Maturita topic 3, general part, at Cambridge B2 First level. The specific part of this topic is Festivals and Holidays in the Czech Republic.
What to talk about
- a typical weekday – morning, school, afternoon, evening
- weekends and holidays – how they differ from weekdays
- household chores and who does them at home
- time management, stress and keeping a balance
- how daily routines differ – students, working people, pensioners, other countries
Model answer
On weekdays my routine is fairly fixed. My alarm goes off at half past six, but I usually press the snooze button once or twice before I finally get up. I have a quick shower, get dressed and have breakfast – usually just a coffee and a sandwich, because I’m never really hungry so early. I leave home at about half past seven and take the bus to school, which takes about twenty minutes. On the way I listen to music or check my messages.
Lessons start at eight and finish between two and three, depending on the day. We have a short break between lessons and a longer one for lunch, which I have in the school canteen. After school I usually go home, have a rest for a while and then do my homework or study for tests. Twice a week I go to the gym, and on Thursdays I have a part-time job in a computer shop, which gives me some pocket money and experience.
In the evening our family has dinner together, which is one of the few moments when we’re all at home. Then I help with the chores – I load the dishwasher and take out the rubbish – and spend the rest of the evening on my computer, watching a series or talking to friends. I try to go to bed before midnight, but I must admit I often stay up later than I should.
Weekends are completely different. I sleep in till about ten, and I spend the time with my friends, go hiking or visit my grandparents. Sunday evening is usually the time when I realise I still have some homework to do.
Since this is my final year, I have to manage my time better than before. I’ve started to plan my week, and I try not to leave everything to the last minute. I think the secret of a good routine is balance – enough time for school, but also for sport, sleep and the people you care about.
Vocabulary
| English | Česky |
|---|---|
| daily routine | denní režim |
| the alarm goes off | zvoní budík |
| to press the snooze button | odložit budík |
| to get up / to oversleep | vstát / zaspat |
| to have a shower / to get dressed | osprchovat se / obléct se |
| to commute / commuter | dojíždět / dojíždějící |
| to be on time / to be late | být včas / přijít pozdě |
| canteen | jídelna |
| to do homework | dělat úkoly |
| part-time job | brigáda, částečný úvazek |
| household chores | domácí práce |
| to do the washing-up / to load the dishwasher | umýt nádobí / naskládat myčku |
| to do the laundry / the ironing | prát / žehlit |
| to hoover / to vacuum | vysávat |
| to take out the rubbish (BrE) / trash (AmE) | vynést odpadky |
| to tidy up one’s room | uklidit si pokoj |
| to sleep in / to stay up late | přispat si / zůstat dlouho vzhůru |
| to wind down / to chill out | odpočinout si, uvolnit se |
| to run errands | vyřizovat pochůzky |
| to manage one’s time | hospodařit s časem |
| to put off / to leave things till the last minute | odkládat / nechávat na poslední chvíli |
| deadline | termín |
| to be under pressure / stressed out | být pod tlakem / vystresovaný |
| work-life balance | rovnováha mezi prací a soukromím |
Grammar worth showing
- present simple + adverbs of frequency for routines: I usually / hardly ever / once a week…
- present continuous for temporary situations: This year I’m getting up earlier because I’m preparing for the exam.
- be used to / get used to: I’m used to getting up early. I can’t get used to the new timetable.
Useful phrases
- On a typical weekday, I…
- As soon as I get home, I…
- It depends on the day, but usually…
- What I like least about my routine is…
- If I could change one thing about my day, it would be…
Speaking practice
Part 1 – about you
| Question | Hint |
|---|---|
| Describe your typical school day. | time expressions, sequence words (first, then, after that) |
| What do you do to relax in the evening? | wind down, hobbies, screen time |
| Which household chores do you do? | load the dishwasher, take out the rubbish, hoover, tidy up |
| Are you a morning person or a night owl? | give reasons and examples |
Part 3 / 4 – discussion
| Question | Hint |
|---|---|
| Should teenagers help with housework? | independence, responsibility, fairness vs. school duties |
| How does the daily routine of a student differ from that of a working adult? | flexibility, responsibilities, commuting, free time |
| Why are so many people stressed today? | pressure, too many activities, technology, lack of sleep |
| Is it better to have a fixed routine or to be spontaneous? | order and productivity vs. freedom and fun |
| How do holidays and traditions break our everyday routine? | link to the specific part – Christmas, Easter, family time |