CHRISTMAS IN UK

Christmas is near and I think it´s important to know how it is celebrated in the UK. There are lots of sites where you can find information and I´ve used them in order to write this post to show you the most important aspects of Christmas in UK.

Everybody knows what we celebrate at Christmas, don´t you?. Christmas is when Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus.

During the weeks Christmas Day, British send cards, watch nativity plays and go to carol services. They also put up Christmas decorations in their homes and churches. In the Victorian period, Christmas started to become an important festivity. It was time for the family to be together, and a time to enjoy special foods, music, carols and games. But at this time there were also big differences between the social classes: there were the very rich and the very poor. This was brilliantly described by Charles Dickens in his Christmas Stories, especially in A Christmas Carol.

Christmas Eve (Christmas evening) is the day for decorating homes and churches. It marks the beginning of the period formally called Christmas-tide. This night is very exciting for young children as it is the time when Father Christmas comes. Children leave mince pies and brandy for him and carrots for his 9 reindeers (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner (or it may be Donder), Blitzen and of course ... Rudolf!, the most famous one because of his red nose). If they have been good Father Christmas will fill up the Stockings with presents.

People also go to a carol service that night. There are usually two carol services: Candle lit service where the congregation hold a candle while they sing Christmas carols and watch a nativity scene performed by children and the midnight Mass.

Christmas Day. People open the presents that day. Moreover, there are Church Services and people also prepare the Christmas dinner at mid-day and then Christmas tea.

Another tradition in the UK is the Queen´s Message in the afternoon (at 3 o´clock) not only in UK but also throughout the Commonwealth.

The pulling of Christmas crackers often accompanies food on this Day. They are an old tradition. Two people pull the cracker until it goes “bang” and opens. Inside there is a small present, a paper hat and a joke.

A traditional English Christmas Dinner includes roast turkey or goose, brussel sprouts, roast potatoes, cranberries sauce, rich nutty stuffing, tiny sausages wrapped in bacon and lashings of hot gravy. For dessert, there is Christmas Pudding. It is a brown pudding with raisins, nuts and cherries. Brandy is often poured over the pudding and then people set a light as it is carried to the table.For the rest of the Christmas people usually have Christmas Cakes and Yule Log as typical desserts.

At about 6 p.m, British have the Christmas Tea, which is enjoyed by family and friends not only because of the tea but also the games they play.

The Boxing Day. After Christmas Day they celebrate the boxing day, which is a public holiday. This name has two possible origins. Some say it has this name because in the past English masters gave their servants a box with small presents or money on 26^th December. Others say it was the day when the Christmas box from the church was open to share it with the poor. Although it is an old tradition, nowadays people continue giving money to regular visiting trades people such as the milkman, paper boy…or even to their employees.

This day is also the day of fox hunting as well.

Decorations. Most houses in Britain will have a Christmas tree under which they´ll place the presents. They are decorated in family with tinsel, lights and small ornaments which hang from the branches. An angel or a star is usually put at the top of the tree. Every year there is a very big Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square in London. It is a present from the people of Norway.

Many Christian homes also have a nativity scene. Other decorations are for example the holly, ivy, mistletoe, decorations made of coloured paper, candy canes, bells....

Red and green are the traditional colours of Christmas. Green represents the continuance of life through the winter and the Christian belief in eternal life through Jesus. Red symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed at His Crucifixion.

Pantomimes.  In Great Britain pantomimes are very popular. This wonderful Christmas entertainment is a form of comic theatre, with songs. The stories are usually famous fairy tales such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty…

The twelve days of Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas traditionally begin the day after Christmas Day and end with Twelfth Night. These days were traditionally filled with merry-making, dancing and feasting. They used to visit neighbours and share mince pie and Christmas food.

Twelfth Night is the time when Christmas decorations should be removed so as not to bring bad luck upon the home. The Twelfth Day (6^th January) is the last day of the Christmas season. In western churches it is known as the day when the wise men brought gifts to Christ child.

New year´s Eve or New year´s Day are not specially celebrated in the UK. New year´s eve is a night for parties, music, dance, fireworks…In London lots of people go to Trafalgar Square and wait for the famous bell Big Ben to strike midnight. This is the time of year when people make “New Year´s Resolutions”. During New year´s Day, families have a special lunch and spend a quiet day at home.

