Ibrahim Mohamed
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Our Class
Ibrahim Mohamed
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Looking for Work
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Scam
Has anyone offered to give you money before for nothing? I have been offered to get 1.6 million dollars from someone that I don't know. I got an email a few weeks ago and someone offered to send me 8 million dollars if I give him my bank account details.Sergeant James Rigney.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The iPod
The year 2001 saw the release of a small MP3 player called the iPod. The iPod is an MP3 music player produced by a company called Apple. Apple is one of the world’s biggest computer manufacturers. It is known for its iconic computer brand the Apple Macintosh.Soon afterwards, the iPod became the most popular device for storing and playing digital music. Before the iPod, people used to carry a small cassette player called a Walkman if they wanted to listen to music on the go. The Walkman was made by Sony and it had two problems. It was bulky and it used many batteries.
The iPod revolutionized the way people listened to music. Apple released a few updated versions of the iPod and now it is less and less expensive. It now comes in different colours, designs and prices. It is also more powerful than before. You can watch video and save audio files and take pictures on your iPod.
With the release of the iPod, it became easy for people to download MP3 music files from the internet and store and play them anywhere.
The iPod works well with Apple’s music software which is called iTunes. iTunes manages music files on a computer and on an iPod too. Apple also uses its iTunes web site to sell music that people can download to your iPod. Apple has sold more than one billion songs– more than its rival Sony - thanks to the iPod.
Many illegal music downloads are made every day on the internet through file sharing web sites. Music experts estimate that only one in twenty songs downloaded from the internet is paid for. The other nineteen sound files are illegally downloaded.
Apple sold more than a hundred million iPods in a very short time. Seeing that Apple made so much money from iPod sales, cheaper MP3 players appeared on the market and were sold for less than a quarter of the iPod’s price. They were mainly made in China, Korea and Singapore. The quality of these products did not come anywhere near the quality of the iPod.
Schools realized that many students were using them and teachers designed MP3 files to give more help to their students. Students can go on the internet and download school sound files and learn at home.
As many people like to listen to loud music for very long times there are some health concerns about the effect the iPod has on hearing. Also when one man crossing a street was killed in New York while listening to his iPod on full volume, there were calls to ban using the iPod while walking.
Whatever people think, the iPod and new technology have become part and parcel of our everyday life.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Street Brawl
Duty Superintendent Ian Holmes said more than a dozen people were involved in the brawl and there were about 200 people watching.
Police arrived minutes after they were notified and saw that about 25 young people were fighting with bottles and knives.
Police said that some youth used their mobile phones to get their friends to take part in the fight.
Police used trained dogs to break up the fight. They also used OC spray on those who didn’t obey orders to stop the fight.
A number of arrests were made and two police officers were injured but are in stable conditions. One of the officers was hit in the head and fell unconscious. The other was knocked down on the ground and kicked by a small number of youth. He had a bruised arm and his mouth was bleeding.
Police took control of the situation after additional officers were called in and a police helicopter monitored the situation from above.
A witness said that most of the people involved in the fight were drinking at a nearby nightclub and they went out in the street and started the fight. The situation came under control soon after the police arrived.
Police are collecting footage from security cameras from nearby businesses to see how the fight started.
Four young people will face court tomorrow charged with possessing drugs and illegal weapons.
- How many people took part in the brawl?
- What time did the brawl take place?
- What did the witness say?
- How many people will face court tomorrow?
- Where did the police helicopter monitor the situation from?
- Where were the young people before the fight started?
- Were they drinking before they started the fight?
- What did the police use to break up the fight?
- What did the young people use in their fight?
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Asthma
Some people find it very difficult to breathe. They start to cough when they run for a short distance or start playing sports. They have a medical condition called asthma. Asthma is a chronic medical condition. This means that it stays for a long time. It affects more than 17 million Americans (three to four percent of the population). In Australia there are about two million people who have asthma. One out of four children has asthma. Some children grow out of it when they grow up. Those children who don't frow out of it will suffer for the rest of their lives.
What are the Major Triggers of Asthma?
Asthma can be triggered by numerous factors, including allergens from dust, molds, pollen, animals, and, occasionally, food; air pollutants, such as cigarette smoke, auto exhaust, smog, or aerosol cleaners; colds and, particularly, respiratory infections; weather changes; exercise; or certain medications.
