Maturitné témy a konverzačné úlohy – Anglický jazyk

Maturitné témy a konverzačné úlohy – Anglický jazyk 

Talk about:

• a family unit today (its functions, lifestyle, daily routine, problems),
• types of families (nuclear, extended, reconstituted, single-parent),
• family members, their roles and relationships,
• your own family, its daily routine, personal qualities and physical appearance of its members,
• your lifestyle,
• ideal parents (personal qualities/traits).

Key words: family, relationship, lifestyle, daily routine, chores/household jobs, cohabitation, generation gap, divorce, personal qualities.

Talk about:

• culture and art – define and divide (performing and decorative arts),
• types of cultural events (art exhibition, arts festival, music event, concert, etc.),
• culture and cultural opportunities in towns and in the country,
• favourite art among children/teenagers/adults (advantages/disadvantages of reading books, magazines, watching TV, browsing the Internet),
• your favourite art (music style, film, book),
• your favourite artist/writer/actor.

Key words: culture, art, cultural event, cultural opportunities, music, music styles, literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, artists.

Talk about:

• a difference between sports and games,
• types of sports and games (indoor/outdoor, individual/group, winter/summer),
• types of sports and equipment,
• popular sports in Slovakia, the UK, the USA,
• reasons for doing sports, advantages, risks,
• qualities of a good sportsman/sportswoman;
• advantages of being a professional sportsman,
• the role of sport/physical activity in your life.

Key words: sport, game, equipment, professional sportsmen. healthy lifestyle.

Talk about:

• types of homes and houses (detached, semi-detached, terraced etc.),
• housing in Slovakia, Britain, the USA,
• advantages and disadvantages of living in towns and cities (job opportunities, cultural opportunities etc.),
• the place where you live (description of your house/flat/room),
• your dream home/house.

Key words: terraced house, detached house, semi-detached house, bungalow, flat, furniture, housing.

Talk about:

• shopping possibilities - types of shops and products they offer,
• shopping centres vs. small specialized shops (advantages/disadvantages), shops vs. online shopping,
• different kinds of services (banks, post-offices, hairdresser’s, etc.),
• your shopping preferences,
• your favourite shop.

Key words: shopping, types of shops, window-shopping, services, brand name products.

Talk about:

• what is understood by health (a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being; a person's mental or physical condition),
• healthy lifestyle,
• the most serious/dangerous diseases today,
• stress (definition/causes/coping strategies),
• symptoms of cold, flu, food poisoning,
• classical versus alternative medicine,
• how can people care about their health, the role of prevention,
• what you personally do to stay fit and healthy.

Key words: health, healthcare, disease, illness, stress, prevention, symptoms, lifestyle.

Talk about:

• reasons why people travel (commute to work/school, travel on business/for pleasure/for holidays etc.),
• common means of transport (bus, train, car, plane etc.),
• advantages and disadvantages of travelling by bus/coach/train/plane (price/speed/comfort/pollution, etc.),
• which means of transport you prefer and why,
• travelling in cities/towns (traffic jams/congestion, rush hour),
• travelling for short and long distances,
• young people and travelling (hitchhiking, riding a bike etc.),
• your travelling experience (favourite country/reasons of your journey/how you travelled there, who with etc.).

Key words: travelling, means of transport, journey, commuting, congestion, traffic jam, rush hour, hitchhiking, trip.

Talk about:

• types of schools (pre-school education/primary/secondary schools/universities),
• Slovak school system (age, organisation of the school year, holidays, school subjects, extracurricular activities),
• the school you attend (what you like/dislike about your school, school rules, compulsory subjects, school leaving exam - maturita etc.),
• qualities of a good teacher/good student,
• students’ lifestyle,
• studying the English language (your preferred style of learning).

Key words: education, school system, types of schools, school subjects, holidays, exams, student’s lifestyle. 

