TOP CHRISTMAS MOVIES

We have agreed that you won't have to write a review on the Polar Express if you submit 4 mini-reviews to our Christmas blog.

6 of you have done it.

4 of you will have to  do it IN THIS BLOG!

1. Trushina Margarita - 4 mini-reviews
What to do: a mini-review on The Polar Express

2. Lapshina Yulia - 2 mini-reviews
What to do: 2 mini-reviews (one on The Polar Express) or a review of The Polar Express

3. Kovalenko Oleg - 3 mini-reviews
What to do: a mini-review

4. Perepelitsa Yana
What to do: 3 mini-reviews or one review of The Polar Express

Deadline: Friday, December 28th,24:00MSK

Hometask for Wednesday, December 26

December 26 is Speech Practice.

1. The remaining topics on Holidays Around the Globe (1-2)

2. The topic on Individual Reading

The deadline is Wednesday, December 26 (24:00 MSK). 

You are to e-mail them to peddesignbox@gmail.com

If you fail to meet the deadline with any of them, be ready to present them orally at our final class on December 29.

3. Home Reading. W.S.Maugham "In a Strange Land" - only interpretation in your blogs.

The deadline is Tuesday, December 25 (24:00 MSK). 

4. Laboratory work N 3

The deadline is Saturday, December 29.

5. The Polar Express review.

(For those who have not posted 4 mini-reviews (one on The Polar Express is a must) in our Christmas blog)

The deadline is Friday, December 28 (24:00 MSK). .

Hometask for Saturday, December 22

Wednesday 19 is Speech Practice.

Things to prepare:

1. 
Laboratory work 1
Part II (all the questions), Part III (all the questions)


Laboratory work 2
Part I (all the questions), Part II (all the questions), Part III (all the questions)


2. TOPICS

1. 
19. Holidays Around the Globe: Christmas in the UK (the USA) and Russia: Different yet Alike.Compare Christmas customs and traditions in the UK (the USA) and Russia.

2.
21. Holiday Around the Globe: Religious Holidays in the UK and Russia: Compare religious (Christian) holidays in the UK and Russia.



3.Draft outlines of the topics

20. Holidays Around the Globe: National Holidays in the UK (the USA) and Russia. Compare national holidays in the UK (the USA) and Russia.

Hometask for Wednesday, December 19

Wednesday 19 is Speech Practice.

Things to prepare:

1. Laboratory work 4 (FOUR!!!)
Part I (questions 2-4, 7), Part II (all the questions), Part III (all the questions), Part IV (all the questions) 

2. TOPICS

1. 
23. Home Reading: Speak on the theme of forgiveness and redemption across three generations of the same family, told in Trollope's usual lucid prose in the story Faith.

2.
24. Individual Reading: Speak about your book in individual reading (its title, major themes and ideas, plot, key characters, language)
OR
22. Holiday Around the Globe: International Unofficial Holidays. Speak on the five unofficial holidays of international significance.

3. A topic on Environment by heart
(all but Vorozeikina, Demidova, Kovalenko and Lopukhov)

6 of you come with 3 topics, 4 - with 2 topics by heart!

3. Christmas Music Project!

4. Polar Express!
2 mini-reviews are stillmissing the film is a MUST! 

5.Draft outlines of the topics

19. Holiday Around the Globe: Christmas in the UK (the USA) and Russia: Different yet Alike.Compare Christmas customs and traditions in the UK (the USA) and Russia.

21. Holiday Around the Globe: Religious Holidays in the UK and Russia: Compare religious (Christian) holidays in the UK and Russia.

Hometask for Saturday, December 15

December 15 is Home Reading.

The story to read is J. Trollope Faith, pp. 201-208

Questions to do in writing.
3-7, 9-10, 13

Interpretation in writing and be ready to present it in class.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS STORY?

Share the impressions in the commentaries.

Remember one of your examination topics will be based on this story.

23. Home Reading: Speak on the theme of forgiveness and redemption across three generations of the same family, told in Trollope's usual lucid prose in the story Faith.

Wednesday, December 12

What are we to do in class?

