English speaking room

Жора-обжора писал(а):

I'd like to ask you about the ways you improve your English, do you read books or listen to the BBC, or watch movies?

Everyone chooses their own way to do it. I think it mainly depends on your interests and what you need the language for. One might consider it funny but in my mind the best way to improve English is to teach someone else In this case you'll first do your best to learn more to teach better. As for reading.....Can you say that you enjoy reading in Russian? I have read a lot both in Eussian and in English. Unfortunately had to stop doing it because of some health problems. Now I try to listen more, especially conversations, interviews, etc... Everything dealing with spoken English, more than that it's a good chance to improve grammar, nothing to say of comprehension skills. By the way now there are some audio books by well known authors like M. Twain, O.Henry, Conan Doyle and even R.L. Stevenson and L. Caroll. If you don't like reading books, take popular magazines for women for instance. Sorry, you might get tired of me being too talkative.

NatalyS, you are NOT talkative, you are very wise and welcoming person. Thank you very much!!!!
I read a lot, can't live a day without books. I think I began to read not adaptive books, they were complicated for me that is why I felt discomfort. Moreover in our busy life to read a little before sleeping it's like a present for me, and I considered English books in a wrong way. I'll take your advise about using audiobooks especially during cooking.
Can I write to you privately?

Жора-обжора писал(а):

Can I write to you privately?

Why not! It's great to mix with you.

Жора-обжора писал(а):

you are NOT talkative, you are very wise and welcoming person

Thanks a lot. It's very kind of you.

Жора-обжора писал(а):

As for me, being a really book lover, I can't read in English. It's not my native language, so I have to think twice and it makes me tired. On my opinion reading is a pleasure but not a work.

Dear Olga, if you don't mind I'll write the information got from somewhere while looking for texts to read. It's for my students.

It deals with the problem you're worrying about. Here it is.

The most important thing is to choose texts you care about. If you can't stop reading that means you have chosen a good text. It doesn't have to be intellectual; it doesn't have to improve your knowledge of science or history. Don't feel guilty about reading comics, magazines, detective stories or romances.
You should choose texts that are exactly one difficulty level above yours, but not more. But if you aren't enjoying the text, switch to an easier one.
If you want to use contemporary, natural English, you have to learn contemporary, natural phrases. Not all texts contain such phrases. Many books contain literary phrases that are simply not used by normal educated native speakers.
Want to learn to talk about computers in English? Read a computer forum or a technology blog.Want to write scientific papers? Read scientific papers. Want to write business letters? Read business letters. As you read, stop and notice useful phrases.
Each author has his own vocabulary and grammar. So if you are a beginning reader, jumping from author to author can cause disappointment because every new text will seem difficult. You may feel like are making no progress. On the other hand, reading a few similar texts gives you a sense of accomplishment, which can be very motivating.
So I wish you good luck!

What a nice advice!!! I'll take it with plesaure, thanks a lot!

Жора-обжора писал(а):

thanks a lot!

It's a pleasure.

Hi everyone! May i come in? My name is Zhenya. I'm so glad that I've found this topic , because i don't have an opportunity to speak English at all, so I've become to forget it (sorry for my mistakes ). I studied English 8 years ago at college, but my present job doesn't connect to English. you may say, that I can read books, to listen to the audio, and something else, but I'm a little lazy , and i think, that the best method is conversation.

Hello, dear ladies! I want to join your warm company, if you don't mind, of course.

ESENICHKA
Динка и Ко
Dear girls, welcome to our friendly company! Everyone who is looking forward to mixing with English speaking people (it doesn't matter if they are native speakers or not) can count on warm reception. Don't bother your head about possible mistakes! Your desire to use English as means of communication - this is what you need. I wish you good luck.

NatalyS, thanks a lot! So nice of you to meet us so warmly, I appreciate. As I can see from your photo you like to cook as almost everyone on this forum?
I have never been in Lipetsk. What can you say about your city?

Динка и Ко писал(а):

What can you say about your city?

To begin with, it's the second large city in the Central Black Earth Zone which is situated about 400 km south of Moscow. So you see we can get to the capital in no time at all. It takes 9 hours to get there by train, 5 or a bit more - by car, 7 hours - by bus and about 45 minutes - by plane. We got used to getting to Moscow either by train or by car. My sister lives in the capital, so you see we visit her some times a year. Then Lipetsk is a big industrial center. Its main industrial enterprise is Newlipetsk Iron and Steel Amalgamation, that employs about 40 thousand citizens. My family is closely connected with the enterprise, though I personally have never worked there. But my husband has been one of those employed for many years. Our children used to work at the amalgamation, but now they live and work in the Ural. As I have already said Lipetsk is the second big city in the region. It's situated on the bank of the Voronege river. The Don river isn't far from the city either.It's rather beautiful with a lot of chestnut trees, lime trees and maples. There are many tulips and roses in spring and in summer. There are wonderful fountains all over the city. We have been living in Lipetsk for about 39 years and it has become our native one. It's the place our hearts are urging us to.

