Form 11, hometask for MONDAY

1) LEARN YOUR MONOLOGUES "EDUCATION" BY HEART
2) + card 6

№ 6

  I.  1. Read the story and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

Christmas Tree

Just before Christmas in 1944, a letter arrived at our house in Philadelphia. The postmark was from Tuskegee, Alabama, so we all knew who it was from. We excitedly gathered around Mother as she opened it.

My Dear Mother,

I did not get the leave I expected for Christmas. I will miss all of you. Please leave the Christmas tree up until I make it back. I hope to be home by March.

Love from your son,

Clifton.

I was 17 years old at the time. My heart sank. I felt a deep sadness that my favourite brother would not be home for Christmas. He was one of the Tuskegee Airmen¹ and was responsible for maintaining² the airplanes flying off to fight in World War II. My mother, being the optimist, said, “Well, it looks like we’ll get to have two Christmases this year!” After Christmas, my sister and I worked together to make sure we kept that Christmas tree looking as pretty as possible. This was no easy feat.

By mid­January, the branches dropped so low to the ground that they became a sliding board for the decorations. Each day, ornaments would come crashing to the ground and there were new pine needles³ all over the wooden floor. My sister and I took turns sweeping them up. We moved the ornaments to the stronger branches on the tree, hoping they would stay on.

Each time we freshened that tree up, my sister and I were full of thoughts about Clifton and how happy we would be to see him again. It made us feel that he was close by, even though he was hundreds of miles away. On March 5, the doorbell rang. We ran to the door and gave Clifton a big hug. As he hugged Mother, I could see him looking over her head at the Christmas tree.

“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Thank you.” Clifton opened his presents and told us all sorts of stories about his work in Tuskegee. That night as we slept, we heard a crash in the living room. We all ran to see what had happened. The tree had toppled⁴ onto the sofa and there were needles and broken ornaments everywhere.

We all had a good laugh. It was fortunate that Clifton got home!

¹ Tuskegee Airmen [tʌsˈkiːɡiːˈeəmən] пилоты из Таскиги

² to maintain [meɪnˈteɪn] обслуживать, готовить

³ a pine needle [ˈpaɪnˌ niːdl] сосновая иголка

⁴ to topple [ˈtɒpl] опрокинуться, свалиться

2.  The family got a message from Clifton. Find the extract which says about it and read it aloud.

3.  What was Clifton’s job?

4.  Which facts show that all the family loved Clifton very much?

II.  Listen to three teenagers talking about homework and answer the questions below.

    1.   Why does the first speaker dislike doing homework?

    2.   What does the second speaker have regrets about?

    3.   What are the benefits of doing homework according to the third speaker?

III. Let’s talk about science and modern technologies.

Form 8, hometask for Thursday

Hello! We will have a Valentine's Party on Thurthday! Your task is to read and translate a text at home, because we will be talking A LOT about LOVE and RELATIONSHIPS!

The questions:

To make the pictures larger and easier to read, click on them! 

Good luck!

Form 11, hometask for Wednesday

Hello! I forgot to сollect your notebooks! I'll do it tomorrow. You have one more chance to write about "Education" and "Belarus" (card 2, 4). Совет: пишите наперед и учите наперёд. Январь-5 билетов должно быть выучено!

                                                            № 5

I.  1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

Be kind and stay safe

Everybody knows that we should be polite and kind to people in real life and online. Unfortunately this doesn’t always happen. Where can you report online abuse¹ or unkind messages to yourself or your friends? Do you know how to report and complain about harmful information online? For example, if you see an inappropriate tweet on Twitter you can click on ‘more’ and then choose ‘Report tweet’. You can then block all further tweets from that user.

Even celebrities can be cyberbullied². Tom Daley, the British Olympic diver, was abused online. His father died during the 2012 Olympic Games and Tom received some very cruel tweets about his indifference towards his father’s health.

Here are our top tips for staying safe online:

1. Be nice! Treat people online as you do in real life.

2. Don’t post anything online that you wouldn’t want people in real life to see.

3. Check your privacy and security settings on social media sites and keep them as private as possible. Make sure you know exactly who can see your posts.

