GETTING AROUND (by unusual means of transport)!

How do you get around?

My students know that come rain or shine you will, my favourite means of transportation is my bike. I do take my car occasionally. The other day I was listening to a compilation CD and came across the song Commute  by Theatre of Tragedy and got to thinking that means of transport would be a good thing to explore!

The way you get from A to B on a daily basis will obviously depend on which neck of the woods you live in. You also need to think about how you travel further afield perhaps on a business trip or a day excursion or even a weekend break. If you go abroad you may want to travel by air or sea and if you are travelling cross country you'll most likely go on land.

There are many means of transport and most you probably already know but what about some more unusual types? Click on the key words to explore the ingenious world of transport! In a town you might see someone on a tandem - a bicycle made for two, or if you travel to the Far East you might go for a ride in a rickshaw. In big cities like London, you can often see business men on scooters or even skate boards or if you want something a little more futuristic how about a Segway. In the air you might want to travel by hot air balloons or airships also known as dirigibles. The first aeroplanes were called biplanes as they had two wings. Or how about seaplanes that land and take off from water? Another vehicle that can be used on water or land is a hovercraft. There are also DUCWs (pronounced 'duck'), you can take a tour of London on one before sailing up the Thames.

 

I hope you have enjoyed the brief glimpse at means of transport. If you want more on transport check out these films:

 

FILMS

The Polar Express

Murder on the Orient Express

The Wild West

The Hunt for Red October

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

Titanic

Herbie

Summer Holiday

Air Force One

The Aviator

Top Gun

Pirates of the Caribbean

The Perfect Storm

Mutiny on the Bounty

Speed

The Runaway Bus

Thelma and Louise

Rebel Without a Cause

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Christine

Vacation

Cars

Aeroplanes

Mission: Impossible

Yellow Submarine

The Hindenburg

Up (if a flying House counts as Transport!)

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets (flying car!)

Black Beauty

 





 

Books vs Movies! Reading Awareness Month.

Why is it that many students have this READING=STUDYING=BORING equation in their heads? This month is National Reading Awareness Month so I'm challenging you to READ something! Anything! A classic, a sci-fi novel, a biography, a comic book, a book of poems, the newspaper in the doctors surgery! ANYTHING! If you don't know where to begin try exploring these!

Reading is a form of ESCAPE or a way to DISCOVER the world around you and certainly a way to let your IMAGINATION RUN WILD! When I was a kid, I read anything and everything I could lay my hands on. If you don't read you are missing out! How many times have you wished you knew what someone was thinking? Books are magic because when you start to read you are looking inside the author's/narrator's head!

Now I know that there are those of you who say "Well why should I read the book when I can watch the film?" The Guardian recently published a list of the best book-to-film-adaptations.  I'm sure you'll be able to add another ten favourites to this list but if you ask me books win hands down every time! Below are a few reasons why.

For Reading:

• You get inside the writer's/narrator's head. (Yes, I already said that!)
• You understand the characters' emotions because everything is explained in detail.
• You know what motivates the hero or the villain as there is background information and sub plot which movies often miss out on. (Read Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist and compare it with the American version of the movie and half the book is missing!)   
• You visualise the characters and places within (and beyond) your own experiences, you are not forced to 'see' a particular place or person but 'guided' by the author. (There was upset over The Hunger Games in relation to character changes in the movie adaptation.)

For Movies:

• There is no need to think, movies are passive entertainment. Perfect for couch potatoes!
• There is no need to use your imagination, everything is done for you. After all, dreaming is such a bore! 
• There are special effects and music to enrich the story. Like words have no power, right?
• It's quicker to watch a movie. (So what? No one is going to criticise you for wasting time if you are reading for hours!)

So what are you waiting for? Go read a book! Not convinced? How about some worst book-to-movie adaptations!

 

THE PRICE OF GRINGLISH?

This is a post for those proficiency students who really love English and are interested in the origin of words as well as those who like the discussing finance and politics! I cannot say that it hasn't been inspired by all those politicians who like to show off their English and those who wish they could!

Disclaimer: May I emphasise that I intend no political bias with this, I merely wish to highlight a great (linguistic) speech and instigate lively debate on current affairs!

