понедельник, 24 декабря 2012 г.


Немного новых слов к предстоящим праздникам:
Christmas card - рождественская открытка
Christmas carol - колядка (песня, которые поют во время Рождества)
Christmas Day - день Рождества - так обычно называют день 25 декабря
Christmas Eve - сочельник
Christmas holidays - рождественские праздники (обычно неделя после рождества)
Christmas present - рождественский подарок
Christmas tree - рождественская елка
cracker - хлопушка
decoration - украшение
Father Christmas - или Santa Claus
fireplace - камин
holly - падуб (растение)
mistletoe - омела (растение) - традиционное украшение дома на Рождество
New Year's Day - 1 января
New Year's Eve - 31 декабря
ornament - украшение (синоним с decoration)
reindeer - северный олень
Santa Claus - Санта-Клаус
shepherd - пастух
sleigh - сани; салазки
tinsel - блестки
turkey - индюшка
white Christmas - снежное или белое Рождество
Xmas - сокращение от Christmas














четверг, 6 декабря 2012 г.

Поздравительные фразы и тосты на английском.

I'd like to propose a toast (to the host, to the health of the family, to our guest of honor). - Я хотел бы предложить тост (за хозяина, за здоровье семьи, за нашего почетного гостя).

Here's to you! - За вас!


Here's to your health! / To your health! / Your health!
- За ваше здоровье! Ваше здоровье!

Here's to our hostess!
- За нашу хозяйку!

Here's to our friends! To absent friends!
- За наших друзей! За отсутствующих друзей!

Cheers!
- За здоровье! / Будем здоровы! / Приветствия!/Ура!
(самый распространенный вариант)

To (our) success!
- За (наш) успех!

Be happy! / Here’s to your happiness!
- Будьте счастливы! / Этот тост за ваше счастье!

Here’s to our friendship!
- (Этот тост) За нашу дружбу!

To our meeting!
- За нашу встречу!

Let’s drink to our meeting!
- Давайте выпьем за нашу встречу!

I lift my glass to our charming ladies!
- Я поднимаю бокал за наших прекрасных дам!

Bottoms up!
- До дна!/ Пьем до дна!

May your home be warmed by the love of family and friends.
- Пусть ваш дом будет согрет любовью семьи и друзей!

Allow me to propose a toast to our cooperation!
- Разрешите (мне) предложить тост за наше сотрудничество!

Let’s drink to the prosperity of our common business!
- Выпьем за процветание нашего общего дела!/ … нашего общего бизнеса!






воскресенье, 25 ноября 2012 г.

Want to Lose Weight? Try Counting Calories

Useful sentences 

Agreeing, Disagreeing



Weather
What's the weather like today? - Какая сегодня погода?
It's a nice morning! - Прекрасное утро!
It's a fine day, isn't it? - Хороший день, не правда ли?

It was cloudy this morning. - Сегодня утром было облачно.
The sky is clear. - Небо чистое.
The sun is coming out. - Выглянуло солнце.
The weather is getting warmer. - Погода становится теплее.
It's splendid weather, isn't it? - Прекрасная погода, не так ли?
I'm hot. - Мне жарко.
It's raining very hard. - Идет сильный дождь.
I'm wet through. - Я совсем промок.
It's cold today. - Сегодня холодно.
I feel terribly cold. - Я ужасно замерз.
What's the forecast for today? - Каков прогноз на сегодня?

пятница, 23 ноября 2012 г.


Главные выражения на английском, которые стоит знать при поездке за границу.

