Учебно-методическое пособие для студентов 1 курса Нижний Новгород 2003 (стр. 3 из 6)
Degrees are also now awarded by the “Open University”. This accepts adult students for spare-time study. It offers its lectures on television and radio, sets and marks students work by correspondence, has local tutors who see students at local technical colleges and has students in residence for short periods during holidays. It is an attempt to provide university level education for those who missed the boat during their school years.
3. Make up 12 special questions to the text.
Topic
Youth in Crises
1. Vocabulary
| to take on the rights of adult hood | получать права взрослых |
| a teenager | подросток |
| Values | ценности |
| the media | средства массовой информации |
| to participate to | участвовать |
| to turn to crime | обращаться к преступлению |
| juvenile delinquents | несовершенно летние преступники |
| drug use | употребление наркотиков |
| to decrease | уменьшаться |
| alcohol abuse | злоупотребление алкоголем |
| to increase | увеличиваться |
2. Text
At 18 years of age young people in the United States can take on the rights and the responsibilities of adulthood.
American teenagers begin to be influenced by the values expressed by their friends, the media (newspaper, television, magazines, etc) and teachers.
During this period of their lives young people also begin to participate to social activities such as sporting events and church group projects, as well to spend more time in the company of members of the opposite sex.
Some young people turn to crime and become juvenile delinquents. Drug use has decreased among young people in the United States, though alcohol abuse has increased. Many young Americans are joining organizations to help teenagers stop drinking. In some schools, students have joined anti-drug programs.
Young people with drug problems also can call special telephone numbers to ask for help. Another problem of American youth is pregnancy among young women.
Many community programs help cut down on the numbers of teenage pregnancies. They offer health care, contraceptive-counseling programs, social activities.
New programs to help troubled youth are created every year.
For example the city of New York and the Rheedlen Foundation provide an after – school program at a junior high school to help keep teens from becoming juvenile delinquents. Young people can go after school and talk with peer counselors (people their own age), receive academic tutoring or take part in athletic and social activities.
3. Make up 12 special questions to the text.
Part 2.
Marriage and family relations
“Marriage is a very important step in a person’s life” The concept of a happy marriage varies from individual to individual».
A group of students and their teacher are involved into discussion of marital problems and factors contributing to marital success. It is not a formal “teacher-student” relationship, but simply an open exchange of ideas».
Read the discussion and point out the problems they are talking over.
Dialogue 1.
Class Discussion
− I’d like to begin today’s talk by suggesting a starting point. What’s the basis of a happy marriage?
− Oh, it is a bit unexpected. It sounds just fine. What on earth shall we talk about?
− What with some students being married and others standing on the threshold of matrimony this seems a vital topic. There’s no denying the fact that we are greatly concerned with marital problems and behavior.
− But let’s return to the subject. What makes a marriage happy?
− Love. Mutual understanding. Financial security and self-reliance. Passionate attachment.
− I rather think marriage involves living with person, not merely loving him. In my opinion comradely affection and companionship matter more in the long run then passion.
− I don’t see, Mary, why you haven’t mentioned such important factors as cultural similarities and intellectual community. They are very important in choosing the right mate. Like should marry like. It stands to reason. People should have much in common to get along with one another.
− I for one, think financial security is of primary importance for marital success. Of course, money does not automatically bring happiness, but a lack of money certainly causes stress in any relationship.
− There is a lot to be said for money. But love comes first, I believe. In modern society people needn’t any longer marry for convenience.
− Don’t they? It depends on what we understand by a marriage of convenience. If a person marries for such reasons as having children, emotional security, a home of his own, is it a marriage of convenience? If it is, I’m all for it.
− I see what you mean, Kate. But let’s face it. Some people nowadays marry for the reasons of convenience and advantages to promote a career, to come into money or just to please their parents.
− By the way, parents may take a better choice than their children. They are wiser and may be better judges of character than young people. They know well what qualities are desirable in a spouse.
− I’m sure neither a marriage of love nor a marriage of convenience is bound to be a success. Both kinds of marriage take work, patience and perhaps a bit of luck. Happy homes are so rare.
− But what is wrong with marrying for love. I don’t think marriage is for everybody, I fell in love a dozen times and out of love as often. I don’t consider it a steady relationship. I’d rather stay a bachelor.
− Poor George, you sound too pessimistic. That’s bad luck. Wait and see...
− Let me have mу word. I believe marriage is what two people make it. The trouble with many modern couples is that they hurry into matrimony. Being madly in love with each other they don’t weigh all the factors important for a life-long union. They regard romance as the primary basis of a happy marriage.
− That is true. Marriage is different from love. That is why young реople are so often disappointed. The ideal they fall in love with has so little to do with reality.
− What really happens during the period of romance is an unconscious preoccupation of young people in a play of make-believe. The faults of their characters are not so obvious because they try to please their loved ones. If those faults sometimes do come into the open they are happily ignored, while the virtues are magnified and exaggerated out of all proportion.
− You have explained it so well that it seems to leave no hope for young people in love.
− I never meant to be so discouraging. You have a reasonable chance of matrimonial happiness if you know very well the person you are marrying, if you carefully weigh all the pros and cons and if you don’t expect marriage to be an everlasting honeymoon.
− Oh, marriage is a hard job.
Ex.1
Find the words and word combinations in the dialogue.
