About Myself and My Family
My name is Oleg Ivanov. I was born in Alexin. It’s a nice old town, I like it very much as it’s the place of my childhood. At the age of 7 I began to attend school. I studied very well and usually received only top marks. I finished school at the age of 17. The same year I went to Tula and entered Tula State University. I want to become a good specialist in the field of electronics.
I was born in the family of professional workers. My father is an engineer, he works at a big plant. Now he is 50. He graduated from Tula Polytechnical Institute. My mother is 45, she’s a doctor and works at a hospital. I’m proud of my parents.
I have a brother and a sister. They live in Alexin. My brother is 22. He has a family of his own, they are three in all - my brother, his wife and their little son. My sister is not married, she is 17 and she is a student of Pedagogical College. She is going to be a teacher of English. She works hard and she is a good student.
We have a granny, she is a pensioner. She is well past 60, but looks young for her age. She is very kind to all of us. We also have many close and distant relatives and we are always glad to see each other.
I. Read the text ‘About Myself and My Family’ and answer the questions.
1. Where was Oleg Ivanov born?
When and where were you born?
What is the place of your mother’s birth?
2. How did Oleg study at school?
What subjects were you good at school?
What subjects did you dislike?
3. What are Oleg’s parents?
What are your parents?
4. Where does his father (mother) work?
Where do your parents work?
5. How old is Oleg’s mother?
How old is your mother?
How old are you?
6. Does Oleg have a brother or a sister?
Do you have a brother or a sister?
Are you an only child?
7. Oleg’s brother is very young, isn’t he?
Are you very young?
8. Is Oleg’s sister married?
Are you married?
9. What college does Oleg’s sister study at?
What University do you study at?
10. Why did Oleg enter the University?
Why did you enter the University?
11. How old is Oleg’s granny?
How old are your grandparents?
Future profession and career
Finishing school is the beginning of the independent life for millions of school leavers. Many roads are open to them: technical schools, institutes and universities. But it is not an easy thing to choose a profession out of more than 2000 existing professions in the world. Some pupils follow the advice of their parents, others can't decide even after leaving school.
Choosing the kind of career to follow is probably one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Before you make this decision you will have to do a lot of thinking about who you are, about the things you like to do and the things you do well.
Not all professions require higher education and they are of great demand now and satisfy the needs of society. But it goes without saying that for every occupation you have to acquire necessary skills and practical experience.
Your career is an evolving thing and it depends on your abilities and education. Being a highly educated person gives you top priority and a position in society and what is most important – self-satisfaction.
But whatever profession you choose if you are able to balance your wants and needs with your goals, talents and skills, you will be passionate about your work!
I. Read the text “Future profession and career” and answer the question:
What do you want to be when you graduate from the university?
D I A L O G U E S
a) Read the dialogues in pairs.
I.
A. Is your family large?
B. No, it isn’t. We are only 3 in the family. (There are 3 of us in the family).
A. How old are your parents?
B. My mother is 40. My father is 43.
A. Do they still work?
B. Yes, they do.
II.
A. Are you married?
B. Yes, I am.
A. Would you tell me about your family? How many children do you have?
B. I have two children, a son and a daughter.
A. How lucky you are
III.
A. Are you married?
B. No, I’m not. I’m single.
A. Do you live with your parents?
B. No, I don’t. They live in Rostov.
IV.
A. Hi! My name is Tom Smith. I’m from Atlanta, Georgia. What’s your name?
B. I’m Pedro.
A. And where are you from, Pedro?
B. I’m from Madrid, Spain.
A. Oh, really? Nice to meet you.
B. Nice to meet you too.
b) Reproduce the short dialogues in similar situations.
I. Make up short situations based on the model.
Model: It’s Robert Brown. He’s 26.
He’s a journalist. He’s American.
He comes from New York.
Substitutes:
Name |
Age |
Job |
Nationality |
Residence |
Mary Smith Tom Stuart Jerry Brown Robert Grey Clair Jones Andrew Smith |
20 18 35 41 45 33 |
architect secretary doctor mechanic actress lawyer |
English Irish Canadian Australian American Scottish |
London Dublin Ottawa Sydney New York Edinburgh |
II. Study the Family Tree. Say whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
Pete + Jane
Teresa |
Tom + Ann |
Dick + Mary |
Dorothy |
Louis Charlie Beatrice
1. Jane is Dorothy’s mother.
2. Pete is Ann’s father.
3. Tom is Mary’s husband.
4. Teresa is Tom’s wife.
5. Louis is Charlie’s brother.
6. Beatrice is Louis’s cousin.
7. Dorothy is Beatrice’s aunt.
8. Tom is Louis’s uncle.
9. Charlie is Mary’s nephew.
10. Beatrice is Teresa’s niece.
11. Ann is Teresa’s sister-in-law.
12. Tom is Dorothy’s brother.
13. Dorothy is Pete’s daughter.
14. Ann is Mary’s sister.
15. Pete is Charlie’s grandfather.
16. Beatrice is an only child.
17. Dorothy has two children.
18. Jane is Beatrice’s grandmother.
19. Louis is Jane’s grandson.
20. Dorothy is single.
III. Work in pairs.
One student makes a sketch of his (her) family tree trying to remember all his (her) relatives, the other asks questions and draws the family tree. Then they compare the sketches.
IV. Speak about your own family. The following questions will help you.
1. How large is your family?
2. Are your family early risers? Why? What about you?
3. Are you the eldest of the family?
4. Do you have any special duties?
5. Who do you most take after, your mother or your father?
6. Who are you like in character?
7. Who do you look like?
8. Who is the head of your family?
9. Do you think that older and younger generations should live together?
V. Imagine that you are a small child lost in an unknown town. What will you tell a policeman about your father and mother to help him find them.
VI. Imagine that you are
a) a film star;
b) a 15-year-old girl ( boy ) who wants independence;
c) a 18-year-old girl ( boy ).
What will you say about your family to
a) a reporter;
b) your new friend;
c) a stranger.
J
U S T F O R F U N
Read the poem.
This is our dad, short and stout;
This is our mum, with children all about;
This is our sister, with a doll on her knee;
This is our brother, tall you see;
This is our baby, sure to grow;
And here is our family all in a row.
Read the jokes. Learn the funniest of them by heart.
- My mother-in-law is an angel.
You lucky fellow ! Mine is still alive !
***
The meeting-places of love:
Their eyes meet, their hands meet,
Their lips meet, their lawyers meet.
***
Jane: Is the man your sister’s going to marry rich?
Dick: I think not. Every time mother talks about the wedding father says “poor man!”
***
Ann: Why don’t you marry, Jane?
Jane: I will only marry a man who knows life and has learned its sorrows.
Ann: I see, a widower.
Here are some proverbs and sayings. Read them and find the Russian equivalents. Use the proverbs in a natural context.
He that has a wife has a master.
As the baker so the buns, as the father so the sons.
Necessity is a hard nurse, but she raises strong children.
To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth.