Archiwum miesięczne: Czerwiec 2014

Three Questions to… a Cross-Cultural Trainer

Three Questions to… a Cross-Cultural Trainer

As part of our new series, we will ask three questions to several people active in different fields of life: business, culture, entertainment and more! ___________ Today we catch up with Izabela Markiewicz, a cross-cultural trainer! 1) What do you do? I am business trainer and consultant specialising in international, cross-cultural settings. I work with multinational organisations, multicultural teams, individuals from different countries and cultures, and help them to increase cultural competency. I train clients in the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively in a culturally diverse environment. For example when you leave…Czytaj dalej …

Technology and the World Cup

The World Cup is well under way. And since here at English Matters there is nothing we like more than football and technology, we will take a look at some the cutting-edge technologies making headlines in Brazil. Goal-line technology Football is a great game, and people get very emotional about it. Billions of dollars are invested worldwide on making it as entertaining as possible. Ultimately what it boils down to is the number of goals scored. A new automated technology is now helping referees ascertaining exactly when the ball enters the goal area,…Czytaj dalej …
Hello, My Name Is… Edson Arantes do Nascimento

Hello, My Name Is… Edson Arantes do Nascimento

I was born on the 21st of October, 1940, and it wasn't much later that I first started kicking a football around in my native Brazil. My mother named me after the American inventor, Thomas Edison, who successfully introduced lightbulbs into homes around the world. I was given my nickname in school, when my friends made fun of the way I pronounced the name of my favourite footballer, Bilé. My childhood was a poor one, but I found solace in kicking a newspaper-stuffed sock around the sandy ground of my hometown. Although I…Czytaj dalej …
Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of Champions

The first meal of the day is the one most people skip. We seem to be too busy to eat breakfast, and opt instead to grab a quick coffee and sandwich (if even that) on our way out of the door. However, a good breakfast is considered the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle, helping kickstart our metabolism for the day which lies ahead. Now admittedly there are many healthy options for breakfast. Cottage cheese, some fruit, and/or corn flakes can give that much-needed boost of energy without being too heavy. But everyone (and…Czytaj dalej …
The World According to Facebook

The World According to Facebook

Almost everyone has a Facebook account. It's ubiquitous among teenagers and professionals alike. Hundreds of thousands of companies around the world try to market their products through the popular social-networking website. And while its nice to laugh at videos of babies or sweet kittens, Facebook is also a source of interesting information. Here are just a few of the fun things we at English Matters have learnt over the past week! Posting babies Sending babies by US Post was not illegal in 1913 America. Children would have stamps attached to their clothes and…Czytaj dalej …
World Cup Fever

World Cup Fever

This June, we will be dedicating some time to the FIFA World Cup being held in Brazil. So expect a number of blog posts about the world's most popular sport this month. Let's kick off our series on the subject of football (or, as our US friends call it, soccer) with some interesting trivia about the world's most popular sport. There are an estimated 3.3-3.5 billion fans of football worldwide. Only seven countries have won the World Cup since it began in 1930: Brazil (a total of five times), Italy (four), Germany (three), Argentina and Uruguay (two each),…Czytaj dalej …
The Quick – listening comprehension

The Quick – listening comprehension

Brace yourself for a listening comprehension! Below is an audiobook excerpt from The Quick, the debut book by mystery writer Lauren Owen. The book is already a bestseller and critics have fallen in love with her first work, about a poet who disappears without a trace in Victorian England. Publishers Weekly said The Quick is “Seductive... extraordinarily polished... a book for readers to lose themselves in.” What to do: Read the questions below. Then listen to the audio, paying attention to the time code at the end of each question. Once the excerpt…Czytaj dalej …

English class comedy

Hello, and happy Monday to all of you! Did you ever wonder that some students make really funny mistakes when they are learning English as a Second Language (ESL)? Well one English comedy group though so, and made a little sketch about it! Hope it will make you giggle and be a good way to start your week!Czytaj dalej …
The world’s greatest polymaths

The world’s greatest polymaths

In English Matters 46/2014, there was an interesting article about Vanessa-Mae, a one-time child prodigy who excels in many areas. She is a virtuoso violin player and recently surprised the world by competing in the Sochi Winter Olympics. But she is not the only person who is particularly good in more than one area. Such people are called polymaths, and history has had a few. Renaissance men Perhaps the most famous of the polymaths is Leonardo da Vinci, who was a marvel, even at a time when artists shone in several areas of…Czytaj dalej …