Elephants in Africa in net decline

(Level: Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / B2 / ** to ***)

Picture credit: eng.wikipedia.org

The number of African elephants has declined dramatically.

The strong demand for ivory on the Asian black market has led to even more poaching. 

Consequently, the number of elephants killed every year has reached a high of around 35,000. 

If poaching does not stop, the entire species will become extinct within the next decades. 

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

Before watching:

The following words and notes could be useful:

to thrive: to grow or develop vigorously             s'épanouir  / évoluer 

to vanish: to disappear      disparaître 

the tusks: the long curved teeth sticking out of the mouth of some animals like elephants or walruses      défenses    

A walrus
Photo credit: walrus.org.uk

to hack off: to chop; to cut      trancher   

to rot: to undergo decomposition      pourrir; se décomposer    

to poach: to take (and kill) fish, game or other animals illegally      braconner   

to soar: to rise or ascend rather suddenly       augmenter considérablement; monter en flèche

fuelled by: stimulated by      généré par

to wipe out: to destroy or be destroyed completely       éliminer; détruire

a keystone species: a central species on which others would depend within a specific ecosystem 

une espèce clé; espèce considérable... 

the conservationist: the person who promotes the preservation of the environment and of  natural resources         un adepte ou défenseur de l'environnement

the stockpile: large supply / the fact of having stored a large quantity of a specific product     stock; réserves   

to curb: to restrain          faire fléchir; juguler; restreindre 

the slaughter: the massacre / the fact of killing in large numbers but also in a brutal way     massacre; boucherie 

to become extinct: to die out / to be wiped out / to be dead; gone, vanished     disparu; éteint

the Knowsley Safari Park: a zoological park and tourist attraction in the Knowsley area of Merseyside, England. More details? Click HERE

Knwsley, Merseyside
Map credit: eng.wilipedia.org

While watching:

Complete the chart with the missing information

You can also watch the BBC report by clicking HERE

When you are finished, you can check your answers.

  

Immigrants found in a container
(Level: Upper-Intermediate / B2 to C1 / ***)

Thirty-five immigrants believed to be from India and the victims of people traffickers were found inside a shipping container in Tilbury. One man died while others were suffering from dehydration and hypothermia. 

It is a fact now that the number of people smuggling into Europe, particularly in summer, is on the rise. And this new tragedy clearly shows how big an issue human trafficking is.

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

Illustration credit: dailymail.com
Click on the picture to make it bigger!

Tilbury
Map credit: roxhill.co.uk

Before watching:


The following words could be useful:
to smuggle:  to convey (someone / something) secretly and illicitly        passer / introduire (quelque chose / quelqu'un) illégalement...  
commodities: goods; products        produits / denrées / marchandises
soft-sided (versus hard-sided): e.g. for a lorry of which the sides are not hard        parois (latérales) souples   

A soft-sided lorry
Photo credit: metro.co.uk

a rough sea  (versus a smooth sea):  turbulent         une mer agitée  
to capsize: (of a boat)  to turn over       chavirer   
ought to... = should
random: without a particular plan or pattern     aléatoire
to trick someone into...:   to fool; deceive       inciter à...  (par la ruse) ; piéger; 
to be enslaved:  to be reduced to slavery              être réduit à l'esclavage; être asservi 
an issue: a matter of discussion; debate; a problem    une problématique; un problème; une question  

Lampedusa
Map credit: en.wikipedia.org

While watching:


Answer the questions in the chart in French:

You can also watch the video on the Sky News site by clicking HERE.








When you are finished, you can check your answers:

If you are interested, you can also watch a report posted on 15 June 2014:  click HERE

Just a little Britishness, my dear, please! Just a little!
(Level: Upper-Intermediate / B2 / ***)

Are these aspects of Britishness?
Photo credit: bbc.co.uk

This lesson will be devoted to the notion of...  Britishness. 

But what is Britishness, according to you? How would you define it?

In other words, what do you think are the most important aspects (notions, people…) of Britain? What do you associate the word ‘British’ with?

You can make a list.

When you are finished, you can compare yours with this 2008 list (of course, in a more recent list, Kate Middleton and Prince William would most certainly top it!)

  

Photo credit: meetpeopleinlondon.eu

A recent survey (April 2014) conducted by a charity, The British Social Attitudes, showed that the monarchy, the BBC, the pubs, the weather, Shakespeare ... were among the commonest British associations and you may have found some of them as well.

