Christmas in the USA

The United States has such a diversity of cultures and traditions, it is actually quite difficult to say what is uniquely American. Many of the Christmas holiday activities vary from family to family and often depend on the cultural heritage of the family members. A typical Christmas celebration in America mix Irish, Austrian, Polish and Belgian traditions into something that is its own. 

Notwithstanding the variety of cultures and nationalities, there is an 'ideal' Christmas tradition which seems to be accepted by many is that Christmas is a family time with a great deal of travel happening over the holidays. The differing climates of the United States also have an influence on what happens at Christmas time. For some places the idea of a Christmas with a sparkling blanket of snow is perfect, for some planning to spend the day at the beach is ideal while some look forward to warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. 

The Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree plays an important part in the holiday tradition. Often times it is topped by a star to represent the Star of Bethlehem, or by an angel which announces the birth of Christ. Many family trees have ornaments from more than one generation. Often times the heritage of the families are represented by the kind of decorations on the trees. Lights are a must and the more the better. The tree is often placed so that it can be viewed by passers-by in the street. Many living or family rooms are on the street-side in American homes. 

Decorations
Many families also decorate outside of the home with regional traditions and according to the weather. Some form of lighting are often used on the homes and in the yards during the holidays. There are snowmen, Santas, manger scenes, snowflakes, reindeer, and other lighted displays in many neighborhoods. Others outline the architectural features of their homes in lights. There is sometimes a creche placed that represents the stable wherein the Christ child was born and has Mary, Joseph, the Child and various animals in attendance. 

Food
Food plays an important part in the American Christmas. It is often a time of an extended open house with friends dropping by to bring gifts or just to wish everyone a happy holiday. At this time it is appropriate to offer these guests food and beverage, so many homes have a variety of treats prepared in advance for these occasions. Although many families serve a variety of menus for Christmas dinner, the standard fare seems to include turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetables, a salad and some sort of dessert. 

Churches
Various churches play an important part in the American Christmas. Many families feel that it is important to go to church on Christmas. There are also a variety of associated activities such as church dinners, live Nativity scenes, choir concerts, special church services, and a fostering of the spirit of giving to those less fortunate.

Source:
http://www.happywink.org/christmas-day/christmas-in-america.html

Anagrams

Do you like playing with words?
Try to solve these anagrams!
Example: ARE // a part of the head - EAR

1. TOOLS // a seat without a back or arms 
2. MILES // an expression which means that you are pleased 
3. MEAT // a group of players in a competitive game 
4. READ // a person you esteem 
5. DEEPS // velocity 
6. LEADER // a player who gives cards in a game 
7. LISTEN // not making any noise 
8. MASTER // a small, narrow river 
9. TAVERNS // a person that serves others 
10. ADMIRER // not single  

Idioms related to Shopping

Thank God, Christmas is coming!
That means summer, vacation, beach... but before all that, shopping!
Have you shopped for any Christmas presents yet?
Well, to help your English learning, here are some idioms related to shopping:

shop around	If you shop around, you visit a number of shops selling similar articles in order to compare the prices.You can usually save money by shopping around.
shop till you drop	If you shop till you drop, you go shopping for a very long time, until you are exhausted.In Brazil, people usually shop till they drop the day before Christmas.
shopping spree	If you go on a shopping spree, you enjoy a lively outing, usually with much spending of money.Many Brazilias go on a shopping spree as soon as they get their thirteenth salary.
shopping therapy	This term refers to the idea that buying things can make you feel better.A little shopping therapy can usually cheer up some women.
window shopping	When people go window shopping, they look at things in shop windows, without actually purchasing anything.I haven't been paid yet, so I can only go window shopping.

Funny Sentences!

1. I’ll buy you 11 Roses; 10 real and 1 fake. And I’ll love you until the last rose dies.
2. I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect.
3. I stepped on a cornflake, and now I am a cereal killer.
4. Isn’t having a smoking section in a restaurant like having a peeing section in a swimming pool?
5. Future depends on your dreams. So go to sleep.
6. You all laugh because I’m different – I laugh because you’re all the same.
7. Children in backseats cause accidents. Accidents in backseats cause children.
8. Smile, it makes people wonder what you are thinking.
9. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and then used against you.
10. Behind every successful man, there is a woman. And behind every unsuccessful man, there are two or more.

FUN FACTS!

 Match two parts of the sentences to get logical and true statements.

