Generation of 90-th is really lucky because it has new
oportunities and great future. «Ferreous curtain» fell down, so now young
people can travel all over the world, can consort to the people of the same
age from different countries, can study culture of capitalistic nations.
Certainly, it is impossible to do it if you don’t speak foreign language. I
suppose, that the most usefull language in modern world is English. It is
spoken in many countries, millions of people speak English because it is
their own language, millions of people study it, because it is probably
impossible to make a good career in any branch if one doesn’t speak
English.
In Russia just few last generations realized the necessity of
studing English. I think, it partly dependes of computerizing of our
country.Now computers are used everywhere: in banks, offices, shops, hotels
etc. Certainly, no one can live without computers in present time. Also a
lot of people can’t imagine their life without using World Wide Web
Internet. But using Internet and computers is connected with studing
English, because English is mostly used in programmes.
For example I decided to study English when I had got a computer.
Since that time I’ve been studing English at school. I had my first lessons
of English in the fifth form. Those lessons interested me very much so I
understood, that English — is what I’m really fond of.
As I remember, our teacher of English did everything to make us
interested. She used toys and pictures, also we learned songs.
But some months or probably a year had passed and our lessons
became rather monotone and alike. Day in day out we read similar stories
about celebration of different holidays or about heroes of revolution. The
strangest thing was, that we read topics about the USSR, which already
didn’t exist, and even the memory about that country gone away from our
minds.
I think that communication with English-speaking people is very
importent and unvalued for pupils, who learn English. Opportunity of
comunication with English-speaking, was a real luck for me. And I’d like to
have meetings with guests from England in my own school. My parents
remember: «Even in soviet time we had meetings at our schools, where we
could talk to foreigners, though we lived far away from the capital». Now,
when Russia is opened for the West, it is not really difficult to invite to
school foreigner, isn’t it? More over we live in Moscow, which is full of
foreigners. I’m sure, that such a meeting could be very interesting for
pupils.
Teachers of English in our school are great professionals. They
speak English perfectly. Certanly,they are always ready to teach and help
us, but as the matter of fact they has no opportunity to do it. For
example, my group even can’t use the same classroom. And we haven’t got any
tape-recorder and tapes. We use textbooks, which are far not new ones. Is
it possible to study language with old textbooks, if the language changes
as the water in the river? I do not think so.
Besides, I suppose, that it is impossible to have a good
pronunciation without listening to the speech of English-speaking people.
The most of pupils has no opportunity for travelling abroad or talking to
foreigners in their motherland. That’s why it is really necessary to have a
tape-recorder at the lessons.
In our school teachers,unfortunetly, have nothing ,exept old
textbooks. It is clear, that there is the crisis in Russia, but the
education is one of the most important problem. The future and the well-
being of our country depend on the quality of the education of our
generation. That’s why I think those problems of education must be
discussed and solved. Certanly it is very important, because the solving of
those problems will help teachers as much as pupils.
English — is one of the most important lessons in school. If I
speak English, it is easy for me to read books of English writers. Reading
of originals helps to understand the ideas of the novels, stories, etc. And
I also suppose that it is very exiting to find something new in our
favorite characters,such as Tom Sawyer, Jane Eyre, Romeo and Juliet or
Sherlock Holmes. The opportunity of communication, which English gives me
is also a great thing. So I think that English will help me not only in my
fiture life, but it helps me now in my school life. My good marks in some
subjects partly depend on my marks in English lessons.
In my composition I discussed some questions, which interest me
very much. I found some problems,but inspite of them I think I’m really
lucky because it is possible in our country to get free education. And I am
happy that I’m studing English. I suppose that every problem will be got
over. I really think so!