Posts

To all my Ss attention

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As all of you are trying to pass valuable Cambridge ESOL examination - the FCE, I do advise you to look at the possible statement of results. It's something you'll receive after you've done the examination (in 1 month). If you passed, your results, in any paper, will be above borderline (60%). If you fail, it's gonna be lower than that. So try your best to make each paper (Reading, Writing, Use of English, Listening, Speaking,) at its best. This will definitely help you to get the better overall mark. Keep trying.

Home assignment - 22..02.07

Group 2.30pm Writing -Successful Writing , Unit 7 till the end, ex 7,pg 39. Your choice. PEP (1) - Test 9 Use of English (1), complete Unit 4 , pp 45-52 Speaking - (L&Sp) book,Unit 2, Speaking about Work Mission (in 1 week) revise Unit 2 for Speaking Deadline 01.03.07 Group 5 pm Writing - Mock writing in class FCE-Sue O'Connel , Test 2, Mission KW Transformations, p 73 Use of English ,Unit 9 page 144-150 Speaking - mock Sp in class Deadline 01.03.07

NY's best square - Times Square

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Did you know which square in NY can be compared with Red Square in Moscow, Champs-Elysées in Paris, Trafalgar Square in London and so on? Sure, it is Times Square, which has achieved the status of NY's landmark and has become a symbol of Manhattan. We first saw Times Square in the evening and it looked so amazingly familiar to us as if we'd known it for ages (of course, we did not but this picture is stuck in everybody's memory in Russia from films and ads). Times Square is situated between Sixth and Ninth Avenues from east to west, and West 39th and West 52nd Streets from south to north. It makes up the western part of the Midtown Manhattan. It should be seen in the evening as it's full of bright lights then. Have a look!

Home assignment - 15.02.07

Group 2.30pm Writing -Successful Writing , Unit 6 till the end, ex15, 16, 22. Your choice. PEP (1) - Test 8 Use of English (1), complete Practice Test #2 and Unit 3 Speaking - (L&Sp) book,Unit 2, Sp Test Mission Revise Unit 3 for class speaking(in 2 weeks) Deadline 22.02.07 Group 5 pm Writing - Mock writing in class FCE-Sue O'Connel , Test 1, Mission KW Transformations, p 73 Use of English ,Unit 9 page 144-150 Speaking - mock Sp in class Deadline 22.02.07

Looking back to USA - NY City Lucky Bull

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If you go down Manhattan to the NYCity's Financial District (it is on the famous Wall Street) you definitely can't miss noticing a huge statue of a bull. The strange statue is near the well known Stock Exchange. There are many people who are called stock exchange brockers in the nearby cafes. Of course, they pass by the bull every day going to the Stock Exchange. When we looked closely at the gigantic animal we noticed that the testicles on the statue are brilliantly burnished. I asked my host family in NY about that and they explained that this burnished spots appeared from the hands of thousands stockbrokers as well as tourists who are rubbing the statue there every day for luck on their way to work or simply passing by. It is a NYC's Lucky Bull. And if you keep going down, there will be China Town with lots of sea food stalls which also look beautiful. To your attantion : Chrisa! You said you lost your blog. Seek it on the address: http://4elovek-hrisa.blogspot.com/ . Ot...

Home assignment - 08.02.07

Group 2.30pm Writing -Successful Writing , Unit 5, ex22, p.21-31 PEP (1) - Test 7 Use of English (1), complete Practice Test #2 and Unit 3 (in 2 weeks) Speaking - about holidays (L&Sp) book, Unit 2 Mission (1) -Unit 3 , parts 3,4 Deadline 15.02.07 Group 5 pm Writing - Mock writing in class FCE-5, Test 4, Mission KW Transformations, p 73 Use of English ,Unit 9 page 144-150 Speaking - mock Sp in class Deadline 15.02.07

Looking back on USA - Ellis Island

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America is the country of emigrants. But can you say, what was the first piece of land the newcomers stepped on when they arrived by steamers or big ocean vessels? No, it was not Hudson Bay or something coastal. Until 1954, it was Ellis Island where the federal immigration station was located. It was opened in 1892 and since then the station processed over 12 million immigrant steamship passengers. The main building, which you can see in the photos, was restored and opened as a museum in 1990. Ellis Island and another famous Island of Liberty, where the Statue is located, form one of the most famous tourist attractions of NY. Today, over 40 percent of America's population can find their ancestors through Ellis Island and its registers. On Ellis Island emigrants were put under medical check up for infectious and incurable diseases. Only if they managed to go through this ordeal (don’t forget that many of them were terminally ill or infected) they were able to enter America. A...

