Different topics

Some of these topics are interesting! We can try to discuss them with our pupils.

My hobby

Hobby is what a person likes to do in his spare time. Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting. The most popular hobby is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities from gardening to traveling, from chess to volleyball. Both grown-ups and children are fond of playing different computer games. This hobby is becoming more and more popular. Making things include drawing, painting, handicrafts. Many people collect something - coins, stamps, compact discs, toys, books. Some collections have some value. Rich people often collect paintings, rare things and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries.

As for me, I like to listen to music. 3 months ago my parents bought me a compact disc player and I decided to collect compact discs. I like different music, it should be good. I collect discs of my favourite groups and singers. I carefully study the information printed on disc booklets. I try to find everything about my favourite singers. Also I like to watch music programmes on TV. I want to keep up with the news in the world of music.

Of course, I like to spend my spare time with my friends. We talk about all sorts of things ( politics, teachers, girls). We discuss films, books, TV programmes. In fine weather we like to be in the open air. We find a nice place somewhere in the forest. We make a fire, bake potatoes and have a lot of fun. When the weather is bad, my friends come to my place. We have a good time together.

My favourite food

For some food is a source of pleasure, for others - a source of energy. For me food – is a pleasant source of energy. I think that pleasant food is healthy food. To my mind healthy food should be quite simple. I eat complicated dishes only in restaurants. My daily meals consist of the same dishes every day. First of all I would like to say that I do not eat animal meat at all. I prefer fish and other sea products. So in the morning I usually have some cottage cheese with kefir, then I have tea with two cheeseburgers. At dinner I have vegetable soup, a salad and fried fish. I do not have desserts, but only tea with lemon. For supper I have just a salad and then I eat fruit.

I love all kinds of milk products, especially kefir, cottage cheese and cheese. I prefer cheeses from Germany, France or Switzerland. As for sea products I love shrimps, salmon and trout. I like different kinds of salads, dressed with olive oil or sour cream. I also love all kinds of potato dishes. I usually drink down food with natural juices or kvass.

I prefer to have tea with bitter chocolate or home-made jams. As I do not change my daily dishes, I very seldom have stomach problems. Actually I think that the simpler food is, the better is its taste.

Well, of course, on weekends I want to try a new dish. If I have free time, I try to invent a new salad or find an interesting recipe. On weekends I let myself have good red dry wine. Well, many doctors say that red wine in reasonable quantities is very good for health.

I do not buy in shops ready or semi-manufactured food products, because this is unhealthy. It is better to spend some time cooking, than to have problems with overweight and heart.

Exotic animals

Dogs are fantastic animals. They love people more than people can love themselves. Dogs are the cleverest of all pets and most other animals. Dogs have absolutely human eyes in which you can read that they understand everything. There are few people who can be called loyal, but every dog is completely loyal to its master. I read and heard many sad stories when after losing a master dogs grieved so much, that stopped to take food and died. There exist lots of breeds of dogs, so that we can choose the one that suits us best. Personally I prefer to keep large dogs. I have two Irish wolfhounds. But I keep them in my country house, so my dogs have enough space to feel comfortable. That is very important to consider all the necessary conditions for dogs. For example, you should not buy a big dog if you leave in a small flat. And if you have a large flat, but do not have a suitable place near your house to walk your dog – also think then. Dogs should not feel uncomfortable only because we just want to keep them. So I love big dogs, but not without hair. Mostly mastiffs and dogs of fighting breeds have very short hair. I do not like such dogs. I see a lot of difference between «faces» of fighting dogs and other breeds. I cannot read anything in the eyes of fighting dogs, but read everything in the eyes of other dogs. But this is, of course, my personal opinion. I really do not understand people who keep dogs of so-called decorative breeds. Some of these dogs are smaller than cats. What is the point in keeping a dog that can hardly bark? Almost any of these dogs costs more, than a big one. I do not know why, but it is mostly lonely old people that keep decorative dogs.

I also like not pedigree dogs. And if you want a dog, but do not have enough money you can take a stray dog or a dog from a shelter. These dogs can be even cleverer and more understanding than pedigree dogs. When you leave alone and have a cat you may still feel lonely, because cats always exist by themselves. But you will never feel lonely when you have dog, because dogs have a man's soul.

There are numerous cases when dogs saved their masters and their families from various disasters. I think dogs are not just animals, they are real angels. And besides I would not call such a clever and understanding living being a «pet».

