2004 | The World of English

Letters to the Professor

Dear Professor,
I have got a question about a grammar problem. My friend had a discussion with a teacher about this sentence: "Julia .............. just................... (cover) herself in sun tan lotion when the sun ................... (go) behind a large black cloud."
She wrote: "Julia was just covering herself in sun tan lotion when the sun went behind a large cloud."
The teacher, however, says it should be: "Julia had just covered herself in sun tan lotion when the sun went behind a large black cloud."

2004

Can You Speak Gullah?

Living off the Sea Islands, by the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida, is the Gullah Nation - a community of African descendants who were once enslaved. The area is relatively isolated, which has meant that the language and culture of the Gullah people has survived almost intact since slaves were brought to America from Africa hundreds of years ago. James Daniels, who grew up in South Carolina, reports.

See if you can understand these common expressions in Gullah.

2004

USA

Culture

Pat Cox: President of the EU Parliament

At the dawn of a new era for Poland, Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament talked to Andrzej Geber about the role of Strasburg in an enlarged EU.

2004

Przekładaniec

Słowa dotrzymuję. Przynajmniej się staram. Przekładaniec przekładany dziś będzie krajobrazami i historiami z Irlandii oraz tak zwaną kompetencją. Wykazaliście się nią, ku naszej ogromnej radości. Wspaniałych prac konkursowych nadeszło ponad czterdzieści. I każdą przeczytaliśmy z należytą uwagą.

2004

Przekładaniec

A więc już miesiąc z kawałkiem minął jak radość opanowała śpiewających Odę do Radości. I co? Ano mamy radość codzienną, bo ciepło, bo wakacje za pasem, bo podróże czekają, bo tak po prostu to, czy mamy w sobie radość czy nie zależy od nas samych, z odą czy bez ody, z młodością, czy już z nie tej pierwszej młodości młodością.

2004

Arise, Sir Mick

Twice a year, on the Queen's birthday in June and at the New Year, Buckingham Palace announces the names of around 1,500 people to receive special medals for, "services to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth." Last year Mick Jagger became a 'Sir', Eric Clapton and Sting received CBEs, and a tea lady from Scotland became an MBE. But why does the Queen give out these strange sounding honours, and what happens if somebody says "No thank you, Your Majesty"? Glenn Fobister explains.

2004

Pupil Power

Students from Mielec and Turek were announced as the winners of the annual PupilPower competition at the Roma Theatre, Warsaw on June 1. The prizes were awarded by top British novelist, Terry Pratchett. The event was part of the British Council's Imagine This season, dedicated to the promotion of British Sci-Fi and Fantasy writing.

2004

Education

Competition

Remembering Edward J. Piszek

2004

Study in the EU

One of the keys to increasing labour mobility in the European Union is education. The EU has many programmes aimed at students who wish to study in EU countries. Peter Gentle takes a look at some of these initiatives and has some advice for Poles who are thinking about enrolling at a British university.

2004

The Real St. Patrick

His original name was Maewyn and he was probably born in the area we now know as Wales. Thought to have brought Christianity to Ireland he was actually a pagan until he was at least 16 years old. These are just two of the contradictions to be found in the life of Ireland's patron saint. Barry Keane unravels the facts from within the myth.

2004

The Firm

As we reported previously in the WoE (Not Just a Power Failure - 4/2003 No. 67) many heads of large companies in the U.S.A. (such as Martha Stewart and Dennis Kozlowski) are spending a huge amount of money on lawyers and legal costs at the moment, defending themselves against charges of financial dishonesty. This is bad news for the bosses, but very good news for the legal people. In fact, America is full of lawyers, it seems, all making a fast buck. Mike Majewski, who works in the legal profession in the U.S., explains how to get into this very lucrative business.

2004

Extreme Vacations

The summer is here and the travel bug has been biting everyone. Roads and airports will soon be packed with vacationers, and beaches, resorts and theme parks are ready for the tourist season. But for some folks there's no fun in those places. While people might still want the same things - relaxation, adventure or love - nowadays a summer trip's got to be further, faster or just plain freakier. Vacations ain't what they used to be, writes Steve DeBretto.

For the person who has everything

2004

Travel

How European Are You?

Win a year's free subscription to The World of English!

Well, here is your chance to find out by taking part in our Great European Union Accession Quiz. Answer all the questions below and send them in to us without delay. Details of how to enter are given at the end of the quiz.

1. How many stars appear on the European Union flag?
a. 9 b. 12 c. 15 d. 25

2. Who composed the EU anthem, Ode to Joy?
a. Mozart b. Beethoven c. Bach d. Jean Michele Jarre

2004

Welcome to the EU from Ireland

Message from the Ambassador of Ireland, Ms. Thelma M. Doran

On Saturday, May 1, Ireland, as Presidency of the European Union for the first half of 2004, has the honour of welcoming Poland and the other Accession Countries as full partners into the Union. It is with great pleasure for me to be in Poland as we approach this historic enlargement and I would like to take this opportunity to send a special greeting to the readers of The World of English© at this exciting time.

2004

Notting Hill, Actually

After the film Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, was released in 1999 house prices in that area of west London shot through the roof. Everyone suddenly wanted to live there. But was the film a realistic portrayal of that part of London - or was it simply the product of the imagination of Britain's most successful screenplay writer in recent years, Richard Curtis?

2004

Terry Pratchett and Pupil Power

Terry Pratchett is one of the world's most successful novelists. He was born in Beaconsfield, England in 1948. At the tender age of 13, Terry wrote and published his first short story, The Hades Business. His first full-length novel, The Carpet People was published in 1971. Since then, Terry Pratchett has sold around 30 million books worldwide and is best known for his Discworld series.

2004

Competition

Literature

Top Dog

On March 7, a four-year-old whippet called Deedee won the 101st Crufts Dog Show in England. Over twenty thousand dogs (and their owners) from 22 countries fought for over four days for the top prize at the world's top dog show. Words and photos by Paweł Kubisztal.

Deedee's proud owner, Mrs Lynne Yacoby-Wright, said after receiving the prize, "I never thought when I left home this morning that I would end up winning." Deedee, whose special show name is Cobyco Call the Tune, is described as having a kind and loving temperament.

2004

The Great British Beach Holiday

Martin Hinton has ten pieces of advice for those of you considering taking a holiday by the seaside in the UK. If you want to not look out of place among the Brits sitting on the beach, then remember to do the following:

2004

Travel

Letters to the Professor

I would like to ask you a question on how to use a noun in the role of an adjective in front of another noun. The point at issue here is the number of the first noun. Let me give you an idea what I have on my mind. I have many a time come across the phrase "profit percentage" on one hand, and "profits percentage" on the other. Is there any significant difference between these two expressions? If so, what is it?

2004

The Potato Pickers

Thinking about getting a job abroad this summer? Irishman and writer Tom Galvin has an idea how you could earn some money in the Emerald Isle, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, that is.

2004