School Traditions

7. School traditions

1. Let’s talk about school traditions. What can you tell me about the place where you study?

My school is an ordinary building in a new residential area, a 3-storied building with a swimming pool and a spacious gym. Of course there is a lot to be improved. For example our canteen could be more pleasant in its design. Also I’d like to have a bigger library with a reading hall. But in spite of all I love my Gymnasium and I’m proud of it.

Most of our classrooms are quite good, light and spacious. When you enter this or that classroom you understand what subject is taught here as you see special devices or equipment in every room.

At school we work at many things like physical development, emotions, relationships, and which is the most important we get knowledge. Various subjects are studied at our gymnasium: History, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English, Belarusian, Russian, Literature, Geography, Astronomy, Drawing and Singing. So we have a great variety of things to choose for our future interest in our professional life. As for me I’m fond of … I work hard so as to gain appropriate knowledge and to pass my future exams successfully.

School provides children not only with knowledge. It’s also a place where children spend their free time. There are many amateur groups or circles and sport sections in my school. Special teachers help children to develop their creative abilities either in sport sections, a school choir or theatre, or to improve English after classes. Ecology and tourism are also very popular today. So, schoolchildren can also be engaged in these activities.

School is our second home. No one can ever forget it.

2. Does your school have any traditions?

My school life is connected not only with studies but with many other important things. When I think about my school years I recollect a lot of events.  Many of them became traditions because they happen every year on the same dates. Some traditions are similar in all Belarusian schools, some are unique.

The school year starts on the 1st of September. This day is special for all: school children, their teachers and parents. The day starts with the school gathering when all classes and teachers stand in front of the school and listen to the welcoming speeches of their teachers, schoolmates and parents. Students look really nice in their new school uniforms. Everyone is excited to see their school friends and teachers after long summer holidays. After the school gathering teachers take their classes to their classrooms for the first lesson. When the lesson is over, students may have a class event – a picnic or a walk in the park or a class trip. The events on this day are usually the same every year but everyone waits for this day, likes it and remembers it.

Every year in September we have the opportunity to show our athletic skills and abilities during our Sports Day. Though we have Sports weeks every season this day is also among our favourite school traditions. There is a wide range of activities. It opens with a running race. Then we have competitions in different sports, we play sports games, run, jump, climb a wall. Everyone from the 1st to the 11th class takes part in some events. The day finishes with a Closing ceremony where winners get their prizes.

Of course we never forget to congratulate our teachers on Teacher’s Day. Some of our best students take part in School Olimpiads. Very soon we’ll have our last and traditional School Leavers’ Party.

I think I will never forget my school, teachers, classmates and our school traditions.

3. Ask me about my school life.

   -Did you like your school when you were a pupil?

     -What was your favourite subject?

     -Did you have classes on Saturday?

     -How much time did it take you to do your homework?

4. What can you advise a student who is not very good at languages to do to achieve better results?

Nowadays it’s almost impossible to imagine any profession without global communication. You need a foreign language so as to contact your colleagues from different countries, to read about advanced ideas in your professional branch or to visit a conference. Your employer will prefer to have a person who is potentially able to manage all these things. So, if a person has got a strong motivation, it’ll be easy for him/ her to make progress in English. First of all it’s necessary to learn English after classes. For example to watch English films, listen to different educational programs, songs, read in English. The Internet can offer you a great variety of activities connected with learning languages.

5. Nowadays some young people complain that they have lots of problems at school. Do you agree with them?

There are always people who complain about something. The same thing happens at school. Personally, I don’t like these wet blankets. They may not like teachers or subjects or timetables or what not. They are always complaining about their huge home tasks or something else. There may be two reasons for such behavior: either they are lazy or depressed. To tell you the truth, this group is not a numerous one. I try to avoid such people.

Today some young people want to study abroad because they believe that the level of education is higher there. Would you do the same?

Yes it’s true about some people. But they want to go abroad not because the level of education is better there. They go there because in future they will have more opportunities. The level of living conditions is much better in some other countries. Besides they will improve their knowledge of foreign languages. Also there are people who are looking for adventures and want to be independent from their parents. Going abroad is the best opportunity to enjoy both.

As for me I …