Give a 2 minute talk on shopping

CHOOSING A CAREER

Task 1

Give a talk on the kind of career you are interested in. Remember to discuss:

· what jobs are popular with teenagers nowadays and why

· who influenced your career choice and how

· what you like about your future career, why

· why you think you would be a good specialist

Today there are thousands of different kinds of jobs and new ones are constantly appearing. Among the jobs that are most popular with teenagers are those in economic, tourist or computer fields. Take the profession of a manager, for example. In my opinion, it's a very interesting job because it involves working with people. Besides, if you cope with all the challenges of this job, you can be promoted to the position of a director and get a very high salary. Of course, you can become something like a. computer programmer or a web designer because computers are an essential part of our everyday lives today. So we can say that our society needs people who can work with computers and write computer programmes. That's why this profession is so popular today. As for me, I would like to become a tourist agent or a holiday representative, because a lot of people travel nowadays.

Parents and friends play a very important role in our choice. My mother works for an international tourist company as a. managing director. It is a highly paid job and it offers a lot of opportunities. You can travel abroad and meet different people. My mother is a friendly person and she is easy to talk to. She advised me to choose this career. Besides, some of my friends want to work in this area, too, and it's very important for me to continue studying with friends.

Today tourism is one of the world's largest industries. In my opinion, it's very interesting to work in tourism because you will have to deal with the problems and needs of holidaymakers and plan trips and tours that will please everyone. Besides, this profession is highly paid and I want to be able to buy everything I need with my salary. What's more, the perks of this job include free travel and living abroad.

I can say that I'm very communicative and I like working with people. Besides, I'm very organised and hard-working. What's more, I like travelling and I'm ready to go wherever the company will send me. So I think I can become a good holiday representative or a tourist manager. But I understand that to make a good specialist in this field I should have good education, extensive knowledge of the world and experience of travel. And of course I must know several foreign languages. So after finishing school I will try to enter a university or a college and to continue my education.

Questions

1. Which are the most prestigious professions today? Why?

2. What are the pros and cons of your future profession?

3. Why do you think your future profession is important today?

4. Do you think it will be easy to find a good job when you graduate from the university? Why do you think so?

Can our hobbies help us in choosing our future career? How?

Task 2

Give a talk on choosing your future career. Remember to discuss:

· whether it is easy to choose your future career, why

· what factors people should consider when they make a choice

· whether you would like to follow in your parents' footsteps, why

· what is important for you in your future profession, why

Finishing school is the beginning of an independent life for millions of school-leavers. Many roads are open before us: technical schools, colleges and universities. Centuries ago there were only a few jobs: people were farmers, bakers, butchers or carpenters. Today there are thousands of different kinds of jobs, and new ones are constantly appearing. No wonder that it is not an easy thing to make the right choice. Besides, at this age we don't know for sure our preferences and abilities, which makes our choice even more difficult.

When choosing a future career, we should consider different factors. In my opinion, money is one of the most important factors when you make a choice. I think everybody wants to earn as much as possible. Further training, promotion prospects and job conditions should be also taken into account. Besides, you ought to decide whether you want to work indoors or outdoors. On the other hand, it's good when you get satisfaction from your job. So it's very important to choose a profession that suits your interests. Finally, to make the right choice you should take into account your abilities and traits of character.

I don't think it's a right decision to follow in the footsteps of a parent or a relative, if you are not interested in this profession. Although my parents are doctors, 1 don't seem to be very interested in caring for others and helping them with their problems, For such professions like medicine you have to be very good at chemistry and 1 am not much of a chemist. Besides, I'm not very patient and I'm afraid of blood. That's why I don't want to choose my parents' profession. My father is a friendly person and he is easy to talk to. He also believes that I must choose my future occupation according to my taste and preferences. I have always been interested in economics and I enjoy working with people so I'd like to become a manager. I can't imagine myself doing anything else.

Of course I would like to have a well-paid job in the future because I enjoy travelling and I would like to see the world. Besides, I'm very keen to be successful so promotion prospects are also important for me. My ambition is to work as a managing director of a large company. However, for me choosing a career is not only a matter of future prestige and wealth. First of all, my future profession should be interesting and bring real satisfaction. That's the way I see it.

Questions

1. Which are the most prestigious professions today?

2. What professional field can you work in? What are you good at?

3. Which of your personal qualities will help you in your future profession?

4. What are the pros and cons of your future profession?

5. Why do you think your future profession is important today?"

6. Do you think you will need English for your future career?

 

SCHOOL LIFE

 

Speaking activity:

Number these reasons of going to school in their order of importance from 1 (most important reason) to 12 (least important reason).

· To acquire general knowledge

· To prepare for a job

· To meet other young people

· To train one's memory

· To learn something about subjects one will not deal with again later

· To find out what one is interested in

· To give one's parents some peace and quiet

· To test one's intelligence

· To learn how to study and work with books

· To have a good time

· To be kept dependent

· To learn discipline and order

 

Give a talk on the topic School.

Remember to say:

• about the key role of school in educational process;

• some words about the school you study at;

• your favourite and least favourite subjects;

• some words about the out-of-class activities which school offers.

"Knowledge is power" as a proverb says. If you are a well-educated person, you will be able to get a good job and achieve success in life. School plays a key role in our education. It introduces us to academic subjects and gives us practical skills.

