Rekaxing lockdown measures in the UK

Face masks no longer required on classrooms

When you read the article, you understand there is a debate about that.

 

The absent father

Great audio for those who care to listen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000qx12

The poet Anthony Joseph has been writing a new collection that addresses a key relationship in his life. 

 His father, Albert was many things - a sharp dresser, an orator, a builder but he was only an intermittent figure in Anthony's childhood. And it is this absence which made him powerfully present in Joseph's imagination. 

Anthony reveals some of his writing process and his form of 'calypso sonnet', a politically invested line length that, he says, "enforces a melodic rhythm which reminds me of my father" and favours a decidedly Afro-Caribbean approach. 

In this programme, Anthony explores ideas around fatherhood, masculinity, absence and loss, as he talks to other artists whose art has become a space for interrogating the memory of their father. 

We hear from fellow poet Raymond Antrobus, the singer Gregory Porter and the Trinidadian film-maker Mariel Brown.

Sustainability in the Fashion Industry: Turning sea bed waste into clothing

The Crush — Short Film 15 '

How do ocean currents work? -

NOMADLAND | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures

Kate Tempest - People's Faces (Streatham Version)

The Evolution of Space Suits (1935-2020)

More Jokes!

The Silent Child —

The Mauritanian | Official Trailer

References

 About the previous post: 

This window on zoom is a rewriting of Pink Floyd's world-famous song:

"Another Brick in the wall." whose lyrics were short too. 

The video is like a movie. It lasts 6 minutes. You'll easily find it!

You had heard of Pink Floyd, hadn't you?

Another Window on Zoom

Maths alternatives

Don't worry about your accent. #AccentsAreGreat

Still a few hours in America for Women's day.

2’09’’

Women garment workers worlwide deserve to earn a living wage and to work in safe conditions.

Behaviour under social forces

Amanda Gorman delivers at Joe Biden's inauguration

Watch Amanda Gorman deliver her poem.

Then, you can watch  Anderson Cooper, a well-known American TV journalist with Amanda Gorman.

https://twitter.com/AC360/status/1352117969271328768

Don't you like the sound of  it too? (a 10/10 for any of my pupils who will tell me what she refers to.

#keeptrying) I do.

Answers to a "thank you"

Begin at 1'55'

Follow-up after Radium Girls trailer

This video is only 3 mn long and that one 10mn.

 More on the subject

Human zoos : a legacy

Discrimination movies. Eye-opening cinema.

1) Green Book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkZxoko_HC0

2) Loving https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRXuCY7tRgk

Discrimination

 Movies teach you a lot about many things. 

Learn about discrimination in the South with those two trailers.

 1) Green Book

 2) Loving 

("for appropriate audiences" says the Motion Picture Association of America)

... very appropriate in my opinion.

 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QkZxoko_HC0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zRXuCY7tRgk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

Radium Girls Trailer #1 (2020) | Movieclips Indie

History - Not for easily impressed people

In April 2018, yes, it takes time for the truth to come out. The "museification" of one of the darkest hours of that huge country, the USA. (14 times France, remember.)

So here is the official site of the Legacy Museum:  From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration.

museumandmemorial

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

The site below has been in the column at the WOW lable between the favourite SCIENTIFIC websites label and the literaure label. Do visit the WOW label list! And do comment if you'd like one site listed here. Thanks in advance.                                                                                                                                 ... so many ...gems on the web... even if truth hurts sometime.                                                https://withoutsanctuary.org/index.html

..........§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

 Follow-up articles 

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/aug/15/400-years-since-slavery-timelin

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/28/lynching-memorial-backlash-montgomery-alabama

 

Payzee Mahmod | TEDxLondonWomen - A true story.

Over my thirty four years of teaching, pupils and students have often told me that they like true stories.

Here is a gut-wrenching one. This TEDxLondonWomen talk lasts 18mn.

It's worth the while. Those of my pupils who will tell me at what time she says in this 18'45'' vid :
 

" Childhood, up to 18 should be a time to learn, to grow and to pursue your dreams.", 

So those pupils who will tell me when she says that in the video ;-) will get a good grade... 

