I write about an unusual, male animal, who lives in the north of the world.
He has four legs and antlers and looks a little strage because of his paricular nose. First nobody liked him and everyone used to laugh, but then he did a good deed and now he is really famous.
Do you know his name?
I'm sure you will hear about him in the next weeks:-)
Wish you a nice first Sunday of Advent.
Rama
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
no legs, fins or wings
I write about a little animal that is not welcome in any house. Mostly it can be found in humid rooms. During the day it hides in cracks in the wall or floor. When you see it, then it escapes very fast back in the cracks. It moves without legs, fins or wings. It's difficult to get rid of the little creature with the nice name. Have you ever had the pleasure to meet one in your bathroom?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Your riddle
Hi everyone
I have a new blog task for you.
Write a riddle for the others to guess. Describe an animal and see if the others can guess. You will also have to read the other riddles and write a comment to write what you think the animal is.
Have fun!
From Fabcom's flickr: Western Taxidermie (2)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hi everybody
Here are some usefull Links I found for..
writing expressions ect. www.ego4u.de
phrasal verb list and other lists www.englisch-hilfen.de
there are also two usefull links from this cae blog.
Have a look under English Grammar Secrets and CAE exercises.
Have a nice week.
Arlette
Here are some usefull Links I found for..
writing expressions ect. www.ego4u.de
phrasal verb list and other lists www.englisch-hilfen.de
there are also two usefull links from this cae blog.
Have a look under English Grammar Secrets and CAE exercises.
Have a nice week.
Arlette
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Postcard from the pirates of the ägerisee
Ahoi from Oberägeri
For one week I was the pirate "barbera" and cooked for 30 Volleyball-Kids deliscious meals. The last evening we had dinner by candlelight and ate without cutlery. This was great fun for the children as well as for the leaders. Half an our later when we turned on the light again, the fun was over for the ones who had to clean the dining-room. There was an unbelievable mess all over the ground because we really behaved as pirates. Threw the bones away, fighted with each other for the food and belched and shouted around.
The camp took place in Oberägeri. By the way a beautyfull area. I really enjoyed to go running every morning. One day I even ran around the whole lake. For more pictures and text about the camp visit this link: http://www.vbcebikon.ch
See you soon!
Angi
For one week I was the pirate "barbera" and cooked for 30 Volleyball-Kids deliscious meals. The last evening we had dinner by candlelight and ate without cutlery. This was great fun for the children as well as for the leaders. Half an our later when we turned on the light again, the fun was over for the ones who had to clean the dining-room. There was an unbelievable mess all over the ground because we really behaved as pirates. Threw the bones away, fighted with each other for the food and belched and shouted around.
The camp took place in Oberägeri. By the way a beautyfull area. I really enjoyed to go running every morning. One day I even ran around the whole lake. For more pictures and text about the camp visit this link: http://www.vbcebikon.ch
See you soon!
Angi
Thursday, October 22, 2009
postcard from tuscany
Best wishes from the tarot garden in the south of the tuscany, where I spent with my family a very pleasant afternoon. The tarot garden has been created about 15 years ago by Nikki de St Phalle, a American-Swiss Artist. Every sculpture shows a card of the tarot-game. The one on the picture shows the queen. You can enter in some sculptures, so you can in the one on the picture. The queen has given home to nikki while her work in the garden. You find a kitchen, a bathroom, a livingroom and a bedroom in the sculpture. The different shapes and colours were absolutly amazing. Even if you aren't keen on art you will be fascinated!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Postcard from Sardinia
Hi everyone
This is where I spent my time relaxing in the shade of the veranda. Every morning there was a spectacular sunrise over the sea, turning the dark sky into a vibrant ball of fire. Then the bells began ringing as the sheep made their way through the brush to be fed by the shepherd just on the other side of the fence.
We also ate most of our lunches and dinners here as we enjoyed the peacefulness in between swims and trips into the countryside.
I hope you also had a great time!
