Give me some advice on how to create a positive impression on the employer at a job interview

First of all you should think about your appearance. In this situation it will help you to make a first positive impression. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, consult a specialist. Then you will have to think over your first introduction of yourself. It shouldn’t be too long or too short.

You should make an impression of a self-confident but at the same time considerate person.

5. Some people think that it is necessary to have computer skills to get a good job. Do you agree with this?

I absolutely agree with this. Nowadays you can come across computers in any sphere of our life. A modern person should keep pace with time and progress. That’s why it is so important to have computer skills to get a good job.

1. Let’s talk about life in the city and in the country. Tell me about the house / flat you would like to live in.

A house is one of the basic necessities of our life. We all need a house to live in. A good house protects us against the adversities of weather such as heat, cold and rain. Houses are made up of different materials. They are of various kinds and types. Some houses are big while others are small. The poor live in huts while the rich construct multi- storied buildings. The main types of houses are: detached, semi-detached, terrace and flats (apartments). Some people live in the country and some in the city. And it is the eternal question: where is it better to live? What to choose: house of flat?

Nowadays majority of people prefer living in a city. However, both city living and country living have their benefits.

Those who like living in the city believe that it has a large number of advantages. First, the big variety for spending free time. For instance people can visit various museums, cinemas, and libraries. Second, there are a lot of working places in the city. Third, you can buy whatever you need if you live in a city.

Other people, who live in countries, think that there are more advantages of living in villages than in cities. First, it is easy to get from one place to another. Second, people, living in a village, feel themselves in safety. Third, people, living in a village are more friendly. And the main benefit is fresh air.

As for me, I'd like to live in a detached house in one of the suburbs of our city. I hope that there will be a forest and a lake near my house. A beautiful garden with apple and cherry trees will surround my place.

The ground floor consists of the kitchen, the living room and the study. The kitchen is cosy with all modern conveniences. We have running cold and hot water, a fridge, gas and microwave cookers, a dishwasher. These devices help to save our time. The kitchen is done in folk style. It's nice when our family gets together in the evenings and shares the news.

The living room is spacious with big windows. I don't want to have much furniture in it, just a sofa, a low table, chairs and a big plasma-TV on the wall.

On the first floor there are two bedrooms. I’d like to have a fireplace in one of them. The colours of the walls are not bright. Everything promises you a restful sleep. I believe by the time this dream comes true.

2. Do you like the place where you are living now?

I think so… Gomel is one of the most beautiful towns in our country. It’s clean and green. I live in the centre of the town. Shops, cinemas, clubs are not far from my house.

 

3. Your family is going to move. What questions will you ask your parents about a new flat/house?

- How many rooms are there in this house/flat?

- What district is it situated?

- Is the school far from the house?

4. Your relative wants to decorate his/her flat. Give him/her some advice on how to furnish it.

The flat should be light and spacious with big windows. I don't advise to have much furniture in it, just a sofa, a low table, chairs and a big plasma-TV on the wall.

5. They say that living in the country is better than living in a city. What do you think about this?

In my opinion, I think life in the city is better than life in the country side. Because I'm still young person, I'm active, so I want to live in an active environment to improve myself. Take the case of the city first. There are many educational, medical, and transport facilities. But each has got its own advantage as well as disadvantage. In the city, everyone is a slave to the clock. And every one has to live in polluted environment. The opposite of city, the country side is less crowded and there is more breathing space.

 

  1. Let’s talk about different types of houses. Tell me about your dream house.

A house is one of the basic necessities of our life. We all need a house to live in. A good house protects us against the adversities of weather such as heat, cold and rain. Houses are made up of different materials. They are of various kinds and types. Some houses are big while others are small. The poor live in huts while the rich construct multi- storied buildings. The main types of houses are: detached, semi-detached, terrace and flats (apartments). Some people live in the country and some in the city. And it is the eternal question: where is it better to live? What to choose: house of flat?

Nowadays majority of people prefer living in a city. However, both city living and country living have their benefits.

Those who like living in the city believe that it has a large number of advantages. First, the big variety for spending free time. For instance people can visit various museums, cinemas, and libraries. Second, there are a lot of working places in the city. Third, you can buy whatever you need if you live in a city.

Other people, who live in countries, think that there are more advantages of living in villages than in cities. First, it is easy to get from one place to another. Second, people, living in a village, feel themselves in safety. Third, people, living in a village are more friendly. And the main benefit is fresh air.

As for me, I'd like to live in a detached house in one of the suburbs of our city. I hope that there will be a forest and a lake near my house. A beautiful garden with apple and cherry trees will surround my place.

