What Do You Think – To Work or Not to Work
A job in its broad sense is a task to be performed. In the world of work, “job” is a synonym for occupation, employment, profession and career….
The History of London
London, the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is a city of over seven million inhabitants. It covers an area of 1,606 square kilometres…..
Colorful Idioms
Pre-reading activity: Translate the following idioms into your language: – in black and white…
Animal Idioms …
There are definitely many animal idioms used in all languages. You may have come across many of them….
St. Patrick´s Day
That day is St. Patrick’s Day. Your colour is green. Your culture is Irish. Your celebration is St. Paddy …
More False Friends
Today I want to return to a topic I have already written about in this column: false friends, i.e., expressions …
Time
Telling the time is easy. Isn’t it? It’s something seven- and eight-year-old kids have ….
Christmas
There are numerous occasions on which people wish each other well. The tradition of sending cards and wishes has never disappeared ….
Animal Idioms
Idioms are rather like salt in cookery: not needed all the time, not enough and it’s boring, …
Role models, Heroes, and Superheroes
Activity: Think about the three words in the title. What is the definition of each word?….
Best Wishes
There are numerous occasions on which people wish each other well. The tradition of sending cards and ….
False Friends
My first contact with a Slavonic language was just before I came to what was then Czechoslovakia. I was offered a job in …
Dubbing and Language Learning
My smart TV has hundreds of channels. Although digital TV has been with us for some years now, almost everything is still either already in the local language or dubbed….
When Is The Right Time To Leave Home?
Hey guys, it’s me again! In this article, I’m going to talk about leaving home, that is moving out, etc. When would you like to leave your home?
Buy Nothing Day
Could you get through a day without spending a cent? What do you think? Is the following article related to a) shopaholism; b) environment; or c) a healthy lifestyle?
Two School Debates
Debate 1: To Pay Kids who Earn Good Grades?
Students at several middle schools in Washington, D.C., have an unusual incentive1 to get good grades.
Things That Drive Us Teenagers Crazy about Adults
“I think you should do it this way…” “No, not like that…”
“Oh my God, what are you doing?!”
World Food Day
World Food Day is a worldwide event designed to increase awareness1, understanding and information. It is a year around action to alleviate2 hunger.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain lovers are celebrating 2020 as the 110th anniversary of this beloved author’s death, the 185th anniversary of his birth, and the 135th anniversary of his famous …
Slang and Teenagers
Are you one of the teenagers who use the word “matika” more frequently than matematika? Do you think the expression “Mám v paži!” is cool?
Are You Happy?
We all want to be as happy as possible and everyone wants an extra reason to smile. But, let’s …
Compulsory Education
Although the idea of educating children goes back to ancient times, it took many centuries before it was legalized.
Central Park
On July 21, 1853, the New York State Legislature decided to dedicate more than 750 acres (over 3km2) of land in the centre of Manhattan to create ….
Gender Sterotypes
Some time ago I came across a campaign focusing on helping girls increase their self-confidence. A number of boys and girls of various ages …
British Slang – Leave people gobsmacked and thinking you’re the bee’s knees
Although it’s been a while since I was in my home country of England, I thought it would be fun to touch on some of the …
HOW TO … – How To Become A Keen Reader
You’ve certainly seen the older generation shake their heads and say with sadness or disgust1 “Young people don’t read….”
A Great Month of Books
When people discuss spare time activities1 or hobbies, reading is always named along with doing sports, listening to music …
Reflecting on Friendship
Having good friends is an important part of our lives, but at times making friends and keeping them isn’t easy. Of course, one of the basic things …
Politically Correct Language
A student of mine once wrote: “In the USA they have political correctness; here, we prefer to have good manners.” I have nothing against good …
Cheating
A friend of mine used to teach physics at secondary school. Once, as she was watching her students take a test, she noticed …
Do You Need a Digital Detox?
Can you live without your mobile, or do you need a digital detox?