I am proud of the school where I am studying. It was founded in 1937 before die Great Patriotic War. During the war there was a hospital for soldiers and officers there. After the war, it was restored. At that time, there were only 7 forms there and is was only for boys at first. In 1950, the school greeted 17 graduates of the 10^{th form}. In 1954, co-education for boys and girls was introduced. In 1965, our school became the school with the profound knowledge of the English language and recently it has been called Gymnasia №397 named after G.V. Starovoytova.

You can easily find your way around our school. There are 4 floors in it. On the ground floor, you can see a cloak-room, a medical room, several classrooms of Russian and History and a canteen. It is very convenient to have a canteen at school, because we can have a snack or lunch there. The prices are reasonable and the range of food is rather good. Cakes and buns baked at school are tasty. On the first floor, you can see the English and the Russian libraries. Physics lab and the primary school classrooms. The headmaster's office and the teachers' room are on the second floor. Here you can also see the Assembly flail, the classrooms of Mathematics and English. There are two Information technology classrooms on the third floor.

To my mind our school is very well-equipped all the classrooms are supplied with computers. Most classrooms have TV sets, smart boards and CD-players, so our teachers can use modem information technologies in the teaching process. There are a lot of cosy and home-like classrooms in our school with lots of flowers on window sills and picturesque posters on the walls.

We help keep our school clean and tidy. The teachers of our school are good professionals. They do their best to help us study. They explain the most difficult things in a simple way, find very good and vivid examples to illustrate the new material, answer our questions. I think that knowledge I get from my teachers will help me to become an educated person. My favourite school subject is........................................... It is useful and interesting. I love and respect the teacher of.............................. I suppose the knowledge of …………. is essential for an educated person who expects to find an interesting and a well-paid job in the future. However, I'm not very good at………….. For me this is a hard nut to crack. Our school offers us many out-of-class activities including sports, extra English classes, and several clubs. We like to participate in different performances and parties. Our senior pupils take part in district and city Olympiads and in the District Scientific Conference for pupils, where many of them are awarded with diplomas of the winners. We often go on excursions and trips to many interesting places with our form master. (Give examples). I have got many friends at school. I feel that I can rely on my friends in difficult circumstances. During the breaks we speak about everything and share our secrets. It is great to have so many friends. I think school gives me not only knowledge but also good and reliable friends.

 

My school

I study at school which specializes in foreign languages. To my mind, my school is rather big. It has got about 600 pupils in it. It is a state school, that's why parents don't have to pay any fees. My school specializes in English and we also study German. In fact, it is not selective, because pupils don't have to take any exams to enter it, but it's quite difficult to study here because of high standards of education. Lessons start at 9 o'clock. They last for forty five minutes. There are about twenty five or more pupils in each form. Every form has its tutor. Many pupils are involved in after-class activities, such as basketball, volleyball, all voluntary. My school building is rather big and looks quite attractive. There are different classrooms, an assembly hall, labs, a cloakroom, staff offices, a gym, a canteen here.

My school has got a lot of up-to-date equipment, for example a good library with video and audio materials, up-to-date Information Technology and Computer labs. It has got good school-grounds, fitted with everything necessary. Our teachers are good professionals who graduated from universities. Most of them are really understanding and caring because they are ready to help us at any time.

Our school has time-tasted traditions, which we try to save. In our school there is an annual Prize Giving where form tutors tell parents about their child's progress and achievements, if they are particularly pleased with children's work. There are a lot of holidays, which we celebrate in our school, such as Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day and others. At the end of every term parents' evenings take place, where parents get all necessary information. More than that, pupils go on different outings. They often visit museums, theatres, sport competitions and many other meetings with their Form Tutors. Our school has got close links with schools and colleges from Finland and England.

I want to say that we have a friendly atmosphere in our school as our Headmaster is clever and efficient. There are a lot of eager and willing pupils, the rules and regulations are effective. Also the discipline is based on common sense. More than that, the relations between pupils and staff are excellent. I believe that all children who get to our school have equal opportunities to get a good education.

 

 

SHOPPING

FASHION

 

Give a talk on the topic Fashion.

Remember to say:

• what influences fashion;

• what fashion styles are popular among young people nowadays;

• what kind of clothes you prefer to wear, why;

• if you are for or against wearing a school uniform.

The first impression we make almost fully depends on what we wear. Manners and speech are noticed next and character only later. It's true that the clothes we choose to wear tell other people a lot about us. We often judge people by what they wear. We express ourselves in the style, colours and the combination of clothes we put together. Our shoes, accessories and jewellery tend to create an impression of our social class and personality. At the same time we use clothes to express our individuality. We also use them to show our membership in special groups. Moreover, our choice of clothes also depends on our age, occupation and who and what we are influenced by.

Fashion changes constantly. We are bombarded with new fashion ideas from music, videos, magazines and TV. Musicians, actors, sportsmen, politicians influence our choice of clothes. Practically all people are involved in production, selling and buying clothes. Millions of workers design, sew, dye and transport clothing to stores. The fashion business is one of the biggest money earning businesses in the world.

