Pop Quiz "How Well Do You Know Agatha Christie?"

The birthday of the 'queen of crime' is celebrated by her fans every September. Take our quiz to find out whether you've really got to the bottom of her books

1. Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are Agatha Christie's most famous de­tectives, but she also created a host of other mystery solvers. Which of the fol­lowing is NOT a Christie detective?

* Tuppence Beresford

* Roger Ackroyd
* Harley Quin
* Parker Pyne
2. How many murders did Miss Marple solve?
- 3
- 47
- 36
- 102

3. And how many cups of tea did she drink over the 12 novels and 20 short stories in which she appears?

•22
• 143
•68
• 740
4. Which Guinness world record does Christie hold? 
- Oldest novelist to have had a book published
- Most murders in her novels
- World's bestselling novelist
- Novelist most frequently adapted for TV
5. Under what name did Christie write general fiction?
- Mary Wesley
- Mary Westmacott
- LC Fisher
- Georgina McCullagh
6. What happened to Christie in December 1926?
She met a suave moustachioed Belgian detective who inspired the character of Hercule Poirot
She disappeared for 11 days
She was acclaimed by the press for solving a real-life murder in her local village
She first set pen to paper
7. What was Christie's first novel?
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Death on the Nile
Murder for Christmas
The Seven Dials Mystery

8. Agatha Christies job during the first world war gave her knowledge that would later feed into her murder mysteries. What was the job, and what was the knowledge?

As a servant in a stately home, teaching her about the life of the up­per classes
As a policewoman, giving her an insight into the way detectives work
As a nurse, giving her a working knowledge of poisons
As a sniper, teaching her about guns

9. How did Christie describe Hercule Poirot, when explaining why he wouldn't have liked Miss Marple?

As "a complete egoist"
As "a silly little man"
As "the embodiment of all my desires"
As "a fussy Belgian twerp"
10. Christie's play The Mousetra is the longest-running in history - how long has it been going for?

•80 years 

• 42 years

•57 years

• 25 years

11. And what is its plot?  

- The passengers on a train conspire to kill a fellow passenger

- A serial killer is on the loose in a small Devon village

- A murder occurs in a hotel whc the guests are trapped by snow

- After a murder at a butler's cc vention, everyone is a suspect

Answers:

1. Roger Ackroyd

2.47

3.143

4.World's bestselling novelist

5.Mary Westmacott

6.She disappeared for 11 days

7.The Mysterious Affair at Styl

8.As a nurse, giving her a work knowledge of poisons

9.As "a complete egoist"

10.57 years

11.A murder occurs in a hotel wl the guests are trapped by snc

From "Guardian"

Rosetta Stone at Our Center!

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Inferiority/Superiority Complex

Fun Fact of the Day: New Amsterdam. Indianna is the smallest city in the U.S., with a population of 1 (http://www.theholidayspot.com).

Topic: Inferority / Superiority Complex

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferiority_complex

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superiority_complex

/Wikipedia/

1. In your opinion, what is the inferiority complex? What is the superiority complex? Related words: hierarchy (structure), self-righteousness (feelings of greater value), narcissism (egoism), megalomania (fantasies of wealth or power), hubris (extreme pride or arrogance).

2. What characteristics may make someone feel less qualified or less intelligent than another person? Do you believe that feelings of inferiority are based on self-esteem or are they created by others' actions?

3. What may make someone feel better that others? Are feelings of superiority or greatness created by self-interest or through interactions with others?

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages to feeling inferior or superior? Are feelings of inferiority or superiority always negative or are there sometimes benefits? Do you think that inferiority or superiority complexes help or hurt our lives?

5. Does age lead to feelings of inferiority or superiority? How may personal history or the surroundings social environment cause someone to feel inferior or superior?

6. Has anyone ever made you feel inferior? How did you deal with that feeling?

7. Have you ever felt superior to someone? If so, why did you feel that way? Do you think it was a fair assessment? Why or why not?

