R.I.Chalmers Passionate About English

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Posted under Society, Teaching

Aquarius | Learn English | Astrology

This is one of a series of English lessons based on the theme of astrology.

They are designed to teach you vocabulary, and especially personal descriptive adjectives.

If you were born between January 20th and February 18th, then your star sign is Aquarius. The symbol of Aquarius is the water carrier. Aquarius’ element is air. Uranus rules Aquarius. Aquarians are individualists. They build their lives on their own inclinations and can have trouble relating to other people.

This English lesson will help you understand the vocabulary used to describe people in general and Aquarius in particular.

Posted under Lifestyle, Society

Virgo | Learn English | Astrology

This is one of a series of English lessons based on the theme of astrology.

They are designed to teach you vocabulary, and especially personal descriptive adjectives.

If you were born between August 23rd and September 22nd, then your star sign is Virgo.

The symbol of Virgo is the Virgin. Virgo’s element is Earth. Virgo’s polarity is negative or feminine. Virgo’s ruling planet is Mercury. Virgo is charmingly modest with a strong critical faculty. They are the busiest people and will do anything for anyone.

This English lesson will help you understand the vocabulary used to describe people in general and Virgo in particular.

There is a Crossword Puzzle and Hangman Game to go with this lesson as well.

Posted under Lifestyle, Society, Teaching

Cancer | Learn English | Astrology

This is one of a series of English lessons based on the theme of astrology.

They are designed to teach you vocabulary, and especially personal descriptive adjectives.

If you were born between June 21st and July 22nd, then your star sign is Cancer.

The symbol of Cancer is the crab. Cancer’s ruling planet is the Moon. Cancer has a profound need for family, though their powerful emotions can be smothering. They have a keen intuition that can be spoiled by a tendency towards anxiety.

This English lesson will help you understand the vocabulary used to describe people in general and Cancer in particular.

There is a Crossword Puzzle and Hangman Game to go with this lesson as well.

Posted under Lifestyle, Society, Teaching

Symphony of Science – ‘We Are All Connected’ (ft. Sagan, Feynman, deGrasse Tyson & Bill Nye)

I just love the artistry of this video. It’s interesting, entertaining and thought-provoking. No wonder it has had so many views on YouTube. I wish my videos were as watched.

“We Are All Connected” was made from sampling Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, The History Channel’s Universe series, Richard Feynman’s 1983 interviews, Neil deGrasse Tyson’s cosmic sermon, and Bill Nye’s Eyes of Nye Series, plus added visuals from The Elegant Universe (NOVA), Stephen Hawking’s Universe, Cosmos, the Powers of 10, and more. It is a tribute to great minds of science, intended to spread scientific knowledge and philosophy through the medium of music.

Posted under Lifestyle, Society, Technology

Aries | Learn English | Astrology

This is one of a series of English lessons based on the theme of astrology.

They are designed to teach you vocabulary, and especially personal descriptive adjectives.

If you were born between March 21st and April 19th, then your star sign is Aries.

The symbol of Aries is the ram. Aries’ element is fire. Aries’ modality is cardinal. Aries’ polarity is positive or masculine (yang). Aries’ ruling planet is Mars.

This English lesson will help you understand the vocabulary used to describe people in general and Aries in particular.

There is a Crossword Puzzle and Hangman Game to go with this lesson as well.

Posted under Lifestyle, Society, Teaching, Writing

Taurus | Learn English | Astrology

This is one of a series of English lessons based on the theme of astrology.

They are designed to teach you vocabulary, and especially personal descriptive adjectives.

If you were born between April 19th and May 20th, then your star sign is Taurus.

The symbol of Taurus is the bull. Taurus’ element is Earth. Taurus’ modality is fixed. Taurus’ polarity is negative or feminine (yin). Taurus’ ruling planet is Venus.

This English lesson will help you understand the vocabulary used to describe people in general and Taurus in particular.

There is a Crossword Puzzle and Hangman Game to go with this lesson as well.

Taurus’ element is Earth.

Taurus’ modality is fixed.

Taurus’ polarity is negative or feminine (yin).

Taurus’ ruling planet is Venus.

The lucky stone for Taurus is the emerald.

This English lesson will help you understand the vocabulary used to describe people in general and Taurus in particular.

Posted under Lifestyle, Society, Writing

Happy New Year in 133 Languages

I created a star-filled video to say Happy New Year to all my students across the world.

