MissLingva_December 2014

missLINGVA ISSUE 03 / DECEMBER 2014

SANTA IS INDEED DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

The story of Benedict Cumberbatch

It’s time for miracles

Feliz Navidad

Hello everyone “Miss Lingva” as a kind of scientific reporting on language and linguistics, increasing students’ motivation for learning foreign languages and my first international project experience.

Well, what is a linguistic magazine? It is is a magazine with articles on linguistics- and language-based theory, news, application, findings, and field reports. It is committed to diversity in its scope of reporting, covering both the scientific and applied sides of linguistics, while maintaining a neutral stance towards debates occurring within the field.

I love learning languages ​​and try to use all the facilities for this. Once I saw an online linguistic magazine on the internet. It was Babel. Babel is written and compiled by world-class linguists. . And I liked the idea to create me own magazine. And I decided to bring this project to my classmates and foreign students. Of course, the publication of a school magazine is a very difficult task. And here is what I and my team did. Special Thanks to my colleagues!

You are the best!

Editor Creative Director Producer Reporters

POLYAKOVA MARIYA BURMISTROVA YANA BURMISTROVA ELENA CHERNOKLINOVA OLGA LISITSIN SERGEY FEDORENKO LINA

16 04 How Christmas Originated

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Bogdanova Tat’yana, the winner of the contest “Jingle bells”

17 билингвального 08 Конспект внеклассного мероприятия

How learn to remember: mind maps as the method of systematization of information Photography competition

06 Feliz Navidad

editor

Polyakova Mariya

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missLINGVA

Questions and feedback: 249 185 Kaluga region, Kremenki.Shkolnaya St. 9 Phone: 8-484-32-58-820 Email: burmistrova1@yandex.ru Online: www.40309-s-007.edusite.ru/

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It’s time for miracles!

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12

The story of Benedict Cumberbatch

19 Crossword

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English Superstitions

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Santa is indeed different in different countries

20 Letters to Santa 21 Christmas is so impermanent

Don’t miss our forthcoming events

How Christmas Originated

C

hristmas is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for coming together with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages... But mostly, Christmas is for love. It was this love for which Jesus came to this world and sacrificed his life. Thus Christmas is a celebration of love and mirth symbolized by the Nativity, the Santa, the caribou, the poinsettia and the evergreens. All that bring home the spirit of love and life. And this is the spirit that makes Christmas so popular throughout the world. Though originated by the Roman Catholics who commemorate the December 25th as the day of birth of Christ Child, it has gradually come to be celebrated by the non-Catholics as well. As far as the United States goes, the celebration of X’mas is comparatively of recent origin.

Much of the world was already well into Christmas celebrations by the time the United States began to wake up. In the first half of the 19th century the Sunday schools in America held Christmas celebrations. And the celebration of Christmas in America owes its origin to these schools. Alabama was the first state to grant legal recognition to X-mas in 1836. The DC did it in 1870. By 1893 all the states and territories had made similar acknowledgements. So be it the United States or in other parts of the world Christmas is celebrated as the commemoration of the birth of Christ Child -- very likely the holiest event ever to take place anywhere on the Earth, and an entirely worthy occasion to celebrate. But don’t we often wonder if we’ve got these things about it right? And why is the difference of opinion (however immaterial) regarding the date of birth? Is it even on the right date?

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We bring to you a story of the Birth of Christ Child along and offer you a short tour across the world to know the way Christmas is celebrated in different parts.

But before doing this please don’t forget to brush up some historical trivia regarding Jesus’ birth.

Click here to know the answers to some simple yet vulnerable questions. The whole world goes into the celebration mood during the mid winters.

Long back even before the arrival of Jesus, Europeans started celebrating the light in the gloomiest days of winter. During the winter solstice, many of the Europeans began to celebrate because the tough time of winter was behind them and they felt it was the period of prolonged hours of sunlight.

Norse celebrated Yule from December 21 in Scandinavia. To celebrate the magic of sunlight, fathers and sons used logs and set them on fire. People around enjoyed these 12 days until the logs were not burned out completely. It was their belief that each fire spark represented a new pig or calf that would be born in the coming year. Mesopotamians used to celebrate 12 days long New Year festival before 4000 years.

This festival was called Zagmuth. The Mesopotamians, believers of multiple deities, started the celebration to honor their chief deity, Marduk. They used to believe that Marduk fought against the monsters of chaos at the onset of each winter season. It was believed that this was the festival where from the 12 days long Christmas had originated. Most of the European countries thought that the end of December was an appropriate and ideal time for celebrations.

It was a high time to celebrate because there were no cattle left for feeding as most of the cattle were already slaughtered. Celebration could continue with fresh meat and it was the only time of the winter when they had that opportunity. The fermented wine and beer during this time were the additional spice for the celebration. During mid winter German people honored the time-honored Pagan God Oden. People of Germany were afraid of the nocturnal sky flights. They used to think that the Almighty had created that to observe and monitor his people of this world. They had also thought that the Almighty had the power to decide who would live and who would perish. Many of them decided to stay inside due to his presence.

