Letter 1
God rest you merry gentlemen on that still and silent night! (verse 5 below)
We are about to embark on the year 2014. One hundred years ago we Europeans slaughtered each other on a scale which would out-number, many times, the total of war torn slaughterings of recent years. On Christmas Eve in 1914, the Germans and the British front-line soldiers, held a truce, against the orders of their horrified commanders. Here is John McCutcheon’s poem about this moment which highlights our need for peace…and gives a glimmer of hope that one day peace rather than war will prevail. That is our Christmas wish for us all.
My name is Francis Toliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me, after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany, to here,
I fought for King and country, I love so dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung.
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung.
Our families back in England were toasting us that day,
Their brave and glorious lads, so far away.
I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground,
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound.
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear,
As one young German voice sang out, so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me.
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony.
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more,
As Christmas brought us respite, from the war.
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent,
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent.
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht," "'Tis 'Silent Night,'" says I,
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky.
"There's someone coming towards us!" the front line sentry cried.
All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side.
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone on that plain so bright,
As he bravely strode unarmed into the night.
Then one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land,
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand.
We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well,
And in a flare lit soccer game we gave 'em hell.
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home.
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own.
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin,
This curious and unlikely, band of men.
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more.
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war.
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night:
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung.
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung.
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war,
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore.
My name is Francis Toliver, in Liverpool I dwell,
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well,
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame,
And on each end of the rifle, we're the same.
We wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas and new year!
Andrew, Julia, Timea, Alexandra
Letter 2
Since the last e-mail I have started my own blog.
Here is the link: www.michelioudakis.org …and a brief description:
According to Seneca ‘Destiny guides those who follow it – and drags those who resist’. The same alas can be said for technology and even fashion. My opinion about blogging, bloggers and the blogosphere is very close to that of Satoshi Kanazawa, whom I am not going to quote here for fear of alienating an entire community… Anyway – here is yet another blog. I hope you find it interesting.
The blog comprises 5 main sections:
Education: This section contains posts or full-length articles on ‘Psychology and Education’. I have long felt that ELT and the world of Education in general is rather insular and we stand to gain a great deal by ‘importing’ insights from (mostly Social) Psychology, the Business World, Advertising etc. Posts in this section look at discoveries from these fields and ways in which they can help Educators make their teaching more effective and increase motivation among their learners.
Human Nature: This section is much broader. It contains posts which somehow shed light on what human beings are like, what it is that makes us tick and how we operate. Insights here come from all kinds of disciplines and sub-disciplines, from Social and Evolutionary Psychology, to Behavioural Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Primatology. A central idea is that we are not who we think we are; introspection is of very little help – instead we should look at ourselves as an object of study.
Men and Women: OK – this is my favourite section. Most of the insights here come from Anthropology, Evolutionary Biology and, of course, Evolutionary Psychology. In my view almost nothing in the ‘battle of the two sexes’ makes any sense except in the light of evolution. Many of the findings of Evolutionary Psychology have become ‘mainstream’ nowadays, but there are still many eye-openers here – even for those who know the basics…
Comedy for ELT: This section contains the videos I have (re)uploaded on YouTube under ‘Comedy for ELT’ and ‘Ads for ELT’. These are simply perfect both for motivating learners and for teachers who would like to improve their English. At present, there are more than 200 clips on YouTube, so I will be posting them here piecemeal. One advantage is that if you see something on the blog and you would like to use it with your students, you can immediately download a handout with activities which also contains the Key and the full Script (there is a link under each video).
ELT Articles: This section contains articles by myself or other colleagues on matters related to EL teaching. Many of them are practical in nature, and they include activities that one can use directly with their students. Once again, these posts are often accompanied by photocopiable handouts which can be found immediately after the posts. [NB: Posts and articles related to ‘Psychology and ELT’ can be found
Letter 3
Dear reader,
Use your creative imagination to probe the above question. Nonkilling
will soon enter dictionaries. Before that comes true, the global spread of
a Nonkilling way of living also depends on YOU !
with Francisco`s compliments
Francisco Cardoso Gomes de Matos
HUMANKIND – IMPROVING CONCEPTS
A rhymed reflection by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace-nonkilling linguist, Recife, Brazil
When NonkillingPeace becomes a global human power
Everyday living will change into a most beautiful flower
When cooperation becomes a global human quality
In East and West, human relations will rise in dignity
When decency inspires human global education
Ethics will climb to the highest humanizing elevation
Letter 4
Wonder if you have accessed my posters at www.estudenaaba.com look for the word Mídia, then for ABA posters and click on English. One of the latest posters is called Business for Nonkilling. May be of interest to your Business Networking ?
Francisco
What will our future bring ? A list for dignifiers
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace-dignity linguist, Recife,Brazil
What will our future bring ?
Will there be a world dignity economy
in which every person/country will enjoy financial autonomy
What will our future bring ?
Will there be a world dignity diplomacy
in which international relations will be known for their dignifying appropriacy ?
What will our future bring ?
Will there a world dignity security
in which no forms of violence or crime will have impunity ?
What will our future bring ?
Will there be a world dignity education
in which teachers, learners, parents will co-apply rights and responsibilites
for dignifying transformation ?
What will our future communicatively bring?
As dignifiers, all human beings will humbly say
at the end of each day :
What little dignifying thing have I done today ?
PLEASE CONTINUE THIS LIST .BE A DIGNIFYING FUTURIST
Ecolinguistic communication
Rhymed reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist,Recife ,Brazil
When breezily our ideas we express
How can they oceanly impress ?
