About myself

1. My name is Andrii. My surname is Kovalchuk. I was born on the 4th of April 1995 in Nemyriv. My parents are office-workers. I have an elder brother.

2. I studied at school №5. I enjoyed my school life. My favourite subjects were Math, Computer Science and English. At school I had a lot of friends. We played sports together, namely, football, volleyball, table tennis. My hobby was hiking and break-dance.

3. Now I‘m a student of Vinnytsia National Technical University. I‘m going to be a programmer. I think this profession is especially important today, because computers are used everywhere and have many applications. Programmers’ job is usually well-paid and respectful. I think it’s not a problem to find an interesting job in this branch. Besides, I am good at programming, that’s why I think it’s my way.

4. I met many friends at the University. We learn many interesting and new subjects. There are 25 students in my group. All of us come from different places, different schools, we have different interests and hobbies, but we come closer day by day. We don’t have much free time but we have hobbies. Some of my friends and I work out in our gym twice a week. Others visit the swimming-pool or the skating-rink. My life becomes more and more interesting. Students do research, go in for sport, visit concerts, disco or a cinema. Many students live with their parents. Some rent flats. As for me, I live in the hostel where I occupy a room with two roommates. The life in the hostel is both difficult and joyful. Much depends on your character.

5. I am sociable and goal-oriented, so a crowd of people around me don’t stand in a way of my study. I like honest and optimistic people and such are my friends. I’m glad to be a student! I’ll do my best to become a good specialist and get a good job.

EXERCISE 5

Fill in the words from the list, then make sentences using the completed phrases.

skating-rink, get elder, work out, school, interesting, way, get, research, played, rent, joyful, subjects, occupy, hobbies, best

1 an………….brother; 2 enjoyed my …………. life; 3 favourite ………………...; 4 ……………. sports; 5 an ……………………. job; 6 have many………………; 7 it’s my …..; 8 ……. closer; 9 …………… in our gym; 10 visit the ……………; 11 do …………….; 12 …………. flats; 13 …………… a room; 14 both difficult and …………; 15 do my ………… to become; 16 …………. a good job.

EXERCISE 6

Fill in the correct preposition, then make sentences using the completed phrases.

on, in, at, of, from, by, out, for, with

1 … the 4th of April; 2 … Nemyriv; 3 … school; 4 … this branch; 5 good … programming; 6 … the University; 7 … our group; 8 all … us; 9 come … different places; 10 day … day; 11 some … my friends; 12 I work … in our gym; 13 go in … sport; 14 live … their parents; 15 as … me; 16 live … the hostel; 17 stand … a way … my study.

EXERCISE 7

Complete the table with information about yourself.

Full name:
Born:
Early life:
Later life:
Character:
Likes:
Plans:

b) Use the information in the table to speak about yourself.

EXERCISE 8 Change Place, Change Face

Students are standing in rows lined up to face another row, with enough room for them to change places.

On the board: discussion issues

Birthday Native place

School life Friends

University life Living in a hostel

Likes and dislikes Plans

Time: 20 min.

Procedure:

• Teacher asks students to find a seat. For an odd number of students, add an extra chair at the end of one row, making a ‘threesome’.

• Teacher explains to students that they will have a chance to speak with different students and to develop their fluency. They will discuss the question on the board for several minutes until Teacher says ‘change’. They will then get a new question and also change partners. To change, students in one row stay in the same place, whilst those in the opposite row move along one space every time.

• Teacher writes the first question on the board, reading it aloud if not all students can see it, and asks them to start speaking. Soon everybody is engrossed in conversation, finding ways to communicate with their partner, despite all the surrounding noise.

• After two/three minutes, Teacher taps on the board and asks students to ‘change’. Students on one row each move down a seat, with the person in the last position moving back up to the top of that row.

• At the end, Teacher does a short feedback session, for example asking students which question they most enjoyed discussing. Feedback could also focus on error correction, an opportunity to pick up on problems common to several learners.

EXERCISE 9

Create free accounts on websites for job seekers:

www.linkedIn.com, http://www.freelancer.com, www.odesk.com/find-work. Complete your personal profile. Find a job you would like to sign up for.