Современный английский для подростков. Лексика, грамматика и общение

Level: A2—B1

Topic: Talents, confidence and performing in public

Grammar Focus: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Before You Read

Изучите слова и ответьте на вопросы.

talent show — конкурс талантов

perform on stage — выступать на сцене

audience — зрители

rehearsal — репетиция

feel confident — чувствовать себя уверенно

overcome a fear — преодолеть страх

What talents can people demonstrate in a school show?

Is it difficult to perform in front of an audience?

How can a person become more confident?

The School Talent Show

Every spring, Westbrook School holds a talent show. Students sing, dance, perform magic tricks and play musical instruments. The event is always popular, and the main hall is usually full of students, teachers and parents.

This year, Sofia wants to take part. She has played the guitar for four years and often writes her own songs. However, she has never performed alone in front of a large audience.

«You should enter the talent show,» Mia tells her during lunch.

«I’m not good enough,» Sofia replies. «There are much better musicians at school.»

«That isn’t true. I’ve heard you play. Your songs are more original than most of the music online.»

Sofia smiles but shakes her head. «Playing for one friend is easier than performing in front of two hundred people.»

A few days later, Mia notices a talent show poster in the corridor. Registration closes that afternoon. Without telling Sofia, she takes a photograph of the poster and sends it to their group chat.

Mia: Sofia is thinking about performing.

Leo: She should do it!

Ben: Definitely. Her song about the bus stop is the funniest song I’ve ever heard.

Sofia: It isn’t supposed to be funny.

Ben: That makes it even better.

After several encouraging messages, Sofia finally registers. She chooses a quiet song called «A Different Road». It is more serious than her usual music and also more difficult to perform.

The first rehearsal does not go well. Sofia plays the opening part too quickly, forgets several lines and stops in the middle of the song.

«This was a terrible idea,» she says as she puts the guitar back in its case.

«It wasn’t terrible,» Mia replies. «You were nervous. The next rehearsal will be easier.»

«It couldn’t be worse.»

During the following week, Sofia practises every evening. She begins by performing for Mia. Then she plays for the whole project group. Leo talks throughout the first song, so Sofia makes him sit quietly at the back of the room.

At the second school rehearsal, she remembers every line. Her voice is clearer, and she plays more slowly than before. The music teacher tells her that it is one of the most memorable songs in the show.

On the evening of the performance, Sofia waits behind the stage curtain. She can hear the audience talking. Her hands feel cold, and her heart is beating faster than usual.

«I can’t do this,» she whispers.

Mia, Ben and Leo are standing nearby.

«You’ve already done the hardest part,» Ben says. «You wrote the song and entered the competition.»

«And you survived our private concerts,» Leo adds. «This audience is much quieter than we are.»

Sofia laughs, and the presenter announces her name.

The stage looks brighter and larger than it did during the rehearsals. Sofia sits down, adjusts the microphone and looks at the audience. For a moment, she cannot remember the first line.

Then she sees her friends in the front row. Mia gives her an encouraging smile.

Sofia takes a deep breath and begins to play.

The first notes are quieter than she intended, but her voice soon becomes stronger. The audience stops moving and listens. When she finishes, the hall is silent for a second. Then everyone applauds.

Sofia does not win first prize. A dance group gives the most impressive performance of the evening. However, she receives a special award for the most original song.

After the show, Sofia finds her friends near the entrance.

«You were amazing!» Mia says.

«I made two mistakes,» Sofia replies.

«Maybe,» Ben says, «but nobody noticed.»

Sofia looks at the certificate in her hand. Winning has not been the most important part of the evening. Performing has shown her that she is braver than she thought.

New Words and Expressions

take part — принимать участие

Sofia wants to take part in the talent show.

enter a competition — принять участие в конкурсе

Her friends encourage her to enter the competition.

registration — регистрация

Registration closes in the afternoon.

encouraging — ободряющий