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At the beginning of the XXI century, many technologies available today seemed fantastic. Kids mostly had to play with real toys, which made them imagine whole worlds around the toys they were playing with. Later, they would read books and imagine how everything described in the text would look. That imagination training made us, the humans, train our creativity from early childhood. And we grew up being creative, inventive, ready to tackle tasks demanding unusual solutions.
Nowadays, kids have everything imagined, drawn, and animated for them. They can plunge into a ready-made virtual reality with magicians, dinosaurs, robots, or whatever they want… They don’t need to imagine anything.
Don’t you think such premade entertainment can impair our creative power? And why?
Some people say that school teachers must make their lessons entertaining. Others believe that a teacher should teach, not entertain; and the kids go to schools, not to get entertained but to learn concentration alongside with the subjects taught. Whose opinion would you support?
Some universities, like in Russia, have standardized programs. In others, e.g. in the US, programs may be composed by the students. They have major disciplines they are obligated to take and secondary disciplines they pick on their own. How do you think which approach is better and why?
Explain your opinion.
Most people use preinstalled or conventional software. And mostly, those are leading proprietary products, like Microsoft Windows, iOS, Microsoft Office, Photoshop, etc.
Nevertheless, there are also people who prefer open-source software for their everyday tasks. They prefer Linux, Open Office, Gimp, etc.
What sort of person are you? Do you prefer proprietary paid software used by most people or free open-source alternatives? And why?
Any university has a sports team. And its members usually have a contract with the university, according to which they get their education paying for it by representing the university at all competitions and events. Is it worth it for such students?
Explain your opinion.
Adding a point (A1)
also, … – так же
another/next thing (is), … – ещё/следующее
even more, … – более того
not to mention (that) … – не упоминая уже о …
now, … – ещё …
plus, … – плюс …
Adding a point (A1-B2)
additionally, …
in addition, …
then, (there’s) …
besides, …
moreover, …
furthermore, …
Ambiguous opinion
I’m in two minds about that – у меня об этом двоякое мнение
Causation (A1-A2)
Do sth. so that sth. happens – сделать что-то, чтобы что-то случилось
Because / ‘Cause / Cause / Cos / Coz … – потому что
Since … – поскольку
As a result of sth. – в результате (чего-то)
Causation (B1-B2)
For that reason – по этой причине
For the reason that – по этой причине
Due to (sth.) – из-за, по причине
Therefore – потому, таким образом, по этой причине
Thereby – тем самым, таким образом
As a consequence of (sth.)… – последствием (чего-то)
As … – поскольку
Causation (C1-C2)
For – потому что
Thus – таким образом, а значит …
Hence – следовательно, отсюда, так что
Reason being (is) that/when …– причиной тому
Due to the fact that – по причине того факта что
By virtue of – благодаря (милостью …)
Certain opinion (a2)
I think (that) – я думаю (что)
I do think (that) – я действительно думаю (что)
I’m sure (that) – я уверен (что)
I guess (that) – я полагаю (что)
I suppose – я лично
I believe (that) –
actually – вообще-то, на самом деле
personally – лично, по-моему)
truly – действительно (вправду)
really – действительно
strongly – сильно, действительно
absolutely – абсолютно
totally – полностью
Certain opinion (b1)
I’m sure (that/about) – я уверен (что/в/насчёт)
I would say (that) – я бы сказал (что)
In my opinion – по моему мнению
In my humble opinion – по моему скромному мнению
In my expert opinion – по моему экспертному мнению
In my view – по моему
In my eyes – мне видится, что
It seems to me (that) – мне кажется (что)
My impression is (that) – у меня впечатление (что)
Equivalence & distinguishing (A1)
It/This is … – это
The same – тот самый
It/This is the same as … – это то же что …
It/This equals to … – это то же что / равняется (чему-то)
It is quite the same (thing) (as) … – это то же что …
It is nothing but a/another … – это ни что иное, как ещё один/одна …
Equivalence & distinguishing (A2)
(Basically,/Actually,) it is the same as …
(Essentially,/Fundamentally,) it is the same as …
It is (absolutely/completely) the same as …
It’s not any different from …
That is not unlike …
Use the recorder to record your description. Then listen to the recording, notice mistakes (in grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary). And after that, record yourself again.