By arguing constructively in their mountainous climbing ?
By probing dignifyingly in the sunniest ways of rhyming ?
Ecolinguistically we can wisely communicate
When in tranquil waters of Nonkilling we navigate
On Writing: A Nonkilling view
by Francisco Gomes de Matos
Writing is not a fight
It is rather a light
Created in one`s mind
always to serve Humankind
In writing your intention is exposed
and your message is proposed
Since writing is a light
Let`s use to delight
Since writing is a deep creation
Let´s enhance it in education
Through writing illuminating ideas may endure
So let`s never create writing that may be obscure
Let´s think of writing as a type of cultural and political power
But let´s also think ofdif as a most beautiful type of flower
Let´[s use our writing creativity for Nonkilling Peace
and through our writing plead for all forms of killing to cease
Letter 5
Dear Hania Kryszewska,
Cambridge Scholars Publishing is delighted to announce the new headquarters of our publishing house – the historic Lady Stephenson Library in Newcastle upon Tyne, which was recently saved from the threat of demolition under sweeping local government budget cuts. Having been at the heart of its community for 100 years, it’s a wonderful space, which we are renovating to restore it to its former glory. We are equally excited to announce that we have created a dedicated author area within the building – where visiting authors and editors can utilise our resources and enjoy their own office space. To read more, click here.
Along with this new beginning, we will also be following with avid interest, the outcome of the Scottish Independence referendum on 18th September. If the majority vote for independence, Scotland will become the newest country in the world and the 307-year-old political union with England will come to an end. To commemorate this historic event, we are offering a 50% discount on our newest titles related to the Scottish nation, and the issues of devolution and independence. Click here to find out more.
Our September discount campaigns, with a time-limited discount of up to 60%, include:
Book of the Month – this month’s must-read is ‘Beyond Tribal Loyalties: Personal Stories of Jewish Peace Activists’. Edited by Avigail Abarbanel, and with a Foreword by the philosopher Sara Roy, this book offers a fresh and unique angle on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is particularly timely given the recent socio-political events in the region. To find out more and receive a 60% discount, please click here.
The Editorial Advisory Board’s ‘Recommended Reads’ – this month’s selection has a strong focus on Higher Education. Professor Tim Connell and Professor Jon Nixon have selected their pick of our best-selling and critically acclaimed titles, at a 50% discount. Please click here to view the selection.
New Releases – be the first to know about our new and noteworthy titles. Our Editors have hand-picked 6 titles that are generating a buzz, spanning the following subjects: Political Science, Religion, Language and Literature, Musicology, and Social Sciences. Best of all, these are reduced up to 50%. Please click on our homepage to view the selection.
Happy reading!
Christine
Christine von Gall
Deputy Editor
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
christine.von-gall@cambridgescholars.com
Letter 6
Dear Hania Kryszewska,
Our ‘league of authors’ are bright, engaged and energetic; they encompass a wide spectrum of academia across an extensive geographic spread. This October, the ‘Meet our Authors’ campaign reflects this diversity – we are featuring a more established scholar who is currently underway with the 4th volume in a Cambridge Scholars Publishing series, and a younger scholar, who is successfully climbing the academic ladder post PhD.
Please click below to read their thoughts and to receive a 50% discount on their titles.
This month’s authors…
Dr Peter Whiteman is an experienced music educator, who has worked with families and young children in a range of children's services, schools, and community organisations across Australia. He is a member of the editorial board of Advances in Music Education Research and is the Commissioning Editor for the Children and Childhoods book series, published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Please click here to read his thoughts.
Dr Marek Pawlicki works at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. His current research interests include the works of J.M. Coetzee, Nadine Gordimer and self-reflexivity in contemporary Anglo-American fiction. Please click here to read his thoughts.
Happy reading!
Christine.
Christine von Gall
Deputy Editor
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
christine.von-gall@cambridgescholars.com
Letter 7
Dear Teacher,
It’s November, a month that has inspired many songwriters – can you match the artists to their songs? The answers are on www.tuneintoenglish.com.
Three New Downloadable Worksheets
Over 240 Downloadable worksheets now online.
Speak Up Explains
Lady Gaga’s Poker Face, with a spectacularly unfunny joke, will be published on the 6thNovember to coincide with her European tour.
See all videos
Also online
Other news:
Keep singing!
Best wishes,
Fergal Kavanagh
www.tuneintoenglish.com
Letter 8
Dear Teacher,
Christmas is once again almost upon us – why not treat your students to some festive tunes?
Ten Christmas Worksheets Christmas Karaoke
December’s New Downloadable Worksheets
Two Christmas songs, and one to evoke a log fire…
- Band Aid 30 – Do They Know It’s Christmas? 2014
On 15th November 2014 some of the UK and Ireland’s biggest-selling pop acts gathered to rerecord Band Aid’s 1984 charity Christmas single. The track has re-tweaked lyrics to reflect the Ebola virus epidemic in west Africa with all proceeds going towards battling what organiser Bob Geldof described as a "particularly pernicious illness because it renders humans untouchable and that is sickening". This worksheet is a reworking of an earlier contribution from Mena Bianco, Naples.
- I Wish Every Day Could Be Like Christmas – Bon Jovi
A worksheet eliciting Christmas vocabulary, submitted by Maria Gulczynska, Ancona.
- Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
This low level worksheet was written by Roy Boardman, Naples.
Over 240 Downloadable worksheets now online.
I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Keep singing!
Best wishes,
Fergal Kavanagh
www.tuneintoenglish.com
The web’s largest free resource for learning English through pop music!
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