It is not easy to say exactly what teenagers in different countries do in their leisure time. I think that, in the main our interests and tastes do not differ very much. They are engaged in sports activities. They listen to their favourite music bands or take part in different concerts. Teenagers discover the world and themselves. In the main, all young people are individualists. Youth is the time when young people work out their outlook. At the same time they need collective experience to share their dreams and interests. Teenagers unite in specific organisations.
The first organisation that brought together thousands of teenagers in different countries was that of the Scouts. The aim of this association was originally to train boys in various different skills such as lighting a fire and to develop their character. Now the Scouts are active all around the world. The motto of the Scouts is "Be Prepared." After the October Revolution a similar Pioneer organisation was created in Russia. The Pioneers were supported and sponsored by the government. Now the Pioneers do not exist in our country.
The Scouts and Pioneers were the first, but not the only organisations of the young people. For example today the volunteer movement is extremely popular among the teenagers. It dates back to the year 1921, when a French soldier decided to restore a German house after World War I free of charge. The movement flourished only in the late 1990s when young people of Europe and the United States went to different parts of the world helping local communities to solve their problems. Today volunteerism is very popular in American community and political life. Volunteerism implies assisting people through privately initiated agencies. Volunteers do not receive any salary for what they are doing, but at the same time their work is highly motivated. They react very quickly, immediately coming to help to whoever may need it. There are several types of volunteer work: workcamps, mid-term and long-term volunteering projects. Any young man from any continent can come to workcamps. These camps attain certain objectives in social, ecological, archaeological fields. Usually all works are done under the supervision of professionals. The mid-and long-term projects usually concern the social sphere. They include assistance to children, old people, crippled or immigrants. Volunteer fund-raising groups unite to help the needy in all spheres. They can do almost any work that is necessary. Volunteers can be found in any part of the globe. In the United States six out of ten pupils are members of some volunteer organisations.
All three organisations that were mentioned above are more or less formal. At the same time there are many informal associations of teenagers. Very often they are not even registered, and if they are, no one cares about what they are doing. No records are kept of their activities. They emerge, evolve and disintegrate without leaving trace in history. Nevertheless such organisations are extremely important for their participants. They serve as a means for teenagers to express themselves, meet new friends that have common interests, discuss problems that are really important to them. Quite often a famous book, a movie or a musical band can serve as an impulse for creating such organisations. Fan clubs of different rock and pop groups are numerous. Fan clubs usually consist of teenagers. Members of such clubs listen collectively to their favourite songs, attend concerts, write letters to their idols.
The most spectacular example of unofficial organisation is presented by the Tolkienist movement. J.R.R. Tolkien, the famous British writer created a magic world of elves, dwarves, and hob-bits. Any person who likes Tolkien"s novels can become a Tolkienist. This community is open to everyone; young people come and go, they choose a race, becoming, for example, an elf or a goblin. Their imagination will carry them as far as they want. In Russia Tolkien is extremely popular now. In Moscow there are several places where his fans assemble to share their views and ideas.
Other teenagers go much further. They are not satisfied with the world they are living in, and the worlds created by others do not attract them either. They create their own worlds and universes. In this context Role-Playing Games (also called RPG) should be mentioned. The first RPG was Dungeons and Dragons (D"n"D), a Dungeon Muster (DM) is responsible for outlining the rules of the newly created world, while other players act as the inhabitants of this world, Participating in such activity can be really thrilling, but the danger of quitting the real world for an imaginary one is always present. Such groups and organisations are escapists in their essence. Unlike volunteers they are not aimed at making our world better.
Why do the young organise their clubs?
The young do not want to accept the world of the adults with their organisations for the teenagers. They rebel against it in different ways, sometimes in the form of creating their unofficial organisations and clubs. They organise according to their interests into different sub-cultural groups.
Do you belong to any group or organisation?
No, I do not. My elder brother used to be a Pioneer, but now such official or semi-official organisations do not attract me. For a couple of years I attended the meetings of the Tolkienists, acting as a little dwarf. Although I am still a great fan of Tolkien"s books, I do not think any longer that I should waste my time living an imaginary life in the imaginary world. The world we all are living in is full of wonders. There is always somebody who needs our help. A lot of my friends are supporters of Greenpeace, and I will soon join their actions. Greenpeace is doing a very important job of rescuing the nature. People of different ages help Greenpeace, and I believe that young people should participate in the activities of this organisation more actively.
What do your friends do in their leisure time?
