Кто поедет учиться в Великобританию

В феврале "Комсомольская правда" и Британский Совет объявили новый конкурс для наших читателей. Приз для автора лучшего эссе - две недели обучения в Великобритании, в лингвистической школе Center of English Studies (CES).

Имена победителя и призеров названы: Елена Селянина (главный приз), Виктория Сафечук и Рафаэль Мирзоян.

Публикуем лучшие работы и поздравляем их авторов! Если вы участвовали в конкурсе, можете сравнить со своими эссе.

Тема конкурсного задания, напомним: "Tell us here at Centre of English Studies why you want to come to the UK to study English and what tourist attractions you would like to see".

Главный приз - поездку на две недели в школу CES в Уимблдоне и авиабилеты Москва - Лондон - Москва - получила Елена Селянина из Волгограда. Вот ее эссе:

"My name is Elena. I am twenty eight years old. I am working an auditor in a big Russian telecommunication company. I live in Volgograd. I have been studied English at school and at the Volgograd State University, but I didn’t have a necessary to use this language for a long period of time, so I forgot almost all. I want to renew my residual knowledge of the language; also I want to improve my spoken English.

I think it is a great idea to make this contest. It is very interesting to take part in it. I really want to visit the UK and, of course, London. I have never been there. I remember the popular phrase from English schoolbooks: “London is the capital of Great Britain”.

I think all Russian people who studied English at school remembered this phrase. And London is associated with it. To see this city is my dream from school years. To see in real City of London, Tower Bridge and London Eye, Palace of Westminster, to walk in Hyde Park and Regent's Park, to visit London Zoo and attraction of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum – what could be better? I also dream to visit a concert of London Symphony Orchestra or Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, or any perform (ballet or opera) at the Royal Opera House.

London is also known as a big cultural centre of Europe, heart of European culture. So, it is worth to see, to join the world culture. It is the big possibility to learn English with native speakers at Centre of English Studies.

I explored the site of the Centre of English Studies – there are a lot of interesting and useful courses. It is also a great advantage that the Centre had more than 30 years history of studying foreigners. I think if I win two weeks of studying it would be exciting experience for me. And for my husband Vladimir. He also told me that he had a dream to see the UK and to learn English more. He works in a regional bank and also had been studied English only at school and at the Volgograd Polytechnic university.

If I win this contest we would come London together. We are young family, we had married some months ago, so we can’t buy course for two people. And it would be great if we can study English together at the Centre of English Studies. Also we would use every free time to speak with the English people – to make our language practice. Because even if we come to a supermarket to buy some food we should use English to speak with staff.

Thank you for the opportunity to tell about my dream. I hope that sometimes my dream come true…

Второе место заняла Виктория Сафечук из Омска. Она получает планшет Nexus. Эссе Виктории:

"500 words with which to explain why one wants to come to the UK and what tourist attractions to see? That already sounds like the punch line of some typical British, surreal joke or a Monty Python sketch.

Such is the social and cultural diversity of the country that even 500,000 words may not be enough to list and elaborate on all the reasons. Whether you follow your heart or your head, or even the crowds, you can't get it wrong — Britain seems to have it all covered. Just take for an example the fascinating city of London; a stupendously potent cocktail of ethnicities and cultures (we talk more than 300 languages regularly spoken), a student population of well over 300,000, a nearly 17 million persons' favourite destination, its legendary status as a trend-setter and a promoter of much great stuff is richly deserved. And although it is constantly reinventing itself through the huge influx of people and their influences and attractions, this wonder of human possibilities keeps some classic elements that make him unique and incomparable.

As you may already gather, even though I appreciate what is great in Great Britain, my own preference is London. From old icons like the Tower of London to more modern awe-inspiring symbols such is The Gherkin at night, there would appear to be hundreds of sightseeing spots to sample. And yet, to my mind there is only one: the city's very spirit. This is because in virtually every individual thing in London is its character of creativity, functionality and, above all, oddity that ultimately makes sense. Even weirdest of them, those we Europeans proverbially associate with the islanders' eccentricity, grow on you and you find yourself favouring and defending their existence. No wonder, then, London is the sixth largest French city on the planet — if it is good enough for 400,000 of England's biggest rivals to live in it, it must be brilliant for everyone else at least to learn, both academically and about life, in it. Or if you want to put your money where your mouth is, then don't forget that London has the best Indian food...outside Birmingham!

Last but not least we must mention that regardless of the city's dense concentration of people, nothing actually distracts you from your own business except your own curiosity. In other words, people's mentality allows you nearly full privacy (ironically, especially during the Tube's peak-time) and many big and gorgeous parks offer plenty of space and an impression of having a quiet break in countryside. And contrary to the popular belief about London being cold, even cruel, its citizens' time-proven solidarity and camaraderie speaks volumes of the resilient spirit and a specific generosity they rightly pride themselves in.

And now for something completely different... Actually, I know nothing of what I mention here. I have read and heard about it, but never seen with my own eyes. Or inside London Eye for that matter. That's why I so want it!"

Третье место - у Рафаэля Мирзояна из Волгограда. Его приз - электронная книга Kindle. Вот эссе Рафаэля:

"To every Jonathan Livingston living within everyone of us all

"Learn English? Mate, you really need it?” – that is just a small portion of what I heard from a friend after I literally became hooked on learning the language. The English language was really something that attracted me since I was a child. Maybe it was because my grandma left a book, Jonathan Livingston the Seagull, in original language, in a house where I lived. I can hardly count how many times I read it through, yet every reading helped me to discover something new. The main hero became my idol, the one I followed all the time. It was since then that I got a passion to American and English literature, books in original language, in particular. I wanted to understand English, as if it were my native language.

Having grown up, I again encountered the book my grandma left, and I was interested to know more about the biography of the book author. After I learnt Richard Bach was a pilot, I recalled a dream about sky back from my childhood and again felt the desire to make it come true, as once nothing could stop Jonathan Livingston on his way towards the most cherished dream. I again heard phrases like “Mate, you shall fail, that is not yours”. Even the closest relatives had doubts about me. You should realize what a joy would be to do something that others believe you hardly can ever do.

It was in 2012 that I emailed a message to Richard Bach with gratitude, to tell him how his story became a parable for me after it resurrected a dream from my childhood. What a surprise it was for me to receive a reply in which the living legend man shared some advice with me and blessed my choice – to become a pilot. I could hardly ever be happier: everyone around was in opposition to my intention, there was only one person who supported me, yet rather this was not one, but the one! Richard Bach himself! Inside of me he had literally awaken Jonathan Livingston to conquer the horizon that must be taken.

Nowadays I am a flight student, in just a year I am to become a civil pilot. It is the English language that is number one in the International Civil Aviation Organization. I now study technical English, as it is one of the requirements by modern airline companies. I really wish I would also know spoken English, and I hope You would assist me to finally meet my favorite writer to give him my thanks for the inspiration he granted.

To learn English in vivo I would really like to visit England to see that country through the eyes of a tourist, the eyes of a British local, even through the well-known London eye. I am sure that would be the best thing to motivate me for new achievements and for taking new horizons!"