niedziela, 26 grudnia 2010

Deck the Halls

Dzisiaj kolejna świąteczna piosenka - znana m.in. z amerykańskich filmów - słynne fa-la-la-la-la pochodzi właśnie z tej piosenki ;)

Nr 12 - Deck the Halls

How long "Deck the Halls" has been around is unknown. The words of "Deck the Halls" are from the 19th century and American. The repeated Fa la la la la la la la la used to be popular in medieval ballads. The music is from a old Welsh melody. In the 1700's, Mozart once used the melody in a piano and violin duet.


Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

See the blazing Yule before us.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Fast away the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

sobota, 25 grudnia 2010

We wish you a Merry Christmas

Nr 11 - We wish you a Merry Christmas




We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;

Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
and bring it right here.
We won't go until we get some
we won't go until we get some
we won't go until we get some
so bring it right here.

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;

Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We wish you a Merry Christmas;

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.

piątek, 24 grudnia 2010

Christmas in Britain

Christmas is the most popular family holiday in Britain. On 24 December usually all preparations for Christmas are complete. Christmas greeting cards are exchanged, a Christmas tree is decorated and presents are purchased. In many work places the annual parties are held and shops and banks close earlier. Late in the evening some people go to church to attend the so called "midnight mass". Childrendo not forget to hang up old stockings at the head of their beds as they believe that Santa Claus who arrives in a sledge drawn by reindeer visits each child's house and leaves wonderful presents.

Chistmas Eve is followed by Christmas Day (25th December) which is the most important day of Christmas. Early in the morning children wake up and open their presents. At midday the whole family gathers at the Christmas table. Christmas dinner traditionally consists of roast turkey, mince pies and rich Christmas pudding decorated with holly and containing delicacies, dried fruit and spices.

roast turkey

Everyone eats one's fill and children have much fun pulling "crackers" (cardboard tubes containing small presents, printed jokes and paper hats). When two people pull a cracker, it explodes and throws out its contents. Then everyone puts on a paper hat and jokes are read. On this day the Queen delivers an annual oration on television.

The 26th December, following Christmas Day, is called Boxing Day. It is celebrated as a bank holiday. On this day people give presents of money to paperboys or dustmen. They visits their friends or arrange parties. This is the last non-working day and the last day of the Christmas celebration. However, the Christmas season continues until the twelfth day after Christmas Day (6th January).

***

holiday - święto
preparations - przygotowania
complete - ukończone
Christmas greetings cards - świąteczne kartki z życzeniami
Christmas tree - choinka
purchase - kupić
annual parties - doroczne przyjęcia
hold - odbywać się
attend - wziąć udział
midnight mass - msza o północy
stockings - skarpety na prezenty
Santa Claus - Święty Mikołaj
sledge (BrE) - sanie
sleigh (AmE) - sanie
reindeer - renifer
presents - prezenty
midday - południe
gather - gromadzić się, zbierać
Christmas dinner - świąteczny obiad
roast turkey - pieczeń z indyka
mince pies - okrągłe babeczki z suszonymi owocami, bakaliami itd.
rich Christmas pudding - suty świąteczny pudding
delicacies - bakalie
dried fruit - suszone owoce
spices - przyprawy
holly - ostrokrzew (krzew z czerwonymi owocami o ostro zakończonych twardych listkach, tradycyjne przybranie świąteczne w Anglii)
to eat one's fill - najeść się do syta
crackers - walce (tuby) papierowe z niespodzianką i ogniem bengalskim, które wybuchają, gdy dwie osoby ciągną je w przeciwne strony
cardboard tubes - tekturowe tuby
printed jokes - wydrukowane żarty
to put on - wkładać
to deliver an annual oration - wygłosić doroczne uroczyste orędzie
Boxing Day - drugi dzień świąt, nazwa pochodzi od dawnego zwyczaju dawania prezentów (Christmas Boxes) służącym i dostawcom
bank holiday - oficjalne święto państwowe, gdy wszystkie banki, sklepy i biura są zamknięte
paperboys - roznosiciele gazet
dustmen - śmieciarze
arrange a party - wydać przyjęcie
celebration - świętowanie
Christmas season - okres świąteczny

czwartek, 23 grudnia 2010

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas

Marzę o białych świętach - tak przed laty śpiewał Bing Crosby. A jakie będą tegoroczne święta?

