Vocabulary

Слово	Транскрипция	Перевод	Пример
a foreign language	['fɔrɪn 'læŋgwɪʤ]	иностранный язык	There is a faculty of foreign languages in our university
an effort	['efət]	усилие, старание	If you don’t make an effort, you will not make any progress.
conversational phrase	[ˌkɔnvə'seɪʃ(ə)n(ə)l freɪz]	разговорная фраза	It’s very important to know a lot of conversational phrases
to improve	[ɪm'pruːv]	улучшать	I will do my best to improve my English
knowledge	['nɔlɪʤ]	знание	Knowledge of foreign languages will help you in your work
carefully	['kɛəf(ə)lɪ]	тщательно	You should do your homework carefully
to revise	[rɪ'vaɪz]	повторять	Do you often revise the words?
content	['kɔntent]	содержание	Are you discussing the content of this book?
abridged	[ə'brɪʤd]	сокращенный	I don’t like reading abridged books
exception	[ɪk'sepʃ(ə)n]	исключение	Every rule has some exceptions
outlook	['autluk]	мировоззрение	Good books always influence our outlook

English in my life

Learning a foreign language is not an easy thing. It is a long and slow process that takes a lot of time and efforts.

We began studying English in the fifth form of the secondary school. We started with the ABC, transcription and sounds. Then we learnt some English words, conversational phrases and dialogues by heart, read and translated easy texts, did exercises, wrote dictations.

From lessons to lessons we improved our knowledge, learnt more and more new words, grammatical structures and put them into practice of speaking. We enjoyed our English classes and prepared carefully for them. At home we tried to listen to different educational programs over the radio, watched English films on TV. You can’t speak English well if you don’t know grammar rules, so we often revised them.

Soon we were able not only to read and translate texts but to discuss their contents in English, to communicate with one another making useful statements in real-life situations. I’m not a good speaker of English yet. It takes me long to read an English book in original. Adapted and abridged books are easier for me to read. But I hope that soon I shall know English well.

One should say that English is not an easy language to learn. There is a big problem of spelling, of the large number of exceptions to any rule. This language is very idiomatic and the prepositions are difficult to remember. English is one of those languages which may seem easy in the beginning, but then the bridge between basic knowledge and mastery takes a long time to cross. But if you cross this bridge it will give you great satisfaction. You will be able to speak to people from other countries, to read foreign authors in the original, which makes your outlook wider. It is not surprising that many intellectuals and well-educated people know many foreign languages.

I want to know foreign languages because I have always been interested in foreign countries, their cultures and peoples. I want to learn English in particular not only because it is the language of such great countries as the USA and Great Britain, but also because it has become the international language, the language of progressive science and engineering. To know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated man, for every good specialist

5. Составьте предложения со словами ниже:

• content, abridged;

• to revise, to improve;

• exception, conversational phrase;

• foreign language, knowledge.

6. Прочитайте утверждения ниже и определите: правда, неправда, в тексте нет информации?

1. Learning a language is not difficult.

2. Children begin studying a foreign language in the fifth form.

3. The author likes reading English books in the original.

4. He prefers adapted and abridged books.

5. The main problem of English is spelling.

6. English seems very easy at the beginning but then it becomes more difficult.

7. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What do you like most about learning English?

2. What don’t you like?

3. What is easy for you and what is difficult?

8. Дайте советы изучающим английский язык. Какие приемы помогают Вам облегчить изучение предмета? Начните с You should…

9. Пройдите тест «American or British?» и прокомментируйте результат:

1. Imagine you’re buying an ice cream. Would you:

a) order a combination of five different flavours with chocolate sauce on top?

b) politely ask the salesman to choose a flavour for you?

2. Do you eat hamburgers:

a) with a knife and fork so you don’t get messy?

b) with your hands?

3. When you have a cold drink, do you:

a) put enough ice in it to sink the Titanic?

b) take the ice out and ask for your glass to be filled higher?

4. What is a “bathroom”?

a) a room with a bath in it?

b) a room with a toilet in it?

5. If you were making a sandwich, would you:

a) create a skyscraper of bread, meats, cheeses, salad and dressing?

b) put a millimeter of cheese between two slices of bread?

6. If you had to drive 100 km to a restraint, what would you think?

a) great, we’re eating locally tonight.

b) I wonder if I’ll need my passport?

7. Do you drink tea:

a) with milk?

b) with ice and sugar from a can?

8. If your dog ate your pet cat’s food as well as his own, would you:

a) think your dog was either hungry, or greedy?

b) take him to a dog analyst to find out if he had a split personality?

9. When you get older (about twenty-two years old) if you notice that you have a tiny line on your face when you smile, will you:

a) have a full facelift?

b) ignore it?

10. If you heard someone insult your country, what would you say?

a) “How dare you. Insult my country and you insult me!”, then sing the national anthem?

b) agree.

11. You receive a two-hundred-year-old desk for a present. Do you:

a) polish it every day and redecorate your room to go with it?

b) think, “Didn’t they have any new ones?” and put it in the garage.

12. You’re having problems with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Do you:

a) appear on a few talk shows and visit a few psychoanalysts until you find a solution to the problem?

b) sort it out on your own?

KEY:

1. a) US b) GB 7. a) GB b) US

2. a) GB b) US 8. a) GB b) US

3. a) US b) GB 9. a) US b) GB

4. a) GB b) US 10. a) US b) GB

5. a) US b) GB 11. a) GB b) US

6. a) US b) GB 12. a) US b) GB

10. Прочитайте отрывки из писем ниже и определите к какому типу письма они относятся: covering letter, letter of recommendation, thank you letter.

• As I further studied the job description for the position, I grew even more confident that I could take the museum to new heights of success. I also have a number of great ideas for community and media relations and am excited by your interest in bringing more schoolchildren to the museum. ____________________________________

• Dear Competition Organizing Committee,

I fully support my piano student, Andrey’s ambition to compete in the 1st International Chopin Piano Competition Singapore (1st -5th December 2010).

_________________________________________

• It is with great privilege that I write to you in recommendation of Marty McFly. Until recently, I have been Marty's direct supervisor. I have found him to be a pleasant, generous person who is never afraid to take on a challenging task. He has been one of our most dedicated employees.

______________________________________

• I am working as a student teacher in the college. There I have an opportunity to work with children and adults of all ages. I also worked as a substitute teacher in local districts, as a Museum Educator, and as the assistant trainer at a local riding stable. I am interested to develop my career which allows me to continue working with people in different ways. I believe that I am qualified for the position you are trying to fill. ______________________________________

• Because you gave me the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, I had the chance to observe numerous aspects of college marketing, from publishing magazines and brochures to maintaining the college website. You and your staff were extremely welcoming and helpful, and offered me terrific career advice.

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