Russian Lessons: Time Schedule

милый - "sweetheart", "darling" (or милая if it is applied to a 
woman) sounds warmer and tenderer than 
дорогой / дорогая - "dear"; and the 
word 
любимый / любимая - "beloved" is used only when you write not just to a 
friend (even to a very close one), but to a man (or a woman) whom you love. 
15 
Russian language is incredibly poetic. And love letters written in this 
language sound excitingly beautiful. For me personally, there is nothing more 
beautiful than the letter from Tatyana to Onegin (from Pushkin's novel in verses 
"Eugene Onegin"). 
16 Please listen, for example, to the first and last quatrains of that letter (I hope 
that one day you will read the whole letter and experience not only the beauty of 
its lyrics, but its musicality as well). 
17 Beginning of the letter: 
I am writing to you - Is this not enough?
What else can I say?
I am aware, you can now laugh 
And punish me with disdain. 

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190 
18. Ending of that same letter 
That is all. I am scared to read it again...
My heart is filled with shame and fear...
But, as a noble man, you should save my pain.
And I entrust myself to you, my dear... 
19. Well, by now you have learnt how you can begin a business, friendly or love letter. But how would 
you start a telephone conversation? Let's assume that Joan Evans, an English journalist, to whom we 
have already been introduced, is ringing the school where her friend, Valentin Petrovich Kuznetsov, 
works as a teacher. 
- Staff room. 
- Good day.
And then: 
(1) Please call Mr Kuznetsov to the phone. Or 
(2) Could I talk to Valentin Petrovich, please? 
20. Joan will most probably get the following reply: 
a) 
(Wait) a minute. (I) will get (him) right now.
Or 
b) 
I am afraid he is giving a lesson right now. It finishes in half an
hour. Would you like to leave a message for him? 
21. Answering the latter question, Joan can say: 
(a) No, thank you. I will call later on.
Or 
(b) Please tell him Joan Evans rang. I would like to arrange an interview with him. 

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191 
- Sure. I will give him your message as soon as he comes back to the staff room after 
his lesson. Does he have your number? 
- He should. Please tell him that I am waiting for his call in my hotel room. 
- Still, wouldn't it be better if I had your number, just in case? 
- Yes, of course. Please write it down: 572-3418, extension 725. 
- Good. Thank you. 
- It is you who should be thanked. And please excuse me for all the trouble. 
- Don't mention it, Joan ! It was very nice to talk to you. 
- You are very kind. Thanks again. Goodbye.