Easter Superstars

In North America the two biggest 
Celebrity Cultural Icons at Easter are...

The Pope – the serious side of Easter!

A new celebrity has been chosen to represent one of the most enduring, historical institutions:  The Catholic Church (1.2 billion worldwide).  Pope Frances is the 266^th Pope and has begun the traditional religious Easter Celebrations at the Vatican City.  

Many Catholics will attend Church for special ceremonies and also watch the Pope this weekend on TV or the Internet. 

The Easter Bunny – the fun side of Easter!

Easter creates a holiday time from work for most people or a 3-4 day weekend (Friday to Monday: March 29 - 31).  During Easter most families with kids will have an Easter Egg Hunt.  The idea is that the Easter Bunny will arrive at night and hide Easter eggs or candies for the children to find on Easter morning.  Of course the parents are the Easter Bunnies. 

The Easter Egg Hunt

An egg hunt is a game during which decorated eggs, real hard-boiled ones or artificial ones filled with, or made of chocolate candies, of various sizes, are hidden for children to find, both indoors and outdoors.  When the hunt is over, prizes may be given for the largest number of eggs collected, or for the largest or the smallest egg.  And of course, in the case of chocolate or other candies, the children get to eat what they have found.

Language Learning Section

 If you are interested in seeing an easy and common way to create Easter Eggs with children, but not the chocolate kind, then check out this video!

Listen to the video once or twice and then on the third time try to fill in the blanks [Hint: I have removed common words and expressions for explaining how to do something.].

Listening Practice

Transcript with missing words: Coloring Easter Eggs With Kids

_START_

Hi, I'm Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Coloring Easter eggs is a great family tradition to start with your children. This program will show the kid friendly steps for basic Easter egg coloring.

Gather Easter Egg Supplies

______________, ______________ gather all the supplies you will need, such as:

    bowls

    spoons

    coloring kit

    paper towels

______________ either covering the table with newspapers or a vinyl tablecloth. I find it is also a good idea to boil the eggs and allow them to cool before I invite the kids to help.

Get the Children Ready

__________, just like any cooking activity, ____________ your kids wash their hands before they begin. I also have my kids wear their cooking aprons to protect their clothes.

Prepare the Egg Dye or Homemade Dye Ingredients

______________ on the coloring kit, or any simple dye recipe. I use 1/2 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and enough food coloring to get the shade I want. ________ the kids stir the bowls to make the colors.

Demonstrate Dipping the Easter Eggs

________ for your child ___________ place the hard boiled egg on a soup spoon and gently lower the egg into the color. The longer the eggs are left in the dye, the darker the color will be. Once the desired color is set, scoop the egg out of the color and pat it dry with a paper towel and let it dry on an egg holder. ________ toilet paper roll cores work well for this if you did not buy a coloring kit.

Experiment With Easter Egg Decorating

______ they get good at one color, _____________ dipping one end of an egg in one color, and the other end into another color. This ________ their fingers a bit messy, ______ it is a fun result for the kids.

Alternate Easter Egg Decorations

Using washable tempura paints in squeeze brushes is ________________ eggs. This ______ is great for younger kids who are not always keen to sit and wait for eggs to sit in the dye.

________________ decorating ideas that kids can try such as coloring the eggs with a crayon before dipping them into the dye, or putting stickers or other decorations on the colored egg.

Benefits of Easter Egg Decorating

Easter is a great time to engage in family activities. Decorating Easter eggs is ________ a creative outlet, ________ an activity that will build your child's fine motor skills and maybe even start a tradition that will last a lifetime.

 _FINISH_

Answers

Full Transcript: Coloring Easter Eggs With Kids

Hi, I'm Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Coloring Easter eggs is a great family tradition to start with your children. This program will show the kid friendly steps for basic Easter egg coloring.

Gather Easter Egg Supplies

Before you begin, be sure to gather all the supplies you will need, such as:

    bowls

    spoons

    coloring kit

    paper towels

I would also suggest either covering the table with newspapers or a vinyl tablecloth. I find it is also a good idea to boil the eggs and allow them to cool before I invite the kids to help.