Schedule: Thursday, 29 September 2011 at 5:30, Saturday, 1 October 2011 at 10:30

Vinnytsia English Club with Masha Malogovchuk

Hey everyone)) My name is Masha and I’m going to tell you the story about my journey, not a simple one, but the best journey I’ve ever had in my life. If I were to describe all my colourful adventures using one word, I would name them “Dream”. And it’s really true because when I found myself in London I was amazed at the gorgeous and marvelous architecture of the buildings, palaces and especially The Houses of Parliament at night. It was like in the sweetest fairy-tale. 

I adored the London Eye and all the landmarks on my way, I appreciated every moment ‘cause it was the first time I could view the country I’d been learning so much about from inside. I spent only several days in England as a simple tourist since my main purpose of staying there was to participate in a voluntary project which took place near the city of Derby in the village called Etwall. I owe much to my boyfriend Yaroslav who advised to ferret out in the internet and find some work camps organized by SCI – Service Civil International, one of the largest international volunteering organizations which is dedicated to promoting a culture of peace by organizing international voluntary projects for people of all ages and backgrounds. 

Volunteers can choose to participate in thousands of projects all over the world. I would certainly say that projects help to break down barriers and prejudices between people of different social, cultural and national backgrounds and promote a culture of peace. Svit-Ukraine is a branch of SCI which resides in Donetsk region, with the help of which I arranged my documents and organized my journey in a safe and exciting way.

Well, speaking about my work camp I should say that I hadn’t really expected to find myself in such an amazing and miraculous place full of greenery, wonderful landscapes, golden fields of wheat, stunning vendure and peaceful corners of nature. Moreover there were volunteers from different countries – France, Spain, Poland, China, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Russia, Slovakia, Scotland, Italy and Portugal. While working we had a great chance to know more about other cultures and share experiences. As for the accommodation , all the volunteers dwelled in Tara Kadampa Meditation Centre, the Buddhist centre, where we both lived and worked. Our task was to help to set up the festival for 400 people from all over the UK who were going to receive teachings of Buddhism and meditation. Every day each of us pulled a small stick with a special colour corresponding to each type of work. Most of the days I spent gardening, especially weeding and learning new English words concerning garden tools). In the evenings we had some social programmes about peace in the world, chanted prayers, Buddhism teachings and meditation sessions (of course it was not compulsory), we played quizzes, visited the village pub where we had an opportunity to improve our skills to play darts and billiards or just walked around enjoying the magic world of nature. 

During the first  weekends we dropped in the city of Derby, a small one, but very beautiful and out of common. While visiting Peak District, Mattlock Bath during the last days of our staying there four of us – a Russian boy, a Slovak, a Bulgarian girl and me suggested an idea of making several pictures of a striking castle on the far hill which was considered to be a private property. Unfortunately we didn’t notice the table where it was written: “Trespassers will be prosecuted” and penetrated inside. Nobody took the notice of special movement detectors and we proceeded further and further reveling in the castle’s beauty until a security guy ran up to us shouting and threatening to call the police. Those moments were really unpleasant because never before I had seen such a furious  English man. Thanks God everything ended well and the man let us out. 

   Frankly speaking I experienced such intense moments several times during my staying in England so that my heart pounded violently and my palms were sweating)).

  On the whole I loved England and people there are very very friendly and smiling, but I still can’t understand some things like – why they use two taps instead of one in washbasins with cold and hot water separately, my hands were either burning or freezing,  I got to know that they eat much potato and pasta, drink much beer and spend more money on animals’ funeral rather than on human beings’. Furthermore I was charmed and fascinated by their fairy, peerless and delightful nature that inspired me and gave me food for thought. I’m very thankful to SCI and IVS(British branch of SCI) for accepting me in their work camp and giving the chance to get the most valuable experience and  to have cool friends all over the world)) I hope that I’ll be able to find a volunteer project in London during the Olympic Games in 2012. Looking forward to experiencing new adventures in my eventful life……)))))

The International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, occurs annually on September 21. It is dedicated to peace, and specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples. The first year this holiday was celebrated was 1981.

