Ye. Khundaeva - Let’s have a chat, shall we?

В них отразились (they reflected) его мысли (thought), чувства (feeling) и душа (soul).

Замок Нойшванштайн.

It’s so beautiful that one can’t find (нельзя найти) the words to express (выразить) one’s admiration (восхищение).

It’s so thrilling (Это так волнующе, дух захватывает)!

Mermaid – (русалка, морская дева).

Mer – море; maid – девушка, горничная, служанка

Did you hear (слышать) any legends of her?

Is it a fairy-tale (cказка, сказочный) personage or did she exist (существовать) in reality?

What’s your idea? (Что вы думаете)?

Gibraltar is a beautiful place, they say (говорят).

John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent an hour on one of its rocks (скала) admiring (восхищаться, восторгаться) the beauty around after their marriage (женитьба) and then set out (отправляться) for their honey-moon (медовый месяц).

They were a peculiar couple (своеобразная пара), weren’t they (не так ли)?

Both were very gifted (одаренный), weren’t they?

They were aesthetes [«i: sθi: t] (эстет), weren’t they?

I think they were (Думаю, что да).

– What does the word «metamorphosis» mean? What can you say about this?

– It’s kind of transformation, isn’t it?

– You are perfectly right.

– Let’s take an example. At first you can see an egg (яйцо), then a larva (личинка), a caterpillar (гусеница) and last of all (наконец) a butterfly (бабочка). Isn’t it great?

– That’s great (Это потрясающе)! There is still another (еще один) example: a berry (икринка), a larva (личинка), a fish.

– Right. Does your small son (сын) or nephew ([’nеvju: ] племянник) have a toy (игрушечный) truck (грузовик) which resembles (напоминать) a caterpillar (гусеница)? Is it a transformer?

– Yes. Would you present (Вы бы подарили) a toy (игрушечный) caterpillar truck, a transformer, to your relative’s or acquaintance’s (знакомый) son (сын)? That would be great (Это было бы замечательно)! Sure, it would (Конечно, да).

– No doubt (Никаких сомнений)!

– He would be awfully glad (Он был бы ужасно рад), would not he (не так ли)?

– He would (да). Sure (Конечно).

The Scandinavian walk or pace (ходьба) with the sticks (палка) resembling (напоминающие, похожие на) the ski (лыжи) sticks was formerly (ранее) spread (распространена) in Finland.

It’s kind of fitness, isn’t it?

It doesn’t require (требовать) much strength (сила) and art (умение, мастерство) or certain skills (определенные навыки).

What do you think?

Of course, it is great (великолепно), isn’t it?

Just (просто) walk observing (соблюдать) a few (несколько) rules which aren’t so hard (трудно) to learn (выучить).

The sticks (палка) help walk (помогают ходить), especially (особенно) in the countryside (сельская местность), in the park or even on the asphalt.

That is otherwise (по-другому) called Nordic (нордический) walk.

Well, it’s a Northern (cеверный) style by origin (по своему происхождению). The sticks are a little shorter than those ( здесь по смыслу : палки) for skis.

Does it inspire (вдохновлять) you?

It doesn’t (Нет).

I see (Понятно).

It’s a pity (жаль).

As for me (что касается меня), I think it might be very effective (эффективно).

Please, help me. How should I say in English?

Самый большой (the biggest) фейерверк (fireworks) в Новый год на самом деле (actually) бывает (take place, occur) в Мадейре (Madeira).

It would be (было бы) nice if you helped me.

In Spain they know how to get people together (собрать людей вместе) doing some common work (общая работа), for instance, making beautiful carpets (ковер) of the various flowers, and just talking, dancing and singing at that (при этом).

Is it great (замечательно)?

It sure is (да, конечно)!

No doubt (без сомнения), it is (да).

We are all of the same opinion (мы все так думаем), aren’t we (не так ли)?

We sure are (Да, конечно).

Just no doubt! (Никаких сомнений)!

Madeira is a beautiful place, they say (говорят).

Could you tell us (Не могли бы вы сказать нам) a few words (несколько слов) about it?

Is it in Portugal?

It’s the place (место) to best (наилучшим образом) spend (проводить) one’s honey-moon (медовый месяц).