The ground floor consists of the kitchen, the living room and the study. The kitchen is cosy with all modern conveniences. We have running cold and hot water, a fridge, gas and microwave cookers, a dishwasher. These devices help to save our time. The kitchen is done in folk style. It's nice when our family gets together in the evenings and shares the news.

The living room is spacious with big windows. I don't want to have much furniture in it, just a sofa, a low table, chairs and a big plasma-TV on the wall.

On the first floor there are two bedrooms. I’d like to have a fireplace in one of them. The colours of the walls are not bright. Everything promises you a restful sleep. I believe by the time this dream comes true.

  1. Do you find your city/town/village a comfortable place for living?

I think so… Gomel is one of the most beautiful towns in our country. It’s clean and green. I live in the centre of the town. Shops, cinemas, clubs are not far from my house.

  1. What questions will you ask your friend who is going to move about his/her new home?

- How many rooms are there in this house/flat?

- What district is it situated?

- Is the school far from the house?

  1. If your parents ask for your opinion where to move: to the city or to the country, what would you recommend them to do?

In my opinion, I think life in the city is better than life in the country side. Because I'm still young person, I'm active, so I want to live in an active environment to improve myself

  1. What type of house would you prefer to live in? Why?

As for me, I'd like to live in a detached house in one of the suburbs of our city. I’ll have a nice garden and fresh air and an active environment around. Is it a nice idea?

1. Let’s talk about Belarusian national cuisine. What can you tell me about eating habits in your family?

Everybody knows we are what we eat. It is very important to include various products into your menu, such as dairy products, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, eggs to ensure your body gets all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Usually people call it a healthy well balanced diet. You can improve your diet by eating smaller portions, especially at night.

Not long ago I came across one more interesting fact about food: the food you eat can effect on your feeling. For example, chocolate can lift your spirits and make you feel happier. The high fiber food can make people feel positive, energetic and think quicker.

Our family has some eating habits. My mother is a wonderful cook and her dinners are always delicious and various. To begin with we usually have some salad – tomato and cucumber salad or mixed salad. For the first course we have some soup – noodle, mushroom or cabbage soup, or maybe some fish soup for a change. For the main course we have meat, chicken or fish dishes, for example, steak or fried fish, spaghetti or potatoes (boiled or fried). We also have a lot of vegetables – green peas, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers. I prefer meat to fish but my mother makes me eat fish from time to time. She says it’s good for my brains. For dessert we have some fruit, fruit juice or a cup of tea with a slice of cake. Sometimes we have parties of national cuisines. My mum likes Italian food. But my favourite is Belarusian. I love “babka” or ‘granny” (it’s baked grated potato pie). Not very often we may eat out. But it usually happens for special occasions.

2. Do you like cooking? Why (not)?

Maybe yes. But it doesn’t happen very often because I’m very busy now. If I have a chance to spend time cooking I prefer to cook some special and tasty things: pizza, pancakes, biscuits and what not.

3. What questions will you ask a friend who has invited you to a pot-luck party (вечеринка в складчину)?

I have never been to a potluck party. Of course I will have to find out some things beforehand:

- What is the theme of your potluck party?

- How many people have you invited to the party?

- Are you going to make a list of dishes?

 

4. Which national dishes can you recommend a tourist to taste in Belarus?

Belarusian cuisine consists of mostly of vegetables, meat and bread.. Traditional cooking methods are usually either slowly cooked or stewed food.

But the most popular Belarusian dish is draniki (thick potato pancakes) with machanka (pork stew). Kvass is a type of soft drink that is made from brown bread. Kvass can also be combined with sliced vegetables to create a cold soup called okroshka.

I think all these dishes will be rather tasty and unusual for a tourist.

5. Scientists say that fast food is unhealthy but teenagers can’t stop eating it. What do you think about it?

Fast food is not the best thing for your health. Teenagers should know that people who prefer burgers and chips, crisps and hot dogs tend to become overweight. This type of fat is associated with a greater risk of cancer. The best advice for those who cannot live without hamburgers and chocolate bars, is to limit the amount of fast food they eat.

1. Let’s talk about national cuisine of an English-speaking country. What do people eat in Britain?

Some people criticize English food. They say it’s unimaginable, boring, tasteless. If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say “Fish and chips” or a Sunday dinner of meat and two vegetables and then stop. Cynics will say that English have no “cuisine” themselves, but this is not quite the true.

A typical full English breakfast is a very big meal, sausages, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms and of course toast. But nowadays many people don’t have time to eat all this and just have toast, or sometimes fruit and yoghurt. The typical breakfast drink is tea, which people have with cold milk. Some people have coffee made with just hot water. Many visitors to Britain think this coffee is horrible! For many people lunch is a quick meal. In cities there are a lot of sandwich bars, where office workers can choose the kind of bread they want, either brown or white, and then all sorts of salad and meat or fish to go in the sandwich. Pubs often serve good, cheap food, both hot and cold. School children can have a hot meal at school, but many just take a snack from home, a sandwich, a drink, some fruit, and perhaps some crisps. People eat their evening meal quite early, often at about six o’clock. A typical dinner is meat and vegetables, especially on Sundays, when all the family eat together.

