Charity---B2 letter Esther: I see your points, and I mostly agree with them. Despite that, I think charity, be it volunteering or donations, is absolutely – and unfortunately – needed. You can think of it as a voluntary and social contribution for a greater cause, or at least for a significant improvement that couldn’t be achieved without working together. Besides, these achievements could affect also those who do their share, not just the ones who are being helped, and the effects can radiate through the whole society. From this perspective, there isn’t much difference between high-profile charity and the ones that are done outside the spotlight, so I don’t think we should abolish either the former of the latter. People certainly donate or volunteer so that it makes them feel better, but where’s the harm in that? In my view that’s the reason behind nearly every selfless act. However, as long as it actually improves someone’s condition in any way without making the other’s worse, it doesn’t have to be taken away, even if the donations happen in charity events to boost the people’s own egos a bit. I can’t really name projects but I’ve heard about charities for kids who are in orphanage or foster homes, you can donate to educational projects as well, there are also charity funds for veterans, the options are endless, really. With that being said, my choice would be a project where they seek to improve education so that more and more people can get out of poverty. What matters the most I think is transparency, since some charities are just schemes and frauds under disguise. Hope this comment helped. (Write a comment of 200-250 words in which you -say whether you think charities are necessary and useful and why/why not, -give your opinion about high-profile charity events like the ones mentioned in the post, -mention a charity project that you have heard of, -say if you can think of a particular cause that you would be ready to donate to or volunteer for. Begin your comment like this: Esther: )

monitorin your children--B2 (letter) Patricia, I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard about something like this. To be honest, it seems pretty odd, not only at first glance. These methods are usually used so that you can have evidence of burglaries, thefts and such. I don’t agree that your parents should use alarms and especially not cameras ,mainly for personal right reasons as you’ve mentioned. Moreover, it would make your sister trust your parents even less, and even though this might be okay for a while, later on, when she won’t be there to be monitored, they might really lose the connection to their daughter. Maybe I’m a bit naive and idealistic, but in my opinion parents should be able to talk this through with their children. They might explain to your sister that they would feel bad if something happened to her, they would blame themselves, so they want to be informed about where she goes and what her plans are. This way they would feel assured so they’d be more lenient when it comes to letting her hang out with her friends, for example. This is how it went in my childhood at least. I could usually go to places as long as they knew where I am and how long I stay. I used to call them when I had arrived and when I had left, or when they were some changes in my plans. That’s all, hope I could help. Gyula (Write a comment of 200-250 words to Patricia’s post in which you tell her • whether you agree that young teenagers should be monitored, • whether you think it’s a good idea to apply the methods Patricia’s mother suggests, • what other ways you can think of, • whether/how your parents used to monitor you when you were younger.)

Photography courses--B2 (short letter) Dear Ms Swift, I’d like to enquire about the details of the photography courses. I’m not an experienced photographer by any means, even though I occasionally take photos with my phones, but I’m really interested in learning more about photography. Because of that, I think the most fitting course for me would be Beginners’ Course. In addition I might take up Nature Photography as well since I like to be outdoors and nature is what I like the best to take pictures of, so that’s where I want to improve the most. With that being said, I’d like to know how long the classes of the aforementioned courses last and how often they are held. Is there an option to take classes only at weekends? It would be nice to know the prices as well. Thank you in advance. Sincerely, Gyula Szabó (During your stay in Brisbane, Australia you decide to take part in a photography course. Write a message of 120-150 words to Ms Swift in which you • tell her about your previous experience in photography, • tell her when you can attend, what kind of photography course(s) you are interested in and give your reasons, • ask her about the frequency and length of the classes and the price of the course(s) you have chosen. )

Cycle to work (B2--informal) Dear XY, There’s a new campaign in my city. We don’t know much of the details, but it should promote cycling as a way of commuting over driving a car or even using public transport. It seems like a good idea to me, though I can understand if someone’s not in favor of it. For example, if your work is highly demanding physically, the last thing you’d want is to cycle to work. If you do your job in an office, however, it’s actually good to have some exercise, even if it’s not intensive, it improves your fitness and health in general. The only downside I can think of is having sweat spots all over your shirt. As for me, I went to school by bike in the past, but now I wouldn’t, because the traffic is a bit scary here, and I’m not mentally awake when the school starts. I fear I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the road. Luckily the public transport is sufficient where I live, in those districts where I usually go at least. We have trams , underground and bus too, so if there’s some maintenance, which is quite frequent, I can choose another one as a replacement. (The mayor’s office of your town has launched a campaign called “Cycle to work”. Write an email (around 150 words) to your English friend and include the following: - Would you cycle to work/school? Why/why not? - the advantages of cycling - the disadvantages of cycling - public transportation at your place of living )

