Topics for the oral exam
Unit 1: Learning languages/ Learning experiences/Language policy
Unit 3:Holiday problems/ Places of interest/giving advice and recommendations/travelling
The weather
Unit 11: Pets/ animals and the environment (endangered species).
Environmental problems and possible solutions.
Unit 15: Injuries and illness/ facts or myths/ accidents and problems related to health/ alternative therapies/Living to an old age
Unit 16: News and events/newspapers/television/ fame and fortune/ celebrities
Thursday 26 January 2012
Tuesday 17 January 2012
Cracow's Historic Centre
Watch the video and complete the gaps with the missing information.
1. Krakow was the capital of Poland for ________________ since _____________.
2. The city centre survived through centuries of ______________ and ____________.
3. The Central Square covers _________________ and it's one the ______________ in Europe.
4. Saint Mary's Church dominates the square. Remains of the city's past takes place from the church's tower _____________.
5. When the Tartars reached Cracow in 1241 a __________________ stationed in the tower began to play a tune in order to warn the citizens that the _____________________________.
6. Tragically he never finished his duty. A tartar ________________________ him through the throat killing him instantly.
7. Today the same tune is played from the tower and ____________________ at the same point he was killed.
8. The Cracow's festival is held each year in June to celebrate the _____________________ of the Tartars in 1287.
9. They put on _________________________ and walk through the streets.
10. 41 kings ___________________ in Wawel Castle.
11. The ceiling is made of ________________________ and in the centre of each square there are wooden heads that represent people from all over the world.
12. During the 2nd World War Poland _________________ unmercilessly by both Allies and Nazzis.
Answers: 1. 600 years since the 11th century. 2. conquests and wars 3. 4 hectares/largest squares 4. each day 5. trumpeter 6. enemies were approaching 7. arrow struck 8. defeat 9. uniforms of the defeated 10. were crowned 11.wood 12. was bombed
Monday 16 January 2012
Thursday 12 January 2012
Coachsurfing
A volunteer-based worldwide network connecting travelers with members of local communities, who offer free accommodation and/or advice. Includes ...
Wednesday 11 January 2012
Kracow
From: http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/cracow.html
Cracow
Cracow's Historic Centre holds Europe's largest marktesquare and numerous medieval buildings. Cracow was on Unesco's first World Heritage List, publicized in 1978. This city in the south east of Poland was founded in 1257. The formidable town square dates from the same year.
Until 1609 Cracow was the Polish capital, when it was moved to the more central Warsaw. This important role in Polish history is symbolized in the Royal Wawel Castle, a site of royal coronations and royal sepulchres.
Cracow also has one of the world's oldest university buildings and the Kazimierz district containing many Jewish memorial sites.
Cracow's historical centre can be easily explored on foot. It was snowing a bit when I walked around (that's why the photos look somewhat bleak). At Wawel, the Castle, I joined a tour inside the Apartments. These living quarters exhibit many Renaissance decorations and furnishings. Some Dutch china (with oriental themes), Flemish tapestries and Italian majolica chimneys. It got me thinking about the originality of many sites, and that I should stick to visiting the "originals" (Rome instead of "The Second Rome", Venice instead of "The Venice of the East", Jerusalem instead of "Polish Jerusalem").
Most impressive monument of Cracow is the 14th century Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), situated at the centre of the square. It's a huge building with a very distinctive shape: all gables wherever you look. There are little (souvenir) shops inside now. On the first floor there's a fine exhibition of large paintings by Polish artists from around 1900.
On Sunday morning I picked a walking tour from my guidebook, and went to the old Jewish neighbourhood Kazimierz. Already a considerable number of people were present at the clothes market on Plac Zydowski, although it was freezing and before 9. There are a number of synagogues in this area, all a bit more decorated on the outside than usual (perhaps to rival at least somehow the exuberant Catholic churches in Cracow). The Jewish community in Cracow has been minimalized for long, so these synagogues and the adjacent Jewish cemeteries are merely reminders from the past.
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery Monday 9 January 2012
Tuesday 3 January 2012
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