Nr 10 - Frank Sinatra - I'm dreaming of a White Christmas


I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white




środa, 22 grudnia 2010

Christmas - vocabulary

 Christmas tree

    Christmas tree - choinka
  paper chains - łańcuchy papierowe
  coloured lights - kolorowe światełka







 


Baubles 


 baubles / glass balls - bombki

        



Christmas bells 
mistletoe



 Christmas bells - świąteczne dzwoneczki








holly - ostrokrzew
stockings 







Christmas stocking - świąteczne skarpety na prezenty
fireplace - kominek



Christmas pudding

  


Christmas pudding - pudding świąteczny
holly








gifts


 

mistletoe - jemioła




gifts / presents - prezenty






Santa Claus

 

Santa Claus
Father Christmas
Saint Nicholas

- Święty Mikołaj









sleigh

sleigh - sanie
reindeer - renifer/renifery





wtorek, 21 grudnia 2010

Christmas in Japan

Christmas

Christmas in Japan is different from Christmas in western countries like the USA or Australia. It was first celebrated in Japan in the 16th century when the first Europeans arrived, but it is more popular nowadays because Japanese are great lovers of festivals and celebrations. Christmas is not a national holiday there but more and more people decorate their homes and eat a special meal. Illuminations and lights are apopular attraction in cities.
Parents give presents to their children, but children do not give presents to parents. Children know that only Santa brings presents, so when they are older and stop believing in Santa presents are not given to them. Gifts are also exchanged between people who are in love with each other. The presents are very sweet, for example they include teddy bears, flowers, scarves, hats, rings
and other jewellery. Christmas cards are given to close friends.
The most happy about Christmas are shop owners because they earn more money than during the whole year. Shops are decorated with Christmas trees, mistletoes and other decorations a few weeks before Christmas. The Japanese celebrate Christmas Eve by eating a special ’Christmas Cake’ made of strawberries and cream, which the father of the family buys on his way home from work. The cake is the traditional Japanese Christmas food and it is amust on that day.

BASED ON: HTTP://WWW.JAPANESELIFESTYLE.COM.AU
HTTP://WWW.JAPAN-GUIDE.COM
HTTP://WWW.TANUTECH.COM

1. Children do not get a present for Christmas when they
A. do not give gifts to their parents.
B. do not have close friends.
C. do not believe in Santa any more.

2. Which of these are NOT Christmas gifts in Japan?
A. soft toys.
B. sweets.
C. clothes.

3.At Christmas time in Japan
A. shops have a lot of customers.
B. cities are not decorated.
C. people do not go to work.

4. The text tells the reader
A. how Christmas is celebrated in western countries.
B. about Japanese Christmas traditions.
C. the history of Christmas around the world.

Tekst oraz pytania pochodzą z próbnego testu gimnazjalnego z Gazety Wyborczej: http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/7/8421/m8421607.pdf

poniedziałek, 20 grudnia 2010

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

Dzisiaj polecam Wam bardzo charakterystyczną piosenkę o czerwonosym reniferze Rudolfie ;)

Nr 9 - Diana Ross and The Supremes - Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer


You know there's Dasher and Dancer
Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid
Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw him
You would even say it glows

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say
"Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then how the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You'll go down in history"

