пʼятниця, 17 квітня 2015 р.

A message for the freshers

Dear freshers!

I would like to let you in on the secrets of this course. It seems to me that this information can be useful for you and as a result you will make good progress with vocabulary.

Firstly, you should hand in your blogs on time. Don't put off anything until last night. Write everything in advance and you will have the ability to rewrite your blog when you are inspired. In practice it’s complicated to come up with sentences which include active vocabulary, but practice makes perfect. Indeed, you won’t fall behind your subgroups.

Secondly, think about the structure of the blog, what you want to write. Also, you can create a plan and follow it while you are writing. In other words, it will help you not to lose your ideas. Actually, writing is the best way to brush up on new words. What about active vocabulary? You can write down complicated words on pieces of paper and stick them on the wall near the bed or table. In this way, you will often see them and your visual memory will also work.

A for me, to tell the truth, it wasn't as easy as ABC. I had to read a lot of different articles and other materials about some themes in which I wasn't aware. It helped me to catch up with some interesting information which I didn't know before. In short, I acquired knowledge in different spheres of our life. This course gave the chance of learning how to use different idioms, collocations, phrasal verbs in appropriate way. It’s my firm conviction that I found out the way how to learn new words easily. Of course, I burned the midnight oil, but I don’t regret about it. I grasped the importance of opportunities which I had got due to vocabulary. Sometimes, it seemed to be unreal to do all those tasks, but I tried not to lose my nerves. As you can see, it’s very important to control your feelings. Be focused on what you're doing.

To sum up, stick to these pieces of advice and you will be happy. Good luck and everything the best!

Food, Eating habits, Health

субота, 4 квітня 2015 р.

Appearance. Character. Relationships

http://bitstrips.com/r/1MKMZ

пʼятниця, 23 січня 2015 р.

News travels fast

http://www.classtools.net/FB/1340-UMDESd

J. K. Rowling

четвер, 22 січня 2015 р.

"Cyborgs"

Now and then we heard about terroristic attack in the U.S.A., Asian countries or Europe. We are in solidarity with the suffered people and took part in demonstrations against the war, but nobody even could imagine that a “civil” war would break out in Ukraine. Our country is at war now. Every day millions of Ukrainian people face the horror of war. It wasn’t declared. There wasn’t officially an invading enemy, but it’s obviously that our “brothers” Russian are on the East of Ukraine. Our government had to mobilize men to protect our country. Many people joined the army at will in order to serve their country. There are a lot of volunteer organizations which make useful contribution in getting weapon, body armors, imagers, food ect.

Actually, I don’t want to tell you about politicians who want to win the respect of citizens, who attract a lot of interest in media, who conduct peace talks. I want to tell you about Ukrainian “Cyborgs”. The Donetsk airport has become a symbol of Ukraine's fight against separatists, and the "cyborgs" are Ukrainians who have held on to it despite persistent rebel attack. The vast majority of cyborgs come from the elite 79th and 95th airborne brigades of the army, whose bases are in Mykolayiv and Zhytomyr. There are troops from the 93rd motorized brigade from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and a Special Forces unit from Kirovograd too. The nickname was first used online and has since become a media staple in Ukraine. The separatists have been trying to capture the airport since May, allegedly with backing from the Russian military. They lost the battle every time. Even though a ceasefire has been called in early September, the airport remains a scene of fierce fighting almost every day. There the military there is fighting for their life every hour, every minute and every second. They become a symbol of resistance. They have no right to lose their nerves because their lives are at stake. Their courage affects everyone deeply. As a result, all people try to stand up for these heroic guys.

I hope that Ukraine will have ability to return its territory. I hope that Ukrainian people will live in peace soon. I hope that other countries will be able to prevent war in future and nothing will threaten world peace. I pray that men who are fighting for our freedom, all return home safe and sound.

вівторок, 20 січня 2015 р.

My dear Victoria,

It’s me…. Molly. Sorry that I haven’t written to you for so long time. I had lost your new address when we moved to Chicago and I couldn’t find it till now. I hope, you are still alive and you are happy. It has been long 50 years, since I told you “Goodbye”.