To go on a slimming diet (B2--Informal letter) Hey, I've got some news to announce. Remember when we were talking about exercising and becoming fitter? I'm not completely satisfied with how I look, and especially concerned about my health. I really should get back into shape. I couldn't run even a couple of hundred meters. So, long story short, I have decided to change my diet, and make some time for exercising too. Some say that I should practically fast, but I don't think it would help. Doing that, I would get rid of not only the fat but the muscles too. Some advise me to lift weights until I can't do any more series. Thanks, but no thanks. I don't want to be a bodybuilder anyway. I'm planning to start my days earlier than before. This way, I'll have the time for some running before work, and chances are that I'll be less tired throughout the day. It sounds contradictory, I know. I will also make my own meals instead of ordering fast food, so I'll have more freedom in choosing the right ingredients. There's one problem with having a healthy diet though. I'm not saying I hate vegetables, I just can't imagine them being prepared in a delicious way that it can be eaten without meat or some kind of sauce. I chew on some carrots occasionally, but that's all. Since you're a vegetarian, I thought you could help me with cooking, and share some tips and tricks. Can't wait to hear from you! (You have decided to go on a slimming diet. Write a 170-200-word e-mail informing your English friend (who is a vegetarian) about your decision. Give the reason for your decision. Mention some good or bad advice you have been given; the changes you are planning to make in your daily routine; your problem with vegetable dishes.)

Uniforms in school(B2----Comment) Well, I'm not a huge fan of uniforms. Unless there is a valid reason for it, I prefer not to wear the same clothes as the others. I think it's a great way to express our identity, and I don't want to lose this kind of freedom. Those who propose this type of regulation might think that It will conceal the differences in the children's financial background, but those differences will show either way. Some kids have better phones, private tutors, go for more expensive vacations etc. Besides, uniforms are not that cheap at all. Sure you can afford one that you occasionally wear, but having a full set of these, it's not easy on your wallet. The worst thing that it wouldn't be comfortable enough to wear for 8-10 hours a day. During studying, you must be as relaxed as possible. I'm glad that in our school we were not obliged to wear uniforms unless we had some kind of national holiday.

Giving up smoking (B2--Informal letter) Hi, As you know, I've been smoking for many years. I've tried many methods to quit smoking, to no avail. But here come the good news! I'm finally through with this habit of mine. It wasn't easy though, as smoking has been the most effective way to calm myself down, and in a way, it was an activity to pass time. Whenever I felt bored and had a little time, I lit one up, and then another one etc. When I tried to quit in the past, it didn't work. Every time I missed an opportunity to have a cigarette, I couldn't focus while my thoughts were revolving around smoking. And this addiction takes so much of one's free time. Another huge drawback was that awful smell my clothes always had. It literally repelled all the people I wanted to meet. Since I've given up smoking, the disturbing odour has disappeared, and more importantly, my throat and lungs are healing. My fitness has improved a lot. Knowing that it's still an issue for you, I'll give you some tips: The first weeks are the toughest. If you can't suppress your urge to smoke, I suggest that you should use one of those nicotine plasters. The act of smoking, as a ritual, is a big part of the addiction. This way, you can have your daily dose of nicotine,while working on how to use the extra time in your days. You need something to make you not think about smoking, like listening to music or have hobbies that require concentration. Then you gradually lower your dose of nicotine, and hopefully like in a month,you're free of this addiction. Fingers crossed. See you soon (The task was: You have given up smoking. Break the good news to your English friend, who is still a heavy smoker. Write a 170-200-word e-mail letting him/her know • when and why you started smoking; • about the difficulties you had to face while you were addicted; • about the positive changes in your health; • how your friend could get rid of his/her bad habit.) (Ignore the 200 word limit :D)

What's the meaning of this lyrics?/How do you interpret?(short)

Dietary habits in your country(B2 Writing---Comment) I would like to share my opinion. Recently it has become more important to me to eat healthier, as I don’t have the time for the exercise that could compensate for the effects of much sugar and fat to a certain degree. However, this isn’t so easy, given that our traditional meals are based on a great amount of fat and salt. The average Hungarian person consumes thrice the amount of salt officially recommended. One might think these types of food are more popular in villages or small towns, but actually national dishes are widespread even in big cities of Hungary. Moreover, we don’t eat enough vegetables nor fruits. We eat a lot of meat and pastry. These things combined, it’s no wonder that high percentage of deaths are related to cardiovascular diseases. Some say it’s because of convenience foods. I disagree, since these products have to obey strict regulations and you can always read what’s inside, nutrition-wise. Though, if you cook your meal, you’ll know the exact ingredients, which can have a greater variety, or can be a lot cheaper than eating the same in a restaurant, so it might be worth your time after all. Overall, in my eyes the diet we have is equally as important if not more than what and how much we exercise, and we should pay more attention to what is served on or plates. (Task was: Write your opinion (ca. 200 words) and include the following: • dietary habits in your country • how healthy your national dishes are • your opinion on the convenience foods (for example: frozen or oven-ready meals) • cooking at home or eating in restaurants (why) • the influence of diet on preserving health )