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say
"Hey, Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then how the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee
"Hey, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You'll go down in history"
Comet - Kometek
Blitzen - Błyskawiczny
Dasher - Fircyk
Cupid - Amorek
Dancer - Tancerz
Prancer - Pyszałek
Vixen - Złośnik
Donner - Profesorek
Rudolph - Rudolf Czerwononosy

sobota, 18 grudnia 2010

Jingle Bells

Believe it or not Jingle Bells, one of the most famous American Christmas songs, was originally written for Thanksgiving! The author and composer of Jingle Bells was a minister called James Pierpoint who composed the song in 1857 for children celebrating his Boston Sunday School Thanksgiving. The song was so popular that it was repeated at Christmas, and indeed Jingle Bells has been reprised ever since. The essence of a traditional Christmas is captured in the lyrics of Jingle Bells and the sound effects using the bells have become synonymous with the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus to the delight of children of all ages!

Nr 8 - Jingle Bells


Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh yeah

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

piątek, 17 grudnia 2010

Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

Kolejna świąteczna piosenka, którą właśnie słyszałam w radiu.

Nr 7 - Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone


Snow is fallin, all around me
Children playing, having fun
It's the season, love and understanding
Merry christmas everyone

Time for party's and celebrations

People dancing, all night long
Time for presents, and exchanging kiss's
Time for singing, christmas songs

We're gonna have a party tonight

I'm gonna find that girl
Underneath the mistletoe,we'll kiss by candle light

Room is swaying, records playing

All the old songs, we love to hear
All I wish that everyday is christmas
What a nice way to spend the year

saxsolo


We're gonna have a party tonight

I'm gonna find that girl
Underneath the mistletoe,we'll kiss by candle light

Snow is fallin (snow is falling), all around me(all around me)

Children playing (children playing), having fun (having fun)
It's the season, love and understanding
Merry christmas everyone
Merry christmas everyone
Merry cristmas everyone

solobreak


Snow is fallin (snow is falling), all around me (all around me)

Children playing (children playing), having fun (having fun)
It's the season, love and understanding
Merry christmas everyone

Snow is fallin (snow is falling), all around me (all around me)

Children playing (children playing), having fun (having fun)
It's the season, love and understanding
Merry christmas everyone

Snow is fallin (snow is falling), all around me (all around me)

Children playing (children playing), having fun (having fun)
It's the season, love and understanding
Merry christmas everyone
Merry christmas everyone
Merry christmas everyone 

czwartek, 16 grudnia 2010

I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus

I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus to dość znana piosenka świąteczna. Tym razem w wykonaniu Jackson 5

Nr 6 - Jackson 5 - I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus


Wow! Mommy's kissing Santa Claus!

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus

(Kissing, kissing Santa Claus)
Underneath the mistletoe last night
She didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peep
She thought that I was tucked up
In my bedroom, fast asleep

Then I saw Mommy tickle, Santa Claus

(Tickle, tickle Santa Claus)
Underneath his beard, so snowy white
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night

I saw Mommy kissing, kissing, kissing Santa Claus

I did! I really did see Mommy kissing Santa Claus
And I'm gonna tell my Dad
(bell sound)

Then I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus

(Tickle, tickle Santa Claus)
Underneath his beard, so snowy white
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night

Oh, what a laugh it would have been

If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night

I did! I did! I really did see Mommy kissing Santa Claus!

You gotta believe me! You just gotta believe me!
Come on, fellas, believe me! You just gotta believe me!
(I told you, I told you) 

środa, 15 grudnia 2010

Próbny egzamin gimnazjalny z języka angielskiego

W przerwie od świątecznych przygotowań warto zmierzyć się z próbnym egzaminem gimnazjalnym z języka angielskiego, który odbędzie się już w ten piątek.

Wszystkim tegorocznym zdającym życzymy powodzenia!!!

Arkusze wraz z odpowiedziami znajdziecie tutaj wkrótce.

