Work with your partner. Decide whether you agree or disagree with these statements. Give your reasons

a) «Some people do the strangest things just to prove themselves».

b) «Everybody has their own Mount Everest they have to climb. You may never reach the summit; for that you will be forgiven. But if you don't make at least one serious attempt to get above the snow-line, years later you will feel emptiness».

c)  «Team Players are not very good at creating value on their own. They are not autonomous; they need a team in order to exist».

Answer the following questions:

1. Describe you as a person. Describe your appearance and character. What kind of person you are?

2. Can you always get the balance?

3. Are you hard-working? Are you a well-educated person?

4. Do you like you as a person? Are you snobbish, sociable or reserved?

5. Could you say you are very careful about time? Prove it.

6. Imagine that you are allowed to have some of the gifts for your birthday. Choose three gifts which you think are the most important or useful and three which are the least important or useful (good health, a nice house, a brilliant mind, money, a good job, friends, the latest fashion clothes, travelling ….)?

7. Do you think that first impressions of a person are not always right? Why?

8. How are you going to build (step by step) your career?

9. Would you like to be a child again? Why?

10. What do you wear to theatres, cinemas, bars, parties, concerts? Do you think much about clothes? Many British people just like to be comfortable. What about you?

11. What would you do if you won $ 1 000000?

12. Which job is less stressful/more stressful from your point of view; (architect, journalist, teacher, banker, barber (hairdresser), beautician, dentist, engineer, carpenter, farmer, gas fitter, glazier, lawyer, interpreter, programmer, bus driver, and writer)? Why do you think so?

13. Do you find doing shift work is more stressful than a nine – to – five jobs?

14.  Do you think people are getting ecologically wise? What does it mean «to be ecologically-minded»?

15.What are your favorite sports for keeping fit (walking, swimming, tennis, football, ice-hockey, ice-skating, roller-skating, basketball, rugby, golf, motor racing, wind-surfing, water-skiing, canoeing, horse-riding, rock climbing, orienteering, parachute jumping, go-cart racing, cricket, baseball, boxing, scuba-diving, gymnastics, aerobics, karate, judo, snorkeling, jogging, stretching, bodybuilding,)? Do you think it is a really good way to keep fit? Do you like sports (P.T lessons) at University?

16. Where is the difference in the meanings of the words: Self-appointed; self-denying; selfish; self-confident?

17. What is the first step when you have chosen your future occupation? When do undergraduates usually start their search? On the third year or on the final year? Do you always find it hard to take the first step? Why? Why not?

Unit 16

You will read & translate a text about attending a job interview. Before you read, discuss in pairs the following.  

1. Do you know anything about the size of the working population in Russia? Do your parents work for a wage which is paid monthly or weekly? 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being employed by the State? 3. Does Russia have a high unemployment rate? Do you know unemployment statistics? 4. Do undergraduates usually look through local newspaper advertisements to find a job? Do they visit a local «Job centre»?  5. Would you like to work in private industry or in the state sector?  6. What does job satisfaction mean?