Yule / Winter Solstice

Being born on one of the longest days of the year, I am restless and gloomy till the winter solstice, but celebrating midwinter and the longest night…

On the 22^nd of December, Yule had been celebrated, marking the winter solstice. This represents the depth of winter and for some this is the time of death and also of birth, for at this point the Sun begins to make the return journey and the days begin to lengthen. 

All Christmas customs celebrate the return of light in some way and the advent (the coming) of the Magical Child. Many religions mark the birth of a divine child, at some point. That is why it is often said that Christmas is a ‘time for children’ and children are showered with gifts.

Evergreen trees are sacred for they retain their greenery all year around, as opposed to deciduous trees, whose leaves die. Almost everyone has a Christmas tree, decorated with brilliant baubles and ornaments that catch the light and seem to conjure the return of the sun. Some decorate their houses with holly and mistletoe. It is said that mistletoe is sacred to the Sun but also to the Moon, because the berries are moon-white. It is a beautiful way of Christmas to kiss beneath the mistletoe for fertility and happiness.

The Sun enters Capricorn, Earth sign of the goat. The goat is a great climber, and the Sun now climbs in the sky. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn: although known for discipline, there is another side to Capricorn that is lusty, playful and wild.

Most times all Christian celebrations retain a little from a heathen past, because in the old times the transition toward Christianity had been swifter on condition the well known patterns of pagan ways were preserved.
Abridged

Web: www.cursinengleza.ro I www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro
Tel: 0722.841.053
E-mail: contact@engleza-de-afaceri.ro.

 

Halloween

Halloween is upon us :).

The origins of the celebration date back hundreds of years ago to the Druid festival of Samhain, Lord of the Dead and Prince of Darkness, who, according to Celtic belief, gathered up the souls of all those who died during the year to present them to Druid Heaven on October 31st.
The Druid New Year began on November 1st, marking the beginning of winter and the reign of the Lord of Death. The Druids called upon supernatural forces to placate the evil spirits, and it is from that tradition that modern Halloween gets the paraphernalia of ghosts, goblins, witches, skeletons, cats, masks and bonfires.
As Christianity replaced the pagan religions, the church set aside November 1^st to honor all saints (all-hallows) and called it All Hallows’ Day. The evening before November 1^st became All Hallows’ Even, later shortened to Halloween.

The jack-o-lantern, most typical of Halloween symbols began with the Irish. According to legend, a man named Jack, who was kept out of Heaven because he was stingy and expelled from Hell for playing tricks on the Devil, was condemned to walk the earth forever carrying a lantern to light his way. In Ireland the jack-o-lanterns were made by hollowing out large potatoes or turnips. During the 1840s, the Irish took their ways and celebrations to the States and pumpkins started being used instead of turnips, due to practical reasons. A candle burning inside makes the merry face of the “Trick or Treat goer” visible from far away on a dark night and the pulp makes delicious pumpkin pie.

The lantern was also used to frighten away roaming spirits by those who walked out into the night. Another meaning is that in the darkness, light continues hidden in the tubers, seeds, dormant under the earth but still glowing, like the candle in the pumpkin.

For the Celts, Samhaim was also the start of the story-telling season by candlelight.

Most times all Christian celebrations retain a little from a heathen past, because in the old times the transition toward Christianity had been swifter on condition the well known patterns of pagan ways were preserved.

Abridged.

Web: www.cursinengleza.ro I www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro
Tel: 0722.841.053
E-mail: contact@engleza-de-afaceri.ro.

Cursuri engleza de afaceri

The first courses for the advanced business English classes relate to Corporate Culture. As I have written previously in my articles about the syllabuses for legal English, for this type of English courses, introducing, understanding and using the new vocabulary in context is of utmost importance.

