Lesson 8, ex. 2a, 2b

Todd: Alex, can you talk a little about working at a radio station?

Alex: Yeah, sure. The Radio station at my school is called Supermix. I'm actually a DJ. Well, not the one who turns tables, changes discs, I mean… I’m a DJ that plays music and talks on the air a lot, and I think that's really fun because I can have guests over and I can play, I like all kinds of music, and I like to open their ears to many different kinds of music from, I don't know, electronic, to classical, to jazz and others. And it's really a lot of fun. I make lots of friends and we meet groups too because we have concerts sometimes so, you know. It's really a very, very, very, very, very fun.

Ex. 3a see the text of ex. 3b

UNIT 7. THERE IS NO LIFE WITHOUT BOOKS.

Lesson 5, ex. 2c, 2d

Journalist ( Masha Pushkina) : Did you dream of becoming a dramatist in your childhood?

Dramatist ( A. Kureichik) : No, I didn’t. Children are much more practical in their dreams. At first I wanted to become a magician, but when I understood that it’s impossible, I wanted to be a businessman, a cosmonaut, a lawyer, and this dream almost came true.

Journalist: What was your favourite subject at school?

Dramatist: It depended on the teacher. When is was at the lyceum [ 'səm ] of the Belarusian State University my favourite subject was Russian literature. I loved and I still love History. One third of the books in my home library are books on history. I am interested in nature. I would like to know how the world was created, how life developed on the Earth. I like astronomy. But I’ve never been good at maths.

Journalist: What’s your education?

Dramatist: I’m often asked this question. I finished special English language school No 25 in Minsk, then the lyceum ['səm ] of the Belarusian State University and the Law Department of the Belarusian State University. I got a second education as a theatre director.

Journalist: How did you begin writing plays?

Dramatist: Like most of us – at school. First they were poems, then stories, even a fantasy novel. But only at the lyceum I took it seriously. Naturally the poems were the result of my unshared unhappy love and broken heart. I still remember those years with warm feelings. When I was in the first year at the lyceum, my friend acquainted me with Belarusian State University Theatre. That’s how my theatrical career started. That’s where I wrote my first play.

Journalist: Why are you not writing plays for the theatre at the moment?

Dramatist: I’ve had too much of the theatre. My plays have been staged in the best theatres of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine. I’ve worked with wonderful theatre actors and directors. I’ve watched hundreds of performances in the best theatres from Los Angeles and New York to London and Berlin. That’s why I’ve decided to give up theatre for cinema.

Journalist: What are your favourite writers?

Dramatist: Somerset Maugham, Brodsky, Gogol.

Journalist: What are your preferences in music?

Dramatist: I like classical music, Corelli, Bah, Shopen, and many others. I am fond of Belarusian rock music, jazz.

Journalist: What are your favourite films?

Dramatist: ‘The Piano”, ‘Andrei Rublev’, ‘Star Wars’ and many others.

Journalist: Where would you like to live?

Dramatist: I’ve lived in many cities of the world, but I want to live and die in Minsk.

Journalist: What’s family for you?

Dramatist: Love and kindness which helps people to live in this imperfect world.

Journalist: What’s work for you?

Dramatist: The happiest time, and the best.

Journalist: What kind of rest do you prefer?

Dramatist: Quiet, and relaxing. But actually, it’s a big secret.

Journalist: What’s happiness for you?

Dramatist: It’s when there are no problems.

UNIT 8. CINEMA.

Lesson 2, ex. 2a

Tapescript

Hi Alesia, how are you?

Fine!

Are you doing anything special tonight?

Nothing special. Why?

Do you fancy going to the cinema?

Good idea!

Lesson 3, ex.3b

Last Saturday Mary and John decided to go to the cinema. It had always been their dream to watch “Pirates of the Caribbean”. The film was on at the Odeon, which was their favourite cinema. The tickets were not expensive but the film was so popular that it wasn’t easy to buy tickets. Fortunately John bought two but the time was not convenient – Mary had her music classes at that time. Problems began on their way to the cinema. It suddenly started to rain. As they didn’t have umbrellas they got wet. When they got to the cinema the film had already begun. So they had to look for their seats in the dark. They didn’t know it was only the beginning. When at last Mary and John found their seats they saw that a big man was sitting in front of them. They couldn’t see the screen very well. Besides a group of boys sitting behind them were making a terrible noise eating crisps and popcorn. The lady next to Mary was speaking on the telephone all the time and the girls next to John were discussing the main characters of the film and giggling while watching the film. In other words, their experience of going to the cinema was horrible. To make the things worse, they missed the last bus and had to walk home on foot.

Lesson 3, Ex.4b

Mary was reading a book when the phone rang. A few minutes later she was outside.

The sun was shining and the birds were singing as Mary was going to the cinema. She was smiling because she knew that she was going to see a fantastic film. Mary enjoyed watching movies, especially if something catching was on. Suddenly she heard a strange noise behind her back. She turned around. Someone was standing behind her…

Lesson 6, ex.2a

Interviewer: Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen! I have with me in the studio today Alex Popov, who is a film critic. Alex, welcome.

Alex : Thank you.

Interviewer : Alex, today we are going to talk about one of the most successful Belarusian films “In August 1944”. Who is the director of the film?

Alex: Well, I think many listeners know that the director of the film was Mikhail Ptashuk. He was born in 1943 in Brest region and worked at Belarusfilm, the National Cinema Studio. He created many spectacular films. Many of his films show Belarus in the Great Patriotic War. Some of them became internationally known. Unfortunately, Mr. Ptashuk died in a car crash in 2002 in Moscow.

Interviewer: Why do you think the film is a success?

Alex: The film is a real success. First of all , it was professionally made. It takes us to another reality, to the Belarus of 1944. Secondly, the actors who appeared in the film played wonderfully. You really can’t take your eyes off the screen. And finally, the plot is brilliant. I adore it. The film is breathtaking and catching.

Interviewer: What is the plot of the film?

Alex: The actions of the film take us back to August 1944. The whole territory of Belarus was free from German soldiers, but some individual groups were still operating on its territory. Three young officers were given the task to find a German radio station which was still sending messages. The group, headed by a talented leader captain Aliokhin, used all their courage and professionalism to find the enemy group.

Interviewer :Sounds interesting. And the last question today. Is the film worth seeing?

Alex: This film is really worth seeing. I advise everybody to watch it. The film is for people of all ages. But first of all I recommend it to schoolchildren and teenagers. The topic of the film is really important today. Young people should remember the heroism and patriotism of our countrymen during the Great Patriotic War. Besides, the film teaches young people to be kind and patient, to love our country and to be brave.

Interviewer: Alex, thank you for talking with us, and good luck.