english magazine
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Information about how to improve your english and some articlesTRANSCRIPT
I read recently that there are at least 40 theories as to how
people learn a second language and that each of these
theories has a number of scholars who support it, but also
those who don’t. What is obvious is that we learn in
different ways – by listening, imitation, repetition and so
on. These various ways are divided into two groups. There is
acquisition i.e. unconscious learning in the way a child
learns by listening and observation The other way is of
course active learning as when we try to learn a verb tense
or a list of vocabulary. The conclusion that the linguistic
scholars seem to share is that the classroom and book
learning are not the most important ways to learn a language.
It is being immersed as far as is possible that is important
being exposed to a language in as many ways and as often as
possible.
THE ENGLISH
MAGAZINE
How to Improve Your English Level
By Steven Starry
There are five points, number 1 is the most important.
Make English your hobby and have fun!
Study at least two or three hours per week.
Learn English through other activities:
Reading – there are graded books in English for your
level.
Internet – begin with the activities on this website and
on the links page.
Songs in English - take your favorite songs, download
the lyrics (the words) from Google and sing them again
and again until your neighbors scream: ―STOP!!‖.
DVDs – many films are also in English with subtitles in
your language.
Magazines – there are specialized magazines for English
students.
Travel – travel motivates you to improve your level
because you need English for everything.
Be constant!
Don’t stop for long periods of time such as in the summer and
don’t do too much! It is also important to study at least 3
hours every week. To progress very well, you should study at
least 5 hours per week.
Be as disciplined and organized as possible with your
classes!
Free conversation is necessary and so is more controlled
speaking (in practice activities in class). However, it is
better to balance conversation with other activities in your
classes or outside of your classes. In a "one-to-one" class,
you should do all of the homework, reading and vocabulary
studying outside of your class and then comment on the
homework in the class. It is very important for you to do the
homework that your teacher assigns you and it is very
important for you to be punctual to your classes.
Get a teacher or attend a class!
It’s easier to be constant, disciplined and organized if you
have a teacher. It’s more difficult to study English alone.
Also, it is more difficult to learn how to ―speak‖ English if
you don’t have an English teacher to speak with.
It is your responsibility to reach (to get) your objectives!
Learning English is your responsibility and not the
responsibility of your teacher. You must have initiative in
your classes! The teacher cannot learn or study English for
you. For example, you often have to study and learn
vocabulary alone.
With point number one, you will develop all of the other
points. If you apply these five points with long-term
motivation, you will learn English or any language. Put
simply: if you spend more time studying, you will learn more.
If you are very interested, you will continue studying.
Taking Control of the English Language
by Steven David Bloomberg
How can I speak English better? How
can I communicate better in English?
How can I express myself better in
English? How can I listen to and
understand English better?
How can I improve?
You speak English at an advanced level. You speak it fluently
and you use it every day, yet you aren’t satisfied with your
ability. You feel like you can’t express yourself the way you
want to. When you can’t say what you want to say or need to
say in the manner that you would like to, it might not leave
you with the best feeling you could possibly have. There is
only one thing to do about it. You must take control of the
English language. What does taking control of the English
language mean? It does not mean taking control of the entire
language. It means taking control of the English language
that is yours; the English language that you have. It means
using the English that you already have to get more. It means
taking responsibility for your own learning.
You might tell yourself that you want to have private
instruction with an English language tutor. That’s a good
idea. However, there is something you should know and be well
aware of. What happens during the time that you meet with an
English language tutor is very important, but what happens
during the time between your meetings with an English
language tutor is even more important. The proactive steps
that you take in order to improve have a direct effect on
what it is you get out of the time and money that you spend
with an English language tutor. In order to receive the
maximum benefit possible for the money you spend on a tutor,
you must dedicate a sufficient amount of time to studying
between each lesson. Of course, the amount of time that
anyone is able to dedicate to studying will vary, but
nevertheless, it must be done. Furthermore, there are a
number of things you should do leading up to the time that
you decide to pick up the phone and make that call. So you
ask, what is it that I need to do? What can I do on my own?