Póki co, zapraszam do rozwiązania przykładowego testu zamieszczonego przez Gazetę Wyborczą:

Arkusz wraz z odpowiedziami

Nagrania

wtorek, 14 grudnia 2010

Frank Sinatra - Let it snow

"A niech pada" - piosenka ostatnio kojarzącą nam się m.in. z reklamą kawy rozpuszczalnej ;)

Nr 5 - Frank Sinatra - Let it snow


Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And I've bought some corn for popping,
The lights are turned way down low,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When we finally kiss goodnight,
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bying,
But as long as you love me so,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

poniedziałek, 13 grudnia 2010

John Lennon / Celine Dion - So this is Christmas

Dzisiaj kolejna piosenka z cyklu "świątecznych". Jakie znacie inne piosenki po angielsku, kojarzące się ze Świętami Bożego Narodzenia?

Nr 4 - John Lennon - So this is Christmas


Celine Dion - So this is Christmas


1. So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And new one just began.

2. And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The older the young.
Ref: A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear.

3. So this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
The rich and a poor ones
The war is so long
(The world is so wrong)
And So Happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight.
Ref: A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear.

4. So this is Christmas
And what have we done?
Another year over
And a new one just began.

5. And so Happy Christmas
We hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young.
Ref: A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear.

6. War is over!
If you want it.
War is over
War is over, now!
 

niedziela, 12 grudnia 2010

SONG: All I want for Christmas is you - Mariah Carey

Dzisiaj już trzecia piosenka, kojarząca się nam ze świętami.

Nr 3 - Mariah Carey - All I want for Christmas is you


I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is...
You

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
You baby

I won't ask for much this Christmas
I don't even wish for snow
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeers click
'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
Ooh baby
All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need
Won't you please bring my baby to me...

Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is...
You

All I want for Christmas is you... baby (repeat and fade)

sobota, 11 grudnia 2010

SONG: Driving home for Christmas - Chris Rea

Dziś kolejna świąteczna piosenka, aż milej jedzie się do domu, słysząc tę piosenkę w radiu :)

Nr 2. - Chris Rea - Driving home for Christmas


Driving home for Christmas
Oh, I can't wait to see those faces
I'm driving home for Christmas, yea
Well I'm moving down that line
And it's been so long
But I will be there
I sing this song
To pass the time away
Driving in my car
Driving home for Christmas

It's gonna take some time
But I'll get there
Top to toe in tail-lights
Oh, I got red lights on the run
But soon there'll be a freeway
Get my feet on holy ground

So I sing for you
Though you can't hear me
When I get through
And feel you near me
I am driving home for Christmas
Driving home for Christmas
With a thousand memories

I take look at the driver next to me
He's just the same
Just the same

Top to toe in tail-lights
Oh, I got red lights on the run
I'm driving home for Christmas, yea
Get my feet on holy ground
So I sing for you
Though you can't hear me
When I get trough
And feel you near me
Driving in my car
Driving home for Christmas
Driving home for Christmas
With a thousand memories 

piątek, 10 grudnia 2010

Sezon świątecznych piosenek - Last Christmas

Święta tuż tuż, a my jak co roku ciągle słyszymy w radiu te same, świąteczne piosenki. Zaczynam przedstawiać serię takich piosenek

Nr 1. Last Christmas - Wham

Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day
you gave it away.
This year to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special. x2

Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance
But you still catch my eye
Tell me baby
Do you recognize me?
Well, it's been a year
It doesn't surprise me
(Happy Christmas)
I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying "I love you", I meant it.
Now I know what a fool I've been
But if you kissed me now
I know you'd fool me again.

Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day
you gave it away.
This year to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special. x2

A crowded room,
Friends with tired eyes
I'm hiding from you
And your soul of ice.
My god I thought you were
Someone to rely on
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on.

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man under cover but you tore me apart
Now I've found a real love you'll never fool me again

Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day
you gave it away.
This year to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special. x2

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man under cover but you tore him apart.
Maybe next year I'll give it to someone,
I'll give it to someone special.
Special. Someone. Someone.
I'll give it to someone...

wtorek, 30 listopada 2010

Lekcja historii - Black Friday

W piątek po Święcie Dziękczynienia był tzn. Black Friday.

