What is your favourite subject?

Are there any subjects you are bad at?

Do you live in a hostel, rent a room or live with your parents?

What subjects do you study?

Do you receive a grant?

What do you usually do after classes?

Act out the following mini-dialogues. Substitute phrases.

A. – Where do you¹ study?          1. – does he, does she, do they

– I study at the St. Petersburg State Transport University².

                                              2. – at the Electrical Engineering faculty

B. – What’s you favourite subject?

– I like English¹ most of all.   1. – Maths, Chemistry, P.T., History

                                                                                               

C. – What is David good at¹?      1. – clever, poor, keen on

– He is good at Maths².           2. – Computers; Foreign languages

D. – Why did you miss last English lesson¹?

– I was not well^{2 .}

                          1. – a lecture on History, a seminar on Economics

                          2. – was late, didn’t know about it

E. – What mark did you get for your test¹? 1. – translation, exam, essay

– I got an excellent mark².              2. – a good mark, a satisfactory mark, a bad mark

F. – Where can I find the Dean¹?

– He is probably at the Dean’s office².

                       1. – the tutor, the lecture, the English teacher;

                       2. – the stuff room, the lecture room, the faculty office;

III*.Read and discuss:            STUDENT’S LIFE

The merry-go-round¹ of student’s life is something that one never forgets. It’s a fascinating, fantastic, fabulous experience for a full-time and a part-time student. Who can forget the first day at the university when one turns from an applicant who has passed entrance exams into a first-year student? I did it! I entered the university! A solemn ceremony of dedication of freshmen to the body of students in the Yusupov Garden and serious people making speeches. Hey, do you happen to know who they are? Who? The rector, vice-rector, deans … and what about those ladies? Heads of departments and senior lecturers? Okay. And where are our lecturers and tutors²? Oh, how nice….

The monitors hand out student membership cards and library cards – one feels like a real person. First celebrations and then days of hard work. So many classes, so many new subjects to put on the timetable! The curriculum seems to be developed especially for geniuses. Lectures, seminars and tutorials. Home preparations; a lot of homework.

First tests and examination. Reading up for exams. “No, professor, I have never cheated – no cribs³. I just crammed⁴ ”. The first successes and first failures: “I have passed!” or “He has not given me a pass!” Tears and smiles. And a long-awaited holiday.

The merry-go-round runs faster. Junior students become senior. Still all of them are one family – undergraduates. Students’ parties in the students’ club. Meeting people and parting with people. Yearly essays, graduation dissertations, finals…. I’m happy! It is over! It is over… Is it over? Oh, no…

 

¹ merry-go-round – (зд.)круговорот          ³ crib - шпаргалка

² tutor - куратор                                          ⁴ cram - зубрить

a) Discussion points:

a) Compare your student’s life with a merry-go-round.

b) Your first months at the university?

c) They say that it is a poor soldier who does not want to become a general. Say what a student must do to become a good specialist.

d) Your plans for the future: to get an interesting but not well-paid job or well-paid but monotonous one.

b) Translate the proverbs into Russian and comment upon them:

1. A man is never too old to learn.

2. Education covers a lot of ground but it doesn’t cultivate it.

3. Live and learn. 

c) Roleplay:

Imagine you are a Dean of your faculty.

A group of students came to you to discuss their problems

 (too busy time-table, there’s not enough special literature in the library, etc.).

 

UNIT II

TRAVELLING

Read the text. Ask questions to the text

TRAVELLING

Student’s life is much more fun when you travel.

There are different ways of travelling: by air, by sea, by train, by car, by coach, etc. As for me, I like travelling by train, because it’s very nice and comfortable, especially if the journey is not too long.

For instance, I often go to Moscow by train. When I do so, I usually go by a passenger train, but in a sleeping car. I like lying on the upper berth, because from there I can enjoy beautiful views. As I never know how long I’m going to stay in Moscow, I always buy a single ticket. I prefer travelling light, that’s why I have only one piece of luggage with me; a small rucksack. I don’t like anybody to see me off, that’s why I arrive at the station alone, get on my train and take my berth. I like to get acquainted and chat with other passengers, because we have to spend several hours together and it’s always nice to have a good company. If it’s an evening train, I wait for the attendant to bring in the bedding, make up the bed and fall asleep. The route from Saint Peterburg to Moscow is a very busy one and the trains always leave on the dot and run to schedule. So, when I wake up in the morning, I’m already in Moscow.

As for travelling by air, I consider it to be less exciting, because visibility is often poor and you can’t see anything at all. Though, it must be very convenient for businessmen who are always in a hurry and can’t afford enjoying picturesque views. But there is one way of travelling which I think to be much more pleasant than all the above-mentioned ones. I have never experienced it myself, but I hope to. That’s a travel by sea or river. My best dream is to make a voyage along the Volga River and I hope that one day this dream of mine will come true.