Ever heard of Xenophon Zolotas? He was director of the Bank of Greece as well as interim non-party Prime Minister for a short period. He was a proud Greek and wanted to emphasise the influence his language has had on English and so in two speeches, one in 1957 (which I deal with here) and the other in 1959, both (if I am not mistaken) as closing speeches to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, he spoke using using predominantly words of Greek origin. I have included discussion points to give you food for thought!

Whether you are Greek or English you may find this a little hard to decipher so click the link after the text for 'translation' into more familiar English/Greek.

I always wished to address this Assembly in Greek, but realized that it would have been indeed "Greek" to all present in this room. I found out, however, that I could make my address in Greek which would still be English to everybody. With your permission, Mr. Chairman, l shall do it now, using with the exception of articles and prepositions, only Greek words.
Kyrie, I eulogize the archons of the Panethnic Numismatic Thesaurus and the Ecumenical Trapeza for the orthodoxy of their axioms, methods and policies, although there is an episode of cacophony of the Trapeza with Hellas. With enthusiasm we dialogue and synagonize at the synods of our didymous organizations in which polymorphous economic ideas and dogmas are analyzed and synthesized. Our critical problems such as the numismatic plethora generate some agony and melancholy. This phenomenon is characteristic of our epoch. But, to my thesis, we have the dynamism to program therapeutic practices as a prophylaxis from chaos and catastrophe. In parallel, a Panethnic unhypocritical economic synergy and harmonization in a democratic climate is basic. I apologize for my eccentric monologue. I emphasize my euharistia to you, Kyrie to the eugenic and generous American Ethnos and to the organizers and protagonists of his Amphictyony and the gastronomic symposia.

English translation here, Greek translation here

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE:

"But, to my thesis, we have the dynamism to program therapeutic practices as a prophylaxis from chaos and catastrophe. In parallel, a Panethnic unhypocritical economic synergy and harmonisation in a democratic climate is basic."
(But to get to the point, we have methods that can prevent catastrophe. Also, sincere international economic cooperation is necessary.)

This particular sentence caught my attention almost immediately as it is indicative of how little times have changed though indeed time has passed.

(It seems to me that Zolotas would have been in favour of the European Economic and Monetary Union as he assisted Greek accession into the European Union).

To combine this with the present day political and financial climate here are some things to discuss:

1. Do you think monetary unity is a viable solution?
2. To what extent do you think the European Economic and Monetary Union is working?
3. Do you think that the basic principles Zolotas laid down (unhypocritical and democratic) are in place? Explain why/why not.
4. Does monetary union encourage or discourage these two principles within a Society? Explain why/why not.
5. What are the benefits and drawbacks of monetary union for a)large and b)small member states?
6. Why do you think Britain and Denmark chose not to join the Eurozone but be part of the EU?
7. Does a single currency really encourage unity between (vastly) different nations? Why/why not?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ON THE LANGUAGE SIDE:

1. Zolotas emphasised how much Greek has influenced the English language but has Greek and Greece had any other influences on foreign culture? Consider other areas of life, not only language.
2. What other languages have influenced English? Or your own language? What effect has this had?
3. How has English affected your native language?
4. Are there any words which are universal - understood without translation? What are they? 
5. If there were a common language would we all speak it the same way?
6. Would there be fewer misunderstandings if we all had the same language because and meanings would not be lost in translation?
7. Have you heard of Esperanto?
8. What do you think of it?

MOONRAKING

I am a West Country girl and proud of it!I was born in Somerset and grew up in Wiltshire, both predominantly rural areas. Now as you are aware, because this misunderstanding holds true world-wide, country folk are supposed to be a little bit behind city dwellers in all things. This month's post brings you a legend from Wiltshire, courtesy of www.swindonweb.com which proves this is not always the case! (You will also find the article here as a PDF for class use, which includes the poem mentioned in the text. I haven't posted it here as it is long and written in a dialect that will be hard for most to understand!)

 

The Legend of the Moonrakers

The story behind the Wiltshire Myth...

The legend of the Wiltshire moonrakers is well known, but while the outline of the story is well documented, filling in the details largely depends on which book you read. The story is simple, though, and its message clear.

A pair of Wiltshiremen, engaged in smuggling brandy, hide a barrel of the contraband from the excisemen in a nearby pond and when they return at some later time, in the dark, they are caught in the act of raking the barrel back to land.