They can even ask, in the comment section of this post, some indication... I do want you all to succeed in learning English as your second language, or third or fourth. The larger the number of languages we speak, the better.

In French for once!

In French but really a thrill especially the answer to the last question at 2:03:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLFUnCUyPko

Students Built World's Fastest Electric Monowheel

Love the Rhino! ... I mean the RYNO. Kuddos to Chris Hoffmann.

http://rynomotors.com/chris-hoffmann-overview/

http://rynomotors.com/

Sir Ken Robinson 1950-2020

Sir Ken Robinson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU4Q17t4muY

Life is short but wisdom, values remain.

Sir Ken Robinson died Last August from an aggressive cancer, not from Covid, eventhough this is 2020.

I hope you'll listen to it all. 

"People love to learn he says."

What he says before and after that is really something. 

"There is an opportunity, it takes bravery and imagination and we have plenty of that in store."

You've heard of the boiling frog syndrom. Haven't you?

 

MATHEMATICS in spoken English

Another gem from the web.

https://neal.fun/deep-sea/
For all those who love the sea, scroll down and visit.
Show that to the kids you know. You'll love it and they'll love it.
All the best to you all. Have a great vacation all, see you in September I hope.
Thank you Sacha for your friendly words.
Love to you all.

English Grammar Mini Level Check

What's your English grammar level?

TEST ! What level have you reached according to the CECR ? A1 A2 (normally you got that in 3ème

https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/5ebbc4cccbde7d0014403856

Listen and read

You have to know about Julian Assange and Wikileaks before you leave high school.
This is a fair summary of reality about both.

The French government and getting out of lockdown.

https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19

Some reading about anger

https://bahaiteachings.org/different-types-of-anger-is-your-anger-healthy-or-unhealthy/


“If someone infringes on your rights, you need to tell them. Directly tell people what you’re mad about, and what you need.”

A French mensch

A mensch is a person of integrity and honor in North American English.

Let's translate this speech, in as many languages as possible,
so that every citizen of the Earth listens to this famous French actor, "specialized in nothing, interested in everything".

Listen to the propositions of Vincent Lindon French citizen. particularly the "Jean Valjean tax".
*wiki/Jean_Valjean
#French

Lockdown Productivity: Spaceship You

COVID-19: Talking about coronavirus in English – vocabulary & expressions

Thanks Rebecca for your great youtube website!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJtBaL1PPmTc1ff0nsihR0g

KINDNESS

In the comments below, say which quote you prefer.
At least, this "No comments" will disappear in this post...
Keeping my fingers crossed! And feeling sorry for the kids who are absolutely
unable to work autonomously. To give you an idea, 6 kids in my "secondes" have sent me some homework, 9 in the "première", 5 in Terminale, 1 in BTS1 and none, zero, nought in BTS2.


And M. J.M.Blanquer declared lockdown a mark-free zone. Couldn't believe it as I said to one of you. Anyway,
Choose your favourite quote and explain why in the comments. Thank you!!!!

"Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness.
Every act creates a ripple with no logical end."— Scott Adams

"Kindness is my number one attribute in a human being.
I'll put it before any of the things like courage or bravery or generosity or anything else."— Roald Dahl 

"Kindness is love in action."  — Henry Drummond

"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, 

— Amelia Earhart

 

"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?" — George Eliot

"Kindness is the shadow of God in man." — Kahlil Gibran

"When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people."— Abraham Joshua Heschel 

 

"It is a little embarrassing that, after forty-five years of research and study, the best advice I can give to people is to be a little kinder to each other."

         — Aldous Huxley

"Surely there is no road or effort so steep but a loving deed may soften its harshness."— Helen Keller

"If you stop to be kind, you must swerve often from your path."                           — Mary Webb

 ......................................................

I'd say my favourite quote is Amelia Earheart. I like the rhizomatic vibe to it. The exponential power of kindness. 

