Tips for a new school year start

Tips for a new school year start

The summer holiday is over. It is time to think of the new school year. And while some are eager to know their new teacher and meet their friends to tell them about all their summer adventures, others are more worried about the new year. Here are some tips for a smooth school year start that will help you beat the stress and organize your study environment.

Reconnecting with a healthy lifestyle

During holidays, children have often been allowed to sleep late and eat a little of what they wanted at any time. The first thing to do is to help yourself make a smooth start and not to wait until the last day to find a healthy lifestyle. You should get used to have regular and reasonable hours of sleep and to eat healthy food. This of course needs several days of "rehabilitation". The ideal thing is to start reconnecting with a healthy lifestyle one week to ten days before school starts.

Buy study resources

Buy all the resources available for your grade. This will help you tremendously do your homework rightly. The resources may include a good dictionary, an encyclopedia, educational softwares...

Create a pleasant study environment

A few days before school starts, do a tidy-up of the desk and the shelves. Sort and throw away the relics of the past year. Donate your old books, pens and school things if they are still usable. Clean up your desk. Make it a comfortable place to do your homework. Your workplace should be a quiet well-lit corner where it feels good.

Find your way to your new school

If you change your school, you need to learn how to find your way from your home to the new school. Start building new relationships in your new school environment. It will be easy for you to make new friends if you are willing to. Your new friends will certainly show you the places around the school. Your new teachers will also be happy to introduce you to your classmates.

Developing dialogue

If you feel anxious of the new school year, it is very important to talk to your parents about your fears. They will surely find a way to help you get over your fears and gain confidence. They will certainly show you that they believe in your abilities, and will be willing to help you with your first pieces of homework if need be. It is also essential that you develop self confidence and believe in your own potential.

Beat stress

If you are overly anxious about performance, work through your negative beliefs, especially the beliefs about the implications of school failure. Challenge your negative thoughts that your worth as a person or future prospects hinge entirely on your grades. Good performance will be achieved only when you beat your fears and discover your own personal worth.

Set goals

Enjoy setting goals for yourself, so you can transcend your weaknesses and reach your full potential. Your study goals must be realistic and achievable. For example, start with small steps to reach higher targets.

Motivation

Achieving some goals will certainly motivate you to reach more challenging targets. Another motivating factor would be to understand that you work primarily for yourself and your future career. Apart from the external rewards that your parents may promise you, you must understand that studying well is your chance for self development.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, born on February 5th, 1985 and commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Real Madrid and serves as captain of the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo currently holds the distinction of being the most expensive player in football history after having transferred to Real Madrid from Manchester United in a deal worth £80 million (€94m, US$132m). His contract with Real Madrid is believed to have made him the highest-paid football player in the world.
Ronaldo began his career as a youth player for Andorinha, where he played for two years, then moved to Nacional. In 1997, he made a move to Portuguese giants Sporting CP. Ronaldo's precocious talent caught the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and he signed the 18-year-old for £12.24 million in 2003. The following season, Ronaldo won his first club honour, the FA Cup, and reached the Euro 2004 final with Portugal, in which tournament he scored his first international goal.
In 2008, Ronaldo won the Champions League with United, and was named player of the tournament. He was named the FIFPro World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to becoming Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or winner in 40 years. Three-time Ballon d'Or winner Johan Cruyff said in an interview on 2 April 2008, "Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United."
Source: Wikipedia

Comprehension:

1. Cristiano Romnaldo currently plays for
   a.  Real Madrid
   b.  Manchester United 
2. Ronalod scored his first international goal in
   a.  2003
   b.  2004
   c.  2005 
3. Ronaldo won a ballon d'Or when he played for
   a.  Real Madrid
   b.  Manchester United 
4. Ronaldo won three ballon d'Or
   a.  True
   b.  False.

Disney Characters

Disney Characters

Yes, all started with a mouse. But since the creation of Mickey Mouse in 1928, hundreds of characters have been born from the imagination of Disney Studios. Some have known worldwide fame and success. Others appeared only a few times but have nevertheless contributed to the originality, humor and the freshness of Walt Disney productions.

The following is a list of the most popular Walt Disney Characters:

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks and voiced by Walt Disney. He first appeared inSteamboat Willie. He evolved from being simply a character in animated cartoons and comic strips to become one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. His popularity is mainly due to his angelic nature.

Donald Duck

Donald Duck first appeared in the Silly Symphonies cartoon The Wise Little Hen on June 9, 1934. He is a white anthropomorphic duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. Donald's most famous personality trait is his easily provoked and explosive temper.

Goofy

Goofy is an anthropomorphic dog and is one of Mickey Mouse's best friends. His original concept name was "Dippy Dawg" in cartoon shorts created during the 1930s. Along with being predictably clumsy, Goofy is often shown as having little to no intelligence. But this interpretation isn't always definitive; occasionally, Goofy is shown as intuitive and clever, albeit in his own unique, eccentric way.

