Infonews n°290 from 10/12/2006
What is it?
What to watch
Fooding
Living on the Moon
December the 10th : Universal declaration of the Human Rights
Sainte Lucie ( Sweden, dec 13th)
December 20th : Boston Tea party
Hanukkah (Jewish celebration, dec 15th-22nd)
Kwanzaa (African American celebration, dec 26th, jan1st)
Christmas from our colleagues
Songs
History
Christmas Stories
Email Santa
Decorate a Christmas tree online
Christmas coloring pages
Christmas Crafts
Write "Merry Christmas"
Christmas cooking
Toys
Other sites about Christmas
Oral comprehension of written stories
Iam Flemming, James Bond and Casino Royale
EU greenhouse gasses
Cartoon America: A Library of Congress Exhibition (from The Scout Report --
December 8)
Your dreams, now!
Advent Calendar Competition
What is it?
This new French international news channel was launched last week. It is in
French and English, including the videos. It will soon be in Arabic too, and
aims at becoming the equal of CNN and Al Jazeera.
http://www.france24.com
Note: What I found useful is that for the moment you can easily download the
videos.
What to watch
Fooding
On eTeachnet, our colleague F.W. Arbacette recommends this video about fooding
(here to improve canteen food), ending with:
"That's 'le fooding' : the French no fool answer to regimented cuisine"
http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/special-reports/20061206-CUISINE-SPECIAL-REPORT/FOODING_061203.html
There is no transcript, and the content about fooding isn't very informative,
but I think it gives the world an interesting image of the French, especially
the man eating and smoking...;)
video: mms://video.france24.com/WB EN
MG CULT FOODING V2_400.wmv
To get more information read :
- this article written by an American, Moira Chambers, this summer on the Superchef
blog : you find the origin of the word fooding and how it was coined, and also
that San Pellegrino is a partner (that's why you see the bottle on the tables)
and that it is a free buffet lunch, which explains why the man is standing
and eating
http://www.superchefblog.com/2005/09/french-fooding-young-and-hungry.html
- and this article from "France Today" which focuses on the new vocabulary
and offers explanations and translations for the new or trendy expression.
For example : ringard = fuddy-duddy. (for advanced students and all those who
want to keep up with the trend.)
http://www.francetoday.com/thismonth/foodwithattitude.php
You can also add the documents on this page from Séverine Magnin, including
a video extract from a programme featuring Jamie Oliver cooking with Tom Cruise
http://englishseccollege.over-blog.com/categorie-956325.html
Living on the Moon
In " The week in review" I found this report "US plan base
on the moon" with a video. Interesting to include in a teaching unit about
living together in the future, or new technologies...
http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/the-week-in-review/20061205-NASA-Moonbase.html
video: mms://video.france24.com.edgestreams.net/EN NW
PKG NASA 23h_400.wmv
To complement this article you can read:
- this article from the BBC : "how to set a base on the moon" (with
a nice drawing presenting an oxygen factory)
article : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4177064.stm
picture: http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/magazine_enl_1124808191/img/1.jpg
- and this page from the NASA about "lunar base design" with lots
of information, drawings, projects about the lunar base.
http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/HAS/cirr/em/6/8.cfm
December the 10th : Universal declaration of the Human Rights
On eteachnet, Elisabeth Champeyrache reminds us that December 10th is the
anniversary of the declaration of the Human rights. You can access the full
text in English:
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
and in French, with nice drawing for each article with the words written in
english:
http://www.un.org/french/aboutun/dudh.htm
Sainte Lucie ( Sweden, dec 13th)
Read the info : http://www.scandinavica.com/culture/tradition/lucia.htm
Listen to this radio programme : http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/10_12_01/thursday/info2.shtml
December 20th : Boston Tea party
The Boston Tea Party: Costume Optional? (from [LII New This Week] December
7)
This lesson plan (for grades 6-8) focuses on
"What really happened at the Boston Tea Party? How can we 'know' what
happened at an historical event of the distant past?" It features activities,
and links to primary source readings and related websites. Includes a link
to a lesson plan about other revolutionary tea parties. From EDSITEment, a
joint project of the National Endowment for the Humanities and other organizations.
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=397
Hanukkah (Jewish celebration, dec 15th-22nd)
What is this celebration
http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/chanukah/about.html
activities, from a teachers' site in israel
http://www.etni.org/holidays/hannukah.htm
How We Celebrate Hanukkah (from [LII New This Week] December 7)
Information about Hanukkah, covering the history and meaning of the holiday
and how to celebrate, complete with blessings, songs, activities, recipes for
traditional foods, the meaning of
"gelt," and a virtual dreidel game. Chag sameach! (Happy holidays!)