Well done!

Great News!!!!!!!! All our fellows who sat the FCE in December have passed!!!!!!!!! None failed!!!!!. Some managed to pass with flying colours. Great! Very good job not only for their future but it's great for us, the teachers - Minats, Olgakut and other really good teachers of school 1539. The school can pride itself on its most ambitious students. Also many thanks to all those people (parents/relatives/friends) who helped students to reach their goal. The current groups: Keep trying!!!!!

Home assignment - 01.02.07

Group 2.30pm Writing -Successful Writing , Unit 4, ex 10, p.23 (your choice), PEP (1) - Test 6 Use of English (1) - Unit 2 Speaking about holidays (L&Sp) book, Unit 2 Deadline 08.02.07 Mission (1) Unit 2, parts 3,4 - Deadline 15.02.07 Group 5 pm Writing - Successful Writing, Transactional letter -ex.6, p.112 FCE-5, Test 3, Mission KW Transformations, ex 12, till end + Error correction-one page Use of English ,Unit 9 page 144-150 Speaking - mock Sp in class Deadline 01.02.07 To your attention: please note that some of you who are 'contributors' managed to start your blogs. If you have problems, please e-mail me ( kuzminats@hotmail.com ) and we'll try to fix them. Good Luck!

Looking back on USA - American smile – sincere or false?

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I think many of you would agree that people in Russia tend to dislike Americans. They say that ever smiling Americans are insincere. Some go even farther and say that Americans put on their faces a kind of mask which hides their real feelings and temper. This clichéd image of a bit childish and narrow-minded Americans is rather popular in our society. It is so because of some well-known TV comedians and shows. But let me disagree and say that many Americans are really friendly and helpful. During our stay in NY, and don’t forget that NY is as busy and overpopulated as Moscow with lots of people rushing here and there, we came across several very frank and open-minded people. I recall one particular occasion. On that day, my husband and I were waiting for a boat to take us to the Island of Liberty and Elis Island. We’d already taken many photographs of some beauty spots around and were standing expecting nothing special. The weather was freezing and windy. All of a sudden I heard: “Guys...

Home assignment - 25.01.07

Group 2.30pm Writing -Successful Writing , Unit 3, ex 6 (1,2), PEP (1) - Tests 5 Mission (1) - Unit 2 parts 1,2 Speaking about dwellings (L&Sp) book, Unit 1 Deadline 01.02.07 Group 5 pm Writing - Successful Writing, ex1, page 111 FCE-5, Test 2, Mission KW Transformations, ex 12, till end + Error correction-one page Use of English ,Unit 9 page 144-150 Deadline 01.02.07 To your attention: please note that I've resent invitations to start writing to the blog. Those who are already contributors, please start writing, too. For that you do the following: Via 'Google' reach your blog by its name (you'll need to type in your bolg's name then follow the link, after that 'sign in' using your 'username' and 'password'. Mind that you sign in after you've started your 'Google account' following my invitation. Good Luck!

Looking back on USA - figure skating with tears

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Here I'd like to tell you about that day. It'll stuck in my memory forever as one of most bizzare days in my life. It was the very Eve of New Year, December 30th. My family startet toying with the idea of going figure skating in the morning. First, I didn't take them seriously, then I realized that I couldn't help it. They were so pushy that I agreed to join but without my skating. Frankly speaking, I'm a risk-taker, but for no reasons at all on that day, I didn't feel like skating. I don't know why. My gloomy promonitions got even worse when we spent about 30 min. standing in line to the ticket box with lots of overenthuziastic Afro and Chinese kids chewing Burgers or Nuudles from big plastik boxes with their parents doing the same. However, the moment we got skating boots and a glisterring skating-rink with splendid music was only one step ahead, I lost my mind. All my premonitions wore off and I bravely stepped on the ice. My first movements were rather w...