Talk about:

• types of jobs (manual – blue-collar jobs, intellectual – white-collar jobs, full-time/part-time/seasonal jobs, in shifts),
• examples of different professions (businessman, manager, personal assistant etc.), qualities you need to do these jobs (flexibility, creativity, physical strength, communication skills, organisational skills, etc.),
• employment (a contract between an employer and an employee), unemployment,
• a search for a new job (strategies/factors),
• a labour market in Slovakia (a high rate of unemployment/young people can’t find a job),
• curriculum vitae (personal data, education, skills, experience),
• a job interview (typical questions/behaviour/clothes, etc.),
• self-employed people – advantages/disadvantages of being your own boss,
• your work experience (summer job, part-time/seasonal job, babysitting, etc.),
• your dream job.

Key words: job, work, profession, employment, unemployment, employer, employee, job interview, curriculum vitae – CV, skills, personal qualities, education, experience, labour market.

Talk about:

• different types of relationships (formal/informal, close/distant, personal/impersonal, long-term/short-term),
• human relationships today (characteristics of a good relationship/complicated relationship),
• relationship problems (stress, communication, a lack of understanding, empathy, trust, care, politeness, etc.),
• friendship (qualities of a good friend), relationships among classmates at school,
• parents and children (generation gap, possible problems),
• society and its influence on our lives (values/social rules/social etiquette/behaviour/social manners),
• some examples of courtesy (polite behaviour) in everyday life (using magic words – please, thank you/ being polite, kind, showing respect to others, helping other people, be able to apologize, etc.).

Key words: human relations/relationships, friendship, society, social etiquette, manners, values, courtesy.

Talk about:

• the environment,
• ecological problems today (pollution, acid rain, greenhouse effect, global warming),
• types of pollution (air/water/soil),
• what can people do to protect the environment (reduce/reuse/recycle), alternative sources of energy (solar/tidal/wind),
• natural disasters (an earthquake, a flood, tornado, tsunami, volcanic eruption, drought, etc.),
• how to behave in a forest, what is allowed/not allowed,
• how green and eco-friendly you are.

Key words: nature, environment, ecology, pollution, protection, natural disasters, global warming, acid rain, greenhouse effect.

Talk about:

• a definition of science (the study and knowledge of the physical world and its behaviour), technology (a product of science),
• what you think about scientific and technological progress (in transport/medicine/information technology),
• technological inventions/discoveries that have changed people’s lives (telephones/radio/television/the Internet/aeroplanes, etc.),
• the use of computers in our everyday life,
• advantages and disadvantages of the Internet,
• which technological inventions are the most important for you.

Key words: science, technology, discovery, technological invention, scientific progress, computers, the Internet.

Talk about:

• ethics (a theory or a system of moral values),
• social etiquette (a set of unwritten rules, principles, conventions concerning behaviour of people in a certain society, culture),
• what are the basic rules of modern etiquette,
• social behaviour (polite/impolite), good and bad manners,
• social rules (at home, work, school, cultural events, at table, different cultures), what is appropriate/inappropriate,
• society (family background, school, peers, culture, church) and its influence on our values, our behaviour,
• communication among people (greetings, introductions, hand-shakes),
• how can parents teach their children the rules of social behaviour (manners/values, respect, tolerance, empathy, etc.).

Key words: ethics, social etiquette, manners, behaviour, values, principles, social rules, conventions, formal/informal communication, tolerance, respect, politeness, culture.

Talk about:

• communication and its meaning (exchanging thoughts, ideas, messages, feelings, information through speaking, writing, signals, sounds and behaviour),
• forms of communication (direct/indirect), verbal/non-verbal communication (gestures, facial expressions, posture, eye contact, etc.),
• the means of communication (radio, television, computers, the Internet, social networking sites – Facebook, Twitter),
• advantages and disadvantages of face-to-face communication,
• communication technology and communication among people today,
• mobile phones (functions, use).

Key words: communication, forms of communication, the means of communication, verbal, non-verbal communication, gestures, facial expression, face-to-face communication, communication technology, social networking sites.

