diff --git a/collects/lang/private/beginner-funs.ss b/collects/lang/private/beginner-funs.ss
index 1d81a3ace1..ba38c37906 100644
--- a/collects/lang/private/beginner-funs.ss
+++ b/collects/lang/private/beginner-funs.ss
@@ -172,9 +172,8 @@
       (integer->char (integer -> char)
 	"to lookup the character that corresponds to the given integer (exact only!) in the ASCII table (if any)")
     
-      (random (integer -> integer)
-	"to generate a random natural number less than some given integer
-	(exact only!)")
+      ((beginner-random random) (integer -> integer)
+	"to generate a random natural number less than some given integer (exact only!)")
     
       (current-seconds (-> integer)
 	"to compute the current time in seconds elapsed"
diff --git a/collects/lang/private/teachprims.ss b/collects/lang/private/teachprims.ss
index 97a25505ca..052fadfce7 100644
--- a/collects/lang/private/teachprims.ss
+++ b/collects/lang/private/teachprims.ss
@@ -126,6 +126,10 @@ namespace.
 	    (current-continuation-marks))))
       (not a)))
 
+  (define-teach beginner random 
+    (lambda (a)
+      (random a)))
+
   (define-teach beginner +
     (lambda (a b . args)
       (apply + a b args)))
@@ -304,6 +308,7 @@ namespace.
   (provide  
     false?
     beginner-not
+    beginner-random
     beginner-+
     beginner-/
     beginner-*