March 3-10: SHORT VACATION

I am writing this post to remind you during the first week in March, including March 10th we will not have classes: no English and no American Civilization.
During this break you are supposed to finish your individual projects in English (book report) and do all the translation exercises.  The summary of every chapter as well as exercises should be written in a separate copy-book, also there you can do your translation tasks.

  While you present your book report in class, you should stick to the following format:
1) Title and author of the book: how is the title connected to the content of the book? What do you know about the author and his style of writing?
2) Theme --> here I asked you to be creative: songs, poems, posters, quotes from the book!
3) Setting: when and where is the story set?
4) Quick summary
5) Major and Minor characters: choose one and briefly characterize him/her.
6) What is the conflict in the story?
7) Resolution: how does the story end?
8) Your grading, opinion, recommendations regarding the book.

Your speech in class should be 10-12 minutes - so select just the most relevant info, be brief and to the point!
                              

Good Luck!

P.S. Questions are welcome in comments!

The Nation is Divided

Task 1

Find the answers to the following questions:

1) Who were the abolitionists?

2) What was the underground railroad?

3) Who was Harriet Tubman? Why is her name remembered?

4) Who was the most famous slave revolt led by? When did it take place?

Task 2

Read/Listen attentively Lincoln's speech and answer the questions below:

Lincoln, “Gettysburg Address,” Speech Text

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, “GETTYSBURG ADDRESS” (19 NOVEMBER 1863)

 [1] Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

[2] Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

[3] But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate-we can not hallow-this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.   from: http://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/lincoln-gettysburg-address-speech-text/
1) What did president Lincoln say in his Gettysburg Address?
2) Why was the the battle of Gettysburg important? Who won it?

USA Political System

 

So, let's check how well you know political system of the USA? -->  Your quiz is available at: testmoz.com/251850

Course Description in 2014, semester II

Dear students! Welcome to the II semester and a new course about American culture and way of life!

This course was created for students of English who already have a baggage of knowledge in English. Its primary goal is to acquaint you with culture, traditions and values of the United States. It consists of 30 hours of direct contact and will finish with an exam. As future translators from English, you should be familiar with the American culture as well.

Below you can see the topics that will be covered during this course:

The final grade will be calculated according to the following scheme:

20% - two written evaluation tests;
20% - individula work: project presentation in class and unit reviews;
20% - class participation;
40% - written final examenation.

The list of topics for individual research are:

Topic	Group 1 LM 2 (rom)	Group 1 LM 3 (rus)
Project 1: Modern USA wonders: death valley and American deserts.	Anneta Danuta Due: 04.02.2014	---
Project 2: Modern USA wonders: Yellowstone and great canyon.	Cristina Turcan Due: 04.02.2014	Alexandr Porhunov Due: 07.02.2014
Project 3: Modern wonders: mount Rushmore.	Florea Maria Due: 04.02.2014
Project 4: Largest  American cities.	Anastasia Pendiurina Due: 11.02.2014	Lia Popaz Due: 07.02.2014
Project 5: American people: immigrants.	Liliana Martalog Due: 27.02.2014	??? Due: 28.02.2014
Project 6: Famous American presidents.	Elena Afonin Due: 18.02.2014	Sergei Ansimov Due: 20.02.2014
Project 7: American Holidays.	Catalina Frecautanu Due: 18.02.2014	Iulia Cernei Due: 20.02.2014
Project 8: Symbols of the USA.	Irina Borozan Due: 27.02.2014	Cristina Anisimova Due: 28.02.2014
Project 9: The modern way of life: culture; leisure, entertainment.	??? Due: 11.03.2014	??? Due: 13.03.2014
Project 10: Educational system in the USA in comparison with Moldova.	??? Due: 27.02.2014	Valeria Mishkina Due: 28.02.2014
Project 11: Famous Black Americans.	Alina Andreev  Due: 27.02.2014	Alexandr Popov Due: 28.02.2014
Project 12: World-known American writers.	Diana Maler Due: 11.03.2014	Valera Djugostran Due: 13.03.2014
Project 13:  Hollywood.	Cristina Sirghi Due: 11.03.2014	Irina Contescu Due: 13.03.2014
Project 14: The role of women in the United States.
Project 15: Turbulent times in US history 1960's - 1970's: space exploration.		Alexandr Egorencov Due: 14.03.2014
Project 16: Prosperity and Depression of 1920's - 1930's in the USA.	Iuliana Martalog Due: 13.03.2014	Ilia Ciornii Due: 14.03.2014
Project 17: The Jazz Sensation.	Tatiana Popescu Due: 13.03.2014	Anna Belaia Due: 14.03.2014

Also below you can see the list of selected literature for the course:
1.    A. Baxter. The USA. Oxford Bookwarms Factfiles 3. Oxford University Press. – 30 p.
2.    A.M. Malkoc, F. Smolinski, T. Kral. Celebrate! Holidays in the USA. A resource handbook for teaching English as a foreign language. Washington DC – 2000, 150p.
3.    E. Kirn. About the USA. Washington DC – 1989, 128 p.
4.    G. Brenner, M. Ford, P. Sullivan. Celebrate! Holidays in the USA. 2nd edition – 2007, 140 p.
5.    Karen Blanchard, Christine Root. American Roots. Readings on US Cultural History. Longman, 2000 – 218 p.
6.    M. Broukal, P. Murphy. Introducing the USA. Cultural Reader. Longman – 1993, 156 p.
7.    M. Broukal. J. Milhomme. More about the USA. Cuturla Reader. Longman – 1995, 156 p.
8.    M. K. Datesman, J. Crandall, E. N. Kearny. American Ways. An introduction to American Culture. 3rd edition: Longman – 2005, 296 p.
9.    Yu. B. Golitsinsky. United States of America. KARO: St. Petersberg - 2001, 448 p.


Best Wishes!

Reminder about your Individual projects

I remind you that your individual project should be presented both orally in class and in written form as a report of 5-10 pages. See below the sample for title page:

The last page of your report should include Bibliography list.
The oral presentation should last 7-10 minutes. You may include some activities for your groupmates and visual aids are very welcome!
Good Luck!