In dictionaries cinema is defined as films and the business of making them or a theatre where people pay to watch films. For me cinema is a part of the entertainment industry. After a working day one can relax watching some good movie. Annually, a lot of films are produced, which helps each person find what he likes: melodramas, detectives, horrors or historical films. I love watching movies, my favorite movie genre is fantasy. Today, fantasy films on the screen look like reality, you seem to fall into the fairy-tale world, you are a part of it. Each film carries a certain morality, I take a lesson from each film. I follow the news of the movie, and the work of the actors. I like to often compare a book and a film.
1) Is cinema still important today?
In a way, yes, it is. Films have always been one of the most favourite kinds of entertainment for people. And a movie is not just a movie. Watching a film is an experience. Watching a film in the darkness of the cinema, laughing together or keeping your breaths together, is an active experience. It is the theatre energy. But in this era of technology, people can watch films on their hand-held digital devices like tablets and smartphones. Personally I believe that hand-held digital devices provide such a great experience that going to the cinema is not required, and that is why the trend of visiting cinemas is declining.
2) What’s good or bad about going to the cinema?
There are a lot of people who prefer watching films at the cinema. They believe that cinemas offer a better atmosphere and conditions for enjoying films: perfect audio and visual quality on a big screen and … popcorn! But to my mind, people watching films at home feel a bit more comfortable and freer than those choosing cinemas. What is more, there is no need to worry about buying the tickets in advance in order to have better seats. And I can pause to get a drink and popcorn from the kitchen.But anyway I must admit that there should be cinemas too: it is a good chance to hang out with your friends.
3) How do you choose a film to see?
I don't have any specific tactics which I use when I'm choosing a film to see. Usually my friends’ advice, reviews in press and on the Internet, adverts on TV, reduced prices in cinemas make the great influence on my choice, but generally I am following my own opinion and intuition.
I’ll not be original. I’d like to see the places I’ve heard and read about in my English lessons. That’s why London is a must in my programme. London is full of attractions from the educational to cultural. I’d like to go on a hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour by the open-top, double-decker Big Bus. London Sightseeing ticket valid for one, two, or three days so you’ll be able to explore the capital at your own pace and design a personal itinerary with stops including Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral and more. I am planning to take a ride on the London Eye giant observation wheel. Hop off at Westminster Pier or Tower of London stop to enjoy a Thames River cruise. See top London attractions including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. Stonehenge, York and Stradford-upon-Avon are in my programme too.
1) What are the regions of Great Britain that are most visited by tourists?
The largest country in the United Kingdom, England is home to a huge range of attractions. Some of the most popular include the capital London, Bath, York and Manchester. Each region is home to its own icons and attractions and are popular holiday destinations in themselves.
2) What are the most common stereotypes about the UK and its people that you know?
Brits love talking about the weather
It rains all the time
Brits love to drink tea
Brits are super polite
Brits love queuing
British food is terrible
3) What places of interest connected with famous people of Great Britain would you visit?
the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney in Liverpool
The private Devon holiday home of Agatha Christie and her family.
The home of Sir Winston Churchill in Kent
Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford on Avon
Well, if a foreign visitor has only one day to spend in my country I think I would advise him to visit our capital. Here they can visit numerous museums and theatres, National Library in Minsk and Minsk Victory Square. During one day visit tourist also can go on Castle tour and visit Lida Castle and Krevo Castle ruins or Mir Castle and Nesvizh Palace. As an alternative they can go to Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Belarus offers much more to travellers than you could ever fit into a 1-day visit. The culture, outdoor activities, cuisine and historical sites will keep even the most experienced traveler busy.
What dishes to try? Belarusian national cuisine includes many traditional dishes. The most popular are pork stew (machanka) and vereshchaka, homemade sausages, draniki (thick potato pancakes), kolduny, kletski (dumplings), babka (baked grated potato pie), cold sorrel soup, mushroom soup...
1) What souvenirs should a visitor take back to his or her country?
Various hand-made tools, e.g. pottery, wooden spoons, dolls, carved boxes and even woven baskets can make an original present or a good memento. Standard things like badges, magnets, postcards are also widely available in souvenir shops.
2) What do you think the national symbols of Belarus are?
In addition to the national flag, anthem and emblem, Belarus has several unofficial symbols. The Cross of Saint Euphrosyne is considered a spiritual symbol of Belarus. The European bison is seen as a symbol of Belarus and the Belavezha Forest. Other widely known mascots of Belarus are stork and cornflower
3) Are you proud of Belarus?