List of typical Christmas Food. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christmas_dishes#United_Kingdom_.26_Ireland. By clicking each dish you´ll have access to its description.

List of the most common Christmas Carols: http://ldsguy.tripod.com/Christmas.carols.html. By clicking the title you´ll have the lyrics.

COUNTRIES AND CAPITAL CITIES IN ENGLISH

Did you see the opening ceremony-2012 Olympics? And did you recognize all the countries that will take part in it? Nowadays, it´s usual to watch competitions such as MotoGP, Formula 1, Eurovision Song Contest…in which the names of the countries that take part in are written in English .I think it´s important to recognize them and this is why I´ve decided to post a complete listing of the 196 official independent countries of the world and their capital cities. I know that the list is very long but it would be interesting to have a look at it.

As you will see there are a significant number of countries that have multiple capital cities. Where that occurs, the additional capital cities are listed as well.

If you have doubts or you are interested in learning how to pronounce them you can visit my useful links and click on the one entitled “pronunciation”.

Afghanistan - Kabul

Albania - Tirane

Algeria - Algiers

Andorra - Andorra la Vella

Angola - Luanda

Antigua and Barbuda - Saint John's

Argentina - Buenos Aires

Armenia - Yerevan

Australia - Canberra

Austria - Vienna

Azerbaijan - Baku

The Bahamas - Nassau

Bahrain - Manama

Bangladesh - Dhaka

Barbados - Bridgetown

Belarus - Minsk

Belgium - Brussels

Belize - Belmopan

Benin - Porto-Novo

Bhutan - Thimphu

Bolivia - La Paz (administrative); Sucre (judicial)

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Sarajevo

Botswana - Gaborone

Brazil - Brasilia

Brunei - Bandar Seri Begawan

Bulgaria - Sofia

Burkina Faso - Ouagadougou

Burundi - Bujumbura

Cambodia - Phnom Penh

Cameroon - Yaounde

Canada - Ottawa

Cape Verde - Praia

Central African Republic - Bangui

Chad - N'Djamena

Chile - Santiago

China - Beijing

Colombia - Bogota

Comoros - Moroni

Congo, Republic of the - Brazzaville

Congo, Democratic Republic of the - Kinshasa

Costa Rica - San Jose

Cote d'Ivoire - Yamoussoukro (official); Abidjan (de facto)

Croatia - Zagreb

Cuba - Havana

Cyprus - Nicosia

Czech Republic - Prague

Denmark - Copenhagen

Djibouti - Djibouti

Dominica - Roseau

Dominican Republic - Santo Domingo

East Timor (Timor-Leste) - Dili

Ecuador - Quito

Egypt - Cairo

El Salvador - San Salvador

Equatorial Guinea - Malabo

Eritrea - Asmara

Estonia - Tallinn

Ethiopia - Addis Ababa

Fiji - Suva

Finland - Helsinki

France - Paris

Gabon - Libreville

The Gambia - Banjul

Georgia - Tbilisi

Germany - Berlin

Ghana - Accra

Greece - Athens

Grenada - Saint George's

Guatemala - Guatemala City

Guinea - Conakry

Guinea-Bissau - Bissau

Guyana - Georgetown

Haiti - Port-au-Prince

Honduras - Tegucigalpa

Hungary - Budapest

Iceland - Reykjavik

India - New Delhi

Indonesia - Jakarta

Iran - Tehran

Iraq - Baghdad

Ireland - Dublin

Israel - Jerusalem*

Italy - Rome

Jamaica - Kingston

Japan - Tokyo

Jordan - Amman

Kazakhstan - Astana

Kenya - Nairobi

Kiribati - Tarawa Atoll

Korea, North - Pyongyang

Korea, South - Seoul

Kosovo - Pristina

Kuwait - Kuwait City

Kyrgyzstan - Bishkek

Laos - Vientiane

Latvia - Riga

Lebanon - Beirut

Lesotho - Maseru

Liberia - Monrovia

Libya - Tripoli

Liechtenstein - Vaduz

Lithuania - Vilnius

Luxembourg - Luxembourg

Macedonia - Skopje

Madagascar - Antananarivo

Malawi - Lilongwe

Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur

Maldives - Male

Mali - Bamako

Malta - Valletta

Marshall Islands - Majuro

Mauritania - Nouakchott

Mauritius - Port Louis

Mexico - Mexico City

Micronesia, Federated States of - Palikir

Moldova - Chisinau

Monaco - Monaco

Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar

Montenegro - Podgorica

Morocco - Rabat

Mozambique - Maputo

Myanmar (Burma) - Rangoon (Yangon); Naypyidaw or Nay Pyi Taw (administrative)

