Foreign languages in the life of a modern man

KAZAN

Kazan is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Volga region. It is a thousand-year-old city with rich and unique history. In 2005 the people of Tatarstan, Russia and whole world celebrated its millennium anniversary.

Kazan is located in a very picturesque place. Two rivers – the Volga river and the Kazanka river, which played an important role in the history of the peoples of the country – meet here. The population of Kazan is over 1.3 mln. people.

Thick forests with lots of animals, vast fields, big and small rivers and deep lakes with lots of fish make the nature of the Kazan area beautiful.

The Kazan Kremlin remains to this day the very heart of the capital of Tatarstan. The most unusual structure in the Kremlin complex is the Suyumbike Tower. It has become the architectural symbol of Kazan.

Nowadays the Kazan Kremlin symbolizes the nation’s history, its culture and traditions. In the course of many years Russians and Tatar cultures developed side by side. This can be easily seen in the Kazan Kremlin. Magnificent golden crosses of the Annunciation Cathedral harmonize with ornate minarets of Kul-Sharif Mosque.

In 2000 the Kazan Kremlin became a monument of UNESCO Word Heritage.

The cultural life in Kazan is diverse and many-sided. There are many theatres and museums in Kazan. The Opera and Ballet theatre named after M. Djalil is the largest and the most beautiful оf them. Nowadays the National Museum of Tatarstan is a historical and cultural complex. The State Museum of Fine Arts is one of the leading museums in Russia.

Kazan is one of the most important economic centres of the Russian Federation. Large enterprises produce planes, helicopters, compressors, computer systems, optic, chemicals, clothes, consumer goods and so on. It is one of the largest river ports on the Volga.

Kazan is open to guests from all over the world.

Дайте ответы на следующие вопросы:

1. What is the capital of Tatarstan?

2. Where is Kazan situated?

3. When was Kazan founded?

4. What is the population of Kazan?

5. Are there many parks and gardens in Kazan?

6. There are many monuments to famous people in Kazan, aren`t there?

7. What does the Kazan Kremlin symbolize?

8. What is the most unusual structure in the Kremlin complex?

9. Is Kazan a big educational centre?

10. The traffic is very heavy in Kazan, isn`t it?

11. Are there many industrial enterprises in Kazan?

Dialogue: At the airport

Dymov: Good morning, Mr. Mennon.

Mennon: Hello, Mr. Dymov.

D.: Did you have a good flight?

M.: Yes, on the whole it was quite fine.

D.: The car is waiting for us. Shall we go?

M.: Yes, of course.

D.: The program of your stay in our city is quite intensive. We’ve a lot of sights to visit.

M.: Yes, I would like to see as many places of interest as possible. I have never had a chance to visit your city.

D.: Then maybe you’d like to have a sightseeing tour about the city right after lunch?

M.: Yes, why not. I’ve heard a lot about the Kremlin.

D.: We will visit it. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Here is our car.

M.: Fine.

to wait	ждать, ожидать
be disappointed	быть разочарованным

The great German poet Goethe once said, "He, who knows no foreign language, does not know his own one". Learning foreign language is especially important nowadays. Some people learn languages because they need them in their work, others travel abroad, for the third studying languages is a hobby.

Every year thousands of people from Russia go to different countries as tourists or to work. They can`t go without knowing the language of the country they are going to. A modern specialist cannot work with an imported instrument or a machine if he is not able to read the instruction how to do that.

Of the 2700 languages spoken in the world today, only English is a truly global language. It has become the language of the planet. English has an official or a special status in 75 countries with a total population of over 2 billion.

English is the language of computer technology, media and Internet. It is the dominant language or in some instances even the required international language of communications, science, diplomacy, aviation, entertainment, radio and business. In Europe, where there are as many different languages as there are countries, nearly half of all business deals are conducted in English.

English is the language of sports and glamour. It is the official language of the Olympics and the Miss Universe competition. Finally, five of the largest broadcasting companies in the world (CBS, NBC, ABC, BBC and CBC) transmit in English to audiences that exceed one hundred million people.

A scientist, a historian, a diplomat are, as a rule, polyglots, because they need foreign languages in their work. Stewardesses, pilots, air traffic control officers must learn English because it is the language of international communication.

So a modern and a cultured person must learn foreign languages.

New words and expressions:

foreign	иностранный
especially	особенно
to travel	путешествовать
modern	современный
global language	универсальный язык
dominant language	господствующий язык
business deal	сделка
to conduct	проводить
competition	конкурс
broadcasting company	телекомпания
audience	аудитория
to exceed	превышать
as a rule	как правило
air traffic control officer	диспетчер авиалиний

Дайте ответы на следующие вопросы:

1. Learning foreign languages is especially important today, isn`t it?

2. Why do people learn foreign languages?

3. Whom do we call polyglots?

4. What is the language of international communication?

5. English is the dominant language, isn`t it?

6. Why are a half of all business deals in Europe conducted in English?

7. English is the language of sports and glamour, isn`t it?

8. What are the largest broadcasting companies which transmit in English?

9. Representatives of what professions need the knowledge of foreign languages in their work?

10. A modern and a cultural person must know foreign languages, doesn`t he?

Dialogue: At the Doctor's

- What is the trouble with you?

- I've caught a bad cold.

- How long are you feeling this way?

- I've been ill since Monday.

- And you are coughing a lot, aren't you?

- Yes.

- Have you taken your temperature?

- Yes, I had taken my temperature before I left home. It was normal.

- Have you a headache or a sore throat?

- I have both.

- Have you taken anything for your headache?

- I took aspirin.

- Well, I'll examine you. It is not an ordinary cold. You have flu. I'll give you two prescriptions which you must take to the chemist's. If you follow my instructions you will feel better in a few days.

- Thank you, doctor.

to catch a bad cold	подхватить сильную простуду
to cough	кашлять
headache	головная боль
a sore throat	боль в горле
flu	грипп
to give a prescription	выписать рецепт
to follow instructions	следовать указаниям

Дата добавления: 2014-12-10