You need to increase your vocabulary. You need to build your
lexicon. You need to learn more idiomatic expressions. Does
this mean studying vocabulary lists? No. Does that mean
buying books that list idiomatic expressions in English and
their meanings? That may or may not be helpful. Does it mean
going to the Internet and studying idiomatic expressions that
are listed at websites? Perhaps, but that wouldn’t be all.
Does it mean learning the word of the day that is given by
online dictionaries? No! You need to build a personal
lexicon. You need to maintain a lexical notebook. You need to
learn words and expressions that are interesting to you and
will be useful to you. You need to learn words and
expressions that are part of your environment. Where can you
find these words and expressions? You can find them by
listening to the radio, by listening to those that you speak
with on a daily basis, and by even listening to those that
you don’t speak with. You don’t have to converse with someone
in order to listen to someone. Of course, you can find new
words and expressions by choosing challenging reading
material that is interesting to you: newspaper and magazine
articles, books, short stories. In order to start building
your new lexicon, I suggest starting by finding something to
read.
Now that you have chosen something interesting to read, here
is what you need to do. You need to write down the words and
expressions that you don’t understand. Take note of the page
number and paragraph that the words or expressions are on as
you read. After you are done reading, go back to the words
and expressions that you didn’t understand and write them in
your lexical notebook. Leave space to write an explanation or
a definition. From the context, see if you can figure out
what the words or expressions mean. After you have done this,
go to a dictionary. For idiomatic expressions and phrasal
verbs that you are unfamiliar with, I strongly recommend
taking advantage of Cambridge Dictionaries Online. It is
important that you practice these new words and expressions
by writing your own sentences. This is helpful in
incorporating them into your daily conversations and speaking
habits. Don’t be overwhelmed by thinking you have to read a
lot. Read what is good for you. If you come across too many
words and expressions that you don’t recognize, it might be a
good idea to find some less challenging reading material.
What you read should be challenging, but it should not be so
challenging that it might be discouraging.
Listen to the news on the radio. Listen to talk shows.
Generally speaking, radio announcers that report the news
speak clearly, use good vocabulary, and also use idiomatic
expressions. If you have a computer, you can listen to news
reports from National Public Radio and the British
Broadcasting Corporation (NPR and the BBC). You can usually
find a RealPlayer link to listen to news stories from both of
these resources. However, listening to the radio will suffice
as well. If you can, it would be a good idea to record a ten
to fifteen minute segment of a news show or any broadcast
that might interest you. Take note of any words or
expressions that sound unfamiliar to you. Write them down in
your lexical notebook. If you were able to record what you
listened to, listen to it again to see if you can figure out
what the new words and expressions mean through the context
that they are used in. If you are unable to figure out what
something means, then by all means go to a dictionary. Once
again, I suggest using Cambridge Dictionaries Online for a
comprehensive overview of any single word. Cambridge
Dictionaries Online is a very good resource in that it
demonstrates how words are used in idiomatic expressions and
phrasal verbs. Cambridge Dictionaries also point out any
important secondary definitions that a word might have.
Pay attention to what you hear wherever you go. If you are on
a bus or a train, listen to what people say and how they say
it. If you are in a supermarket, a shopping mall or any other
public place where you can hear others speak, open your ears
and try to listen. Take note of what you hear. Jot it down in
a small pocket size notebook. Later, you can add it to your
lexical notebook. If you pay attention, you are eventually
bound to hear at least one word or one expression that is new
to you. When you hear it, write it down. Find out what it
means later. Learn it. Use it.
When learning new words and expressions, it is important to
take note of whether these words and expressions are used in
an informal context or a formal context. Many words and
expressions are used both formally and informally. If you
aren’t sure of exactly how to use a new word or expression,
you can try them out with work colleagues and friends. Find
people to converse with. They may not be instructive in any
way, but you can try out new ways to express yourself. You
should also listen as closely as possible when you converse.