A lot of young people wear practical, comfortable and affordable clothes which have probably been designed by somebody young. Music has always influenced fashion. The boom in extreme sports such as skateboarding and snowboarding has influenced it as well. Of course there are plenty of people wearing the latest sporty fashion who never do any sport at all. Being in fashion makes you feel good, in tune with the world you live in. However, lots of teenagers do not follow fashion. They prefer to wear comfortable clothes in relation to the things they do and the places they go.

To look good people have to match colours and styles as not all of them go well together. So we should have some 'clothes sense'. For instance, when we are at school it is important to wear the right clothes. However, some teenagers like to shock their teachers and parents and provoke them wearing informal and casual clothes instead of the uniform. As a result they have problems at school.

As for me I prefer casual/ formal style. My favourite items of clothes are …. It is important for me to feel comfortable. However, I realise that different situations need different clothes. Sometimes when I go to the theatre or a concert I need to look smart.

In conclusion I’d like to say that though fashion is not very important for many people, we should keep in mind that clothes reveal a person’s life, character and status.

PROGRESS OF SCIENCE

Give a talk on the topic Progress of Science.

Remember to say:

• what role science plays nowadays;

• what scientific inventions we use in our everyday life, which of them are important to you;

• what problems are connected with scientific progress;

• how can people solve these problems.

 

It is impossible to overestimate the role of science and technology in our modern life. We can't imagine our contemporary life without the telephone, the radio, the television, the automobile, the plane or many other devices invented by means of science. It should be mentioned that all the greatest inventions, which make out life easy, comfortable and pleasant were mainly created in the 20th century. These inventions would seem to be miracle for people of the previous centuries.

 

The 20^th century was called the atomic age due to the discovery of the splitting of the atom. Another crucial event happened when a man overcame the gravity and entered the Universe for the first time in the history of the mankind. Now we live in the information era when the computer network embraces the globe and connects not only the countries and space stations but also a lot of people all over the world. All these things prove the power and the greatest progressive role of science in our life.

 

However, one should remember that science can do us not only good but it can bring a lot of serious disasters. It is science that is to blame for inventing the gun powder to kill people. Nowadays we realize that the rapid scientific progress has aroused a number of global problems which are a matter of our great concern. These are different kinds of pollution, holes in the ozone layer, acid rains, greenhouse effect, and safety of nuclear power stations. Such invention as nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles made wars of annihilation possible. If we don't think about the solution to these problems we will ruin the place of our habitat quite soon.

 

Nevertheless, I think that by means of science it is possible to find harmless technologies, build plants and factories with purifying systems, produce environmentally friendly products, develop and produce alternative energy. The solution to these problems needs great investment into science.

 

Therefore we see that science occupies the central position in the modern society and it dominates man's whole existence. People all over the world should learn how to use its inventions most effectively and safely.

 

 

FAMOUS PEOPLE

Give a talk on the topic Famous People of Russia.

Remember to say:

• if Russia is rich in talented people;

• a few words about the most prominent Russian scientist M. Lomonosov;

• some words about Russian Nobel prizewinners;

• about a famous Russian scientist/writer/ politician of nowadays

 

Everybody knows that the Russian spirit, nature and genius all come together in the greatest people of our Motherland. There are many talented people in Russia- scientists, writers, composers, painters and many others who we are proud of.

One of the most prominent Russian scientists is M. Lomonosov. M. Lomonosov was one of the most learned men in Europe. He was an outstanding innovator in both the humanities and sciences. He founded the first Russian University. M.Lomonosov was also a great enlightener, an inventor of many technologies, a poet, a translator and a historian. His name is known to every citizen of Russia.

It is almost impossible to name a branch of science in the development of which the Russian scientists haven't played the greatest role. For example D.Mendeleev discovered the Periodic System of Elements; A. Popov is known the inventor of the radio. Sechinov and Pavlov were the world's greatest physiologists.

Russia is rightly called the mother of aviation and interplanetary navigation. K.Tsialkovsky is the father of rocket flying. He formulated the principles of flying machines for interplanetary communication. S. Korolev studied the universe and gave the world the first flight round the Earth.

Every year, six Nobel prizes are awarded for outstanding work in science literature, economics and the promotion of peace. This international prize was founded by the Swedish 'dentist Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite and built up companies and laboratories in countries all over the world.

Many Russians have been nominated for the Nobel Prize since it started in 1901 and 19 of them have received the Nobel Prize for their outstanding contributions, particularly in the field of physics, but also in other areas. The first Russian Nobel winner for medicine (1904) was Ivan Pavlov. He made many remarkable discoveries about blood circulation and the central nervous system. His experiments on dogs had a great impact on behavioral psychology.

Mikhail Sholokhov, an outstanding 20^th century Russian writer, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1965. He wrote and published a number of short stories while completing his most famous work "And Quiet Flow the Don”, which took him fourteen years to finish.

In 1978, Russian physicist Pyotr Kapitza shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on magnetism and low-temperature physics. He founded the Institute for Physical Problems in Moscow, and he was the oldest scientist ever to win the award.

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded over the years to individuals and organizations that work actively for peace and greater understanding. It was suspended during both World Wars. It has been awarded to Russian physicist and civil rights campaigner Andrei Sakharov in 1975 and to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990. I’d like to say a few words about a famous Russian scientist/writer/ politician of nowadays...

