Коммуникативная организация и языковые средства восприятия иноязычного текста практикум по английскому языку для инженеров. Учебное пособие

Ex. 2. Practise asking and answering questions about Steve Jobs in pairs.

Example:

Question: When is Steve Jobs’s birthday? Answer: His birthday is on the 24th of February.

Ex. 3. Can you remember any other famous engineers of the present or the past? Discuss the list of them in the group or in pairs.

Ex. 4. Discuss what famous Russian engineers you can add to the list.

Ex. 5. Watch the video about Steve Jobs. Write down his 10 life rules for success and discuss them in the group: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHzAtxW3TzY.

Ex. 6. You are going to interview another student for a fact file. You can add extra topics if you want. Spend a few minutes planning and practising your questions.

Ex. 7. Work in pairs. Ask and answer the questions to complete your own fact files. Tell the group three things you have discovered about your partner.

FACT FILE

Full name

Nickname

Born

Height

Family

Relationship

Education

Hobbies

Pets

Favourite sport, etc.

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Ex. 8. Read the words and phrases from the text given below. Pay attention to their pronunciation and meanings.

Ex. 9. a Read the text and agree or disagree with the creative ways of self-introducing.

20 Creative Ways to Introduce Yourself

Throughout our lifetime, we introduce ourselves to hundreds of new people everywhere we go. Every time we strike up a conversation with a stranger sitting next to us on the train, duck into a gas station to ask for directions or step up to the checkout counter, we’re constantly coming up with new, creative ways to introduce ourselves in line with the circumstances. And we hardly ever realize we’re doing it.

Whether it’s a formal meeting or a more laid back meet up, introductions are sometimes tricky. Especially if you want to make a good first impression either way. Here are 20 creative ways to show someone who you are within the first precious moments of meeting them (where you use them, of course, is completely up to you).

1. «I’m shy, please come say hi.»

Grab a name tag and write, «I’m shy, please come say hi» in the blank space. It’s the truth, right?

2. A name is worth a thousand conversations

Do you have a name that’s unique, or a name that can be spelled 10 different ways? It’s okay to spell it out, tell of its origin or give a short but sweet lesson in pronunciation.

3. Highlight something that makes you unique

«I grew up in New York, but I’m originally from Russia.» That’s quite an icebreaker! It gives you both something to talk about, something they’re at least mildly intrigued by.

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4. Start with a pop culture reference

Relate your name back to a character or figure everyone knows.

«Hey, my name’s Ross. You know, like the guy from FRIENDS.»

5. Confess your nickname

If you want to be called something other than your name, follow up with that. They just might respond with, «Oh, I have a cousin who goes by that.»

6. Let the way you dress reflect who you are

Dressing style reflects individuality. For example, I know a Chinese girl who deliberately dresses in green to match with her Chinese name »happy to be natural.» Everyone can thus instantly remember her. Hence, the way you dress can actually become a topic of conversation and help others remember you.

7. Make a T-shirt

On the front: «On the back of this shirt is everything you need to know about me.» The rest is self-explanatory.

8. Make a «business» card

Keep something with you to give away to new people you meet. Instead of your name and contact information, list random facts about yourself, your interests, your hobbies. If nothing else, you’ll be the most memorable person in the room for taking something old and boring and giving it new life.

9. Just start talking

It’s likely the person you’re introducing yourself to feels a little nervous and awkward as well. Dare to dive right into conversation and see where it goes. They might feel relieved you talked first and relax immediately.

10. Keep it relevant

Pay attention to your surroundings. There’s likely something happening around you that you can use to strike up a conversation without just walking up to a stranger with your hand outstretched for an unsolicited handshake.

11. Be honest

«I came up to you because I felt awkward just standing here not talking to anyone.» Chances are, they were feeling the same way before you approached them.

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12. Search for common ground

Do a little digging while you’re saying hello. Small talk is only awkward until the two of you find something in common. «I’m studying English, I really love reading classics.» You never know, they might too.

13. Always follow up with a question

Let them know you’re interested in getting to know them, too. You don’t want to come off as only wanting to talk about yourself.

14. Consider the situation

Draw from the reason you’re both in a specific place at the same time. Are you students? Working with the same company? Friends of friends? These are great conversation-starters.

15. Put someone else on the spot

Starting off with a compliment or a question allows you to initiate conversation and introduce yourself without being the first one to stand beneath the spotlight. It also shows you’re observant and curious.

16. Pick something in the room to «guard»

«Don’t mind me, I’m just guarding the mozzarella sticks. You can have one if you want.»

17. The mutual friend is the key

«I’ve known Jeremy since college, we took a lot of classes together.» This at least gives you an outlet to talk about yourself relative to someone else the other person knows from somewhere else. It makes you seem more familiar to them, and vice versa.

18. Engage with your surroundings

Even if it’s only paying attention to something on TV, what you’re doing can give someone a decent introduction to who you are and what interests you.

