Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony of 2012 Olympics starts today at 9 UK time! The show entitled 'Isles of Wonder' is expected to have (=oczekuje się, że osiągnie) a global TV audience of more than a billion people! Spectators all over the world will have the opportunity to see British history in a nutshell (=w pigułce). The performance will also encompass (=zawierać) various elements of British culture - William Shakespeare's masterpieces, James Bond films, Harry Potter series, the Rolling Stones' and Sir Paul Mccartney's music. Queen Elizabeth is also expected to attend the event. A big mystery is who will light the torch. Bookmakers bet on Sir Steve Redgrave who won five Olympic rowing gold medals beteween 1984 and 2000. You mustn't miss the Olympic Ceremony Athletes' Parade! 

London hosted the Olympic Games twice - in 1908 and 1948.

Vocabulary

Olympics, Olympic Games - Igrzyska Olimpijskie, Olimpiada

Olympic flame - ogień olimpijski

parade - parada

athlete - sportowiec

host - gościć

audience - widownia

spectator - widz

attend - uczestniczyć

bookmaker - bukmacher

bet on sb/sth - obstawiać

compete - rywalizować

competition, rivarly - rywalizacja

competitor, rival - rywal

to keep one's fingers crossed for sb - trzymać kciuki za kogoś

to be excited about sth - emocjonować się czymś

support - kibicować

Which team do you support?

-której drużynie kibicujesz?

supporter, fan - kibic

You can read about the Olympic flame HERE.

I invite you to watch two short films showing the 1908 and 1948 Olympics:
Modern Olympic Games look way different...but maybe they do not...?
What's your opinion?

Enjoy the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony!

It's Friday 13th!

Friday 13th is considered as an unlucky day in many Western countries. The superstition exists in such European countries as Poland, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Austria, but also in Philippines, Brazil and Canada. What's interesting in Greece, Spain and Romania it is Tuesday 13th that is believed to be a bad luck day. The Italians consider Friday 17th an unlucky day. The origines of this superstition are not clear, nonetheless they  mostly have religious background (e.g. Judas was the 13th guest at the Last Supper, Jusus was crucified on Friday). A fear of Friday 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia.

A few other British superstitions:

meeting a black cat brings ....luck (!)

Black cats are featured on good luck greetings cards and birthday cards.

Black cat brings luck!

We touch or knock on wood to make sth come true.

It is lucky to find a four-leaved clover.

White heather is lucky.

A horseshoe over the door brings good luck.

To catch falling leaves in Autumn will bring you luck.

It is unlucky to walk underneath a ladder.

Breaking a mirror will bring you seven years of bad luck.

It is considered unlucky to spill salt. If you do, you must throw it over your shoulder to counteract the bad luck.

It is unlucky to open an umbrella in doors.

Passing someone on the stairs brings bad luck.

It is considered unlucky to have the feathers of a peacock at home.

Peacock feathers

If you drop a knife, expect a male visitor; if you drop a fork, a female visitor.

superstition  - przesąd

superstitious - przesądny

lucky - mający/przynoszący szczęście (antonym - unlucky)

luck - szczęście

bad luck - nieszczęście

to try one's luck - spróbować szczęścia

bad luck! - co za pech!

just my luck - takie to już moje szczęście

to be down on one's luck - mieć złą passę

good luck! - powodzenia!

it's the luck of the draw - to kwestia szczęścia

my luck's in! - dzisiaj mam szczęście!

Source of the photos: the Internet

Shakira - 'Waka Waka' - answers

   

Here are the answers!

You're a good ......soldier...................

(=jesteś dobrym żołnierzem)

Choosing your .....battles....................

(=wybierającym swoje bitwy)

Pick yourself up

(=podnieś się)

And dust yourself off

(=i otrzyj kurz)

And back in the ...saddle..................

(=z powrotem w siodle)

You're on the frontline

(=jesteś na linii ognia)

Everyone's .....watching.....................

(=każdy patrzy)

You know it's serious

(=wiesz, że to poważna sytuacja)

We're getting .....closer................

(=zbliżamy się)

This isn't over

(=to nie koniec)

The pressure is on

(=presja jest obecna)

You ...feel.................. it

(=czujesz to)

But you've got it all

(=ale masz wszystko, co potrzebne)

......Believe.................... it

(=uwierz w to)

When you fall - ...get up.................

Oh oh...

And if you fall - ...get up...............

Oh oh...

