Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Dead Ringers - The Queen's speech outtakes
The Queen releases a DVD of her Christmas speech outtakes in this comedy sketch from BBC impression show Dead Ringers. Funny video, but watch out for the Queen's strong language!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tim Minchin - White wine in the sun
Tim Minchin is an Australian musician, actor, comedian and writer.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Christmas Wouldn't Be Christmas (Without your M&S)
M & S christmas advert 2009 Myleene Klass, Stephen Fry, Philip Glenister, Noemie Lenoir, Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley and James Nesbitt.
<Friday, December 18, 2009
Pavement Christmas
Auckland City Mission, New Zealand, launched the 2005 Christmas Appeal with “Pavement”, a poignant TV ad featuring a young homeless Aucklander imagining his perfect Christmas day with the help of a piece of chalk.
The young man (Rangi Ngamoki, star of Two Cars, One Night) opens his eyes to the sounds of street traffic. “It’s time to get up for me”. His bed, pillow and sound system are all drawn in chalk. The boy gets dressed as he lies on the pavement, with bed, dresser and Christmas stocking drawn in chalk. “Christmas Day. I can’t wait to see what’s under the tree. Better wash my face and clean my teeth first. And we look in my wardrobe and find my favourite shirt.” We see that he has only one shirt. “Shh. Go quietly downstairs to the livingroom. Check out my presents.” The boy ’sneaks’ down stairs drawn in chalk. We see that the Christmas tree and all the presents are drawn in chalk. “Everyone else will be awake soon. They’re all mine! This one’s from Dad. Haven’t seen him in a long time. Playing my XBox.” Once again - it’s an imagined luxury. “Mmm I can smell the turkey. I wish it was Christmas every day.”
The voiceover is provided by Sam Neill: “One in five children are living in poverty. We’re on a mission to make Christmas happen - for every Auckland child.”
The young man (Rangi Ngamoki, star of Two Cars, One Night) opens his eyes to the sounds of street traffic. “It’s time to get up for me”. His bed, pillow and sound system are all drawn in chalk. The boy gets dressed as he lies on the pavement, with bed, dresser and Christmas stocking drawn in chalk. “Christmas Day. I can’t wait to see what’s under the tree. Better wash my face and clean my teeth first. And we look in my wardrobe and find my favourite shirt.” We see that he has only one shirt. “Shh. Go quietly downstairs to the livingroom. Check out my presents.” The boy ’sneaks’ down stairs drawn in chalk. We see that the Christmas tree and all the presents are drawn in chalk. “Everyone else will be awake soon. They’re all mine! This one’s from Dad. Haven’t seen him in a long time. Playing my XBox.” Once again - it’s an imagined luxury. “Mmm I can smell the turkey. I wish it was Christmas every day.”
The voiceover is provided by Sam Neill: “One in five children are living in poverty. We’re on a mission to make Christmas happen - for every Auckland child.”
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
WORD OF THE YEAR 2009: UNFRIEND
“What word best sums up 2009? How about the word ‘unfriend?' That’s the new Oxford American Dictionary’s 2009 word of the year. Unfriend means, of course, to remove someone as a friend on a social networking Web site such as Facebook. Each year, Oxford University Press tracks how the English language is changing and chooses the word that best reflects the mood of the year.” (KCAL)
That was the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles, talking about the Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year, ‘unfriend.' Other terms considered include ‘netbook’ and ‘sexting’. The Oxford University Press’s decision has sparked a conversation in the media about the English language, and how it has changed in response to the Internet’s rising popularity.
We’re looking at perspectives from ABC News, CTV, KPIX and Urban Dictionary to see what they think about unfriending.
CTV News talks to David Stover, the president of Oxford University Press. Stover explains the process of picking the word of the year, and why unfriending deserves the title for 2009.
“Well there’s a number of ways a word gets in contention. We look for things that are topical, things that are coming into use across the board, and to be honest, the lexicographers want something that’s fun as well so this one hit it on all three criteria."
Urban Dictionary, a user-generated online dictionary, has multiple entries defining what it means to unfriend. Here’s one example.