I want to show you some sights of the city.

It's not me, but our friend from Moscow.

Monument to Peter the First who opened the first iron making shops in Lipetsk
Monument to G.V. Plekhanov who ised to live in Lipetsk.



Sobornaya Square and the building of the regional administration.



I've shown some sights one can see in the center where I live. There are many other beautiful places like the Theater, many Shopping centers, a wonderful Puppet Theater, sanatoriums which are in the center, an old Nizhney park where the Zoo is situated. Come to us and I'll show a lot. It's worth visiting, upon my word.

NatalyS
Динка и Ко
I'm glad to meet you, it is very nice for me to be here.
NatalyS
I like your photos. everything is big and monumental. especially for me, as i live in a small town and we haven't big squares and parks, but our honesty is beautiful and picturesque nature. May I show some photos of my place, too

ESENICHKA писал(а):

haven't big squares and parks

You have more than that - places of natural beauty, so marvelous! I spend my childhood in places like yours and can't forget the feeling of being close to our roots. At that time I treated everything around me, not man made, but created by nature as a cradle all of us originated from. Thank you for the pictures. They are great.

NatalyS, thanks a lot for such an interesting excursion along your city. You are the marvelous teller. There are so many new unknown words for me in your story. My town is situated near Moscow (20 minutes by car).

ESENICHKA, what a beauty you showed us! I was born in Siberia, Tomsk region. Our home was near taiga - I still remember its' smell.

Динка и Ко писал(а):

I was born in Siberia, Tomsk region.

I can't believe my eyes! You lived in the Tomsk region! Great! My husband graduated from the Tomsk polytecnic institute chemical faculty in 1972. He is PhD now. When we got married I studied in the Far East State University. We had our wedding in Tomsk and then I moved to the city to complete my education.
As for Khimki I know it and have always wondered why it is not Moscow whereas Zelenograd, where our friends have been living (they are from Tomsk too) for 35 years is considered Moscow, though I know how it happened.

NatalyS, yes, I was born there and lived till my 5 years old. The exact place of my living was Molchanovskiy district, Sarafanovka village. My parents are from Chuvashiya.
We also wonder, why Khimki is not Moscow Zelenograd is much more further than our town

Динка и Ко писал(а):

Zelenograd is much more further than our town

You see it's not the distance that matters in this case. Our friends told us that Zelenograd had been built to provide the country's industry with high electronic tecnologies and to attract engineers, scientists and other specialists it was decided to make them Moscovites administratively. So all citizens of the town have Moscow registration and all the privilages the Moscovites have. The town is very green and clean.

Динка и Ко писал(а):

I was born in Siberia, Tomsk region. Our home was near taiga - I still remember its' smell.

I visited Tomsk when I was 7 or 8 years old. I still remember this town. When I was young i lived in Yakutia in Udachny-town, and our home was near taiga, too. It was so beautiful, especially in autumn. In Yakutia taiga is different then in Siberia, imagine that picture: you're walking by taiga and you can see a beautiful carpet under your feet maid of moss. There was't grass or flowers, because the summer was short and cold. This picture i remember from my childhood

ESENICHKA
Динка и Ко
Dear girls, have you heard the English proverb "Birds of a feather flock together"? It's about us - you and me, people from Siberia and the Far East who have found each other on the forum! Great!

NatalyS, you know about Zelenograd such the interesting fact! My husband's granny lives there. The proverb is exactly about us

ESENICHKA, I agree that taiga in Yakutia is different than in Siberia. Unfortunately, Khimki became very dirty because of Leningradskoe highway and a lot of super/hypermarkets

Динка и Ко писал(а):

My husband's granny lives there

It's a very good place to live in, especially for elderly people. When I happen to be there I always admire a lot of beautiful flowers, tiny squares and very clean houses. Its citizens seem to care about the whole town not only about their apartments.

Динка и Ко писал(а):

, I agree that taiga in Yakutia is different than in Siberia.

Right you are. Though I've never been to Yakutia I suppose it has more in common with the Far East, but in places, as far as the nature is superb there combining the features of the south and the north. And the sea...... I've never seen anything more beautiful like the sea in Primorsky region. I used to live right on the shore!

I'd like to show you some pictures of the Pacific ocean. They aren't mine, but taken in the internet. Sorry to say I failed to show the address Thanks a lot to someone who showed this beauty to us.