Everyone knows that tea is the most popular drink in Britain. It’s even more popular than coffee. Tea in Britain is brewed in a teapot. Then one spoonful of tea per person and one for the pot is added. Most people in Britain prefer a rich, strong cup of tea with milk and sugar added to taste. Roast beef with Yorkshire Pudding and Plum Pudding are important contributions to international cuisine. Other popular dishes include Cornish Pasties and Beefsteak and Kidney Pie. The English developed a line of spicy sauces including ketchup, mint sauce.

You may already have several ideas about typical British food, but the most popular dish in England at the moment is… curry!

 

2. Do you know many recipes?

Not many, but I have some… I can share. Peel the potatoes, grate them, and add some eggs, salt and flour. Fry small potatoes pancakes.

3. What questions can you ask a waiter when you are ordering a meal in a cafe?

- What fish courses have you today?

- What can you recommend for the first course?

- How much is the bill?

4. My friend wants to know more about national cuisines. Which national dishes would you recommend him to taste?

The most popular Belarusian dish is draniki (thick potato pancakes) with machanka (pork stew). Kvass is a type of soft drink that is made from brown bread. Kvass can also be combined with sliced vegetables to create a cold soup called okroshka.

I think all these dishes will be rather tasty and unusual for a him.

5. A lot of pupils refuse to have meals at school. What do you think about it?

 

We spend a lot of time at school. So it’s necessary to have a snack at midday just to keep you going on. That’s why we have to go to a school canteen to have lunch. Our school canteen leaves much to be desired. Nevertheless sometimes you may choose something to your taste.

  1. Let’s talk about shopping and money. What do you know about the history of money?

Money doesn’t buy happiness but it helps. Money has become one of the main things in our modern life. Some people live their lives to earn money. They work hard, trying to earn as much money as they can. Some of them become crazy about it and lose their dignity hunting money. They don’t appreciate such important things as family, friendship, love and other feelings. Such people become greedy, they spend their lives in loneliness. Money has a long history. The earliest form of money walked on four legs. From 9,000 BC - until 6,000 BC, people used cattle and food for barter. The first consistent form of money was used by the Chinese about 3,200 years ago. Seashells were used for trade. Then metal and leather coins appeared in China. People were also using different types of currency. It’s doesn’t matter what form it has. The majority of all the crimes are made because of money.

I’m among the people who consider that money is not all-powerful. Love, kindness, real friendship, a caring family and other good qualities of a person can’t be bought for money. But life isn’t worth living without these things. But we can’t live without money too.

Firstly, shopping is necessity thing in our life. Because we need something: food, clothes, shoes, and something... I enjoy my time shopping because I like to renew my wardrobe and update my style. Sometimes shopping can be time when you feel relax, and sometimes you feel angry.

Of course my parents allow me to spend money on what I want. For example the money I can spend for clothes, for cosmetics or party. My parents give me the freedom to use the money, to understand that if I spend all the money today, tomorrow I cannot buy anything.

Nonetheless everyone wants to be richer and happier. My family probably would be happier if we would be very wealthy. But money is not important and now we are living well.

 

  1. Do you like shopping? Why (not)?

I enjoy my time shopping because I like to renew my wardrobe and update my style. Sometimes shopping can be time when you feel relax, and sometimes you feel angry.

  1. What questions will you ask a shop assistant to help you to choose a purchase?

· Will this colour suit me?

· Have you a suit to fit me?

· What have you got of the latest designs?

  1. What can you advise a person who wants to buy many things (clothes, foodstuffs, etc.) but has little time?

I can advise him or her to visit a supermarket where he/she can find everything from a pin to an elephant.

  1. Parents usually give pocket money to their children. How do you usually spend your pocket money?

My parents allow me to spend money on what I want. For example the money I can spend for clothes, for cosmetics or party. My parents give me the freedom to use the money, to understand that if I spend all the money today, tomorrow I cannot buy anything.

  1. Let’s talk about your leisure time. What are you doing in your free time?

A hundred years ago there was no problem of what working people could do with their spare time. Their hours of work were so long that they had hardly any leisure. Nowadays it's even hard to name all the activities, entertainments and hobbies run by people in their free time. Many people have hobbies. They make our life more interesting. A hobby is what people like to do when they have free time. Everyone chooses a hobby according to his character and taste. A growing number of people prefer watching films, performances, sporting events on TV to attending them. Some people have animals as hobbies. They keep rabbits or go fishing. They train dogs to do tricks and carry messages. Some are crazy about plants. They try to grow rare tropical flowers in their kitchens and sitting rooms. Others are mad about their cars or their motorbikes. They spend their Saturdays and Sundays washing them, painting them or buying new bits and pieces to make them go even faster. Children and teenagers are great collectors. They collect stamps or postcards or pictures of a favorite football or pop star. Many people make things as a hobby.

