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Tuesday 17 June 2014

Tornado's in Nebraska
(Niveau: Intermediair / B1 tot B2 / **)


Tornado's in Nebraska
Foto: whotv.com

De Amerikaanse staat Nebraska is alweer door tornado's getroffen, in het bijzonder het dorp Pilger dat grotendeels met de grond gelijkgemaakt is.

Je zal nu naar een NOS-reportage daaromtrent kijken.



Pilger, Nebraska
Foto: whotalking.com


Pilger, Nebraska, USA
Bron: zip-area.com




Voordat je bekijkt



Het volgende woord zou nuttig kunnen zijn:
vernietigen: verwoesten         détruire / ravager




Terwijl je bekijkt



Beantwoord de volgende vraag in het Frans.


Verklaar wat er in Pilger precies is gebeurd en wat er de gevolgen van zijn geweest.







Je kunt ook de video bekijken via de NOS-site. Klik HIER









Als je bekeken en beantwoord hebt, kun je je antwoorden checken.

Deux tornades simultanées ou jumelles, à près d'un kilomètre et demi de l'une de l'autre, ont détruit irrémédiablement la moitié, voire les trois quarts d'une localité de 350 habitants (Pilger) dans le Nebraska.

Les pertes humaines se chiffrent pour le moment à un mort. De nombreux blessés ont été acheminés vers les hôpitaux. 






Doorbraak in zoektocht naar vermiste meisjes
(Niveau: Intermediair tot gevorderd / B1 tot B2 /** tot ***)

Op 1 april raakten Lisanne Froon en Kris Kremers, twee Nederlandse meisjes, in een bergachtig gebied in Panama vermist.
Een zoektocht naar hen leidde tot niets maar nu zijn bezittingen van de meisjes gevonden. De zoektocht kan nu verder aangezien er sprake is van een lead. 

Je zal een VTM-reportage daaromtrent bekijken. 


Bron: NOS / Facebook
Panama
Bron: lonelyplanet.com



Voordat je bekijkt

De volgende woorden zouden nuttig kunnen zijn:
het misdrijf: de misdaad / strafbaar feit           crime    
de trektocht:  de tocht / wandeltocht            randonnée   
de speurhond: hond die getraind is om iets specifieks te vinden       chien renifleur 
stroomopwaarts: tegen de richting van de stroom        en amont   
forensisch onderzoek: technisch onderzoek om bewijsmateriaal te verkrijgen   examen légal, scientifique; analyse de la police scientifique 
uitkammen: intensief doorzoeken            ratisser / passer au peigne fin 




Terwijl je bekijkt


Beantwoord de volgende vragen:


  1. Voor de vrienden en nabestaanden van beide meisjes is er nu eindelijk hoop: hoezo?
  2. Hoe zal het politieonderzoek zich nu verder afspelen? 






Je kunt ook de video bekijken via de de Morgen-site. Klik HIER








Als je de vragen beantwoord hebt, kun je je antwoorden checken.




1
Il y a enfin une avancée dans l'enquête puisque pour la première fois depuis la disparition des deux filles, on a retrouvé une trace concrète de leur passage dans une zone bien particulière. Il s'agit d'un sac à dos leur ayant appartenu, retrouvé près d'une rivière à 40 kilomètres de Boquete, et dans lequel se trouvaient entre autres deux téléphones portables, une carte d'assurance et une caméra...

2
Il y a déjà une analyse scientifique en cours du matériel retrouvé afin d'en dégager un maximum d'informations  (photos, SMS, données géographiques, ...).

Les enquêteurs vont ratisser la région en amont de l'endroit où le sac a été retrouvé.







Choquerend filmpje
(Niveau: Intermediair / B1 tot B2 / **)



Een spoorloper
Foto: infrabel / knack.be


Infrabel is onlangs met een bewustmakingscampagne tegen het spoorlopen gestart, onder andere met het produceren van een filmpje dat velen als eerder choquerend beschouwen. 
Je zal een VTM-reportage daaromtrent bekijken.


Voordat je bekijkt


De volgende woorden kunnen nuttig zijn:
nietsvermoedend: die niets vermoedt       qui ne se doute de rien / peu méfiant 
keihard: zeer hard     très dur    
aan... gekoppeld worden: met...  verbonden worden      être lié à / être dépendant de
het rijbewijs intrekken: het rijbewijs ongeldig verklaren zodat het voor de bestuurder onmogelijk en onwettelijk is geworden om het nog te gebruiken     retirer le permis de conduire









Terwijl je bekijkt


Beantwoord de volgende vragen in het Frans:


  1. Waarom heeft Infrabel mensen met dat TV-spotje willen choqueren?
  2. Wat riskeren de spoorlopers?



Je kunt ook terecht op de De Morgen-site; klik HIER









Als je beantwoord hebt, kun je je antwoorden checken.


1
Pour décourager les usagers imprudents de continuer à circuler illicitement sur les voies en vertu du danger de mort omniprésent... 
Mieux vaut un détour vers un passage sécurisé que de risquer sa vie dans le but de gagner quelques minutes de son temps... 


2
- Avant tout: la mort ou des blessures extrêmement graves;
- ensuite, de lourdes amendes pouvant se chiffrer jusqu'à 1200 euros (parfois assorties de peines de prison ou du retrait du permis de conduire! )









Aardehuizen
(Niveau: Intermediair tot gevorderd / B1 tot B2 / ** tot ***)


Een aardehuis
Foto: rtvoost.nl


In Zonnekamp Oost bij Olst, Nederland, zijn de eerste zogenaamde aardehuizen ontstaan. 

Als je er belangsteling voor hebt, kun je meer informatie over dergelijke huizen vinden op de volgende site: www.aardehuis.nl/nl/aardehuizen

Olst in de provincie Overijssel
Plattegrond: nl.wikipedia



Je zal nu een korte reportage van de NOS bekijken die betrekking heeft op dit soort huizen.



Voordat je bekijkt


De volgende woorden zullen nuttig zijn:
de / het leem: grondsoort die uit verschillende bestanddelen bestaat zoals klei en zand bvb.    terre glaise 
de klei: zware en compacte grondsoort      argile
de modder: mengsel van water en aarde   boue
de riolering: de rioolbuizen      (système) d'égouts  


Een zonnecollector
Foto: zonnecollectoren-zonnepanelen.nl



De bouw van een aardehuis
Foto: hetkanwel.net


Terwijl je bekijkt


Beantwoord de volgende vragen in het Frans:

  1. Uit welke bestanddelen bestaat zo'n aardehuis eigenlijk?
  2. Kun je echt zelfvoorzienend (autarkisch) in een dergelijk huis leven? Verklaar!






Je kunt ook de video op de NOS-site bekijken: klik HIER











Als je de reportage bekeken hebt en de vragen beantwoord hebt, kun je je antwoorden checken.


1
Une maison de terre se compose de matériaux naturels (argile, terre glaise, boue, bois...) et d'objets de récupération, essentiellement des pneus qui sont remplis de terre bien tassée. Le tout est ensuite enduit de terre glaise... 

2
On peu y vivre pleinement en autarcie:
- l'électricité est produite grâce aux panneaux photovoltaïques;
- l'eau chaude est obtenue grâce aux capteurs solaires,
- l'eau est prélevée d'une nappe phréatique,
- la maison n'est pas raccordée aux égouts,
- ...











Sunday 15 June 2014

Risking one's life in search of a better life
(Level: Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / B1 to B2 / ** to ***)



Migrants leaving Agadez
Photo credit: victorikoli.blogspot.com

Thousands of West African migrants risk their lives in the hope to reach Europe for what they think might be a better life. 

They pay a lot to be smuggled across the Sahara but many will never make their final destination.

You are going to watch  BBC's Thomas Fessy reporting from Agadez, Niger.


Agadez, Niger
Map credit: fao.org

Agadez
Picture credit: de.wikipedia




Before watching



The following words could be useful:
the gateway: a means of access; entrance          passerelle 
a commodity: an article of trade      denrée / produit / marchandise 
to bribe: to offer money to someone in a position of power to influence that person's conduct        soudoyer / payer un pot-de-vin  
the checkpoint: a place where people are stopped for identification or inspection      poste de contrôle
grim: gloomy; sinister        lugubre / sombre / sinistre 
a deterrent: something that is meant to prevent or discourage an action by instilling fear, doubt...      effet dissuasif / élément dissuasif  




While watching


Answer the following question in French:


What is it like for migrants in a place like Agadez and once they leave it?









