A Rohingya migrant's story

A Rohingya migrant's story
(Level: intermediate / B1 to B2 / **)

Map credit: www.worldatlas.com

Rohingya boat migrants swimming for food
after supplies were dropped to them.
Photo credit: www.bbc.com

Before watching / listening:

Hundreds of Rohingya migrants (*) from Myanmar were rescued last week. Among them was a 21-year-old refugee who had to flee her country after her village was burned down and her husband was shot dead in front of her and their son.

She told the BBC the story of her four-month journey at sea.  

(*) But who are the Rohingyas?

Here is a short film by the BBC about the Rohingyas and the Rohingya migrant crisis.

You can also watch the film on the BBC website by clicking HERE

While watching / listening:

You are now going to listen to Kasuma telling her story

The following words could be useful:

to be crammed: to be forced into a place that is too small      être entassé  

to run out: to be used up        s'épuiser   

the propeller: a device using blades rotating from a central hub to produce thrust to propel a boat e.g.       hélice 

the (people) smuggler: someone who illegally transports people from one country to another   passeur 

to drown: to die by suffocating in water        se noyer   

turmoil: extreme confusion / tumult  / chaos      troubles  / chaos               

drenched: wet through and through / soaked      trempé 

Answer the following question: 

What was Kasuma's journey at sea like? 

You can also watch the video on the BBC website by clicking HERE

If you are interested, you can also watch this BBC report focusing on the appalling and inhumane treatment of Rohingyas left stranded on a boat at sea.  Click HERE

When you are finished, you can check your answers:

Elle et son fils se sont retrouvés parmi les 400 passagers entassés sur un bateau.

Les réserves en eau et nourriture se sont très vite épuisées.

Le bateau a été réduit à l'état d'épave à la dérive (hélice cassée; plus de carburant pour le moteur; abandon des passagers en pleine mer par les passeurs...).

A l'approche d'un navire, des passagers se sont jetés à l'eau pour aller demander de l'aide mais certains y ont laissé la vie...

Beaucoup d'enfants (entre autres) sont morts sur le bateau; Kasuma craignait pour la vie de son fils.

Aucun pays ne voulait d'eux; ils n'étaient pas autorisés à accoster même lorsque leur bateau prenait l'eau.

Ils étaient exposés aux éléments (ils étaient trempés en cas de pluie ou rôtissaient au soleil).

...

ISIS controls ancient city of Palmyra

ISIS controls ancient city of Palmyra
(Level: upper-intermediate / B2 to C1 / ***)

Palmyra
Photo credit: www.cnn.com

The capture of Palmyra by IS militants has raised alarm internationally because another priceless world heritage site may soon disappear like so many other places and monuments before (*).


(*) If you are interested, look at the photos of  "the greatest buildings you'll never see: 19 priceless monuments lost in conflict."   Click HERE

Map credit: kids.britannica.com

You are going to watch a CNN report focusing on the issue.




Before watching:


The following words and notes could be useful:
ISIS = Islamic State of Iraq and Syria; the Islamic extremist terrosist group also known as IS (Islamic State) for short 

to unleash: to allow (something powerful) to happen suddenly   exprimer / donner libre cours à 
the wrath:   fierce anger              colère / courroux  
marauding:  raiding and plundering / moving around and looking for something to destroy...     +/-  pillard 
to revel: to take great pleasure or delight in...      se délecter dans... 
a black marketeer: someone engaging in illicit trade           trafiquant
to loot: to take ... by force  / to plunder       mettre à sac /piller 
to be on the verge of...: to be close to... / to be on the brink of...       être sur le point de...

Palmyra
Photo credit: www.bbc.com

Palmyra
Photo credit: www.cnn.com

While watching:


CNN's senior international correspondent Ivan Watson is particularly affected by the events he is reporting.

How do you know that?  Explain! 

You can also watch the report on the CNN website by clicking HERE










When you are finished answering, you can check your answers:

Le journaliste est en effet visiblement très affecté par les événements en question, à savoir la prise de la ville antique de Palmyre par les militants de l'Etat islamique.