Get the Children Ready

Then, just like any cooking activity, make sure your kids wash their hands before they begin. I also have my kids wear their cooking aprons to protect their clothes.

Prepare the Egg Dye or Homemade Dye Ingredients

Follow the directions on the coloring kit, or any simple dye recipe. I use 1/2 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and enough food coloring to get the shade I want. Let the kids stir the bowls to make the colors.

Demonstrate Dipping the Easter Eggs

Demonstrate for your child how to place the hard boiled egg on a soup spoon and gently lower the egg into the color. The longer the eggs are left in the dye, the darker the color will be. Once the desired color is set, scoop the egg out of the color and pat it dry with a paper towel and let it dry on an egg holder. Cut up toilet paper roll cores work well for this if you did not buy a coloring kit.

Experiment With Easter Egg Decorating

Once they get good at one color, let them try dipping one end of an egg in one color, and the other end into another color. This may get their fingers a bit messy, but it is a fun result for the kids.

Alternate Easter Egg Decorations

Using washable tempera paints in squeeze brushes is another quick and easy way to decorate eggs. This method is great for younger kids who are not always keen to sit and wait for eggs to sit in the dye.

There are also lots of other decorating ideas that kids can try such as coloring the eggs with a crayon before dipping them into the dye, or putting stickers or other decorations on the colored egg.

Benefits of Easter Egg Decorating

Easter is a great time to engage in family activities. Decorating Easter eggs is not only a creative outlet, but also an activity that will build your child's fine motor skills and maybe even start a tradition that will last a lifetime.

  _FINISH_

Happy Easter!

For more Easter Fun check out:

Celebrity Easter Part 1
http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.ca/2012_04_01_archive.html

Celebrity Easter Part 2
http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.ca/2012_04_08_archive.html

NEXT! 2 weeks of Epic Super Star Celebrity Interviews with …

Check back soon!

Connect with ALEX here or at

Celebrity English

http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.com/

Celebrity English International

http://celebrityenglishinternational.blogspot.ca/

Celebrity English Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Celebrity-English/341804042518553

Celebrity English Myspace

http://www.myspace.com/browse/people#!/573390781

Celebrity English Twitter

https://twitter.com/CelebEnglish

Google Plus

https://plus.google.com/u/0/108043749486448114664/posts

Celebrity English Pinterest

http://pinterest.com/CelebEnglish/

Celebrity English Tumblr

http://www.tumblr.com/blog/celebrityenglishblogspot

Celebrity English Linkedin

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=hb_tab_pro_top

Always happy to meet new people! See you next week!

Skyfall a Big Hit at the Oscars!

 Skyfall wins Best Original Song at the Oscars!

Adele took the 85^th Academy Awards (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) by storm this year with a sizzling, powerful vocal performance of Skyfall!  After enthralling and memorizing a celebrity filled audience, Adele went on to claim an Oscar, with the famous British music producer Paul Epworth, for the Best Original Song of 2012! 

“THIS IS THE END”

Skyfall opens with a wonderful, bluesy style and a catch line that screams for attention! 

However, the song doesn’t stray too far from the original music themes of the James Bond movie series.  A common formula for success!

Background 

 Paul Epworth and Adele did a fantastic job of composing Skyfall.  Paul created the tune and Adele put the lyrics to Skyfall.  Paul created the tune after listening to the first 13 James Bond movies.  Adele loved the dark, haunting ballad sound and put words to Skyfall in a draft form in 10 minutes.  And of course, after a lot of hard studio work, Skyfall was created! Take a listen and enjoy!

 

Language Learning Section

Instructions

First, listen to the Song Skyfall by Adele.

Next, fill in the blanks with the missing verb forms. If this is difficult listen again a few more times.  Listening Hint - most of the missing words are repeated in the song over and over.  Finally, check your answers below and look up any new words.

Enjoy while you Listen and Practice!

