Take Two Minutes to Remember

Today, on Remembrance Sunday, millions of people in the United Kingdom fell silent to remember those who served or died in war. 

Tomorrow on November 11th, millions of Canadians will  do the same thing.

As the clock strikes 11 a.m., they will pause for two minutes to commemorate  the day when Europe experienced its first moments of peace at the end of World War 1. 


Why November 11th?  
On 11 November 1918,  after four years of non stop warfare, the guns of the Western Front fell silent. The allied armies had pushed the German invaders back, having  heavily defeated them in many major battles in the previous four months. 

In November the Germans called for an armistice (an end to the fighting) in order to negotiate a peace settlement. At the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Germany completely surrendered and signed the peace agreement with the Allies. 

The 11th hour. 

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month became very significant in the years after the war. The moment when fighting ended on the Western Front became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in World War 1. .

This first modern world conflict had brought about the mobilization  of over 70 million people and left between 9 and 13 million dead. Almost one third of those dead lay in an unknown grave.    

Why two minutes of silence ?  

On the first anniversary of the armistice in 1919 two minutes' silence was instituted as part of the main commemorative ceremony at the new  war memorial in London. 

King George V personally requested all the people of the British Empire, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand among others, to stop all normal activities for two minutes on the hour of the armistice  "which stayed the worldwide carnage of the four preceding years and marked the victory of Right and Freedom". 

The two minutes' silence was popularly adopted and it became a central feature of the ceremonies during which veterans are officially remembered. 

In Canada, Australia, New Zealand, millions will observe the two minutes of silence, even if they don't live in a province where Remembrance Day is an official holiday. But, many will not.  

Watch the listen to the following video that deals with this issue. Answer the questions BEFORE watching the video. 

A Pittance of Time 

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM the store made an announcement asking customers to stop what they were doing and give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with that unlike so many other stores who completely ignore Remembrance Day, this store was playing a leadership role in adopting the two minutes of silence initiative. 

On that day, at  eleven o'clock, the store made another announcement requesting that people begin their two minutes of silence. Every customer, except for one man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect, bowed their heads and remained silent.
Angry at the father's behaviour  - which showed a bad example to his child, Terry wrote a song that showed how he felt and why he thought it was so important to be silent for two minutes. Terry later recorded A Pittance of Time and included it on his full-length music CD, The Power of the Dream.

The next video delivers a similar message:  . 

The Poppy: A symbol of Remembrance

In Flanders Field 

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

between the crosses, row on row  

that mark our places, and in the sky 

the larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard  amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago 

we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

loved and were loved, and now we lie

in Flanders fields .  

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

the torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die.

we shall not sleep 

  though poppies grow 

in Flanders fields.

Why the Poppy? 

For almost 100 years, people from Canada, the United States, Britain, France, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries have worn the red poppy as a symbol of Remembrance Day.

This simple red flower continues to be one of most visible ways  people can show that they remember and thank the millions of men and women who gave up their lives for their countries in World War 1, World War 11 and all other wars. 

The the association between the poppy and war dead goes back to the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s  when  soldiers noted how poppies seemed  to flourish on the graves of soldiers who had died in battle in Flanders, a region of northern France and Belgium.

In 1915, Colonel John McCrae, a medical officer serving near Ypres in Belgium, made the same connection between the fields of poppies and  the young soldiers who had been killed in  battle.  This 
inspired the immortal poem, In Flanders Field, which he wrote during a break from working with the wounded. 

The poem, one that almost every Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealand  child can recite from memory, reflects what he McCrae  saw and heard with his own eyes and ears while working to save dying and injured soldiers during a particularly deadly battle in Ypres, Belgium.

The Story Behind the Poem 

On April 22, 1915, the Germans used deadly chlorine gas against Allied troops  in a desperate attempt to create movement on one side or the other. Even though the effects of the gas were  terrible, the Canadian soldiers continued to fight without giving up, and held the line for another 16 days.
    
In the trenches where he was caring for hundreds of wounded and dying soldiers, McCrae was so deeply affected by the battle and its devastating results that he wrote a letter to his mother. 

The letter to his mother 

"The general impression in my mind is a nightmare. We have been in the most bitter of fights. For seventeen days and seventeen nights none of us have had our clothes off, nor our boots, except occasionally. 

In all that time while I was awake, gunfire and rifle fire never ceased for sixty seconds...And behind if all was the constant background of the sights of the dead, the wounded, the maimed, and a terrible anxiety lest the line should give way", (Prescot, In Flanders Fields: The Story of John McCrae, p.98 

The day before he wrote his famous poem, one of McCrae's best friends was killed in the fighting and buried in a makeshift grave with a simple wooden cross. 

Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses  marking the many graves. Although he couldn't help his friend, or any of the others who had died, McCrae spoke for them in this poem.  It was the second last poem he was to write. 

.

Listen to In Flanders Field being read out loud. Follow along, or read it at the same time - slowly and solemnly as it is meant to be read

How the Poppy Became an Official Symbol 

In November 1918 as the armistice ended World War 1, Moina Michael, an American teacher working at the YMCA Overseas War Headquarters in New York, read McCrae's poem. She took in McCrae's appeal  "to keep faith with the dead" and vowed that she would always wear a poppy as a sign of  remembrance.  In 1920, the United States proclaimed the poppy as its national emblem of Remembrance. 

The following year, Madame Guerin, a Frenchwoman, sold millions to raise funds for rehabilitation in areas of France. She also sent women to London to sell poppies and persuaded Earl Haig to adopt it for the British Legion.

In 1921 the Canadian Legion joined its British counterpart and officially adapted the poppy as its symbol of Remembrance. 

Why Should You Wear A Poppy? 

First, wearing a poppy is one very visible way to show respect and admiration for the men and women who  sacrificed their lives in order to help us retain the freedom and rights we take for granted.

Also  when you buy and wear a poppy, you will be helping military families, former veterans in need and their families. 

Where does the money go in Britain? 

Last year the poppy campaign in Britain raised £40 m ( that's about about $70 million Canadian).  The Royal British Legion said it spends £1.7m a week on care and support for military families, including grants, employment advice and funding, emotional support, tribunal and inquest advice, care homes and family breaks. This includes  the families of veterans returning from Afghanistan.

Where does the money go in Canada? 

It is difficult to get an accurate figure for the total amount raised in the Canadian poppy campaign, but a 2008 post on the Salvation Army's blog put it at about $16.5 million.

The legion distributes about 18 million poppies a year via its members, veterans, military cadets and through direct mailings. Assuming all are given out to Canadians, it amounts to average donations of less than a dollar per available poppy.

The basic purpose of Poppy Funds is to provide immediate assistance to ex-servicemen and women in need. This may include food, shelter or medical attention for them or their families. Also, education bursaries are granted to children and grandchildren of ex-service personnel.  

Poppy funds can be used for low-rental housing and care facilities, community medical appliances and medical research, drop-in centres, meals-on-wheels, transportation and related services for veterans their dependents. Facilities and services are often extended to the elderly or disabled in the community as may be available. 

Is the poppy relevant to the veterans of today? 

The recent role of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, and the creation of the Highway of Heroes Highway of Heroes as a sign of respect Canadians have shown for the families of the more than 160 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan would seem to indicate that the poppy is still relevant. 

READING QUIZ 

Online Interactive Reading Comprehension  Quiz 
PDF Reading Comprehension: The Poppy  
PDF Answers: The Poppy

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  

Write your answer in he comment box below 

1.   Do YOU think it is still important to wear a poppy?  Why or why not? 
2.   What else should people do instead?  Explain 

Ten Great Halloween Song Gap Fills

Happy Halloween! 

Let's Have a Little Fun! Bring on the Music!

No Halloween is complete without music.  For your listening pleasure, here are some of my favourite Halloween song. 

Listen to all of the songs. Try the listening activities.Then discuss them with your friends or classmates

• Which one was the easiest to understand? Why? : 
• Which one did you like best? Why? 
• Which one did you like least? Why? 
• Which one had the best video and graphics? Why? 
• Which one told a real story? 
• Which one will still be played in 20 years? Why?  

 # 1 :   This is Halloween
This is Halloween by Marilyn Manson is one of the few songs with the word Halloween in it.
It has become extremely popular at Halloween even though it was originally written for a movie about a Christmas Nightmare.  

#2 The Monster Mash
The Monster Mash is one of the oldest and best known songs people usually play at Halloween.  I even danced to it when I was a child. That's why we call it a "classic," or a "golden oldie"




# 3:  Werewolves of London 

This song is always at the top of people's Halloween music list because  werewolves are scary creatures that people love to be afraid of. Can you howl like the singer can? Try it. It's fun. 


 # 4  Season of the Witch 
This song is doesn't have any ghosts or zombies in it, but Halloween is all about witches and strange things, so it fits the topic.  Besides, Halloween occurs during the season of the witch.   
 

#5:  Bad Moon Rising 
This song is more about bad things happening than about Halloween itself, but Halloween is a time when terrible things are supposed to happen, so the song is very popular at Halloween parties. Besides, it's fun to dance to. .





#6: Love Potion # 9 
This song is about magic and magic potions, so it fits under the category of things that happen at Halloween. It's  also  a  romantic song, and everyone needs to sing a few slow songs - even at a party. 

