English Lesson Archive
Night work can ‘throw your body into chaos’
20 February, 2014
New research has shown that working nights can throw your body into chaos. It could also cause long-term damage. It is already known that shift work can lead to higher rates of ovarian cancer, as well as breast cancer.
Category: Health / Science / Night work
View lessonEdward Snowden on German TV
15 February, 2014
Recently the National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden was interviewed by German TV channel ARD. In it he said the NSA is involved in industrial espionage. He added that the NSA takes intelligence regardless of its value to national security. Snowden cited...
View lessonFacebook could lose 80 percent of users by 2017
10 February, 2014
Recently a study revealed that Facebook could die out in a few years. The hype surrounding the highly popular social networking site is starting to dissipate. Its growth and fading has been compared to ‘an infectious disease’ by scientists.
Category: Technology / Facebook / Social networks
View lessonValentine’s Day!
5 February, 2014
Today let’s talk about Valentine’s Day! In case you didn’t know it is on February 14th. It is celebrated in many countries around the world. These days it is pretty commercial. Known also as St Valentine’s Day it is associated with love! Valentine’s Day symbols include heart...
View lessonWinter Olympics Sochi 2014
30 January, 2014
Today, let’s talk about the Winter Olympic games that are being held in Sochi in February 2014. It will be the first time the Russian Federation will have hosted a winter games. Sochi, population 400,000 is situated in Krasnodar, which is in the third largest region in Russia.
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Is the sun going to sleep?
25 January, 2014
Is the sun going to sleep? It’s an interesting question. Scientists have said that the sun is in a phase of a “solar lull” – meaning it has fallen asleep. This is baffling them as right now the sun is actually at its solar maximum – the point where it is at a peak of its 11-year cycle....
View lessonBurma – Nature’s Lost Kingdom
30 December, 2013
Today, let’s talk about Burma/Myanmar. We will focus on its almost impenetrable jungles; many of which have remained undisturbed for decades.
Category: Nature / Burma / Lost Kingdom
View lessonNelson Mandela
20 December, 2013
Today, let’s talk about Nelson Mandela. The former South African leader was laid to rest in December 2013. There were emotional scenes at his funeral, the like of which the world has never seen, as South Africa’s first black president was buried at his ancestral home.
Category:...
View lessonIrritating things people do on planes!
15 December, 2013
Today let’s talk about the irritating things people do on planes. There are many to think about. In this lesson we will discuss a few of them...
Category: Irritating things / Planes / People
View lessonNFE Christmas Quiz - 2013
10 December, 2013
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Christmas Music
- Santa
- International...
Why do we dream of a white Christmas?
5 December, 2013
Why do we dream of a white Christmas? Why do we get Christmas cards with snow on them? The culprit is the writer Charles Dickens. His childhood coincided with a decade of freakishly cold winters. Thus in his writings he describes persistently a Britain smothered in snow on Christmas Day,...
View lessonWhy do we dream of a white Christmas? - 2
5 December, 2013
Why do we dream of a white Christmas? Why do we get Christmas cards with snow on them?
Category: Christmas / Charles Dickens / Snow
View lessonWhat is Christmas today?
30 November, 2013
Today, let’s talk about Christmas. What is it? Why is it? How do we celebrate it? What does it mean to you? Also how has it changed over the years? Some interesting questions for you to mull over...maybe over a glass of Glühwein? This German pre-Christmas tradition has in recent years...
View lessonCountdown to Christmas!
25 November, 2013
Today, we are going to countdown to Christmas! Look at today’s date. How many shopping days are there still to go?
Category: Christmas / December / Events
View lessonThings we used to do!
20 November, 2013
Today let’s talk about some of the things we used to do! You’ll be surprised by just how many things have changed. This is thanks to technological change and the invention of the internet. Both of which have changed our lives dramatically...
Category: Lifestyle / Things we used to do / Living
View lessonThe Philippines typhoon disaster
15 November, 2013
Today, we will talk about Typhoon Haiyan that recently caused severe devastation right across the Central Philippines. At the time of writing more than 10,000 people have been killed by the typhoon. The race is on to help survivors. Meanwhile more than a million people in Vietnam have...
View lessonNoisy and disruptive neighbours!
10 November, 2013
Today let’s talk about noisy neighbours! They can be very annoying. It can be loud music blasting out. Someone could hold a party. In this instance it is better they invite their neighbours.
Category: Neighbours / Living in a flat / Noisy neighbours
View lessonSaudi driving ban for women
5 November, 2013
Today let’s talk about women not being allowed to drive a car in Saudi Arabia. Can you imagine a woman in your country not being allowed to drive a car simply because she is a woman? It’s hard to imagine!
Category: Saudi Arabia / Women drivers / Driving ban
View lessonRemember Remember the Fifth of November!
30 October, 2013
Today, we are going to talk about Guy Fawkes’ Night or Bonfire Night. The event is held every year in the United Kingdom on the evening of the fifth of November.
Category: History / Guy Fawkes’ / 5 November
View lessonWhy you need to speak more than one language!
25 October, 2013
Today, let’s focus on why you need to speak more than one language in the world today. The first part of the discussion focuses on the negative attitude and ignorance of many British people in Britain when it comes to speaking a second or third language. Frankly, most can’t communicate...
View lessonCrystal Palace to be rebuilt
20 October, 2013
Crystal Palace in London is to be rebuilt. Plans and images have been unveiled that show how Crystal Palace will look when it is rebuilt as a modern day cultural attraction.
Category: Crystal Palace / History / Great buildings
View lessonHalloween 2!
15 October, 2013
Today, let’s talk about Halloween. It occurs once a year on the night of the 31st October. It’s the most likely time you’ll see people dressed up as witches, ghosts, skeletons, monsters, devils or other weird supernatural creatures.
Category: Halloween / 31 October / Witches & Pumpkins
View lessonHidden London!
10 October, 2013
Today let’s talk about hidden London. By that I mean parts of London that are hidden away; yet are literally right in front of our eyes when walking around the capital city...
Category: London / Secret places to visit / Tourism
View lessonUS Government Shuts Down!
5 October, 2013
Incredibly at the time of writing this English lesson the US government has partially shut down! Why? Because the Republicans and the Democrats couldn’t agree on the US budget by midnight on the 30th September.
Category: Economic / Politics / USA
View lessonCrossFit - The new fitness sport
30 September, 2013
Today, let’s talk about CrossFit. This is a structured, sport-specific programme that includes; running, biking, swimming, and rowing. It can also include Olympic lifts, powerlifting, gymnastic movements, as well as other activities.
Category: Sport / Fitness / CrossFit
View lessonKenya Shopping Mall Horror
25 September, 2013
This week the world saw yet another terrorist attack unfold; this time in Kenya. The deadly attack took place in an upmarket shopping mall in the country’s capital Nairobi. The Somalian terrorist group al-Shabaab, which has links to Al- Qaeda, has now claimed responsibility for...
View lessonThe seven wonders of the world
20 September, 2013
Today is a bit of a history lesson as we’re going to talk about the seven wonders of the world. Can you remember what they are? For those of you that can’t in this lesson we will look at not only the seven classic wonders of the world but also seven modern wonders in the world today.
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The chat revolution
15 September, 2013
Today, let’s talk about the chat revolution. Chat today is either by sending an SMS message or by using video chat that allows us face to face contact with our friends and family. Popular networks for communicating with each other include Skype, Viber, Blackberry’s BBM, Google's Hangouts,...
View lessonOlympic Games 2020 – It’s Tokyo!
10 September, 2013
Tokyo has won the race to host the 2020 Olympic Games. The Japanese city beat Madrid and Istanbul after what turned into a thrilling finish. The decision took place at the 125th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Buenos Aires. Tokyo was always the strong favourite but...
View lesson‘Twerk’ and ‘Selfie’ – headline new words added to Oxford Dictionaries Online
5 September, 2013
Recently ‘Twerk’ and ‘Selfie’ headlined new words added to the Oxford Dictionaries Online. Today’s generation of young people have created plenty of other new words. Their priority interests are technology, fashion, food and self-involvement; the ‘me, me, me’ generation! These areas are all...
View lessonTongue Twisters!
30 August, 2013
Today let’s practise some tongue twisters! See how you get on with trying to say the following daft classic phrases. Try to pronounce them clearly in the Queen’s English...
Category: Elocution / Pronunciation / British English
View lessonShould women have hairy armpits?
25 August, 2013
Should women have hairy armpits? Well, should they? It’s a good talking point. Why do people think hairy armpits are ok for men but not for women? It is true most men today prefer to see women without hairy armpits, but why?
Category: Women / Shaving / Hairy armpits
View lessonA typical day at the office
20 August, 2013
Today, let’s talk about a typical day at the office. On arrival we are likely to clock in. Many companies use flexitime, which allows staff flexible working times. Grabbing a coffee can help many start their busy day ahead.
Category: Business / Office / Typical day
View lessonNorway’s Prime Minister goes undercover as a taxi driver
15 August, 2013
Recently, Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg worked secretly as a taxi driver in central Oslo for an afternoon in a bid to woo voters in his country’s upcoming general election. Dressed in a taxi driver uniform and sunglasses the Norwegian Prime Minister drove around...
View lessonA visit to an airport
10 August, 2013
Today, let’s talk about a visit to an airport. Many of us are likely to visit one when we go on holiday. Others who don’t jet-off are likely to pick someone up or drop them off at the drop off zones outside most airports. These days many airport owners make a killing by...
View lessonEnd of the road for the Philippine Jeepney?
5 August, 2013
Today, let’s talk about the Philippine Jeepney. What is that you ask? It’s an open mini bus-jeep that is derived from the American Jeep. Jeepneys can carry about 18 people, who sit shoulder to shoulder in it. There are glassless windows for ventilation in the hot Asian climate.
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Red double-decker buses to be considered in Bratislava!
30 July, 2013
SMS message – ‘I’ve just been for a free ride on a brand new red double-decker bus in Bratislava’. It’s true I did! The red bus was, to say the least, an unusual sight as it travelled around the historic old town of Bratislava in Slovakia.
Category: Transport / Double-decker Buses /...
View lessonRoyal Baby – It’s a Boy!
25 July, 2013
The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy. The new Prince of Cambridge was born at St Mary’s hospital at 4.24pm. He weighed 8lb 6oz. The birth was announced to the public at 8.29pm, four hours after the actual birth to the press by email and Twitter.
Category: Britain /...
View lessonDetroit files for bankruptcy
20 July, 2013
Detroit used to be home of the once-thriving American automobile industry. Known as Motor City, USA, the city has now applied for bankruptcy. For decades it has been struggling with spiralling debts, which now total US$18.5 billion (14 billion Euros).
Category: Business / Economic /...
