British Politeness

Language Peculiarities 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10280244/Translation-table-explaining-the-truth-behind-British-politeness-becomes-internet-hit.html

Everybody knows that it's really hard to understand foreign language, especially if it concerns British people. We know that the British trait is politeness, but sometimes it is not good, and we don't know how to understand some phrases, moreover we cannot actually know that Britons really mean.

 The Daily Mail published an article about peculiarities of British English. The author of the article said that a lot of British phrases are becoming an internet hit. It began, when unknown person published a table on the Internet. This table was posted on a lot of blogs; it was commented and confirmed by a lot of people. The table includes three columns: "What British say", "What British mean" and "What foreigners understand" and it really helps different people to understand British. 

For example, if Britons invite you to come, it doesn't mean that they really want you to come. And there are a lot of such examples in the table, which is situated below the post. 

In my opinion, British politeness is just a myth, because the politeness includes not only that you say but also that you think, and as for me it is really rude behavior. For example if somebody will say you: "with the greatest respect ...", you should actually understand it like 'I think you are an idiot'." it sounds rude, isn't it? Of course, this table will help a lot of people to understand such people as Britons, but as for me I am disappointed with them, because I really thought that their politeness is sincere.

What do you think about British politeness? Do you aprove it or no?
Lena Kuznetsova

Healthcare

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/nov/26/bruce-keogh-nhs-england-innovation

“The Guardian” in its issue of 26th of February has published an article about the innovations in health care industry. The author of the article describes innovation as anything that creates new opportunities for improvement or development, but, as he says: «The truth is we are still a long way from providing the right conditions for innovation to thrive and permeate across the NHS».

The author also gives a number of reasons for this. Firstly, it’s absence of concrete and visible goals. Secondly, it’s lack of development, that’s why many good ideas «are allowed to wither on the vine». And finally it’s non-recognition of talented and young generation of doctors, scientists and all people who belong to so-called «core of emerging leaders». 

I completely agree with the author’s point of view. In my opinion the NHS should be build on innovations. Widespread use of innovations within the health care industry will improve the quality of health care, prevent medical errors, reduce health care costs, increase administrative efficiencies, and expand access to affordable health care.

But one of the main problems, which are often arising in different spheres, is financing. Health care even in the developed countries is still ailing and in need of help. Yes, medical treatment has made astonishing advances over the years. But many economists consider that the packaging and delivery of treatments are often ineffective. Also the well-known problems range from medical errors, which by some accounts are the eighth leading cause of death, to the soaring cost of health care.

Quite a big sum of money is spend for the innovations in health care annually. And technologies are the main drivers of this spending: new drugs that cost more, new tests that find more diseases to treat, new surgical implants and other techniques.

“In health care, new technology makes things better, but more expensive,” says Jonathan Gruber, an economist at MIT who leads a heath-care group at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Despite the enormous investment in innovation and the magnitude of the opportunity for innovators to both do good and do well, many efforts fail, losing billions of investor dollars along the way. But many people believe that innovations in the delivery of health care can result in more-convenient, more-effective, and less-expensive treatments for today’s time. New drugs, diagnostic methods, drug delivery systems, and medical devices offer the hope of better treatment and care. 

So, probably much of the spending has been worth it, moreover the health care industry has become a big  part of nearly every economy. That makes sense. Better medicine is buying longer lives.

What is your attitude to innovations in health care industry?

Mikhailenko Elizaveta.