1. An average chocolate bar

2.   It’s impossible to

3.   The youngest pope was

4.   A snail can sleep for

5.   A polar bear’s skin is

6.   A crocodile can’t

7.   “Typewriter”

8.   Starfish

9.   Butterflies

10. Elephants

11. Cats

12. The strongest muscle in your body is

13. “Stewardesses”

A.  have 32 muscles in each ear.

B.  is the longest word that can be typed using the letter on only one row of the keyboard.

C.  3 years.

D.  stick its tongue out.

E.   has 8 insects’ legs in it.

F.   black.

G.  11 years old.

H.  the tongue.

I.    haven’t got brains.

J.  can’t jump.

K. taste with their feet.

L. is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.

M. sneeze with your eyes open.

RIDDLES

Are you good at solving riddles?
Try to answer these before reading the answers!

1. Why did the man throw the butter out the window?

2. Why did the man put the clock in the safe?

3. What has a neck, but no head?

4. How do you spell mousetrap?

5. What can't be used until it's broken? 

6. Do you know why birds fly to south in the winter?

1.    He wanted to see the butterfly.

 2.  He wanted to save time.

3. A bottle.

4.  C-A-T.

5. An egg.

6. Because it's too far to walk there.

A joke for you!

10 inventions by stupid people

1. water proof towel
2. solar powered flashlight
3. submarine screen door
4. a book on how to read
5. inflatable dart board
6. a dictionary index
7. ejector seat in a helicopter
8. powdered water
9. pedal powered wheel chair
10. water proof tea bag 

False Friends

Algumas palavras em inglês são muito parecidas com palavras em português, mas as aparências, às vezes, enganam. Aqui estão algumas delas:

Actually: na verdade, realmente       Nowadays: atualmente
Parents: pais                                      Relatives: parentes
Library: biblioteca                             Bookstore: livraria
Intend: pretender    Pretend: fingir    Understand: entender

Os 7 TRUNFOS para FALAR INGLÊS

1º Trunfo: Muito "Input"

Ouvir pessoas falando Inglês é o primeiro passo para a fluência.
Ouça músicas, assista a filmes e seriados, leia textos, gibis, piadas em Inglês! Existe muito "input" à nossa volta. O ideal seria ter contato com a lìngua inglesa todo dia, nem que seja só escutando música a caminho da escola ou trabalho, ou assistindo ao episódio de um seriado de meia hora.

2º Trunfo: Primeiro a Floresta

Dê menos importância aos detalhes, e veja se consegue compreender o todo. Você pode ter percebido que o professor muitas vezes não corrige todos os erros cometidos pelos alunos enquanto estão tentando falar, pois isso prejudicaria a fluência.

3º Trunfo: Dê Valor ao Ritmo

Concentre sua atenção nos sons, nos ritmos, na entonação. É importante tentar falar de acordo com a sonoridade da língua, para melhorar o sotaque e a compreensão.

4º Trunfo: Mais Linguagem Corporal

Comece a observar as expressões faciais, os gestos, sem se preocupar com o significado de cada palavra.

5º Trunfo: Maximize o que Sabe

Não se concentre tanto no que falta aprender, mas no que você já sabe. Comece a procurar significados a partir do que entende, do que é familiar.

6º Trunfo: Mais Receptividade

Aceite os sons estranhos, as expressões que não tem correspondente em português, questione e analise menos, seja mais intuitivo e instintivo. Seja mais "criança" e menos "adulto"!

7º Trunfo: Relax!
Tente se divertir enquanto aprende. Cometa errossem medo. Tente apenas se comunicar, e dê tempo ao tempo para seu aprendizado.

Try to use these in a conversation this week!

Tenho andado sem tempo ultimamente. = I've been running short of time lately.

Você não pode estar falando sério. = You've gotta be kidding me. or You can't be serious.

Não tem nada a ver. = It doesn't make any sense.

3 MORE SENTENCES

Sorry if I haven't written before, as I had promised.
But here go three more sentences for you:

Sumiu! = It's gone!

Isso já dá. = That does it.

Foi por pouco. / Foi por um triz. = That was close.

P.S.: These sentences are being taken from the book "Como o Americano Diria Isso", by Raul Nobre X. de Almeida.

Como o Americano diria isso?

Hello!

Every week I'll be posting some interesting sentences here for your learning.
Here go the first ones:

Como assim? = What do you mean?
Ele está aprontando alguma coisa. = He's up to something.
Ele cancelou em cima da hora. = He canceled on short notice.

O vencedor (Sr. Walter - Xêro) e a sua amada (Negota) no Pepper Jack!

Negota!

To live is to be happy,

To love you is to find happiness,

To be always by your side is to live happiness to its fullest.

