In our last English lesson our English-speaking student told us some interesting information about the right to bear arms. This means that every American is allowed to carry weapons. There is one reason why the Americans want to protect their right to bear arms - the American history.
When the Americans became independent they had do struggle against the British government. Since then the Americans want to protect their right because they are still afraid that the government may become bad again.
Also the cowboys who went west carried weapons to fight against the Indians and animals because in the middle of America was no police. This is called frontier life.
Guns have the least support in urban and industrialized regions because people help each other when they need something or they go to the police.
The Americans in the cities have a stereotype of the people in the middle of America. They call them "rednecks". These rednecks are uneducated, poor, fat, drink bear, smoke and also have guns.
Farrah also showed us a video on "Youtube". It was about the Arizona shooting. Last week a young man shot a congresswoman into her head. The possible reason was the health care bill.
In my opinion people shouldn't be allowed to wear weapons.
Dienstag, 25. Januar 2011
Donnerstag, 25. November 2010
Thanksgiving
History
The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 because the Pilgrims wanted to celebrate their first harvest. The Native Americans were also invited because they taught them to grow corn and catch fish. Without this help they would have been unable to survive.
Thanksgiving today
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. On this day you meet at the home of a family or friend and spend some time together while the food is prepared. Traditional foods are: turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn pudding, pumpkin pie ...
Black Friday
The day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday". It's the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Stores open at midnight or very early in the morning and offer big discounts.
In my opinion it's a very good tradition that on Thanksgiving the whole family comes together and spends some time with each other.
Freitag, 29. Oktober 2010
Halloween
Halloween October 31st
Halloween is a shortened form of "All Hallows' Eve".
Halloween means holy.
Eve is the day before a holy day.
Halloween was an ancient British Celtic festival.
At Halloween the souls of the dead returned.
People lit bonfires to frighten evil spirits.
Now bonfires are only burnt on November 5th - "Bonfire night".
Masks, costumes, ghosts, witches on boomsticks with black cats, skeletons, bats and spiders and Halloween lanterns have all become part of Halloween.
Children play trick-or-treat.
They ask for a treat hoping to get sweets.
I have also found a movie about Halloween. If you are interested in some facts you should look at it --> click
Donnerstag, 21. Oktober 2010
Student from the USA
Today we had the chance to speak with an English-speaking student from the USA. Her name is Farrah (22 years old) and she comes from Maryland. This is near the capital city (Washington DC) of the USA.
The reason for coming to Austria was that she wanted to be in a new place.
She told us that she likes it that she doesn't have any brothers or sisters because she gets everything from her parents that she wants. In the USA she has some pets: a dog, a cat, a turtle and a parrot.
Here in Austria she lives in Linz. She already knows some people who do the same job as she. What she likes most in Austria are the pretty mountains and also the cities with their old buildings.
She also told us something about her hobbies (reading, listening to music), her favourite movies (Hang Over) and about the countries she has already travelled to (Germany, France, Amsterdam).
The reason for coming to Austria was that she wanted to be in a new place.
She told us that she likes it that she doesn't have any brothers or sisters because she gets everything from her parents that she wants. In the USA she has some pets: a dog, a cat, a turtle and a parrot.
Here in Austria she lives in Linz. She already knows some people who do the same job as she. What she likes most in Austria are the pretty mountains and also the cities with their old buildings.
She also told us something about her hobbies (reading, listening to music), her favourite movies (Hang Over) and about the countries she has already travelled to (Germany, France, Amsterdam).
Mittwoch, 15. September 2010
Advertising
I have just read an article about "The development of advertising" and it talks about the history of advertisement.
Advertising started in the 19th century, also called the Industrial Revolution. At first the companies only promoted novelties and fringe products but later more companies started promoting, so brand-naming of products became necessary.
The economic depression from 1873 to 1894 made the firms unable to sell their products. The companies realised that it would be better to combine with other small businesses and widened the range of products. This was the start of "monopoly capitalism" and since then larger firms have more and more advertising.
A big change at the turn of the century was in the soap trade. There had been a lot of anonymous bars of soap and so the companies had to have more aggressive selling methods to take the costumers away from their rivals. One man, called Lord Leverhulme, decided to "brand" his soap.
Lord Leverhulme realised that advertisements should contain logical arguments, eye-catching and clever slogans. The writer E. S. Turner points out that advertising had reached the "stage of persuasion". This is the reason why bigger companies edge smaller firms out of the market.
Advertising started in the 19th century, also called the Industrial Revolution. At first the companies only promoted novelties and fringe products but later more companies started promoting, so brand-naming of products became necessary.
The economic depression from 1873 to 1894 made the firms unable to sell their products. The companies realised that it would be better to combine with other small businesses and widened the range of products. This was the start of "monopoly capitalism" and since then larger firms have more and more advertising.
A big change at the turn of the century was in the soap trade. There had been a lot of anonymous bars of soap and so the companies had to have more aggressive selling methods to take the costumers away from their rivals. One man, called Lord Leverhulme, decided to "brand" his soap.
Lord Leverhulme realised that advertisements should contain logical arguments, eye-catching and clever slogans. The writer E. S. Turner points out that advertising had reached the "stage of persuasion". This is the reason why bigger companies edge smaller firms out of the market.
My favourite spot
My favourite spot is "Zalando" because it's about shoes.
It talks about a man who is in a room with a lot of shoes of all types. He says that nobody should tell his or her sister or girlfriend that there is a "zalando shop". The man added that worst of all, delivering and sending back is free of charge. At the end of the spot, a postman is at the door and the man started to shout because the postman has another pair of shoes.
The spot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHk42otbSNQ
It talks about a man who is in a room with a lot of shoes of all types. He says that nobody should tell his or her sister or girlfriend that there is a "zalando shop". The man added that worst of all, delivering and sending back is free of charge. At the end of the spot, a postman is at the door and the man started to shout because the postman has another pair of shoes.
The spot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHk42otbSNQ
Donnerstag, 17. Juni 2010
WM South Africa - Group C
England
- inhabitants: a Britain/Brit
- language: English
- clichés: white people; tea time; can't cook; breakfast is too unhealthy
USA
- inhabitants: Americans
- language: English
- clichés: school system is easier as in Austria; people are fat; cars are "pimped"; everything is bigger
Algeria
- inhabitants: Algerians
- language: Arabic, Berber, French, English
- clichés: poverty; violence
Slovenia
- inhabitants: a Slovene/Slovenian
- language: Slovene/Slovenian
- clichés: careful and punctual
As we have already seen, Slovenia plays very good football at the moment as well the USA and England. So I can't really say which football team will win this group.
- inhabitants: a Britain/Brit
- language: English
- clichés: white people; tea time; can't cook; breakfast is too unhealthy
USA
- inhabitants: Americans
- language: English
- clichés: school system is easier as in Austria; people are fat; cars are "pimped"; everything is bigger
Algeria
- inhabitants: Algerians
- language: Arabic, Berber, French, English
- clichés: poverty; violence
Slovenia
- inhabitants: a Slovene/Slovenian
- language: Slovene/Slovenian
- clichés: careful and punctual
As we have already seen, Slovenia plays very good football at the moment as well the USA and England. So I can't really say which football team will win this group.
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