POST FACTUM

YOU WROTE TO US...

Здравствуйте, уважаемые журналисты, преподаватели, методисты и все, все сотрудники газеты “English”!
Меня зовут Яна Слепченко, я студентка Курганского Государственного Университета. Возможно, мне следовало бы писать по-английски, но те слова, что я произнесу (вернее, напишу), я хочу высказать на нашем красивом добром русском языке.
Я очень благодарна Вам за такую интересную газету! Я читаю “English” не так давно – около 2,5 лет, но успела очень полюбить это приложение к газете “Первое сентября”. Я внимательно прочитываю каждый номер и с нетерпением жду следующего. Конечно же, не все материалы привлекают меня в одинаковой степени, но я думаю, что это естественно – ведь у каждого свои интересы.
Больше всего мне нравятся лингвистические материалы, обзоры и дискуссии о национальных различиях с языковой, с психологической и с социальной точек зрения. Очень нравятся и литературные странички, где Вы печатаете не только рассказы, но и биографии писателей, а также разбор текста. Очень здорово, что Вы начали печатать материалы и задания по разным видам речевой деятельности и языковому материалу для разного уровня подготовки; я уже несколько раз использовала их на своих занятиях (и для самообучения, и для занятий со своими учениками). Буквально в каждом номере можно встретить мысли и идеи, которые настолько “зацепят” тебя, что хочется обсуждать их с другими.
Честно говоря, я еще не встречала такого познавательного и увлекательного периодического издания, как Ваше: может быть, дело в том, что я – инвалид (передвигаюсь в коляске), и в библиотеки мне доступ закрыт, а Вашу газету я читаю в университетской библиотеке. Как бы то ни было, еще раз сердечное спасибо за Ваш труд, опыт и знания! . . .

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. . . Хочется отметить, что все рубрики вашей газеты содержат полезный и познавательный материал, который очень помогает нашей работе. Очень радует, что дети проявляют все большую и большую заинтересованность в изучении английского языка, поэтому наша деятельность часто выходит за рамки урока . . .

Группа учителей,
средняя школа № 2, г. Сосенский, Калужская обл.

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. . . your contest was such an exciting challenge that I just couldn’t resist the temptation and decided to make a try at it. So, good luck to you, to your wonderful weekly, and to me too!

Kseniya Antropova, Tuapse

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. . . I’m greatly pleased for having been giving a chance to take up the pen and feel pleasure from dipping into the world of words. At times the process itself is more important and interesting than the result, though to gain the object means to carry out the task. . . .

Elena Simkova, Bratsk-29

 

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. . . From now on you are in for hearing some probably not very pleasant things; I warn you, though, it may be exaggerated a little.
Of course, I, the reader, have disagreements on some points about your paper. However, I guess it’s only natural because even the most complacent and experienced salesman never completely satisfies the customer’s wildest demands. Yet, on the whole, the customer, partly in order not to disappoint the salesman, partly sincerely, usually praises the product quite highly. Following this very moral example, I can assure you that your product is extremely impressive!
Now, here are those very points. First, I want to distinguish the paper sections which appeared to me most substantial and valuable and give some comment. The “Focus on Literature” section I would put at the cutting edge without any doubts.
I’m interested in those colorful and various aspects concerning classic literature. In studying any foreign language, I believe, it is exactly the classics which direct you in the right way and give you the opportunity to discover the language’s real value. That is simple. Then, certain sections of the paper contain texts about history, to which I also give an excellent mark. It’s generally acknowledged that civilisation starts to move backward whenever it forgets the really priceless lessons of history, and it incurs enormous damage whenever it tries to substitute the ancient principles for something more “progressive” . . . . Surely, I like to explore the past not because I, allegedly, need some knowledge of how not to become a world threat like Hitler, but I have some irresistible desire to understand, to clarify, to take in everything on my own that makes me a lover of history.
All this is quite convincing and, in a way, encouraging, I know; but hereafter I’ll merely confine myself to my wishes (please, pay attention!).
I would estimate the paper still higher if you would in one of the next issues (at your discretion) put some information about my favourite singer Sting.
Next. I’d like to turn your attention to such the regrettable fact that the paper does not satisfy adventurous knights and their long-suffering ladies with compositions by W. Scott, or A. Dumas, . . . or someone of the kind, expanded in several issues running, this would be absolutely wonderful.
That is all (or, rather, the larger part) of what I felt on reading your paper for the first time. I hope, if you find the letter a little bit familiar, you will not censure it much, for it is the familiarity of the one who is delighted.
Your loyal reader forever,

Evgeny Tsherbina,
Svetlyi, Tomski region

Dear friends,
I am a great admirer of your paper. And I’ve been subscribing to it for about two years now. I hope, therefore, you will pay attention to this letter because I’m eager to share my impressions about your paper. It’s becoming more interesting and instructive with every issue, which I receive weekly. To my mind, it is really splendid, that’s why I want to thank you for your productive work. But there are some things I want to tell you, in order to make your paper the best English language edition in Russia.
For this purpose I advise you to pay more attention to the following things. Particularly, you should publish more information on fiction, science-fiction and Country Study topics. New language courses and novelties of the book market should also be mentioned in your edition. Poetic fragments by Shakespeare, Milton and other English and American writers would help us, your readers, to make our inner world richer and outlook – wider. What about information on different international or local educational programmes (for instance, student exchanges, Soros Foundation activities)? You also should not forget about your young readers, that’s why it’ll be nice if you publish different crosswords, and conduct various competitions and lotteries.
As for me, I’d like to see grammar tests, which are offered at the exams to different higher education establishments in your paper.
The paper should be more opened to us, your readers. It will be a good beginning of collaboration between those who make this paper and those who read it, if you publish my letter in your next issue.
No doubt, all these activities will be treasured by both students and teachers.

Best wishes,
Mikhail Ryzhkov