Yours
Illya
PS: I'd love to get a postcard from you too!
Baaa
Monday, October 19, 2009
Useful learing links
ELLLO everyone,
You know, there are loads of links on our blog but ELLLO attracted me most of all.
www.elllo.org is well – organized and there are more than 1000 listening activities with transcripts, quizzes, and games. But the two ones I was impressed the most are Songs and Mixer. Songs reminds me of a kind of karaoke. While you are listening to one of the songs you can read the lyrics displayed on the screen. Mixer seems to be a useful way to prepare for the speaking exam because there are always one question and six answers which you can listen to, read or download.
There are some other useful links I found by chance like Phrasen.com or Bab.la. If it’s difficult to find the correct translation of an idiom or phrasal verb, you can look up there and you’ll propably find it. Even if you spell wrong or only write two words of an idiom Babla will help you with some suggestions. Sometimes Dict.cc can be useful to look up a phrasal verb or a short idiom.
So have a nice time. See you next Tuesday,
Adalbert
You know, there are loads of links on our blog but ELLLO attracted me most of all.
www.elllo.org is well – organized and there are more than 1000 listening activities with transcripts, quizzes, and games. But the two ones I was impressed the most are Songs and Mixer. Songs reminds me of a kind of karaoke. While you are listening to one of the songs you can read the lyrics displayed on the screen. Mixer seems to be a useful way to prepare for the speaking exam because there are always one question and six answers which you can listen to, read or download.
There are some other useful links I found by chance like Phrasen.com or Bab.la. If it’s difficult to find the correct translation of an idiom or phrasal verb, you can look up there and you’ll propably find it. Even if you spell wrong or only write two words of an idiom Babla will help you with some suggestions. Sometimes Dict.cc can be useful to look up a phrasal verb or a short idiom.
So have a nice time. See you next Tuesday,
Adalbert
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Teacher Award 5
My best teacher
I used to be fascinated when I heard my dad playing the piano, though he only could play some harmonies. When I was seven I was given piano lessons and I was so happy because my teacher praised me for everything.
That made me eager to develop my talent. When she organised a concert with her pupils I was excited. First her youngest pupils had to play their simple pieces whereas the older ones could show their best after that and I was so impressed about their skills. Then the teacher praised our efforts and said that the younger pupils would do it next time like the older ones.
A few years later I ordered the pieces I wanted to play by myself. When my dad saw that he said that this was too difficult for me. Not so my teacher and thus, I practised a piece of Chopin and played it next time in the piano lesson. Well done, my teacher said, but it could be easier if you played it in the given key.
About 20 years later I read an interview with a pianist. The reason why she wanted to become a pianist was her eagerness she got during a pupil's concert she had joined in when a boy played a very difficult piece of Chopin, though in the wrong key. That boy was me.
I consider that my piano teacher deserves an award because she was able - effortlessly, it seems, and almost endlessly – to let pass on the enthusiasm from one student to the other student.
Adalbert Bircher
I used to be fascinated when I heard my dad playing the piano, though he only could play some harmonies. When I was seven I was given piano lessons and I was so happy because my teacher praised me for everything.
That made me eager to develop my talent. When she organised a concert with her pupils I was excited. First her youngest pupils had to play their simple pieces whereas the older ones could show their best after that and I was so impressed about their skills. Then the teacher praised our efforts and said that the younger pupils would do it next time like the older ones.
A few years later I ordered the pieces I wanted to play by myself. When my dad saw that he said that this was too difficult for me. Not so my teacher and thus, I practised a piece of Chopin and played it next time in the piano lesson. Well done, my teacher said, but it could be easier if you played it in the given key.
About 20 years later I read an interview with a pianist. The reason why she wanted to become a pianist was her eagerness she got during a pupil's concert she had joined in when a boy played a very difficult piece of Chopin, though in the wrong key. That boy was me.
I consider that my piano teacher deserves an award because she was able - effortlessly, it seems, and almost endlessly – to let pass on the enthusiasm from one student to the other student.
