Английский язык через современные темы. Учебное пособие для уровня B1–B2

Key Vocabulary and Expressions

comfort zone — зона комфорта

feel safe — чувствовать себя в безопасности

feel relaxed — чувствовать себя расслабленно

be in control — контролировать ситуацию

know what to expect — знать, чего ожидать

familiar place — знакомое место

daily routine — ежедневная рутина

be yourself — быть собой

stay in your comfort zone — оставаться в зоне комфорта

limit your growth — ограничивать развитие

miss opportunities — упускать возможности

step out of your comfort zone — выходить из зоны комфорта

feel uncomfortable — чувствовать дискомфорт

make mistakes — совершать ошибки

feel embarrassed — чувствовать неловкость

take small steps — делать маленькие шаги

move forward — двигаться вперёд

gain confidence — набирать уверенность

expand your comfort zone — расширять зону комфорта

with practice — с практикой

find a balance — находить баланс

take risks — рисковать

make a difference — иметь значение

challenge yourself — бросать себе вызов

Useful Patterns

I feel comfortable when… — Я чувствую себя комфортно, когда…

It is not easy to… — Это нелегко…

Sometimes I avoid… because… — Иногда я избегаю…, потому что…

I try to… step by step — Я стараюсь… шаг за шагом

One of the ways to… is to… — Один из способов… — это…

Although I feel…, I still… — Хотя я чувствую…, я всё равно…

It helps me to… — Мне помогает…

I think it is important to… — Я думаю, важно…

Practice: Answer the Questions

Where do you feel most comfortable?

Do you like trying new things? Why or why not?

What do you usually avoid because it feels uncomfortable?

Have you ever stepped out of your comfort zone?

What helps you feel more confident in new situations?

Why is it important to leave your comfort zone sometimes?

Model Answers

I feel most comfortable at home because it is a familiar place and I can relax there.

Sometimes I like trying new things because it helps me grow, although I often feel uncomfortable at first.

I usually avoid speaking in front of the class because I feel embarrassed and afraid to make mistakes.

Yes, I have stepped out of my comfort zone when I talked to new people, and it helped me gain confidence.

It helps me to take small steps and prepare because I feel more in control.

It is important to leave your comfort zone because it helps you grow and not miss opportunities.

Expand Your Answer

Try to give a longer answer. Use expressions from the vocabulary list and add a reason or an example.

Example answer:

I sometimes avoid speaking in class because I feel uncomfortable and afraid to make mistakes. However, I try to take small steps and move forward. For example, I started answering simple questions, and it helped me gain confidence.

Practice: Complete the Sentences

I feel comfortable in ______ places where I know what to expect.

It is important to ______ out of your comfort zone sometimes.

I try to ______ small steps when I do something new.

Sometimes I feel ______ when I try something unfamiliar.

With practice, it becomes easier to ______ confidence.

Things That Annoy Me

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Everyone has things that annoy them. These can be small everyday situations that don’t seem very important, but they can still affect your mood. Sometimes it’s not about big problems, but about little things that happen again and again.

One of the most common things that annoy people is when others don’t listen. For example, when you are talking and someone is looking at their phone or interrupting you, it can feel disrespectful. You may feel like your opinion doesn’t matter, although you are trying to share something important.

Another annoying situation is when people are late. If you are waiting for someone for a long time, it can be very frustrating. You might feel that your time is not respected. Of course, sometimes people are late for a good reason, but if it happens all the time, it becomes a problem.

Noise is also something that can easily annoy people. For example, loud music, constant talking, or background noise when you are trying to study can make it difficult to concentrate. You may try to focus, but the noise makes it almost impossible.

Many teenagers also feel annoyed by school-related situations. Too much homework, unclear instructions, or boring lessons can make students lose motivation. When you don’t understand what to do, it can be especially frustrating. You may feel stressed and confused at the same time.

Another thing that can be annoying is when people give advice that you didn’t ask for. Sometimes others try to help, but their advice is not always useful. It can feel like they don’t really understand your situation. Although they have good intentions, it can still be irritating.

Technology can also cause annoyance. Slow internet, apps that don’t work properly, or constant notifications can distract you and make you feel tired. You may want to relax, but instead, you get more stressed.