How Many Americans are Affected by Food-Triggered Asthma?Food-triggered asthma is rare, occurring only among six to eight percent of children with asthma and less than two percent of adults with asthma.
Can Foods Trigger Asthma?
Only a few. For years it has been suspected that foods or food ingredients may cause or exacerbate symptoms in those with asthma. After many years of scientific and clinical investigation, there are very few confirmed food triggers of asthma. Sulfites and sulfiting agents in foods (found in dried fruits, prepared potatoes, wine, bottled lemon or lime juice, and shrimp), and diagnosed food allergens (such as milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish) have been found to trigger asthma. Many food ingredients such as food dyes and colors, food preservatives like BHA and BHT, monosodium glutamate, aspartame, and nitrite, have not been conclusively linked to asthma.
What can you do to prevent a food-triggered asthma attack?
The best way to avoid food-induced asthma is to avoid the offending food or food ingredient from the diet or from the environment. Reading ingredient information on food labels and knowing where food triggers of asthma are found are the best defenses against an asthma attack. The main objectives of controlling asthma for people are to stay healthy, remain symptom free, enjoy food, to exercise, use medications properly, and to follow the care plan developed by the doctor.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
First Day at Work
If you are not sure about doing something, stop and ask the people around you. The first day on the job is the most dangerous one for all workers. They have to learn how machines operate and what to do in an emergency. Make sure the place you work at is safe for you and for the people who work with you.
Take your lunch with you in a lunchbox. The company that you will work for will not provide you with food to eat. They may provide you with tea and coffee only. Sometimes they may provide employees with biscuits. Other companies provide workers with hot and cold water only. It depends what company you work for. When you take your food to work, make sure you don't take food that has a strong smell. This will put off other workers who are in the same lunch room with you.
Remember the security code for the doors you will be using. Don't write the security codes down in your notebook. Other people may find them and gain access.
Ask about internal telephone numbers that you may need to use while working. Write down these numbers and try to remember them.
Try to remember the names of the people you will be working with. Have friendly conversations with them and avoid talking about politics or religions.
It is important to let other people have a good first impression about you. You don't want them to think that you are lazy or slow. It is good to smile when you meet strangers at work. Smiling is contagious. This means that when you smile, others will smile too.
Working Bee
In doing so, schools save a lot of money. They don't need to hire tradespeople to do these jobs. The money saved is spent on buying new computers or new books that the students can use. Sometimes schools use the money to hire new teachers and keep class sizes small.
For parents, this is a good time to meet other parents and make new friends. They share food together. They also share smiles.
Sometimes schools ask parents to pay some money if they can't come to the working bee day. This money is to hire a person to do some work around the school. Normally parents who are extremely busy prefer to buy the money and not go.
Most teachers normally attend these working days. They work hand in hand with other parents to make schools more appealing to students. Sometimes students like to help their parents and they go with them on the working bee day. Families get to know other families and share smiles.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Nancy Bird Walton

At the age of 18 she was learning to fly, under the tuition of Charles Kingsford-Smith. Nancy was among the first of his pupils at his Sydney flying school. She only needed cushions to reach the rudder pedals.
Nancy had no intention of flying just for sport, which was a common motivation among women pilots at the time. It was to earn a living and flying became her chosen career. She became the first woman pilot in the Commonwealth to get a commercial certification to carry passengers. Her family bought her first aircraft, a De Havilland Gipsy Moth. Nancy and a friend, Peggy, set off on a tour giving joy rides at country shows where many people had never seen an aircraft, let alone a woman pilot.
On tour, she met Rev. Stanley Drummond, who persuaded her to join a flying medical service in outback Australia. With a better equipped aircraft she worked for the Flying Doctor Service in remote parts of New South Wales.
In 1936 Nancy won the Ladies' Trophy in the Adelaide-Brisbane Air Race. After four years in the outback, she took a break, accepting an offer from a Dutch airline to do promotional work. She returned to Australia just before World War II began and undertook training to back up the men flying in the RAAF.
In 1950 Nancy founded the AWPA (Australian Women Pilots Association). The AWPA celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2000 with a dinner at a restaurant near Adelaide, SA, attended by Nancy herself and sixty or so pilots in powered flight, gliding, ballooning - with hardly a man present. In 1966 she was awarded the Order of the British Empire.