Places like Saturnalia, Rome where the winter was not that strong and unkind like countries located in the northern tip celebrated holidays in honor of the God of agriculture, Saturn. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice was a special period when residents had bountiful food items and drinks to celebrate with. The month long celebration had the charm to convert slaves to even masters. Peasants used to control the city. To celebrate the time with fun and frolic all the schools and business organizations had decided to close their shutters. Juvenalia, the feast honoring the Children of Rome, celebrated during winter solstice, was a prime carnival for Roman people as well. On December 25, the upper class of Rome used to celebrate the birthday of the infant God of the unconquerable sun, Mithra who was born of a rock. It was the most sanctified day of the entire year for few Romans. Easter, the main holiday, was celebrated in the early years of Christianity. However, Christmas or the birth of Jesus was not celebrated.

Romans started to exchange gifts and visit the homes of their friends and relatives during the festivity. It was believed that the ritual of exchanging greeting and gifts during Christmas had come from Rome.

Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/history/#0vKL2C7xjP7eszQ2.99

missLINGVA/October, 2014 5

FELIZ NAVIDAD

Selección de Elena Burmistrova Hasta que uno no sienta la verdadera alegría de Navidad, no existe. Todo lo demás es apariencia muchos adornos. Porque no son los adornos, no es la nieve. No es el árbol, ni la chimenea. La Navidad es el calor que vuelve al corazón de las personas, la generosidad de compartirla con otros y la esperanza de seguir adelante. No existe la Navidad ideal, solo la Navidad que usted decida crear como reflejo de sus valores, deseos, queridos y tradiciones.

(Bill McKibben) Honraré la Navidad en mi corazón y procuraré conservarla durante todo el año (Charles Dickens) La Navidad no es un momento ni una estación, sino un estado de la mente.

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Valorar la paz y la generosidad y tener merced es comprender el verdadero significado de Navidad (Calvin Coolidge) ¿Qué es la Navidad? Es la ternura del pasado, el valor del presente y la esperanza del futuro. Es el deseo más sincero de que cada taza se rebose con bendiciones ricas y eternas, y de que cada camino nos lleve a la paz. (Agnes M. Pharo) La Navidad….. no es un acontecimiento, sino una parte de su hogar que uno lleva siempre en su corazón (Freya Stark) La Navidad! La propia palabra llena nuestros corazones de alegría. No importa cuánto temamos las prisas, las listas de regalos navideños y las felicitaciones que nos queden por hacer. Cuando llegue el día de Navidad, nos viene el mismo calor que sentíamos cuando éramos niños, el mismo calor que envuelve nuestro corazón y nuestro hogar. (Joan Winmill Brown) Viene cada año y vendrá para siempre. Y con la Navidad vienen los recuerdos y las costumbres. Esos recuerdos cotidianos humildes a los que todas las madres nos agarramos. Como la Virgen María, en los rincones secretos de su corazón. (Marjorie Holmes) Que tengas un buen año. Que todo lo malo se olvide. Y que se cumplan todos tus deseos. (Mari Carmen) Con todo mi cariño, te mando la receta de la Navidad: juntemos varias medidas de ilusión, una pizca de amistad y un gesto de ternura. Horneemos la mezcla con un ánimo paciente. Envolvámosla con risas, luces y canciones. Y finalmente, ofrezcámosla con el corazón. ¡¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!! Los amigos son como las estrellas que, aunque no puedas verlas, sabes que siempre están ahí. ¡Feliz Navidad! Mejor que todos los regalos debajo del árbol de navidad es la presencia de una familia feliz.

Ojala pudiésemos meter el espíritu de navidad en jarros y abrir un jarro cada mes del año (Harlan Miller)

The Christmas tree has gone through a long process of development rich in many legends, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture, with the Springfield Extension Center. Some historians trace the lighted Christmas tree to Martin Luther. He attached lighted candles to a small evergreen tree, trying to simulate the reflections of the starlit heaven -- the heaven that looked down over Bethlehem on the first Christmas Eve. Until about 1700, the use of Christmas trees appears to have been confined to the Rhine River District. From 1700 on, when lights were accepted as part of the decorations, the Christmas tree was well on its way to becoming a tradition in Germany. Then the tradition crossed the Atlantic with the Hessian soldiers. Some people trace the origin of the Christmas tree to an earlier period. Even before the Christian era, trees and boughs were used for ceremonials. Egyptians, in celebrating the winter solstice -- the shortest day of the year -- brought green date palms into their homes as a symbol of “life triumphant over death”. When the Romans observed the feast of saturn, part of the ceremony was the raising of an evergreen bough. The early Scandinavians were said to have paid homage to the fir tree. To the Druids, sprigs of evergreen holly in the house meant eternal life; while to the Norsemen, they symbolized the revival of the sun god Balder. To those inclined toward superstition, branches of evergreens placed over the door kept out witches, ghosts, evil spirits and the like. This use does not mean that our Christmas tree custom evolved solely from paganism, any more than did some of the present-day use of sighed in various religious rituals. Trees and branches can be made purposeful as well as symbolic. The Christmas tree is a symbol of a living Christmas spirit and brings into our lives a pleasant aroma of the forest. The fact that balsam fir twigs, more than any other evergreen twigs, resemble crosses may have had much to do with the early popularity of balsam fir used as Christmas trees. missLINGVA/ December, 2014

