STAG NIGHT...EXTREME CELEBRATIONS

source:   www.stagnightuk.com

Source: www.speakup.com.br

Language level: A2 Pre-intermediate

Standard accent: British

Speaker: Rachel Roberts

EXTREME CELEBRATIONS

How do people celebrate the night before a marriage in your country? Do they walk across fire for their loved one? Do they jump off a bridge? In Britain, people do both of these things. And it’s all part of a wedding tradition. The famous Stag Night, the night a groom celebrates his last night of freedom.

THE OLD DAYS

Traditionally, Stag Nights involved pubs and an excess of alcohol. Today everything has changed. There’s a new name a Stag Do. It involves an entire weekend of events. Women organise their own celebrations the Hen Party.

ORGANISATION

The organisation of a modern Stag Do is very complicated. There are the travel arrangements, there are a reservations at hotels and night clubs, there are costumes to rent and activities to arrange. So specialist companies now exist to solve all these problems. Extreme Elements is one example. They not only provide limousines, hotels and visits to VIP night club. There is also the most  important element in the package: crazy, extreme activities. There’s bungee jumping from London’s Tower Bridge: high speed boat rides up the Thames. Sphereing or Zorbing –that’s rolling down a hill inside a gigantic ball: driving a tank, and walking on fire.

EXITEMENT

Why do people choose these activities? Bill Parsons says, “ I chose bungee jumping. It was a test of courage, you know, and something I will never forget. “ James Dillard says, “ I have always wanted to drive a tank. It was a fantastic surprise.” Dillard’s Stag Do was organised by his best man.

THE LADIES

A daredevil experience isn’t for everyone. Women, for example, often choose a day at a Beauty Spa. They enjoy relaxing saunas, massage and beauty treatments. Juliet Sanders says, “We loved every minute. It was so luxurious.” But Jean Webb says, “We went white water rafting. We proved we are as courageous as the boys. It was incredible!”

DRINK PROBLEM

One Stag Night element certainly hasn’t changed Saturday night means alcohol, lots of alcohol. The venue may be more exclusive, a VIP night club, and everyone may dress in fancy costumes, but the British still love to drink and drink and drink…

INFO AND DETAILS:

Extreme Element Ltd.

Unit 5, Hove Business Centre

Fonthill Road –Hove, BN3 6HA

Website: www.exelement.co.uk

Bungee Jumping

A rope is attached to your ankles and a harness. London’s Tower Bridge isn’t very hight of 50 metres. They jump off and fall head first. They rop stops them before they hit the water. Then they bounce up because the rope is elastic. Finally, a boat takes them to safety. Anyone is interested in this unique experience must book six months in advance.

Sphereing or Zorbing

This involves a gigantic rubber ball. The ball has an inner chamber. Two people enter this inner chamber. The outer chamber is then filled with air or water. Now everything is really. The ball is released. It rolls down a hill at about 40 kph. The people inside twist and turn upside down. A very disorientating experience!

Fire Walking

A real test of courage. First there’s a seminar on fire, safety procedures and techniques. Next you sign release forms, in case of an accident. Finally, you walk across burning coal – not once, but twice. You can also try broken glass!

HISTORY OF STAG AND HEN PARTIES

The Stag Night is a very old tradition. It started in the 5^th century in Greece. Spartan soldiers celebrated a groom’s last night of freedom. They ate a fine dinner and then drank a lot of wine. Legend then appeared before them. There is also a Celtic tradition: the groom and his friends celebrated the god Cernunnos. He was a large, hairy creature with antlers, called the Black Stag. He was the god of hunting, but also the god of fertility. This may be the origin of the name Stag Night.

Hen Parties started in the 1960s with the rise of feminism. Women wanted to celebrate their last night of freedom, too. The tradition became popular in the 1980s. today Hen Parties are as important to women as Stag Nights are to men. 

Nuclear Power, No Thanks!

BRITAIN





Speaker: Justin Ratcliffe
Standard: British accent
Language level: Advanced
Source: www.speakup.com.br 

Nuclear Power,

Today there is considerable concern about global warming, not to mention the world’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil. For these reasons nuclear power, which was seen as the great evil a generation ago, is being re-evaluated. In July the British government announced its intention to build more nuclear power stations. In order to get an idea of public opinion, Speak Up took to the streets of Cambridge and asked people the question: “Does Britain Need More Nuclear Power? “ The first person to speak, Andy Holcombe, is a marketing director:

Andy Holcombe

(Standard British accent):

I think that’s a difficult question to answer. I do feel frustrated that the government doesn’t pay anything like the level of investment in non-nuclear, sustainable energy sources that it does in nuclear. I’d far rather see investment in wind, tidal barrage, methane, biomass-type energy than I would in sustaining something that’s just increasing the risk. If we do have to invest in nuclear, then I’d like to see more investment in things lie fusion, which is an inherently safe form of nuclear energy.