From the Jewish Outreach Institute.
http://www.joi.org/celebrate/hanuk/
Kwanzaa (African American celebration, dec 26th, jan1st)
Read everything about this new celebration, invented in 1966. Discover how
in such a short time they build a tradition looking like an old one, complete
with complexe rituals, a fast, ritual words and traditional objects. They even
decided to give it a theme each year. For 2006, it is "NGUZO SABA" The
Principles and Practice of Bringing Good Into the World.
Official Kwanzaa Site
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org
Kwanzaa explained to children
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/kwanzaa/about.html
History of Kwanzaa
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=353&display_order=1&mini_id=1047
Everything about Kwanzaa
http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm
What is Kwanzaa
http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/
Christmas from our colleagues
here are some useful documents from our colleagues:
for beginners : http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/enseign/anglais/Henry/christmas.htm
a treasure hunt for beginners and lower intermediates : http://lve.scola.ac-paris.fr/anglais/ukxmasTH.php
a page of activities for intermediate students and above : http://lve.scola.ac-paris.fr/anglais/xmasactivities.php
ready made pages and lessons
http://perso.orange.fr/annie.gwynn/christmas/index.htm
http://www.developingteachers.com/tips/xmasplan_01.htm
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/Christmas.htm (50
lesson plans)
and all the addresses on le Café Pédagogique:
http://www.cafepedagogique.net/disci/anglais/12.php
http://www.cafepedagogique.net/disci/anglais/28.php
http://www.cafepedagogique.net/disci/anglais/57.php
Songs
- Christmas musics and lyrics (midi sound)
http://www.santaland.com/songs.html
http://www.merry-christmas.com/music/index.htm
- Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer
Listen to the song (and download it in MP3)
http://language.chinadaily.com.cn/focus/2003/rudolph.mp3
The lyrics and a nice jazzy music (but only the music)
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/midi/rudolf_the_red_nose_reindeer.htm
http://www.the-north-pole.com/carols/rudolph.html
http://www.prose-n-poetry.com/christmas_song/133
how Rudolf was created
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/rudolph.asp
http://www.christmaswithlove.com/rudolf.html
info from wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_the_Red-Nosed_Reindeer
a video from CBS "why don't I fit in" where you see Rudolf father
forcing him to hide his nose for 'self respect'. interesting to discuss from
the way it is used to teach children about discrimination.
http://www.cbs.com/specials/rudolph/
History
How Christmas works
http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/christmas.htm
The history of Christmas, since antiquity
http://www.holidays.net/christmas/story.htm
Christmas around the world (in 12 countries)
http://www.soon.org.uk/country/christmas.htm
Video : the History of Christmas on History Channel
http://www.history.com/media.do?id=history_of_christmas&action=clip
Urban legends about Christmas (including the fact that the present image of
Santa was created by Coca Cola)
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/christmas.asp#immac
Christmas traditions on the BBC ( texts from learners of English in various
countries, who tell about their local Christmas traditions)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1214_le_world/
A history of the American Christmas decade by decade
http://hoover.archives.gov/exhibits/AmChristmas
Christmas Stories
- By Charles Dickens
Dickens wrote several Christmas stories. The most famous is "A Christmas
Carol", but you can also read these other Christmas stories:
A Christmas Tree
What Christmas is as we http://www.selfknowledge.com/41828.htm Grow
Older
The Poor Relation's Story
The Child's Story
The Schoolboy's Story
Nobody's Story
http://www.authorsdirectory.com/b/cdscs10.htm
"A Christmas Carol" is an interesting way to introduce students
to the Victorian way of life. This theme can be linked to Oliver Twist and
to Christmas. You can download the full text at:
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/46
then here is an excellent page of resources, including several sites of reading
notes, learning guides and projects:
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/dickens.html#chrcar
and two webquests (remember to go through all the links before you use the
webquests because some links are broken and you will have to replace them or
suggest another way of completing the task):
A well organised webquest, with students working in teams to perform different
roles and study different aspects of the problem: Scrooge is running for Mayor
and want to convey what he has learnt to the citizens and help them change
things for the better. This webquest includes information from the novel, but
also from several online sources of information about life in the Victorian
period.
http://www.coollessons.org/Dickens.htm
Another webquest, only based on the novel/play. The content and the process
are easier and interesting, but I think it needs to be adapted and can't be
used as is. The students take the roles of the three ghosts, but the first
task each time requires the students to draw a picture of themselves as the
ghost, and this is neither useful nor interesting for our ESL students.
http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/crc/webquest/Christmas%20Carol/
- other Christmas stories
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/stories.html
Email Santa
Fill in the blanks and send this letter to Santa
http://www.emailsanta.com/email_santa.asp
Decorate a Christmas tree online
Decorate a Christmas tree online with this Flash-based interactive.
http://www.castlearcana.com/christmas/tree/index.html
Christmas coloring pages
http://www.ivyjoy.com/coloring/christmas/
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Printables/Christmas/
Christmas Crafts
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/
an see especially the 3D star
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/3dstar/
Write "Merry Christmas"
Write "Merry Christmas" in lots of different languages
http://www.planetpals.com/merrychristmas.html
[ lots of languages, but without the pronunciation!]
