A NEW EXPRESSION

As everybody knows there is a very interesting thing in languages: expressions that exist only in that language.

Do you know what is: THE ELEVATOR PITCH?

ELEVATOR PITCH is a concise, carefully, planned description about your company, yourself, your career, that any person could understand in the time it takes to ride up an elevator. A good elevator pitch is less than 60 seconds long.

An ELEVATOR PITCH must answer the following questions (if it is about you):

- What exactly do you do?
- what is your previous experience?
- What is your competitive advantage?
- What is your future potential?
- How successful are you?
- How much money do you need?

To have this kind of summary of your professional profile is very important when you are participating in a selection process. So try to answer the questions in 60 seconds... and keep them always in mind.

See you the next time...

Teacher Andréa

Christmas in Brazil

Brazilians are a mix of people from many parts of the world, and as a former Portuguese colony, they have many Christmas customs which originate from this heritage.

One tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presépio. The word origins from the Hebrew word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. The Presépio is common in northeastern Brazil (Bahia, Sergipe, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Maranhão, Ceará, Pernambuco, Piauí and Alagoas). The Presépio was introduced in the 17th century, in the city of Olinda in the state of Pernambuco by a Franciscan friar named Gaspar de Santo Agostinho. Nowadays presépios are set up in December and displayed in churches, homes, and stores.

The people of Northern Brazil, as in Mexico, enjoy a version of the folk play Los Pastores or "The Shepherds." In the Brazilian version, there are shepherdesses rather than shepherds and a gypsy who attempts to kidnap the Christ Child.

Papai Noel (Father Noel) is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland. When he arrives in Brazil, he usually wears silk clothing due to the summer heat.

A huge Christmas dinner, unusual in the hot summertime, includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and wonderful vegetable and fruit dishes.

Devout Catholics often attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo. (A galo is a rooster.) The mass has this name because the rooster announces the coming day and the Missa do Galo finishes at 1 AM on Christmas morning! On December 25th, Catholics go to church, but the masses are mostly late afternoon, because people enjoy sleeping late after the dinner (Ceia de Natal) or going to the beach.

Decorations include fresh flowers picked from the garden. Fireworks go off in the skies over the cites and huge Christmas "trees" of electric lights can be seen against the night skies in major cities such as Brasilia, San Paolo, and Rio de Janeiro.

MORE ABOUT HONG KONG

Trade

Business is at the heart of life in Hong Kong. Goods arrive here by air or sea from all over the world. plus there are hundreds of banks, international companies, a busy stock exchange.

But Hong Kong isn't just a trading centre for everyone else's goods and money. it makes and sells its own products, too. In fact it exports more than China, wich as 180 times as many people. Total exports represent US$ 9,000 per person per year - that's four times the exports of the average Briton, five times the average Japanese and ten times the average American.

And what exactly does Hong Kong sell abroad? Well, it is a long list but it includes: clothes, toys, high tech electronic goods, plastics, jewelry, cameras, watches...

Next time, you are going to read something about shopping in Hong Kong... See you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A LITTLE ABOUT HONG KONG

TRADE

Business is at the heart of life in Hong Kong. Goods arrive by air and sea from all over the world. Plus there are hundreds of banks, international companies, a busy stock exchange...

But Hong Kong isn't just a trading centre for everyone else's goods and money. It makes and sells its own products, too. In fact it exports more than China, which has 180 time as many people. Total exports represent US$ 9,000 per person per year - that's four times the exports of the average Briton, five times the average Japanese and ten times the average American. And what exactly does Hong Kong sell abroad? Well, it's a long list, but it includes... clothes, toys, high-tech electronic goods, plastics, jewellery, cameras, watches.

For more about Hong Kong you will have a text in your next class...

Have a good weekend

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT

1 - Buy fresh food that doesn't need a lot of packing;
2 - Try to buy organic fruit and vegetables from farmers who don't use chemicals;
3 - Look for food and other products which come from Developing World countries;
4 - Save as much water as possible;
5 - Find out more about Green organizations in your area;
6 - Write letters to the government in your country about Green problems which worry you;
7 - Use products that won't stay for ever in the earth or sea when you throw them away;
8 - Use bottles more than once (or take them to a bottle bank);
9 - Try to save paper. Also, buy and use recycled paper as often as possible;
10 - Avoid throw-away products;
11 - Make sure that your family and friends use unleaded petrol in their car;
12 - Don't buy products (fur or ivory, for example) made from rare or protected species;
13 - Use public transport as often as possible;
14 - If you are buying wood, don't choose hardwood from tropical rainforests;
15 - Look for aeroslos which haven't got any of the chemicals called CFCs (chloro-fluoro-carbons) in them;
16 - Try to eat a healthier diet. Avoid too much fat or sugar;
17 - Don't buy hamburgers or pizzas in plastic boxes which contain CFCs.
18 - Use betteries as little as possible. It takes 50 times more energy to make them than they produce;
19 - Don't leave on electric lights, TV,etc. if you're not using them;
20 - Take aerobics exercise at least three times per week;
21 - Find out more about conservation issues in your area. Are there any woods, fields, etc, in danger for example;
22 - Try to throw away at least 25% less rubbish.
23 - Help old people in your are to insulate their homes. This saves energy and helps to keep them warm in winter;
24 - Visit any local nature reserves or zoos and talk to the people who run them.

