Иностранный язык (Английский). Практикум

PART I. COUNTRIES, CULTURES, PEOPLE

Madison Avenue is known as the centre of advertising industry. Fifth Avenue is the most famous shopping centre.

Not far from the Empire State Building there is an interesting architectural complex – Rockefeller Centre. It is a city-within-a-city. It was begun during the Great Depression of the 1930s by John Rockefeller and was built according to one general plan. Rockefeller Centre consists of 19 skyscrapers. It houses all kinds of offices, enterprises, banks, theatres, music halls, restaurants, shops, etc. All parts of the complex are linked by underground passageways.

New York is often called the cultural capital of the USA. There are more than 800 museums in New York. One of the best known is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is the largest art museum in the United States. Its magnificent collection of European and American paintings contains works of many of the greatest masters of art world. The second best known is the Museum of Modern Art. The Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art contains an impressive collection of modern artists ranging from impressionists to abstractionists. The unusual circular building of the museum was designed by F.L. Wright.

No other city in the world offers as many theatres as New York where there is a daily choice of almost two hundred productions. You can see the newest plays and shows on Broadway. But away from the bright lights of Broadway are many smaller theatres.

The Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Centre is known throughout the music world. International stars sing here from September until April. The Carnegie Hall is the city’s most popular concert hall.

New York is famous for its festivals and special events: summer jazz, one-act play marathons, international film series, and musical celebrations from the classical to the avant-garde.

People who come to New York by sea are greeted by the Statue of Liberty. It has become a symbol of the city and an expression of freedom to people all over the world. The statue shows liberty as a proud woman draped in the graceful folds of a loose robe. In her uplifted right hand, she holds a glowing torch. She wears a crown with seven spikes that stand for the light of liberty shining on the seven seas and seven continents. In her left arm, she holds a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence. A chain that represents tyranny lies broken at her feet.

The Statue of Liberty was France’s gift to America. It was designed by the French sculptor Bartholdi and presented to the USA in 1886. The Lady in the Harbour stands 151 feet tall, weighs nearly 225 tons and has a 35-foot waist. In 1986 she underwent a face-lift in honour of her 100th birthday.

There is a museum in the base of the statue devoted to the history of immigration to the United States.

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6. Answer the following questions.

1)What is Washington famous for?

2)What can you say about the Capitol?

3)What are the main tourist attractions in Washington?

4)What are the most important museums in Washington?

5)What places of interest are there in New York?

6)What is Broadway famous for?

7)Where is the most famous shopping centre situated in New York?

8)What are famous museum in New York?

9)What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize?

10)Who was the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty?

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PART I. COUNTRIES, CULTURES, PEOPLE

Unit 6

HOLIDAYS

Цель занятия: формирование системы знаний и представлений о праздниках родной страны и стран изучаемого языка, формирование социокультурной компетенции.

В результате изучения темы студент должен:

–знать терминологию по теме занятия;

–уметь применять на практике лексику, необходимую для беседы с англоязычным партнером; работать в паре;

–владеть навыками диалогической речи, необходимыми в межличностном и межкультурном общении на иностранном языке (ОК-2).

Актуальность темы: знание базовой лексики необходимо для эффективного межкультурного и межличностного общения на иностранном языке.

Теоретическая часть

▪ Holidays, customs and traditions in Russia

Russia, as any other countries in the world, has its national, religious and family holidays. Some of them are very popular with the people.

The main Russian national holidays are Victory Day, Independence Day, New Year’s Day, Women’s Day and May Day. On these days Russian people don’t work, children don’t go to school.

There are some renewed holidays in our country now, which had been forgotten for many years. These are religious holidays - Christmas, Easter and some others.

The year begins with one of the most beautiful and loved by both children and adults holidays - New Year with a New Year Tree, bells, presents, Father Frost. New Year’s celebrations receive widespread coverage by mass media. On the 31st of December when the chimes on the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin strike twelve, Russian people greet the New Year with holiday toasts and champagne, wish each other Happy New Year and give each other presents. Father Frost with his bag of presents comes to many Russian families on this day and it’s a special fun for the children.

