Устные темы

Тема №1. English or American writer (Oscar Wilde)

There are lots of outstanding pets, playwrights and writers of English language such as: George Byron, Charlotte Bronte, Oscar Wilde, Bernard Shaw, Theodor Driser etc.

But Oscar Wilde is considered to be the greatest one. Though Oscar Wilde is known today as a playwright and the Author of Dorian Gray (1891), he also wrote poetry, fairy tales, essays and criticism.

Oscar Wilde (Fingal O’Flahertie Wills) was born in Dublin in October 16, 1854 to parents who were prominent in Ireland’s social life. His father was a leading eye and ear surgeon who had founded a hospital a year before Wilde’s birth. He also received the appointment of surgeon Oculist in Ordinary to the Queen. His mother was known in literary and political circles as “Speranza”.

Wild received an education appropriate to his station in life. When he was ten, he was sent to Portora Royal school in Ulster. In October 1871, he entered a Trinity College in Dublin, where he won various medals and prizes, particularly

For his learning classics. In June 1874, he won a scholarship, the classical Demyship, to Magdalen Colledge, Oxford University. At Oxford, Wilde was wildly recognized by his fellow students as a brilliant talker.

On May 29, 1884 he married Constance Lloyed. She came from a respectable legal family in Ireland. They had tow children Cyril and Vyvyan. Probably his happy family life inspired him to write stories for children.

In October 1900, going to Rome, Wilde became ill with an year infection that developed into encephalitis. Thus, he died on 10 November at the age of 46. He was buried in Paris.

Тема № 2. Traveling. What kinds of traveling do you know and prefer?

Traveling is becoming a great business. More and more people cover long distances to see different cities and countries. And those, who wish to travel either for pleasure or on business, have at their disposal various means of transport, for instance, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, boats, ships, planes and others.

Some people prefer to make a journey in a car, because you can start whenever you like and stop when and where you want to enjoy beautiful scenery.

Traveling by air is becoming more popular. Though it’s expensive but it’s one of the quickest means of transport. Airports nowadays are very comfortable.

There are a lot of departure loungers and arrival halls. Before you get on a board you have to go through passport control and hand in your baggage. On the plane you take the seat either by the window or next to the aisle. By plain you can reach any part of the world.

The speed of sea liners is good deal slower than that of planes. But when the holiday in full swing, it’s impossible to get accommodation on a liner. When the weather is fine and the sea is smooth your voyage is wonderful.

Most people go by train and consider it to be cheap and more convenient. When you get into the compartment, you put your luggage on the rack or under the seat and choose an upper or a lower birth. When the train starts off some people have a talk, some read magazines or newspapers, play chess, have tea or just watch out of the window.

Be ready to answer the following questions:

Do you like traveling?

What places do you like to go to?

What kind of transport do you prefer?

Тема № 3. The System of Education in the USA

The system of Education in different U.S. states has its peculiarities. Each state makes its own laws for the educational system of this area. The Committee that takes control of a school system is called the Board of Education.

There are tow kinds of schools in the United States of America: public schools and private schools.

One shouldn’t confuse American public schools with British public schools.

In Great Britain private schools are traditionally called public. They are not financed by the Government, so they are not free. In America the money for public schools are given by each state, so in these school education is free.

The system of private schools is very popular in the USA. The cost of education in these schools varies and not each family can afford it.

Education in the USA is compulsory for children from 6 to 16–18, depending on the State.

The school system has two levels: elementary (primary) and secondary (high).

A class of pupils is called a grade.

Elementary schools give the basic knowledge about the world. Pupils are taught to count, read and write, to sing and dance. In some schools foreign languages are on schedule.

Secondary schools are usually named high schools and their pupils are called students. Marks given to students for their work are called grades. Students get A, B, C, D. A – for excellent school work, D – for bad work.

Students study a wide range of subject which cover exact, natural sciences and humanities. In some schools they can choose between woodwork, metal work, sewing, typing, shorthand and others.

After high school young people either start working or enter colleges an Universities. The smartest ones enter the most prestigious Universities such as Harward University which is situated near Boston.