Yes, I’m. I am proud of my Motherland, its nature, rich heroic history and achievements, unique national holidays and traditions, welcoming and sociable people.
It’s easy to see just how important English is around the world. Many international businesses conduct meetings in English, universities teach courses in English and tourists and travellers around the world use English as a common language.
English is the language of science, aviation, computers, diplomacy, and tourism. Knowing English increases your chances of getting a good job in a multinational company within your home country or of finding work abroad.
English is the language of the Internet. It is a particularly important language online with more than half the content on the internet written in English.
Travelling is a lot easier with a good knowledge of English
Good knowledge of English will allow you to access films, music and literature from hundreds of countries around the globe. Not to mention the fact that numerous books from across the world are translated into English.
Learning English can help you meet new people as English is the official language of 53 countries and is used as a lingua franca by people from all around the world.
As you see, English skills matter. And it is evident that I can’t do without English in my future life.
1) What careers are possible if you speak a foreign language?
Interpreter. Translator. Foreign Language Teacher. International Travel Coordinator. Hotel Manager. Flight Attendant. Tour Guide, etc.
2) How can the Internet be a helpful tool when learning a foreign language?
Internet is a great tool to learning English. Now if language learners prefer videos, they can study via YouTube or online courses. If they prefer audio, they can use story lessons, podcasts, audiobooks, and language courses. If they want to practice their speaking they can do so on Skype.
3) Some people think that life would be easier if all countries spoke the same language. What do you think?
Being able to communicate with people from all over the world using the same language would open up huge opportunities for work, study, and relationships that would otherwise be extremely difficult.
School is a place I have to go to 5 or 6 days a week, except on Sundays and the holidays. I spend a lot of time in school. Thus I cannot help liking some aspects and disliking other aspects of it. I like ‘break-time’ most of all. The relief of consuming food and drinks at the cafe-shop is really satisfying. What more, my friends are always there to provide great company and companionship. We chat on and on about nothing in particular. Classes are not totally bad. Much depend on the teachers. Some teachers have a gift of making their lessons interesting, so it is pleasant to learn something.
The one thing I dislike most about my studies is all the homework. I have too much homework to do every evening. It takes up so much of my free time.
To tell you the truth, I don’t really like my school building. It’s quite old and shabby. I think it needs a renovation especially our gym.
1) Do you have any rules at your school? Do you always follow them?
Sure, there are some rules in my school as in any other educational establishment. Well, I may not like all the rules out there but I know that they are there for the good only.
2) What is, from your point of view, the main role of school: to prepare pupils for real life or to teach them to think?
Schools focus on academic knowledge and teach students to memorize information, and gives us extremely low chances to learn critical life skills. Schools focus on preparing us for universities, but not for jobs and real life. It doesn’t teach us how to manage money, how to communicate which is much more important, I think.
3) What traits of character should a good teacher have?
A good teacher should be patient, friendly and enthusiastic. He or she should have strong communication skills and strong knowledge and a solid education.
I consider music to be the food for my heart and mind. And I like all types of music as long as it's actually a good song. But I’m really into hip hop. I think hip hop is more topical, political, socially conscious than any other style of music. Hip Hop is no longer just a music genre it's an art form and a way of life. I really feel that rappers recite more contemporary poetry.
I wouldn’t mind listening to indie music. Indie artists are storytellers. Try listening to a couple of indie songs and you’ll see how beautifully they describe their deepest desires, regrets, and stories. There’s this really powerful vibe in their music; it feels like the artist is literally talking to us.
The music I hate is heavy metal. I find it noisy and aggressive. But some young people are fond of this style of music. Tastes differ. Sounds never evoke the same emotions in different people
1) Can you imagine your life without music?
Life without music would be quiet and dull. What would we do at parties besides eating and talking? That might be a formal meeting. I love music and I think people cannot live without it. We can hear music everywhere: in the streets, in the shops, on TV, over the radio, in the cars, in the parks, everywhere. Music is the soundtrack of our lives.
2) Do you remember your last visit to the concert? Did you enjoy it?
I did not have the chance to attend any great concerts. And frankly speaking, I am not a huge fan of concerts because of the crowds and the unnecessary hype created around them. My only recollection of a concert is the concert of Belarusian performers at cultural and sports festival Vytoki in June 2022. This concert took place in the town’s square. Different singers were invited to perform at it. The most famous of them were the Drozdy band. They ‘rocked’ the stage with their performance.
