PERSONAL TRAITS OF CHARACTER
Meeting people for the first time we always make a judgement based on their appearances though the proverb tells us not to make this mistake. Still we look at the face, try to guess age or profession, listen to the way a person speaks. The same way other people might estimate us. Let’s try to look at ourselves as if we are strangers and this criticism might help us improve our character.
Certainly, the very first look is at your face and build or figure.
If your face has a rosy complexion and your bright eyes shine at the world you are a person who spends a lot of time outdoors, doesn’t sit in front of telly and combines work and fun reasonably. The well-combed hair and neatly cut nails will tell everyone that you are a tidy person who respects yourself and the people around you. A stooping back and badly cleaned teeth wouldn’t be considered positive and would betray your dislike of physical exercise and laziness. Now, what can you say about your appearance?
The world of emotions makes its imprints on appearance, too. What emotions are the most frequent in your life? /joy, sorrow, anger, excitement, shame, pride, enthusiasm, loneliness, misery, love./
If you are a determined and strong-willed person you would never give up and behave coolly and calmly whatever happens in your life. Only weaklings would scream or fly into a rage. Good-humoured people take things as they are and think of ways out of difficulties.
Much is connected with your attitude to people. If you are communicative, sociable people would appreciate you and you would have lots of friends. On the contrary, hostile tactless, false and deceitful persons are repulsive and are doomed to stay alone.
Certainly, there is no ideal person in reality but if we tried to portray such a person they would possess the following qualities: He/she must be kind-hearted and friendly, but modest at the same time. Generosity and sincerity are the traits that would attract everybody. A good friend is definitely a person who is interesting to speak to – he must be witty and intelligent. Vain and impudent people are very difficult to deal with, they consider themselves the hub of the universe and never try to look at themselves critically. Today’s idea of courage has changed and it’s not necessary to fight with wild animals or travel to unknown lands. But diligence and industry are the qualities that are always valued.
There are no ideal people. We should take the world as it is but try to improve it starting with ourselves. What positive qualities do you consider absolutely necessary for everyone? Which negative traits can’t you agree with? Why?
Describe one of your friends and speak about his/her positive and negative traits of character. Speak about yourself. Which traits would you try to develop in yourself? Which ones have to be rooted out?
Describe People
ExercisesHeight: tall, short, medium, stumpy, leggy
Build: stout, plump, fat/thin, slender, lean (men), slim (women), graceful
Stature: tall, short, average
Looks: attractive, handsome (men), beautiful, pretty (women, children), charming, good-looking/ugly, unattractive
Face shape: round, square, oval
Complexion: dark, fair, pale, sun-tanned, freckled, pimpled, wrinkled, fleshy, swarthy, tired, healthy
General features: delicate, regular, stern, forceful, sharp, prominent, wearing much/little/no make-up; having a mole/birthmark/scar on the cheek/chin
Hair color: blonde-haired, brown-haired, dark, black, red-headed, fair, grey-haired, hair was just going grey, dyed, highlighted
Hair type: silky, curly, straight, frizzy, wavy, thick, thin.
Hair style: a hair-cut, a hairdo, rumpled, to wear a fringe, her hair was caught with a ribbon, plaits, braids, ponytail, bald
Facial hair: clean-shaven, bearded, stubby face, moustache
Forehead: protruding/hollow forehead, bulging, high/low, broad/narrow
Nose: big, little, short, long, fleshy, snub, hooked, aquiline, straight, wide, narrow-nostrilled, pointed
Eye color: grey, blue, dark, green, hazel, steel-grey
Eye description: glassy, big, little, round, close-set, deep-set, cross-eyed, piggy eyes, dark bags under the eyes, enormous, a piercing look/glance
Ears: big, little, lobes, cauliflower ears
Chin: double, smooth, pointed, massive, round, firm
Jaw: square, strong, long
Neck: short, long, thick, thin, twisted
Shoulders: broad, square, stooped
Walk: easy, limping, steady/unsteady, heavy/light
Age: to look younger/older than . . . , middle-aged, elderly, youthful
1. Someone has stolen a woman’s bag. You are a witness. Try to describe the thief.
2. You can’t meet your friend at the airport. Ask your colleague to meet him/her and describe him/her.
3. You love your little niece/nephew so much that you want everyone to love her/him either. But unfortunately you left the picture at home. Describe the kid to your friends.
4. Match the opposite traits of character.
Say who of your friends, relatives or acquaintances have such traits.
5. Try to find the Russian proverbs equivalent to the English ones.
Four eyes are better than two.
A closed mouth catches no flies.
A fair face may hide a foul heart.
Make up a story that can be illustrated with one of these proverbs.