(=Kiedy upadniesz, podnieś się

Jeśli upadniesz, podnieś się)

Tsamina mina

Zangalewa

Cos this is Africa

(=Bo to jest Afryka)

Tsamina mina eh eh

Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

This time for Africa

.....Listen.................. to your god

(=słuchaj swojego boga)

This is our motto

(=to nasze motto)

Your time to ...shine...................

(=twój czas by błyszczeć)

Don't wait in line

(=nie czekaj w kolejce)

Y vamos por Todo

People are raising

Their .......expectations............................

(=ludzie podnoszą ich oczekiwania)

Go on and feed them

(idź i spełnij je)

This is your moment

(=to twój moment)

No ....hesitations.....................

(nie wahaj się)

Today's your day

I .....feel................ it

(=dziś jest twój dzień, czuję to)

You paved the way

....Believe................ it

(=utorowałeś sobie drogę,

uwierz w to)

If you get down

.....Get up................. Oh oh...

(=kiedy zwątpisz, podnieś się)

When you get down

.......Get up..................... eh eh...

Tsamina mina zangalewa

This time for Africa

Tsamina mina eh eh

Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

Tsamina mina eh eh

Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

This time for Africa

(=to jest czas dla Afryki)

Were all your answers correct? :)

Shakira - Waka Waka

In order to warm up the atmosphere of great sports emotions (tonight at 20:30 two matches - Poland versus the Czech Republic and Russia contra Greece!) I've prepared Shakira's great song - 'Waka Waka' (This time for Africa). The official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup became a worldwide hit. What's interesting, the song is based on a traditional African soldiers' song called 'Zamina mina'.

Listen to the Colombian singer's song and complete the lyrics!

You'll find the answers along with my translation of the lyrics in the next post!

You're a good .........................
Choosing your .........................
Pick yourself up
And dust yourself off
And back in the .....................

You're on the frontline
Everyone's ..........................
You know it's serious
We're getting .....................
This isnt over

The pressure is on
You ..................... it
But you've got it all
.......................... it

When you fall - ....................
Oh oh...
And if you fall - ..................
Oh oh...

Tsamina mina
Zangalewa
Cos this is Africa

Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka Waka eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

....................... to your god
This is our motto
Your time to ......................
Dont wait in line
Y vamos por Todo

People are raising
Their ...................................
Go on and feed them
This is your moment
No .........................

Today's your day
I ..................... it
You paved the way
.................... it

If you get down
...................... Oh oh...
When you get down
............................ eh eh...

Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka Waka eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

A few curiosities..

A few Fang (the dominant Bantu language spoken in northen Gabon, southern Cameroon and throughout Equatorial Guinea) words:

Waka waka - do it

Tsaminamina - come

Tsaminamina zangalewa - where do you come from?

Source of the photo : the Internet

Ludovic Obraniak

Ludovic Obraniak, born 19 November 1984 in Longeville-les-Metz, is a Polish-French football player, who is currently playing for the French club Bordeaux. In 2011 Obraniak along with the Lille club won the championship title and the French Cup. As the player has Polish roots through his grandfather, Zygmunt Obraniak, the attacking midfielder (=pomocnik ofensywny) became subject of interest of the Polish national football team. Since Obraniak's grandfather never renounced (=zrzekł się) Polish nationality, the player's Polish citizenship (=polskie obywatelstwo) did not need to be granted (=przyznane) by the Polish government, but simply confirmed (=potwierdzone) by the Masovian voivode (=wojewoda mazowiecki). Obraniak made his debut in the Polish team on 23 July 2009, scoring two goals against Greece and giving Poland a wonderful victory of 2:0. Obraniak became a honorary citizen (=honorowy obywatel) of the city and district Pobiedziska, where his grandfather, Zygmunt Obraniak, came from. The town is very close to Ludovic, who has revealed that he's wanted to play in the Polish national team to 

pay tribute (=oddać hołd) to his grandfather, who died in 1986. The player has said that his grandfather brought a Polish fooball t-shirt to France, which is still preciously kept by the family.

I invite you to listen to Ludovic speaking Polish and French. 

Which team apart from the Polish national team are you supporting during Euro? 

