Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Newspaper class: New word of the year ... "Binge-watch"

Source.  
(full article)

Group 401V: Be ready to discuss this article on October 5.
Group 401 (day) and 501V: Be ready by the week of October 10.

Your tasks:
  • Summarize the whole article in two or three sentences.
  • Identify and summarize the major subdivisions of the article. (The subdivisions can be one paragraph or a cluster of paragraphs devoted to one aspect of the article.)
  • Prepare to discuss: What is the main goal of the article? Is the article successful in meeting that goal?
  • Prepare to discuss: Does the whole idea of "words of the year" make sense to you? What do you think of the binge-watching phenomenon? In your experience, what English words seem to be newly popular and might be eligible for the 2016 list of words of the year?
  • Bring to class: words and phrases from the article that are unfamiliar or unclear to you.
Useful words and phrases:

mushrooming popularity
bout
relentless
gain traction
come to prominence
sea change






Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Newspapers: Homework, "Emerging adults: the in-between age"

  (full article)


The full article is here.

Your tasks:
  • Summarize the whole article in two or three sentences.
  • Identify and summarize the major subdivisions of the article. (The subdivisions can be one paragraph or a cluster of paragraphs devoted to one aspect of the article.)
  • Prepare to discuss: What is the main goal of the article? Is the article successful in meeting that goal?
  • Prepare to discuss: What observations or assertions in the article seem to you to be universal? Which seem to apply specifically to the USA? What observations could you make about "the in-between age" in Russia?
  • Bring to class: words and phrases that are unfamiliar or unclear to you.
Some of the useful words and phrases:

to make the case (for)
what they wanted out of life
economic prospects, likely economic prospects
to be struck by
to share a perception
to pull clear (of)
to ponder
to settle that question
setting themselves up (for)
larger trends at work
median (statistics)
climbed past, edged above
GI Bill of Rights
to build a career
to face the risks
heterogeneity
sheer multitude
to navigate the transition
self-awareness
community of scholars
special interest groups
to plug in
to languish
bouncing from X to X
dead-end job
to end up
benefits

Group 401V: We will talk about this article on September 28.
Group 401, Group 501V: We will discuss it on October 5.

"Stand By Me"

This classic song by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, and Mark Stoller, became the anthem of the Playing for Change group. So here's the version that they created, with the help of musicians from nine countries (including Russia). See below for other versions and the words. It has been seen over 110 million times on the Playing for Change Web site, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Myspace.


Stand By Me | Playing For Change | Song Around The World from Concord Music on Vimeo.

Ben E. King's original song (on YouTube).

Otis Redding's cover:


The words: (Ben E. King's version)

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, oh I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
So darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh, stand, now stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

[instrumental]

Darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me,
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me,
Oh stand by me,
Oh stand now, oh, stand, stand by me
... [to fade]

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Newspapers: homework, "Женщины требуют прибавки к зарплате не реже мужчин, но с меньшим успехом (BBC)"

Source.  


Homework for next class:

Please read the text below (originally here) and come to class prepared to give us:

a) Name of the assigned text, its source and author
b) Substance of the contents of the full article
c) Structure of the text (is it stand­alone or part of a package? are there subheads,
pull­quotes, photographs, captions, sidebars, links to related resources?) (on the BBC site, please note the section at the bottom, "Новости по теме")
d) Paragraph-­by-­paragraph summaries (not translation but “perceptive paraphrase”)
e) Your personal comments on the text
f) Unfamiliar words and phrases.

Женщины требуют прибавки к зарплате не реже мужчин, но с меньшим успехом

Кэти Хоуп,Би-би-си 6 сентября 2016 http://www.bbc.com/russian/features-37287593

Известное представление о том, что женщинам платят на работе меньше, чем мужчинам, по той причине, что они не столь требовательны, не соответствует действительности.

В недавно проведенном британскими социологами исследовании говорится, что женщины столь же решительно требуют повышения зарплаты, как и мужчины, но чаще сталкиваются при этом с отказами.

Исследование, проведенное специалистами из Уорикского и Висконсинского университетов, в качестве материала использовало истории 4600 работающих женщин и мужчин.