I want to tell you my story. I remember everything like it was yesterday. It was late 1916. I was a little girl. I was only 12. I loved my country and I considered that I lived in the most stunning city in the world. Vienna was the city of my dreams. Now I have feeling of nostalgia for the city where I have grown up. Unfortunately, my childhood wasn’t peaceful. World War I broke out when I was 10. My parents decided to flee from the war. They didn’t like to plan something in advance, so it was spontaneous decision. We had to take refuge in the U.S.A. From the moment of leaving home we were refugees. We moved from my native country. My family was sailing on a huge ferry to “A Big Apple”. It was a new milestone in my life. The ferry set sail at night. I was terrified, but at the same time I was keen on it. My family went on a trip. The smell of the ocean was sharp and unusual filled my nose. We had to dock in New York in 5 days.

When we disembarked, we had to go to Ellis Island’s Great Hall. There were a few health inspections, who were watching us if we looked too sick to enter the country. There was “eye man” who turned up my eyelids and looked for any eye diseases, but it was fast. Then we got to our house where we met your friendly big family. All neighbours lived at peace with each other. My family got accustomed to our new lifestyle as fast as we could. We lived in the house with other 17 families from different countries. It was like five floors of cultural diversity. My parents bought a stove because there wasn’t it in the flat and also we could hit water on it. There was only cold water, but we had light and it was huge benefit. We had 3 rooms and only 2 beds. I slept on chairs. Your family did their bit with the cooking: you showed us how to cook burekas. In a few days I went to school with your brothers . My elder brother became a newsier because he finished school in Austria-Hungary. I didn’t feel any animosity towards me among pupils, but I couldn’t get the hang of using English, it was deadlock for me. After lessons I had opportunity to go for a wander around Manhattan and chill out a bit among buildings which retained the marvellous charm of old borough. I loved to laze around on the bench in a unique park or wander along cobbled streets lined with trees and houses. After that I went home and did some house chores. I swept and mopped the floor. Frankly speaking, it was difficult. I even couldn’t imagine how you did it after 10 people. Also, once or twice I did laundry, but it wasn’t work for little girl. I remember how you went with me to Nickelodeon to watch films or listen to foxtrot. We wore aprons from your father’s workshop. My brother often played stickball with yours. It was good old days.

I hope to meet you soon. You are my friend forever.

With best wishes
Molly

неділя, 18 січня 2015 р.

Gardens and nature. Environment. Energy conservation. Wildlife under threat.

This Concerns Everyone

It’s obvious that pollution of the land, seas and atmosphere shows that global issues are problems for the whole world, but not only for one country. When the giant Soviet nuclear power plant at Chernobyl suffered a meltdown in 1986, the radiation clouds poisoned the air across Europe. Acid rain from U.S. factories is killing fish in the northern reaches of Canada as well as across the Arctic Ocean in Siberia. It’s a foregone conclusion that chemical elements in our hairsprays, aerosol spray and deodorant are contributing to the destruction of ozone layer.

When in Ukraine we hear about drought, earthquake, flood or volcanic eruption on the other side of the world, we think that it’s not our deal and everything is okay in our country, unfortunately, it’s wrong thoughts. Our country is polluted too. I want to present some ideas how to find a solution of this problem. It’s absolutely vital that we have to do something in order to avoid environmental catastrophe.

First of all, we have to use more alternative energy sources, for example, build offshore wind farms, actually, we have some near Kerch, but it’s not enough. Wind is renewable resource of energy, as a result, we will minimize usage of natural resources. Also, we can use recycled paper to help save trees. A lot of wild animals and birds are under treat and lost their habitat due to deforestation. In spite of this, we can create natural reserves and protect the species which is becoming extinct. In addition, we can plant more trees in the city, creating some parks in this way.

Secondly, every Ukrainian can use energy-saving eco light bulbs because they will reduce energy consumption. It would be a good idea to encourage eco-friendly materials in building. Furthermore, we can try to avoid buying plastic. It's hard to recycle, that can lead to dire consequence. One way to cut down on plastic is to refuse to use carrier bags offered by supermarkets and use strong, long lasting shopping bags instead.