HALLOWEEN

HALLOWEEN

Every year, Americans celebrate Halloween on October 31. On this day, young people wear masks and costumes. Boys and girls dress as witches, ghosts, and other characters. Children like to wear their costumes to school, where there is often a special party.
In the evening, children wear their costumes and carry bags to their neighbors’ houses. The children knock, and when the neighbor opens the door, they shout, “Trick or treat!” Then the neighbor puts fruit or candy in the children’s bags.
Halloween decorations are usually orange and black, the traditional colors for this special day. A popular symbol of Halloween is the jack-o’-lantern. To make a jack-o’-lantern, children’s parents usually cut a face in a pumpkin and put a candle inside.
In large cities, adults enjoy Halloween also. Many adults wear masks and costumes to have parties at night.


EXERCISES
CIRCLE YES OR NO AFTER EACH SENTENCE:

1. The jack-o’lantern is a symbol of Halloween YES NO
2. Halloween is the last day of October YES NO
3. The colors of Halloween are red and black YES NO
4. Children give candy do their neighbors in the evening YES NO
5. Adults have Halloween parties in large cities YES NO
6. Children wear masks on Halloween YES NO

ONE WORD IN EACH SENTENCE IS WRONG. FIND THE WORD AND CROSS IT OUT. THEN WRITE THE CORRECT WORD.

October
1. Americans celebrate Halloween every year on August 31.
2. On this day, young people eat masks and costumes
3. Boys and girls dress as witches, candles and other characters.
4. Children like to wear their symbols to school.
5. Halloween decorations are usually orange and blue.
6. Children wear their costumes and carry fruit to their neighbors’ houses.
7. The costume is a popular symbol of Halloween.
8. Children’s parents cut a face in a bag and put a candle inside.

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS TO COMPLETE EACH SENTENCE.

pumpkin costumes decorations symbol candle adults

1. In large cities, many adults wear costumes at night.
2. The orange and black ___________________ are for our Halloween party.
3. There is usually a _______________________inside a jack-o’-lantern.
4. We cut a face in a ______________________to make a jack-o’-lantern.
5. _________________ in large cities have parties on Halloween night.
6. The jack-o’-lantern is a ___________________ of Halloween.


COMPLETE ACORDING TO THE TEXT (in pairs – you can’t look at the original text):
Americans celebrate Halloween on October 31 ______________ year. Boys and girls wear masks and ___________________ on this special day. At night, children _______________ on their neighbors’ doors and shout, “____________________ or treat!” Then the neighbors put ____________ or fruit in the children’s bags.
The ____________________ is a popular symbol of Halloween. _____________ and black are the traditional colors for Halloween.

DISCUSSION – In pairs
1. When is Halloween?
2. What do children wear on Halloween?
3. What do they do in the evening?
4. Why do children carry bags in the evening?
5. What are the traditional colors for Halloween?
6. Does your country have a day like Halloween? When?
7. When do children wear costumes in your country?
8. When do adults wear costumes in your country?
9. When do people in your country give fruit or candy to children?


CHOOSE THREE WORDS AND WRITE A PHRASE WITH EACH ONE OF THEM:
1. Every
2. Young
3. Wear
4. Often
5. Traditional
6. Enjoy

MORE CULTURE

LABOR DAY
The first Monday in September is Labor Day in the United States. Labor means work. Labor Day is the holiday that honors workers. On this day, Americans remember that all workers are very important. Carpenters, secretaries, mechanics, engineers, and many other people do not work on Labor Day. Schools, banks and offices do not open.
Labor Day is a day of rest and fun for most people. In many cities and towns, labor unions celebrate this holiday with parades. Many stores have special sales. The weather is usually warm, and people have fun at picnics and barbecues.
Labor Day is one of the last days of the summer vacation season. Soon the weather will be cold. Soon most public parks, swimming pools and beaches will close until the month of May. Students usually return to school the day after Labor Day.

COMPREHENSION

1. Circle yes or no after each sentence:

a) Labor Day is the first Monday in September. YES NO
b) Many people do not work on Labor Day. YES NO
c) Banks open on Labor Day. YES NO
d) Americans honor workers on Labor Day. YES NO
e) People celebrate Labor Day with picnics. YES NO
f) It is usually cold on Labor Day. YES NO
g) Labor unions have sales on Labor Day. YES NO
h) Workers are important. YES NO

2. One word in each sentence is wrong. Find the word and cross it out. Then write the correct word.

a) The first Wednesday in September is Labor Day in The United States.
b) Labor Day is the holiday that honors schools.
c) Secretaries and mechanics do not remember on Labor Day.
d) Schools, stores, and banks do not open.
e) People have fun at work and barbecues.
f) Many stores have special parades.

3. Choose one of the words or the group of words below to complete each sentence.

Sales return labor unions honors fun rest

a) Labor Day is a day of _____________________________ for many workers.
b) People have __________________________ at barbecues.
c) Labor Day ____________________________workers.
d) Students _____________________ to school after Labor Day every year.
e) Many stores have special _________________________ on Labor Day.
f) __________________ have parades in many cities on Labor Day.



4. Find the opposites of the words below:

a) Work ______________________
b) Warm _________________________
c) Open__________________________
d) first___________________________

5. Write the new words you have learned from this lesson and write a phrase with each one of them.