LetThemTalk on Australian TV

LetThemTalk will feature on the Australian Channel 9's Getaway show this autumn. The come round to LetThemTalk's classroom to film a class in action. Thanks to Charlotte, Genevieve, Yoko and Hakim who took part and to the presenter Natalie.

Articles and videos from English class

From The Daily Telegraph

Scientists grow meat in the laboratory

From the BBC

Cormac McCarthy to part with trusty typewriter

From The Guardian

More Young adults in 20s and 30s living at home

From The Guardian

Record numbers go hungry in US

"Unfriend" is the word of 2009

Gorilla ad for Cadbury's

End of Year Party

Hello and thanks to everyone who came to the LetThemTalk end of year party at L'abre a Canelle restaurant and O'Sullivan's Irish Pub on Saturday night.

This blog will continue from time to time but we are migrating a lot of stuff to our Facebook group. Please search for LetThemTalk on Facebook to find us.

Happy holidays everyone

Cours d'anglais articles and videos

Sorry for the delay in updating the blog. The rentrée is always busy. Here are a few interesting articles from the English classes recently.

Isn't democracy a great thing? Not for this unfortunate sheep. From the Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/farming/6187982/Marcus-the-sheep-is-dead.html

Want to win the lottery? Try Bulgaria where the same set of numbers came up two weeks running, the chances of that happening are several million to one

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hSfkZ3DUztoAUVPrubrhfwtxnaMA

The island of Bermeja has gone missing. Which is a pity because its territorial waters could be worth billions to Mexico. Did the CIA blow it up? Sounds fishy. From the Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6823281.ece

One man in Wales claims he suffered discrimination at his work by being prevented from wearing a hood which is central to his faith - he's a jedi. From the Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/18/jedi-religion-tesco-hood-jones

Clarkson eats an Ortolan the ultimate French delicacy.

English Idioms from Cricket

Cricket is a popular bat and ball game played mainly in England and countries that were formerly in the British Empire such as India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and Caribbean countries that form "The West Indies" team. A game of cricket can last up to 5 days so don't go and watch it if you're in a hurry. However, there are also 1 day versions of the game (though these are frowned upon by purists).

Do NOT confuse cricket with croquet (Lord! how many times have I heard that happen). Just to be sure here is a video of highlights of a cricket game.



Cricket has also left its mark on the language here are 5 common English phrases originating from the game of cricket.

1. To bowl over
meaning: To be astonished, greatly surprised and excited, left speechless.
Example: I saw U2 live in concert last month and I was bowled over by their performance.
meaning in cricket: You bowl (throw) the ball at the wicket (sticks) if you hit them the batsman must leave the field.

2. To hit for six
Meaning: To be deeply shocked or hurt (by someone/thing)
Example: When my wife left me it really hit me for six.
Meaning in cricket: To hit the ball over the boundary without it bouncing on the ground (which gets six runs (points).

3. A sticky wicket
Meaning: A difficult situation
Example: "We only have 20 pounds to last us 'til the end of the month",
"Yes, it's a sticky wicket".
Meaning in cricket: The wicket area (ground in fround of the stumps) has become sticky due to rain making in difficult to play on.

4. It's not cricket
Meaning: to play unfairly or against the rules of fair play (cricket has a reputation as a gentlemen's game played by honest people).
Example: "In order to get the job he lied about his experience and criticised the other candidates,"
"Yes, it's not cricket"

5. To stump (to be stumped)
Meaning: to have no idea, to be confronted by a problem you can't find the solution to.
Example: The exam was going well until they asked me a question about the Russian Revolution and I was completely stumped.
Meaning in cricket: To remove the bails in a game meaning the batsman is out (has to leave the game).

