of omsk fall 2013
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Oral Fluency Sample Omsk Universities/Various Fall, 2013 (Start of Semester) This is a testing instrument designed to assess your developing abilities with English at the start of the Fall, 2013 Semester. You will draw on English language, culture, and civilization skills, knowledge, and themes developed in your work this semester. As outlined by your instructor, make a digital audio recording, reading aloud the following text. Do not prepare or rehearse this text; use several moments to orient yourself with the text, and then begin reading. It is not expected that you will read the presented text materials perfectly; do not “agonize” over word elements you do not know or repeat words or phrase—one measure of your oral fluency is the total time taken to complete the reading. Refer any questions or concerns to your faculty instructor. At the conclusion of your readings: in your own words, describe yourself as a language and culture learner. Speak freely about your language learning process and goals as a language and culture learner.
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Thursday night, at the Democratic National Convention, President Barack Obama accepted his party's nomination for a second term. President Obama noted that "If you believe in a country where everyone gets a fair shot and everyone does their fair share and everybody plays by the same rules, then I need your vote in November!" Mr. Obama said he supports the middle class while Republican nominee Mitt Romney favors the wealthy. He said the differences between them give voters "the clearest choice of any time in a generation." "Over the next few years," he said, "big decisions will be made in Washington on jobs, the economy, taxes and deficits, energy, education, war and peace." And he added, those decisions "will have a huge impact on our lives and on our children's lives for decades to come." Mr. Obama told the convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, that he was mindful of his "failings." "But know this, America. Our problems can be solved. Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And I'm asking you to choose that future."
2. Now, at the conclusion of your reading: in your own words, describe yourself as a language and culture learner. Say as much as you can, speaking for at least one to two minutes. How much speaking and listening practice in English do you have? How comfortable are you in speaking English and understanding native speakers? What are your goals in language and culture learning? Which language learning activities or classes do you enjoy the most? Which activities do you learn the most from? Be as specific and detailed as you can.