3) Can you play any musical instrument? What musical instrument would you like to play?
Yes, I do. I play the piano. I’ve been playing the guitar for about … years now and I really enjoy it because the piano is such a gorgeous instrument to play.
No, I don’t. But I’d love to learn to play the guitar one day. I think the guitar is the easiest instrument to learn, and I love guitarists like Jimmy Hendrix.
The main reasons are its rich history and an extremely beautiful land scape. Novogrudok is an old town. It was founded in the 10th century and first mentioned in Chronicles in 1044. It was the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The first Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only King of Lithuania Mindaugas was crowned here in 1253, the great poet Adam Mickiewicz was born and spend there his childhood.
The main place of interest in town is the ruins of the 12th century castle. Now it’s being restored. Since 2000 knights’ tournaments have taken place here. By the way, our Castle hill is Belarus's second tallest peak after Mount Derzhinskaya. It is 323m above sea level
If you are a museumgoer Novogrudok is a must. There are 3 museums in Novogrudok: House-Museum of Adam Mickiewich, Museum of Local History and Museum of Jewish Resistance. You can also visit the Art Gallery “Homestead of an artist Kastus Kachan” the 1st private art gallery in Belarus.
If you are planning a religious pilgrimage, Novogrudok is worth seeing. Novogrudok is famous for its churches. For example, Transfiguration Church. It was here where King Jahajla married Sophia of Golshany and where Adam Mickiewicz was baptized. In Novogrudok there is even the Mosque the construction of which was completed in 1796 and which survived to the present day.
Novogrudok is indeed a very bright and memorable city, rich in historical and cultural entertainment. Once you come here, you will not want to go back home!
1) Are you proud of your town or village?
Sure, I am proud of my town because of its rich history, its landmarks and its friendly people.
2) What is your favourite place in your town or village?
It’s Novogrudok Castle. According to the legend, the castle was built in the XIII century by Prince Mindovg, who became the first Grand Duke of Lithuania. It was built in three stages from the 13th to the 16th centuries, had 7 towers, a palace, a castle church. The castle was destroyed in the wars of the middle of the XVIII century. Now it’s being restored
3) Which life do you prefer – town life or country life?
Well, between the two, living in a city brings people real convenience since there are various living facilities in the city, for example, people can easily get access to the shopping malls, medicine clinics, schools and entertaining; on the contrary, living in the countryside one can enjoy the fresh and quality air, life is less stressful and people are more relaxed, friendly and family-oriented, whereas people in the cities are just like ants
So I haven’t made up my mind yet. Probably, the suburbs are a clever way to get the best of both worlds.
Our life would be hard without rest and recreation. People have quite different ideas of how to spend their free time. For some of them the only way to relax is watching TV. But other people use their spare time getting maximum benefit from it. If you enjoy doing some activity in your free time, than you have a hobby. A person's hobbies depend on his age, intelligence level, character and personal interests. What is interesting to one person can be boring to another. That's why some people prefer reading, cooking, knitting, collecting, playing a musical instrument, painting, photography, fishkeeping or playing computer games while others prefer dancing, travelling, camping or sports.
If you have a hobby, your life becomes more interesting. A hobby plays a very important educational and psychological role, makes you stronger physically and mentally, helps you escape from reality, improve your knowledge, broaden your mind, develop your skills. So I think that everyone should have a hobby, it is like the target of your life.
1) Is it possible for a hobby to become a profession?
It is possible and it is ideal when your hobby becomes your career. However, hobbies that make money often require a lot of time and dedication. Turning your hobby into a business involves risk and hard work, but it's certainly an achievable goal
2) What hobbies are popular with your classmates?
My classmates are fond of playing different computer games. This is a relatively new hobby but it is becoming more and more popular. Some of my friends are fond of playing active games, so they join sport clubs
3) Can hobbies be dangerous?
Yes, some hobbies can be dangerous. The risk level of these hobbies is very high. Examples of high risky hobbies are bungee jumping, boxing, rock climbing, racing, etc.
When we are born, we get associated with our family by blood relation. We get love, care, attention and guidance from our family. However, our entire life does not revolve around our family members only. We tend to make friends outside our family boundaries as that makes all life activities enjoyable. That’s why friendship is important. For me friends are the best companions, and they help us in times of crisis. Friendship can enrich your life in many ways. Good friends teach you about yourself and challenge you to be better. They encourage you to keep going when times get tough and celebrate your successes with you. Having good friends is really important to your happiness.
