School

Hristo Botev

Nova Zagora

TEEN SPIRIT 12 November 2012

Interview with Milena Milkova- IT Teacher and

Vice Head Teacher

1. Tell us about

the happiest

memory from

your childhood.

There have

been many happy

moments in my

life. I can say

that fate has been

very generous to

me as I have a

wonderful family

that has always

supported me. All my childhood memories are great.

However, the most salient are those rainy days in my

village, when I and my granny used to open the door,

then she sat on a chair with me, nestled in her lap, and

we watched the rain drops or sang songs together.

2. What do you fear most? Why?

I fear a lot of things, like every human does. I,

personally, hope that we all are safe and sound, because

people don’t value what they possess until they lose it.

If I have to speak globally, I hope that I and my family,

and people all over the world will never have to suffer

the terrors of war and environmental disasters.

3. Do you like your job? Why/ why not? Would you

like to change it?

To answer this question, I have to tell you that

after I left school I decided to go to university, choosing

Mathematics. Since my mother is a teacher, I knew how

demanding her job was and I thought that I would never

become a teacher like her. But as someone said: “You

never know what the future holds.” And I proved that to

myself – I have been working as a teacher for already

17 years and I have never regretted this decision of

mine. I think that, no matter how hard you try, you

can’t hide from your destiny. To be a teacher nowadays

is a great challenge and responsibility and I love

challenges.

4. Which is the greatest risk you have ever taken?

My decision to become a vice head teacher.

5. What is your motto?

I can.

6. How did you meet your husband? Tell us

something more about your family.

We met for the first time at a party in the

beginning of the autumn in 1990. Even then, in the

lobby of the library I felt something for him. We saw

each other again in 1994, when we met at a disco at the

pool in Nova Zagora (it may sound strange, but the

swimming pool disco in Nova Zagora has existed since

long before you were born). And we have been married

for 18 years.

I have two wonderful children – a son, Georgi

who is 16 years old and a daughter Liuboslava who is

11. They are very different – with different ways of

thinking, opinions about life and dreams. I am trying to

be friends with them and only time will show whether I

will succeed. I will be really happy if I and my husband

bring up good people who will achieve their goals and

dreams.

7. What is your message to the students at Hristo

Botev Secondary School?

Be yourselves! Follow your dreams! Don’t try to

succeed at all costs, but be tolerant and follow your

relatives’ advice. You should know that, we, the

teachers, are your friends and mentors but not your

hostiles and judges. Everybody needs a nice word and a

smile to start their day. Give such smiles and live your

lives full of positivism.

Halloween

The Halloween party for the English classes was one of the most

expected events for this week. It was held in the Culture Club and

was organized, as usual, by 10a. They had prepared themselves for

the event. There were lots of competitions, games and music, of

course.

This year it was a theme show: “Rock & Pop Legends” so everyone

who was dressed for the occasion was welcomed with open arms.

Of course there were a

lot of people who had

chosen the more traditional, frightening Halloween make-up and I

have to say they had done their best - there were quite a few faces

I couldn’t recognize at first. And for those who weren’t dressed up

for the occasion, we had

prepared a stylist to

fashion some Rock or Pop

make up for them. Guests

without an invitation

weren’t allowed in but we couldn’t keep track of everyone, especially

the ones with unrecognizable faces.

The groups “Room Number Four” and “Lord God” had the pleasure to

play for the guests the rock songs they should all know. The classics

were played and the crowd was singing along with them. Once again they showed how much talent there is in

the young people and that the classic rock songs are still popular nowadays. And because we had to have some

pop legends, the show was closed by the new-found pop sensation

PSY with his legendary Gangnam Style.

The competitions and games were very intense, especially in some

of the categories. The award for best Jack o’ Lantern went to Ivan

Mishev from 12a, who had put a lot of imagination in his pumpkin

carvings. The award for scariest costume went to Bogomil

Bornosuzov from

9a. He was dressed

as Darth Maul from

Star Wars. The

competition for best group costume went to the girls from 12a

who were dressed like Indians. The award for best female

costume went to Ivanesa Petrova from 8a.

There was a fierce competition between the 8a and 11

a for the

best Halloween table. The judges had a hard decision to make–

both tables were decorated well and the food they had

prepared left the judges speechless. Finally, both classes received awards for their beautifully decorated tables.

8a won a prize for the most delicious dishes and 11

a for the best decorated table.

