Lesson 3. My Biography

Active Vocabulary:

surname, favorite subject, occupation, with great interest, leave (finish) school, be born, introduce oneself, come from, be fond of, enter the university, do well at school, as well.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Ivan. My surname is Dmitrenko. I come from Ukraine. I was born on May 5, 1989 in Kharkiv. I live with my parents in a block of flats on the 9th floor. We are three in the family. Both of my parents work as engineers. That’s why I entered National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” to become an engineer. I am a first-year student of Mechanical Engineering Department. My major (speciality) is the Technology of Cutting. In 2006 I finished school № 51. I always did well at school and studied with great interest. My favorite subjects are Maths and Physics. I am fond of sports and active games. I like to play computer games as well.

Вправа 1. Дайте відповіді на запитання.

1. What is your name? 2. What is your nationality? 3. Where and when were you born? 4. Where do you live? 5. Do you work or study? 6. What are your parents? 7. Where do you study? 8. What department do you study at? 9. What is your major? 10. What were your favorite subjects at school? 11. What do you like doing?

Вправа 2. Розкажіть про себе, взявши за зразок текст “My Biography”.

Читання

Talented Teens Young Organist

Back in 2002, when former church organist David Christianson purchased an Oberlinger practice organ for his home, he thought maybe he would play from time to time to relax. But, as it turns out, he can’t do it. That’s because his then 7-year-old daughter Karen liked this impressive instrument and devoted her life to classical music. Now, after hours of practice during eight years, 15-year-old Karen is one of the youngest organ virtuosos in the country. She recently made her radio debut on National Public Radio’s “From the Top” show.

Karen’s parents, David and Anastasia, said they had known since a very early age that Karen was musically inclined. “She was very skilled on the piano, even at the age of six,” said Anastasia. According to Karen, she was first interested in music while watching the organ being assembled in her home. But once she tried her hand – and feet – at it, she was hooked.

At first, she learned to play from her father. But within a year, Karen started studying under Alan Morrison, chair of the organ department at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

At the age of 8, she gave her first public performance at the historic Christ Church in Philadelphia. Soon after, she performed her first solo recital, playing a selection of Bach in honor of his birthday. By the age of 9, she was composing original works.

In the sixth-grade, she played in Notre Dame de Paris for acclaimed organist Olivier Latry. In 2010 alone, she performed in Atlanta, San Francisco, Athens, the Netherlands, New York and Abilene. And she’s got a full calendar already for 2011.

In the summer of 2009, Karen had a recital in Rhode Island. Her younger brother, Nicholas, an accomplished cellist in his own right, had a recital in Washington, DC, on the same day.

Despite her practice between 8-10 hours a week and tight schedule, she has a full load of academic and extracurricular activities without missing them.

And on top of all that, she still finds time to be a pretty normal teenager. She loves sailing and soccer. She is never far from her iPod, which holds an eclectic mix of Rock, Pop, and Country and, of course, classical. And, as she looks toward her critical junior year at Episcopal Academy, her thoughts are turning to college and beyond.

She is currently at work transcribing the theme music from “The Simpsons” for the organ, just for kicks. And though she is still debating whether she’ll pursue music therapy or teaching, she knows that touching others with music will definitely be a part of her future.