MASS MEDIA by Inna Kasatkina

http://careers.theguardian.com/getting-job-in-media-recruiter-insights

Gavin Ricketts shares his tips on bagging your first job in media. Photograph: Adam Berry/Getty Images

    The article is headlined «Getting a job in media: recruiter insights».  It was published by Gavin Ricketts in The Guardian 1 November 2013. The purpose of the article is to inform readers about possible opportunities and challenges in searching the first job in mass media. The author started by telling the reader how younger applicants can write a CV that survives that first cull. According to the text, the author advised that the first sentence should introduce the role you're looking for or the vacancy, if you're responding to a specific advert. Next describe what experience you've gained to help you in that role, and finally write a sentence to show that you're quietly confident, responsible, alert and willing to take on whatever task the job requires. Finish with a little about your ambitions, remembering to be clear that you don't expect to get there at lightning speed. For instance: "I eventually want to be a producer, so I'm looking for production assistant roles to lay down a good foundation of experience first." Gavin Ricketts emphasized that younger applicants need to communicate that they can work well with others, but don't rely on simply stating: "I can work as part of a team" – a cliché long overdue for retirement. The author came to conclusion that firstly, securing your first job in media is tough – competition is fierce and talent abounds, secondly,  people, who are going to find the best job in the world of mass media, must be as creative as possible.

    I agree with the main idea of Gavin Ricketts: “The more human and approachable your application, the more they'll want to meet you in person”.  I found this article very useful and full of value, because everybody among younger applicants, who wants to get job in mass media, must know how they can do it the best way.

    Dear classmates, what do you think about students' chances in finding the nice job in mass media?  Which personal qualities and skills do they have enough for this competitive place?  

Foreign policy (relations with other countries)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24906526

Typhoon Haiyan   in the Philippines, was an exceptionally powerful tropical cyclone  that devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, in early November 2013. Typhoon Haiyan called typhoon "Yolanda" in the Phillipines caused catastrophic damage throughout much of Leyte and Samar islands, where cities and towns were largely destroyed.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, has announced that the Britain is contributing £10m and HMS Daring, currently deployed near Singapore, will shortly be heading at full speed towards the disaster zone with further support from an RAF C-17 which will be a powerful help to the relief operation.

Up to 10,000 people are feared to have been killed. Millions of survivors of the typhoon are waiting for aid with food shortages increasing. The additional support announced by the prime minister will provide aid flights to Cebu in the eastern Philippines, the delivery of temporary shelters, blankets and water purification tablets to 300,000 people, and household goods for water treatment and storage.

In my opinion, the article is very interesting and worth to read. I consider the UK does a great thing – they help another country to cope with the appalling devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan. I sincerely regret the inhabitants of the Philippines and I hope that with the help of other countries they will be able to withstand.

What do you think about UK aid? Do you suppose they have done all they could do?

Internal policy

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/20/scotland-independency-culture

Everyone knows that Scotland tries to save its independence in the culture, the traditions, the cutlery and the history. But not everyone knows that Scotland wants to be independent as a country, separated from England. Less than a year, on 18 September 2014, it will be the independence referendum where Scotland’s citizens will decide the destiny and the future of their country. 
The most recent poll on independence among Scots who say they are certain to vote next year has 28% opting for independence, 50% for remaining in the UK and 22% still to decide. Such position isn’t danger for the UK. But SNP (Scottish National party) has 10 moths to convince the voters and everything can change.
On the one hand, I understand why Scotland decided to hold the referendum. Firstly, it is the economy disputes. The oil question is much argued. Most fields are situated in near Scottish coast. And Scotland doesn’t want to share a lot. Especially when England decided to control these fields by itself. Secondly, it is national politics. For example, the project of army reform, 2004, where the UK is claimed to abandon the historical Scottish regiments. It was an encroachment of the history and the fame of Scottish army. Thirdly, we mustn’t forget Scotland was an independent country (up to 1707) and decided to be a part of the United Kingdom voluntarily. Most of all now Scotland is the most autonomous (it has its own Parliament, legal system, Established Church and etc.) part of UK. Scotland can’t destroy its own independent character. Finally, people feel that England lives on their own interests. “When you live in Scotland for any length of time you realize how distant English politics are,” – said the man in the comment below the article. 
On the other hand, it will be very important step for people. They can’t imagine their life in a new country because everything will be change: the position among different countries in the world, their attitude, the relation with the UK. And the UK will be change: economy, army, the nuclear question (the nuclear weapon is saving in Scotland now and England doesn’t have equipment for that). And nobody knows what will be. It is very risky. Everyone understands that the separation from England will not be very quickly. This process may take 10 years. For such process Scotland must have a lot of money and perfect, right strategy. Do they have it?  
As for me, I support the position of the yes camp. But I am outside observer, I’ve never lived in Scotland, communicated with English and Scottish people. Only what I have it is facts. But I will be continuing to follow the situation because the Scottish independence referendum is the historic moment in the world. 

