Card 14 Let’s talk about leisure time.

1. What do you like doing in your free time?

In our free time we do something for recreation and pleasure. Lots of people have hobbies. Engaging in a hobby can lead to acquiring some skills, knowledge, and experience.

In fact, anything can be a hobby, from collecting stamps and board games to doing extreme sports and making model airplanes.

As for me, I like swimming, reading and listening to music.

Doing sports helps me keep fit and be always in high spirits, as well as build up stamina (['stæmɪnə] запас жизненных сил; выдержка, выносливость).

I am really keen on reading. Books open to me a whole world of events and people. Reading a book helps me get useful or just interesting information.

I enjoy listening to music, as music helps me relax and relieve stress. When I listen to music, I forget about the troubles of everyday life. Stress melts away as I am taken in by the beauty of music. It helps me feel calm and deeply relaxed.

I also like hanging out with my friends. We go to discos or watch films.

2. Do you find it useful to go to the theatre or cinema? Why (not)?

Yes, I do. I find it useful. The theatre and cinema illustrate the values we hold most dearly. They provide us with a mirror – a reflection of our life.

Everyone can find something to his liking in the broad variety of their genres: comedies, love stories or adventures, detective stories, block-busters or horror stories.

Nowadays lots of people have modern TV sets and enjoy watching films at home. I think they just lose a chance of communication with their friends.

3. What questions can you ask a British friend about his/her free time?

What is your hobby? Do you like having fun with your friends? How often do go to the disco? You are fond of reading, aren’t you? Do you collect anything?

4. Can you recommend me to watch one of the films you have seen recently?

It’ a little bit difficult as I don’t know your preferences. Though not long ago I watched a comedy (a thriller… a block-buster…). The title is…. The film is about… It’s really catching (touching… funny). I think it’s worth seeing.

5. Many parents complain that children don’t read books. Why do you think

children are not interested in reading?

I have to admit that youngsters of my age do not do much reading. I’d like to say that reading makes us think, it helps us build the character and form the world outlook, it teaches us to understand life better.

It’s a pity children don’t read much these days. I think it’s because of computer games.

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Card 15 Let’s talk about Belarusian customs and traditions.

1. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday?

I like New Year’s Day best. New Year’s Day is a family holiday. On the 31^st of December all the family get together to see the New Year in. There’s usually a holiday dinner with a lot of tasty things and everyone wishes each other “A Happy New Year” at 12 p.m. and give presents. After that young people enjoy going outside to the streets and squares and watch or make fireworks.

2. Are you proud of our national holidays and traditions? Why?

I’m proud of our national holidays and traditions because they are quite interesting and reflect our rich history.

There are seven official holidays in our country: January 1 – New Year’s Day, January 7 – Christmas (Orthodox), March 8 – Women’s Day, May 1 – Day of Working People, May 9 – Victory Day, July 3 – Independence Day, December 25 – Christmas (Catholic). These holidays have lots of traditions which are very similar to those all over the world.

There are also special Belarusian holidays which are different from all the rest. Some of them are not official. Their traditions have been formed for centuries and still have high popularity.

January 13 is the old style New Year. On this day people celebrate the coming of the New Year according to the Julian calendar. This holiday is called Shedry Vecher (which means the Generous Eve) or Kolyada. People dressed as animals or fantastic creatures['kri:ʧəz], holding a Sun image and a goat’s head walk from one house to another, singing original Kolyadniye songs. In return, hosts treat such folk actors and sometimes give them money.

Traditional celebrations are held at Easter. On that day people go to church at dawn. They have a special service after which there is a beautiful ceremony of consecrating ['kɔnsɪkreɪtiŋ] Easter cakes and painted eggs. Then people go home and share the consecrated food with their friends and relatives.

On the ninth day after Easter we have Radunitsa. It’s a day for remembering all those relatives who are not with us anymore. It’s an official day off. People go to cemeteries ['semətrɪz], clean the tombs [tu:mz] of their dead relatives and decorate them with flowers.

Among other notable holidays is the Day of Defenders of the Nation on February 23d, which is widely regarded as «Men’s Day».

The end of February and the beginning of March is the time of Maslenitsa (Shrovetide ['ʃrəuvtaɪd]). It’s an old custom associated with saying farewell to winter. Traditionally on this day people bake sun-shaped pancakes and hold festivals.

One of the most interesting and mysterious [mɪ'stɪərɪəs] holidays is Kupalye. People sing and dance in a ring and make bonfires on that night. It is an ancient pagan ['peɪg(ə)n] festival.

I think these unique traditions make our country special.

3. What questions can you ask your classmate about his/her birthday celebration?

Do you usually celebrate your birthday at home? Do you have a party? What’s your favourite dish for a birthday dinner? You invite some of your friends, don’t you? What present do you usually get?

4. Which holiday celebration in Belarus will you recommend your British friend?

I would recommend him to take part in Kupalye festival which is still observed in many villages. I think it’s one of the most interesting and mysterious [mɪ'stɪərɪəs] holidays, which is celebrated on the night of July 6 to 7. According to an old popular belief, at Kupalye the ferns blossom at night. A person who finds such a fern will know his future and stay young forever. During that night some brave young people go to the woods – in naïve [naɪ'i:v] but romantic hope to find a fern flower. Girls twine wreaths [ri:θs] and send them flowing along the rivers, wishing for luck in life and their future family life. People also sing and dance in a ring and make bonfires. It is an amazing ancient pagan ['peɪg(ə)n] festival.

*What souvenir ['su:vənɪə] would you recommend a foreign tourist to buy in our country?

I would recommend a foreign tourist to buy a straw spider amulet ['æmjulət] designed to protect the house and ensure the well-being of the family.

5. Do you think it is important to follow our grandparents’ traditions? Why?

Traditions are a part of our culture. They help us understand the life and experience of the previous generations, to understand where we came from. I believe we should learn from traditions and observe some of them to feel that we are a nation.

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