And after all competitions had finished it was time for a couple of

games. The traditional Halloween game - bobbing for apples, where

you get apples from a bucket by only using your mouth, was

watched very carefully by all the people around the table and behind

it. The winner was Tony Georgiev from 10a, who won and then

shared the apples

with his friends. The

other game was a hot

dog eating contest.

The winner was

Svetlomir Minchev who left school last year but his amazing

disguise allowed him to pass through the guards.

At the end of the night 10a

passed to 9a

the Halloween pumpkin

with all the

Halloween

spirit it has collected so that they could keep it safe until the

next 31st

October when they will organize the whole party

and continue the tradition. Some of us are already waiting to

see what they will surprise us with at their Halloween show.

Others are already

thinking about their

next costume or

what make up they

will need.

And after all the award giving & hot dog eating, after all the bobbing

for apples and costume & disguise judging, it was time to dance a bit,

relax a bit and then go home.

Grateful that we won’t have to go to school tomorrow, we headed home,

pleased with the show we put on. We can only hope that you enjoyed and

that you will remember it only with the good things that happened. Let’s

all prepare for an even better show next year!

PROJECT EUROPESCO

We have not inherited Earth from our ancestors, we have

borrowed it from our children

The Czech Republic

In 2011 a few students from tenth grade visited the

beautiful the Czech Republic. They went sightseeing in

Nova Paka, Kutna Hora, Prague, at a baroque hospital in

Dvur Kralove, Czech Paradice (The first geopark in the

Czech Republic). On their way home, they also visited

Budapest.

Poland

In 2012 the rest of the tenth grade students who joined the

project travelled for a visit to their friends in Poland. The

lucky students saw the statue of Copernic, and the

Gingerbread museum, where they made some cookies, in

Torun. They also stopped by Darlowo, Sopot, Gdansk.

Italy

In the end of May 2012, seven of the 8th

graders and five

of the 9th

graders had a chance to explore the beautiful

treasures of Italy. They visited the famous Duomo cathedral

in the capital of fashion-Milan. After that they spent some

time in Turin with their friends from the other countries.

Bulgaria

The fourth meeting of the countries in the project was in our

beautiful Bulgaria, where we showed our friends how amazing the

Bulgarian history and art are. Besides going sightseeing we had time to

make friends and have fun. The friendships we made are unforgettable

and we still keep in touch.

We are looking forward to reuniting with our friends in France in spring.

We are grateful to all the teachers who made this happen!

Students’ Workshop

“We speak different languages”

As we are half-way through our last year in school,

everybody in my class is thinking where and how they

would continue their further education. What university

should they choose, what discipline should they learn in

order to start doing their dream job afterwards. Everybody

is under enormous pressure and most of our conversations

in school are concentrated on exams, universities and so

on.

A few days ago, I was talking to one of my classmates

on the same old topic “What do we want to study? “. He

insisted that he wanted to study mathematics and science

in the Technical University in Sofia even though he

doesn`t particularly love these two disciplines. He

explained to me that right now, in our country the

engineer’s job is the best-paid and that is why he wanted

to become one. As I have known him for years I knew that

he loved history and English and he wouldn`t enjoy at all

working as an engineer, no matter how big his salary is. I

don`t understand his motives at all. I would by all means

prefer to do something that I love instead of something

that brings me a lot of money. He on the contrary didn`t

think so. We argued and argued for hours but he had his

opinion and I had mine and neither of us wanted to give

up. At that moment I thought “We speak different

languages” and no matter how long we discussed the

subject we would never be of the same opinion about it.

Trayana Ivanova 12a

Describe a personal experience which made you think

“We speak different languages”

There are so many different languages around the

world, so many nationalities and cultures. However, I

don’t think that I am the only one that sometimes feels

misunderstood and not misunderstood by a stranger that

doesn’t speak my native language but by someone that is

close to me. I can think of a lot of trivial examples but

here is the most memorable one.

Some time ago I had a friend. We used to spend a lot

of time together. Although we were very different we

became close friends. It was after some time that I started

noticing some of her flaws. At first I thought: “Well,

nobody is perfect.” So I pretended not to care.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t pretend forever. So I tried to

explain everything to her. I told her that sometimes it

seemed like she used the people close to her. When she

needed something from someone that someone was her

dear friend. And then after she got what she needed she

pretended not to know who that person was anymore.

