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Learning Serbian with exercises, video lessons and online courses

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Showing posts with label Listening comprehension. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Listening comprehension. Show all posts

Friday, February 07, 2014

Improving your Listening Comprehension Skills

In order to develop your Serbian listening comprehension skills, it's of vital importance to listen to Serbian on a daily basis. It would be perfect if you can also understand what the speakers are saying and what the subject matter is. That surely increases your motivation :) Unfortunately, there aren't many youtube videos with subtitles in English, like this one:



with Serbian translated into English in subtitles or like this one in English translated into Serbian.

 I spend a few hours weekly in search for good, quality listening material for my students. It's not only enough to find a video with a catchy title, but also for a speaker to pronounce Serbian at a normal speed and speak about an appropriate topic for a lesson. I say that I spend hours looking for useful videos, not because I'm too picky, but because I tend to get fascinated with some stupid or bizarre stuff which usually happens to be listed first on Youtube. Unfortunately, the real gems are usually sitting on the third or fourth page. One of the examples, besides the first video with Zoran Milivojević, is this insightful interview with Aleksandar Ćirković:



I'll transcribe the first part of the interview and make an exercise. Until then, can you listen to the first three minutes and try to answer the following questions:

1. Ko je oduševljen "dunavskim raftingom"?
a. Amerikanci   b. Nemci    c. Englezi

2. Koliko dugo postoji DR (Dunavski Rafting)?
a. 4 god         b. 9 godina    c.3 godine

3. Za koliko ljudi je DR?
a. 1-2 ljudi  b. preko 20 ljudi  c. 12-15 ljudi

4.Da li postoji ruta Novi Sad - Beograd?
a. da      b. ne    c. ne znam

5.Šta gosit mogu da dožive na DR?
a. stres    b.umor     c.opuštanje

The answers are under this beautiful song about the Danube:

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Serbian Language for Kids

If you enjoyed learning Serbian by watching Neven or Poletarac or Kefalica, I am sure you will love  "Slovo na Slovo" series, too :)

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Breaking Bad - Connotation in Serbian

Here comes another listening comprehension for more proficient Serbian language learners, based on the following video:


Feel free to pause the video and try to answer the following questions:
  1. Koliko Mićko ima godina ?
  2. Šta se Mićku zapali i pukne ?
  3. Koliko časova hemije mu treba ?
  4. Zašto profesor hemije ne može da pomogne Mićku ?
  5. Šta profesorka hemije predlaže sve vreme ?
  6. Da li on sam upotrebljava ono što pravi ?
  7. Ko je nepoverljiv prema Mićku ?
  8. Koliko profesora hemije je Mićko do sada pozvao ? 
  9. Odakle Mićko više ne izlazi ?
Which phrases does the teacher use :
  1. to say that she can't help him
  2. to suggest another solution
  3. to inquire about Mićko's needs
  4. to decline his request
  5. to show understanding
  6. to end the conversation
What is the obvious meaning and what's the connotation of these phrases:
  1. ...jel' tu spadaju travnate površine ?
  2. ... malo sam nagoreo
  3. ... i ja sam posle miran dva dana
  4. Završio sam ja s hemijom !
  5. ...ja ne bih to više čačkao
  6. ...jer kad sam video u kom pravcu sve ovo ide, pravo da Vam kažem, šta mi drugo preostaje ?

Friday, October 25, 2013

Advanced Serbian Video Lessons


 After watching this video (several times) try to do the following exercises


 and  answer these questions:
1. Kako se zove prvi kandidat za posao ?
2. Koje su njegove prednosti ?
3. Koje su njegove mane ?
4. Koji posao bi on želeo da radi ?
5. Koji posao mu je predložen ?
6. Da li ga je odmah prihvatio ?
7. Koji je prigovor poslodavca dok on izlazi iz kancelarije ?
8. Kako se zovi drugi kandidat ?
9. Koje su njegove prednosti ?
10. Koje su njegove mane ?
11. Koji posao mu je predložen ?
12. Da li ga je odmah prihvatio ?