On the New Year night people go to a dance, visit their friends or stay at home and watch TV. Partygoers enjoy a hearty meal. Now January 1 is a national holiday, fortunately for those who like to celebrate most of the night.

Christmas and Easter are of religious origin. In Russia Christmas is celebrated on January 7. In Europe and in the USA it is marked on December 25. On Christmas day people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Easter, which

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is celebrated in April or May, symbolizes the Revival of Jesus Christ. For the greater part of people in our country these holidays have lost their religious significance and are the days of family reunion, relax and happiness.

The 13th of January is an Old New Year’s Eve. The 19th of January is Epiphany - a Christian holiday in memory of the coming of the three kings from the East to see the baby Jesus. The days from Christmas to the Epiphany are called Christmas-tide. At Christmas-tide people used to have a carnival, make a snowman and play snowballs, ride a troika, build a town let, climb a pole for a gift, wear fancy costumes, tell fortunes, sing carols.

In Russia winter is rich in festivals. Late February - early March is Shrovetide (Farewell to Winter Festival). It has deep roots. But nowadays people hardly remember about them, they simply have fun, say good-bye to winter or welcome spring.

On the 8th of March we celebrate Women’s Day. Men try to do their best to make women happy - they do all things about the house, cook, give them flowers and presents.

May Day, or the First of May, is the day of Spring, Labour and Solidarity, which commemorates the tragic events of the years 1884-1888 in Chicago when the workers were fighting for their rights.

Independence Day, which is quite a new Russian holiday, is dedicated to the victory of the democrats and the election of the first President of Russia on June 12, 1992.

But there is a date in the life of our country, which is memorable to every Russian citizen and is the most significant day in our life. It’s the 9th of May - Victory Day. This holiday is celebrated to commemorate the great Victory of the Soviet Army over the German fascists in the Great Patriotic war. The price of that victory was very high. Millions of Russian people gave their lives for peace and freedom. On the 9th of May war-veterans meet in Gorky Park, in the park in front of the Bolshoy Theatre, at the Memorial on Poklonnaya Gora. The veterans lay flowers and wreaths on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They honour the memories of those who will never come back from battle-fields. Concerts, meetings and parties are organized for the war-veter- ans. In the evening people can enjoy holiday salute and fireworks.

Not so long ago big parades and holiday demonstrations took place on November 7 and May 1 in Red Square. It was full of people with flags and flowers in their hands. Now the tradition of visiting Red Square on May 9 remained as well as the tradition of cosmonauts to come here before space flights. As a tradition visitors first go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. People bring a lot of flowers to the memorial. They honour the memory of the heroes with a minute of silence. You may watch the soldiers on duty, see the Eternal Flame burning at the monument, read the great and simple words “Your name is unknown, your feat is immortal”.

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PART I. COUNTRIES, CULTURES, PEOPLE

Russian people are very hospitable. They like to invite friends and colleagues for a meal at home. Dinner parties usually start between 6 and 8 p.m. and end at about 11. It’s polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a gift. The tables are usually full of food: meat, fish, vegetables, salads.

For Russian people birthdays are very special days, especially for children. Parents and family members give cards and give presents.

Weddings are old and beautiful traditions in Russia. They usually take place in autumn when the harvest is gathered. Most weddings take place on Saturdays in the early afternoon. You have to get married in a registry office. But nowadays many people like to get married in church with its age-old ritual and customs.

Another strong habit is keeping a pet at home. There is hardly ever a house in Russia without a little friend of the whole family.

There is a tradition that our people follow: it is keeping our country tidy and preserving all the historical sights and places of interest in perfect condition for future generations.