Adalbert Bircher
Hi Everyone
On friday was our wedding. It was a really greate day/night. after the marriage ceremony in the Rathaus Lucerne, a aperitif and the dinner with the family, we had a greate party with around 100 friends. There was plenty of dancing and a lot of fun until four o ' clock.
after some hours of sleeping we had much to tidy and clean up yesterday.
Today we have to pack our bags, because tomorrow we fly to Egypt for a week. so I can't come to class on tuesday :-(
I can't grasp it yet. neither i'm married nor we have hollydays and will lie on the beach in 24 h. I'm still overcome with emotions. It's beyond description.
Have a nice time!
CU in October
Rama
On friday was our wedding. It was a really greate day/night. after the marriage ceremony in the Rathaus Lucerne, a aperitif and the dinner with the family, we had a greate party with around 100 friends. There was plenty of dancing and a lot of fun until four o ' clock.
after some hours of sleeping we had much to tidy and clean up yesterday.
Today we have to pack our bags, because tomorrow we fly to Egypt for a week. so I can't come to class on tuesday :-(
I can't grasp it yet. neither i'm married nor we have hollydays and will lie on the beach in 24 h. I'm still overcome with emotions. It's beyond description.
Have a nice time!
CU in October
Rama
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Link Description
The phrase finder.
Titled : A phrase a week.
Located on ‚Your CAE-Blog’ just underneath the ‚Cambridge Dictionary’.
I like reading and looking into idioms whether in German or in English.
It’s an interesting and important thing to know meanings and origins in languages. It could be argued, the level of knowledge of sayings and idioms is the level of comprehension of a language. By hook or by crook - to learn a language – it’s sink or swim – to use it or to loose it ... J
By the way, I’ve bought also a book, titled ‚Oxford Idioms-Dictionary’. On one hand, it’s a good thing, to be independent from the internet and on the other hand, I prefer to read in a book whenever I want.
Stefan Rüegg
Titled : A phrase a week.
Located on ‚Your CAE-Blog’ just underneath the ‚Cambridge Dictionary’.
I like reading and looking into idioms whether in German or in English.
It’s an interesting and important thing to know meanings and origins in languages. It could be argued, the level of knowledge of sayings and idioms is the level of comprehension of a language. By hook or by crook - to learn a language – it’s sink or swim – to use it or to loose it ... J
By the way, I’ve bought also a book, titled ‚Oxford Idioms-Dictionary’. On one hand, it’s a good thing, to be independent from the internet and on the other hand, I prefer to read in a book whenever I want.
Stefan Rüegg
listening and reading
During the last two weeks I realised that I spend no time improving my English beside class and homework. I haven’t got hours of freetime so I need a short activity. For all of you in a similar situation I can recommend http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/. I found this site on the link “Daily English Activities” on our blog.
On this website you will find almost daily a new 60 second scientific report. Parallel to reading the short text you can hear the spoken version. It attracts me because it’s a short but intensive activity for two skills. Because of the fact that it takes you really only one minute, it makes sense to repeat it, also because it may be too fast to understand it in the first run.
If you are interested in scientific research it is probably one of the most interesting ways to polish your English.
On this website you will find almost daily a new 60 second scientific report. Parallel to reading the short text you can hear the spoken version. It attracts me because it’s a short but intensive activity for two skills. Because of the fact that it takes you really only one minute, it makes sense to repeat it, also because it may be too fast to understand it in the first run.
If you are interested in scientific research it is probably one of the most interesting ways to polish your English.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Useful link on the CAE blog
“Reported speech”
Illya wants us to choose one of the links and giving some explanations about it.
It would take me hours and days to go into the endless options.
So I would call attention to the link “direct speech”.
Don’t worry, it’s only a part of a very interesting link called
English grammer 4 U .
They provide 6 main areas:
- learning
- reading
- business
- chill out
- take on
- teach in
Every area has several sections giving you a wide range of possibilities.