В рамках исследования сравнивались зарплаты работающих полный день мужчин с зарплатами работающий полный день женщин, и отдельно зарплаты мужчин и женщин, работающих неполный день.

Это делалось потому, что работающие с неполной нагрузкой реже требуют повышения зарплаты.

Выяснилось, что вероятность повышения зарплаты у мужчин была на 25% выше, чем у женщин.

Авторы исследования пришли также к выводу, что представления о том, что женщины с большей неохотой требуют повышения зарплаты из-за нежелания расстроить своего начальника или потому, что не хотят отклоняться от стереотипа женственного поведения, не соответствуют действительности.

При анализе результатов социологи учитывали размер организации, специфику отрасли, имели ли работающие детей, а также их квалификацию.

В основу анализа были положены данные об исследовании рабочих отношений в 2013-2014 годах в Австралии. Австралия считается единственной страной мира, где систематически регистрируются данные о том, требовали ли работники повышения зарплаты, а также результаты таких требований.

Эндрю Освальд, профессор экономики из Уорикского университета, говорит, что был удивлен результатами исследования.

"Тот факт, что женщины требуют повышения зарплаты не так часто, как мужчины, является распространенной теорией. Женщины очень часто искренне верят в это, но никакого научного подтверждения этому нет", - говорит профессор.

"Чистая дискриминация"

По его словам, можно допустить, что мужчины, требовавшие повышения зарплаты, но получившие отказ, скрывают это, а женщины гораздо более открыты и обсуждают это между собой.

"Просмотрев эти результаты, я вынужден признать, что существует некий элемент чистой дискриминации в отношении женщин", - заявил профессор Освальд.

"Возможно, конечно, что Австралия какая-то особая страна. Но на самом деле это страна с современной промышленной экономикой, по своему характеру не сильно отличающаяся от Британии и США", - говорит экономист.

Исследователи также обнаружили возрастные различия - мужчины и женщины моложе 40 лет получают прибавку в зарплате практически одинаково часто.

Доктор Аманда Гудолл из университета лондонского Сити, участвовавший в исследовании, считает, что молодые работающие женщины в наши дни более успешно требуют пересмотра зарплат и условий работы, чем более пожилые работницы.

Эта тенденция, по ее словам, может продолжиться с профессиональным ростом этих женщин.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Newspapers: Homework for Group 401V, due September 21: School Uniforms

For your summary and analysis:

Original story here on the Guardian Web site, with video.

Police were called to a school in the Kent seaside resort of Margate on Tuesday after about 50 pupils were sent home for wearing the wrong clothes.
Parents and pupils protested about the start-of-term crackdown at Hartsdown academy, where children were sent home for breaches of the uniform code including having the wrong shoes, the wrong trousers, no blazer, a gold buckle on a shoe and frills on socks.
Parents said there were year 7 children, just starting at secondary school, who were reduced to tears after being turned away.
“I understand there are rules about uniform,” said one mother, Sian Williams, whose year 7 daughter managed to pass the uniform check, “but to be so strict and allow children to feel that way on their first day of school must have been petrifying for them.”
Another parent, Phillipa Turner, wrote on Facebook: “My niece was one of these children sent home today, first day of a new school and she didn’t even make it into the school gates.
“Apparently wrong trousers (they were too stretchy) what a load of crap because she looked really smart and tbh I’ve seen a lot worse going into that school.”
The uniform crackdown on the first day of term is becoming a ritual in schools up and down the country, as headteachers increasingly favour a strict dress code which they say improves classroom behaviour.
The new headteacher of Hartsdown, Matthew Tate, who was also marking his first proper day as head at the school, explained: “This is a school that has been underperforming and we are determined to do the very best by the children of Thanet.”
The school wrote to pupils and their families at the end of last term reminding them of the uniform policy and warning that if it was not adhered to at the start of the new term children would be sent home. Of those sent home on Tuesday, about 20 pupils returned to classes wearing the correct uniform.
“This is part of raising expectations and standards so that every child has a fantastic education,” said Tate, who joins the school from Trinity Free School in Sevenoaks. “A small minority of parents were not happy but we have had emails and phone calls from other parents to express their support.”
In his welcome message on the school’s website, Tate says that part of the school vision is “excellent uniform, a commitment to perfect uniform”. He continues: “And a ‘no excuses’ culture where excellence is the norm.”
Police were called by a member of the public shortly after 11am after reports of a disturbance outside the school in George V Avenue, where a number of parents and pupils had gathered. There were reports of “tension” but no charges were brought.
Allison Hopper’s daughter, who is in year 9, was turned away for not wearing a blazer or the correct shoes. “I rang the school, who were extremely rude, and they said she’s not allowed in because of unacceptable uniform, which I might add cost me a small fortune. The secretary agreed she was allowed to go home to get her blazer, but she’s not allowed in due to her shoes.”
Sian Williams added: “There were 11-year-old children on their first day at school in tears because they were being sent home. There was one girl who was sent home because she had a gold buckle on her black shoes.”
Another parent, who did not wish to be named, said: “I think this has been handled badly especially the head teacher being so strict with the children. The school has a duty of care - anything could have happened to those children.”
Hartsdown, which is rated “good” by Ofsted and is sponsored by the Coastal Academies Trust, is a challenging school with a large number of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, including unaccompanied asylum seekers and eastern European children with English as an additional language.
The executive head of the Coastal Academies Trust, Paul Luxmoore, said: “Hartsdown has previously been viewed in the community as a scruffy school. Matthew is right to ensure that changes and he has my full support.
“We’re bound to have a bit of a sticky period at the start as there are a small number of parents and pupils who are unhappy.”


