Let’s talk about family. What role does it play in your life?

CARD № 1

Let’s talk about family. What role does it play in your life?

Every person needs a place where he can feel happy and quiet. Each of us needs people with whom he could speak freely about his problems, share his joys and his sorrows. Such place and such people are his family. I can say that a family is an emotional center of a person’s life. As for me, family will never ignore me; I will always get support and understanding from my family, no matter whether I am good or bad. I can’t live without my family’s help and respect, but I should remember that my family members also need my attention and support.

2.Are you on good terms with your parents and grandparents?

Frankly speaking I’m on good terms with my parents and grandparents. We don't have such problems as misunderstanding between the members of the family. I think that it is due to the age of my parents and their character.

What will you ask your British friend about his/her family?

Is your family big or small?

Have you got a sister or a brother?

Do you get on well with your sister/brother?

What traditions have you got in your family?

What can you advise people who want to have a close and happy family?

If you want to have a happy family, I advise to be patient and understanding. Respect and support your family members. Talk over your problems together. Share your household duties. Keep your family traditions.

Nowadays an average family has one child. From your point of view, how many children should be there in a family?

It’s sad that families are getting smaller these days. To my mind there should be two or three children in a family. You will never feel lonely in a big family.

 

CARD № 2

Let’s talk about your family traditions. Are there any family traditions that you follow? What are they?

Yes, there are. We have our family traditions which make our life more exciting and interesting, help to understand one another better, to express our emotions and feelings. We observe such national holidays Christmas, the New Year Day, Women’s Day, Easter and some others. We also celebrate the birthdays of each member of the family, give presents to each other on the New Year day and on some other special occasions. It’s also our family tradition to spend summer vocation together. We usually celebrate family holidays together and it’s a tradition in our family to have dinner together and chat about the events of the day.

Are there any things that you do together with your parents?

There is a very good tradition in our family to have dinner together and chat about the events of the day. There is also a tradition in our family to spend summer at the seaside together.

What will you ask your British friend about his/her family traditions?

Do you have any family traditions?

What holidays do you celebrate with your family?

Do you celebrate Christmas with your parents or friends?

Give some advice on how to spend a weekend with your family to make it memorable?

First of all, don’t be lazy and don’t sit at home in front of a computer display. If the weather is fine, I would recommend go to the country. You can have a nice picnic with your dearest people there. If the weather is bad, I advise to invite friends to your place and to have a party.

Do you think is it easy to organize a good party? What mistakes do people sometimes make?

I think that to organize a good party is not so easy, because you need to consider all the details and be sure to make a list of guests, food and drinks and other things. I think people often make mistakes in entertaining. For this reason some guests can be bored at your party.

 

 

CARD № 3

Let’s talk about family relationship. Can you say that your family is a close-knit one?

My home is the best place in the world for me and my family is the dearest people for me. I’m happy to have a close and friendly family. In my family I can speak freely about my problems, share my joys and sorrows with my parents and with my sisters. I can say that my family is an emotional centre of my life. My family members never ignore me; I always get support and understanding from my family. I can’t live without my family’s help and respect. I understand that my family members also need my attention and support. So I, in my turn, love and respect my family and try to obey my parents.

Who in your family do you share your secrets with?

I usually share my secrets with my mother/father.

What will you ask a British teenager about family traditions in his/her country?

Do you have any family traditions?

What holidays do you celebrate?

Do you celebrate Christmas with your family or friends?

What can you advise people who want to have a close and friendly family?

I would advise to spend more time with their family, to show them love and respect, to obey their parents and grandparents.

They say that parents and children have difficulties understanding each other because of the generation gap. What do you think about this problem?

I think the talk about the generation gap is exaggerated. Of course, there is some misunderstanding between generations and always was. To my mind, this is because people don’t try to understand each other. They don’t talk over their problems together, hurt each others feelings and then find an excuse in a generation gap.

 

CARD №4

Let’s talk about friendship. What role do friends play in your life?

Friendship is very important for every person because everyone needs communication and understanding. A friend is one with whom you spend your free time, share your thoughts and interests, who keeps your secrets, whom you trust and who is always ready to help. I’ve got a lot of friends. Some of them are close, some are not, but all of them make my life brighter and more interesting. I think friendship is a gift from God. I can’t imagine my life without friends. As a proverb says, “Life without a friend is like death without a witness”.

Can you rely on your best friend? Why (not)?

I think I can rely on my best friend. We have been friends for many years. We never quarrel, there’s mutual understanding between us. I am sure he/she will give me a helpful hand when I need it.

What questions do you usually ask when you want to get acquainted with someone?

What’s your name?

Where are you from?