Czarny Piątek
Sezon świątecznych zakupów w USA zaczyna się oficjalnie dzień po Święcie Dziękczynienia - w tzw. Czarny Piątek (Black Friday). W ten dzień handlowcy zazwyczaj wychodzą ze strat i zaczynają zyskiwać (zarobki księgowane są na czarno) co trwa do Bożego Narodzenia. Termin pochodzi z lat 60. XX wieku - ukuto go w Filadelfii, która tego dnia przeżywała oblężenie centrów handlowych i gigantyczne korki. Sklepy zarobiły przy tym krocie.

Thanksgiving Day

Święto Dziękczynienia - obchodzone w USA w czwarty czwartek listopada, w Kanadzie zaś w drugi poniedziałek października - jako pamiątka pierwszego Dziękczynienia członków kolonii Plymouth w 1621 r. Pielgrzymi, którzy przypłynęli do Ameryki na pokładzie statku Mayflower, byli pierwotnie członkami Angielskiego Kościoła Separatystycznego (odłam Purytanów). Wcześniej ruszyli ze swych domostw w Anglii i pożeglowali do Holandii (Niderlandów), aby uciec przed prześladowaniem religijnym.
Tam cieszyli się większą tolerancją religijną, ale w końcu rozczarowali się holenderskim sposobem życia, uznając go za bezbożny. Szukając lepszego życia Separatyści wynegocjowali z londyńską kompanią handlową sfinansowanie pielgrzymki do Ameryki.

Artykuł pochodzi z Interii: http://biznes.interia.pl/news/szok-blu-ray-za-210-zl-sony-vaio-za-1523-zl,1563834

niedziela, 28 listopada 2010

I wish / If only - ćwiczenie

Ćwiczenie
Wstaw odpowiednią formę czasownika w nawiasie:
1.      I wish I ______________ (be) famous now.
2.      I wish he ________________ (be) here last night.
3.      I wish I _________________ (not, buy) the watch yesterday.
4.      I wish I __________________ (know) Japanese.
5.      I wish she _______________ (can, swim).
6.      I wish I _____________ (have) 10,000 dollars now.
7.      I wish Susan _____________ (come) the day after tomorrow.
8.      I wish I __________________ (not, be) so weak. I can’t do anything.
9.      I wish hit __________________ (stop drizzling) tomorrow.
10.  I wish you _______________ (write) the report the day before yesterday.
11.  My brother says he wishes he ______________ (have) a lot of money now.
12.  I wish she _____________ (leave) tomorrow.
13.  I wish I ____________ (be) my dog.
14.  I wish they ______________ (wait) for us yesterday.
15.  He wished he ___________________ (not, tell) her the truth last week.
16.  If only I _________________ (meet) her yesterday!
17.  I wish they _________________ (come back) next week.
18.  If only we ________________ (can) be together now.
19.  I wish you _______________ (read) that short story yesterday.
20.  If only I ______________  (be) at home last night! He wouldn’t have got killed.

Odpowiedzi proszę zamieszczać w komentarzach, podam później prawidłowe ;)

sobota, 27 listopada 2010

I wish / If only

Wishes - Życzenia

I wish = If only - te dwa wyrażenia możemy stosować wymiennie.
Tłumaczymy je m.in. w taki sposób: Chciałbym; życzyłbym sobie; pragnąłbym; żałuję, że; szkoda, że

1. I wish /If only + osoba + Past Simple - za pomocą takiej konstrukcji zdania wyrażamy życzenia/żal dotyczące teraźniejszości.
Np.
I wish I knew where she lived. - Chciałbym wiedzieć, gdzie ona mieszka.
If only I were taller. - Chciałbym być wyższy.