Isn’t it (разве нет)?

Would you go there for your honey-moon?

– Tyrol is celebrated (славится, известен) for its (cвоими) Tyrol bells (колокольчик). It is also very well known (Он также хорошо известен) for good milk, cheese and seasoning or flavoring (приправа) made of (приготовленный, сделанный из) milfoil (тысячелистник).

– Have you got an idea of that medicinal plant [Знаете что-нибудь об этом лекарственном растении (Имеете какое-либо представление об этом лекарственном растении)]?

– None at all (Никакого представления).

– Just listen then… Oh, I’m sorry, there’s call. It’s a pity but I must be going. It’s such a pity I cannot stay with you. But it’s urgent (cрочно). I must take a leave (распрощаться). Bye-bye. See you (пока)!

– So long (пока)! See you later (пока, увидимся).

The settlement (село) of Dvoryaninovo is quite beautiful and taken care of (ухоженный). Formerly (раньше) it belonged (принадлежать) to Bolotov who was fond of (любил) nice landscapes (пейзаж).

I think it is not far from Moscow, but I’m not quite sure. I would like to visit that place.

By the way, I haven’t been to Moscow for so long. When I was younger I visited it very often. It’s a great city, isn’t it? It sure is (Да, конечно).

Are you fond of the countryside (Вам нравится сельская местность)?

Not in the least (Нисколько, ни в малейшей степени).

It’s a pity (жаль), isn’t it (не так ли)!

As for me (Что касается меня) I’m fond of (любить, нравиться) the countryside (сельский, загородный) landscapes (пейзаж, ландшафт).

You must be able to guess (догадаться) the meaning (значение) of some words and elements:

San Juan – Сан Хуан, Saint Juan – Святой Хуан

St. [snt] (saint – священный).

Saint Petersburg – St. Petersburg – Санкт-Петербург.

Сolombo is the capital (столица) of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), isn’t it?

It sure is (да, совершенно верно).

It is a beautiful country, isn’t it? The landscapes are so fascinating (чарующий)! Going sightseeing (знакомство с окрестностями, городом) there is so impressive (так впечатляет).

– Once (однажды) we were caught (мы попали) by a tropical rain. It poured down (хлынуть) as though (как будто) from a pail (ведро). It began (он начался) all of a sudden (coвершенно неожиданно).

– It came down in torrents (поток, ливень).

– Yes, it poured down in bucketfuls (лить как из ведра).

By the way, once when I was talking with American guests I said: «It’s raining cats and dogs». They were surprised and said that they had never heard such a phrase before. I said the phrase was first recorded in the middle of the 18 thcentury by Jonathan Swift. And the phrase «rain dogs and polecats (хорек) ” was used in the 17 thcentury in Richard Brome’s «The City Witt». I added that I analyzed some English words and phrases in my essay (эссе, реферат) when I was a student.

I said I was sorry (жаль) I had used a literary phrase which had not yet got penetrated (проникать) into the spoken (разговорный) English.

That’s how (вот как; вот так) I apologized for (извиняться за) my fault (упущение).

A foreigner’s (иностранец) English is often very far from (очень далекий от) the live (живой) spoken (разговорный) English. But the native speakers (носитель языка) are kind enough (достаточно добрый) and patient (терпеливый). They treat (относиться; воспринимать) the non-native speakers (не носитель языка) with great benevolence (доброжелательность, благосклонность). I am so much thankful to them (я так им благодарна).

English is spread (распространен) everywhere (повсюду). We must know it to be able to talk (чтобы быть в состоянии говорить) with the other people on the planet.

It’s very important (очень важно) not to feel (не чувствовать) greatly sorry (сожаление, неудобство) for making mistakes (за то, что делаешь ошибки), the people around (вокруг; окружающие вас) will be tolerant (терпеливый, толерантный) and understanding (понимающий), they will be ready (быть готовым) to help you.

I remember I liked Malaysia so much. Kuala Lumpur is magnificent. Up to now I remember I was presented a bouquet of orchids by a kind lady who grew those flowers. I did not see her. She passed them to me through my companions. The flowers were marvelous.

It is a pity I did not go to Penang, it was so close by. The island of Penang is beautiful, they say.