Hello и good bye - "Привет" и "до свидания"
Please и thank you - "Пожалуйста" и "спасибо"
I don't understand. - "Не понимаю"
Please speak more slowly. - "Говорите
, пожалуйста, медленнее".
Could you please repeat that? - "Не могли бы вы повторить?"
What is your name? - "Как вас зовут"
My name is . . . . - "Меня зовут..."
Can you help me? - "Не могли бы вы мне помочь?"
Where is . . . the bathroom, restaurant, museum, hotel, beach, embassy? - "Где находится туалет, ресторан, музей, гостиница, пляж, посольство?"
How do you say this? - "Как называется этот предмет? " (с указанием на предмет)
How much is this? - "Сколько это стоит?"
Can I ask you a question? - "Могу я задать вопрос?"
I am from . . . . - "Я из..."
[the country] is very beautiful. - "[страна] - очень красивая."
Can you please help me practice English? - "Могли бы вы помочь мне практиковать английский?"
Can you please write it down on paper. - "Могли бы написать это на бумаге?"
What does this word mean? - "Что означает это слово?"
I am hungry. - "Я проголодался."
I am thirsty. - "Меня мучает жажда."
I am cold. - "Я замерз".
I am feeling sick. - "Я плохо себя чувствую."
How do you use this word? - "Как используется это слово?"
Did I say it correctly? - "Я правильно это сказал?"
What time is it? - "Который час?"
This food is amazing! - "Эта еда - превосходная!"
I need to go now. - "Мне пора."
Today, yesterday and tomorrow - Сегодня, вчера, завтра.
Can you give me an example? - "Могли бы вы мне дать пример?"
Please wait a moment. - "Подождите секундочку."
How do I get to ..? - "Как мне добраться до...?"
I have an emergency. Please call for help. - "Это срочный случай. Позовите на помощь!"

Выучите название дней недели.
Выучите выражения, которые вам помогут объясниться с шофером такси.
Выучите выражения, которые помогут вам общаться с персоналом гостиницы.
Выучите выражения необходимые для заказа пищи в ресторане.
Разберитесь с прошедшим, настоящим и будущим временем глаголов go, come, bring, take, buy, eat, sleep, see, talk и walk.
Научитесь считать от 1 до 100 по-английски.
Relationship 
Слова и выражения, которые используют в реальной жизни в сегодняшней Англии. 
Молодые люди зачастую употребляют в речи не совсем академический набор слов... 

Как мы называем друг друга: 
guy - разг. парень 
bloke - разг. малый, парень 
geezer - разг. тип 
chick - разг. (пренебр.) цыпочка 
bimbo - разг. (пренебр.) чувиха 
She is good looking/ - Она симпатичная (сексуальная). 
She's a real babe. - Она настоящая красотка. 
fun-loving - любитель повеселиться 
easy-going - беззаботный; тот, с кем легко иметь дело 
broad-minded - с широким кругозором, терпимый к различным взглядам 
likeminded people - люди, придерживающиеся одинаковых взглядов, имеющие общие интересы 

Наши намерения: 
go on a blind date - идти на свидание с незнакомым человеком 
ask someone out - пригласить кого-нибудь на свидание 

У нас может быть: 
GSOH - good sense of humour - хорошее чувство юмора 
LTR - long term relationship - длительные отношения 

Когда мы влюблены, мы говорим: 
I'm mad/crazy/bonkers about him. - Я схожу по нему с ума. 
He's the love of my life. - Он - любовь всей моей жизни. 
I'm head over heels in love. - Я влюблен по уши. 
He is the One. - Он - тот самый, единственный, неповторимый. 
I think the world of him. - Я о нем высокого мнения. 
We're going to take the plunge. - Мы собираемся пойти на решительный шаг. 



Иногда у нас не все гладко: 
Things just aren't working out between us. - Мы перестали ладить друг с другом (наши отношения дали трещину). 
We're bickering all the time. - Мы все время ссоримся по пустякам. 
I'm sure he's having an affair! - Я уверен, он с кем-то встречается (у него есть любовница)! 
Let's get divorced. - Давай разведемся.

четверг, 15 ноября 2012 г.

Аббревиатуры и сокращения в бизнес-языке на английском!
a/c (= account) - аккаунт, счет
AGM (= annual general meeting) - ежегодное общее собрание
a.m. (= ante 

