Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November. The first thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 in America by the Pilgrims. The people were miserable the first year and they had nothing to eat. Then the Native Americans helped them to survive.

Today Thanksgiving is celebrated with the whole family having dinner together. Some things they eat are mashed potatoes, corn pudding, pumpkin pie and green beans.

The day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday". Almost all people do some shopping for Christmas because there are granted a lot of discounts. The sales on this day are of course very good.
The shops open very early and a lot of people are waiting, even early in the morning. When the shop opens, all the people try to get in - this is called "Doorbusters".

HALLOWEEN


Halloween is on October, 31st
Halloween is a shortened form of All Hallows' Eve.
Hallowed means holy.
Eve is the day before a holy day.
Halloween was an ancient British Celtic festival.
At Halloween the souls of the dead returned.
People lit bonfires to frighten evil spirits.
Now bonfires are only burnt on November 5th. Bonfire night.
Masks, costumes, ghosts, witches on broomsticks with black cats, skeletons, bats and spiders and Halloween lanterns have all become part of Halloween.
Children play trick-or-treat.
They ask for a treat hoping to get sweets.

Today Farrah, a 22 year old girl from America spent our English lesson with us. She lives with her parents in Mayrland, a state near Washington. Farrah has no brothers and no sisters but she likes it because she gets everything she wants.
At home Farrah has got a dog, a cat, a turtle and a bird.
Her hobbies are reading, listening to music, watching movies, meeting friends and of course travelling. Farrah has done Austria's most popular sport - skiing, but for the first time she was not very good at it.
She has already visited New York, D.C., Boston, Chicago, Germany, France, Amsterdam, Switzerland and Greece.
Farrah is now living in Linz. She has visited the Austrian citys Linz, Vienna, Perg, Innsbruck and Salzburg. Farrah told us that she will stay in Austria till the end of May but she wants to spend some time here again next year.
The driving age in America is 16 and you get alcohol when you are 21 years old.
Then she told us about the big difference between America and Austria. In America everything is much bigger, so there are 25 000 students at one university. What she noticed is that in Austria dogs can go everywhere they want.
I think it was a really good idea to invite Farrah to our class.

Press Review


I read an article the other day in the online newspaper "the economist" and what it talks about is that a lot of MBA schools need to integrate new technology into their teaching.

Basically what it says is that employees who are used to expensive smart phones and notebooks in their personal lives now want similar things in their professional lives.
Some professors fear that "wired" things will detract from classroom discussions, but schools are still not deterred from experimenting.
In a lot of schools electronic versions of the learning matter are used instead of paper ones.

There are some concerns which are neither for nor against the new technology.

In the article there is also some information about how many students complained that switching between text and charts took far longer than in books. All the same there are some schools that are going to test the new Apple i-pad.

There have been some classrooms equipped with new TVs and software that allow students who are off campus to share data and opinions with those who are on it.

In my opinion I think it's a good idea to integrate new technology into the teaching system. But I wouldn't like to have only electronic versions of learning matter. I still prefer learning from my own books.

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Vocabulary:

to deter (abhalten) - Somebody deterred me from doing my homework.

chart (Grafik, Diagramm) - You can see par example the turnover of a company on a chart.

The developement of advertising

I’ve just read the article „The development of advertising“ and it talks about the history of advertising.

Advertising started in the nineteenth century and it was used mainly to promote novelties and fringe products. But when the factory production got into swing brand-naming of products became necessary.

The economic depression marked a turning point between the old method of industrial organisation and the new. Then the depression brought a crisis of over-production and under-consumption, so the manufactured goods piled up unsold and prices and profits fell.

Then the firms realised they would be in a better position if they combined with other businesses and widened their range of goods. They would have to take steps to ensure that if the goods were produced there would be a market for them.

After the depression the firms relied on mass advertising to promote their new range of products.

A good change is the soap trade. From about 1850 the market had been flooded with many bars of soap which were produced by hundreds of small manufactures. Lord Leverhulme decided to „brand“ his soap by selling it.

He realised that advertisements should contain „logical and considered“ arguments as well as eye-catching and witty slogans.

Many advertisers followed his lead.

My favourite advertising spot is „Zalando“.

A man is standing in a room full of shoes. He says that nobody should tell his sister or his girlfriend of the online shop. He also mentions that delivering and sending back is free of charge. Suddenly the doorbell rings. His wife opens & starts shouting. Then her husband also starts shouting because the postman again brings some packages of shoes. At last the postman starts shouting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHk42otbSNQ

PRESS REVIEW

I read an article the other day on the online version of “Austriantimes” and it talks about the usage of Austrian credit cards abroad.

Basically what it says is that credit cards are the Austrians’ most favourite payment methods abroad.

There is also the information that more than 40 per cent of 1.15 million credit cards were used abroad last year. Austrians use their credit cards an average 14 times abroad to spend around 1400 Euros every year.

The company PayLife had a market share of 46 per cent and they expect a increase by 15 to 20 per cent this year because of the usage of credit cards.