As I have already said, some of my friends help Greenpeace. I still have many friends among the Tolkienists. Some of my friends are fond of RPGs. They meet every Saturday in groups of 5 or 6, They draw a map and for hours discuss the fates of their heroes. One game can last several months or sometimes a year. Although my best friend who is a Dungeon Master often invites me to join his RPG, I am sure that the real life is much more interesting than any imaginary adventures.
(9/11)
What do old and young do in their leisure time ? What do young people in different countries prefer to do ?
Leisure is time spent in non-compulsory activities. Because leisure time is free from compulsory activities such as work, study, household duties, eating and sleeping, it is often referred to as "free time". The ideas of leisure and leisure time are thought to have emerged in the late 19th century with the rise of mechanized industry, when the increase in productivity of labour resulted in the fact that workers had some time to spend on themselves.
They started doing sports and visiting theatres. Since then the idea of leisure time and relaxation has been popular with all the age groups and social classes. Old and young, rich and poor have been using their free time for rest and entertainment. The ways people spend their leisure time normally differ according to the age group: middle-aged and old people normally prefer more passive kind of rest like watching TV or going to the theatre, or sometimes gardening, younger people enjoy more active pastimes like doing extreme sports, visiting night clubs and discos or travelling. However, the idea of active leisure like doing sports or travelling is gaining popularity with the older people, too.
So the basic leisure time activities of the young are travelling, doing sports including extreme sports, visiting discos and night clubs or more passive ways of recreation like listening to music or watching TV and videos, and surfing the Internet. Teenagers normally prefer to do extreme sports, that is sports featuring speed, height and danger as they lead to the so-called "adrenaline rush9 in participants. They wish to push themselves to the limits of their physical ability and fear, and push the boundaries of a particular sport, such as bungee jumping, climbing, white-water rafting, surfing, windsurfing and many others. Their tastes in music are normally different kinds of popular music associated with youth subcultures, such as hard rock, hip-hop or rap, punk rock, psychedelic rock and the like. In watching TV and videos or going to the cinema, they prefer film genres which are full of action, movement, colour, cinema effects and have a good soundtrack. They normally like action films, comedies, musicals, thrillers and cartoons.
Sometimes the ways young people spend their free time varies according to the country, as they sometimes depend on national traditions. For example, in the USA young people normally like different types of popular culture which originated in their country like blues, different kinds of rock, country music and hip hop in music and pop art in fine arts. The sports they are doing are more often than not those which originated in America like baseball, auto-racing, basketball, and board-based recreational sports - surfboarding, skateboarding and snowboarding. American youngsters are fond of eating out and eat a lot of junk food like hambuigers and cheeseburgers and drink Coca-cola or Pepsi. British youngsters are really fond of watching football matches and sorts of races such as horse-racing, boat-racing and even dog-racing, as well as playing football, rugby and golf and taking part in races. They are really fond of pets and often spend some time in the evening taking their dog for a walk. In going out for the evening, they still prefer pubs to restaurants, bars and cafes. In music, their tastes are nearly the same as those of their American peers. In Germany young people prefer drinking beer when meeting their friends and spending much time doing various sports. In Spain many youngsters, as well as older people, are fond of watching bullfighting. In France they like listening to French chanson.
(9+)
What do you like doing in your free time?
As for me, I prefer to spend my free time doing three things: doing swimming, pursuing my hobby which is collecting rare books, or listening to music in which I prefer jazz and classical music. Doing sports (I have been doing swimming since I was 7) helps me keep fit and be always in high spirits, as well as build up stamina and get tempered. The first reason why I collect books is that I am really keen on reading: Books open to me a whole world of events and people. The second one is that collecting rare books is getting to know history better. Reading a book is getting information about the period it describes, feeling its atmosphere and getting to know historical figures of the period.
I enjoy listening to music, as music helps me relax and relieve stress. When I listen to music, classical, jazz, rap or any other type of music I enjoy, I forget about the troubles of everyday life; music provides an escape from everyday problems. Stress melts away as I am taken in by the beauty of the music. It can help me feel calm and deeply relaxed. Secondly, music affects my emotions. Each type of music sets distinct mood and changes mine. Whether I am feeling sad, frustrated or confused, I listen to merry or tender music, and my mood shifts. I can"t say I prefer to listen to some definite kind of music all the time. The choice of music I listen to depends on my state of mind and mood. I can tell you what kind of music I prefer to listen to when I feel depressed, and it is jazz. The first reason why I do it is that jazz music usually has a powerful rhythm, so it is a kind of music that fills you with energy and strength. Secondly, it provides a brilliant combination of instrumental tunes and voice, which creates unforgettable harmony. Jazz immediately carries me away from my troubles, fills me with hope and joy, even though its tunes are often sad. I enjoy listening to classical music, too, Firstly, I like it for the complexity of the musical harmony it offers. Modern popular music, such as pop or rock is much more primitive in melody. Secondly, the emotions classical music evokes are much stronger and deeper; they carry me away to the time when the piece of music I am listening to was composed.