The photo comes from : http://pilka.biedronka.pl/aktualnosci/czerwiec-2012/reprezentacja-mowi-jednym-glosem/

Euro 2012

The 2012 European Football Championship, commonly referred to (=określany) as Euro 2012, is being hosted (=goszczone) by Poland and Ukraine. Poland has been preparing for the event for 5 years, since in 2007 UEFA's Executive Committee entrusted Poland and Ukraine with organising (=powierzył organizację) the championships. Countless investment projects (=niezliczone projekty inwestycyjne) have been launched (=rozpoczęte), such as constructing four world-class stadiums, building motorways, preparation of airports and railway stations.

National Stadium in Warsaw

Baltic Arena in Gdańsk

Here are the four groups:

The official Polish anthem of Euro 2012 is 'Koko Koko Euro Spoko' by the folk band, Jarzębina.

Euro 2012 will not only be a source of great emotions for football fans, but also the opportunity (=okazja) for people from all over the world to get to know Polish cities, customs and hospitality (=gościnność)!

HERE you can read more about football vocabulary.

Diamond Jubilee

As you have surely heard this year Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her diamond jubilee. She ascended to the throne (=wstąpiła na tron) 60 years ago on 2 February 1952, when her father George VI (the king who struggled with a stutter in 'The King's Speech') died. Elizabeth Windsor was crowned queen on 2 June 1953. She was 27 then (!). The jubilee is marked with numerous celebration throughout the UK and the countries of the Commonwealth. 

Festive accents (=świąteczne akcenty) are present almost everywhere in London.

Here are a few shots of shop windows :

Would you like to have such an apron? ;)

The festive elements are also present in parks...:

One of the boards in St. James's Park

I invite you to watch an extract from an authentic film showing the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II:

Source of the photos : private collection; source of the video : youtube

Mother's Day

26 May is celebrated in Poland as Mother's Day. What's interesting this festival falls on different days in various countries :

in the UK and Ireland - the fourth Sunday in Lent (=Wielkiego Postu)

in the USA, Australia - second Sunday of May

France - first Sunday of June [Pentecost (= Zielone Świątki) also occurs on this day]

On the occasion of Mother's Day I would like to recall a song of the band 'The Shireless' - 'Mama said'. The African American girl group achieved popularity in the early 1960s.

Below you can find the lyrics of the song to sing along... ;)

Mama said there'll be days like this, 
There'll be days like this Mama said 
(Mama said, mama said) 
Mama said there'll be days like this, 
There'll be days like this my Mama said 
(Mama said, mama said) 
I went walking the other day, 
Everything was going fine, 
I met a little boy named Billy Joe 
And then I almost lost my mind 
Mama said there'll be days like this, 
There'll be days like this Mama said 
(Mama said, mama said) 
Mama said there'll be days like this, 
There'll be days like this my Mama said 
My eyes are wide open 
But all that I can see is, 
chapel bells are callin for everyone but-a me 
but I don't worry cause 
Mama said there'll be days like this, 
There'll be days like this Mama said 
(Mama said, mama said) 
Mama said there'll be days like this, 
There'll be days like this my Mama said 
And then she said someone will look at me 
like I'm looking at you one day, 
then I might find 
I don't want it any old way, 
so I don't worry cause 
Mama said there'll be days like this, 
There'll be days like this Mama said 
(Mama said, mama said) 
Mama said there'll be days like this, 
There'll be days like this my Mama said 
Mama said, mama said 
Hey! Don't you worry, 
Mama said mama said 
Hey! Don't you worry now. 
Mama said mama said, 
Hey! Hey!

How do you usually celebrate Mother's Day?

The Olympic flame arrives in the UK!

The Olympic flame has arrived in the UK. The Princess Royal (The Queen's daughter), the footballer David Beckham and London Mayor Boris Johnson, among others, flew from Anthens, Greece, with the flame. A 70-day torch relay will travel through 1,019 cities, towns and villages and stop at such UK landmarks as the Giant's Causeway and Stonehenge. The youngest participant of the 8,000-mile relay is an eleven-year-old boy, whereas the most elderly torchbearer is a woman who will turn 100 in four days! 

The relay will culminate in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 games at the Olympic stadium on July 27th. 

Simplified route of the torch relay

The Olympic torch on display in Cardiff, Wales

London Mayor Boris Johnson has said : 'With every day of the torch relay, the excitement will build around the country as we look forward to this fantastic festival of sport and culture'.