Stephen Murphy is a musician:

(Standard Northern Irish accent):

No, because it’s dirty and it’s dangerous. It’s difficult to dispose of the waste. And it involves no investment in other renewable energy sources like wind and it doesn’t encourage people to look after their own energy requirements and get insulation and things like in their houses.

Nicola Buckley is a festival organizer. She is a supporter of renewable technology. So what are her misgivings about nuclear power?

Nicola Buckley

(Standard British accent)

Maybe a threat from terrorism, attacks on nuclear power stations. And just the long time for the waste to, you know…it’s still dangerous and has to be disposed of.

Last but not least, Carol Roberts is a reception manager:

Carol Roberts

(Standard British accent):

No, I’m sure there must be some other way of…helping us to get more power than nuclear. I don’t agree with nuclear power. We’ve got a sea out there. We’ve got the windmills. America’s doing, what is it, in the desert? We must…I mean, all the sunshine we’re getting now. There must be another way that nuclear power. Look at…Chernobyl: you don’t know if that can happen. It’s like one of those things, it’s something waiting to happen. And I’d rather not go down that road, I’d rather go, you know, more natural. With all the technology we’ve got, surely we can do better than nuclear.

The Shape of Things to Come? (No audio)

The tiny village of Dunwich lies on the exposed east coast of England. From the cliff to p here you see all of nature’s natural power before you: the restless ocean, waves, tide and wind. Five miles (8km) to the south, rising large as a full moon over tranquil Minsmere Bird Reserve, is the white dome of Sizewell B nuclear power station. Sizewell B was completed in 1995 and it now produce three per cent of Britain’s total electricity needs; enough to supply 1.5 million households.

Good or Bad?

Nuclear has been making headlines ever since the first headlines ever since the first power stations opened in the 1950s. It has been celebrated as the solution to the world’s energy needs, condemned as a health risk labeled a “toxic time bomb.” Last year, for example, marked the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. 

No time to Lose

In Britain, as elsewhere, alternatives to fossil fuels are badly needed. By 2016, a quarter of Britain’s electricity generating capacity will need to be replaced. Tony Blair is an enthusiastic supporter of nuclear power, but its attractiveness as an alternative source of energy is undermined by the huge coast of building, supplying and maintaining nuclear power stations, not to mention extracting rare uranium and disposing of toxic waste.   

OFF TO THE BEACH!

Source: Speak Up

Language level: B1 Lower Intermediate

Speaker: Justin Ratcliffe

Standard: British accent

BRITISH HOLIDAYS ARE BACK

“Enjoying the Holiday?”I said to Shirley in the local café. Shirley looked at me didn’t say a word. She was dressed in her while uniform and blue apron, and she was sweating. Her customers were dressed in T-shirts and sunglasses, carrying beach balls and deck chairs. Shirley ran around, pouring cold drinks, preparing sandwiches and trying to keep the flies off the food.

Walking down Albert Road today, it seems as if everyone is on holiday. Mr. Venn’s piano shop is shut. Leo’s delicatessen has a sign: “on vacation.” Everybody is in shorts or swimming costumes. Most of them are already sun burnt. Britain’s weather is not reliable but, when the sun comes out, you can be sure we’ll get burnt!

BESIDE THE SEASIDE

“In the old says,” said Shirley, when things calmed down, “British beaches were full ever summer. With cheap rail travel, the Victorians became obsessed with holidays by the sea. Bridgton and Margate in the south, Blackpool and Scarborough in the north: all desirable destinations for rich and poor. Great hotels were built, music halls, palaces and piers.” She showed me postcards of typical British beach scenes. Beach cricket. Ice cream. Large ladies in small swimsuits. Men in deck chairs, their heads covered with a knotted handkerchief.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

“The Emperor Louis Napoleon III of France and Empress Eugene loved the British seaside, “Shirley said. “Graham Greene describes their sute in his novel Brighton Rock.”

“So what happened?

“Cheap flights,” said Shirley simply. “When they could afford it, everybody flew abroad: Spain, Florida, Tuscany. The seaside became unfashionable. Grand hotels fell into decay; piers fell into the sea. Michael Ryan and Stelios Hai-loan-nou have a lot to answer for.” I looked at the crowds heading for the sea: “But now it’s changing?

Shirley nodded and wiped her forehead. “Global warming. Flights are expensive and damage the environment. Luckily Britain’s getting warmer. I sell English wine now, and people love it!”

The British seaside is back. Get out the bucket and spade. Send your friend a saucy postcard, and let’s building a sandcastle. You must excuse me: I’m off to the beach.

HOLIDAY GLOSSARY

Holiday comes from the Old English “halidgag” or holy day. The word meant a religious day. Today, the holidays mean any break from work or studying, but especially the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks.

If you are on holiday, it means you are not working: it can also mean you are travelling. In the USA, on vacation has both meanings.

