My family means the world to me

My parents are the most important people in the world. You know, my parents and I are usually very busy during the weekdays and we seldom have a chance to spend time together. Sunday is the day when we can sit at a table and talk over the meal about everything that happened during the week. Eating together makes us feel close and we often have our most useful conversations at these times.

3. What will you ask your British friend about his/her family relationships?

- Can you say that parents are your best friends?

- Whom of your parents have you got a closer relationship with?

- Do you often spend your free time with your parents?

Belonging to a family is a very important thing for everybody in every country. Families give us a sense of belonging and a sense of tradition; families give us strength and purpose. Our families show us where we are. The things we need most deeply in our lives – love, communication, respect and good relationships – have their beginnings in the family.

Parents teach their children values – what they think is important. They teach their children daily skills, such as how to ride a bicycle. They also teach them common practices and customs, such as respect for elders and celebrating holidays. The most important job for a family is to give emotional support and security.

When people asked me “who is my best friend?” no doubt, my answer for that question is my mother. She is the one who look after me when I am sick. For example, when I feeling not well she always with me to ensure I am in a good condition. My mother and I also go shopping together. My mother is a good motivator. She always gives me advice when I have any problem. She comforts me as I am sad for having quarrel with others. She patient listens to me and tells me what I should do. My mother gives my family comfortable home. She is the one who always keeps our home clean and prepare any foods for our family.

My father is the best father in the world. In the childhood, my dad was a very smart boy. He knew everything. I’m a real child of my father.)) My dad tells me that I was a very naughty boy ( girl), but the best one in the whole world. My dad does not like cooking but if he cooks, it is wonderful. I love his barbecue and am looking forward to summer.

I would say, yes. But to my mind we haven’t got anything special or original in our family. All our family traditions are connected with some holidays. But apart from national holidays there are family holidays like birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. Birthdays are always a happy event in our family. On these days we usually have a party. Friends and relatives come with flowers and gifts and a festive dinner is served with plenty of delicious food to eat. Afterwards the guests either dance or sing, listen to music or just chat. But I should say that my favourite tradition is to celebrate the New Year. It’s a special holiday with its charm and surprises.

I often hear this term “generation gap”, but I hope it’s not about my family. To my mind misunderstanding may happen if people don’t respect each other. Of course different generations have different ideas and values, nevertheless children and parents love each other. So any problem can be discussed. It’s much easier to find the way out together.

1. Let’s talk about friendship and relationship with friends. How important is friendship for you?

Songs, poems and proverbs about friendship are common and can be found in all languages. It is so because friendship has a great value in our life. The best of friends totally love, support, trust each other and run – no questions asked – to help each other. I have a very good friend. His (her) name is ... Friends are very important in our life. I think one cannot live without friends. The most important thing for being good friends, to my mind, is to be ready to help one another in any situation, nevertheless how difficult it is, to support one another and to solve all the problems together. And never mind, that the friends may have different interests and hobbies, different likes and dislikes. They say that the friend in need is a friend indeed. I think it is really so.

My friend and I always do our best to help one another. We discuss all our troubles and try to find the best decision in any situation. My friend is a very good, kind and clever boy (girl). We often spend our free time together. It is not very easy now, because both of us are very busy — we are going to enter institutes and have a lot of work to do. My friend is going to become a doctor (a teacher, an engineer, a lawyer). Our future professions are different (the same) and the subjects we have to study are different (the same) too, but (and) we like to work together and to help one another in our study.

When we have some free time, we go for walks, read and discuss books, watch films, go to discos or play computer games. Playing computer games is our hobby. Both of us are fond of sport. We go in for swimming (tennis) and often go to the swimming pool (tennis court) together. We are football fans and we like to watch and discuss football matches on TV or to go to the stadium. I love my friend very much. I think he (she) is a true friend. Our friendship is very dear to me and I try to do my best to be a good friend too.

It’s true. You can tell a person by the company she keeps. Our friendships not only tell a lot about who we are — they make us who we are. A friendship is true when it brings out the best in you.

So my friendship is very important to me.

2. Is it easier to make friends when you are an adult or a child? Why?

It is easier to make friends when you are a child. Because children are usually easy-going, they have no prejudice like social position or the level of education. They have open mind and perceive the world as it is. Their hearts are open to new ideas and feelings. They don’t analyze too much they enjoy the life in its full variety. That’s why it’s easier to make friends when you are a child.

3. What questions can help you to understand if people are close friends or not?

I think best friends almost everything about each other. So I may ask questions like these:

- What is the best trait of character of your friend?

- How much free time do you spend together?

- What is your friend’s favourite book?

4.What can you advise a teenager who doesn’t want to go to school because of bullying?