Oral comprehension

I advise you to do as much oral comprehension as you can.
Go to the label on the right and choose one of the documents, any document, in the links given.
Listen to it several times. Note the link and send me a report. Thank you.
And listen to that video:

Lockdown

[For ALL MY CLASSES (2C, 2E, 1B, TS2, BTS BAT1, BTS BAT2)
Send me
1. The script of the first 24 seconds ('') of this video. 
2. Write an English summary of what is explained here.

Thanks to put, in the object of your mail 1st your class and 2nd, your surname.
ex: 1B- Arniaud
Send this mail to me here: arago2311@gmail.com]

Take good care all.

Irish humour

My sister lives in Ireland. Her husband is not confined yet. (today is March 21st)

Schools have been closed for some time in Ireland  but will be closed from now on in the UK.

Anyway, here is what she just sent me. She was sure I would crack out laughing. 

Actually, it made me cry with laughter. Hope you will laugh too.

Take care kids and comment and work a little, please. Byeee

EMPLOYEE NOTICE

Due to the current financial situation caused by the Corona Virus and slowdown in the economy, the Government has decided to implement a scheme to put workers of 50 years of age and above on early, mandatory retirement, thus creating jobs and reducing unemployment.

This scheme will be known as RAPE (Retire Aged People Early).

Persons selected to be RAPED can apply to the Government to be considered for the SHAFT program (Special Help After Forced Termination).

Persons who have been RAPED and SHAFTED will be reviewed under the SCREW program (System Covering Retired-Early Workers).

A person may be RAPED once, SHAFTED twice and SCREWED as many times as the Government deems appropriate.

Persons who have been RAPED could get AIDS (Additional Income for Dependents & Spouse) or HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance).

Obviously persons who have AIDS or HERPES will not be SHAFTED or SCREWED any further by the Government.

Persons who are not RAPED and are staying on will receive as much SHIT (Special High Intensity Training) as possible. The Government has always prided themselves on the amount of SHIT they give our citizens.

Should you feel that you do not receive enough SHIT, please bring this to the attention of your TD, who has been trained to give you all the SHIT you can handle.

Sincerely,

The Committee for Economic Value of Individual Lives (E.V.I.L.)

PS - Due to Corona Virus, recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions, The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.

Exponential

A 2020 March 10th pandemic-related article with figures, graphs and a vivid analysis.
https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca

Carpe Diem ...ça déprime.

Ain't anagrams something!

For the pupils I have: Dear students, 
Our French president has declared that from Monday onwards, schools (of all types) would be closed. We don't know for how long.
I will be in Arago tomorrow and hope to see you there. Keep me posted at the address given here. Tell me you're well and work your English of course! Oral comprehension! #CrucialTimes #responsibility #Smiles #Care

Twitter verified it

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/28/tech/fake-twitter-candidate-2020/index.html
Watch the video embedded in the above link .
"If I could do this as a High schooler, 
imagine what a highly trained team of people doing this could do."

Some high schooler, high school student, great short interview, don't you think?

I remember suffering from the rare feed back from my students.
#throwback: Fanny, all the best to you.

Gotta (!) add I love twitter but my account is verified only by me.

2040

Another English teacher on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/user/LesTutosdeHuito

For those who are willing to improve their English.
Steven Huitorel 's doing a great job on his YT channel, don't  you think?

2012...Sharing Information: A Day in Your Life

Jay Williams after Kobe Bryant's death

84 flops

The 84 biggest flops, fails, and dead dreams of the decade in tech

https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/20/21029499/decade-fails-flops-tech-science-culture-apple-google-data-kickstarter-2010-2019

Prepare an oral on one of those if you will! Could be fun.

selective attention test

Abolish War - Oldies but goodies

Howard Zinn in May 2006 in Los Angeles.
Born on August 24, 1922 Brooklyn– Died on January 27, 2010


Favourite part is around 7'32' "Governments in history have never been dependable in taking care of the needs of people. After all, governments are not set up for that purpose. Governments are set up to serve certain interests and not the interest of the people."
"Occasionally it can get friendly when there's a great people movement that compels it to be friendly.
So it's really up to us, it is up to the people of the world to abolish war."