The school leaver’s ball. The ball symbolizes leaving school. Welldressed school leavers come to school. After farewell speeches, parting wishes and short banquet all the leavers, their teachers and parents go for a walk in the streets and parks, where they dance and sing.

Fortune-telling on Epiphany Eve. Following popular beliefs Epiphany Eve is a time for fortune-telling. Girls are gathered together separately from boys to guess at a future fiancé: for example, they are asked the name of the first person they met in the street late at night and this would be the fiancé’s name. A period of hard frost usually falls on this time (Epiphany frost). A specific ritual of bathing in an ice-hole on the night of Epiphany in order to purge oneself, to atone for one’s sins is now reviving not only in the Russian villages, but also in large cities.

Shrovetide, Maslenitsa (Butter week, Cheese week). Week before Lent. Throughout this week, pancakes are made; people enjoy themselves and visit each other to eat pancakes. M. dates back to the old pre-Christian Slavic tradition / marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Christmas

On the 25-th of December people celebrate Christmas. Christmas is a religious holiday which symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ.

On the Sunday before Christmas many churches hold a carol service where special hymns are sung. Sometimes carol-singers can be heard on the streets as they collect money for charity. People are reminded of Charles Dickens story ‘Christmas Carol’. Most families decorate their houses with brightly-coloured paper or holly, and they usually have a Christmas tree in the corner of the front room, glittering with coloured lights and decorations.

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There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas but perhaps the most important one is the giving of presents. Family members wrap up their gifts and leave them at the bottom of the Christmas tree to be found on Christmas morning. Children leave a long sock or stocking at the end of their beds on Christmas Eve, 24th December, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and bring them small presents, fruit and nuts. They are usually not disappointed! At some time on Christmas Day the family will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding. They will probably pull a cracker with another member of the family. It will make a loud crack and a coloured hat, small toy and joke will fall out!

Later in the afternoon they may watch the Queen on television as she delivers her traditional Christmas message to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. If they have room for even more food they may enjoy a piece of Christmas cake or eat a hot mince pie. 26th December is also a public holiday, Boxing Day, and this is the time to visit friends and relatives or watch football.

St. Valentine’s Day

St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th as a festival of romance and affection. People send greeting cards called “valentines” to their sweethearts, friends, and members of their families.

Many valentines have romantic poems; others are humorous: But almost all valentines ask: “Be My Valentine.” This may mean be my friend or be my love or be my companion. Valentines often show a cupid with an arrow. Cupid, also called Eros, was the ancient Roman god of love.

St. Valentine’s Day is not a legal holiday; schools and banks are open as usual. Merchants sell valentines and decorations for St. Valentine’s Day’s parties and dances. All the decorations are bright red, and the most popular ones are heart shaped.

School children decorate their classrooms with bright red paper hearts and celebrate the day in their classroom. They also make valentine cards for their friends and parents. Red is the colour most often used in valentines because it is a symbol of warmth and feelings. This is the reason that red roses have long been a symbol of love. Pink is a mixture of red and white and is quite commonly used also. White is the symbol of purity and is a colour often used in valentines. It is believed that the bridal veil may have inspired the use of lace on valentines.

Stores advertise heavily for this holiday since it is traditional for sweethearts, spouses, and members of the family to exchange gifts on St. Valentine’s Day. Heart shaped boxes of candy, jewelry and flowers are some of the popular gifts given on this day.

Many newspapers carry advertisements or messages placed by people in love. Both men and women want to let their sweethearts know how much

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PART I. COUNTRIES, CULTURES, PEOPLE

they love them. On St.Valentine’s Day many radio stations play romantic music all day long. One very famous song is called My Funny Valentine.

St. Valentine’s Day is a day to share loving feelings with friends and family. It has become traditional for many couples to become engaged on this day. Also famous couples are remembered. Some of them are Romeo and Juliet, Caesar and Cleopatra, among others. This is a happy day because it is especially dedicated to celebrate love, affection and friendship.

