Tag: american culture

What’s your Zodiac sign?

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

zodiac-signs-16

Western countries use 12 different signs (called Zodiac signs) to describe someone’s personality depending on when they were born. Zodiac signs can be very popular and are based on the arrangement of the stars. Some people say they can tell your future or help you make decisions. You can find information about your Zodiac sign in most newspapers, magazines, on the internet, even many people can tell you something about your Zodiac sign. They can be an interesting way to start a conversation.

Look at the chart above and find out what your Zodiac sign is, then look at the list below and use a dictionary to read the descriptions.

Do the positive adjectives match you?

Do the negative adjectives match you?

Do you believe the stars can influence your life or tell you something about yourself?

Do you have something similar to the Western Zodiac in your country?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Capricorn (December 22—January 19)
–Positive personality traits: responsible, persistent, disciplined, calm
–Negative personality traits: pessimistic, conservative, shy

Aquarius (January 21—February 19)
–Positive personality traits: inventive, clever, humanitarian, friendly
–Negative personality traits: aloof, unpredictable, rebellious

Pisces (February19—March 20)
–Positive personality traits: romantic, devoted, compassionate
–Negative personality traits: indecisive, escapist, idealistic

Aries (March 21—April 20)
–Positive personality traits: generous, enthusiastic, efficient
–Negative personality traits: quick-tempered, selfish, arrogant

Taurus (April 21—May 20)
–Positive personality traits: reliable, stable, determined
–Negative personality traits: possessive, greedy, materialistic

Gemini (May 21—June 21)
–Positive personality traits: witty, creative, eloquent, curious
–Negative personality traits: impatient, restless, tense

Cancer (June 22—July 22)
–Positive personality traits: intuitive, nurturing, frugal, cautious
–Negative personality traits: moody, self-pitying, jealous

Leo (July 23—August 22)
–Positive personality traits: confident, independent, ambitious
–Negative personality traits: bossy, vain, dogmatic

Virgo (August 23—September 22)
–Positive personality traits: analytical, practical, precise
–Negative personality traits: picky, inflexible, perfectionist

Libra (September 23—October 22)
–Positive personality traits: diplomatic, easygoing, sociable,
–Negative personality traits: changeable, unreliable, superficial

Scorpio (October 23—November 21)
–Positive personality traits:  passionate, resourceful, focused
–Negative personality traits: narcissistic, manipulative, suspicious

Sagittarius (November 22—December 21)
–Positive personality traits: optimistic, adventurous, straightforward
–Negative personality traits: careless, reckless, irresponsible

Share this:

Mother Tongues

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment
Languages spoken around the world
Languages spoken around the world

There are at least 7,102 known languages alive in the world today. Twenty-three of these languages are a mother tongue for more than 50 million people. The 23 languages make up the native tongue of 4.1 billion people. We represent each language within black borders and then provide the numbers of native speakers (in millions) by country. The color of these countries shows how languages have taken root in many different regions

Use the picture to answer the questions below. The first person to post all 8 answers correctly will win a prize!

  1. How many languages are in the picture above?
  2. How many people speak English as their mother tongue?
  3. How many people in the United States speak English as their mother tongue?
  4. How many people speak Spanish as their mother tongue?
  5. How many people in the United States speak Spanish as their mother tongue?
  6. How many people in China speak Korean as their mother tongue?
  7. In how many countries do people speak French?
  8. How many people are learning Italian?

rolling stones logo3

Share this:

Superstitions

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

Today is Friday the 13th. Many people think it’s an unlucky day, but others say thinking it’s unlucky is just a superstition. Superstitions are things you do or believe that bring good luck or bad luck.

Look at the picture. What in the picture brings bad luck? What brings good luck?

Click on “Continue reading” to see the answers:

Read More »

Share this:

cheers

US Adult Literacy1 Comment

 It is difficult (and rewarding) to learn a new language and students need all the help they can get. In the video below a man is working hard to learn English. He gets help from his school, library, friends and family. Watch the video and comment below. Tell us the special reason the man is learning English and let us know your goals and reasons as well.

There are about two months left of classes. Don’t let the spring weather distract you too much. Keep working hard so you can improve your skills, achieve your goals and celebrate with a nice drink.

Share this:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

A few questions for you:

1.  What are leprechauns?
2.  If you follow them, what will they lead you to?
3.  What color do people like to wear on St. Patrick’s Day?
4.  What might someone do if you don’t wear this color on the holiday?

Leave your answers in the comments section. The first one to get all four correct will have good luck for the rest of the year!

Now watch the video below to learn 10 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day, then take the quiz to test your comprehension:

quizicon1

Share this:

Painting With Music

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

One of our Weekend Teachers, Lynne Hayden-Findlay has invited teachers and students to the Chelsea Opera’s performance of Musical Portraits on Friday, March 14th. The performance will be a beautiful concert of contemporary song literature from three renowned composers. Also students and teachers can get $15.00 discounted tickets. Use the promo code “FOCO” when ordering on line or bring this email to buy tickets at the door. Click on the picture below for more details and to purchase tickets.

musicopera

Join us for this beautiful concert of contemporary song literature from three renowned composers.
120 West 69th St., NY, NY (Btwn Broadway & Columbus

Friday – March 14, 2014 at 8pm

Share this:

Best Picture

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

The Oscars were last night. The Oscars are movie awards. The Oscar for Best Picture (Best Movie) went to 12 Years a Slave. Watch the movie trailer above, then read about the movie below.

From Wikipedia.org:

12 Years a Slave is a 2013 historical drama film and an adaptation of the 1853 memoir of the same name by Solomon Northup, a New York State-born free African American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., in 1841 and sold into slavery. He worked on plantations in the state of Louisiana for twelve years before his release.

Solomon Northup (July 1808 – 1863?)was a free-born African American from New York, the son of a freed slave. A farmer and violinist, he owned a property in Hebron. In 1841 he was kidnapped by slave-traders, having been enticed with a job offer as a violinist. When he accompanied his supposed employers to Washington, DC, they drugged him and sold him as a slave. He was shipped to New Orleans where he was sold to a plantation owner in Louisiana. He was held in the Red River region of Louisiana by several different owners for 12 years, during which time his friends and family had no knowledge of him. He made repeated attempts to escape and get messages out of the plantation. Eventually he got news to his family, who contacted friends and enlisted the Governor of New York, Washington Hunt, to his cause. He regained his freedom in January 1853 and returned to his family in New York. In his first year of freedom Northup published an account of his experiences in the memoir Twelve Years a Slave (1853).

Share this: