Тематические кейсы для подготовки учащихся к ГИА и ЕГЭ ("Говорение" и "Письмо")
материал для подготовки к егэ (гиа) по английскому языку на тему

Preparing for Exams

Тематические кейсы для подготовки учащихся к ЕГЭ

("Говорение")

PART 1. SPEAKING

Topic: Education and School Life. The Importance of Language Learning

Speaking 1.   Answer the questions:

I.        Education and School Life

1. Why do you go to school?
2. Are school years happy ones for you? Why/why not?
3. Are school years borirtg and uninteresting for you or others? Why?
4. What is the main purpose of Russian school?
5. What kind of a teacher do you appreciate most?
6. What makes a good teacher? Do you have such teachers in your school?
7. What kinds of activities help you in your education and relationships among your classmates?
8. Why do students want to have harmony in their class?

9.        How do parents help children in their education?
10. What is one of the greatest problems of school

life?

II.        Do you have any problems with your parents? How
do you cope with your problems?

1. Do you have true friends in your class?
2. What do you usually do during the breaks?
3. What do you talk about with your classmates?
4. Some people, when they grow older, do not like to speak about their school years. What do you think about that?
5. What options do students in Russia have after finishing the ninth form?
6. What kind of education does your school offer? Are you satisfied with the level of education?
7. What types of schools are there in Russia?
8. Will you stay on at your school, or enter another secondary educational institution? Why?
9. What subjects are offered at lyceums and gymna siums?
10. Is it difficult to choose your future career? Why?
11. Would you choose your parents' profession? Why or why not?
12. What are the advantages and disadvantages of your future profession?
13. Will you continue your education after finishing school?

1. Will you need English for your future career?

2. How have the schools changed? What great changes are expected in the Russian education system?
3. Why are Russian students not as motivated as English or American students?
4. Is the marking system in Russia good? Why? Would you like to introduce any changes?
5. Who helps Russian schools to survive? Do you think it is fair?
6. What does our school lack?
7. What is the main aim of British, American and Russian education?

II. The Importance of Language Learning

1. Why do people study foreign languages?
2. What would the world be like if everyone spoke the same language? Is it possible nowadays?
3. Why did you decide to study English? Is it easy to learn English at school?
4. Do you feel that English is a particularly easy language to learn in comparison with others? Why/why not?
5. Is it necessary to speak ideal, correct English?
6. What activities do you enjoy doing at your English lessons? Why?
7. How much English do you see in our country? Does it help you in everyday life? How?
8. What do you like and dislike doing at English lessons? Is it possible to learn English without a teacher?
9. Is your English good enough to travel as a tourist/to study abroad/to invite English-speaking guests? Give your reasons.

1. Will you need English (or any other foreign languages) in your career? Which kinds of jobs need excellent, good or satisfactory command in English?
2. How will you study your next foreign language (at the university, by TV, travel abroad, etc.)?
3. If German/French is a second language for you, tell your classmates about the difficulties you had or still have with the language, and about some of the main differences between your native language and German/French.
4. What do you think is the best way to learn a lan guage? Why?

Тематический  кейс для подготовки учащихся к ЕГЭ ("Говорение" и "Письмо")

Part 1

Speaking 1.         Answer the questions

1.  Family Life.

1. What is a happy family in your opinion? Why?
2. Should a young couple receive help from parents and other relatives? Why/why not?
3. Conflicts between parents and teenagers are eternal. Do you agree? Why/why not?
4. Mutual respect is the most important part of relations between parents and children. Do you agree?
5. Say if you always share your ideas and problems with your parents. Why/why not?
6. Is it good if three generations (your parents and grandparents) live together in one family? Why/why not?
7. Young people don't want to live with their parents. What do you think of it?
8. Is it good or bad to be an only child in the family? Why?
9. Do you agree that family life is more important for women than for men?  Why?
10. Do you think that children should follow their parents' advice in any situation? Why?
11. Do you think that parents should be forbidden to hit their children? Why? Give your reasons.

