State Opening of the New Parliament in the UK
The Queen opened the new Parliament today, following the British General Election. This video from 2009 gives excellent coverage of the ceremonial proceedings. “Black Rod” has the door of the House of Commons slammed in his face to show the supremacy of the Commons over the House of Lords, although the Queen’s Speech [which is written by the Prime Minister] is read in the Upper House.
English language tip of the day – 14
For Italian speakers:
Parents in English means i genitori.
Relatives means i parenti.
Subject pronouns
SUBJECT PRONOUNS
We use subject pronouns to avoid repetition of names.
Replace the words / groups of words in bold with the pronouns he / she / they:
Mrs. Jones lives in Cardiff. Mrs. Jones is married. Mrs. Jones has two sons. Mrs. Jones also has a sister but her sister doesn’t live in Cardiff. Her sister lives in Swansea and Mrs. Jones’ sister goes to Cardiff once a week. Mrs. Jones and her sister like shopping in Cardiff. Mrs. Jones and her sister go to Howell’s store and Mrs Jones and her sister have tea in town. Mr. Jones stays at home because Mr. Jones doesn’t like shopping. Mrs Jones’s sons don’t live in Cardiff because Mrs Jones’ s sons are at university in London.
Highlight the space below for answers:
she she she she she she they they he they
Now replace the words in bold with the pronouns she / we / he / they
My sister lives in Swansea. My sister comes to Cardiff once a week. When my sister comes to Cardiff my sister and I go to Howell’s store and my sister and I have tea in town. My husband stays at home because my husband doesn’t like shopping. My sons don’t live in Cardiff because my sons are at university in London.
Highlight the space below for answers:
she she we we he they
“Go back” and “come back”
You go back to a place where other people are waiting.
Someone comes back to the place where you are speaking.
Exercise
Go back and come back
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs go back or come back:
1. I live in ItaIy and I would like to ____________ to Prague on holiday one day.
2. Student to Catherine: “I would like to __________ to this school to learn more English.”
3. “ ‘Bye, Mum. I’m _____________ to school now.”
4. Shopkeeper to customer: “Hey! __________ and pay for that!”
5. John has gone to London. I think he’s ____________ tomorrow.
6. Pat: “I didn’t ___________ to Wales last year. I stayed in Sicily.”
7. “Darling, please ________ to me. I miss you.”
8. I live in New York but I was born in the UK. I _________ there when I can.
9. Pat: “I last ________________ to Wales 3 years ago.”
10. Pat: “My friends in Wales always say, ‘When are you __________ to see us?’ ”
Highlight the space below for answers:
1. go back 2. come back 3. going back 4. Come back 5. coming back 6. go back 7. come back 8. go back 9. went back 10. coming back.
Some easily confused travel words
Travel : Verb - the experience of going to different places in general. “I like travelling.” Noun without article – the experience in general. “I’d like to talk about travel.” In the plural the noun often refers to an account of someone’s journeys, eg: “Gulliver’s Travels”. Adjective: – a travel agency; a travel diary.
Trip : Noun – travel plus the time you spend in a place; your whole holiday. “Our teacher is organising a trip to Britain.”
Voyage: Noun – a long journey, especially by sea: “ Captain Cook’s voyage of discovery”.
Journey: Noun - Going from one place to another. “The journey from London to Cardiff takes 4 hours by coach.”
Break: Noun – a short trip. “We had a weekend break in Paris.”
Tour: Verb - to go around the important places in a location. “We toured Britain by car.” Noun – a visit to the important places in a location. “We went on a bus tour of London. ”
Excursion: Noun – a tour organised for you by someone else, usually a tour operator. “We went on an excursion to the Tower of London.”
Sightsee : Verb - usually used with “go” – “go sightseeing”. To visit important monuments and sights. “ We went sightseeing in London. We saw Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and St Paul’s Cathedral.”
Happy Easter, everyone!
Easter Parade - lyrics
Never saw you look quite so pretty before
Never saw you dressed quite so lovely what’s more
I could hardly wait to keep our date this lovely Easter morning
And my heart beat fast as I came through the door
For
In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it
You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade
I’ll be all in clover and when they look you over
I’ll be the proudest fellow in the Easter parade
On the Avenue
Fifth Avenue
The photographers will snap us
And you’ll find that you’re
In the rotogravure
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet
And of the girl I’m taking to the Easter parade.
Words and music by Irving Berlin.
Learn Italian in Sicily
Why not come and learn Italian with us in sunny Sicily? Modica is an excellent centre from which to explore other towns in the beautiful, Baroque Val di Noto and the beach is just a few minutes’ drive away. While you’re here, we’ll take you to taste the famous Modican chocolate , too!
We are proud to announce our Italian courses in Modica, Sicily:
We can organise courses at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels and a programme of excursions can be arranged on request.
Courses last a minimum of one week with four hours of ltalian language tuition every day from Monday to Friday.
The fee for a one-week course is 200 euros plus a registration fee of 50 euros per course. The registration fee includes course materials. This price does not include accommodation, excursions, cinema or theatre tickets. We can quote for a longer course upon request.
Getting to Modica
To get to Modica you need to fly into Fontanarossa Airport, Catania. The AST bus company operates a direct and efficient service to Modica from the airport. We can quote for a taxi upon request.
Accommodation
Bed and breakfast in Modica costs from 30 euros a night. Click here for an example of an excellent B&B.
We recommend the travel company Shine Sicily for all your travel and excursion needs.
It is also possible to rent a modern, self-catering apartment in Modica on a weekly basis.
Please do not hesitate to contact Cathy Ciancio for further information:
Tel: [0039] 0932 456613
Marina di Modica
“Song for Ireland”
Walking all the day
With tall towers where falcons build their nests
Silver wings they fly
They know the call for freedom in their breasts
Saw Black Head against the sky
With twisted rocks that run down to the sea
Living on your western shore
Saw summer sun sets, I asked for more
I stood by your Atlantic Sea
And sang a song for Ireland
Talking all the day
With true friends who try to make you stay
Telling jokes and news
Singing songs to pass the night away
Watched the galway salmon run
Like silver dancing, darting in the sun
Living on your western shore
Saw summer sun sets, I asked for more
I stood by your Atlantic Sea
And sang a song for Ireland
Drinking all the day
In old pubs where fiddlers love to play
Someone touched the bow
He played a reel that seems so grand and gay
I stood on dingle beach and cast
In wild foam we found Atlantic bass
Living on your western shore
Saw summer sun sets, I asked for more
I stood by your Atlantic Sea
And sang a song for Ireland
Dreaming in the night
I saw a land where no-man had to fight
Waking in your dawn
I saw you crying in the morning light
Lying where the falcons fly
They twist and turn all in your air-blue sky
Living on your western shore
Saw summer sun sets, I asked for more
I stood by your Atlantic Sea
And I sang a song for Ireland
Happy St Patrick’s Day
Today is St Patrick’s Day and it is celebrated all over the world, wherever there are Irish communities.
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, though he was probably born in Wales! He is believed to have lived from 432 – 461 AD. As a boy, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. He escaped and went to live in a monastery in Roman Britain when he was 22. Later he went back to Ireland as a missionary.
In Ireland many people wear green and wear shamrocks in their buttonholes or on their caps on March 17th. Many cities around the world have a St Patrick’s Day Parade. In New York the parade is usually held on the Sunday before St Patrick’s Day.
Welshcakes
Eating Welshcakes
Eating Welshcakes
Cathy with students and Pat with students enjoying Welshcakes yesterday. These are traditional cakes which people make in Wales, especially on St David’s Day [March 1st].
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