Source: http://www.australiansatwork.com.au/bird/bird_en7-8.php
Monday, August 24, 2009
Culture Shock
Let me give you some examples of cultural shocks. When I first came here to live in Australia, my first culture shock was that men and women were kissing in public. I saw them kissing inside trams, trains and buses. To me this was a big culture shock. In my country it is a private thing. You see it only in the cinema or on TV but not in everyday life. Another culture shock was that in Australia drivers drive on the left side of the road. In my country and in many other countries drivers drive on the right.
Another shock for me was that gambling and prostitution were allowed and the media promoted them. A culture shock for me was to see that the Australian TV shows sex scenes in movies after 8.30 at night. Some people can't overcome their culture shock and decide to go back to their countries. They give up very quickly. After a few years, the culture shock becomes less and less shocking. People decide to ignore it and live with it. It becomes part of everyday life. It does not mean that people accept what happens as right.
When Australians travel overseas they get many culture shocks. They complain that the streets in many countries are not as clean as the ones in Australia. They complain about road safety and food hygiene. They complain about cities being crowded or messy. They complain about not being allowed to kiss in public because it is not allowed in the country they are visiting to kiss in such a way. Can you think of any culture shocks that an Australian may get if he or she visits your country? Email your text to me and I will put it on this blog. Thanks.
The Law in Australia
Here are some of the rules applied on Australian roads:
In Australia we drive on the left side of the road. A driver must wear a seat belt or get a big fine. If you've been drinking alcohol - don't drive. Arrange for someone else to drive you home or take a taxi. Strict drink/driving laws apply. Get familiar with the speed limits as they are enforced more strictly in Australia than in many countries. Mobile phones are not for use while driving – you can get a fine. Fatigue can cause car accidents and people may get killed. If you feel tired or sleepy, stop your car and take a nap.
Drink / Drug Driving Laws
Under no circumstances should you drive while under the influence of alcohol in Australia. Police conduct random tests along major routes, both in cities and in the country. Drink driving offences are considered serious. Penalties include demerit points, license suspension, hefty fines, and imprisonment.
In Australia, a blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.05% applies in all States and Territories. Special limits may apply to certain driver types, such as learner drivers, public taxi and bus drivers, heavy vehicle and dangerous goods drivers. Random drug testing is also in place in Tasmania.
Tobacco, Drugs and Alcohol Laws
It is illegal to sell, lend, give or supply any tobacco product to, or for the use of, any child. Tobacco can only be sold to a person over 18 years of age. Smoke-free areas were established under the Public Health Act 1997. It is not permitted to smoke in all indoor public places. This includes offices, shopping centres, factories, hospitals, bars, gaming areas, restaurants, corridors, toilets, function rooms and movie theatres.
There are penalties for people who smoke in smoke free areas.
Smoke-free vehicle law - bans smoking in vehicles carrying children under the age of 18. A $120 infringement notice can be issued on the spot for the offence.
Drugs
It is illegal to posses, sell, grow or import cannabis (marijuana). This also applies to amphetamine, heroin, ecstasy, cocaine and opium poppies
Alcohol
It is illegal to supply alcohol to those under 18 years of age.
It is illegal to drink or posses an open container of alcohol in a public street. This does not stop you enjoying a picnic in a park or partying on a beach where council by-laws permit. This law is aimed at anti-social behaviour that impinges on the rights of other members of the community.
Source: http://www.police.tas.gov.au/security_and_safety/information_for_visitors
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Studying in China
When Chinese students come to study in Australia, they get a culture shock. They find it strange that Australian students call their teachers by their names without saying Mr or Mrs. Many things that Australian students do in class seem very strange to them like the way they sit around tables in class and work together most of the time.
There are computer labs, projectors, speakers and TVs for students to use at schools. Students use them twice a week. They also have internet access.
Classes normally have about 60 students but this does not mean that there are always behaviour problems. Most schools have 1500 students in average. A few students sometimes sleep in class while the lesson is going on. This is quite common in China. Teachers don't get angry about this.
Most schools are public but there are few private ones because they are normally expensive. Private schools are only found in big cities.
Few foreign teachers work in high schools. Most foreign teachers work in universities.
Gifted students can finish their education early. They get scholarships to study overseas in America and Europe.