This is our final class on Environmental Protection.

1. Laboratory works 2-4

2. Interpretation (all of you will do it - in the mode introduced at our previous class)

3. Translation-Grammar Correction

4. Topic 16

Update for Saturday, December 8

Apart from the tasks listed in the first post,

you ar to have your Home Reading with you and be ready to present the interpretation in class.

What are we to do in class?

1. Laboratory works 1-4

2. Interpretation (all of you will do it - in the mode introduced at our previous class)

3. Translation-Grammar Correction

4. Discussion (the texts suggested)!

Rendering: week 12

Read a New York Times article:

A CONVERSATION WITH STUART L. PIMM

Asking ‘Why Do Species Go Extinct?’

What do you think about Stuart L.Pimm and his activities? Do you think it helps the situation?

Make a commentary in this blog.

In your blogs you are to render an article to do with ENDANGERED SPECIES, ANIMAL WELFARE  AND OTHER GREEN ISSUES (published in 2012)!

Hometask for Saturday, December 8

December 8 is Speech Practice.

Hometask:

1. Rendering: week 12

2. Laboratory work 4

Something to think about ... and comment on (in the commentaries)

Endangered Part 1

Watch the whole documentary if you feel like it.
What do you think about the preservation of the endangered species? Do you think we are doing enough?
What else can be done?

3. Text 1-4 (IV), 1-4 (V), 1-3(IV) from English-3 Part -1 pp. 101-107, 107-112, 112-115

4. Topic 16 (not 13). 
Environmental Issues: Environmental Protection Today. Speak on the major ways to protect the environment (the green movement, animal welfare, recycling)

Hometask for Wednesday, December 5

December 5 is Home Reading.

The story to read is G. Atherton The Foghorn, pp. 20-28

Questions to do in writing.
3-6, 8-10, 13

Interpretation in writing and be ready to present it in class.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS STORY?

Share the impressions in the commentaries.

Rendering: week 11

Read a New York Times article:

Nudging Recycling From Less Waste to None

What do you think about the 'zero waste' strategy? Do you think we should also adopt one? Why/ why not?

Make a commentary in this blog.

In your blogs you are to render an article to do with ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (published in 2012)!

Hometask for Saturday, December 1

December 1 is Speech Practice.

Hometask:

1. Rendering: week 11

OR

2. Laboratory work 3

Something to think about ... and comment on (in the commentaries)

BBC Earth The Climate Wars 1 of 3 Battle Begins

Watch the whole documentary if you feel like it.
Are we really in for the new Ice Age, do you think? Why/ why not?

OR

2. Rendering: week 11

3. Texts 1-2 from English-3 Part -1 p. 78-92

You are to find recent examples of different types of pollutuion (3-5)

Hometask for Wednesday, November 28

November 28 is Speech Practice.

Hometask:

1. Laboratory work 3

Something to think about ... and comment on (in the commentaries)

BBC Earth The Climate Wars 1 of 3 Battle Begins

Watch the whole documentary if you feel like it.
Are we really in for the new Ice Age, do you think? Why/ why not?

OR

2. Rendering: week 11

3. Topics 18, plus 15 and 17
Three written, two by heart

18. Home Reading: Daydreaming or Reality? Why do some people prefer to live in the world of their dreams rather than in the real world? Compare the real Walter Mitty with the Walter Mitty of his secret life? (Based on James Thurber’s The Secret Life of Walter Mitty).

Before you write, look through this site:

SITE 1
SITE 2


15. Environmental Issues: “Global warming is too serious for the world any longer to ignore its danger or split into opposing factions on it” (Tony Blair). Speak on global warming, its causes and consequences. Do you agree with the quote? What can be done to fight the problem.

17. Environmental Issues: Environmental Issues in the News. Speak on the news coverage of environmental issues in the foreign and home media.

Video for Labwork 1

BBC Hot Planet!

Here is a new LINK!!!

If you fail to find it, ggogle or youtube 'bbc hot planet'

Good luck!

I'm interested in your impressions.

Did you learn anything new from it?