Talk about:

• different types of mass media (radio, TV, newspapers, the Internet),
• types of newspapers in Britain (quality press/broadsheets, tabloids/popular press),
• the role of TV in people’s lives, how TV influences our lifestyles,
• types of TV programmes (chat shows, reality shows, documentaries, etc.),
• popularity of soap operas,
• the Internet (what is it, what can we use it for, how has it changed our lives, advantages/disadvantages),
• your popular type of mass media.

Key words: mass media, the press, tabloids, broadsheets, local newspaper, TV programmes, TV channels, the Internet.

Talk about:

• the young (teenagers/young adults) and their characteristics,
• problems that young people face (generation gap, drug/alcohol abuse, unemployment, etc.),
• teenagers’ lifestyle (free time, way of life, eating habits, fashion, etc.),
• advantages and disadvantages of being young (full of energy/ideals but inexperienced),
• friendship and its role in your life; your best friend.

Key words: teenager, puberty, adult, society, generation gap, relationships, drug/alcohol abuse, pocket money, unemployment, friendship, love.

Talk about:

• food groups (milk/dairy products, cereals, fruit, vegetables, grains, fats and oils, meat, sweets),
• eating habits - typical breakfast/lunch/dinner in Slovakia, the UK, the USA,
• national food/specialities, some Slovak speciality,
• healthy vs. unhealthy diet, healthy lifestyle,
• meals for special occasions (birthday, wedding, etc.),
• your favourite meal; how you can prepare it.

Key words: food, food groups/categories, eating habits, national cuisine, speciality, recipe, healthy/unhealthy diet, dish/meal.

Talk about:

• leisure time (free time after study or work),
• the most popular ways of spending free time (children/teenagers/adults),
• indoor/outdoor activities, individual interests (books, art), creative hobbies (painting/drawing/photography, etc.),
• your free time/leisure activities
• your lifestyle.

Key words: leisure, free time, lifestyle, hobbies, interests, indoor/outdoor activities.

Talk about:

• the concept of multiculturalism (a philosophy that appreciates ethnic diversity within a society and that encourages people to learn from the contributions of those of diverse ethnic backgrounds),
• examples of multicultural societies (Britain, the USA etc.), multicultural cities (London/New York, etc.),
• benefits of living in a multicultural society,
• problems related to multiculturalism,
• reasons why people leave their countries and emigrate (to study/find a job/escape political problems, etc.),
• advantages and disadvantages of bicultural families/mixed marriages,
• stereotypes (how are the British/Americans/Slovaks seen by other nations) and prejudices.

Key words: multiculturalism, multicultural society, ethnic group, nationality, religion, discrimination, culture, mixed marriage, stereotypes, prejudice.

Talk about:

• important places in your life,
• your home town/birthplace,
• interesting places in Slovakia (what does Slovakia offer to tourists),
• interesting places for tourists/favourite holiday destinations around the world,
• why people leave their homes and move,
• the place where you would like to live in the future.

Key words: town, city, place, hometown, birthplace, destination, holidays, attractions, nature, sights.

Talk about:

• what is fashion, what is in/out today (fashionable/unfashionable clothes),
• clothes for different occasions (dress code – what to wear to a wedding/work/school/party),
• clothes and weather,
• where you can buy clothes,
• your attitude to fashion,
• your favourite piece of clothing,
• what you are wearing at the moment.

Key words: fashion, clothes, formal/informal clothes, dress code/etiquette of clothing, items of clothing).

Talk about:

• the climate and weather in Slovakia (continental climate, 4 seasons),
• seasons, months and typical weather (weather adjectives),
• weather conditions and protection against extreme weather (clothing),
• natural disasters (explain what happens during a tsunami, earthquake, etc.)
• your most and least favourite kind of weather.

Key words: climate, weather, temperature, seasons, months, natural disasters.

Talk about:

• role models/idols/ideals/heroes (fictional/real),
• why people admire fictional heroes/celebrities (personal qualities, superhuman characteristics, lifestyle...),
• positive and negative influence of some celebrities on young people,
• advantages and disadvantages of being famous (the price of fame),
• your good and bad qualities, your personality,
• a person you admire.