Finally, doing all these steps Ukraine will be greener. Our environment will be protected. Our country will seem European country if Ukrainian people think about their home, and I’m not saying about the houses where they live, I mean nature. Don’t do things which are harmful to the environment. Let’s be eco-friendly.

субота, 17 січня 2015 р.

Some food for thoughts: right steps to better education

As Anthony J. D'Angelo said: “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” Unfortunately, every year more and more young people don’t grasp the importance of education. They don’t have a thirst for knowledge anymore. Moreover, majority of teachers are from the old school who doesn’t keep up with modern technologies. That’s why many distinguished scholars try to find right solution how to improve modern system of education and create schools of future. For instance, Sugata Mitra and Sir Ken Robinson give some ideas how to give students an education in effective way.

First of all, the idea about Self-Organized Learning Environments by Sugata Mitra seems to be interesting and as easy as ABC, but it’s not so simple. It’s good to give students some stimulation and motivation to acquire knowledge, but teachers have to support pupils and help them to create scheme how to learn something in order to achieve success. Students need practice and basic knowledge and only after that they can learn and pass everything with flying colors as Sugata Mitra expects.

Second, ideas of Sir Ken Robinson are more realistic. Without a doubt he suggests real steps how to improve any system of education which will be suitable for any child, not only for bookworms or straight A student. I agree with him, that children have to be curious about new information and due to it they won’t play truant and drop out of school because they are bored. Do you ask how it is possible? To my mind, Sir Ken Robinson answered on this question: “They individualize teaching and learning. They recognize that it's students who are learning and the system has to engage them, their curiosity, their individuality, and their creativity. That's how you get them to learn.” Clearly, that students will develop their mental agility and become quick learners and eager beaver. As a result, they will hit the books and brainstorm new information with pleasure and interest instead of trying to cram everything. Lessons have to be creative and students won’t find it boring or irrelevant.

To summarize, I take the view that leading authorities will understand the truly aim of education and do everything possible in order to change the current situation. Maybe in a few years students will have their noses in books and achieve full marks because they want to do it, but not because they have to. By the way, I have some ideas how to improve system of education in Ukraine. You can see them below.

середа, 26 листопада 2014 р.

My dear readers, I’ve posted my blogs here for 3 months. I wrote about different situations and I tried to tackle different problems too. I did it due to my new subject which I had this trimester.

As for vocabulary, I can say that I learnt a lot. I thought that it would be boring subjects, but I was really over the moon when I wrote blogs. I started to be proactive person because I’d read really a lot preparing for my classes. My imagination was never-ending and I could juggle studying, writing blogs and creating different fascinating things with on-line tools. I was solely responsible for posting them in time. Actually, I started to know specific words for different spheres of life, for example, with finance I can use mortgage or loan if I want to borrow money. Also I can say it costed me an arm and a lag if I want to say, that something was expensive enough.

After this course I can successfully schedule my free time and face the prospects of doing everything to the deadline and I couldn’t do it formerly. As a result I knew that I couldn’t delegate my work to somebody else because it would be unproductive and I wouldn’t get any writing skills. By and large I didn’t want to pass the buck because I knew that practice makes perfect.

I did took interest in my classes. Now I can tell someone that I have detached house in mint condition with fully-equipped kitchen and nice patio. Also I have on-suite bathroom and three bedrooms.

To sum up, I think that the course of vocabulary taught me to prioritize stuff which I need to do and I learned new words.

субота, 22 листопада 2014 р.

Houses and Buildings

SOS! SOS!
It's Ramzi from Pandora. My ship crashed and I'm on the EARTH now. I'm not aware of the place where I've fallen down. My life is at stake now, please, help me! As a matter of fact I will try to describe landmark where my ship is located now. Fortunately, I can see one run-down building about which I would like to tell you. I hope you will find me with help of it.
It's Carmelites' chourche built in the 16th century by Ian de Vite. It's situated in the city center. Formerly this building felt into decay because of World War II. There were only ruins, but it has been renovated recently. It's difficult for government to keep it in mint condition, but it's necessary to do it due to well-known coronated icon in the church. Unfortunately, this icon only the reproduction of the genuine one. The antique icon was destroyed with the fire.