They immediately claim that they are trying to rake cheese - the reflection of the moon - from the pond and the excisemen, amused by the apparently simple-minded rustics, leave them to it.

The moral of the story is that, despite their earthy accents, Wiltshire folk are not as slow-witted as some would believe and, to this day, people born in the county are proud to call themselves moonrakers.

Just when the incident took place is far from clear, particularly as smuggling is by no means restricted to any one period in history, but at least one historian has claimed it originated in the 18th century.

The site of the pond is a matter of fiercer conjecture, with any one of the many Wiltshire towns and villages which boast a pond laying claim to be the home of the original moonrakers at one time or another.

Bishop's Cannings, which has produced a number of tall stories over the years, is named in one book, Ralph Whitlock's 'Wiltshire Folklore and Legends'. He claims the two original moonrakers were from this village, which is a stone's throw from Devizes and its suitable pond. Local people certainly seem to favour Devizes as the site of the pond.

Perhaps there are some clues in the verses written by Edward Slow, which are reproduced below. Published in 1894, this is at least closer in time than the modern versions of the story, though that, too, has surely been coloured by time.

At the end of the day, there isn't even any evidence that the story is based on fact. Most fables are fiction.

Whatever details the original story had have been twisted and lost as the moonrakers' legend has been handed down from generation to generation.

And that's exactly as it always is with all the best legends.

Text/artwork courtesy of www.swindonweb.com

VOCABULARY:
Be engaged in = to be involved in/do
Smuggling = carrying illegal things from one place to another
Contraband = things smuggled
Excisemen = police in charge of preventing smuggling/making sure dues or taxes are paid
Be caught in the act = to be found doing something you should not be
Simple-minded = not clever, uneducated
Rustics = country people
Earthy accents = country accents (specifically of people who work the land)
Slow-witted = stupid
Be a matter of fierce conjecture = debatable, controversial
Be a stone’s throw from = be close to
Be coloured by time = be changed by time
Hand down = pass on

QUESTIONS:
Were the Moonrakers really as ‘slow-witted’ as they appeared to be?
Why do you think Wiltshire people ‘are proud to call themselves moonrakers’?
Why do you think no one really knows the exact location of the pond in the legend?
Why are country folk generally considered to be ‘slow-witted’?
Are there similar legends from your area that explain why people have a particular name or reputation?
Wiltshire is famous for dairy products such as cheese as well as those produced from pork, such as ham, sausages and bacon. What is your area famous for?
Can you think of any other legends or myths that are passed on from generation to generation within your family, country or culture?

DO YOU LIKE CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME?

"Oh, yes you do!"
"Oh, no I don't!"

There are so many things that I love about Christmas but one that I really miss, being away from home, is an English Christmas Pantomime. That anticipatory hush when the lights went down before the curtain went up. The colours and costumes that amazed me as a child are as vivid now as then, With crazy special effects and poor Buttons who never got the girl. There is nothing quite like a "Panto" (short for Pantomime) for laughs with all the family. Where else but Britain would family entertainment include cross-dressing, custard pie fights, magic, songs and innuendo? Popular TV stars appear in shows all over the country during Christmas and the New Year. So to learn about what "Panto" is, watch one or both of these videos (see the links below), print up the worksheets I've made to accompany them and have fun! 


Panto poster for Cinderella.

  


1. This is a 3 minute video for a quick listening comprehension exercise. (Suitable for B1 and up.)

What is "English Pantomime"?

  

Worksheet


2. This is a 10 minute piece showing examples of Pantomime characteristics.(The exercises are more suitable for B2+ and up.)

Characteristics of English Pantomime


Worksheet

"It's behind you!"

A pantomime horse.

Some Horsey Idioms
"Stop horsing around!" Don't be silly!
"A dark horse" Someone/thing unknown or hiding something.
"Only fools and horses (work)..." Meaning: Only foolish people work & do not earn a living in an easy (usually Criminal) way.
"Hold your horses!" Slow down!
"Eat like a horse" Eat a lot.
"Get off your high horse." Stop thinking your are right all the time.


Season's Greetings to you all!

Miss!

