Archive for 'Culture'
Canada a country of maple syrup and hockey: An intro in English for ESL students Posted by Gabriele on Oct 2, 2014
I’m going to begin a short series on this Transparent Language blog about Canada, the country American’s fondly refer to as “our neighbor to the north.” Part of what is spurring this series is Canada’s upcoming Thanksgiving holiday (on November 13th this year), but I will write more on that topic in a future post…
Smokey the Bear an important American figure Posted by Gabriele on Sep 25, 2014
“Only you can prevent forest fires.” That is a saying most Americans know. Do you know who is famous for saying this? It is a warning from the famous Smokey the Bear. Smokey the Bear is an American character with a very interesting story that I am going to share here today. Most Americans know…
An English recipe for chili and an American chili cook-off Posted by Gabriele on Sep 24, 2014
If you are looking to try a new recipe and cook an easy authentic American meal, look no further. Today’s post is all about the all-American classic food “chili.” Chili is a spicy stew (i.e. a thick soup) made of beans, meat, and vegetables (including tomatoes, onions, and peppers). There are actually two types of…
I’m stuffed! (And other ways to say “no” to more food in English.) Posted by Gabriele on Sep 9, 2014
We all know that when travelling we are likely to eat a lot of food, often good food, especially if we stay in someone else’s home. Sometimes it is hard to say ‘no’ to food your host is giving you because you don’t want to be impolite. Food is an important part of every culture…
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Posted by sasha on Sep 8, 2014
Our journey around the USA to some of the country’s many national parks continues today. This park is actually located in two states – read on for more! Name: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Year Established: 1934 Location: Tennessee and North Carolina Season: The park is opened 24 hours all year long. Some roads, campgrounds…
A trip to Chicago – what to see? Posted by Gabriele on Aug 26, 2014
Let’s take a trip to Chicago! Chicago is the third most populated city in the United States (New York City is first, Los Angeles second). There are 2.7 million people who live in Chicago and around 46 million tourists (international and American) visit every year. Even if you aren’t counted as one of these tourists this…
America’s national anthem Posted by Gabriele on Aug 14, 2014
The American national anthem is called the “The Star-Spangled Banner” and like most national anthems there is a story behind it. The words for this song come from a poem written during the War of 1812 in the United States. That’s right, the American national anthem was not created at the same time as the…