Posted under Society, Teaching

Happy New Year in AFRIKAANS

gelukkige nuwejaar

Happy New Year in ALBANIAN

Gëzuar vitin e ri

Happy New Year in ALSATIAN

e glëckliches nëies

Happy New Year in ARABIC

عام سعيد (aam saiid)

Happy New Year in ARMENIAN

shnorhavor nor tari

Happy New Year in AZERI

yeni iliniz mubarek

Happy New Year in BAMBARA

aw ni san’kura

Happy New Year in BASQUE

urte berri on

Happy New Year in BELARUSIAN

З новым годам (Z novym hodam)

Happy New Year in BENGALI

subho nababarsho

Happy New Year in BERBER

asgwas amegas

Happy New Year in BETI

mbembe mbu

Happy New Year in BOBO

bonne année

Happy New Year in BOSNIAN

sretna nova godina

Happy New Year in BRETON

bloavezh mat

Happy New Year in BULGARIAN

честита нова година

chestita nova godina

Happy New Year in BURMESE

Hnit thit ku mingalar pa

Happy New Year in CANTONESE

sun lin fi lok

Happy New Year in CATALAN

bon any nou

Happy New Year in CHINESE

xīn nián kuài lè

Happy New Year in CORSICAN

pace e salute

Happy New Year in CROATIAN

sretna nova godina

Happy New Year in CZECH

šťastný nový rok

Happy New Year in DANISH

godt nytår

Happy New Year in DARI

sale naw tabrik

Happy New Year in DUTCH

gelukkig Nieuwjaar

Happy New Year in ENGLISH

Happy new year

Happy New Year in ESPERANTO

felicxan novan jaron

Happy New Year in ESTONIAN

Head uut aastat

Happy New Year in EWE

eƒé bé dzogbenyui nami

Happy New Year in FAROESE

gott nýggjár

Happy New Year in FARSI

Aide shoma mobarak

Happy New Year in FINNISH

onnellista uutta vuotta

Happy New Year in FLEMISH

gelukkig Nieuwjaar

Happy New Year in FRENCH

bonne année

Happy New Year in FRISIAN

lokkich neijier

Happy New Year in FRIULAN

bon an

Happy New Year in GALICIAN

feliz aninovo

Happy New Year in GEORGIAN

გილოცავთ ახალ წელს

gilocavt akhal tsels

Happy New Year in GERMAN

ein gutes neues Jahr

Happy New Year in GREEK

kali chronia

Happy New Year in GUJARATI

sal mubarak

Happy New Year in GUARANÍ

rogüerohory año nuévo-re

Happy New Year in HAITIAN CREOLE

bònn ané

Happy New Year in HAWAIIAN

Hauoli makahiki hou

Happy New Year in HEBREW

שנה טובה

shana tova

Happy New Year in HINDI

nav varsh ki subhkamna

Happy New Year in HMONG

nyob zoo xyoo tshiab

Happy New Year in HUNGARIAN

boldog új évet

Happy New Year in ICELANDIC

farsælt komandi ár

Happy New Year in INDONESIAN

selamat tahun baru

Happy New Year in IRISH GAELIC

ath bhliain faoi mhaise

Happy New Year in ITALIAN

Buon Capo d’Anno

Happy New Year in JAVANESE

sugeng warsa enggal

Happy New Year in JAPANESE

akemashite omedetô gozaimasu

Happy New Year in KABYLIAN

asseggas ameggaz

Happy New Year in KANNADA

Hosa varshada shubhaashayagalu

Happy New Year in KAZAKH

zhana zhiliniz kutti bolsin

Happy New Year in KHMER

sur sdei chhnam thmei

Happy New Year in KINYARWANDA

umwaka mwiza

Happy New Year in KIRUNDI

umwaka mwiza

Happy New Year in KOREAN

seh heh bok mani bat uh seyo

Happy New Year in KURDE

sala we ya nû pîroz be

Happy New Year in LAO

sabai di pi mai

Happy New Year in LATIN

felix sit annus novus

Happy New Year in LATVIAN

laimīgu Jauno gadu

Happy New Year in LIGURIAN

feliçe annu nœvu

Happy New Year in LINGALA

mbula ya sika elamu na tonbeli yo

Happy New Year in LITHUANIAN

laimingų Naujųjų Metų

Happy New Year in LOW SAXON

gelükkig nyjaar

Happy New Year in LUXEMBOURGEOIS

e gudd neit Joër

Happy New Year in MACEDONIAN

Среќна Нова Година

srekna nova godina

Happy New Year in MALAGASY

arahaba tratry ny taona

Happy New Year in MALAY

selamat tahun baru

Happy New Year in MALAYALAM

nava varsha ashamshagal

Happy New Year in MALTESE

is-sena t-tajba

Happy New Year in MANGAREVAN

kia porotu te ano ou

Happy New Year in MAORI

kia hari te tau hou

Happy New Year in MARATHI

navin varshaachya hardik shubbheccha

Happy New Year in MONGOLIAN

shine jiliin bayariin mend hurgeye

Happy New Year in MORÉ

wênd na kô-d yuum-songo

Happy New Year in NDEBELE

umyaka omucha omuhle

Happy New Year in NORWEGIAN