It is important to understand that feeling annoyed is normal. Everyone experiences it from time to time. The problem is not the feeling itself, but how you deal with it. If you get angry too quickly, it can lead to conflicts with other people.

One way to handle annoying situations is to stay calm and try to understand the reason. Sometimes people don’t realize that their behavior is annoying. You can also try to focus on something else or take a short break to relax.

In the end, you cannot avoid all annoying situations, but you can control your reaction. Learning to deal with small problems in a calm way can make your daily life much easier.

Key Vocabulary and Expressions

annoy — раздражать

affect your mood — влиять на настроение

everyday situations — повседневные ситуации

again and again — снова и снова

not listen — не слушать

interrupt someone — перебивать кого-то

feel disrespectful — казаться неуважительным

opinion — мнение

be late — опаздывать

wait for someone — ждать кого-то

feel frustrated — чувствовать раздражение

respect someone’s time — уважать чьё-то время

make noise — шуметь

concentrate — концентрироваться

lose motivation — терять мотивацию

unclear instructions — непонятные инструкции

feel stressed — чувствовать стресс

give advice — давать советы

good intentions — добрые намерения

slow internet — медленный интернет

get distracted — отвлекаться

deal with — справляться с

stay calm — сохранять спокойствие

take a break — делать перерыв

Useful Patterns

It really annoys me when… — Меня очень раздражает, когда…

I can’t stand… — Я не могу терпеть…

One of the most annoying things is… — Одна из самых раздражающих вещей — это…

Sometimes I feel frustrated when… — Иногда я чувствую раздражение, когда…

Although…, I still… — Хотя…, я всё равно…

I try to… because… — Я стараюсь…, потому что…

It is hard to… — Трудно…

In my opinion… — По моему мнению…

Practice: Answer the Questions

What things annoy you the most?

How do you feel when people don’t listen to you?

Does noise affect your concentration?

What do you do when you feel annoyed?

Do you get annoyed by technology problems?

Is it easy for you to stay calm in annoying situations?

Model Answers

One of the most annoying things for me is when people interrupt me because it feels disrespectful.

I feel frustrated when people don’t listen to me because I think my opinion is important.

Yes, noise affects my concentration because I get distracted easily and can’t focus.

When I feel annoyed, I try to stay calm and take a break because it helps me relax.

Yes, I get annoyed by slow internet because it makes everything more difficult.

It is not always easy to stay calm, but I try to control my reaction and deal with the situation.

Expand Your Answer

Try to give a longer answer. Use expressions from the vocabulary list and add a reason or an example.

Example answer:

It really annoys me when people are late because I feel that they don’t respect my time. For example, I often have to wait for my friends, and it makes me feel frustrated.

Practice: Complete the Sentences

It really ______ me when people don’t listen.

I feel ______ when I have to wait for a long time.

Noise makes it difficult to ______ on my work.

I try to ______ calm in difficult situations.

Sometimes I take a ______ to relax and feel better.

A Day When Everything Went Wrong

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Everyone has days when nothing seems to go right. You wake up, and from the very beginning, everything starts going wrong. It may sound like a bad joke, but sometimes one small problem leads to another, and the whole day feels like a disaster.

It usually starts with something simple. For example, you wake up late because your alarm didn’t go off, or you forgot to set it. You jump out of bed, feeling stressed and in a hurry. There is no time for breakfast, and you can’t find your things. At that moment, you already feel that the day is not going as planned.

On your way to school, things don’t get better. Maybe you miss the bus, or the weather is terrible. You arrive late and feel uncomfortable because everyone is already in class. The teacher may not be happy, and you feel even more nervous.

In class, it can get even worse. You may forget your homework or realize that there is a test you didn’t prepare for. When the teacher asks you a question, you don’t know the answer. You start to feel embarrassed and lose confidence. Although you try to stay calm, it becomes harder with every mistake.

Break time doesn’t always help. You might have a small argument with a friend or feel left out. These situations may seem small, but they can affect your mood a lot. When several negative things happen one after another, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

After school, you hope things will improve, but sometimes they don’t. You may feel tired and unmotivated, but you still have homework to do. It is hard to concentrate, and everything takes more time than usual. You may also feel irritated and react more strongly to small problems.

However, it is important to remember that bad days happen to everyone. They don’t mean that everything in your life is wrong. Sometimes you are just tired, stressed, or not in the right mood. Although it feels like everything is going wrong, it is usually just a temporary situation.