I have several hobbies which occupy me after school, both in and out of the house. Sometimes I wonder how I fit them all into my schedule because I have a lot homework. Every day I have not much time to relax. Computer is one of my main hobbies and interests. Every dayd I spend a lot of time in World Wide Web. I use Internet for educations, for watching films and chatting with my friend. And of course I am playing computer games. Both grown-ups and children are fond of it now. It has become one of the most popular hobbies nowadays. I think that playing with a computer is very interesting. It is not only "wasting time" as some people say.

Computer games make us to think things over properly, they widen and develop our mind and imagination. I have a good collection of different games and when I have some free time I play them with great pleasure. My favourite game is... Some of my friends have the same hobby and we like to play together.

  1. Do you find it is useful to read books? Why (not)?

( I'd like to say that it's hard to imagine our life without books. Books play such a great role in the development of personality. They help as to forget our daily problems and to pretend we travel to the past, future and to many different, wonderful places that we can’t visit in reality. I am also sure that books are our good friends and teachers.)

  1. What questions can you ask a British friend about his/her hobby?

What hobby have you got? How long have you had this hobby? Where did you know about this activity?

  1. Give some advice on what book to buy for my teenage neighbor.

(Paulo Coelho’s THE ALCHEMIST is a book that changes the lives of its readers forever. It’s a novel about the wisdom of listening to our hearts and following our dreams. To have a dream and to follow it are necessary things in our lives.)

  1. Many parents think that children should spend less time playing computer games, that they should play outside or do some sport instead. What do you think about it?

(Computer games make us to think things over properly, they widen and develop our mind and imagination. But they ruin our bodies. We need to do sport to be fit, strong and be in a good mood.)

1. Now let’s talk about Belarusian customs and traditions. What can you tell us about your favourite holiday in Belarus?

Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions.

Like other countries Belarus has its own holidays. They are of two kinds – traditional national holidays and religious holidays. National holidays are both – a public celebration and a personal event in the family. The New Year day is one of them. It is a popular public holiday, which is widely celebrated in every family. It’s my favorite holiday too. Long before the New Year Eve people begin to buy New Year cards, toys and presents. In the shop windows you can see Father Frost with Snow Maiden on a sleigh full of presents. Most families see the New Year in at home. There’s usually a fur tree in the house decorated with toys and lights. A lot of delicious food is cooked for the night meal, which usually starts at 10 o’clock. A goose stuffed with apples is a traditional New Year dish.

The 8th of March is another national holiday when people show their love and respect for their mothers, grandmothers, sisters and girl-friends. It’s a tradition to present them with flowers and gifts.

There are two national holidays in May. The 1st of May is the holiday of labor and spring.

Then comes the Victory Day on the 9th of May. This day marks the victory of the Soviet people over the German fascism in the Great Patriotic War.

In Belarus people widely celebrate such popular Christian holidays as Christmas and Easter.

One of the most important events in Belarusian culture is Kupalle – a holiday of nature with its roots deep in ancient times. Kupalle is the most loved and celebrated pagan holiday in Belarus. Kupalle is celebrated in the night from the 6th of July to the 7th of July. In ancient times young girls used to collect plants and herbs. It was believed that the plants gathered at that time had special magic and strength and could protect people and their homes from illnesses and evil spirits. The central part of Kupalle celebration was a fire, which symbolized life. People dance karagods, and look for a “paparats kvetka”. The celebration goes through the whole night. Every year I take part in its celebration.

Certainly people are fond of holidays as they bring fun and excitement in every day’s life.

2. Would you like to take part in a British holiday celebration? Why?

If I had such a chance it would be Christmas.

Christmas is the main public holiday in Britain. It is celebrated on the 25th 0f December. Christmas is a Christian festival to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. This holiday is celebrated together with family, relatives and friends who share the much loved customs and traditions which have been around for centuries.

 

3. What questions can you ask a British teenager about his/her birthday celebration?

Birthdays are always happy events for all children and teens. And of course it’s interesting to know about these celebrations in Britain. So the questions may be:

· Where do you like to celebrate your birthday party?

· Do you prefer to invite your friends and relatives together?

· What presents do you usually get for your birthday?

4. Which holiday celebration in Belarus will you recommend your British friend?

When people come from other countries they usually look for something special and traditional in this country. So I think it would be a good idea to recommend them to take part in Kalyady celebrations in winter and Kupalle celebrations – in summer.