4. Don’t ever post personal information like your home address, your email or your phone number.

5. If you see something online that worries or upsets you, tell an adult about it straight away.

6. Take part in Safer Internet Day.

Safer Internet Day, or SID for short, tries to help people to use the Internet correctly. SID started in 2004 and is organised in February every year in 74 countries around the world to promote safe and responsible use of online technology and mobile phones. Each year there is a different topic such as cyberbullying or social networking. The focus for SID’s next campaign is “Let’s create a better internet together”. SID organisers want children and young people, parents and teachers, as well as businessmen and politicians to work together to build a better internet for all of us, but particularly for children.

There are special lessons prepared for schoolchildren on Safer Internet Day in Britain. You can find out about SID on this website: http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/.

¹ abuse [əˈbjuːs] оскорбление

² to be cyberbullied [ˈsaɪbəbʊlɪd] быть преследуемым в киберпространстве

2.  The journalist writes how to stop bad messages on Twitter. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3.  What can we do to stay safe online? 

4.  Why is SID a good way to stop abuse on the Internet?

LISTENING

II.  Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.

    1.   Where does the conversation take place?

    2.   What is the man interested in?

    3.   How much do you need to pay monthly?

SPEAKING          

III. Let’s talk about Great Britain.

5 questions - in written form!

What can you tell me about the parts GB consists of? Do you know the state symbols of GB?
Would you like to visit Britain?Give me a piece of advice on what sights to see in London.  Do the British traditions and customs differ from Belarusian ones?

All the questions ONE MORE TIME

CARD 1

What types of houses do people live in?

Would you like to have a house or a flat?

 I think all people want to have a cosy house. What makes a house a home?

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

 How would you decorate your own flat/house?

CARD 2

                                 What can you tell me about your school?

What is your ideal school like?

 Does higher education help people succeed in life?

Does our system of education differ from the British one?

Today young people want to study abroad because they believe that level of education is higher there. Would you do the same? 

CARD 4

What do you know about the history of our country?

Do you know any symbols of our country?

Do you speak the Belarusian language in your everyday life?

 Do you know any famous Belarussian people who contributed to the world’s heritage?What Belarusian sights would you advise a foreigner to visit?

Form 11, hometask for Tuesday

We have lots of things to do! We haven't checked text 4 yet! + Listening (card 4)

1) Examination card 4, a text (read, translate, answer the questions)
2) You should have written you monologues "Education" long time ago. (Завтра сдать написанные монологи!!!)
3) + you write about "Belarus" (card 4) + answer the questions "Education" and " Belarus" in written form!!!!!

Form 11, a reminder for Monday

Hello! Please, get well-prepared for the lesson, I'm not even joking. 

1) Your monologues about "Accommodation" BY HEART+ 5 QUESTIONS!

What types of houses do people live in?

Would you like to have a house or a flat?

 I think all people want to have a cosy house. What makes a house a home?

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

 How would you decorate your own flat/house?

I'll switch into Russian (рассказываете монологи, первый билет, отметка полученная за монолог будет соединена с отметкой за письменную часть и поделена надвое)

2) While smb is talking, the rest of you will be writing a small test - Reading 1,2,3 (what the test is about + questions about education and Belarus) Again, I'll switch into Russian (пока кто-то будет рассказывать тему, все остальные будут писать маленький тест в котором я попрошу ответить на вопросы "О чем текст 1,2,3 + 5 вопросов по теме Образование и Беларусь (смотрим на блоге в предыдущих сообщениях)

Form 8, hometask for Monday

Hello! We will be talking about Saint Valentine's Day. For you to know more about it, please, read and translate the text (ex. 3b, p. 139-140) + make up 3 questions about this holiday from the text (придумать три вопроса по тексту про праздник).

+you do the crossword and try to get a secret message!

Form 11, hometask for Wednesday

Hello! You read the text №4 (translate and answer the questions)

№ 4

I. 1. Read the part of a diary and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

Anna’s diary

SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1942

Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the thoughts of a thirteen­year­old schoolgirl. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel like writing, and I have an even greater need to get all kinds of things off my chest1.