Chinese students spend a lot of time at school. They start their school day at 7.00 am and finish at 6 o’clock in the evening. They have two hours break every day. They play basketball, football and table tennis. They eat their lunch and dinner at school. They can bring their food from home or buy it at school. Chinese students go to school 5 or 6 days a week. They also have a lot of homework to do at home. Sunday is normally weekend for school students in China.
They learn music, sport, maths and English. Most students do a lot of study during the weekend too. Students use set books to learn.
Teaching is considered a good job in China nowadays. Teachers get about 700 dollars a month. This is an average salary in China. Not long ago the government used to offer free housing to certain employees including teachers but this is not the case any more. Students normally work alone in the class. They don’t discuss what teachers say. They always think that the teacher is always right. They rarely work in a group.
Students have to wear school uniforms and normally need to pay for them. School uniforms are expensive and students complain about their quality. Some good schools charge money from students who don’t live in the local area. Parents have to donate money to the school before a student starts studying there.
Virtual Schools
Nowadays you don’t have to go to school in order to learn. Some students are looking for a different way to complete their study in different ways other than having to go to school daily. This has caused a revolution in online education. The good thing about it is that it can offer an individualized program to address student’s learning needs. They can choose from hundreds of online courses and learning options through studying at a virtual school. They can do accredited online diplomas and degrees.
Different schools and universities offer many of these courses now starting from year 1 to year 12 or even give students a chance to get a university qualification online.
The biggest advantage of doing such courses is that online schools are open 24/7 -365 days a year. Students can also gain qualifications that are not available in their own countries. They can do a course that is not available in their own countries without having to travel overseas.
While it is necessary for students to start their study on certain dates, they can start their online education whenever they want when it comes to studying online at a virtual school.
All you need to start your online virtual study is to have a computer and an internet connection at home. Students should also have some computer skills in word processing, surfing and downloading files from the net and using email.
In an online course there is always a great deal of communication via email and phone calls between schools, students, and teachers. Students always get weekly course updates and email messages from teachers. A newsletter can also be sent to parents to inform them on what is going on in the course.
Parents can see how their child is doing in his course by having a look at his grades online at any time. Parents can email teachers if they have any concerns regarding their child’s education. If a student is not getting enough marks, the parents will be notified by the teachers who always contact them via the telephone first to suggest how to help the student to catch up with his study.
The bad thing about virtual online study is that it does not develop any social skills like a normal classroom where students make friends and have face-to-face interactions with others. There is also no chance for them to make friends or take part in sports activities. It is all about learning and nothing else. Some students become addicted to using computers. Computers seem to control their lives. This makes them isolated from real life but still people can't live without computers.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Murder in Court in Germany
Pharmacist - a person who is skilled in preparing medicine
I went to the pharmacy to buy some medicine. I gave the prescription to the pharmacist and he gave me the medicine a few minutes later on.
Outing - a pleasure trip
We went to the country to have a break from work. We went on an outing to the country.
Abuse - say unkind words to someone
Insult - speak in a way that hurts someone
religion - faith
Attract - get the attention of people
The film attracted many people and many went to the cinema to watch it.
Scholarship = payment of money to someone to continue studying
My sister got a scholarship at the Uinversity of Melbourne to study medicine.
The thirty-three-year-old woman took him to court and a judge ordered him to pay 750 Euros compensation to the victim. The man was outraged and appealed the ruling. He went to court for the second time. In court the man produced a knife and stabbed her 18 times in front of her husband and three-year-old son. The husband tried to defend her but he got stabbed by the attacker. He was also shot three times by a policeman who thought the husband was the attacker.
The criminal case shocked everyone in the Middle East and attracted much attention. People in the victim’s hometown of Alexandria were angry because the case had very little media coverage in Germany and was never mentioned on TV. They argued that if the attacker had been Muslim, the case would have made headlines around the globe. Senior Egyptian and German officials attended the funeral in Alexandria with thousands of mourners. Police in Germany didn't release the identity of the attacker and only said that he was a Russian immigrant.
The husband was unable to attend the funeral as he was still receiving medical treatment for his wounds in hospital in Germany. He told an Egyptian newspaper that they were due back in Egypt three days after the court session as he had already submitted his PhD thesis and finished his scholarship in Germany.