"Compulsive people prune their friend list periodically, removing people that they no longer have contact with. More often though, unfriending is only done when a particular friend's updates and self-promotions become so annoying that you can no longer stand hearing about them."
But some debate that the term is inaccurate. ABC News talks to an assistant editor of a publishing house. She says that the term “defriending” is a better fit for the description.
"Unfriend… implies a complete lack -- that you are absolutely not friends… Defriend implies that you were once friends…Defriend seems to apply more to the action. Unfriend seems to apply more to the state of being."
Finally, San Francisco’s CBS affiliate takes a look at how the Internet, and Web sites such as Facebook, are changing definitions in the English language.
“Dana, I remember when my daughter was in kindergarten she came home after a little disagreement over a jump rope and said Jordana Rock was not her friend anymore, unfriending was just that simple. Now you gotta have a laptop, the Internet, a Facebook account to unfriend someone, of course preceeding that, you have to friend. Unfriend, as the new Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year, gains that distinction simply because there are more than 300 million users of Facebook." (KPIX)
So is it unfriending or defriending? And what do you think of the Internet's impact on the English language?
That was the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles, talking about the Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year, ‘unfriend.' Other terms considered include ‘netbook’ and ‘sexting’. The Oxford University Press’s decision has sparked a conversation in the media about the English language, and how it has changed in response to the Internet’s rising popularity.
We’re looking at perspectives from ABC News, CTV, KPIX and Urban Dictionary to see what they think about unfriending.
CTV News talks to David Stover, the president of Oxford University Press. Stover explains the process of picking the word of the year, and why unfriending deserves the title for 2009.
“Well there’s a number of ways a word gets in contention. We look for things that are topical, things that are coming into use across the board, and to be honest, the lexicographers want something that’s fun as well so this one hit it on all three criteria."
Urban Dictionary, a user-generated online dictionary, has multiple entries defining what it means to unfriend. Here’s one example.
"Compulsive people prune their friend list periodically, removing people that they no longer have contact with. More often though, unfriending is only done when a particular friend's updates and self-promotions become so annoying that you can no longer stand hearing about them."
But some debate that the term is inaccurate. ABC News talks to an assistant editor of a publishing house. She says that the term “defriending” is a better fit for the description.
"Unfriend… implies a complete lack -- that you are absolutely not friends… Defriend implies that you were once friends…Defriend seems to apply more to the action. Unfriend seems to apply more to the state of being."
Finally, San Francisco’s CBS affiliate takes a look at how the Internet, and Web sites such as Facebook, are changing definitions in the English language.
“Dana, I remember when my daughter was in kindergarten she came home after a little disagreement over a jump rope and said Jordana Rock was not her friend anymore, unfriending was just that simple. Now you gotta have a laptop, the Internet, a Facebook account to unfriend someone, of course preceeding that, you have to friend. Unfriend, as the new Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year, gains that distinction simply because there are more than 300 million users of Facebook." (KPIX)
So is it unfriending or defriending? And what do you think of the Internet's impact on the English language?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Always blow on the pie: Safer Communities Together
'Always blow on the pie': A traffic policeman's bizarre advice to a car thief which has become an internet hit
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Saverjet: Low cost airlines
Anyone who has ever flown with a low cost airline will have experienced something similar to this short little clip that pokes fun at all the little tricks used to sell you a seat. How many times have you fallen for the cheap airfare that ended up costing you more than you thought?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
WORD OF THE MONTH NOVEMBER 2009: GLOCALIZATION
glocalization (BrE also -isation)
the fact of adapting products or services that are available all over the world to make them suitable for local needs: As an example of the glocalization of fast food marketing, McDonald’s in France are using Asterix in promotions instead of Ronald McDonald.
The word glocalization is formed from two existing words, globalization and local. There are many words like this in English; for example, edutainment means ‘entertainment which is also educational’, and is formed from entertainment and education, and an infomercial is a commercial which also provides information.
the fact of adapting products or services that are available all over the world to make them suitable for local needs: As an example of the glocalization of fast food marketing, McDonald’s in France are using Asterix in promotions instead of Ronald McDonald.