Tout ceci est perceptible dans le choix de vocables à forte connotation notamment...

a) ... dans la description des lieux qu'il connaît et qu'il a visités en tant que touriste en 2007: 
une vue à vous couper le souffle; une oasis de culture et d'histoire; un endroit qui nous laisse dans un état d'humilité; le fait de se sentir "tout petits" face à un tel site qui fait partie de l'histoire de l'humanité; un trésor laissé à la merci de bandes de pillards nihilistes... 

b) ... dans la description des agissements des terroristes de l'Etat islamique: 
des gens qui se délectent dans la destruction de...    (au bulldozer ou par dynamitage...); la terreur qu'ils engendrent chez leurs opposants (forcés de fuir pour échapper aux exécutions publiques); des pillards... 

...

Tsarnaev sentenced to death

Tsarnaev sentenced to death
(Level: intermediate to upper-intermediate / B1 to B2 / ***)

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been sentenced to death by a jury for his role in the bombing of the Boston Marathon.

On 15 April 2013, he and his brother planted pressure cooker bombs close to the finish line of the Boston Marathon. 

Deadly explosions in Boston
Photo credit: www.dailymail.co.uk

Boston, Massachusetts
Map credit: www.luventicus.org 

Before watching

The following words could be useful:
a pressure cooker: a special pot used to cook food by using the pressure of steam     marmite à pression  / cocotte minute
to go off: to explode       exploser 
a yard =  0.9144 metres   
the counts:  charges (in a criminal action)                chefs d'accusation   
the mitigating factors: information or evidence presented to the court about the defendant or the circumstances of the crime that could result in a lesser sentence    facteurs / causes atténuantes       (opposite of aggravating factors)
to showcase:  to show                  présenter / mettre en avant 
at the outset: from the start / at the start         au début / dès le départ
the mayhem: state of disorder  / chaos          chaos
the shootout: gunfight       fusillade / échange de coups de feu 
to lead... astray: to mislead / to misguide      détourner (du droit chemin) / égarer  
bullet-ridden: full of bullets   criblé de balles  
the hull: frame or body of a boat        coque 



While watching

Answer the following question:

Complete the chart:

Reasons why he wasn't likely to escape the death penalty	Reason why he could have escaped the death penalty
- - -	-

You can also watch the report on the BBC website: click HERE













When you are finished, you can check your answers:

Reasons why he wasn't likely to escape the death penalty

Reason why he could have escaped the death penalty

a été reconnu coupable d'un acte terroriste (ou de complicité) lors du Marathon de Boston qui a entraîné la mort de trois personnes et blessé 264 autres; est l'auteur d'un manifeste djihadiste rédigé par ses soins sur la coque du bateau où il s'était réfugié avant son arrestation; n'a pas semblé avoir exprimé le moindre regret quant à sa participation à l'attentat et aux conséquences (selon des images de vidéosurveillance le montrant dans sa cellule et diffusées aux membres du jury)  ...

La défense l'a dépeint comme un gosse induit en erreur et entraîné par son frère aîné, déjà radicalisé...

Palmyra in grave danger

Palmyra in grave danger
(Level: intermediate to upper-intermediate / B1 to B2 / ***)

Palmyra
Photo credit: www.nationalgeographic.com

Palmyra, one of the world's oldest and most important archaeological sites in central Syria, is in grave danger of destruction as the Islamic State militants are getting closer to it. 

Map credit: www.kids.britannica.com

You are now going to watch a BBC report focusing on this issue.


Before watching

The following words could be useful:
to be under threat: to be threatened; menaced      être menacé
to launch (an offensive): to start              lancer 
to loot: to pillage; to plunder         piller

Palmyra
Photo credit: www.bbc.com

Palmyra
Photo credit: www.bbc.com

While watching


Answer the following questions:

1. Why are there fears the site could be destroyed?
2. What makes it unique?

You can also watch the report on the BBC website: click HERE

When you are finished, you can check your answers.

1

Les forces armées syriennes ont installé des bases militaires à proximité du site et les djihadistes de l'état islamique veulent les prendre pour cibles, mettant en danger le site.

Mais aussi parce que les djihadistes se sont déjà rendus coupables de destructions de sites archéologiques emblématiques passés sous leur contrôle, notamment en Irak. Donc, on craint fortement que la cité de Palmyre subisse un sort similaire de destruction massive, pour éliminer toute trace de civilisation pré-islamique dans la région! 