Teenagers spend more than 11 hours a day in front of screens.
How Reading Gets You Closer to a Language You Study
You might spend almost all your life studying a second language. It could be English, Spanish, or German. And …
Mental health problems of the young
What comes into your mind’s eye when you hear the words ‘mental health’ and ‘mental health problems’? Perhaps because of …
Bullies, Targets and Others
Bullying is like a dangerous disease. If you don’t pay attention to the first signals, it spreads quickly and can do huge damage.
Christmas
Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, …
Work Out and Be Happy
Many people forget or ignore both the short – and long-term benefits of exercise and avoid it due to a comfortable lifestyle. Two primary chemicals involved in making exercise feel …
HOW TO … How to Handle Back-to-School Stress not
You know it: the sweet months of July and August are over and you’re going back to school. You …
Halloween
Halloween is the second most popular holiday in North America after Christmas. Falling on October 31, it’s a day on which children and even adults …
European Day of Languages
The International Day of Languages is something I did not know much about, since most people in the US do not know what this is, …
Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the most powerful happiness producers. Sometimes, it’s easy to feel consumed by hatred, anger and despair …
Fun with Literature – Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MRS CHRISTIE!
You don’t have to be a great fan of crime novels to know the name of Agatha Christie. …
World Teachers’ Day
Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises. Preparation task …
PATRIOT DAY
11 September
On 11 September each year, you can see the national flags at the White house and on all U.S. government buildings flown at half-mast in memory of those who died in the September 2001 ….
Commemorating 9/11 – One World Trade Center
One World Trade Center is a new landmark adorning the characteristic skyline of New York’s Lower Manhattan. Its height, 1,776 feet, (165 metres) is a symbolic reference …
Idioms of change
You’re undoubtedly well aware of how much people’s lives have changed due to the Corona virus crisis in 2020. I also had to make some tough choices as the situation became worse. …
COVID 19 – Vocabulary
In the last couple of months, coronavirus has fundamentally changed our lives. It has had an impact on school attendance, work, pastime activity, all aspects of our lives. We still come across a number of jokes and cartoons presented on various social media.
Read a Book Day
Grab your favourite book, or perhaps a new one you’ve been dying to read, grab your favourite beverage, curl up in a good spot, and enjoy; it’s Read a Book Day! …
New Year’s Resolutions
Several years ago, my list of New Year’s resolutions looked like this: …
Fun with Literature – OSCAR WILDE
The name of Oscar Wilde is so famous it has almost become a part of general knowledge. …
Captain Marvel
The world of superheroes is constantly growing. This month the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going to release its twenty-first film. However, this time it is going to be unique. …
Poppy Day and Remembrance Sunday
November is the time of the year when people in the UK wear a red poppy in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for us during wars.
The tradition began after …
In both Slovakia and the United Kingdom there have been strikes that are affecting many people
Many workers belong to Trade Unions. These are organisations that work for people in a trade or profession, teachers …
World population hit 7 billion on Oct. 31
It took only a dozen years for humanity to add another billion people to the planet, reaching the milestone of 7 billion on October 31 — give or take a few months. …
American Teenagers Love Calories in a Can
American Teenagers Love Calories in a Can
Two-thirds of Americans are overweight. The Centers for Disease Control and …
The X Factor
For those of you who missed it or want more information about this singing competition, here’s a little history: …
SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
In 2003, an international competition was launched to design a memorial at the World Trade Center to honor …
The Premier League starts again
The Barclays Premier League kicked off on Saturday 13th August with Manchester United out to defend their champion’s position from last season. ….