The people who know me and my "method" are aware of the fact that I reject memorizing. Basically I hate learning by heart due to the fact that I have had to "perform" this on various occasions during my years of study and I still fail to see the results. So I always appreciate from my students (and not only) the ability to make use of their imagination and also to use the new vocabulary in contexts that they themselves create.
For example try  to use these phrases in context: "sink or swim", "red tape", "bonus", "perk", "incentive", "bill of exchange", "yardstick", "streamlining".

OK, I admit, it is very easy to google them, but in most cases what you get is not all the time reliable.
To be continued.

 

Contact:

• Web: www.cursinengleza.ro I www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro
• Tel: 0722.841.053
• E-mail: contact@engleza-de-afaceri.ro sau englezadeafaceri@gmail.com

 

Engleza de afaceri/ Negotiating

START ENGLISH. Watch, listen, speak. Tips and tricks about English. (www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro)

In my previous article here I have introduced ways of negotiating a contract from a legal point of view.

In this piece I will try to expand upon negotiating techniques in general, not necessarily for contracts.

First and foremost try to separate the issues at stake in categories: things you cannot accept, major points, minor points and things you can easily live without. Then you can make trades with the other side, one item for another. This is also known as “horse-trading”. So, you are willing to change something or to offer something, provided the other side does the same for you and offers a provision that you want.

When it comes to discussing numbers, let the other party suggest the first number. In case of a sales contract or when negotiating your salary, it is known that the first number the other side mentions is usually the least he expects to pay. On the other hand, negotiating numbers is all the time a tricky issue, mostly because neither party is willing to mention it first.

I will enlarge upon this topic in one of my future articles next week. 

Contact:

Web: www.cursinengleza.ro I www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro
Tel: 0722.841.053
E-mail: contact@engleza-de-afaceri.ro.

Invata engleza/Cursuri de engleza juridica

START ENGLISH. Watch, listen, speak. Tips and tricks about English.

(www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro)

I have received many requests for legal English courses, as well as many questions about the development and the syllabuses for these courses, so I would like to present some facts.

Firstly, in order to attend these courses, your level of knowledge should be at least B1, meaning pre-intermediate. If your level is pre-intermediate, you should apply for the first type of legal English courses and the textbook is Introduction to International Legal English. 
If your level is C1, meaning advanced, your textbook will be International Legal English , which is also suitable for the preparation for the International Legal English Certificate (ILEC).

If you are not sure about your level your knowledge, we offer preliminary tests, which are for free. The tests can take place at your office, if you are a legal person, or at our office, if you are an individual person. We also organize on-line courses and testing through Skype.

About the development and structure of the courses, I should mention that one of the most difficult aspect related to the legal English courses is the new vocabulary. We all the time present the new vocabulary in context and we explain the new words through examples and case studies. For example I have introduced in my previous paragraph two items, legal person and individual person. I do trust you have understood them.
I will come up with more details about the International Legal English Certificate and the development of my courses.



Contact:

Web: www.cursinengleza.ro I www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro
Tel: 0722.841.053
E-mail: contact@engleza-de-afaceri.ro.

St Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day, February 14^th, is sweetheart’s day – when people in love express their affection for each other in merry ways. But in whatever form, the message is the same: “Will you be my valentine?”

The custom of celebrating St Valentine’s Day can be traced to those festivals called Lupercalia. There were games and dancing and then each young man drew from an urn the name of the young maiden who would be his sweetheart for the coming year. February 14^th, the Roman date of the festival, thus became a day for young lovers. After the introduction of Christianity, pagan customs were suppressed (or redefined), but the festival continued, and in the seventh century it began to be called St Valentine’s Day.

The origin of the name remains in doubt. Some historians link it to Valentine who became the patron saint of lovers after he was imprisoned by the Emperor Claudius for secretly marrying couples contrary to the Emperor’s orders. Others say the name is a corruption of the French word “galantin” (a gallant or beau). And one further theory is that February 14 was chosen because birds traditionally began to mate on that very day.

