Plastic money in England?
(Level: Intermediate / B1 / ** to ***)



Before watching

The Bank of England has started a public consultation over whether to replace the paper £5 and £10 notes with plastic (polymer) banknotes in 2016.

A five-pound note (also called a fiver)
from: currencyguide.eu

 

 

A ten-pound note (also called a tenner)
from: currencyguide.eu

 

The following words could be useful:
to come up with: to think of something such as an idea            trouver / proposer
to crumple: to crush (e.g. paper) so that it forms untidy folds      chiffonner / froisser
to bend: to make something become curved or folded        plier
to rip: to tear (apart)              déchirer
the outcry: angry expression of protest as a reaction to something that someone has done or to something that happened
      tollé / levée de boucliers / indignation

If you want to know more...
1. about the Bank of England and the current banknotes: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/Pages/home.aspx

2. about the polymer banknotes (with a video to watch):
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/polymer/Pages/default.aspx


While watching

Watch the BBC news report and answer the question in French!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24041138

What are the advantages of the polymer banknotes?
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When you are finished, check your answers!

1. Plus solides / résistants que les billets actuels en papier; on peut les plier, les chiffonner, essayer de les déchirer et ils gardent leur structure d'origine. Ils restent impeccables même si on les passe accidentellement au lave-linge. (contrairement aux billets classiques qui déteignent)...   / Durée de vie: 2,5 fois supérieure aux billets traditionnels...

2. Plus propres que les billets en papier.

3. Plus sécurisés, donc plus difficiles à contrefaire  (notamment grâce à la présence de fenêtres transparentes...)

4. Les éléments traditionnels des billets appréciés des utilisateurs (configuration globale) sont maintenus...

5. ...



 

Costa Concordia salvage operation completed
(Level: upper-intermediate / B2 / ***)




Before watching

You are going to watch a Sky News report focusing on the parbuckle salvage (*) operation of the Costa Concordia which started on 16 September 2013.

(*) Parbuckle salvage, or parbuckling, is the righting of a sunken vessel by applying leverage to rotate the vessel into an upright position.  Opération de redressement ou de renflouement à l’aide de trévires

The Costa Concordia is a cruise ship that partially sank when it ran aground at Isola del Giglio, Tuscany, Italy on 13 January 2012.



Picture from MaritimeTraffic.com

It was during an unnecessary manoeuvre  (an unofficial near-shore salute to the locals) by the captain that the cruise ship hit a reef.

 

Picture from MaritimeTraffic.com





 

 

 

    

If you are interested in the passenger ship’s features and history (+ photos):

http://maritimematters.com/2012/01/a-short-history-of-the-costa-concordia/

 

Map from mapsnworld.com

 

 

The following words could be useful:

the starboard side: the right-hand side of a ship as one faces forward     Tribord (côté droit d'un navire, lorsqu'on est placé dans son axe et qu'on regarde vers l'avant, vers la proue)

indentations: angular cuts or notches, recesses     renfoncements

manslaughter: the unlawful but involuntary killing of a human being      homicide involontaire

to be towed away: to be drawed / pulled by a chain     remorquer

in Earnest: seriously / with determination   sérieusement

to be hampered by...: restricted / disrupted          être freiné / ralenti par...

to scour: to look for / search thoroughly       examiner à fond  / fouiller

 

 

 

 

While watching

 

http://news.sky.com/story/1142666/costa-concordia-salvage-operation-completed



Answer the following questions in French!

 

1. How many passengers died when the ship capsized? Could there have been more? Explain!

 

2. What did the parbuckling operation consist of?

 

3. Why is the ship's captain on trial?

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-

 

4. What is expected to happen now the vessel is set upright?

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-

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-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you are finished, check your answers!

 

1.

32 passagers ont péri mais on aurait pu déplorer encore plus de victimes quand on voit l'état lamentable du flanc immergé du navire qui s'était littéralement encastré dans les rochers et qui présente des renfoncements importants; les balcons et cabines du flanc droit étant écrasés.

 

2.

