Man and the environment

Follow-up questions

Why do people choose to downshift?

Many people make this hard decision as a result of a never ending urban stress, debt-full life and simply less chances of once starting a happy and healthy rest. Motives for downshifting may be divided into two parts:

a) finding internal peace; enjoying leisure and simple life free of wasteful spending; being around friends and family more often; living a healthier life.

b) running away from urban stress; constant financial difficulties; escaping the rat race.

Should students acquire working experience as early as possible?

First, it helps the student gain experience so after college they have a job reference and something to list on their resume. Second, it helps them learn to handle real life situations and responsibilities. Life won't always be easy and you can't always just quit your job because something else comes up that needs your attention, learn to multi-task, organize, and prioritize.

How likely are you to stay in the same field of work throughout your working life?

I think that it is enough likely

Can voluntary work be rewarding?

Yes, volunteering is the perfect vehicle to discover something you are really good at and develop a new skill. Planning and implementing a major fundraising event can develop goal setting, planning and budgeting skills. Supervising and training other volunteers helps to develop supervisory and training skills.

Why do people choose to resign?

There are severel reasons for it. Firstly, bad r elationship with boss.
The boss is too much of an integral part of their daily lives at work for an uncomfortable relationship.
Secondly, Financial instability: a lack of sales, layoffs or reduced work hours, salary freezes, successful competitors highlighted in the news, bad press, employee turnover, mergers and acquiring companies, all lead to an employee’s feeling of instability and a lack of trust.

Education

2a What makes someone a good learner?

· Different ages

· Interest

· Role of a teacher

2b What are the attractions and drawbacks of being a teacher?

· Working with people

· Working conditions

· Sharing knowledge

This profession has both advantageous and disadvantageous. The main attraction is the opportunity to share your passion and expertise with others. Becoming a teacher will also allow you to play an active role in inspiring others. As you share your knowledge and attention with your students, you'll influence who and what they become – not only in the professional realm, but also personally. You're helping young people to become healthy, productive adults. That's a difficult job, and it's often frustrating, but it's something that's meaningful. Other advantages of teaching are the summer-off schedules and the ability to pursue intellectual interests. For example, someone who's interested in physics may choose to pursue a college teaching career in physics so they can further their own knowledge on the subject. Teachers have contact with many young and creative pupils. They can learn very interesting things from each other - both a teacher and students. What is more, pupils do not allow teachers to lose their creativity. Benefit of teacher job is -summer break. It sounds simplistic and childish, but honestly a lot of people choose teaching because they like the idea of having the entire summer off work.

Teachers often struggle with the challenges of school budget cuts, large classroom sizes, increasingly demanding curriculum requirements and lack of parental involvement. it is a stressful job. School district financial woes may equate to pay cuts, layoffs and a reduction of job benefits, such as healthcare and retirement, for many teachers. Moreover, part of the job is getting used to routine. Teachers have lesson plans and schedules. At first, these routines may be comforting, but after a while, they may get boring. Also you must work with people (i.e., teen-agers) who are often very unpleasant to be around so that a teacher must be very patient and behave calmly even when the situation is not easy. Moreover, it can be very depressing job for people who have not get strong character. Pupils can notice that weakness and try to get rid of their teacher. There's a general lack of societal respect. Many people think of teachers as little more than babysitters.

Discussion question:

What should the aims of education be in modern society?

Ж- So... Can I begin?

Н- Go ahead

Ж - I think that education, besides giving knowledge, should teach how analyze, find and use information. What do you think about it?

N – I agree with you. However, today the education system prepares young people just for taking exams. Such way of education stuns creativity and original thinking.

G- May I cut in here. In my opinion, not only creativity and originality are important. Being well-educated person encompasses creativity, original thinking and literacy.

Н- I see your point. Moreover, if a creative person is unable to express his ideas logically and coherently, he can’t be well-educated. Also, I think that the purpose is to prepare people for the challenges of the life. I mean that we learn how to behave. What’s your opinion?

Ж – You are absolutely right. For example, we learn how to communicate with different people. Also education should help to find and develop talents of young people.

N - But talents and skills should not be developed at the expense of literacy. So, let’s compromise on saying that the most significant purposes of education are to develop literacy and talent?

Ж – Hmm… I agree with you. Probably, they are really the most important aims of education.

Follow-up questions:

How important is good education in people’s lives?

