Today's (Dec 15) BBC

Gerhard has thankfully downloaded today's BBC.  However, due to a mail2000 problem he is unable to email it to you.  I am uploading the file to my blog.  Please share!
 BBC HERE

Enhanced Interrogation

Here is the video for Monday's 7:30am VOA News class.

You can watch the short Documentary, The Architect, HERE

BC - Templates for Final Writing Assignment

For your final assignment, you get to choose which company you work for.  We looked at 4 different companies in class and you’ve practiced writing a sales letter for that company.  For your final assignment, you just need to rewrite that letter, improve it if you can, and send it in to me ASAP (by 5:00 pm Sunday, please)

Bonsai
Dragon Fabrication
Shining Cloud
World Business Consulting
XYZ Company

Forgotten Stories - Iraq's Yazidis

Often, we forget about some stories when the media stops mentioning them.  In Monday's class we'll have a look at the current state of Iraq's Yazidi people.

You can find the script and vocabulary for this video HERE

Forgotten stories from darylks

Find my BBC script from today's BBC listening HERE

An American's take on Taiwan street food!

Quite interesting from a foreigner's perspective...  Would you suggest a visitor goes to the same places?

The Top Words in Business (in English)

These are the words you need to know if you want to be successful!

Here is a pdf that has lists of words organized by type - It's AWESOME! - LINK

Here is a link to a website that works like a dictionary for business English - LINK

If we work hard, we can improve!

Monday 7:30am - Beyond the News

Here is the video for tomorrow's class:

Al Jazeera News - The New Cold War (for 7;30am Monday)

We're going to switch away from VOA for tomorrow's class.



Find the handout from today's class HERE

Today's BBC is HERE

VOA News - G20

Slavery - VOA Class

Virgin Galactic - Spaceship Crash

The Mercury Prize

Who has won?  Who hasn't...?

Ebola - Fear

Here is the VOA News video for tomorrow's 7:30 class.

VOA News - Immigration in the United States

In tomorrow's VOA News class we will be focusing on the issue of illegal immigration in the United States.  How does it effect workers?  How does it effect their children?

Hong Kong's Generation Gap

 This is the video for tomorrow's VOA News.

(sorry, I'm not sure what happened with the link I posted last night...)

VOA News - Monday Morning

Here is the video we will use for tomorrow's VOA News class.



Find more resources here

Find the infographic on Tiananmen Square here

And, you can watch the documentary, The Tank Man here

Ebola... The Outbreak so far...

How many people have died from Ebola during the current outbreak...

However, a second outbreak (unrelated to this one) has begun in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sourced from Buzzfeed

Business Correspondence - Groups 4 & 6

Use the following link to reformat your first business letter.

Link

You can find more useful information on business letter writing here.

My example of the letter we wrote can be found here.

Iran and the ISIS Airstrikes

Here is the video for tomorrow's VOA News...  See you there :)

The Coalition is Building

The coalition to fight against Islamic State seems to be building.

Read about it here.

The NFL and Domestic Violence

This video will be the subject of tomorrow's VOA news at 7:30 am.

The nfl & Domestic Violence

The case against ray rice

In February, when this video was released showing Ray Rice dragging an unconscious Janay Palmer out of an elevator, the NFL suspended him for 2 games for domestic violence.  But many criticized the punishment as being too light.  In May, Rice entered counselling and in late July he spoke to the Media.

“I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life.  Me.  She can do no wrong.  She’s an angel.”

But this video, from inside the elevator, released by the website TMZ shows the attack in detail.  After seeing this video, the Baltimore Ravens cancelled Rice’s 35 million dollar contract.  Shortly afterward, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him indefinitely.  Public outcry was swift.  The White House strongly condemned violence against women.  Press Secretary Josh Earnest said as the father of two daughters, the president believes domestic violence is contemptible and unacceptable in a civilized society.

“You have seen the President and the Vice President make very forceful public comments talking about how important it is for men in particular to step up and step forward and make clear that violence against women is something that is not and cannot be tolerated.”

Renee Renyk, spokeswoman for the National Network to End Domestic Violence, welcomes the feedback and told VOA by Skype, she hopes the incident will draw more attention to this serious problem.

“1 in 4 American women will experience domestic violence sometime in their life.  I hope the NFL will make good on their commitment to take this seriously.”

One day after the sanctions against her husband, Palmer used her Instagram account to fire back after the video went public.  She called Ray Rice the man she loves and described the pain that the media and unwanted public opinions from around the country has caused her family.

“We don’t know what’s happening for her, um, but often victims are made to feel it’s their fault.”

Renyk says the repercussions from this ugly incident send a clear and strong message that domestic violence is unacceptable. 

For writer Faiza Elmasry, I’m Faith Lappadas, VOA News

Also, VOA has an 'English learning' article on this topic - here

South Sudan

South Sudan is the world's newest country and is in danger of experiencing a very serious famine.  So, here is some information about that country and how famine occurs.

Ukraine - Heating Up?

Well, it seems like the Ukraine might be back in the headlines.  I found this info-graphic which shows the situation in the Eastern regions of the Ukraine.  Note that this graphic is produced by the National Security and Defense Council of the Ukraine - therefore it lists the Pro-Russian rebels as 'terrorists'.

Vice News has an ongoing series reporting on what is happening in the Ukraine and it is very interesting.

Journalism - A Potentially Deadly Job

With the second killing of a journalist (Steven Sotloff) by the Islamic State (IS) group, we could ask ourselves "How dangerous is it to work as a journalist?"  The answer may surprise you.  In addition, most murdered journalists were NOT covering a war when they died.  They were covering politics.  See the attached image from CDN Visual News.

Conversation Tips - Improving small talk

'Small talk' - noun

1. polite conversation about unimportant or uncontroversial matters, especially as engaged in on social occasions.

   "propriety required that he face these people and make small talk"

We all have to engage in small talk from time to time...  And sometimes, it can seem quite boring.  Follow these tips from Lifehacker to improve your small talk abilities - LINK

Islamic State (IS) - Driven by Oil?

Are the Islamic State (IS) group driven by oil?  Are they trying to take control of certain areas so they can control oil supplies in Iraq?  Look at the following image and see what you think.

Creative Companies - Penance Hall

When the economy gets weak, we may need to be more creative in terms of creating our own opportunities.  Watch and learn how these entrepreneurs.



Get the transcript here

Presentation Skills

My Business English students have presentations coming up soon.  Also, if you do Listening and Speaking class, you have to do some student presentations.  No matter who you are, you will have to do a presentation.  Therefore, here's a great image for effective presentations.

Additionally, here's a great TED talk on presentation skills...

Old Words, New Words

In today's BBC headlines we heard how some words are falling out of fashion...  'Walkman' and 'fortnight' can go, but I quite like 'marmalade'...

Anyway, here's a list of NEW words that were included in the Oxford online dictionary in 2013:

NEW WORDS

And if you're interested in languages, here's a great little video on the history of the English language...

SCOTLAND!

Ferguson - Militarized Police

In the US we have seen the rise of the militarized police force.  When it's hard to tell the difference between police and soldiers, is it time for a change?


For a related "VOA Learning English" story, visit this link.

Here's a link to a story from Buzzfeed.

Robin Williams & Depression

Here is a News class regarding Robin Williams and depression.