The person that I admire

I think that for every person it is quiet useful to admire someone. But I do not mean when you like the way someone is dressed or looks. Actually I think that it is important to preserve one’s personality in everything. I mean that it is very good to look up to someone who possesses some positive qualities or has done something good and worthy. To my mind young people especially need such heroes. Mostly people find idols in such spheres as music and cinema. Why do we need such examples in life? Generally speaking we need such idols to achieve something this person has already achieved. The most difficult thing here is to see in your idol not only good points, but also bad ones. Well, some people deliberately search for bad sides and admire them. For example, Jim Morrison died many years ago but still remains one of the most popular rock stars in the world. It is no secret that he was a drug addict and liked alcohol. All these «hobbies» influenced his life (and death) greatly. And even now most of his fans think that drugs and alcohol help them to be closer to their "god". Maybe they just see no evil in all this.

The other problem is that very often people do not understand that celebrities have private and public lives. It is important to remember that public life for celebrities is an essential part of their profession. And lots of the things they say or do are just a part of their images. If you really want to learn something good from your idol, then you need to seek information of non-public kind in reliable sources. Maybe you will find out something good for what you can really respect this person.

To my mind it is better to admire not someone’s appearance or popularity, but someone’s professionalism. There are lots of examples when people become very good actors, musicians, sportsmen, engineers…etc., only because their idols were professionals. It is great when your admiration for someone helps find one’s way in life.

Music in our life

Can you think of a day without music? We can hear music everywhere: in the streets and at home, over the radio and on TV, in the shops and in the parks. People all over the world are fond of music. They listen to music, they dance to music, they learn to play musical instruments.

But what is music? Specialists explain that music isn't only a combination of pleasant sounds. It is an art which reflects life. There are a lot of different kinds of music. Some of them appeared long ago, and some are modern. For example, folk music appeared long ago, but it is still alive. There are many local performers, choirs and folk groups in Russia; but perhaps the most famous singer is Nadezhda Babkina. Folk songs are very tuneful and pleasant to listen to. Classical music is often associated with the music of the past. However, this style also includes music being written now, and we may speak of modern classical music. Rap is a modern musical style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music with a steady beat. Such groups as Public Enemy or House of Pain are leaders in this style.

Great Britain has produced more popular music stars than any other country. Over the last 30 years rock and pop music have been very popular in Britain. The Beatles, with their style of singing, eloquent and exciting, is still one of the most popular groups. British groups often set new trends in music. New styles, groups and singers continue to appear. Some of the more recent pop groups are Dire Straits, Eurhythmics and Spice Girls. Many of the new bands have been able to use the changes in technology to develop their music. Computerized drum machines, synthesizers and other electronic instruments are now just as popular as the piano and electric guitars.

Tastes differ. So people's musical interests range from pop and rock music, which are extremely popular nowadays, especially among young people, to classical music and opera.

My favourite style of music is pop music, because it is breathtaking and full of energy. When I listen to pop music it makes me remember happy times and forget the problems of everyday life. It helps me to relax when I'm tired, and entertains me when I'd like to have fun. My favourite group is Abba. It was formed in 1973 in Sweden. Abba's cheerful tunes made them international pop stars and one of the most successful groups of the seventies. Their most famous songs ("Waterloo", "Money, Money, Money", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", etc.) often topped European charts. Though the group doesn't exist any more, it is still popular with people of all ages. I can't but admire their style of singing. I find it fascinating and overwhelming. When I have free time I listen to their records. I also like having background music while I am working.

I don't mind listening to dance music, especially when I go to disco clubs. This style of music is catchy and I like catchy tunes. It makes me more energetic.

It's a pity that many young people like to listen only to modern music. As for me, I also enjoy listening to classical music. I find it tuneful and appealing. Classical music is always a complex of emotions. It gives me delight, pleasure and a sense of happiness. Some pieces of classical music are really wonderful. Not long ago I listened to the First Piano Concerto, composed by Tchaikovsky. The power of his music captivated me. The impression was overwhelming.

The music I hate is heavy metal. I find it noisy and dreadful. When I listen to this style of music it presents to my mind pictures of dark days. Though some young people are fond of this style of music, it is not to everyone's taste. To my mind, music too loud can destroy our ears. I am indifferent to other styles of music. For example, I don't mind listening to jazz. Improvisation is an important part of this style, that's why a jazz song may sound a little different each time it is played. I think that jazz is a mixture of many different kinds of music, but I consider it a bit complicated.

My mother and father approve of my tastes in music. Though they prefer to listen to classical and "bard music", they think that, on the whole, modern music is not too bad. My parents agree that each generation has its own tastes.