You can also watch the video on the BBC site; click HERE







When you are finished, check your answers!


(Suggestions de réponses)


Des femmes comme Vivian dans le reportage doivent se prostituer si elles veulent réunir la somme nécessaire pour se rendre en Europe; elles n'ont rien, pas d'argent, pas de travail...

Les candidats à l'exil doivent retirer tout l'argent qui leur reste sur leur compte pour pouvoir payer les passeurs mais aussi pour soudoyer les gardiens aux postes de contrôle à la frontière.

S'ils ne peuvent pas payer initialement la somme totale exigée, les passeurs leur font alors crédit. Mais ils leur faudra régler à l'arrivée le double du montant prévu.

La plupart d'entre eux n'arriveront jamais à destination; soit ils mourront dans le désert, soit ils seront arrêtés par des milices armées avant d'être incarcérés, battus, affamés... 


...


The suitcase that is also a scooter
(Level: Intermediate / B1 to B2 / **)


You are going to watch a BBC report focusing on a special suitcase developed by a Chinese amateur inventor which may revolutionise the way people travel.

Mr He Liangcai and his invention
Picture credit: BBC / Getty Images

Before watching

The following words could be useful:
extortionate:  excessive      exorbitant 
a trolley: a cart pushed by hand and used for moving items (such as luggage at an airport)     chariot
battery-powered: propelled or powered thanks to batteries     alimenté par batterie
the boarding gate: the gate through which air passengers go to board the plane     porte d'embarquement
the brainchild: something produced by creative thought; an invention     création / invention 
the throttle: the device controlling the power to an engine      manette des gaz
the brake: the device used to slow or stop a vehicle        frein 
the handlebars: the steering bar of a bicycle, motorbike, scooter... with a handgrip at each end     guidon       
conveniently: in a convenient way; handily       de manière pratique / aisément 






While watching


Answer the following questions in French.


  1. How did Mr He Liangcai come to the idea of developing his suitcase scooter?
  2. What are the advantages of the suitcase scooter? 




You can also watch the report on the BBC site by clicking HERE












When you are finished, you can check your answers! 

1

Cette idée lui est venue après qu'il ait oublié son sac dans un avion...



2 (en vrac: suggestions de réponses)


  • Grâce à la valise scooter, plus besoin de payer des sommes exorbitantes liées au stationnement dans les aéroports et... 
  • ...plus besoin de chariots pour le transport des bagages à l'aéroport ou dans une gare.
  • La valise scooter est équipée d'un guidon à partir duquel on peut actionner des commandes (freins; lumières; manette de gaz ...);
  • ... est munie d'un GPS, d'un klaxon et d'un système antivol;
  • ... est facile à transporter même si la valise en soi est lourde;
  • ... ne devrait pas être coûteuse à l'achat; 
  • ... contribuera à résoudre certains problèmes (parking, pollution, circulation...);
  • ... peut transporter jusqu'à deux personnes; 
  • ... permet de circuler à une vitesse de 20 kilomètres à l'heure sur une distance de 60 kilomètres (si les batteries sont pleinement chargées); 
  • ... n'est pas lourde (7 kilos à vide).
  • ...











Monday 9 June 2014

TENSES OF ENGLISH: a recap


TENSES  + forms
Uses + Examples
Signal words
SIMPLE PRESENT

I / you / we / they learn
He / she / it learns

I / you / we / they don’t (do not) learn
He / she doesn’t (does not) learn

Do I / you / we / they learn?
Does he / she / it learn?



!!! No DO-support for auxiliaries!

I / you / he … can’t (cannot) learn
Can I / you / he … learn? 

I am not / I’m not // You are not / You’re not / You aren’t…
He is not; He’s not; He isn’t…
Am I …?; Are you…?; Is he…? …


Habits
I always get up early at 6 during the week but I sometimes sleep longer at the weekends.
She goes on holiday once a week.

Truths
Water freezes at O° Celsius
The moon goes round the earth.

Stative verbs (seem; see; appear; hear; look; look like; disappear…)
She looks nice.
He looks like his father.
It sounds interesting.
They seem friendly.

