Translate following sentences from Russian into English.

Personal Details

Let me introduce myself. My name is Helen.From the very start I should say that it’s not an easy thing to speak about yourself as it’s hard to have a look at yourself from aside, but at the same time who knows you better than you yourself do? So to begin with I should say that I am a girl of seventeen with dark hair and blue eyes. I am fairly tall and slim. I have dark hair and blue eyes. I am short-sighted and I have to wear glasses most of the time.

I was born on the 20^th of April 1994 in Volgograd where I live now together with my parents and my younger sister. My early years were typical of a child living in a city.

At the age of 7 I went to school. I studied at the same school for 11 years. In senior classes my favorite subjects were Russian literature, English, Biology, Art and Music. And I think I was rather good at those subjects. Besides learning school subjects I attended a sports club and did a bit of photography. I was also a member of the school literary club and wrote stories for our school newspaper.

Some months ago I passed my final exams at school. My marks were excellent in all the subjects and I got a golden medal. We had a wonderful farewell party at the end of June and I said good-bye to my teachers and classmates. I faced a new life without school with a mixed feeling of sadness and joy. School had meant a lot to me as it was not just learning and studying. I had made good friends there and met many interesting people.

I had asked myself a lot of times what I wanted to do when I left school. A few years ago it was difficult for me to give a definite answer. As the years passed I changed my mind several times. It was only in my last year at school that I finally made up my mind as to what profession I would most like to have in future. I realized that my strongest desire was to specialize in literature. That is why I have passed entrance exams lately. Now I am a first-year student of an extra-mural department of the Volgograd State Pedagogical University (VSPU for short).

Now a few words about my character and interests. My friends say that I’m sociable, helpful and cheerful. But my parents and my teachers sometimes say that I am not hardworking enough and that sometimes I am stubborn and hard to deal with, but I don’t think I am.

My favorite occupation is playing the guitar, reading and going to the theatre. I am fond of sport as well.

VOCABULARY

EXERCISES

1. Translate into Russian:

To have a look at yourself from aside, to begin with, to be a girl of seventeen, to be short-sighted, to wear glasses, favorite subjects, to attend a sports club, to do a bit of photography, to write stories for school newspaper, to have a farewell party, to make good friends, to change smb’s mind, to be a first-year student.

2. Match the two parts of the sentence:

Write down sentences using following words.

1) Let, myself, me, introduce.

2) To begin, I, girl, with, am, a, seventeen, of.

3) have, I, hair, dark, blue, eyes, and.

4) mixed, faced, I, life, a, joy, without, of, new, school, and, feeling, with, a, sadness

5) was, to specialize, strongest, My, desire, literature, in.

6) Lately, have, I, passed, exams, entrance.

7) am, I, first-year, an, extra-mural, the, of, now, a student, of, department, VSPU.

Ask questions to the text. Let your classmates answer them.

Translate following sentences from Russian into English.

1. Трудно посмотреть на себя со стороны, но в то же время, кто знает тебя лучше, чем ты сам?

2. Я близорука и мне приходится постоянно носить очки.

3. В старших классах моими любимыми предметами были математика, физика и химия.

4. Я посещала танцевальный клуб и немного занималась вязанием.

5. Школа много значила для меня, т.к. это было не только обучение.

6. Я поняла, что моим сильнейшим желанием было специализироваться в истории.

7. Теперь я – студентка заочного отделения Волгоградского Государственного педагогического университета.

8. Я увлекаюсь современной поп музыкой.

9. Мои друзья считают, что я справедливый, искренний и добрый человек.

10. Мои родители говорят, что я недостаточно трудолюбива, иногда упряма и со мной трудно ладить.

Read the dialogue.

– Look Jake, have you got a family of your own?

– Oh, no, I'm not married yet. I live with my parents.

– Is your family large?

– I don't think so. My parents have got only two daughters.

– And which of you is the eldest?

– It's me. I'm twenty.

– How old is your younger sister? I wonder what her name is?

– Susan. She's a lovely girl. She is ten.

– It's a pleasure to have such a young sister, isn't it?

– Certainly. She's the apple of my eye.