eflex languages: February 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Comprehension: Western Colleges Find Common Ground on Malaysia Campus

Asia's first multi-versity is springing to life in southern Malaysia.

Watch the video and answer the questions below. Decide if the statements are True or False.

1.Marlborough College is one of the facilities in the new education centre.
a. True
b. False

2.In 2011 the first multi-versity was opened in Southern Malaysia.
a. True
b. False

3. Newcastle is famous for its engineering facility.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

The lawns are trimmed, the rugby and football pitches beautifully kept, the new running track proving popular with the students, and the pool spotlessly clean. Everything you'd expect from one of Britain's leading private boarding schools. But what makes this one stand out is its location; it's not in England, but southern Malaysia.
"The facilities that have been there in the UK have been developed over 170 years; we're not even 170 weeks old here! This will get better and better as time goes on. But critically the type of education that we're delivering is pretty much the same as we do back in the United Kingdom."
Marlborough College is just one facility of many in a new education area known as Educity on the outskirts of the city of Johor. Several of the best university departments from the UK and other countries have come together to create Asia's first multi-versity. It was opened in 2011.
"A Malaysian student will be able to get the Newcastle UK medical degree, it is the same degree exactly, it is the same programme exactly, for about 60 per cent of the costs compared to studying in the UK."
Next to Newcastle's medical school is Southampton's engineering faculty - consistently ranked one of the best courses in Europe. Students will spend two years here, before transferring to England for their final two years. And the University isn’t just targeting Malaysian students.
"Our ambition is to market this opportunity regionally, so our big target for us is going to be the Indonesian type market, potentially Vietnam, potentially Thailand, and of course China and India."
Both Southampton and Newcastle are renowned in the UK for their student nightlife, but many parts of Educity are still under construction. The nearest big town is around 20 minutes drive away. But the students don't seem to mind.
"Things are very different here, I don't think many of us go out every night, but we do have fun during the weekends."
The final plan will see eight departments from eight separate universities located here on the one campus -- giving students the chance to get a world class degree both closer to home, and for a lot less money.

Answers:
1. a
2. a
3. b

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Idioms: Hair with answers

This week 'the nose' is the theme of our idioms. Do you know what they mean?

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

Comprehension: Austria's Traditional Balls Given a Modern Twist

Austria's ball season traditionally runs from December to February, and while they were originally designed to introduce young men and women into society, now the focus is on a passion for dance.

Watch the video and answer the questions below. Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Annually, there are over 400 balls in Vienna.
a. True
b. False

2.The balls take place in the summer.
a. True
b. False

3. Dancers train for a week before the ball season.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

This could be a scene from the nineteenth century - but it's actually winter 2014 in Austria. More than 400 balls take place every year in Vienna from the end of December to February, open to young men and women aged 16 to 24. Originally designed for parents to introduce their children into society, today's primary criteria is that those who attend are passionate dancers.
"It's really exciting to attend the opening of a ball, coming just like this; we don't normally live this way." "There's adrenaline too, nerves."
Two left feet could land you in hot water at one of these balls so dancers train once a week during the year. Choreographers then pair up couples one by one who then start learning official routines around two months before the big night. But this isn’t just an opportunity to polish up your dance moves…
"It plays an important role in teaching young men and women how to move in society, how to carry oneself in a cloakroom, how to behave at the dinner table, how to ask somebody to dance, all these things to find their place in society; we cover all these things with students so that they aren't shocked."
The balls are still considered a rite of passage into adulthood, but not all are the same - some are more prestigious than others.
"The best is obviously to be able to open the Opera Ball but the other balls are obviously good as well. It's a question of society. A person is judged according to whether they've attended a big ball or not."
For all of their traditions and rules, Vienna's balls are showing a hint of the 21st century - Once the opening of a ball has taken place, women can swap white dresses for something a little more expressive and a little easier to dance in…

Answers:
1. a
2. b
3. b

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Comprehension: Floating School Offers Hope to Lagos' Water-World Slum

A new floating school in Lagos' sprawling water-world slum of Makoko is providing hope to a community where thousands grow up without hope of an education.

Watch the video and answer the questions below. Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Makoko has been called the Venice of Africa.
a. True
b. False

2. 150 floating drums were used for the construction of the floating school.
a. True
b. False

3. The school cost sixty thousand dollars to build.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

It has been referred to as the Venice of Africa.

But in the seething slum of Makoko in Lagos, comparisons with Italy's architectural gem start and finish at the water's edge.

Under threat from both government evictions and flooding, people here live a precarious existence.

Few can aspire to escape a life of poverty.

Jeremiah is one of the few young people who’ve gone on to further education:

"I was born and brought up here so I know what to do how the people live, how they suffer, I feel their pain, I feel their cry and I also know their happiness, I know what they really need in this community and which is not capable for us to do it."

And what's really needed is education.

There's currently just a handful of small schools to cater for the tens of thousands of people who live here.

But rising from the fetid lagoon, is a possible answer.

A floating school, constructed around 250 recycled plastic drums:

"Living on water is actually a way of life and so the question is then how do you then improve that condition, how do you address the challenges of living on water in a safe, healthy and environmentally sound way and particularly in view of the changing climatic condition and increase in water levels and rainfall due to climate change."

And it’s not just the children who will benefit.

On three floors, this structure is also designed as a community space -- or just somewhere for local fishermen to repair their nets.

The architect would like to see the design rolled out across Makoko -- and even internationally, for use in other waterfront communities threatened by rising water levels.

Costing only six and a half thousand dollars and funded largely by international NGO’s there’s room for about 100 school children but head teacher Noah Shemede says many more schools like this would be needed.

"Every child deserves an education wherever they are -- we are on water and that doesn't mean that we can't go to school on water -- we have to. We need more schools to accommodate thousands of children that are at home."

Perceived by authorities as a blight on Lagos' megacity ambitions, this water-world is used to people turning the other way.

But with an architectural gem of its own, finally some attention -- and perhaps a symbol of hope for the people of Makoko.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Phrasal Verbs with Answers: to keep

This week,'to keep' is the verb used to make our phrasal verbs. Do you know what they mean?

Idioms: The Nose with answers

This week 'the nose' is the theme of our idioms. Do you know what they mean?