Future action set by a timetable e.g.
The train leaves at 5.
The lesson starts at 10.30.

With future structures (after some conjunctions: after / as soon as / until / when … )
I’ll phone you as soon as I know.
You’ll stay here until I decide otherwise.

Frequency adverbs (always; frequently; normally; often; sometimes; occasionally; rarely; hardly ever; never; …)

Time phrases: every Saturday; on Mondays; at the weekends; once a day; twice a week; once every two weeks; in the morning…

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am learning / I’m learning
You / We / They are learning
You’re / We’re / They’re learning
He /  She / It is learning
He’s / She’s / It’s learning

Am I learning?
Are you / we / they learning?
Is he / she / it learning?

Action in progress at the time of speaking or in a more general context.
The phone is ringing (now). Why don’t you pick it up?
She’s studying at the moment. Let’s not disturb her!
Look! She’s stealing something!

Temporary action (versus permanent action / habit)
She lives with her parents (habit / permanent action) but she’s living in a flat in Brussels now (temporary).
I always go to work by car (habit / permanent action) but I’m going to work on foot this week (temporary).  

A planned action in the future
We’re going to France on holiday in August.
We’re meeting friends tonight.

Used to criticize someone or someone’s actions or behaviour (with always)
She’s always losing her keys!
He’s always interrupting me!

now / at present / currently / just now / right now

Look! …  Listen! …

More?
You can find more explanations and interesting grammar videos by the British Council. 

This first video illustrates the simple present; click HERE

The second video focuses on the present continuous. Click HERE 



TENSES  + forms
Uses + Examples
Signal words
SIMPLE PAST

Regular verbs
Affirmative form
+ -ED    //  + - D if final letter is E
worked / walked / listened / typed / deleted

I / You / He/ She / We/ They walked

!!! Pronunciation of final –ED
/t / after voiceless consonants (/k/: walked; /p/: stopped; /f/: laughed …)

/d/ after voiced sounds (/n/: listened; /v/: lived; /ə/: answered…)

/id/ after /t/ or /d/: wanted / demanded / deleted

Irregular verbs
Affirmative form : see list

spoke / ate / swam…

I / You / He / She / We / They spoke



Regular + Irregular verbs
Negative form

= did not (didn’t) + infinitive

I / You / He …  didn’t travel / work / walk
I / You / He …  didn’t speak / eat / drink

But not with the auxiliaries!!!
I / He / She / It was not // wasn’t
You / We / They were not // weren’t

I / You / He / We / They could not // couldn’t

Regular + Irregular verbs
Interrogative form

= Did (I / you / He / …) + infinitive…?

Did you buy a new car?  Yes, I did / No, I didn’t
Did you see anything interesting? Yes, I did / No, I didn’t.
Did they travel a lot?  Yes, they did / No, they didn’t.

But not with the auxiliaries!!!

Were you here last night?    Yes, I was. / No, I wasn’t.
Could you use that computer?   Yes, I could. / No, I couldn’t.


Simple past:  2 conditions
1: the action is finished / completed in the past
2: we know exactly when the action happened.

I saw the film last night.
She met her boyfriend when she was at university.
They got married in 1998.
They bought their house 10 years ago.
It happened during the war.
She worked for four years.
It happened on 5th May 1998.
I came back home at 2.30.




… ago    (2 days ago / three weeks ago / 10 years ago / ages ago …)

last…   (last Saturday / last week / last month / last year …)

in…   (in 2000 / in March 2013 / in April…)

at… (at 2 o’ clock / at 2.15 pm / … )

on…  (on Monday 2nd June / … )

for… (=pendant) (for two years / for 10 months / …)

during… (= pendant)  (during the war / during the holiday…)




PAST CONTINUOUS / PAST PROGRESSIVE

was + …ing    / were + …ing
wasn’t (was not) + …ing   / weren’t (were not) + …ing
was + S + …ing…?    / were + S + …ing…



Used to denote an action going on in the past (possibly for a certain time) until it stops, possibly being interrupted by another action

 She was reading an article ( = action going on / lasting a certain amount of time) when suddenly the phone rang (= sudden action which interrupts the longer one)

I was using the lawnmower when suddenly it stopped working.