Easter

The Cross

Christ was crucified on a cross, so the cross has come to have a special meaning to Christians. It represents Christ’s victory over death. It is a significant Easter symbol.

The Lamb

Jesus was known as the Lamb of God. At one time the Jews sacrificed a lamb during a Passover festival, and early Christians adopted this as a sign of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Lamb is now a traditional Easter meal, and cookies and cakes are often made in the shape of a lamb for Easter.

Eggs

Of course, eggs represent new life. Long ago some people believed that the earth was hatched from a gigantic egg! Eggs have been exchanged for centuries. Ancient Egyptians dyed eggs and gave them to friends as gifts. In England friends wrote messages on coloured eggs. The practice of colouring and exchanging eggs has been carried on in many parts of the world today. Some of the most elaborately decorated eggs are Ukranian found in E. Europe. Often eggs are left by the Easter bunny for children to find on Easter morning much to their delight!

Easter Rabbits

In America and around the world many children believe that the Easter bunny brings Easter eggs and hides them for finding on Easter morning. Where did this tradition begin? There are many different legends, but here is a popular one.

Long ago in Germany there lived an old loving woman who adored children. Each year she would give children gifts to celebrate spring. One year she had nothing to give because she had grown very poor due to a great famine in the land. All she had were some eggs. She did not want to disappoint the children, so quickly before they arrived for their gifts, she coloured the eggs and hid them in the grass.

When the children arrived, she told them to run out into the lawn to find their gifts hiding there. Of course, the children ran into the yard in search of their surprise. Just as one of the children uncovered the eggs a large rabbit hopped away. So the children thought that the rabbit had left the eggs for

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them! And ever since, children have searched for the eggs left by the Easter rabbit on Easter morning.

It is also true that in ancient Egypt the rabbit symbolized the moon. It also symbolized new life and birth. Because Easter’s date is determined by the moon and Easter occurs in the springtime, it was natural that the rabbit continued to be one of the symbols of Easter.

What is Halloween?

Halloween was first celebrated many centuries ago in Ireland and Scotland by Celtic priests called Druids. They observed the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. The Druids thought that Halloween was the night when the witches came out. As they were afraid of the witches they put on different clothes and painted their faces to deceive the evil spirits. They also placed food and small gifts near the doors of their houses for the witches. This was, as they say now, the beginning of the expression “trick or treat” (meaning “give me something or I’ll play a trick on you”).

It is considered that Halloween was brought to America by the immigrants from Ireland and Scotland. In the 19th century they celebrated Halloween according to their old traditions (the integral part of the festival was a lantern made of a pumpkin with holes in the form of eyes, a nose and a mouth, and people believed that during the celebration all pumpkins were leaving their vegetable gardens to dance in the streets). As time went by, grown-up people lost interest in Halloween, and it was celebrated almost entirely by children. Dressed very strangely, children held festivals. During their carnival and after it groups of children visited nearby houses and asked for candies. “Trick or treat! Trick or treat!” was heard everywhere.

In recent years grown-up people have begun taking part in Halloween. In New York, for example, young and old take part in parades together. On the 31st of October long before the time when the carnival procession begins to move, a great number of people get together in one of the streets. They are dressed as witches, demons and other evil spirits. There are hundreds of large orange “pumpkins” in their hands. After the parade the festival lasts almost till early morning.

This is how the Americans celebrate Halloween.

Celebrations in the USA

The population of the USA is made up of people of different nationalities. Centuries ago they brought with them their native celebrations. Some holidays which are marked in the United States originated in America. The number of holidays is different in different states - from 8 in the District of Columbia to 20 in Oklahoma. But the most important holidays are celebrated throughout the USA. They are: New Year’s Day (January 1), Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12), Washington’s Birthday (February 22), Independence

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PART I. COUNTRIES, CULTURES, PEOPLE

Day (July 4), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November), Christmas (December 25). Here are a few words about them.