Xêro

VALENTINE ACTIVITY

Fonte: activities-for-kids.net

VALENTINE´S DAY WORD SEARCH

Fonte: activities-for-kids.net

VALENTINE´S DAY ACTIVITY

Fonte: www.classroomjr.com/valentines-day-word-wordsheets/valentines-day-secret-code

HAVE SOME FUN!!

The two letters that form the first word defined below are repeated somewhere in each of the other answers.

Conversation class!!!

Curso Intensivo!

Promoção Dia dos Namorados!!!

Regulamento:

- Somente alunos regularmente matriculados no ano/semestre 2012/1 poderão participar;

- Para concorrer o aluno (a) deverá escrever uma declaração de amor em Inglês;

- As declarações devem ser de autoria própria, assinadas pelo aluno;

- A declaração deverá ter no mínimo 15 palavras;

- Cada aluno só poderá concorrer com uma declaração;

- Só poderão concorrer as declarações escritas corretamente – serão corrigidas pelos professores.

- Todas as declarações deverão ser entregues na secretaria da escola;

- A declaração poderá estar escrita a próprio punho, mas será fundamental que a letra seja legível. Em caso de dúvida, por causa da letra, a declaração será descartada;

- O prazo final para a entrega das declarações é dia 06/06/2012 às 20:00h

- Será feito um sorteio no dia 09/06/2012 às 09:00h na biblioteca da escola com o acompanhamento dos alunos presentes;

- Professores, funcionários e parentes mesmo que alunos não poderão participar;

- A divulgação da promoção será feita no Site, Blog, CCBEU News, Facebook e nas dependências da escola;

- A divulgação da declaração sorteada e o nome do aluno(a), será feita no Site, Blog, CCBEU News, Facebook e nas dependências da escola bem como a foto do ganhador no jantar (se o ganhador autorizar);

- O jantar pode ser marcado entre os dias 11 e 14 de junho de 2012;

- Valor até R$ 120,00; O CCBEU pagará R$ 100,00 e o Restaurante Pepper Jack custeará R$ 20,00.

SIMPLE ARITHMETIC

Add one or more letters before ONE to get the word defined.

- ? + one = something that holds ice cream

- ? + one = part of a skeleton

- ? + one = no longer here

- ? + one = accomplished, finished

- ? + one = without anyone else present

- ? + one = a musical instrument

- ? + one = a rock

- ? + one = a geographical region or area

- ? + one = an identical copy

- ? + one = a chair for a king or queen

- ? + one = an instrument for talking to someone far away

- ? + one = nobody

- ? + one = not any

- ? + one = two

HAVE FUN!!!

BUMPER STICKERS

Bumper stickers are those slogans that you see on the back of cars.

@ I love animals.

@ They taste great.

@ If you can read this, I've lost my trailer.

@ Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.

@ Consciousness: that annoying time between naps.

@ Few women admit their age.

@ Few men act theirs.

@ Lottery: a tax on people who are bad at math.

@ If this sticker is getting smaller, the light is probably green.

@ Save the Earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.

@ Honk if you love peace and quiet.

@ Don't follow me. I'm lost too.

@ I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

@ Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.

@ I have good brakes. Do you have good insurance?

EASTER RIDDLES

Hey everyone!!!

What did the kangaroo say on Easter morning?
Happy Easter!

What kind of beans never grow in a garden?
Jelly beans!

How do rabbits say goodbye to carrots?
It´s been nice growing you!

How do you know carrots are good for your eyes?
Have you ever seen a rabbit with glasses?

What do rabbits get when it rains?
Wet!

How does the Easter Bunny stay in shape?
Lots of eggs-ercise!

How does the Easter Bunny rate the Easter parade?
He said it was egg-cellent!

What side of a rabbit has the most fur?
The outside!

What do you call a rabbit with fleas?
Bugs Bunny!

Hope you have a nice holiday!!
HAPPY EASTER!!

And don´t forget: NO CLASSES ON SATURDAY 7.

Bye!

HIDDEN COLORS - ANSWERS

Hey everyone!!
Here you have the answers:

Find the name of a color hidden in each sentence:

1. Some parts of the face are the eye, eyebrow, nose, cheek, and mouth.
2. I´m not really dumb; lack of sleep made me forget the answers.
3. If I tell you what she said, will you agree never to tell anyone?
4. In the secret box we found a pencil, a pin, keys, stamps, and a few coins.
5. Are three zeros enough to write the number one thousand?
6. The wheelbarrow hit eleven rocks as it rolled down the hill.
7. When the nurse gives you the injection, just yell “ow” if it hurt.
8. Elsa and Otto ran gently down the path to the river.
9. Before you arrive at Kuala Lampur, please fill out the customs form.
10. I play nearly all the stringed instruments; violin, cello, bass viol, etc.
11. When I opened the window, shining rays of sunlight flooded the room.
12. We´ll go in Jim´s car. Let´s leave at six o´clock.

