My working day
Hi again... As you already know, I am a first-year student of the the Polytechnical College. My parents live in Rostov-on-Don and I study in Stary Oskol so I need some housing. There are two opportunities for me: I can live in a dormitory (a students hostel), or to rent a flat (an apartment). I decided to rent a flat. To make the rent smaller, I also decided to share my flat with another boy — Boris Ivanov. He studies at the College too, and he is my best friend now. I'll tell you more about him later. Now, let me describe my usual working day. My classes begin at 8: 30. So on week-days I have to get up at 7: 15. I don't have an alarm clock and usually my roommate wakes me up and my working day begins. I turn on the radio and do my morning exercises while Boris takes a shower. I don't take a bath in the morning because I don't have enough time for it. I take a cool shower (that's when I completely wake up), brush my teeth. After that I go back to our room and get dressed. I brush my hair and shave. Then we have breakfast. Boris makes breakfast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have to serve breakfast on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I love to listen to the latest news on the radio while I am eating and Natasha prefers light music. We leave the house at ten minutes past eight and walk to the nearest bus-stop. We live rather far from the College and it usually takes us about a quarter of an hour to get there by bus. Sometimes when the weather is fine and we have enough time we walk to the College. It is very healthy to walk much. The classes begin at 8: 30 in the morning and they end at 2: 00 p.m. We have lectures in different subjects. As a rule we have three or four classes a day. Sometimes it is very hard to wait till they end. Usually I don't miss my classes because I want to pass my exams successfully. But sometimes I do, especially when the weather is fine and the classes are boring. At 11: 50 we have lunch. That's my favourite time. That is the time to share the latest news and to gossip. My friends and I prefer not to go to the canteen and we often have lunch in a small cafe not too far from the College. At 12: 30 we have to be back to our classes. During the working day we also have several short breaks that last for ten minutes. Occasionally I have to stay at the College till 5 or even 6 o'clock in the evening because I go to the library to get ready for my practical classes or to write a report. As a rule I have no free time on week-days. So by the end of the week I get very tired. We come home at about 7 o'clock in the evening. We eat supper together and share the latest news. After supper we wash dishes, drink coffee or tea and watch TV. I prefer old comedies and Boris likes serials or films about travelling. Sometimes Boris and I go for a walk in the park or visit our friends. At about eleven at night I go to bed. I like to read something before going to bed and Boris likes to listen to some music. Sometimes I fall asleep while I am reading and Boris gets up and switches off the light and says — Good night!
housing — жилье opportunity — возможность dormitory, students hostel — студенческое общежитие to rent a flat (an apartment) — снимать квартиру to share — делить(-ся) week-days — будние дни alarm clock — будильник usually — обычно roommate — сосед по комнате rather — довольно to turn on (off) — включать, выключать enough —достаточно completely — полностью, совершенно to get dressed — одеваться to serve — обслуживать while — пока, в то время как to prefer — предпочитать healthy — здоровый, полезный to miss — пропускать successfully — успешно boring — скучный to gossip — сплетничать have to be back — должны вернуться break — перерыв report — доклад s hare — делиться canteen — столовая
ADD to your active vocabulary tape-recorder — магнитофон to brush one's hair — причесывать волосы it takes me... minutes to get to the Academy by bus — у меня уходит... минут, чтобы добраться до Академии на автобусе cloackroom — гардероб upstairs — наверху, вверх по лестнице downstairs — внизу, вниз по лестнице to miss classes — пропускать занятия to pass exams — сдать экзамены to do well — делать успехи, хорошо учиться for the first (second) course — на первое (второе) блюдо to get ready — подготовиться as a rule — как правило to get tired — устать to take pleasure in — получать удовольствие от... to look forward to — ждать с нетерпением acquaintance — знакомый
Exercise 1. Write one sentence with each word: 1. Usual — usually — as usual — unusual 2. occasion — occasional — occasionally 3. to end — to finish — to be over 4. to start — to begin — to get ready for 5. on Sunday — at five o'clock — in cafeteria... 6. full time student — part time student 7. freshman — second year student — school graduate
Exercise 2. Translate into English: • быть студентом (студенткой) дневного отделения • рассказать вам о... • в будние дни • просыпаться — вставать в 7 часов утра • включать магнитофон • принимать душ • чистить зубы • одеваться • слушать последние новости • У меня уходит час, чтобы добраться до института • ездить на автобусе (троллейбусе, трамвае) • опаздывать на занятия • заканчиваться в 15: 50 вечера • пропускать занятия • сдать экзамены успешно • время от времени • подготовиться к занятиям • как правило • устать • приходить домой • быть дома • иметь свободное время
Exercise 3. Tell about your typical day. The following questions will help you: 1. Do you get up early? 2. Is it easy for you to get up early? 3. Do you wake up yourself or does your alarm-clock wake you up? 4. Do you do your morning exercises? 5. What do you prefer: a hot or a cold shower in the morning? 6. How long does it take you to get dressed? 7. What do you usually have for breakfast? 8. Some people look through newspapers or listen to the latest news on the radio while having breakfast. What about you? 9. When do you usually leave your house? 10. Do you work? If yes, where? 11. How long does it take you to get to your College (Institute)? 12. Do you go there by bus/trolley-bus or walk? 13. Where do you usually have lunch (dinner)? 14. What time do you come home? 15. How long does it take you to do your homework? 16. How do you usually spend your evenings? 17. Do you have a lot of free time? 18. Do you play any musical instrument? 19. Are you fond of listening to music? 20. What kind of music do you prefer? 21. Do you collect anything (stamps, records, postcards, coins, matchboxes, etc.)? 22. What time do you usually go to bed?
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