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Конспект билингвального внеклассного мероприятия Бурмистрова Елена Валерьевна (учитель иностранного языка, высшей квалификационной категории). Английский язык, испанский язык. Внеклассное мероприятие. От Музея Британии до Площади Испании. Продолжительность внеклассного мероприятия: 55 минут 10 класс (компьютерное оборудование, программное обеспечение, электронная почта, , мультимедийные средства, а также Интернет, Skype) Teacher (T) Hello, my dear students! I am so happy to see you! The theme of today´s meeting is “ Our world is wonderful” So, let´s begin… Your task for today was to learn a new song, “My Bonny” ( ученики поют песню, но слова в ней другие) My teacher is at the table, And my thoughts are over the seaWe´re doing just what we are able Oh! Bring back my brains to me!

Chorus Bring back, bring back, Bring back my brains to me, to me.

Last lesson I slept on my chairLast lesson I slept all along , Last lesson I slept everywhereAnd I dreamed that my teacher had gone Chorus Sweet dreams, sweet dreams I hope that my dreams will come true!!!

T Why are the words in the song so strange?

Pupil (P) We don’t like studying! It’s boring!

T What would you like to do then?

Ps We’d like to travel T You like travelling! And what do you know about travelling? ( 8 учащиеся читают и переводят цитаты известных людей о путешествиях ) Edward Dahlberg There is no place to go, so we travel- You and I: and what for, just to imagine we could go somewhere else.

Thomas Fuller Travel makes a wise man better, and a fool worse William Hazlitt I should like to spend the hole of my life in travelling abroad, if I could anywhere borrow another life to spend afterwards at home.

Cyril Connolly When we are young we travel to see the world, afterwards to make sure it is still there Carlo Goldini A wise traveler never despises his own country Edward Streeter Travel is 90% anticipation and 10% recollection.

Robert Louis Stevenson To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.

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Susan M. Watkins I think that wherever your journey takes you, there are new gods waiting there.

T Would you like to travel right now?

Ps Yes, of course!

T And what countries would you like to visit?

Ps I’d like to visit Great Britain! I’d like to visit Spain! (учитель предлагает ученикам связаться по Skype с их сверстниками в Лондоне и в Мадриде, заранее проводилась работа с выходом на сайт friends abroad ) T Well? Let’s start our imaginary trip! ( ученики расставляют мебель, имитируя салон самолета, учитель включает фильм с символами аэропорта T Travelling is very important nowadays – Millions of people travel long distances to go abroad. They use planes, trains, cars and ships to reach their destinations. We are going to go by plain to visit Great Britain. Our trip is beginning.

Take your passports and tickets, please and fill in this form. (учитель раздает заранее подготовленные загранпаспорта и билеты и предлагает их заполнить: ученики вклеивают в паспорта свои фотографии и заполняют бланки на английском и испанском языкахимя, фамилия, цвет волос, глаз, цель поездки и т.д. Учитель представляет «экипаж» самолета: командира, пилотов и стюардесс) Stewardess Hello! May I see your tickets, please.

Ps Here you are Stewardess Your seats are in the non smoking section. Enjoy your flight!

Pilot Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to welcome you abroad this Boeing 747. Слайд 11 We are flying at an altitude of 11000 m. We’ll arrive in London at about 3 p.m. I hope you have a pleasant flight

. And thank you for flying! Стюардесса зажигает сигналы No smoking Fasten your seat belts.

Stewardess Attention, please! Fasten your seat belts and keep them fastened at all times.

P I have a question. What’s the weather like in London?

Stewardess It’s raining there P Oh! They have thunderstorms!

Stewardess Mark Twain said If you don’t like the weather in London , wait a minute! I hope that it will be OK. P Excuse me, could you tell me what movie will be shown today?

Stewardess Today’s movie is «Welcome to Britain» (Ученики смотрят кадры из фильма , включенного в презентацию о Великобритании. Затем «стюардесса» знакомит «туристов» с некоторыми правилами проживания в Британии, представляя материал в компьютерной презентации.

Stewardess Now we are going to spend some time in this country- You will find many differences between your country’s way of life and the English one. Living in Britain

- Banking Banks are open between 9.30 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. Monday to Friday - Post Office Open between 9.00 a.m. -5.30 p.m.