I invite you to see two videos connected to the Olympic flame:

Glossary:

flame - ogień

torch - pochodnia

torchbearer - niosący pochodnię

relay - sztafeta

lantern - lampion, latarnia

light - lit - lit - zapalać

cauldron / ˈkɔːldrən/ - kocioł

landmarks - charakterystyczne obiekty

The photos come from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Summer_Olympics_torch_relay, Creative Commons; the torch : author : Jon Candy; Creative Commons; the videos come from : youtube

Prince Charles as a weather forecaster!

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of BBC Scotland, Prince Charles along with his wife Camilla Parker Bowles have visited the broadcaster's (=nadawcy) headquarters (=siedzibę). The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall had a go at (=spróbowali swoich sił) reading the weather forecast! Against a background (=tło) of the BBC's weather map, the royals delivered a specially-prepared script (=scenariusz) which included several references (=odniesienia) to royal residences in Scotland. The Duke of Rothesay presented the report with a great sense of humor, saying for example: "Who the hell wrote this script?" and "Thank God it isn't a bank holiday (=święto państwowe)". The visit was part of the annual Holyrood Week - an event the aim of which (=którego celem jest) is to celebrate Scottish culture, achievement (=osiągnięcia) and history. 

I invite you to watch Prince Charles' and the Duchess of Cornwall's appearance (=występ; pojawienie się) in front of BBC cameras:

On the occasion  - some weather vocabulary :

weather forecast - prognoza pogody

weather forecaster - prezenter prognozy pogody, meteorolog

background, backdrop - tło

slide projector - rzutnik

pointer - wskaźnik

point to - wskazywać

the points of the compass - strony swiata

North - N - północ

South - S - południe

West - W - zachód

East - E - wschód

warm/cold front - ciepły/zimny front

atmospheric pressure - ciśnienie atmosferyczne

storm clouds - chmury burzowe

Source of the videos : youtube

9th May - Europe Day

The flag of Europe - official flag of the EU

The 9th May is celebrated as the day of the European Union. The organisation came into being on the 1st November 1993. Europe Day is one of the symbols of the EU whose aim is to foster (=rozwijać, zaszczepiać) the sense of unity (=poczucie jedności) amongst the member states. 

At present there are 27 EU members :

Austria (1995)*

 Belgium (1952)

 Bulgaria (2007)

 Cyprus (2004)

 Czech Republic (2004) 

 Denmark (1973)

 Estonia (2004)

 Finland (1995)

 France (1952)

 Germany (1952)

 Greece (1981)

 Hungary (2004)

 Ireland (1973)

 Italy (1952)

 Latvia (2004)

 Lithuania (2004)

 Luxembourg (1952)

 Malta (2004)

 Netherlands (1952)

 Poland (2004)

 Portugal (1986)

 Romania (2007)

 Slovakia (2004)

 Slovenia (2004)

 Spain (1986)

 Sweden (1995)

 United Kingdom (1973)

*The dates in brackets are the years of accession to the EU.

common currency

Source of the photos : http://pixabay.com/

Titanic Memorial Cruise - listening - answers

Authentic newspaper from 16 April 2012

1. What place is the couple leaving for?

…………They are hearding for the spot where Titanic sank…………

2. Which relative (=krewny) of Mrs Allen's did not survive the ship catastrophe?

………It was her great uncle, Tom Pears………

3. Why do Mr and Mrs Allen want to participate in (=wziąć udział) the cruise (=rejs)?

…………………They want to pay their respects to the victims……………

4. What historical event does Mrs Allen refer to, when speaking about the catastrophe?

………………The woman refers to the First and Second World War…………

5. What sad fact does Mr Allen speak about?

…………Mr Allen says that Mr Pears’ body has never been found; he disappeared………

6. How many passengers will there be on board during the Titanic memorial cruise?

……thirteen hundred (1300) passengers, the same number as on Titanic’s board……

7. What town does the ship depart from?

………Southampton (England)………

8. Which French town will be one of the stops during the voyage?

…………Cherbourg………………

9. Who has come up with the idea of the memorial cruise?

………a British travel agent, Miles Morgan………

10. Have there been many people interested in the voyage?

……Yes, the demand was so great that the tickets sold out two years ago…

11. What feature of modern ships lessens (=zmniejsza) the speaker’s fear of accidents?

……modern technology (equipment, safety on board).…

12. When should the ship arrive in New York?

………The ship should arrive in  New York in ten days……

12/12 ? :)

Source of the photo : the Internet 

Titanic Memorial Cruise - listening I

Authentic newspaper from the 16th April 1912

In order to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, a Titanic Memorial Cruise has been organised. Descendants (=potomni) of Titanic’s passengers, history enthusiasts and people who wanted to pay tribute (=złożyć hołd) to the casualties (=ofiary) are taking part in the voyage. The Titanic Memorial Cruise departed for New York from England on the 8^th April 2012. 