2. Life Style.

1. What type of house would you prefer to live in? Why?
2. What place in your house/ flat do you consider the most important ( kitchen, bedroom, sitting-room,…)? Give your reasons.
3. Do you enjoy the place where you live? Why/why not?
4. What place would you prefer to live in?
5. Do you enjoy your neighbourhood? Why/why not?
6. Has the standard of living changed in Russia? Give some examples.
7. Household duties (cleaning, washing up…) are relaxing and give us pleasure. Do you agree?

3. Personality. Famous people.

1. Do you judge people from first impression? Why/why not?
2. Say what is more important in a person- his character or his appearance. Why?
3. Some people are respected by everybody, others only by one or two. Why?
4. A person's character is usually formed in childhood. Do you agree? Why/or why not?
5. When we say a woman is beautiful, do we mean her appearance? What else can be beautiful?
6. We can't guess the man's character by his appearance. Why/why not?
7. Does changing our appearance (hairstyle, clothes, image…) change our personality as well? Why/why not?
8. Do you agree that person's character is more important than his appearance? Why?
9. There are only advantages of being famous. Do you agree?
10. Does fame change people? Why/why not?
11. Would you like to be famous? Why/why not?
12. Do you agree that "a beauty lives an easier life"? Why?
13. Do you agree that famous people are selfish and boastful? Why/why not?

4. Friends and Friendship.

1. It's very important to have a close friend. Why/why not?
2. It's difficult to find a good friend. Why/why not?
3. Do you agree that love is more important in life than friendship? Why/why not?
4. The best friend is the one who helps you when you need it. Do you agree?
5. You get to know your real friends when you are in a difficult situation. Do you agree?
6. Friends are people who have the same interests. Do you agree? Why/why not?
7. What points do you take into consideration while choosing a friend? Why?

Speaking 2.      Give a one-minute talk on the situation

1.  Family Life. Life Style

1. What creates a friendly atmosphere at home? Express your own point of view on family values.

209586592. What issues do you think cause conflicts between parents and teenagers? Give your reasons.
209586593. What role do your relatives play in your life? With whom do you usually share your thoughts, problems, and secrets? Whose advice is the most valuable? Develop these ideas.
209586594. Give your opinion about the division of household tasks in the family. Is it still the woman who should actually do most of the household tasks or should the household duties be divided between the man and the woman?
209586595. Sometimes three generations with very different attitudes and lifestyles live together in one family home. What are some possible problems, and what can be done to keep them to a minimum?
209586596. Would you prefer to be an only child or one of the two or three children? Is it better to be the oldest or the youngest child in the family? Give your reasons.
209586597. What happens when people get married? Are there any special activities or customs? Give a portrait of an ideal wife and ideal husband.  What qualities would you like to find in your ideal partner? Give your reasons.
209586598. The International Tourism Bureau invites you to take part in the competition «Do You Know the Russian Way of Life? ». The participants are to answer questions on some certain themes:

• What are marriage statistics in Russia?
• How many families break up every year?
• What kind of difficulties do young families have?
• Why don’t young married people have the necessary experience in family life?
• How does the state help young families make a start in life?

Prepare a brief speech.

209586712. You have got a subject at school « Fundamentals of Family Life». Your teacher cannot come to the lesson. She is ill. She asks you to make a report on «Russian Family».

209586832. Make a presentation of a new popular magazine «Family», trying to attract the readers’ attention to its interesting articles on various aspects of family life.
209586833. Compare and contrast the American home, the British home and the Russian home.
209586834. Speak about your home and neighbourhood.
209586835. What are typical features of homes in Russia? (in Britain/the USA)
209586836. A foreign visitor wants to know about housing in StPetersburg. What information would you give?
209586837. Compare and contrast living in a country cottage and in an apartment.
209586838. Speak about the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city and in the countryside.
209586839. What are the main changes that have happened to housing in Russia over the last few years? Give some examples.
209586840. What type of accommodation do the majority of Russian people like to live in? Can you think of any reasons?
209586841. Why do you think there are homeless people in Russia? What could be done to improve the situation?