Common Interview Questions
If you have any qualifications from your own country, you can go to the Overseas Qualification Unit in the city and get them accredited. If your qualification is equal to an Australian course, you will be able to apply for work straight away. The one good thing you can do now is to keep working on improving your English in and outside class.
Some doctors and engineers and other highly skilled people come to Australia and work in factories or drive taxis because their qualifications are not recognised. This can be frustrating for many people and that is why some may choose to go back home and not give it a try. The first two years in Australia are often tough for new immigrants.
You can make things easier by getting ready to apply for a job. Some students like to take a short cut and do a short course before getting a job. A security guard training course takes only two weeks and after that a person can get a job. On the other hand, other courses may take up to two years or more before you apply for a job. The choice is yours at the end of the day. You can also train yourself to answer interview questions. This is what today's post is about.
The following are some of the most common interview questions. You may be asked any of them in an interview. Just bare in mind that no two interviews are the same.
Tell me about yourself.
What sort of jobs have you had before?
Do you know anyone who works for us?
Why did you apply to work at our organisation?
What are your strengths?
Do you prefer to work in a team or individually?
What do you know about our company?
Are you flexible?
Tell me about a situation you had where there was a problem at work and what you did to sort things out.
What would your friends say about you?
What sort of salary are you looking at?
Have you ever been sacked before?
What can you tell me about your previous supervisor?
How long do you expect to work here for if you get the job?
Do you have any questions that you would like to ask us?
What 10 things can you do with a pencil other than writing?
Do you have a car?
The Earthquake of San Francisco (1906)
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Friday, August 14, 2009
Omar Mukhtar
Omar Mukhtar was a famous Libyan leader. He was born in the year 1862. He went to the village school when he was young but didn't stay there for many years as he had to work at a very young age. Later he started working as a Qur'an teacher. He was always described as a man who had a calm and quiet nature. He also had all the qualities of a strong leader.
In October 1911, Italian battleships reached the shore of the Libyan capital Tripoli and ordered the Turkish troops to surrender the city to the Italian forces. The Turks saw the mighty Italian fleet and decided to leave the city and flee. Only the Libyan civilians stayed in Tripoli but the Italian ships attacked anyway. They bombed the city for three days and after that declared Tripoli to be "committed and strongly bound to Italy".
The Italians had many tanks and modern airplanes but they were always killed by men who were riding horses or fighting on foot. Omar's army were called ”Mujahadeen" meaning " the ones who declared a holy war". Omar Mukhtar was widely respected among all Libyans and his army grew to nearly 6000 fighters while the Italians had tens of thousands of troops. Omar's men believed that it was their religious duty to defend their country against the Italian invaders. At that time many Arab countries were occupied by Britain, France and Turkey. After every attack on the Italians, the Mujahadeen went into hiding in the desert and the Italians could not fight an army they couldn't see.
Omar's army had very old rifles and some horses. Sometimes they got help from Egypt which was occupied by Britain. The British did not like the idea of having Italy taking control of Libya. The supplies from Egypt were not enough to help Omar win the war against the Italians.
Omar was received as a hero in every village he went to and any place he liberated from the Italians. When Omar was nearly 70 years old, the Italians decided to imprison Libyan men, women and children in concentration camps in the desert. They wanted to prevent young people from joining Omar's army and fighting the Italians. Thousands of Libyans were tortured and nearly 100,000 of them died in the desert.
When asked if he had any last words before he was hanged he said, "We are from God and to God we shall return". The Italian generals took photos with him when he was arrested. Although Omar was the enemy, many of them had great admiration for, the Lion of the Desert.
Please click the magnifying glass at the end of the test to get feedback on your answers
Asthma
Nadra is from Iran. She is a mother of three. She studies English at AMES in Footscray. Last month she did not come to class. Her son was very sick. He is 6 years old. He started to cough a lot. Nadra took her son to the doctor to check what was wrong. The doctor checked the boy’s chest and gave him some medicine. He told Nadra to come again after three days. The boy took the medicine but he was still sick. The doctor examined the boy again and told Nadra some bad news. Her son had asthma.
Many young children in Australia have asthma. They find it difficult to breathe. They start to cough if they run. In Australia there are more than 2 million people with asthma. In America there are 17 million people who have asthma. Many people who have asthma start to wheeze, cough a lot and have shortness of breath. Some children have asthma for some time. After that they grow out of it. They do not have it any more. They become healthy. They can run and play sports.