Sometimes I felt as if she used me, too. Her answer was

something along the lines of: “And what’s so wrong with

that? If those people are so stupid and naïve, why not?” I

told her that people are not like the objects around her, that

they have feelings and that she should respect them. My so

called “friend” just looked at me blankly for a few seconds

and said: “I don’t get it. What you just said makes no

sense to me at all. I don’t want to see you anymore.”

After that she forgot about our friendship and found

new “friends” to use. I felt hurt but I was a lot more

puzzled. How could she not understand me? It was like

she spoke a different language. Maybe she should create a

new language for people like her who don’t know what the

word “friendship” means.

Liliya Marinova 12a

TO LOVE IS TO RECEIVE A GLIMPSE OF

HEAVEN

In dictionaries love is described as affection, liking or a

desire towards someone, but it is more than that. It is a

special gift, so powerful, that it makes you forget all the

difficulties you have.

Some people say it’s more giving than receiving, but

that means we don’t actually value what we receive. To be

happy we have to see the small things and if today the

person you love made you smile then you received the joy

of smiling.

To love or be loved is the most amazing thing which

can happen to you in life. It is not always sunny and

sometimes there are so many clouds that you think you

will never see the sun again, but in the next moment you

feel the warmth of “the other” and you know that soon the

sun will be shining again and that’s the magic of love.

And still there is another love which is so special that it

happens only once. The big true love is unique and it can

open your eyes for things you have never felt or seen

before. It brings you new horizons and if you are lucky

enough you can even have a glimpse of Heaven.

To love is an incredible gift we are given and if we try

and make sure we don’t take it for granted, even for a day,

we will really receive that “glimpse of Heaven”.

Rositsa Georgieva 12a

TRANSLATORS’ CORNER Born to win.

Each human being is born as something new, something that never existed before.

Each is born with the capacity to win at life. Each person has a unique way of seeing, hearing, touching,

tasting, and thinking. Each has his or her own unique potentials – capabilities and

limitations. Each can be a significant, thinking, aware and creative being –

productive person, a winner. The words “winner” and “loser” have many meanings. When we refer to a person as a winner, we do not mean one

who makes someone else lose. To us, a winner is one who responds automatically by being credible, trustworthy, responsive, and genuine, both as individual and as a member of a society.

Winners do not dedicate their lives to a concept of what they imagine they should be; rather they are themselves and as such do not use their energy putting on a performance, maintaining pretence and manipulating others.

They are aware that there is a difference between being loving

and acting loving, between being stupid and acting stupid, between being knowledgeable and acting knowledgeable.

Winners are not afraid to do their own thinking and to use

their own knowledge. They can separate facts from opinions and don’t pretend to

have all the answers. They listen to the others evaluate what they say, but come to

their own conclusions. Although winners can admire and respect other people, they

are not totally defined, demolished, bound or аwed by them. Winners do not play “helpless”, nor do they play the blaming

game. Instead, they assume responsibility for their own lives. They don’t give others a false authority over them. Winners are their own bosses and know it. A winner’s timing is

right. Winners respond appropriately to the situation. Their responses are related to the message sent and preserve

the significance, worth, well-being, and dignity of the people involved.

Winners know that for everything there is a season and for every acting a time.

Although winners can freely enjoy themselves, they can also postpone enjoyment, can discipline themselves in the present to increase their enjoyment in the future.

Winners are not afraid to go after what they want, but they do

so in proper ways. Winners do not get their security by controlling others. They do not set themselves up to lose. A winner cares about the world and its peoples. A winner is not isolated from the general problem of society,

but is concerned, compassionate, and committed to improving the quality of life.

Even, in the face of national and international adversity a winners’ self-image is not one of a powerless individual.

A winner works to make the world a better place.

Роден да печели. Всяко човешко същество е родено като нещо ново, нещо,

което не е съществувало никога преди. Всеки е роден със способността да победи в живота. Всеки човек има уникален начин да вижда, чува, докосва,

вкусва и мисли. Всеки има негови или нейни уникални възможности –

талант и ограничения. Всеки може да бъде значим, мислещ, съзнателен и

градивен човек – съзидателен човек, победител. Думите „победител” и „неудачник” имат много значения. Когато говорим за човек като за победител ние нямаме

предвид, че той кара някой друг да загуби. За нас, победител е този, който реагира естествено, на него може да се вярва, можем да му се доверим, той е отговорен и искрен и като личност и като част от обществото.

