The Importance of Language Learning.

1) Why do people learn foreign languages? Is it necessary to speak ideally correct English? What do you need to do to become ‘fluent’ in a foreign language? Give your reasons.

2) What do you think about the role of English in our life? How much English do you see in our country? Does it help you in everyday life? How? Give some examples.

3) Some people say when we learn a foreign language, we enrich our native language. What do you think about it?

4) Why did you decide to learn English? Why has English become so widely spoken? Do you think there will be an increase in the quantity of English spoken in our country in the next few years? Can you see any reasons for this? Which variety of English (British or American) do you like more? Why?

5) Is it easy to learn English at school? What do you like and dislike doing at English lessons? Is it possible to learn English without a teacher?

6) Is your English good enough to travel as a tourist /to study abroad / to invite English-speaking guests? Give your reasons.

7) Will you need English (or any other foreign languages) in your career? Which kinds of jobs need excellent, good or satisfactory command in English? How will you study your next foreign language ( at the university, by TV, abroad, etc.) ?

8) Express your opinion on the subject: «What makes a good language school and what makes a good language teacher».

9) If German / French is a second language for you, tell your classmates about the difficulties you had or still have with the language, and about some of the main differences between your native language and German / French.

10) A friend of yours wants to learn English as quickly as possible, but needs advice about what to do to be most effective. What is your advice?

11) Say how learning foreign languages helps you or will help you in the future? Give some examples.

12) Say if your knowledge of history, geography and other subjects increased since you began learning English? Does English help you to study other subjects? Why/why not?

13) There are some people who know many foreign languages. Is it useful or not? Give your reasons.

14) In many countries children start learning English when they go to school, but some people think children may start learning English much younger. What do you think of it? Give your reasons.

Speaking 3. Debates and Discussions

Education and School Life

1) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both a relaxed and a strict atmosphere in the classroom. Decide what can make it possible to create an atmosphere in which teachers are able to teach effectively and the students enjoy learning.

2) Do you think secondary education should be selective or compulsory? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?

3) In Britain they have single-sex and mixed-up schools. Speak about the advantages and disadvantages of these schools. What do you think about the same schools in our country?

4) What are the advantages and disadvantages of single sex schools? Do you think it is a good idea for children to work together in groups in the classroom? Why/why not?

5) Can we say that Russia and Britain are truly educated countries? Compare the system of education in Britain and Russia (in the USA and Russia). Which are the most important ways in which school in Britain differs from school in Russia? In what significant ways are schools in Britain and Russia alike?

6) Russian schools, 20 or 30 years ago , were very different from the way they are today. Were schools better or worse than they are now? Give your reasons.

7) A lot of fee-paying classes appeared in Russia in recent years. What do you think about them? Parents who have enough money can still buy their children greater opportunities in life by sending them to private schools. Do you think that this is fair? Compare school environment in fee-paying classes and in comprehensive ones (in Britain and in Russia)

8) Speak on the advantages and disadvantages of taking a year out between school and higher education.

9) In Britain it is quite common for school students to have to wear school uniform. Discuss the following with your partners:

· What are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a school uniform? What are the arguments for and against compulsory school uniform?

· What do you imagine British students think of their uniforms?

· Are uniforms worn in Russian schools? What do you think of them?

10) What are the most important characteristics that make: a) your ideal teacher? b) an ideal student?

11) Discuss whether you agree or disagree with the following statements. Give reasons.

· Exams are not an accurate measure of a person’s ability.

· A mixture of exams and coursework is a good idea.

· You should repeat a school year if you fail your exams.

· You should be told the questions a little time before you go into the exam.

· Exams should involve an oral and a written part.

· Competitive exams are a good idea.

12) An international young people’s magazine is investigating the question: Should students only be judged by their results in end-of-year exams? Discuss this question and express your opinion.

13) Imagine the following situation. A language school in London is offering two scholarships. All applicants are invited to tell about themselves and explain their situation. The scholarship includes three months of English course, all food and accommodation and some pocket money. You’d like to become one of the candidates. Give information about yourself and say why you would be good for a scholarship.

14) Here is a list of ideas which can be suggested to improve the quality of education. Which of these suggestions are you for or against? Give your reasons.

· Making the school day longer

· More modern equipment (such as computers, film projectors, video cameras, overhead projectors...)

· More attention to the humanities or sciences

· Smaller classes

· More attention by parents to what their children are learning and how they are doing in school

· Better textbooks

· Making the school year longer

15) Education is constantly changing and adapting itself to new demands and new circumstances. In our technological age there is much emphasis on Science, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Computing, Management, Ecology and Economics, all so necessary in today’s world. Do you think it is correct that all these subjects should be included in the school curriculum? Which subjects are highly valued at school at present and why? Do you think it is good in present-day schools that freedom is given to select subjects for the examinations? Express your opinion about early subject specialization. Give some arguments for and against the early choice of subjects at school.

16) You are in Great Britain, and you are invited to the Teachers’ Training College. Future teachers would like to know how the Russian system of education functions:

· think over your speech and make some notes for yourself so as not to omit anything;

· tell the students of the Teachers’ Training College about pre-school facilities and secondary education in Russia. Make your speech interesting and impressive.