(11+)
A thing we do in our free time for recreation and pleasure is called a hobby. Hobbies are practiced for interest and enjoyment, rather than for money. What are hobbies for some people are professions for others: a game tester may enjoy cooking as a hobby, while a professional chef might enjoy playing computer games. Generally speaking, the person who does something for fun, not remuneration, is called an amateur (or hobbyist), as distinct from a professional. Engaging in a hobby can lead to acquiring substantial skill, knowledge, and experience. A lot of celestial bodies and events have been discovered by amateur astronomers. However, the aim of a hobby is pleasure and personal fulfillment.
While some hobbies strike many people as trivial or boring, hobbyists find something entertaining about them. In fact, anything can be a hobby, from collecting stamps and board games to doing extreme sports and making model airplanes.
Translate the
following sentences into English.
1. Время, когда человек свободен от обязательной
деятельности, такой как работа, домашние обязанности,
образование, еда, и сон, называется свободным временем.
2. Понятие свободного времени появилось в XIX веке с развитием
механизации в промышленности, когда рабочие смогли посвящать
больше времени отдыху.
3. Идея отдыха популярна среди всех возрастных групп и классов
общества.
4. Люди среднего возраста и пожилые люди обычно предпочитают
более пассивные виды отдыха, более молодые люди получают
удовольствие от более активных занятий, таких как занятия
экстремальными видами спорта, путешествия, посещения диско и
ночных клубов и некоторых более пассивных занятий, таких как
просмотр видео или интернет.
5. Экстремальные виды спорта - это виды спорта, которые отличает
скорость, высота и опасность, вызывающие так называемый «выброс
адреналина» у участников, которые заставляют себя достичь
пределов своих физических возможностей и страха.
6. Их вкусы в музыке - различные виды музыки, которые
ассоциируются с молодежными субкультурами, такие как тяжелый
рок, рэп, панк-рок, психоделический рок и тому подобное.
7. Они предпочитают жанры фильмов, которые полны действия и
киноэффектов и у которых хорошее звуковое сопровождение, такие
как фильмы-боевики, комедии, мюзиклы, триллеры и мультфильмы.
8. Молодежь США предпочитает блюз, рок, музыку кантри и хип-хоп,
бейсбол, автогонки, баскетбол и виды спорта, основанные на
применении доски, а также высококалорийную пищу с низкой
питательной ценностью.
9. Британские молодые люди любят домашних животных, пабы и
традиционные британские виды спорта; испанские молодые люди
любят смотреть бой быков.
(9+)
10. Я предпочитаю проводить свое свободное время, занимаясь
своим хобби (собирание редких книг), слушая джаз или занимаясь
плаванием, что помогает мне быть в хорошей форме и всегда в
хорошем настроении, воспитывать выносливость и закаляться.
11. Музыка помогает мне расслабиться и снять стресс, который
тает, когда меня захватывает музыка, она дает возможность уйти
от повседневных проблем и создает определенное настроение.
12. У джаза мощный ритм, который наполняет энергией и силой, он
представляет собой блестящее сочетание инструментальных мелодий
и голоса, что создает незабываемую гармонию.
13. Я люблю классическую музыку за сложность музыкальной
гармонии, которую она предлагает, и за те чувства, которые она
вызывает.
(11+)
14. Хобби занимаются скорее ради интереса, удовольствия и
личного удовлетворения, чем из-за вознаграждения, хотя занятия
хобби может привести к получению значительных навыков, знаний и
опыта.
1. A time when a
person is free from compulsory activities such as work,
household duties, education, eating and sleeping is called free
time or leisure time.
2. The notion of leisure time emerged in the 19th century with
the rise of mechanised industry when workers could give more
time to recreation and leisure.
3. The idea of relaxation is popular with all the age groups and
social classes.
4. Middle-aged and old people normally prefer more passive kinds
of rest, younger people enjoy more active pastimes like doing
extreme sports, travelling, visiting discos and night clubs, and
some more passive leisure time activities like watching videos
or surfing the Internet.
5. Extreme sports are sports featuring speed, height and danger
and leading to the so-called "adrenaline rush" in participants
who push themselves to the limits of their physical ability and
fear.