View lessonLast telegram sent: STOP
15 July, 2013
Recently the last telegram was sent in India. The country’s State-run telegraph service shut down in mid July following decades of decline. Telegrams have been replaced by text messages and emails. Most young people today have never seen a telegram!
Category: Communication / Telegram / India
View lessonMoving to a new home
10 July, 2013
Today, let’s talk about moving to a new home. It’s something we all go through at some point in our lives. When we do, it is normally quite a stressful process. If you are a first time buyer the task ahead can be quite daunting. Even second and third time moves can prove challenging! Let’s...
View lessonThe wonderful potholes on our roads!
5 July, 2013
Today, let’s talk about the potholes on our roads. You’ll find them in every town, city and in greater numbers in the countryside. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some are more dangerous than others.
Category: Roads / Potholes / Transport
View lessonA visit to Edinburgh
30 June, 2013
Today, let’s talk about a visit to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It’s a popular place to visit and many tourists do indeed visit the city and surrounding area in droves. Many Europeans fly in to Edinburgh Airport on budget airlines, together with people from all over the world.
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I love London!
25 June, 2013
I love London! - That’s what the T-shirt says in the souvenir shop in Oxford Street. It’s what the tourists like to buy when they visit London.
Category: Tourism / London / Places to visit
View lessonYouTube turns clicks into cash!
20 June, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about YouTube. Most of us have watched the highly popular webpage. These days it’s hard to not watch something that originates from it.
Category: YouTube / Business / Entertainment
View lessonPRISM could be watching you!
15 June, 2013
Recently Britain’s Guardian newspaper made headline news when it published details about the US government’s controversial monitoring program called PRISM. What is that? It’s a mechanism the US government uses to spy on its population. It also helps them keep track of their citizens who...
View lessonSocial Networking Today!
10 June, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about social networking. Many of us like to chat with each other using social networking sites like Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype or Viber. In fact, we can’t seem to live without them! Why do we use them? Because we like to communicate, especially with our family...
View lessonWhat is couchsurfing?
5 June, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about couchsurfing. What’s that I hear you ask? In a nutshell it’s when you kip on a strangers couch when travelling. Risky? I think so. Yet many young people around the world think it is not. The webpage www.couchsurfing.org finds you a registered couch for the...
View lessonGetting divorced!
30 May, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about getting divorced. These days the idea of getting a divorce appears to be trendier than getting married. Maybe not!
Category: Marriage / Divorce / Partners
View lessonOklahoma - After the tornado
25 May, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about the devastating tornado that recently hit Oklahoma in the USA. The town of Moore near Oklahoma City took a direct hit. Entire streets were reduced to rubble as the powerful storm hit - destroying everything in its path.
Category: USA / Oklahoma / Tornado
View lessonCreate your own ‘Bucket list’
20 May, 2013 - Video included!
Today I thought we could talk about creating your own ‘Bucket list’. What is that I hear you ask? It is a list of things to do before you die.
Category: Living / Bucket list / Ideas
View lessonHow to publish a book?
15 May, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about how to publish your own book. Assuming your manuscript is completed the next stage is to try to publish it! There are at least four ways to publish your book. These are; using a traditional publisher, a print-on-demand publisher, self-publishing and...
View lessonBangladesh Clothing Factories’ Tragedy
10 May, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about the Bangladesh clothing factory building that collapsed at the end of April. The disaster at the Rana Plaza building in Savar, near the capital Dhaka, killed many of those who were working inside it.
Category: Asia / Bangladesh / Clothing factories
View lessonGold prices – What next?
5 May, 2013 - Video included!
Recently gold prices took a tumble. In fact, we saw some of the biggest falls for 30 years. Having said that gold prices in recent years have hit dizzying heights so a correction was overdue.
Category: Economic / Commodities / Gold price
View lessonNorth Korea – What next?
30 April, 2013 - Video included!
Today let’s talk about North Korea. Not a week goes by without another horror story emerging from the country where, it appears, missiles are more important than people. In fact, unknown numbers in North Korea have starved to death or have been sent to die in concentration camps. They...
View lessonNew sleeper coach service from London to Scotland
25 April, 2013 - Video included!
Planning a visit to Scotland this summer? If you are and you’re a budget traveller you might want to consider taking a new sleeper coach service that is going to be introduced this summer by coach company Megabus.
Category: Tourism / United Kingdom / Places to visit
View lessonThe top places to visit in the UK
20 April, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about the top places to visit in the UK. London probably tops the list. The capital city offers visitors Buckingham Palace, Oxford Street and the London Eye. London is huge! It offers tourists fabulous pubs, theatres and sports venues.
Category: Tourism / United...
View lessonDing Dong over Anti-Thatcher song
15 April, 2013 - Video included!
Following Margaret Thatcher’s death, protesters have propelled a song into the downloaded music charts called Ding Dong The Witch is Dead. The song from the movie The Wizard of Oz has caused a storm of protest across Britain; more so in the British press, to the point that the...
View lessonMargaret Thatcher dies
10 April, 2013 - Video included!
Recently Britain lost one of its most famous Prime Ministers. Baroness Thatcher, who was Britain’s first female Prime Minister died “peacefully” at the age of 87 following a stroke. Baroness Thatcher will have a full ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul’s Cathedral in...
View lessonDavid Bowie at the V & A
5 April, 2013 - Video included!
Today let’s talk about a new exhibition that you can see at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It features the work of the legendary pop star David Bowie.
Category: Music / David Bowie / V & A
View lessonEaster traditions
30 March, 2013 - Video included!
Today let’s talk about Easter traditions. Every country and region has its own. In this lesson we will look at a few of them.
Category: Easter / Easter traditions / Religion
View lessonThe new Pope
25 March, 2013 - Video included!
Today let’s talk about the new Pope who was elected recently at the Vatican. Pope Francis I is the new head of the Catholic Church following the resignation of the former Pope, Benedict XVI.
Category: Catholic Church / The Pope / Francis I
View lesson‘Mind the gap’ returns to London Underground
20 March, 2013 - Video included!
‘Mind the gap’ – one of the most iconic phrases once heard on several London Underground tube stations is set to return to one tube station. Passengers standing at the platform at Embankment Underground station on the Northern line will once again be able to hear one of the most famous...
View lessonNew lesson layout and new video lessons!
15 March, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about this English lesson! Let me explain further. You are learning English. Some of you will learn it through these lesson plans. I have introduced two major changes to these lesson plans.
Category: Media / Communication / Learning English
View lessonThe top universities in the world
10 March, 2013 - Video included!
There are many fine universities in the world today to study at. Each has its own history and reputation. In this lesson we will be looking at the top ten universities across the world in 2013. We will also be comparing the 2012/2013 rankings that were published recently. The results...
View lessonTitanic II will sail in 2016!
5 March, 2013 - Video included!
Would you want to sail on a ship that was modelled on the original Titanic? It’s an interesting question! Risky? Romantic? Why not?
Category: Economic / Ships / Titanic II
View lessonDeath of the British High Street
25 February, 2013 - Video included!
If you are considering a visit to Britain you might like to do some shopping. Where better to do this than in a small quaint market town. Visitors however, might be surprised by what they see…
Category: Britain / High Streets / Shopping
View lessonMeteor hits earth in Russia
20 February, 2013 - Video included!
Recently a giant meteor streaked across the skies above Russia, breaking up as it entered the earth’s atmosphere over western Siberia.
Category: Meteor / Russia / Siberia
View lessonThe Pope resigns!
15 February, 2013 - Video included!
Recently the world was shocked with the news that Pope Benedict XVI had resigned. The news that the Head of the Catholic Church was to step down at the end of February shocked world political leaders, as well as religious figures.
Category: Religion / The Vatican / The Pope resigning
View lessonBlackBerry launches Z10 and Q10
10 February, 2013
Recently BlackBerry launched two new handsets. The Z10 with a touchscreen and the Q10 with a physical keyboard. The new mobile phones, BlackBerry hopes, will resurrect the struggling brand.
Category: Technology / BlackBerry / Business
View lessonSandwich saga at Subway!
5 February, 2013 - Video included!
Recently the fast food restaurant chain Subway announced it would live up to its promise of ‘a foot long sandwich’. The announcement follows days after two men filed a lawsuit in the states (where else would anyone do this?) contesting the company was skimping on its sandwich size.
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Mega file-sharing site launched by Kim Dotcom
30 January, 2013 - Video included!
Recently Kim Dotcom, real name Kim Schmitz, returned to the world stage to launch his new file-sharing site ‘Mega’. Within 24 hours of the new website’s launch it had received more than one million hits! Mr Dotcom’s new cloud service ‘Mega.co.nz’ says, “We promise. We deliver. Bigger –...
View lessonHorse meat found in beefburgers
25 January, 2013 - Video included!
Recently horse meat was discovered to be in beefburgers sold in British supermarkets Tesco and Iceland. The beef products containing horse and pig DNA came from three companies in Ireland. Following the discovery more than ten million burgers were subsequently withdrawn from UK...
View lessonElephant poaching in Africa
20 January, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about elephant poaching in Africa. The killing of these giant beasts for their ivory is truly shocking. Africa has seen its elephant population decimated because of it.
Category: Africa / Elephants poaching / The ivory trade
View lessonPurple and pink colours introduced on Australian weather map
15 January, 2013 - Video included!
Recently weather maps in Australia began to show two entirely new colours on them. Purple and pink have been introduced by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology due to the extreme temperatures that have been recorded in the country.
Category: Australian heatwave / Meteorology / Weather
View lessonThe Commonwealth
10 January, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about the Commonwealth. (Full name - The Commonwealth of Nations). It is a group of 54 independent Member States, most of whom are former British Empire countries. The exceptions are Rwanda and Mozambique.
Category: Economic / Trade / The Commonwealth
View lessonOnline Dating Sites…
5 January, 2013 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about online dating sites. Why do people visit them? Can you find love on the web? How many people actually marry someone they find online? Are these sites safe?
Category: Internet / Online dating sites / Matchmaking
View lessonGun controls needed in America
30 December, 2012 - Video included!
Recently the world watched CNN and the BBC show yet another crazy American gunman going around killing American kids in school. Why? Because he had access to a gun.
Category: USA / Guns / Gun control
View lessonHow the internet is affecting how we learn and speak English
25 December, 2012 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about how the internet is affecting the way we speak and learn English. Perhaps a good example is this British English lesson that stems from the internet.
Category: Language / English / Internet
View lessonThe end of the world – or is it?
20 December, 2012 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about the end of the world. According to the ancient Mayan calendar it was meant to end on December 21st 2012. By reading this lesson after this date the world is obviously still here!
Category: The world / End of the world / Mayan calendar
View lessonViva Forever! Spice Girls reunite for new musical
15 December, 2012 - Video included!
Recently the Spice Girls reunited at the opening night of a new musical in London called Viva Forever! London’s Piccadilly theatre in the West End hosted the event that featured the music of the Spice Girls.