“Paper has more patience than people.” I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands. I was bored and wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was and decided to start a diary. Yes, paper does have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this notebook, unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a bit of difference.

Now I’m back to the point that prompted me to keep a diary in the first place: I don’t have a friend. Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen­year­old girl is completely alone in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen­year­old sister, and there are about thirty people I can call friends. I have a bunch of admirers who can’t keep their adoring eyes off me and who constantly try to catch a glimpse2 of me in the classroom. I have a family, loving aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have everything, except my one true friend.

All I think about when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things. We don’t seem to be able to get closer, and that’s a problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t trust each other. In any case, that’s just how things are. That’s why I started the diary.

To enhance3 the image of this long­awaited friend in my imagination, I don’t want to write only about facts, but I want the diary to be my friend, and I am going to call this friend Kitty.

1 to get off one’s chest чистосердечно признаться в чем-либо, облегчить душу
2 to catch a glimpse [ɡlɪmps] увидеть (на мгновение)
3 to enhance [ɪnˈhaːns] усилить

2. The author writes when she decided to keep a diary. Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. What close people did Anna have?
4. Why did Anna start writing in a diary?


Speaking point "Let's talk about Belarus (card 4) After your monologues you will be asked these 5 questions:

What do you know about the history of our country?

Do you know any symbols of our country?

Do you speak the Belarusian language in your everyday life?

 Do you know any famous Belarussian people who contributed to the world’s heritage?What Belarusian sights would you advise a foreigner to visit?

Form 11, hometask for Tuesday (card 2-Education)

After "Accommodation" (card 1) we will be talking about EDUCATION (card 2). In this card you should tell about education in our country, for e.x.:

In Belarus there are 4 stages of education: preschool,primary school, secondary and higher education. Primary and secondary education is compulsory and free in Belarus. All in all it lasts 11 years. Children go to primary school at the age of 6-7 years old and to secondary school at the age of 10-11. The school year begins on September 1st and ends at the end of May. It is divided into 4 terms. At the end of each term children have holidays. Summer holidays are the longest. Marks in our country are given out of 10. 
The school day starts at 8a.m. and finishes at 2-3 p.m. After the 9th form pupils can either enter a college  or lyceum to get a deeper specialization in different spheres. To receive GCSE pupils take 4 exams: Russian/ Belarusian Language, Mathematics, History of Belarus and English. After the 11th form they can enter the university to get a higher education. To enter the the nifersity they should take 3 tests.

THAT'S A BEGINNING OF YOUR SPEAKING! Then you may add your own attitude to school/ your own ideas about the education in our country.

+ 5 questions

                                          What can you tell me about your school?

What is your ideal school like?

 Does higher education help people succeed in life?

Does our system of education differ from the British one?

Today young people want to study abroad because they believe that level of education is higher there. Would you do the same?  

  

Form 11, Hometask for MONDAY

Hello! I would like to remind you about your hometask: you should write 10-15 sentences on topic "ACCOMMODATION" (Where do you live? How does your house/flat liik like? Do you like your house? Why/ why not?/ Does your house reflect your character? Do you feel comfortable there?) and so on, just your own ideas and imagination + YOU SHOULD ANSWER THESE 5 QUESTIONS

What types of houses do people live in?

Would you like to have a house or a flat?

 I think all people want to have a cosy house. What makes a house a home?

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

 How would you decorate your own flat/house? 

FORM 8, Hometask for MONDAY (14/01)

Hello there! We continue to talk about holidays! On Thirsday it was all about Christmas and New Year, on Monday - it will be all about Belarusian folk holidays: KUPALLE and MASLENITSA

1) To find out more about Kupalle, you read the text on page 134-135 and fill in the missing words from the box!

2) To learn about  Maslenitsa you should read the information here and translate it

3) Did you  know that people in Britain also celebrate Maslenitsa and it's called PANCAKE DAY! To find out more about this day, please watch the video and answer the questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T49hbZji4o

1. Why did people start to celebrate it? What was the reason?
2. When do they celebrate a pancake day?
3. Why are pancakes flat (плоский)?
4. What is a pancake racing?