It goes without saying that music plays a very important role in people's lives. It reflects our moods and emotions. Music appeals to our hearts and transforms our feelings. It conquers our souls and enriches our minds. Besides, listening to music is the perfect way to spend free time and not to feel bored. You can hardly find a person who doesn't like or need music and who never sings or dances. Music is beauty in sounds; it is our magic source of inspiration.

London

London is situated upon both banks of the river Thames.

Its population is over 7 million people.

London consists of 3 parts: the City of London, the West End and the East End.

The City occupies an area of about 2.6 square kilometers in the heart of London.

About half a million people work in the City. It is the financial centre of Britain. You can find plenty of banks, offices and the Stock Exchange there.

There are some ancient and famous buildings within the City, such as St Paul's Cathedral, Wren's masterpiece, and the Tower of London which was built nine centuries ago and used as a royal palace, a fortress, and a political prison. Now it is a museum.

The West End can be called the centre of London. Here are the historical palaces as well as famous parks, such as Hyde park with its Speaker's Corner.

In the West End there is the Queen's residence, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster (it is the seat of Parliament).

The name "West End" has the associations with wealth, luxury and goods of high quality.

There are more than 40 theatres, concert halls, and many museums, such as the British museum and the best art galleries.

Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was so named to commemorate Admiral Nelson's victory at the battle of Trafalgar.

The University of London is situated here.

The East of the city is the port of London.

It is great industrial area that depends upon shipping.

London is now surrounded by a belt of agricultural and wooded land.

London is the capital of the UK

Once London was a small Roman town of the north bank of the Thames. Slowly it grew into one of the world's major cities. London is the capital of the United Kingdom, its economic, political and cultural center. It is one of the world's most important ports and one of the largest cities in the world. London with its suburbs has a population of about 11 million people.

London has been a capital for nearly a thousand years. Many of its ancient buildings still stand. The most famous of them are the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral. Most visitors also want to see the Houses of Parliament and the many magnificent museums.

The Different areas of London can seem like different cities. The West End is a rich man's world of shops, offices and theatres. The City of London is the district where most offices and banks are concentrated; the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England are here, too. The East End is a district where mostly working people live. The old port area is now called "Docklands". There are now new office buildings in Docklands, and thousands of new flats and houses.

By day, the whole of London is busy. At night, offices are quiet and empty, but the West End stays alive, because this is where Londoners come to enjoy themselves. There are two opera houses here, several concert halls and many theatres, as well as cinemas. In nearby Soho the pubs and restaurants and nightclubs are busy half the night

Customs and traditions of English speaking countries

Every country and every nation has it's own traditions and customs. It's very important to know traditions and customs of different people. It will help you to know more about the history and life of different nations and countries. One cannot speak about England without speaking about its traditions and customs. They are very important in the life of English people. Englishman are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. There are six public holidays a year in Great Britain; 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 bright and colorful. Most of big cities of Great Britain, especially London, are decorated with colored lights and Christmas trees. On Trafalgar Square, in the center of London, stands a big Christmas tree. It is a gift from the people of Oslo. It is over 50 feet high. Many families celebrate Christmas day in the open air near the Christmas tree in order to catch the spirit of Christmas. Children find Christmas presents in their stockings. The traditional English dinner on Christmas is turkey and pudding. Other great holidays are: Father's day, Mother's day, Halloween and others.

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as a window to Europe.

Thousands of workmen were brought there from all parts of Russia to build a new city on the swampy land at the mouth of the Neva River. Peter the Great was in a hurry. The work was fast and hard, and workmen dropped dead by the hundreds. But the work went on.

In 1712 Saint Petersburg, a city of great beauty, with palaces, cathedrals, churches, and government buildings became Russia's capital. Under later rulers the new capital of the Russian Empire grew rapidly in wealth and beauty. Architects were brought from Western Europe to lay out the city in harmonious squares. Buildings were constructed in gray and rose-colored granite. The Hermitage and the Winter Palace, the homes of the Russian czars, were equal to any in Europe.

When the First World War began in 1914, the German-sounding name Saint Petersburg was changed to Petrograd. After the October Revolution of 1917 the city was renamed Leningrad, after Vladimir Lenin.