What do you think about the Scottish independence referendum? How would you vote if you lived in Scotland?

Ovchinnikova Valeria

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2477757/Pawsitively-adorable-Hundreds-pups-dress-Americas-biggest-Halloween-Dog-Parade.html
Holidays

Happy Halloween!
In October  hundreds of dogs gathered in costume for the 23rd Annual Dog Halloween Parade in Tompkins Square Park in New York City - reported Daily Mail. Thousands of people gathered to see more than 500 terriers, bulldogs, Labradors, pugs and lovable mutts in their costumes at one of the largest Halloween events in the country.
The Tomkins Square Annual Dog Halloween Parade has become the largest dog Halloween parade in the country. Over the years the parade has become so big that it is more of a costume contest than an actual parade. With all the spectators and dogs there isn’t enough room for an organized parade.
The event lasted for hours and prizes were given out throughout the event. The costumes were creative, entertaining and for the most part cute. Dogs came dressed as food, superheroes and various other pop culture references. In past years, a golden retriever wearing antlers and a Santa suit pulled a sleigh, a corgi came as a bus stop, a West Highland terrier packed in the spinach for his Olive Oyl and Popeye pet parents, and small dogs dug deep into their inner superstars, appearing as John Lennon, Evel Knievel and even Michael Jackson, complete with one glittering silver bootie, according to Daily Mail.
The event helps raise funds to support the Tompkins Square dog run which relies solely on community donations for its upkeep.
I think it was a wonderful idea to celebrate Halloween in such way! And it is great opportunity to the owners not only to show their pets and their wonderful costumes but also to help and to support the Tompkins Square dog run.
Do you like such events? Do you think dog Halloween  parade has the right to be in our country?
Vasilevskaya Svetlana

Gestures

Gestures -http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2352922/Italy-land-250-hand-gestures-Nation-uses-everyday-conversation.html

The tradition of gesturing is undeniably Italian; Italians use about 250 hand gestures in everyday conversation.  But when and where did gestures originate and how did the system of gestures develop? These are the most important points that Hannah Roberts, the Daily Mail correspondent, highlighted in the article.

It is mentioned that the great amount of gestures originated in Naples. Also we can learn that gestures were developed by Italians as a secret language of communication during centuries of foreign occupation — by Austria, France and Spain in the 14th through 19th centuries. In busy cities like Naples, gesturing was a way of marking one’s territory. Gestures generally include fingers flying horizontally from the chin, exaggerated shrugs and upheld palms, and lots of exasperated cries and raised eyebrows.

In my turn, I would like to say that the knowing of gestures is very important for people. If you know it, you almost know the main part of the different nation culture; you will be understood by people in different countries and will use gestures properly. This article can be useful for those people who interested in gestures and its origin.

At the end I’d like to ask you questions: do you think it’s important to know gestures and do you often use them in your everyday life?

Adamovich Sofia

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/feb/27/bring-back-ema-students-urge&sa=U&ei=YdKYUr2gC8SUtAbG_YDQCA&ved=0CA4QFjAFOB4&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNES3WZhokISpcASYaBhX60Cw1eYXQ

Education 

The Guardian in it’s issue of 27th of February published an article on education. The headline of the article I have read is: « Students urge MPs to restore EMA grant». The article touches upon very serious problem, which consist in scrapping the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). By the way, what does this acronym mean? The EMA was a grant of up to £30 a week that allowed over half a million students from some of the poorest families in the country access to further education; almost 90% of students eligible for free school meals received the EMA.