When you choose grammar for example, you can tick the prefered topic. There you get theoretical information as well as numerous practical exercises.
Look and see!
Illya wants us to choose one of the links and giving some explanations about it.
It would take me hours and days to go into the endless options.
So I would call attention to the link “direct speech”.
Don’t worry, it’s only a part of a very interesting link called
English grammer 4 U .
They provide 6 main areas:
- learning
- reading
- business
- chill out
- take on
- teach in
Every area has several sections giving you a wide range of possibilities.
When you choose grammar for example, you can tick the prefered topic. There you get theoretical information as well as numerous practical exercises.
Look and see!
Links - Leo translating dictionary
www.leo.org
I’ve chosen a link which isn’t on the blog because I’ve already worked with it and I think it’s quite useful. It’s an online dictionary on which you can easily look up a word. In my mind it’s a good site because you can find a word very quickly and even listen to it if you didn’t know how to pronounce.
Corinne
I’ve chosen a link which isn’t on the blog because I’ve already worked with it and I think it’s quite useful. It’s an online dictionary on which you can easily look up a word. In my mind it’s a good site because you can find a word very quickly and even listen to it if you didn’t know how to pronounce.
Corinne
Monday, September 21, 2009
Teacher Award 4
The best teacher Award
My best teacher was and is Andrea Günthör, my dance teacher.
Since seven years I train up to eight hours a week at her dance school and I still look forward to every lesson. Sport means a lot to me. It makes me well-balanced and happy. I can no longer imagine my life without dancing.
I like her training very much and I learn a lot from her. I love to look at her while she is dancing. Her movements are so beautiful.
I don’t learn only different dance steps, but also much about my body and myself. I have made a lot of progress in dancing, since I take part at her classes.
She is a very warmhearted, amiable and understanding person. Her lessons are strict and challenging, but we also have a lot of fun. I like this mixture of pleasure and hard work.
She is very demanding and like you to make great strides. Therefore she gives us a lot of corrections and advice. Her feedback is always constructive and encouraging.
She has a good empathy and notice when she can be hard on me and when I can’t stand any critic.
If we make mistakes we will never be ridiculed or treated negatively.
I really feel comfortable in her classes and I will go to her lessons as long as she would be a teacher.
Andrea isn’t only my best teacher I’ve ever had, she also became a friend of mine.
Andrea deserves the award because I know in every lesson how to improve myself and I always feel better after the training than before.
So vote for her, please!
Have a nice time!
Rama
My best teacher was and is Andrea Günthör, my dance teacher.
Since seven years I train up to eight hours a week at her dance school and I still look forward to every lesson. Sport means a lot to me. It makes me well-balanced and happy. I can no longer imagine my life without dancing.
I like her training very much and I learn a lot from her. I love to look at her while she is dancing. Her movements are so beautiful.
I don’t learn only different dance steps, but also much about my body and myself. I have made a lot of progress in dancing, since I take part at her classes.
She is a very warmhearted, amiable and understanding person. Her lessons are strict and challenging, but we also have a lot of fun. I like this mixture of pleasure and hard work.
She is very demanding and like you to make great strides. Therefore she gives us a lot of corrections and advice. Her feedback is always constructive and encouraging.
She has a good empathy and notice when she can be hard on me and when I can’t stand any critic.
If we make mistakes we will never be ridiculed or treated negatively.
I really feel comfortable in her classes and I will go to her lessons as long as she would be a teacher.
Andrea isn’t only my best teacher I’ve ever had, she also became a friend of mine.
Andrea deserves the award because I know in every lesson how to improve myself and I always feel better after the training than before.
So vote for her, please!
Have a nice time!
Rama
Teacher Award 3
Best Teacher award
I had a really good teacher at the secondary school. He was very good in explaining and he had a good relationship to us. But although he was my best teacher at school there was another best teacher. My best teacher was and is still life itself.