meridiem) - до полудня
ATM (= automated teller machine) - банкомат
attn (= attention, for the attention of) - для внимания кого-либо (обычно употребляется в письмах)
approx. (= approximately) - приблизительно
CEO (= chief executive officer) - главный исполнительный директор
Co (= company) - компания
dept (= department) - департамент, отдел
e.g. (= exempli gratia) - например
EGM (= extraordinary general meeting) - чрезвычайное общее собрание
ETA (= estimated time of arrival) - расчетное время прибытия
etc (= et cetera) - и так далее, и тому подобное
GDP (= gross domestic product) - валовый внутренний продукт (= ВВП)
GNP (= gross national product) - валовый национальный продукт (= ВНП)
GMT (= Greenwich Mean Time) - среднее время по Гринвичу
i.e. (= id est) - то есть
Inc (= incorporated) - инкорпорированный, зарегистрированный как корпорация
IPO (= initial public offer) - первоначальное публичное предложение акций
K - тысяча
lb - фунт (мера веса)
£ - фунт (денежная единица)
Ltd (= limited) - общество с ограниченной ответственностью
mo. (= month) - месяц
no. (= number) - номер
Plc. (= public limited company) - публичная компания с ограниченной ответственностью
p.m. (= post meridiem) - после полудня
PR (= public relations) - связи с общественностью
p.s. (= post scriptum) - послесловие
qty (= quantity) - количество
re - касательно, относительно (обычно употребляется в письмах)
Ложные друзья переводчика - слова, близкие по звучанию и написанию в разных языках, но имеющие различное значение.
accord [ ə'kɔ:d ] согласие, единодушие
accurate [ 'ækjurit ] точный
cabin [ 'kæbin ] хижина
cabinet [ 'kæbinet ] шкафчик, чу

лан
camera ['kæm(ə)rə] фотоаппарат
cataract [ 'kætərækt ] водопад
chef [ ʃef ] шеф-повар
data [ 'deitə ] данные
fabric [ 'fæbrik ] ткань
figure [ 'figə ] чертеж, цифра
genial ['ʤiːnɪəl] добрый
intelligence [ in'teliʤəns ] ум, интеллект
lily of the valley [ 'lili əv ði: 'væli ] ландыш
magazine [ ,mægə'zi:n ] журнал
officer [ 'ɔfisə ] чиновник, должностное лицо
production [ prə'dʌkʃən ] производство
prospect [ 'prɔspekt ] перспектива
realize ['rɪəlaɪz] ясно представлять, понимать
record [ 'rekɔ:d ] запись, отчет
satin [ 'sætin ] атлас
sodium ['səudɪəm] натрий
spectacles [ 'spektəklz ] очки
tender [ 'tendə ] нежный
vacuum ['vækjuːm] пылесос
angina [ æn'ʤainə ] стенокардия
band [ bænd ] лента, музыкальная группа
climax [ 'klaimæks ] высшая точка, кульминация
compositor [ kəm'pɒzɪtər ] наборщик
gymnasium [ʤɪm'neɪzɪəm] спортзал
list [ list ] список
replica [ 'replikə ] точная копия
speculation [ ,spekju'leiʃən ] размышление, предположение
talon [ 'tælən ] коготь
troop [ tru:p ] отряд, эскадрон
Топ полезных фраз в разговорном английском:

By the way. - Между прочим.
A drop in the bucket - Капля в море
And so on and so forth - И т.д. и т.п.
As drunk as a lord - Пьян в стельку
As I said before. - Как я говорил..
As innocent as a babe unborn - Совсем как ребенок
As sure as eggs is eggs - Как дважды два

As to... (As for.) - Что касается.
Believe it or not, but - верите или нет, но
Did I get you right? - Я правильно понял?
Don't mention it - Не благодарите
Don't take it to heart - Не принимай близко к сердцу
Forgive me, please, I meant well. - Извините, я хотел как лучше
He is not a man to be trifled with - С ним лучше не шутить
I am afraid you are wrong - Боюсь, что Вы не правы
I didn't catch the last word - Я не понял последнее слово
I mean it - Именно это я имею в виду
I was not attending - Я прослушал
If I am not mistaken - Если я не ошибаюсь
If I remember rightly - Если я правильно помню
In other words. - Другими словами
In short. - Вкратце
It does you credit - Это делает вам честь
It doesn't matter - Это не важно
It is a good idea - Это хорошая мысль
It is new to me - Это новость для меня
Let us hope for the best - Давайте надеяться на лучшее
May I ask you a question? - Могу я спросить?
Mind your own business - Занимайся своим делом
Most likely - Наиболее вероятно
Neither here nor there - Ни то, ни се
Next time lucky - Повезет в следующий раз
Nothing much - Ничего особенного
Oh, that. That explains it - Это все объясняет
On the one hand . - С одной стороны
On the other hand . - С другой стороны
Say it again, please - Повторите еще раз, пожалуйста
That's where the trouble lies - Вот в чем дело!
Things happen - Всякое бывает
What do you mean by saying it? - Что Вы имеете ввиду?
What is the matter? - В чем дело?
Where were we? - На чем мы остановились?
You were saying? - Вы что-то сказали?