Monday to Friday - Driving - Remember that we drive on the other side of the road. Before crossing the street, look right not left - Emergency 999 the call is free, give your name, location and nature of the problem - Drugs Anyone caught possessing drugs other than medication will be heavily fin ed, may be imprisoned and possibly deported Cigarettes It´s illegal for any person under the age 16 to purchase cigarettes.

Well our plane has landed- London welcomes you! (на экране появляются кадры приземлившегося самолета и здание аэропорта) Here are the signs you may see in the airport.

Do you understand them? ( Учитель знакомит учеников со знаками и надписями, которые они могут встретить в международном аэропорту слайд ) And now be ready to go through customs.

Customs officer Good afternoon! Have you anything to declare?

Ps No , we don’t. There are only personal belongings in my case. Shall I open it?

Customs officer No, thank you. Go on through.

P Thank you! Where is the Passport Control?

Customs officer Over there P Goodbye Customs officer Have a nice day!

T Let me introduce your travel agent.

This is Miss Diana Diana Travel agencies started long ago. Thomas Cook was one of the first travel agents.

He started to organize excursions by train in the middle of the last century.

Today travel agencies offer all kinds of holidays to all groups of people. You will be given this map. These are principal places of interest. ( «Агент» предлагает ученикам разбиться на группы и посетить три маршрута, ученики «уходят»

на экскурсию , на самом деле выходят в Интернет по заранее приготовленным учителем ссылкам и делают презентацию по своим маршрутам. Затем по очереди делятся впечатлениями, представляя свои презентации.)

P1 We have visited Westminster Abbey.

It´s a very large church in Westminster.

Almost all English kings and queens since William I have been crowned in the Abbey , and many famous people are buried there.

P2 Up until the 16th century, the Abbey had been a monastery. In 1540, the monastery was closed. But the building survived, and it has remained a place for royal coronations and burials. In the 16th century Elizabeth I founded a school in England, and it has survived to this day. Nowadays , it is called Westminster school.

P3 We have visited The British Museum.

The building in London containing Britain´s most important collection of art, writings, coins, drawings. It also holds the main collection and the reading room of the Reference Division of the British Library. The Museum regularly organizes exhibitions in special halls.

P4 We were in The Sea Life Centre. A whole new world unfolds there. There is a deep sea discovery exhibit, British shark display, Harbor wall, and a gift shop. It´s a magical world. In this ever – changing world, there is always something different to see.

T Well, it´s time to take your seats in our plane. We are going to Spain. Слайд 22 (звучит испанская музыка) Azafata ¡ Buenos días! Queridos amigos! Стюардесса обращается к пассажиру) ¿Habla Usted español?

Pasajero Sí, un poco.

Azafata ¿Es Usted de Moscú?

Pasajero Sí , soy de Moscú ¿ y usted?

Azafata Yo soy de Madrid. ¿Viaja usted a España como turista?

Pasajero Sí, por segunda vez.

Azafata ¡Qué interesante! ¿A qué ciudad viaja ysted?

Pasajero A Madrid (Стюардесса предлагает напитки пассажиру) Azafata ¿Qué toma usted?

Pasajero Agua mineral, por favor. Señorita, puede decirme ¿ qué película se proecta hoy? Me gustaría ver algún

documental sobre Madrid. (стюардесса включает фильм о Мадриде) Azafata ¿La ha gustado la película?

Pasajero Sí, como no.

Azafata Aterriza el avión. ¡Buena suerte!

Pasajeros Adíos.

En el control de pasaportes Policía ¡Buenas tardes!

Pasajeros ¡Buenas tardes!

Policía El pasaporte, por favor.

Pasajero Sí , aquí lo tiene.

Policía Pase usted, por favor ( ученики уходят на экскурсию (делать презентации), девушки исполняют испанский танец, затем проводится обмен впечатлениями ) Alumno1 Ahora me gustaría hablar de Мadrid. Sé que es la capital de España y es una ciudad hermosa. No es tan gramde como Moscú pero en Madrid como en Moscú hay muchos monumentos y barrios históricos que impresionan a los turistas.

Alumno 2 Me gustaron mucho La Plaza Mayor, la Puerta del Sol, la calle de Alcalá. La Puerta de Alcalá, en la Plaza de España. La fuerte de Neptuno.

Alumno 3 Por primera vez visité el pаrque del Retiro y el museo del Prado.

Quisiera hanlar del Museo del Prado. Antes he visto muchas reproducciones de Goya y de Valázques. En el Prado tuve la posibilidad de admirar “Las Meninas” de Valázques.

