понедельник, 22 декабря 2014 г.

Christmas time



         Different countries have different Christmas traditions. The celebration or activity is the earliest history  for each country and may not represent the current Christmas celebrations of today. Visit  the site below and see how people celebrate Christmas!
Choose three countries you would like to visit at Christmas and comment on your choice.

пятница, 12 декабря 2014 г.

December 15, the International Tea Day



Since 2005 the International Tea Day has been observed in many tea producing countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, India and Tanzania. International Tea Day is to draw global attention of governments and citizens on the impact of global tea trade on workers, small growers and consumers. The first International Tea Day was celebrated in New Delhi on 15th December 2005.
Since the 18th century the United Kingdom has been one of the largest per capita tea consumers in the world, with average per capita supply at 1.9 kg per year. The popularity of tea occasioned the furtive export of slips, a small shoot for planting or twig for grafting to tea plants, from China to British India and its commercial culture there, beginning in 1840; British interests controlled tea production in the subcontinent. Tea, which was an upper-class drink in Europe, became the infusion of every class in Great Britain in the course of the 18th century and has remained so.
In Britain, the drinking of tea is so varied that it is quite hard to generalise. While it is usually served with milk, it is not uncommon to drink it black or with lemon, with sugar being a popular addition to any of the above. Strong tea served with milk (and usually one or two teaspoons of sugar) in a mug is commonly referred to as builder's tea.
Before it became Britain's number one drink, China tea was introduced in the coffeehouses of London shortly before the Stuart Restoration (1660); about that time Thomas Garraway, a coffeehouse owner in London, had to explain the new beverage in pamphlet and an advertisement in Mercurius Politicus for 30 September 1658 offered "That Excellent, and by all Physicians approved, China drink, called by the Chinese, Tcha, by other nations Tay alias Tee, ...sold at the Sultaness-head, ye Cophee-house in Sweetings-Rents, by the Royal Exchange, London".  In London "Coffee, chocolate and a kind of drink called tee" were "sold in almost every street in 1659", according to Thomas Rugge's Diurnall. Tea was mainly consumed by the fashionably rich". Two pounds, two ounces were formally presented to Charles II by the British East India Company that same year. The tea had been imported to Portugal from its possessions in Asia as well as through the trade merchants maintained with China and Japan. In 1662 Charles II's Portuguese queen, Catherine of Braganza, introduced the act of drinking tea, which quickly spread throughout court and country and to the English bourgeoisie. The British East India company, which had been supplied with tea at the Dutch factory of Batavia imported it directly from China from 1669. In 1672, a servant of Baron Herbert in London sent his instructions for tea making, and warming the delicate cups, to Shropshire;
The earliest English equipages for making tea date to the 1660s. Small porcelain tea bowls were used by the fashionable; they were occasionally shipped with the tea itself. Tea-drinking spurred the search for a European imitation of Chinese porcelain, first successfully produced in England at the Chelsea porcelain manufactory, established around 1743-45 and quickly imitated.
Between 1872 and 1884 the supply of tea to the British Empire increased with the expansion of the railway to the east. The demand however was not proportional, which caused the prices to rise. Nevertheless, from 1884 onward due to new innovation in tea preparation the price of tea dropped and remained relatively low throughout the first half of the 20th century. Soon afterwards London became the centre of the international tea trade. With high tea imports also came a large increase in the demand for porcelain. The demand for tea cups, pots and dishes increased to go along with this popular new drink. Now, people in Britain drink tea multiple times a day. As the years passed it became a drink less associated with high society as people of all classes drink tea today which can be enjoyed in many different flavours and ways.
Tea is not only the name of the beverage, but of a late afternoon light meal at four o'clock, irrespective of the beverage consumed. Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford is credited with the creation of the meal circa 1800. She thought of the idea to ward off hunger between luncheon and dinner, which was served later and later. The tradition continues to this day. There used to be a tradition of tea rooms in the UK which provided the traditional fare of cream and jam on scones, a combination commonly known as cream tea. However, these establishments have declined in popularity since World War II. In Devon and Cornwall particularly, cream teas are a speciality. A.B.C. tea shops and Lyons Corner Houses were a successful chain of such establishments. In Yorkshire the company Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, run their own Tearooms. Café Tearooms, established in 1919, is now classed as a British Institution. In America it is a common misconception that cream tea refers to tea served with cream (as opposed to milk). This is certainly not the case. It simply means that tea is served with a scone with clotted cream and jam.
Do you like to drink tea?
Explain the reasons for the popularity of this beverage.