Rendering: week 10

Climate Change: Lessons from Ronald Regan

Which is the most important lesson, in your opinion, and why?

Make a commentary in this blog.

In your blogs you are to render an article to do with POLLUTION (published in 2012)!

Hometask for Friday, November 23

November 23 is Speech Practice.

Hometask:

1. Vocabulary by heart

2. Laboratory works 1 and 2

3. Rendering: week 10

4. Multimedia Project for 'Environment'
So far you are to choose the topic and list it HERE.
Areas to cover:

• environmental problems (causes, evidence, consequences, ways to fight);
• modern catastrophes to do with environmental problems (causes, key facts, effects and lessons learnt, i.e. the it changed the society and its attitudes)

5. Topics 15 and 17
Both written, one by heart

15. Environmental Issues: “Global warming is too serious for the world any longer to ignore its danger or split into opposing factions on it” (Tony Blair). Speak on global warming, its causes and consequences. Do you agree with the quote? What can be done to fight the problem.

17. Environmental Issues: Environmental Issues in the News. Speak on the news coverage of environmental issues in the foreign and home media.

Hometask for Wednesday, November 21

November 21 is Home Reading.

The story to read is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber.

Questions to do in writing.
(Sorry, I cannot give you their numbers, but you are to eliminate all the questions which we cover in interpretations: title, summary, theme, idea, character sketchers, impression).

Interpretation in writing and be ready to present it in class.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS STORY?
Share the impressions in the commentaries.

Hometask for Friday, November 15

November 15 th is Speech Practice.

Tasks to do:

1) English-3.

Texts 1-2 from English-3 Part -1 p. 78-92
Texts 1-4 from English-3 Part -1 pp. 92-100

2) Topic 17. Environmental Issues in the News. Speak on the news coverage of environmental issues in the foreign and home media.

See our SHAREBOX.

3) Laboratory work 2. Parts I-IV.

Here is one more documentary on global warming. 
What do you think about it? Is it convincing and fact-based? What did it make you think about?

Discovery Channel - Global Warming, What You Need To Know, with Tom Brokaw

NEW ENVIRONMENT VOCABULARY

This is part of your project on Environment.

Whatever you do - read up for the class, render articles, review films - you are to pick up NEW interesting words and word combinations to do with our topic.

5 words or word combinations per task to make the total of 30. don't forget to date and sign your contributions.

Add them to the NEW ENVIRONMENT VOCABULARY online  list.

LIST

Rendering: week 9

Read the article 

Scientist predicted New York flooding

Do you think Sandy has anything to do with global warming? Why/ why not?

Find an article on global warming (no older than 6 months) and render it in your blog!

Top environmental movies

If you consider this genre more topical nowadays, watch the films in the lists below.

List 1
List 2

Share your impression in the commentary.

The deadline is November, 30.

If you know other noteworthy ENVIRONMENTAL movies, pls contribute to the list!

The third movie to watch

Here is your film for November.

The Pelican Brief (1993)

The reviews are to be posted in your blogs!

Hometask for Wednesday, November 13

November 13 th is Speech Practice.

Tasks to do:

1) Vocabulary "Environmental Protection"

2) Vocabulary Work (exercises).
English-3. 

Vocabulary exercises 1-10, pp 62-73

Texts 1-3, from English-3 Part -1 p. 73-78

3) Rendering: week 9 (in your blogs). 

Deadline: Monday, November 11

4) Laboratory work 1. Parts I-VI

Watch the video and leave a commentary (in this blog).

Is the situation as grave as the film describes? What makes you think so?
What do you think of the solutions that ingenious technology and science offer?

Hot Planet? - BBC Documentary (HD)

Hometask for Friday, November 7

Friday 7 is Speech Practice.

This is our FINAL lesson on WAR and TERROR.

Make sure you have no debts. See the updated portfolio.

Hometask:

1) Topic 9 Terrorism – a Difficult War to Fight. Speak on the major counter-terrorism measures taken by the global community and the basic safety guidelines we all should be aware of.

Write and learn by heart.

2)  Topic 25. Pleasure Reading: Speak about your book in pleasure reading (its title, major themes and ideas, plot, key characters, language)

Write and learn by heart.