 

TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Give a talk on travelling. Remember to discuss:

· why people travel nowadays

· what the most popular tourist destinations are and why

· why people prefer different ways of travelling

· where you have travelled to

A lot of people travel nowadays. It's not surprising because distances between countries are becoming shorter due to the development of transport. Today people have lots of good reasons to travel. First of all, travelling is a part of people's education. It goes without saying that it's always interesting to discover new places and new ways of life, to try foreign food and to listen to unusual musical rhythms. Besides, travelling is a good way to practise foreign languages. Another reason why people travel is to relax. City-dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea of in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe and laze in the sun. Finally, more and more people nowadays travel around the world on business.

The most popular tourist destinations in summer are of course seaside resorts in warm countries such as Spain, Italy or Turkey because people want to enjoy swimming and sunbathing as well as different water sports and nice entertainment. These countries are closely followed by Australia and Canada whose popularity is growing due to the personality and culture of the people as well as the location and facilities on site. As for winter, people flock in thousands to the slopes of popular skiing resorts in the Alps such as Chamonix in France or Zermatt in Switzer land because they have lots of comfortable hotels and offer wonderful opportunities for downhill skiing. People who enjoy visiting museums and art galleries usually go on sightseeing tours to countries like England, Germany or Greece.

There are a lot of different means of travelling and each of them has its pros and cons. When people have to visit another country, they prefer air travel because it's faster than other means of transport although it is the most expensive way of travelling, in other cases, it is more practical and economical to go by train or bus. Modern trains are very comfortable. Besides, you can enjoy a splendid view of the countryside. And if you are hungry, you can have a meal in the dining-car. Some people prefer travelling by sea which is very exciting. If the weather is fine, you can relax on a large sun deck and enjoy the panoramic view of the sea. But of course if you are sea-sick, travelling by ship is not a good idea. A lot of people travel by car because it's rather convenient. They don't have to buy tickets and to carry heavy luggage. They can stop wherever they wish and spend as much time as they like at any place. However, this way of travelling is not as comfortable and quick as travelling by plane or by train.

As for me, I like travelling and I travel quite a lot. I have already visited some European countries, for example, France, Germany and Austria and was impressed by the beauty of their towns. I also enjoyed their national dishes which are really delicious. In summer my parents and I usually go to Bulgaria because it has a wonderful climate, a warm sea, clean beaches and comfortable hotels. I have also been to England where I had an opportunity to improve my knowledge of English. I stayed with a host family and enjoyed their hospitality. It was fantastic because I was able to get to know the English lifestyle as well, as to practise the language.

Questions

TRAVELLING

Give a talk on the topic Travelling.

Remember to say:

• why people travel;

• what means of travelling are most popular with people, why;

• what means of travelling are least popular with people, why;

• some words about your last travelling.

People like to travel. That's why there are so many means of transportation. In the past many people traveled because they wanted to sell their goods or exchange the news. Now people travel on business or for pleasure when they want to see the world, to rest and to have new impressions.

There are many kinds of travelling: by train, by car, by sea, by air by coach. International travelling by coach is rather convenient and very cheap. The coach usually stops at a restaurant or a cafe. There is a toilet in the coach. But sleeping in an armchair can cause problems especially to those who are travel sick.

Travelling by train seems to be the most widespread means of transportation. It is the most convenient means of travel and it is not expensive. People can choose between a carriage with sitting places and a carriage with berths, where they can sleep well if the journey is long. People can go to any place by train because the railway system links practically all the regions of our country.

Travelling by plane is an exciting experience for those who are not airsick. Travelling by plane is rather expensive, though you can choose between economic class and business class. If you have a window seat you will enjoy the view while taking off and landing.

If you have chosen to travel by sea, you will have a chance to see marvelous landscapes and seascapes. The dawns and sunsets in the open ocean are terrific. When you are on a voyage you visit different places and you have everything on board to be able to have a good rest and entertainment. There are different types of strips to go by - cruisers, yachts and liners. However, there are some disadvantages, which are the cost of the ticket, the storms and seasickness.

Hiking is the right kind of spending free time. You pack your tent and start walking. It is slow for sure, but you can go wherever you want and stay in the place you liked as long as you want. At the same time, not all people like to walk much, though it is very good for their health.

Many people prefer travelling by car. The advantages of this kind of travelling are that you don't have to buy any tickets or carry any luggage, you can stop wherever you like and enjoy the surrounding views.

Whatever means of transportation you choose, it is very important to prepare for the trip. First, you have to book a ticket. Then you should think about accommodation and contact the hotel or hostel well in advance. You should arrive at the railway station, coach stop or airport in advance to have time to make sure everything is all right. The air companies require your coming an hour or two beforehand because you have to pass checking in, passport control, X-ray control and if you go abroad you will have to go through the Customs.

I'm not a great traveler, but I have made several trips and traveled by coach, by train and by plane. I made my last trip last summer. My parents and I went to.... It took us...hours/days to get to... by.... The journey was exciting/tiring/boring. Next time we are going to travel to... by....

 

MASS MEDIA

Give a talk on the topic Mass Media.

Remember to say:

• what role mass media plays in people’s lives;

• if newspapers and radio are as popular nowadays as they used to be, why/ why not;

• what advantages and disadvantages television brings to our life;

• why the Internet has become so popular nowadays.

There is every reason to believe that mass media play a great role in modern society. Their positive aspects are obvious. They give us useful and interesting information and news and also help us to have an enjoyable free time.