Whatever the origin, Valentine’s Day has had a long and romantic history. The Roman conquerors carried the celebration to England, where pagan and Christian customs combined to form some of the enduring traditions. One was that the first person you saw on Valentine’s Day would be your valentine.

St Valentine’s Day with all of its colorful lore was taken to the New World by the English settlers and lost none of its romantic appeal through the journey.

As for myself, instead of “butchering” an innocent daisy, I would always take my chances with a valentine.

Nevertheless, I am keener on the Romanian Love Celebration, coming right up on the 24^th.

Abridged 

Web: www.cursinengleza.ro I www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro
Tel: 0722.841.053
E-mail: contact@engleza-de-afaceri.ro.

Imbolc

Imbolc is a heathen celebration held on the 1^st or on the 2^nd of February. It is the first celebration heralding the coming of spring with snowy winds, misty blizzards and delicate snowdrops.

More than a month has passed since the 22^nd of December, the winter solstice and the sun prolongs its journey to the world. 

Imbolc is the feast of the poets and their flame of creativity is celebrated. The goddess Brigid is especially honored at this time. One of the customs is the making of a Bridie Doll by dressing up a sheaf of oats in women’s clothing and later placing it in the earth.This has links with fertility rites.

More about Imbolc and the catholic celebration of Candlemass which replaced it, you can find here.

I have added a picture of late winter or early spring also being taken at my favorite spot in Bucharest, The Village Museum.

Web: www.cursinengleza.ro I www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro
Tel: 0722.841.053
E-mail: contact@engleza-de-afaceri.ro.

Invata engleza

START ENGLISH. Watch, listen, speak. Tips and tricks about English.

Speak English or Start English for 300 lei a month.

Nu ezitati sa va imbunatatiti abilitatile de limba engleza, in mod special cele de comunicare, abilitati pe care le veti folosi la cursurile noastre.

ENGLEZA IN COMUNICARE

Aceste cursuri intensive se bazeaza exclusiv pe conversatie in limba engleza. Cursul urmeaza o programa specifica nivelului de cunoastere al cursantilor, programa care include si elemente de gramatica si vocabular care se introduc si se analizeaza in conversatie. Programa, de asemenea, urmareste dezvoltarea abilitatilor de comunicare in limba engleza in orice situatie sau context. Aceste curs incurajeaza comunicarea exclusiva in limba engleza, permit dezvoltarea vocabularului si a intelegerii unui mesaj vorbit, sunt utile nu numai din punct de vedere al exprimarii corecte si a fluentei in limba engleza, dar si in vederea sustinerii examenelor internationale IELTS, CAMBRIDGE, ILEC, TOEFL, pentru care ponderea testelor de speaking este foarte importanta.

ENGLEZA PENTRU INCEPATORI

La sfarsitul acestui curs de engleza veti putea sa intelegeti si sa scrieti propozitii si fraze simple. Veti putea sustine conversatii simple bazate pe temele aflate in programa acestui curs, conversatii in care veti folosi adecvat trei timpuri verbale, pluralele substantivelor, gradele de comparatie ale adjectivelor, pronumele la diferite cazuri, adverbe, cateva forme de viitor.

Manual: Face2face Starter

ENGLEZA PENTRU NIVELUL MEDIU

La sfarsitul acestui curs de engleza veti putea sa va exprimati in situatii mai dificile, sa participati in conversatii cu grad de complexitate mai mare, veti putea citi si intelege texte de dificultate marita. Asimilarea cuvintelor noi se face progresiv si in context. Veti putea folosi adecvat timpurile verbale, propozitiile conditionale,verbele modale si veti putea reda dialoguri in vorbire indirecta.