Christmas cooking
Christmas pudding
http://www.allinfoaboutchristmas.com/Christmas_Pudding.html
Recipes
http://www.merry-christmas.com/recipes/index.htm
*** Gingerbread houses
http://www.texascooking.com/features/dec2001gingerbreadhouse.htm
http://organizedchristmas.com/article38.html (avec
photos et conseils pour en construire une)
Toys
- A history of Toys and Games
this nice interactive site from History Channel offers both an exhibit on toy
and game history, a timeline (4000 B.C. to the 1990s), essays on inventors
(such as Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley) and toys (Barbie dolls, crayons,
and teddy bears), and a quiz.
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/toys/
- Safety Tips on Toys
Ideas for choosing safe toys for children, organized by age group.
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-063/350-063.html
Other sites about Christmas
Easy Fun School (including word search, recipes, coloring pages, ornaments
making and other handicrafts)
http://www.easyfunschool.com/IndexChristmas.html
Printables and coloring pages
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Printables/Christmas/
Lots of activities and stories
http://www.merry-christmas.com/
Lots of resources (traditional and a bit patriotic)
http://www.santaland.com/
a page of links, with tongue twisters, crafts, fingerplays and a lot more:
http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=3
a page from the White House, including recipes, videos and decorations
http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/holiday/deck-halls/
Christmas traditions on My Europe
http://myeurope.eun.org/eun.org2/eun/en/myEurope_Activities/content.cfm?ov=19823&lang=en
TEFL : lots of activities ready to use in .pdf files. Just enter "Christmas" in
the search box
http://www.tefl.net/lessonplans/tbw.htm
Oral comprehension of written stories
On e-teach, Laurent Guyenot recommends this site featuring real stories written
by people and read by Paul Auster.
http://www.npr.org/programs/watc/storyproject/2001/011103.story.html
You can access the sound and the script. Remember that on npr, the script is
available for free online only for a limited time.
[ c'est de l'écrit oralisé et finalement je vous en indique peu et pourtant
c'est aussi un type de compréhension à évaluer. Ces documents peuvent
être utilisés avec des étudiants de bon niveau, B2 ou plus.]
Iam Flemming, James Bond and Casino Royale
Madie has created a teaching unit from various resources for her class of
terminale (last year of secondary school). Discover this outstanding work:
http://perso.orange.fr/ecole.st.sulpice/eleves2/james/total.htm
EU greenhouse gasses
BBC learning English features this week a text about EU greenhouse gasses,
with the text, the sound and a teaching unit.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/12/061206_climate.shtml
About this topic, see also this Great video on You Tube that Darren Rigby has
posted it on his site with the transcription of Tony 'Jug Ears' Blair's introduction
which he found on
the 10 Downing Street site. A topical theme : Global Warming,save the Planet,
great remix of Pink Floyd, plenty of images, facts and figures and a touch
of black humour.
http://perso.orange.fr/rigby/2006/11/global-warning.html
Cartoon America: A Library of Congress Exhibition (from The Scout Report -- December 8)
For decades, James Arthur Wood Jr. collected original cartoon art, and he
also was an editorial cartoonist as well during his long career. After amassing
a large collection of original drawings by various cartoon artists, he kindly
donated his collection to the Library of Congress. Recently, staff members
at the Library created this very nice online collection that
contains a selection of these materials. The exhibition is divided into six
sections, including “Imaginary Worlds: Illustration” and
“Punch Lines: Gag & Single Panel Cartoons”. Each one of these sections
contains a dozen or so illustrations, complete with an explanatory paragraph
and bibliographic information. Some of the many gems include a very humorous
illustration by Peter Arno depicting a group of middle-aged socialites and
a very fine gem by Bill Maudlin depicting Nikita Kruschhev berating a group
of artists. [KMG]
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/cartoonamerica/
Charities (from [LII New This Week] December 7)
"Find a charity you can trust."Provides tips for making decisions
about donations, statistics, information about workplace donation campaigns,
and a list of the highest and lowest rated charities in various subject areas.
From Charity Navigator, an organization that "works to advance a more
efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial
health of America's largest charities."
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/holiday.main.htm
BBC Learning English offers two competitions.
Your dreams, now!
If you haven't already entered our competition for learners of English, there's
still time because the deadline's been extended to 17th December - so get writing!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/generationnext/
Advent Calendar Competition
This month, there are 12 chances to win exclusive BBC Learning English calendars,
pens, keyrings and stress balls. Check it out!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/communicate/advent/calendar2006/advent.shtml
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