The doctor gave Nadra a small book to read. The book is about asthma. He also gave her an action plan. He told her what to do if her son became sick. Asthma is very serious. Some people die from asthma if they do not go to hospital quickly. 318 people died from asthma in 2005.
The doctor gave the boy a puffer to take every day. He also gave him another puffer to take when he cannot breathe. Nadra came to school yesterday. Her son is much better. He does not cough now, but he needs to take his puffer every day. Nadra is not happy. She needs to read about asthma. She needs to help her son take his puffer on time every day.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
What is digital TV?
A digital TV has a clearer picture and a better sound quality than a normal one. This clearer picture will surely cost you more money. They also have more channels to offer. They come in standard and high definition. If you don’t know the difference between standard definition and high definition, let me explain it more to you. If you watch a movie that is recorded on a video cassette and then compare it to a movie that is recorded on a DVD you will see a big difference.
Nowadays not many people use video tapes and prefer to use DVDs. The movie that is recorded on a DVD has better picture and sound quality. The DVD quality is what we call standard definition. Now you can guess that high definition is even a better quality than the DVD quality. There is even a better quality that is available now but not everyone is using it because it is still expensive. It is called Blue Ray. Blue Ray discs are 5 times clearer than DVD. You need a blue ray player to play blue ray discs. You can not use your normal DVD player to play blue ray discs.
Blue ray players still cost more than 400 dollars to buy but their prices are coming down. Nearly a year ago they cost more than a thousand. I wonder what is going to happen to blue ray player prices next year.
It is nice to have a good quality TV at home. You can have a very big 50 inches TV in your lounge but the price is still very high. What you can do is that you can buy a Set Top Box and attach it to your normal TV. It will then turn it into a digital TV and you can start enjoying high definition quality in one minute.
You can buy one for less than 50 dollars at the shops or you can go for a more expensive option of nearly 200 dollars. Of course the quality will be much better but you don’t have to do so. All you have to do is to attach the set top box to your old TV and use the remote control to do a search. The search will look for new channels to add them to your list.
There are two kinds of set top boxes that you can buy. The first one is called standard definition (SD). The second one is called high definition (HD). They both turn your old TV into a digital one and the quality of the picture and sound get much better in a few minutes. The main difference is that a digital set top box offers a better quality and will make you able to see more channels than a standard definition set top box.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Air Crash - Lesson
air jet = airplane
I travelled from Paris to New York by airplane. It took me 11 hours.
Crash
The two cars crashed and one of the drivers died in hospital.
Saudi Arabia = a country in the Middle East that is rich in oil
on board = inside the plane
There were 200 passengers on board the plane travelling to Tokyo.
Crew = people working on the plane (pilot - assistant pilots - air hostesses)
There were 9 crew members on the plane.
airline = airline company
Qantas is an Australian airline.
rescue = save
The man tried to swim fast to rescue the boy who was in trouble in the water.
underway = happening now
There is a police operation underway to find the man who escaped from prison.
speed boats = very fast boats
servivors = people who did not die in an accident
Two train crashed and 34 people died. There were hundreds of servivors too.
head to = go to
I head to work early in the morning. After I finish work, I head home.
locate = find
I need to locate the address before I drive my car. I don't like to get lost.
Site = place
When I go to New York I like visiting different sights in the city.
Safety record = good safety history
Disappeared = could not be seen
The young boy disappeared and his mother searched everywhere to find him.
problems = troubles
I bought a car that was very bad. It had a lot of mechanical problems and I had to pay a lot of money to fix it.
due to = because of
He didn't come to school yesterday and today due to health problems.
concern = worry
My concern is that I didn't do well in the interview and I don't think I will get the job.
well equipped = has the best machines
This hospital is well equipped with modern X-ray machines.
Assistance = help
I had some money problems and my brother offered his assistance to me.
disaster = tragedy
disasterous = very very bad
There was a big fire in the city and some people died. The situation was disasterous.
Sharks = very dangerous fishs
infested with = full of
The sea was infested with sharks. It was full of sharks.
concern = worry
on their way = going to
A man had a heart attack in the city and paramedics were on their way to help him straight away.