I can advise him or her not to be afraid of discussing the problem with his/her teachers, parents and classmates.

5.Nowadays teenagers have got up to 300 friends in Contact. What do you think about it?

Our modern life with fast speed has made the world a lonely place. So many of us live and work surrounded by people, but it’s hard to find true friendship. Perhaps this is why the websites like “Facebook” and “Contacts” are so popular these days. They allow people to communicate and even become close without meeting up. But in reality it is not friendship. It’s just one of the ways of communication.

1. Let’s talk about education. What can you tell me about your school?

Education plays a very important role in our life. It is one of the most valuable possessions a man can get in his life. We get our knowledge of this world and life through education. Many famous discoveries would have been impossible if people were not interested in learning something. Education develops different sides of human personality, reveals his abilities. Besides, it helps a person to understand himself, to choose the right way in this world. So education brings people closer to each other, helps them to understand each other better.

My school is an old 4-storied building in the center of the town. Of course there is a lot to be improved. For example our canteen could be more pleasant in its design. Also I’d like to have a bigger gym with a lot of sport equipment.

Most of our classrooms are quite good, light and spacious. At school we work at many things like physical development, emotions, relationships, and which is the most important we get knowledge. Various subjects are studied at our school: History, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English, Belarusian, Russian, Literature, Geography, Astronomy, Drawing and Singing. So we have a great variety of things to choose for our future interest in our professional life. As for me I’m fond of … I work hard so as to gain necessary knowledge and to pass my future exams successfully.

Our school is also a place where children spend their free time. There are many amateur groups or circles and sport sections in my school. Special teachers help children to develop their creative abilities either in sport sections, a school choir or theatre, or to improve English after classes. Ecology and tourism are also very popular today.

Our school has some traditions. My favourite one is the celebration of the Pancake’s day. We started this tradition a few years ago and now our pupils are looking forward it every year. We cook pancakes, do different sport activities, dance and, of course, burn a scarecrow. Pancakes are believed to bring good luck. It’s really fun.

School is our second home. No one can ever forget it.

2. Do you agree that Belarusian secondary school provides a person with good knowledge? Why (not)?

Generally speaking, I should say that children have got good opportunities to get good knowledge. Scientific and intellectual potential is the main strategic resource of Belarus. The main principles of the educational system in Belarus are the priority of human values, national culture as the basis of education, humanism, sense of ecological purpose, scientific basis, support of gifted children and others.

• Did you like your school when you were a pupil?
• What was your favourite subject?
• Did you have classes on Saturday?
• How much time did it take you to do your homework?

I don’t think it’s a good idea to advice something. First of all, I’m not a professional person in the sphere of education. Secondly, it would be more reasonable to have some kind of experience of real British education.

5. Today some young people think that having a good education is not very important. Do you agree with them?

It all depends on many things. Those people who think that having a good education is not very important, have their own plans. Some girls want to be good mothers and have big families. Other people think that manual professions do not need good education. In this case they are mistaken. To my mind all professions need special education. Nowadays only highly qualified workers can deal with rather sophisticated equipment and computers.

1. Let’s talk about studying at school. What can you tell me about the place where you study?

Education plays a very important role in our life. It is one of the most valuable possessions a man can get in his life. We get our knowledge of this world and life through education. Many famous discoveries would have been impossible if people were not interested in learning something. Education develops different sides of human personality, reveals his abilities. Besides, it helps a person to understand himself, to choose the right way in this world. So education brings people closer to each other, helps them to understand each other better.

My school is an old 4-storied building in the center of the town. Of course there is a lot to be improved. For example our canteen could be more pleasant in its design. Also I’d like to have a bigger gym with a lot of sport equipment.

Most of our classrooms are quite good, light and spacious. At school we work at many things like physical development, emotions, relationships, and which is the most important we get knowledge. Various subjects are studied at our school: History, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English, Belarusian, Russian, Literature, Geography, Astronomy, Drawing and Singing. So we have a great variety of things to choose for our future interest in our professional life. As for me I’m fond of … I work hard so as to gain necessary knowledge and to pass my future exams successfully.

Our school is also a place where children spend their free time. There are many amateur groups or circles and sport sections in my school. Special teachers help children to develop their creative abilities either in sport sections, a school choir or theatre, or to improve English after classes. Ecology and tourism are also very popular today.

Our school has some traditions. My favourite one is the celebration of the Pancake’s day. We started this tradition a few years ago and now our pupils are looking forward it every year. We cook pancakes, do different sport activities, dance and, of course, burn a scarecrow. Pancakes are believed to bring good luck. It’s really fun.

School is our second home. No one can ever forget it.