The author starts by telling the reader that students have come up with a new strategy in their fight to get the education maintenance allowance (EMA) restored. They're urging MPs to support an "early day motion"- which is a proposal submitted for debate in parliament. Activists on over a dozen college campuses are organizing petitions, online lobbying and social media action in an effort to persuade MPs to support disadvantaged young people so they can continue to study post-16. The author states that most of the students are not going to give up, because they can’t accept the destruction of the education system and their future lives. According to the article cancellation of EMA led to dreadful consequences: the number of students applying to university is in sharp decline – in 2012 Ucas reported a drop of more than 50,000 people, the education system suffers a lot. Besides, the cost of the grant is offset by the benefits, because а lot of teenagers who received EMA were encouraged to get higher education. The article goes on to say that leading economists including Jonathan Portes, director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, have pointed out, the EMA "delivered significant economic and social benefits" and was valuable not only to poorer students but "to the economy as a whole". In conclusion the author admits that young people are going to struggle for their rights. The main idea is not to give up.

I found the article very important, because it touches upon very controversial theme. On the one hand the government desn’t have enough money to finance this project, but on the other hand students shoudn’t suffer. Personally I think that both rich and poor students must have the same educational rights and opportunities.

What do you think about this situation?

 

Social behavior

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/28/walmart-black-friday-protests-thanksgiving#start-of-comments

Shopping is one of the most popular hobbies in our modern life. Women and men like buying something new, especially in sales, where you can find a fashionable dress with a big discount.

Black Friday is a day for shopaholics in the United States. A lot of American people are going to a multinational retail corporation “Walmart”, where “record numbers of workers plan to protest major retailers”, said “The Guardian” in its issue of the 28^th of November.

As the author of the article, Dominic Rushe concentrates our attention on dissatisfaction of workers of Walmart and shows us two different points of view on conditions and wages in the main shopping centre of the US. He points out on the fact that protests are planned at more than 1,500 of Walmart’s 4,000 US stores on Black Friday, which is considered as a great number of disaffected workers. According to the text we can see commentaries of different people, including some of them who are for protests and another part of them who are against it.

I found this article topical, because the author touches upon the burning issues of our today’s life. These conflicts in the US lead to serious problems not only in economy, but in social and political spheres, because such conflicts are the reason for walkouts. I believe that politicians should interfere in this process and solve a problem of people’s welfare.

Have you ever heard about Black Friday protests in the US? Do you often buy something in a sale? 

Ann Aristova 

ART

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2251067/Underground-art-scene-Posters-decade-showcased-celebration-150-years-Tube.html

The Daily Mail published an article on London underground art scene. The title of the article is: “Underground art scene: Exhibition to celebrate 150 years of the Tube will feature incredible posters from each decade since 1908”. The article informs the readers of the exhibition that showcased the iconic poster art that has adorned the walls of the London Underground for more than a century. Poster Art 150 – London Underground's Greatest Designs was held at the London Transport Museum to commemorate the Tube's 150th anniversary. The unusual exhibition featured wall art seen in Underground stations from each decade since the early 1900s. The exposition was the first of its type since 1963 and showed the changing art styles of the last 100 years. The 150 were chosen by a panel of experts from more than 3,000 in the London Transport Museum vault.

In my opinion, the article is extremely useful for those who want to know more about wall art and feel the atmosphere of London’s Tube. I enjoyed a lot reading it and watching distinguished posters. I hope that poster art and wall art will win popularity among Russian artists and we will see their work in Moscow metro or in other public places soon :)

The question is would you like to see different posters from famous artists on the streets of our city or in public places such as theatres, cinemas, hospitals, schools, etc.?

Below you can see some examples of posters from London’s Tube.

Ann Lebikhova