19. Help someone out

There’s more than one reason why keeping your phone in your pocket is a good idea. Someone approaching might need help opening a door or carrying something, and by assisting, you’re automatically introducing yourself as a Good Samaritan, instead of just another person playing Candy Crush.

20. Smile

Your face, particularly your eyes and your expression, is the first thing someone sees when they notice you for the first time. Give off an aura of happiness even if you’re uncomfortable. It draws people in.

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What are you waiting for? Go ahead and introduce yourself in the comments. Don’t forget to be creative!

(by Meg Dowell from http://www.lifehack.org/350705/20-creative-ways-introduce-yourself)

b Discuss the most interesting and creative ways to introduce yourself which you can follow in your life.

Ex. 10. Prepare a creative self-presentation. Get ready to be asked some more questions. You can talk about:

Family and Home

Area you live in

Type of home

People you live with

Married or single

Brothers or sisters

Pets, etc.

Leisure Activity

Sport

Reading books / newspapers

Watching TV / listening to the radio

Playing computer games

Shopping

Cooking, etc.

Daily Life

Get up / go to bed

Go out a lot

Evenings / weekends

Housework

Meals

Socializing

Studying, etc.

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UNIT II. EDUCATION IN RUSSIA AND ABROAD. KUZSTU

Vocabulary: education and careers

Grammar: some / any / something / anything, etc.

was / were

Past Simple vs Present Perfect

PART 1. TALKING ABOUT STUDYING

Ex. 1. Look at the photographs below. Which photo shows the following levels of education? What subjects do students study there?

1.primary school

2.secondary school

3.high school

4.college / university

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Ex. 2. Which of these subjects did you study at school? Which of them do you study at the university? Give more examples.

Ex. 3. Which of the subjects from Exercise 2 are you interested most or least? Ask and answer in the group or in pairs using the phrases really love, be good at, be interested in, etc.

Ex. 4. a Review present and past forms of the verb to be. Write am / is / are / or was / were.

1.Last year she … 17, so she … 18 now.

2.Yesterday there … many lessons, so I … tired.

3.Where … you yesterday at 2 o’clock?

4.There … Chemistry yesterday, but you … absent.

5.Where … Susan? She … here some minutes ago.

6.We … happy with our room in the students’ hostel.

7.Our room in the students’ hostel … small but clean.

8.Why … you late this morning?

9.I’m sorry I … late for the lesson because of bad traffic.

10.– … you ready with your homework? – Yes, I …. .

b Make questions using these words + was / were. Put the words in

6.there / time / free / last year / now / than / Yes, I think so. more?

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10.What / at school / the most / subject / Geometry, I think. difficult / for you?

c Practise asking these questions and giving true answers in pairs.

Ex. 5. Review Past Simple Tense.

Ask and answer in the group or in pairs.

1.When did you start primary school? When did you go to secondary school?

2.What school did you go to?

3.Where was your school situated?

4.What was your favourite subject at school? Why?

5.What were your best / worst subjects at school?

6.What did you like / didn’t you like about your school?

7.Did you take any exams to enter the University? What were they?

8.Were you successful? Did you pass the exams with high scores?

9.Was it difficult to enter the University?

10.What institute / specialty do you study at the University now?

Ex. 6. Read the text about studying at British schools and find answers to the given questions.

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Studying at British Schools

1.How many days a week do schoolchildren study?

Every child in Great Britain between the ages of five and sixteen

must attend school. There are three main types of educational institutions: primary schools, secondary schools and universities. State schools are free and attendance is compulsory. Morning school begins at nine o’clock and lasts for three hours until twelve o’clock. Afternoon school begins at two o’clock and lasts until five o’clock. Schools are open five days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays there are no lessons.

2.What subjects do children learn at schools?

At primary schools, children study from five to eleven years old.

They learn to read, write and do simple arithmetic. In addition, children draw, paint and sing. The first two years of primary school are called infant school. At seven pupils transferred to junior school which is usually situated in another section of the same building. At this age level such subjects as English, history, geography, nature study, music and others appear in the study programme. At the age of eleven pupils finish primary school and continue their education at secondary school. At secondary schools they learn usual subjects which are compulsory all over the world.

3.What kind of secondary schools are there in Great Britain?

There are different types of secondary schools in Great Britain. This

system of secondary education has been developed since the Act of 1944, according to which pupils may go either to a secondary modern, technical, grammar or comprehensive school. They are usually attended by pupils at the age of eleven and sixteen. After leaving a school pupils can continue their education. They can attend special evening classes which prepare them for entering a college or university.

(from http://www.gsgi.co.uk/articles/featured-articles-focus-on-the-uk/article.2007-08)

Ex. 7. Watch the video about education in Great Britain http://fenglish.ru/uchebnyj-film-window-on-britain-s-subtitrami-i- uprazhneniyami/ and complete the sentences.

1.At the age of … 100% of students go to primary school.

2.At the age of … 100% of students go to secondary school.

3.At 16, in Britain, they take GCSE examinations (General … of

Secondary Education).

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