W przypadku pierwszej osoby liczby pojedynczej (I - ja) w czasie Past Simple zazwyczaj stosujemy was (I was - ja byłem/byłam), jednak w przypadku struktury I wish (podobnie jak II Conditionals), żeby podkreślić, że jest to niemożliwa sytuacja przy I stosujemy were.
Np.
I wish I were you. - Chciałbym być tobą. (ale nie jestem i nie jest to raczej możliwe).
Podobna sytuacja ma miejsce w przypadku trzeciej osoby liczby pojedynczej: he, she, it.
Np.
I wish he were nicer. - Chciałbym, żeby on był milszy.

2. I wish /If only + osoba + Past Perfect - za pomocą tej konstrukcji wyrażamy żal odnoszący się do przeszłych wydarzeń.
Np.
I wish I hadn't lied to him. - Szkoda, że go okłamałem.
If only I hadn't scratched my sister's favourite CD. - Żałuję, że podrapałem ulubioną płytę mojej siostry.


3. I wish / If only + osoba + would + bezokolicznik - ta konstrukcja pomaga nam wyrazić życzenie co do przyszłych wydarzeń.
Np.
I wish he would go to Bath tomorrow. - Życzyłbym sobie, żeby pojechał do Bath jutro.
If only they would come back next week. - Życzyłbym sobie, żeby wrócili w przyszłym tygodniu.

czwartek, 25 listopada 2010

Thanksgiving Day - Święto Dziękczynienia

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States. It has a special significance for American people. Its origin goes back to the first half of the 17th century. In December 1620, a ship named Mayflower brought over a hundred English men and women to the coast of North America. They were all members of a religious sect of Puritans. They had to leave England because they wanted to reform the Church of England and became very unpopular. In fact, most of them were persecuted.
When these first Pilgrims landed in America, they founded a colony called Plymouth. However, half of them did not survive the severe winter. The others did not die but only because the native Indians called Wampanoag agreed to help them and taught them how to plant corn. In October 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Pilgrims held a feast to celebrate the good harvest and to thank God for his blessings. The main dish was roast turkey. The Pilgrims called that day Thanksgiving Day. The Pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians also to the feast. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.

Thanksgiving Day

President George Washington issued the first national Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789 and again in 1795. Abraham Lincoln issued a 'Thanksgiving Proclamation' on third October 1893 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving. Earlier, the presidents used to make an annual proclamation to specify the day when Thanksgiving was to be held. President Franklin D. Roosevelt restored the Thursday before last of November as Thanksgiving Day in 1939. He did so to make the Christmas shopping season longer and thus stimulate the state's economy. Congress passed an official proclamation in 1941 and declared that from then on Thanksgiving would be observed as a legal holiday on the fourth Thursday of November every year.
Nowadays Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day in a family circle. They gather together at the table and enjoy a traditional dinner of roast turkey. Young people who study or live far away usually come home for the Thanksgiving feast. Some Americans go to church on that day to thank God for his generosity. Thanksgiving Day is regarded as a special one for the needy, who receive gifts of food from charitable organizations and churches.

Happy Thanksgiving Day

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Vocabulary
significance - znaczenie
origin - korzenie, początki
brought over (od: bring over) - przywozić
Pilgrims - pielgrzymi
persecuted - prześladowani
to found a colony - założyć kolonię
the severe winter - sroga (ostra) zima
to plant corn - uprawiać kukurydzę
to hold a feast - urządzić ucztę
good harvest - dobre zbiory
blessing - błogosławieństwo
roast turkey - pieczony indyk
neighboring (pisownia AmE) - sąsiadujący
last - trwać
issue - wydać
proclamation - proklamacja, obwieszczenie
set aside - ustanowić
annual - coroczne/roczne
hold - odbywać się
restore - przywrócić
to pass (a law) - uchwalić (ustawę)
observe - obchodzić
legal holiday - oficjalne święto
generosity - hojność
the needy - potrzebujący
charitable organizations - organizacje charytatywne

piątek, 19 listopada 2010

Wymowa - homofony

Homophone /BrE ˈhɒməfəʊn, AmE ˈhɑːməfoʊn/ - a word that is pronounced like another word but has a different spelling or meaning, for example some, sum /sʌm/
Oxford Dicitionary
Homofony to wyrazy, które brzmią tak samo, ale mają różne znaczenie bądź pisownię, np. w języku polskim są to: może - morze, mieć - miedź, Bóg - buk - Bug, kod - kot, bród - brud, lód - lud itd.

