My language learning experience

Ladies' class studying English textbooks,
 eastern Chad. 

    Today differences between cultures are not so far alike as in the past and people from different countries tend to communicate with foreigners. The invention of the Internet allows us to meet, to communicate, to deal with the people from the other parts of the world. The number of economic connections is constantly increasing. Nowadays English is the most popular language all over the world and if we wish to keep pace with modern life we can't get by without using it. So we can't ignore the fact that learning English isn't only a pleasure but furthermore it's a vital necessity. If we wish to get a week-paid job or to play an important rule in our society we must learn English properly.
    I studied it at school but I support the statement that studying doesn't mean learning. I succeeded in grammar although my spoken English wasn't good and my vocabulary was rather poor. So I realised that I had to improve my skills in order to speak more fluently and naturally. What really helped me to keep language skills and remember some useful phrases is love of listening to English music. When I was a teenager I listened to it everyday. Listening beneficially influenced my pronunciation. From time to time I tried to read graded readers but it hadn't become a daily habit of mine. So it got me nowhere at all. I think that interesting English music and cinema is a good reason for learning language at the beginning.
    Now I am studying English at the university and it's an obligatory subject but I've found out that learning is not only a daily routine but also an interesting pastime. I enjoy speaking and writing and when I see my progress or failures it makes me wish to master the language. The main thing for me is not to be afraid of making mistakes and not to attempt to translate word for word. I think that to express myself in good English is a priority for me today.

My memories of food

When I was growing up my mum did most of the cooking. I think she cooked very well. There were four of us at home- my father, my mother, my sister and me. My sister and I often helped my mum in the kitchen. All the work we divided in half. We washed the dishes on the queue, set the table, I used to go to a grocery store. Our family liked fried or roasted fish most of all. I think it's because my mum grew up on the seashore. She told me in her childhood she ate only fish and potatoes. But it was the real fresh fish as my dad was the fisherman. So I never liked meat and when I got older my mum used to cook a vegetarian meal for me. I think she was very patient to my preferences and that made her life rather difficult so she had to cook a different meal for me and for others.
Moreover, the second great cooker in my childhood was my great grand-mother. She come from Ukraine, and this country is famous for its cuisine. I never tasted such dishes like my great grandma cooked. The classics that she used to cook: home pasta with eggs, scrumptious vareniki with cherries and berries, potato pancakes. And still I can't forget the most delicious semolina porridge which I've ever tasted.
Our family couldn't afford to go to restaurants, but on Sundays we often gathered with our friends and went on a picnic to the forest. We roasted meat and vegetables and it was great. I think I have fine memories about food: it was healthy food without crisps and much chocolate. I guess good eating habits let us to be fit and happy and we can't worried about extra weight. Our health depends largely on what we ate in childhood. We are what we eat.