The European Refugee Crisis and Syria Explained

Please watch this very informative video - it's only 6 minutes long. I know the speed is rather high, but ... just concentrate. And you can always watch it a second time, or a third time.

1. What aspects tend to be forgotten in the discussions you read about (or take part in) these days? 
2. What impressed you most in this video? Make a written note of it, please.

When do YOU learn?

Have a look at this statement about learning on Twitter, then think about it. Then continue reading below the embedded tweet, please.

Children don't learn by mastering easy tasks... #edchat pic.twitter.com/Pwy2DQYSf8 #edtech #EYTalking #EDchatDE #edchatnz #aussieED

— Teacher (@Primary_Ed) June 23, 2015

Do you agree that you learn most when struggling with complex tasks? Do you also think that easy tasks don't really give you a feeling of satisfaction if you've mastered them?

Please use the comment function to voice your opinion. You don't have to give your full name; first names will be enough.

The Importance of Being Earnest

Prepare answers for the following questions, please: 

• What does the background music convey about the tone of the play? 
• Based on the costumes and character accents, where and when do you think the play is set? 
• Why is a man playing the character of Lady Bracknell?

In the video below, you get some interview passages with the actors of this production, which was played in 2010/11 by Broadway's American Airlines Theatre.

Do you agree with the statement one of the actors makes about "wit": “wit never ages---what was funny 105 years ago is funny now”?

UK General Election 2015

You may remember: The forecasts said that this would be a very close election, with tiny differences between the two major parties. The actual result tells a different story. David Cameron, the old Prime Minister, will probably be the new Prime Minister, too - and this time, he doesn't even need a coalition partner like last time. The Conservatives won an absolute majority.

Election 2015 Results: At-a-Glance (BBC)

• Here is David Cameron's speech on the morning of 8th May, 2015; please pay special attention to what he says at 4:07:
  
  UK election results: David Cameron pledges a 'greater Britain'

• And here Ed Miliband, the Labour Party's candidate - and party leader - declares his resignation as Labour party leader:
  
  Labour election results: Ed Miliband resigns as leader

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister in Cameron's old government, also resigned because of the disastrous losses his party suffered in this election - they went from 57 down to just 8 seats in the newly elected parliament.

Here is a passage from an article in the Guardian, analysing causes and consequences of the election results in brief:

 [...T]he prime minister’s victory was partly the product of the relentless Conservative campaign to highlight the dangers of a Labour minority government propped up by the left-leaning SNP – and this polarises Britain in an unprecedented way. Critics have protested that the outcome, a tactical success in England, could accelerate the breakup of the United Kingdom.

It is a development that the US, EU and other allies, including those in Nato, fear because it would weaken Britain’s international standing and place a question over its Trident submarine nuclear defence capability – currently based in Holy Loch in Scotland.

But financial markets responded strongly to news of a Conservative win – which lifted the Labour threat of higher corporate and personal taxes for the City of London, along with more stringent regulation.

But financial markets responded strongly to news of a Conservative win – which lifted the Labour threat of higher corporate and personal taxes for the City of London, along with more stringent regulation.

The Scottish result may be the more significant overnight development. The SNP, which lost a referendum to end the union with England last September, won all but three of Scotland’s 59 seats, dozens of them from Labour in a region that was once a stronghold for the party and opening the way to significant influence in Britain’s 650-seat Westminster parliament as Cameron’s Conservatives seek to govern with a slender majority.

With Clegg’s own key cabinet allies – including veteran business secretary Vince Cable – also punished with defeat by voters, the deputy prime minister felt he had no choice but to step aside. As with Labour, there is no clear successor to start restoring devastated party morale. Long the repository of third party moderate hopes, his party was blamed for sustaining the Tories rather than restraining them.

You can read the whole article here:
David Cameron vows to rule UK as 'one nation' but Scottish question looms

Hillary Clinton: Announcement to run for presidency (2016)

Here is the video clip with which Hillary Clinton announced her decision to take part in the race for the presidency 2016.




The New York Times offers this short video on the development of Hillary Clinton's political career.

Hillary Clinton's Campaigns Through the Years

Jerusalem - England's unofficial anthem

It may seem strange at first to use a song with the title "Jerusalem" as an (almost) official anthem for England. What is the connection between London and Jerusalem?
Well, first of all, it is a poem by William Blake (1757 - 1827), one of the most prominent poets of his time. And secondly, the greater part of the poem consists of questions about whether Jesus Christ ever reached Great Britain and whether he actually walked on this country's ground - or, to be more precise: England's ground, for it is a very *English* poem, not a British one.
For more information, look here: And did those feet in ancient time (Wikipedia).

For a complete rendition of the song, watch one of the recordings during the Last Night of the Proms, e.g. here in 2009.

What you should also look at is this version - a clever bit of advertising for the English Tourist Office. Enjoy.

"Would" vs. "used to"

I used to show my English classes where the song "White Christmas" comes from. I would take them to a video room and introduce them to Bing Crosby's movie "Holiday Inn" (1942) - which is where that most famous of English-language Christmas songs was first published.

Did you notice that I used "used to" and "would" for the description of past habits?

If you did not, have a look at this:




And if you're interested in the Bing Crosby movie, this will give you an impression: Holiday Inn trailer