Oto inne homofony w języku angielskim:
/sʌn/ - son, sun
/wɪtʃ/ - witch, which
/swiːt/ - sweet, suite
/ˈweðə(r)/ - whether, weather
/teɪl/ - tail, tale
/ɡəˈrɪlə/ - gorilla, guerrilla
/feə(r)/ - fair, fare
/ɡreɪt/ - grate, great
/əˈlaʊd/ - aloud, allowed
/beə(r)/ - bear, bare
/pɑːst/ - past, passed (only in BrE)

Znacie inne homofony?

Homophones

czwartek, 18 listopada 2010

Days of the week

Monday - poniedziałek
Tuesday - wtorek
Wednesday - środa
Thursday - czwartek
Friday - piątek
Saturday - sobota
Sunday - niedziela

Nazwy dni tygodnia są bardzo stare i pochodzą z czasów dawnych wierzeń, kiedy każdy dzień był poświęcony jakiemuś bogu lub czczonemu zjawisku.

Monday - pochodzi od anglosaksońskiego day of the moon (dnia księżyca)
Tuesday - wywodzi się od Tiu, syna boga Odyna
Wednesday - pochodzi od Odyna, po angielsku zwanego Odin lub Woden
Thursday - Bóg Thor był czczony w czwartek
Friday - ma u swego źródła boginię Frei lub Frigg
Saturday - pochodzi od Saturna
Sunday - był anglosaksońskim day of the sun, czyli dniem słońca

Nazwy dni tygodnia w języku angielskim piszemy ZAWSZE dużą literą.
Aby powiedzień w poniedziałek, w niedzielę itd. stosujemy słówko on, np.:
on Monday - w poniedziałek
on Sunday - w niedzielę

days of the week

środa, 17 listopada 2010

sobota, 30 października 2010

Happy Halloween!

pumpkin

On October 31st, we celebrate Halloween, thought to be the one night of the year when ghosts, witches, and fairies are especially active.

Why do we celebrate Halloween?
The easy answer to this question is that no one really knows the origins of Halloween.
What we do know for sure is that Halloween is on the eve of a major Catholic festival, All Saints (1st November) and the eve of the pagan Celtic festival known as Samhain.
Currently, it is widely thought that Halloween originated as a pagan Celtic festival of the dead related to the Irish and Scottish Samhain, but there is no evidence that it was connected with the dead in pre-Christian times.

Our ancestors celebrated New Year on November 1st.
They celebrated their New Year's Eve on October 31st.
Samhain (pronounced 'sow-in') marked the end of the "season of the sun" (summer) and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold" (winter).
Halloween comes from All Hallow Even, the eve (night before) All Hallows day. Therefore, Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day.

Jack-o-lanterns - Pumpkin Lanterns
These are hollowed out pumpkins with a face cut into one side. People once carved out beets, potatoes and turnips to use as lanterns on Halloween. Nowadays we carve out pumpkins.
According to an Irish legend, jack-o-lanterns were named for a man named Jack, who could not enter heaven because he was a miser. He could not enter hell either, because he had played jokes on the devil. So instead, he had to walk the earth with his lantern until Judgment Day.
The Roman festival for remembering the dead was also in October. During this time, the Romans remembered their goddess, Pomona. She was the goddess of the trees and fruits, and when the Romans came to Britain, they began to hold these two festivals on the same day as Samhain. Apple games probably became associated with Halloween because of this.