Category: London’s West End / Musicals / Spice Girls
View lessonTragic suicide after Kate hoax call
10 December, 2012 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about the recent hoax telephone call from two Australian DJs to a London hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was staying. The prank has caused a storm of controversy around the world.
Category: Media / Pranks / Tragedy
View lessonNFE Christmas Quiz - 2012
5 December, 2012
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Christmas Music
- Santa
- International...
What is Christmas today?
30 November, 2012 - Video included!
Today, let’s talk about Christmas. What is it? Why is it? How do we celebrate it? What does it mean to you? Also how has it changed over the years? Some interesting questions for you to mull over…maybe over a glass of Glühwein? This German pre-Christmas tradition has in recent years spread...
View lessonTrench talk…and how we use it today when speaking
25 November, 2012
Today, let’s talk about some words that are used in everyday English that originate from the trenches of World War One. Really? You’d be surprised just how many words there are, for example, bloke, binge drink, wash out, and snapshot. Research has been done by military historian Peter Doyle...
View lessonGangnam Style
20 November, 2012
Have you seen it? Can you do it? What am I talking about? I’m talking about Gangnam Style. It’s daft, fun, and it’s caught people’s attention around the world. The song, sung by the Korean pop artist PSY, has become an international hit. More importantly, the dance that goes with it,...
View lessonEurozone slides into recession…
15 November, 2012
Recent news from Europe tells us the Eurozone has fallen back into a double-dip recession, as the debt crisis deepens. Even the economic powerhouse of Germany is suffering with a slowdown in its economy. The 17-country region, which represents a fifth of global output, shrank by 0.1% in...
View lessonDeadly disease threatens 80 million ash trees
10 November, 2012
Today, let’s talk about trees, in particular, ash trees. This popular type of tree is found in many forests in Britain, especially in the east of England. The ash tree in Britain is under attack from a killer fungus disease that threatens to wipe out 80 million ash trees across the country....
View lessonNew York severely battered by Hurricane Sandy
5 November, 2012
New York recently looked like the set of a disaster movie after being severely battered by Hurricane Sandy. President Obama declared the city and state of New York ‘a major disaster’. The superstorm caused widespread devastation across the city and surrounding areas.
Category: New York...
View lessonPoll: Majority of Britons want Britain to leave EU
30 October, 2012
Recently an opinion poll in Britain revealed a majority of voters want Britain to leave the European Union. The poll by opinion firm Survation showed that 51% of people in Britain were in favour of the UK leaving the EU, while only 34% wanted to stay with Brussels. The results suggest that...
View lessonHalloween…
25 October, 2012
Today, let’s talk about Halloween. It occurs once a year on the night of the 31st October. It’s the most likely time you’ll see people dressed up as witches, ghosts, skeletons, monsters, devils or other weird supernatural creatures. Halloween parties are popular among both children and...
View lessonEurope 1912, Europe 2012
20 October, 2012
You are in a bar discussing about how life is at the moment in Europe, its challenges of living there and its politics. You are also discussing the future, about how life might be like, and about how Europe might look like in the future. You live somewhere in Europe where there is one...
View lessonOne giant leap
15 October, 2012
One giant leap by one crazy 43-year-old Austrian recently made worldwide headline news. Felix Baumgartner became the first man to break the sound barrier, without mechanical help, after he jumped from 39,045 metres (128,100 feet, more than 39 km, or more than 24 miles) up in space. He has...
View lessonA visit to Ikea…
10 October, 2012
Today, let’s talk about Ikea. It’s a place many of us like to visit when we want something for the home. Whether it’s a new kitchen, a new sofa, or some new bedroom furniture, Ikea sells it. They also sell many other things, like curtains, bedding, and household furniture. In fact, you name...
View lessonCzech alcohol poisoning scandal
5 October, 2012
Central Europe has been rocked recently by an alcohol poisoning scandal. The government of the Czech Republic was forced to ban the sale of hard liquor with more than 20% alcohol following the death of 17 people who drank bootleg spirits containing poisonous methanol. Hard spirits across...
View lessonQueen’s English is no longer spoken by The Queen: Mirren
30 September, 2012
The Queen’s English has always been deemed the correct way to speak English. It is what many students are taught at school. However, according to the actress Dame Helen Mirren, it appears The Queen is slipping in the way she speaks. Dame Helen got an Oscar for her portrayal of Her...
View lessonAn imaginary road trip to the airport
25 September, 2012
Today, let’s talk about traffic signs and travelling around town in a vehicle. In order to help you I am going to take you on an ‘imaginary’ road trip to the airport. Sit back – here we go… I have just finished teaching an English lesson. I am short of time so instead of taking a bus I...
View lessonDuchess of Cambridge topless photos published in French magazine: Palace to sue
20 September, 2012
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge recently were saddened by the “grotesque and unjustifiable invasion of privacy” by a French magazine which published topless photos of Kate. The French magazine ‘Closer’ printed the pictures of the Duchess, taken during their private holiday in France. The...
View lessonThe top ten places in the world to lose or make money in property over the last year
15 September, 2012
Today, let’s look at the top ten places in the world where you could have lost or made money in property over the last year. We need to take into account the 2008 world economic crisis together with the euro crisis. Both continue to hold many parts of the world to ransom. We are living in...
View lessonRyanair boss tells stupid passengers who don’t print off their boarding passes where to go…
10 September, 2012
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary hit the headlines again recently when he hit back at a female passenger who was forced to pay a penalty of €300 (£237) in order to fly home from her holiday because she forgot to print her boarding cards off in time. Mr O’Leary launched his extraordinary...
View lessonLooking back at the Paralympics – London 2012
5 September, 2012
Did you watch the Paralympics that were held in London recently? I did - but oddly many of my students surprisingly did not. Like many other Brits I watched the opening ceremony, which like the Olympic Games opening ceremony I thought was breathtaking to watch. Entitled ‘Enlightenment’ -...
View lessonThe top 10 places to visit in Great Britain
30 August, 2012
Today, let’s talk about the top 10 places to visit in Great Britain. London probably tops the list. The capital city offers visitors Buckingham Palace, Oxford Street, The London Eye and the Houses of Parliament. West End attractions include Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. Many...
View lessonWhy English is the most important language in the world
25 August, 2012
Today, let’s talk about why English is the most important language in the world. Considering the size of the country it beggars belief how the English language has remained at the forefront of languages students desire to learn. Of course, the question is why? There are many answers to...
View lessonThe best and worst cities to live in around the world
20 August, 2012
Today, let’s talk about the best and worst cities to live in around the world in 2012. Everyone has their favourites that they might like to live in. The survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit global “liveability” study, looked at how “tolerable” it is to live in a particular place given...
View lessonAfter London 2012 it’s now Rio 2016!
15 August, 2012
After a fabulous Olympic Games in London the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony at London 2012 was handed over to Brazil. Rio de Janeiro will host the next summer games in 2016. What can we expect?
Category: Sport / Olympic Games / Rio de Janeiro
View lessonLoch Ness Monster spotted!
10 August, 2012
August is traditionally the silly season for news stories. One such story about the Loch Ness Monster caught my eye. As many people know, the hunt for ‘Nessie’ has been going on for years. There are many photos claiming to show the existence of the beast. Some people spend their...
View lessonThe unwritten rules French waiters use to get a bigger tip
5 August, 2012
Today, let’s talk about the unwritten rules French waiters use to get customers to part with their cash in order to get a good tip. These Gallic waiters have an impressive array of tricks and techniques to effortlessly do this. The unwritten rule book on how “garçons” from Paris and the...
View lessonThe Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
30 July, 2012
Did you see it? The Olympic Games opening ceremony – live from London. ‘The greatest show on earth’ proved to be exactly that. It was breathtaking! The event was unveiled to the world at 9pm BST on Friday 27th July. The London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony was watched by an estimated...
View lessonWomen facing quarter-life crisis
25 July, 2012
Today, let’s talk about women who face a quarter-life crisis. They are bright, educated and in their mid 20s and they appear to be the rising stars of the workplace. Yet one in three women is actually suffering from a ‘quarter-life crisis’. They are secretly crying in the office toilets or...
View lessonPudsey the dancing dog goes to Hollywood!
20 July, 2012
Britain’s Got Talent winner Pudsey ‘the dancing dog’ recently hit Hollywood! The Americans it seems, like the British, can’t seem to get enough of him. The UK’s favourite pet pooch is taking Hollywood by storm, having been flown out on Simon Cowell’s private jet. It appears Pudsey is...
View lessonThe Olympic Games – London 2012
15 July, 2012
The countdown to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London continues. Final preparations are being made. The excitement is building. The Olympic flame continues its journey around the UK. Giant Olympic rings have been unveiled across the UK including at Tower Bridge in London....
View lessonNFE GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ - JULY 2012
10 July, 2012
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography general
- The...
Auschwitz – A lesson in history
5 July, 2012
Today, let’s talk about Auschwitz. It’s a lesson in history we should never forget. Why discuss it now? Simple – I was recently invited to go to Poland for a long weekend to Cracow. One of the trips we made was to Auschwitz. I can tell you – it makes you think twice on many things once you...
View lessonTraditional children’s characters being forgotten
30 June, 2012
Today, let’s talk about traditional children’s characters in books read by English children past and present. The classic books we were brought up with and whose characters we know are today being shunned by the latest generation, who prefer to play on their computer. In a recent survey of...
View lessonWimbledon 2012
25 June, 2012
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is considered by many to be the most prestigious. It is one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Championships. The other three Majors are the French Open, the Australian Open and the US Open. Wimbledon is the only Major still played on...
View lessonFat and disruptive passengers on aeroplanes
20 June, 2012
Today, let’s talk about fat and disruptive people on aeroplanes. It’s a good topic to talk about, as most of us have to suffer sitting next to one of these or similar when travelling on an aeroplane. I will just add I do not wish to be discriminatory to anyone in particular whilst writing...
View lessonSchool dinner blog ban U-turn
15 June, 2012
Today a Scottish council saw common sense and reversed a decision it made 24 hours earlier banning a schoolgirl from posting her pictures of her school dinners on her blog Neverseconds. Martha Payne, nine, was celebrating with her father after being inundated with support for her...
View lessonOlympic Torch Tours UK
10 June, 2012
The Olympic torch relay is currently touring the United Kingdom for 70 days ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Large crowds gather everyday to watch it pass their doorstep. Wherever it goes it appears to cause great excitement! Since the 19th May, when the torch started its journey at...
View lessonEuro 2012
5 June, 2012
Today, let’s talk about the European Football Championship that is taking place this year in Poland and Ukraine. Commonly known as Euro 2012 the championship will bring the best European teams together for what, no doubt, will be another exciting tournament. The 2012 UEFA European Football...