In my opinion it’s a very good way to pay with a credit card because then you don’t have to take a lot of money with you.

see original link:

http://austriantimes.at/news/Business/2010-06-08/24068/Austrian_credit_card_usage_abroad_soars

Let's go green!


A few days ago I saw a presentation about pollution, environnement and how to protect the nature.


I think that protecting the environnement is a very interesting theme because there is so much pollution everywhere. There are still a lot of people who don't care about this and waste a lot of things like plastic and so on. In my opinion we should protect our planet to avoid problems with nature.

The presentation was really well done, it gave me a lot of information about different pollutions and how to protect the earth.

In the presentation there were also mentioned the websides of WWF and Greenpeace. On the websides you get a lot of information about the latest news like the problems of our nature. There is also some informations about the organisations and what they do to protect the nature.

What we can do to avoid pollution is instead of using our car we could go by bike or use public transport if it's possible.

LONLEY PLANET


In the presentation of KMME we heard about travelling. The presentation was really well done, there was a lot of information and everything was good explained. They also showed us the website “lonleyplanet” and explained it. At the end of the presentation we watched a podcast which I liked very much.

I took a look at home at the website and I think it’s very easy and comfortable to book your journey. What impressed me most was that there are so many pictures so that you can imagine everything better. Another good thing is that you get any information you need before going on holiday.

Press Review

I read an article the other day on the online version of „austriantimes.at“ and it talks about the overnight stays of vienna.

Basically what it says is that Vienna had its second best year for overnight stays in 2009. It is also mentioned that there were 9.8 million overnight stays last year, which was 3.8 per cent down the year 2008.
The city tourism director Norbert Kettner said that the turnover of the city hotel industry had fallen and last year the hoteliers lowerd their prices because of recession.
The Vienna tourism office will spend 14 million Euros in 24 markets this year and will also make a 1.3-million Euro agreement with Austrian Airlines.

I think it is good that the overnight stays in Austria rise because in Vienna there a lot of interesting sights.

Vocabulary:
turnover (Umsatz) = This is everything a company saled.

hotelier (Hotelbesitzer) = The person who owns a hotel.

recession (Rückgang) = If a company sales less than last year, it’s a recession.

you can see the full article here:

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/Business/2010-01-21/19903/Record_year_for_Vienna_stays

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Today I’d like to give you some information how Christmas is celebrated in other countries.

Christmas in America
Early European settlers brought many traditions to the United States. Many settled in the early days in the South, these settlers would send Christmas greetings to their distant neighbors by shooting firearms and letting off fireworks.
In Hawaii this practice is still in use as under the sunny skies, Santa Claus arrives by boat and Christmas dinner is eaten outdoors.
In Alaska, a star on a pole is taken from door to door, followed by Herod's Men, who try to capture the star. Colonial doorways are often decorated with pineapple, a symbol of hospitality.
In Alaska, boys and girls with lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star from door to door. They sing carols and are invited in for supper.


Christmas in Italy
The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks, starting 8 days before Christmas known as the Novena. During this period, children go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing.
In some parts shepherds bring musical instruments into the villages, play and sing Christmas songs.
A strict feast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called panettone features as well as chocolate.


Christmas in France
On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. In the morning they also find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree.
In France it is a time for the whole family to come together at Christmas time to holiday and worship. On the eve of Christmas beautifully lit churches and cathedrals, ring out Christmas carols with the church bells.
Once dinner is over and the family has retired to bed, they leave a fire burning and food and drink on the table in case the Virgin Mary calls in.
In the north of France, children are given gifts on December 6, which is St. Nicholas' Day, instead of Christmas Day. The adults give each others presents on New Year's Day.

Press Review

I read an article the other day at the online version of „www.austriantimes.at“ and it talks about a campaign to encourage skiers to wear helmets.

Basically what it says is that the People’s Party said that there is no legislation forcing skiers to wear helmets would get through the provincial parliament.

It is also mentioned that Christian Raschner from the Institute for Sport Science said that 68 per cent of the Tyrol told that helmets were no disadvantage for them. Even more than 50 per cent already used them. In Upper Austria children aged 15 and under must wear helmets to go skiing or snowboarding. As far for me is that the parents are responsible for their children.
The Committee for Traffic Safety announced that 56,000 of nine or ten million people skiing or snowboarding on Austrian slopes will end up in hospital.

In my opinion it is good to wear helmets especially for the children because there happen so many accidents on the slopes.

Vocabulary:
legislation (Gesetzgebung) = There are different legislations to tell the people what they mustn’t do.
to force (zwingen) = For example you force somebody to help you with the housework.

you can read the full article here:

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2009-12-10/18754/Winter-sports_helmets_still_not_mandatory_in_Tyrol

Flora said that she had learned about her own culture when she had been in Austria. She was very surprised when she saw Austrians smoking in public places.
Flora also told us that she had met a lot of interesting people and she had learned to appreciate them.
The girl also mentioned that she had knowan some cliches of the Austrians.