On the one hand, popular TV programmes and newspapers interview people and take their views into consideration, but on the other hand mass media choose certain people to ask questions, describe definite facts and make evaluations. Thus, mass media specialists influence the attitudes of the society towards important events and tendencies.

The most important mass media are newspapers, radio, television and the Internet. Newspapers appeared the first of the listed. The first Russian newspaper was issued in 1702 on the initiative of Peter the Great. It was entitled “Vedomosty”. Now we have all kinds of newspapers- tabloids, sports papers, business papers, kids’ papers and political papers. There are a lot of magazines to all tastes. Both newspapers and magazines are sold in the streets all around the city, but you can also subscribe to any papers and magazines at the post-office. There are daily and weekly papers; weekly, monthly and quarterly magazines.

Radio appeared much later than the first Russian newspaper. It was invented by A.S. Popov in 1895.In Russia regular radio broadcasting began in 1924. Now we can’t imagine our life without radio. There are dozens of radio stations in Russia. Everyone can choose a station to listen to. Most of them broadcast music of different styles. Music attracts listeners. You can also listen to weather forecasts, sports news, radio theatre, agricultural, political, economical programmes, talk shows, advice of lawyers, news, daily horoscope, etc. You can take part in different intellectual quizzes and win a prize. Nowadays we have many radio channels and my favourite ones are:...

The principle of television was offered at the end of the19th century by A. di Paiva and the Russian scientist P.I. Bakhmetyev independently. However, only in the 30-s of the 20^th century regular TV broadcasting began in Moscow and St. Petersburg and in the 50-s all over the USSR. The first TV sets’ screens were as big as a pocket book and they were black and white. Nowadays it is impossible to find a house without a TV set. No doubt, that television started to produce great influence on people. It combines all the advantages of other media and satisfies different tastes. TV has become more popular than radio and newspapers. Many programmes keep people informed of current events in politics, sports, and economics. Besides informational programmes, you can watch a lot of entertainments. They let people relax, make them forget about their problems and help them to focus on pleasant things. There is no doubt that different people choose different programmes. Some enjoy detective movies, other are fond of horror films. Some people are interested in music concerts. Others like “soap operas”, chat shows and TV games.

However, nowadays, many programmes and films show too much violence and blood. It is bad for all the people especially for children, because it can damage their ideas of normal life. Another negative influence of TV is that it doesn’t stimulate creative thinking and makes people dependent on the views expressed by others. People begin to forget how to occupy their free time. Television prevents people from communicating with each other, from visiting friends or relatives.

 

The Internet is the newest kind of mass media. In the Internet people can find any information they need. It can be called a kind of combination of newspapers, radio, TV and computers. All main newspapers and broadcasting companies have their sites in the Internet. So you can find the latest news there without buying a newspaper; you can find there information about different countries, pop stars’ songs and even prepared papers on all topics. Via e-mail and in chat rooms we can communicate with people all over the world.

All the mass media have their advantages. They supply us with political, cultural and other important information, entertain and give food for thought, but they also have some disadvantages. For example, you can watch TV only in the places with the TV aerial and electricity. The worst thing about mass media is advertising. They catch our attention and interrupt broadcasting. It is irritating especially if a good film is interrupted by advertising soap or beer. One more disadvantage is that information is not always reliable especially in the Internet. However, it is hard to imagine modern society without mass media today.

 

Speaking activity 1:

 

I. Give a talk of 2-3 minutes discussing all the 3 statements given below

These are some of the opinions about television:

· Television programmes gather big audiences. Apart from their entertainment value, they provide useful topics of conversation.

· Television helps us to relax after a hard day's work. We can then cope better with the next day's work.

· Television may lead to poor health through rushed meals, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and eyestrain.

Which of the above do you agree or disagree with? Share your opinions and experiences. You will be asked some further questions related to what you have said. Be prepared to make commentson the spot.

Speaking activity 2:

Here are some statements about watching TV. Put them into the column of advantages and the column of disadvantages. Explain your choice:

 

ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES

 

· People forget the art of conversation, visiting their friends and relatives.

· Some kids do their homework in front of TV.

· TV brings the world into our living room: we learn about other countries, various peoples’ customs, occupations, opinions and problems.

· TV helps to rest after hard work.

· TV programs have entertainment value; they provide useful topics for conversation.

· Many people waste their time in front of TV.

· We see famous people and great events which will pass into history.

· Some children do not enrich their personalities watching TV instead of taking up a hobby, having an outside activity or visiting some club or society.

· TV leads to poor health- rushed meals, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and eyestrain.

· We become more cultured people by learning more of the arts and culture.

· We become better informed by watching documentaries, news and science programmes- they raise economic, social and political issues of the day.

 

WRITING ACTIVITIES

Writing activity 1

This is part of a letter from your English-speaking pen-friend.

…Have you ever thought what you are going to do in the future? As for me, I really don’t know what career to choose although my parents say it’s time I made my choice. What kind of job would you prefer to do? Have you asked your parents for advice? Would you like to follow in their footsteps? Anyway, we’ve got some time to think. Let me know what you think about it. All the best, Jack

Write a letter to Jack. In your letter

· answer his questions

· ask 3 questions about his hobbies and leisure activities

Write 100 - 140 words. Remember the rules of letter writing.