Alumno 4 Madrid de hoy es una ciudad moderna y activa, que ofrece a sus habitantes y a los turistasno sólo innumerables atracciones, sino también excursiones por los lugares de interés , por ejemplo, la Plaza Mayor, la Puerta del Sol con su monumento “el Oso y el madroño” Maestra Tienes razón, Madrid tiene muchos kugares de diversión- Me gustaría pasear con vosotros por sus plazas y calles.

Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seat belts. We are flying to Moscow – Well_ what have we done today?

Pupils We have visited London and Madrid. And now we think studying is very interesting. We want out lessons to be interesting then we’ll get good marks!

missLINGVA/ December, 2014

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It’s time for miracles!

by Polyakova Maria

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Every New Year is a time of miracles and fulfillment of all wishes. Often, we perceive it as a new stage in our lives.

Change, we reserve the best in themselves. Discovering new, we remain true to tradition. If you live brightly, you’ll become happy! New Year is one of the most popular and colorful holidays that people enjoy celebrating all over the world. Due to the fact that different peoples of the world religion, customs and traditions are different, and the New Year was welcomed everywhere differently. However, all the preparations for the holiday, the holiday memories of him and all the people causing bright feelings and emotions of joy, pleasure, expectations, happiness, love, care about each other, about their friends and relatives. Despite this, the history of New Year celebrations in different countries differs.

This holiday is not always celebrated on January 1st in Russia.

In 988, St. Vladimir in Russia was officially adopted Christianity. At the same event Russia learned about chronology, which was used by the Romans.

In 1699 there was an important event that influenced the subsequent history of New Year celebrations in Russia. Great reformer Peter I forbade celebrating the New Year in September. December 15th of the same year, he issued a decree on the new chronology - New Year was celebrated on January 1st. Since the emperor was a big fan of the whole European, then New Year’s celebration was a bright, cheerful annual event in the life of the Russian people, as well as in Europe. According to Dutch tradition, people had to decorate their homes with pine branches and do not remove these decorations before Christmas.

On the night of December 31, January 1, all had to relax and have fun. The emperor himself was present at these festivities. They own the first rocket was launched fireworks imported from Europe. However, not only fireworks decorated the festive city; nobles were shooting in the air of the small guns and rifles to give holiday grandiosity. Warm hugs, kisses and congratulations.

These traditions are still alive to this day. Everybody associates New Year holiday with good mood, fun and festivities feast. However, it was the custom to put the Christmas tree and decorate it with branches not home, appeared later - only in the 30s. XIX century. This custom came from Germany. Their beauty and attractiveness, he quickly like Russian people. The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree and put in the house soon transpired on the street and, as they say sources in 1852 was decorated with the first public tree.

The main hero of the holiday - Father Christmas (Santa Claus European) - also came to us from the West in the second half of the XIX century.

Originally it was just a fairy tale character, but so perfect in his kindness and generosity that it wanted to ensoul. And the Russian people “dressed” in his elegant red coat, hat and feather fluffy mittens, which corresponded to the Russian winter. And to him, Russian, it was not hard to entertain the kids on New Year’s night, he had a granddaughter Snow Maiden - sweet and cheerful girl that everyone immediately loved for her kindness.

Thus, for the Russian history of New Year celebration has its origins in Europe, but throughout its development it made the additions, such as the appearance of the Snow Maiden. This feast for the Russian people since the beginning of its appearance firmly loved the hearts of millions.

missLINGVA/ December, 2014

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The story of Benedict Cumberbatch

By Chernoklinova Olga

B

enedict Cumberbatch is an actor, famous throughout the world due to produced in 2010 series “Sherlock” by the BBC. Starting with episodic or background roles in sitcoms, he reached the peak of popularity. Now almost everyone in the world knows his name, and October 2014, his wax statue was sculptured and delivered to Madame Tussauds in London. Benedict was born June 19, 1976 in Sussex, where he attended primary school. His parents are Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham who are actors themselves. In the second year of his studying an arts scholar at Harrow School Benedict enrolled in drama school. Benedict very soon get tired of the high fence and a harsh schedule, so immediately after graduation Ben and three his friends went to the mountains of Tibet. Benedict spent a whole year in a Tibetan monastery, where he taught English to monks.

The monastery is not monastery in the conventional sense of the word, but the only way to get a good education. Monks there are the boys for a couple of years younger than Benedict himself. On his return to London an actor got a job in a perfume shop. He had worked here for a few months before the documents acceptance in the University of Manchester began. All urged the actor to change his name to a simpler and more harmonious as did his parents. “I also thought that the actor cannot has such name as Benedict Cumberbatch. No one can memorize such a number of letters.

