Unit 4. Characteristic

1. You are a referee to one of your students. But you don’t know how to characterize him/her. Read and translate.

 

I have known Mr Ivanov for 6 years as a student at our University.

Mr Ivanov is an excellent student in English. He has scientifically oriented mind, a desire to work and master foreign language, and experience in working as a translator.

He is gifted and differs from the other students in his preparation for English lessons. His essays, projects on the topics «English Literature in the XIX Century», «Modern English Phonetics», «English Traditions and Customs» made a great impression on me. He is hardworking and organized.

While studying he took part and won the first prize at the competition among the fourth year students in English.

I can also state that comparing him with the other students in our University. I came to the conclusion that he has a high intellectual ability. He can solve different problems and tasks himself. Mr Ivanov has a quick reaction to changing situations and he is able to find the right solution.

 Mr Ivanov is perfect in spoken English, English Grammar, Phonetics, English Literature.

As far as I know he has been working as a translator at Trade Company EPQ for two years.

Mr Ivanov has a great potential to study and to work. He is an initiative student. He helped in organizing a conference at our University on the problems of Post Graduate Courses.

He is highly motivated to pursue his Graduate study and he is serious in achieving his goals. His marks in English were only excellent. He obtained good skills in conducting scientific research.

Mr Ivanov has a strong character. He deals with people easily.

It seems to me that Mr Ivanov has a big potential and future in the chosen field as a graduate student.

 

Active Vocabulary

 

scientifically oriented mind – научный склад ума

master smth – овладеть, справиться, освоить

differ from others – отличаться от других

be gifted – быть одаренным

make a great impression on smb – производить большое впечатление на кого-либо

be hardworking – быть трудолюбивым

compare – сравнивать

come to a conclusion – прийти к выводу

find the right solution – найти правильное решение

have a great potential – иметь большой потенциал

be highly motivated – иметь высокую мотивацию

pursue smth – искать, продолжать, добиваться, придерживаться, заниматься чем-либо

Graduate study – аспирантура

achieve a goal – достичь цели

deal with people – общаться, иметь дело с людьми

 

2. Find in the text English equivalents for:

 

иметь научный склад ума; опыт; отличаться от; производить большое впечатление на кого-либо; принимать участие; решать различные проблемы; быстрая реакция; правильное решение; большой потенциал; цель; аспирант.

 

3. Give Russian equivalents for:

 

a desire to work; a translator; to be gifted; hardworking and organized; a high intellectual ability; perfect; as far as I know; to pursue smth, to achieve; to conduct scientific research; to deal with smb.

 

4. Make up the sentences with the following words and word combinations.

 

to be gifted, a gift;

to characterize, character, characteristic;

to achieve smb’s goal, achievement;

to compare, comparing, comparison;

to deal with people, a deal, dealing with.

 

5. Match the verbs in A with the definitions in B.

 

A

1. to master something

2. to solve something

3. to pursue something

4. to obtain something

5. to conduct something

6. to deal with somebody

B

a. to find a solution to something that is causing difficulties.

b. to do something in an organized way.

c. to learn something thoroughly so that you know it or can do it very well.

d. to take the action that is necessary when you are involved with a particular person or type of person.

e. to get something you want or need especially by going through a process that is difficult.

f. to follow a course of activity.

6. Arrange the following parts into the pairs of synonyms.

 

method

research

to vary

to conduct

particularly

definite

to occur

cause

aim

generally

to choose

result

important

especially

to carry out

to select

typically

certain

technique

effect

to take place

to differ

investigation

goal

reason

significant

 

7. Translate the words in brackets.

 

1. He has (опыт) in working as an interpreter.

2. His essays and projects (большое впечатление) made on me.

3. He is able to find (правильное решение).

4. (Насколько) I know he has been working as a translator for two years.

5. He is (инициативный студент).

6. He has a big potential and future in the chosen field as (аспирант).

 

8. Translate the sentences into Russian.

 

1. Her youngest child has a very enquiring mind.

2. She never managed to master the Greek language.

3. She is exceptionally gifted in music.

4. As a serious candidate, you want to make a good impression on everyone you meet.

5. She was very hardworking and reliable.

6. The results are then compared to the results of previous studies.

7. They are working hard to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

8. He wants to pursue a career in medicine.

 

9. Look at the parts of the plan how to write a characteristic. Put them in the right order. Use this plan to write the characteristic as a referee.

Plan

1. Skills.

2. Professional background.

3. Personality.

4. Practical achievements.

5. How long have you known the applicant?

6. Evaluation of an applicant as a student.

7. Potential for further study.

 

10. Strike up a group discussion.

 

1. What a potential referee should write about an applicant?

2. How can a referee influence the future of the applicant?

 

11. Translate and try to explain these proverbs:

 

1. No living man all things can.

2. Better speak truth rudely than lie covertly.

3. Tastes differ.