One way to deal with such days is to take a step back and relax. You can listen to music, go for a walk, or talk to someone you trust. These simple actions can help you feel better and change your mood.

Another important thing is not to be too hard on yourself. You don’t have to be perfect every day. Making mistakes and having bad days is part of life. What matters is how you deal with them and how you move forward.

In the end, even the worst day will come to an end. Tomorrow is a new day, and it can be completely different. Sometimes a bad day helps you appreciate the good ones even more.

Key Vocabulary and Expressions

go wrong — идти не так

wake up late — проснуться поздно

in a hurry — в спешке

go as planned — идти по плану

miss the bus — пропустить автобус

feel uncomfortable — чувствовать дискомфорт

feel nervous — нервничать

forget homework — забыть домашнее задание

be embarrassed — чувствовать неловкость

lose confidence — терять уверенность

stay calm — сохранять спокойствие

have an argument — поссориться

feel left out — чувствовать себя лишним

affect your mood — влиять на настроение

feel overwhelmed — чувствовать себя перегруженным

feel tired — чувствовать усталость

be unmotivated — быть без мотивации

concentrate — концентрироваться

react strongly — остро реагировать

take a step back — сделать шаг назад

not be hard on yourself — не быть строгим к себе

move forward — двигаться вперёд

temporary situation — временная ситуация

Useful Patterns

Everything went wrong when… — Всё пошло не так, когда…

It started with… — Всё началось с…

I felt… because… — Я чувствовал…, потому что…

Things didn’t get better… — Ситуация не улучшилась…

Although…, I still… — Хотя…, я всё равно…

It was hard to… — Было трудно…

In the end… — В конце концов…

I realized that… — Я понял, что…

Practice: Answer the Questions

Have you ever had a day when everything went wrong?

What usually goes wrong on such days?

How do you feel when things don’t go as planned?

What do you do to calm down?

Do bad days affect your mood for a long time?

What helps you feel better after a bad day?

Model Answers

Yes, I have had days when everything went wrong, and I felt stressed from the very beginning.

Usually I wake up late or forget something important, and then more problems appear.

I feel frustrated when things don’t go as planned because I lose control of the situation.

I try to stay calm and take a step back because it helps me think more clearly.

Sometimes bad days affect my mood, but I try not to focus on them for too long.

It helps me to relax, listen to music, and talk to my friends because it improves my mood.

Expand Your Answer

Try to give a longer answer. Use expressions from the vocabulary list and add a reason or an example.

Example answer:

I once had a day when everything went wrong because I woke up late and missed the bus. I felt stressed and uncomfortable at school, but I tried to stay calm and move forward. In the end, I realized it was just a temporary situation.

Practice: Complete the Sentences

Everything started to ______ wrong in the morning.

I felt stressed because I was in a ______.

I missed the bus and felt very ______.

It was hard to ______ on my homework.

I tried to ______ calm and not react strongly.

Small Things That Matter

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When people think about important things in life, they often imagine big achievements, special events, or major decisions. However, in reality, small things can matter just as much, or even more. These are simple moments that we experience every day, but we don’t always pay attention to them.

For example, a kind message from a friend can completely change your mood. Even a short «How are you?» can make you feel supported and less alone. These small actions show that someone cares about you, and that feeling can be very powerful.

Another example is everyday routines. Drinking your favorite tea in the morning, listening to music on your way to school, or taking a short walk can make your day better. These habits may seem unimportant, but they help you feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Small things also matter in relationships. A smile, a simple «thank you,» or helping someone with a small task can make a big difference. These actions don’t take much time, but they show respect and kindness. Over time, they help build strong and positive connections with other people.

Sometimes we focus too much on big goals and forget to enjoy the present moment. We think that we will be happy «later,» when something important happens. But if we ignore small moments, we may miss a lot of happiness in our daily life.

It is also important to notice small successes. For example, finishing your homework on time, understanding something new, or improving a skill can give you a sense of progress. These small achievements help you stay motivated and confident.

Another reason why small things matter is that they can help you deal with stress. When you feel tired or overwhelmed, even something simple like listening to your favorite song or talking to a friend can help you relax. These moments give you energy and make it easier to continue.