2. Personality and Famous People. Friends and Friendship.

1. Do you have a really good friend? Do you think that your friendship will last? What makes you     think so? What must we do not to make mistakes in choosing friends? Give your reasons.
2. A man’s character may be judged by noticing who his/ her friends and companions are. Do you agree with this   idea? Give your reasons.
3. The best friend is the one who helps you when you’re really in need of help. You get to know your real friends when you are in a difficult situation. How else can you get to know your real friends? Develop these ideas.
4. «Friendship is a great human’s treasure». How do you understand these words?
5. A local radio station is running a «BEST FRIEND» of the year’s competition. To enter, you must write a short composition describing someone you really like. What can you write?
6. Which of the following do you think are important aspects in a friendship or in a steady   relationship?

To have similar -*  tastes in music; tastes in food; *habits and routines; *hobbies and interests; *opinions;      *backgrounds.

What are chances of people with different tastes and personalities staying together?

7.  What do you mean if you say about your friend, « her /his friendship means a lot to me»?
8. Say what you understand by active friendship. What must we do not to make mistakes in choosing friends?
9. We meet different people during our life. Say what kind of people you like and what kind of people you dislike.  Speak about reasons for your likes and dislikes.
10. Say what you notice first about a person when you meet him/her for the first time. Say how you judge people from first impression.
11. Say what is more important in a person- his character or his appearance. Give your reasons. What is easier to change your appearance or your character? Why?
12. Give examples of nobility of characters taken from works by Russian and foreign writers. Say which character is your favourite and why you like this character. Describe two literary personages   who are antipodes.
13. Some people are respected by everybody, others only by one or two. Why? Express your opinion.
14. A person’s character is usually formed in childhood. Do you agree or disagree? Give your reasons.    What are the essential factors that help mould a person’s character: background and environment; educational possibilities; cultural standards; circumstances.
15. Some people may not be able to see beauty when it is near them. What do we mean when speak about someone’s beauty? What is your idea of physical beauty? Can you name some famous people who are really beautiful?
16.  One of Chekhov’s characters said that everything must be beautiful in a person- face, dress, spirit and mind. How do you understand it?
17. What are the traits of an ideal friend / wife / husband? Do you think it’s good to live with an ideal? Give your reasons.
18. Do you agree that people’s eyes tell you a lot about their personality? How do you understand these words: «You must look into people as well as at them»; «Appearances are deceptive»?
19. What traits of character in your opinion do pupils appreciate in a teacher? Give your reasons.
20. Do you think the appearance is important when you want to get a job? Why? In what jobs do you think the appearance is essential? Why?

                                            Speaking 3.         Debates and Discussions

1. Consider the following: « Being married or being single» .Discuss the differences between them; the advantages and disadvantages they have; say what you would do if you were given the choice.
2. Speak on the advantages and disadvantages of living with parents and grandparents.
3. Would you prefer to be an only child or one of the two or three children? Discuss what the advantages / disadvantages are of:

• being an only child
• having brothers and sisters
• being a twin

4.    Read these ideas about friendship and say if you agree or disagree. Give your arguments.

• Friends are people to have fun with
• Friends are people who have the same interests
• Friends have no secrets from each other
• Friends tolerate each other’s moods and faults
• It’s a bad idea to have friends who are too close
• It’s better if a friend has different interests
• You can’t be a close friend with someone in your own family
• You should try to get  on well with everyone, not just friends
•  "The more friends you have, the better". Do you agree?
• "Tell me who your friend is , and I tell you who you are". Do you agree?
• "Show me your friend , and  I'll tell you who you are". Do you agree?
• "A friend in need is a friend indeed". How do you understand it?
• When you are good to others, you are best to yourself. How do you understand it?
• "A person's character may be judged by noticing who his/ her  friends are". Do you agree?

5.    A stereotype is a fixed set of ideas that is generally held about the characteristics of a particular type of person, which are (wrongly) believed to be shared by all the people of that type. What is your stereotype of a British/ American person, Russian person?

6. Speak about possible people for this year’s title «PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR». They can be from the world of politics, entertainment, sport, the arts or business. Speak about reasons why you think he/she deserves the title.

7. What exactly do you understand by the word ‘IMAGE’? Why is image so important for media figures, like politicians, stars, etc? Is it important for you? Discuss the importance of these qualities, which of them you consider the most important for a political leader, what other qualities, in your opinion, are necessary for a political leader to have.

