Mass media in general 1. Which type of mass media do you prefer? 2. Which type of mass media is most reliable? Which is quickest? Which is most fun? Which is most up-to-date? Which one is easiest to use? 3. Do you think that the government should control the media? Why or why not? 4. How do you think people will get information in the future? Newspapers and magazines 5. How often do you read a newspaper? 6. What is your favourite newspaper? 7. What is the difference between a 'tabloid' newspaper and a 'broadsheet'? Which is more popular? 8. Do people usually read regional or national newspapers? 9. Is there a lot of advertisement in newspapers? 10. Are newspapers usually biased or independent? 11. Do you subscribe to a newspaper? What are the advantages of a subscription? 12. Do you like reading magazines? 13. What is your favourite magazine? 14. What kind of magazines is especially popular with women? With men? With girls? With boys? 15. When do people usually buy/read magazines? 16. What do you think about women's magazines? 17. How often do magazines usually come out? Radio and television 18. Do you often listen to the radio? When? 19. What's your favourite radio station? 20. Do you prefer regional channels or national ones? 21. What type of stations are popular in your country? 22. What type of programmes can you hear on the radio? 23. Do you think radio will still be used in the future? Why do you think so? 24. What's you favourite TV programme? Why is it your favourite? 25. What type of TV programmes do you hate? Why? 26. What other popular types of TV programmes do you know? 27. Do you think that TV is good for people? Why or why not? 28. How does TV influence people's lives? 29. What are the positives and negatives of TV? 30. What is the difference between public channels and commercial channels? 31. If you could influence the nature / selection of TV programmes, what would you change? Why? 32. How do you feel about TV commercials, especially when they are shown in the middle of a film? 33. What is your favourite TV commercial? What TV commercial do you hate? 34. What is a 'couch potato"? Are you a couch potato? The Internet 35. What's your favourite website? Why do you like it? 36. What sort of information can be found on the Net? 37. What else can be found there? 38. Can you always rely on the information you find? 39. What are the positives and negatives of the Internet? 40. Is it difficult to publish something on the Internet? 41. Do you (or anyone you know) have a website? What is it about? 42. Do you think that the Internet will replace other kinds of mass media completely? Why? 43. When you are using the Internet, is your privacy well protected? 44. Is there a lot of unpleasant advertisement on the Internet? 45. Is there any censorship on the Net? Should there be?

Speaking about my favourite subject I must admit that I was privileged to study at a school where the English language was taught since the first form. It wasn't a specialized English school it was the school of fine-arts. Since the first days at school English has become my favourite subject. At the age of 7 we were introduced into foreign speech and were taught to read, write and listen to short texts in English. Our English teacher made each lesson an interesting game which we enjoyed very much. It was exiting and easy to learn English at that time by plaing games and singing songs. We looked at the pictures the teacher showed us, repeated the words after her, asked her questions: ''What's your name? '' and full of pride we answered: ''My name is …'' We wanted everybody to see that we knew English.

As we grew older our lessons became more instructive and serious. Our optimism and courage disappeared and a real job began. Not everybody liked it, not everybody wanted to work hard everyday. Any language is like music. It requires, everyday training. And this training consists of four main parts of exercises, if you like. They are listening, reading, writing and speaking. And the more you work, the more you do, the better you understand: you know to little, and you will discover that English consists of Her Majesty Grammar. A first it seems illogical and impos-sible to understand. And spelling! Everybody knows that in English you write Manchester and read Liverpool. And why only 26 letters? A lot of questions. You are trying to find the answers. The more you find, the more you understands the laws that govern this language.

You see how laconically beautiful it is, how expressive and impressive it can be. I think only at this moment you actually begin working at your English because you can understand what you need, what for you need it.

It is not surprising that many intellectuals and well-educated people know many foreign languages, because I have always interested in foreign countries, their culture, and people. I learn English because I understand that I can use it. I want to learn English in particular not only it is the language of such great countries as Great Britain or the USA because it became an international language of progressive science, engineering.

Knowledge of foreign languages helps young people of different counties to develope friendship and understanding. When they meet at festivals or in interna-tional friendship camps, they can associate in English.

I learn English, because I want to read foreign literature in original. I like such English and American writers as M. Twain, J. London, L. Carroll, W. Shakespeare, M. Michel and others. I understand that I must learn English because I can be able to go to go to the library an take books by English and American writers in original. I like to read books and newspapers, too. If I know, for example, English well I'll be able to read "The Morning Stap", "The Daily News". I know that these are very popular newspapers.

Today, one person in seven of the world's population either knows English or learns it. So a modern and cultured person must learn foreign language.

I think that to know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated men, for every good specialist.

На английском

We all need exercise. This is true for young people (in their teens) as well as for adults. Even if you don't plan make sports your main occupation. This is my opinion and I feellike it is true.

As long as I can remember myself I was always keen on tennis. I love this sport with its old noble traditions, though myself never dreamed of becoming anything more than an amateur.

I watch closely all backetboll competitions and championships.There are a lot of them, but my favourite championship is Wimbledon because old tennis traditions remains there as they are. Some of the most well-known Wimbledon champions are: John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles. My dream is to get a chance to watch at least one of them playing.

And meantime I play tennis with my friends. It is also a great opportunity to socialize with people who have similar interest (as any sport I suppose).

 
Перевод (на всякий случай)
Нам всем нужны тренировки. Это так же верно для молодежи, как и для старших. Даже если вы не собираетесь выбирать спорт в качестве профессии. Это мое мнение, и оно мне кажется правильным.

Сколько я себя помню, мне всегда ужасно нравился теннис. Я люблю этот спорт с его старыми благородными традициями, хотя я никогда не мечтал быть чем-то больше любителя.

Я внимательно слежу за соревнованиями и чемпионатами по баскетболлу. Их существует очень много, но мой любимый - Уимблдон, потому что в нем старые теннисные традиции сохраняются такими, какими были. Некоторые из самых известных победителей Уимблдона: Джон Маккенрой, Борис Беккер, Штеффи Граф, Моника Селеш. Моя мечта - увидеть хотя бы одного из них.

А пока я играю в теннис со своими друзьями. Это еще и прекрасная возможность пообщаться с людьми со схожими интересами (как и любой другой спорт, я полагаю).