Read This Text
An Air jet has reportedly crashed into the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia. XYZ Airline has reported on its web site that more than 168 people on board including nine crew members are thought to have been killed. The airplane is just 3 years old and the Canadian pilot has more than 25 years experience working for different airlines.
The Saudi Defence Ministry has issued a statement saying that all passengers on board are feared dead. The air jet has been en route from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to the Italian city of Rome.
Several naval ships from nearby countries are taking part in a rescue operation that is underway. Other civilian boats are heading to the crash site to offer assistance. Several speed boats were sent to the crash site to try to locate and rescue survivors.
The airline company has said that the Airbus A330-200 has had a very good safety record and that there has never been any concern for the safety of passengers before.
Saudi officials said that the airplane disappeared from radar screens at 09:05 in the morning just moments after the pilot asked to return to the airport due to mechanical problems.
The airline company has rejected this claim saying that the plane was fully serviced in London three days before the crash and that all its planes are serviced by Airbus according to regular schedules. The company also added that it has one of the world's best air safety records.
One of the biggest concerns for the families of the passenger is that the Red Sea water is infested with sharks. Rescue ships also have to battle huge waves.
Ships from the American and French Navies in the area are on their way to the crash site to offer assistance. These ships are well equipped to handle such disastrous situations. Their main task will be to locate the black box to see how the plane crashed.
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Shoe Thrower
The criminal was put on trial in court. The judge sentenced him to serve 10 years in prison.
To stand trial = to stand in front of a judge and defend yourself
An Iraqi journalist was ordered to stand trial after he threw a shoe at President George Bush. The journalist said that Bush killed one million Iraqis.
The man was ordered to stand trial next month after the police said he killed a shopkeeper.
Journalist = a reporter who works for a newspaper or a TV channel
My uncle works as a journalist. He works for the Age newspaper in Melbourne.
Shoes = a pair of shoes
A pair of glasses
A pair of trousers
A pair of pants
A pair of sunglasses
Postpone
The meeting is not going to be next Monday. It has been postponed and it will be next Friday.
Due to = is expected to happen in a certain time in the future
The buyer is due to meet with the real estate agent to talk about the house price tomorrow in the afternoon.
Appeal against
The judge ordered the man to serve three months in prison. The man was not happy and he appealed against the sentence. Another judge will look into the matter next week.
charge someone with = accuse someone of
The police charged a young man with killing the old woman and stealing her money.
originally = at the beginning
The price of the house was originally very high but it dropped down later on.
Assault = attack
The robber assaulted the shop keeper with a knife and stole a lot of cash.
The young man was charged with assaulting an old woman. He was ordered to stand trial next week. He will stand before a judge and defend himself in court.
Maximum
The maximum price I can pay for this car is 10,000 dollars. I will not pay any cent more.
Minimum
He does not earn much money. He gets a minimum wage of 13 dollars an hour.
The minimum amount of hours you can work here is 15 hours a week.
The maximum is 36 hours a week. If you work more than that, the company has to pay you overtime.
head of state = president or king
The head of state in America is Barak Obama.
Appeal = ask
The judge sentenced the man to serve 10 years in prison but he appealed the sentence.
Respect
In China doctors are respected a lot.
Disrespect
The student kept talking in class and didn't listen to what the teacher said. The student showed disrespect to his teacher.
Hail = wave to
You can hail the bus and the driver will stop.
You can hail a taxi.
Hail = consider
The boxer was hailed as a hero after he won the gold medal at the Olympic Games.
score a goal
Maradona was a great Argentinean football player. He scored many goals for his country.
Soar = go up very high
In the morning the temperature was 18 degrees only. It soared in the afternoon. It was 40 degrees.
The prices of houses soared over the past 5 years.
Drop = go down
Home prices in Australia didn't drop much during the past 12 months.
Image = picture = graphic
Demonstrators carried images of the young boy murdered by the police and asked the Prime Minister to do something.
duck = lower the head quickly
When fire shots were heard, everyone ducked for cover.
Athlete = sportsperson
Mohamed Ali was a great boxer. He was a great athlete.
Escape = run away
The prisoner escaped from prison and there is a big manhunt to arrest him.
Initially = at the beginning
The young boy initially said he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up but he changed his mind later on and said he wanted to become a pilot.
Click here to go to text online.
To play the game click here.