In one of his last interviews, Zinn stated that he would like to be remembered "for introducing a different way of thinking about the world, about war, about human rights, about equality," and for getting more people to realize that the power which rests so far in the hands of people with wealth and guns, that the power ultimately rests in people themselves and that they can use it. At certain points in history, they have used it. Black people in the South used it. People in the women's movement used it. People in the anti-war movement used it. People in other countries who have overthrown tyrannies have used it."


https://dai.ly/x2f2xux

United Kingdom: general election

Encyclopedia Britannica tells you what's happening on the 12th of December 2019.
Watch this short and very well crafted video. How I admire the draughtsman
On the eve of this general election, I know what I'd vote. But many people hesitate.
And many won't vote at all. Wait and see...


 And watch the video here:
https://www.britannica.com/video/187571/elections-United-Kingdom

Multicultural London English (MLE) or Jafaican

Brexit or not Brexit

Brexit, that is the question.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50079385

There will be another vote on Saturday.

Watch the video of Boris Johnson, U.K.'s current Prime Minister who came after Theresa May who  followed David Cameron who arrived after Gordon Brown following Tony Blair, a Labour ... PM after John Major, political son of the previous PM: Margaret Thatcher.
Today is October 17th, 2019.

Place your bets!

Preamble to Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 -- Hear and Read ...

Downton Abbey - "What Is A Weekend?"

Brian Banks and the Innocence Project

"All you can control in life is how you respond to life."

Help shouts out the Earth

Help shouts out the Earth
https://vimeo.com/3582676914

Seven-year-old kids say NOW!
https://vimeo.com/322417595

Caption; " It's a climate emergency.Young people around the world are striking to demand governments take immediate action. Time for the grown ups to grow up."

And if you'd rather watch the latter with subtitles, go here : https://vimeo.com/321767252
Kids are quite tough to understand, aren't they?!

Edward Snowden on FRANCE 24

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

3'40''
 [... But what’s really changed, most dramatically from the world of 2013 to the world of today (9 sept 2019) is everybody is aware that Facebook is up to no good, that Google is up to no good... ]

4’05

[... It’s technology that’s enabling this and making it all possible for the first time. ...]

.......................................... 

Enjoy the whole video that was released on youtube on Sept. 9, 2019.
Time flies but those 6 years have been for the best.
Except for Julian Assange who is in Belmarsh Prison (U.K.)

I'm glad Edward Snowden is able to move more or less freely in Russia. 

Incredible video - explainig scale - from earth to space to human body

Back to school

You've probably heard of Greta Thunberg.
You weren't born when Severn Cullis-Suzuki took a stand in the Rio Summit. 
It took place in 1992. 
And the first international conference on the Human environment also called 'The Earth summit' (Now COP 21, COP 24... Conference Of Parties they call it these days) first took place in 1972 in Sweden.  I was 11 then... 47 years ago!

Severn Cullis-Suzuki is the girl at the beginning of this video that was posted on Vimeo two years ago. You were born then!

Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality | Brian Little

Truth about reality TV

I sure knew Reality shows had to be immoral, very wrong and the like...

I've just watched this video and since it is well subtitled, I thought I'd post it here.

I've not had TV for 40 years. Time flies. The strange skylights never appealed to me.

( The famous French Satirical weekly newspaper has, as long as I can remember, called them: "Les étranges lucarnes")

Ok, ok, I'm a screen addict too, I know, I know. Often wonder what would happen in case of a major blackout or if our governments used the kill switch. Do you? (wonder?!)

So the video below has already obtained 3.293.785 views!

Take good care all.

Whistleblowing is Key- The Iraq war was based on lies. That's a FACT

Beginning of the trailer. And I can't help remembering 

what  some minister of propaganda once said. 

When reality exceeds fiction, again :-)

........................................................................................................................

Tony Blair : - What we know is that Saddam has this material.

Keira Knightley’s character :

We don’t know that, I mean, he just keeps repeating the lie.

Just because you’re the Prime Minister, it doesn’t mean you’re allowed to 

make up your own facts.

...............................................

As Julian Assange said :  "It's not conspiracy when you have proof."

Try to open your minds all and ecosia (I know, google has appeared in language)

Julian Assange. Got it?

