http://a4esl.org/podcasts/
The second podcast I have listened is Different Synonyms for? To See? In this podcast two people - Steve and Jill discuss the verb ‘to see’ and its many synonyms and usages. This podcast is not so interesting and enjoyable like the first, but it is informative and very useful. Because Steve is explaining that ‘to see’ have many meanings. For example, I see a tree. We look out the window. You watch TV. Looking is more the action. You could look, but you could not see or observe. Than you watching, you may not to see. Glance – it is than we look at something quikly.Glance is almost hidden, indirect. Than you look at something long you staring. Than you looking through something you peering. View is more a vision. Than we pay attention we noticed. The rate of speaking was slow, but was difficult, because the level of English was advanced and it was explained how to use ‘to see’ grammatically correct. It is interesting that one word can have so many synonyms! The speaker‘s accent was British, very clear. Despite this fact, I have listened 3 times to understand and remember everything what was mentioned. I have to use a dictionary to detect what means peer or observe. Again I can say that it is difficult to understand authentic speech therefore I need more practice to improve my listening skills. I think, if I want to improve my listening skills I must watch more English films on TV, listening more English news on radio, talk through the Internet in English with foreigners. Also, I can speak in English with my friends. Moreover, I can read English books, newspapers etc. If I do though a little bit of these things, I think I will improve not only my listening but also speaking skills too!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
What Is Your Favorite Song About Autumn?
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2007-10-28-voa2.cfm
I have listened the podcast with the title What Is Your Favorite Song About Autumn? Favorite songs about autumn are the main point of this podcast. There was mentioned that songs about autumn may be sad, but, on the other hand, there are hopeful songs about this month of the year too. For example, a song called "October Road"(James Taylor) or "Autumn in New York" (Vernon Duke).I have a great time listening fragments of songs such as "Knickerbocker Holiday" (Frank Sinatra) or "Wake Me Up When September Ends" (Green Day).Most of all I liked song called "Autumn leaves"(Eva Cassidy). It was really enjoyable, interesting and easy understandable podcast. I think it was so, because it was designed for people whose native language is not English and the rate of speaking was slow. The speaker‘s accent was British and pronunciation was very good and clear. Therefore, it was enough this podcast listened once for me and it was unnecessary to use a dictionary. However, than the level is superior, I need to listen to podcast more than once. It‘s hard for me to understand authentic speech. In my opinion, I need a lot of practice if I want to do the best at my exam. I think, if I want to improve my listening skills I must watch more English films on TV, listening more English news on radio, talk through the Internet in English with foreigners. Also, I can speak in English with my friends. Moreover, I can read English books, newspapers and so on. There are many ways of learning English. And only on us depend which way we will choose.
I have listened the podcast with the title What Is Your Favorite Song About Autumn? Favorite songs about autumn are the main point of this podcast. There was mentioned that songs about autumn may be sad, but, on the other hand, there are hopeful songs about this month of the year too. For example, a song called "October Road"(James Taylor) or "Autumn in New York" (Vernon Duke).I have a great time listening fragments of songs such as "Knickerbocker Holiday" (Frank Sinatra) or "Wake Me Up When September Ends" (Green Day).Most of all I liked song called "Autumn leaves"(Eva Cassidy). It was really enjoyable, interesting and easy understandable podcast. I think it was so, because it was designed for people whose native language is not English and the rate of speaking was slow. The speaker‘s accent was British and pronunciation was very good and clear. Therefore, it was enough this podcast listened once for me and it was unnecessary to use a dictionary. However, than the level is superior, I need to listen to podcast more than once. It‘s hard for me to understand authentic speech. In my opinion, I need a lot of practice if I want to do the best at my exam. I think, if I want to improve my listening skills I must watch more English films on TV, listening more English news on radio, talk through the Internet in English with foreigners. Also, I can speak in English with my friends. Moreover, I can read English books, newspapers and so on. There are many ways of learning English. And only on us depend which way we will choose.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
UK and Lithuanian prisons
There are about 160 jails in the UK. All prisoners have pass through reception, which is responsible for checking identities. Arrival prisoners first are seen by a nurse, to identity those coming off drugs, on medication or suicidal feeling. Accommodation varies between prisons ranging from single cells to dormitories. Cells have toilets. Prisoners allowed TV's. There are recreation areas, showers, offices and a food server. Also, there are multi-faight centre in which prisoners of different religious may pray. Moreover, prisoners can train fit, because they have sports facilities. They have access to education that’s the most important. Prisoners can have visitors. There is a waiting area. A sniffer dog checks that visitors are not carrying drugs. Family visits are held once a month. Prisoners have breakfast, lunch and evening meal - this cost an average of 1.87 pounds person per day. Young offenders' institutes spend 3.81 pounds per day.