New Link for Monday's Class
I have a good link for you to use. The link is for a reading lesson and you will have the answers at the end of the page. Click here to go to the page.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
A Reading Test From America
Read Online
A Great Link on the Net
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
How to Improve My English
If you have internet at home, there are many good web sites that can help you learn more. Remember that every students has a favourite way or learning. Some students like to learn by listening. Others like to learn by using a pen and a paper. Still others like to learn by practising in different ways and mainly using their hands.
If you have a TV at home, you can watch the news at 6 o'clock at channel 7 or 9. You can also watch a program called Today Tonight on channel 7 at 6.30 in the evening. It is a very good source for learning English. If you say that you will not be able to understand what they say on TV because they speak fast, keep watching it for a few weeks and see how you go. This is the best way to learn English and at the same time to learn about Australia.
Some of my favourite web sites are
www.listen-to-english.com. This is a podcast by a gentleman from England. He doesn't speak fast and that is why about 40 thousand people go to his web site every week.
www.cdlponlone.org. This is a web site from America to teach adult learners like you.
Another good web site for listening to conversations is www.esl-lab.com.
It is for advanced students but I highly recommend that you have a go and do some of the lessons there.
Remember that we don't have enough time to do every thing in class. We are running out of time. If you need any thing, email me and I will see what I can do for you.
PBS Medicine
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Posting Seven - No Class on Thursday
Monday, August 3, 2009
Posting 6 -Food Handlers
On the other hand, unsafe food can make people sick. They may start to vomit and need to go to hospital. Many people have health problems after eating bad food.
Safe food does not cause harm to the people eating it. There are some people who can get sick after eating a certain food like peanuts. We say that those people are allergic to peanuts. There are other people who don’t eat certain foods because of their religions. Muslims, for example, don’t eat pork or ham. They don’t drink alcohol either.
To work as a food handler you must learn about food safety. You must have skills in food safety. You must also learn about food hygiene. You must make sure the food you cook is not contaminated.
When you store food, you must make sure it is below 5ºC or above 60ºC. This will kill bacteria and germs. If food is not safe to eat, throw it in the rubbish bin. If you serve bad food to customers, you can put their lives in danger.
Also if you buy food and found it to be bad, you can return it and get your money back. If you feel that you are sick, you must tell your supervisor. If you vomit at home, you have to tell your supervisor before you start work. Also don’t start handling food if you don’t feel that you have diarrhea. If you handle food when you are sick, you may make other people sick. Also if you think you have caused food contamination, tell your supervisor.
When you work in the kitchen you must make sure your clothes are clean. You must cover your hair with a cap. You must have an apron on to keep your clothes clean. You must have non-slip shoes on. You must wash your hands before you start handling food. If you sneeze, cough, use the toilet or blow your nose go and wash your hands.
Don’t spit on the floor in the kitchen. People will not feel happy if they see you spit on the floor. Also don’t smoke inside the kitchen. If you want to smoke, go outside and have a cigarette there. Don’t mix ready-to-eat food with raw food. If you have a break and come back to the kitchen, wash your hands before handling food. You can use warm running water to wash your hands. You can also use tap water to wash your hands.
KFC Food Poisoning Case
Monika Samaan's family is suing the fast-food chain for $10 million after the illness developed into acquired spastic quadriplegia.
Family barrister Anthony Bartley has today told the NSW Supreme Court the Chicken Twister was bought from the Villawood KFC on in 2005, when Monika was aged seven.
Mr Bartley says there is no doubt Monika, now 11 and in a wheelchair, developed salmonella poisoning and that the chicken in the twister was the source of the bacteria.
He says the court will also hear disturbing evidence about the practices in KFC kitchens.
"There is little or no doubt that chicken was reported by all scientists, at the time of these unhappy events occurring, as being the source of that salmonella," he said.
"If the store was particularly busy, if chicken was dropped on the floor near the burger station, it would on some occasions simply be put back."
Food poisoning affects about 4 million Australians every year. Symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting, headache and stomach cramps.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5771641/kfc-twister-gave-girl-brain-damage/
Answer These Questions:
How much money is the family asking to be paid?
Why is the family asking for that money?
What did the girl suffer from?
What are some of the common food poisoning symptoms?
How old was the girl when she ate the KFC food?
What did Mr Bartley say the court will hear?