Рассказы на английском для старших классов. Материалы для системной языковой практики

© Том Сториз, 2026

ISBN 978-5-0070-4279-6

Создано в интеллектуальной издательской системе Ridero

Введение

Настоящее пособие предназначено для учащихся уровня B1, изучающих английский язык и стремящихся развивать навыки устной и письменной речи в контексте повседневных ситуаций. Материалы книги основаны на тематических текстах, отражающих типичные жизненные события, с которыми учащиеся могут столкнуться в реальной жизни, включая обучение, общение, путешествия и личный опыт.

Основная цель данного издания заключается в формировании устойчивых языковых навыков через работу с лексикой, устойчивыми выражениями и речевыми моделями. Особое внимание уделяется развитию умения выражать мысли последовательно, использовать базовые и расширенные грамматические конструкции, а также понимать контекстуальное значение слов и выражений.

Каждая глава включает связный текст, сопровождаемый лексическим материалом, практическими заданиями и вопросами для самостоятельной работы. Такой подход позволяет не только закрепить изученный материал, но и развивать навыки критического мышления и самостоятельного высказывания на английском языке.

Пособие может использоваться как для самостоятельного изучения, так и в рамках учебного процесса под руководством преподавателя. Материалы адаптированы таким образом, чтобы обеспечить постепенное усложнение языкового материала и поддерживать стабильный прогресс учащихся.

Автор стремился создать структурированное и практико-ориентированное пособие, которое способствует системному развитию языковой компетенции и помогает учащимся уверенно использовать английский язык в реальных ситуациях общения.

My First Day at a New School

My first day at a new school started earlier than I expected. I woke up before my alarm because I was both nervous and excited. I kept thinking about how everything would be different: new teachers, new classmates, new classrooms. I tried to stay calm, but my thoughts were all over the place. My mum noticed it and said, «You’ll be fine, just be yourself,» which actually helped a bit.

When I arrived at the school, the building looked much bigger than in the photos. There were so many students walking in different directions that I felt a little lost. I stood near the entrance for a moment, trying to figure out where to go. A teacher saw me and asked kindly if I needed help. That simple question made me feel more relaxed, so I followed her to my classroom.

In the classroom, everyone was already sitting and talking. For a second, I felt like I didn’t belong there, but then the teacher introduced me to the class. She asked me to say a few words about myself. My voice was not very confident at first, but I managed to talk about my hobbies and where I came from. Some students smiled, and one girl even waved at me, which made me feel a bit more comfortable.

During the first lesson, I tried hard to concentrate, but it wasn’t easy. Everything was new, and I kept thinking about whether I was doing things correctly. Although the subject was interesting, I was more focused on not making mistakes. Still, I slowly started to get used to the teacher’s style.

At break time, I didn’t know where to go, so I just followed a group of students. Luckily, they were friendly and started talking to me. We talked about music, games, and favorite subjects. I was surprised how quickly the conversation became natural. I even laughed a few times, and that made me feel like maybe this school wouldn’t be so scary after all.

Lunch was another challenge because I didn’t know how the system worked. I almost chose the wrong line, but one student explained everything to me. We sat together and ate, and I learned more about the school rules and daily life. It was nice to have someone explain things because it made everything less confusing.

By the end of the day, I was tired but also proud of myself. I had survived my first day without any big problems, even though I felt nervous in the beginning. While walking home, I thought about the people I met and the small conversations we had. It felt like the beginning of something new, even if I didn’t fully understand everything yet.

When I got home, I dropped my bag on the floor and just sat quietly for a few minutes. My first day wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t bad either. It was just the start of a new routine, and I knew tomorrow would feel a little easier.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

to feel nervous and excited — чувствовать волнение и радость

to keep thinking about something — постоянно думать о чём-то

to be all over the place — быть в растерянности

to feel a little lost — чувствовать себя потерянным

to ask for help — попросить о помощи

to feel more relaxed — чувствовать себя спокойнее

to introduce someone to the class — представить кого-то классу

to say a few words about yourself — сказать пару слов о себе

to feel like I didn’t belong — чувствовать, что не вписываюсь

to make someone feel comfortable — помочь кому-то почувствовать себя комфортно

to concentrate on something — сосредоточиться на чём-то

to get used to something — привыкнуть к чему-то

to start a conversation — начать разговор

to feel scared at first — сначала чувствовать страх

to follow a group — идти за группой

to explain the system — объяснить систему

to have a small conversation — немного поговорить

to feel proud of myself — гордиться собой

to survive the day — пережить день

to start a new routine — начать новую рутину

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I felt ___ when ___ because ___. — Я чувствовал ___, когда ___, потому что ___.

