5. Complete the sentences and use them as a plan for your future talk on the history of Rostov – on – Don.

1. Rostov is a big southern city situated at ….. .

2. Its favourable location was ….. .

3. We call it ….. , because ….. .

4. It’s a young city. We’ve just ….. .

5. It doesn’t have many ……, because ……

6. But all the same have there are interesting places, which are …….. .

7. They are: ……. .

8. Rostov is a big cultural center because …….

9. Rostov is an industrial city as …….. .

10. Rostov is getting ……. . Its population is ……. .

6. Discussion.

1. What is your native city?

2. Comment on the benefits and drawbacks of living in a big city.

3. What will be the role of Rostov – on – Don in the 21-st century?

The Role of Foreign Languages

Warm-up

Answer the following questions:

1. When did Russian people begin to study foreign languages as a subject?

2. What first foreign languages were studied in Russia?

3. When did Russians begin learning English?

4. How many languages are there in the world?

5. What language is spoken in Mexico?

6. What language is spoken in France?

7. What language is spoken in Brazil?

8. Where do people speak Mandarin?

9. Is English the official language of Russia?

10. What is the official language of Russia?

11. Where is English the official language?

12. About 5000; about 250 years ago; Spanish; Classical languages: Greece, Latin; later German and French; In China; at the end of XIX century; the USA, Canada, British Isles, Australia, New Zealand; Portuguese; Of course, not; French; Russian.

3. Practise saying, translate and learn the vocabulary:

   • to find out, discover

   • to read books in the original

   • to talk to foreigners

   • to have a profound knowledge of foreign languages

   • to improve living, working conditions

   • to be persistent in studies

   • to travel abroad

   • to have something to do in your spare time

   • to be familiar with social and cultural life

   • to participate in conversations with people

• the chief (leading, main) language of international business

• advertising

• satellite broadcasting

• to be effective medium of international communication

• to be convinced

• to open up opportunities and careers

• to broaden the mind

• to be acquainted with the unknown culture

• to depend on smb’s own efforts

• to sign international contracts

II. Read the text and translate the italicized word combinations. The Role of Foreign Languages.

Education is very important in our life. An educated person is one who knows a lot about many things. He always tries to learn, find out, and discover more about the world around him. He gets knowledge at school, from books, magazines, from TV educational programs.

The role of foreign languages is also increasing today. Thanks to the knowledge of foreign languages one can read books, magazines in the original, talk to foreigners, translate various technical articles. Moreover, joint ventures which have recently appeared in our country need specialists with profound knowledge of foreign languages like English, German or French.

To know foreign languages is necessary for every educated person, for good specialists. Our country is transferring to a market economy. Research and innovations should improve living, working conditions of our people. That is why it is so important to be persistent in studies.

English is the world’s top tongue. Today, nearly 600 million people around the world use the English language. It’s spoken as a mother tongue in Great Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. The present-day world status of English is the result of two factors: the expansion of British colonial power, which peaked towards the end of the 19th century, and the emergence of the United States as the leading economic power of the 20th century.

There are many different reasons why people study foreign languages, English in particular. Here are some of them: · to travel abroad; · to get good job; to have something to do in your spare time; · to be better educated; · to be familiar with social and cultural life in other countries; to be able to participate in conversations with people from English-speaking countries. English is the language of international air traffic control, and is currently developing its role in international maritime, policing, and emergency services. English is the chief language of international business and academic conferences, and the leading language of international tourism. English is the main language of popular music, advertising, satellite broadcasting, home computers, and video games. A foreign language is not just a subject learnt in the classrooms. It's something which is used in real life situations.

Why is English useful for international communication? For one thing, many books and papers in special fields are in English. As a result, specialists in these fields often learn English. Specialists from different countries can use their English for international communication. English is truly a world language.

I'm convinced if we are working in any brunch of science we must read books and magazines in other languages. Learning foreign languages opens up opportunities and careers. Knowing foreign languages can help us to find a job in such fields as science and technology, foreign trade and banking, international transportation communication, teaching librarian science and others. A more general aim is to broaden the mind and to broaden your circle of friends.

The role of English in personal development will be very important. It develops our memory. People can travel abroad. It enlarges knowledge and understanding of the world. It is the language of sport and beauty.

Learning any foreign language includes the acquaintance with the unknown culture, traditions and way of life of different people. Of course signing the international contracts and treaties with foreign countries can not be without English.

As for me, I think that to know a foreign language is absolutely necessary for all educated people and modern specialists. Everything depends on our own efforts.