View lessonInteractive whiteboards
30 May, 2012
Today we will talk about how education was taught in the past, how it is taught today and how it might be taught in the future. In particular we will look at an exciting new way of teaching subjects to students in classrooms using interactive whiteboards. Before we do, let’s quickly go over...
View lessonThe Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
25 May, 2012
This year The Queen celebrates 60 years on the throne. The British Monarch will be celebrating her Diamond Jubilee at the beginning of June. Special celebrations will take place across Britain between 2-6 June. The Queen came to the throne on 6th February 1952. Her coronation took place on...
View lessonPlastic waste increases in North Pacific
20 May, 2012
Today let’s talk about the vast increase in plastic waste in the North Pacific. All across the area you will find huge amounts of floating debris. Data, published recently, by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California, says the quantity of small plastic fragments floating in the...
View lessonJamie Oliver: We need cookery lessons in schools
15 May, 2012
One of the UK’s most famous chefs, Jamie Oliver, has urged the British government to introduce cookery teaching into schools to help fight obesity. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Oliver, alongside leading health figures, call on him to introduce a minimum 24 hours of practical...
View lessonTop 10 cars sold in April in UK & USA
10 May, 2012
Today let’s talk about cars. It’s a topic we all like to discuss with our friends - so why not in an English lesson? Car sales statistics for April 2012 have recently been published so I thought it a good idea to compare the UK and USA figures. The UK figures do, I believe, represent the...
View lessonCreate your own top 20 ‘Bucket list’
5 May, 2012
Today I thought we could talk about creating your own ‘Bucket list’. What is that I hear you ask? It is a list of things to do before you die. Most of us have still got a few years ahead of us however I thought it would make a good talking point in an English lesson. Of course, there was...
View lessonCockney cash
30 April, 2012
Next time you go down to your ATM machine consider the language you will choose when you get your cash. Will it be in your language, or in English, French, German or something else? What about Cockney? If you are in London, especially around the East End of London, those people going...
View lesson50 things to do outdoors before you are 12
25 April, 2012
Think back to when you were 12 or younger. What did you do? Did you fly a kite or build a den? Did you throw some snow or hunt for treasure? My generation did all these things. Today what do kids do? Many play on their Playstation or X-Box. They spend a lot of time on their computers. Many...
View lesson20 Spitfires buried in Burma during WWII to be unearthed
20 April, 2012
Recently a fascinating story caught my eye. It’s about 20 Spitfires buried in Burma at the end of World War II that have suddenly been discovered! It’s like something out of a boy’s adventure book or an Indiana Jones story. A British farmer’s quest to find a squadron of legendary fighter...
View lessonThe Harry Potter Studio Tour
15 April, 2012
Hands up who hasn’t heard of Harry Potter! I can’t believe there is anyone who hasn’t heard of him. Just in case you haven’t - he is a fictional boy wizard created by British author J.K. Rowling. For those Harry Potter fans that have read the books and seen the movies I have some good...
View lessonShould Children Learn The Lord’s Prayer?
10 April, 2012
Recently in Britain the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said he believes that children should be taught the Lord’s Prayer in school. Speaking to the BBC on its children’s TV programme Newsround Dr Williams said he was worried by news that half as many children know the...
View lessonTablets, gadgets & apps
5 April, 2012
Today I thought we could look at tablets, gadgets and apps. It is a popular topic that is constantly changing, especially with the introduction of new products and new technology. So where to begin? Let’s start with the new iPad. Recently the world seems to have gone crazy with iPad mania...
View lessonEvents in London – April to June
30 March, 2012
Today’s English lesson focuses on more happening events in London.
Spring - The London Marathon is normally held in the spring. It is one of the biggest running events in the world. It is one of the top five marathons. Started in 1981, it raises money for many good charitable...
View lessonTop inventions
25 March, 2012
Today I thought we could look at some top inventions and talk about them. Of course, there are thousands to choose from. Trying to reduce this to the top 50 or even the top 20 was difficult. In the end I decided to see what I could think of. You can create your own top 20 list during this...
View lessonWhat is SIFI banking?
20 March, 2012
More than a few months ago I was set a challenge by some students to write a lesson about SIFI Banking. I discovered SIFI has nothing to do with science fiction (Sci-Fi) banking i.e. banking in the future! SIFI actually means ‘systemically important financial institutions’. The term was...
View lessonBBC World Service is 80!
15 March, 2012
“This is London” – Part 1 - Recently the BBC World Service celebrated 80 years of broadcasting. Started in 1932, it broadcast originally on short-wave only. Today it broadcasts on short-wave, FM, digital radio and the internet. Its audiences continue to grow. However, short-wave listening...
View lessonTop 50 James Bond Memories
10 March, 2012
James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 from ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘Thunderball’ came top in a list of all time 50 favourite memories from the James Bond hit movies. Second was Oddjob’s metal-rimmed bowler hat that decapitated his enemies. A survey of 1000 moviegoers, conducted by insurance firm esure to...
View lessonWhy do we wear blue jeans?
5 March, 2012
Why do we wear blue jeans? Probably because we choose to. They are durable, comfortable and easy to wear. They also last longer than conventional trousers. Jeans mean different things to different people. Does this explain their wide appeal? The classic symbol of the American West is now a...
View lessonDickensian London celebrates his bicentenary year
25 February, 2012
This year marks the bicentenary of Charles Dickens. The famous British writer and author created some of the best known characters in English literature, including Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and Miss Havisham. Dickens was inspired by what he saw in the streets of London. Hence...
View lessonThe top 50 things we love best about Britain
20 February, 2012
Today we will look at the top 50 things British people like best about Britain. Topping the top 50 list at number one is the tasty bacon butty (or bacon sandwich) filled with lots of ketchup. A traditional roast dinner took second place while a nice cup of tea made number three. Certainly,...
View lessonSolar power mushrooms in Britain
15 February, 2012
Solar power in Britain over the past few years has mushroomed, especially during the six weeks before December 12th 2011. This is when the British government tried to close a gap in a solar power scheme the previous government created. The reason ‘it seems’ is that the deal was too good...
View lessonThe Top 20 UK Advertising Slogans
10 February, 2012
Turn on the TV, look at the internet, listen to the radio or read a newspaper. Whichever you choose one thing is pretty certain; you’ll find them littered with advertisements. The ads help pay for them. Now sit back and think! Which of the advertisements can you remember and why? There are...
View lessonEurope freezes – coldest spell in 30 years
5 February, 2012
Sunday – The big ‘Siberian like’ freeze continues to tighten its grip on Europe. Most of the continent remains under a huge blanket of snow. The result is chaos in many places. Ukraine has seen the brunt of the bad weather where more than 160 people have now died because of the...
View lessonAn independent Scotland?
30 January, 2012
Is Scotland going to leave the United Kingdom? Will it break away and become an independent country? That’s the question. The Union has lasted more than 300 years - yet Scottish Nationalist party leader Alex Salmond would like to break away from it and form an independent Scotland. If...
View lessonLadies, Mr Perfect does not exist!
25 January, 2012
Ladies, if you are looking for Mr Perfect forget it. He doesn’t exist! That’s according to a recent survey of 2,000 women who ranked their partner as only 69% perfect! Whilst many men have positive attributes it seems the majority are deeply flawed. Included in the list of 20 common...
View lessonSkiers stranded in Austria by too much snow!
20 January, 2012
Skiers in Western Austria recently got a bit too much snow for their liking. It was reported that more than 15,000 tourists were stuck in various ski resorts after too much of the white fluffy stuff fell last week. Dozens were reported to have been airlifted out of ski resorts by...
View lessonIt was like the Titanic!
15 January, 2012
A luxury winter cruise in the Mediterranean turned into a horrific scramble for survival for 4,000 people as the giant 114,500-tonne ocean liner Costa Concordia hit rocks off the coast of Italy on Friday evening. Survivors said, “It was like the Titanic”. The drama began when the cruise...
View lessonSahara desert sun to power Europe
10 January, 2012
The Sahara desert in North Africa is vast. So is its desert sunshine. If that could be harvested the potential it offers as an energy producing region is huge. The idea is now within reach of actually happening - using new technologies to capture the sun in the Sahara desert, converting it...
View lessonBritish women are officially the fattest in Europe
5 January, 2012
British women are the fattest in Europe. The deeply worrying statistics are contained in a report from Eurostat***, the EU’s statistical agency, which compares obesity levels in 19 countries from 2008-2009. According to alarming figures a quarter are obese – so fat it threatens their...
View lessonIrritating British Bedtime Habits
30 December, 2011
You have just got off to sleep when suddenly your partner decides to tuck the duvet around them and roll away from you. This ‘tuck and roll’, as it’s called, is one of a number of irritating bedtime habits that have been revealed in a recent survey of British couples - according to...
View lessonGreat British Dishes
25 December, 2011
Food is always a good talking point in any conversation. So today, let’s talk about some great British food dishes. Britain has some fabulous mouth watering choices. So what are they? Well, let’s start with one of the most popular – freshly bought fish and chips from the fish and chip shop....
View lessonEvents in London – January to March
20 December, 2011
Today’s English lesson focuses on more happening events in London.
January - The New Year’s Day Parade in London is the first big event of the New Year. It runs through many of the West End’s famous streets. The parade, which started in 1987, features more than 10,000 performers...
View lessonA traditional Christmas in England
15 December, 2011
Pre Christmas - The English like to celebrate Christmas well ahead of the actual day. Before the kids break up from school toddlers might visit Santa’s grotto in a local department store. Children at primary and secondary schools might hold Christmas bazaars. Kids at secondary...
View lessonWhy do we dream of a white Christmas?
10 December, 2011
Why do we dream of a white Christmas? Why do we get Christmas cards with snow on them? The culprit is the writer Charles Dickens. His childhood coincided with a decade of freakishly cold winters. Thus in his writings he describes persistently a Britain smothered in snow on Christmas Day,...
View lessonPippa’s top 10 Xmas tips
5 December, 2011
Pippa Middleton, the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, has published her guide to the festive season. Pippa’s ‘Top 10 tips for a Perfect Family Christmas’ has been published on the Party Times online magazine that she edits for her family’s mail-order business. It says the most important...
View lessonNFE CHRISTMAS QUIZ - DECEMBER 2011
1 December, 2011
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Christmas Music
- Santa
- International...
Ooo la la! Marks & Spencer reopens in France
30 November, 2011
Paris - After a decade in retreat Marks & Spencer the British retail clothes and food giant has reopened in France. Yesterday, it opened its doors in the French capital. The new three storey shop lies in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe. Its new £50m 10-year lease makes it one of the most...
View lessonThe link between Bletchley Park and Google
25 November, 2011
For nearly half a century Bletchley Park, a Victorian manor house near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, lay neglected and unloved; its dilapidated buildings falling into disrepair. By the 90s, its boarded-up huts at its rear were due to be torn down. Yet for more than 50 years the...