вторник, 13 ноября 2012 г.

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg, the 28-year-old founder of the social networking website Facebook, (1)  married his girlfriend, Priscilla Chan. On Saturday, Zuckerberg married the 27-year-old Chan in the garden of his residence in Palo Alto, located in the US state of California. A spokesperson (2)  Facebook described Chan's wedding ring(3)  a "very simple ruby," which Zuckerberg designed.
The couple, who had been in a relationship for more than nine years, first met at Harvard University. Harvard (4)  where Facebook was launched by Zuckerberg in 2004. Zuckerberg and Chan subsequently relocated (5)  California, where Facebook is currently based. Late last week, Facebook was valued (6)  over US$100 billion in its initial public offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
On Monday, the day Zuckerberg turned 28, Chan graduated (7)  UCSF Medical Center. The guests, a list of under 100 people, initially thought that they would be attending a weekend celebration party for Chan's graduation (8)  attended the wedding instead.
Zuckerberg has modified his relationship status on his Facebook page to 'married', a status change (9)  has received tens of thousands of likes. The posting includes a photo of the newlyweds. Chan is wearing a white wedding dress decorated (10)  lace, and Zuckerberg is dressed in a suit with a relaxed, loosely tied knot.

(also,although,as,at,but,for,from,had,has,having,in,is,more,much,of,on,since,to,which,with)



Exercise on Reported Speech

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question.
  1. He said, "I like this song."
    → He said 
  2. "Where is your sister?" she asked me.
    → She asked me 
  3. "I don't speak Italian," she said.
    → She said 
  4. "Say hello to Jim," they said.
    → They asked me 
  5. "The film began at seven o'clock," he said.
    → He said 
  6. "Don't play on the grass, boys," she said.
    → She told the boys 
  7. "Where have you spent your money?" she asked him.
    → She asked him 
  8. "I never make mistakes," he said.
    → He said 
  9. "Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know.
    → He wanted to know 
  10. "Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the audience.
    → The stuntman advised the audience 

Exercise on Question Tags

Complete the sentences with the correct question tags.
  1. Mr McGuinness is from Ireland, ?
  2. The car isn't in the garage, ?
  3. You are John, ?
  4. She went to the library yesterday, ?
  5. He didn't recognize me, ?
  6. Cars pollute the environment, ?
  7. Mr. Pritchard has been to Scotland recently, ?
  8. The trip is very expensive, ?
  9. He won't tell her, ?
  10. Hugh had a red car, ?

Mother's Day

A mother's love is a blessing,
No matter where you roam.
Keep her while she's living,
You'll miss her when she's gone.
Love her as in childhood,
When feeble, old and grey,
For you'll never miss a mother's love
'til she's buried beneath the clay.
(traditional Irish song)
Although England had some kind of Mother's Day already in the 18th century, it is less than a hundred years ago that the tradition started in the USA and many other countries.
The American Anna Jarvis from Grafton, West Virginia, is known to be the mother of Mother's Day. She lived at a time when most women devoted their lives solely to their families and homes, but their work as mothers was not recognised and honoured. There were several reform movements, however, that wanted to change the women's situation. Anna's mother, Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis, was engaged in such reform movements as well. She also taught at Sunday School in Andrew's Church, Grafton where one day she finished her lesson with a prayer that was to stick in Anna's mind for ever:
"I hope that someone, sometime will found a memorial mother's day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life."
When her mother died on 9 May 1905, Anna decided to dedicate her life to establish a day in honour of mothers. So, Anna Jarvis started writing letters to influential people, and on the second anniversary of her mother's death a memorial service was held at Andrew's Church in Grafton, where her mother had taught. At that occasion Anna passed out carnations, her mother's favourite flowers: a red carnation was worn to honour a living mother, and a white one to honour a deceased mother. The idea of commemorating mothers spread rapidly, and on 8 May 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution naming the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
Many countries now celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May, but other countries celebrate it at different times throughout the year. In the UK for example Mothering Sunday is on the 4th Sunday in Lent, originally a day in honour of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