Pluto

as most frequently appeared as Mickey Mouse's pet dog. He also had an independent starring role in 48 Disney shorts in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Pluto is unusual for a Disney character in that he is not anthropomorphized beyond showing an unusually broad range of facial expressions or use of his front paws at key points; he is actually represented as a normal dog (unlike Goofy who is an anthropomorphic dog)

Source: Wikipedia

Comprehension:

1. Mickey Mouse was an original creation of Walt Disney
   a.  True
   b.  False 
2. Donal Duck first appeared in 1928
   a.  Truer
   b.  False 
3. Goofy is stupid
   a.  True
   b.  False 
4. Pluto is an anthropomrphic character
   a.  True
   b.  False.

What to do during summer holiday?

What to do during summer holiday?

After a whole school year of hard work, you may be wondering what you can do during the summer holiday. Here are some suggestions.

1. Rest
Don't feel guilty. Take some time to rest. You deserve it after a year of hard work.

2.Movies
See the latest movies or just pick one of the old movies that you have missed. Make it a family movie night every week.

3.Beach or swimming pool
When you're feeling a bit bored, a dip in the water will revitalize your mood. Of course, make sure to protect your skin with a hat and sunscreen.

4. Learn a skill
You might be interested in learning new skills such as cooking, playing soccer, playing a musical instrument. The summer is a great time for that.

5. Read
You've got plenty of time to read. Although technology has taken a major part of our lives, there is nothing more entertaining and informative than reading a book. Choose a topic you are interested in and read about it during the summer holiday.

6. Writing
keep a journal of what you are doing during the holiday. Writing a diary helps you a have a clear view of the events of the day. You might even give free vent to your artistic side and have a try in writing poems, short essays...

7. Travel
Visit places you have never been to. You don't need to make a long journey to find such places. They may be just near where you are.

8. Sport
If you are not already practicing a sport, think of taking up jogging, walking, tennis, soccer, or whatever... Make a decision about it and start exercising in order to be healthier, reduce stress and get ready for a new year of hard work.

Summer

Summer 

Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons which also include winter spring and autumn. It occurs between spring and autumn. It is known for the longest days and shortest nights. The seasons start on different dates in different cultures based on astronomy and regional meteorology. However, when it is summer in the southern hemisphere it is winter in the northern hemisphere, and vice versa. Summer is traditionally associated with hot dry weather, but this does not occur in all regions. For example, the wet season occurs during summer across many parts of the tropics and subtropics. Tropical cyclones develop and roam the tropical and subtropical oceans during the summer. In the interior of continents, thunderstorms are most likely to produce hail during the afternoon and evening. Schools and universities have a summer break to take advantage of the warmer weather and longer days.

People take advantage of the warmer temperatures by spending more time outdoors during the summer. Activities such as traveling to the beach and picnics occur during summer months. Sports such as cricket, volleyball, skateboarding, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, water polo, and football are played. Water skiing is a uniquely summer sport, which is done when waters approach their warmest of the year.

Source: Wikipedia

Comprehension:

1. Summer occurs between winter and spring
   a.  True
   b.  False 
2. Summer is characterized by hot and dry weather everywhere in the world
   a.  True.
   b.  False.
3. Summer occurs at different times depending on the regions.
   a.  True
   b.  False 

International Workers' Day

International Workers' Day

The struggle to have eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest was the origin of International Workers' Day, which is also referred to as May Day or Labor Day. The celebration commemorates the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago in 1886, when Chicago police shoot workers who were striking to establish the eight hour day. Many workers died in the event.

Historically, the first congress of the Second International, which was an organization of socialist and labor parties formed in Paris on July 14, 1889, called for international demonstrations on the 1890 anniversary of the Chicago protests. In 1891, the Second International recognized May Day as an annual event. In 1904, Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all countries were called on to demonstrate actively on May First to establish eight hours of work a day and to get workers rights. Unions of all countries were urged to go on strike on May 1, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers.

Most countries celebrate International Workers' Day on May 1st, except in the United States and Canada, where Labor Day is held in September. Millions of working people and their labor unions, all over the world, organize street demonstrations and street marches. Several countries celebrate the day with parades, shows and other patriotic and labor-oriented events. Governments are urged to readjust salaries and wages and to acknowledge workers rights to strike and hold unions.

Comprehension:

1. International Workers' Day was first held to
   a.  ask for the right to work
   b.  to establish 8 hours work a day. 
2. May first was recognized as an annual event in
   a.  1890
   b.  1891 
3. International Workers' day
   a.  is celebrated every where in the world on the same day
   b.  is celebrated on a different day in some countries 
4. Workers are asked to go on strike
   a.  peacefully
   b.  by using force against the police. 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is celebrated in the USA and Canada. In The USA, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November every year. The Canadians celebrate it on the second Monday in October. It is associated with giving thanks to God. In the beginning people expressed gratitude for the harvest they reaped. It used to be a religious holiday but now it has become a secular celebration.

