Practical Course of English: Amazing people~Cute animals~Remarkable facts

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вторник, 7 июня 2016 г.

To my graduate students with love

My dear graduates, you've always been remarkable for your diligence, sense of objective and humour.

As my farewell to you I’ve chosen this song because it is so beautiful… and sad.

пятница, 29 апреля 2016 г.

All that hokey cokey business

Recently I’ve come across an article in the Guardian online edition about the UK government’s education white paper on turning schools into multi-academy trusts and got interested in the use of the famous ‘hokey cokey’ word:

The new president will be highly critical of the Department for Education’s changes to assessments for primary school pupils, with controversial new assessments introduced and in some cases withdrawn through departmental error, such as the new key stage one spelling, punctuation and grammar (Spag) assessment.

“Do we now have the hokey cokey of assessment?” Johnson will ask. “You put the Spag test in, you put the Spag test out, you put it all online and wait for the children to shout: “I know the answer – what was the question? (http://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/apr/29/headteachers-union-chief-slams-government-over-academisation-policy )

Do you know where this ‘hokey cokey’ come from? Listen to the children’s song, watch the participation dance, and appreciate the originality of the stylistic device in the article.

The history of the song itself is also very interesting. Read about it at http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2012/03/frasers-phrases-the-curious-history-of-the-hokey-cokey

среда, 20 апреля 2016 г.

Hamlet Theatre Banter

ACT ONE

Scene I

(Офелия и Гамлет спят, 6 утра)

H – Oh, father… Hmmm…He killed you! And then again and again… There’s no light, my dearest mother.

O – My love, give me some minute just to sleep

H – Oh, no! Betrayers! Where’s the sweetest Justice!

O – My dear, please… I want to sleep!

H – You! You are the one who killed him! You!

O – Oh, Jesus… What a jerk I’m married to? And every goddamn night you’re talking to yourself. Should better buy me some new clothes..

H – I beg you… No…

(Офелия злится)
O – Is that so difficult to make your wife more happy? To buy a new dress or ring with a diamond? You only makes me cry! (задумчиво) when Ann or Mary are happier than me…just buying some new clothes or i-phones…

H – Nevermore!

(Будит его)
O – Wake up, you piece of!.. whatever… It’s time for you now to go to your work, my dearest (teasing).

H – I dreamt that…

O – Who cares? Go to work! And make me breakfast

H (не слыша) – I’ve dreamt that I’ve seen father

O – He’s dead… I’m gonna meet my brother.. So.. Don’t wait for me tonight

H – And he was like a ghost…and I was wearing a crown.

O – what a weird man… Goodbye, my dear (выгоняет с кровати, ложится обратно)

H – I was’n Medieval. T’was late night, the knights all over. The bright light of the moon was.. (Офелия храпит). Ophelia?

Scene II

(Hamlet is near the pub Drunken Duchess, going to work. The closest phone booth is ringing.)

H – Ah… Okey. Strange. Yes?

V – voice

V – Mr. Amletus?

H – Yes, that’s me… Who’s that I hear?

V – Mr. Simpleton. Should I remind you who I am?
H – oh… No, sir. Sorry. I feel a kinda weird… eeerm

V - I strongly recommend you to see a doctor. Soon. Tomorrow?

H - I feel so confused… What is wrong?

V - You’re fired.

H – I’m fired… Sorry, what? But how? But I’s the best and…

Piiiip piiiiip piiiiiip

(Policeman – P)

P – Sir, you’re ok?

H – hardly… I feel…

P – Do I’ve call the ambulance?

H – I’ll do myself. A lot of thanks… (берет трубку будки).Hmm. Nobody answers…

P – Good luck, sir. (уходит, оборачивается и про себя) Hey idiot, it’s broken. Need tell my guys, they’ll like it. (усмехается)

H (звонит с будки)

Hr - Horatio

H – Horatio, my friend! Where are you?

Hr - Hey, dude. Go to the Drunken Duchess pub!

H – Hmm. Where’s it?

Hr – Behind you.

(в пабе)

Hr – Hey, man! How are you?

H – I’m fine.. I’m fine…

Hr – Hey, boy. Two shots, please. The same as usual! I’ll pay, friend.

H –Thank you… Now’I even won’t have money to pay wife’s debts. And…

Hr – And what? C’mon, dude. Don’t be so shy. We’re old good friends, so talk to me. How is your sweetest wife? How is your dog, Mike?

H – Dog? I don’t…

Hr – That pretty puppy you wanted to buy when you were once so high..

H – (смеется) Oh, please, Horatio. Now cheers! For pretty puppies and their wives!

Hr (ухмыляется) – Long live the King!

H (останавливается, потом махает рукой и пьют ещё)
Hr – So how’s your work?

H – ha.. I’m fired! I’m who was the best for almost 15 years.

Hr – You’re kidding…

H - No, I’m not. How was that:? To be or not to be?..

Hr – That it is the question. Yes. That is (задумчиво). Hey, man. Repeat, please (бармэну)

(Выпивают)

Hr – We need to talk (уже пьяные немного)

H – We are. Right now.

Hr – Your life is hard. Your life is hopeless. No one whom you can trust.
There’s the way, the way of hope…

H – ha, to turn to dust? (смеется)
Hr ( серьёзно) – your wife has debts, you have no money. Your wife has (a) lover – you have not.

