HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' SPEECHES

AT ENGLISH SPEAKING SHOW:

"UKRAINE - BRITAIN: SHARING THE SAME VALUES".

(МАСЛЮКОВА В.В. ТА ОЛЕФІРОВА С.А.)

A Letter to the United Kingdom

Tetiana Veselova
Form 10 A
Educational Complex 2

Dear citizens of the United Kingdom!

My name is Tania, I live in Ukraine and have never been to the UK, but I learn English at school and know some facts about your history, culture, traditions. So, I’m writing you in reference to learn more about your country.

In my opinion Great Britain and Ukraine are almost completely different. Your country is one of the most developed countries in the world, but I can’t say so about Ukraine. I think the culture and mentality are different as well. We have different values and aims which are based on chronology and history.

Talking about culture, I want to say that people living in both Britain and Ukraine respect their traditions a lot. But many customs differ from each other mainly because of religion and, again, mentality.

Also a lot of famous people were born in the UK. Many of them are popular in the whole world and make a priceless contribution to the culture of their country. I’d like to tell you about some of them and show differences between cultural developments of our countries.

For a start, I want to tell you about scientists. In my opinion, it’s important to say that the scientist on whose theory all the modern world was from Great Britain. Of course it’s Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. The most famous physicists whose contribution to science can’t be measured were also British. They are Newton, Joule, Rutherford, Faraday, Boyle, Maxwell and others. Even Alan Turing whose machine decrypted Enigma and literally shortened war in Europe for at least 2 years and the most famous scientist of modernity Steven Hawking were born in Britain. I know that more than 70 British scientists have got Nobel Prizes. Science in my country is now in a state of crisis but there are a lot of talented scientists and I want them to be more successful in making discoveries and contributing to the world science.

The second thing I want to talk about is writers. Only William Shakespeare himself deserves special attention. The United Kingdom is famous for books written by Byron, Stevenson, Oscar Wilde, Walter Scott, dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle. Such modern books as ‘The Lord of Rings’, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Coraline’ are popular in the whole world. There were a lot of amazing writers in Ukraine but I’m very worried that there are not so many modern authors now. I’d like my country to develop more in this aspect because books are the best way to develop social consciousness.

Thirdly, artists. The history of British art is an inseparable part of world art history. The UK is known for its numerous art galleries and museums and the whole world know its artists. I’m quite happy that there are a lot of young and pretty successful artists in Ukraine. I think it’s a good step to a cultural progress of my country.

Also, let’s not forget about British musicians that mean a lot for a world music development. These are bands from The Animals, The Who, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath to modern Arctic Monkeys, Placebo, Gorillaz, The Fray, One Direction. My favorite band called Muse is also from Britain! There are a lot of talented modern singers as Adele, Leona Lewis, Birdy, Marina and The Diamonds, Ed Sheeran and others. The fact is that there are quite many musicians in Ukraine but most of their music is quite alike while British music is unique and even songs of similar style or genre can sound different.

It’s hard to deny that world-famous actors actually have British roots. These are Sean Connery, Judi Dench, Hugh grant, Jason Statham, Alan Rickman, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Hugh Laurie, Keira Knightley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate Winslet and lots of others. But Ukrainian cinematograph is now

experiencing a huge crisis and Ukrainians watch mainly Russian, American or British films and TV series. Having said that I mean I want my country to produce good, interesting and quality films.

In addition, I’d like to talk about British youtubers whose work, in my opinion, is very important because it’s based mainly on the internet which is the biggest and the most important source of information. So, lots of people all over the world can learn something new about your country with the help of interesting and entertaining videos. As for me, I don’t know any famous Ukrainian videobloggers. I mean, the development of information resources especially on the internet can really help the progress of Ukraine.

I can talk about lots of things but in conclusion I’d like to point out some common Ukrainian and British problems such as emigrants, food wastes, water and air pollution, social and environmental problems.

And I want to wish you a further development of your country and solution of all kind of problems.

