Now let’s talk about food. What can you tell me about eating habits in your family?
Do you like cooking? Why (not)?
What questions will you ask a friend who has invited you to a pot-luck party?
Which national dishes can you recommend a tourist to taste in Belarus?
Scientists say that fast food is unhealthy but teenagers can’t stop eating it. What do you think about it?
¹2
Now let’s talk about food. What can you tell me about eating habits in Belarus?
Do you personally follow the rules of a healthy way of life? Why (not)?
What questions can you ask a British friend about their national cuisine?
Can you tell me how to cook one of your favourite dishes?
Most of the families want to have a big kitchen in the flat, but at the same time they have a meal together less and less often. What do you think about it?
¹3
Now let’s talk about food. What can you tell me about eating habits in your family?
Do you often invite guests to have a meal together?
What questions can you ask a British friend about their eating habits?
Which cafes would you recommend to visit in your place? Why?
Scientists say that fast food is unhealthy but people go on eating it. What do you think about it?
¹4
Now let’s talk about food. What do people eat in Britain?
Do you know many recipes?
What questions can you ask a waiter when you are ordering a meal in a cafe?
My friend wants to know more about national cuisines. Which national dishes would you recommend him to taste?
A lot of pupils refuse to have meals at school. What do you think about it?
MONEY, SHOPPING
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Let’s talk about shopping and money. What do you know about the history of money?
Do you like shopping? Why (not)?
What questions will you ask a shop assistant to help you to choose a purchase?
What can you advise a person who wants to buy many things (clothes, foodstuffs, etc.) but has little time?
Parents usually give pocket money to their children. How do you usually spend your pocket money?
¹2
Let’s talk about shopping. Who does the shopping in your family?
Is Minsk a shopper’s paradise? Why (not)?
What questions will you ask your friend who has bought an expensive telephone?
What can you advise a teenager who wants to buy a birthday present for his/her friend?
Some teenagers think that parents should pay them for doing their household chores. Do you share their opinion?
¹3
Let’s talk about shopping. Are you a shopaholic?
Are your parents happy about the way you spend your money? Why? Why not?
What questions can you ask your friend about the best shopping places in his/her native city/town?
Advise me on how to make my own budget.
Parents usually give pocket money to their children. But some people think they shouldn’t do it as teenagers don’t work. What do you think about it?
¹4
Let’s talk about shopping. Who does the shopping in your family?
Is it easy to buy a good birthday present? Why? Why not?
What questions will you ask a shop assistant to help you to choose a purchase?
Foreigners like going shopping in Minsk. Advise them where to go and what to buy.
Do you agree that if you have problems, money can help you to solve them? Why (not)?
HOBBIES, FREE TIME
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Let’s talk about your hobbies. What do you like doing in your free time?
Do you find it useful to go to the theatre or cinema? Why (not)?
What questions can you ask a British friend about his/her free time?
Give me some advice on what to do in my free time.
Many parents think that children should spend less time playing computer games, that they should play outside or do some sport instead. What do you think about this?
¹2
Let’s talk about your hobbies. What do you do in your free time?
Is cinema still important? Why (not)?
What questions can you ask a British friend about his/her hobbies?
Can you recommend me to watch one of the films you have seen recently?
Many parents complain that children don’t read books. Why do you think children are not interested in reading?
¹3
Let’s talk about your free time activities. What are your hobbies?
Do you find it useful to read books? Why (not)?
What questions will you ask a British teenager to find out what kind of reader he/ she is?
Many parents don’t like the music their children listen to. They often argue about it. What can you advise them to do to get along with each other?
Do you think it is possible to enjoy yourself without spending much money?
¹4
Let’s talk about your free time. What hobbies do teenagers have?
Do you consider some creative person very special? Why?
What questions would you like to ask a celebrity?
Give me some advice on what book to buy for my teenage neighbour.
Many parents often complain that teenagers don’t want to spend their free time with them. What do you think about this?
MASS MEDIA
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Let’s talk about mass media: TV, newspapers, radio. Which of these does your family like?
Is there any means of communication you can’t live without? Why (not)?
What questions will you ask the participants of Dom 2, a TV reality show?
I’d like to watch an interesting program on TV. What can you advise me?
Many people say that newspapers and radio are not as popular as TV and very soon they will lose their importance. What is your point of view?