Namibia - Windhoek

Nauru - no official capital; government offices in Yaren District

Nepal - Kathmandu

Netherlands - Amsterdam; The Hague (seat of government)

New Zealand - Wellington

Nicaragua - Managua

Niger - Niamey

Nigeria - Abuja

Norway - Oslo

Oman - Muscat

Pakistan - Islamabad

Palau - Melekeok

Panama - Panama City

Papua New Guinea - Port Moresby

Paraguay - Asuncion

Peru - Lima

Philippines - Manila

Poland - Warsaw

Portugal - Lisbon

Qatar - Doha

Romania - Bucharest

Russia - Moscow

Rwanda - Kigali

Saint Kitts and Nevis - Basseterre

Saint Lucia - Castries

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Kingstown

Samoa - Apia

San Marino - San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe - Sao Tome

Saudi Arabia - Riyadh

Senegal - Dakar

Serbia - Belgrade

Seychelles - Victoria

Sierra Leone - Freetown

Singapore - Singapore

Slovakia - Bratislava

Slovenia - Ljubljana

Solomon Islands - Honiara

Somalia - Mogadishu

South Africa - Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judiciary)

South Sudan - Juba (Relocating to Ramciel)

Spain - Madrid

Sri Lanka - Colombo; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative)

Sudan - Khartoum

Suriname - Paramaribo

Swaziland - Mbabane

Sweden - Stockholm

Switzerland - Bern

Syria - Damascus

Taiwan - Taipei

Tajikistan - Dushanbe

Tanzania - Dar es Salaam; Dodoma (legislative)

Thailand - Bangkok

Togo - Lome

Tonga - Nuku'alofa

Trinidad and Tobago - Port-of-Spain

Tunisia - Tunis

Turkey - Ankara

Turkmenistan - Ashgabat

Tuvalu - Vaiaku village, Funafuti province

Uganda - Kampala

Ukraine - Kyiv

United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi

United Kingdom - London

United States of America - Washington D.C.

Uruguay - Montevideo

Uzbekistan - Tashkent

Vanuatu - Port-Vila

Vatican City (Holy See) - Vatican City

Venezuela - Caracas

Vietnam - Hanoi

Yemen - Sanaa

Zambia - Lusaka

Zimbabwe - Harare

WALLACE AND GROMIT

Before watching the videos I´d like to introduce you these characters:

Wallace and Gromit are the main characters in a British series consisting of four animated short films that we´ll try to watch this academic year. The characters are made from moulded plasticine modelling clay on metal armatures, and filmed with stop motion clay animation.

Wallace, an absent-minded inventor living in Wigan, Lancashire, is a cheese enthusiast who is especially fond of Wensleydale (a type of cheese). His companion, Gromit, is an intelligent dog. Gromit remains silent, communicating only through facial expressions and body language.

Because of their attractive personalities and widespread popularity, the characters have been described as positive international icons of both modern British culture in particular and the British people in general. BBC News has called them "some of the best-known and best-loved stars to come out of the UK.

The four short films are:

• A Grand Day Out (1989)

• The Wrong Trousers (1993)

• A Close Shave (1995)

• A Matter of Loaf and Death (2008)

TITANIC

THE TITANIC (100 years after the sinking of the Titanic, I´ve decided to publish a post about this magnificent ship). You can listen to the famous song by Celine Dion while reading this post:

The Titanic 1912 sinking remains a legend steeped in tragedy and a mysterious allure. Many people are curious about the ship that was billed as 'unsinkable.'

Here we can read a brief history of this ship:

The RMS Titanic was a British ocean liner that was, at her time, the largest ship ever built, alongside her sister ships. Constructed in Belfast, Ireland, the Titanic was designed to carry mail and passengers between

the British Isles and North America. Famously, she floundered on her maiden voyage in April 1912, killing 1500 people.

