2007年12月21日金曜日

"World news B 2007" December 21

This blog is based on a class of "World news B" in Osaka Shoin Women’s University .


As today is the last class this year, and it is nearly Christmas, today’s theme is Christmas. Go to the Woodlands Junior School website and find out about Christmas in the UK.


1. What is a nativity play?

It is a play about the scene of Jesus’ birth in the stable and it is played by children.


2. What is a Christmas carol?

It is special songs which are sung by everyone during the Christmas season. The songs are known as carols and they are about Jesus.


3. What is a pantomime?

It is a traditional British Christmas play. It is important for audience to participate in a pantomime.


4. What are mince pies? Find a photo of one.

They are small pies and they contain mincemeat which is minced apples and raisins. Mince Pies


5. Find a photo of a Christmas pudding.

Christmas Pudding


6. Find a photo of a Christmas cake.

Christmas Cake


7. What are Brussels sprouts? Find a photo of some.

Brussels sprouts


Write your answers in MS Word first, then copy to your blog.

Find a Christmas photo and put it on your blog.
Visit your classmates’ blogs and see their Christmas card. Which is the best? Vote on your blog.

I like this blog. There are varieties of Christmas' photos and they were very beautiful.

I found the photo here.

2007年12月14日金曜日

"World news B 2007" December 14

This blog is based on a class of "World news B" in Osaka Shoin Women’s University .


Today’s lesson


1.
Visit your classmates’ blogs and read what they wrote for last week’s assignment (December 7th). Leave some comments.


2.
Read Mr Sheffner’s answers to last week’s questions .


3.
What is Amnesty International? What does it do?

Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organization and it does activities to protect Human Rights.


4.
Here is a recent report from Amnesty International: Torture/health concern/possible prisoner of conscience UZBEKISTAN Ikhtior Khamroev (m), aged 22. Student Ikhtior Khamroev, who has been in jail since September 2006, was reportedly severely beaten on 29 November. Sources inside the prison have told his father that Ikhtior had also received stab wounds to the abdomen, but was locked in a punishment cell rather than taken to hospital. He is believed to have been detained because of the activities of his father, a prominent human rights defender, and may have been beaten to punish his father for his recent anti-government statements.



1. Find one or two news articles about Ikhtior Khamroev (in English or Japanese) and link to them. How many can you find?

Click here, Click here, Click here
I could find three articles.


2. Where is Uzbekistan? Find a map and link to it.

The map


3. Is the sad story of Ikhtior Khamroev “news” or not?

1. If you think it is news, why is not on TV and in the newspapers?

The reason is to lose police’s good reputation.

2. If you think it is not news, why not?

It is good thing to become lively nongovernmental activities, but may be lost governmental faith.


4. How many Japanese versions of this British news story can you find? What are the key points of this story (in Japanese)?

非政府組織の父を持つという理由だけで、息子が暴行を受けた。


5. Read Masa’s blog and leave a message. (Do you know the blog of another Japanese person in the US? Tell us about it on your blog).

2007年12月7日金曜日

"World news B 2007" December 7

This blog is based on a class of "World news B" in Osaka Shoin Women’s University .


Today’s lesson


1.
Write about these two movies:
1. Beowulf
2. The Golden Compass

1.
Beowulf is originally a work of the oldest English literature. The work was made into a movie in 2005 and 2007 also, it consists of two parts.It tells the adventure of heroic Beowulf.


2.
The Golden compass was written by Philip Pullman who was a British writer. The fantasy story is divided into three parts. It was made into a movie. It scheduled to be shown on December 7, 2007 and we can probably see the movie on March 1, 2008 in Japan.


A picture is here. Another one is here.


2.
Write in MS Word, spell check, then upload to your blog. On your blog, add links to people or places. You can also add photos, but ALWAYS give credit (say where you got the photo from, who took the photo, and add a link back to the original).


3.
Answer all these questions:
1.
1. What or who is Beowulf?

He is a hero of the movie.


2. What is this movie based on?

It is based on an Old English heroic epic poem.


3. When and where was Old English spoken? (from when until when?)

It was spoken from the middle 5th century until the middle 11th century in England.


4. What does Old English look like? Find a photo on the Internet.

This is an old English.


5. What does Old English sound like? Find a sound file on the Internet.

This is an old English sound.


6. What is the story of Beowulf? (Who are the main characters? Where and when does it take place? What are the key events?)

The main characters are heroic Beowulf and Grendel who is a giant dragon. It take place from 8th until 9th in Dene, Danmark. The key events are the hero and the dragon’s fight.


7. What happens to Beowulf at the end of the poem (not the movie)?

Beowulf died with look at treasure that he got.


8. Who is the director? What other movie has (s)he directed? Have you seen any of them? If so, which one? Did you like it?

It is Robert Zemeckis. His other movie is Back to the Future, Forrest Gump and so on. I haven’t seen his movies.


9. Who are the main actors in this movie?

1. Choose one of the actors or actresses. What other movies has this person been in? Did you see any of those movies? If so, which one? Did you like it?

They are Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie.
Anthony Hopkins appeared on The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Red Dragon. Yes, I did. I Have seen The Silence of the Lambs. I like it because his play was wonderful.


10. What is “The Golden Compass” based on?

It is based on Paradise Lost.


11. Who wrote the original story? When?

Philip Pullman who is a British writer wrote it between 1995 and 2000.


12. What is the story? (Who are the main characters? Where and when does it take place? What are the key events?)

The main characters are heroin’s Lyra Belacqua, Will Parry who is 12-year-old boy and Lord Asriel who is Lyra’s father etc. It took place in Oxford. The key events are Lyra, Dæmon and their companions set forth on strange world.


13. Where is Oxford (UK)? Find a map.

The map


14. How many colleges are there?

There are 42 colleges.


15. Who is the director? What other movie has (s)he directed? Have you seen any of them? If so, which one? Did you like it?

It is Chris Weitz. His other movie is American Pie and About a Boy. I have never seen them.


16. Who are the main actors in this movie?

1. Choose one of the actors or actresses. What other movies has this person been in? Did you see any of those movies? If so, which one? Did you like it?

They are Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Nicole Kidman appeared on Batman Forever, Eyes Wide Shut, Cold Mountain and forth. I haven’t seen her movies but I know only her name.


17. There is some controversy about this movie? What is it?

It is blame by plural religious organizations because it may gives children atheism. I looked up the controversy from this site.