 

Writing activity 2

You got a letter from your English pen friend John. At the end of his letter he asks the following questions:

…Your English is very good. I wonder how many English lessons a week you have.

What other subjects do you study at school? Which of them do you like best? Do you have a lot of homework every day? Where can young people in St.Petersburg spend their free time?

Hope to hear from you soon…

Write a letter to answer John’s questions. Write 100-140 words.

Writing activity 3

This is part of a letter from your English-speaking pen-friend.

… When I think about leaving school it is clear I’m going to miss my school friends, classes and teachers very much. They are so important to me. We seem to be very friendly and enthusiastic about participating in all the school events. What does school mean to you? Do you feel the same about it? Do you think you will miss school? Are you going to meet your school friends after you finish school? I have lived in London most of my life but I’d really love to travel to other countries…

Write a letter to Nicole.

In your letter

· answer her questions

· ask 3 questions about her plans for travelling.

 

Writing activity 4

This is part of a letter from your English-speaking pen-friend Rob.

… and then there’s this chess tournament on Saturday. If I win, I’ll be the champion of our school. Who knows? Oh, yeah. I wanted to ask you something. We have to write a report on technology for school. Could you tell me a few things about how you use technology in your life? You know, computers, mobiles, TV, that sort of things. Oh, and tell me something about the other members of your family, too, and how they use technology. Anyway, I was talking to Sam the other day and he says that…

Write a letter to Rob.

In your letter

· answer his questions

· ask 3 questions about playing chess

Write 100 – 140 words. Remember the rules of letter writing.

 

Writing activity 5

This is part of a letter from your English-speaking pen-friend.

… By the way, we are doing a project at college on the fashion industry in different countries. It would be nice if you could tell me what clothes are popular with teenagers in Russia. Do you have any special fashion for teens? What kind of clothes do you prefer? Write back soon. All my love, Jessica.

Write a letter toJessica.

In your letter

· answer her questions

· ask 3 questions about her tastes in clothes.

Writing activity 6

This is part of a letter from your English-speaking pen-friend.

… I hope you enjoyed your summer holidays. Where did you spend them? Please, tell me about the most interesting things you did. By the way, we are moving house and I am sending you my new address. Write back soon. Love, Alice.

Write a letter to Alice.

In your letter

· tell her about your summer holidays,

· ask 3 questions about the new house.

Writing activity 7

You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen-friend Daisy who writes:

... Yesterday, we went by train to London to visit the Science Museum. Unfortunately after storm the rail track was covered in leaves and branches. Our journey took 4 hours! But our short visit was great! Do you often make long train journeys, if at all? Where can people go by train in Russia? Do you personally like train rides, why?... On the train I finished the new book by Stephanie Meyer so even a slow journey can be OK.

Skype me soon,

Daisy

Write a letter to Daisy. In your letter

· answer her questions

· ask 3 questions about the book

Writing activity8

This is part of a letter from your English-speaking pen-friend Ann.

… Yesterday I had arguments with my mother about watching TV. Do you spend much time in front of TV? What programmes do you like best and why? Do you and your parents always agree what programmes to watch and what do you do if your interests are different?

Write a letter to Ann. Answer her questions.

Writing activity 9

This is part of a letter from your English-speaking pen-friend.

… When I think about leaving school it is clear I’m going to miss my school friends, classes and teachers very much. They are so important to me. We seem to be very friendly and enthusiastic about participating in all the school events. What does school mean to you? Do you feel the same about it? Do you think you will miss school? Are you going to meet your school friends after you finish school? I have lived in London most of my life but I’d really love to travel to other countries…

Write a letter to Nicole.

In your letter

• answer her questions

· ask 3 questions about her plans for travelling.

 

Model for Writing a Personal Letter
			YOUR ADDRESS
			THE DATE
	GREETING:	Dear John,
	INTRODUCTION:	Thank you for your last letter...
	MAIN BODY:	In your letter you asked me about….
	CONCLUSION:	Sorry, I must finish…
	ENDING:	Best wishes,
	SIGNATURE:	Kate.
№ абзаца	WHAT IS REQUIRED Что требуется в письме	REMARKS Рекомендации	EXAMPLES Примеры
	ADDRESS Aдрес	Адрес пишущего указывается в правом верхнем углу.	Saint-Petersburg Russia
пропустить строчку
	DATE Дата	Под адресом дата.	9^th September 2012
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	GREETING Обращение	С новой строки письмо начинается с обращения, после которого ставится ЗАПЯТАЯ.	Dear John, Dear Mary,
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	INTRODUCTION Начало письма	Ссылка на предыдущие контакты, где автор благодарит адресата за ранее полученную корреспонденцию. Извиняется, что не писал раньше.	Thank you for your last letter... Thank you, I was glad to get your last letter… I' m sorry that I haven't written to you…
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	MAIN BODY Основная часть письма	В ней должны быть раскрыты все аспекты, указанные в задании. Каждый параграф пишут с новой строки, пропустив строчку.	In your letter you asked me about…. I was glad to hear that you …
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	CONCLUSION Конец письма	Автор упоминает о дальнейших контактах.	I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
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	ENDING Завершающая фраза письма	Эта фраза зависит от степени близости автора и адресата, после неё ВСЕГДА ставится ЗАПЯТАЯ.	Best wishes, All the best,
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	SIGNATURE Подпись автора	Личные письма подписывают без указания фамилии.	Olya Misha

 

Демонстрационный вариант 2011 года

АУДИРОВАНИЕ

Вы услышите запись дважды.

