Card 13 Elementary
Let’s talk about international cooperation.
- Tell me how Belarus develops economic relations with other countries.
- Belarus is developing economic cooperation with neighbouring post-Soviet states and with foreign partners.
- Firstly, Belarus holds an active position in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian Economic Union.
- Russia is our country’s major partner on financial, energy and security matters.
- Together with Russia and Kazakhstan Belarus signed the Eurasian Economic Union treaty.
- The countries created a common market for goods, services, capital and labour.
- Now there are 5 states in the union.
- Secondly, an important trade partner and a source of investments for Belarus is the European Union.
- Unfortunately, the relations between the EU and Belarus are rather tense.
- Thirdly, a new level of cooperation has been achieved with Asia, Africa and Latin America.
- Belarus is also developing economic relations with China.
2. Do you know any international events that take place in Belarus?
Yes, I do. Some years ago Minsk hosted Junior Eurovision Song Contest and the World Ice Hockey Championship. Belarus Fashion Week in Minsk and “Slavyansky Bazaar in Vitebsk” are held every year.
3. You are going to travel to Britain as an exchange student. Ask questions about the exchange programme.
- How long does the program take?
- What are the costs?
- Where will I live during my exchange programme?
4. Give advice to your friend who is hosting a foreign student.
Be polite and mind your manners. Spend time with the student. Show your student around your hometown. Begin communicating with him/her before he/she arrives.
5. Social networking is a convenient way to keep in touch with foreign friends and a good possibility to develop cooperation. What do you think about it?
It’s true. Millions of people use social networking groups to exchange information and share their interests with their friends from all over the world. It’s convenient.
4. Give advice to your friend who is hosting a foreign student.
The purpose of hosting a foreign student is to provide a young person the opportunity to learn a new language and to experience a different culture. You should be prepared to help your student to deal with your culture, culture shock, and other issues unique to being an exchange student.
• Take the time and effort, and be honest, open-minded and communicative. You should accept all the problems as well as all the joys of your foreign student. Prepare a room for your student. Provide a study space. Offer meals that represent your home culture and traditions. Involve the student in local sports and activities. Give the student ways to contact home. Give the student access to the internet so that s/he can email home.
Prepare a room for your student. If you have the space, give your exchange student his or her own room. S/he may feel more comfortable having his or her own space, especially in the beginning.
Provide a study space. Your student will need a quiet space to study and work. Provide some basic school supplies, such as pens and paper.
Offer meals that represent your home culture and traditions. One of the reasons students from other countries participate in foreign exchange programs is to learn about a new country and culture. Providing meals that represent your cultural background will give the student a “taste” of their new culture. Respect your student’s traditions. For example, if the student is an observant Muslim, avoid serving pork and other restricted foods. Encourage your student to share their food traditions with you! You will discover some delicious new foods and they will get to feel like they are contributing to their new home life.
Involve the student in local sports and activities. Don’t push the student into anything they don’t want to do, but let them know what options are available.
• Give the student ways to contact home. Students may feel homesick, especially at first. Giving them ways to contact their family and friends back home will help them feel connected to their loved ones. Skype and other internet services offer ways to place video and phone calls, even overseas, at affordable rates (or even free).
• Give the student access to the internet so that s/he can email home.
Спасибо!