Skyfall Practice Listening: High Frequency Verb forms

THIS IS THE END

______ your breath and ______ to ten                 

______the earth ______ and then                      

______ my heart ______ again                          

For this is the end

I've ______ and ______this moment               

So overdue, I ______ them                             

______, I'm stolen                            

Let the sky fall, when it ______                

And ______ it all together                         

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles              

We will stand tall

And face it all together

At sky fall

At sky fall

Skyfall is where we start

A thousand miles and poles apart

Where worlds ______ and days are dark              

You may have my number, You can take my name        

But you'll never ______ my heart                      

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles

We will stand tall

And face it all together

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles

We will stand tall

And face it all together

At sky fall

(Let the sky fall, When it crumbles, We will stand tall x2)

Where you go I go

What you see I see

I ______ I'd never be me without the security         

Are your loving arms ______ me from harm           

______ your hand in my hand and we'll stand            

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles

We will stand tall

And face it all together

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles

We will stand tall

And face it all together

At sky fall

Let the sky fall

We will stand tall

At sky falls

Ooooo...

Answers

Take a look at the Skyfall lyrics and fill in the verb forms you missed.  Then listen to Skyfall again; especially to the parts or words you found difficult. And, of course, try singing Skyfall with your friends at your next karaoke party!The words will come easy now!

THIS IS THE END

Hold your breath and count to ten                

Feel the earth move and then                      

Hear my heart burst again                         

For this is the end

I've drowned and dreamt this moment                

So overdue, I owe them                             

Swept away, I'm stolen                            

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles                

We will stand tall                                

And face it all together                           

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles              

We will stand tall

And face it all together

At sky fall

At sky fall

Skyfall is where we start

A thousand miles and poles apart

Where worlds collide and days are dark              

You may have my number, You can take my name         

But you'll never have my heart                      

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles

We will stand tall

And face it all together

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles

We will stand tall

And face it all together

At sky fall

(Let the sky fall, When it crumbles, We will stand tall x2)

Where you go I go

What you see I see

I know I'd never be me without the security        

Are your loving arms keeping me from harm           

Put your hand in my hand and we'll stand            

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles

We will stand tall

And face it all together

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles

We will stand tall

And face it all together

At sky fall

Let the sky fall

We will stand tall

At sky falls

Ooooo...

Until next week enjoy some more of the fabulous Adele!

 

 
MORE James Bond!

Do you have what it takes to be James Bond?
http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.ca/2012/11/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-be-james.html

Connect with ALEX here or at

Celebrity English Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Celebrity-English/341804042518553

Celebrity English Myspace

http://www.myspace.com/browse/people#!/573390781

Celebrity English Twitter

https://twitter.com/CelebEnglish

Celebrity English Linkedin

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=hb_tab_pro_top

Always happy to meet new people! See you next week!

Justin Bieber - Mistletoe

 Christmas is almost here!  Trees are decorated, parties are happening and Christmas music is everywhere!   Justin Bieber’s song "Mistletoe"is back on the air and in the stores!  It debuted in 2011 and is still on many people’s Xmas music play list.  So don’t be surprised if you keep hearing this song wherever you go!

Check out the video and try to fill in the missing blanks below. Enjoy!

 