The Titanic was originally conceived in a meeting between the heads of Harland Wolff Shipyards (who would be destined to build her) and White Star Line, a British shipping company. They decided they would build the largest passenger and cargo ships in the world, sacrificing speed for safety, comfort, and capacity. Additionally, they realized that building such enormous vessels would practically sell themselves by attracting famous millionaire passengers and newspaper attention. But the growing middle class, the men realized, would sustain the ships and allow them to rake in money for the White Star Line company. The Titanic was the second of three equally large and lavish vessels, the first being the RMS Olympic and the third being the RMS Britannic. While the Olympic would have a long career, the Britannic was destined to sink in the first world war in 1916.

The Titanic took her maiden voyage on April 10th of 1912, and all was well for four days. Near midnight on the 14th of April, she struck an iceberg and would sink in less than three hours. There are many theories as to why the ship struck the iceberg, high among them that radioed warnings of icebergs were not given to the bridge, and that she was traveling too quickly. Once struck, various deficiencies in her design, such as cheap iron rivets and undersized water tight compartments, led her to sink from the glancing blow. There were insufficient lifeboats for the 2227 passengers, as well as a lack of planning for evacuation. Despite there being more than two hours before the vessel sank, the panic and discord left hundreds to die while lifeboats under capacity rowed away. To compound the problem the nearby SS Californian had turned off her radio for the night, and dismissed the distant distress flares as the fireworks of a party.

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the RMS Titanic as well as answers.

What are the causes of Titanic to sink?

The primary factor involved the ship's collision with a massive iceberg. The ship had been billed as 'unsinkable' due to sixteen compartments that were believed to be watertight. When the ship struck the iceberg, six of those compartments were damaged and the ship began to take on water very rapidly.

When did the Titanic sink?


The ship struck a massive iceberg late on the night of April 14, 1912. It took approximately 3 hours for the entire ship to sink. The Titanic became completely submerged about 2:45 AM on the morning of April 15, 1912.

Where did the Titanic sink?

The Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean, having covered half of her trans-Atlantic crossing. The remains of the Titanic were eventually located approximately 13 miles southeast of the location of her last distress call. This distance contributed to part of the difficulty in locating the Titanic, which was finally discovered in 1985.

The location of the Titanic's wreck is somewhere southeast of Newfoundland (Canada), as you can see on the interactive map here:

                                                                        What did the Titanic look like?

The Titanic was 882 feet and 8 inches long (268 meters) and weighed over 46,000 tons. The ship was approximately 11 stories high. The majority of the ship was painted with a glossy black, while the hull trim was painted white.

Where was the Titanic bound for?

The Titanic departed Southampton, England; made two port calls (one in France and another in Ireland) and was bound for New York.

What is the specific location of the Titanic?

The Titanic is located 1000 miles due east of Boston, Massachusetts and 375 miles southeast of St. John's, Newfoundland. The ship is located approximately 3,925 meters below sea.

How many people were on the Titanic?

Of the 2,228 people on board the ship; 1,343 of them were passengers and 885 were crew members. There were only enough lifeboats on board the ship to hold 1,178 people. A number of the lifeboats were lowered at less than full capacity, resulting in a significantly smaller survivor number.

How many people survived the Titanic?

The exact number of survivors tends to vary, however the most common reported number is 705.

How many people died on the Titanic?

1517 people lost their life on the Titanic. Among the dead were:

• 130 first-class passengers

• 166 second-class passengers

• 536 third-class passengers

• 685 crew members

What ship building company built the Titanic?

The Titanic was constructed by Harland and Wolf in Belfast, Ireland.

Was the Titanic a British ship or an American ship?

Although a number of prominent American families were aboard the ocean liner, the Titanic was a British ship.

How much did it cost to build the Titanic?

It cost $7,500,000 to build the Titanic. Today it would cost an estimated $400,000,000.

How big was the Titanic?

The length of the Titanic was 882 feet and 9 inches (that's about 269 meter). The ship was 92 feet and 6 inches (28 meter) wide and 175 feet (53 meter) high.

When was the Titanic built?