View lessonCripes! Spiffing English words dying out
20 November, 2011
Cripes! Thanks to the Twitter generation some spiffing words in the English language are slowly dying out. Traditional words like ‘balderdash’ and ‘cripes’ are being replaced with modern trendy shortened text-style terms like ‘lol’, ‘jel’ and ‘soz’. In fact, a quarter of us use these terms...
View lessonWhy doesn’t the USA have high speed rail?
15 November, 2011
Why doesn’t the USA have high speed trains? Good question! China has them, so does Japan. They are all over Europe. All run between 300-431kph (186-268mph). Yet in America the fastest train does a mere 241kph (150mph) and that is over a very short distance. The average speed in the USA of...
View lessonBaby gorillas being trafficked endangers species
10 November, 2011
In recent months the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a surge in the number of baby gorillas being trafficked The Guardian newspaper in Britain recently reported. This is posing a fresh risk to the endangered species wildlife officials have warned. The authorities in the country say...
View lessonBangkok floods – possible disease
5 November, 2011
Bangkok - Floodwater continues to pour into the Thai capital flooding outlying areas of the city, forcing many of its two million residents to evacuate. This has provoked intense anger from those living in the deluged districts. Residents in some suburbs feel their districts have been...
View lessonTaj Mahal could collapse due to rotting wood foundations
30 October, 2011
The Taj Mahal in India could collapse within five years unless urgent action is taken to shore up its wooden foundations, campaigners have warned. The 358-year-old marble mausoleum is India’s most famous tourist attraction, bringing four million visitors a year to the northern city of Agra....
View lessonWhat is happening in Burma?
25 October, 2011
What is happening in Burma? That’s the question. Burma or Myanmar, as it’s also known, appears to undergoing change. In recent weeks news stories coming out of the country report there has been considerable change by the newly elected government since it took office. The most significant...
View lessonA sensational year for English wine
20 October, 2011
Thanks to the long Indian summer in England wine producers in the country are this year predicting a grape harvest of ‘sensational’ quality. The recent spell of hot weather that created a mini heatwave, combined with a previous hard winter and mild spring, should help produce a crop of...
View lessonSouth Sudan adopts English as its official language
15 October, 2011
Africa’s newest country South Sudan has adopted English as its official language. Why? Because its new leaders believe English will make them “different and modern”. After decades of civil war, the widespread learning of English will present some serious challenges for a country brought...
View lessonApple’s Steve Jobs dies
10 October, 2011
The co-founder and former chief executive of US technology giant Apple Steve Jobs recently died at the age of 56. He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer since 2004. Apple said he had been “the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives” and had made the...
View lessonShould France preserve Hitler’s Atlantic Wall?
5 October, 2011
Sections of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall in France are being restored by enthusiasts. But should it be preserved? Should the Nazi fortification be fully embraced as part of the country’s image? The so-called Atlantic Wall – Hitler’s defensive system against an expected Allied attack – stretched...
View lessonNFE General Knowledge Quiz - October 2011
1 October, 2011
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography General
- The World...
Microsoft unveils Windows 8
30 September, 2011
Microsoft has unveiled its new Windows 8 operating system. Windows 8 is designed to run on tablet computers, as well as desktop and laptop PCs. The software, which is due to be released in 2012, will work on the popular ARM-designed low-power processors for the first time. Microsoft has...
View lessonNew generation of airships to transport goods around the world
25 September, 2011
The US space agency NASA is working on a project aimed at revolutionising the way cargo is transported around the world. A new generation of airships using helium rather than hydrogen is set to transport goods around the world that could replace ships, railways and lorries as a means of...
View lessonThe Ongoing Euro Crisis
20 September, 2011
Not a day seems to go by when there isn’t a news story about the Euro crisis. Either it’s ‘The Euro is about to crash’ or ‘Euro saved’. Eurozone leaders are desperate to retain their ‘baby’. They take whatever action they need to keep the Euro intact in the Eurozone. The fact is that Greece...
View lessonEvents in London – October to December
15 September, 2011
Today’s English lesson focuses on more happening events in London.
October – Witness Halloween in London! Get spooked on October 31st. Watch out for many witches at parties in clubs across the capital. Get haunted at the Tower of London or get spooked at the London Dungeons. October...
View lessonNo US jobs added in August results in stock falls
10 September, 2011
The US economy added no jobs in August, according to the US Department of Labor. The August number was worse than expected. The predicted figure was about 70,000 new jobs. The unemployment rate remained unchanged from July at 9.1%. The previous two months figures were also revised. In July...
View lessonMelbourne tops most liveable city list 2011
5 September, 2011
The Australian city of Melbourne has edged out Canada’s Vancouver to take the title of the world’s most liveable city for the first time in almost a decade. The city’s mayor Robert Doyle said he was “absolutely delighted” with the news. This year Vancouver fell to third place behind the...
View lessonNFE General Knowledge Quiz - September 2011
1 September, 2011
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography General
- The World...
Hadrian’s Wall
30 August, 2011
Today I thought we could look at Hadrian’s Wall. But what is Hadrian’s Wall and where is it? For that matter who was Hadrian? Well, Hadrian’s Wall was a defensive fortification on the edge of Roman Britain; on the edge of the Roman Empire. Begun in AD 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian...
View lessonThe Workliday
25 August, 2011
I have invented the word Workliday. The word is made up using the words work and holiday. The thing is these days how many of us actually switch off from the office when we go on holiday? The answer is probably very few people completely switch off. With the arrival of laptops, Blackberrys...
View lessonAre mobile phones safe for children to use?
20 August, 2011
Are mobile phones safe for children to use? That’s the question many parents face when deciding whether they are or aren’t. There are many arguments for and against. Children’s nervous systems are still developing, and there are fears that radiation could penetrate into their brains....
View lessonFamily feud over Czech castles and palaces
15 August, 2011
An interesting article in Britain’s Daily Telegraph recently was about a family feud between the Czech Foreign Minister and his sister for their castles and palaces in the Czech Republic. Elizabeth von Pezold is the daughter of one of Central Europe’s most aristocratic families. She has...
View lessonThe London riots
10 August, 2011
London – Tuesday 9th August - lunchtime - The capital was overnight once again under attack from a mob of rioters. Parliament has been recalled by the Prime Minister David Cameron, who himself cut short his holiday to fly home to deal with the situation. British newspapers today reported...
View lessonThe Mysterious English Crop Circles
5 August, 2011
Summertime in South West England sees strange things happening in the farmers’ fields. Mysterious crop circles suddenly appear. No one can explain them. Are they a hoax or are aliens leaving their mark on the English countryside? Maybe it is down to Mother Nature creating these crop circles...
View lessonEvents in London – July to September
30 July, 2011
Today’s English lesson focuses on some events happening in London.
July – In the first week of July London sees the final week of Wimbledon. The famous annual lawn tennis championship is the world’s premier tennis tournament. First started in 1877 the event plays host to all the...
View lessonNorway Tragedy
25 July, 2011
Norway this weekend was recovering from what has been described as its greatest tragedy since World War II. The tragedy started on Friday 22 July when a massive bomb detonated in the centre of the capital Oslo shattering buildings all around. Then about two hours later a lone gunman went on...
View lessonMore call centre workers in the Philippines than India
20 July, 2011
Over the last decade more and more companies have relocated their call centres to India. However, it might surprise you to know that the Philippines has now overtaken India with more agents employed there than in India. In fact, some Indian companies have even shifted some of their...
View lessonA visit to London
15 July, 2011
London is probably the world’s most visited city, such is its popularity. It draws in visitors from all over the globe. It is a huge city. So what should one see in London? Tourists should try a ride on a double decker bus; go on a journey on the London Underground and a trip in a London...
View lessonBirth of a new country – South Sudan
10 July, 2011
South Sudan has been celebrating its creation as a new independent East African nation. The new country celebrated in Juba, its new capital, on Saturday 9th July 2011, raising its flag before tens of thousands of its cheering citizens. The country has finally managed to break free...
View lessonThe British roundabout revolution in the USA
5 July, 2011
A British roundabout revolution is slowly sweeping across America. The US famous for its stop signs and traffic lights is now starting to embrace the British roundabout. The city of Carmel in Indiana is one such example. It has been described as ‘the Milton Keynes of the USA’. Lying on the...
View lessonNFE General Knowledge Quiz - July 2011
1 July, 2011
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography General
- The World...
Going underground on London Underground
30 June, 2011
Most people who visit London tend to try out the London Underground. Going on the tube is an experience in its own right. It is part of the exciting London experience when seeing the sights. Oyster cards are a popular way to get around. London Underground first opened on January 10th 1863...
View lessonVW Camper Van tent set to be a hit this summer
25 June, 2011
A tent that looks like a VW Camper Van is set to be a hit at camping sites and music festivals this summer. The life size replica of the original VW Camper Van has been officially licensed by the German car manufacturer for the first time. The pop up tents each contain two zip-separated...
View lessonKate and Wills to get servants
20 June, 2011
Prince William and his new wife Kate are to get servants. Originally the Royal couple said they could manage without them. In fact, they made a point of pledging to spend their early years of marriage servant free. It means they won’t be cleaning the toilets or scrubbing the casserole...
View lessonSalsa dancing in Cuba draws in foreign tourists
15 June, 2011
It’s the weekend and in Cuba at Havana’s Las Canitas nightclub young and old burn up their energy on the dance floor. Salsa is hot in Havana. Dancers twirl to the latest salsa hits. In fact, Cubans pride themselves on their intricate, hip-swivelling moves. They can usually tell the...
View lessonEconomic impact of E. coli on the agricultural industry
10 June, 2011
‘Fear’ is what is stopping the sales of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and other fruits and vegetables right across Europe following the recent E. coli scare in Germany. The result has had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of farmers across Europe, especially those in Spain. Tens of...
View lessonWould you take your mother for a meal to McDonald’s?
5 June, 2011
Would you take your mother for a meal to McDonald’s? That is the question. Well, would you? I ask it, as I took my 87-year-old mother to McDonald’s recently. What an eye opener that was! Why? Because it was her first visit to a McDonald’s in about 40 years! It will probably be her last! She...
View lessonNFE General Knowledge Quiz - June 2011
1 June, 2011
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography General
- The World...
New York’s new generation of yellow taxis
30 May, 2011
New York’s famous yellow taxis are set to change. New York City has picked the Nissan minivan to be its next cab. The Japanese car company Nissan Motors has won the contract to provide the next generation of New York taxis. The deal was announced recently by New York Mayor...
View lessonCable car to span River Thames in London
25 May, 2011
London is to get a spectacular cable car system across the River Thames, which will ferry spectators between two of the London 2012 Olympic venues, the cities transport authority Transport for London (TfL) said recently. Gondolas will glide 300ft (91.44 meters) above the water suspended...