E-cars-project

I have just read an article in today’s online version „Austriantimes.at“ and it talks about an electric car project.
I thought you might be interested because I think this topic is very important for our future. Basically what this article says is that there will be a project to put 100,000 electric cars on the road by 2020. They also said that the cars will cost between 25.000 and 30.000 euros. Mario Summer from Magna Steyr said so-called e-cars would be in mass production by 2017. It is also mentioned that the batteries of the cars would take about 20 minutes to charge. E-cars would have to be used for longer trips. Mr. Summer also said that the production will take him two or three years. In my opinion it’s a good investment in our future and the cars will be better for the environment.

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/Business/2009-09-18/16516/Austrian_Mobile_Power_in_electric_car_project

Press Review


I've just read an article at "austriantimes.at" and it talks about H&M. I thought it might be interesting because I know a lot of people who buy their clothes at H&M.
You can read the full article at http://www.austriantimes.at/News/14309/2009-06-2/H%26M%92s_Austrian_turnover_rose_in_the_second_quarter

Basically what it says is that the Swedisch textile chain H&M rose his turnover by 22 per cent to 132.9 million Euros in the second quarter which started in March and ended in May. The result for the first quarter was only 117.3 million Euros.

The article also gives you some information about that H&M has already 61e shops in Ausria and it had 1.822 stores worldwide at the and of May. The chain is planning to open 159 new stores and close 18 worldwide by the end of November.

I buy a lot of T-shirts at H&M and I think that they have a good quality.

Press Review


I’ve just read an article at „austriantimes.at“ and it talks about the bosses of a luxury hotel whose forgot a licence.
I thought it might be interesting because there are a lot of people who stay in a hotel for their holidays.
The full article is at http://www.austriantimes.at/?id=14105

Basically what the article says ist hat a gala opening for a new luxury fife-star hotel in Kitzbühel has been shelved because the bosses forgot to apply for a licence to run it.
It also talks about that the hotel is owned by a Russian billionaire.
The austrian lawyer said that the hotel will apply for a licence as soon as possible.
Tere is also some information about the hotel „Grand Tirolia“. It has 82 rooms, a spa, seminar rooms, gourmet restaurants with top chefs, and it also includes a 300-square-metre presidental suite.

What shocked me most was that how you can forget the licence.

PRESS REVIEW


I’ve just read an article at „austriantimes.at“ and it talks about the heavy rain in ausria.
I thought you might be interested in reading it because there are a lot of people who live near a lake or a river. The full article is at http://www.austriantimes.at/article/14151/Heavy%20rain%20on%20tap

Basically what it says ist hat Ausria is to be hit by heavy rain over the next few days. Weathermen said that there will fall much as 150 millimetres in some area.
The Central Agency for Meteorology and geodynamics in Vienna gives some information that there could fall a lot of rain especially on the north side of the Alps between Tyrol and Lower Austria.

It is also mentioned that forecasters were monitoring the water levels during the next few days.

As far for me I don’t think that I am concerned of a flooding because there isn’t a river or a lake near our house.

Press Review

I’ve just read an article at „austriantimes.at“ and it talks about the lowest inflation since 1990. The full article is at http://www.austriantimes.at/index.php?id=14003

Basically what it says ist that the inflation in May was just 0.3 per cent year on year, this was the smallest monthly rise since April 1999.It also talks about Statistik Austria reported on Tuesday that prices in May were 0.3 per cent higher than in April.But the state statistics agency said the May increase would have been 1.8 per cent if the prices of fuel and heating oil had not fallen by so much during the past year.There is also some information about the inflation in Austria had gone up by 0.1 in May after an increase of 0.5 per cent in April.

What surprised me most was that the Austrian index for pensioners rose 0.7 per cent in May.

PRESS REVIEW

I’ve just read an article at „www.austriantimes.at“ and it talks about the SPÖ disaster in EP elections while ´EU rebel´ Martin lands victory. You can find the article at the link http://www.austriantimes.at/index.php?id=13792

Basically what it says is that the SPÖ was the biggest loser in the European Parliament election.
It also says that the SPÖ won just 23.9 per cent of the vote, down from 33.3 per cent at the EP elections in 2004. This is the party’s worst result since 1945.
The article gives you the information that the ÖVP won the vote with 29.7 per cent.
This result means that the ÖVP will win six mandates, the same they had won in 2004. The SPÖ will just have five and Hans-Peter Martin wins three. The FPÖ will have two mandates and the Greens will only have one.

As far I am concerned I think that the vote wasn’t so important for me because I was not allowed to vote.

PRESS REVIEW

I've just read an article at "austriantimes.at" and it talks about that Styria Medien becomes the largest media company. You find the full article at http://www.austriantimes.at/index.php?id=13666

Basically it says that Styria Medien has become Austria’s largest media enterprise after gaining a controlling interest in Tyrolean Moser Holding.
It also says that people will see Styria Medien become a business with turnover of 707 million Euros with 4,530 employees. The state broadcaster ORF has a higher turnover. It was a turnover of 886 million Euros last year, although 504 million of that came from viewers.
The article also gives you information about Mediaprint, which publishes Kronen Zeitung and Kurier will become the country’s second largest media organisation.

As for me I think that it is good to read a newspaper because you get a lot of information about the latest news.