But then I mentioned my real name in a conversation with a person who is familiar with the show business, and he said to me:”

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T

his is a great surname, it will help you to be remembered by the audience! Nobody would handle with pronouncing it, but as for memorizing – they will”. However, I cannot pronounce it Monday morning myself” (Benedict Cumberbatch) While studying at the University, Benedict played in theatrical productions. For the role of Tesman in Hedda Gabler he was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award. His story about how one song changed the life got in the almanac “Inspired

by Music” in 2009. If you haven`t read it - be sure to get this incredible story. After it Benedict became adrenaline addicted: skydiving, motorcycle, racing... The actor went on to play in the theater and cinema. In 2009 he got the role of a madman artist Vincent van Gogh in the documentary film Van Gogh: Painted with Words. “I’m always nervous, crazy people who die with a cold compress on the forehead” (Benedict Cumberbatch) After performing the role of Sherlock, Benedict made his international fame and was invited to participate in major Hollywood projects. In 2011 he starred in the movie War Horse by Steven Spielberg, and in 2013 acted as Julian Assange in the movie The Fifth Estate. On 5 November 2014, Cumberbatch’s engagement to theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter was announced in The Times. They met on the set of the film Burlesque Fairytales in 2009, but did not start dating until early 2014 As for the fourth season of Sherlock, the exact dates are not yet known because of the actors busyness. It`s most likely that fans will have to wait till 2016. However, the producers promised to please fans with Christmas special in 2015. So, wait and see.

missLINGVA/October, 2014 13

English Superstitions

By Emily Akroyd, the UK, London

Superstitions have come a long way in history and have been evolved in this process. Every known civilization that ever existed on the planet had something common in them; these were the myths and superstitions that were a crucial part of their cultures. The word superstition is designated to those beliefs that result from ignorance and fear of the unknown. Many superstitious practices are due to the false interpretations of the natural events. Curiosity also with regard to things that are hidden or are still in the future plays a considerable part, example, in the various kinds of divination. With this qualification in mind, superstitions may be classified roughly as religious, cultural and personal. All religious beliefs and practices may seem superstitious to the person without religion. Superstitions that belong to the cultural tradition are enormous in their variety. Nearly all persons, in nearly times, have held, seriously, irrational beliefs concerning methods of warding off ill or bringing good, foretelling the future, and healing and preventing sickness and accidents. Even people who claim they have no superstitions are likely to do a few things they cannot explain. A superstition is a behavior

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that has no rational basis or history or a history that is long-lost. A few specific folk traditions, such as beliefs in the evil eye or in the efficacy of amulets, have been found in most periods of history and in most parts of the world. Others may be limited to one country, region or village, to one family, or to one social group. Finally, people develop personal superstitions: a student writes a good form of literary piece with a certain pen, and from that moment the pen is lucky; a horse player may be convinced that black horses run well for him.

Good Luck. It is lucky to find a clover plant with four leaves. Putting money in the pocket of new clothes brings good luck. If a baby is born on Christmas Day it will bring him / her good luck. It is lucky to meet a black cat. Black cats can be seen on many good luck greetings cards and birthday cards in England.

Catch falling leaves in autumn and you will have good luck. Every leaf means a lucky month next year. Horseshoes over the door are generally a sign of good luck. But the horseshoe needs to be the right way up.

Bad luck. If you wear new shoes on Christmas it will bring you bad luck. It’s unlucky to spill salt. If you do, you must

take a pinch and throw it over your left shoulder. It’s extremely unlucky to walk under a ladder propped against a wall or building. But if you must pass under a ladder, you can avoid bad luck by crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed until you see a dog. It’s very bad luck to open an umbrella in the house – it will either bring misfortune to the person who has opened it or to those who has opened it or to those who live in the house. It’s extremely unlucky to break a mirror. It means 7 years of bad luck. The superstition is supposed to have originated in ancient times, when mirrors were considered to be tools of the gods.

It is bad luck to see one magpie. However, it’s lucky to see two magpies. The number 13 is very unlucky and Friday 13th is a very unlucky date. Friday is considered to be an unlucky day because Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

People feel very desperate to find reasons for all the misfortunes they come across. Being superstitious helps them to hide their mistakes by blaming luck, which according to them no one can control except God. New studies have revealed that stress makes people not only believe in rituals but also in conspiracy theories and as a result, they are more likely to “see” things that actually do not exist. A feeling of lack of control over their life fuels many people’s desire to impose order and structure on the world.

The less control people have over their lives, the more likely they are to try and regain control through mental gymnastics. Feelings of control are so essential to people that a lack of control is menacing. While some misperceptions can be bad or lead one astray, they are awfully common and most likely satisfy a deep and enduring psychological need.

Santa is indeed different in different countries

By Dasha Polukhanova

New Year is a time of miracles, magic and gifts. Everybody waits for this holiday to decorate a Christmas tree and an apartment, eat mandarins and receive gifts from Santa. Santa-Claus is the main character in the New Year. There are many different names for Santa-Claus.

Each country has its own Santa-Claus. In the USA and Canada Santa is dressed in a short red jacket, red pants, a hat and glasses. Santa enters the house through the chimney.