Of course, it is not always easy to notice small things, especially when you are busy or stressed. But if you try to pay more attention, you will start to see them more clearly. It is about changing your attitude and learning to appreciate what you already have.

In the end, life is made up of small moments. Big events are rare, but small things happen every day. If you learn to notice and appreciate them, you can feel happier and more satisfied with your life.

Key Vocabulary and Expressions

small things — мелочи

matter — иметь значение

pay attention — обращать внимание

in reality — на самом деле

change your mood — менять настроение

feel supported — чувствовать поддержку

everyday routine — повседневная рутина

make your day better — сделать день лучше

feel relaxed — чувствовать себя расслабленно

make a difference — иметь значение

show kindness — проявлять доброту

build relationships — строить отношения

focus on — сосредотачиваться на

enjoy the moment — наслаждаться моментом

miss something — упускать что-то

small success — маленький успех

feel progress — чувствовать прогресс

stay motivated — оставаться мотивированным

deal with stress — справляться со стрессом

feel overwhelmed — чувствовать перегруженность

give you energy — давать энергию

appreciate — ценить

be satisfied with — быть довольным

Useful Patterns

One of the small things that matters is… — Одна из мелочей, которая важна — это…

It may seem…, but… — Может показаться…, но…

It makes a difference when… — Это важно, когда…

I feel better when… — Я чувствую себя лучше, когда…

Sometimes we forget to… — Иногда мы забываем…

It helps me to… — Мне помогает…

I try to… — Я стараюсь…

In my opinion… — По моему мнению…

Practice: Answer the Questions

What small things make you feel happy?

Do you usually notice small positive moments?

What small habits help you feel relaxed?

How can small actions improve relationships?

Do you celebrate small successes?

Why do people often ignore small things?

Model Answers

One of the small things that matters to me is listening to music because it helps me relax and feel better.

I try to notice small positive moments, although sometimes I forget because I am busy.

Drinking tea and listening to music help me feel relaxed after a long day.

Small actions like saying «thank you» or helping others can build strong relationships.

Yes, I try to celebrate small successes because they help me stay motivated.

People often ignore small things because they focus too much on big goals.

Expand Your Answer

Try to give a longer answer. Use expressions from the vocabulary list and add a reason or an example.

Example answer:

One of the small things that matters to me is spending time with my friends because it helps me feel supported and relaxed. For example, even a short conversation can make my day better.

Practice: Complete the Sentences

Small things can ______ a big difference in your life.

I try to ______ attention to positive moments.

Listening to music helps me ______ relaxed.

Small successes help me ______ motivated.

It is important to ______ what you have.

What Kind of Person I Want to Be

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Thinking about the kind of person you want to be is not always easy, especially when you are still learning about yourself. Many teenagers feel unsure about their future and their personality. However, it is important to have some idea of what kind of person you would like to become.

For many people, being a good person means being kind and respectful. Kindness is something simple, but it can make a big difference in everyday life. Helping others, listening carefully, and showing understanding are all small actions that show who you are. Even when it is not easy, being kind can improve your relationships and make you feel better about yourself.

Another important quality is honesty. Being honest means telling the truth and being open with people. It is not always easy, especially when you are afraid of making mistakes or disappointing others. However, honesty helps build trust, and trust is very important in any relationship.

Confidence is also something many people want to develop. Being confident does not mean thinking you are better than others. It means believing in yourself and your abilities. It helps you take risks, try new things, and move forward even when you feel unsure.

At the same time, it is important to be responsible. This means taking care of your tasks, keeping your promises, and understanding the consequences of your actions. Being responsible shows that people can depend on you, and it helps you become more independent.

Many teenagers also want to be strong, not only physically, but emotionally. Life is not always easy, and everyone faces challenges. Being strong means not giving up when things go wrong. It means learning from mistakes and continuing to grow.

Another important idea is staying true to yourself. Sometimes people try to change in order to fit in or be accepted. However, if you try to be someone else, you may lose your real identity. It is important to know your values and follow them, even if it is not always popular.

Of course, no one is perfect. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The goal is not to become perfect, but to improve and grow as a person. You can work on your weaknesses while also using your strengths.

The kind of person you want to be can change over time. As you gain experience, your goals and values may become clearer. This is a normal part of growing up.