¹2
Let’s talk about mass media: TV, newspapers, radio. Which of these do your family prefer?
Are all means of mass media popular among your schoolmates? Why?
What questions will you ask a newsreader about his/her work?
Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to surf the net, but I’d like to do it. Which sites would you recommend visiting?
Can the Internet replace all the other means of mass media? What is your point of view?
¹3
Let’s talk about mass media: TV, newspapers, radio. Which of these do your family use? Why?
Do you think all means of communication will exist in the future? Why (not)?
What questions will you ask people who live without a TV set, computer or radio?
My cousin spends a lot of time chatting in Contact and it makes all the family angry. What can you advise him and the family to do in this situation?
Nowadays many people don’t write letters as often as in the past. Do you think it’s true?
¹4
Let’s talk about mass media: TV, newspapers, radio. Which of these do your family like?
Do you consider all means of communication very effective? Why?
What does your mother usually ask you about your school day when she comes home after work?
Writing letters is one of the means of communication. Unfortunately, many people are losing this skill. Can you advise me how to write a good letter?
Some people believe that success at work depends on how good your communication skills are. What is your point of view?
BRITAIN, HOLIDAYS
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Now let’s talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday?
Do you find some British holidays and traditions special? Why (not)?
What questions can you ask a British teenager about his/her birthday celebration?
Which holiday celebration in Belarus will you recommend your British friend?
Do you think it is important to follow our grandparents’ traditions? Why?
¹2
Now let’s talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday in Belarus?
Would you like to take part in a British holiday celebration? Why?
What questions can you ask a British teenager about his/her best school celebration?
What good manners will you recommend a British tourist to follow in Belarus?
Do you think it is easy to organize a good party? What mistakes do people sometimes make?
¹3
Now let’s talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday in Britain?
Are you proud of our national holidays and traditions?
What questions can you ask a British teenager about good manners in their country?
What national souvenirs will you recommend a British tourist to buy?
Nowadays more and more people are getting interested in customs and traditions of different countries. What do you think about it?
YOUTH AND SOCIETY
1. Today young people take an active part in the social life of the country. What youth organizations do you know?
2. Have you ever joined a youth organization? Why (not)?
3. What questions would you like to ask a person who has joined a new international organization?
4. What issues would you recommend to discuss at a monthly meeting of a debate club?
5. A lot of young people in Europe work in hospitals and kindergartens as volunteers. What do you think attracts them to this kind of work?
¹2
There are many ways for young people to be involved in social life. Tell me about some of them.
Have you ever joined a youth organization?
What questions can you ask about the campaign Education Free for Everybody?
What issues would you recommend to discuss at a monthly meeting of a debate club?
A lot of young people think that there is nothing better than having money. Do you agree with them?
¹3
Today many young people take an active part in social life. What issues are important for them?
Have you ever taken part in an interesting international event? Why (not)?
What would you like to learn about the activities of cheerleaders in Minsk?
Which youth organization would you recommend to join and why?
If you had a chance to start a campaign, what kind of campaign will it be? What would you campaign for?
¹4
Today young people take an active part in social life. How do they do it?
Would you like to join any of the organizations you’ve heard about? Why (not)?
What questions can you ask about the recent event organised by the BRSM?
What campaign would you recommend to start? Why?
Not all young people in Belarus have joined youth organizations. What stops them?
ART
¹1
Let’s talk about art. What art do you enjoy most? Why?
Can our country be proud of our creative people? Why?
What questions will you ask a British teenager about the latest trends in British art?
Give me some advice on what exhibition to visit (play/film to see).
A lot of people don’t understand modern art. Do you?
¹2
Let’s talk about art. What kind of art do you enjoy most? Why?
Are Belarusian artists, composers and musicians well-known in the world?
Ask me some questions about a theatre performance I have seen recently.
Give me some advice on how to use creative skills in everyday life.
Do you want to see more graffiti around town? Why (not)?
¹3
Let’s talk about art. Our country is world famous thanks to its artists, composers, etc. How can you prove this?
Are you good at painting, dancing or singing?
I like painting. Ask me some questions about the exhibition I have visited recently.
My niece is very good at drawing. Can you give her a piece of advice on what career to choose?
Are you proud of any photos you’ve taken? What makes a good photograph?