• an ability to organise and inspire others
• an ability to plan a campaign
• an ability to organise his/her mind
• great capacity for detail
• an ability to choose the right person for the right job
• readiness to accept responsibility
• willingness to make difficult decisions and stand by them
• honesty
• resolute determination
• enthusiasm
• high standards of personal conduct

8. In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of being famous? Does fame change people? Have you ever met a famous person or received a letter from someone famous? If not, imagine it. If you saw someone famous in a public place like a restaurant, what would you do? What would you most like and most dislike about being famous? Express your ideas.

9. You are a top model. It’s not easy to be a high-fashion model. What difficulties and surprises do they face? What ridiculous things are there in this profession?  Speak about the advantages and disadvantages of being a model.

                                Speaking 4.      Discussing quotations,  sayings and proverbs.

1. There are  famous sayings:

• « A house becomes a home with love inside».
• «There is no place like home», «East or West, Home is Best».
• «Men make houses, women make homes».
•  « A man’s house is his castle» (Edward Coke);
• "My home is my castle"
• "Show me your home and I'll tell you who you are".

        Give your comments.

2. Agree or disagree with the quotations; your opinion should be followed by some appropriate comment where possible:

• « All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way» ( Leo  Tolstoy)
• « Home is the girl’s prison and the woman’s work-house». ( G.B. Shaw)

3.   Try to explain how you understand these proverbs:

• « As the baker- so the buns, as the father - so the son» ;
• «As the tree- so the fruit.
•  Like father, like  son»
• «There is a black sheep in every flock»

4)  How do you understand these sayings about friendship:

• The only way to have a friend is to be one. (Emerson,  «Friendship» , essays: First Series 1841)
• A true friend is one soul in two bodies. (Aristotle)
• Friends are like melons. To find one good, you must a hundred try. ( Claude Mermet)
• Before you look for friends you’d better become your own best friend.
• Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness. (Euripides, Orestes, 408 BC)
• One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives. (Euripides, Orestes, 408 BC)
• Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you. (Elbert Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927)
• «A friend is  a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud». Confirm or  refute these words of Emerson.

5)  Explain your understanding of the proverbs:

•  «Show me your friend, and I’ll tell you who you are».
•  « Friendship cannot stand always on one side»
• «Actions speak louder than words»
•  «A friend in need is a friend indeed»
• «A friend is never known till a man has need»
• «A good friend is as sun in winter»
• When you are good to others, you are best to yourself»

6) Explain your understanding of the poem:

Friendship is a thing for two,                   Friend are people who share,

Three or four, even more,                         Friends are people who care.

Like a song that is made to sing                 they try to understand.

Friendship is a doing thing.                       They give a helping hand.

7)  Henry Longfellow, a famous American poet of the XIX century wrote, « Be noble in every thought    and in every deed! »  Did Longfellow want his readers to be honest to themselves and to other people? Discuss what the poet meant by these words.

8) Here are English proverbs: « Doing is better than saying», «Actions speak louder than words».

     Give your own explanation of them.

  9) How can you explain the sayings:  «When you are good to others, you are best to yourself». Give  

       examples from books and from your own life.

10) How can you explain these words?

• Men and melons are hard to know.
• The same man cannot be both friend and flatterer.
• He that cannot obey cannot command.
• A lie stands on one leg, truth on two.  ( Benjamin Franklin )

11)  Explain the proverb: When wealth is lost, nothing is lost;

                                            When health is lost, something is lost;

                                                     When character is lost, all is lost.                 

12) Do you think that the saying «A beauty lives an easier life» is correct? Prove your point.

Speaking 5.  Dramatizing and role-play

1) You are a top model and you meet a friend of yours in the airport. Give him/her your news and find    out where  he/she has been and what he/she has done recently.

2. You saw a film yesterday. You liked the play of an actress/actor who is well-known but you can’t remember her/his name. Describe her/his appearance to your friend, may be she/he will remember the actress’s /actor’s name. Act out a conversation.

209587020. You’re members of a beauty contest jury. Discuss the participants and choose the most beautiful girl. Dramatize the situation.
209587021. You witnessed a bank robbery. Describe the criminals for the policemen. Dramatize the situation.
209587022. Role-play.

Card A.  You have two friends you like very much, but one of the friends does not like the other   one. You plan  to invite both of them to your birthday party. Speak to the first friend to  invite  her/him.

