Разговорные темы.

About myself

Let me introduce myself. My name is….. My surname is … I am … years old. I am from …. I am a (clerk, accountant, secretary, driver, shop assistant). I am (tall, short, of average height), (thin, plump, slim, well-built, a bit over-weight) with (fair, dark, blond) hair and (blue, green, brown, grey) eyes. I am a sociable person and have a lot of friends.

Now I am a first year student at Moscow institute of economics, management and law. I am an economy (law) student. I am at the correspondence department.

I am not married. I live with my Mum and Dad (husband, wife, son, daughter). I have a hobby. It is (music, sport, computer games, photography, reading, knitting, cooking, fishing, surfing the Net, swimming, collecting car models). When I have free time I spend it on my hobby.

Questions:

1. What’s your name?

2. Where are you from?

3. How old are you?

4. What are you?

5. Are you a student? What’s your specialty?

6. What year student are you?

7. What’s your department?

8. Are you married?

9. What’s your address?

10. What’s your hobby?

My family.

I'd like to tell you about my family. There are 4 of us - my mum, dad, sister and me. My father is a tall, strong man of 43. He is always busy as he has his own business. He is serious and hard-working. His hobby is fishing, he says it is relaxing. As for me I can't share his interest, I prefer sport.

My mum is 42. She has got fair hair and grey eyes. She is always elegant and well-dressed. She works for an insurance company. She loves her job but most of her free time devotes to our family. I and my sister help her about the house. My mum has a remarkable power of understanding people. Even my friends ask her opinion on different matters.

My sister is at school. She does very well. My sister is pretty, has got wavy hair and blue eyes. She is 13. She is always joyful and energetic. She adores dancing. We get on well with her. On weekdays we don't see much of each other but on weekends we like going round to our grandparents. They are retired. During the summer time they live in the country. I am lucky to have a friendly family.

Questions:

1. How many people are there in your family?

2. What do your parents do?

3. How old is your sister (brother)?

4. Do you have a lot of relatives?

5. Are your grandparents retied?

6. How does your mum look like?

7. What is your mum like?

8. What does you mum like?

My working day.

As a rule I get up at 7a.m. I do my morning exercises, take a shower and have breakfast. When I have breakfast I usually listen to the news over the radio. Then I get dressed and leave home. I get to my office by bus. It takes me only 25 minutes to get there. My work begins at 9 o'clock. I'm a clerk. I work with documents and receive a lot of people every day. At 2 p.m. I have dinner in our canteen. My working day lasts 8 hours.

At 5 o'clock my work is over. I seldom stay at the office after work. After work I often have a walk and then go home. On my way home I sometimes drop into the shops. I spend evenings with my family: playing with my son, watching TV, reading books or talking. I go to bed at 11 p.m.

Questions:

1. When does your working day begin?

2. How do you get to your work?

3. Do you have a lunch break?

4. How do you spend evenings?

My Friend.

People usually have a lot of acquaintances but few real friends. I am lucky I have one ( two, three … ). I’ll tell you about Alex (Ann). He (she) is a young man (girl) with big hazel (blue, grey, green) eyes and a pleasant smile. My friend has short (long) dark (fair, chestnut, red) hair, he (she) always takes care of it. Alex (Ann) is tall (short, of medium height), slender (slim, thin, thick, strongly-built, plump) and very energetic. He (she) is (two, three …) years younger (older) than me (we are the same age). My friend is a student like me (my friend works as a security at a bank). He (she) studies at the institute and is going to become a lawyer (an economist, a doctor, a programmer, a teacher, an engineer). Alex (Ann) was always good at Social sciences (Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology,) that’s why he (she) decided to enter this university (to choose this profession).

We have much in common. We like the same music, books, films. Both of us are fond of fishing. Of course, it’s fun to spend time together. Alex (Ann) is a cheerful and optimistic person. He (she) is always ready to help when I am in troubles (when I have problems). I know that I can rely on my friend and he (she) also trusts me. We have already been friends for five (six, …) years and I hope our friendship will never die (will continue).

Questions:

1. Who is your friend?

2. What does he (she) do?

3. What does he (she) look like?

4. Where does your friend live?

5. What is your friend’s hobby?

6. Is your friend married or single?

My Day Off.

People usually have two days off: Saturday and Sunday. When the weekend comes, they try to enjoy it as much as they can. As for students they have one day off. It’s Sunday.

On this day I get up later than usually, because I need a good rest. If I am in good mood, I do morning exercises to music. After breakfast I do some work about the house. My household duties are to tidy up my room, to vacuumclean the carpets and go shopping if it is needed. When the work is finished, I am quite free and can do what I like. I may read a book, watch TV, play computer games, go for a walk with my friends. I also like to spend my spare time out of town.

Saturday evening is the best time for parties, dancing, going to the cinema or theatre.

As for my last weekend I spent it in the country. The weather was fine. My friends and I decided to go to the forest. We gathered a lot of mushrooms. It was a real pleasure.

Fishing is my and my friend’s hobby. We are going fishing next Monday. I hope we’ll be lucky.

Questions:

1. How many days off do you have?

2. Is Sunday your day off?

3. What time do you get up on this day?

4. Do you prefer to spend your weekend out of town or at home?

5. What did you do on your last day off?

6. What was the weather like on that day?

MY FLAT

I live in a nine-storey house. I live on the second floor. Our flat is very comfortable. It has all modern conveniences, such as central heating, electricity, gas, cold and hot water and a telephone. There are three rooms in our flat: a living room, a bedroom and a children's room. We also have a kitchen, a bathroom, an entrance hall, a toilet and a balcony. There is also a lift in the building and a rubbish-chute. In front of the house there is a small garden.