Key words: idol, ideal, role model, celebrity, hero, fictional hero, positive/negative personal qualities/traits, fame, success, popularity.

Talk about:

• the English language and its significance,
• the countries where English is spoken (as a mother tongue/second language),
• lifestyle of the British, Americans and Slovaks (traditions, customs, eating habits, popular sports, free time activities, etc.),
• famous people (British, American, Canadian, Irish, etc.) – writers (Shakespeare, Poe), politicians, artists and their achievements,
• stereotypes associated with the English, Scottish, Irish, American people. (their qualities/lifestyle, etc.),
• which English-speaking country you would like to visit and why.

Key words: the English language, English-speaking countries, traditions, customs, a way of life, festivals, traditional food, favourite sports, personalities, stereotypes.

Talk about:

• interesting/famous places/towns/cities in Slovakia,
• places you would recommend to foreigners/history lovers/nature lovers, etc.,
• your hometown (places to see/things to do),
• Slovak celebration, festivals and traditions (Easter – "oblievačka", Christmas – "kapustnica", "bobaľky"),
• traditional Slovak food/Slovak specialties,
• famous Slovak people and their achievement,
• social etiquette in Slovakia (how to behave/greet people/introduce people/what to wear for different occasions, etc.).

Key words: homeland, customs, traditions, famous places, sights, cultural opportunities, celebrations, festivals, traditional food, social etiquette.

Talk about:

• literary genres and types of books (fiction – novels/detective stories/romantic books etc., non-fiction – biographies, scientific papers, etc.),
• a book you have read (its author, title, main characters, plot)/your favourite book,
• importance of reading books, reading crisis and the future of books (e-books, the Internet),
• famous British and American writers (W. Shakespeare, O. Wilde, E. A. Poe, J. Steinbeck – see your Students’ Book),
• places where you can buy books,
• reading books versus watching TV.

Key words: literature, books, literary genres, writers, fictional heroes, bookshops, library.

Talk about:

• your school – Secondary School of Business/Commercial Academy (its location, building, facilities, students, teachers, subjects, timetable, equipment/teaching aids),
• the students’ lifestyle,
• advantages/disadvantages of your school,
• school rules,
• what this school prepares you for (further education, professional career); types of jobs you can do after finishing this school (sales representative, manager, personal assistant, clerk...),
• personal qualities you need to be successful (hardworking, flexible, responsible, reliable, polite...),
• your future plans.

Key words: school, education, career, job, profession, success, personal qualities.

Talk about:

• basic facts about the USA (location, borders, number of states, biggest states, capital city, big cities, symbols, population, language, famous Americans, etc.), plus map reading
• the American way of life/lifestyle (eating habits, popular sports, free time activities, celebrations, etc.),
• American culture (great names - films, music, literature),
• stereotypes associated with the Americans.

Key words: the United States of America (the U.S.A., the U.S.), states, Americans, culture, lifestyle, art, traditions, celebrations, stereotypes.

1. MY FUTURE CAREER

Talk about:

• types of jobs (manual/non-manual, white-collar/blue-collar, full-time/part-time jobs, seasonal/temporary jobs),
• personal qualities needed for a specific job (an ideal manager/teacher/accountant, etc.),
• your plans for the future,
• your plans related to your future career,
• your personal qualities/skills/strengths/weaknesses/education/experience,

Key words: career, job, profession, work, employment, job seeking, personal qualities, strengths, weaknesses, skills, competencies, experience, CV.

Talk about:

• types of celebrations (birth of a baby, birthday, wedding reception, etc.),
• the most popular Slovak, British, American celebrations/festivals (Christmas, New Year, Easter festival, etc.),
• a typical Slovak wedding (traditions, suitable clothes, presents, behaviour, etc.),
• kinds of parties, formal/informal events you prefer.

Key words: celebration, festival, traditions, party, social etiquette (behaviour, clothes, language).