Card №14
Let’s talk about national character and stereotypes
- How will you describe a typical Belarusian?
First of all, I should say that the geographical position of Belarus influences our national character.
The international contacts of our country make Belarusian people tolerant and hospitable. Belarusian people always need to work hard. That's why we are hard-working, patient and peace - loving. Foreign people usually say that Belarusians seldom smile. And I think this is true because we had difficult past.
Belarusian people are intelligent, tactful, and imaginative. The Belarusian music, songs and folklore may say a lot about the national character. In conclusion I'd like to say that Belarusian tolerance and hospitality are well-known all over the world.
- Are there any traditions in your family that are handed down from one generation to another?
First of all, it’s necessary to treat the traditions of the family with respect and try to preserve them because they help to unite family members of all generations. (Own Example)
- What questions will you ask your British friend to find out his/her opinion about our country?
- What are Belarusian people like?
- Are they hard-working?
- What stereotypes are connected with Belarusian people?
- Your friend has got acquainted with a girl/boy and wants to know her/his character better. Give him/her a piece of advice on how he/she can do it.
If you want to know one's character better you should spend a lot of time with this person. You can do the shopping, walk, visit other people or chat together. You will see this person in different situations. You just need to be very attentive and notice what he is saying or doing.
- What do you think about stereotypes connected with the British?
There are many stereotypes connected with British cuisine: they eat a lot of puddings and their food is not very tasty. But the British eat different food: Chinese, Indian, etc. British people are considered to be snobbish and conservative. The British humour is well-known all over the world: it's sometimes specific and strange. I don't always understand it. In general, the British are polite and friendly.
Card №2
Let’s talk about education.
- What can you tell me about the system of education in Belarus?
Nowadays we can get education at school, college and university. There are also many possibilities for self-education.
In Belarus there are 4 stages of education: preschool education, primary school education, secondary school education and higher education. Primary and secondary school education is compulsory in our country. The main task of school is to develop a child's personality and talents. Pupils go to school at the age of 6 or 7. The school year lasts from the first of September to the end of May and is divided into 4 terms. At the end of each term pupils have holidays.
The school day lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The school uniform in our schools isn’t compulsory.
After the 9<sup>th </sup>form children can enter a college. After the 11<sup>th</sup> form children can enter a university.
- Can you tell me about your fovourite teacher at school?
I’d like to tell you about my fovourite teacher. His / Her name is (Vladimir Ivanovich). The subject he teaches is (History). He / She is a very kind, intelligent and understanding person. He’s / she’s got a flexible character and good sense of humor. His / her lessons are interesting. I think I’m not the only pupil in the class, who likes (History) lessons.
- You meet a student from Britain. What questions about the system of education in Great Britain will you ask him?
- What are the stages of education in Britain?
- At what age do children go to school?
- How many terms do you have?
- Give your classmates some advice on how to prepare for exams.
First of all I think you should be hard-working and self-organized. Try to make an effort every day. Revise the material of small portions. You should constantly develop your skills. Have enough rest. If you have a possibility try not to study a day before the exam.
- Today some young people think that having a good education is not very important.
Do you agree with them?
I don’t agree. Our today’s modern world needs qualified people in all the spheres of life. All professions need special education. And if you have a good education you can find a well-paid job.
Card №24
Let’s talk about education.
1. What’s your school like?
I study in school N°4 in Postavy. The school building isn’t big with 13 classrooms, administrative offices, the canteen, the gym and the library.
I'd like to say that all our teachers are highly educated people devoted to their work. Besides we don't have serious discipline problems in our school.
We have some school traditions. Every year different concerts, sports competitions, Olympiads and excursions are held in the school.
I should mention my favourite subjects. They are (English, History, Maths and Literature). I'm good at them. Sorry to say I don't like (Geography and Chemistry).
In conclusion, I must say I'm lucky to study in our school.
2. Do you agree that schoolchildren must wear a school uniform? Why?
In Belarus school uniform is required. I believe that everybody has the freedom to choose the clothes he/she likes, but we should be dressed for the occasion. School is a place where students get knowledge, it's not a playground.
3. Imagine you are talking with a former school leaver. Ask him about his school life.
- Did you have any problems when you were a student?
- What was your favourite subject?
- Did you like your teachers?
- Give your classmates some advice on how to prepare for exams.
