They work hard to have good command of english

Andrew and Peter are the first-year students now. They study at the National University for Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine. They have a great wish to become highly qualified specialists. They know that any expert in a field of physical education and spot must have a good command of foreign languages.

The students and post-graduates of our University study the most widespread languages: English, German, French and Spanish. One of these languages is a compulsory one. Peter and Andrew learn English. It is not their mother tongue. For them English is a new language. They do their best to know it well.

The first-year students have their English classes twice a week. At the lesson the students learn to read and speak English, translate texts and discuss them. Besides they do a lot of phonetics drills, grammar and lexical exercises.

The second-year and senior-year students usually read original scientific literature on their specialty. They translate the extracts from English into Ukrainian and then retell them in English. They also have conversational practice on different topics.

To read and understand special scientific literature in English is their main aim. It is not an easy task. The student first has to acquire the basic knowledge of everyday English, its vocabulary and the essentials of grammar and word-formation. This is the only way to become proficient in understanding of the peculiarities of the scientific speech-style.

Peter is more gifted for speech and language training. He quickly and easily remembers new words and phrases, applies them better to the situation. He doesn't consider it difficult to learn languages. Andrew has to work hard in order to do well in English. Peter always helps his friend Andrew to master English. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

1. Find the English equivalents for the following:

Важкий, фонетичні вправи, найбільш розповсюджений, крім того, завзято працювати, рідна мова, аспірант, повсякденна англійська мова, запам’ятовувати, особливість, словниковий запас, обдарований, висококваліфікований, робити все можливе, другокурсник, базові знання, основи граматики, друзі пізнаються в біді, вдосконалювати, науковий стиль мови, головна мета, словотворення, вважати.

2. You are at the international conference talking about learning English. Think of advice you can give for people who want to learn this language quickly and easily. State four main types of activity that may be useful.

3. On the basis of this text tell your friend in what way you study English at your university. Describe your English classes.

Telling the Time

1 . A simple way to tell the time is to say the numbers (more formal):

7.10, 3.55, 1.20: seven ten, three fifty-five, one twenty

Alternatively, you can use (in conversation) past and to:

Ten past seven, five to four, twenty past one

For 30 minutes past the hour, we say half past:

5.30 half past five

For 15 and 45 minutes, we use (a) quarter

5.15 a quarter past five

5.45 a quarter to six

2. In US English, you can choose between two different prepositions.

Half past/after seven, quarter to/of four, twenty past/after one

With this 12-hour form, we use a.m. for morning and p.m. for evening.

Breakfast is served between 7.00 a.m. and a.m.

3. We do not usually use the twenty-four hour clock unless we are talking about plane or train timetables or itineraries.

14.00 The meeting is at two o'clock.

* 12.00 twelve hundred hours | midday = noon

24.00 twenty-four hundred hours = midnight

1. Write in letters. Give different variants.

8.15, 3.30, 1.20, 10.45, 11.55, 12.05, 2.45, 6.25, 3.40, 16.50, 17.30, 18.05, 22.00, 24.00.

Prepositions of Time

Preposition	Uses	Examples
in	for years months seasons parts of day in expressions	in 1990, in the 90s, in February, in the winter, in the morning , in the daytime/in the afternoon/ in the evening in the future, in the past ! In expressions: in a moment, in a minute, in a fortnight (in 2 weeks), in an hour, “in” means in the course of, within the space of (через)
on	for days (including the word day) for dates	on Monday, on Christmas day, on Saturday morning on a winter day, on my birthday on 31 July (on the 31st of July) on 9 September 1987 (on the 9th of September 1987)
at	for times of day for occasions with more than one day with words: night, time, moment, present	at nine o’clock, at 10.15 at the weekend, at Christmas at midnight, night at that time, moment at present

2. Write the correct preposition in the space.

…. Monday, …. the weekend, …. half past two, …. September, …. 1895, …. the morning, …. Sunday afternoon, …. night, ..... 2 July, .... Ann’s birthday, .... Sunday 24 August 1991, .... Monday night, .... two o’clock, … the morning, … twenty past nine, … Thursday, …. the afternoon, …. my birthday, …. June, …. 1993, … ten o’clock, … Christmas, …. 15^th November, …. 2.30, ….Wednesday evening, …. night.

3. When do you do these things? Write down your answers.

Do your homework / Watch TV / Play sports / Have your birthday / Get up / Go to bed / Go on holidays