Britishness can also be partially synonymous with the pride Britons have in their national identity.  

Partially because The BSA survey found that that pride has been declining.

If you want, you can have a look at The BSA site and find out how the surveys are conducted. Click HERE.

However, while still keeping that notion of Britishness in mind, the survey also highlighted that it is getting harder and harder to be seen as a true Brit.

You are now going to watch a Sky News report to find out more about that issue.

Before watching

The following words and notes could be useful:

the cradle: place of origin     berceau       

ancestry: ancestors       ascendance  

to tackle (a problem e.g.):  to deal with      s'attaquer à  

hard-hitting: effective; forceful       efficace; percutant  

(Alexander) Boris (de Pfeffel) Johnson (born 19 June 1964): a British Conservative Party politician and Mayor of London since 2008 (after being re-elected in 2012).  He worked initially as a journalist for The Times and the Daily Telegraph before becoming the editor of the Spectator.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, 10 June 1921): husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He was educated in several countries (France, Germany, England, Scotland) and joined the British Royal Navy in 1939 at the age of 18. After the war, he was granted permission by King George VI to marry Princess Elizabeth, which led him to abandon his own royal titles, to convert to Anglicanism and to become a naturalized British citizen. He married Elizabeth in 1947 who became Queen in 1952.

Joanna Lamond Lumley (born 1 May 1946): an English actress, former model and author, who starred in the British television series (Absolutely Fabulous as well as in The New Avengers) in films and plays. She is also an advocate for various causes (charities and animal welfare groups).

Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb, 14 October 1940): a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor and philanthropist. He mainly dominated (with the Shadows) the British pop scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s. But he has released lots of singles, albums and EPs during a career spanning more than 50 years. 

While watching

Answer the following question in French:

What does it imply now to be(come) a true Brit?  Complete the grid.

What are the conditions?	Comments? Show how hard(er) it is now to be regarded as a true Brit.

You can also find the report on the Sky News site by clicking HERE 

When you are finished, you can check your answers

What are the conditions?	Comments? Show how hard(er) it is now to be regarded as a true Brit.
Etre capable de parler l’anglais	95% des personnes interrogées en 2013 estiment que c’est une nécessité. En 2003, ils n’étaient que 86% à abonder dans ce sens.
Avoir vécu en Grande-Bretagne la majeure partie de sa vie.	Argument tenu par 77% des personnes en 2013 ; 69% dix ans plus tôt.
Etre né en Grande-Bretagne.	74% des personnes le pensent (en 2013, contre 70% en 2003) Argument qui suscite un gros problème car des « Britanniques » apparemment de prestige ou de haut niveau nés ailleurs (à l’instar de B. Johnson, Maire de Londres, né à New York ou le mari de la reine né en Grèce, ou une actrice comme J. Lumley née en Inde) seraient exclus.
Avoir la « bonne » ascendance	50% des gens le pensent. Problème pour la journaliste qui a bien son passeport et qui est bien née en Grande-Bretagne mais pas ses ascendants !  (Ou bien: ils n'ont pas la "bonne" couleur!!!  - Plutôt vague)
Attendre un certain délai (en tant qu’immigré) avant de pouvoir prétendre bénéficier d’allocations au même titre qu’un Britannique	60% des personnes interrogées estiment nécessaire que ces personnes ne puissent en bénéficier qu’après trois ans alors que le Premier Ministre veut fixer le délai à trois mois après leur arrivée…

New skyscraper completed in London
(Level: Intermediate + to Upper-Intermediate / B2  to C1/  ***)

City of London skyline
Picture credit: theguardian.com

The Leadenhall Building, nicknamed “The Cheesegrater” was completed in July 2014 and adds up to the City of London skyline, along with The Shard (*), The Pinnacle, The Gherkin, The Quill and many others.

(*) You can also watch the report posted on 20 May 2013 and find out more about The Shard. Click HERE

The Cheesegrater is unique as such. You are now going to watch a BBC programme focusing on this London’s latest building.

Before watching

Look at these pictures of the Cheesegrater. 

What can you say about the building? What makes it unique, according to you? 

The Cheesegrater
Picture credit: building.co.uk

The Cheesegrater
Picture credit: bbc.co.uk

While watching

Answer the following question in French!