The word glocalization is formed from two existing words, globalization and local. There are many words like this in English; for example, edutainment means ‘entertainment which is also educational’, and is formed from entertainment and education, and an infomercial is a commercial which also provides information.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Bulls Escape Tom Cruise Film Set in Spain
Bulls broke free from a film set in the southern Spanish town of Cadiz Sunday. "Knight&Day" stars Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz hadn't arrived in town yet. Two women were slightly hurt, and filming has been suspended.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Engrish, Spanglish and Franglais
Must be Scotland.
Para picar en el salón.
To sting in the lounge
Potatoes in sauce
Hot sauce, garlic-oil sauce, with goat’s cheese sauce
Iberian ham on toast with spread
Tomato
Hom croquettes
Squids fried in batter
Pan of broken eggs and potatoes chistorra
Pan of broken eggs and potatoes and iberian ham
Paedophiles and prawns on drugs?
Mixed
Jork
Jork and cheese
Ham and tomato
HOT DISHES
Loin little plates
Lean of pig with tomato
Veal in country sauce
Octopus to the Galician
You inhabit chid’s overall with ham
Stirred of asparaguses
Potatos tortilla
Bolognan-meat ravioli
Prawns to the pill pill
COLD DISHES
Iberian ham
This soup could use more soap.
Genetic engineering.
Thanks to Isabel for the link!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Harry Benson and The Beatles Pillow Fight
George V Hotel, Paris, January 1964
The Beatles were on tour in Paris, and Benson was covering the tour for the Express, photographing them at pavement cafés and souvenir shops and during their nightly performances at the Olympia. Benson quickly got to know the band. One evening they were having a drink after a performance at Olympia when Ringo Starr mentioned a pillow fight they had had the night before. Harry was intrigued but as there was a photographer from the Daily Mail sitting with them, kept quiet.
Two nights later he was invited back to their room for more after show drinks. Brian Epstein burst in with a telegram: ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ was number one in America. Harry suggested they celebrate with another pillow fight and took what became one of his most iconic photographs.
© Harry Benson
Listen to Mr Benson talking about this photo:
Big Train - On Call Surgeon
A surgeon, played by Simon Pegg, is trapped on the phone during a life and death operation. Funny sketch from BBC comedy show 'Big Train'.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sade - Feel no pain
A poignant song about people being laid off from work (losing their jobs).
Lyrics | Sade lyrics - Feel No Pain lyrics
Lyrics | Sade lyrics - Feel No Pain lyrics
Monty Python - Silly job interview
Thanks to Carmela, both for the link to the video and the script.
Smack the Pony - Nurses
Smack the Pony is a stylish, original and uninhibited Emmy award-winning sketch show starring Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan and Sally Phillips which ran from 1999 to 2003 on Channel Four.
They play on women's neuroses (size of boobs), their preoccupations (finding a man, finding a man and finding a man), their weaknesses (Marks & Spencer, fashion and men) and their competitiveness (more covert than that of the male of the species, and therefore far more deadly).
They play on women's neuroses (size of boobs), their preoccupations (finding a man, finding a man and finding a man), their weaknesses (Marks & Spencer, fashion and men) and their competitiveness (more covert than that of the male of the species, and therefore far more deadly).
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Big Train - New Office Manager
A boss breaks the unpopular news that Tom Henderson will be the new office manager. Watch out for the very strong language in this funny short sketch from BBC comedy show 'Big Train'. Starring comedian Simon Pegg.
No way! I can´t believe it. That guy is a WANKER!
Friday, October 30, 2009
WORD OF THE MONTH OCTOBER 2009: SIT-IN
A sit-in is a form of direct action that involves one or more persons non-violently occupying an area for a protest, often to promote political, social, or economic change.
This month all the EOIs in Galicia have staged a 48-hour sit-in in shifts to protest against the new Circular 5/2009. For your information, there is a website which has a compilation of all the news that have been published since Circular 5/2009 arrived. You can also listen to some interviews with some of us teachers here and watch videos here.
This month all the EOIs in Galicia have staged a 48-hour sit-in in shifts to protest against the new Circular 5/2009. For your information, there is a website which has a compilation of all the news that have been published since Circular 5/2009 arrived. You can also listen to some interviews with some of us teachers here and watch videos here.