 "Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber

It’s the most beautiful time of the year

Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer

I should be playing in the winter snow

But I'mma be under the mistletoe

I don’t wanna miss out on the holiday

But I can’t stop staring at your face

I should be playing in the winter snow

But I’mma be under the 1________

With you, shawty with you

With you, shawty with you

With you under the mistletoe

Everyone's gathering around the fire

2________roasting like a hot July

I should be chilling with 3________, I know

But I’mma be under the mistletoe

Word on the street 4________'s coming tonight,

5________'s flying through the sky so high

I should be 6________, I know

But I’mma be under the mistletoe

With you, shawty with you

With you, shawty with you

With you under the mistletoe

With you, shawty with you

With you, shawty with you

With you under the mistletoe

Aye, love, the 7_______followed the star

The way I followed my heart

And it led me to a 8________

Aye, love, don't you buy me nothing

'cause I am feeling one thing, your lips on my lips

That’s a merry, 9________

It’s the most beautiful time of the year

Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer

I should be playing in the winter snow

But I’mma be under the mistletoe

I don’t wanna miss out on the holiday

But I can’t stop staring at your face

I should be playing in the winter snow

But I’mma be under the mistletoe

With you, shawty with you

With you, shawty with you

With you under the mistletoe

With you, shawty with you

With you, shawty with you

With you, under the mistletoe, under the mistletoe

Kiss me underneath the mistletoe

Show me baby that you love me so-oh-oh

Oh, oh, ohhh

Kiss me underneath the mistletoe,

Show me baby that you love me so-oh-oh

Oh, oh, ohhh

Listening Answers

1. mistletoe 

2. Chestnuts

3. my folks

4. Santa

5. Reindeer

6. making a list

7. wise men

8. miracle

9. merry Christmas

Ok, now go through the video one more time and answer the Comprehension Questions below.  However to help you out, I have given you the meanings to some of the key slang terms from the song.

 Slang Terms & Meanings from Justin Bieber

wanna = want to

imma be =  I am going to be.

a "shawty" = a pretty girl.

Comprehension Questions

(1)What is mistletoe?

        A plant; see picture of Mickey and Minnie under the mistletoe below.

(2)What usually happens under the mistletoe?

      Christmas custom, any two people who meet under a hanging of mistletoe are obliged to kiss.

(3)Does Justin Bieber want a Christmas gift from his girlfriend?

       No. 

(4)What does Justin Bieber want to do for Christmas?

       He wants to be together with his girlfriend under the mistletoe.

(5)What are some of the Christmas activities that Justin Bieber feels he ‘should be’ doing?

       He should be: playing in the winter snow, chilling with his folks, making a list.

                      
                                      Happy Holidays!

Connect with Alex!

 

Celebrity English

On Facebook

On Twitter

Do you have what it takes to be James Bond?

The latest release of Skyfall marked the 50th anniversary of the James Bond 007 film franchise.  Currently Daniel Craig is starring as the legendary 007 British Spy.  Adventure, intrigue, cars, women/men, futuristic gadgets, “saving the world” are all part of the James Bond "cloak and dagger lifestyle".

 

This week I started to wonder what it takes to be a real spy.  So in the tradition of James Bond I based this Celebrity English feature on a mixture of MI5 and MI6 security services.   

Here are some of the highlights I found.

Eligibility

Need to be a British citizen of the home country; however there are some exceptions.

21 years old (+).

Able to pass a high Security Clearance.

Pass the medical test; physical and mental.

Personal Attributes

Personal Integrity

Working with Others / Teamwork

Planning and Organizing

Analysis and Problem Solving

Leading and Decision-Making

Communicating

Innovative

Strong Desire to make a difference in the world!

Recruiting Areas

“The roles for which we recruit fall into the following areas:

Degrees ranging from Architecture to Zoology from 36 different universities have joined us as Intelligence Officers over the last two years. We also have opportunities for people with a range of technical, vocational or professional qualifications, from IT or Electronics to Carpentry or Accountancy.”

Common Jobs in the Secret Service

Intelligence Delivery Officers - Collecting, analyzing and reporting global secret intelligence.

Administrators - Assisting with the essential daily running of the organization, through a broad range of administrative tasks.

Technology - ensuring we have secure, innovative IT systems to communicate internationally.

Corporate Services - Working with a range of departments such as HR and Finance.

Language Specialists - Translating raw intelligence in many different languages and dialects from both written and spoken sources.

Benefits

Continued training in your field.

Salary similar to many other organizations. Depends on skill, experience, and performance. 

Pension scheme comparable with the Civil Service.

Maternity and paternity leave.

25 days’ annual leave rising to 30 days after five years service (even a spy needs a few days off!)