As a child and also until one year ago I thought, that I’m punished from live in a certain way. I always
lost my best friends from the age of ten till today. It started when a new class opened at a school
near my house. A girl and I, we had to change the school because of our schoolway. So I had
to say goodbye to my best friend. Later, every best friend moved. The one from the 5th class moved
to a private school, the other from the secondary school moved to Biel to the sport school My best
friend from the teacher trainig school moved to Chile, the next one became flight attendant and
changed her life completely. So I found a new friend in my neighborhood-she moved also to the
far end of Switzerland. And last March, my husband`s and my best friends moved to Vienna. So I’ve had never a constance in my friendship. First I was so deprived, when I saw friendships which went back
to childhood.
But now I see what live had taught me. It taught me to never give up. That when a door closes, a new
door opens. To stay flexible and open-minded. And it also taught me to always look on the bright
side of life…..our next autumn half-term we’ll spend in Vienna J
Well I could tell you more examples. I mean, think about the hotplate and the child. The parents can
tell it’s hot, but only live can teach what hot really means.
Live is also so patient. It teaches you the same thing again and again, till you really understood. For
example my little son. He had to be stung by bees several times until he believed that it’s not
clevert to catch a bee by bare hands.
So I think, that live“ should gets the award as « best teacher », no other teacher can teach so well,so
patient, so generous and even so simple. It’s only up to you. You have to stay open for its lessons.
Arlette
I had a really good teacher at the secondary school. He was very good in explaining and he had a good relationship to us. But although he was my best teacher at school there was another best teacher. My best teacher was and is still life itself.
As a child and also until one year ago I thought, that I’m punished from live in a certain way. I always
lost my best friends from the age of ten till today. It started when a new class opened at a school
near my house. A girl and I, we had to change the school because of our schoolway. So I had
to say goodbye to my best friend. Later, every best friend moved. The one from the 5th class moved
to a private school, the other from the secondary school moved to Biel to the sport school My best
friend from the teacher trainig school moved to Chile, the next one became flight attendant and
changed her life completely. So I found a new friend in my neighborhood-she moved also to the
far end of Switzerland. And last March, my husband`s and my best friends moved to Vienna. So I’ve had never a constance in my friendship. First I was so deprived, when I saw friendships which went back
to childhood.
But now I see what live had taught me. It taught me to never give up. That when a door closes, a new
door opens. To stay flexible and open-minded. And it also taught me to always look on the bright
side of life…..our next autumn half-term we’ll spend in Vienna J
Well I could tell you more examples. I mean, think about the hotplate and the child. The parents can
tell it’s hot, but only live can teach what hot really means.
Live is also so patient. It teaches you the same thing again and again, till you really understood. For
example my little son. He had to be stung by bees several times until he believed that it’s not
clevert to catch a bee by bare hands.
So I think, that live“ should gets the award as « best teacher », no other teacher can teach so well,so
patient, so generous and even so simple. It’s only up to you. You have to stay open for its lessons.
Arlette
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Flo-joe
I've tested this link: flo-joe
This website is especially designed for fce, cae and cpe candidates. It provides a wide range of vocabulary and grammar excercices. There are useful tips how you can improve your language skills. If you want, you can get weekly emails with tips and advices how you can manage to pass the exam.
The website is well structered and informative. There is a free section and a section, where you have to pay.
I think I'll visit this site regularly.
This website is especially designed for fce, cae and cpe candidates. It provides a wide range of vocabulary and grammar excercices. There are useful tips how you can improve your language skills. If you want, you can get weekly emails with tips and advices how you can manage to pass the exam.
The website is well structered and informative. There is a free section and a section, where you have to pay.
I think I'll visit this site regularly.
Teacher Award 2
The Winner of my teachers award is……… BEFF
by Pia Lötscher
Years ago I attended a course. A whole year long I gave a lift to one of the
other participants, called Beff. As a reward for that he wanted me to take up
tennis. He offered me to be my teacher.
I wasn’t very responsive about his idea. On the one hand, he was a very
good, highly ranked tennis player, on the other hand, I wasn’t highly skilled in ball sports.