Des câbles en acier ont été utilisés pour redresser le navire ainsi que des caissons accrochés sur son flanc opposé qu'on remplissait d'eau pour assurer la rotation jusqu'à ce qu'il atteigne la verticale et puisse poser sur une plate-forme sous-marine en acier.

 

3.

Le capitaine est poursuivi pour homicide involontaire et pour avoir abandonné le navire avant ses passagers.

 

4.

- Stabiliser le navire en accrochant des caissons sur le côté droit (tribord) pour contrebalancer ceux déjà installés à bâbord et en les remplissant d'eau.

 

- Plus tard, ces mêmes caissons pourront être remplis d'air pour permettre au navire de flotter et d'être remorqué vers un port italien où il pourra être démantelé; opération prévue pour le printemps prochain.

 

- Dès que le navire sera stabilisé, les équipes pourront se mettre à la recherche des corps des deux personnes disparues au moment de l'accident mais devront d'abord s'assurer des conditions d'accès à l'intérieur du navire. Auparavant,  lorsque le bateau était encore incliné, certains couloirs étaient devenus de véritables puits.

 

- Les équipes devront également fouiller le navire afin de récupérer le contenu des coffres-forts des cabines des occupants du paquebot.

 

 

 

 

 

Young man's confession on YouTube: "I killed a man".
(Level: Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / B1 to B2 / ***)



Before watching

You are going to watch a rather chilling YouTube video which has now gone viral(*) on the Web. It shows a 22-year-old truck driver, Matthew Cordle, who admitted killing a man in a road accident. He insists on taking full responsibility for it.

(*) to go viral: to spread like a virus

Note:

The confession video was released with the help of a non-profit Ohio organisation called Because I said I would (www.becauseisaidiwould.com) which aims at making humanity better through the power of a promise.

Promise cards are important as they help you remember your commitments or goals and therefore (once you've kept your promises) be a person of your word.

See here how it works!   http://becauseisaidiwould.com/what-are-promise-cards/
 

Ohio
Map from myonlinemaps.com

 

The following words could be useful:
to hop from bar to bar: to go bar-hopping / to go from one bar to the next and get progressively drunk      faire la tournée des bars
to black out: to become unconscious / to pass out    s'évanouir
the oncoming traffic: approaching vehicles in the opposite lane   véhicules arrivant en sens inverse
high-powered: very important / reputable      de haut vol / réputé
an attorney (US): a lawyer    avocat
to get off: to escape (from punishment)   s'en tirer




While watching


Watch the video and answer the following question in French!

How are the man's words associated with the way he appears on the video (or the way the video itself is produced)? Complete the grid!

Part 1 of the video: 00:00 to 01:39	Part 2 of the video: 01:40 to the end
Your observations (about that part of the video? The staging elements?)	Your observations (about that part of the video? The staging elements?)
What does he say during that part of the video? (What do you get to know about what happened, the circumstances, the type of man he is, his addiction, his lawyers)	What does he say during that part of the video?

When you are finished, check your answers!

(You'll also find the transcripts hereafter)

Suggestions de réponses!