Listen for anything that sounds different, new, or
unfamiliar. If the circumstance permits, don’t be afraid to
take out your pocket notebook and write it down. If you say something that isn't quite
right, the person you are speaking with might take note of it and let you know. If you
aren’t sure of something you said or would like to say, then ask about it. If you hear
something and you don’t know what it means, ask about that as well. Some, or even
many people, may not view themselves as “teachers” per se, but most native speakers
of English should be able to assist you in this manner. I believe most people would be
glad to help. It is of the utmost importance to not be afraid to ask questions. That’s
part of taking control of the English language. That’s part of making the English
language your language. English is not your first language, but there is no reason why
it cannot be your language. Get a notebook. Get something to read. Find something to
listen to on the radio. Take control of the English language now.
An English Language Article by David Bloomberg Copyrighted 2003 Steven
Video Game Combines the Worlds of Disney
By BROOKS BARNES
Disney InteractiveThe Walt Disney Company has long been known for maintaining
rigid walls between its character and movie franchises.
LOS ANGELES — Imagine monster truck tires on Cinderella’s carriage. Or Capt.
Jack Sparrow being smacked around by Sulley from “Monsters Inc.” Maybe Mr.
Incredible, armed with a toilet-paper-roll launcher, riding in Peter Pan’s flying pirate
ship.
It’s all possible, and it’s all sanctioned by the Walt Disney Company — a company
known, at least until now, for maintaining rigid walls between its character and movie
franchises.
On Tuesday, Disney Interactive Studios unveiled Infinity, an ambitious video game
and action figure initiative. Infinity, three years in the making under the code name
Toy Box, will allow players to mix and match characters and props from Disney and
Pixar movies, including the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series and “The Incredibles.”
Never before has Disney allowed this type of mash-up.
“If you want Mr. Incredible riding in Cinderella’s coach, go for it,” said John
Blackburn, general manager of Avalanche, a game development studio owned by
Disney that made Infinity, at a demonstration this month.
Infinity is similar to Skylanders, a popular toy and video game franchise from
Activision Blizzard. Skylanders has generated more than $500 million in sales since
its arrival in 2011; about 30 million related toys have been sold under the brand.
Skylanders players collect action figures, then transfer them into the game’s action by
plugging them into a sensor base.
That kind of digital hit is urgently needed at Disney Interactive, which has lost money
for the last 16 quarters — more than $1 billion.
Lately, though, it has been introducing new products, including a
revampedDisney.com, in an effort to turn a profit by the end of the year.
Infinity is scheduled to arrive in stores in June, pegged to the release in theaters of
Pixar’s “Monsters University.” It will be available on gaming consoles (Xbox 360,
PlayStation 3, Wii) and on the Internet. A full mobile version is scheduled to arrive
shortly after.
To play Infinity, users will buy a $75 game. It will come with a base where figurines of
various Disney and Pixar characters can be plugged in.
Three figures come with the starter kit: Sulley, Jack Sparrow and Mr. Incredible.
Other figures and add-ons will be sold separately, priced at $5 to $35. Disney’s goal is
to create a collecting frenzy — certain figures will be intentionally hard to find —
while rolling out new characters from its archives. Expect “Star Wars” and Marvel
figures down the road, for instance.
“We want to focus on products that are superhigh-quality and that can be sustained
and built on over time,” said John Pleasants, co-president of Disney Interactive. “I
really want this to move the bar for the Walt Disney Company.”
Disney declined to comment on Infinity’s development costs, but analysts estimate
that Activision spent at least $100 million to introduce Skylanders.
For all its promise, Infinity comes with major challenges. It will immediately be
compared to Skylanders, for starters. Also, Disney has struggled in the video game
business in part because its main characters are more popular with girls than with
boys (who make up the bigger gaming audience). And parents may balk at adding yet
another collectible toy line to their carts. Infinity is also a complex game, posing a
challenge for Disney marketers.
To understand what a major departure it is for Disney to allow characters to be
combined in one world — even a virtual one — consider what happened at the
entertainment giant a decade ago when its consumer products division wanted to
repackage Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White as Disney Princesses.
Traditionalists revolted, including Roy E. Disney, the nephew of the company’s
founder and then a board member.
Allowing Pixar and Disney characters to exist and interact in a single video game
world was not quite as controversial, but there was still significant resistance,
according to Mr. Blackburn of Avalanche. He described the reaction by some senior
Disney executives to Infinity not with words but by making a gruesome facial
expression. (Picture someone taking a strong whiff of sour milk.)