James Corden's 2019 Tony Awards Opening Number.

#GreenNewDeal ...about time

https://theintercept.com/2019/04/17/green-new-deal-short-film-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/
https://youtu.be/d9uTH0iprVQ

I can't embed the video. Too bad. Watch it !

#trashtag challenge - Clean and cleaner

Thanks to Nasra for the pictures. Here is one!
M. Tschens, our headmaster is proud of you but was surprised to hear 8 bags had been filled.
WE HAVE TO STOP LITTERING!
Read the comments and leave one. You might be rewarded for it. You never know!
And also, do you see the class keyring? Answer in the comments, thx.

#Trashtag challenge

Don’t be surprised to see 2^nde B students picking up litter and therefore, cleaning Arago High School next Tuesday, April 2nd, from 11 to twelve.

This is OUR school. We want it pristine, we don’t want it dirty.

It’s the #Trashtag challenge. You know, clearing a space from all trash being carelessly thrown away by irresponsible people.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE

We hope you’ll see the difference and PLEASE, don’t throw away anything anymore on the ground. There are trash bags. Use them ! Don’t be careless anymore.

Our environment matters !

Upside down world map

https://www.flourish.org/upsidedownmap/

Julian Assange's mother's message

Everyone wants "Freedom of the press" and "Freedom of expression"
Julian Assange, a journalist, one of the creators of Wikileaks that has been revealing frightful but valid pieces of information that have never been proven wrong, this gentleman, Julian Assange has been in solitary confinement in the Ecuadorian embassy for more than 6 years, having asked asylum there, in London, when the U.K was about to send him to the U.S. Rafaël Correa, the former president had given him the Ecuadorian nationality. Assange was born Australian.
Now, he's spent nearly a year without the web, he has had very few visits. Doctors and Dentists are unavailable to him.
Yet, the U.N. decided 2 years ago that he should be freed. Go figure.

Migrations

The US and its migration animated map.
Earthlings we are. Wherever we go.

I'd like a similar map for France. Let's see if we can find one.

Ad lib. / repetition / iteration and so on and so forth

For all, ALL my pupils who send me a mail with the different phrases used by TV journalists about the 45th POTUS (President Of The United States) will be given a Christmas Bonus
Only marks of 15/20 will be taken into account. Enjoy the fun :)




Guess what  FLOTUS and SCOTUS refer too and be given another bonus!
Don't forget to write your name and class in the subject of the mail. It will make it much easier for me.

Out of the mouth of babes comes the truth.

 And one more video with Greta Thunberg lonely strike for the climate.

Smartphones and laptops need cobalt.

Apart from refusing to buy anymore laptops, apart from boycotting consumption, what can we do to prevent children from mining?

Paris, Centre Pompidou

 Tourism /ˈtʊərɪz(ə)m/ :-)

California Fires - November 2018

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/10/us/the-california-fires-in-photos.html

David Bowie (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016)

Hunky Dory 1971 album.
Song: "Life on Mars"
Listen to the song and we'll work on the lyrics I hope. 




Lyrics to open in a new window. Listen, read,watch and learn!
http://www.planckmachine.com/life-on-mars-david-bowie-lyrics-meaning/

Denzel Washington's Life Advice.

STRANGE FRUITS

We begin with this with the terminale S:  Strange fruits on the black or is it white board...
Let's see how this works.

Brexit or not, Brexit, that is the question

Learn what you want in 20 hours

The major barrier to skill acquisition isn’t intellectual… It’s emotional

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MgBikgcWnY

Congratulations to all post-secondary graduates!
Félicitations à tous les bacheliers!

READ 1984 BY George Orwell

Remember to read 1984 by George Orwell. You'll know what Orwellian means. This adjective has become French

Read it in English if you can. If you can't, read it in French. 

