The difficulties of learning another language

Watch this video to see how Joey (Friends) is trying to learn French.

Have a good laugh!

And then, don't forget, always keep on trying!

QUESTIONS FOR PLAYING THE ENEMY (chapters 7 - 12)

Chapter 7   The Tiger King

1. What was the AWB?
2. What was Mandela’s first priority?
3. Explain the Population Registration Act.Compare this with people undergoing operations to change the colour of their skin.
4. Discuss the different personalities and opinions of the Viljoen brothers.  Do you know of any similar cases of family members with very different opinions.

Chapter 8     The Mask

1. What was the relationship between Mandela and de Klerk like?
2. What did Bebekeke decide to do when he was set free?
3. Why did Buthelizi accept apartheid?  (p.108)
4. Why was the rugby match in August ’92 against New Zealand a disaster?
5. How did Mandela react to Chris Hani’s murder?
6. Discuss ‘the mask’ Mandela had to wear? (p.117)

Chapter 9    The Bitter-Enders

1. Discuss the title of this chapter.
2. Why did Mandela tolerate the young blacks singing “Kill the Boer” at Chris Hani’s funeral?

Chapter 10    Romancing the General

1. What was Constand’s attitude to war?
2. How did Constand feel when he met Mandela?
3. What important events happened in 1994?
4. What disappointed Mandela about the Nobel Peace Prize?

Chapter 11    Address their Hearts

1. What happened when Mandela was called out of the room for a phone call?
2. Why did Viljoen not continue?
3. How did Mandela react when he saw Reinders packing his things after the election?
4. How did Mandela react when he saw Viljoen at the national assembly?

Chapter 12    The Captain and the President

1. How did François Pienaar feel about meeting Mandela?
2. What was Mandela’s tactic having François Pienaar coming to his office?
3. Explain how Johann Heyns’ change of mind came about.
4. What was Mandela’s reaction to his death?

 

At UK hospital, ugly pipework is transformed into fantastical instruments that lull patients to sleep

The Lullaby Factory is a system of musical tubes installed on the exterior of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children that plays lullabies to help patients sleep.

19th March 2013 in Entertainment, Health & Wellbeing.

No stranger to providing innovative therapy to its patients, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children has already been covered on these pages for its interactive LED-illuminated wall that helps calm young visitors on their way to surgery. Now the hospital has collaborated with Studio Weave to reappropriate ugly pipework on the exterior of the building as the Lullaby Factory, a system of musical tubes that lull patients to sleep with relaxing sounds.
Due to a redevelopment of the infirmary, the building currently has a temporary space that looks awkward and unsightly but can only be seen from inside the hospital. In order to make this area useful, East-London based Studio Weave decided to build on the existing aesthetic of the space, transforming the utilitarian pipework into an imaginative system of horns and woodwind instruments that play lullabies. Children are encouraged to see the building opposite as the Lullaby Factory, which manufactures soothing sounds to help patients recover from their illnesses. The pieces are in reality created by composer and sound artist Jessica Curry, and can be heard through special listening pipes, or by tuning into the Lullaby Factory radio station.
The concept helps revitalize an otherwise unused and unpleasant space and improves young patients’ experience of hospital stays, contributing to their wellbeing. How else can good design be used to transform ordinary facades into something more creative and uplifting?

My comment:
It's encouraging to see how ugly but necessary things can be used to do good. If only men insisted more on creating things meant to be useful and kind for the others ... Is it really so difficult? I think the world could be better if we just were more interested in getting it.
 

PLAYING THE ENEMY (group Monday & Wedn)

Dear students of the group on Monday and Wednesday.
As I know your time to read is quite limited, I've decided that in our next class tomorrow we'll just correct the questions to chapters 3 & 4. If you haven't read them yet, please make sure you do; if you have (or even more), please, carry on reading. I'll post the questions for the following chapters soon.

Enjoy the book and don't forget that the videos are a must!

 

PROBLEMS WITH THE LISTENING?

As some of you are a bit disappointed with the results of the listening part, I've decided to create a new page (you can see it on top of this post) with some good links to web pages to listen and do exercises.

If you know more good pages to help improve the listening skills, please leave the link as a comment or tell me to add it to the list. The more we have, the better!

