Activities

Exercise 1.Think about a person who can be called an outstanding example of high professionalism in journalism. Tell others about this person answering the following questions:

1. How many years has he worked in journalism?

2. What, in your opinion, are the qualities that made him one of the best in this profession?

3. What, in your opinion, is the most fascinating achievement of this person?

4. What, in your opinion, is the most important challenge that he has ever faced?

5. What would you like to learn from him?

Exercise 2. Imagine that you have to interview the University rector (General Manager of a big factory/ sports or show business celebrity). What steps will you take to get the job done?

Exercise 3. Translate sentences from Russian into English:

1. Если ты не предан этой профессии, неважно, насколько хорошо ты умеешь писать или насколько достоверны твои источники.

2. Что требуется, чтобы стать журналистом? Спросите любого в этом деле, и вам скажут, что вы должны быть необыкновенно любознательным, искренним, трудолюбивым, любить и понимать людей, и, наконец, не бояться вызовов.

3. Одно из самых важных качеств хорошего журналиста – это непреодолимое желание писать.

4. Работа репортера требует здорового скептицизма, гибкости и настойчивости, иногда даже наглости.

5. В современных СМИ навыки командного игрока необходимы даже интровертам, которым трудно взять телефон и позвонить, чтобы договориться об интервью.

6. Журналист должен обладать широтой взглядов, чтобы не прийти к опрометчивому суждению, основанному на недостаточной информации.

7. Если человек, у которого вы хотите взять интервью, старается отделаться от вас, постарайтесь так «достать» его или его секретаря, чтобы для вас нашли время.

8. Даже студент сталкивается с искушением нарушить кодекс профессиональной этики журналиста, и должен разработать собственную стратегию принятия решений.

9. Толстокожесть – полезная черта для журналиста, потому что она помогает принимать критику с положительным настроем и справляться со стрессом.

10. Настойчивости и умению довести свою историю до конца нужно обучаться в студенческие годы, чтобы работодатели увидели, что вы не сдаетесь и не падаете духом.

Grammar Past Simple Tense

The simple past tense is used to talk about finished actions that happened at a specific time in the past. You state when it happened using a time adverb (yesterday; last week/month/year, etc.; … days/months/ years ago; in 1999; 2012, etc.). You form the simple past of a verb by adding -ed onto the end of a regular verb but, irregular verb forms have to be learnt.

To be Positive +	To be Negative -	Questions
I was.	I wasn't.	Was I?
He was.	He wasn't.	Was he?
She was.	She wasn't.	Was she?
It was.	It wasn't.	Was it?
You were.	You weren't.	Were you?
We were.	We weren't.	Were we?
They were.	They weren't.	Were they?

Regular Verb (to work) Positive +	Regular Verb (to work) Negative -	Questions	Short answer  +	Short answer -
I worked.	I didn't work.	Did I work?	Yes, I did.	No, I didn't.
He worked.	He didn't work.	Did he work?	Yes, he did.	No, he didn't.
She worked.	She didn't work.	Did she work?	Yes, she did.	No, she didn't.
It worked.	It didn't work.	Did it work?	Yes, it did.	No, it didn't.
You worked.	You didn't work.	Did you work?	Yes you did.	No, you didn't.
We worked.	We didn't work.	Did we work?	Yes we did.	No, we didn't.
They worked.	They didn't work.	Did they work?	Yes they did.	No, they didn't.
Irregular Verb (to go) Positive +	Irregular Verb (to go) Negative -	Questions	Short answer  +	Short answer -
I went.	I didn't go.	Did I go?	Yes, I did.	No, I didn't.
He went.	He didn't go.	Did he go?	Yes, he did.	No, he didn't.
She went.	She didn't go.	Did she go?	Yes, she did.	No, she didn't.
It went.	It didn't go.	Did it go?	Yes, it did.	No, it didn't.
You went.	You didn't go.	Did you go?	Yes you did.	No, you didn't.
We went.	We didn't go.	Did we go?	Yes we did.	No, we didn't.
They went.	They didn't go.	Did they go?	Yes they did.	No, they didn't.

Exercise 1. Fill in the blanks. Use WAS / WERE:

1. Mary and Susan …… were ……… ill yesterday.

2. The weather …………………….. very hot last Saturday.

3. The students …………………….. at the theater last night.

4. Betty …………………………….. in Germany last summer.

5. My brother and I …………………….. at the football stadium on Saturday.

6. …………………………. it cold yesterday?

Exercise 2. Put these sentences into the PAST. Use past form of verb “ TO BE “:

T O D A Y Y E S T E R D A Y

Example: I’m at home. ….. I was at home………………………………

1. Jane and Michael are tired. ……………………………………………….

2. She’s in the park. ……………………………………………….

3. It’s a sunny day. ……………………………………………….

4. You’re late. .………………………………………………

5. They aren’t hungry. ……………………………………………….

6. We aren’t at work. ……………………………………………….

7. I’m thirsty. .………………………………………………

8. You aren’t at school. ……………………………………………….

9. We’re at the cinema. ……………………………………………….

10.Paula isn’t happy. ……………………………………………….

11.Everyone is excited. ……………………………………………….

12.I’m not afraid. .. .……………………………………………..

Exercise 3. Choose WAS or WERE:

1. He was / were a policeman.

2. We was / were very happy.

3. Was / Were you happy?

4. They wasn’t / weren’t interested in.

5. I was / were at school.

6. It wasn’t / weren’t expensive.

7. Was / Were she your teacher?