Our second class is Translation (Class in Written Practice)

P.S.: It makes sense to make an early start with our next topic "Environmental Protection".

Hometask for Wednesday, November 7

November 7 is Speech Practice.

We are summing up the material on 'War and Terror'.

You are to be ready:

1) to discuss the topic 'Counterterrorism'

Read  your notes:

Major Counterrorism Measures

 Basic Safety Guidelines

2) to present 3 topics, 2 by heart (7 or 10) and 12 (based on the 'Gardener') and 1 in writing.

3) Weekly online tasks.

4) Individual Tasks. Volunteers Wanted!!!

Sorry - those  who volunteered for the previous week will answer as well!
1) Afganistan News (5 one-sentence news items dated November 1-5)
2) Iraq News (5 one-sentence news items dated November 1-5)
3) Syria News (5 one-sentence news items dated November 1-5)
4) World News (5 one-sentence news items dated November 1-5)

All pieces of news are to do with war conflicts and terror!!!

P.S.: If you want to volunteer, pls, choose the subject you would like to cover!
By the way each of you are to do a similar task TWICE in the weeks to come!

Happy Halloween!

At this spooky time of year,

 

when all the black cats hiss,

 

May sweets and treats all come your way, 

and tricks give you a miss! 

Happy Halloween!!!

Individual Reading

The writer for our Individual Reading is Tom Clancy, 

an American author, best known for his technically-detailed espionage, military science, and techno thriller storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games on which he did not work, but which bear his name for licensing and promotional purposes.

 Tom Clancy

The novels you can choose from:

You are to choose two novels (your reading quota is 350-400 pages) and  write down which novels you would like to read in the commentary.

The Hunt for Red October (1984)

Clancy's first published novel. CIA analyst Jack Ryan assists in the defection of a respected Soviet naval captain, along with the most advanced ballistic missile submarine of the Soviet fleet. 

Red Storm Rising (1986)

War between NATO and USSR. The basis of the combat game of the same name, this book is not a member of the Ryan story series (although the protagonist of the story has many similarities with Jack Ryan). He co-wrote it with Larry Bond.

Patriot Games (1987)

Patriot Games predates the first book that Clancy wrote, The Hunt for Red October, chronologically. Jack Ryan foils an attack in London on the Prince and Princess of Wales by the "Ulster Liberation Army". The ULA then attacks Ryan's Maryland home while he is hosting the Prince and Princess for dinner. The movie stars Harrison Ford as Ryan and Samuel L. Jackson as Robby Jackson.

The Sum of All Fears (1991)

Arab terrorists find a nuclear weapon that had been lost by Israel, and use it to attack the United States. This nearly triggers a war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, due to the incompetence of the new President and his mistress with an anti-Ryan agenda. Ryan intervenes to avert the war. The 2002 film stars Ben Affleck as Ryan and Liev Schreiber as Clark, and changes the identity and motivation of the terrorists to neo-Nazis.

Without Remorse (1993)

Without Remorse takes place during the Vietnam War, when Jack Ryan was a teenager. Ex-SEAL John Clark (then John Kelly) fights a one-man war against drug dealers in Baltimore, attracting the attention of Jack's father Emmett, a Baltimore police detective. He also helps plan and execute a raid on a prisoner-of-war camp in North Vietnam. Clark joins the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Debt of Honor (1994)

A secret cabal of extreme nationalists gains control of Japan (having acquired some nuclear weapons), and start a war with the U.S. Ryan, now National Security Advisor, and Clark and Chavez, agents in Japan, help win the war. The Vice President resigns in a scandal, and the President appoints Ryan to replace him. A vengeful, die-hard Japanese airline pilot then crashes a jetliner into the U.S. Capitol during a joint session of Congress attended by most senior U.S. government officials, including the President. Ryan thus becomes the new President through succession.

Executive Orders (1996)

This is the immediate sequel to Debt of Honor. President Ryan survives press hazing, an assassination attempt, and a biological warfare attack on the United States. Clark and Chavez trace the virus to a Middle Eastern madman, and the U.S. military goes to work.

