Tag Archives: listening

Ding-a-dong

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Following on from the musical theme of yesterday’s post, we have the Eurovision song contest tomorrow. This will be broadcast live from Malmo and in many ways is no longer a song contest (Ding-a-dong won in 1975), but more a chance for subtle and not so subtle political statements to be made.

Do you watch this competition? Will Cyprus and Greece give each other the maximum 12 points? Does it matter?

Does singing your song in English improve the chances of winning as a larger audience will understand the words, or is it better to use your own language to gain the votes?

Click on the image below to read about and listen to songs from the Eurovision for endangered languages and perhaps hear a song in Breton or even Sami.

europe-81214_1920

Songs to hear before you die

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I often see lists with titles like ’50 places to visit before you die’ and ’20 pasta dishes to try before you’re 50′.

Then I saw ’1000 songs everyone must hear’ in the Guardian and I was surprised by some of  the choices.

I asked some of the people I work with for their Top 10 lists for songs they think everyone should hear at least once in their lives. It might be because it has personal significance, it might have been groundbreaking or it might simply have been a great piece of music.

There is no right or wrong, these are personal opinions, but it creates some interesting lists and some fantastic listening as well.

Click on the picture below to see this list and copy and paste the links to listen to the songs. Do any of the choices surprise you? Now we have shared with you, what about your favourites – can you create a top 10 as well?

You can also click here to download our list - Top 10 songs

Top Tunes

Cognates that don’t stagnate

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15,000 years ago there were worms. Not only were there worms, but we were calling them worms.

Researchers at Reading University have uncovered 23 such words. These words are ‘ultraconserved’ meaning that have remained the same for a very, very long time.

A cognate is a word that sounds and means the same in different languages. Please click on the image below to see these ancient words and hear them spoken.

Would you say that the Kartvelian pronunciation of the verb ‘to spit’ is onomatopoeic?

Worms

When Saturday Comes

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I have already done posts for the other days of the week over the last year or so with just the weekend remaining. For those who might doubt me you can see them here -

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (which was a bit depressing), Thursday (which was tricky) and  then, as you might have guessed by now, Friday.

Now it is the turn of Saturday and I will start off with a poem that reminds me of my son when they are doing ‘exciting writing’ at school.

However, let’s not dwell on the chores of the week- click on the image below of someone who has just realised there is no ‘exciting writing’ on Saturdays and listen to the song…

Winning

 

Trust me…

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Interpersonal skills are vital if you want to be able to communicate effectively. Indeed those people with a good understanding and command of these skills tend to be happier and more successful in both their personal and professional lives.

So what are interpersonal skills? They include areas of communication such as listening, problem solving and making decisions. Can you think of any others?

I think that first impressions are an important aspect, because the way people perceive you during that initial encounter may well have a considerable impact on your relationship with them.

Before you click on the picture of Bristol below to read an article about this, what ways can you think of that will help anyone make a great first impression?

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Why 9?

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OK, I confess I haven’t used this yet, but I will. However, I thought it was worth sharing as I think it is a very useful online tool. The app 9slides offers you a way to create some fantastic presentations (& I think I can safely say that I appreciate fantastic presentations).

The ability to deliver slides with an accompanying audio-visual commentary opens up a number of opportunities – online delivery of lessons, training videos, sales and marketing messages, recording conferences….perhaps you can think of some other uses?

Please click on the image below to listen to Guy Kawazaki and then could someone please tell me why it is called 9slides?

9slides

Treasure Hunts for the modern era

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Recently I have started geocaching. Have you ever tried it?

If you haven’t heard of it, it is similar to a treasure hunt. You use clues and a GPS system to find the ‘treasure’ or geocache. The clues help you locate the approximate location, but sometimes the geocache can be very small and very well hidden (don’t worry, some are much bigger and easier). There is a degree of satisfaction when you do find them though and it also gets you out and about exploring.

There are free and paid for apps available for android and iPhones or you can invest in a dedicated GPS. I recommend this geocaching website where you can access details for over 2,000,000 caches around the world. Are there any near you?

There are several near OISE Bristol and I think our students could practise their English while trying to find them as part of our social programme.

Click on the image below showing one found by my son, Louis, on a recent trip to Bournemouth. It was hidden in an empty snail-shell, but the clues and GPS meant we could find it.

I am on holiday now until 08 April. so perhaps I will find some more next week…

geocaching

Question Everything

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For those of you on a language course you can get your brain started each day by asking questions, thinking and talking together (in English).

Discussing your thoughts, ideas and opinions with others is not only  a great way to practice your English, it is also a way to communicate authentically. Find out what others think and share your views with them.

Click on the image to access a fantastic site for this – each day a question for you to answer in your own words.

Thoughts

The Last Post?

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This will either be my last post before Christmas or my last post ever.

That really depends on whether or not the Mayans are right.

If they are, then the world is going to end on 21 December 2012. Therefore, thank you for taking the time to read this blog and now please make the most of the next couple of days.

You could spend some of that time learning about the Mayan prophesy  or even a top 12 of the other end of the world predictions. Will it be the end or the dawning of a new era?

However, if the Earth is still turning after this date, I am on holiday from today and  will be back again on the 31st with more blog posts. Please click on the image below to listen to an appropriate song.

Mayan

Taxi!

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You may remember I remarked on how this blog had never mentioned cars and then you get two in a year…

Please read these 5 questions and then click on the image below to watch a short piece from the BBC.

1. Who is Monty?

2. What does the spoken command ‘A’ mean to him?

3. How long is the training period?

4. What is the purpose of this training?

5. Would you let Monty borrow your car?

Taxi