Победителите не посвещават живота си на идеята че са това, каквото те си представят че са; по-скоро те са себе си и като такива не използват енергията си за да правят представления, да поддържат преструвки и да манипулират другите.

Те осъзнават, че има разлика между това да си любещ и да се правиш на любещ, между това да си глупав и да се преструваш, между това да имаш знания и да се преструваш, че ги имаш.

Победителите не се страхуват да имат свое собствено мислене и да използват собствените си знания.

Те могат да разделят фактите от мненията и не претендират, че знаят всички отговори.

Те слушат другите, оценяват, какво казват, но си правят собствени заключения.

Въпреки че победителите могат да се възхищават и да уважават други хора, не позволяват да ги дефинират, ограничават, или да им вдъхват страхопочитание.

Победителите не се правят на „безпомощни”, нито пък играят на прехвърляне на вината.

Вместо това те поемат отговорност за собствения си живот. Те не дават на останалите фалшива власт над себе си. Победителите са свои собствени началници и знаят това.

Те правилно преценяват времето си. Победителите се отзовават на време за всяка ситуация. Техните отговори са свързани с изпратеното послание и

запазват важността, стойността, благосъстоянието и достойнството на хората, с които общуват.

Победителите знаят, че за всичко си има време.

Въпреки че победителите могат свободно да се забавляват, те могат също да отложат забавлението, те могат да се дисциплинират в настоящето, за да увеличат забавлението си за в бъдеще.

Победителите, не се страхуват да преследват това, което искат, но го правят по подходящ начин.

Победителите не си осигуряват увереност чрез контролиране на другите.

Те не са настроени за загубата. Победителят се интересува за света и народите в него. Победителя не е изолиран от главния проблем на

обществото, а е загрижен, съчувстващ и отдаден за подобряването качеството на живота.

Дори в лицето на националното и международното нещастие представата на победителя за себе си не е като за безсилен индивидуалист.

Победителят работи за да направи света едно по-добро място.

Fun Page

Information about the CAE exam

Everybody knows about the Cambridge certificates, but only a few of us know what it is to sit an exam like this one, how tense it can be, and what is the feeling to own this so desired paper is. In this first edition for the new school year, TEEN SPIRIT interviewed Trayana and Liliya from 12a who decided to share with us their feelings during their preparation and the day of the exam. But before the interview, we will give you some more information about FCE and CAE. FCE CAE and CPE are three of the examinations available from University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations in England. Its possession proves one's adequacy in the English language, and its successful completion means that one is able to interact socially efficiently

Every test is composed of 5 different parts: READING, WRITING, USE OF ENGLISH, LISTENING and SPEAKING. Every part is structured so as to test your overall command of English - your grammar skills, your vocabulary and how you can both understand and speak English. You have to have basic knowledge of English but if you haven't practiced enough you will find yourselves in big trouble. You will read more about the exam from Trayana and Liliy

1. Was the exam hard for you? 2. Do you think you were well prepared, when you sat

the exam? 3. Which part was the hardest for you? 4. What advice can you give to those who think about

sitting the exam this year?

Trayana 1. I can`t say it was easy, but when you have studied

hard the whole year and have done plenty of exercise things don`t seem so difficult and confusing.

2. For the exam maybe but that doesn`t mean that I know the language perfectly. People should always try to improve and to practice their language skills.

3. The readings were the most puzzling part for me because some of the questions were very confusing or the answers of the multiple choice questions were very similar.

4. The only advice I can give them is to try and pass the test because in the future it will be useful to have a certificate in English. Still the best advice they can get on preparation and exercise is from their English teachers. Good luck to everyone!

Liliya

1. The exam was not as

difficult as I expected but I

was still very nervous.

2. I was very insecure

and I thought that I wasn’t

prepared very well

because I hadn’t taken any

private lessons. I counted

on the things I learned in

my English classes.

3. The most difficult

part for the exam for me

was the speaking.

4. I would advise them to pay as much attention

in class as possible and if they need help they can

always ask Ms Encheva because she really helped me

and Trayana with the speaking.

The newspaper was made by:

Mariq Stoqnova Kameliq Malakova Stanimir Grozev Lachezar Serdarski

Petq Georgieva Elena Zaharieva Viktoriq Radanova Viktoriq Mateva

Alexandra Sergeeva