My Favourite Subject
Speaking about my favourite subject I must admit that I was privileged to study at a school where the English language was taught since the first form. It wasn't a specialized English school, it was the school of fine-arts. Since the first days at school English has become my favourite subject. At the age of 7 we were introduced into foreign speech and were taught to read, write and listen to short texts in English. Our English teacher made each lesson an interesting game which we enjoyed very much. It was exiting and easy to learn English at that time by plaing games and singing songs. We looked at the pictures the teacher showed us, repeated the words after her, asked her questions: ''What's your name? '' and full of pride we answered: ''My name is …'' We wanted everybody to see that we knew English.
The first lessons, first weeks and months passed. As we grew older our lessons became more instructive and serious. Our optimism and courage disappeared and a real job began. Not everybody liked it, not everybody wanted to work hard everyday. Any language is like music. It requires, everyday training. And this training consists of four main parts of exercises, if you like. They are listening, reading, writing and speaking. And the more you work, the more you do, the better you understand: you know to little, and you will discover that English consists of Her Majesty Grammar. A first it seems illogical and impos-sible to understand. And spelling! Everybody knows that in English you write Manchester and read Liverpool. And why only 26 letters? A lot of questions. You are trying to find the answers. The more you find, the more you understands the laws that govern this language.
You see how laconically beautiful it is, how expressive and impressive it can be. I think only at this moment you actually begin working at your English because you can understand what you need, what for you need it.
It is not surprising that many intellectuals and well-educated people know many foreign languages, because I have always interested in foreign countries, their culture, and people. I learn English because I understand that I can use it. I want to learn English in particular not only it is the language of such great countries as Great Britain or the USA because it became an international language of progressive science, engineering.
Knowledge of foreign languages helps young people of different counties to develope friendship and understanding. When they meet at festivals or in interna-tional friendship camps, they can associate in English.
I learn English, because I want to read foreign literature in original. I like such English and American writers as M. Twain, J. London, L. Carroll, W. Shakespeare, M. Michel and others. I understand that I must learn English because I can be able to go to go to the library an take books by English and American writers in original. I like to read books and newspapers, too. If I know, for example, English well I'll be able to read "The Morning Stap", "The Daily News". I know that these are very popular newspapers.
Today, one person in seven of the world's population either knows English or learns it. So a modern and cultured person must learn foreign language.
I think that to know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated men, for every good specialist.