godt nyttår

Happy New Year in OCCITAN

bon annada

Happy New Year in PASHTO

nawe kaalmo mobarak sha

Happy New Year in PERSIAN

سال نو مبارک

sâle no mobârak

Happy New Year in POLISH

szczęśliwego nowego roku

Happy New Year in PORTUGUESE

feliz ano novo

Happy New Year in PUNJABI

ਨਵੇਂ ਸਾਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ

nave saal deeyan vadhaiyaan

Happy New Year in ROMANCHE

bun di bun onn

Happy New Year in ROMANI

baxtalo nevo bersh

Happy New Year in ROMANIAN

un an nou fericit

Happy New Year in RUSSIAN

С Новым Годом

Happy New Year in SAMOAN

ia manuia le tausaga fou

Happy New Year in SANGO

nzoni fini ngou

Happy New Year in SARDINIAN

bonu annu nou

Happy New Year in SCOTTISH GAELIC

bliadhna mhath ur

Happy New Year in SERBIAN

srećna nova godina

Срећна нова година

Happy New Year in SHIMAORE

mwaha mwema

Happy New Year in SHONA

goredzva rakanaka

Happy New Year in SINDHI

nain saal joon wadhayoon

Happy New Year in SINHALA

suba aluth avuruddak vewa

Happy New Year in SLOVAK

šťastný nový rok

Happy New Year in SLOVENIAN

srečno novo leto

Happy New Year in SOBOTA

dobir leto

Happy New Year in SOMALI

sanad wanagsan

Happy New Year in SPANISH

feliz año nuevo

Happy New Year in SRANAN

wan bun nyun yari

Happy New Year in SUDANESE

Wilujeng Tahun Baru

Happy New Year in SWAHILI

mwaka mzuri

Happy New Year in SWEDISH

gott nytt år

Happy New Year in SWISS-GERMAN

es guets Nöis

Happy New Year in TAGALOG

manigong bagong taon

Happy New Year in TAHITIAN

ia orana i te matahiti api

Happy New Year in TAMAZIGHT

assugas amegaz

Happy New Year in TAMIL

iniya puthandu nalVazhthukkal

Happy New Year in TATAR

yaña yıl belän

Happy New Year in TELUGU

నూతన సంవత్శర శుభాకాంక్షలు

nuthana samvathsara subhakankshalu

Happy New Year in THAI

สวัสดีปีใหม่

sawatdii pimaï

Happy New Year in TIBETAN

tashi delek

Happy New Year in TSHILUBA

tshidimu tshilenga

Happy New Year in TULU

posa varshada shubashaya

Happy New Year in TURKISH

yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun

Happy New Year in TWENTS

gluk in’n tuk

Happy New Year in UDMURT

Vyľ Aren

Happy New Year in UKRAINIAN

Z novym rokom

Happy New Year in URDU

naya saal mubarik

Happy New Year in UZBEK

yangi yilingiz qutlug’ bo’lsin

Happy New Year in VIETNAMESE

Chúc Mừng Nǎm Mới

Happy New Year in WALOON

bone annéye

Happy New Year in WELSH

blwyddyn newydd dda

Happy New Year in WEST INDIAN CREOLE

bon lanné

Happy New Year in WOLOF

dewenati

Happy New Year in YIDDISH

a gut yohr

Posted under Society

I have the flu. I have had the flu for the past couple of days. I have all the symptoms of flu: a fever in excess of 38°C, aches, chills, tiredness, a dry cough, and a lack of appetite. I have no doubt that I am suffering from influenza, however I have no idea whether I am suffering from swine flu or a seasonal flu.

How do you know? How do the doctors know? If the symptoms of seasonal flu and of swine flu are the same, how can anybody track the incidence of either?

I spent most of the day today in bed. I’ve been taking paracetamol, which has helped a little with the aches, and I’ve been drinking plenty of fluids. Tomorrow I had been due to attend a conference here in Seville about the future of language teaching. Thanks to a virus that is smaller than I could see even with a powerful microscope my plans have been changed against my wishes. We humans think we are so powerful. We can put men on the moon; we can send spacecraft beyond the edge of the solar system and into deep space; we can move mountains; we can fly; we can extract the riches of the Earth from wherever they lie; but we are laid low by something a billion times smaller than us.

I have no doubt that however ill I feel at this present moment I will make a full recovery, swine flu or seasonal flu. It would be nice to know, however, if my suffering is caused by standard influenza or an H?N? variety, purely out of curiosity.

Posted under Health, Lifestyle, Society