Cultural gaffes

I've found these videos which explain very clearly how we could offend somebody by not following their normal cultural behaviours.  Watch them and send your comments.  Did you know about these cultural differences?  Which one do you find the strangest?  What is considered rude in your own country?

Wordsearch sports words

Are you good at finding words in wordsearches? Try out this one. All the words are connected with sports.

Words connected with sports word search game » word search maker

PET exam - Online practice

If you are studying to sit for an international exam, such as Cambridge PET, you may be happy to know that there are some very good sites on the Internet where you can practise online.

Follow the links below and work with the exercises that are offered there.

Exam English
English on-line
ESL-Bits.net

Be careful with your pronunciation!

I found this video on Youtube which shows a funny commercial.  Why is it funny?  Watch it and see if you can get the joke.

Funny Commercial and quiz

Watch this video and see why it's so important not to lose sight of your belongings.

Music video clip and quiz

Another music video for you to practise your listening skills. Listen to Alanis Morisette and complete the quiz below. Don't forget to enjoy the music too!

Thanks to Mapama for this quiz!

Song: Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits

Brothers in Arms, by Dire Straits, is an anti-war song. Watch the video and read the lyrics below.

 

These mist covered mountains

Are a home now for me

But my home is the lowlands

And always will be

Some day you'll return to

Your valleys and your farms

And you'll no longer burn

To be brothers in arm

Through these fields of destruction

Baptism of fire

I've watched all your suffering

As the battles raged higher

And though they did hurt me so bad

In the fear and alarm

You did not desert me

My brothers in arms

There's so many different worlds

So many different suns

And we have just one world

But we live in different ones

Now the sun's gone to hell

And the moon's riding high

Let me bid you farewell

Every man has to die

But it's written in the starlight

And every line on your palm

We're fools to make war

On our brothers in arms

Answer the following questions:

1. What does the expression "brothers in arms" mean?
Brothers fighting together.
Soldier fighting on the same side of some conflict.
Soldiers who died at war.
2. What does it mean that "the battle raged higher"?
The armed conflict became more intense.
The soldiers became angrier.
The rage became more intense.
3. What does it mean "to bid you farewell"?
To offer some comfort.
To wish for your wellbeing.
To say goodbye.
4. What final message does it give?
It tells us about a specific war.
It speaks to the tragedy of war and highlights the individual nature of war i.e. each soldier has his own family, life and universe.
It refers to the fact that wars are necessary.

Score =
Correct answers:

Match the following words from the song with their meanings

MIST	??? Flat land that is at the same level as the sea An extremely unpleasant or difficult place, situation or experience Thin fog produced by drops of water in the air just above an area of ground or water The inside part of your hand from your wrist to the base of your fingers Light produced by stars
LOWLANDS	??? Flat land that is at the same level as the sea An extremely unpleasant or difficult place, situation or experience Thin fog produced by drops of water in the air just above an area of ground or water The inside part of your hand from your wrist to the base of your fingers Light produced by stars
HELL	??? Flat land that is at the same level as the sea An extremely unpleasant or difficult place, situation or experience Thin fog produced by drops of water in the air just above an area of ground or water The inside part of your hand from your wrist to the base of your fingers Light produced by stars
STARLIGHT	??? Flat land that is at the same level as the sea An extremely unpleasant or difficult place, situation or experience Thin fog produced by drops of water in the air just above an area of ground or water The inside part of your hand from your wrist to the base of your fingers Light produced by stars
PALM	??? Flat land that is at the same level as the sea An extremely unpleasant or difficult place, situation or experience Thin fog produced by drops of water in the air just above an area of ground or water The inside part of your hand from your wrist to the base of your fingers Light produced by stars

Song and Quiz: Masters of War by Bob Dylan

I came across this beautiful song by Bob Dylan. I think it's a song that expresses our own voices against war. I hope you enjoy it and enjoy doing the quiz that comes along with it.