The flat is not large but well-planned. The living-room is the largest and the most comfortable. Let me describe it. In the left-hand corner there is a little table with a TV set and a video recorder on it. In the opposite corner mere is a sofa and two arm-chairs. Near them there is a bookcase. Against the wall there is a nice sideboard. In the middle of the room there is a coffee table. On the floor we have a nice thick carpet. The curtains on the window match the wall paper. All this makes the room cosy.

Our kitchen is rather large. There, is a gas-stove, fridge, cupboard and a square table with four stools around it. On the wall above the table there are three kitchen cabinets. As well as that there are different fixings and fittings.

We like our flat very much.

Questions:

1. Do you live in a nine-storey house?

2. On what floor do you live?

3. Does your flat have all modern conveniences? What are they?

4. How many rooms are there in your flat? What are they?

5. Which is the largest room? Which is the most comfortable?

6. Describe one of the rooms.

Hobbies.

A hobby is a favorite occupation of a person. Hobbies differ like tastes. Some people like gardening or travelling, others prefer reading or doing sports, and the others are fond of knitting and sewing, or collecting stamps. If you have chosen a hobby to your liking, you have made your life more interesting.

Sometimes it is difficult to find time for a hobby because of your work or studies. But when I am free, I try to spend my spare time on my hobby.

I like reading, painting, listening to music, going to the cinema of theatre. But most of all I enjoy collecting stamps. I began collecting at school. The fact is I had some pen-friends in different countries. It was fun to exchange stamps with them. I’ve enriched my collection since them. And now I’ve got three big albums. Every time I look through my stamps, I remember my friends and forget my problems. It helps me relax and feel happy.

Questions:

1. What is your favorite occupation?

2. Is it difficult for you to find time for your hobby? Why?

3. Does your hobby help you in your life?

4. When did you begin to do your hobby?

5. What else would you like to do in your free time?

My University.

I study at Nizhny Novgorod branch of Moscow University named after Vitte. It has been training students for more than 15 years. We have four faculties at our branch: of economics, management, tourism and law. Students can choose one of three departments: full-time, part-time or extra-mural.

It is very important to have a higher education now. So many young people enter our institute every year, though they have to pay for their studies.

The building of the institute is situated not far from the center of the city. There are a lot of classrooms, computer-rooms, a library with a reading hall and a café in it.

All the students are to learn such compulsory subjects as History, Philosophy, English, Maths, and others. They also take special subjects according to their future profession.

An academic year is divided into two terms. At the end of each term we have an examination session. We usually have to take a lot of credits and exams. So we must work hard at different subjects during the year. We should attend all lectures and seminars and do our best to be a success at studies. All this will help us in future become qualified specialists and get a well-paid job.

Questions:

1. What year are you a student?

2. What department do you study at?

3. What subjects do you learn at the institute?

4. What is your favorite subject? Why?

5. Where is your university situated?

6. Do you try to be a success at studies? What do you do for that?

MY HOME PLACE

I live in N.N. It's my native city. I was born here. And I've been living here all my life.

N.N. was founded in 1221. It's an old Russian city with a lot of historical sights. The two Great Russian Rivers: the Oka and the Volga join in N.N. It's a big river port on the Volga. It's linked with all parts of the country by roads and railways. N.N. is divided into two parts: Zarechnaya and Nagornaya by the Oka. Nagornaya part is known as a historical and cultural centre. Zarechnaya part is an industrial area.

The city is known for its trade traditions because of the world famous "Yarmarka". In fact, N.N. is one of the biggest manufacturing centers. The city is famous for the car factory. Cars and lorries which are very popular throughout the country are produced there.

There are lots of cultural and educational institutions in N.N. A number of universities and institutes can be found here. The students can use a lot of libraries and museums. There are fives theatres, some modern cinemas, clubs of different kind in the city.

N.N. has some really nice parks. There are different places where you can do sports in the city. The tourists find a lot of interesting sights, monuments, churches and museums in N.N.

Questions:

1. Where is N.N. situated?

2. When was the city founded?

3. What is it famous for?

4. What makes cultural (sport) life of the city?

5. Do you like your city? Why?

Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The UK is made up of four parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England, Wales and Scotland together form Great Britain. Northern Ireland is considered to be a separate country in the northern part of Ireland. The territory of the UK covers 244 000 square kilometers. The population is over 56, 5 million. London is the capital. The rivers are not long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the busiest and the most important river in England. The climate of the country is mild because it’s affected by the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream. It's not very hot in summer and very cold in winter. There are a lot of mountains in the north of England and Scotland but they are not very high. The highest mountain is Ben Nevis. There are lots of lakes in Scotland. GB is a highly developed industrial country. One of its main industries is shipbuilding. Great Britain has a lot of old customs and traditions. The most famous universities are Oxford and Cambridge. Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy and Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the state. But in practice it is ruled by the government. The British Parliament is made up of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. .

Questions:

1. What parts does the UK consist of?

2. What is the territory of the UK?

3. What is the population of the UK?

4. What is the capital of the UK?

5. What are the longest and the most important rivers in Great Britain?

6. What do you know about the climate of GB? What influences the climate? What are summers and winters like?

7. Where can the mountains be found? Are they high?

8. What is the main industry of the UK?

9. Does Great Britain keep its traditions?

Travelling.

Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It is always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms.

Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe and laze in the sun.

Most travelers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them - the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kinds of trees, flowers and plants; animals and birds.

Later, perhaps years later, they will be reminded by the photos of the happy time they have had.

People travel by train, by boat and by car.

All means of travel have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and destinations.

If we are fond of travelling, we see and learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers, and see pictures of them on TV. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand the people is to meet them in their own homes.

Questions:

1. How can people travel?

2. Do you like travelling?

3. How do you prefer to travel?

4. Where did you go last time?

5. What did you see there?

6. Are you going anywhere next summer?