News

Welcome to the News Page, where I will post anything that I think is interesting to English learners.
I will write something here more often than I post the level123 resources, so keep checking in – and send me a message if you want to get in touch or comment.

07/05/12 – there is a new posting for you, called ‘the Supermoon’.  It is particulary good for explaining the uses of the Present Simple, Past Simple and Present Perfect. Advanced users will find plenty of vocabulary and a link to a nice little video clip (with transcript!) from NASA.

07/05/12 – the results of the various elections around Europe suggest that it is impossible for a leader to be re-elected during this period of economic hardship (‘the Great Recession’).
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an easier way out of the financial crisis, to appease the voters.  It will take a long time to repay the debts that have accumulated over the past few decades, and until we do the cost of borrowing will remain high and there will be little money available for investment.  The question at the moment is, will things get worse before they get better?  Will the results in Greece and France scare the markets?  Or can the tentative recovery be sustained?

23/04/12 – I have just posted a new reading & listening resource, called ’The value of Facebook’.

23/04/12 – Today is Saint George’s Day. St George is the patron saint of England, although I am not really sure why this is, because he is more connected with eastern Europe and the Middle East.  St George is famous for killing (or ‘slaying’) a dragon, but in reality he was a Roman soldier – very close to the Emperor - at the beginning of the 4th Century AD. When the Emperor ordered that everyone give sacrifices to the Roman gods, George refused and was executed (or ‘martyred’), in 303AD, after having given all of his wealth to the poor.

06/04/12 – Do you know much about the villages in Essex?  Or what a ‘cream scone’ is?  I have written a special resource called ‘A trip to Essex’, describing (in words and with photographs) some of the prettier and more traditional features of a village and a town in south-east England.  You can find the link to it on the ‘Reading/Listening’ page.  There are not three levels for this resource, because the focus is on the vocabulary and the content.  I hope you enjoy it!

05/04/12 – Last weekend, on Friday evening, I flew to England with my wife.  It was my Dad’s 70th birthday on Monday – he turned 70 on Monday – and so we went to celebrate with him.  We didn’t make a big fuss of it – it was a quiet day – but my brother has arranged for a surprise party next weekend.  The coming weekend is also Easter: in England, Good Friday is a bank holiday, so it will be a long weekend.

26/03/12 – The latest film sensation is ‘The Hunger Games’, based on books which are already popular.  The film broke the Box Office record for takings during an opening weekend of a new film (ie. not a sequel).  Not a bad start!  It could be even bigger than Twilight…although reviews of the film have been mixed.  If you’ve read the books, it should be worth seeing.  If you haven’t, how about ordering an English copy?

24/03/12 – Don’t forget, we’re on Facebook (Englisch Institut) and Twitter (@level123english).  Why don’t you follow us to keep in touch or to receive new vocabulary?

24/03/12 – How much do you know about Scotland and its culture?  You must have heard of the kilt and the bagpipes!
To find out more, and to brush up on your comparatives/superlatives, relative pronouns, or passive voice, check out the new posting!

16/03/12 – It seems as if spring has sprung here in Austria.  The temperatures are reaching twenty degrees, and overhead are clear blue skies.  The sun’s warmth is strong enough to sit outside on the balcony or terrace and read a book or newspaper.
How long will this fine weather last?  Will winter have a sting in its tail?

15/03/12 – There have been two anniversaries in the last week.  It has been a year since the Japanese earthquake and tsunami; and a year since the first street protests began in Syria.  It is incredible how fast time flies past.  Would you have believed that it has been year since those events?

25/02/12 – There is a new post called ‘Dutch prince avalanche victim’ for you!  The tragedy of Prince Johan Friso’s skiing accident has been in the news a lot over the past week, but yesterday the doctors at Innsbruck hospital released some disappointing news on his condition.  Condolences to his family, whose ordeal will not be over even when the story fades from the headlines.

07/02/12 – There is a new post on Level123english!  It’s called ‘Charles Dickens’ and describes some of the reasons behind his popularity.  It’s the bicentenary of his birth this year, so you have probably already seen something in the media about him and his works.  But – have you actually read any of his books?

06/02/12 – When I was getting into my car this morning, the temperature was minus 18 degrees; 18 degrees below zero.  That is not just cold, it is freezing; it is sub-zero; Arctic temperatures, even.  Or, in an English understatement, ‘pretty chilly’.  Well wrapped up in warm clothes, a woolly hat and gloves, it’s still OK to go out and about in, although I’m not sure about doing sport.  It’s incredible how fortunate we are, with central heating, modern cars and good public services.  I’m sure that in every other generation – and still in many other parts of Europe – this winter would have been a very harsh ordeal to endure.

28/1/12 – New resource posted: ‘Ski helmets’.  For advanced readers, check out the webpage www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16715883 for a more detailed read.

23/01/12 – A clear majority in Croatia’s referendum on joining the EU voted in favour, and so it is scheduled to become a member in July next year.  Meanwhile, Italy’s and Spain’s debt levels are soaring higher – the Eurocrisis isn’t over yet, is it?

20/01/12 – I heard two new words this week.  One was German: ‘geliked’ – it comes from the Facebook ‘Like’ tags, which have now generated a new verb.  The other new word was ‘Getcha’  which is like the more familiar ‘gotcha’ -  ‘get your’ and ‘got your’ respectively.  Have you come across any new words recently?

20/01/12 – The big story over the past week was of the cruise ship that is now shipwrecked off the coast of Italy.  Luckily the accident happened in shallow water (although if the ship hadn’t been there in the first place, then none of this would have happened) and so most of the passengers were safely rescued.  The salvage operation hasn’t started yet, but there are increasing fears of environmental damage.

16/01/12 – there’s a new Level123 resource waiting for you!  It’s about the new Skylink terminal at Vienna airport, and for those interested in the passive there is a good gapfill exercise for you.  Don’t forget that you can save all your own vocabulary on the ‘Writing’ page of this website!

05/01/12 – The UK has had a stormy start to 2012, with gale-force winds that have caused structural damage to houses and blown trees over.  Hundreds if not thousands of homes have been without power.   I wonder if Austria will get a taste of it this weekend, as stormy weather is forecast here, and the avalanche risk is very high now, at a Level 4.  I heard on the radio that 2011 was the costliest year on record in terms of natural disasters.  Here’s hoping that 2012 will be better (even though the Mayan prophecies suggest otherwise!).

03/01/12 – Happy New Year!  We wish you every happiness in 2012, and look forward to learning English with you.
Did you have a good New Year?    How about New Year resolutions – have you made any?  Are you still keeping to them, or have you broken them yet?

13/12/11 – Canada has pulled out of (withdrawn from) the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.  This might be a true reflection of the reality of the situation – that Kyoto simply isn’t effective.   But it will spell more bad news for the climate, if Canada seeks to extract oil from its tar sands deposits.  As ever, the bottom line seems to be that the economy and profit triumph over the climate.  I wonder how and when that equation will change.

10/12/11 – new resource posted: Business English small talk.  This is an example of how even a few lines can be deconstructed and analysed to give a deeper understanding of the language used – and of the communication skills involved.

09/12/2011 – the international climate conference in Durban, South Africa, looks set to deliver very little, postponing hard choices yet again.  China has been working hard to improve its image – with some justification – but the longer we wait, the worse the eventual consequences are going to be!

09/12/2011 – The British Prime Minister has made it into the headlines, separating himself from the rest of Europe.  I don’t think the gap between the UK and the rest of the EU has ever been wider.  I guess that in the short term it will only damage his standing in Europe, but in the longer term I wonder if the pound can sustain itself alongside the Euro?

30/11/2011 – Well, I’m back from a short weekend trip to England, and so I have posted a special text about my visit.
It’s advent already, and the Christmas lights and candles are going up.  Christmas shopping is in full swing, too.
Have you bought your Christmas tree yet?  When will you put it up?

16/11/2011 – Have you heard about the recent/latest scientific reports on greenhouse gas emissions?  They say that last year the amount of emissions rose by 5%.  If this trend continues, it will lead to global warming levels that could be catastrophic.  And something that I hadn’t heard before – rapid melting of the alpine glaciers could release high levels of toxic pollutants into our water supply. What with global warming and the economic crisis in Europe (watch out for Japan next – it’s currency is too strong at the moment), where is the good news?

12/11/2011 – New resource posted: ’Very valuable art’.  It’s another beautiful day in Tirol – it’s hard to believe that it is nearly the middle of November.  Can you remember a November in the past which started so warmly?  Or a better October?  I wonder if the ski resorts are getting worried/nervous yet.  Is a dry, warm late autumn good for tourism or is it bad?

06/11/2011 – I was watching TV yesterday evening, and was suprised by the number of English words being used.  I think the amount has increased in the last year.  Just in the adverts alone, I heard or read: cream, voice, fit, surprise, extra large, highlight, drive, member, crazy Christmas, re-match, make, last, confidence, happy, repair, complete, lasting, and I want you.  Do you know all these words?  Which other ones have you seen recently in the media?

05/11/2011 – I am also using Twitter now.  If you want to follow my tweets (I will write a sentence or two with some topical vocabulary for you), then I am on   Eng_Inst_at

1/11/2011 – today is All Saints Day, when Catholics traditionally visit the graves of their relatives.

28/11/2011 – new resource posted!    ’Flooding in Bangkok’ – check it out!