See you soon!
Bye.

FUN TIME!!

Find the name of a color hidden in each sentence:

1. Some parts of the face are the eye, eyebrow, nose, cheek, and mouth.
2. I´m not really dumb; lack of sleep made me forget the answers.
3. If I tell you what she said, will you agree never to tell anyone?
4. In the secret box we found a pencil, a pin, keys, stamps, and a few coins.
5. Are three zeros enough to write the number one thousand?
6. The wheelbarrow hit eleven rocks as it rolled down the hill.
7. When the nurse gives you the injection, just yell “ow” if it hurt.
8. Elsa and Otto ran gently down the path to the river.
9. Before you arrive at Kuala Lampur, please fill out the customs form.
10. I play nearly all the stringed instruments; violin, cello, bass viol, etc.
11. When I opened the window, shining rays of sunlight flooded the room.
12. We´ll go in Jim´s car. Let´s leave at six o´clock.

Ckeck the answers on the weekend!
Bye!

How many words can you make out of the word TOOLS? - ANSWERS

Hey everyone!!!
Here you have the answers.
See you around.
Bye.

- A preposition - TO
- A word meaning “also” – TOO
- A word meaning “implement” – TOOL
- The capital or Normay – OSLO
- British slang for lavatory – LOO
- Goods taken away unlawfully – LOOT
- A poetic word meaning “look” – LO
- A plot of ground – LOT
- Very much – LOTS
- A word meaning “that cannot be found” – LOST
- A song sung by one person – SOLO
- Therefore – SO
- Chimney dirt – SOOT
- A drunk - SOT
- A name for the sun – SOL
- A small narrow opening – SLOT
- Something to sit on – STOOL

LET´S HAVE SOME FUN!

How many words can you make out of the word TOOLS?

Can you find?

- A preposition
- A word meaning “also”
- A word meaning “implement”
- The capital or Normay
- British slang for lavatory
- Goods taken away unlawfully
- A poetic word meaning “look”
- A plot of ground
- Very much
- A word meaning “that cannot be found”
- A song sung by one person
- Therefore
- Chimney dirt
- A drunk
- A name for the sun
- A small narrow opening
- Something to sit on

Check your answers on the weekend!
Bye!

MARCH 8TH - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN´S DAY

Everyone in the world celebrates this special day in honor of women.
Fortunately, today women are having an important and decisive role in the social, economic and political context of every country in the world.
If you want to read more about this important day, check this site:
www.internationalwomensday.com/

Início das aulas.

Início das aulas:

Turmas de sábado – iniciam dia 25/02;
Turmas de segunda-feira – iniciam dia 05/03;
Turmas de terça-feira – iniciam dia 28/02;
Turmas de quarta-feira – iniciam dia 07/03;
Turmas de quinta-feira – iniciam dia 01/03;
Turmas de sexta-feira – iniciam dia 02/03;
Conversação – inicia dia 07/03.

LET´S STUDY AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

HEY EVERYONE!

Wonderful 2012!!!! And now it´s time to study again!!!
Que tal fazer o curso intensivo?? Aí vai ...

Aproveite as férias para acelerar seu inglês.

No curso intensivo você cursa 1 semestre em 3 semanas.

Durante os meses de férias escolares (janeiro, fevereiro, julho), o CCBEU oferece os cursos intensivos.

Programação para 1º semestre de 2012:

Período: de 23/01/2012 a 10/02/2012;
Aulas: 2ª a 6ª feira
Período: Matutino, vespertino ou noturno.
02:30h de aula por dia, totalizando 37 horas de curso.

Proposta:
1 ALUNO
R$ 500,00 em
1 + 1 de R$ 250,00
(mais o material, caso necessário)

2 ALUNOS ou mais
R$ 400,00 (cada) em
1 + 1 R$ 200,00
(mais o material, caso necessário)

OBS:

1 – Não será concedido nenhum desconto sobre esses valores.
2 – O curso intensivo só acontecerá se o horário para a continuação do curso no semestre seguinte estiver de acordo com sua disponibilidade. Consulte-nos!

Que tal?? Aproveitem!!

Bye!