6. Their tastes in music are different kinds of music associated
with youth subcultures, such as hard rock, rap, punk rock,
psychedelic rock and the like.
7. They prefer film genres which are full of action and cinema
effects and have a good soundtrack, like action films, comedies,
musicals, thrillers and cartoons.
8. The US youngsters prefer blues, rock, country music and hip
hop, baseball, auto-racing, basketball and board-based sports,
as well as junk food.
9. British youngsters are fond of pets, pubs and traditional
British sports; Spanish young people like watching bullfighting.
(9+)
10. I prefer to spend my free time pursuing my hobby- collecting
rare books, listening to jazz and classical music or doing
swimming which helps me keep fit, be always in high spirits,
build up my stamina and get tempered.
11. Music helps me relax and relieve stress which melts away as
I am taken in by the beauty of the music, it provides an escape
from everyday problems and sets distinct mood.
12. Jazz has a powerful rhythm, which fills you with energy and
strength, provides a brilliant combination of instrumental tunes
and voice, which creates unforgettable harmony
13. I like classical music for the complexity of the musical
harmony it offers and the emotions it evokes.
(11+)
14. Hobbies are practised for interest and enjoyment and
personal fulfilment, rather than for remuneration, though
engaging in a hobby can lead to acquiring substantial skill,
knowledge, and experience.
Из пособия "ЕГЭ. Английский язык. Устные темы" Занина Е.Л. (2010, 272с.) - Part one. English examination topics. Forms 9/11.
Every person needs some free time, be it a kid or an adult. Most schoolchildren and employees usually rest at weekend. This is the best time for relaxing and doing what you like. Evenings of weekdays also offer some free time. When I get back from school, I eat something quick and do my homework. After that I’m free to meet up with friends, to play computer games or to draw, which is my hobby. Sometimes, I play volleyball or other active games with my friends at the school playground. In summertime I also like playing ping-pong and I’m rather good at it. Weekends are a bit different. My parents usually give me some pocket money each week. I try to spend them reasonably. During the week I pay for lunch at the school canteen. Sometimes I need to buy some stationery. At weekends I go out with my friends. Sometimes we go to the cinema, sometimes to the pizza place. However, my favourite pastime at weekends is bowling. I like this game. I think it is not only entertaining but also social. Bowling unites like-minded people and gives a chance to communicate with good friends, instead of sitting in front of the computer. I don’t mind computer games, but they can get addictive and certainly spending long hours in front of the screen is not healthy. It influences eyesight and brain activity. I keep in touch with some friends through social networks or chats, but I understand that real life communication is much better. Apart from seeing friends, I spend my free time with my family members and relatives, especially on special occasions. On birthdays, anniversaries, public holidays we have family gatherings at my grandma’s place.
Перевод:
Каждый человек нуждается в свободном времени, будь то ребенок или взрослый. Большинство школьников и работников, как правило, отдыхают в выходные дни. Это лучшее время для отдыха и для того, чтобы заниматься любимым делом. В будние дни по вечерам можно также отводить немного свободного времени. Когда я возвращаюсь из школы, я быстренько что-нибудь съедаю и делаю свою домашнюю работу. После этого я свободен для встреч с друзьями, компьютерных игр или рисования, что является моим хобби. Иногда я играю в волейбол или другие активные игры с друзьями на школьной площадке. В летнее время я также люблю играть в пинг-понг, и делаю это довольно хорошо. Выходные немного отличаются. Мои родители обычно дают мне деньги на карманные расходы каждую неделю. Я стараюсь тратить их разумно. В течение недели я могу заплатить за обед в школьной столовой. Иногда мне нужно купить некоторые канцелярские принадлежности. В выходные я выхожу в свет с друзьями. Иногда мы идем в кино, иногда в пиццерию. Но больше всего в выходные я люблю играть в боулинг. Мне нравится эта игра. Я думаю, что это не только развлечение, но и общение. Боулинг объединяет единомышленников и дает возможность пообщаться с хорошими друзьями, вместо того, чтобы сидеть перед компьютером. Я не против компьютерных игр, но они могут вызывать привыкание и, конечно, проводить долгие часы перед экраном нехорошо для здоровья. Это влияет на зрение и мозговую деятельность. Я поддерживаю связь с некоторыми друзьями через социальные сети или чаты, но понимаю, что живое общение намного лучше. Помимо встреч с друзьями, я провожу свое свободное время со своей семьей и родственниками, особенно по особым случаям. На дни рождения, юбилеи, или в праздничные дни мы собираемся всей семьей у бабушки.