In Russia Ded Moroz is wearing a red coat,a red hat and boots. In his hands there is a stick, he has a Photo by Popova Masha long lush beard to his waist, and behind back there is a bag with gifts.

In France Pere Noel arrives to every home on a donkey and brings the basket, with gifts. He enters the house through the chimney.

Joulupukki brings gifts in Finland. He is wearing a conical red hat and a red short coat. He has helpers - gnomes and a wife Muori.

Nisse is a small Norwegian brownie with tiny beard and a red cap . A main Nisse lives near Oslo.

In Mongolia, the New Year is a shepherd’s day. Uvlin Uvgun is the main shepherd. In his hand there is a whip and a bag with flint.

In Italy, the old woman Befana comes to children. At home she comes down the chimney and gives gifts to good children and bad - ash.

Of course, the residents of different countries like most of his Santa. And everyone gives gifts differently. Someone puts under the tree, someone puts a sock, someone - on the window sill, someone - to the stove. Each enters the house differently. But whatever was Santa Claus, you will receive congratulations and a gift! missLINGVA/ December, 2014

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Dear Santa Claus!

Where do you live?

I’ll come into your house What present will you give?

I needn’t any shoes or clothes I needn’t any tasty food I’ll ask for friends who can be close To be with them is so good!

I apromise I’ll be kind and generous I’ll sure be honest and brave But never greedy and envious I’ll keep the world which I gave.

I ask you to give me more knowledge In science and arts which are new And help me to master this language Look forward to hearing from you

Murom school №3 Form 10A Bogdanova Tat’yana, the winner of the contest “Jingle bells” (Tea4er.ru)

Love Tanya.

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How learn to remember: mind maps as the method of systematization of information

by Tolstyh Mikhail

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obody can say for sure how many languages one can master. One thing is known: in the world history there were people, who couldn’t only speak their mother tongue, but had the good command of a large number of foreign languages.

In course of learning English, I come across all kinds of linguistic phenomena borrowed from other languages. Besides, I wonder how some people manage to master several language systems simultaneously.

That’s how I had an idea to find out as much as possible about it. In my work I have found out information about polyglots. I’m interested to know the opinion of scientists about whether or not the ability of learning languages is an inborn feature or one can acquire this skill by intensive training? Interest in the subject or external motivation for the material you are trying to memorize is undoubtedly important but just as important is the way you have to do it. There are a lot of methods of remembering foreign words. Personally I like to learn a language with the help of the Mind Maps, described above. In the practical part of our work we will follow the advice of famous polyglots and psychologists by making “mind maps”. Today people use “mind maps” everywhere: in business and management, at schools, colleges, universities, etc.

We will use “mind maps” for enriching the vocabulary of people who are studying English. The main principle of making our “mind maps” is associative connections based on associations: image – word – pronunciation. Making “mind maps” is a hard process but it’s also exciting. In my opinion, such cards can be useful not only for me but for other people as well. So, we tried to create some elements of a teaching manual aimed at enriching one’s vocabulary on the bases of the “mind maps

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Photography competition “Christmas time” Photography Competitions are a wonderful way to improve your photography. While photography just for the sake of photography is a lot of fun sometimes a competition can help you raise the bar as a photographer as you know your image will be seen by a discerning group of judges and possibly even displayed along with other winners. Photography competitions come in all shapes and sizes and range from online friendly competitions or assignments (like the ones we have in our forums each week) through to local competitions in photography clubs through to international photography competitions entered by pro photographers.

Meet our winners !

The 1st – Polukhanova Dasha The 2nd – Ovsyanikova Nastya The 3rd - Azizova Nastya

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“Christmas is so impermanent”.

THE WINNERS OF THE SCHOOL COMPETITION «LETTERS TO SANTA»

By Kulikova Yuliya Dear Santa!

I am glad to write a letter to you .I know that you get many children’s letters from different countries. I want you to pay attention to my letter too. My name is Juliya. I am thirteen . I am in the seventh form. I am sociable , friendly and cheerful . I have a lot of friends . In my free time we go for a walk and have much fun together. I have a big family :my mum , my father , my sister, me and my cat.

Dear Santa!I know we have little time before New Year comes. Every person waits that his wish will come true . I wish my closet relatives were healthy and happy. I wish my father stayed of home more often and my mum had more free time . I wish all my family spent more time together. I wish all people were happy and there won’t be any war.

Hope to hear from you soon .

Best wishes, Juliya.

By Aleshkina Masha Dear Santa! My name is Masha. I’m 10. I live in Russia, in Kremenki , Kaluga Region . I study in the fifth grade . My favourite lesson is English . I love my school . I have many friends.

I go in for swimming. I study well at school . I’m good at sport. I have been doing great all along this year Dear Santa , thank you for bringing me toys every year. I have got a big family, and I love my nephew so much! I love my parents and always help them.

Dear Santa, how are you and Mrs. Claus doing?

How are your reindeer and elves?