The United Kingdom is really amazing and it’d be nice to hear from you some interesting facts about it and to learn your opinion about living in Britain.

Thanks for the answer,

Best wishes from Ukraine

Tetiana Veselova

***

A Letter to Ukraine

Dasha Puchnina
Form 10 A
Educational Complex 2

Dear Ukraine !!!

I'm your child . I'm writing to you with love . Do you know how great my love is ? It is all - embracing .

My name is Dasha . I'm 15 years old . I'm studying at school .I know that you have a hard time now . I painfully observe your devastation . Every day I pray for you and your nation .

I know that you have a great history . Since ancient times your land has been attracting invaders . Zaporizhian Cossacks came to defend their native land . Zaporizhiansich was the epitome of freedom-loving aspirations of our people . I think that freedom is inherent to every Ukrainian by birth, because none can restrain the singing soul of your people . The basic of your statehood in many centuries of our ancestors struggle , the formation of the idea of autonomy , embodied above all in the works of Shevchenko , Franko and Lesia Ukrainka .

You developed on imposed to you socio-political conditions .But despite this problem you achieved what you wanted. You became independent. I suppose that we owe our independence not only to those who have devoted their lives to this idea , but to those who have worked for Ukraine : growing corn , creating music etc . And most grateful we are to those Ukrainian mothers , who have always found strength to educate their children in good traditions , instill a love towards their mother-tongue language .

Let the whole world know that we Ukrainians have been and will be a separate nation with our own culture, language , statehood ,strong-willed ,resolute in our faith . We are proud to live on a beautiful and rich land .

I'm sure Ukraine , you will restore yourself , you will be strong , independent and generous to your people .

Yours sincerely, my awesome Ukraine !!!

Dasha Puchnina

***

Dear English,
I am writing to complain about your structure. Some of your rules are really incomprehensible. I am sure you are quite aware of the fact that most of our schoolchildren suffer from learning you. However, they understand the necessity of mastering you. Unfortunately, you do nothing to solve this problem.
Despite the fact that the great majority of your rules are quite easy and understandable, we have serious problems with them. For example, the rules of using articles are the worst rules in the English grammar and they do not have any logic. Why do we need to use the Definite Article talking about people of Poland or China when we cannot use it with other nationalities which do not end in -sh, -ch or -ese? Or why do you have twelve tense forms? Even Ukrainian has only three ones.
Your words are also confusing to learn. For instance, why do you need phrasal verbs?  Did you fail to invent new words for yourself? And make the name of AEQUEOSALINOCALINOCERACEOALUMINOSOCUPREOVITRIOLIC mineral water from Bristol more understandable, please.
I hope it will be possible for you to make yourself easier to learn. Believe that you are really important for us and do not make us disappointed every time when we come across a new unusual rule.
I look forward to your answer.
Yours sincerely,
Dmytro Lypkan    

***
 

Dear God,
How are you? How is life there in Heaven?
I write to you to thank, to apologize and to ask for some things.

Good God, thank you for my life. You know I have everything I love so much: my family, my friends, my classmates, my teachers, my native town, my wonderful country. I study in the best school in the world. I highly appreciate your gifts, Dear God!
I know you are generous not only to me but to all the people. They just can’t see their happiness in simple things. You created all people equal. But some of us forgot about it. People don’t go the right way and don’t appreciate your gifts.  They don’t think about the future of our planet.
It’s a shame but nowadays kindness, sincerity, justice, loyalty, understanding are not popular among the Humankind. We are all sinners. God, please, forgive all people’s sins and help us to find the right way.
I live in Ukraine. My country always fought and is fighting for independence now. We are at war. Every day men who protect us are killed by the invaders. We are tired. God, please, let our neighbours open their eyes. Please, send peace to Ukraine. It’s our heartiest desire! Help us to overcome the evil. Give us health, patience and strength. We promise you to be kind-hearted and understanding. We want to live in peace.
Dear God, hear our prayers.

With the greatest love in my heart,
Yours,
Liza.