There is only one real jail in Lithuania - Lukiskes. All prisoners have pass through reception and have been seen by a nurse. It's similar to UK. Prisoners who have life imprisonment are in single cells and others are living 4-6 in cells. Cells have toilets and prisoners are allowed TV's. Prisoners are studying, training, reading books...They have a lot of occupation. They can meet with relatives only once in two months and take call once a week. Prisoners have breakfast, lunch and evening meal the same like in UK prisons. Keeping prisoners who work cost 5.99 litas per day. Keep those who aren't working cost 4, 2 litas. Keeping inmates cost 4.19 litas per day. Young offenders' institutes spend 7.88 litas per day.
In conclusion, there are enough similarities with Lithuanian and UK prisons. The biggest difference is costs.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Conflicts
Conflict is a state of oppositon,disagreament or incompatibility between two or more people or groups of people,which is sometimes categorized by physical violence.
Conflict may cause value differences, personality conflict, communication failure, misunderstanding and others.
Conflict affects us all-no matter whom we are or what we do.It finds us at home,at work,on the streets,and it has the potential to create enourmous damage.All of us can learn constructive ways to work through conflict.If we want to solve a conflict first step is to start with ourselves.
We should ask ourselves-for example,like what do I really need out of this situation?What is the problem from my point of view?Try to examine the problem from person,with whom you are conflict,point of view.So,you should ask the person to tell you his point of view on the situation and listen.Do not interupt,do not contradict-just clarfy and summarize what you have understood.Than ask person to listen to you.Once you have listened to each other,you may have developed a new understanding for each other's values.Create several possible ways that both of you can meet your needs while respecting care values.Seek help when you need it.Talk to someone who understands conflict.Contact a conflict resolution practitioner in your community to seek advice.
On the other hand,conflict is not always negative.In fact,it can be healthy when effectively managed.Healthy conflict can lead to:growth and inovation;new ways of thinking;additional management options.
In conclusion,it is important to realize that conflict that requires resoliuton is neither good or bad.There can be positive and negative outcomes.It can be destructive but can also play a productive role for our personality and for our relationships-both personal and professional.The important point is to manage the conflict,not to suppres conflict and not to let conflict escalate out of control.
Conflict may cause value differences, personality conflict, communication failure, misunderstanding and others.
Conflict affects us all-no matter whom we are or what we do.It finds us at home,at work,on the streets,and it has the potential to create enourmous damage.All of us can learn constructive ways to work through conflict.If we want to solve a conflict first step is to start with ourselves.
We should ask ourselves-for example,like what do I really need out of this situation?What is the problem from my point of view?Try to examine the problem from person,with whom you are conflict,point of view.So,you should ask the person to tell you his point of view on the situation and listen.Do not interupt,do not contradict-just clarfy and summarize what you have understood.Than ask person to listen to you.Once you have listened to each other,you may have developed a new understanding for each other's values.Create several possible ways that both of you can meet your needs while respecting care values.Seek help when you need it.Talk to someone who understands conflict.Contact a conflict resolution practitioner in your community to seek advice.
On the other hand,conflict is not always negative.In fact,it can be healthy when effectively managed.Healthy conflict can lead to:growth and inovation;new ways of thinking;additional management options.
In conclusion,it is important to realize that conflict that requires resoliuton is neither good or bad.There can be positive and negative outcomes.It can be destructive but can also play a productive role for our personality and for our relationships-both personal and professional.The important point is to manage the conflict,not to suppres conflict and not to let conflict escalate out of control.
