Методичка ДВГУПС_About Myself, University 1-2

УДК 811.111(075.8) ББК Ш143.21-923

Н 506

Рецензенты:

Кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры «Иностранные языки» Дальневосточного

государственного университета путей сообщения

А.К. Будаева

Методические указания включают речевой материал, связанный с опи-

санием жизни студента и его учебы в университете и имеют своей целью развитие навыков устной речи.

Предназначены для студентов 1–2 курсов всех специальностей и форм обучения и могут быть использованы как для аудиторной, так и для само- стоятельной работы студентами, аспирантами и другими категориями лиц, изучающих иностранный язык.

УДК 811.111(075.8) ББК Ш143.21-923

© ГОУ ВПО «Дальневосточный государственный университет путей сообщения» (ДВГУПС), 2006

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ВВЕДЕНИЕ

Данные методические указания предназначены для студентов 1-2 кур- сов неязыковых вузов с целью развития навыков устной речи. В основе лежит тематический принцип, ориентированный на активизацию лексики.

Указания помогут развить такие навыки речевой деятельности как перевод, пересказ, ведение самостоятельной беседы на английском языке.

Методические указания включают в себя три урока (Units), посвя- щенные описанию жизни студента и его учебы в университете. Каждый урок состоит из следующих разделов: 1. Текст (Text), 2. Список лексиче- ских и фразеологических единиц, рекомендуемых для усвоения (Active Vocabulary), 3. Вопросы, способствующие пониманию текста (Comprehension questions), 4. Упражнения, направленные на активизацию словаря (Vocabulary Practice Exercises), 5. Упражнения по развитию навыков устной речи

(Speech Practice Exercises).

Данные указания можно использовать как на первых занятиях англий- ского языка в университете, так и на 2 курсах для повторения соответст- вующих устных тем перед экзаменами. Указания могут быть также полез- ны аспирантам и всем, кто занимается совершенствованием английского языка, изучая его самостоятельно.

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UNIT 1

I. Text. About myself

Hello, friends. My name is Andrey, my surname is Ivanov. I was born on the 17th of October 1988 in Khabarovsk. Now I’m a first-year student of Far Eastern State Transportation University. At school I understood that I wanted my profession to be connected with mathematics and computing, that’s why I’ve chosen the faculty of Natural Sciences. Speaking of my favourite pastime, I should say that I like to study, to find new information in different spheres of life and technology. I spend much time online, in front of the computer, surfing the Net in search of interesting information. I correspond with 20 to 30 friends through the Internet “chat rooms”. It’s really an exciting experience for me. The Internet gives so many opportunities to connect with someone with the same interests in any part of the globe.

As for my other favourite activities, they are reading and playing sport. When I have some spare time I prefer to read science fiction, fantasy, historical novels or detective stories. I think that science fiction and fantasy broaden our horizon and develop our mind in a way. It’s a really different way of thinking. Sometimes I find it interesting to predict the development of the plot in some books. Reading really helps me to relax.

Sport is an essential part of my life. I can play basketball and football rather well, I’m fond of swimming; and I prefer not to be just a spectator, but I enjoy to participate in sporting events. I’m very happy that our University has excellent sports facilities: its own stadium, a well-equipped gymnasium, a swimming-pool.

I have a lot of dreams and plans. One of my dreams is to improve my English and to learn one more language – either Japanese or Korean. Learning languages is important for me because I want to know what’s going on around me in the world. With recent developments in technology the world is changing rapidly in many fields such as business, arts, medicine and it’s important for me to keep up with these changes.

Another dream is travelling all over the world. I’d be glad to see as many countries and cities as possible. So far I’ve been to Moscow and St. Petersburg. We went there with my parents three years ago. St Petersburg impressed me greatly by its magnificent architecture. I’ve never been abroad.

Now, as I’ve become a student, my life has changed. I have much less free time now than I had at school. I can’t hang out with my friends as long as I used to do or do something just for pleasure. I have to learn not to waste my time. Student’s life is hard sometimes, but it’s also very interesting. I think, you agree with me, don’t you?