Part 1 of the video: 00:00 to 01:39	Part 2 of the video: 01:40 to the end
Your observations (about that part of the video? The staging elements?)  - Visage flouté + voix masquée (début des aveux sous le couvert de l'anonymat) - Musique lugubre; sombre	Your observations (about that part of the video? The staging elements?) - Aveux à visage découvert + voix normale (après avoir dit qu'il ne mentirait pas dans cette affaire) - Musique triste - Montre ses blessures (suite à l'accident) - Montre sa "carte promesse" à la caméra (qu'il a aussi rédigée devant la caméra)
What does he say during that part of the video?  (What do you get to know about what happened, the circumstances, the type of man he is, his addiction, his lawyers)   Il a occasionné un accident de la circulation et est responsable de la mort d'un homme. Il avait fréquenté plusieurs bars avec des amis et il était ivre mort; il a quand même décidé de rentrer chez lui avec son camion,  s'est retrouvé sur la voie opposée et a heurté une voiture de plein fouet. Il a l'habitude de boire parce qu'il souffre de dépression. Il devient alors un individu qu'on n'aime pas fréquenter, qui occasionne des bagarres et qui a gâché plusieurs relations. Les avocats qu'il a rencontrés suite à cette affaire lui ont dit qu'on pouvait faire disparaître les tests sanguins qu'ils avait subis suite à son accident et qu'il ne lui resterait plus qu'à mentir.	What does he say during that part of the video?     Il dévoile son identité (Matthew Cordle) et celle de sa victime (Vincent Canzani) + la date des faits (le 22 juin 2013). Il refuse de salir la mémoire de M. Canzani en mentant. Il prendra ses responsabilités et plaidera coupable lorsqu'il comparaîtra.   Il sait que cette vidéo correspond à des aveux qu'il fournit au procureur et qu'il risque d'encourir une peine de prison conséquente. Il implore tous ceux qui verront la vidéo de ne pas boire et conduire. Il ne peut plus ramener M. Canzani à la vie; il ne peut pas effacer ce qu'il a fait mais les autres (futures) victimes peuvent encore être sauvées...

Transcripts

I killed a man.
I was out with some friends, we were all drinking really heavily. Just hopping from bar to bar... just trying to have a good time and I lost control.
You know, sometimes I drink because I have depression that I struggle with every day. And ... I just drink to get out of my head for a few hours. You know... I really don't like the person I become when I drink. I've ruined relationships in the past... I start fights... you know... I just generally become the person that people don't like being around.
On that particular night, I made a mistake and got in my truck. I completely blacked out and just started to try to drive home. I ended up going the wrong way down the highway... directly into oncoming traffic and I struck a car.
I killed a man.

Immediately following that, I consulted some high-powered attorneys who told me stories about similar cases where the drivers got off. They were convinced I could get my blood tests thrown out and all I would have to do for that was lie.
Well I won't go down that path.  

 

My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani.
This video will act as my confession.  
When I get charged, I will plead guilty and take full responsibility for everything I have done to Vincent and his family.
If I took a different route, maybe I would get a reduced sentence and maybe I would get off...But I won't dishonor Vincent's memory by lying about what happened.
By releasing this video I know exactly what it means. I'm handing the prosecution everything they need to put me away for a very long time...but I'm willing to take that sentence for just one reason.
And that reason is so I could pass this message on to you.
I beg you...and I say the word "BEG" specifically...I'm begging you...please don't drink and drive.
Don't make the same excuses that I did.
Don't say it's only a few miles or you've only had a few beers...or you do it all the time....or it will never happen to you. Because it happened to me and all of those are just excuses to make yourself feel better about a decision that you know is wrong and could cost lives.
I can't bring Mr. Canzani back...and I can't erase what I've done.
But you can still be saved, your victims can still be saved.
So please...

Back to work: 10 worst things about post-holiday blues
(Level: Intermediate / B1 / **)

You are going to read a BBC article focusing on the worst things that can happen after a holiday when you have to be back at work.

Picture: from BBC/ News / Magazine

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23864719


Have you ever experienced them or rather, are you experiencing them right now or is it anything similar?
 
No other questions this time! So just read and enjoy!

Are your passwords safe? (+ a review of apps and websites) 
(Level: Upper-Intermediate / B2 / ***)

 


Picture from digitaltrends.com

You are going to watch a clip with technology reporter Kate Russell from "CLICK", a BBC World News technology programme focusing on technological news (about the latest gadgets or apps, websites etc.).

 

This clip is divided into four parts.  Part 1 will deal with how to check whether your password is sufficiently safe or not; part 2 refers to an interesting site by the Royal Institution of Great-Britain (*) dealing with science; part 3 is devoted to an iPhone app used to identify banknotes and part 4 is about a series of videos called “Other Places”.