1. Listen carefully to the video and answer the questions :

1. What place is the couple leaving for?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Which relative (=krewny) of Mrs Allen's did not survive the ship catastrophe?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Why do Mr and Mrs Allen want to participate in (=wziąć udział) the cruise (=rejs)?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. What historical event does Mrs Allen refer to, when speaking about the catastrophe?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. What sad fact does Mr Allen speak about?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. How many passengers will there be on board during the Titanic memorial cruise?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. What town does the ship depart from?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. Which French town will be one of the stops during the voyage?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. Who has come up with the idea of the memorial cruise?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. Have there been many people interested in the voyage?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. What feature of modern ships lessens (=zmniejsza) the speaker’s fear of accidents?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

12. When should the ship arrive in New York?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

You will be able to check your answers in my next post!

Source of the photo : the Internet

Titanic - activity I - answers

Here are the answers to the first activity concerning the ship Titanic:

1. Think of the words that match the following definitions:

1. a large ship that carries passengers – a liner (=liniowiec)

2. to go down towards the sea bottom  - to sink

3. an extremely large mass of ice floating in the sea – an iceberg

  4. a person who is travelling in a car, bus, train, plane or ship and who is not driving it  
- a passenger

5. the person in charge of a ship or commercial aircraft – a captain

6. being the first of its kind – maiden (=dziewiczy)

2. Complete the gaps with one suitable word.

 Titanic was a British passenger ..…LINER….. that ……SANK……..  in the North Atlantic Ocean …………ON………. 15 April 1912 after colliding …..WITH…… an ……ICEBERG………….. during her …………MAIDEN……….. voyage (=rejs) from Southampton, England ……TO……..  New York City. The sinking of Titanic …......CAUSED (=spowodowało)......... the deaths of 1,514 people in ……ONE……. of the deadliest (=śmiertelny) ……ACCIDENTS/DISASTERS….. in history. She was ……THE………..  largest ship afloat at the time of her ……VOYAGE……… . She was ……BUILD/CONSTRUCTED….  between 1909–11 ……BY……  the Harland and Wolff shipyard (=stocznia) in Belfast. Titanic had a capacity (=pojemność)……OF……. 2,224 people. Titanic’s passengers included (=obejmować) some of ……THE…….. wealthiest people in the world, as well as over a thousand emigrants from Great Britain and Ireland, Scandinavia and elsewhere (= z innych krajów) ………SEEKING (=poszukujących)........ a new life in North America. The ship was designed to ……BE……..  a world leader ……IN…… comfort and luxury (=luksus), ……WITH…… an on-board gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, high-class restaurants and opulent (=wystawne) cabins. ………ALTHOUGH/THOUGH (=mimo że).......... she had advanced safety features  (=elementy zabespieczające), such as reportedly (= podobno) 
watertight compartments (=wodoszczelne przedziały) and remotely activated (= zdalnie uruchamiane) watertight doors, she lacked ……ENOUGH (=wystarczającej liczby)....... lifeboats (=tratwy ratunkowe) to accommodate (=pomieścić, przyjmować) all of those aboard.

The disaster was greeted (=przyjęta) ……WITH..…..  worldwide shock and outrage (=oburzenie) ………AT………..  the huge loss (=strata) of life. Public inquiries (=dochodzenia) in Britain and the United States ……LED ……(=doprowadziły) to thorough (=gruntowny) improvements (=ulepszenia) in maritime (=żeglarskie) safety. The wreck of Titanic ……REMAINS (=pozostaje) /REPOSES (=spoczywa)……  on the seabed, gradually disintegrating ……AT……..  a depth of 12,415 feet (3,784 m). ……SINCE (=od momentu)....... its rediscovery in 1985, thousands of artefacts have been recovered (=wydobyte)………FROM…………  the sea bottom and ……PUT……… on display (=ekspozycja) at museums around the world. Titanic has …BECOME (=stał się)……  one of the most famous ships in history, her memory …KEPT…..  alive (=żywa) ……BY……. numerous (=liczne) books, films, exhibits (=eksponaty) and memorials (=pomniki, memoriały).

adapted from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic

In my next posts you'll find a listening exercise concerning the Titanic memorial cruise.