At first, I didn’t know how to ___, but then I ___. — Сначала я не знал, как ___, но потом ___.

It was difficult to ___, although I tried ___. — Было трудно ___, хотя я пытался ___.

I started to feel more ___ after ___. — Я начал чувствовать себя более ___ после ___.

One thing that helped me was ___. — Одно, что мне помогло, это ___.

I wasn’t sure if I could ___, so I ___. — Я не был уверен, что смогу ___, поэтому я ___.

By the end of the day, I ___. — К концу дня я ___.

Now think about your own experience:

1. How did you feel on your first day at a new place?

I felt nervous and excited on my first day because everything was new. I kept thinking about what would happen, so I was a bit all over the place. But after I asked for help, I started to feel more relaxed and a bit more confident.

2. Did you find it easy to make new friends?

At first, it was not easy because I felt like I didn’t belong. But when I started a conversation and followed a group, things became easier. I even had a small conversation that helped me feel comfortable.

3. What helped you feel more comfortable?

One thing that helped me was asking for help when I felt lost. People explained things to me, and I felt more relaxed. After that, I could concentrate on my tasks better.

4. Was it difficult to understand new rules or systems?

Yes, it was a bit difficult because I didn’t know how everything worked. I had to get used to the system step by step. But when someone explained it, I started to understand more clearly.

5. How did your day end?

By the end of the day, I felt tired but proud of myself. I survived the day and even had some good conversations. It felt like the start of a new routine.

Complete the sentences:

On my first day, I felt __________ and __________ because everything was new.

I didn’t know where to go, so I decided to __________ a group of students.

A teacher helped me and I started to feel more __________.

It was difficult to __________ on the lesson at first.

By the end of the day, I felt proud of myself because I managed to __________ the day.

The Hardest Exam I Have Ever Taken

I still remember the day of the hardest exam I have ever taken. It was a cold morning, and I woke up earlier than usual, even though I didn’t sleep very well the night before. My mind was full of thoughts like «What if I forget everything?» and «What if the questions are too difficult?» I tried to revise a little, but nothing really stayed in my head.

On the way to school, I kept checking my notes on my phone, although I already knew it wasn’t very helpful. My friend texted me saying, «Don’t worry, it will be okay,» but I wasn’t so sure. The closer I got to the school, the more nervous I felt. My stomach felt strange, and I could barely focus on anything around me.

When I entered the classroom, everything looked very serious. The desks were separated, and the teacher was already handing out the exam papers. The silence in the room made everything feel even more stressful. I sat down, took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself, but my hands were still shaking a little.

As soon as I saw the questions, I felt a bit overwhelmed. Some of them were familiar, but others looked completely new. I started with the easier ones because I wanted to build some confidence. That helped at first, but then I got stuck on a long reading task. I read it again and again, but I still wasn’t sure about the answers. Time was passing so quickly that I started to panic a little.

Although I tried to stay focused, my thoughts kept going in different directions. I remember thinking that I should have studied more, but at the same time, I told myself to just do my best. I skipped a difficult question and moved on, which was probably a good decision because it saved me some time later.

Halfway through the exam, I noticed that some students were already finishing. That made me even more nervous, so I tried to work faster. But rushing didn’t really help because I made a few small mistakes and had to correct them carefully.

In the last ten minutes, I quickly checked my answers. I wasn’t completely confident, but I tried not to change too many things. I just hoped that my first answers were mostly correct. When the teacher said, «Time is up,» I felt both relieved and exhausted at the same time.

After leaving the classroom, I stood in the hallway for a moment. My mind was still full of the exam questions, and I kept wondering how I did. Some parts felt okay, but others were definitely challenging. I talked briefly with my friend, and we compared a few answers, although we weren’t completely sure about anything.

