Englich for Talking. Учебно-методическое пособие

4.Could you promise your parents you’ll marry only with their consent?

5.Whom do we call a bridegroom/fiancé?

6.Do you think you’ll get your wedding dower?

7.Would you like to be an independent woman, work hard and be a professional in your business or would you prefer your husband to maintain the family? Why?

8.Where would you like to go on your honeymoon? Why?

9.In England a newly-married couple is pelted with handfuls of rice or with old shoes. Are there any Russian customs on the occasion?

10.There are 5 children in the family. Who is called the eldest/youngest?

B.Sum up the best answers to the questions and make up a short story. Speak in the first person singular.

C.Ask your fellow students the same questions, sum them up and tell the class what you’ve learnt.

Ex. 6. Read the joke and say how it happened that Fred Nickerson became his own grandson.

Well, my dear friends, I’ll tell you how it is. My name’s Fred Nickerson. You see, I married a widow and this widow had a daughter. Then my father being a widower married our daughter, so you see my father is my son-in-law.

Then again my stepdaughter is my stepmother, isn’t she? Well, then her mother is my grandmother, isn’t she? I’m married to her, am I not? So that makes me my own grandson, doesn’t it?

Ex. 7. Read the text and:

1)fill in the blanks with the corresponding words;

2)retell it;

3)read the last sentence of the text once more. It’s a question,

isn’t it? Answer it.

... is a thing which only a rare person in his or her life avoids. True ...

and ... make up only a small percent of the population, most ... people are “alone but not...”.

Millions of others ... because of the fun of family life. And it is fun, if one takes it with a sense of humour.

There’s a lot of fun in ... with someone and chasing the prospective ..., which means dating and ... with the candidate. All the relatives (parents,

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grandparents and ..., brothers and ..., cousins, aunts and ..., ... and ..., stepmothers and stepfathers and all ...) meanwhile have the fun of criticizing your choice and giving advice. The trick here is not to listen to them but ... to your ... to be and somehow get her to accept your ... . Then you may arrange the ... and fix the day of the ... .

What fun it is to get all those things, whose names start with the word “wedding” - dress, ..., cars, flowers, cakes, etc! It’s great fun to pay for them.

It’s fun for the ... and the ... to escape from the guests and go on a ...

especially if it is a ... from the parents. The guests remain with the fun of gossiping whether you married for ... or for ... .

It’s fun to return back home with the idea that the person you ... is somewhat different from the one you knew. But there is no time to think about it because you are ... and you ... a baby.

There is no better fun for a ... than taking his ... to a ... alone and bringing her back with the ... or triplets.

And this is where the greatest fun starts: washing the new-born's nappies and passing away sleepless nights, earning money to ... the family, taking children to ... and later to … . By all means it's fun to attend ... meetings and to learn that your children ... you . They don't do well at school.

The bigger your children ..., the more they resemble you outwardly and the less they display ... with you inwardly. And you start grumbling at them and discussing with your old friends the problem of the generation gap. What fun!

And when at last you and your grey-haired ... start thinking that your family life has calmed down, you haven't ... but preserved your union, the climax of your fun bursts out!

One of your dearest offsprings brings a long-legged blonde to your house and says that he wants to ... . And you think “Why do people ever ... ”.

(falling in love, wedding, bride, rings, in-laws, engagement, get married, marry, spouse, marriage, bachelors, groom, lonely, keep, spinsters, going out, a honeymoon trip, expect, fiancée, love, greatgrandparents, money, kindergarten, sisters, school, uncles, propose, nieces, wedding present, nephews, newly-weds, proposal, grow, twins, divorced, husband, take after, wife, likeness, maternity home, are married to, single)

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Ex. 8. Do you remember Rita, a German woman? Listen to the dialogues. Make up your own one.

Dialogue 1.

After work, Suzanne and Rita go to the pub for a drink. Suzanne: So, how do you like it here?

Rita: It’s very nice. Everyone’s so friendly. But what can I do in the evenings?