Начало (отправная точка), супружество, быть обеспокоенным, по моему мнению, вовлекать, не вызывает сомнений, дружеские отношения, жизненно важный, финансовая стабильность, страсть, духовное единение, первостепенная важность, недостаток денег, брак по расчету, брак по любви, по этим причинам, свой собственный дом, хорошо ладить, взвесить все «за» и «против», современные пары, непрекращающийся «медовый месяц», союз на всю жизнь, кстати, продвижение по службе, влюбиться, недостатки их характера, проигнорировать.
Ex.2.
Find the sentences in the dialogue.
Я полностью «за». Давайте признаем это. Давайте вернемся к предмету обсуждения. Это не выдерживает критики. Замужество это тяжелый труд. Тебе просто не повезло. Позвольте мне сказать свое слово. Идеал, в которого они влюбляются, не имеет ничего общего с реальностью. Замужество и любовь это разные вещи. Я лучше останусь холостяком. Я полагаю, что брак станет таким, каким его сделают двое. Я влюблялся сотни раз. Счастливые семьи — редкость.
Ex.3.
Find the masculine gender to the following words:
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Wife | husband |
| Bride | |
| Female | |
| sister-in-law | |
| Granddaughter | |
| Cousin | |
| Niece | |
| girl friend | |
| Stepmother |
Ex.4
Comment on the situations.
1. You have fallen in love head over hills but your parents don’t approve your choice.
2. People say that you should keep your eyes wide open before marriage and quite close afterwards.
3. Marriage is like a lottery.
4. Young marriages are abnormal.
5. Marriages are made in Haven.
6. The main aim of marriage is recreation.
Ex.5
Write down the composition on one of the topics giving above.
Dialogue 2.
Computer dating
Interviewer Come in.
Mr Bull Ah, good afternoon. My name’s Bull... John Bull. I’m looking for a girlfriend.
Interviewer Please sit down, Mr Bull. May I ask you some questions?
Mr Bull Oh, yes.. . What about?
Interviewer Ah.. . Music, for example... do you like music?
Mr Bull Yes, I do. I like classical music.
Interviewer Do you like pop music?
Mr Bull No, I don’t... and I don’t like jazz.
Interviewer How old are you, Mr Bull?
Mr Bull What! I don’t like personal questions!
Interviewer Oh, well... can you complete this form later, and send by post!
Ex. 1.
Make up the similar dialogues using the following material.
Surname: Smith
First Name (s): VIRGINIA
Age: 16
Occupation: student
Likes:
Colours: pink and yellow
Food: fruit, vegetables
Drink: milk, fruit juice
Recreation: dancing, swimming
Music: rock, jazz
Dislikes: politics, television, football, dogs
Date: 12 July
Signature:
Ex. 2.
Make up the similar dialogues using the following material.
Surname: Bull First
First Name (s): John George
Age: 65
Occupation: Farmer
Likes:
Colours: red, white and blue
Food: roastbeef, роrtatoes
Drink: beer, whiskey
Recreation: Fishing, chess.
Music: classical music
Dislikes: Pop music, danсing, children.
Date: 29.08 2003
Signature:
Ex. 3.
Make up the dialogues using the material about your group mates.
Surname:
Name(s):
Age: Occupation:
Likes:
Colours:
Food:
Drink:
Recreation:
Music:
Dislikes:
Date:
Signature:
Dialogue 3.
Prison
Tom Well.... Tomorrow we’re going to leave this place!
Fred Yes. What are you going to do first?
Tom Hmm. . . first, I’m going to rent a big car, meet my girlfriend and take her to an expensive restaurant. We’re going to have steak and drink champagne. What about you, Fred?
Fred My wife’s going to meet me outside the prison. Then we’re going to have tea with her mother.
 |
Tom With her mother! You’re joking!
Fred No, I’m not. I’m going to work for my wife’s mother.
Tom Really? You’re not going to work for your mother-in-law!
Fred Yes. She’s got a little cafe in London.
Tom What are you going to do there?
Fred I’m going to wash up.
Tom What! Wash up! I’m not going to work! I’m going to have a good time!
Fred You’re lucky.. . . I’m going to rob a bank next week.
Tom Why?
Fred Because I’m happy in prison!
Dialogue 4.
I want you, Fiona
Charles Please marry me, Fiona. I want you, I need you, I love you.
Fiona I’m sorry Charles, but I can’t.
Charles Oh, Fiona. Why not?
Fiona Well, Charles. I like you I like you a lot. ..but I don’t love you.
Charles But Fiona, love isn’t everything.
Fiona Oh, Charles, you don’t understand... for me . love is everything.
Charles Do you love another man Fiona?
Fiona Yes, Charles, I do ...James.
Charles Not James Milton!
Fiona Yes, James Milton.
Charles But he doesn’t want you. He’s engaged.
Fiona I know.
Charles But Fiona, James isn’t a rich man. I can give you everything. What do you want? Clothes? Money? Travel? A big house?
Fiona No, Charles. I don’t want those things. I only want James.
Points for discussion:
1. What makes a happy marriage?
2. Do you believe in everlasting love?
3. What is true love?
4. Why is the honeymoon the most precious reminiscence in the marriage life?
5. What do you think of early marriages?
6. Can a family life be happy without children?
7. Do you approve homosexual marriages?
8. Is the wedding party necessary, what do you think?
9. Do you know many examples of perfect marriages?
10. What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing up with several brothers and sisters in the family?
11. What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing up as an only child?
12. At what age should a person get married?
Do the quiz and count how many points you have got. Find the total and check the results.
ARE YOU READY TO GET MARRIED?
1. How old are you?
| e. 40+ |
a. 16-20 b. 21-25 c. 26-35 d. 35-40
2. Who do you live with?
 |
a. your parents b. on your own c. your partner