Current Employment Vacancies

    Business Analysts

    Business Relationship Managers

    Data and Information Professionals

    Forensic Speech & Language Specialist

    Internet Investigation, Exploitation and Cyber Security

 Specialists

    Portfolio Managers

    Speech Technician

    Strategy, Architecture, IT Security and Testing Specialists

    IT Technical Operations roles

    IT Service Management roles

    Intelligence Officer

    Project Managers

    Service Desk Analyst

    Information Specialist

    Application Support Analysts

    Network Systems Engineers

    Administrator

    Language Specialist

    Transport Supervisors

    Facilities Assistants

So now can you pass the test to become like James Bond?

Here are a few to try out:

(1)Try our Intelligence Officer challenge, which will test your ability to maintain a simple cover story.

https://www.sis.gov.uk/careers/roles/intelligence-officer/test-your-skills.html

(2)Investigative Challenge - Intelligence Officers and Intelligence Analysts

https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/investigative-challenge.aspx

(3)Listening Challenge - English Language Analysts

https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/listening-challenge.aspx

(4)Digital Intelligence Challenge - Internet Investigation, Exploitation and Cyber Security Specialists

https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/use-your-it-skills.aspx

Language Learning Section

Here are some common words you will hear in Spy Movies. Test Yourself for Fun!  What do the following words mean?  Just put a few notes or ideas beside each word. 

Espionage

MI6

CIA

A spy

A terrorist

To do/conduct surveillance

A bug

Cloak and dagger

Answers and More Espionage Vocabulary!

Verbs

to be classified: something that is considered confidential or secret information; need a high level security clearance to view the information.

to do/conduct surveillance: the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime.

to stake out: to do surveillance. 

to spy : to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes.

to have one's cover blown: you have been exposed as being a spy.

to keep/maintain a low profile:  to behave in a way that does not attract attention.

to sabotage: something: the act of destroying or damaging something deliberately so that it does.

to destroy something : to cause (something) to end or no longer exist : to cause the destruction of.

Adjectives

undercover: acting or executed in secret; specifically : employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation <an undercover agent/police officer>.

clandestine: done in a private place or way : done secretly. <clandestine activities/organization>.

Nouns

Espionage: ,or spying, involves a government or individual obtaining information that is

considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information.

a spy:  (1)one who keeps secret watch on a person or thing to obtain information (2) a person employed by one nation to secretly convey classified information of strategic importance to another nation; also : a person who conveys the trade secrets of one company to another.

an operative: a secret agent; a person who works toward achieving the objectives of a larger interest <political operatives>.

a bug: a small hidden microphone (listening device) that is used to secretly listen to and record people.

a conspiracy: an agreement by 2 or more people to commit a crime.

a covert operation : a plan made in a way that is not easily seen or noticed : secret or hidden.

a threat: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage.

a bomb: a device that is designed to explode in order to injure or kill people or to damage or something.

terrorism: the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal.

a terrorist: a person who uses or supports the use of terrorism <terrorist activities/attacks/bombings/threats> <a terrorist organization/group/network>.

a sleeper (agent): A sleeper agent is a person who is recruited to an intelligence service to wake up and perform a specific set of tasks or functions while living under cover in an area of interest.

a double agent: a spy pretending to serve one government while actually serving another.

Organizations

MI5: Military Intelligence, Section 5 - the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence.

MI6: Military Intelligence, Section 6 - the agency which supplies Her Majesty's Government with foreign intelligence.

FBI: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a governmental agency belonging to the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency (counterintelligence).

CIA: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence.

Military: of or relating to soldiers or the armed forces (such as the army, navy, marines, and air force) 

Expressions

behind closed doors:   in private; only the people in the meeting know the information.

cloak and dagger: dealing in or suggestive of melodramatic intrigue and action usually involving secret agents and espionage <a cloak–and–dagger novel>.

Until next week!  Enjoy the Skyfall trailer and the original Dr No.

More James Bond!

Skyfall a Big Hit at the Oscars!
http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.ca/2013_02_24_archive.html

Connect with ALEX here or at

 

 http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.com/

Face book

Twitter