Active vocabulary 1. surname (last name, family name) – фамилия

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2.full name – полное имя

3.first-year student – первокурсник

4.enter the University – поступать в университет

5.be enrolled in the University – быть принятым в университет get accepted, be admitted at – быть зачисленным

6.surf the Net = brows the Internet – “ лазать” по сети

7.be online – быть включенным в (компьютерную) сеть

8.pastime = hobby – приятное времяпровождение

9.spare time = free time, leisure time – свободное время

10.science fiction – научная фантастика

11.broaden one’s horizon – расширять кругозор

12.develop one’s mind – развивать мышление

13.plot – сюжет, фабула

14.sports facilities – спортивные сооружения

15.gymnasium = gym – спортивный зал

16.keep up with smth. – шагать в ногу

17.hang out with smb. – проводить время с кем-либо

18.waste time – терять время, тратить время впустую

19.personality traits – черты характера ambitious – честолюбивый

athletic – спортивный charming – очаровательный creative – творческий critical – разборчивый

cheerful – веселый, жизнерадостный

easy - going – добродушно-веселый, беззаботный energetic – энергичный

friendly – дружелюбный generous – щедрый grouchy – ворчливый

hard - working – трудолюбивый honest – честный

helpful – отзывчивый, услужливый

(im)patient – (не)терпеливый independent – независимый intelligent – умный

kind – добрый lazy – ленивый

loyal – верный, преданный

moody – легко поддающийся переменам в настроении modest – скромный

organized – организованный patient – терпеливый

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polite – вежливый reliable – надежный romantic – романтичный reserved – сдержанный

sensitive – впечатлительный, чуткий sensible – разумный

sociable – общительный

sympathetic – благожелательный, сочувствующий shy – застенчивый

stingy – скупой stubborn – упрямый

studious – трудолюбивый talkative – разговорчивый (un)tidy – (не)аккуратный

Comprehension questions

What have you found out about Andrey from the text? Answer the questions. If you don’t know the answer, make a suggestion, saying “I think…, perhaps…, may be…”

1.What is his full name?

2.When is his birthday?

3.How old is he?

4.What school did he finish?

5.What’s his native city?

6.What faculty does he study at?

7.What is his favourite pastime?

8.What kind of books does he prefer to read?

9.Who is his favourite writer?

10.What sports does he play?

11What dreams does he have?

12Has he ever been abroad?

13.In what way has his life changed now?

14.What kind of person is Andrey?

II.VOCABULARY PRACTICE EXERCISES

1.Give English equivalents to the following word-combinations:

студент-первокурсник, естестественно-научный факультет, любимое времяпровождение, различные области техники, проводить время “в ком- пьютере”, “бродить” по Интернету, в поисках информации, переписываться с кем-либо, увлекательный опыт, свободное время, научная фантастика, важная часть жизни, участвовать в спортивных соревнованиях, спортив- ные сооружения, хорошо оборудованный спортзал, совершенствовать

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английский язык, идти в ногу с изменениями в …, проводить время с друзьями.

2. Give Russian equivalents to the following word-combinations: family name, full name, be enrolled in the university, spare time, surf the

Net, independent person, exciting experience, favourite activity, develop one’s mind, way of thinking, be fond of reading, participate in sporting events, developments in technology, keep up with changes in technology, be abroad, do something for pleasure, waste time.

3.Substitute the underlined words with their synonyms.

1.My friend’s surname is Petrov.

2.He is a freshman.

3.He has been enrolled into the University this year.

4.His hobbies are fishing and computer games.

5.He spends much time online, browsing the Net.

6.He has less free time now than he had at school.

7.Reading helps to develop one’s way of thinking.

8.He has taken part in a number of sport competitions this year.

9.There are many buildings and places for playing sport on the campus.

10.He wants to remain level with the changes in technology.

11.He likes to spend time with his friends.

4.Insert prepositions, where necessary.

1She was born … the 16th … August 1988.

2.My friend studies … Far Eastern State Transportation University.

3.… school she got interested …physics and mathematics.

4.She’s entered … the University this summer.

5.She spends a lot of time …front of the computer.

6.She likes to search … new information … the Internet.

7.She’s fond … sewing, knitting and cooking.

8.She’s talented … making things … hand.

9.She’s more … a spectator when it comes to sport.

10.Her brother prefers to play … football.

11.It’s important for an engineer to keep … with the changes going on in technology.

12.She’d like to travel all … the world.

13.She enjoys staying … home … her free time.

III.SPEECH PRACTICE EXERCISES

1.Answer the questions in the quiz to discover what type of person you are.

1.Are you usually smiling and happy?

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2.Do you enjoy the company of other people?

3.Do you find it difficult to meet new people?

4.Is it important to you to succeed in your career?

5.Does your mood change often and suddenly for no reason?

6.Do you notice other people’s feelings?

7.Do you think the future will be good?

8.Can your friends depend on you?

9.Is your room always in a mess?

10.Do you get annoyed if you have to wait for anyone or anything?

11.Do you put off until tomorrow what you could do today?

12.Do you work hard?

13.Do you keep your feelings and ideas to yourself?

14.Do you often give presents?

15.Do you talk a lot?