The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.

Halloween was a time for making mischief - many parts of England still recognise Halloween as Mischief Night - when children would knock on doors demanding a treat (Trick or Treat) and people would disguise themselves as witches, ghosts, kelpies and spunkies, in order to obtain food and money from nervous householders.
*****

ghosts - duchy
witches - wiedźmy
fairies - wróżki
origins - korzenie, źródła
eve - wigilia, przeddzień
All Saints - Wszystkich Świętych
pagan Celtic festival - pogańskie święto celtyckie
pre-Christian times - czasy przedchrześcijańskie
ancestors - przodkowie
pumpkin - dynia
carve - rzeźbić
mischief - psoty, figle
trick or treat - cukierek albo psikus
kelpies - szkockie złe duchy w postaci konia, topią swoich jeźdźców
spunkies - w szkockiej mitologii - rodzaj tajemniczych światełek

czwartek, 28 października 2010

Informator maturalny - język angielski

Tutaj znajdziecie link do tegorocznego Informatora Maturalnego opublikowanego przez CKE.
Od strony 33 rozpoczynają się przykładowe arkusze egzaminu ustnego z języka angielskiego, wcześniej znajduje się też wiele przydatnych informacji na temat wymaganego materaiału.

http://www.cke.edu.pl/images/stories/0012_Matura/calosc_standard_27_08_godz_12_40.pdf

poniedziałek, 25 października 2010

Napisy do filmów (subtitles) - wymagania techniczne

Ponieważ moja praca licencjacka dotyczyła technik tłumaczeniowych w napisach do filmów (subtitles), siłą rzeczy poznałam również wymagania techniczne napisów do filmów. Razi mnie, jeśli nie są one przestrzegane, gdy np. jest za dużo liter/słów w jednej linijce i nie można tego przeczytać, lub gdy napisy za szybko się zmieniają. Niedopuszczalne jest, gdy znajdują się tam jakieś literówki, błędy interpuncyjne itd. Mam takie zboczenie, że w tym momencie najchętniej wzięłabym mazak do ręki (najlepiej czerwony!) i zaczęła poprawiać te błędy na ekranie komputera lub telewizora :D Litery muszą mieć również odpowiednią czcionkę - ważna jest wielkość, kolor (nie może zlewać się z tłem), czcionka musi być bezszeryfowa (np. Times New Roman odpada).
Wszelkie błędy najcześciej zdarzają się w tzw. amatorskich (tudzież pirackich) napisach. W oficjalnych wydaniach filmów, np. na DVD lub w kinach błędy najczęściej są wyeliminowane przez tabuny korektorów itd. Jednak również nie zawsze.
Jeśli chcecie dowiedzieć się czegoś więcej na temat ogólnie napisów do filmów, polecam zwłaszcza 2 książki, z których korzystałam pisząc pracę licencjacką :)
1. Arkadiusz Belczyk - Tłumaczenie filmów - Strona pana Belczyka to www.serwistlumacza.com
2. Teresa Tomaszkiewicz - Przekład audiowizualny, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN
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Wymagania techniczne (mogą przydać się osobom, które zaczynają swą przygodę z tłumaczeniem filmów / tworzeniem napisów):
1. Napis jednorazowo nie powinien być dłuższy niż 2 linijki, więcej nie jesteśmy w stanie jednorazowo ogarnąć. Linijki te powinny zajmować dwie trzecie szerokości ekranu.
2. Maksymalna ilość znaków w jednej linijce to między 32 a 40 - w telewizji oraz  od 24 do 27 przy filmach o szerokości 16 mm.
3. Jeden napis nie powinien pozostawać dłużej na ekranie niż 6 sekund, bo wówczas automatycznie zaczynamy czytać go jeszcze raz, jednak nie krócej niż 1,5 sekundy, ponieważ wcale go nie zaużymy.