On New Year’s Day people see the old year off and the New Year in. Most people stay up all night, even children. At midnight many people go outside and shout «Happy New Year»! Some people set off fireworks and blow automobile horns which are heard everywhere. Everybody exchanges presents and good wishes. Offices, factories, banks and stores do not work on this day.

Lincoln’s birthday is celebrated every year on February 12. Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War (1861-1865) He led the fight to keep the nation together and to free the slaves. His life ended tragically. He was killed at the theatre during the performance soon after the victory of the North. In honour of this great man a beautiful memorial has been built in Washington, D.C. Lincoln’s birthday is celebrated every year on February, 12.

Washington’s Birthday is marked on February, 22. George Washington led the American Army to victory in the War for Independence. Later he was elected the President of the United States and was in office for 8 years (1789-1797). The national capital of the United States, a state and several towns are named after George Washington.

One of the greatest holidays is Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. It proclaimed independence of the thirteen British colonies from Great Britain. July 4 has become the greatest holiday since. In the past this day was marked with big parades and fireworks, but now it is celebrated more quietly. Cities and towns are decorated with flags on that day, there are parades in some places, but most people just go on picnics to the countryside.

Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. On this day workers make a public show with marches, meetings, etc. It also marks the beginning of the school year and the end of summer.

Thanksgiving Day is marked on the fourth Thursday of November On this day the Americans honour the memory of the first settlers. It also marks the end of the harvest season. It is a long-standing tradition to make a festive meal with a fried turkey on this day.

Christmas is a religious holiday which symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ. By this day people decorate fir trees with toys and candies Children wait for Santa Claus who comes to every house and brings them presents. Before going to bed, children leave their shoes to find in them what they want most of all the next morning. Some people, especially young people, like to celebrate it in restaurants and cafes and pubs, but most people prefer to stay at home with their family on this day.

Birthdays

For British and American people, birthdays are very special days, especially for children. Parents and family members send cards and give pre-

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sents. Often, children have birthday parties. They invite their friends, who bring presents to the party. There are games, and prizes, and a birthday “tea” with sandwiches, biscuits, ice cream and a birthday cake. There are small candies on the cake. If the child is four years old he has four candles. If he is five, he has five candles, and so on. When the little guests leave, they each get a small present and a balloon.

Birthdays are special days for older people too. Family members and friends give presents and send birthday cards. When people meet someone on their birthday, sometimes even at work, they say “Happy birthday!” or “Many happy returns of the day!” (This means “I hope you will live to have many more birthdays.”)

The most important birthday is the eighteenth. When you are eighteen, you are grown up. You can vote, you can get married and you can even go to prison! People often have a big party on their eighteenth birthday, and receive a lot of presents. Until a few years ago, the most important birthday was the twenty-first, and some people still wait for their big party until they are twenty-one.

Fortieth and seventieth birthdays are also rather special, and in Britain, if you live to be a hundred, the Queen sends you her congratulations.

Weddings

In Britain and the USA, wedding invitations go out about six weeks before the wedding day. The guests write as soon as possible to say if they can or cannot come.

Choosing a present for the couple can be difficult. In Britain people don’t take their presents to the wedding. They send them to the woman’s house before the wedding day. To help them find a present, couples often make a list of what they would like and leave it at a store. Their friends cаll the store and order something from the list.

Most weddings take place before lunch or in the early afternoon. Many people like to get married in church. The bride often wears a long white dress. Guests wear their best clothes and most of the women wear hats. In the church, the bride’s family sits on the left and the groom’s family sits on the right.

In Britain you have to get married in a church or a registry office (never both). But in the States you get married where you like, in your home, in a hotel or in a park or garden.

After the wedding, there is a short reception. The guests go to the bride’s home or to a hotel, pub or restaurant and have something to eat and champagne to drink. The bride and groom cut the wedding cake, and the groom’s friend (his “best man”) makes a speech. The guests usually leave after the bride and groom. Sometimes the couple gives a party or disco in the evening.

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