A Teacherly Ramble Part 3 - Reading

READING, you either love it or hate it! That's my experience with students but that's because of the way they view this skill. For those of you who love them, keep reading you may find something new to do. For those of you who hate it, read on for just a little. Persevere please and I will try to engage you!

If this skill is given a purpose, other than 'Do your home work!' then it becomes a means to an end not just a chore. So how can you go about this?

 

Get in the right frame of mind.

I love reading!!!!

No exaggeration but why??

Infinite facts, and knowledge.
Laze about on rainy days with a good book!
On Line there are free books and stories at the touch of a button!
Vocabulary builder. Everyone (even me!) improves their vocabulary by reading.
Escapism; books take you out of this world!
Romance, sci-fi, horror, humour, biography - there is something for everyone!
Eating; if you can't read a recipe you can't make yummy foods so well!
Adventure, danger, excitement, suspense - in fact, every life experience.
Do it anywhere!(I have a reading app on my phone & even read in the bank queue!)
Instant access - no waiting around.
New horizons. I've travelled around the world and beyond in a book!!
Good for you and your rep. No parent* or teacher will tell you off for reading a book!

*Matilda's dad doesn't
think much of reading!

Follow these links for some great fiction suitable for tastes!
Daily Science Fiction
Every Day Fiction
Good Reads (for reviews of books)
Smashwords (Check the title you choose is free!)
Worthy of Publishing
Gutenburg's Children's Bookshelf

If you want something more akin to classroom reading try these!
Reading quizzes and games on Line
The British Council Stories and Poems


There are hundreds of other cyber libraries out there. If you have a favourite let me know!

I'll leave you with some words from one of my favourite authors, Roald Dahl,
“I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn't be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage.”  
Happy reading!

Miss!





 

SHEDDING LIGHT ON PUMPKIN CARVING!

Halloween is upon us once more and as you know it's one of my favourite times of year. As an EFL Teacher it is part of my job to teach you about the customs and traditions of English speaking countries and as I dealt with the the history of Halloween last year, this time round I thought I'd do something a little more practical. A quick how-to on pumpkin carving. You don't have to celebrate Halloween to have fun doing this and if you are careful you can save the pumpkin pulp and bake pies, soups or dry the seeds for a great snack - recipes links included! (Purple words explained below.)

WARNING: Sharp knives must be used so be very careful and get an adult to help you if necessary!

1. You can use any kind of pumpkin, marrow or courgette to create a Jack o' lantern. Wash the outside as you want your lantern to glow!

2. Using a sharp knife, cut off the stalk section remembering to leave enough of the flesh around it to use as a lid. If you are using a long thin vegetable such as a marrow or courgette, you can slice it about one third from the top.

3. Using a soup spoon or a table spoon hollow out the vegetable so you are left with about half a centimetre of skin/flesh left. If you you are using a marrow or courgette don't forget to do the lid as well! This is the longest, hardest and messiest part so be patient and persevere!

 

 4. Now you can carve your design. If you need guidelines draw it with a permanent marker on the outside first. There are two ways to cut; either cut pieces away to make holes so the flame is visible or cut way just the outer skin and leave a little flesh so the flame glows through the opaque flesh.  Faces are traditional but I have seen beautiful scenes, abstract designs and even pictures copied from books!

5. Tea lights are the best for lighting your pumpkin as they have a foil base and none of the wax spills.

REMEMBER: Candles are dangerous and must be kept away from flammable objects such as curtains and furnishings. You should never leave your Jack o' lantern unattended whilst lit.

RECIPES
American Pumpkin Pie
Greek Pumpkin Pie
Smashing Pumpkin Soup
Roasted Pumpkin seeds

For lots of other things Halloween I found a great site last night called Halloween Forevermore, check it out! It has film reviews, stories and articles about Halloween 365 days a year!

VOCABULARY
shed light on - to make something easy to see/understand
pulp - soft string inner part of a pumpkin
marrow/courgette - vegetables of the same family as pumpkins
glow - shine in the dark
flesh - soft part of the pumkin that can be eaten
slice - cut
hollow out - take the insides out of something so that it is empty inside
skin - the hard outer part of the pumpkin
persevere - keep trying
opaque - allowing light but niotimages to pass through
abstract - with no clear design
wax - what candles are made of
flammable - easily catch fire
unattented - alone

Happy Halloween!

Miss!