Used to denote an action going on while another one was also happening simultaneously.

I was working in the garden while she was cooking dinner.


NOTE THE DIFFERENCE TO AVOID CONFUSION

What were you doing when the accident happened?
I was driving my car (when the accident happened)

What did you do when the accident happened?
I stopped driving, got out of the car, went to see if there were victims and called an ambulance…




when


















while  



















More?
Here are more explanations and interesting grammar videos, the first three videos were made by the British Council whereas the fourth (simple past vs. past continuous) is by Mr Skypelessons. 

This first video illustrates the simple past tense (regular verbs). Click HERE

The second video deals with the irregular verbs. Click HERE

The third video illustrates how to use the past continuous tense. Click HERE

The fourth video is a lesson about the simple past versus the past continuous. Click HERE



TENSE + Forms
Uses  + examples
Signal words
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

have + past participle
has + past participle (third person singular)

I / You / We / They have worked all day long.
I’ve / You’ve / We’ve / They’ve worked all day long.
He / She / It has worked all day long.
He’s / She’s / It’s worked all day long.

I / You / We / They have not worked all day long.
I’ve not / You’ve not / We’ve not / They’ve not worked all day long.
I / You / We / They haven’t worked all day long.
He / She / It has not worked all day long.
He’s / She’s / It’s not worked all day long.
He / She / It hasn’t worked all day long.
Have I / you / we / they worked all day long?
Has he / she / it worked all day long? 




An action that took place in the past, but it is not known exactly when in the past.

NOTE: remember the TWO conditions for the Simple Past. Here one condition is missing, hence the use of the present perfect instead!

She has watched a film.
(Versus: She watched a film yesterday)

She has met her friends recently.
(Versus: She met her friends last week at the party)

She has been to London recently.
(Versus: She went to London two days ago.)

Have you been to London yet?

I haven’t been to London yet.

I have already been to London twice.




An action that began in the past but continues up to the present.

NOTE: both conditions for the Simple Past are missing here; hence, the use of the Present Perfect.

I’ve lived in this town for the last 15 years.
She’s been a teacher for 20 years.
I’ve known her since 1998.
She’s worked in that firm since she stopped school.
lately, recently, just, ever, never, yet, already





































since, for














More?

Watch the following British Council videos pertaining to the present perfect.

1 The present perfect used to talk about experiences in the past. Click HERE 

2 The present perfect used with yet and already. Click HERE

3 The present perfect versus the simple past. Click HERE



TENSE + Forms
Uses  + examples
Signal words
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
have / has + been + …ing
I have been working all night long.
She’s been waiting for her boyfriend for two hours.
She hasn’t been drinking lately.

An action that began in the past and continues up to the present without interruption

She’s been living in this town for 20 years.

An action that has just finished and still influences (negatively) the present

I’ve been working all day long. (Now, I’m very tired)

since     for

More?
Here is a short explanatory video by the British Council: click HERE



TENSES + Forms
Uses  + examples
Signal words
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

had +  past participle






PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

had + been + …ing


Action taking place before another at a certain time in the past.

I had seen her before she disappeared.

She had cooked dinner when I arrived.




Action which was in progress before a second action / definite time in the past which was completed before.


She had been waiting for her train for half an hour when it finally arrived.

It was wet all over this morning when I got up because it had been raining all night long



since     for

More?

Watch this short explanatory video by the British Council by clicking HERE



Tenses + Forms


FUTURE SIMPLE

I / You / He… will + infinitive …

I / You / He…  won’t (will not) + infinitive…

Will I / You / He … + infinitive …?







FUTURE SIMPLE (to be going to)
I’m / You’re / He’s …  going to …
I’m not / She’s not / She isn’t going to
Are you / Is she going to…?

Action in the future that is often predicted
Spontaneous decision
Suggestions; offers; requests

I’ll let you know as soon as I know. (decision made at the moment of speaking)

Will you close the window, please?

He’ll be late again (prediction)





Decision made before the time of speaking about a future action /Action already planned before the time of speaking

She’s going to see her friend next week.
I’m going to book a table for two for tonight.

in a week; in a year; …  
tomorrow ; next month; …



More?

Watch this explanatory video by the British Council: click HERE