So what’s the point of the thinking… Your life is not (a) jackpot.

H – maybe. I need… well… Bye, my friend. I’m done

Hr – May pick you up?

H – No. All by myself. Thank you, my knight. They killed him.

Hr – Long live the King!

(Гамлет уходит за дверь, Горацио пьет, происходит шум за дверью - Гамлет выстрелил в себя)

Scene III

(Ophelia alone)

Where are you, silly. I worry much about you.

It’s ten p.m. My darling… I don’t understand. Today I paid my bills, thanks to my brother. (взыхает) and thanks to you… for all my dreams are coming true while I have been living near you…(Звонит телефон, босс Гамлета – S)

S - Mrs. Amletus, is that you?

O – yes, yes. Please speak, where’s my husband?

S – Pardon, who? I thought you knew…

O – Oh, please. Please tell me you’re joking.. I’ve been worrying the whole day. Please, tell me, he is okey.

S – I’m sorry, Mrs. He didn’t come at time. I called him – He did not answer..

O – Oh, God! I’ll call police!

S – please, call me back, I worry too. He was my best, right arm just…

Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip

воскресенье, 3 апреля 2016 г.

Percussionist and composer Dame Evelyn Glennie lost nearly all of her hearing by age 12. Rather than isolating her, it has given her a unique connection to her music.

суббота, 27 февраля 2016 г.

OK Go - Upside Down & Inside Out

среда, 6 января 2016 г.

Chimpanzee Minds Are Like Humans, Better in Some Ways

Follow the link to meet an amazing chimpanzee at Kyoto University’s Primate research Institute http://www.voanews.com/content/chimpanzee_minds_are_like_humans_better_in_some_ways/1604796.html

среда, 18 марта 2015 г.

Following the school-practice

Our third-year students have completed their school-practice, and of course, I couldn’t keep aside and silent.

Here are some episodes that come from the lessons of our student-teachers.

The children are asked to convert direct speech on the topic “Health” into indirect speech.

Student: The doctor asked him to take off his [ʃIt] (oops…).

Teacher: (reacts at once) [ʃɜ:t]

Student: The doctor asked if the patient took lunch at [seks].

Teacher: (doesn’t notice or pretends not to notice)

Teacher: (speaking half-Russian) Как будет has had in Past Perfect?

The children retell a dialogue. After a boy has presented the retelling the teacher decides: ‘why not try once again’.

Teacher: Who would like to try? I will help. (approaches a girl)

Girl: (keeps silent)

Teacher: OK! Then, let’s do Exercise 25.

The children together as a class:

- А можно я тоже к доске пойду?

- Можно мне второй столбик?

- Ну, пожалуйста…. блин….

Every child wants to write with chalk on the blackboard. Teachers are people, they like to write with chalk on the blackboard too. In two minutes, the teacher joins three pupils at the blackboard with a piece of chalk.

The class revise the use of Tenses.

Student: Present Simple имеет два глагола – to be и глагол с ‘инговым’ окончанием.

Teacher: Нет… Ты что…. Это неправильно.

Student: Present Continuous это сложное время, оно образуется при помощи…. (gives the definition)

Teacher: Да, но тут можно поспорить, что время сложное. Есть и посложнее времена в английском языке.

Student: Как сказать «собирать грибы»?

Teacher: [gɒðə] mushrooms.

Teacher: Who can read these words?

Girl: Я (shaking her hand in front of the teacher’s nose)

Teacher: (notices the girl doesn’t have the textbook) OK. (and ignores the young lady till the end of the lesson)

I wonder where the teacher has learnt this technique …

Student: (reading) Have you got river and forest?

Teacher: Не оглушай, там не одна река и не один лес: rivers and forests.

Teacher: Who does bring you some newspapers, some letters? (trying to make it clear to the students) Кто, по вашему, в почтовые ящики складывает вот эти вот все газеты, да, письма, между прочим…. А вы говорите, у нас нет почтальонов …

Teacher: OK. Now dialogue for heart… (and for soul?...)

Student: I like [ˌpIn æplz]

The teacher likes them too. I guess, they must look like this.

Teacher: Открываем домашнее задание.

Student: Страница сто один, Exercise one.

Another student: Оно вообще такое лёгкое… Делать нечего…

Teacher: ‘Toe’ это не палец, это кусок ноги….

*
Teacher: Does everybody can play football?

Another teacher: Can you, please, tell me, how do we form plural forms of nouns?

(in a minute or two) Can you please tell me the examples when do we add just –s?
One more teacher: Now, let's remember your new words.

*
Teacher: Как у нас Абдул скажет «Я пою», прямо сейчас, в эту минуту?

Students: Никак. Он не поёт.

Some children start singing, which sounds more like howling.

Teacher: Так, петь никому не надо!

The teacher asks the children to read and translate some sentences.

Student: It sounds like a great place to grow up. (has difficulty translating it)

Teacher: (helps the student with translation) Это звучит как хорошее место, чтобы вырасти.

If you want to grow up, go there, to that wonderful place.

I must say, I don't like writing with chalk, that's why I never write rules on the blackboard, instead, I place some of them on my blog. But I like watching videos, and it's a pity I had a chance to see a video about friendship only twice in one of your lessons.

My dear teachers, this film is for you.