A new variation is the stay-cation, which entered the dictionary in 20099. In this economic crisis, many people stay at home for their holidays, so they can save money and enjoy the things they normally don’t have time for.

House-swapping is another great way to have a holiday without paying for hotels. In fact, I’m borrowing my friend Harry’s house in Scotland next week. Harry called it “pigsitting” because he lives on a farm –like babysitting. Only with pigs – but this is not a real word! It’s always a good idea to look up national holidays of any country you visit. It may be difficult to shop or do business, or there may be celebrations. Try these sites: http://www.holidayyear.com http://www.bank-holidays.com

A gap year can be taken between school and university: a chance to travel, work and discover yourself. Later in your career this is “taking a year out.”

A break from the military (or prison) is called furlough, if you have permission. If you don’t, you are AWOL –“Absent Without Leave” –and in big trouble!

Mr. Bean

Source: Speak Up

Language Level: Advanced

Standard: British accent

The Amazing Mr. Bean

The movie Mr. Bean’s Holyday stars the British comedian Rowan Atkinson. Directed by Stephen Bendelack, it is described as a “sort of sequel” to the first Mr. Bean movie, which was released 10 years ago. Rowan Atkinson talks about the movies’ basic idea:

Rowan Atkinson

Standard British accent:

The central idea of the movie is that Mr. Bean is in pursuit of the perfect beach. At the beginning of the movie, really, he’s in a rain-soaked Britain and he sets off in pursuit of a lovely beach in the south of France. You know, that is the story, it is a road movie, really, in which we follow his journey from London to the south of France but, you know, unsurprisingly, it is not a simple journey.

THE EUROPEAN DIMENSION

In actual fact Atkinson says that the new Bean movie is very different from its predecessor:

Rowan Atkinson

I think we always felt there was a different movie to be made with Mr. Bean. We did the first movie 10 years ago, which was you know, commercially successful, and I suppose, if we were going to make a sequel, it would have been logical to make it, you know, nine years ago, or eight years ago, rather than now. But I suppose it just took time, you know, with the other distractions, to get round to thinking about it and I suppose I certainly always believed that was a more Europeans-style movie to be made with Mr. Bean. Undoubtedly the first movie was more of an American-style movie, it had the story and format and sort of tone of an American family comedy, I think, whereas we always felt that there was a different thing to be done, and I was always interested to the idea of Bean being the more pro-active element, being the element driving the story, rather than him being a reactive element, a sort of satellite figure who was sort in the background while there was a story being driven by other characters, which was, I think, more the shape of the first film.

HARD WORK

In spite of the colourful characters he plays, Rowan Atkinson is known to be a quit and rather shy person in real life. He admits to finding filming hard work:

Rowan Atkinson

I haven’t found it difficult after the…passage of time, in finding him again, and understanding him and knowing how he would behave in any given situation. I think I’m… I’m pretty familiar, but I still find the business of shouting and acting him quite stressful, quite anxiety-inducing. I’ve always found him… it’s the very singular nature of the character and the fact that he is at the centre of the film, I mean, obviously, but I mean to be in virtually every shot, of every day of the shooting, is, I find, quite challenging. It’s not just my performance, as it were, that I have to have in my head, it’s how he’s being shot and how he’s being presented and the people and the characters that he meets all these things… you know, making sure that all the relationships between Bean and the people he meets  work and work well. I’ve always found the business of shooting any movie, actually, very, very difficult. I think the bit before shooting’s great when you when you’re thinking, you know, “wouldn’t it be funny it be was in this situation” and that all sounds, you know… you know, relatively straightforward, but when you get down to the nitty gritty of actually trying to make the jokes work, i… I find that very difficult.

WILD WILLEM…

The film’s cast includes the American star Willem Dafoe, who plays a splendidly obnoxious Hollywood director called “Carson Clay.” Dafoe clearly enjoyed “doing comedy.”

Willem Dafoe

Standard: American accent

I’ve always been interested in doing more comedy and I think from my perspective, I’ve done a lot of comedy through the years! But it’s not. You know, kind of obvious, like something like Bobby Peru in Wild at Heart, if you’re ever seen that movie, I think is comedy, but all I can say is I look at projects and a lot of good comedies came up and a lot of good opportunities to do something slightly different, or at least whether that’s an illusion, you know, a self-delusion. It feels like it’s something different, so I can invest myself in a different way and it’s more fun.

THE YOUTUBE GENERATION

Mr. Bean is now an institution. In conclusion, director Stephen Bendelack describes the characters enduring appeal:

Stephen Bendelack

Standard: British accent

Bean endures because Rowan has a very singular vision and also be doesn’t over-expose himself, in my view, I mean, in an age where, if you so choose, if you want to post your own picaresque adventures on YouTube, for everybody else’s declaration, you can.

Someone with Rowan’s singular and original vision, in a way, I think, has more resonance now maybe than it did maybe five years ago.


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