 

# 7  Spooky  
This song, which has been sung by many different artists,  is not really a Halloween song, but everyone loves a song about things that are "spooky"m, which means scary. A love song with a "spooky" theme is great to dance to at Halloween, and it's easy to sing too.  






# 8 : Don't Fear the Reaper 
 The "reaper" is a name that we often use for death, so this song fits perfectly into a Halloween theme because Halloween is all about death and spirits. 

   

#9  Welcome to My Nightmare  
Dressing up for Halloween, or going to haunted houses and trying to scare people is just like being in a nightmare.  This song makes nightmares fun. I hope you enjoy this one.

  r


#10 Thriller 
Thriller is he biggest selling album, song and video of all time. The complete video, which is 13 minutes long , changed the way music videos were made. Most people consider it their  
favourite Halloween song and can even dance the dance. How about you?  



I hope you enjoy these songs and have fun with them.  Let me know which ones you liked best, or if you have any other favourite ones. 

Meanwhile,  have fun getting scared!

Great Halloween

Halloween is Not Just for Children

If you ever thought Halloween was just for kids, think again.  Vancouver, British Columbia,  Halloween is almost more important than Christmas, not only for children, but for every age group from 3 to 65.

Created from a mixture of  traditions, originally meant  to frighten away the spirits of the dead, Halloween is now an excuse for people to "let their hair down,"  (relax and stop acting inhibited) dress up in all kinds of wild costumes,and wander the streets of the city laughing, and acting silly.

The wonderful thing is that not one person will "bat an eyelash." ( look at them strangely)  Walk downtown today or tomorrow and you will see some strange and wonderful looking people dressed in anything from vampire costumes to toothpaste boxes. They will look like they are having a wonderful time, and you'll smile because their joy is contagious.


Halloween Magic 

Halloween is a magic time for many Canadians, young and old. It is one of the few times of the year when  normally reserved Canadians allow themselves to forget they are responsible, hard working people, and to remember and let out some of their childhood feelings of joy and wonder.

Canadians are not a people who wear their feelings on their sleeves, or who party in the streets, so Halloween is an excuse and an opportunity for us to do just that. In many countries, this is called "carnival", or "joie de vivre", or simply public partying. In Canada, it is called Halloween, and people have come to look forward to it the whole year long. 

Getting Ready  

Preparations for Halloween begin almost a month before the big day. From the beginning of October, schools build their entire art and craft programs around the theme of Halloween.   Witches, ghosts, bats and pumpkins appear on every classroom window.

Children read Halloween stories, plays and even poetry and write their own ghost, or horror stories.   Teachers and parents bring hundreds of children out to pumpkin patches on the outskirts for the city. Here, children all choose their own pumpkins to take home and carve.

Costumes 

By the first week of October, children, teenagers, "twenty and thirty  somethings", and even  parents have  begun to plan the costume they plan to wear on October 31st. Teenagers and young people between  the ages of 20 and 40,  who will be attending several parties, or night club crawls, often put together three or four costumes.

Some people put together strange pieces of clothing from their own cupboards. Others make their own costumes. any fill the aisles of thrift stores like the Salvation Army or Value Village looking for something "just right." Still others spend a large amount of money and go to costume shops. All you need is an imagination.

Decorations and Pumpkin Carving

At home, parents and children begin decorating their own homes with all the symbols of Halloween in their traditional black and orange. Nowadays, families go even further putting decorating their yards with cemetery headstones, hacked up bodies dripping with fake blood, murderous looking criminals, zombies or Frankenstein like statues glowing an eerie green in the dark,  tree branches draped in filmy, but very visible spider web fabric.

Parents and children, or entire groups of teenagers hold pumpkin carving parties. Organizations stage pumpkin carving contests with prizes. Walk around any neighbourhood with children, and you will see front steps adorned with five, seven or even 10 beautifully carved pumpkins all lit up to look as spooky as they can be.

Then, of course, there are the school parties, and the Stanley Park Ghost train, which runs for almost a month. On the weekend of Halloween itself, almost  every community centre in Greater Vancouver has some kind of "safe" family Halloween event planned with games, spooky themes, and lots of sweets.  Vancouver itself has haunted house tours, cemetery walks and even fright nights at Playland. - an amusement park. 

Trick or Treat!! 

Finally, as soon as it begins to get dark on October 31st,  children of all sizes and shapes dressed in superhero, scary, cartoon character, hero,  princess or scary costumes will go knocking on doors shouting out "trick or treat," as their parents, flashlight in hand, watch them carefully  from the gate, or the street.

These days, when people open their doors to greet the kids, they will hand out chocolate bars and packaged goodies instead of candy kisses, homemade popcorn balls, or apples.  There have been too many scares for parents to allow their children to accept anything that is not tightly sealed and packaged.