воскресенье, 30 ноября 2014 г.

December 1, 2014 - Cyber Monday



Cyber Monday is a marketing term for the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. The term "Cyber Monday" was created by marketing companies to persuade people to shop online. The term made its debut on November 28, 2005, in a Shop.org press release entitled "'Cyber Monday Quickly Becoming One of the Biggest Online Shopping Days of the Year". Cyber Monday has become an international marketing term used by online retailers in Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Uganda, Japan, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The term was first used within the ecommerce community during the 2005 holiday season. According to Scott Silverman, the head of Shop.org, the term was coined based on 2004 research showing "one of the biggest online shopping days of the year" was the Monday after Thanksgiving (12th-biggest day historically).Retailers also noted the biggest period was December 5 through 15 of the previous year. In late November 2005, The New York Times reported: "The name Cyber Monday grew out of the observation that millions of otherwise productive working Americans, fresh off a Thanksgiving weekend of window shopping, were returning to high-speed Internet connections at work Monday and buying what they liked." The idea for having such a holiday was created by Tony Valado, in 2003 while working at 1800Flowers.com, and coined White Wednesday to be the day before Thanksgiving for online retailers.
Think about the reasons for celebrating it.

вторник, 11 ноября 2014 г.

November 11 - International Energy Saving Day


International Energy Saving Day is held each year on 11 November since 2008, when the international SPARE network initiated it to draw attention to the importance of saving energy.
Energy saving is very important for improving the environment in the place where we live, and on the whole planet. Energy saving allows us to obtain the necessary energy services and to conserve natural resources that are permanently burned for heat and electricity, polluting the environment. Saving energy saves money because we pay a lot for energy and saving helps to reduce the contribution of mankind in climate change. Energy efficiency plays an important role in the preservation of natural resources. Every year in many countries, on 11th of November there are practical actions on saving electricity, insulation of houses, seminars on energy saving technologies, information campaigns, exhibitions and much more. This year the International Day for energy saving will be a variety of activities - from the practical measures for insulation classes to street protests, which will bring together students, educators, environmental organizations, government officials and experts from research institutes. This holiday is a great opportunity to talk about energy saving and renewable energy sources. 
Why is it so important to save energy? Do you have any ideas about the activities to be held today?

среда, 22 октября 2014 г.

How to Choose the Right Career



Choosing the right career can be difficult, but having a defined career direction will help you with getting a job. But with a little hard work, some planning, and some serious self-reflection, you can set yourself on a path towards a fruitful, fulfilling career that can provide for you and your family.  

Look through the list of tips and warnings and comment on them.

Tips
  • For example, if you like playing video games, consider becoming a video game designer, programmer, or QA specialist.
  • If you like drawing or art, consider becoming a graphic designer.
  • If you like sports, consider going into teaching and getting certified as a coach.
  • People rarely know right away what career they should be in and it takes most people several years to settle into the path they will follow. Don’t feel like you’re behind!
  • If you don’t like your career, change it! Sometimes it takes more work, especially if you’re older, but it’s possible for anyone.
  • It’s not the end of the world if you choose a career that isn’t something you dreamed of doing ever since you were little. If you have a job that doesn’t make you miserable but which securely provides for your and your family’s future, you will be surprised how happy you feel about your life and career.
Warnings
  • Be wary of any job which promises easy money. There is rarely any such thing.
  • Don’t get pulled into any financial pyramids. These can land you in debt or even prison.
  • Be wary of jobs offered overseas. Thoroughly research any company before traveling to take a job.

четверг, 28 августа 2014 г.

September 1


Comment on the quotes:


"Learn as much as you can while you are young, since life becomes too busy later." - Dana Stewart Scott
"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it."
- Albert Einstein
"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." - Sydney J. Harris
"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing worth knowing can be taught." - Oscar Wilde
"The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson." - Tom Bodett
"Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it." - Edmund Burke
"School prepares you for the real world... which also bites." - Jim Benton

суббота, 9 августа 2014 г.

SUMMER

Summer is the stuff of dreams. When adults sit at their desks, and children sit in school, they dream of summer. Summer is the time of infinite fun. The day seems to last forever, and the fun never stops. It is a time of romance, excitement and an enhanced enjoyment of life. Somehow summer never seems to last long enough. It is always over before we get a chance to fully experience its power. This is true of all things wonderful. They always seem too short. I hope your holidays will be great!

пятница, 16 мая 2014 г.