Easter

      At Easter, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Week, as the week before Easter Sunday is called, starts on Palm Sunday. That day marks the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by a large crowd who spread branches of palm trees on his path and greeted him:
"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"(Matthew 21:7-9)
       Holy Thursday remembers the Last Supper at which Jesus blessed bread and wine and gave it to his disciples telling them that it was his body and his blood. Jesus also told his disciples that one of them would betray him, and later that night Jesus was betrayed by Judas.
    Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion. First Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate to be sentenced to death. Pilate did not want Jesus to be crucified, but he had no other chance. In order to demonstrate, however, that he was not to blame for Jesus' death, Pilate washed his hands in front of the people, which was the origin of the famous saying »I wash my hands of it«:
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" (Matthew 27:24)
Easter Monday honours the resurrection. It is said that three days after being crucified, Jesus rose from the dead.
Whilst Easter is a major holiday of the Christian church, nonbelievers have something to celebrate as well: the return of spring. The name Easter actually derives from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre in whose honour a spring festival was held in ancient times. Back then, hares and eggs were seen as symbols of new life–this is why today eggs and bunnies are popular Easter decorations. By the way, the European custom of egg rolling has made its way across the ocean and is now quite common in the USA, too. It has even become an Easter Monday tradition to do "egg rolling" on the lawn of the White House.

Valentines Day

      Like many other holidays, Valentines Day is thought to be of American origin; but—like many other holidays—it is not. Already in ancient Rome, people celebrated a similar holiday in the middle of February. It was Lupercalia, the festival of fertility.
     The Valentine celebrations we know today probably originate in 14th-century England and France. We could indeed say that it was some kind of medieval »blind-date show« to which single men and women got together on 14 February. The women wrote their names on cards and put them into a box from which each man then picked a card. The woman whose name was on the card became the mans sweetheart or Valentine, as 14 February is also the commemoration day of St. Valentine (therefore the day is called St. Valentines Day).
     The date, in fact, is the only connection between the festival and the martyr St. Valentine, a Roman priest from the 3rd century. Valentine lived during the reign of Claudius II, who did not allow his soldiers to get married. Claudius believed that married soldiers would not make a good army, so when he found out that Valentine married young couples secretly, he had the priest arrested and sentenced to death.
     Lets leave martyrdom behind, however, and return to the more pleasant rites of our time. Valentines Day has become the festival of love—lovers surprise each other with little presents, flowers or a romantic dinner by candlelight. Sending special greeting cards on that day is also very popular. Valentines, as these cards are called, are sent to loved ones or even to secret lovers in order to win their hearts. If the sender doesnt want to be recognised, the card is signed »Your Valentine«.

Thanksgiving

      Thanksgiving is a holiday in the USA and Canada ; it is closely related to European harvest festivals.
     The first Thanksgiving was held in 1621. After a good harvest, the Pilgrim Fathers, who had travelled to America aboard the Mayflower, organised a great feast. They also invited their Indian friends, who had helped the Pilgrims through their first year in the New World.
     After that first Thanksgiving, the holiday was not observed regularly and not usually in autumn. In 1863, however, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed an annual Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. In 1939, President Roosevelt changed the date to the penultimate Thursday of November to enlarge the Christmas shopping period, which starts after the Thanksgiving celebrations. Not all states followed Roosevelts declaration though, and so in 1941 the United States Congress finally decided to celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November (which sometimes is the last, sometimes the penultimate Thursday).
     In the United States, Thanksgiving lasts four days now because most people also get the Friday off. The holiday is celebrated with family and friends, and a huge dinner is served in the early afternoon or evening. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner is a roasted turkey served with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans and various pies for dessert.
     In Canada, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1710. For about 200 years, it was held for example when a royal child was born or when a battle was won. It became an annual holiday in 1931 and is now celebrated on the second Monday of October.

