What is Character?

Abraham Lincoln said, “Reputation (репутація) is the shadow (тінь). Character is the tree.” Our character is not just what we try to display for others to see, it is who we are even when no one is watching. Good character is doing the right thing because it is right to do what is right.

Everyone has character. People sometimes think of character as something a person either has or doesn’t have. They may say, “He has character,” meaning he has good character. We intuitively recognize the truth that everyone has “character” and we distinguish (розрізняти) between “good” and “bad” character.

Our character is the foundation (основа) for true success. A person may have money, position, or power, but unless he has “good” character he or she is not truly successful. Our character is what really determines (визначати) our success in any area of life. Our character is what guides (керувати) any situation of our life.

We do not often think of character as having such a direct effect on our successes or failures (невдачі). But when we consider the individual qualities that together make up a person’s character, we can easily see that it does. Abraham Lincoln, for example, became President after repeatedly (постійно) losing elections. His principle was: “Never give up”.

The world today needs better characters. We must work to improve (покращити) our own character, teach good character to our children, and help those around us to improve their character!

Character development is essential for success of our society (суспільство). That is why character is the key to success!

Exercise 21. Discuss, agree or disagree:

1. Character development is the way to success.

2. There are no people without character. Every character is unique.

3. Tell about the situations when your character helped you or interfered (завадити) you to get success. Describe this situation and name the trait of character.

4. We look for people who have similar characters with us. Tell how much in common you have with your friends.

5. Character is much easier kept than recovered (виявляти).

6. Character can’t be developed in ease and quiet. You need everyday “struggle and fight” to develop it.

Lesson 16. Emotions (Емоції)

Exercise 1. Read and mind your pronunciation:

[ Ә ] – then, there, clothes, brother, mother, with, together, weather;

[ ә] – teacher, doctor, collar, neighbour, famous, anger, about, asleep;

[a:] – ask, basket, party, grass, father, aunt, laugh, tomato, past, pass;

[u:] – group, too, food, do, lose, fruit, beauty, crew, shoe, rule, true, blue;

Exercise 2. Read the following tongue twisters as quicker as possible:

1. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

2. She sells sea shells down by the sea shore.

3. If two witches were watching two watches, which witch would watch which watch?

4. What noise annoys an oyster?

The noise that annoys an oyster

is a noise that knows no oyster.