International Family Day



The International Day of Families is observed on the 15th of May every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993  and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families. The International Day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. In its resolution, the General Assembly also noted that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development. The International Day of Families has inspired a series of awareness-raising events, including national family days. In many countries, that day provides an opportunity to highlight different areas of interest and importance to families. Activities include workshops and conferences, radio and television programmes, newspaper articles and cultural programmes highlighting relevant themes.The International Day of Families in 2014 marks the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and offers an opportunity to refocus on the role of families in development; take stock of recent trends in family policy development; share good practices in family policy making; review challenges faced by families worldwide and recommend solutions.
 How do you celebrate this day?

среда, 23 апреля 2014 г.

April 23 is English Language Day




It coincides with William Shakespeare’s birthday and World Book and Copyright Day. English Language Day aims to entertain and inform people about the history, culture and achievements associated with the language. The day often features book-reading events, English quizzes, poetry and literature exchanges, and other activities that promote the English language. English is one of the two working languages of the UN Secretariat and one of the organization’s six official languages. English is often referred to as a "world language", or the lingua franca (bridge language or common language used by speakers of different languages) of the modern era because it is widely spoken. The UN first celebrated English Language Day on April 23, 2010. For a language that was used by only 3 tribes about 1500 years ago, English has official or special status in at least 75 countries with a total population of over two billion. It has three-times more non-native speakers than native speakers. No other language comes close to matching that, and it is that that makes English global. It is the modern lingua franca, the language used by the Russians to talk to the Nigerians, the Germans to talk to the Spanish, the Chinese to talk to the Brazilians…
What activities can you offer to celebrate English Language Day?

пятница, 18 апреля 2014 г.

HAPPY EASTER!



Easter is a religious holiday, but some of its customs, such as Easter eggs, are likely linked to pagan traditions. The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection. Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century, according to some sources. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration.
DID YOU KNOW?
The largest Easter egg ever made was over 25 feet high and weighed over 8,000 pounds. It was built out of chocolate and marshmallow and supported by an internal steel frame.
How do you celebrate Easter?

четверг, 3 апреля 2014 г.

History of Newspapers



The history of newspapers is surprisingly long, as broad definitions for it allow for many early news sources to be considered as newspapers. For example, government reports of the current news in Ancient China and Ancient Rome are considered to at least be ancestors of the newspaper if they are not considered as newspapers proper.
In the earliest days of newspapers, they were handwritten and thus did not enjoy widespread circulation. Literacy was also rare, so the earliest examples of news writings were almost certainly the purview of the upper classes and those who served them in an intellectual capacity. The Ancient Chinese government news reports, for instance, were intended solely for servants of the Imperial government. Wider distribution was not official, it was simply organised by those who understood that knowledge would empower them.
Britain's press can trace its history back more than 300 years, to the time of William of Orange. Berrow's Worcester Journal, which started life as the Worcester Postman in 1690 and was published regularly from 1709, is believed to be the oldest surviving English newspaper.
William Caxton had introduced the first English printing press in 1476 and, by the early 16th century, the first 'news papers' were seen in Britain. They were, however, slow to evolve, with the largely illiterate population relying on town criers for news. Between 1640 and the Restoration, around 30,000 'news letters' and 'news papers' were printed, many of which can be seen today in the British Museum. The first regular English daily newspaper, the Daily Courant, was launched with the reign of Queen Anne in 1702. The very first daily newspaper, the Daily Courant, was first published in London on March 11, 1702 by Edward Mallet. At the time, it ran two columns that published news from abroad. The Observer began publishing in 1791.
The 19th century saw a lot of growth for the British newspaper industry. As taxes on paper were lowered, it became cheaper for printers to publish them every day which was a huge change for the industry. The Daily Universal Register, later known as The Times, began publishing in 1855. The paper's name would later be changed to The Times in 1788. The Times was the biggest paper for a brief period but as others cropped up, the field became more competitive.
The first truly cheap newspaper to establish itself around this time was the Daily Telegraph and Courier in 1885; it's now called the Daily Telegraph. 1896 saw the rise of another popular paper, The Daily Mail. All in all, the 19th century was the “golden age” of newspapers in Britain when many papers found their footholds and soon buying a newspaper was as much a part of someone's morning as their trip to work.
The 20th century has been a big era for the British newspaper. Many, many new papers have emerged all over the country. Most cities have their own privately-published papers that circulate weekly, and there are several major publications that are published daily. The format of some papers also changed. In 1914 The Times published its first half-tone photo, the Sunday Express published its first crossword puzzle. 
What facts surprised you most?
Read more: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/482597/history-of-publishing/28661/Commercial-newsletters-in-continental-Europe#toc28662