6. The range of emotions is wide. Study these words and expressions and describe your emotional condition right now, yesterday or at some moment in the past.
to feel happy, to be in . . . mood, to feel scared/guilty/furious/lonely/, to be in bad temper; admiration, excitement, pride, joy; anger, annoyance, irritation, despair, humiliation, embarrassment, envy, jealousy, shame, terror
to display, to hide, to control emotions; to cope with one’s feelings easily, to lose ones temper, to fly into rage, to burst out crying/laughing
7. Speak about people using the following outline
Appearance: age, height, build or figure, face, hair, eyes, complexion, clothes
Background: family, education, occupation
Character, temperament
Hobbies, tastes, interests, with regard to people
Traits of Character
Positive: polite, modest, quiet, industrious, honest, wise, knowledgeable, obedient, generous, sincere, merciful, broad-minded, easy-going, self-possessed, just, brave, courageous, merry, frank, careful, strong-willed, grateful, good-humoured, earnest, dashing, respectable, witty, devoted, gentle
Negative: impudent, shameless, noisy, lazy, deceitful, silly, ignorant, naughty, greedy, falsity, cruel, intolerant, hot-tempered, shy, envious, hostile, idle
There are some interesting expressions characterising people. Guess what kind of person they describe and then check your answer with the key. Can you apply these words to yourself or persons you know?
| a. a pain in the neck | 1. She talks on and on about her opinions and ideas. |
| b. a rolling stone | 2. He’s always got his head in the clouds, always fantasizing. |
| c. a slow coach | 3. Everyone thinks he’ll get rapid promotion. He’s destined to succeed. |
| d. a tomboy | 4. He loves taking dangerous risks. |
| e. a daydreamer | 5. He dresses and behaves in a very careless, often disgusting way. |
| f. a dare-devil | 6. She’s a girl who likes to play rough, boys’ games. |
| g. a battle-axe | 7. He’s a bit wild, always getting into fights and other trouble. |
| h. a golden boy | 8. She’s very aggressive and bossy. She likes to dominate. |
| i. a tearaway | 9. He’s a real nuisance. I can’t stand him. |
| j. a wind bag | 10. He’s always slow and behind the others in his work or studies. |
| k. a slob | 11. He can’t settle down. He goes from job to job, place to place. |
Key: a-9, b-11, c-10, d-6, e-2, f-4, g-8, h-3, i-7, j-1, k-5
MY FUTURE PROFESSION
I. Why is it important to choose a profession correctly? What/who can help you make the right choice? What professional field can you choose? Why? Does the family tradition have any influence on your choice? Are your favourite subjects connected with your choice? Do you have any practical skills? Which personal qualities can help you in acquiring this profession?
What do you know about the requirements of the profession you have chosen? Do you see the advantages and disadvantages of this profession? Will English or German help you in your future work?
II. Speak about professions requiring special knowledge:
talent and imagination;
diligence and being good with the hands;
special skills;
good health, strength, stamina;
doctor/surgeon, nurse, baby-sitter, smith, journalist, construction building worker, clerk/secretary, teacher, biologist, gardener, film producer, cashier, lawyer, painter, composer/musician, pilot, computer operator, fashion designer, security officer, manager, police officer, air hostess, actor.
III. Match the combinations denoting the actions with the professions:
to run a business, to be patient, to have the knowledge of psychology, to wear a uniform, to train physically, to have green fingers, to have a good ear, to be fond of children, not to get airsick, to work night shifts, to speak from memory, to know the laws, to have rich imagination, to study constantly, to be polite, to be able to imitate, to be careful and scrupulous, to be strict.
If you have ideas of your own you may add them to this list.
Do you think that when you are looking for a job you should take into account
work/office hours;
part//full time work; references;
having experience in the field of . . . ;
being straight from school; getting a contract with a probation term;
to be paid by the job//by the hour?
IV. What reasons make you choose a profession:
interest, curiosity;
risk excitement;
moral inclination; sense of community;
money you earn;
family tradition.
Which profession would you never choose? Why?
steeple jack, electrician, sailor, fireman, veterinarian, body guard, politician, banker, actor/actress.
To bluff, to fall down, to be shipwrecked, to be seasick, to be electrocuted, to get burnt, to be bitten, to be shot, to go on tours.
V. These proverbs are connected with jobs. Can you comment why?
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
The proof of the pudding is in eating.
The cat in gloves never catches mice.
Practice makes perfect.
No pains, no gains.
VI. Answer the questions:
1. What makes people choose a definite profession? Why is it vitally important?
2. What did you want to become when you were a little kid?
3. Have you already made your choice? Who/what helped you to do this? Why do parents usually play an important role helping children with the choice? Why is this their responsibility?
4. What qualities are necessary for this profession? What do you know about the psychological aspects of the profession? Do you meet your professional requirements?
5. What professions are considered to be risky?
6. Could you give any advice to your friends about the choice of profession?
By Elena Gavricheva