Rainbow Six (1998)

Released to coincide with the video game of the same name. John Clark and Ding, who is now Clark's son-in-law, lead an elite multi-national anti-terrorist unit that combats a worldwide genocide attempt by eco-terrorists. Ryan is the U.S. President and only mentioned or referred to as either 'The President' or 'Jack'.

The Bear and the Dragon (2000)

War between Russia and China. Ryan recognizes the independence of Taiwan, Chinese police officers kill a Roman Catholic Cardinal, and the American armed forces help Russia defeat a Chinese invasion of Siberia.

The Teeth of the Tiger (2003)

Jack Ryan's son, Jack Ryan, Jr., becomes an intelligence analyst, and then a field consultant, for The Campus, an off-the-books intelligence agency with the freedom to discreetly assassinate individuals "who threaten national security", following the end of the Jack Ryan Sr. presidential administration. This book of the Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy introduces Ryan's son and two nephews as heirs to his spook-legacy.

Hometask for Wednesday, October 31

1) Topic 7. Terrorism Today.

Speak on terrorism in the modern world, its major forms and threats it poses to the global community.

2) Topic10. War and Terror: “There never was a good war and a bad peace” (B.Franklin). 

Speak on modern wars and war conflicts, their reasons and outcomes. Do you agree with the quote? Justify your answer.


Write TWO topics and learn ONE of them by heart.

3) Read the articles on Counterterrorism.

Make notes on the major counter-terrorism measures taken by the global community and ...

• Counter-terrorism from Wikipedia

• UN Action to Counter Terrorism

• Russia’s Counterterrorism Policy: Variations on an Imperial Theme

(Look up through for some facts rather opinions, the article is biased!)

Make notes on ... the basic safety guidelines we all should be aware of.

• FEMA
• NILES EMA
• Idaho State University

4) Weekly online tasks.

5) Individual Tasks. Volunteers Wanted!!!

1) Afganistan News (5 one-sentence news items dated October 17-24)
2) Iraq News (5 one-sentence news items dated October 17-24)
3) Syria News (5 one-sentence news items dated October 17-24)
4) World News (5 one-sentence news items dated October 17-24)

All pieces of news are to do with war conflicts and terror!!!

P.S.: If you want to volunteer, pls, choose the subject you would like to cover!
By the way each of you will have to do a similar task TWICE in the weeks to come!

Hometask for Friday, November 2

November 2 is Home Reading

The story for you is R. Kipling's The Gardener, pp.253-262.

1. Online impression (in the commets to the entry)

2. Questions to do in writing: 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10

Don't forget to support your ideas by the text.

3. Interpretation.
Things to include:

• Author
• Title (direct and indirect meanings)
• Theme
• Summary
• Message
• Character sketch
• Impression

Some tips:

Notes on the text

Kipling Journal

About the Gardener

Here is the complete text of the poem, which is, by the way, called The Burden.

Hometask for Wednesday, October 24

October 24th is Speech Practice.

The task for Wednesday is basically the same.

Some of you will be given an extra task.


Tasks to do:

1) War and Terror: The Changing Faces of Terrorism Today. Speak on the history of terrorism and the ever-changing definition of terrorist activity.

2) Laboratory work  4.

The deadline is Wednesday, October 24.
Part 2 Tasks III and IV, Part 3 Tasks V an VI

Watch the video and leave a commentary (in this blog).

BBC. Afganistan: War without End

Do you share the opinion that that this war is endless? Why/ why not?

Individual Tasks. Volunteers Wanted!!!

1) Afganistan News (5 one-sentence news items dated October 17-24)
2) Iraq News (5 one-sentence news items dated October 17-24)
3) Syria News (5 one-sentence news items dated October 17-24)
4) World News (5 one-sentence news items dated October 17-24)

All pieces of news are to do with war conflicts and terror!!!

P.S.: If you want to volunteer, pls, choose the subject you would like to cover!
By the way each of you will have to do a similar task TWICE in the weeks to come!

Hometask for Saturday, October 20

October 20th is Speech Practice.

Tasks to do:

1) War and Terror: The Changing Faces of Terrorism Today. Speak on the history of terrorism and the ever-changing definition of terrorist activity.

2) Laboratory work 3

The deadline is Saturday, October 20
Part 1 Tasks I and II, Part 2 Tasks III an IV

Uncovered: The Whole Truth about the Iraq war

Do you think the war on Iraq is a just war? Why/ why not?

3) Print the handout and do all the execises to do with Terrorism.

Handout

+ Weekly online tasks!!!

Rendering: weeks 7 and 8

Here is the article to render for week 7.
Do it in your blogs.

Three Wars on Terror

In the commentary to the entry, pls, write down what you personally think about Obama's war on terror.
 Is it more effective? Will it end terrorism? Why/ why not?

Deadline: Wednesday, October  24th

Week 8
You are to choose an article to do with an act of terror or a modern war (at least 7 paragraphs, published in September-October 2012) and render it in your blog.

Deadline: October 31st

Top Terrorism Movies

If you consider this genre more topical nowadays, watch the films in the lists below.

List 1
List 2

Share your impression in the commentary.
Take your time - you have three weeks in hand.

P.S.: If you choose any of these, pls, explain what makes the film of your choice TOP!

Dasha's contribution!

Brake (2011)

Great War Movies

If you like this genre, these films are recommended as 'must-see'.

List 1
List 2

You may watch as many films as you like in 3 weeks to come and leave your impression in the commentary.

Dasha's List!

War Films

Enemy At The Gates (2001)

Battle for Haditha (2007)

Schindler's List  (1993)

Platoon (1986)

Ю-571 (2000)

Hometask for Wednesday, October 17

October 17 th is Speech Practice.

Tasks to do:

1) Topic 11 'Modern Wars and War Conflicts in the News. Speak on the news coverage of modern wars and war conflicts in the foreign and home media.'

Some links to help you.

War in Afganistan

from Wikipedia

from Insight on Conflict

War in Iraq
     from Wikipedia
     from Insight on Conflict

War in Syria
    from Wikipedia
    Google 'war in Syria'

The last war is ongoing and one of the top news 2012.

2) Laboratory work 2.
Part 1 Tasks I and II (questions 1, 5, 8-12), Part 2 Tasks III an IV(questions 1-2, 4-7)

Watch the video and leave a commentary (in this blog).
Are we really living in the age of terror?

Use the fact from the film in your topics.

The Age of Terror - In the Name of Liberation 

3) Read the articles of  "The Changing Faces of Terrorism", make notes and be ready to discuss the articles in class.

A must
BBC The Changing Faces of Terrorism 

One of the three 
from Lloyds
from The Seattle Times
from Slate

Happy Teachers' Day

Freedom of the Press

Speak on freedom of the press, its basic principles and criteria and its status in major countries.

Outline

I. Introduction

A quote on freedom + definition + 2-3-sentences about the phenomenon and/or its importance + thesis

Sources:
Freedom of the Press

II. Body

Paragraph 1 - basic principles
Principles:

Paragraph 2 - criteria that Reporters without Borders and Freedom House use
Criteria
Freedom of the Press (somewhere in the middle)
Freedom House

Paragraph 3 - status in major countries (may be further subdived in 2-3 paragraphs)
Overview - the most free and the least free (2011-2012 index)
the UK's index (+ 2-3 sentence commentary) 
the USA's index (+ 2-3 sentence commentary)
the RF's index (+ 2-3 sentence commentary)

Status in major countries:

Freedom of the Press in the USA
Freedom of the Press in the RF

Be critical of the sources!!!

Reporters Without Borders

All this is about Russia!!!

Freedom House

Pls, have a look at the overview essay.

III. Conclusion

Your view of the problem and the objectivity of such freedom press indexes.

Rendering: week 6

Reports of Al Qaeda's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Washington Post, october 3, 2012

In the commentaries to this entry:

 Are we really  seeing the "relocalization of jihad?

Read the article and write own what you think about he problem.

In your own blog:

Render an article to do with Al-Qaeda or War on Terror.