View lessonThe campaign to clean up dog poo
20 May, 2011
Today’s theme is about dog poo. I mean, there is nothing worse than stepping on some freshly deposited dog poo, is there? Call it what you like; dog fouling, shit, poop, waste or dog crap, it is very annoying when you put your foot in it. Oh, shite…! Why don’t the owners pick it up and put...
View lessonRare earth metals shortage
15 May, 2011
Look at your mobile phone, Blackberry or low energy light bulb. Now ask yourself what is inside it? Yes, it is made with different components. The technology is great. But what are the components made with? The chances are some of them are made with rare earth metals. Where do these...
View lesson534 School detentions in three days!
10 May, 2011
School detentions recently hit the news headlines in Britain when one headmistress handed out an amazing 534 detentions in three days! Following complaints by some parents of the City of Ely Community College in Cambridgeshire the story made the news in Britain. The detentions follow the...
View lessonA visit to Budapest!
5 May, 2011
Many people who visit Central Europe like to visit Budapest. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The mighty river Danube flows majestically north to south right through its centre. The city is rightly known as ‘The Queen of the Danube’. It is also known as the ‘City of...
View lessonBratislava or Bust!
30 April, 2011
Whilst flicking through the British newspaper The Times recently an interesting charity advert caught my eye…
- ‘Bratislava or Bust!’ July 22-26 2011. Meningitis Trust.
- Set yourself a challenge with a difference for 2011. 1 car. Your friends. 5 days. 6 countries. 1,000 mile road trip of a...
Places to visit in England: South West England
25 April, 2011
Craggy coastlines, sweeping beaches, glorious green fields, historic houses and rolling hills make up South West England. The region is also known as the ‘West Country’. Certainly, it’s the perfect place for almost any kind of holiday. It’s largely rural and still relatively unpopulated....
View lessonWorld Ice Hockey Championships 2011
20 April, 2011
The 75th International Ice Hockey Championships in 2011 will be held in Slovakia. The tournament takes place between 29th April and 15th May 2011. It will feature the world’s top ice hockey nations taking part. Slovakia’s capital Bratislava and the country’s second city of Košice will...
View lessonBritish Royal Wedding 2011
15 April, 2011
The wedding of the decade is rapidly approaching. The British Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton edges closer day by day. The nation and the world wait with baited breath as to what the bride will wear as she walks down the aisle of Westminster Abbey in London....
View lessonGo to work – on an ostrich egg!
10 April, 2011
News from the UK advises that Waitrose the supermarket chain has just started selling ostrich eggs. The eggs that can be 24 times bigger than a hen’s can weigh in at almost 2kg (4.4lb). For those hoping to “go to work on an ostrich egg” might think twice and save that particular treat for...
View lessonA visit to Vienna!
5 April, 2011
Most people who visit Central Europe like to visit Vienna. Known as the ‘music city’ the city has class, culture and charm. Vienna has imperial grandeur! It is the capital city of Austria. Former capital of the Austrian Empire it then became part of the Austro Hungarian Empire. The...
View lessonNFE General Knowledge Quiz - April 2011
1 April, 2011
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography General
- The World...
Modern women today
30 March, 2011
Modern women today see balancing their work and home lives as their biggest challenge in today’s world. They also see Nelson Mandela and Margaret Thatcher as their greatest role models. Almost two out of five women now see themselves as feminists. Nearly three out of four women would...
View lessonA degree in slavery
25 March, 2011
In today’s world is an internship simply a degree in slavery? That’s the question Britain’s Daily Mail discussed recently. It said it is the employment scandal of our age. Highly educated graduates working for nothing as interns in supposedly glamorous jobs. The paper names the people who...
View lessonThe origins of the word ‘OK’
20 March, 2011
There are many thoughts as to the origin of the word OK. It is likely to have had African origins. The first written use of the word OK was in Tennessee, America, in 1790. An Andrew Jackson wrote: "Proved a bill of sale from Hugh McGary to Gasper Mansker, for a Negro man, which was...
View lessonForest loss slows as Asian nations plant
15 March, 2011
Forest loss across the world has slowed, largely due to a switch from felling to planting in Asia. China, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines have all seen their forested areas increase in size. There are also gains in North America and Europe, but forests are being lost in Latin America...
View lessonHorse enjoys a refreshing pint in his local pub
10 March, 2011
A horse walks into a pub and says, “Mine’s a pint please!” Really? Well, Basil the horse does! The Welsh Cob stallion visits his favoured watering hole every Sunday at the Meynell Ingram Arms in Burton, Staffordshire. In fact, Basil finds nothing more relaxing than a refreshing pint in his...
View lessonCoffee and chocolate are the key to a long life
5 March, 2011
Coffee and chocolate are among the key foods and drinks needed to live a long and healthy life. Tea is another. These form part of a list of 20 “lifespan essential” foodstuffs that has been drawn up by Professor Gary Williamson from the department of food science at Leeds University...
View lessonNFE General Knowledge Quiz - March 2011
1 March, 2011
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography General
- The World...
The difference between Czechs and Slovaks
25 February, 2011
What’s the difference between a Czech and a Slovak? This is not a joke! It could be but for now it is a question for you to think about.
Generally speaking the Czechs, who live in the ‘heart of Europe’, are culturally assertive, more dynamic and are mostly atheist. Their men more ‘cunning’....
View lessonBritain’s dementia shame: 50,000 forced into care homes
20 February, 2011
Getting old is a thing most people dread. As we get old people develop different forms of illnesses. ‘Pill popping’ becomes the norm. Young people take little notice of the old, preferring to enjoy life. Yet one day they too will become old. One particular illness older people suffer from...
View lessonPlaces to visit in England: East Anglia
15 February, 2011
Today let’s look at the region of East Anglia in England. The area covers the East of England and includes the counties of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex. In fact, if you want a short break, be it a weekend away, a week or more then why not try East Anglia? It has many seaside...
View lessonThe domino effect: Tunisia, Egypt – Who is next?
10 February, 2011
It started in Tunisia when one young unemployed man set himself on fire in a stance against unemployment, price rises and poverty. Sidi Bouzid’s death created a revolution in the country that forced regime change. In fact, the sudden flight of President Ben Ali revealed how weak his...
View lessonUN says 2,500 languages face extinction
5 February, 2011
The United Nations cultural agency UNESCO says the world is in danger of losing 2,500 of the 6,900 languages spoken in the world today. In its latest edition of the ‘Atlas of the world’s languages in Danger’ the UN reports a multi-fold increase since the last atlas was compiled in 2001 when...
View lessonNFE General Knowledge Quiz - February 2011
1 February, 2011
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography Middle East
- The World...
The bacteria time bomb in your home
30 January, 2011
Most of us never give a second thought to how long we’ve had that chopping board, or that hairbrush or those pillows. But while they may all look clean and serviceable enough, these seemingly innocent household items can actually harbour potentially harmful bacteria if used too...
View lessonSki in Slovakia in style
25 January, 2011
There are many places in the world to go and ski - like the Alps, Bulgaria or North America. But have you ever considered skiing in Slovakia? The country that is in the heart of Central Europe has an abundance of ski slopes in the Tatra Mountains. In fact the country has a long...
View lessonShould Britain leave the EU?
20 January, 2011
Should Britain leave the EU? Britain’s Daily Express newspaper thinks so. It recently explained why and hopefully it now makes an interesting theme to discuss. The British newspaper demanded ‘our country’ back from the EU! They called it ‘a crusade for freedom’. They wish to see Britain...
View lessonCentral Europe’s Glorious Ball Season Starts
15 January, 2011
Long cold winter nights in Central Europe can be brightened up by receiving an invitation to a Ball. The annual Ball season in the region has now commenced and will continue until Ash Wednesday. The most famous Ball in the world has to be the Opera Ball in Vienna. Many call it the jewel in...
View lessonThings that make Britain great
10 January, 2011
What things make Britain great? There are 101 answers to this thought: There is its football league with fans worldwide. Bands and singers have been leading the charts since the 60s. Great Britain is constantly producing top movie stars. It is the source of some of the best TV shows...
View lessonThe mystery of Eleanor Rigby revealed
5 January, 2011
You have all heard the song Eleanor Rigby. But just who was she? Many people have asked that since the track was released by the Beatles on their 1966 Revolver album. It is one of the Beatles most recognisable and unique songs with striking lyrics about loneliness. According to the song...
View lessonNFE General Knowledge Quiz - January 2011
1 January, 2011
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography General
- The World...
Cockney English
30 December, 2010
Today we will be looking at some Cockney English. What’s that I hear you ask? Well, it’s a form of spoken English that many traditional working class people spoke in the East End of London in places such as Bow, Stepney, Hackney, and Shoreditch Poplar. So what is a Cockney? Well, a...
View lessonOxford compiles top 10 irritating phrases
25 December, 2010
Researchers have recently compiled a list of the most irritating phrases - Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported. Heading the list was the expression ‘at the end of the day’ which was followed by the phrase ‘fairly unique’. In third place was ‘I personally’. This expression BBC Radio 4...
View lessonScientific advances could bring back the dodo & mammoth
20 December, 2010
Long-extinct creatures like the dodo and the woolly mammoth could be brought back to life again thanks to the advancement of science. Other such creatures could live again such as the fearsome sabre-toothed tiger, the Tasmanian tiger and the woolly rhinoceros. We could even see the lumbering...
View lessonTraditional food in the United Kingdom
15 December, 2010
Today we will look at some traditional dishes from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and England. Scotland has some interesting dishes. The most famous is haggis, the ingredients of which include sheep’s lungs, heart and liver that are minced with spices, oatmeal and onion, and...
View lessonNazis flying saucers – film sparks UFO debate
10 December, 2010
A new sci-fi film* about the Nazis has reignited a debate in Germany about Hitler’s development of flying saucers. The Finnish sci-fi comedy ‘Iron Sky*’ centres on real life officer Hans Kammler, who was said to have made a significant breakthrough in anti-gravity experiments towards the end...
View lesson‘Tis the season of Christmas markets!
5 December, 2010
‘Tis the season of the year to be jolly. Christmas is on its way. So why not get into the swing of Christmas and visit a traditional Christmas market? The magic of them will soon put you under their spell. All over continental Europe you’ll find them. In recent years they have become more...
View lessonNFE CHRISTMAS QUIZ - DECEMBER 2010
1 December, 2010
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Christmas Music
- Santa
- International...
Why do we dream of a white Christmas?
30 November, 2010
Why do we dream of a white Christmas? Why do we get Christmas cards with snow on them? The culprit is the writer Charles Dickens. His childhood coincided with a decade of freakishly cold winters. Thus in his writings he describes persistently a Britain smothered in snow on Christmas Day,...