16.Are you usually calm and not worried by things?

2. Match these adjectives with the questions in the quiz.

3.Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give true information about yourself.

1.My full name is John Smith.

2.I’m a first-year student of Far Eastern State Humanitarian University.

3.I was born on the 25th of December 1990.

4.My native city is St. Petersburg.

5.I finished school number one in Khabarovsk.

6.My favourite subjects at school were literature and history.

7.I have a lot of spare time now.

8.Recently I’ve knitted a sweater for my mother.

9.In my free time I prefer tidying up my room

10.I didn’t make any efforts to enter the University.

11.I’m a lazy, moody, stingy and stubborn person.

12.I enjoy to study at the University but I’d like to spend more time with my family and friends.

13.I wish I could speak fluent English.

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14.Finishing school with a gold medal has been my greatest achievement

so far.

15.I’ve always wanted to jump with a parachute.

16.I’ve traveled a lot in our country and abroad.

17.I hope to be a good student.

4. Read and reproduce the following dialogues. Make up your own ones.

1.– I know that you’ve travelled a lot. Where in the world have you most enjoyed visiting?

–Well, I’ve enjoyed going almost anywhere … India, China … each place has its own charm and I’m hoping to see lots more.

2.– You really enjoy reading, Mary, don’t you?

–Yes, I do very much. I’m a prolific reader.

–Can you tell me the title and the author of one of your favourite books?

–Well, it’s very difficult to pinpoint a favourite book, but I suppose “The Woman in White” by Wilkie Kollins particularly sticks in my mind.

3.– Shall we invite Steve for a picnic?

–Oh, I don’t think he’ll go. Steve has become a real coach potato. For him every activity is too much trouble and laziness is an art form.

–Yes, it seems lying on the sofa, watching TV on Sunday afternoon, and reading newspaper from cover to cover is the most exciting activity he can imagine.

4.– Do you believe in horoscopes?

–No, I never read them.

–What is your zodiac sign?

–Libra.

–So, you must be reliable, well-balanced, practical and rather realistic. That’s why you don’t believe in horoscopes.

5.– What do you usually do to raise your spirits?

–I go shopping. I adore it and I go shopping for clothes at least twice a month. And If I haven’t got any money I go window shopping and decide what I’m going to buy when I’m rich.

5. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1.Народы мира такие разные. Итальянцы открытые, они ценят семей- ные отношения, а англичане считаются сдержанными людьми, которые не любят выносить сор из избы (wash out one’s dirty linen in public).

2.Нина и Вера – близнецы и, естественно, очень похожи внешне друг на друга. Но они совершенно не похожи по характеру. Нина спокойная, от-

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крытая, приветливая. А Вера – довольно замкнутая, сдержанная. С ней не очень-то легко иметь дело. Но ее друзья говорят, что Вера – это тот чело- век, на которого можно полностью положиться.

3.В нашей группе учится один молодой человек, внешне ничем не примечательный. Но когда я узнала его лучше (to come to know), то пора- зилась его разносторонним интересам и способностям. Тут-то я и убеди- лась в правильности пословицы “По одежке встречают, по уму провожают”

(Appearances can be deceptive).

4.Что вы делаете в свободное время? – Честно говоря, у меня его не так много. Но если выпадает свободный час или два, стараюсь читать книжные новинки. Моя страсть – исторические романы.

5.Представляешь, вчера был в гостях у Игоря. Его комната – настоя- щая радиомастерская. Он сам собирает приемники. У него просто золотые руки.

6.В детстве я мечтала заниматься художественной гимнастикой (callisthenics), но мои родители отвели меня в секцию фигурного катания (figure skating). К сожалению, у меня не было особых способностей, поэтому я ос- тавила спорт, но всегда вспоминаю о катке с удовольствием.

6.Read the following questions. Choose some of them and ask your class-mate. Then tell us, what you’ve found out about your partner. You may ask your own questions as well.

1.What’s your name?

2.When is your birthday?

3.Where are you from?

4.What school did you finish?

5.Did you do well at school?

6.Why did you go to the University?

7.What’s your favourite pastime?

8.What things or activities can’t you stand (dislike)?

9.What has been your greatest achievement up to now?

10.Who’s your favourite writer?

11.What’s your dream?

12.How can you characterize your own personality?

13.What things couldn’t you live without?

14.Do you like to study?

15.Are you a handy person?

16.What would you do if you won a lot of money?

17.Do you prefer staying at home or going out?

18.What’s the best way of relaxation for you?

19.Is there anything you wish you could do?

20.Are there any traits of your personality you don’t like? What are they?

21.What animal do you associate yourself with?

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