So! French links here

 A French program on France Culture about the latest French Translation by Josée Kamoun.

https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/le-temps-des-ecrivains/sur-les-traces-de-georges-orwell-avec-josee-kamoun-et-frederick-lavoie

Another program by Augustin Trappenard interviewing Josée Kamoun on France Inter:

https://www.franceinter.fr/emissions/boomerang/boomerang-25-mai-2018

A follow-up article by 

https://www.ledevoir.com/lire/529253/entrevue-1984-a-l-indicatif-present

France culture:

La novlangue, instrument de destruction intellectuelle

Newspeak, intrument of intellectual destruction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1ZEJWVSiEI

REMEMBER EVERY HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL HAS TO READ 1984.
Or every single human //citizen for that matter.

IKIGAI = the salt of life

A Japanese concept and an English lesson

WRITTEN EXPRESSION (at least key words) & ORAL EXPRESSION

That which you love.
That which you're good at
That which the world needs
That which you can be paid for 

ORAL COMPREHENSION 

What is IKIGAI?

https://www.superfastbusiness.com/business/how-to-find-your-reason-for-being-delving-into-ikigai/

The Japanese story at the basis of the concept:
 1'10'' - 2'40'' .... 1mn and 30 seconds
and another very relevant following minute.

Work well. Just opening the links, and to my students opening this blog is work and it deserves a
GOOD MARK (oui une bonne note!) and if you do some...

ORAL INTERACTION

I mean IF YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT IKIGAI, other good marks may well be given! If you get my drift...

WRITTEN COMPREHENSION

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/08/is-this-japanese-concept-the-secret-to-a-long-life

Everything you do is working when you don't entertain yourself. 
Entertainment.  A key word. But beware of infotainment. Oh, but that's an entirely different subject. Or...Never mind! See you soon enough!

#French
Et puisque même "l' étudiant malin" qui vous le dit!
http://letudiantmalin.com/ikigai-trouver-passion/

Fashion can be INTERESTING

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cameroonian-clothing-brand-gives-us-valuable-lesson-ngongang-amabe

Great article.
Youths, Boost your English ffs! Pardon my French.
Anything to make kids learn.

Jeff Bezos in 1999.

 19 years ago.
Perception of the Web (born late 1994, early 1995)
A Test to credibility...





For more here with Jeff Bezos, Amazon's creator and CEO  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpDUiDQigO8
1’55’’ Listen and find out how many potential investors Jeff Bezos reached. Get 20/20s!
What’s the Internet ? asked the potential investors  That was late 1994, early 1995.
Beginning of the Web. Lucky gal!
 

Look at that dot. That's here, that's home, that's us!

Sexual harassment: Report it to stop it

A French campaign against sexual harassment in the Parisian subway is criticized for showing potential attackers as wild beasts. Here is the British campaign against sexual harassment in the tube.

Why? Why do we want to learn English?

So very British !
A Mister Duncan in England started his channel in March 2008. https://www.youtube.com/user/duncaninchina   
Today, he’s had So ! Speak English With Misterduncan (he still had hair left.) is one of the zillion ways the Internet has to help you learn English. Make good use of your time,
......................................................................................;
 "Why do we need to learn English ?
One of the reasons why we need to speak English nowadays is because the world.is becoming smaller thanks to the Internet and our developing global economy, more and more people are using English as a common way to communicate with each other. »

Learning anything is difficult and English is no exception.
Learning English takes time and patience. Relax and take it easy.

 Vocabulary

       English is part of your body ! Daily practice

      Don’t be afraid of mistakes     Your attitude… No pain, no gain! 

      Practice everyday and be confident !

Repeat ! « I CAN DO IT »"
………………………………………………………………………………..
Here is a comment. Go figure why I picked it !

« I remember having watched these videos of the amazing Mr Duncan teacher almost ten years ago, and in that time I could barely understand a lesson or two... However I kept up with the learning process since then! Watching videos here and there, from him and from different people, subscribed to different channels, listening to audios, participating in live chats, doing lots of readings, writing emails, and so on and so forth! I've faced lots of struggle along my way... But finally, after all that time invested on the process, now I can say my skill level has increased just as my abilities, and I can clearly, not just understand English, but communicate in the language as well! I know I still don't do it perfectly, but definitely way better than I used to do. It's such a joyful and pleasant experience knowing that what teachers like Mr Duncan say sooner or later with commitment and constancy come true! Thank you Mr Duncan for your lessons and for cheering people up to keep learning! Blessings!! »