View lessonA traditional Christmas in England
25 November, 2010
Pre Christmas - The English like to celebrate Christmas well ahead of the actual day. Before the kids break up from school toddlers might visit Santa’s grotto in a local department store. Children at primary and secondary schools might hold Christmas bazaars. Kids at secondary...
View lessonPrince William to marry Kate Middleton
20 November, 2010
Prince William is to marry Kate Middleton. The couple announced their engagement on Tuesday 16th November. The prince said, “The timing is right now. We are both very, very happy and I am glad that I have done it.” He has given Kate his mother’s ring. He said, “It's very special to me.” He...
View lessonSocial networking in today’s world
15 November, 2010
Hands up those of you who like to chat online? How many of you use Facebook? Probably quite a few of you, as in today’s world we can’t seem to live without it. So what is a social network? It is a way of communicating with other people. Why do we use them? Because we like to communicate with...
View lessonIs Africa a new Chinese colony?
10 November, 2010
Less than one hundred years ago Africa was still being colonised by the western imperial powers. Large parts had still yet to be discovered. The British Empire was nearing its peak with red covering many countries on the new map of the African continent. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal...
View lessonYemen cargo bombs foiled
5 November, 2010
An international terror alert was sparked recently at East Midlands airport in Britain after several bomb making devices were discovered. The devices were en route from Yemen to several synagogues in Chicago, USA. Just before their discovery an MI6 officer responsible for Yemen late...
View lessonGeneral Knowledge Quiz - November 2010
1 November, 2010
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- Geography Oceania
- The World...
Rusyns survive time in Central & Eastern Europe
30 October, 2010
One of the joys of living in Central Europe is to discover more about its history. On a trip over from Luxembourg, a while back, I came across an interesting article in Time Magazine about ‘Lost Tribes in Old Europe’. One of these ‘lost tribes’ is that of the Rusyns who are located in eight...
View lessonGreat British Desserts
25 October, 2010
Today let’s look at some great British desserts. Traditional favourites are apple pie, apple (and blackberry) crumble and rhubarb crumble. All are served with custard or fresh cream. A similarly popular pie is lemon meringue pie. This tasty pastry tart is filled with thick lemon sauce and...
View lessonMystery of the real Robinson Crusoe solved
20 October, 2010
After nearly 300 years the mystery of the whereabouts of a campsite of a marooned Scottish sailor who is said to have inspired the fictional castaway Robinson Crusoe has now been solved. Archaeologists have finally found the campsite of Alexander Selkirk whose real life experiences stuck on...
View lessonThe things that make Slovakia great
15 October, 2010
So what do Slovaks think that make their country great? Well, many love its nature. The beautiful forests and mountains that are in its national parks. The Tatra Mountains are perhaps the country’s greatest asset. They form part of the Carpathian Mountain range. Another great thing in...
View lessonThe Great Hungarian Toxic Disaster
10 October, 2010
Hungary’s recent toxic sludge spill is the country’s worst ever environmental disaster. On the 4th October a reservoir holding deadly waste burst after heavy rains, releasing at least a million cubic metres of toxic red muddy water. It was like a mini tsunami and devastated three nearby...
View lessonChile’s Trapped Miners
5 October, 2010
Deep underground in a gold and copper mine in San Jose, Chile, 33 miners await rescue. Buried alive these men have now lived at 700m (2,296ft) underground, cut off from the outside world, for longer than any other miner in history. Hopes of getting them all out alive rest on a drilling...
View lessonGeneral Knowledge Quiz - October 2010
1 October, 2010
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- African Geography
- The World...
Studying English abroad
30 September, 2010
Many students want to learn English, as it is the business language of the world. One can blame the British Empire for that! Of course, there are 101 other languages out there to learn but where to learn English? In England is the obvious answer! However, many students in non-English speaking...
View lessonSarkozy suggests Roma ‘should be sent to Luxembourg’
25 September, 2010
French President Nicholas Sarkozy sparked a bitter European Union row by suggesting that the European Commissioner who compared his Roma policy to Nazi deportations should offer to host expelled gypsies in her native country of Luxembourg. The French President’s policy’ on expelling...
View lessonThe most commonly misspelled words in English…
20 September, 2010
The most commonly misspelled words in English were recently published. A survey of 3,500 Britons by the market research company www.OnePoll.com discovered that ‘Separate’ is the most commonly misspelt word in the English language. The eight-letter word came top due to regular placing of an...
View lessonA lost world discovered in Papua New Guinea
15 September, 2010
A lost world of giant woolly rats, fanged frogs, grunting fish and tiny bear like creatures has recently been discovered in Papua New Guinea. The exciting discovery was made by scientists and biologists in a remote volcanic jungle crater on the main island on the Pacific island. The scientists...
View lessonThe British Empire – where the sun never set
10 September, 2010
At its peak the British Empire was the largest empire the world had ever known. It was said ‘the sun never sets on the British Empire’ because its span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous colonies or subject nations. Its power and...
View lessonA visit to Prague
5 September, 2010
Hands up those of you that have been to Prague. I can’t think of anyone who hasn’t - such is its popularity with visiting tourists. So why do people go there? There are undoubtedly a 101 reasons why you should visit Prague - such is its charm. For those who haven’t, it might just be worth...
View lessonGeneral Knowledge Quiz - September 2010
1 September, 2010
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- North American Geography
- The World...
My friend's sister is a pole dancer!
30 August, 2010
My friend's sister is a pole dancer. Really! I must admit I was a tad surprised when he told me. He even sent me a link of her on YouTube. (See below) It's not what you think! I met her once years ago. She's not the sort of girl you'd expect to do pole dancing. Ange70x took it up as a hobby...
View lessonPakistan floods: Millions homeless: More aid needed
25 August, 2010
The recent floods in Pakistan have caused utter devastation across many parts of the country. Millions of people are now homeless, many are now without jobs. The agricultural heartland of the country has been destroyed. The monsoon-triggered floods have hit a fifth of Pakistan. An estimated...
View lessonFrance’s new medieval castle takes shape
20 August, 2010
Deep in the forests of central France something totally unique is happening. A knight’s castle is under construction. It’s the vision of one man, Michel Guyot, whose idea was to build a complete 13th century castle by using only authentic tools and locally sourced materials. Every detail of...
View lessonRussia burns: Moscow under smog: Grain export ban
15 August, 2010
The heat wave that has gripped Russia this summer continues. As a result devastating fires continue to burn continuously right across Central Russia. The fires have caused havoc. There has been no rain for months. In parts, the land resembled the results of implementing a ‘scorched earth...
View lessonMangrove loss faster than land-based forests
10 August, 2010
Mangrove forests are disappearing faster than land-based forests according to a new United Nations report the UN News Service and CNN reported recently. “The World Atlas of Mangroves” says the destruction of the world’s mangrove forests is happening up to four times faster than the...
View lessonEnglish lessons for today’s diplomats!
5 August, 2010
English is the business language of the world. You can thank the British Empire for that, not to mention today’s internet. So it is vital for those in international business to be able to speak English. It doesn’t matter whether it’s British English, American English or Australian English,...
View lessonGeneral Knowledge Quiz - August 2010
1 August, 2010
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! Play a JOKER in one round and get DOUBLE points in that round. Show it before you start the round. There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round.
Topics include:
- Music
- South American Geography
- The World...
J’adore Blackpool, Chuck: YouTube lures the French to the British seaside resort
30 July, 2010
British seaside resort Blackpool is hoping to attract a throng of French visitors after relaunching itself as a romantic and sophisticated holiday destination. Tourism chiefs have harnessed the power of YouTube with a new 90-second film that’s artfully shot. Its images include the...
View lessonGermany rejects Spanish ‘transfer bid’ for octopus
25 July, 2010
Germany recently rejected a ‘transfer request’ to transfer Paul, the famous World Cup predicting Octopus, from a zoo in Germany to Spain. Paul shot to worldwide fame during the World Cup after he correctly predicted the outcome of all of Germany’s seven matches in the tournament. Known...
View lessonI spy with my little eye…
20 July, 2010
If you like cold war thrillers that involve cloak and dagger type operations then the chances are you’ll think of the Orson Wells classic The Third Man. We can add Ian Fleming’s most famous spy James Bond, 007. In real life the Austrian capital recently saw one of the biggest spy...
View lessonEtiquette lessons for students
15 July, 2010
Students are to be given etiquette lessons from next term at a school in Wales. The reason is that teaching staff are so fed up with the demise of good etiquette they have decided to place politeness on the curriculum for all children. Thus from next term pupils at Llandovery College...
View lessonQueen Elizabeth II addresses United Nations
10 July, 2010
Last week Queen Elizabeth II visited the United Nations in New York where she addressed the UN General Assembly for the first time since 1957. She said: “The UN had moved from being a high-minded aspiration to being a real force for common good.” She added, “For over six decades the...
View lessonZimbabwe ‘blood diamond’ trade talks collapse
5 July, 2010
Should Zimbabwe be allowed to resume diamond sales? That’s the question delegates from 70 countries at talks in Israel recently had to decide. The organisation that controls the international diamond trade failed to find an answer after allegations of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe’s...
View lessonGeneral Knowledge Quiz - July 2010
1 July, 2010
Score 10 points for every correct answer – Score 5 points if half right! There are 12 rounds with 6 questions in each round. A total of 720 points!
Topics include:
- The UK
- European Geography
- Music
- Sport
- World History
- Film 1
- Europe
- Pot Luck
- The UK Today
- South East Asian...
Brushing teeth halts heart disease
30 June, 2010
When was the last time you visited the dentist? How often do you brush your teeth? If your answer to the latter question is twice a day then this, according to dentists, is the right answer. People who fail to brush their teeth twice a day are putting themselves at risk of disease, say...
View lessonRussia begins to cut off gas to Belarus
25 June, 2010
Russia has begun to cut off gas supplies to its neighbour Belarus. On Monday it cut gas supplies by 15% amid claims Belarus owes ₤135m (US$200m) in unpaid bills. On Tuesday it cut the gas supply by another 15%. This follows Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s order on Monday to Russian gas...
View lessonMind your manners guys on your first date
20 June, 2010
Going on a date tonight? Be it your first or fifth date most people would want to make a good impression. Wouldn’t you? A recent survey published in Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper said clicking your fingers at a waiter on a first date is faux pas. It was voted the rudest,...
View lessonCentre-right opposition ‘wins’ Slovak election
15 June, 2010
Slovakia - A coalition of four centre-right opposition parties has won enough seats to unseat Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s coalition government. With most of the votes now counted opposition supporters across the country were partying the night away knowing the results will bring...
View lessonCzechs offer “Retro” communist holidays
10 June, 2010
A Czech travel agency has come up with a novel idea for a holiday. It is offering holidaymakers “retro” holidays where punters are given the opportunity to turn back the clock and re-live the past. These ‘communist’ holidays are package holidays for people nostalgic for the trade union...