Thursday, September 15, 2016

Eva Cassidy takes our breath away

This is the third or fourth Eva Cassidy song I've used in our classes. I couldn't find a live performance video for this song, so the graphic here is the cover of the album from which I took the track that the Newspaper class (401V) heard in class yesterday evening:


Audio (Pleer):

Listen or download You Take My Breath Away on Pleer

Audio (Yandex)


Amazon.com purchase link

You Take My Breath Away, Claire Hamill

Sometimes it amazes me
How strong the power of love can be
Sometimes you just take my breath away
You watch my love grow like a child
Sometimes gentle and sometimes wild
Sometimes you just take my breath away

And it's too good to slip by
Too good to lose
Too good to be there just to use
I'm gonna stand up on a mountain top
And tell the news
That you take my breath away

Sometimes it amazes me
How strong the power of love can be
Sometimes you just take my breath away
Your beauty is there in all I see
And when I feel your eyes on me
Oh don't you know you just take my breath away

And it's too good to slip by
Too good to lose
Too good to be there just to use
I'm gonna stand up on a mountain top
And tell the news
That you take my breath away

And it's too good to slip by
Too good to lose
Too good to be there just to use
I'm gonna stand up on a mountain top
And tell the news
That you take my breath away

Oh yes you take my breath away

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Looking for things to read? (2)

Source.  


This site has an ambitious tagline: "The best free cultural and educational media on the web." Is it successful? See for yourself! They boast "1200 Free Online Courses." "1150 Free Movies Online." "700 Free eBooks." "Learn 48 Languages Online for Free." And much more.

However, my favorite aspect of this site is the fascinating stream of blog entries in all their variety and randomness. Here are some recent favorites:

Van Gogh and Doctor Who
Lectures and Talks by Howard Zinn
How to Read Sheet Music
What Makes Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo the Best Film of All Time? (and Five Hours of Alfred Hitchcock interviews)
The History of Russia in 70,000 Photos

You get the idea!


Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Looking for things to read? (1)


Please consider visiting this site, Arts and Letters Daily, often! Maybe even daily. (But not if you are running late for something! ... once you are here, it is hard to leave.)

Note the links at the left side of the page ... reproduced here. It's best to use the list on the site, since it will be the most recent version.

Newspapers

Breaking News

Magazines



Book Reviews


Favorites

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Hans Theessink's song "Shelter from the Storm," with Terry Evans



Here are the two singers we heard in class, performing Hans Theessink's song "Shelter from the Storm" live in concert. Terry Evans, on the left, is from Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA; Hans Theessink is from the Netherlands, and now lives in Austria.

