Тема 1. Learning Foreign Languages
I am sure learning foreign languages is very important nowadays. People start learning a foreign language, because they want to have a better job, a possibility to study abroad or take part in international conferences. People want to have a possibility to get a higher education abroad or even start their career there. The most popular among foreign languages are English, German, Italian, French and Spanish.
I have chosen English as a foreign language, because it is the most widespread language on the Earth. About one billion people speak or understand English. English is the language of international communication in many areas of life: trade, tourism and sport. The latest results of scientific investigations are also translated into English. Many books of the best modern writers and poets are translated into English. Sometimes, it is the only way to read and understand the latest works of foreign authors, Japanese or Turkish, for example.
Language is a means of communication. We learn it in order to find new friends abroad and get acquainted with other cultures. Some of my friends have already moved to the USA and Canada. They often write me letters in English and I am glad that I can understand them without anybody's help. This communication helps me to learn new English words and master my speaking skills.
widespread — розповсюджений
communication — спілкування
investigation — розслідування
to get acquainted — познайомитися
to master — удосконалювати
V
isiting
the USA
Hello, Yura!
Hello, Anya!
Where have you spent your summer holidays this year?
Well, I have visited some of my relatives and have been to the USA.
Really? How did you manage to do that?
You know, I am fond of research work. I have won a scholarship to complete my research in the USA.
I am very glad for you! Did you manage to find new friends there?
Of course, I had an excellent opportunity to improve my English with native speakers and learn something new about their country.
What are you going to do next?
I am going to work further on my project. I think I will apply for a stipend next year as well.
If you know a foreign language, it is easier to travel and to work on a scientific project abroad.
- I fully agree with you.
Тема 2. My Family
Before I start talking about my family let me introduce myself. 1 am Sveta Petrenko. I am 17.1 have left school this year. I was born in Kyiv, so I have been living in Kyiv since my childhood.
And now I am going to tell you about my family. We are a family of five. We think we are a large and friendly family. So we are happy to be living together and are getting on all right.
To begin with, I am going to talk about my father. His name is Sergey Petrovich, he is 45. He works as a surgeon at a hospital. He is neither old, nor young. He is a good-looking man, handsome, rather: thin with dark brown hair just beginning to go grey. He is a very sociable person. What I don't like about my dad is that he is always busy. Very often he works overtime. He is a bread-maker in our family. He is fond of going to the country at week-ends, because he enjoys work- ] ing in the garden.
My mother's name is Galina Nickolayevna. She is three years younger than my father. She works as a teacher at a nursery school. My mother is rather slim and pretty, she is always elegant and smart.! In short, she is a pleasant-looking woman of about 40. She always has a lot of work to do both at school and about the house. She is fond of her work and spends a lot of time there. But she has to cook the food for the whole family at home. Shopping and cooking is nearly half a day's work for her. But my granny and I are in a habit of helping her about the house.
Boris is my elder brother. He is six years senior to me. So he I is 25 already. He has graduated from the University and he is an economist by profession now. Boris is married. His wife is a journalist. They are three in the family. They have got a child, my nephew. It is a lovely little boy of two with golden hair and dark brown eyes and a spirit that is always bright and happy, full of joy and gaiety.
And finally a few words about my granny. To tell you the truth, she is my best friend. She always listens to my endless stories about rny friends and my school life. She is on a pension now but in her youth and her older age she worked as a teacher in a school. I must admit, she is a very understanding person.
Put it into a few words, we are a united and friendly family.
Word List on the Subject "My Family"
to introduce oneself — знайомити з кимось
to leave school — закінчувати школу
surgeon — хірург
handsome — вродливий (про чоловіка)
sociable — комунікабельний
to work overtime — працювати понаднормово
bread-maker — годувальник
to be fond of — подобатися, вподобати
slim [slim] — стрункий, зграбний
pretty — симпатична, вродлива (про жінку)
elegant ['elegant] — елегантний
smart — добре вдягнений, модний, вишуканий
to be in (to have) a habit of doing smth. — мати звичку поратися
senior ['si:nja] — старший, старше
junior ['d3u:nja] — молодший
to graduate from the University — закінчувати університет
to be married — бути одруженим
nephew ['nevju:] — племінник, небіж
gaiety ['geiti] — веселість
endless — нескінченний
to be on a pension — бути на пенсії, пенсіювати