EOI sit-ins in Galicia
View more presentations from Maripinky.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sesame Street - ABCDEF...Cookie Monster!
Kermit the Frog tries to sing the alphabet song with a girl, but she keeps teasing him by singing "Cookie Monster" instead of various letters.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thanks and see you soon!
I hope you all do well in your final exams. Whether you pass or not, keep practising your English and learning things about the culture of the English-speaking countries while having fun here on the blog this summer. There are lots of funny videos (most of them subtitled or with the script) about lots of different topics which you can find under LABELS (left column bottom). Thank you for visiting the blog!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
French and Saunders - Learning foreign languages
French & Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Widely popular in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, the duo continue to film holiday specials for the BBC, and both have been successful starring in their own shows.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
English for seniors
English for seniors
Dobro veče (=good evening in Serbian). Let's start our lesson.
I am a grandmother.
I am a grandmother.
You are a grandmother.
You are a grandmother.
He is a grandmother.
He is a grandmother.
Careful! Something is wrong here. Please think: He cannot be a grandmother.
Bako Bakice (=grandmother in Serbian)...
Shut the fuck up!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
New Zealand hunts accidental millionaires
WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand police said Thursday they had launched an international hunt for a couple who fled after reportedly having millions of dollars mistakenly paid into their bank account.
Reports said an Asian couple who ran a petrol station in the northern city of Rotorua had fled overseas after Westpac bank mistakenly deposited 10 million dollars (six million US) in their account.
Police and the bank refused to say how much money was withdrawn or give any details of the couple, but the bank said it was "pursuing vigorous criminal and civil action."
Rotorua police Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey said the bank had recovered some of the money.
"The individuals associated with this account are believed to have left New Zealand and police were working through Interpol to locate those individuals," he said.
A Westpac spokesman said human error was responsible for the windfall.
Reports said an Asian couple who ran a petrol station in the northern city of Rotorua had fled overseas after Westpac bank mistakenly deposited 10 million dollars (six million US) in their account.
Police and the bank refused to say how much money was withdrawn or give any details of the couple, but the bank said it was "pursuing vigorous criminal and civil action."
Rotorua police Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey said the bank had recovered some of the money.
"The individuals associated with this account are believed to have left New Zealand and police were working through Interpol to locate those individuals," he said.
A Westpac spokesman said human error was responsible for the windfall.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
George Clooney - What else?
Women:
- Dark, very intense, balanced, unique, mysterious... An intense body. Delicate and smooth with strong character... Right.. Rich. Very rich. I'd say Latin America temperament. Deep and sensual. And then delicious after you taste.
George Clooney:
- You're talking about....Nespresso, right?
Women:
- Aha.
George Clooney:
- Yeah... What else?
Nespresso. What else?
- Dark, very intense, balanced, unique, mysterious... An intense body. Delicate and smooth with strong character... Right.. Rich. Very rich. I'd say Latin America temperament. Deep and sensual. And then delicious after you taste.
George Clooney:
- You're talking about....Nespresso, right?
Women:
- Aha.
George Clooney:
- Yeah... What else?
Nespresso. What else?
Woman 1:
- Hello, you're George Clooney, aren't you?
George Clooney:
- Well, yes ...
Woman 1:
- I've seen all your films. You're so charming and you're so sexy ... so generous ...
Woman 2:
- Excuse me, are you Mr George Clooney?
George Clooney:
- No, you must be mistaken.
Nespresso. What else?
Woman:
- The red one.
Girl:
- Excuse me. I'm sorry, do you mind if I ...
George Clooney:
- Of course. I don't think I have a pen
Girl:
- I just want a Nespresso.
George Clooney:
- Oh, Nespresso, what else?
Woman:
- Excuse, where have you been? I've been waiting for my car for about 5 minutes. I've been ... I didn't recognise you. How have you been, Camilla?
Girl:
- I've been really good.
Woman:
- It's great to see you. I think I talked to your mother 10 minutes ago.
Nespresso, what else?
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