A-1 Why did Jessica miss the call?

1) She was at the party.

2) She was in the park.

3) She was at the movies.

 

A-2 How did Ronny find his job?

1) He found his job through a job agency.

2) He found his job with the help of his family.

3) He found his job through the university.

 

A-3 What is Ronny fond of?

1) He likes going to the movies.

2) He likes watching football.

3) He likes learning French

.

A-4 How did Ronny spend his weekends in France?

1) He went to the Football Fan Club.

2) He worked at the weekends.

3) He visited Paris with his friends.

ЧТЕНИЕ

ЛЕКСИКА И ГРАММАТИКА

Пропуск соответствует отдельному заданию B3–B9. Ответы следует

Приведенными образцами.

It was Christmas. Alex wanted to buy a new computer game as

B-3 a present for himself. He ___________________ to the GO

B-4 supermarket. There were lots of adults, _____________ and CHILD

teenagers everywhere and it was not easy to find the

B-5 department where computer games ____________________. SELL

B-6 He asked a group of teenagers but they __________________ NOT KNOW

where the department was.

When Alex was walking through a large hall with shelves of

books, he saw a colourful Fine Art book. He remembered that

his mother was fond of painting. “The book will be the

B-7 _______________ Christmas present for Mum ever, «Alex GOOD

thought.

At home he said to his mum:

B-8 “I ______________________________something for you. JUST BUY

B-9 I’m sure you __________________ it.” LIKE

ПИСЬМО

Для ответа на задание С1 используйте бланк ответов № 2.

При выполнении задания С1 особое внимание обратите на то, что ваши

ответы будут оцениваться только по записям, сделанным на бланке

ГОВОРЕНИЕ

Вы получите карточку, на которой представлены два задания для устного

ответа: С2 – тематическое монологическое высказывание, С3 – диалог–

расспрос. Окончание выполнение каждого задания определяет экзаменатор.

Во время проведения этой части экзамена идёт постоянная аудиозапись

вашего ответа.

 

Тask 1

Student Card

Give a talk about your last trip.

Remember to say:

• where you went

• what you enjoyed most of all during your trip

• where you would like to go for a trip in the future and why

You have to talk for 1.5–2 minutes. The examiner will listen until you have

finished. Then he/she will ask you some questions.

 

Task 2 (2 – 3 minutes)

Student Card

You are staying in London with a group of other students. You would like to buy a

book about London for your parents. They are interested in architecture. You can

spend only.10 for the book.

Before making a decision ask the shop assistant about

− what books about London they have

− whether the books have information about architecture of the city

− the price

You begin the conversation. The teacher will play the part of the shop assistant.

 

Remember to:

− be active and polite

− ask questions and find out all the information you need − decide which book you will buy

 

CHOOSING A CAREER

Task 1

Give a talk on the kind of career you are interested in. Remember to discuss:

· what jobs are popular with teenagers nowadays and why

· who influenced your career choice and how

· what you like about your future career, why

· why you think you would be a good specialist

Today there are thousands of different kinds of jobs and new ones are constantly appearing. Among the jobs that are most popular with teenagers are those in economic, tourist or computer fields. Take the profession of a manager, for example. In my opinion, it's a very interesting job because it involves working with people. Besides, if you cope with all the challenges of this job, you can be promoted to the position of a director and get a very high salary. Of course, you can become something like a. computer programmer or a web designer because computers are an essential part of our everyday lives today. So we can say that our society needs people who can work with computers and write computer programmes. That's why this profession is so popular today. As for me, I would like to become a tourist agent or a holiday representative, because a lot of people travel nowadays.

Parents and friends play a very important role in our choice. My mother works for an international tourist company as a. managing director. It is a highly paid job and it offers a lot of opportunities. You can travel abroad and meet different people. My mother is a friendly person and she is easy to talk to. She advised me to choose this career. Besides, some of my friends want to work in this area, too, and it's very important for me to continue studying with friends.

Today tourism is one of the world's largest industries. In my opinion, it's very interesting to work in tourism because you will have to deal with the problems and needs of holidaymakers and plan trips and tours that will please everyone. Besides, this profession is highly paid and I want to be able to buy everything I need with my salary. What's more, the perks of this job include free travel and living abroad.

I can say that I'm very communicative and I like working with people. Besides, I'm very organised and hard-working. What's more, I like travelling and I'm ready to go wherever the company will send me. So I think I can become a good holiday representative or a tourist manager. But I understand that to make a good specialist in this field I should have good education, extensive knowledge of the world and experience of travel. And of course I must know several foreign languages. So after finishing school I will try to enter a university or a college and to continue my education.

Questions

1. Which are the most prestigious professions today? Why?

2. What are the pros and cons of your future profession?

3. Why do you think your future profession is important today?

4. Do you think it will be easy to find a good job when you graduate from the university? Why do you think so?

Can our hobbies help us in choosing our future career? How?