First of all I think you should be hard-working and self-organized. Try to make an effort every day. Revise the material of small portions. You should constantly develop your skills. Have enough rest. If you have a possibility try not to study a day before the exam.
- Today some young people think that having a good education is not very important.
Do you agree with them?
I don’t agree. Our today’s modern world needs qualified people in all the spheres of life. All professions need special education. If you have a good education you can find a well-paid job.
Card №1
Let’s talk about accommodation.
- Where would you like to live: in a city or in the country?
I quite agree with the proverb "East or West home is best". It's common knowledge that tastes differ. Many people prefer to live in big cities, others dream of small towns. As for me, I would like to live in a big city. There are a lot of theatres, cinemas, museums, art galleries, libraries and big shopping centers. So, the cultural life in a big city is very diverse. In a big city a person has more possibilities to get good education and to find a well-paid job. It's a good place to make friends.
But there are also some disadvantages: long distances, traffic jams, accidents, air and noise pollution. Besides, life in a big city is very stressful and expensive.
- Do you find your city (town), village a comfortable place for living?
Now I live in Postavy. It is a beautiful ancient town on the river Maydelka. You can visit historical monuments, churches, museums and festivals of folk art there. Some famous people lived and worked in Postavy. Life in town is calm and comfortable. People are kind and hospitable. Postavy is a nice place to live in. I love my town very much.
- Your family is going to move to the country. What questions will you ask your parents about your new house?
- Is the house/flat spacious enough?
- Is the flat/house suitable for pets?
- How many rooms are there in the house/flat?
- Is the house/flat in a good location?
- Your friend doesn’t know what to choose, to live in a city or in the country. Give him/ her advice.
It's common knowledge that tastes differ. Many people prefer to live in big cities, some people prefer to live in the country. In the country you can breathe fresh air, enjoy the beauty of nature, rest from the noise of a big city. City life provides all means of entertainment. It’s easier to get good education and find a good job.
- They say that living in the country is better than living in a city. What do you think about it?
Life in a big city is full of opportunities of getting good education, a well-paid job and entertainments. But at the same time I want to have some privacy. An ideal house for me is a spacious and comfortable detached house. It will give me a sense of privacy and independence. It shouldn't be far from the city centre and big supermarkets. So, I want to get both privacy and comfortable city life.
Card №17
Let’s talk about accommodation
1. Tell me about the house/flat you live in.
In my view, houses and flats reflect the way of life and habits of their owners.
My flat reflects characters and tastes of my family. I'm proud to say that my home is the place where everybody understands, respects and loves me.
There is a living-room, my parent's room and my room in our flat. We also have a kitchen, a bathroom, a lavatory (toilet) and a hall there. All the rooms are separate. The flat is nicely furnished. All our rooms look stylish and attractive. We try to keep our flat clean.
My room is my heaven. Everything in it is dear to me. It gives me the atmosphere of independence and privacy. Here I spend a lot of time: do my homework, surf the Internet, watch films and listen to music. You can see posters, photos and beautiful pictures on the walls,
Frankly speaking, I'm not keen on tidying up. But every Saturday I do the room: I vacuum it, mop the floor and arrange things in their usual order. I think my room is a cozy place for a teenager.
2. Where would you like to live: in a city or in the country?
I quite agree with the proverb "East or West home is best". It's common knowledge that tastes differ. Many people prefer to live in big cities, others dream of small towns. As for me, I would like to live in a big city. There are a lot of theatres, cinemas, museums, art galleries, libraries and big shopping centers. So, the cultural life in a big city is very diverse. In a big city a person has more possibilities to get good education and to find a well-paid job. It's a good place to make friends.
But there are also some disadvantages: long distances, traffic jams, accidents, air and noise pollution. Besides, life in a big city is very stressful and expensive.
3. What questions will you ask your parents about the flat/house your family is going to move into?
- Is the house/flat spacious enough?
- Is the flat/house suitable for pets?
- How many rooms are there in the house/flat?
- Is the house/flat in a good location?
4. Your friend wants to decorate his/her room. Give him/her some advice on how to furnish it.
In my view, a man's home is the reflection of his personality. If you are romantic you can decorate it with romantic pictures and souvenirs. If you like music you can decorate the walls of your room with posters of the celebrities you admire.