The version of the song we heard in class is here on the right. On this 2012 album the famous guitarist Ry Cooder also performed on the track, as Hans Theessink explains in introducing the song on the video above.

Amazon.com purchase link

"Shelter from the Storm" (transcription) by Hans Theessink.

When cold raging winds
bring you pain and misery
you're caught in a tempest baby
like a ship that's lost at sea
when the light from the lighthouse
no longer leads you on
let me be your harbor baby
give you shelter from the storm

[chorus:] shelter from the storm
shelter from the storm
let me be your harbor baby
give you shelter from the storm

let me be a shoulder for you to lean on
give you comfort when things go wrong
when your sail is tattered and torn
you're out there all alone
let me be your harbor baby
give you shelter from the storm

when cold raging winds
bring you pain and misery
you're caught in a tempest baby
like a ship out on the sea
when the light from the lighthouse
no longer leads you on
let me be your harbor baby
give you shelter from the storm

[chorus] [chorus]

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Newspapers: class description

Newspapers course -- guide for students


Official name of the course: «Основы реферирования текстов СМИ»
Instructors: Johan and Judy Maurer

Competencies:

In this course, you will encounter texts in Russian and English, in written and audio and video form. You will learn to summarize and analyze these texts. Specifically, you will learn these competencies:

  1. Communicate in your own words the substance (“gist”) of the whole text, and of its individual paragraphs or major subdivisions, at a level of English that can be readily understood by a consumer of such texts in an English-speaking country
  2. Analyze the text for the following characteristics:
    1. Intended audience
    2. Intended benefit, service, or effect (e.g., informational, journalistic, analytic, persuasive, entertaining, educational)
    3. Viewpoint and voice (in whose name is the text published? is it personal, organizational, academic/objective? does it represent a specific rhetorical or interpretive tradition?)
    4. Register (official, formal, professional/operational, literary, informal, conversational, cryptic)
  3. Assess the adequacy of the text in meeting its own evident goals
  4. Apply relevant skills from your other Institute coursework to the text.

Class structure:

(subject to change, especially for guest presenters and other unusual events):

  1. Discussions of reading diaries (bring your summaries and recommendations to class, or use the online diary form)
  2. Student presentations based on homework and Reading Diaries
    1. Name of the assigned text, source, author if known
    2. Substance of the contents
    3. Structure of the text (is it stand-alone or part of a package? are there subheads, pull-quotes, photographs, captions, sidebars, links to related resources?)
    4. Paragraph-by-paragraph (or subdivision-by-subdivision) summaries (not translation but “perceptive paraphrase”)
    5. Your personal commentary
    6. Questions from the instructors based on the list of competencies above.
  3. Texts provided during the class, followed by presentations and class comments
  4. Open discussions of emerging themes from homework and class texts
  5. Teacher’s choice: additional material in a lighter vein
  6. Assignment of new homework.

Class expectations:

  1. BEFORE EACH CLASS:
    1. Please be sure your  English-language Reading Diary is up to date (two items each week, varying the topics from week to week -- songs, articles, videos, films, books, individual chapters of books, etc.)
    2. Complete your homework
  2. DURING CLASS:
    1. The class is conducted in English
    2. All mobile phones and similar devices MUST NOT RING or disturb the class, and must not be used for chatting (but students may access dictionaries)
    3. Remember these cardinal rules: BE KIND and TRY
    4. Of course, the general rules and regulations of the Institute all apply here, too
  3. IN GENERAL: Never represent someone else’s work as your own. Plagiarism is prohibited by New Humanities Institute’s policies and by the rules of journalistic ethics. Use the rules and conventions of attributing others’ work. Please check with the instructor in any case of uncertainty.

This course depends for much of its content on the Internet, which is a major source for texts -- both for student reading and exploration, and for homework assignments. The Internet is used for these purposes:

  1. Delivery of course content, via e-mail and the blog ulitsaradio.blogspot.ru (use this link to find items specifically for this course: ulitsaradio.blogspot.ru/search/label/newspapers)
  2. Consultation between students and instructor between class sessions
  3. Information bulletins in case of unexpected events (emergencies, class cancellations, special events)

If Internet access is difficult for you, please notify the instructors so that any necessary arrangements can be made.