The most important part of the celebration is the dinner which includes the customary turkey served with cranberry sauce, and pumpkin. A lot of business goes on during this holiday. For example, restaurants take advantage of the holiday to sell turkey dinners

Families and friends usually get together for a large meal or dinner during Thanksgiving and have a lot of fun. That's why, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is considered one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Students are given a four-day or five-day weekend vacation. Thanksgiving is also a paid holiday for most workers.

Source: Wikipedia and Encyclopedia

Comprehension

1. The origin of the name "Thanksgiving" comes from:
   a.  thanks given to God
   b.  thanks given for the help the early settlers got from each other. 
2. Thanksgiving is a time to
   a.  worship God
   b.  Thank god, eat and have fun. 
3. It is a vacation for
   a.  everybody
   b.  a lot of people 
4. The main food that is prepared in this celebration is:
   a.  cranberry sauce, and pumpkin
   b.  turkey

Saint Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine's Day is a Hallmark Holiday

Hallmark holiday refers to a holiday that is perceived to exist mainly for commercial reasons, rather than to celebrate a traditionally significant religious or secular event. Although many people view these celebrations in a negative way, others have positive views. On the negative side, hallmark holidays don't really celebrate an important event, and only exist for companies to make a lot of money.  On the positive side, the term describes the perfect holiday in which family, friends, and fun come first.  Everyday problems, worries, and stress can be put aside.  Valentine's Day, which is celebrated on February 14, is usually considered to be one of the hallmark holidays.

In Valentine's Day billions of cards are sent. It is also an opportunity for customers to buy chocolates, flowers, engagement rings, romantic dinners, and so on.  This commercial aspect can be traced back to the 19th century when printing technology improved to cheaply mass-produce greeting cards.  But the origin of the celebration is much more ancient and can be traced back to a Roman festival called "Lupercalia" which was held in mid-February every year.  The celebration purified new life in the spring. Around the third century A.D., the holiday became associated with Saint Valentine, although it isn't exactly clear how.

Historical Origin of the Celebration

A popular explanation of the link between Saint Valentine and the Holiday says that at the time of the Roman "Lupercalia" Festival marriage was a common tradition, but when Claudius became Emperor he changed all of that. He outlawed all marriages because he was afraid that men would refuse their duty to fight because they would not want to leave their wives behind. Young couples still fell in love though and still wished to marry and they took these desires to the Catholic Bishop Valentine who, understanding love, began to secretly marry couples. When Claudius found out, he arrested Valentine and sentenced him to death. While waiting in prison, Valentine began exchanging letters with the prisoner's daughter and soon had fallen in love with her. The day he was to be beheaded, he wrote her one last note and signed it: "From Your Valentine".

In 496 A.D. Christianity had taken over Rome and Pope Gelasius outlawed the pagan Lupercian Festival. Knowing it’s popularity, he looked to replace it with something more "appropriate" and set aside a day in February to honor the martyr St. Valentine. Even though in 1969 the church removed St. Valentines Day from it’s calendar of "official" holidays, it is still widely celebrated today. And although Valentine's Day has become quite commercial, it still contains an important aspect shared by all of the best holidays - time spent thinking of and being with the one you love.

Comprehension:

1. A Hallmark holiday :
   a.  celebrates a secular event,
   b.  celebrates a religious event
   c.  exists mainly for the sake of business 
2. Valentine's Day :
   a.  was first celebrated in the 19th century
   b.  was celebrated much earlier than the 19th century.
3. Emperor Claudius used to:
   a.  forbid marriage,
   b.  kill newly married couples, 
4. Saint Valentine
   a.  secretly helped couples to get married.
   b.  got married himself despite the new law forbidding marriage.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day

The modern Mother's Day is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March, April, or May as a day to honor mothers and motherhood. In the UK and Ireland, it follows the old traditions of Mothering Sunday, celebrated in March/April.
Historically, the celebration has it origin in ancient customs and traditions. The ancient Greeks kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of Greek gods. The ancient Romans also had another holiday, Matronalia, that was dedicated to Juno (an ancient Roman goddess), though mothers were usually given gifts on this day. In Europe there were several long standing traditions where a specific Sunday was set aside to honor motherhood and mothers such as Mothering Sunday which is a Christian festival celebrated throughout Europe that falls on the 4th Sunday in Lent. One of the early calls to celebrate Mother's Day in the United States was the "Mother's Day Proclamation" by Julia Ward Howe. Written in 1870, the Proclamation was tied to Howe's feminist belief that women had a responsibility to shape their societies at the political level.
Today the holiday has become very popular around the world. People take the day as an opportunity to pay tribute to their mothers and thank them for all their love and support. There is also a tradition of gifting flowers, cards and other gift to mothers on the occasion.

Comprehension:

1. Mother's Day is celebrated on the same date around the world.
   a.  True
   b.  False
2. The celebration's origin is ancient.
   a.  True
   b.  False
3. Mothering Sunday is observed in the United States.
   a.  True
   b.  False
4. In the USA, Mother's Day was initially related to the feminists demands to recognize the importance of women.
   a.  True
   b.  False