5. Do you think it is important to follow our grandparents’ traditions? Why?

(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 and history. If we lose our past, we’ll lose our future.)

 

1. Now let’s talk about customs and traditions of an English-speaking coutries. What can you tell us about your favourite holiday in Britain?

Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Britain traditions play an important part in the life of people.

Though there are only six public holidays a year in Great Britain, the days on which people need not go to work. They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Spring Bank Holiday and Late Summer Bank Holiday. In Scotland, the New Year’s Day is also a public holiday. Most of these holidays are of religious origin.

Besides public holidays, there are other holidays, anniversaries and simply days off, for example Pancake Day and Bonfire Night, on which certain traditions are observed, but unless they fall on a Sunday, they are ordinary working days.

Every year on the 5th of November Bonfire night is celebrated all over the UK. It goes back to the discovery of the so-called Gunpowder Plot. The event is associated with fireworks and burning “guys” on bonfires.

Traditionally, 41 days before Easter Sunday is a special day for Christians, called Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday. It is the day before Lent starts. On Pancake Day people used to celebrate the last day before Easter when they could eat what they wanted. All over England there were pancake races on or near Shrove Tuesday. The tradition is still around today. The rules of pancake races are different in different places, but each participant, usually a woman, has to wear an apron and a hat or a scarf.

Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Guy Fawkes Night, St. Valentines Day, etc. Christmas is more important for Englishmen than any other holiday. English people decorate Christmas trees and their houses with flashing lights, glass balls, bake puddings and traditional Christmas Turkey. Children wait for the presents from Santa Claus, who lives in the North pole and makes toys for children. On Christmas he visits the homes of good children and lives them presents in their socks. Another colorful holiday is Halloween. It is celebrated for hundreds of years. On this day children dress in funny costumes and knock at the neighbor's doors. After shouting «Trick or treat» they get gifts of candy or money.

Certainly people are fond of holidays as they bring fun and excitement in every day’s life.

2. Are you proud of our national holidays and traditions?

Belarusian national culture is rooted in old antiquity. Certainly yes, I’m proud of our national holidays and traditions.

 

3. What questions can you ask a British teenager about good manners in their country?

- Is it polite to leave the table without saying COOD BYE?

- Is it OK not to apologise if you bump into somebody on the street?

- Do you stand in a queue when you wait for a bus?

 

4. What national souvenirs will you recommend a British tourist to buy?

( Products from bark (кора) are very popular as Belarusian souvenirs. The belarussian craftsmen use the bark to create a painting. Painted dishes, boxes, vases of wood on the architectural and historical themes impress by its beauty. The straw products (dolls, aprons with Belarussian decoration, straw chicken) are of great interest. Natural Flax ,Slutsk Belts and Belarusian Candies and Sweets will be a good memory about our country.)

5. Nowadays more and more people are getting interested in customs and traditions of different countries. What do you think about it?

So many countries so many customs, an English proverb says. The combination of the words tradition & custom means a usual manner of doing something, passed on from generation to generation.

By comparing the customs and cultures of people from other countries, we can learn how others view the world and why they think the way they do. By understanding others, we can not only form deeper friendships with others but can also learn more about ourselves and our own culture.

1. Let’s talk about modern means of communication: TV, newspapers, radio. Which of these does your family like?

Modern means of communication are one of the most characteristic features of modern civilization. People can learn about what is happening in the world very fast using mass media. The mass media include newspapers, magazines, radio and television.

TV is the source of valuable information. It brings the world to our living room, where we can see people of other countries; learn their customs, traditions and problems. We can see great events and famous people. The choice of programmes, modern television provides, is really wide: the news, feature films, talk shows, music programmes, documentary films, educational programmes, serials, interviews.

On the other hand, people spend more and more time in front of the box watching their favourite programmes or just switching over from channel to channel with the help of remote control. Television and the Internet develop passive enjoyment. They cut us off from the real world. Sometimes there is too much violence and crime on TV and on the Internet. Parents worry about the effect that television has on children. That’s why we should be selective in our choice of programmes and the Internet sites. The mass media is not bad unless we make ourselves bad.

Speaking about my personal preferences on TV, I wouldn’t say a lot, as I’m not a TV fan. The members of my family also demonstrate great diversity in their tastes. My mother enjoys watching lifestyle programmes, talk shows, soaps, drama and sitcoms. My father prefers news and sports programmes. Sometimes I watch music programmes.

To tell you the truth, I’m not really interested in any traditional media. Television, radio and newspapers are becoming less and less popular. I don’t read newspapers. Instead I surf the Internet. Sometimes I enjoy reading magazines or cheaper tabloids.