London Riots
Riots and vandalism have broken out in many cities and towns in England. Many of the people involved in the criminality and looting are teenagers with …
BRITISH MUSIC FESTIVAL
One of the most well known music festivals in the UK is the EDINBURGH FESTIVAL, held in August. It dates from 1947 and is mainly a celebration of the …
Earth Day
Every year on April 22, the world recognizes Earth Day. Earth Day is a special day that is intended to make us think about our relationship …
Record low temperatures in North America
The way some holiday customs and traditions translate across different cultures varies from place to place. The further apart two different cultures are, …
Best Wishes
There are numerous occasions on which people wish each other well. The tradition of sending cards and wishes has never disappeared although there are …
The Enemy of the Environment?
The plastic bag has become the environment’s Public Enemy Number ONE. You know what I’m talking about, …
Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill CarnivalIn England the last Monday in August is a public holiday and many thousands of people take the opportunity to travel to West London …
FAST-TRACK KIDS
What can I say? At 12 years old I wanted to be bad. My family had moved from the country to the city, and for some reason I still don’t understand, …
Jack the Ripper
In the poor East End district of London in 1888 a number of murders attracted wide attention, especially from the press. The person who …
2 Apps you don´t want to miss
Want to make the upcoming school year easier? Learn about apps designed for writing down your time table and homework or sharing of documents …
Today’s Clean-Cut Teens: “Twenty is the New Forty”
I’ve got some shocking news for you. According to recent surveys, today’s British and American teens are the best behaved generation since the 1960s, when ….
THAR SHE BLOWS!!!! Frankenstorm 2012
Sandy. Such a nice, friendly-sounding name. But if you asked the residents of the eastern US what they thought about Hurricane Sandy, I’m sure most …
ONE SMALL JUMP FOR FELIX…
Did you watch it? Were you one of the eight million people on earth watching him live on YouTube (breaking a record of 500,000 watching a live event) …
James Bond – 50th Anniversary of First Film
James Bond – 50th Anniversary of First Film“Bond, James Bond” is the opening line of a famous series of books written by Ian Fleming featuring …
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was born near Cardiff, South Wales on September 13th 1916, and is one of the most unusual fiction writers of the 20th century. …
ONE SMALL STEP FOR (A) MAN, ONE GIANT STEP FOR MANKIND
Neil Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012)
One famous anecdote tells of how …
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE
So the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee last weekend was just my cup of tea, as they say. On the other hand, if you’re not particularly interested …
February a big month for Awards
Kanye West received the most nominations with seven. Adele, Foo Fighters, and Bruno Mars each received six nominations. Lil Wayne, …
Olympic Village Handed Over
That is not the end of the story though because organisers now have the job of fitting out the 2,818 flats where the 16,000 athletes and …
CHINESE NEW YEAR 2018
This year Chinese New Year falls on February 16,2018, when we ring in the Year of the Dog. New Year’s Eve is a time for family get-togethers for …
Tribute to motherhood
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Mothers are a unique species. Combine love, tenderness, courage, self- sacrifice, stamina and creativity and you get a ….
Earth Day around the world
On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was recognized. It involved thousands of people in the U.S rallying in celebration of the planet and …
Two Birthdays of the QUEEN
In many ways, it seems that the Queen of England has a special royal privilege. She celebrates two birthdays each year. Although her actual birthday is …
Bullying in British schools
What is bullying? Bullying. You know it from films, news and radio. But maybe it is happening at your school, in your class and maybe to ….
Halloween Traditions
Halloween is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off …
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who died on 5th December 2013, aged 95, from a lung infection was a Black South African who rose to become …
Margaret Thatcher
(1925-2013) Margaret Thatcher was probably the greatest politician since Winston Churchill. Worshipped by conservatives and despised by the left, she …
The Hobbit Movie
Three new action films based upon J.R.R. Tolkein’s 1937 novel The Hobbit are currently being worked on. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is due …
The Great Storms – December 2013
The United Kingdom has more than 11,000 miles (17,700 km) of coastline. The surrounding seas and oceans can be useful for defence but …
US Elections 2012 and Why Europe Matters
Europe’s debt crisis has had a significant impact on U.S. voters in this year’s presidential elections and on the campaign strategies of President …