2

Cette cité antique devait son rayonnement à sa position stratégique, au carrefour de plusieurs civilisations, et représente un mélange unique d'influences (notamment aux niveaux culturel et artistique) venues des mondes occidental (romain et grec) et oriental (babylonien, perse, parthe...).

Cats can talk

Cats can talk
(Level: intermediate to upper-intermediate / B1 to B2 / ** to ***)

According to recent research, cats can communicate with humans. They would indeed use different "methods" so that they let humans know what their specific needs are. 

You are going to watch and  listen to an interview with a vet who was invited in the BBC studio with Bruce the cat to explain more. 

Two of my own cats

Before watching

The following words could be useful:
a vet: a veterinarian             vétérinaire 
to purr: to emit a soft vibrant sound        ronronner    
to be chatty: to be inclined to chat; to be friendly and talkative        bavard; disert   
the surgery: (here) the veterinarian's office          cabinet vétérinaire   



While watching

Watch the interview and answer the following question:

How can cats communicate and what for?

You can also watch the interview on the BBC website by clicking HERE











When you are finished, you can check your answers:

Les chats utilisent des vocalises spécifiques pour communiquer avec les humains. Mieux encore: ils adaptent ces vocalises afin de nous faire réagir en fonction de leurs besoins spécifiques (nourriture; caresses...). 
Si le chat "voit" que son maître réagit positivement à la stimulation engagée avec ce dernier, il aura "compris" que c'est le langage ou le code langagier spécifique à adapter avec son maître dans un contexte bien défini pour lui  (par exemple pour assouvir un besoin bien particulier...).

Il y a aussi le ronronnement: autre outil de communication utilisé par le chat pour exprimer soit une satisfaction, soit une recherche d'apaisement (pour lui mais aussi pour son entourage) dans une situation de stress par exemple... 

New royal baby

New royal baby
(Level: intermediate / B1 / **)

The royal couple presenting their newborn daughter
Photo credit: www.cnn.com

The royal couple gave the press and the crowds of well-wishers a brief glimpse of their new daughter a few hours after the Duchess of cambridge gave birth to her.

You are going to watch a short report by the BBC. 



Before watching

The following words could be useful:
the cheers: shouts of encouragement; congratulations; shouts of enthusiasm from the crowd       acclamations   
a shawl: piece of fabric worn around the shoulders e.g. or (here) wrapped around a baby    châle    
the well-wishers:  people who show benevolence or sympathy; people who wish well to another person...; fans        admirateurs; sympathisants     

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

Baby miraculously rescued after 22 hours in rubble

Baby miraculously rescued after 22 hours in rubble
(Level: upper-intermediate / B2 / ***)

A miraculous rescue
Photo credit: www.dailyrecord.co.uk

The destruction due to the earthquake is immense and the death toll continues to climb dramatically in Nepal but some small happy endings may occasionally occur like the miracle rescue of a baby from the rubble he was trapped in for hours. 

You are going to watch a CNN report focusing on the baby's and his sister's miracle rescues from the rubble of their home. 

You can also watch the report on the CNN website by clicking HERE

Nepal: more survivors now unlikely

Nepal: more survivors now unlikely 
(Level: intermediate to upper-intermediate / B1 to B2 / ** to ***)

Earthquake in Nepal
Photo credit: www.bbc.co.uk

It has been one week since the most devastating earthquake in decades hit Nepal; officials there say it has now become unlikely any more survivors can be found. 

You are going to watch a BBC report focusing on the situation now in Nepal one week after the earthquake hit the region.

Map credit: www.bbc.com

Before watching

The following words could be useful:
the rubble: broken pieces of stone, brick... from walls or buildings that have collapsed; the debris       décombres 
the aftershocks: smaller earthquakes occurring after a large one        répliques   
makeshift: temporary; of low quality; just there for a time because of an emergency     de fortune    
a milestone:  a significant event        étape importante; tournant décisif   
grim: depressing; gloomy        lugubre; macabre    
to rule out: to leave out ; not to consider      exclure    
unaccounted for:  missing         porté disparu   
a glimmer of hope: slight chance that anything positive might happen      une lueur d'espoir

Earthquake in Nepal
Photo credit; www.bbc.co.uk

While watching


Watch the BBC report and answer the following question:

What has the real impact / outcome of the disaster been like so far in Nepal? 

