At the end of a sad and horrible week, I just read this:


One tribal culture of South Africa has developed the philosophy of “ubuntu” – “I am because we are”.  It is described beautifully by the following story. “A researcher placed a basket of fruit by a tree, then challenged a bunch of children to race to the tree, and the winner would win the basket of fruit.  The children responded by holding hands then running to the tree together where they sat down and shared out the fruit.  The researcher asked the children why they had done this as the winner could have taken the fruit for themselves as the winner of the race, the children responded, “Ubuntu, how can one of us be happy if all the others are sad?”


The Penguinet will be in the UK next week.

It's a big week for King Richard III, or rather his Remains. More about that in weeks to come.

Keeping in historical mode, here is a short film explaining the history of English. I do wish they would speak more slowly on such films, but at least maybe it will help you all realize how s l o w l y and clearly I speak!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3r9bOkYW9s&feature=youtu.be


I'm a keen Facebook user thanks to my far-flung Family, but it's also great for finding help with learning English:

Voice of America:
https://www.facebook.com/voalearningenglish

BBC Learning English:
https://www.facebook.com/bbclearningenglish.multimedia

More Details on Wales:
https://www.facebook.com/storyofwales

And even some fun for you Grammar fans:
https://www.facebook.com/GrammarUpdates

Enjoy your day!

Just preparing some lessons about Pi day... great Information and Background here:

http://cheshirelibraryblog.com/

Of course Pi was first used by a Welshman from Angelsey:

http://www.theguardian.com/science/alexs-adventures-in-numberland/2015/mar/14/pi-day-2015-william-jones-the-welshman-who-invented-pi

If you feel unsure about how to say different mathematical words and expressions, this YouTube Video can help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AOW3B1RKD4

And here's a fun online game to practice your maths:

http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/me3us/flash/index.html?launch=true


Enjoy!

Good morning, cough cough. My Cousin helpfully told me this week that in the UK the current cold/flu is being called "The 100 day cold"! Way to go, Cousin Janice!

Last week some of had fun introducing our favourite books, and what a varied lot they were.
This next week I will be bringing some extracts with me for the VHS Groups.

I think all of you will enjoy Benjamin Zephaniah. He's a Poet, Performer, author and "Troublemaker" and I think to get the full effect you have to watch him perform his Poems:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1DKCaR9OzQ

I love what he does with the English language and so do many others: in a BBC poll of the nation's favourite poets, he came 3rd after TS Eliot & John Donne!

Other students are going to be grappling with prepositions next week, here's some online practice:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/preposition_quiz1.htm

And this is a fun roulette-type game:

http://www.eslgamesplus.com/preposition-interactive-grammar-game-for-esl-wheel-game/

Now we all should go outside and get some sunshine!