The Titanic was on her maiden voyage when she sank in 1912. Construction began on the ship on March 31, 1909.

How long did it take to build the Titanic?

It took 3 years to completely construct and outfit the Titanic.

EASTER IN THE UK

In the UK Easter is one of the major Christian festivals of the year. It is full of customs, folklore and traditional food. However, Easter in Britain has its beginnings long before the arrival of Christianity. Many theologians believe Easter itself is named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and spring - Eostre.

In Britain Easter occurs at a different time each year. It is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that the festival can occur on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Not only is Easter the end of the winter it is also the end of Lent, traditionally a time of fasting in the Christian calendar. It is therefore often a time of fun and celebration.

The Friday before Easter Sunday and the Monday after are a bank holiday in the UK. Over Easter schools in the UK close for two weeks, just enough time to digest all the chocolate.

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. Christians remember it as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist. The word Maundy" comes from the French word, "Mande," meaning "command" or "mandate” and is taken from the command given by Christ at the Last Supper, "love one another as I have loved you.”

In Britain, the Queen takes part in the Ceremony of the Royal Maundy, which dates back to Edward 1. This involves the distribution of Maundy Money to deserving senior citizens (one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign's age), usually chosen for having done service to their community. They receive ceremonial red and white purses which contain coins made especially for the occasion. The white purse contains one coin for each year of the monarch's reign. The red purse contains money in place of other gifts that used to be given to the poor.

In the 17th century, and earlier, the King or Queen would wash the feet of the selected poor people as a gesture of humility, and in remembrance of Jesus's washing the feet of the disciples. Suffice to say that doesn't happen any more, in fact the last monarch to do this was James 2.
Good Friday

On the Friday before Easter, Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a day of mourning in church and special Good Friday services are held where Christians meditate on Jesus's suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith.

Calling it 'Good Friday' may seem a bit bizarre, but some people think that it was once called God's Friday or Holy Friday.

Symbols of Easter

Many of the symbols and traditions of Easter are connected with renewal, birth, good luck and fertility.

The Cross

Of course as it is a Christian festival one of the main symbols is a cross, often on a hill. When Jesus was crucified, the cross became a symbol of suffering. Then with the resurrection, Christians saw it as a symbol of victory over death. In A.D. 325, Constantine issued a decree at the Council of Nicaea, that the Cross would be the official symbol of Christianity.

Palms

The week of Easter begins on Palm Sunday. Why Palm Sunday? Well, in Roman times it was customary to welcome royalty by waving palm branches, a bit like a ticker-tape parade. So, when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on what is now known as Palm Sunday, people welcomed him with palm branches carpeting the streets and waving them. Today, on Palm Sunday, Christians carry palm branches in parades, and make them into crosses and garlands to decorate the Church.

Easter Eggs 

Easter eggs are a very old tradition going to a time before Christianity. Eggs after all are a symbol of spring and new life.

Exchanging and eating Easter eggs is a popular custom in many countries. In the UK before they were replaced by chocolate Easter eggs real eggs were used, in most cases, chicken eggs. The eggs were hard-boiled and dyed in various colors and patterns. The traditionally bright colours represented spring and light. Sadly, nowadays if you gave a child in Britain a hard-boiled egg on Easter Sunday, you would probably end up wearing it!

An older more traditional game is one in which real eggs are rolled against one another or down a hill. The owner of the egg that stayed uncracked the longest won. Even today in the north of England, for example as at Preston in Lancashire, they still carry out the custom of egg rolling. Hard boiled eggs are rolled down slopes to see whose egg goes furthest. In other places another game is played. You hold an egg in the palm of the hand and bang against your opponent's egg. The loser is the one whose egg breaks first.

Nowadays people give each other Easter eggs made of chocolate, usually hollow and filled with sweets. On TV you will see adverts for Cadbury's Creme Eggs, a very sweet confectionery. The catchphrase for the adverts is "How do you eat yours?" And Britain children hunt for (chocolate) Easter eggs hidden about the home or garden by the Easter bunny.


The Easter Bunny

Rabbits, due to their fecund nature, have always been a symbol of fertility.The Easter bunny (rabbit) however may actually be an Easter hare. The hare was allegedly a companion of the ancient Moon goddess and of Eostre.