During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the city suffered a great deal. The German armies laid siege to it on September 8, 1941, and for the next 900 days until January 27, 1944, or for nearly two and a half years, Leningrad was cut off from the rest of the country, including access to food. Daily shelling and air raids destroyed many parts of the city, killing thousands of people. Moreover, due to the Leningrad Blockade imposed by the Germans, starvation affected every person and family, as no food was allowed into the city. Bread was strictly rationed, and each person was allotted only 125 grams of bread per day. Rebuilding took years.

Presently, Saint Petersburg is an important industrial, cultural, and educational center. It is also a large transport center. The first railroad line connected Saint Petersburg with Tsarskoye Selo. Then the famous Nicholas Railroad line from Saint Petersburg to Moscow was constructed. Now there are five railroad stations, two airports, a seaport, two bus terminals, a sea passenger terminal, and a river passenger terminal.

The population of the city grew fast over the years. At the beginning of the 20th century it was about one million. Before the war, by 1941, the population increased to 2 million people. During the 1970's, there were 4 million inhabitants, and today St. Petersburg has a population of nearly 6 million people.

Diversity is one of the main features of Saint Petersburg. A lot of geographical names in the city are russified Finnish, and some are just translations from the Finnish language, for example: the Neva River, the Moika, the Karpovka, Okhta, Ulyanka, Ligovsky Prospect, Kalinkin Bridge, Zayachy Island and many others. Saint Petersburg now, as in the past, is the city of many nations and religions. Some of the streets still keep the names of original ethnic communities, for instance: Italianskaya Street, Grechesky Prospect, Shvedsky Pereulok, Angliysky Prospect and Anliyskaya Embankment, and others.

In the city there are a lot of churches and temples representing different religious groups: Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran Churches, Muslim Mosques, Synagogues and a Buddhist Temple as well.

Saint Petersburg is a wonderful city: at every turn there is something to catch your eye. There are spacious squares and circles and the streets are wide and straight. Palace Square, Senate Square, St. Isaac`s Square, Trinity Square and Arts Square are all historical places, shaped with famous buildings and trimmed with magnificent monuments. Alexander Column, the highest structure of this kind in the world, stands on Palace Square. Peter the Great Monument, better known as the Bronze Horseman, is on Senate Square. Nicholas 1 Monument, which is considered a masterpiece of engineering art, stands on St. Isaac`s Square. Pushkin Monument is in the center of Arts Square. The Field of Mars, with an area of twelve hectares, is the biggest square in Saint Petersburg. The main street of the city is Nevsky Prospect. It runs from the Admiralty to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery and lines famous buildings, luxurious hotels and fashionable stores. Sadovaya Street got its name from a lot of gardens once facing the street. Moskovsky Prospect is the longest street in the city and Architect Rossy Street is the shortest one. It was in Saint Petersburg that the tradition to number streets appeared. One still can find 5th Line or 27th Line on Vasilyevsky Island. Line is one side of the street. The city is called Northern Venice because there are 65 rivers, tributaries and canals with artistically decorated bridges.

Eight bridges across the Neva River open every night in summer together with the unset sun and magnificent buildings, forming a picturesque view. At the four ends of the Anichkov Bridge over the Fontanka River along Nevsky Prospect are four sculptural groups comprising the world-famous composition The Taming of a Horse.

The longest bridge is Alexander Nevsky Bridge across the Neva River. Siny Bridge over the Moika River is the widest and completes the ensemble of St. Isaac`s Square. There are lots of museums and churches in the city. The Kunstkammer, the first Russian museum, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Smolny Cathedral, the Russian Museum, St. Isaac's Cathedral and Savior-on-the-Spilt-Blood Cathedral, the Admiralty and the Winter Palace, and many others, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world. Saint Petersburg's many museums house some of the world's most famous art collections. The Hermitage, for example, contains the richest collection of pictures and pieces of applied art in the world.

There are lots of theaters to suit all tastes. One can hear an opera or watch a ballet at the Mariinsky Theater or the Maly Opera House. Theatergoers can enjoy dramatic art at the Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater or at the Alexandrinsky Theater. Chamber and symphony music can be enjoyed at the Shostakovich Philharmonic Society. And, finally, those who prefer pop singers and rock stars can visit their shows at concert halls or sport palaces like the SKK or the Ledovy Palace. Two circuses are available for entertainment as well.

Saint Petersburg is also famous for its legendary White Nights. Different festivals take place at this time. It has also been a tradition for graduates of all kinds to celebrate their graduation and party 'till dawn in the night city. People all over the world know that in the far north of Russia, the city of Saint Petersburg, Russia's northern capital, dwells in magnificence and eternal beauty. Many who visit Saint Petersburg, fall in love with it, and return again and again!