Good education is essential If you want to lead a happy life. By simply being educated you’d have little job insecurity, no inferiority complex and a well organized understanding of the world. Education may not be the key to happiness, but it definitely is the key to a lot of other things which come together to make you happy. Also education helps you gain job opportunities for financial independence.

What is the best way to test students’ knowledge?

Exams aren’t the ideal way to check knowledge. The uniformity required by exams standardise the interests, capabilities and knowledge absorbed by students and children. students are required to memorise information, but not necessarily understand what they are learning. But we don’t have nothing better because despite their drawbacks, they provide enough objective and sure way of testing students.

How well are children taught at schools?

It depends on teacher. Teachers are the single most important school-related factor affecting student learning outcomes. In other words, these findings suggest that the quality of a school is to a large extent correlated and dependent on the quality of its teachers.

What makes a good teacher?

To be a good teacher you must be able to relate well to children and enjoy working with others. You need to be enthusiastic and creative. Patience, tact and a sense of humour will help you through the harder times.

With the advent of the internet, do students need teachers so much?

No,the internet can give information, but a teacher can lend a hand, or an ear, and discern what’s necessary for a student to succeed, and to want to succeed.

They are leaders, guides, facilitators, and mentors. They encourage students when they struggle, and inspire them to set and reach for their goals. They are role models, leading by example and giving direction when necessary.

Art and culture

3a What is your favourite museum and why?

· Its location

· profile

· target audience

· popularity

3b Describe one of your favourite pictures.

· Speak about its author

· Describe what it shows

· Say why you find this picture particularly attractive.

Raphael, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form, ease of composition. At the top, The Madonna is holding the Christ Child. Lower down to the left, Saint Sixtus humbly looks up to her while pointing outward to the faithful congregation with his right hand. In this act of mediation between the heavenly Madonna and the earthly plane of the viewer, he is joined by Saint Barbara standing opposite, who inspects the scene with her downward gaze. At the foot of the picture, two picturesque winged cherubs are pictured resting on their elbows while gazing distractedly at the three figures above them. To the left, the Papal tiara of the former Pope Sixtus I rests on the frame of the painting, acting as a sort of bridge between the real and pictorial space.

One of his famous pictures is Sistine Madonna

The three main figures - The Virgin, Saint Sixtus and Saint Barbara Madonna - inhabit an imaginary space, framed by heavy curtains which have been opened to reveal the heavenly scene. Positioned in the usual triangular arrangement, they are standing on a bed of clouds, looking down upon the church congregation which would be assembled below.

Discuss:

What is the importance of art in our lives?

D: May I begin?

J: Go ahead!

D: In my book, art is a part of our daily lives and is present in cultures across the world. Most people enjoy observing it or creating it, they may even support it financially or by volunteering. I feel, that art is a mean of communication. An artist or a composer uses his emotions and thoughts to make a masterpiece. This is a universal language. What do you feel about that?

J: - I absolutely agree. Art is the important part of our life. It helps people to understand outside world and each others. We can learn about people who lived hundred years ago. Finally, we can get to know ourselves. Creating art allows us to slow down and experience the full range of our emotions. Understanding our emotions can help us heal, grow and improve ourselves. What your opinion?

D: You are spot on! Moreover, art helps us to enhance our creativity. For example, some people listen to classical music while drawing or writing a story. Do you agree?

J: - Yes, you are right. Many famous people, for example, Édouard Manet, were inspired by other works of art. The art also encourages critical thinking. When we create art we make decisions throughout the entire process. When we view art we make decisions on how to interpret what we are seeing. We use logic and reason to attribute meaning to what we see or what we create. Do you agree?

D: Yes, we look at the paintings, listen to the music and we always compare them. I feel it also helps us to get a good taste. Don't you think so?

J: - You absolutely right. If you read, listen, see many good things, you will be able to distinguish a masterpiece from a pot-boiler. What do you feel about that?

D: I could not agree more. I would like to add that the art erases the gap between cultures. By observing the creations of people from other cultures we can gain a better understanding of their lives. We cannot miss this fact!

J: - Yes, through art we are able to get a glimpse of another persons existence through their eyes. It is a powerful tool that can improve communication and relationships between cultures.

D: You're absolutely right. I think, we have covered a lot of points why is art so important in our lives. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of things to discuss.

Follow-up questions:

Should internationally significant art treasures held in foreign museums be returned to their country of origin?

I think that if in the their country of origin isn’t able to provide condition for survives of the artefacts, they shouldn’t be returned. The protection of these artefacts is also questionable in countries in financial difficulty. The temptation could be too much. Also nobody has absorbed the point that by spreading artefacts around the world, in relation to their origins, we are reducing the understanding of civilisations our future generation will have.