But John Lasseter, Pixar’s chief creative officer, became an early supporter and threw
the animation studio’s full weight behind the game. He had a trusting relationship
with Mr. Blackburn’s studio, which made Toy Story 3: The Video Game, a product that
allows users to edit the playing world as they see fit. Ultimately, Disney’s reluctant
“brand stewards” were asked to take an early version of Infinity home and watch how
their children played with it.
The realization began to sink in: if Disney wanted to do something big in the game
arena, it would need to let people play in a less restrictive way. Mr. Blackburn said the
thinking in the corporate ranks became, “O.K., maybe we are holding too close to some
of these characters.”One of the resulting Infinity marketing slogans reads: “Their
worlds. Your imagination. No rules.”
GLOBAL UPDATE
Leishmaniasis: A Genetic Link Found in Far-Flung Victims of a Lethal Form of a
Parasitic Disease
Scott Eells for The New York Times
A dish full of dead sand flies that were being studied in India. Smaller than
mosquitoes, the flies can pass through most protective netting.
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Published: January 14, 2013
Whether someone bitten by a sandfly goes on to develop the most form
of leishmaniasis is determined partly by thevictim’sowngenes,a new study suggests.
Leishmaniasis, caused by parasites injected by sandfly bites, has two forms: painful
skin sores (known to American troops in Iraq as “Baghdad boils”) or, in less than 20
percent of cases, the visceral form, sometimes called “kala azar,” that attacks the
organs and is fatal if untreated. About 400,000 visceral cases develop annually, 90
percent of them in three places far from one another and with different parasite
subspecies: northeastern Brazil, the India-Bangladesh border and the Horn of
Africa.Because the disease hits some families harder, a genetic propensity to get it has
been long suspected. The study, published in Nature Genetics last week, compared
DNA in almost 6,000 blood samples from India and Brazil. Both Indians and
Brazilians who got visceral leishmaniasis had similar DNA variations.Researchers are
not sure what those mutations do, but the nearest stretch of DNA determines how
white blood cells “grab” invaders to trigger immune responses, said Peter J. Donnelly,
an Oxford statistics professor who also heads the Wellcome Trust Center for Human
Genetics and was one of the paper’s authors.
While it is widely known that immune-system genes influence susceptibility to cancer,
learning that they may also control susceptibility to a parasitic disease was “quite
interesting,” Dr. Donnelly said.
A version of this article appeared in print on January 15, 2013, on page D6 of the New
York edition with the headline: Leishmaniasis:
Whether you travel to eat or shop, surf or ski, new
adventures await.
Rio de Janeiro
because the whole world will be there in 2014.
Fifty-three years after Brazil’s federal government decamped to
Brasília, and decades after São Paulo took over as the country’s
business capital, Rio is staging a comeback. With the 2014 World Cup
and 2016 Summer Olympics (plus an oil boom) providing the impetus, the
tropical city perhaps most famous for its Carnival hedonism is on its
way to becoming a more sophisticated cultural hub. In January, the
Cidade das Artes, or City of the Arts, was inaugurated as the new home
of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra. On March 23, Casa Daros — an
outpost of the Zurich-based Daros Latinamerica Collection — will open
in a renovated 19th-century building with an exhibition of Colombian
artists. March will also mark the opening of the Rio Museum of Art in
Praça Mauá, a once decrepit port area now being revived. (The Santiago
Calatrava-designed Museum of Tomorrow, also in the port area, is
scheduled to follow in 2014.) Shopping, a Rio obsession, got a boost
in December when the luxe VillageMall opened; it will soon house the
city’s first Gucci outlet and South America’s first Apple Store.
Special events also dot the coming year’s calendar, including the
Catholic Church’s World Youth Day in July, the biennial Rio Book Fair
starting in late August, and September’s Rock in Rio. And, of course,
there’s soccer: the finals of the Confederations Cup, considered a
dress rehearsal for the World Cup, will be held in a completely
overhauled Maracanã Stadium on June 30. — Seth Kugel
A Genetic Link Found in Far-Flung Victims Of a Lethal Form of a Parasitic Disease