Nevertheless, newspapers are worth buying! My father buys newspapers to do our bit for the local economy. As for tabloids, as my Mum says, sometimes they come up with good stories. Just imagine the political scandals that would go unnoticed without reporters.

(There are lots of ways of communication today. You don't need to wait for few days to receive a letter from your friend anymore. Now you can chat with him by Skype or ICQ, talk to him by the phone or just send sms. But my favourite way of communication is an usual spending time with my friend. Because then I can see his face, his emotions, I can touch him. It is not a simulation of conversation, it is a conversation. And it's much more interesting. That's why I prefer this type of communication)

2. Is there any means of communication you can’t live without? Why (not)?

I wouldn’t say – I can’t live without any means of communication. To tell you the truth we should have rest from any form of communication. But I can’t imagine my everyday life without the Internet. The Internet is a great source of information and entertainment for many people. Thanks to it I have got an opportunity to access news, documents, images, sounds, video and games, to make friends, to book tickets and to purchase different things online.

3. What questions will you ask the participants of Dom 2, a TV reality show?

Frankly speaking, I wouldn’t like to talk to them at all. The only question may be:

- What makes you take part in this kind of a TV show?

4. I’d like to watch an interesting programme on TV. What can you advise me?

First of all, I would ask about your preferences and interests. Sometimes people watch TV just to relax. In this case my advice may be very different. So, I personally would recommend you to watch any programmes on Discovery Channel or on Viasat History Channel. If you’ve got a pet you would enjoy watching special programmes about cats and dogs on Animal Planet Channel.

5. Can the Internet replace the other means of mass media? What is your point of view?

Maybe. But I don’t think they will lose their importance. Probably they will change the forms. Many newspapers will be transformed into electronic versions on the Internet. As for radio, we can listen to the radio through the Internet.

 

1. Let’s talk about a healthy way of life. What do you do to keep fit?

People nowadays understand that good health is above wealth.

I think keeping health is very important for everyone. Moreover health is one of the most urgent problems in the world now. Why is that so? There is nothing more important than health. No doubt, everybody wants to live a long healthy life. Unfortunately, now it has become a dream. Because of the polluted environment people suffer a lot of diseases.

And the best way to be healthy is to go in for sports. But many people don`t take enough exercise to keep themselves healthy. I recommend old and young to do and play sports because it makes them strong and energetic. You will have a healthier heart, stronger bones, quicker reaction times and more resistance to various illnesses. Besides, you can eat and drink as much as you want because you are burning it all off.

As far as I know many men and women are overweight. The most spreading illness today is obesity. One of the reasons is wrong food. Fast food is becoming more popular. If you want to be healthy and slim you should try to shorten fat products and fast food. It`s necessary to eat the right food. Keeping fit is very trendy today.

To be healthy, it is also very important to spend a lot of time in the open air. It is useful to go for a walk before going to bed, or to air the room.

People should remember that bad habits are extremely dangerous for their health. To be healthy we should avoid different bad habits that can affect our health. In my opinion, smoking and drinking too much alcohol, are the worst ones. It's common knowledge that smoking and drinking can shorten our lives dramatically. Smoking, for example, causes a number of heart and lung diseases. Besides, it makes your teeth yellow and skin unhealthy. I don't smoke, because I don't want to have unhealthy skin and teeth and die young.

Don`t forget a proverb: "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise".

So I can say if you want to be healthy and keep fit:

1.do sports, 2.eat more fruit and vegetables, 3.sleep 8 hours a day, 4. don`t eat fast food, 5.don`t have bad habits and you will be healthy and happy.

In conclusion I wish all strong health for many years.

 

2. Do you agree that bad habits, like smoking, can be dangerous? Why (not)?

Of course I agree. Smoking is harmful for all people and especially for children. It’s known from statistics that smoking kills 2,5 million people a year. Many of them die from lung cancer. Some aren’t even smokers. They are people who live or work with heavy smokers. Also smoking may cause heart diseases and spoil your teeth and skin.

 

3. What questions will you ask a professional sportsman?

 

First of all I’d like to ask some personal questions:

- Is it a pleasure or hard work to be a sportsman?

- Have you got any time for your personal life?

- What is the best moment in your life?

 

4. What can you advise a person who wants to lose weight?

 

There are many books about different methods of losing weight. So I can say if you want to be healthy and keep fit:

1.do sports, 2.eat more fruit and vegetables, 3.sleep 8 hours a day, 4. don`t eat fast food, 5.don`t have bad habits and you will be healthy and happy.

 

5. What is the best way to promote a healthy way of life among young people? Why is it important to stay healthy?

 

The best way to promote a healthy way of life among young people is to help them to find motivation so as to be healthy. The best motivation for young people is to look beautiful, to enjoy life and to be free

 

 

1. Let’s talk about sport. What influences a person’s health?

 

People nowadays understand that good health is above wealth.

