English Language Learning and Teaching
The following articles are suitable for teachers
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
пятница, 9 ноября 2012 г.
четверг, 25 октября 2012 г.
Task 1. Read and translate the text.
NEW YEAR IN
GREAT BRITAIN
In Wales,
the back door releases the Old Year at the first stroke of midnight: it is then
locked "to keep the luck in", and at the last stroke the New-Year is
let in at the front.
It is
commonly believed that New Year's celebration is less important in England than
Christmas. It is true in the southern and eastern parts of the country.
However, even there, the welcoming of the New Year is growing in popularity,
particularly among younger people who prefer
to spend
Christmas with kin, but New Year with friends. New Year's parties go all night
through. The most famous places of festivities are Piccadilly Circus and
Trafalgar Square in London where crowds of people greet the New Year with the
linked-arm singing of "Old Land Syne", kissing total strangers,
blowing whistles and automobile horns and shooting firecrackers. Someone
usually falls into the fountain in Trafalgar Square. Unfortunately for all
these midnight celebrators, January first is not a public holiday in England.
In Scotland
New Year's celebration is the greatest festival of the year, where it even has
a special name, Hogmanay. Nobody, however, can successfully explain where this
word comes from. Alter midnight people visit their friends. They carry cakes
and spiced ale to wish their hosts a good year. The first visitor, or the first
footer, must bring a special present — a piece of coal — to wish good luck and
warmth to the house. This is an old Scottish custom. The first footer may also
bring a loaf of white bread and a bottle of whisky. On entering he must place
the coal on the fire, put the loaf on the table, and pour a glass for the head
of the house, all normally without speaking or being spoken to until he wishes
everyone "A Happy New Year". He may also carry a silver coin to wish
wealth.
VOCABULARY
stroke [strəuk]
— бій годинника
kin — рідня, родичі, сім'я, родина
festivities
[fes'tɪvɪtɪz] — урочистості, свято, святкування
to link
arms [a:mz] — брати під руку
"Old
Land Syne " = "Auld Langsyne " auld [ə:Id] — шотл. старий
langsyne ['læŋ'sаm] — шотл. далеке минуле, давні часи,
давним-давно
total
stranger ['streɪndʒə] — зовсім незнайома людина
to blow [bləu]
(blew; blown) — дути; свистіти; гудіти
whistle
['wisl] — свисток
horn [hɔ:n]
— ріжок; гудок, сирена
to shoot
firecrackers ['faɪəkrækəz] — запускати феєрверки
Hogmanay ['hɔgməneн] — шотл. свято Нового року
spiced ale
[spaɪst eɪl] — пряний ель
coal [kəul]
— вугілля
loaf [ləuf]
— буханець
On
entering... — Увійшовши в будинок
Task 2. Answer the questions:
1. Is it
true that New Year's Day is less important in England than Christmas?
2. Who do
younger people prefer to spend Christmas and New Year with ?
3. What are
the most famous places of festivities?
4. Is
January first a public holiday in England?
5. How do
people in Scotland celebrate New Year?
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