If you have a chance to travel to an English-speaking county in the world, which one will you choose and why?
I think I will choose Australia. Australia is the place to be discovered, not to be feared. Australia is the only continent with the only population that is entirely below the equator, this is where the name ‘Down Under’ comes from. If you look at the sky above Australia you’ll see that it is absolutely different. On the flag of Australia there is the Southern Cross – a group of stars you won’t see if you look at the sky in Belarus, for example. There are some interesting things to discover there. The largest piece of rock in the world – Ayers Rock- is a very special place in central Australia. It is red and 335 meters high. Australians can see it from many kilometers away. Native Australians call it Uluru and believe it is holy. The flora and the fauna are unusual. Early explorers were so surprised by the emu and the kangaroo that they described the continent as the land where birds ran instead of flying and animals hopped instead of running. The kangaroo is Australia’s national hopping icon. There are about 60 kangaroo species in Australia .The country has a large diversity of reptiles, with over 860 species. The world’s largest reptile, the Saltwater Crocodile is native to Australia. There are more than 80 million sheep in Australia. It is the largest exporter of lamb and wool in the world. Australia has a good system of social security and services. Australian life is pretty quiet. Even the crisis of the recent years hasn’t affected Australia as much as Europe. You won’t feel bored if you pay a visit to the capital city Canberra or visit the biggest city Sydney. This country is really worth a visit.
№ 22
1. What can you say about the British national character?
As it is known in Britain there exists the accepted code of behavior. British people do not particularly like to interfere in other people's affairs. In a conversation they mostly avoid direct questions and strong dogmatic tones. The British see self-possession as the highest quality of human character. They value highly the ability to stay calm in all kinds of situations and leave things unsaid.
In one word - British are extremely reserved people. They are also considered to be industrious, polite, tradition-loving, courteous, honest, extremely nationalistic and etc. They are known to have a specific sense of humor. Their humor is delicate.
English people are famous for their habit of politeness. It is considered polite to give up one's seat to a woman who is standing, to open a door for her, carry things for her, and so on. Most British people expect the person in front of them to hold the door open for them. People think you are rude, if you don't do this. English people are very reserved. This means that they don't talk much to strangers, and don't show much emotion.
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English people show great love for animals. And, of course, English people are fond of sports. Many continentals think life is a game; the English think cricket is a game. The traditional love of English people for tea is well known. They like to drink tea with milk. They have their five-o'clock tea not only at home or in offices, but also in tea-rooms and tea-shops, which can be found in every town.
2. Do you think that Belarusians have many characteristics in common?
Of course people are individuals and have their own traits but I think that Belarusians have many characteristics in common. First of all Belarusians are hardworking and patient, they are accustomed to work hard, as it is always problematic to produce something in our climatic conditions. Moreover, Belarusians are undemanding and modest. Belarusians are extremely sociable. Compared to the people in many western countries Belarusians are not materialistic. This is not to say they do not want a car, good clothes and a nice apartment. One thing that always impresses foreign visitors to Belarus is the strong sense of community. In fact, it often seems to me, there is little distinction between family and friends. There is high respect for education and culture. The countryside holds a special place in the hearts of Belarusians. Even though Belarus has become increasingly urbanized and industrialized there always remains a link to rural life. At weekends in spring, summer and early autumn cities and towns seem to empty out as their dwellers go to their dachas.
I have only touched on a few points, which make Belarus and Belarusians distinctive. There is much more but that would take a whole book to describe.
3. What questions will you ask about the specific qualities of the Belarusian national character?
I wonder why Belarusians are called ’bulbashi’?
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What do Belarusians enjoy doing in their free time?
What sports do they practice?
Are Belarusians hospitable people?
What is the main characteristic of the nation?
4. Your friend is going to visit the United States. Give him some advice on how to behave during his trip.
When you come to America you should remember some things. First of all, American society seems to be informal. They use first names when calling each other. Students don’t rise when a teacher enters a classroom. You should be prepared for it and don’t get embarrassed or offended when you are addressed only by the first name.
You will often hear “Hi” used instead of the usual “Hello”, and “Howdy” instead of “ How do you do?” Those who don’t show these signs of friendship are called snobbish.
Then Americans are direct. Honesty and frankness are more important to Americans than “saving face. So you should avoid beating around the bush.
Direct eye contact is very important. An American can grow suspicious if a person he is talking to looking sideways.
Such topics as the financial status of a person, the cost of the house or other property, religion, the relations in the family are avoided.
It’s very important to remember that Americans are very particular about planning their time. They are expected to meet deadlines and finish projects.
I hope these tips will help to get on well with the Americans.
5. People say: “When in Rome do as Romans do.” What do you think about it?
One wise man said that no man should travel until he has learned the language of the country he visits. True, isn’t it? However, we sometimes realise, to our great astonishment, that the knowledge of the language is not enough. Every country has its customs. Different nations can behave differently in the same situations. Let’s be polite travelers and respect the customs of the country we are in. We shouldn’t forget the proverb: “When in Rome do as the Romans do». It means that we should be polite and respectful to a different culture or society.