5. They say that the room in which you live reflects your character and personality. What do you think about this idea?
Houses and flats reflect the ways of life and habits of their owners. Every person tries to furnish his house according to his taste. For example, optimists prefer warm colours while pessimists are fond of cold ones. Romantic people like fireplaces, flowers, romantic souvenirs and pictures. Fans have a lot of posters of their idols.
Card № 7
Let's talk about art.
- What kind of art do you enjoy most? Why?
It goes without saying that art is a great power. There are a lot of forms of art: painting, dancing, singing and others.
As for me, I'm fond of music. It appeals to my heart and helps me stay cheerful and active. As any other form of art, music reflects life, people's ideas (views) and emotions. Pop music and rap are very popular with teenagers nowadays due to mass media and mass culture.
As for me I prefer rock. It is full of force. It makes me active and energetic.
I enjoy listening to music on the Internet or by playing my MP3. My favourite groups are ("Linkin Park" and "Muse"). I don't agree with people who say that rock music makes people hate. In my view this music has a lot of positive effects.
- Are you good at painting, dancing or singing, taking photos, etc?
I should say that I'm good at singing. Music is my hobby. When I listen to my favourite group I always join singing. I think I do it well.
- Ask me some questions about the theatre performance I have seen recently.
- How often do you visit such cultural events?
- Did you enjoy this performance?
- Was it a success?
- What impressed you in this performance most of all?
- Would you like to visit this performance again?
- My niece is very good at drawing. Can you give her a piece of advice on what career to choose?
There are a lot of jobs connected with art: make-up artists, fine artists and many others. I think that the job of a designer is very demanded nowadays. You can be a fashion designer because they influence everything we wear. You can be a graphic designer and have a well-paid job working on your computer. Or you can be an interior designer, who decorates houses and flats.
- Many people call modern art a disaster. What do you think about it?
Different works of art reflect life, people's ideas and emotions. Art always says something. But there are a lot of people who don't understand modern art, especially graffiti. Graffiti is illegal but it can be seen everywhere. Such companies as "Coca Cola", "McDonald's" or "Microsoft" use graffiti and other forms of modern art to promote their products among young people. As for me, I like interesting and beautiful graffiti.
Card № 15
Let’s talk about outstanding people
- Tell me about some Belarusians who are well known all around the world.
Belarus is a talented nation. Among those who made the greatest contribution to the development of Belarusian culture and science are Francisk Scoryna, the first translator and publisher of the Bible in the Belarusian language, Euphrosynia Polotskaya, Kirill Turovsky and Symon Budny.
Y. Kupala, M. Bogdanovich, V. Korotkevich, V. Bykov, Y. Kolas have made a great contribution to the world literature., economy and science of other countries. For example, the world-famous artist Marc Chagall who was born in Belarus, went abroad and contributed a lot into theworld culture. He created a new trend in painting.
Belarusian sportsmen are also known in the world. Among the sports stars are Olga Korbut, Max Mirny, Alexander Medved, Darya Domracheva and many others.
In conclusion I’d like to say that Belarus can be proud of its people.
- What do you know about the history of your country?
Belarus has a long and interesting history. The original Belarusian tribes are the Krivichy.
From the 13th till the 16<sup>th</sup> centuries Belarus was a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, one of the most powerful state in Europe.
In the 18<sup>th</sup> century Belarus was a province of the Rech Pospolita.
In the 19<sup>th</sup> century Belarus became a part of Russia.
Then in 1919 our country became a part of the Soviet Union.
But on the 27<sup>th</sup> of July, 1991 Belarus proclaimed its sovereignty.
Nowadays Belarus is a country of developed industry, education and culture.
- If you have a chance to interview a celebrity, whom will you choose and what questions will you ask?
I'd like to meet Marc Chagall because I think he is one of the most outstanding Belarusians. I'd like to ask him some questions:
- What qualities does a person need to become as famous as you?
- What is your favourite painting?
3. What would you advise a person who wants to become an artist?
- Your British friend wants to learn about cultural traditions in Belarus. What advice will you give him / her?
Belarusian life is full of customs and traditions. We celebrate many different holidays: New Year's Day, Women's Day, Christmas and Easter and many others. But I would recommend to take part in Kupalle because it's a very exciting holiday.
- Name an outstanding Belarusian who can be called “the soul of the nation”. Explain your choice.
I think Francisk Scoryna is Belarusian №1, the "real soul of the nation" because his activities gave a powerful impulse to the development of all Slavonic states.