Suzanne: Well, it depends. What are you interested in?

Rita: I’m interested in sports mainly, but I also like dancing. You know, discos as well as ballroom dancing.

Suzanne: Mm, well, we’ve got a good sports club at work, you know, with tennis and squash court, and a swimming pool.

Rita: Really? That sounds great! Suzanne: Do you like swimming? Rita: Yes, I do. What about you? Suzanne: Well, no, I don’t really.

Rita: I like it because I always feel so healthy afterwards. Suzanne: Yes, I suppose so.

Dialogue 2.

Rita: I like tennis as well.

Suzanne: Do you? I know, what about a game with John and Sally on Friday evening?

Rita: John? Does he like playing tennis?

Suzanne: Yes, he does. Well, he likes playing tennis but he isn’t very good! Sally’s very good though.

Rita: Sally?

Suzanne: Yes, that’s John’s wife.

Rita: Oh, yes, of course! Sally. Does she like swimming too? Suzanne: No, she doesn’t, but she likes dancing. And there’s a disco on

Friday evening.

Rita: Oh, good idea. You know, it’s so nice to have some free time for a while.

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Dialogue 3.

b) speak about Ginny’s day.

Ginny's Day

I've got three children and I'm 40 and feeling 90! I have a son who is eight, another son who is 16 and a daughter of 18. My daughter Claire is a croupier in a night club and works from nine in the evening until five in the morning. My eldest son Michael works at Torbay hospital and goes off for work at half past six in the morning, works until half past eight and then whenever he's called in. My little boy is still at school.

We usually get up in the morning at about a quarter to eight, which is too late and then we end up in a mad rush. At a quarter to eight, Nicholas has two pieces of toast and, while I'm screaming at him to clean his teeth, he’s busy, doing his homework, which he didn't do, which he didn't want to do the night before, or finding an interesting game.

My daughter doesn't have breakfast because she doesn't surface until about midday. My eldest son always has his breakfast at work. My husband gets his own breakfast and goes to work at eight o'clock. So, I have to be at work at ten some mornings and by half past eight on other mornings. The half past eight mornings are absolutely terrible because my son leaves for school at about twenty to nine, being taken to school by a neighbour. He goes to school with a neighbour and I fetch him back from school, with the neighbour's children - we have a rota.

If I'm on a shift at work, where I'm a supervisor in the catering department of the kitchen, then I'm home again by a quarter to two. Er, that's in the hospital, at Torbay hospital... Which doesn't give me too much time before they all start coming in again, because I have to pick

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Nicholas up at half past three. So I usually wash up the breakfast dishes (which were left in the morning rush), make the beds if I didn't have time to make them in the morning, er, put out the washing (I've got an automatic washing machine and I leave it on when I go to work, thank goodness), peel the potatoes and start the evening meal. Sometimes I'm not organized enough to have the food for the evening meal and that means I have to go shopping first.

I usually do the cooking in the evening but I am lucky enough to have a husband who can cook and does. My husband gets home at half past four and, although he doesn't usually complain very much, he does expect his meal to be ready when he gets in, or nearly ready at least.

Questions

1.Do you think Ginny looks her age? (Remember: a woman is as old as she looks (feels).

2.Ginny likes that her daughter works in a night club, doesn't she? Why?

3.Could they get up a bit earlier not to end up in a mad rush?

4.Is it necessary to scream at Nicholas?

5.Is Nicholas's behaviour typical of boys of his age?

6.Why doesn't Ginny's daughter surface until midday?

7.Is it convenient to have a rota to take children to school?

8.To be on a shift at work - what's that?

9.Ginny says she's not organized enough. Does it put her to extra trouble?

10.Why is Ginny lucky to have a husband who can cook? Do you think all women would agree with her?

Ex. 10. That's how Monica talks about a photograph of her family.

a)read and answer the questions:

1.1. When talking about a photo of your family (friends, relatives)

–is it so important to tell a listener about your family relations?