As for design of this building, there are a lot of details. There is a basement where you can go and pray. Also there are musical school, art school and museum of history. The main entrance of the Roman Catholic Church is old-fashioned arch of red bricks. Having passed through it you get at the yard of the church. There you can see as good as new stairs to the second floor of the church where you also can pray. There you can find French windows which are in harmony with a little balcony. Walls are decorated with different ornaments. The monks preserver them from destruction. There is a loft where you can find one more nice long balcony. Incidentally, I can see there a shed and ramshackle stables. By and large, I found this church fascinating, but i would prefer to go home rather than to stay here.

субота, 8 листопада 2014 р.

Creating a Company

Attention! Attention!

Are you creative, smart and keen on marketing? If it is yes, you will find the job of your dream in our lucrative company "Create and be CREATIVE"! We foster your leadership skills, morale and opportunities to dream new projects up. There are team spirit, common goal and mutual respect here. We are able to resolve any situation. You can find true friends here who always bail you out in rainy day. You will be absolutely ecstatic every day at office. By and large, you will be fulfilling.

Our company specializes in creating promotion advertisements for different world famous brands. We have collaboration with Nike, Avon, Adidas, Nutella.

Our main aim is to keep track of the last trends and get more successful contracts. We are going to win all tenders for creating advertising for BMW, Lacoste and Belvita. That’s why we are in need of YOU, a proactive person! Maybe at this moment your future life and the future existence of our company are at stake. Everything is depended on your decision. Incidentally, as every firm we have our own motto: "Use your initiative and nobody will stifle your imagination and creativity!"

I’m an owner of this company. I set it up in 1981. It was a good time to conduct business like this one because marketing wasn’t so immensely popular. I thought my employees not to pass the buck and do everything in time because time is money. I want to expand my company that’s why I need new qualified staff who can sort any difficult task out which require great enterprise. As Colin Powell said:“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

We have perfect working conditions. During all these years I tried to step them up.

Every month ten best workers from every department get perks.
We have performance-related bonus scheme, company pension scheme and maternity/paternity leave.
We have also comprehensive healthcare provision.
Every employee has 30 days’ holiday entitlement.

As for salary, it depends on post and amount of work. Therefore employee can get more benefits for additional work because we value every worker. Everyone has their own debit cards and with help of it they can withdraw money. Moreover, we have contract with one on the best banks in Europe. It is really dependable bank.

We have few vocations such as manager of international relationships, specialist of public relations and specialist of marketing. All these posts are connected with advertisements, but there are some details per each of them. For example, the specialist of public relations has to be aware of average family budget and which products average people prioritize.

You should have work experience in these spheres. You have to know two more languages not including your mother tongue for international relationships. You have to be skilled at finding common language with people. Working hours for everyone are from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. One more great reason is flexible schedule.

Don't procrastinate applying for these positions, we need you! There is only one wise decision, don't bury your head into the sand! Your career is waiting for you!

неділя, 19 жовтня 2014 р.

This is my Remix

http://bit.ly/ZKAiDw

понеділок, 13 жовтня 2014 р.

You, car, music and nature. Enjoy this moment, don't spend your life, it's only one!

If you don't like something change it;

if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.

