли́нки! Мышь! Сли́нки – молоде́ц! Ска́ффлз! Мышь – там! А ты – сыр?! Нет, нет, нет! Брысь! – Р-р-р… Без кота́ мыша́м раздо́лье. – Век живи́ – век учи́сь! – Ри́чард – ве́чный студе́нт! Молоде́ц! Пока́!
Quiet! Quiet! Here is a box. The cats are in the box. The cats are asleep. – Zzz… Here are my fingers. Here is my ear. Here is my cheek. Here is my shoulder. Here is bread. Here is cheese. An apple, a cucumber… and chocolate! Oh! A mouse! Mice! Where are the cats? In the box. The cats are asleep! Mice on the table! Bread! Cheese! An apple! Slinky! A mouse! Slinky – well done! Scuffles! The mouse is there! And you – the cheese?! No, no, no! Shoo! – Grrr… Without the cat, the mice are free. – Live a century, learn a century! – Richard is an everlasting student! Well done! Bye!
- Твой = your. It changes like мой: твой сыр (он) · твоя́ мышь (она́) · твоё я́блоко (оно́).
- мой – I talk about my thing · твой – I talk to you about your thing.
- твой is for a friend, a child or a cat (you say «ты» to them).
- No new letters today. You know all 33 – today you read and repeat. 🔁
- Every new word has two links: tap the word to hear it 🔊, tap the picture to open it in the dictionary 📖.
ударе́ние – stress – shows the syllable you say louder and longer, just like in English: LUN-dun (London), TEL-ih-fohn (telephone).
ЛО́НДОН – the stress is on the first syllable, as in English. But Russians say a real, round о: LON-d’n, not LUN-dun. The second о comes after the stress, so it is short and weak (like the a in sofa).
ТЕЛЕФО́Н – not like the English TEL-ih-fohn: the stress is on the last syllable: ti-li-FON (е without stress sounds like a short и). That is why we mark the stress.
🎯 Why does о sound like а?
СТУДЕ́НТ – read it: student! The same Latin word. 🎓
ве́чный студе́нт – an «everlasting student»: Russians say it with a smile about someone who studies and studies and never finishes. Our Richard! 📚
ТВОЙ and old English thy (thy kingdom come) are very old relatives – like мой and my. 🤝
Без кота́ мыша́м раздо́лье – English has one saying, Russian has two: this one and «Когда́ нет кота́ в дому́…» (День 13). 🐭🐭
Хр-р-р… – Russians snore with Х, English cats snore with Zzz. 😴
🔬 Почему́ так · Why this way
- A review day with no new letters. Words met again after a gap of one to a few days are remembered much better than words met many times in one go; gaps of 1–4 days work best. Study with adults – Rogers · Nakata · Chiu 2025. A written word met four times over several days was remembered far better than four times in a row (84 % vs 63 %, Wegener et al. 2023).
- Remember first, then check. Reading the words of six days alone, then tapping to check, is retrieval practice – one of the best-proven tools: 50 classroom experiments – Agarwal · Nunes · Blunt 2021. The first minute (yesterday's homework) works the same way.
- 15 minutes a day, not one long lesson. Short daily sessions beat one long one: 35 min × 6 days scored 83 vs 70 for one 3.5-hour lesson. Study with adults – Stoltzfus · Sukseemuang 2018.
- A gesture that matches the word. A word said with a matching gesture, made by the learner, stays in memory far longer than a word only heard. Study with adults – Macedonia · Knösche 2011 (Max Planck Institute, Leipzig). Watching the gesture helps almost as much as doing it – 7 studies, 309 adults – Oppici et al. 2023.
- The action on the loud syllable. A hand beat on the stressed syllable helps adults pronounce new words. Studies with adults – Prieto's group, Barcelona.
- A block before the rule. «Э́то твоя́ мышь?» is learned whole, like a song; the rule comes much later (Wray 2002, formulaic language). мой came on День 8 – твой follows the same pattern, so it is only one small new thing (Sweller, cognitive load).
- Heard first, read later. «Век живи́ – век учи́сь» was heard on День 8 and is read today, six days later – the gap helps memory (Wegener et al. 2023). The proverb of the day sits in Part 2, outside the core lesson – extras inside the core lower learning of the main thing (Mayer, seductive details). An idiom learned with its picture and story is remembered better than with a bare translation (Boers 2001).
- The cat makes the mistakes. Nobody corrects the student. The student laughs and is never the one who is wrong.
- Our own method. Natasha's Language Aerobics – tested for many years with her students.
- Videos needed
- Russian твой
- Russian мой
- Russian тихо
- Russian громко
- Russian спать
- Russian ящик
- Russian кот
- Russian мышь
- Russian сыр
- Russian хлеб
- Russian яблоко
- Russian огурец
- Russian шоколад
- Russian палец
- Russian ухо
- Russian щека
- Russian плечо
- Russian дверь
- Russian стол
- Russian лапа
- Russian чашка
- Russian книга
- Russian студент
- Russian без
- Russian век
- Russian жить
- Russian учиться
- Russian где
- Russian нет
- Russian вот
- Russian на
- Russian в
- Russian не
- Russian и
- Pages with too many expensive parser function calls