1) Is it possible to have many true friends?
There’s no “right” number of friends you should have, but research says most people have between 3 and 5 close friends. Some people have higher social needs than others, which means they may want to have a greater number of friends. Those who value their alone time may need fewer friends, and that’s OK too.
2) Do you make friends easily?
I’m very picky when it comes to making friends. As a result I only have a handful of friends which are near and dear to me. I value honesty and loyalty. So if one possesses these traits I can easily make friends with him.
3) What makes people become friends?
Motivations for making friends include social support, mating, socializing, career advancement, common interests and attraction to some character traits.
Well, I am fond of reading books. In fact, I love to read all types of books such as …. As you ask me to talk about a book that produced a great impression on me so I would like to talk about ….
You should say:
· what the name of the book and its author
· how you first heard of the book
· what the main story of the book is
· and explain why it had a major influence on you.
1) Do you prefer e-books or paper books?
I prefer e-books. They are lightweight and easy to carry. You can carry thousands of books in a single device. The books are easy to access too. All you need is a good internet connection, and you can download any book you like within minutes
2) How do you choose the book you want to read?
Well, I look for:
· Some of my favourite authors in case there are some titles there I haven’t read yet
· Titles I’ve heard about, read reviews of, or that friends have mentioned to me
· Authors I want to read
· Catchy titles and book covers
3) Is it necessary to study classical literature at school?
“Lessons learned in the past shouldn't be forgotten.” Classic literature is important today, not only because it shows us where we came from, but also because it looks toward where we might go. Classical literature helps understand more complex ideas. It also assists in developing character.
In Belarus there are numerous national and religious public holidays. Among the most important national public holidays are Constitution Day (15th March), the Day of Unification of Belarus and Russia (2nd April), Victory Day (9th May), Independence Day (3rd July), the Day of the National Coat of Arms and the National Flag (on the second Sunday in May) and the Day of People’s Unity (17th September)
The 9th May is one of the most important national public holidays in Belarus. The day commemorates the victory of the Soviet Army over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War. A large military parade is held in Minsk on this occasion and reviewed by the president in person. This holiday is still of great significance for the national consciousness, as every third person lost his life during the Second World War. Another large parade takes place on 3rd July. On this day in 1944, the Belarusian capital was liberated from the German occupying forces: today this day is celebrated as Independence Day.
Christmas is celebrated twice in Belarus: the Catholic Christmas on 25th December and then the Orthodox Christmas on 7th January. New Year’s Eve is far more festive in our country than in Western Europe and the USA. Ded Moroz brings presents for Belarusian children on New Year’s Eve. He is traditionally accompanied by his granddaughter and a helper called Snegurochka. At midnight all the members of the family sit around the festively laid table, listen to the bells chiming, wish each other happiness and congratulate each other. This is the time of “Kaljady”, the name for the 12 days of Christmas, from 25th December to the 6th of January. Going from house to house, singing and performing, is a widespread tradition on Christmas Eve. Evil spirits and monsters are supposedly frightened away by cheerful songs, the so-called “Kaljadki”.
In Belarus many cultural festivals have survived. The best known is the summer solstice festival Kupalje or Ivan Kupala), which is celebrated on the night of 6th/7th July. There is the tradition of jumping over fire for inner cleansing. Another tradition is dancing round the fire and singing special Kupalje songs. Young women usually weave wreaths of flowers and blades of grass and let them float away on the rivers. If a young man manages to retrieve a wreath, then he is destined to marry that girl. One more belief is that a paparats-kvetka flowers in the Kupalje night and so people used to search for the magic ferns in the woods at night. According to pagan belief, anyone finding these flowers would have a long life and happiness.
What are the most popular Belarusian holidays and celebrations?
In Belarus there are numerous national and religious public holidays. Among the most important national public holidays are Constitution Day (15th March), the Day of Unification of Belarus and Russia (2nd April), Victory Day (9th May), Independence Day (3rd July), the Day of the National Coat of Arms and the National Flag (on the second Sunday in May) and the Day of People’s Unity (17th September)
Why do you think people must honour and keep old traditions?