To inaugurate the day, the "Peace Bell" is rung at UN Headquarters (in New York City, United States). The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents. It was given as a gift by the United Nations Association of Japan, and is referred to as "a reminder of the human cost of war." The inscription on its side reads: "Long live absolute world peace." Individuals can also wear White Peace Doves to commemorate the International Day of Peace, which are badges in the shape of a dove produced by a non-profit in Canada /http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Day/. The International Day of Peace “is meant to be a day of global cease-fire, when all countries and all people stop all hostilities for the entire day. And it is a day on which people around the world observe a minute of silence at 12 noon local time. And let us pledge to do our utmost to carry out the important decisions on peace taken by last week's 2005 World Summit.” -- Kofi Annan -- United Nations Secretary-General 21 September 2005 /http://www.un.org/events/peaceday/2005/
Peace Day on Facebook -/http://www.facebook.com/peaceday//
The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982. In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace  /http://internationaldayofpeace.org/ 

English Club On "Modern Technology"

Topic: Modern Technology

1. What do you think about the Internet - is a good or a bad invention? Do social networks substitute personal communication? Is it possible to have a real friend without meeting him or her in person but by communicating only through the Internet?

2. What is th difference between video chatting, such as Skype, and personal communication? Is there a difference, in your opinion? Is something lost in communication online or would you consider these interactions equal to face-to-face relationships?

3. How dependent are you on your mobile phone? can you imagine your life without this gadget? Why or what not? What price do we pay for using mobile phones?

4. Recently, there have been discussions abroad to exclude penmanship (writing) lessons and to replace them with typing courses. If these discussions were put into effect, how would the lack of writing classes affect the next generation? Would writing potentially become unimportant or irrelevant?

5. Try to imagine life in 20, 50 and 100 years. Which aspects of life do you think will be the most altered by technical progress in the future? Could these changes be dangerous for future generations? Can potentially dangerous consequences of technical progress be controlled?

                    
6.When you think of the future, do you see progress in high technology or retreat to relationships with natural features and the environment? Could such technical progress and a harmony with the surrounding world go together?
 /Picture taken from Wikipedia/

8 Ways Technology is Improving Education

Here is the website with the article and the picture put :http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-in-education/: 
http://angaran0814.blogspot.com/2011/04/ipads-for-kindergarten-children.html

Technology is helping teachers to expand beyond linear, text-based learning and to engage students who learn best in other ways. Its role in schools has evolved from a contained “computer class” into a versatile learning tool that could change how we demonstrate concepts, assign projects and assess progress.

Despite these opportunities, adoption of technology by schools is still anything but ubiquitous. Knezek says that U.S. schools are still asking if they should incorporate more technology, while other countries are asking how. But in the following eight areas, technology has shown its potential for improving education.

1. Better Simulations and Models

These can help teachers better explain something by slowing it down or speeding up the process. It also can draw the students attention in and if they are visual learners, this will help them.

2. Global Learning

You can now go online and practice a language you are trying to learn by speaking to someone who can speak it fluently. You can find out anything about the world right at your finger tips.

3. Virtual Manipulatives

This is used for math classes a lot. My Math for Elementary Education teacher used this a lot to show us fractions and things like that. You can figure out what the answer is and then ask for it to show you the correct answer or if you got it right.

4. Probes and Sensors

Here is a video example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h14-sDplrww&feature=player_embedded

5. More Efficient Assessment

You can make tests online and enter the answers and the computer will correct the students scores for you! That way you never mess up your grading!

6. Storytelling and multi-media

You can find anything on You Tube now. Our math teacher used youtube a lot of times tables and counting by numbers!

7. E-books

You can find books online now and its a great way to find a good book fast, instead of having to go to the library or store!

Despite students’ apparent preference for paper textbooks, proponents like Daytona College and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are ready to switch to digital. And electronic textbook vendors like CourseSmart are launching to help them.

E-books hold an unimaginable potential for innovating education, though as some schools have already discovered, not all of that potential has been realized yet.

