Archive for 'Culture'
John F. Kennedy Posted by Gabriele on May 29, 2012
Today, May 29th, is the birthday of a very famous former American president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who is often referred to as JFK. JFK was born in 1917, became president in 1961, and died on November 22, 1963. JFK remains the youngest person to be elected president, he was elected at the age of…
Memorial Day Posted by Gabriele on May 28, 2012
Today is Memorial Day in the United States. Memorial Day is a holiday that is observed every year in the USA on the last Monday of May. This is a major federal holiday, which means that all government workers as well as most other people have the day off from work, leading to all…
Graduation Traditions Posted by Gabriele on May 27, 2012
It is college graduation season in the United States. (High school graduation season will be coming up in June.) As many of you already know, graduation is the ceremony associated with receiving an academic degree. In a previous post I spoke about the various college degrees that are conferred* in the United States, which you…
What is prom? Posted by Gabriele on May 25, 2012
In the United States, and parts of Canada, a prom* is a formal dance for high school students held a few weeks before high school graduation (usually around this time of year). Proms are often a major event among high school students and a cultural even most Americans have experienced in their life. Proms…
Nursery Rhymes Posted by Gabriele on May 18, 2012
Having lived abroad and having taught ESL for a number of years I have heard many people talk about what it means to be “fluent” in a second language. I set a very high standard for fluency myself and I think true fluency comes with both linguistic and cultural knowledge. In discussing how to determine…
I do not think it means what you think it means Posted by Gabriele on May 17, 2012
“I do not think it means what you think it means.” This is a line from a famous American film from the 1980’s called Princess Bride. This line is spoken in the following conversation between two characters, Vizzini and Inigo Montoya. Vizzini: He didn’t fall? INCONCEIVABLE*. Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do…
April showers bring May flowers Posted by Gabriele on May 6, 2012
We have a saying in English that goes like this: “April showers bring May flowers.” This is a simple saying, a rhyme, and a proverb that most English speakers know well. Since we have now entered the month of May and it is the time of year (in the northern hemisphere) that we start…