The Queen's English

It was a royal end of the year in this blog, not that it has been visited much, nor commented,
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is the longest-reigning monarch in British history. She celebrated 65 years on the throne in February 2017 with her Sapphire Jubilee. No Diana nowhere on a picture or in a word, but in my mind and the minds of so many others, she represents true nobility. What do you think? 
If you don't like christmas carols either, fast forward to 0'48'' and listen at

The British Royal family and broadcasting…                                                                  Always at the forefront of technology.                                                                          3 landmarks : 1932 / 1957 / 2017

(HM means His or Her Majesty)

HM King George V — The first ever Royal Christmas Message (Written by Rudyard Kipling) - 1932

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf30P_PbcZo

To read more about it :

https://www.royal.uk/history-christmas-broadcast?ch=2#bio-section-1

The first televised Christmas Broadcast, 1957

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBRP-o6Q85s

« 25 years ago, my grandfather broadcast the first of these christmas messages. »

The Queen of England also talks about « the subtle corruption of the cynics ».

But the Empire no longer existed then. The Commonwealth replaces it.

The Queen's Christmas Broadcast 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjTBcqpl2kc

Includes an extract from 1957 but doesn’t include reference to her Grandfather radio broadcast. She mentions the Commonwealth games, youth orchestra.

No comment.

Connections : Past and present struggles

Find out what U.S. Sports landmark of the last 50 years is shown in the trailer.

1. President Nixon makes Title IX a reality (1972)

2. Wilma Rudolph wins three gold medals (1960)

3. Women’s soccer wins its second World Cup (1999)

4. Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs (1973)

5. All-American Girls Professional Baseball League forms (1943)

6. The WNBA tips off (1997)

7. Kathrine Switzer becomes first woman to compete in Boston Marathon (1967)

8. Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win IndyCar Race (2008)

9. UConn women’s basketball wins 90 in a row (2008-2010)

Here is a biopic, movie, film... Based on a true story.

Discover engdom.com for your benefit, English learners!

Discover engdom.com
This site is what I'd call a real treasure trove.
Here are some links. 
Visit, explore, use everyday and you'll improve your English!

Here is an example with male and female job words

http://engdom.com/6-minute-vocabulary-male-and-female-job-words/

and another that will help you learn how to ask for and give directions.

http://engdom.com/bbc-how-to-ask-for-and-give-directions/

Thanks to the British Council and to the BBC. Above them all, thank you EngDom

GREEN BUILDINGS IN CHINA

Slavery and civil war.

The U.S. civil war started in 1861 and ended in 1865.
Jim Crow laws followed.
It then took a hundred years to get theCivil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965
for colored people to have the same rights. Justice takes time...
Anyway, you can watch this FYI (for your information)

The Square Palme d'Or 2017

Holiday time well spent. Hope you can afford a flick.
Went to see The Square. Here's the official trailer of that movie
running in #Reims this week at the Opera. 
Lucky to have an ...arthouse cinema here in Reims.                                                                  Just learnt a new word! Hope to talk about it with you (the movie is subtitled!) back to school.
Worth a good mark/grade I'm sure. And by the way, where are those comments anyway?

Brexit will be delayed

The independent is a U.K. online newspaper. Used to be a paper version.
Here is what they say. Great video and article

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexil-bill-delayed-eu-withdrawal-vote-commons-revolts-tory-rebels-labour-theresa-may-a8006831.html

CONSENT : Easily understandable with tea instead.

I thought in the midst of the Harvey Weinstein story, posting this video could be appropriate. 
(Voc. brackets: Journalists tend to call what they are working on 'a story'. Judicial courts,deal with cases. In politics, they refer to narratives or story-telling.)

Sure, everybody likes a good story. Here is one.

Copyright ©2015 Emmeline May and Blue Seat Studios


Follow up article; from across the pond. June 10th, 2016... With this very Amercian title:

"The very British video helping Americans understand sexual consent."

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/10/the-very-british-video-helping-americans-understand-sexual-consent/?utm_term=.aac2fec957e0

Very different methods of cleaning