Traditions Matter. Learning about your history and heritage can help you understand how you became who you are. it’s unfortunate to have a rich heritage and not know about it. Your heritage is not just something that you should know and understand, but it’s also something that should be shared with your children and grandchildren. Knowing your heritage can contribute to the building of character. By celebrating traditional events and participating in traditional activities, we help to ensure that our culture and language will continue to thrive for generations to come.
How is New Year celebrated in your family?
At midnight all the members of the family sit around the festively laid table, listen to the bells chiming, wish each other happiness, congratulate each other and give each other presents.
Every nation and every country has its own traditions and customs. In Britain traditions play a more important role in the life of people than in other countries. They say Britsh people are very conservative. They are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. But when we speak about British traditions we always remember that there are four parts in Britain – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Traditions are different in these parts of the country.
There are six public holidays a year in G.B. Christmas day is one of their favorite holidays. It's celebrated on the 25th of December. There are some traditions connected with it. One of them is to give presents to each other. It is not only children and members of family. It's a tradition to give Christmas presents to the people you work with. Another tradition is to send Christmas cards. All these cards are brightly and coloured. Many families celebrate Xmas day in the open air near the Xmas tree in order to catch the spirit of Xmas. A traditional Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey and potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet mince pies and Christmas pudding. On Christmas Eve children hang up their stockings around the fireplace for Father Christmas to fill with presents.
Other great holidays are: Father's day, Mother's day, Halloween, Easter, Guy Fawkes Night, Remembrance Day, etc. They are especially rich in old traditions and customs. At Easter chocolate eggs are given as presents symbolizing new life. Guy Fawkes Night is also known as Bonfire Night because English people burn stuffed figures on bonfires. On Remembrance Day red poppies are traditionally worn in memory of servicemen who lost their lives in wars.
1. Which British holidays (traditions) would you like to celebrate in your country?
I think our country is rich enough with its own holidays and traditions that are beautiful and unique. So I wouldn’t like any of British holidays to be celebrated in Belarus.
2. Which of the holidays do you like most?
I like all the public holidays, but I like New Year most. I like decorating the Christmas tree - I love the ornaments. Turning on the Christmas tree lights in the evening, and it’s especially beautiful if it’s snowing outside.
3. Do you know any British Christmas traditions?
There are some traditions connected with it. One of them is to give presents to each other. It is not only children and members of family. It's a tradition to give Christmas presents to the people you work with. Another tradition is to send Christmas cards. All these cards are brightly and coloured. Many families celebrate Xmas day in the open air near the Xmas tree in order to catch the spirit of Xmas. A traditional Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey and potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet mince pies and Christmas pudding. On Christmas Eve children hang up their stockings around the fireplace for Father Christmas to fill with presents.
In modern society, the most important thing that people depend on to survive is money. Money is needed for almost everything that we want. We need money to buy food, to have a place to live in, to go to school or to sit on the bus. There is an idiom which goes: “Money does not grow on trees”. It is used to warn us to spend money carefully as it is limited.
That’s why we need to have a budget. In a budget, we carefully plan our expenses according to priority. For example, the priority of a student should be his studies and not the ‘must haves’ like trendy clothes, expensive gadgets and so on. By working out a budget, we are able to spend our money on the right priorities. Indeed, working out a budget is the basic money management skill.
Saving is also important, especially for financial emergencies. We ought to ask ourselves whether this or that item we intend to buy is necessary or not. Through this deep consideration ,a large amount of money can be saved. We can also put the remainder of our daily allowance into a piggy bank, while bigger amounts of money can be deposited in banks.
Hence, the only way to earn a living is through work and diligence as money does not grow on trees. We need to work out a financial plan as the key to financial progress is to be careful when spending money. We ought to be smart when making purchases.
1) Do you take part in making your family budget?
Financial planning and deciding how the family's income should be spent is a part of parenting. I am not old enough to take part in it. My parents do it.
2) How much money do you usually have on you every day?
I usually have 2-3 rubles a day.
3) Do children need pocket money? What is the right amount of pocket money teenagers should get?
Giving pocket money to children helps them start learning about the value of money and money management. For example, when children get pocket money, they have to make choices about spending or saving. And if they’re saving, they’ll learn about waiting for things they want.
How much pocket money to give depends on: family budget, the age of a child – for example, a 7-year-old can be given 7 rubles per week and a 10-year-old 10 rubles per week and what you expect pocket money to pay for – for example, if you expect it to cover things like transport, lunches and savings, you should be given a little more.