By nine o'clock, things should have almost stopped. Occasionally, a group of 12 year olds wearing nothing but a face mask will come knocking on doors with their hands out for candy. At my house, the rule is no costume, no candy.

Safety Tips for 

Trick or Treating 

For parents who are new at the process of "trick or treating" there are some basic rules.

• Don't knock on doors unless you see at least one or more lit pumpkins. 

• Have your children walk and knock on doors in groups as well as carry flashlights. They will be safer

•  Kids should wear something bright and reflective. Drivers need to see them

• If a homeowner allows children to choose their own treats, kids should limit themselves to one. 

• If you see that pumpkin lights have been put out, the home has run out of candy. Don't knock on the door. 

By nine o'clock, the trick or treating should be all over. It's time to go home. 
So,  if you are reading this and live in North America, carve a pumpkin, put a candle in it and put out on your front porch. Buy some candy, and open the door to trick or treaters.

Get yourself a costume, dress up your children, and go out trick or treating. Attend a community centre party. Ride the ghost train, or tour a haunted house. Enjoy the party, and have fun.

Let me know what YOU think about Halloween. I would like your opinion.  Just click on the comment box. 

Seven ESL Activities with one Song

I have often said that I think using songs is a terrific way to improve many of your English skills. 

Sometimes, using one specific song can be used as an in-class activity that helps students practice all their English skills.  reading, listening, speaking, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and even writing. S: 

The following song includes SEVEN different activities you can do with a group or a partner to work on a variety of your English skills.  It's also a lovely song  to listen to and sing along with. . 

If you are a teacher, give it a try with your class. If you are an English learner, try it out on your own and then get together with a friend, a group of friends, your family members and do all of the activities.  Enjoy !  

Giving Poster Presentations

Many ESL students have to give group presentations as part of the speaking component of their English class. 

I  like my students to give poster presentations. 

In this kind of situation, two or three students work on a health related topic such as obesity in children, diabetes,  or anorexia nervosa. Other times, the topics might relate to endangered species or environmental problems. 

Benefits of Poster Presentations

Giving a poster presentation allows the students to work as a group, which then gives them some practice working as a "team"  to develop group management and speaking skills.  Some of these skills include: dividing up a topic, negotiating, planning, reporting back on activities, explaining what they have done so far, taking responsibility, clarifying issues, discussing problems etc.   

These are skills they need for the real world, for future academic classes and for work.  Non English speakers often say they have team work skills, but don't really know how to explain what that means.  Giving them the experience of preparing this type of poster presentation allows them to honestly report that they have indeed worked as part of a team in English. They can then describe what they did and how they did it. 

Preparing to give a poster presentation requires time and commitment on the part of the group members as students need to work together both in class and out of class. 

How it Works  

First, group members need to divide their topic into sections with each member taking responsibility for a specific area.  The students then do research on their part of the topic and report back to each other on what they have gathered so far.  I often provide them with specific websites they can go to where they will find material on their topic that they can actually read and understand. 

At different phases of their project, I often have students work together in class. Then I video tape them using some of the team skills they are putting into practice. This allows me to observe them interacting with each other more carefully later. It also lets me see how well they are using the skills I've been teaching them, or if I need to go over something specific such as pushing for clarification. The final part of the project involves putting the poster together. The students usually do this together. Sometimes I will use the school facilities to print out large headings for their poster, but as to the rest, they are on their own. 

On presentation days, the posters are set up in different parts of the room, and the presenters discuss a particular aspect of their general topic, using their poster to help them with be comfortable with the content and vocabulary. The "audience," which is usually only three or four students,  move from poster presentation to poster presentation. They can go back and read the information on the posters or ask specific questions to the presenters. 

Example of Poster Presentations: 

Here are some examples of student posters at different levels. Some are clearly done by  lower level students. Others were created by university students or professionals. 

English Spelling: Does It Make Sense?

Many of you have problems spelling English words. This often prevents you from reading or writing as well as you would like to.

Don't get discouraged!  Even though  English spelling often doesn't make seem to make sense, if you dig a little deeper, there  are often very good reasons that explain  the way many English words are spelled. 

Watch this great  video called Making Sense of English Spelling   from TED ED to learn more about  English spelling. It might help you understand it a little better. It might even make you want to learn more about  prefixes , suffixes, roots and even the history of English word.




LISTENING QUIZ: 
 
Go to Making Sense of English Spelling  and click on "THINK "to check your listening comprehension and how well you understood this video. Click on 'DIG DEEPER"  for some links to other resources on the web about English spelling.

For even more resources and practice with English spelling, go to my Editing and Error Correction  Page  and scroll down to the the SPELLING section.