Archive for November, 2016
48 Hours in Chicago (Part One) Posted by sasha on Nov 29, 2016
When you talk about great American cities, Chicago always comes up. The architecture, culture, and of course the beautiful scenery of Lake Michigan draws in millions of tourists every year. See what you can do with 48 Hours in Chicago in our new video series: “Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the United States…
Thanksgiving History and Customs Posted by sasha on Nov 24, 2016
Today is an important, traditional holiday in the United States – Thanksgiving. This national holiday is celebrated every year on the 4th Thursday in November. Let’s learn a bit about the history and customs of this special day. History Back in the 1600s, European settlers were traveling to and settling in America. One group of…
A Corny Thanksgiving Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 23, 2016
Corn. The history of the United States is uniquely tied to this one crop. So, too, is our language. When the first English settlers arrived in what became Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 the colonists, unused to the rigors of agriculture, faced years of near starvation. They attempted to trade with the local natives for their…
Get to Know Your Orchestra Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 17, 2016
As the holidays approach, symphonies around the U.S. get a little less serious. One of the great treasures of any community is its musicians. In the United States you will find bands, orchestras, philharmonics, symphonies, and ensembles of all sizes playing every weekend. Most towns have some form of a brass or jazz band in…
Gender and the English Language Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 10, 2016
In many languages, nouns have a specific gender. They can be masculine, feminine, or even gender-neutral. Definite and indefinite articles, as well as adjectives, generally agree with the gender. Germanic and most Nordic languages have three forms of gender. Latinate languages have only two genders for everything. In French, for example, a garden is masculine…
U.S. Election Vocabulary Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 4, 2016
We’ve talked about the U.S. presidential election, but you may still find yourself hearing certain terms which you don’t fully understand. Here’s a handy vocabulary guide to words and phrases which take on greater significance in the United States every four years. Absentee ballot: A ballot which is filled out and usually mailed in by…
The US Presidential Election Posted by sasha on Nov 1, 2016
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you’ve probably heard a lot about the upcoming presidential election in the US. For many, the process is confusing and overwhelming. To help you understand how the country elects its top leader, here’s a quick glance at the US presidential election. The Parties When…