Gun control
Gun violence increased dramatically.More and more people began to aquire and carry guns,leading to a sharp increase in gun death and injuries.
Law makes illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to have a handgun.Despite that,some get from their friends,borrow,buy or steal them.
People sometimes carry guns because they are afraid or because they want to intimidate others,but everyone must remember thet carrying a gun will not make us safer.
Guns escalate conflicts and increase the chances that we will be seriously harmed.If we carry a gun,we are twice as likely to become the victim of gun violence.We also run the risk that the gun may be turned on us or that an innocent person will be hurt.We may do something in a moment of fear or anger that we will regret for the rest of our life.
We can protect ourselves from gun violence.If we know someone is carrying gun illegally,we must report about it.Policy must not allowed to keep a gun to a high-risk person.Also,where must be extremely difficult to obtain a gun.If obtaining a gun legally is very difficult,the price of legal guns goes way up,and availability goes way down.And it is much more difficult for criminals to obtain guns.Stiffer sentences for gun crimes.Gun education.Perhaphs gun purchasers should be required to take lessons in gun safety.
Gun violence is a big broblem nowdays.It is very sad,but it is our reality.
Law makes illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to have a handgun.Despite that,some get from their friends,borrow,buy or steal them.
People sometimes carry guns because they are afraid or because they want to intimidate others,but everyone must remember thet carrying a gun will not make us safer.
Guns escalate conflicts and increase the chances that we will be seriously harmed.If we carry a gun,we are twice as likely to become the victim of gun violence.We also run the risk that the gun may be turned on us or that an innocent person will be hurt.We may do something in a moment of fear or anger that we will regret for the rest of our life.
We can protect ourselves from gun violence.If we know someone is carrying gun illegally,we must report about it.Policy must not allowed to keep a gun to a high-risk person.Also,where must be extremely difficult to obtain a gun.If obtaining a gun legally is very difficult,the price of legal guns goes way up,and availability goes way down.And it is much more difficult for criminals to obtain guns.Stiffer sentences for gun crimes.Gun education.Perhaphs gun purchasers should be required to take lessons in gun safety.
Gun violence is a big broblem nowdays.It is very sad,but it is our reality.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Employment law
Employment law is a legislation of wokers rights which protects emploees in their works.
There are many employment rights:one of the right is that workers can strike;other right is about limited working hours and ages.Also,there is the right that women and men could have equal opportunities to do the same work in the same conditions.Moreover, employees have the right of compensation.If employees are descriminise for their race or sex,they have the right to complain to industrial tribunal.Women have the right to stop working in order to have a baby and the right to return to work after having a baby.
There is a conflict between EC and English law.It is related with Sunday trading and with the right to strike.In Britain stores can sell whiskey but not coffee;magazine but not books and etc. and all strikes in Britain can be ,if they have support by a majority vote of workers.
There are differences between employment law in Japan and Western countries:wokers in Japan have to work very long hours and often do not ask for overtime payment;many jobs are closed to workers who aren't Japanese-despise that they have lived all their life in Japan.On the other hand,Japanese workers are more safety and better supported,because their emploers provide low-coast accommodation for them.
In conclusion,better work conditions is in Western countries than Japan.
There are many employment rights:one of the right is that workers can strike;other right is about limited working hours and ages.Also,there is the right that women and men could have equal opportunities to do the same work in the same conditions.Moreover, employees have the right of compensation.If employees are descriminise for their race or sex,they have the right to complain to industrial tribunal.Women have the right to stop working in order to have a baby and the right to return to work after having a baby.
There is a conflict between EC and English law.It is related with Sunday trading and with the right to strike.In Britain stores can sell whiskey but not coffee;magazine but not books and etc. and all strikes in Britain can be ,if they have support by a majority vote of workers.
There are differences between employment law in Japan and Western countries:wokers in Japan have to work very long hours and often do not ask for overtime payment;many jobs are closed to workers who aren't Japanese-despise that they have lived all their life in Japan.On the other hand,Japanese workers are more safety and better supported,because their emploers provide low-coast accommodation for them.
In conclusion,better work conditions is in Western countries than Japan.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Internet fraud
Than we are using the internet,we are at risk from internet fraud.
The internet is a cheap and easy way for fraudsters to con people out of money.This tells about some of the most common types of internet fraud(scams).
The term "internet fraud" refers to any type of fraud scheme that uses email,web sites,chart rooms or message boards to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims.
Some forms of Internet fraud,include:
Rogue traders.They are dishonest traders who sell goods or services.When selling something online, it is common for a rogue trader:to advertise goods that don't exist;to send different goods to the ones they advertised;not to deliver on time;not to deliver at all.If we are buying something online,it's better to pay by credit card.Because if there is a problem with the product,the credit card company may be responsible as well as the trader.Before submiting credit card details to an internet website,we should make sure if it's a secure site.
Phishing.It's where we get emails pretending to come from a genuine company.They often look like they come from our bank.This is a scam to trick us into giving personal information that can be used for fraud.If we get an email and we are asked to type in a password or type in personal details,this is probably a scam as banks never ask to do this.
Identy fraud.It can happen when we go online.A fraudster could get hold of our credit card details and use them to buy thing over the internet or withdraw money from our account.
Spam.It is unasked-for emails sent to a large number of email addresses.Many advertise illegal products,scams and pornography.It's against the law to send us these things email unless we vare given our permission.
Lottery scams.LS are very common on the internet.Even though we may never have entered a lottery,we get an email to say:"you are won a prize".Then we are told have to send money to claim the prize or we are asked to ring a premium rate number which is very expensive.
Chain emails.A chain email is an email that we are asked to send on to our contacts.Some chain emails threaten us with bad luck if we don't pass them on.Others promise a small contibution to charity if we do pass them on.
If we want to protect oureselves from internet fraud,we should:
Buy from the companies we know and trust;use the internet to research a company's history;avoid judging reliability by how nice web site seem.It is easy and inexpensive for anyone to create and promote a web site;avoid downloading programs just to see pictures,listen to music or get access to other web site;visit websites where is a useful information about internet fraud and it prevention.
The internet is a cheap and easy way for fraudsters to con people out of money.This tells about some of the most common types of internet fraud(scams).
The term "internet fraud" refers to any type of fraud scheme that uses email,web sites,chart rooms or message boards to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims.
Some forms of Internet fraud,include:
Rogue traders.They are dishonest traders who sell goods or services.When selling something online, it is common for a rogue trader:to advertise goods that don't exist;to send different goods to the ones they advertised;not to deliver on time;not to deliver at all.If we are buying something online,it's better to pay by credit card.Because if there is a problem with the product,the credit card company may be responsible as well as the trader.Before submiting credit card details to an internet website,we should make sure if it's a secure site.
Phishing.It's where we get emails pretending to come from a genuine company.They often look like they come from our bank.This is a scam to trick us into giving personal information that can be used for fraud.If we get an email and we are asked to type in a password or type in personal details,this is probably a scam as banks never ask to do this.
Identy fraud.It can happen when we go online.A fraudster could get hold of our credit card details and use them to buy thing over the internet or withdraw money from our account.
Spam.It is unasked-for emails sent to a large number of email addresses.Many advertise illegal products,scams and pornography.It's against the law to send us these things email unless we vare given our permission.
Lottery scams.LS are very common on the internet.Even though we may never have entered a lottery,we get an email to say:"you are won a prize".Then we are told have to send money to claim the prize or we are asked to ring a premium rate number which is very expensive.
Chain emails.A chain email is an email that we are asked to send on to our contacts.Some chain emails threaten us with bad luck if we don't pass them on.Others promise a small contibution to charity if we do pass them on.
If we want to protect oureselves from internet fraud,we should:
Buy from the companies we know and trust;use the internet to research a company's history;avoid judging reliability by how nice web site seem.It is easy and inexpensive for anyone to create and promote a web site;avoid downloading programs just to see pictures,listen to music or get access to other web site;visit websites where is a useful information about internet fraud and it prevention.
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