I think keeping health is very important for everyone. Moreover health is one of the most urgent problems in the world now. Why is that so? There is nothing more important than health. No doubt, everybody wants to live a long healthy life. Unfortunately, now it has become a dream. Because of the polluted environment people suffer a lot of diseases.

And the best way to be healthy is to go in for sports. But many people don`t take enough exercise to keep themselves healthy. I recommend old and young to do and play sports because it makes them strong and energetic. You will have a healthier heart, stronger bones, quicker reaction times and more resistance to various illnesses. Going in for sport helps us not only to preserve good physical health but also to breed up a strong character, to be better organized and better disciplined.

All kinds of sports are useful and healthy but it is not compulsory to go in for sports professionally. Doctors say that twenty minutes’ exercise three times a week is all you need to be fit. Regularly walking the dog around the block, going on short distances on foot, taking the stairs instead of elevators can be considered as exercising. The advantages of being fit are evident. Fitness reduces the risk of different diseases and illnesses, makes you feel healthier, more positive and optimistic, helps you to avoid obesity and gives you strength and energy so that you don’t get tired easily.

 

But fitness comes not just from some exercises done now and then but from the way you live all the time. Good eating habits, regular sleeping habits, and plenty of fresh air are all important parts of the way to keep fit.

In conclusion I wish all strong health for many years.

 

2. Is home-made food better than junk food? Why?

 

It is really better than junk food. But junk food is associated with spending time with your friends and having fun. That’s why it is so popular among teens. Fast food is not the best thing for your health. Teenagers should know that people who prefer burgers and chips, crisps and hot dogs tend to become overweight. But all of us like our Mums’ home-made food. We usually have our favourite dishes and like to spend time with the family enjoying a Sunday dinner.

 

3. What questions will you ask a fitness coach?

 

- Have you got special programs for people who suffer from overweight?

- Do you advise to have special diets?

- How much time is it necessary so as to become fit?

 

4. What activities can you advise a person who wants to have a healthy way of life?

So I can say if you want to be healthy and keep fit:

1.do sports, 2.eat more fruit and vegetables, 3.sleep 8 hours a day, 4. don`t eat fast food, 5.don`t have bad habits and you will be healthy and happy.

 

5. Why is a balanced diet important for your health?

 

Everybody knows we are what we eat. It is very important to include various products into your menu, such as diary products, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, eggs to ensure your body gets all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Usually people call it a healthy well balanced diet. You can improve your diet by eating smaller portions.

 

 

1. Let’s talk about fashion. What style in clothes do you prefer and why?

Most people believe that it’s important to look nice. However, some people say that we place too much importance on appearance and fashion. One will hardly disagree that it is pleasant to look at a person who is neatly and beautifully dressed. A person usually chooses clothes according to his or her age, social class, financial position and occupation. People also choose clothes according to their preferences and character.
To my mind, if a person wants to produce a good impression and to be successful, he or she must look nice. When people speak to you, they always pay attention to your appearance and your clothes. If you look sloppy and untidy, they will try to avoid you. There is a saying that "good clothes open all doors” and I quite agree with it.
But some people place too much importance on their appearance. They spend much money on expensive clothes and sometimes they look ridiculous trying to be fashionable. There are some styles that can surprise and even shock people such as punks, hippies or Goths. It looks strange when a person wears razor blades instead of earrings, dyes his or her hair bright red or purple or puts on shoes on enormous platform. But I think it is silly to slavishly follow the current fashions.
To conclude, I believe that clothes do not make the man. The main aim of clothes is to protect the human body from extreme weather, insects, chemicals and other hazards. The second aim is to attract attention and to indicate status. In my opinion, the main thing about clothes is com­fort. As for beauty and style, they are less important.

As for me, of course I care what I wear. But I can't say that I follow fashion. I follow the style which suits me and suit the occasion. When I plan what I’m going to wear I usually think what kind of meeting I have. At school we weren’t allowed to wear sport clothes, we had to wear clothes of formal style. But I didn’t like being dressed that way, as many other students. Really I prefer smart clothes to formal. Besides I enjoy wearing sport clothes, because I feel comfortable in it. Also on my list of likes there are jeans. When I go out I always dress up, because I feel better that way. But when I have an official meeting I try to wear formal clothes. is important for me is to feel comfortable. If a person is not fashionable it's OK, one should be neat and well-dressed.

2. Do you follow the latest fashion trends? Why (not)?

Like many others, I don't follow trends, but I don't try to avoid them, either. I just buy whatever I like. If there's something I like that happens to be part of a trend, I'm going to buy it, no matter what.