View lessonSouth Africa World Cup 2010 – The fever mounts
5 June, 2010
Football fans worldwide are gearing up for this year’s 2010 football World Cup, which is being held in South Africa. In what could be called ‘the greatest show on earth’ the best teams in the world are ready to compete in what will be the 19th Football World Cup. The opening ceremony...
View lessonMysterious Slovak words in Yellow Submarine
30 May, 2010Turmoil in Thailand: The battle of Bangkok
25 May, 2010
Thailand’s capital Bangkok continues to see ongoing fighting between the “Yellow shirts” (the government) and the “red shirts” (the opposition) (the United Front for Democracy (UDD)). The “civil war” intensified in the city’s shopping district after renegade Thai general Khattiya Sawasdipol...
View lessonPatients die in Britain as foreign doctors can’t speak English properly
20 May, 2010
Patients have died in Britain because British MPs failed to ensure foreign doctors working out-of-hours shifts can speak English properly. The matter hit the headlines recently in the British press. Alarm bells were sounded by some senior British MPs who stressed: “The next government must...
View lessonA crisis of Greek proportions
15 May, 2010
There’s been trouble in Athens just recently. A Greek crisis of monstrous proportions that if not capped could bring down other economies in Europe. Greece, virtually bankrupt, has been brought to its knees in the last few weeks with turbulent unrest and civil strife in the Greek capital....
View lessonIrritating British bedtime habits
10 May, 2010
You have just got off to sleep when suddenly your partner decides to tuck the duvet around them and roll away from you. This ‘tuck and roll’, as it’s called, is one of a number of irritating bedtime habits that have been revealed in a recent survey of British couples - according to...
View lessonDevastating oil slick hits US coastline
5 May, 2010
A massive oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico has now hit several US state coastlines. The slick has been caused by a leaking oil pipeline. It follows a huge explosion aboard the BP (British Petroleum) operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig sank on April 22, two days...
View lessonWomen more attracted to men in expensive cars
30 April, 2010
It is a well known fact that women prefer men with expensive cars. Now research has proved this point – Britain’s Daily Telegraph recently reported. A university team at the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff showed women pictures of the same man sitting in two cars – a £70,000...
View lessonIcelandic volcanic ash creates travel chaos
25 April, 2010
Spectacular scenes emerged from southern Iceland recently as its Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting. On April 14th it suddenly began sending a plume of ash 8.5 km (5.3 miles) high into the air. The volcanic ash spewed out gradually spreading across Europe, causing travel chaos, not...
View lessonDiplomatic English - Flip Flop Diplomacy
20 April, 2010
How many diplomats wear flip flops at work? Not many I hear you say! Certainly few would meet the American president at the White House in Washington wearing them. Least of all in the middle of a harsh freezing winter in February! So who in the diplomatic world might wear them then? The...
View lessonGrammar - Revise your symbols
15 April, 2010
Today, I thought it would be useful to revise some symbols. We sometimes use symbols in our writing e.g. we use @ for at in our e- mail addresses somewhere. On our keyboards we can use € for euro, ₤ for pound, and $ for dollar. We might even squeeze in a number (i.e. #) or shorten and to &....
View lessonEurovea Galleria opens in Bratislava
10 April, 2010
A brand new state-of-the-art multi-functional shopping mall opened in Bratislava recently. The new Eurovea Galleria opened its doors to the public for the first time during the last weekend in March. Located in a prime location on the Danube riverfront Eurovea has already become a major...
View lessonEaster folklore traditions live on in Slovakia
5 April, 2010
While Easter is loved by men in Slovakia it is positively hated by women. Let me explain…If you are a girl from a village in the east or centre of Slovakia Easter Monday is not always fun. Why? You are likely to be chased by the village boys who will throw you in the nearest stream. Worse...
View lessonRevise your punctuation - 2
30 March, 2010
Today we’ll look at some more English language punctuation marks. Don’t confuse a dash (i.e.–) with a hyphen! (i.e.-) A dash is used to denote a sudden change in the construction or sentiment: e.g. “The heroes of the Great War – how we cherish them.” A dash is also used to replace the words:...
View lessonRevise your punctuation! - 1
25 March, 2010
Many students are good at reading articles in English but when it comes to punctuation in dictation (a listening, writing and spelling exercise) they sometimes run into problems. While we use punctuation marks in written form we don’t often say them aloud. It is of course just a question of...
View lessonGood morning Borneo!
20 March, 2010
You are fast asleep in your hammock in the tall green dense jungle when suddenly your radio alarm clock rings: The DJ yells, “Good morning Borneo! This is Radio Gibbon calling… The news headlines. Another 3 gibbons have been rescued…” Believe it or not this radio station in Indonesia...
View lessonLost city found in Amazon
15 March, 2010
In 2002, a Finnish archaeologist Alceu Ranzi was flying over the Amazon when suddenly he came across geometric shapes dug into the earth. The shapes made up a series of trenches topped by banks and connected by a network of straight roads. Ranzi then contacted a historian and archaeologist...
View lessonThe search for the lost city of El Dorado
10 March, 2010
For centuries many different explorers have searched for the lost city of El Dorado in the Amazonian jungle. El Dorado in Spanish means ‘the Golden One’. Some explorers claim to have had success in discovering lost civilisations in the Amazon jungle. Each time though it beguiled them, leading...
View lessonBritish oil dispute with Argentina deepens
5 March, 2010
A new dispute is escalating in the South Atlantic between Argentina and Britain over the disputed Falkland Islands. This time, it is about black gold – oil. So far, it is only a diplomatic war of words between the two countries. The trigger for the latest bout of words was a ship called Thor...
View lessonCream coloured carrots make a comeback
25 February, 2010
Ask anyone what colour a carrot is and the chances are they’ll tell you it is orange. Recently however the humble carrot in the UK has had a makeover. Now cream coloured carrots have made a comeback. They are crisp and crunchy in texture and sweeter in taste than their orange cousin. The new...
View lessonBratislava old and new
20 February, 2010
Today we are looking at the Slovak capital Bratislava. Let’s start with its Old Town. Dating from the 15th century, its centre has largely been preserved and is a positive delight to see. It has charm! Since the collapse of communism and gradually since independence the Old Town has seen much...
View lessonKiller spiders invade Sydney!
15 February, 2010
Never mind crocodiles and sharks, it is killer funnel-web spiders that you have to look out for in Sydney, Australia. Recently several residents were bitten by a plague of these poisonous arachnids. The spiders are a real menace at this time of the year, especially for Sydneysiders. The...
View lessonLife’s greatest pleasures
10 February, 2010
Just what are life’s greatest pleasures? Is it popping bubble wrap or maybe watching a DVD? Perhaps it’s even your mum’s cooking or waking up in a room with an amazing view? Of course, there are many ideas and what may be good for one may be different for others. So just what are the little...
View lessonA visit to Bratislava
5 February, 2010
If you fancy visiting Central or Eastern Europe, would like a refreshing change and an interesting place to visit, then could I suggest Bratislava in Slovakia? It’s smaller than nearby Prague, Budapest or Vienna but is most certainly worth a visit, as many visitors have recently discovered....
View lessonHaiti – International Rescue
25 January, 2010
Help from around the world is now arriving in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that hit the country recently. The tiny Caribbean country that is one of the poorest in the world was hit by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12. More than 3m people have been affected....
View lessonSo how were the Noughties for you?
20 January, 2010
The Noughties are now over. Another decade has ended. So how were the Noughties for you? Was the era a success or will you regard them like having had a big hangover? How will you remember them? What was the best bit of the Noughties? There are many things that happened in this era. The TV...
View lessonGreat British dishes!
10 January, 2010
Food is always a good talking point in any conversation. So today, let’s talk about some Great British food dishes. Britain has some fabulous mouth watering choices. So what are they? Well, let’s start with one of the most popular – freshly bought fish and chips from the fish and chip...
View lessonNew super sweet tomato hits the shelves!
5 January, 2010
A revolutionary new tomato tasting, as sweet as a peach, recently hit the shelves in the UK. The new Sugardrop tomato is the sweetest tomato ever created and is a natural hybrid of two different varieties of the fruit. It has been developed to encourage children to eat more healthily and...
View lessonSusan Boyle’s at No 1 – ‘I Dreamed a Dream’
14 December, 2009
Britain’s Got Talent superstar Susan Boyle, 48, has made history with the release of her new album ‘I Dreamed a Dream’. The album was the fastest selling debut album in history in the UK for a female artist. It sold a staggering 411,820 copies in its first week. In the U.S. it also went...
View lessonBeans Meanz a bit less from Heinz!
11 November, 2009
Baked beans lovers in Germany and Austria recently kicked up a bit of a fuss after it emerged that tins of the famous Heinz variety contained fewer beans than cans sold in Britain. European fans of the famous Heinz product have been angered after it emerged in an Austrian newspaper that the...
View lessonBritish Headmaster sends pupils home who fail to stand when he enters the classroom
8 November, 2009
A British Headmaster in Cheshire recently sparked a ‘respect’ row by sending home pupils who failed to stand up when he entered the classroom – Britain’s Daily Mail recently reported. Kevin Harrison, 55, is the Headmaster (or in these politically correct times Headteacher) of the 900-pupil...
View lessonPhilippines calamity following tropical storm
12 October, 2009
Torrential rains in the Philippines caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana caused utter devastation across the country recently. One of the worst places to be affected was the capital Manila. It suffered its worst ever flooding with more than 80% of the city submerged. More than 246 people were...
View lessonSteam train reunites British Schindler with Jewish children he rescued from Nazis
14 September, 2009
A steam train carrying evacuees from the former Czechoslovakia who escaped the holocaust as children arrived at London's Liverpool Street station on Friday (4th September). They were met by the man who saved their lives. Sir Nicholas Winton, an indefatigable 100-year-old, greeted the...
View lessonSky Europe finally goes bankrupt
7 September, 2009
Ailing low cost Central European airline SkyEurope has finally gone bankrupt. After struggling for months it finally admitted defeat at the beginning of September. The airline that existed for 7 years has had ongoing financial problems. It is yet another casualty of the economic recession that...
View lessonTragedy at 13th Slovak music festival
24 August, 2009
Tragedy struck in Slovakia recently at a music festival attended by over 33,000 music lovers. The 13th open air music festival called Bazant Pohoda was being held over the weekend of July 18th-19th at a military airfield near Trencín, Slovakia when the gig was hit by freak weather...
View lessonWitch required for Wookey Hole Caves in Britain - must be able to cackle!
17 August, 2009
An old hag with an evil laugh is being sought after to live in Wookey Hole Caves this summer. The caves near Wells, Somerset, are one of Britain's top tourist attractions. Laced with stalactites and stalagmites they are a favourite among tourists who visit the West Country. An advertisement...
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