“A digital textbook that is merely a PDF on a tablet that students can carry around might be missing out on huge possibilities like models and simulations or visualizations,” Dorsey says. “It takes time and it really takes some real thought to develop those things, and so it would be easy for us as a society to miss out on those kinds of opportunities by saying, ‘Hey look, we’re not carrying around five textbooks anymore. It’s all on your iPad, isn’t that great?’”.

8. Epistemic Games

These put students in roles such as an engineer. Lets them try out real life positions. I think this is the most interesting one because how do you know if you like doing something until you try it!

Goals and Success

Fun Fact of the Day: "The hottest temperature recorded in the United States (and in North America) was in Death Valley, California on July 10, 1913. The temperature measured 134F (56C)" (http://geography.about.com).

/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_tA1CN4LEA/SwQ0KuGr-gI/AAAAAAAAAfk/6aLluCpT6OA/s1600/sucess.jpg/

What one change can you make to dramatically increase your success? Learn how to set specific goals when goal setting and use specific goals in all your business planning. Goals need to be specific if we have any chance of accomplishing them. Setting specific goals when we're goal setting sets us up for success rather than failure. Before you can set specific goals designed to increase your business success, you need to know what you mean by success /http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/successprogram/a/week2.htm/.

Topic: Goals and Success

1. How important is it to have solid goals for the future? Do you consider yourself as a goal-oriented person or one who plans ahead? If so, how far in advanced to you tend to think? What is the difference between short-term goals and long-term ones? 

2. What does the term "success" or "being successful" mean to you? Does it lead to personal satisfaction with a job or in your studies? Is it related to financial success? What does it take to become a 'successful" person?

3. What is one of your biggest goals? Do you need to set goals in order to become successful in your future career, finances or personal life? 

4. Do you have a "five-year" plan or know anyone else who does? What are the positives and negatives of planning that far in advance?

5. Are your successes and failures in reaching your goals tied to other people, such as family or friends? Do you care what other people think of your accomplishments, both professionally and personally?

6. How would you feel if you failed to meet one of your goals? To feel successful, do you have to meet all of your goals or can they change over time?

Schedule: Thursday 22 September at 5:30, Saturday 24 September at 10:30

Discussion of "Parents and Children" with Yana Meleshko

 Fun Fact of the Day: “The first successful English settlement was at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607” (http://awesomeamerica.com/usa/).

Topic: Parents and Children

1. 

   /Wikipedia/

   In your opinion when does a child become an adult? Do you remember when you started to consider yourself an adult? What inner changes do you think are central in the growing-up process? (Mental changes, differences in knowledge, a number etc.). What do you see as some main differences between a child and an adult?
2. How would you describe your relationship with your parents when you were a child vs. as an adult? Would you describe your relationship as warm? Do you argue often? How do disagreements alter relationships between parents and their children?
3. 

   /Wikipedia/

   Do you have any regrets about behavior as a child or a teenager? If you could go back in time, would you change anything from your childhood or teenage years? Would you appreciate anything more? Or are you happier now?
4. 

   Think about the following expression: “Our own mistakes teach us best of all”. Do you agree with this statement? Can you relate any of your own experiences to this phrase? What is the difference between improving yourself based on your own mistakes and making conclusions based on the mistakes of others / following others’ advice?
5. 

   Is it a good idea to give a lot of personal space and freedom to children? If you have children or want them someday, do/would you let them choose their own paths in life, such as their occupation and university studies?
6. 

   Were you independent as a child and a teenager or did you follow others, such as parents or your peers? Why or why not? Would you raise your children the same way you grew up?

English Club on 'Honesty' and More

/URL of a pic: Wikipedia/

Fun Fact of the Day: The typewriter was first invented in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1867 (http://www.infoplease.com)!

TOPIC: HONESTY, TRUTHFULNESS AND LIES

1. What does it mean to be honest? How can you tell if a person is honest? Is it important to be honest? Is it always easy?