3. What questions would you ask a fashion designer?

4. A famous person once said: “Fashions come and go, style is forever.” What do you think about it?

«Fashions come and go, but styles are forever" YES I think this statement is totally true. Fashion does not define a person; it just shows that the person is a 'follower'. A person's style will show his true personality.

5. What would you advise your friend who wants to buy some new clothes?

- Dress well. In order to spend less and buy wisely, dress up in comfortable clothes.

- Shop with a plan. Know exactly what you need and how much you can spend. Write it down.

- Before making a purchase ask yourself, "Does this match my wardrobe in terms of color, style and price? How many ways can I wear it?"

  1. Let’s talk about travelling. What role does it play in your life?

Millions people all over the world spend their holidays travelling. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns, they travel to enjoy picturesque places or just for a change of scene. It's always interesting to discover new things and different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different music.

Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City residents usually like a quiet holiday by the sea and in the mountains with nothing to do but walk and bathe and lay in the sun. Most travelers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interest them - the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests, different kinds of trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds.

People travel by train, by plane, by ship or boat and by car. All means of travel have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and preferences. The fastest way of travelling - is travelling by plane, but in my opinion the most comfortable is travelling by ship and the cheapest is travelling on foot.

If we are fond of travelling, we see and learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers and see pictures of them on TV. The best way to study geography is to travel and the best way to get to know and understand the people is to meet them in their own homes.

Nowadays people mostly travel by air, as it's the fastest means of travelling. And as for me, I prefer to travel by plane.

And now I would like to tell you about my first travelling by plane. It was in 1998 when I travelled to Italy. I travelled without parents, but with guide and other children. I don't remember exactly how much time it took to fly from Minsk to Venice, but I think it must be about 2 or 3 hours. During the flight I communicated with my neighbours, I admired the view from my window and slept a bit. When we are were landing in Venice I looked out of my window and saw the entire city at my hand. It isn't true, that there is no one road in Venice, but only water channels. I can say that only the third part of the city is covered with water. Then the plane landed. So, it was my first travelling by plane.

And in the end I'll say that traveling is a nice hobby and a great thing if you want to know more about the world and certainly if you are studying a foreign language.

  1. How do you like to travel?
  1. What questions should you ask a travel agent to learn more about a tour?
  1. What can you advise a person who doesn’t know where to spend his/her holiday?
  1. What difficulties can you have when visiting a foreign country? Is it possible to avoid them?

1. Now let’s talk about environment. People say that our planet is in danger. Do you share this opinion?

The Earth is the only planet in the solar system where there is life. If you look down at the Earth from a plane you will see how wonderful our planet is. You will see blue seas and oceans, rivers and lakes, high snow-capped mountains, green forests and fields. For centuries man lived in harmony with nature but with the development of civilization man’s interference in nature has increased. Every year the world’s industry pollutes the atmosphere with millions of tons of dust and other harmful substances. The seas and rivers are poisoned with industrial waste. Modern industry production is the main threat to nature.

One of the most important pollution problems is the oceans. Many ships sail in the ocean water- fishing ships, some ships carrying people, some carrying oil. If a ship loses some of the oil in the water, the water becomes dirty. Many sea birds die because of the polluted water. Many fish are dying in the sea, others are getting contaminated. Fishermen catch contaminated fish which may be sold in markets, and people may get sick from eating them. Lakes and rivers are becoming polluted, too. Some beaches are dangerous for swimming.

Another important problem is air pollution. Cars and factories pollute the air we use. Their fume also destroys the ozone layer which protects the Earth from the dangerous light of the Sun. Burning coal and oil leads to global warming which may bring about a change in the world’s climate.

The other problem is that our forests are dying from acid rains. Deforestation affects the balance of nature in many ways. It kills animals, changes the climate and ecosystem in the world.

There are a lot of places on our planet that need immediate help. Our country is not exception. The nuclear accident at Chernobyl, which took place on April 26, 1986, has seriously influenced the ecological situation in Belarus. It was the largest disaster of the 20th century. As the result of that accident 18% of territories of our republic were contaminated by radioactive elements. The agriculture of our country suffered greatly. More than 20% of the population has also suffered. A death rate among children has increased considerably. Everyone understands that this catastrophe is a threat to health of our nation, and though years have already passed, the results will be shown on the future generations.

When I look around I realize that not all people understand the importance of nature protection. On fine summer days a lot of people go out of town. They have picnics on the shores of lakes and the banks of rivers and they often leave behind a lot of rubbish- plastic bags and bottles, tins and paper. It makes me feel sad.

What can be done to protect nature? At first every person should understand that the beauty of nature is extremely fragile and people must obey the unwritten laws of nature.

2. What do you think people should do to protect the environment?

3. What would you like to ask your British friend about measures that are taken to protect the environment in Britain?