     Card B.   You like your friend and want to go to her/his birthday party. However, your  friend  will   probably    invite someone else you dislike very much. You think that being in the same  room with this person   will ruin the party for you, so you decide not to go if that person is   going.

               When your friend invites you, tell him /her your feelings.

209587023. You’ve read an advertisement in a magazine and now you dream of becoming a model. You ring up to the agency and have a talk with an administrator. Act out a conversation.
209587024. Your family is going to receive guests or give a party. You are discussing what should be done to make the house  look better. Everyone is giving his/her suggestions. Act out a conversation.
209587025. The husband thinks the 17-year-old daughter is too young to go out on dates. The wife disagrees. Act out a conversation.
209587026. Dramatize a short play in which the members of the family greet the elder daughter who has just arrived and she is talking to her mother about her trip.
209587027. Act out a scene in which the family is planning a day out (or holiday) and discussing various ideas. Each member of the family suggests ideas of where to go; trying to convince the others that his/her idea is the best.

Speaking 6.  Give a two-minute talk on the topic

Task 1.        Give a 2-minute talk on family life.

Remember to say:

• what creates a friendly atmosphere at home
• which family values are most important for you and why
• what issues cause conflicts between parents and teenagers

Task 2.         Give a 2-minute talk on family life.

Remember to say:

• who is in your family and what they do
• what things you like to do together
• who you are close to in your family, and why

Task 3.      Give a 2-minute talk on your life style

Remember to say:

• about living in a country cottage and in an apartment. What are the advantages and disadvantages of it?
• what type of house would you prefer to live in? Give your reasons.
• about your home and neighbourhood

Task 4.  Give a 2-minute talk on where you live

Remember to say:

• what kind of building (house, flat, etc.) you live in
• what neighbourhood is like
• whether you like where you live ; why /why not

Task 5.             Give a 2-minute talk on personality 

Remember to say:

• what kind of people are liked and respected by all members of society, why;
• if it is good to trust your first impressions,  why/ why not
• if there are stereotypes of people of different professions, give your examples;

Task 6       Give a 2-minute talk on famous people.

Remember to say:

• what makes people famous (writers, singers, politicians, etc.)
• where you prefer to get information about famous people from, and why;
• if the life of a famous person is easy, and why/ why not.

Task 7       Give a 2-minute talk on your best friend

Remember to say:

• what your best friend looks like and why you like him/her
• when and how you met
• what you enjoy doing together, why

Speaking 7. Role Play

Task 1- an Interview

A famous star/ singer is giving an interview about his/ her life.  You are a reporter who is interested in her/his private life and asks her questions:

• about his/her career
• why he/she decided to choose this job
• about the future plans

  Remember to:

• Be polite and active
• Ask all the questions
• Find out as much information as possible
• Finish the conversation properly

Task 2 -an Interview

A famous star is giving an interview about her life.   One student is a famous cinema star who is giving an interview. The   second   student is a    reporter who is interested in her/his private life and asks her questions about:

• Her/ his childhood
• Her/his marriage
• Her/his relations with children
• Her/his family celebrations

  Remember to:

• Be polite and active
• Ask all the questions
• Find out as much information as possible
• Finish the conversation properly

Task 3. -Giving some advice

Your friend is in a bad mood today. Try to talk to him:

• ask him why he is in a mood;
• give him some advice how to change the situation;
• try to help him

Remember to:

• Be polite and active
• Find out as much information as possible
• Finish the conversation properly

Speaking 8. Simulated Situation

Task 1.  -How to be successful in life

You and your friend are discussing what to do to be successful in life.  You have three options for discussion:

• to be talented
• to marry successfully
• to graduate from a prestigious  university

Remember to:

• be active and polite

• discuss all the options
• give good reasons
• ask for your partner’s point of view

Task 2. -   Family celebrations

   You and your friend have a task to write a report about a family   celebration. You are given 4    options for discussion:

A holiday celebration      A wedding reception    Christening     A birthday party 

Discuss all these options and choose one you both like most of all. Give reasons for your choice

Remember to:

• Ask for your partner’s point of view
• Give reasons for your choice
• Be active and polite
• Take turns
• Come to an agreement

Task 3  - Discussing a new coming baby in your family

You and your sister/ brother are discussing a new coming baby in your family. Discuss  the following options and  choose one you both like most of all. Give reasons for your choice.