But he insisted and in fact we had one tennis lesson weekly. He was able to
develop my capacity with his way of teaching. He chose several helpful and
funny exercises, he never commented a bad ball, he always gave me the
impression that he liked the game with me, he encouraged me to try some new technical details, he heightened the level of the game subtly. Thanks to his persistence and the regular trainings I reached a certain level.
Today, twenty-five years later, I’m playing tennis every now and then with great fun. Firstly, I learnt for my life that a patient, caring, attentive teacher can help you on and secondly that is a very true saying: “no sweet without sweat”.
For all these lasting effects I would like to give the Teachers Award to my
tennis coach Beff.
by Pia Lötscher
Years ago I attended a course. A whole year long I gave a lift to one of the
other participants, called Beff. As a reward for that he wanted me to take up
tennis. He offered me to be my teacher.
I wasn’t very responsive about his idea. On the one hand, he was a very
good, highly ranked tennis player, on the other hand, I wasn’t highly skilled in ball sports.
But he insisted and in fact we had one tennis lesson weekly. He was able to
develop my capacity with his way of teaching. He chose several helpful and
funny exercises, he never commented a bad ball, he always gave me the
impression that he liked the game with me, he encouraged me to try some new technical details, he heightened the level of the game subtly. Thanks to his persistence and the regular trainings I reached a certain level.
Today, twenty-five years later, I’m playing tennis every now and then with great fun. Firstly, I learnt for my life that a patient, caring, attentive teacher can help you on and secondly that is a very true saying: “no sweet without sweat”.
For all these lasting effects I would like to give the Teachers Award to my
tennis coach Beff.
Teacher Award 1
Competition entry
You are looking for the best teacher ever?
I’m going to describe him.
One year ago I spent three weeks in the Yukon Territory (Canada) for a trekking- and canoeing trip with other Swiss people . Our guide, also a Swiss man, knows this region like his own pocket because he did lots of adventure trips on his own when he was younger.
I was very impressed by his knowledge about nature and the animals. He taught us how to survive in this wilderness. We learned how to behave correctly in the forest which is home of uncountable bears.
Instead of complaining about wet socks, he told us stories how they dried them once when they had been on tour in a deep winter. He made us laugh and wonder at the same time.
He isn’t a man of many words, and he had the patience not to show too early how to do it right. He let us gain our own experiences. When I managed to be successful in something I got more self-confident.
But in every difficult situation he was there to help. Soon I knew that he is really sensitive and trustworthy. These skills are unreplaceable if you want to make people around you feel good.
In challenging times I remember him and his family, and I realise that I can reach whatever I want, if I really want it. He made his dream come true and moved to Canada with his wife and his two sons.
So vote for him, because he lives what he teaches. Through him I learned to slow down without having the feeling of wasting time.
Evelyne
You are looking for the best teacher ever?
I’m going to describe him.
One year ago I spent three weeks in the Yukon Territory (Canada) for a trekking- and canoeing trip with other Swiss people . Our guide, also a Swiss man, knows this region like his own pocket because he did lots of adventure trips on his own when he was younger.
I was very impressed by his knowledge about nature and the animals. He taught us how to survive in this wilderness. We learned how to behave correctly in the forest which is home of uncountable bears.
Instead of complaining about wet socks, he told us stories how they dried them once when they had been on tour in a deep winter. He made us laugh and wonder at the same time.
He isn’t a man of many words, and he had the patience not to show too early how to do it right. He let us gain our own experiences. When I managed to be successful in something I got more self-confident.
But in every difficult situation he was there to help. Soon I knew that he is really sensitive and trustworthy. These skills are unreplaceable if you want to make people around you feel good.
In challenging times I remember him and his family, and I realise that I can reach whatever I want, if I really want it. He made his dream come true and moved to Canada with his wife and his two sons.
So vote for him, because he lives what he teaches. Through him I learned to slow down without having the feeling of wasting time.
Evelyne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