2. Do you always appreciate when people are honest? Is there ever a time when you wish someone had been less honest? Is it ever okay to only give a partial truth instead of full honesty?

3. How is truthfulness different than honesty? Do you always tell the truth? Is there a difference between telling a partial truth and lying?

4. Is there a difference between telling a partial truth and lying? 

5. What are 'white lies"? Is there a difference between a white lie and lying in general? Is it okay to tell white lies if they will protect someone's feelings? If you tell white lies, does this make you a dishonest person?

If time, games: "2 truths and a Lie"

Schedule: Thursday, 15 September 2011 at 5:30, Saturday, 17 September 2011 at 10:30

English Club with a Leader from Odessa

LAW AND MORALITY

Fun Fact of the Day:  "Not only was Ronald Regan the oldest person ever elected president at age of 69, he has lived longer than any former president ever has, and has died at the age of 93" (http://www.stephencarr.com).

 Does breaking a law mean that you have done something wrong?
 Is being unlawful the same as being immoral? 

We may feel that it is our obligation to obey the local laws, but in reality they are nothing more than concepts that a few people agreed upon at some point. Many times they don't even make a whole lot of sense. There is no universal morality, only a subjective crack at keeping us happy and organized. 

Discussion Topic: Law and Morality

1. What are morals? How do morals appear in everyday life? Do you consider yourself a moral person? Do differences in morals affect relationships between people at work and in personal lives?

2. What is a law? In general, how are laws created? Would you call  yourself a law-abiding person? Woild you avoid interacting with others who do not follow the law?

3. In your opinion, are there any differences between laws and morals? If so, what are some examples of these differences? Do your morals always follow the law? If you had to choose between following the law and honoring your morals, what would you do?

4. How does morality influence society on a larger level? Does morality ever take the form of law? What is the relationship between morality and law?

5. What happens to people who are amoral? Is it against the law to be amoral? Can you have bad morals but still  follow the law?

Next Clubs: Thursday, 08 September 2011 at 5:30

                    Saturday, 10 September 2011 at 10:30

URL of a Picture: http://www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/humanities/sos/prelaw/images/justice-scale-2.jpg

Презентація «Пошуки американських університетів для проведення досліджень»

Презентація «Пошуки американських університетів для проведення досліджень»

Час

21 вересня 2011 р. · 16:00 - 17:00

Місце

Офіс Програми імені Фулбрайта, Еспланадна, 20, кімн. 904 (ст. метро Палац Спорту), Київ

Організатор: Fulbright Ukraine

Додаткова інформація: Презентацію проводить освітній консультант Мариса Ріверо

Exchange Programs

Fun Fact of the Day: Which state has "the longest coastline in the U.S., 6,640 miles, greater than that of all other states combined"? Alaska (http://www.infoplease.com).

September 1, 2011 became a new starting point in learning of foreign languages for some Vinnytsia English Speaking Club’s participants. This meeting started with an interactive discussion on some facts on the USA: Which states has “the longest coastline in the U.S., 6,640 miles, greater than that of all other states combined”? (Alaska: http://www.infoplease.com).

This time one of the leaders Ihor Strelkov proposed a special topic for a general discussion having a rich experience in it.  Members of the Club discussed how it was important in their life to have a cultural exchange. Most of them had an opportunity to study in the USA at various universities and colleges. It was really worth to listen to them about this positive experience.

 Everybody expressed the same thoughts that it helped broaden education taking into consideration positives and negatives which could exist for studying abroad.

The most controversial among all the questions were the following ones: Are systems of education different when studying in a foreign country? How would these differences affect you while studying abroad? How does daily life differ when living abroad? What day-to-day activities may be more challenging while living in a foreign country? Do all students have a right to work while in school? Do you think it is important to work and study at the same time? Did you /will you have a job while going to school? How did/ will this affect your studies?  

The leader of this activity finished it expressing his ideas how foreign education helped people work for foreign companies and how it helped get a good job after graduation.

Schedule: Saturday, 03 September at 10:30

                 Thursday, 08 September at 5:30