On the way home, I looked at the sky and thought about how stressful the experience was. Even though it was hard, I also felt like I learned something important about myself — that I can keep going even when things feel difficult, and that sometimes you just have to trust your preparation and move forward.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

to have a hard exam — иметь сложный экзамен

to wake up earlier than usual — проснуться раньше обычного

to be full of thoughts — быть полным мыслей

to forget everything — всё забыть

to revise notes — повторять конспекты

to feel nervous — чувствовать нервозность

to check notes — проверять записи

to focus on something — сосредоточиться на чём-то

to enter the classroom — войти в класс

to take a deep breath — сделать глубокий вдох

to calm yourself — успокоиться

to feel overwhelmed — чувствовать себя перегруженным

to build confidence — повысить уверенность

to get stuck on a question — застрять на вопросе

to panic a little — немного паниковать

to stay focused — оставаться сосредоточенным

to skip a question — пропустить вопрос

to correct mistakes — исправлять ошибки

to check answers — проверять ответы

to feel relieved — чувствовать облегчение

to feel exhausted — чувствовать усталость

to compare answers — сравнивать ответы

to trust your preparation — доверять своей подготовке

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I felt ___ before the exam because ___. — Я чувствовал ___ перед экзаменом, потому что ___.

I tried to ___, although it was difficult. — Я пытался ___, хотя это было трудно.

When I saw the questions, I felt ___. — Когда я увидел вопросы, я почувствовал ___.

I started with ___ because ___. — Я начал с ___, потому что ___.

I got stuck on ___, so I ___. — Я застрял на ___, поэтому я ___.

It was hard to stay ___, but I tried. — Было трудно оставаться ___, но я пытался.

In the end, I felt ___ because ___. — В конце я чувствовал ___, потому что ___.

Now think about your own experience:

1. What was your most difficult exam?

I felt very nervous before my hardest exam because I thought it would be very challenging. I tried to revise my notes, but I still wasn’t fully confident. During the exam, I had to stay focused even when I felt overwhelmed.

2. How did you prepare for it?

I tried to build confidence by reviewing important topics again and again. Although it was difficult to remember everything, I kept checking my notes. That helped me feel a bit more prepared.

3. What did you do when you didn’t know an answer?

When I got stuck on a question, I skipped it and moved on. I didn’t want to panic a little and lose time. Later, I came back to it and tried again.

4. How did you feel during the exam?

During the exam, I felt both nervous and focused at the same time. I tried to calm myself by taking a deep breath. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed, but I kept going.

5. How did you feel after the exam?

After the exam, I felt relieved but also exhausted. I compared answers with my friend, although we weren’t sure about everything. Still, I trusted my preparation and hoped for the best.

Complete the sentences:

Before the exam, I felt __________ because I wanted to do well.

I tried to __________ my notes the day before the test.

When I saw a difficult question, I decided to __________ it and move on.

I took a deep breath to __________ myself during the exam.

After the exam, I felt __________ but also a bit worried.

A Teacher Who Changed the Way I See a Subject

I never used to think much about this subject. It was just one of those classes you had to attend, take notes, and try to pass the exams. Honestly, I didn’t feel any real interest in it. I thought it was a bit boring and too theoretical, and I often found myself just waiting for the lesson to end.

Everything started to change when a new teacher arrived at our school. At first, I didn’t expect anything special. I thought she would be like all the other teachers, just following the textbook and giving homework. But from the very first lesson, I noticed something different in the way she spoke and explained things.

Instead of just reading from the book, she told real-life stories and examples. She connected the topic to everyday situations, so it suddenly felt more useful and alive. For example, when we were learning about the subject, she would say, «You can see this in real life when you go shopping or watch the news,» and that made me think differently.

She also asked us questions all the time, not just to check our knowledge, but to make us think. At first, I felt a bit uncomfortable because I wasn’t used to speaking in class. But she always waited patiently and never made anyone feel embarrassed. That made me more confident, so I started to participate more.

One lesson I remember clearly was when we had a group discussion. Instead of sitting quietly and listening, we had to share our opinions. I was nervous, but I tried to say something, even if it wasn’t perfect. Surprisingly, the teacher listened carefully and even said, «That’s an interesting idea.» That small moment made me feel proud and more motivated.

After a few weeks, I realized I was actually looking forward to this subject. I started paying more attention in class and even doing extra reading at home. It was strange because I had never done that before for this subject. But now it didn’t feel like a duty anymore — it felt more like discovering something new.

What really changed my view was the way the teacher treated mistakes. Instead of just correcting them, she explained why they happened and how to improve. She made mistakes feel like part of learning, not something to be afraid of. That helped me stop worrying so much about being perfect.

One day after class, I stayed for a moment to ask her a question. She explained it in such a simple and clear way that I finally understood something I had struggled with for a long time. Walking home that day, I felt like the subject had suddenly become much more interesting and meaningful.

