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

Give a 2 minute talk on shopping

Remember to say:

• if you like going shopping. ( Why\ why not?)

• what your favourite shops are.

• If you prefer shopping in small shops or in big supermarkets and department stores, why?

• If you like to go shopping alone or with someone else? Why?

Going shopping is a part of our everyday life. For some people it is a pleasant pastime while for others it is an everyday routine. Some people love doing shopping and go bargain hunting. In big cities there are a lot of shops, stores, supermarkets and department stores.

There are many kinds of shops. Bread is sold at the baker's and meat is sold at the butcher's. Sugar, salt, pepper, tea, coffee and rice are sold at the grocer's. We go to the greengrocer's for vegetables and fruits. Cakes and sweets are sold at the sweet shop. Pens and pencils are sold at the stationery's. We buy jewellery, gold and silver rings at the jeweller's. We buy books at the bookseller's. In such shops all the things for sale are on the counters and in the shop windows, so the customers can choose what they want. A salesman or a salesgirl stands behind the counter. She usually serves the customers. She wraps, weighs and gives goods. The cashier sits at the cash desk. At the cash-desk the customers give the bill and the money to the cashier, who gives them a check and their change.

There are also a lot of supermarkets. Supermarkets are large shops. At the supermarkets customers usually serve themselves with food and other goods. The customers use large trolleys and often buy a lot of food. They pay at the cash-desk on leaving the shop. It is more convenient to do shopping at the supermarkets. Goods usually cost less in supermarkets than they do in smaller shops. Small comer shops simply cannot compete with the supermarkets on prices.

Goods are also sold at the department stores. Department stores are large shops with many departments for different kinds of goods: stationery, footwear, sportswear goods, perfumery, ready-made women's and men's clothes. Among the most famous department stores of our city are Gostiniy Dvor and Passazh. Goods are usually sold at a high price at the department stores.

Our family usually does shopping at the nearest shopping center which sells a lot of goods. The shopping center is a group of shops of different kinds which were planned and built together under one roof. Besides, it has a lot of free parking space so we can park our car without any problems. If we are tired of shopping, we can have a rest at a cafe or go to the cinema which is situated nearby. I enjoy shopping and like to choose goods. In my opinion it's very comfortable to do the shopping in the shopping center and supermarkets where goods are cheaper than in smaller shops.

FASHION

Give a talk on the topic Fashion.

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