Task 2

Give a talk on choosing your future career. Remember to discuss:

· whether it is easy to choose your future career, why

· what factors people should consider when they make a choice

· whether you would like to follow in your parents' footsteps, why

· what is important for you in your future profession, why

Finishing school is the beginning of an independent life for millions of school-leavers. Many roads are open before us: technical schools, colleges and universities. Centuries ago there were only a few jobs: people were farmers, bakers, butchers or carpenters. Today there are thousands of different kinds of jobs, and new ones are constantly appearing. No wonder that it is not an easy thing to make the right choice. Besides, at this age we don't know for sure our preferences and abilities, which makes our choice even more difficult.

When choosing a future career, we should consider different factors. In my opinion, money is one of the most important factors when you make a choice. I think everybody wants to earn as much as possible. Further training, promotion prospects and job conditions should be also taken into account. Besides, you ought to decide whether you want to work indoors or outdoors. On the other hand, it's good when you get satisfaction from your job. So it's very important to choose a profession that suits your interests. Finally, to make the right choice you should take into account your abilities and traits of character.

I don't think it's a right decision to follow in the footsteps of a parent or a relative, if you are not interested in this profession. Although my parents are doctors, 1 don't seem to be very interested in caring for others and helping them with their problems, For such professions like medicine you have to be very good at chemistry and 1 am not much of a chemist. Besides, I'm not very patient and I'm afraid of blood. That's why I don't want to choose my parents' profession. My father is a friendly person and he is easy to talk to. He also believes that I must choose my future occupation according to my taste and preferences. I have always been interested in economics and I enjoy working with people so I'd like to become a manager. I can't imagine myself doing anything else.

Of course I would like to have a well-paid job in the future because I enjoy travelling and I would like to see the world. Besides, I'm very keen to be successful so promotion prospects are also important for me. My ambition is to work as a managing director of a large company. However, for me choosing a career is not only a matter of future prestige and wealth. First of all, my future profession should be interesting and bring real satisfaction. That's the way I see it.

Questions

1. Which are the most prestigious professions today?

2. What professional field can you work in? What are you good at?

3. Which of your personal qualities will help you in your future profession?

4. What are the pros and cons of your future profession?

5. Why do you think your future profession is important today?"

6. Do you think you will need English for your future career?

 

SCHOOL LIFE

 

Speaking activity:

Number these reasons of going to school in their order of importance from 1 (most important reason) to 12 (least important reason).

· To acquire general knowledge

· To prepare for a job

· To meet other young people

· To train one's memory

· To learn something about subjects one will not deal with again later

· To find out what one is interested in

· To give one's parents some peace and quiet

· To test one's intelligence

· To learn how to study and work with books

· To have a good time

· To be kept dependent

· To learn discipline and order

 

Give a talk on the topic School.

Remember to say:

• about the key role of school in educational process;

• some words about the school you study at;

• your favourite and least favourite subjects;

• some words about the out-of-class activities which school offers.

"Knowledge is power" as a proverb says. If you are a well-educated person, you will be able to get a good job and achieve success in life. School plays a key role in our education. It introduces us to academic subjects and gives us practical skills.

I am proud of the school where I am studying. It was founded in 1937 before die Great Patriotic War. During the war there was a hospital for soldiers and officers there. After the war, it was restored. At that time, there were only 7 forms there and is was only for boys at first. In 1950, the school greeted 17 graduates of the 10^{th form}. In 1954, co-education for boys and girls was introduced. In 1965, our school became the school with the profound knowledge of the English language and recently it has been called Gymnasia №397 named after G.V. Starovoytova.

You can easily find your way around our school. There are 4 floors in it. On the ground floor, you can see a cloak-room, a medical room, several classrooms of Russian and History and a canteen. It is very convenient to have a canteen at school, because we can have a snack or lunch there. The prices are reasonable and the range of food is rather good. Cakes and buns baked at school are tasty. On the first floor, you can see the English and the Russian libraries. Physics lab and the primary school classrooms. The headmaster's office and the teachers' room are on the second floor. Here you can also see the Assembly flail, the classrooms of Mathematics and English. There are two Information technology classrooms on the third floor.

To my mind our school is very well-equipped all the classrooms are supplied with computers. Most classrooms have TV sets, smart boards and CD-players, so our teachers can use modem information technologies in the teaching process. There are a lot of cosy and home-like classrooms in our school with lots of flowers on window sills and picturesque posters on the walls.

We help keep our school clean and tidy. The teachers of our school are good professionals. They do their best to help us study. They explain the most difficult things in a simple way, find very good and vivid examples to illustrate the new material, answer our questions. I think that knowledge I get from my teachers will help me to become an educated person. My favourite school subject is........................................... It is useful and interesting. I love and respect the teacher of.............................. I suppose the knowledge of …………. is essential for an educated person who expects to find an interesting and a well-paid job in the future. However, I'm not very good at………….. For me this is a hard nut to crack. Our school offers us many out-of-class activities including sports, extra English classes, and several clubs. We like to participate in different performances and parties. Our senior pupils take part in district and city Olympiads and in the District Scientific Conference for pupils, where many of them are awarded with diplomas of the winners. We often go on excursions and trips to many interesting places with our form master. (Give examples). I have got many friends at school. I feel that I can rely on my friends in difficult circumstances. During the breaks we speak about everything and share our secrets. It is great to have so many friends. I think school gives me not only knowledge but also good and reliable friends.

 

My school