–is it necessary to comment on the way the people are dressed?

2.Why does Monica do it?

b)Change the text into a dialogue. Ask your partner to make comments on your words (to show surprise, to agree or disagree with you, to show doubt, to ask you questions...) in the places marked (...) and read this dialogue.

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Family Album

Monica: So this is me standing between my parents, just after my wedding. (All right, yeah). Mum and Dad are divorced, actually, but they still get on well (...). My Mum got married again last year and I did invite Philip - my stepfather - but he decided not to come (...). Then next to Mum there's my sister, Sarah - she's holding her new baby, Claudia,(oh, that's nice ...) and next to Dad is my brother-in-law, Ken. He's standing behind Ben - Ben's three. Behind them there's my brother Max. He's wearing that hat because he's an actor and likes to look different (Oh, right). My older brother Tom couldn't come because he's working in Brazil at the moment - he's a photographer (...). He's engaged and they're getting married at Christmas. Um ... anyway, on Max's right are Granny and Grandad - they're in their eighties now (They look great ...) - and they adore Max - he's definitely the favourite (...). Nana - Mum's Mum - is on the other side. Then at the back are my uncle, my aunts and cousins: Mum's sister, Auntie Gill with uncle Rob - he's Australian, actually, and their twins, Harry and Sam - they're twenty-five. (...) yeah. Aunt Pat is my Dad's sister. She's just separated from her husband, which I'm glad about, because I can't stand him, so he didn't come. Anyway, so that's all my relations (...).

c) show your fellow students photos of your family or friends and talk about them.

Ex. 11. Read the letters (one from a magazine problem page, the other - to the Radio Helpline) and:

a) say if the problems they concern are alike.

Need the advice of an expert who cares? Write to Dear Mavis.

I live with my widowed mother and the problem is that she won't accept that I'm an adult. She still wants to know where I'm going every time I go out and she waits up till I come home however late it is.

The worst thing is that she's very rude to any girlfriends I bring home. I wouldn't want you to think that I don't appreciate my mother - I do. She does all the cooking and cleaning for me and I know she only wants what's best for me. But I'm 34 years old!

What can I do?

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Dear Radio Helpline.

Please help me. I have got a real problem. I am in love with two women at the same time!

I met Janet through my work about a year ago, and we began going out together. I love and admire her a lot, and would like to think we might decide to spend our lives together. We share so many things; it is a very special relationship. She does not feel as strongly about me as I do about her, but she is certainly very fond of me. We have been growing closer over the year, and I have been hoping that she will slowly realise how lucky we are to be together.

Then, three weeks ago, at a party, I met Alice. It was love at first sight - I feel as if I have known her all my life. She is very much in love with me, too. I have told her about Janet.

What should I do? My problem must sound silly to some people, but it is not silly for me. I think of both of them all the time. The feeling I have for Alice is more exciting, but will it last? I haven't had the time to get to know her very well yet. Should I just wait and see what happens? I feel a bit guilty about the whole thing. Please help.

Yours,

Philip

b)discuss the questions below with a partner.

1.What advice can you give? (letter 1)

2.Why do people write to problem pages like this?

3.Would you ever wish to write to a problem page? Why/ why not?

4.Do you think Philip really has got a problem?

5.What advice can you give Philip?

c)Imagine you are also upset about the situation. Write a letter to the radio programme or to a magazine problem page asking for help.

d)Work in groups. Prepare the magazine problem page or the radio advice programme answer to one of the letters. Tell the other students.

Ex. 12. a) Read the story.

Chapter 1.

Alison Bogle lived in Exeter and worked in a bookshop. She was 23 - slim and pretty, rather shy and very quiet. She spent most of her spare time reading; at the weekend she went walking on the moors, or drove to see her parents in Taunton.

Alison was quite happy, but sometimes she wished she didn’t have such a quiet life. Exeter wasn’t really a very exciting place. At half past ten at

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night, all the lights went out. Nobody ever danced in the streets at least, Alison had never seen it happen. And it rained all the time. All the time.