 

(*) The Royal Institution of Great-Britain is an organisation which aims at connecting people with the world of science.    http://www.rigb.org/registrationControl?action=home

The Royal Institution’s website: http://richannel.org/

  

Before watching

 

The following words and notes could be useful:

to improve your odds against...:to reduce the possibility of...occurring   réduire les risques de...

to be worth (+…ing):  interesting or useful to...      valoir la peine de...

a wealth of …:  an abundance of...  /  resources        une profusion de…

courtesy of: willingness or generosity in providing something         offert par…

the pick of..: the best part           le meilleur de…

a lecture:  an exposition of a given subject delivered before an audience e.g.     ici: conférence

to scour: to go through / search         fouiller

to showcase: to exhibit in an attractive aspect      présenter

by leaps and bounds: rapidly              rapidement / à pas de géant 

stunning:    impressive / astonishing          stupéfiant / superbe / impressionnant

a vista:   sight / landscape / scene             vue / perspective / paysage

 

LivingSocial: an online "market place" or e-commerce business website offering daily deals on the best things to do in your area or elsewhere ranging from restaurants and family outings to home services, access to concerts, sporting events and all sorts of products.

The company’s database was hacked in April 2013, affecting 50 million registered users.

 

Password generator: a password manager helping you to manage your passwords put in one encrypted database which is locked with one master key so that the user needs to remember only one single master password.                                        Gestionnaire de mots de passe

 

The Royal Institution Christmas lectures: a series of lectures which have been held at the Royal Institution in London each year since 1825. Scientific subjects are presented to a general audience, including young people, in an informative and entertaining manner. Michael Faraday (*) initiated the first Christmas Lecture series in 1825, at a time when organised education for young people was scarce.

(*) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Faraday

 

While watching

 

Answer the following questions in French!

Part 1:

What tips is Kate giving as far as your passwords are concerned?
1.
2.
3.
 
Part 2:
Why is the Royal Institution’s website worth looking into?
1.
2.
 

Part 3:

What are the advantages of the Money Reader?

1.

2.

3.

Are there any shortcomings about the app?

Part 4:
Why are Ultrabrilliant’s videos interesting?

 

 

 

You can also watch the video on the BBC World News website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01f74gv

 

  

When you are finished, you can check your answers.

 

Part 1

1. Créer des mots de passe incroyablement robustes, élaborés ou éviter qu’ils soient ridiculement faibles du style « 12345 » ou « Password ».  

2.  Aller sur howsecureismypassword.net   pour tester la robustesse de ses mots de passe.  

3. Recourir à un gestionnaire de mots de passe pour y stocker dans une base de données sécurisée tous les identifiants forts qu’on aura créés sans courir le risque de ne plus pouvoir s’en souvenir ! Un seul mot de passe sera nécessaire pour y avoir accès.

 

Part 2

1. Le site présente un grand nombre de vidéos scientifiques à visionner (en provenance de la Royal Institution elle-même) 

2.  Le site ne se contente pas de fournir le meilleur des vidéos ou des conférences de la Royal Institution (par exemple les démonstrations scientifiques spectaculaires – les conférences de Noël pour les jeunes etc.), mais aussi tout ce que la Toile a de meilleur à offrir dans le domaine des sciences.  

 

Part 3

Avantages:

1. Application iPhone utile pour les déficients visuels. 

2. Application qui « reconnaît » en temps réel les billets de banque et qui informe l’utilisateur (affichage sur l’iPhone et reconnaissance vocale) avec précision de la valeur du billet qui se trouve devant lui, peu importe que le billet soit plié ou  présenté sous différents angles. 

3. Plusieurs langues sont disponibles pour la reconnaissance vocale.

Manquements:

-  Pas bon marché pour une application (presque 10 dollars). 

-  N’identifie que les dollars américains, canadiens et australiens, les livres sterling et les euros.

 Part 4

Série de vidéos qui invitent l’internaute à apprécier sur YouTube les magnifiques paysages de jeux vidéo connus, mais sans avoir à subir sans arrêt les attaques d’extra-terrestres ou de bandits en tous genres…

If you are interested, here is the link to the BBC's "CLICK" website: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n13xtmd5