HOW CAN WE COMPARE THE BELARUSIAN MASLENITSA AND BRITISH PANCAKE DAY? (write 5 sentences)

Form 8, HOMEWORK FOR THIRSDAY

Hello there! Your task is to read the text about the New Year in Britain (ex.2c, p.125-126) and decide which customs/ traditions are the same as in Belarus and which are different! +ex.4 p.126 (please, write how YOU celebrate the New Year!)
We will be talking abour New Year traditions, decorations and resolutions!

Form 11, hometask for Wednesday

1) You should read the text from exam card №2, translate it and answer the questions 

№ 2

I. 1. Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

UNESCO World Heritage1 List

Belarus joined UNESCO in 1954. For many years, Belarus has been building up fruitful and dynamic relations with international organizations. Belarus programme of UNESCO activities includes numerous interesting projects in the fields of education, science, information, communications, and, of course, culture. In October 1988, Belarus joined the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Today four Belarusian sites have already been included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In 1992, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, a natural heritage object and a unique European forest reserve which has been protected since the 14th century, was the first one to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 2000, the Mir Castle Complex, which was built at the beginning of the 16th century, was also added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The successful combination of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture2 makes Mir Castle one of Europe’s most impressive castles. In 2005, two more sites were included into the UNESCO World Heritage List. They are the Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwills in Nesvizh and the Struve Geodetic Arc points3.

For centuries the Nesvizh Palace used to be the residence of the Radziwills, one of the richest families in Europe. Today the National Historical and Cultural Museum­Reserve Nesvizh is a wonderfully restored castle, which is visited by hundreds of tourists from all parts of the world. No wonder, it has become a landmark of Belarus.

The Struve Arc is a world famous construction. The same sorts of points are in ten countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova, all together 265 points. According to the historical data, there were 31 geodesic points in Belarus, and only 19 survived.

Belarus is going to propose to add Independence Avenue in Minsk for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Socialist Postwar Architecture in Central and Eastern Europe.

1 heritage [ˈheritidʒ] культурное наследие
2 Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture [ˈɡɒθɪk, bəˈrɒk, rɪˈneɪsəns ˈaːkɪtektʃə] архитектура готики, барокко и ренессанса
3 the Struve Geodetic Arc points [ˈstruːv ˌdʒiːəʊˈdetɪk ˈaːk ˈpɔɪnts] Геодезическая дуга Струве, представляющая собой цепь опорных пунктов наблюдения
2. Belarus is a member of UNESCO. Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. Which Belarusian sites are included on the list for protection?
4. What other sites does the Belarusian government want to be on the UNESCO List?


2) Your speaking topic "Accomodation". Here you speak about the house/ flat where you live + some philosophical sentences ( e.x. What does your house mean to you? Do you feel comfortable there? Does it reflect your character?)
At the exam I will ask you these 5 questions

What types of houses do people live in?

Would you like to have a house or a flat?

 I think all people want to have a cosy house. What makes a house a home?

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

 How would you decorate your own flat/house? 

Types of houses in GB

Houses are an important part of British life. To my mind there is no other nation that is so fond of houses. I`d like to tell you about different types of housing the British live in.The first type is a detached house. A detached house is one that is not joined to any other house. Many British people think that a detached house is the best type of house to have. Such houses have privacy from neighbours, they are ideal for keen gardeners and big families with children.The second type of houses is a semi-detached house. A semi-detached house is joined to another house on one side. A house of this kind is less expensive than a detached house, but still offers a goods standard of privacy and comfort.The third type of houses is a terraced house. It is one of a continuous row of similar houses, joined together by their side walls. This kind of houses is usually small.The next type is blocks of flats. Blocks of flats provide accommodation for a lot of city dwellers. But these buildings are not very popular. Only about 20% of the population live in flats.Then there are cottages. A cottage is a small house, especially an old one in the country. These are often thought of in a very romantic way as being cozy and safe, and having a thatched roof and roses round the door.The next type of houses is bungalows. Bungalows are one-storied houses which are particularly popular with older people. They don`t have to cope with stairs and so on.In conclusion I would like to add that British homes reflect the British national character and help us to understand this nation better.

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