Have you got any questions? Ask them at your exam!

Knowledge is not driven by answers but by questions. 

So, have you asked a good question today?

We continue discussing the tasks of the Speaking part of our English Exam. What's next? A student has to ask five direct questions about a piece of information.
This is what Kira thinks about the second task:

Reading for Pleasure and ... for Exams.

There is an art of reading, as well as an art of thinking, and an art of writing.

                                         - Isaac D'Israeli
                                                           

The topic of exams has always been popular with our students. Now we know the new format  of the National Exam, which includes Speaking consisting of four parts.
Let's have a closer look  at each part and discuss its structure, requirements and skills to be assessed.
Dasha has chosen to speculate about the importance of the first part of the exam. We will be glad to hear your ideas about it.

National State Exam. Speaking.

Speaking used to be part of our National State Exam some years ago. Students had to speak on the topic (a 1,5-2 minute monologue) and communicate with an interlocutor (a 3 minute dialogue). The other parts - Listening, Reading, Use of English and Writing were the same. It has been decided to add Speaking to the exam next year (the students of the 10th grade should be especially excited).

Foreign Languages Help Study Other Subjects

Foreign Languages teachers are experiencing boundless enthusiasm about using new versatile media for teaching a target language. Modern pedagogical technologies are abundant in various approaches that make learning a language not only more effective but also more meaningful. One of such methodologies is Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). While educators are discussing all manifold advantages of using a foreign language for teaching other subjects, can we be sure that our students find this idea alluring?
This question seemed riveting to Dilyara, though she tries to explain why she is wary of such innovations.

UNIFORM FOR TEACHERS?

Have you ever thought about the effect that teachers' appearance has on educational process?
I'm sure that Dasha's speculations about uniform for teachers will make you interested in this topic.

FUTURE OF SCHOOLS

How will schools change in five-ten years? Have you ever tried to predict the future of our education? Do you want your children and grandchildren to be taught the way you are instructed today?
 Maria got interested in these questions and decided to speculate on this topic.        We'd like to hear your ideas and opinions about the future of our schools.

NEED A REMINDER?

Do you remember your first teacher? Was there a teacher in your life whose impact on you turned out to be so great that you can't help telling about it? I should have thanked my teachers more often. Now I realize it better that getting a positive feedback helps you draw inspiration for further progress and improvement.
We frequently talk about pros and cons of teaching.
Today Albina decided to invite you to take part in the discussion about one of the aspects of this profession.

Reflections and Expectations

The new school year has just started and we have already told each other about our adventures during our summer holidays. Now it's time to discuss our plans and expectations.Exams have always been one of the most important topics for students.
Vika shared her ideas about exams. What are your opinions?

SUMMER IS HERE

Summer is here. Or is it? Judging by our weather it is either late autumn or early spring. It has been snowing during the whole week. But for the calendar local people wouldn't be able to guess what season it is:)
Anyway, school is over. It is the busiest time for students of Classes 9 and 11 - time for exams.We wish them good luck and hope that they'll do their best, demonstrate their knowledge and get the best results.




How about the rest of the students? What are your plans for the summer holidays? Traveling, adventures, sightseeing, meeting new people, visiting friends and relatives.... Haven't you forgotten to include English studies in your list? Your Edmodo groups are going to work all summer. Attend them regularly and you'll be able to improve your language skills combining pleasure of entertainment and useful activities.

iAPPraise Grammar

There are plenty of apps to study, drill and test English grammar. My GRAMMAR LAB by Pearson Education is definitely a must. It has three levels: ELEMENTARY, INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED, you can choose questions from various topics.

A Big Pronunciation Mystery

English pronunciation has a reputation of a weird and confusing puzzle.
Enjoy the poem and pay attention to spelling and pronunciation of some words (BTW, enrich your vocabulary:)

"The Chaos!" - A poem about English by Gerard N. Trenité - American English Pronunciation

SCHOOL IS OVER

The end of the school year brings a mixture of emotions. Teachers, students and their parents are excited and happy, sad and tired. The day we have been looking forward to has come! There are a lot of wonderful memories and great expectations. It's time to thank teachers and wish Good Luck at the exams to your classmates. Every year it's almost the         same, and yet so different.