Home assignment 18.01.07

Group 2.30pm Writing -Successful Writing , Unit 2, last ex (1-3) PEP (1) - Tests 4 Use of Eng (1) - Unit 1- second part + speaking about photos with modal structures Deadline 25.01.07 Group 5 pm Writing - Successful Writing, articles (H,I. L) FCE-5, Test 1, Those who haven't done FCE-2, will do tests 3&4 Mission KW Transformations, ex 12, till end Deadline 25.01.07

List of your blogs

Hi, everybody Now I can post a list of your blogs. You can reach them in the same way as my blog via 'Google'. I said about that earlier. I'm blog administrator. My blog - minats_zone Manage Your Blogs and Good Luck! Group at 2:30pm lena_minats_zone kate_minats_zone anna_minats_zone fardan_minats_zone kirill_minats_zone andrey_minats_zone dasha_minats_zone alesya_minats_zone alena_minats_zone marina_madlen_zone Group at 5pm yayloyans5_zone elya_gri5_zone mysticeye5_zone devil_ann5_zone joker5_zone

More of NY city

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Hi, there. Hope I'll manage some more photos. Minats

How to start your blog (To Marina_Madlen and others)

Dear M_M, and others, I hope we'll be able to interact somehow. Minats. The Procedure of using the blog is not very hard. It is the following: Get my (not olgakut_z0ne) invitation Start your Google Account (on New Blogger with beta) Use your E-mail as your username and nick as your password. You can try several times till you manage. Save this data for me. Or sent it to me by e-mail You'll get a status of a team member along with me (minats - administrator). Don't use olgakut group because it was done by mistake. Reach my (or your blog) by going to 'Google', 'More', 'Blogs', then insert in the search box the name of my blog minats_zone or your name (for marina it is marina_madlen_zone ) and follow the links (green) Start posting from your blog Regularly visit my blog for updates and home assignments E-mail me if you have any queries, Minats

Back from NY

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Hello, everyone, The trip back was rather tiring but relatively smooth. Though we had to take 2 connections: in NY and Amsterdam, we arrived in time. Now we're home and I can sit back and tell you about my 3 days in NY. I'm sorry for not writing from NY. It was impossible as we stayed with the Russian Priest's family in the area called 'Queens', which, in fact, is only 6 stops from the '5th Avenue by Subway.' The family have no computers and TV sets. But, perhaps, it's for good in my situation. NY is as usual amazing. It's my favourite city in US as it has sth in its atmosphere which makes it special. Not to mention lovely bridges and plenty of water everywhere. I'll try to tell you more on our meeting. The much I can say now is that we managed to climb to the observatory deck of the Statue of Liberty so I took some gorgeous photos. Have a look at some photos to catch the feeling of NY. See you soon. Minats

Russian Orthodox Christmas in SF. NY tomorrow

Dear all, It's a great pity, but I'm leaving the most welcoming city of SF,CA tomorrow, at 7:50am. Hope to be in NY at 4pm local time. The weather in SA has been so dazzlingly sunny recently that I'll miss this brightness for some time. We celebrated Russian Christmas at the local Orthodox Church on Geary Street and attended 2 services. For the local Russians it's a very special occasion to go to church as I saw all of them very smartly and elegantly dresses there. The young and old alike. There were some really very old people there who looked as if they belong to the 1-2d wave of emigration- faces noble and aristocratic, wearing some antiquated clothes and hats. I loved the way they behave and speak. It's very different from our modern Russia. Services were held in both languages ( Rus & Eng) so that even kids and teens could understand them. They have a lyceum and Orthodox schools here. I'll stop writing here as I have to pack my stuff. Hope to writ...

Trip to Alcatraz

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Hi,everyone, I'll tell you more about this place in SF. But I guess you 've heard about the prison on the rocky island in SF Bay. 1.3 miles from the shore. Now it's a beauty spot and local attraction, but before 1964 it used to be a big prison. Three inmates escaped from it and were never found as the streams in the ocean around the island are violent and there are many whirls there, too. Anyway, you'd better have a look and try to imagine what it was like to be there. Regards, Minats

Big city of SF

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Hi, I'd like you to look at some gorgeous views of SF bridges. They make the city very special. Best wishes, Minats