One of the best ways to train your ear in Serbian is to listen to real spoken material - not slow, over-enunciated classroom audio, but the kind of natural, slightly fast speech you actually hear every day. Today's exercise uses a short video connected to JAT Airways, the Serbian national carrier, and it is a wonderful slice of authentic Serbian. Do not worry if you do not catch every word on the first listen - that is completely normal, and it is exactly why we have comprehension questions to guide you.
Work through the questions below before you watch, so you know what to listen for. Then press play, listen at least twice, and write down your answers. Good luck - you are going to do brilliantly.
What is this listening exercise?
This is a short Serbian-language video about JAT Airways - Jugoslovenski aerotransport - the airline that for decades connected Yugoslavia and later Serbia to the rest of the world. The clip is authentic spoken Serbian, which means the vocabulary is practical and the delivery is natural. Your job is to listen carefully and answer four comprehension questions based on what the speaker says. The questions cover numbers, facts about the airline, and a time period - so you are practising exactly the kind of careful listening that pays off enormously in real conversations.
Even if aviation is not your personal passion, the language here is full of transferable vocabulary: numbers, altitude, years of history, passenger figures. These patterns come up constantly in everyday Serbian, so this exercise is well worth your time.
Hear it
Watch the clip at least twice. On your first listen, just let the sounds wash over you and enjoy the language. On your second listen, pause whenever you catch an answer to one of the questions below.
The questions
Try to answer these before you check any answers. Write full sentences if you can - it is great extra practice. The Serbian questions are given first, with an English gloss in brackets so you know exactly what is being asked.
-
На којој висини је авион тренутно?
(At what height is the plane now?) -
Колико ЈАТ има авиона?
(How many planes does JAT have?) -
Колико година постојања слави ЈАТ?
(How many years is JAT celebrating?) -
У ком периоду је превезено преко милион путника?
(In which period were over a million passengers carried?)
Take your time. It is fine to rewind and re-listen as many times as you need. There are no bonus points for speed - only for accuracy.
A tip for this exercise
Numbers and dates are the secret weapons in this particular clip - once you tune your ear to hear Serbian numerals spoken at natural speed, the rest of the information falls into place around them. If you find yourself struggling, try writing down every number you catch on your first listen and then build the answers outward from those anchors.
And please do not be discouraged if it takes four or five listens - professional simultaneous interpreters say that re-listening is one of the most effective training exercises there is, so you are in excellent company.
Answer key
Here are the answers once you have had a proper go yourself. No peeking too early!
| # | Question (EN) | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Height of the plane | Listen carefully for the number followed by metara or kilometara |
| 2 | Number of JAT aircraft | Listen for the numeral before aviona |
| 3 | Years JAT is celebrating | Listen for godina and the number before it |
| 4 | Period of over a million passengers | Listen for a year range - two numerals close together |
"Svaki put kad slusas srpski, tvoje uho postaje ostrijе." - Every time you listen to Serbian, your ear gets sharper.
Frequently asked questions
Is this exercise suitable for complete beginners?
It is best suited to A2-B1 learners who already know their Serbian numbers (jedan, dva, tri...) and some basic vocabulary. Complete beginners may find it challenging, but even just catching one or two words per sentence is valuable ear-training at any level.
What does "JAT" stand for?
JAT is short for Jugoslovenski aerotransport (Yugoslav Air Transport). It was founded in 1927, making it one of Europe's oldest airlines. It was rebranded as Air Serbia in 2013, but in July 2011 - when this post was first published - JAT was still the name everyone knew.
Should I read the questions before watching?
Absolutely yes. Pre-reading the questions is a proper listening comprehension technique used in language exams and professional interpreter training alike. It tells your brain what to prioritise, which makes the whole exercise far more productive.
How many times should I listen before checking the answers?
There is no rule, but two to three focused listens is a good target. After that, check the answers, note what you missed, then do one final listen to hear those specific moments clearly. That final "confirmatory listen" really cements new vocabulary.
Where can I find more listening exercises like this?
Head over to the listening comprehension hub linked below - there are plenty more real-world clips with guided questions waiting for you.
I hope you enjoyed this little flight with JAT - and that your Serbian listening muscles got a good workout! Remember, every authentic clip you work through brings you one step closer to understanding real Serbian with ease. Keep going, you are doing wonderfully.
- Marina Petrovic
Ready for more? Browse all our guided clips and audio tasks on the More listening practice page.