A simple post about my goals Hello John! I’m not a student, but I constantly study. Now I’m learning English. I’m a computer engineer and I think anybody IT-specialist must know English. Last year I finished a short course for English at University. It was amazing! But one course is too little to know English. Additionally I study language by myself. I spend about hour every day for it, but I think I must to spend more time in the future than I spend today. In this year I’m going to finish a current course and I’m going to start a new course in spoken English. My teacher from University told me that I used a lot of English every day!

Why 'taking'? Hello! I saw this sentence 'I stopped taking sugar with my coffee.' in an article. I don't know why 'taking', not 'take'' or 'took'. Why? Thanks.

A short story Ian first met Nicole at a police station in central London. It was a bad day for him. In the morning he went to his office. He saw a running man. When the running man was running near him, he suddenly grabbed Ian’s handbag and fast ran away. Ian cried him ’Stop! Stop!’ but the robber already ran away and Ian didn’t see him. After few seconds Ian heard a weak woman voice, the voice said ‘Stoop’. ‘What happened?’ he's thought. Ian decided went to a police station. The police station was near here. In the police station Ian saw a pretty women, she talked with a police officer about her robbery. Ian suddenly recognised her voice. This was voice which has said ‘Stop’ in the street. As soon as the woman finished speaking, he asked her ‘Where were you this morning?’ She turned his head and said ‘I was going to my office. I heard voice which said ‘Stop!, Stop!’. I turned around and saw a running man.’ ‘What’s your name?’, suddenly asked Ian. ‘Nicole’, she answered and smiled. ‘Nicole, this was my voice, I was robbed by the running man’ - said Ian. ‘We were robbed the same robbery’ - he added after few seconds. ‘… and nice to meet you’ - said Ian and smiled to her. After few months Ian and Nicole became good friends.

Big shopping centre are better than streets of shops I often buy things in a big shopping centre and in street shops. From my point of view we should buy different things in different type of shops. I can go for shopping in a big shopping centre when I want to buy lots of things. However, if I want to buy less things I can go to in street shops. For example, when I want to buy box of milk or bread I go to in a street shop. The best thing about shopping in a big shopping centre is that I can save more money because things cost less than in street shops. The problem is that there are busy and full of people.

A letter of advices Hi Sara, I’m glad to hear from you. Geri is on a course in Brighton, she don’t reply to you at the moment but she will reply when she goes back. Sara, I want to congratulations on your promotion! I think you deserve it! Well done! I hope you get some benefits because you will get more work than in the past. I’m sorry to hear about your problems with flatmate. I might give you some advices. Firstly. Hillary and you have to talk about rules for flatmates. You need to follow these rules in the future. When you set the rules - two your problems, Dave spend time at your house and Hilary gave him a key to the house, disappear. Secondly. You are new boss of David. I think you mustn’t think about it, let Dave think about it. Thirdly. You have got much work, but you must relax. You going to come to us next weekend. Anyway, Geri and I always welcome you! Speak soon. Matt

Advice for travelling in Russia The popular stereotype of Russian people is that they rarely smile compared with western countries. Usually they smile for a circle of close people, but many Russian are like people in other countries - polite and helpful. There is a cold climate in Russia so Russian foods are most calories compared to foods from south countries. All over the world know some famous Russian dishes like Salat Olivier, Bliny, Borscht and Chai Po-Russki. You must try these dishes! Officially Russian have a four weeks' holiday. But most people have about two weeks' holiday per year, especially if they've a job. People usually go on a trip to warm places, but some people go to the 'dacha', dacha is like house in the village. However Russian also have about 14 holidays per year. This is similar to most countries. There is the living cost is different in Russia. It's depends on a place where you live. In comparison with Moscow, the cost of renting a flat in other city is not expensive. The cost living in Russia cities is the same, except Moscow and St. Petersburg. Russia is the largest country in Europe. There are eleven different time zones in Russia. So when it’s 8.00 a.m. in Kaliningrad (it’s near Europe), it’s 7.00 p.m. in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (it’s near Japan). Don’t forget about it if you want to phone to Russia. There is different the weather in Russia. There are four seasons. In comparison with the North, winters in the south are not usually very cold. The weather in the west hotter compared with the weather in the central of country. You should wear warm clothes in the winter!

A latter of complaint Dear Sir or Madam, I recently spent some days with University Study tours. I am writing because I was very sad. * The advertisement says that Oxford is only 40 minutes from London. But really it is at least 55 minutes from London by train and over hour by coach. * Our teachers were university students, not university teachers! * It says that there’s a maximum class size of 12 students. But really there were 15 students in the class! Their were too much for study English! * Finally, you also say that accommodation will be excellent with local family. But my local family was too big for excellent accommodation. I complained about the situation to your manager, but he was rude and disorganised. I would like a refund for a part on the tours. I look forward to your explanation of the complaints in this letter. Yours faithfully, Gregory Mills

A simple email to English school Dear Sir/Madam, I have read your advertisement for an English course in London. I am pre-intermediate level and I want to learn language that is important for my job. I would be grateful if you could send me further information about the course including: the maximum number of students in a class, lessons per week and the length of the lessons. At the moment I am working for an international company, so I am interested in the special interest lessons of 'Information technology language'. I would also like some information about accommodation.Do students stay at the school or with families? I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Pavel.

A simple email about a film Dear, Antony. How are you? My family and I are fine. Antony, do you remember that we were talking about modern sci-fi films. I said you that I wanted to watch it. A few week ago my friend recommended me a sci-fi TV show called 'Westworld'. I was sure this TV show is boring but I was wrong. The plot is very complex. Westworld is a fictional place. It is a technological advanced Wild West-theme park. Guests of the park can do usual and unusual things without fears. When androids are looking for mind people are losing face. Dolores, Teddy, the Man in Black and Robert Ford are interesting characters. They have lots of secrets. Who is Mr. Wyatt? I believe that the music was wonderful even mysterious. There are a famous actors in it, including Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Ed Harris and Anthony Hopkins. The TV show including lots of puzzles for viewers. It is very interesting! I hope when you will watch this TV show we can discuss about this story. Maybe we will solve some puzzles. Well that's enough from me. Best wishes, John.