            Troubles                   Duties                             Fun                        Happiness

Remember to:

• Ask for your partner’s point of view
• Give reasons for your choice
• Be active and polite
• Take turns
• Come to an agreement

 Task 4.  - Discussing a birthday party

You and your relative (sister, brother, cousin…) are discussing your birthday party.  There are 4  options to choose from. You have to decide on one of them:

*Home party with relatives     *Home party with your friends      *Going to a disco bar    

  *    A barbecue  party in the countryside                         

                         Remember to:

• Discuss all the options
• Take an active part in the conversation and be polite
• Come up with suggestions
• Agree or disagree with your partner and give reasons
• Come to an agreement

Task 5.     - Discussing a birthday party

You and your relative (sister, brother, cousin…) are discussing your birthday party.  There are 4  options to choose from. You have to decide on one of them:

• Home party with relatives
• Home party with your friends
• Going to a disco bar
• A barbecue  party in the countryside                         

                    Remember to:

• Discuss all the options
• Take an active part in the conversation and be polite
• Come up with suggestions
• Agree or disagree with your partner and give reasons
• Come to an agreement

Task 6.         -  Choosing a present

You and your sister/brother are thinking of what  you can present your mum.  Discuss  the following options and  choose one you both like most of all:

        Vase                     Candy                  Flowers                    Self-made pie

                              Remember to:

• Discuss all the options
• Take an active part in the conversation and be polite
• Come up with suggestions
• Agree or disagree with your partner and give reasons
• Come to an agreement

Task 7.         -   Choosing a present

It’s March 7th. You want to make a pleasant surprise for your Mum tomorrow. You can:

• Cook a holiday dinner
• Tidy up the flat
• Make a self-made present
• Arrange a congratulation speech on the radio

 Discuss it with your sister/brother and choose one activity you both prefer.

                             Remember to:

• Discuss all the options
• Take an active part in the conversation and be polite
• Come up with suggestions
• Agree or disagree with your partner and give reasons
• Come to an agreement 

 Useful Vocabulary

• Next Friday is …..’s birthday and we’ve got to think of a present  for her/him.
• Well, why not present her/him with a……..because……
•  Quite right. Isn’t it a lucky idea?
• I’m breaking the promise, but Father is going to present you with a …… for your birthday.
• How nice! My dreams are coming true.

Task 8.        - Choosing a present

You and your mother / sister/brother are discussing a present you are going to give to your Granny’s 50th anniversary.  Discuss  the following options and choose one you both like most of all:

         A watch              A TV set               A dress                A necklace

                         Remember to:

• Discuss all the options
• Take an active part in the conversation and be polite
• Come up with suggestions
• Agree or disagree with your partner and give reasons
• Come to an agreement

Тематический  кейс для подготовки учащихся к ЕГЭ ("Говорение" и "Письмо")

Part 2 (продолжение)

Writing 1 (a personal letter)

Letter 1.

This is part of your letter from Mary.

……….I'm going to StPetersburg  next month and I'll have to make new friends. The problem is I'm really shy! Are you good at making new friends? How do you do it? Have you ever been in a similar situation? Any suggestions would be useful.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Love,

Mary

Write back to Marry answering her questions.

Letter2.

This is part of a letter from your pen friend.

………My parents often get annoyed with me because I spend a lot of time on the phone talking to my friends. Do you talk to your friends a lot on the phone too? Do your parents get annoyed with you? What do you do about it? If you've got any ideas about what I should do about it, let me know!

Write soon,

Love,

Rebecca

Write back to Rebecca answering her questions.

Letter 3

This is part of a letter from your pen friend.

…………It's my parents' 20th wedding anniversary next week. Do you think I should organize a celebration? Have you ever organized anything like that? We could have a party, or go out for a meal, or maybe do something else. What do you think would be a good idea?

Love,

Lena

Write back to Lena answering her questions.

Writing 2 (an essay)

Task 1. 

Comment on the following statement:

In European countries children after 18 are supposed to live on their own. What can you say FOR and AGAINST living with your parents?

Task 2.  