Britain is considered to be one of the countries with strict life rules and visitors are frequently criticized for breaking them. It`s common knowledge that the British are cold and reserved. It is considered entirely normal for English commuters to make their morning and evening train journeys with the same group of people for many years without ever exchanging a word. Sometimes they can ask for information - "Is this train going to Marble Arch?" However, despite not wanting to engage in conversations with strangers, people standing at a bus stop will often break an uncomfortable silence by talking about the weather. "Weather-speak" usually starts with a question which invites the other person into a conversation: "Stuffy, isn`t it?". The main trouble is that the foreigners always disagree with this statement that causes offence and the conversation would stop. The only way is to agree - that`s taken for granted. Foreign visitors may find it tricky at first to accept unspoken rules and codes of behavior, thus they have to get used to them as soon as possible so as not to be trapped. And to conclude we can say that it`s simply polite towards the other country`s culture follow the rule "When in Rome, do as Romans do".
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№ 23. Let’s talk about youth and society
1. What are the three top social issues that young people face today?
Youth is perhaps the most memorable time in the life of an individual. Filled with fun, frolic, happiness and a combination of bitter sweet surprises, it is the time that most people cherish throughout life. Having fun with friends, chasing your dreams, wasting time and not regretting it, there is just too much to do, too much to live, too much to be happy about. However, since every coin has two sides, this beautiful phase co-exists with the various problems which are faced by youth of today, especially because of the society that we live in.
Schools and Colleges are an integral part of every youngster’s life. However, for some the experience is fearsome as a bunch of bullies is trying to get them. Bullying of children in schools and ragging by seniors in colleges are perhaps every freshman’s nightmare. In cases of bullying in schools, it is necessary that the matter should be reported to parents and teachers as soon as possible. Educational institutions are a place to learn, such evils should not ruin the decorum of the place.
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Another problem is drug addiction as well as alcohol abuse and smoking. They ruin young people’s health and all their lives. As a result they don’t have a good job and a family.
Misunderstanding between young and elder generations is a vital problem too. Parents of most youngsters want them to pursue academic careers. If someone wishes to do something different the idea is not supported in worst cases. Moreover, there is always a comparison made between the children, every parent wants his/her child to be the best. This practice of comparison not only demoralizes the child but can also provoke the youngster to go to any extreme level to prove that he/ she is better than the others.
To sum up I want to say that the problems the young people face nowadays are very similar to those of all previous generations. But to solve these problems the youth need optimism, courage and a little understanding by the older.
2. Are you concerned about what is going on in the world now?
Of course I am. Today's rapid changes have made countries more interdependent than ever before, shrinking the world into a global village. As the world grows smaller, events in any one area have a greater impact on other parts of the world. National borders do not limit the effects of pollution or environmental destruction. Even poverty in some areas affects other areas because of migration and its impact on the world economy. Three examples of global problems that affect the modern world are famine, pollution, and terrorism.
Only a few countries are able to produce more food than their citizens need. For the rest of the world, hunger and malnutrition are common. In developing nations, about 150 million children under the age of five go to bed hungry each night.
Terrorism is used to frighten governments into making concessions. Many radical groups use terrorism. Terrorist organizations have made use of the following tactics: taking hostages, bombing and political assassinations.
Any person concerned about the future of our planet can’t help thinking about ecological destruction, pollution and global warming. We should also remember that climate change is among the major global issues. The impact of climate change has also led to food insecurities in most of the countries today. Crops fail to grow, livestock die and water sources sometimes go dry.
I’m sure that we must think about what is going in the world so as to save it for future generations.
3. What questions will you ask your friend who belongs to a group of Goths?
Do you always wear clothes in black colour?
How do you spend your free time together?
How did you become a Goth?
What are your relationships with your parents like?
Does it interfere with your studies?
4. Give me a piece of advice on how to make a summer holiday enjoyable and beneficial for other people?
To give a piece of advice on how to make a summer holiday enjoyable and beneficial for other people I should find out the following: how young people spend their spare time, what leisure activities they prefer. As far as I can judge it is music in combination with such forms of group activities as discos, concerts, and cafe-cum-club come first, followed by the Internet, theatre and reading. Then come films, museums, amateur arts and engineering, and, finally, TV and classical music. Most young people admit they do not know how to plan their leisure. The actual priorities are as follows: TV comes first, followed by Internet, reading, films, listening to records, radio, going out to dances and discos; then come concerts, museums, amateur arts, and finally theatre. I’d like to say a few words about music, which plays a very important part in young people's lives. Rock is certainly more popular than classical music. Russian and Belarusian pop groups who play original music and meaningful texts are especially popular.
That’s why I can recommend cultural tours or historic tours to explore architectural heritage, beach holidays, river cruising, wildlife holiday, shopping tours, railway journeys and others.
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