There were so many things Alison would like to do. So many things she hadn’t done. For example, she had never been in an aeroplane.

Chapter 2.

...........................................

...........................................

Chapter 3.

Alison poured herself another glass of champagne and smiled at Carlos. What a man! He was so handsome. And such a good dancer. And so kind to her. Alison had never met anybody like him. She wondered what he was thinking.

The sun, shining down through the palm trees, made a moving pattern of light and shade on the sand. Carlos smiled back at her and stood up. He took her hand. “Come on, let’s have another swim,”, he said.

b) Work with two or three other students. Make up Chapter 2 of the story.

Tell your Chapter to your fellow students.

Ex. 13. a) Read your horoscope and see if it comes true.

What do the stars say?

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 18)

An old friend will come back into your life, bringing new problems. Don't make any quick decisions.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

In three days you will receive an exciting offer. But your family will make difficulties.

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Money will come to you at the end of the week. Be careful - it could go away again very fast.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

You will have trouble with a child. Try to be patient. You will have a small accident on Sunday - nothing serious.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

This will be a good time for love, but there will be a serious misunderstanding with somebody close to you. Try to tell the truth.

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CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

You will meet somebody who could change your life. Don't be too cautious - the opportunity won't come again.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 23)

Something very strange will happen next Thursday. Try to laugh about it.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

This will be a terrible week. The weekend will be the worst time. Stay in bed on Sunday. Don't open the door. Don't answer the phone.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

There will be bad news the day after tomorrow; but the bad news will turn to good.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

You will have trouble with a person who loves you; and you will have help from a person who doesn't.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

You will make an unexpected journey, and you will find something very good at the end of it.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

A letter will bring a very great surprise, and some unhappiness, but a good friend will make things better.

b) work with some more people who have the same sign as you.

Write a new horoscope for your sign (for another one).

Read it out.

Have any of the predictedions happened yet?

Summing up

Ex. 14. Fill in the blanks with the corresponding word.

1.Do you know anything about your pedigree/ancestry. I only know that my ... came from Spain, but nothing else.

2.They hope to have grandchildren. They need somebody to ... .

3.Claire is ... . Her two children live with her and see their ... almost every week.

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4.When a person marries, besides the new ... or husband, he or she also gets a complete new family of ... .

5.Our son is getting married soon and we'll have a ... we can be proud of.

6.Don has lived with them since he was a baby. Last year they ...

him as their own child.

7.In my parents' age my father was paid enough to ... his wife and children.

8.Kim and May are married, but they don't want to have ... .

Although they enjoy playing with their ... and ..., they don't want to be full-time ... .

9.Mr. Larvis died yesterday leaving a ... and four children.

10.Ben was the only ... among all the married couples and felt quite out of place.

11.He's been a ... for 8 years but he really wants to remarry.

12.My ... parents have been really kind to me.

13.She inherited the money from a ... relative, who died in Australia.

14.Only ... relatives were allowed to attend the funeral which was hold in a small church near our home.

15.She took me back home to meet all her friends and ... .

16.Ted is my ... from Helen's first marriage.

17.Anthony is my ... brother and Robert is my ... brother.

18.I used to have to wear all my ... brother's old clothes.

19.The two ... children looked like their mother.

20.John always envied his ... brother for his success with girls.

21.My parents fought and quarrelled. Once or twice they ... but they always came together again and after my birth they never ... .

Ex. 15. Translate the following sentences into English.

1.В этой семье каждый год празднуют годовщину свадьбы.

2.Я семейный человек, я не могу работать так поздно.

3.Между двоюродными братьями есть семейное сходство.

4.Их брак закончился разводом.

5.Он мой двоюродный брат, в общем, довольно дальний родственник.

6.Они поженились по любви, хотя все считают, что это брак по расчету.

7.Они очень похожи. Они родные братья?

8.Они разводятся.

9.Она развелась с ним после многих лет несчастливой жизни.

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