 

THE SIXTEENTH MAN, John Carlin

As you already know, John Carlin is coming to visit us. Unfortunately we don't know exactly when as he's really busy so it'll be decided at short notice.

But before he comes talk abouth South Africa, he recommended a few links to a documentary they have done about South Africa at the time described in his book, Playing the Enemy.  It is divided in 4 parts and I copy here the links to them.

Make sure you watch all of them although it isn't necessary to watch them all together.

I'm sure you'll learn a lot about South Africa, their people and Mandela.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Hungary, foldable electric scooter can be collapsed and carried like a rolling suitcase

Green auto maker Antro has created the Moveo, a lightweight electric scooter that can be collapsed and carried like a rolling suitcase.

6th March 2013 in Automotive.

Consumers have been familiar with foldable bicycles for a while now thanks to brands such as Brompton. Now, eco-friendly Hungarian automotive firm Antro, has taken the logical next step and has created the Moveo, a lightweight electric scooter that can be collapsed and carried like a rolling suitcase.
The company has spent the last five years refining the prototype, getting the weight down to 25 kilograms and the top speed up to 45 kilometers per hour, with its battery charge able to take it 35 kilometers. The current model has stylish gold carbon-composite bodywork and sleek design, while a full scooter seat has not been sacrificed. When drivers reach their destination, the vehicle can be easily folded and carried around using the extendable handle and caster wheels. When folded, bodywork protects users from the machinery inside and the design means that owners don’t have to look for a parking space or lock up their vehicle. Rather they can carry it with them on alternative modes of transport.
Much like the Hiriko Fold, the Moveo reduces the amount of space vehicles take up on crowded city streets and gives drivers more options when the scooter isn’t in use. Antro hopes to get the Moveo into production early next year and is currently looking for investors. Once it hits the market, consumers are set to pay between USD 3,100 and USD 4,600, according to reports. Could your financial backing help bring this innovation to life?

Website: www.solo-duo.hu

QUESTIONS FOR PLAYING THE ENEMY (chapters 3 - 6)

I hope you're enjoying the book and I suppose you have already answered the questions for the introduction and the first two chapters. We'll make corrections next week in class.

I copy here the questions for the following chapters (3 -  6).
Don't forget to make a kind of glossary with the names of the characters that appear in the book as there are so many that you could easily get lost while reading.

Chapter 3    Separate Amenities

1. What does Carlin call townships?
2. Describe Justice’s memory of his allegiance to Mandela.
3. What did Van Dyk ask the blacks to do on 13^th November?  Describe what happened
4. Who was Lucas Sethwala?

Chapter 4     Bagging the Croc

1. What mission did Botha give Niel Barnard?
2. Discuss how you think Mandela must have felt when Botha’s government was cracking down on the blacks but treating him well.
3. What was Sexwale’s reaction when he saw two TVs in Mandela’s house in Victor Verster prison?
4. What did Barnard warn Mandela not to do in his meeting with Botha?  Describe Barnard & Mandela’s relationship.
5. How did Mandela compare his people to the Afrikaaners?

Chapter 5     Different Planets

1. What surprised the Pienaar family while watching the Springboks tour of New Zealand?
2. Discuss the fact that the Pienaars had maids despite the fact they were considered lower class.
3. How did Stofile define sport?
4. Describe how Judge Basson behaved at the trial.
5. Who do you think killed Lubowski  Why?

Chapter 6    Ayatollah Mandela

1. Why did the government feel it was urgent to release Mandela?
2. Why was his release delayed?
3. What big hurdle did Mandela have to face soon after he came out of prison? Give your opinion of Mandela’s statement to the press. about his 27 years in prison    “Despite the hard times in prison…” p.85
4. How did François Pienaar feel about Mandela’s speech?
5. How did the international journalists react at the end of the speech?
6. How did the Afrikaans press react?
7. Talk about Rossow’s opinion of Mandela. (p.88)

MADRID LIVE.FM

 

I don't know if you have already seen that there is a new 'element' in the tag 'Webpages recommended by students'.

 

You have an access from it to a radio station in English about life in Madrid. They inform you about cultural life in Madrid in general and also about activities in English. Everything is in English as its public, among others, is foreign people living in Madrid.

 

I hope you enjoy it!

 

Leave your comments, please if you think there are interesting programmes for your classmates.