Dear Santa , let my parents be always healthy and wealthy. As for me , I want a nice pencil case .

Sincerely, Masha

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How Christmas is celebrated in different countries.

By Lisitsin Sergey

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hristmas ... Feel lightness, isn’t it? Just remember childhood. You immediately imagine snowfalls at streets, people, giving each other presents ... a great time. Christmas is probably one of the most important (if not the main) and revered holidays. People celebrate Christmas. As a rule, this holiday is inextricably linked with another representative of the “club” one of the most important “- Happy New Year. Many countries have official “Christmas vacation”, usually lasting from December 25 to January 5-7, depending on the country, culture, and of the government, as well. As you know, Christmas is celebrated in different countries on different days: Western Christians celebrate Christmas in late December (usually December 25), and east - in the beginning of January (January 7). Different countries have many differences in the celebration of Christmas. We will not stagnate, as they say. Come on special countries. Germany. The Germans, perhaps like no other, love to decorate their homes for Christmas. By the way, the custom of decorating the Christmas tree and put on the Christmas and New Year has come to us from the Germans, and, custom has pagan roots. Germans are suitable for decoration of houses very carefully, both inside and outside.

Everyone tries to make his house looked beautiful at night and during the day. For this home exterior is decorated with paintings, plastic, and at night it looks really nice. On the door hung a wreath of leaves, which are decorated with candles. Manger where Jesus Christ was born is also an important attribute for decoration “chorus” - many are near their home, their little model. Mandatory condition is good and meat and wine on the festive table. Entree - carp or goose. German Santa Claus is Der Weihnachtsmann. He brings presents late on Christmas Eve and hides them under the tree. Upon detection of gifts, the most important person in the family rings the bell and convenes all the room.France. Christmas for the French is a special holiday. Everywhere - on showcases, in houses - during the holidays, you can see many scenes of Christ’s birth. To create these scenes are special figures (nursery, lambs, puppet clay men), which are called “Santons”. Previously, there was a custom according to which it was decided symbolically burn a log (in memory of the fire, heated Infant Jesus). This custom was transformed into a cake that looks like a piece of wood. It’s called Buche de Noel and served after midnight mass. Favorite dishes of French in this holiday season - baked pig’s head, stuffed goose, turkey with chestnuts, oysters, pate. Local kids know that next to the Peer-Noel (local Santa Claus) is always vigilant Pear Fuettar (literally Grandfather with rods), which, in fact, decide what gift will receive one or another child. It monitors the good and bad deeds, and they determine which baby gift will be waiting under the tree. United Kingdom.

In the UK, as we know, the most valued traditions. Therefore, Christmas is defective, if the queen did not utter a short speech immediately after Christmas dinner.

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efore Christmas dinner the whole family goes to church.

The children wrote a detailed letter to Father Christmas (Father Christmas) with a list of what you want. Further letters have unenviable fate – they are thrown into the fire. The smoke from the chimney takes Wishlist directly to the destination. On the second day of Christmas in Britain is the day of St. Stephen. On this day, opened special donation boxes, and then distribute their content to the needy. Italy. Christmas in the “country-boot” is somewhat different from what we can observe in other countries. The main difference - the little inhabitants of Italy are waiting for gifts from Santa Claus woman, whose name is La Befana. The Italians have a custom that some seem strange: they throw out old furniture, with right out of the window, thereby parting with old problems with faith in a brighter future. And on Christmas table they like to submit acne. Finland. Since 1984, the official home of Santa Claus is in Finnish Lapland. As he had not called - Santa Claus, Santa Claus, Joulupukki (Finnish), a letter of each person on the planet will come exactly here. Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and Christmas tree usually is brought into the house until 24 December. 25 of the whole family busy chores morning decorate the house and tree, in the afternoon - a mandatory visit to the temple. Well, then go to your favorite Finns all, “from small to large,” sauna. Finnish holiday table is a different story. The main drink is mulled wine. The traditional Christmas dish is a special way of cooking and baked ham. To it served carrot or rice porridge, and with a secret. Moreover, in whose plate would be a single almond nut, the whole year will take in absolutely everything. Russia. In the old days, back in czarist Russia, Christmas is celebrated before the New Year. It was believed that the whole Christmas week should be preserved abundance on the table. Menu at the rich peasants all week was this: on the table were necessarily pig’s head, roast pork, rabbit and porridge in a pot in a pumpkin. On Christmas Eve, the Russian people lit bonfires, which was an echo of pagan ideas about the revival of the Sun, which begins with the New Year. Christmas morning, the whole family was supposed to visit the church. In the evening, all gathered around the table, which was exhibited at the Christmas Pudding (oatmeal). During the dinner, the owner opened the door or window and invited frost (not Ded Moroz, and his “great-grandfather” Moroz Vasilyevich) to taste the dish to appease him, and then the frost will not beat the spring of spring bread, cabbage and cucumbers.

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