US Presidents  

  1. George Washington (1789-1797)
  2. John Adams (1797-1801)
  3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
  4. James Madison (1809-1817)
  5. James Monroe (1817-1825)
  6. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
  7. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
  8. Marting Van Buren (1837-1841)
  9. William H. Harrison (1841)
  10. John Tyler (1841-1845)
  11. James K. Polk (1845-1849)
  12. Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)
  13. Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
  14. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
  15. James Buchanan (1857-1861)
  16. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
  17. Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)
  18. Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)
  19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)
  20. James A. Garfield (1881)
  21. Chester Alan Arthur (1881-1885)
  22. Grover Cleveland (1885-1889)
  23. Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)
  24. Grover Cleveland (1893-1897)
  25. William McKinley (1897-1901)
  26. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
  27. William Howard Taft (1909-1913)
  28. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
  29. Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)
  30. Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
  31. Herbert C. Hoover (1929-1933)
  32. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
  33. Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)
  34. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
  35. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
  36. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
  37. Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974)
  38. Gerald R. Ford (1974-1977)
  39. Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
  40. Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
  41. George Bush (1989-1993)
  42. Bill Clinton (1993-2001)
  43. George W. Bush (2001-2009)
  44. Barack H. Obama (since 2009)

The Education System in the USA

In the USA, children start school when they are five or six years old. Depending on the state, schooling is compulsory until the age of 16 or 18. Children younger than five can go to a nursery school or preschool.
At the age of five or six, the children attend elementary school (also known as grade school or grammar school), which last six years. The fist year at elementary school is called kindergarten.
After elementary school, students attend middle school (also known as junior high school) for three years. Then they continue at high school. In some states, students have to stay in school until they are 18 years old. In other states they may leave school at 16 or 17 with parental permission.
AgeSchool
< 5nursery school / preschool
5-11elementary school
11-14middle school / junior high school
14-18high school / senior high school
When students in the USA say what year they are in, they usually use ordinal numbers, e. g. ‘tenth grade’. (In the UK students would use cardinal numbers, e. g. ‘year ten’.)

Classes

At elementary school pupils primarily learn how to read, write and count. There are about 20 to 30 pupils in one class.
At junior and senior high school, mandatory subjects are English, maths, biology, chemistry, physics, physical education and history. Schools also offer optional courses from which the students can choose, e. g. art, modern languages, computers. Physical education is a very important subject in the United States – many students participate in sports programs.
Gifted and talented students can take advanced courses in their schools or attend additional courses at community colleges in the afternoons or during the holidays. Often such courses are later acknowledged by universities, and can facilitate early graduation.

Grading Scale

In the USA (as in other English speaking countries) letter grades are used in reports.
  • A > 90 % (excellent)
  • B > 80 % (very good)
  • C > 70 % (improvement needed)
  • D > 60 % (close fail)
  • E > 50 % (fail)
  • F < 50 % (fail)
In general, only grades A to C are a 'pass' – a plus (+) or minus (-) might be added (e. g. A-, B+).

Different Kinds of Schools

Most students in the USA are enrolled in public schools. These are financed through taxes, so parents do not have to pay for their children's education. About 10 % of US students attend private schools, where parents have to pay a yearly fee.
Another option is homeschooling: approximately 1-2 % of parents in the USA educate their children at home. Some reasons for homeschooling are religious views, special needs (e. g. handicapped children), or problems in traditional schools (bullying, drugs etc.). However, there is also opposition to homeschooling claiming that the students have difficulties socializing with others, that homeschooling (often carried out by the parents) is of a poor academic quality and that (especially concerning religion) extremist views might be encouraged.

School Uniforms

It is not common for students in the USA to wear school uniforms, but many schools have dress codes telling students what kind of clothing is or is not allowed in school. Some schools (especially private schools) have started to require their students to wear school uniforms in order to improve school discipline and avoid 'fashion cliques'.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas,
we wish you a merry Christmas,
we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
We want some figgy pudding,
we want some figgy pudding,
we want some figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer.
We won’t go until we get some,
we won’t go until we get some,
we won’t go until we get some so bring it out here!
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
we wish you a Merry Christmas,
we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.


Let It Snow

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
but the fire is so delightful,
And since we’ve no place to go,
let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
It doesn’t show signs of stopping,
and I brought some corn for popping;
The lights are turned way down low,
let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
When we finally kiss goodnight,
how I hate going out in the storm;
But if you’ll really hold me tight,
all the way home I’ll be warm.
The fire is slowly dying,
and my dear, we’re still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so,
let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.


Oh Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How are thy leaves so verdant!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!
Not only in the summertime,
But even in winter is thy prime.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
For every year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
Each bough doth hold its tiny light,
That makes each toy to sparkle bright.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!