~Mary Engelbreit

When you fed up with your routine life and you feel lonely and depressed, try to wind down and change something in your lifestyle. As Andrea Arnold said: "Whenever I get fed up with life I love to go wandering in nature". What can be easier that take car and drive in any direction? You have to be as brave as a lion, only in that case you will take an interest in improving your life and the word which surrounds you. Incidentally, don't drive so fast. Stop somewhere on a bridge, look around and you will feel on the top of the world. Usually you are always on the go. You want to be faster even than time, you can't notice anything, you are like a blind, but now you stand in the middle of the bridge. That fantastic feeling when you feel the freshness of cool wind. Calm down and loosen up, life is gorgeous! It's obviously, that the clear blue sky, breathtakingly beauty will have impact on you (the human under stereotypes). Next your little stop can be peaceful forest lake. Sit on the shore of it, throw some stones in the water, I'm sure, that it will reduce your stress. You do become ecstatic and delighted with this calmness in any case. If you find difficult to express your feelings to someone, you can do it here among trees, flowers and water. Anyway, open up a bit and tell about your thoughts. And as a result, you will be grateful to yourself for it.

After this joyful trip, you will feel better. Your career will start taking off, and you’ll be gobsmacked due to this fact. By and large bear in mind that you have to live your life to the fullest!

понеділок, 6 жовтня 2014 р.

Communication. Body language

Have you ever thought about nonverbal means of language? It includes different gestures and facial expressions, by and large it's body language which people use for communication with each other. It's not necessarily to be observant person in order to notice combinations of gestures which we use in daily life. I'm sure, that we need to bear in mind their meaning because sometimes they can be misinterpreted. I made real effort and summarized the most common gestures which my group mates displayed. I don't want to make generalisations about them, but I will try to explain this body language from my point of view.

I noticed that my friends are going red when they become angry. Mind you, they can be embarrassed too. In this case, they try to avoid eye contact. For example, when they are asked something by teacher and they don't know the right answer.

As for clenched fist, they show anger too, or alternatively, they want to protect themselves if someone else behaves in an inappropriate way. Incidentally, folded arms may be understood in two extremely different ways. This gesture may imply stubbornness, for instance, when a person doesn't want to change his/her decision even if it is wrong. Frankly speaking, it's the most common situation. As I was saying, it has one more meaning. Students fold their arms in order to show that they take offence at our words or actions. Anyway, it has a negative sense in both cases.

Another interesting thing is that my group mates bite fingernails when they are worrying or considering about something. This is very noticeable when we are writing test. As a matter of fact, we shouldn't jump to conclusions because we may misunderstand body language of other people. Everyone of us has his/her own sense of every gesture.

середа, 1 жовтня 2014 р.

What is COURAGE?

Courage is an abstract feeling, that's why everyone perceives it in their own way. Actually, for me courage doesn't mean to be brutal or fearless. Unfortunately, people always connect this character trait with stupidity or heroism. According to this quotation, the courage is an ability to speak your mind even under pressure, you are not afraid of danger, you don't want to give up. Your heart can be overflowing with fear, but you can't show your weakness. I'm sure, that the courageous people are always wise because they know how to act in different situations. Usually, only leaders have this quality of character. We can find the biggest number of such figures in world history. I think that one of the most remarkable human beings was Sir William Wallace. He was an incredibly wealthy man, but he struggled against anti-social politics of the Queen. Having lost everything, he found something more than wealth, he found his destination and got enjoyment from it. Moreover, he became national hero, because he overcame his fear and achieved success, despite the fact that he was killed. I would like to say, that no one of great people didn't have the readiness to die, but they didn't give up, they turn their fear into positive energy and did everything for their nation.

Even simple human can be courageous. He or she only needs to break down stereotypes, overcome the scarcity of confidence and do what they want to do. If something terrifies them, they need to fight with this. Don't think about complications and problems which will appear. Don't be as quite as a mouse. To be courageous is the irreversible way of life.

пʼятниця, 17 квітня 2015 р.

субота, 4 квітня 2015 р.

пʼятниця, 23 січня 2015 р.

J. K. Rowling

четвер, 22 січня 2015 р.

"Cyborgs"

вівторок, 20 січня 2015 р.

неділя, 18 січня 2015 р.

субота, 17 січня 2015 р.

середа, 26 листопада 2014 р.

субота, 22 листопада 2014 р.

субота, 8 листопада 2014 р.

неділя, 19 жовтня 2014 р.

понеділок, 13 жовтня 2014 р.

понеділок, 6 жовтня 2014 р.

середа, 1 жовтня 2014 р.