What is your favorite work of art?

Do schools have responsibility for making children and teenagers aware of their historic and cultural heritage?

I think that schools have responsibility partially for it. However, their main aim teachers gain students ‘interests in this field and show all importance of their historic and cultural heritage.

Is it appropriate nowadays to continue teaching children about their national heritage?

In my opinion, it is necessary. It gives connection to certain social values, beliefs, customs, religions. Cultural heritage can provide a sense of unity and belonging within a group and allows to better understand previous generation.

Health issues

4a Controversial nature of some medical advances.(students’ own choice which latest developments to talk about, e.g. transplantation, surrogacy, euthanasia, cloning, delayed motherhood etc.)

Surrogacy is a type of arrangement that is done between a couple or an individual and a woman to carry and to deliver a baby for the couple or individual. There are a many women who are suffering from medical conditions which do not allow them to become pregnant. For such couples, surrogacy is an option that will allow them to have a baby of their own.

However, surrogacy has set of drawbacks

It generally takes a lot of searching to find a surrogate mother who will be healthy and will be willing to your conditions and there are a lot of medical and legal procedures that will have to be put in place.

There have been issues when surrogate mothers have not wanted to let go of the child, thereby complicating the whole scenario.

Surrogacy is a very expensive procedure and can cost anywhere between $50,000 and $100,000. Therefore a lot of financial planning is required by the intended couple. The couple will have to go through a lot of different expenses like medical bills, compensation for the surrogate mother, legal fees and medications for the surrogate mother.

The couple has to ensure that all the legal procedures are in place before committing themselves to surrogacy or else they may face legal issues later.

4b To what extent are people responsible for their own health

· Hereditary influence

· Environmental influence

· Lifestyle and habits

Discuss

How can people improve their physical condition and resistance to stress in a big city?

N- Don’t you mind if I begin?

G- Go ahead

N- Living in a big city is very stressful. In my opinion, one of the most important things that you can do if you are trying to relieve your stress is to make time for yourself, for example, there is a huge amount of fitness clubs which offer different services. Moreover, it is well known fact that physical activity relieves the brain from the stress.

G- I agree with you. Moreover, there are special techniques which helps to reduce stress For example, Yoga. This technique combines many of the relaxation benefits of breathing, muscle relaxation, and meditation. Also, if it is possible, you should go on foot or use public transport because driving requests constant control and attention and can be cause of anxiety.

N- I see your point, however, using public transport is not always beneficial. When you are constantly surrounded by noise and other people, most of whom are focused on their own concerns may get you angry and you will get stressed. I believe that you would like to be able to find a place where you can shut out all of the noise.

G – Yes, you are absolutely right! So, I think a hobby can help to manage stress too. A hobby gives the mind gets a break from anxiety and tension because a person is focusing on a completely unrelated activity. What your opinion?

N- Hobbies provide a nice break in a busy week. Another way to be stress-free is Keeping positive about life and the problems. Also being in the presence of positive people who have a positive outlook on life will also greatly help relieve stress. Negative people cause anxious feelings and increase levels of stress so avoiding them is an excellent stress relief tip.

G – That's so true. In my opinion, the part of keeping positive about life is understanding that some potentially stressful situations such as traffic congestion, noise pollution are simply not within your control. Fully recognizing those facts can help to manage stress and anxiety that can arise from those circumstances. What do you think?

N- I absolutely agree with you! So, let’s compromise on saying that if you want to be stress-free in a big city, you should find an activity which help you to forget about routine.

G – Hmm… I agree with you. It is really the effective way to manage stress.

Follow-up questions

Are people healthier today than they used to be 50 years ago?

What are the biggest health scares in your country?

One of the biggest health scares in Russia is genetically modified food, which is used to prevent insects from damaging fruits and vegetables. That led to many writeups posted about the potential hazards of eating mutated food. There’s no scientific proof this is the case, and it has generally led to better results such as making crops grow faster.

Is it detrimental for health to give up eating meat?

Yes, because man always has been omnivorous animal and meat is necessary for our organism. It contains essential substances for us such as protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 which are difficult to me substituted for.

What do you understand by the term ‘Nature versus Nurture’?

It relates to the relative importance of an individual's innate qualities as compared to an individual's personal experiences in causing individual differences. Usually, influence of genetics is opposite to influence of environment.

Man and the environment