Let’s talk about education

What questions do you usually ask when you want to get acquainted with someone?

What can you advise a teenager who has no friends?

I can advise him to be more sociable. He may join some clubs and make friends with young people who have the same interests. For example, we have a very good tourist club at our lyceum and students enjoy going on trips. After the trips they enjoy singing tourist songs and chattering about their impressions there. I can advise him to join this club. He will certainly make a lot of friends there.

Nowadays people prefer to have more money than many friends. What do you think about it?

There are wise words “Money can buy you a bed but not sleep. Money can buy you medicine but not health. Money can buy you a house but not home. Money can buy you company but not friends.” So there are things more important than money. In my opinion, friendship is certainly more precious than money.

Let’s talk about education.

1) Let’s talk about education. What can you tell me about your school?

No doubt school occupies a very special place in the life of every person. At school we do not only learn different subjects, we are also taught what is right and what is wrong, we make our first friends and life-long friendship.

I study at Mogilev Regional Lyceum # 1. In my opinion it is the best place to receive a proper education. When you enter the lyceum, you won’t see frowned or indifferent faces. There are only cheerful people. What impressed me most on my first days at the lyceum was the fact that all the teachers addressed us ‘you’, not ‘thee’ as in the former school.

The lyceum occupies a large three-storeyed building, which is very beautiful and full of historic associations. Originally it was an educational institution for the daughters of clergymen. For some years there was a teachers’ training college in this building and then for many years there was a boarding-school here. And we shudder at the thought that during the war there was the so-called “Gestapo” here, and a lot of people were tortured and even killed in the cellar of the building.

Since 1990 the building has been occupied by Mogilev Regional Lyceum #1.

The architecture of the building is impressive. The classrooms and studies look very spacious due to their high ceilings. The studies are equipped with the latest teaching aids. For instance, our English study has a tape-recorder, a record-player, a juke-box, and a video. What is more, we use them all at our lessons.

There are a lot of clubs at the lyceum. It’s a shame I’m too pressed for time and can’t take part in all the clubs I like. One of the best and cosiest places for relaxing is the tourist club. It is so enjoyable to sing tourist songs and to chatter about our trips there.

I study in the class majoring in English. No wonder my favourite subject is English. We have English nearly every day. At our English lessons we do a lot of reading, writing and speaking. Much attention is paid to grammar and listening comprehension. I want to make good progress in English, that’s why I try to work hard. I think that studying at the lyceum I have every opportunity to master the language, so I’m happy that I study here.

2) Do you agree that Belarusian secondary school provides a person with good knowledge? Why (not)?

I fully agree that Belarusian secondary school provides a person with good knowledge. Let’s take our lyceum, for example. The teachers of the lyceum are talented, hard-working and enthusiastic people. They always encourage us in our studies. I think they do credit to their profession. Nearly all our school-leavers enter universities and study there successfully.

3) Ask me whether I liked school when I was a pupil.

4) What can you advise a student who is not very good at languages to do to achieve better results?

You can’t obtain knowledge without practice and hard work. I takes a lot of time to get deep knowledge and develop practical skills. If you are not very good at languages, don’t be discouraged. Remember that practice makes perfect. If you practice English every day, you’ll be able to master it. Be persistent, hard-working, confident and patient. Listen to recorded texts, read books and magazines. It will help you to enlarge your vocabulary. Do a lot of drills, exercises and tests. Be very attentive in class and do your homework thoroughly. As a matter of fact, do everything your teacher says and you will certainly improve your knowledge.

5) Today some young people think that having a good education is not very important. Do you agree with them?

I don’t agree that having a good education is not very important. You can’t be a good specialist without a good education. If you want to have an interesting and well-paid job you should receive a good education.

5. Let’s talk about studying at school.

1) Let’s talk about studying at school. What can you tell me about the place where you study?

I study at Mogilev Regional Lyceum # 1. In my opinion it is the best place to receive a proper education. When you enter the lyceum, you won’t see frowned or indifferent faces. There are only cheerful people. The lyceum occupies a large three-storeyed building, which is very beautiful and full of historic associations. Originally it was an educational institution for the daughters of clergymen. For some years there was a teachers’ training college in this building and then for many years there was a boarding-school here. And we shudder at the thought that during the war there was the so-called “Gestapo” here, and a lot of people were tortured and even killed in the cellar of the building. Since 1990 the building has been occupied by Mogilev Regional Lyceum #1.

The architecture of the building is impressive. The classrooms and studies look very spacious due to their high ceilings. The studies are equipped with the latest teaching aids.

I study in the class majoring in English. No wonder my favourite subject is English. We have English nearly every day. At our English lessons we do a lot of reading, writing and speaking. Much attention is paid to grammar and listening comprehension. I want to make good progress in English, that’s why I try to work hard. I think that studying at the lyceum I have every opportunity to master the language, so I’m happy that I study here.

2) Do you agree that our school gives a person a good start in life? Why (not)?

I fully agree that our school gives a person a good start in life. Let’s take our lyceum, for example. The teachers of the lyceum are talented, hard-working and enthusiastic people. They always encourage us in our studies. I think they do credit to their profession. Nearly all our school-leavers enter universities and study there successfully. Naturally a good university education gives a person a good start in life.

3) Ask me what kind of pupil I was when I was at school?

4) You are talking with a British student. What would you advise him to do to prepare for an exam well?

Remember that practice makes perfect. If you work hard every day, you’ll be able to do well at the exam. Be persistent, hard-working, confident and patient. Do a lot of revision, drills, exercises and tests. As a matter of fact, do everything your teacher says and you will certainly succeed.

5) Today some young people want to study abroad because they believe that the level of education is higher there. Would you do the same?

Frankly speaking, I am in two minds about it. On the one hand, I know that the majority of our universities give a good education to their students. But on the other hand, it must be very interesting to study abroad. You do not only receive your education there, you get acquainted with a new country, its culture, its people, its customs and traditions. So, probably, if I had an opportunity, I would like to study abroad.