Love your parents, respect your teachers and believe in yourselves. Be determined to achieve your goals and you'll be successful in everything you do.

TAKE a NOTE

Our busy lives are full of interesting events, striking news and wonderful moments. We often have to take quick notes of important information, adding pictures and drawings. There are a lot of different apps that offer you various functions. Have a look at these ones, try them and choose which of them suits your needs better.  You can work with all three apps and use them for different purposes. And there are plenty more of this type in appstore. If you find something worth paying attention to, don't forget to share it with us:)

National Teacher Appreciation Day

People in many countries honor their educators. UNESCO declared October 5 the World Teachers' Day. There are some national holidays to celebrate  teachers' contribution to the progress of our societies. In the USA May 7 is National Teacher Day  which is Tuesday of the first full week in May - Teacher appreciation week. Students, their parents and all people want to thank teachers who made a difference in their lives. Don't they deserve it?
Find out more about different dates and ways of celebrating this holiday HERE

Easter around the World

This year Easter is celebrated in Russia on the 5th of May. Do you know why it doesn't fall on a set date every year and is observed on different days in different countries? You can find answers to these and other questions connected with this holiday if you visit www.history.com
and watch the video about Easter traditions around the world.
In the UK Easter was celebrated at the end of March. We happened to be in London during our holiday and now we'd like to share some pictures of Covent Garden beautifully decorated at this time of the year. I hope it can help you feel the atmosphere of this wonderful holiday. Happy Easter to you!
More Easter pictures

iAPPreciate

As soon as many of you have already become or are planning to be happy owners of Apple devices, you asked me about the most helpful apps. I can give you some examples of really good apps that can be very useful for your studies. I won't put them in the order of importance. If you already have these apps, I would appreciate if you rate them and write your reviews or simply tell us how you use them.

  iBooks

Watch a short VIDEO with its description

iTunes U

You can always browse popular Education apps in App Store HERE

National Final

 Results of the English Language Olympiad

На региональном этапе олимпиады на конкурсе говорения Карине выпало описывать памятник Петру I в Санкт-Петербурге. В качестве победителя окружного этапа она отправилась на свидание к Медному Всаднику. С 13 по 19 апреля северная столица принимала знатоков английского языка. Хотя Карина не попала в число призеров, мы гордимся ее достойным выступлением, особенно блестящими работами в   творческих конкурсах устной и письменной речи. На этот раз Карина выступила в качестве гида по музею Естественной Истории в Лондоне. Если логическая цепочка продолжится, то не за горами ее путешествие в столицу Туманного Альбиона:) Во всяком случае мы ей желаем, чтобы отличные знания английского открывали ей новые возможности путешествовать, получать яркие впечатления и достигать блестящих результатов. 

Поздравляем всех победителей и призеров этого престижного интеллектуального состязания и надеемся, что скоро среди них будут имена наших гимназистов. Больше подробной информации и фотографий можно посмотреть ЗДЕСЬ.

Learn English and enjoy your studies!

April Fool's Day

How do you feel about this special day when people play jokes? Have you ever been caught up on pranks? What are the most unusual jokes you have invented? It's funny that I always remember about this day in March, but when April, 1 comes, I forget about it.
Do you like it when teachers have fun at the lessons?

I liked this Math teacher's idea:

Happy International Day of Happiness!

What makes you happy?
Are you happy? Well, now we have an official holiday to be happy! According to the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations this holiday is celebrated on March, 20
Happy International Day of Happiness!
Since it's the first time the holiday is celebrated this year, there are no special traditions for it. Any ideas and suggestions? How would you like to celebrate it?

The Future of Books?

Once the invention of printing became a really great event in the history of our civilization and gave rise to a faster progress in all spheres of the modern society. Printed books have been the symbol of learning for many centuries, but now it's time for the new generation of books.
Watch this short video where software developer Mike Matas presents the first interactive didgital book for the iPad and demonstrates the options it offers for its readers.
What are your reactions and ideas about it? Do you fancy reading this book? Would you like to make predictions whether you're going to have such interactive books at school? What are the possible advantages and disadvantages of such books?
P.S. If you are interested in what is being done in this direction in Russia, you can check out this news.