Comment on the following statement:

Most children enjoy computer games but their parents are against them. What can you say FOR and AGAINST playing computer games.

Task 3. 

Comment on the following statement:

Some people believe that teenagers today are generally rude, lazy and badly behaved. Other people, however, think that teenagers have a bad reputation for no reason.

Do you agree that teenagers are often criticized unfairly?

HELP!      Useful Vocabulary

• Talking about yourself and your life. Introducing people.

Names

Age

 Family relationships

Marital status

Types of people

Describing people: Character and Personality

Verbs you can use to talk about your life

How has a person changed?

 HELP!     What is the price of fame? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being famous?

ADVANTAGES

• Celebrities have to look perfect all the time. There’s always a photographer ready to take  a picture of a famous person.
• Famous people  will always be in the centre of attention
• Famous people are written about and photographed for newspapers and magazines
• Famous people  have a lot of money and can buy anything  they want
• They can live in a luxurious house anywhere in the world
• Famous people can travel a lot and meet celebrities
• Famous people can use wealth and influence to help charity organizations
• You will always be in the centre of attention

DISADVANTAGES

• Celebrities sacrifice their private lives. Their personal problems, divorces, or family tragedies all end up as front-page news.
• They are followed by crazy fans wherever they go. The paparazzi follow celebrities  and take pictures of them in unflattering and compromising poses. But for the celebrities these photos are an invasion of privacy.
• They worry constantly about their reputation. Actors may lose their popularity, singers may lose their voices, athletes may be injured…
• It’s difficult for famous people to know who to trust. Ex-lovers may sell their stories to the newspapers.  Their accountants or impresarios may be secretly cheating them…
• Famous people can never be sure whether people like them for themselves or because they are famous. For this reason, it’s difficult for them to make true friends.
• Furthermore, celebrities are in constant danger of the wrong kind of attention. Threatening letters and even physical attacks from crazy fans are not unusual things in their lives.
• Many of them suffer nervous breakdowns or drugs and alcohol problems.
• Many celebrities say that their lives are far from being happy.

 HELP!               Household Chores

 HELP!            Living in a   big city

 HELP!  Living in the countryside

   HELP!                                      The place where you live              

• Introductions and opening conversation gambits.    

• Meeting people after a long time.

• Talking to a distant relative trying to find out what relationship you stand to each other.

A: What relationship is Jack /… to you?   B:  Well, he’s my remote kinsman.

A: Are you any relation to Jim Brown, the well-known football player?   B: Yes, he is my uncle.

A: Are you related to Helen?  B:  Yes , she is my cousin.

A: Have you sent greetings to our relations?   B: Only to grandparents.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

A: What does your brother do? /  What is your brother? / Where do you come from? / Where are they from? / What is he like? How does he look like? What does he look like?  B: ………………………….

C: He has a twin brother. They’re as alike as two peas in a pod.  Only my sister and I can tell them apart.

Don’t you think that’s a bit of an age gap? (тебе не кажется, что это очень большая разница в возрасте?)

                                       Sample Conversation

• Model Dialogues.  Here are some models in which people invite someone of the opposite sex to go out on a date or to a party.

(1)

Susan: Hi, Jim.

Jim: I was wondering if you are doing something Friday night. I have  tickets to a rock concert.

Susan: Which one?

Jim: I have two tickets to see the Flaming Idiots concert. Would you like to go with me?

Susan: I’d love to!

Jim: Great! I’ll pick you up at seven o’clock.

Susan: OK. See you then.

Jim: Good bye.

(2)

Laurie: Hi , Jeff.

Jeff: Hello. How’s it going?

Laurie: Great. I’m having a party Saturday night and I’d like you to come.

Jeff: Thanks. What time does it start?

Laurie: Eight-thirty. Can you come?

Jeff: Sure, I wouldn’t miss one of your parties.

(3)

Julie: Hi, Alex.

Alex: Oh, Julie. You’re just the person I wanted to see!

Julie: Really? What’s up?

Alex: How would you like to go to next Saturday’s football game with me?

Julie: Next Saturday? Gee, I’m sorry, I can’t. That’s my mother’s birthday.

Alex: Oh, I was really hoping that you could go.

Julie: Well, maybe some other time.