Strangely the bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it's origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 16th Century. The first edible Easter bunnies appeared in Germany during the early 1800s, they were made of pastry and sugar.

In the UK children believe that if they are good the "Easter Bunny " will leave (chocolate) eggs for them.

Sadly hare hunting (hare coursing) used to be a common pastime at Easter. But this might please some of the more fundamentalist Christians, who consider the fluffy fellow to be unchristian.

Morris Dancing

Morris dancing is a traditional English form of folk dance which is also performed in other English-speaking countries such as the USA and Australia. The roots of morris dancing seem to be very old, probably dating back to the Middle Ages.

In the dance men dress up in costumes with hats and ribbons and bells around their ankles. They dance through the streets and one man often carries an inflated pigs bladder on the end of a stick. He will run up to young women in the street and hit them over the head with the pigs bladder, this is supposed to be lucky (men)!

Dressing Up For Easter

Easter was once a traditional day for getting married, that may be why people often dress up for Easter. Women would make and wear special Easter bonnets - decorated with flowers and ribbons. Even today in Battersea in London there is a special Easter Parade, where hand-made bonnets are shown off.

Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns, now eaten throughout the Easter season, were first baked in England to be served on Good Friday. These small, lightly sweet yeast buns contain raisins or currants and sometimes chopped candied fruit. Before baking, a cross is slashed in the top of the bun. After baking, a confectioners' sugar icing is used to fill the cross.

An old rhyme was often sung by children awaiting their sugary treat:

"Hot cross buns,

hot cross buns,

one a penny, two a penny,

hot cross buns.

If you do not like them,

give them to your sons,

one a penny, two a penny,

hot cross buns."

WHY SHOULD WE LEARN ENGLISH?

The Importance of Learning English


By Pallab Dutta, eHow Contributor



The importance of learning English cannot be overstated in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world. For the millions of immigrants that come to the United States from non-English-speaking countries every year, learning to communicate in English is important to enter and ultimately succeed in mainstream America. Working knowledge of the English language can create many opportunities in international markets and regions.

International Language

o English is the fourth most widely spoken native language in the world, and in terms of sheer number of speakers, it is the most spoken official language in the world. It is the primary language used in international affairs. The English language has official status even in nations where it is not the primary spoken language. English is indisputably the primary language of global trade and commerce. In many countries, most tourism authorities and other officials in contact with the public speak English to interact and engage with tourists and immigrants.

Digital Age

o While progress has been made in language-translation software and allied technologies, the primary language of the ubiquitous and all-influential World Wide Web is English. English is typically the language of latest-version applications and programs and new freeware, shareware, peer-to-peer, social media networks and websites. Software manuals, hardware-installation guides and product fact sheets of popular consumer electronics and entertainment devices usually are available in English first before being made available in other languages.

Higher Learning

o In universities and colleges in Great Britain, the Unites States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, which attract the most number of international students, the primary language of instruction is English. Most of the top business schools, medical centers and advanced-study institutes are located in North America and Great Britain, and English is the language used in every activity at these institutions of higher learning. Most peer-to-peer journals and technical periodicals that give international acclaim to scientists, engineers, technologists, and technocrats are printed in English.

Anglo-Saxon Influence

o The influence of the United States and Great Britain on political affairs and international relations for the past 100 years has ensured the proliferation and acceptance of English as the primary spoken language in many countries. The widespread acceptance of American pop culture also has contributed to the primacy of the English language. A working knowledge of English is important for diplomats and high-ranking officials in such major countries as Germany, Japan, France, South Korea, Brazil, Italy, and Russia so they can better understand the nuance and craft of global affairs and international diplomacy.

Job Opportunities

o Knowing English opens job and employment opportunities in many countries and markets. Multilateral institutions and agencies in the four United Nation cities of New York, Vienna, The Hague and Geneva recruit professionals with multilingual skills but also expect the candidates to have good English-speaking skills. The Commonwealth of Nations, made up of 50-plus countries that were former British colonies or dependencies, also offers numerous employment opportunities to those who understand and communicate in English.

COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH

Here you can see a short list of common mistakes that you should avoid.

Common Mistakes

View more PowerPoint from Peter Mangiaracina

If you want to know more common mistakes that you should avoid, click here