Now, when I think about that class, I don’t see it as boring anymore. I see it as something useful and even enjoyable. And whenever I have a difficult topic, I remember her way of teaching and try to approach it with more curiosity instead of stress.

Sometimes I still think about how different everything would be if she hadn’t been my teacher that year. It’s strange how one person can quietly change the way you see something without even trying too hard.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

to change the way I see something — изменить моё восприятие чего-то

to attend a class — посещать урок

to take notes — делать записи

to feel real interest — испытывать настоящий интерес

to wait for the lesson to end — ждать конца урока

to arrive at school — прийти в школу

to notice something different — заметить что-то другое

to follow the textbook — следовать учебнику

to connect to real life — связывать с реальной жизнью

to feel more alive — казаться более живым

to ask questions — задавать вопросы

to feel uncomfortable — чувствовать себя некомфортно

to participate in class — участвовать в уроке

to share opinions — делиться мнениями

to feel nervous — чувствовать нервозность

to look forward to something — ждать чего-то с нетерпением

to pay attention — обращать внимание

to do extra reading — делать дополнительное чтение

to make mistakes — совершать ошибки

to be part of learning — быть частью обучения

to struggle with something — испытывать трудности с чем-то

to understand clearly — ясно понять

to approach something with curiosity — подходить с любопытством

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I used to think ___ was ___, but now I see it differently. — Раньше я думал, что ___ это ___, но теперь я вижу это по-другому.

One thing that changed my opinion was ___. — Одно, что изменило моё мнение, это ___.

At first, I felt ___ because ___. — Сначала я чувствовал ___, потому что ___.

The teacher made us ___, so I ___. — Учитель заставил нас ___, поэтому я ___.

I started to feel more ___ after ___. — Я начал чувствовать себя более ___ после ___.

What helped me most was ___. — Больше всего мне помогло ___.

Now I see ___ as ___. — Теперь я вижу ___ как ___.

Now think about your own experience:

1. Did you ever have a teacher who changed your opinion about a subject?

I used to think a subject was boring, but a teacher changed the way I saw it. She explained things in a simple and real-life way, so I started to feel more interested. After that, I looked forward to the lessons.

2. What did the teacher do differently?

She didn’t just follow the textbook; she connected ideas to everyday life. She also asked us questions and encouraged us to share opinions. That made the class more interactive and less stressful.

3. How did you feel in her lessons?

At first, I felt uncomfortable because I wasn’t used to speaking in class. But later I felt more confident and started participating more. I even enjoyed group discussions.

4. Did your attitude toward the subject change?

Yes, my attitude changed a lot. I stopped seeing it as boring and started seeing it as useful. I even began doing extra reading because I was more curious.

5. What helped you understand the subject better?

The teacher explained difficult ideas in a clear and simple way. She also helped me see mistakes as part of learning. That made it easier to understand and improve.

Complete the sentences:

I used to think this subject was __________, but now I see it differently.

The teacher helped us connect the topic to __________ situations.

At first, I felt __________ when I had to speak in class.

I started to look forward to lessons because they felt more __________.

Now I approach difficult topics with more __________ instead of stress.

When I Forgot My Homework

It was one of those mornings when everything felt a bit rushed. I woke up later than usual because my alarm didn’t go off properly, and I had to get ready in a hurry. I quickly packed my bag, ate something small, and ran out of the house thinking I had everything I needed for school. I even felt a bit proud that I managed to leave on time.

On the bus, I was listening to music and thinking about the first lesson. It was English, and we were supposed to submit our homework. I suddenly remembered that I had finished it the night before, so I felt relaxed again. I even started planning what I would do after school, completely forgetting to double-check my bag.

When I arrived at school, everything seemed normal at first. I chatted with a friend in the corridor and then walked to the classroom. The teacher greeted us as usual, and I sat down, still feeling calm. But then, she said the words I didn’t want to hear: «Please take out your homework.»

At that moment, my heart dropped a little. I opened my bag quickly and started searching inside, hoping I had just placed it in a different pocket. I checked my notebook, my folder, even the side pockets, but there was nothing. Slowly, I realized the truth — I had forgotten my homework at home.

I felt my face getting warm. For a few seconds, I just sat there, not knowing what to do. Other students were handing in their work, and I felt a bit embarrassed. I kept thinking, How could I forget something so important?

Finally, I raised my hand and explained the situation to the teacher. I expected her to be angry, but she wasn’t. She looked at me calmly and said, «It happens. Please bring it tomorrow.» I felt both relieved and a little disappointed in myself at the same time.