Manual: Face2face Elementary

ENGLEZA PENTRU NIVELUL MEDIU PLUS (pre-intermediate )

Acest curs de engleza va va da posibilitatea sa purtati o conversatie fluenta cu vorbitori nativi si non-nativi pe orice tema, sa intelegeti un text complex, sa scrieti texte cu un grad ridicat de complexitate. Focusul acestui curs este asimilarea de vocabular nou, care va fi prezentat si exersat in conversatie si alte activitati interactive.

Manual: Face2face Pre-Intermediate

ENGLEZA PENTRU AVANSATI

La sfarsitul acestui curs de engleza veti putea sustine o conversatie fluenta si cu grad ridicat de dificultate cu orice tip de vorbitor nativ sau non­-nativ. Veti intelege expresii idiomatice, verbe cu particula (phrasal verbs) si alte constructii mai putin comune ale limbii. Veti putea intelege orice mesaj vorbit si scris, veti putea scrie texte clare şi bine structurate. La terminarea acestui curs de engleza puteti opta pentru inscrierea la cursuri de pregatire pentru certificatele internationale Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL sau ILEC.

Manual: Face2face Intermediate

Tariful pentru un curs de engleza generala de 24 ore(modul minim/curs intensiv) este 432 lei. Programul cursurilor este stabilit de comun acord.

ENGLEZA PENTRU EXAMENE

Organizam cursuri de pregatire pentru examenele Cambridge FCE, CAE, testul IELTS, testul TOEFL, Certificatul International de Engleza Juridica  (ILEC), cursuri de pregatire pentru examenul International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE) si pentru examenul de engleza de afaceri Cambridge BEC. Mai multe informatii gasiti pe pagina Engleza pentru examene.

Va asteptam!

Web: www.cursinengleza.ro I www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro
Tel: 0722.841.053
E-mail: contact@engleza-de-afaceri.ro.

Sample test for the Internet-Based TOEFL

START ENGLISH. Watch, listen, speak. Tips and tricks about English.

This test includes sample tasks for the TOEFL Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). The skills for the Internet-Based TOEFL are READING, LISTENING, SPEAKING and WRITING.

The sample test will be dedicated to the Speaking and the Writing Sections.


SPEAKING SECTION

The Speaking section tests your ability to communicate in English in an academic setting. During the test, you will be presented with six speaking questions. The questions ask for a response to a single question, a conversation, a talk or a lecture.

Question

1. Describe an ideal marriage partner. What qualities do you think are most important for a husband or wife? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choices.

Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Recording Time: 45 seconds


2. Some people like to watch the news on television. Other people prefer to read the news in a newspaper. Still others use their computers to get the news. How do you prefer to be informed about the news and why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Recording Time: 45 seconds


3. Independent Speaking Question 1 “A Birthday’’

Listen to a question about a familiar topic.

Question

Explain how birthdays are celebrated in your country. Use specific examples and details in your explanation.

Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Recording Time: 45 seconds


4. Independent Speaking Question 2 “Course Requirements”

Listen to a question that asks your opinion about a familiar topic.

Question

Some students would rather write a paper than take a test. Other students would rather take a test instead of writing a paper. Which option do you prefer and why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Recording Time: 45 seconds


WRITING SECTION

The writing section tests your ability to write essays in English similar to those that you would write in college courses.

There will be 2 essays during the test. The sample test for the TOEFL iBT is dedicated to the second essay or the independent essay. You will have 30 minutes to plan, write and revise your response. Typically, a good essay for the independent topic will require that you write 300-350 words.


INDEPENDENT ESSAY: Family Pets

Question

Read and think about the following statement:

Pets should be treated like family members.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons to support your opinion.



Organizam cursuri de pregatire pentru atestatul TOEFL la sediul nostru sau la sediile companiilor beneficiare. Oferim 10% reducere pentru cursurile de engleza organizate dimineata. Oferim 100 de lei reducere daca aduceti un prieten la cursurile noastre.


Web: www.cursinengleza.ro I www.engleza-de-afaceri.ro
Tel: 0722.841.053
E-mail: contact@engleza-de-afaceri.ro.