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Case Practice - the Dative with Adjectives

In order to the following exercise easily, I'd suggest you flick through the previous posts on the topic of the Dative case in Serbian:

Now that you feel more confident about the form and usage, let's try to do two exercises:
  1. try to figure out how adjectives agree with a noun in Dative (what are the endings)
  2. you can listen to the instructions and repeat the same  phrases only with the pronouns in this case (Sg. njemu -mu (masc), njoj-joj (fem.) or Pl. njima-im)

Saturday, May 04, 2013

Solving Puzzles in Serbian

If you like learning a language by solving puzzles, this video "zagonetka" is perfect for you:

There's an additional exercise page, but make sure you write the answers in the Serbian Cyrillic script in order to get the proper feedback (simply click "check" button after filling in the gaps).

Sunday, March 03, 2013

Learn Serbian Phrases - dan dvadeseti

In the previous posts you could practise the phrases for giving directions. Today, I came across this great video which can help you learn the language of instructions, when talking about exercises. It's useful to revise the body parts first:


and then to enjoy watching and listening to the video below:


Serbian Phrases free e-book

  • First, you can do these exercises with your eyes closed, only by listening to her
  • Then, you can watch the video and do the exercise, checking if you understood her well
  • Finally, you can do this follow-up exercise I made for you

Monday, February 25, 2013

Learn Serbian Language 365 Days by Watching Youtube

I'm sure you enjoyed my last post about Poletarac ! Bilo je zabavno, zar ne ? Today, I'd like to remind you of four great interviews with foreigners living in Serbia, which I posted last year:
They share their view of many different aspects of life and I'm sure you'll enjoy watching them, as well as  doing some extra exercises and video lessons:

Monday, February 18, 2013

Serbian Language Day 7 - Video Series, Films and Podcasts for learning Serbian

Youtube is a great source of unique and authentic materials for learning Serbian, which I have been sharing with you under "listening comprehension" tag. One of the best and most comprehensible TV series for learning the Serbian language are surely ancient "Neven", as well as "Poletarac", directed by Timothy Byford and featuring the most prominent actors, actresses and sportsmen from ex-Yugoslavia in the early eighties.

Watch the first part of "Poletarac" and you'll see why it can come in handy when learning Serbian:

1. Part one about swimming (plivanje) and knowing (znanje) from the beginning to minute 3:00
  • plivati = to swim
  • znati = to know, can (I can swim = Znam da plivam)
  • ko zna  da pliva = who knows to / can swim ?
  • osim = except
  • žaba = frog
  • imati = to have
  • da li žaba ima zube ? = does a frog have teeth ?
  • ne znam = I don't know 
2. Part two about telling the time (koliko je sati) and numbers (from 3:00-4:00)
  • koliko je sati ? = what's the time ?
  • sada je tačno jedan sat = it's one o'clock sharp
  • jedan i dva SU tri = one and two are three
  • ovo je jedna žaba = this is a frog
  • ovo su dve žabe = these are two frogs
  • lopta je okrugla = the ball is round
  • Zemlja je okrugla = the Earth is round
3. Part three about APPLES (from 5:30)
  • jabuka = an apple
  • koliko imate jabuka = how many apples do you have ?
  • imam tri jabuke = I have three apples
  • ljuštiti = to peal
4. Part four about UP and DOWN (from 6.30)
  • sad = now
  • gore = up
  • dole = down
  • sad sam dole = now I'm down
  • sad sam gore = now I'm up
  • visoko = high
  • nisko = low
5: Part five with the short answers (from 8:00)
  • Da li imam zube = Do I have teeth ? 
  • Imam = I do
  • imati   = to have
  • Da li sam zelen kao žaba ? = Am I green like a frog ?
  • Nisam = I'm not
  • skakati = to jump
  • Da li skačem kao žaba ? = Do I jump like a frog ?
6: Part six - thanking and greetings
  • hvala = thank you
  • doviđenja = goodbye
  • hvala Vam najlepše = many thanks
  • drago mi je = I'm glad
7. Part seven (from 10:50) about bees and numbers
  • ovo je ... = this is...
  • pčela = bee
  • hive = košnica
  • fabrika = factory
  • roj (pčela) = swarm
  • med = honey
  • ko bude jeo..., biće ... = the one who eats..., he'll be...


Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Podcast about Serbian Church Wedding

Listen to this short podcast about church weddings in Serbia and what one should know before they take the plunge. Try to answer the questions posted in the quiz:

Monday, July 23, 2012

Fairy Tales in Serbian - Ružno pače



Listen to this video and answer the questions, which refer to the interview with Nebojša Dugalić, in the second part:

  1. Koliko dece ima Nebojša ?
  2. Da li čita bajke svojoj deci ?
  3. Zašto on čita bajke svojoj deci ?
  4. Da li je "Ružno pače" film ?
  5. Kome je prvenstveno namenjen ovaj CD ?
  6. Da li Vi čitate bajke na srpskom ? 
  7. Da li Vama neko čita bajke na srpskom ?
  8. Da li volite bajke ? Zašto ?

Listening comprehension for the pre-intermediate level :

  1. Does Nebojša have any kids ?
  2.  If yes, how many ?
  3. Does Nebojša read fairy tales to his children ?
  4. Is "Ružno pače" in the video a film or just CD ?

Friday, June 08, 2012

Advanced Serbian - Listening Exercises

If you liked one of the previous listening comprehension lessons of Serbian at the advanced level, I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to this interview with  Biljana Krstić:



  1. Kako se zove grupa Biljane Krstić ?
  2. Kada je objavljeno licencno izdanje albuma "Bistrik" ?
  3. Gde se sve album "Tarpoš" prodaje ?
  4. Ko je sve uticao na Biljanu da se počne baviti etno muzikom ?
  5. Da li je Biljana bežala sa časova ?
  6. Šta znači reč "bistrik" ?
  7. Koliko godina postoji grupa "Bistrik" ?

Monday, March 12, 2012

Learn Serbian with "Neven" Series

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Listening Comprehension Exercise - Intermediate Level



Listen to this beautiful song and without reading the lyrics try to answer the questions as follows:
  1. Gde se dešavala ova priča ?
  2. Koje godišnje doba je opisano ?
  3. Šta je to "salaš" ?
  4. Šta je to "petrolejka" ?
  5. Da li se u pesmi pominje belo ili crno vino ?
  6. Kako se kaže "let's sing altogether" ?
  7. Šta znači "dobro nam došli" ?

Friday, November 25, 2011

Practise Modal Verbs in Serbian

Monday, November 21, 2011

Imperatives in Serbian - Practice



Look at how this game is played and then you can do the same, by turning the volume down and using the imperatives of the following verbs:


NOSITI = to carry
PEVATI = to sing
POZDRAVITI = to greet
UČITI = to learn
RADITI = to do
ČISTITI = to clean
UGASITI = to exhtinguish
SLUŠATI = to listen to 
PRODAVATI = to sell
POPRAVITI = to mend, fix
KORISTITI = to use
VOZITI = to drive
GOVORITI = to speak
ČUVATI = to keep
KUVATI = to cook
SIPATI = to pour

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Practise Genitive Case in Serbian

Practise "I want" in Serbian

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Can You Understand Serbian ?

Listen to this video lesson and try to write down where the objects are:

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Foreigners Living in Serbia about Serbia - Part 4



1. Who lived in Vietnam, Bulgaria and Albania ?
2. Who decided to continue living in Niš ?
3. What are the reasons for people to come to live in Serbia?
4. Who is married to Svetlana ?
5. What does "živeti bubreg u loju " mean ?
6. What are the two main advantages of living in Serbia for the family from Germany ?

Advanced Serbian - Srpski kao drugi jezik

Gde je ključ? Где је кључ? - Učimo srpski sa Marinom
Gde je ključ? ...
Where is the Key?-...
By Marina Petrović
Photo book