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










When you are finished, you can check your answers:

• Une bonne partie de Katmandou est méconnaissable; ce ne sont plus que des amas de ruines...
• Les gens qui ont encore une maison ont peur d'y retourner à cause des répliques;
• les autorités ont exclu à ce stade toute possibilité de retrouver encore des survivants;
• 500.000 habitations détruites; seule option pour les sinistrés: séjourner dans des camps de fortune  (+ parmi les sinistrés: frustration due au manque de nourriture et sentiment d'avoir été abandonnés par les autorités);
• selon les estimations: 6.600 morts et 14.000 blessés;
• des milliers sont encore portés disparus (+ parmi ceux-ci: un millier d'Européens partis en randonnée dans l'Himalaya)
• ...

How to make the perfect fish and chips?

How to make the perfect fish and chips?
(Level: upper-intermediate / B2 / ***)

You are going to watch part of a course given by a training coordinator from the National Federation of Fish Friers (*) to students about how to cook fish and chips. 

(*) The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) is an official UK organisation representing the interests of fish and chip shop operators in the UK.
For more details (official website): click HERE



Watch the BBC video and find out how the perfect fish and chips should be made. 

No questions this time!

You can also find the video on the BBC site by clicking HERE



In a next blog entry, you will read about the probable origins and various effects of the fish and chips.

Is fish and chips in danger?

Is fish and chips in danger? 
(Level: intermediate to upper-intermediate / B2 to C1 / ***)

Fish and chips - one of the most favourite takeaways in the UK
Photo credit: www.theguardian.com

Fish and chips remains one of the favourite dishes in the UK but with a warmer climate due to global warming, it is feared the leading components (cod or haddock) may be endangered.  

Does that mean that the Brits will have to change their fish and chips habits? 

You are going to watch a BBC report focusing on that issue. 

A fish and chip shop
Photo credit: www.visitlondon.com

Before watching


The following words could be useful:
battered:  covered in a mixture of flour, egg and milk (or water or beer) and fried   pané / enrobé de pâte à frire  
batter: mixture of flour, egg, milk (or water or beer) used as a coating for food (such as fish) about to be fried       panure / pâte à frire  
a dash of... (salt / vinegar): a little... / a small quantity of...    une pincée de ... (sel) / un filet de ... (vinaigre)
cod:  a marine fish species      morue / cabillaud 
haddock: a fish species of the cod family     aiglefin / cabillaud  
a firm favourite: essential / unavoidable         un incontournable 
to hot up: to heat up       se réchauffer   
gurnard: marine fish species                grondin      
cuttlefish: a cephalopod mollusc similar to a squid         seiche    
meaty: having the flavour or character of meat         charnu / ferme (comme de la viande) 
to put... off:  to repel          rebuter  
chewy: tough       coriace  

A cod
Photo credit: www.theguardian.com

A gurnard
Photo credit: www.sea-ex.com

A cuttlefish
Photo credit: www.bbc.co.uk

While watching


Answer the following questions:

1. What type of experiment is being made in the report? Why?
2. What is the result of that experiment?

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












When you are finished, you can check your answers:

1

Un tenancier d'un Fish and Chips tente de remplacer le poisson traditionnel (morue / cabillaud) par des espèces originaires des mers plus chaudes (comme la seiche ou le grondin) et les fait goûter à quelques-uns de ses habitués.

Pourquoi? 

Des experts ont prédit la disparition des poissons traditionnels des eaux anglaises qui entrent dans la composition d'un plat de Fish and Chips en raison du réchauffement climatique. Ces poissons ne vivent que dans des eaux plus froides. Or, la Mer du Nord se réchauffe inexorablement, quatre fois plus qu'ailleurs; ce qui provoque la migration de ces poissons toujours plus vers le nord (et leur disparition progressive) - d'où la nécessité d'envisager à terme d'opter pour des espèces de substitution!

2

Les goûteurs semblent ravis de l'expérience; ils ne seraient a priori pas déçus s'il fallait se détourner des espèces classiques.

Le cuistot privilégie le grondin et pas la seiche qu'il trouve trop coriace.