Cours d'anglais Paris articles et videos

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London to place 31 pianos in the streets of London (The Times)

The Bluefin tuna is in danger of extinction is it time to take it off the menu (BBC)

The hidden forest of Mozambique - discovered using Google Earth! (Guardian weekly)

Boy chosen by Dalai Lama turns his back on the Buddhist order (The Guardian)

How do you make rosé wine? French winemakers fight for the traditional method (France 24)

Cours d'anglais paris articles et videos

Outrage over North Korea's new test (from BBC)

A job and no mortgage for all in Spanish town (from NY Times)

Canada's Governor General guts, and eats raw seal heart (from AFP)

France admits not inviting the Queen to 65th D-Day anniversary (from Daily Telegraph)

Swine flu alert Don't believe the media hype

A Plug for Corinne

Good luck to one of LetThemTalk's students, Corinne who has set up her a jewellery and accesories business. All the creations are handmade. You can see them at an Expostion- vente at 17 rue Lacharriere (Square Gardette) or visit her website.

http://sophiefiguerras.wordpress.com/

Cours d'anglais articles et videos

Art historians claim Van Gogh's ear cut off by Gaugin

The 1 millionth English word to be announced in June will it be "defriend" or "noob"

Belgium City Plans Veggie Days - The Town of Ghent is going Vegetarian once a week

British Millionaire is giving away his fortune - "I want to die penniless" he says

Obama goes for a hamburger with VP Biden. The President prefers mustard to ketchup.

Stephen Fry's letter

British actor, comedian, writer and presenter Stephen Fry. Led a troubled life as a young man. An arrogant youth, confused and trying to come to terms with his sexuality (he is gay) the angry 16 year old was out of control.

35 years later Stephen has written a heartfelt letter to his 16 year old self. Moving and beautifully written you can find it here on The Guardian's website.

Stephen Fry's letter to himself as a 16 year old.

If you're unfamiliar with Stephen Fry here's a sketch he made with his comedy partner Hugh Laurie (Dr House) in the 1980s. From "A Bit of Fry and Laurie"

The Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square

In London's Trafalgar square there are 3 statues a fourth statue was intended on the site but was never completed. The plinth however still remains. This is the famous "fourth plinth". Since 1999 a series of temporary works have occupied the plinth. From July to October 2009 a remarkable now work by Anthony Gormley.

For 100 days 2400 people will occupy the plinth for one hour. It's part of a living artwork. Anthony Gormley himself describes the artwork in this video




Antony Gormley on the Fourth Plinth from One & Other on Vimeo.

More information on these websites including how to register..
http://www.oneandother.co.uk/

http://www.london.gov.uk/fourthplinth/

What is English Food?

This is one of the most common questions I get asked in Paris (or indeed anywhere).



Of course you can treat your self to great English delicacies like Marmite.



Or squirrel flavour crisps.

Perhaps you'd prefer an English breakfast.




(photo by Francisco Antunes on flickr)

But did you know that what Britain's national dish is? Fish and chips? Steak and Kidney pie? You might be surprised to learn that it is (according to a survey in 2000) Chicken Tikka Massala A dish invented in Glasgow in the 1960s using a mix of Indian spices.

At the recent G20 summit in London Chef Jamie Oliver provided a menu for the visiting dignatiries made from all British ingredients (except soda bread which is Irish) Full story here - Jamie Oliver's G20 menu

The most surprising thing about the G20 dinner was the choice of drink - London tap water.

Website of the week - en francais

If your looking for some inspiring ideas on interior design then you should definitely look at a new blog written by LetThemTalk's very own Jo. Vracajo Follow her blow and learn everything you always wanted to know about brico and deco. Which I think translates as DIY and decoration.

Cours d'anglais articles et video

Brain starts to decline at 27 (yes I'm afraid so)

First pizzeria opens in North Korea

Girls do better without boys at school

Maldives plans to be the first country to go carbon neutral

Civet coffee - the best (and most expensive) coffee in the world. Coffee beans are removed from civet droppings. From Al Jezeera TV

How wrong they were!

This is John Stewart from The Daily Show's brilliant and hilarous demolition of financial journalists and particularly CNBC who time and time again not only predicted things wrongly but also gave bad advice during the current financial crisis. Video is especially for Marie. Thanks for the fridge magnet.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
CNBC Financial Advice
comedycentral.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

Don't forget your homework!

Here is something to discuss at the class. It is a test taken from The Times that determines your "Brain sex" which may not be the same as your biogogical sex. Do the test here.

Find out your Brain sex

New French Conversation course this Sunday

LetThemTalk are starting a French conversation group on Sundays in a cafe. More details here.

French language conversation course Paris

If you are French and would like to become a group leader (animateur) for the group then please contact me.