What makes the Cheesegrater different from other skyscrapers in the City?

(Five points)

1

2

3

4

5

You can also watch the BBC video by clicking HERE

When you are finished, you can check your answers.

1 

La forme du gratte-ciel: une râpe à fromage avec une base plus large et un sommet de plus en plus étroit.

A cheese grater
Picture credit: overclock.net

Cette forme spécifique a été voulue par les architectes afin de bien maintenir le bâtiment à l'écart de la silhouette du dôme de la Cathédrale Saint-Paul à partir du West End de Londres.

Remarque: pour être plus précis, pour maintenir une vue dégagée du dôme de la cathédrale quand on se situe dans Fleet Street...

(...) While its name is the product of a planning-meeting quip, the Cheesegrater's form is dictated by a building that has been the most powerful force in shaping London for the last three centuries. The dome of St Paul's Cathedral, almost a mile to the west, is protected by a convoluted array of height limits and viewing corridor rules. All buildings must bow to these. (...) But with the Cheesegrater, Rogers and his team have used this strange doctrine of deference to great effect, crafting a slender tapering form of rare elegance. The fact that the tower tilts back to the north isn't just to add some visual dynamism - it's also, like an awkward relative leaning out of a wedding photograph, making sure it doesn't spoil the backdrop of the hallowed dome when seen from Fleet Street. (...) (Oliver Wainwright, The Guardian, 16 June 2013)

Et voici ce que ça donne:

Saint Paul's dome from Fleet Street
Photo credit: cabbieblog.com

2

Le rez-de-chaussée sera entièrement accessible au public.

3

Les ascenseurs sont les plus rapides de Londres, si pas d'Europe; 45 étages en à peine 30 secondes  (15 miles à l'heure, soit +/- 24 km à l'heure).

4

85% de la structure totale a été fabriquée hors du chantier et acheminée sur place afin de l'assembler à la manière d'un mécano (ou lego) géant.

5

Les entreprises qui veulent y avoir leur siège ou leurs bureaux doivent payer des loyers exorbitants, parmi les plus élevés de la Capitale.

The Shard -
95% owned by Qatar
Picture credit: theguardian.com

The Pinnacle -
an office tower
Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

The Quill -
a student residence
Picture credit: london-se1.co.uk

The Gherkin -
an office building
Picture credit: theguardian.com

The growth of tourism in the world
(Level: Intermediate / B1 / **)

Image credit: dreamstime.com

You are going to watch a BBC programme focusing on tourism as one of the world's fastest growing industries.





Before watching

The following words could be useful:
to draw in: to attract      attirer  
a good chunk: a substantial amount or number          une bonne partie
a trillion: 1,000,000,000,000  / one thousand billion     1000 milliards / un billion



While watching

Make notes in French!  Complete the grid!

Destination la plus prisée ? Expliquer.
Le nombre de visiteurs par rapport à celui des autochtones ?
La France en 2012 ?
Touristes : raisons de leurs déplacements?
L’industrie du tourisme : quelques chiffres ?
Les touristes chinois ?

When you are finished, you can check your answers.

Destination la plus prisée ? Expliquer.	Sur un milliard de voyages enregistrés, l'Europe est la zone la plus prisée au monde, attirant plus de la moitié du tourisme mondial (563 millions de voyages en Europe).
Le nombre de visiteurs par rapport à celui des autochtones ?	Le nombre de visiteurs dépasse allègrement celui des autochtones...
La France en 2012 ?	Ce pays a accueilli en 2012 83 millions de visiteurs; ce qui lui a valu d'être la première destination touristique au monde...
Touristes : raisons de leurs déplacements?	La plupart (52%): pour les vacances, les loisirs. D'autres (27%): pour rendre visite à des amis ou parents ou pour des raisons de santé ou religieuses... Une large proportion enfin (14%) pour les affaires ou raisons professionnelles...
L’industrie du tourisme : quelques chiffres ?	Industrie mammouth qui a généré, selon les estimations, quelque 1,4 billion de dollars en 2013 dans le monde. Ce qui correspond à 3,8 milliards de dollars chaque jour...
Les touristes chinois ?	Ont été les plus grands dépensiers en 2013 mais ont privilégié en général une destination en Asie (notamment  Bangkok devenue ainsi la destination la plus importante au monde)