Have you got a lot of friends?

Have you got a hobby?

What can you advise a teenager who want to make friends in a new school?

I would advise him/her to be polite, helpful, attentive and friendly with people. If you want to be a friend you should think carefully before you say something to people and think twice before you do anything. I’m sure, schoolmates will appreciate this.

They say: “A person has just one true friend”. What do you think about it?

I think it’s possible to have more than one true friend. It’s hard to find a person who will share your whole life. But you may find one who is faithful and sincere, helpful and devoted. A real friend will never let you down. These are the qualities that make a true friend.

 

CARD №5

Let’s talk about education. Do you think that it gives a person a good start in life?

Children in Belarus start going to school at the age of 6. They spend 4 years at primary school and 7 years at secondary school. At the age of 16, when pupils finish the 9th form, they can either leave school or continue their education for another two years. Most schools in Belarus are secondary comprehensive but there are lyceums and gymnasiums, where pupils get more profound knowledge in various subjects. Marks in Belarusian schools are given out of 10. All schools have rules, such as to be neatly dressed, not to smoke or to avoid casual hair styles. In general, pupils are satisfied with their school as they get good knowledge in all subjects.

Do you agree that Belarusian secondary school provides a person with good knowledge? Why (not)?

I agree. I think that all children are provided with equal opportunities to get good knowledge. My idea is that good knowledge depends not only on school and teachers but on pupils themselves.

CARD №6

Does your school differ from any other schools you know?

No, it doesn’t. My school doesn’t differ from any other schools I know.

CARD №7

CARD №8

CARD № 9

1. Let’s talk about life in the city and in the country. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in the country and in the town? Living in the country is not bad. You breathe fresh air. You feel safer than in a big city. You can enjoy the beauty of nature. In the country you can rest from the noise of a big city. Nevertheless, most young people prefer living in town. First, town life provides all means of entertainment. Second, in a city it’s easier to find a good job. Third, there are more opportunities for children if you have got a family. For these reasons I would rather live in a big city.

2. Do you find your town a comfortable place for living? Yes, I do. Slutsk is an ancient town. It is situated on the river Slutch. It is surrounded by a beautiful countryside. My town is a cultural centre of our district. For spending free time we have the cinema, the sport complex «Dolphin», some restaurants and cafes. My town is beautiful in every part of a day, in every season. I’m proud of my town.

CARD №10

CARD № 11

CARD № 12

CARD № 13

CARD № 14

CARD №15

CARD № 16

CARD № 17

1. Let’s talk about mass media. Which of these does your family like?

Mass media are one of the most characteristic features of modern civilization. People can learn about what is happening in the world very fast using mass media. The mass media include newspapers, magazines, radio and television. To tell you the truth, I’m not really interested in any traditional media. To my mind, television, radio and newspapers are becoming less and less popular. As for my family, my mum likes watching TV, but she says there is too much crime on it. My dad prefers watching the news and some sporting events on TV. I don’t read newspapers. Instead I look through the news summarized on the Internet.

CARD № 18

CARD № 19

Do you do any sport?

I play volleyball. / I go in for swimming (fitness).

CARD № 20

CARD № 21

How do you like to travel?

I prefer travelling by car. Travelling by car is convenient. You don’t depend on the timetable. You are free to stop and change the direction whenever you want.

CARD № 22

1. Let’s talk about ecology. People say that our planet is in danger. Do you share this opinion? Environment is the nature around us: air, water, trees, flowers, animals, birds and insects. Nature has served people for many years, but people’s interference in nature has increased and the results are dramatic. Nowadays mankind faces numerous problems which threaten our environment. The most serious ecological problems are: noise from cars and buses; destruction of wildlife and countryside beauty; shortage of natural resources; the growth of population; pollution in its many forms. People understand that the planet needs their immediate help if they want to survive and they take measures to protect nature.

CARD № 23

Are you weather dependent?

I think that weather can influence the mood and state of many people but I’m not a weather dependent person.

CARD № 24

Билет №25

CARD № 1

Let’s talk about family. What role does it play in your life?

Every person needs a place where he can feel happy and quiet. Each of us needs people with whom he could speak freely about his problems, share his joys and his sorrows. Such place and such people are his family. I can say that a family is an emotional center of a person’s life. As for me, family will never ignore me; I will always get support and understanding from my family, no matter whether I am good or bad. I can’t live without my family’s help and respect, but I should remember that my family members also need my attention and support.

2.Are you on good terms with your parents and grandparents?

Frankly speaking I’m on good terms with my parents and grandparents. We don't have such problems as misunderstanding between the members of the family. I think that it is due to the age of my parents and their character.