Sam Houston memorial, INGVIP

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Originally posted by: VOANEWS

            Adapted by INGVIP for more info check out:      click on the title and visit INGVIP                                                                       http://www.ingvip.com/

Sam Houston was larger than life(1). The city of Huntsville, Texas, has a 20-meter-tall(2) statue of him. It is said(3) to be the largest statue of any American hero(4).

Nearby(5), the Sam Houston Memorial Museum holds(6) many of his belongings(7). Patrick Nolan is the director.

PATRICK NOLAN: “He is really the only(8) man in our history who was president of an independent country, also(9) governor(10) of two different states, the only man to have that distinction, Tennessee and Texas, United States senator(11) from Texas, commanding general in a very successful(12) war.”

Sam Houston suffered(13) personal and political defeats(14) early in life. In 1832, hejoined(15) American settlers(16) in what was then the Mexican territory of Texas.

PATRICK NOLAN: “The idea of remaking(17) yourself, of re…kind of…constituting yourcareer(18), if you will(19), was there, and Texas was an opportunity to do that.”

Sam Houston led(20) Texas rebels(21) to victory against(22) a larger Mexican army(23)at the battle(24) of San Jacinto in 1836. Texas won (25) independence from Mexico before joining the United States. Houston became(26) governor of the new state, but was forced to retire to his farm in Huntsville in 1861. Nolan says Houston refused(27) tosign(28) an oath(29) to support(30) rebellious southern states (31) against the north.

PATRICK NOLAN: “He would not take that oath to support the Confederacy. He wouldresign(32) — he didn’t resign, he would be dismissed(33), he would be fired(34) before he would do it.”

The Civil War was still being fought(35) when Sam Houston died(36) at his home in 1863. James Haley has studied his life. He says Sam Houston and his wife owned slaves(37), but paid(38) them for extra work. He says Houston angered(39) manysoutherners (40) because he opposed efforts(41) to expand slavery(42) to other states.

JAMES HALEY: “Every year, he had a speaking tour(43) up the Ohio Valley, through(44)Pennsylvania, New York and into New England. That was really the center of his politicalstrength(45), because he was unpopular in the South because of his stance(46) against slavery.”

Sam Houston predicted(47) the Civil War years before the fighting started.

JAMES HALEY: “The South will go down(48), I think he said, in a sea of smoke(49) and ruin and that will be the end of the South as we know it, and the North will think they’ve won this big victory. He said the North will have its own price(50) to pay; they will reap(51) aharvest(52) of assassination.”

One week after the main(53) Confederate army surrendered(54), President Abraham Lincoln was murdered(55). Haley says Sam Houston freed(56) all his slaves before he died. The money he gave(57) them helped some become educated and startbusinesses(58). Sam Houston continues to interest people, and his influence in Texasremains strong(59). I’m Barbara Klein.

VOCABULARY

1. larger than life = maior que a vida
2. 20-meter-tall = 20 metros de altura
3. It is said = dizem que
4. Hero = herói
5. Nearby = perto, nas redondezas
6. Holds = guarda
7. Belongings = pertences
8. the only = o único
9. also = também
10. governor = governador
11. senator = senador
12. successful = bem-sucedido(a)
13. suffered = sofreu
14. defeats = derrotas
15. joined = juntou-se a
16. settlers = colonizadores
17. remaking = reconstruir
18. career = carreira
19. if you will = “por assim dizer”
20. led = liderou
21. rebels = rebeldes
22. against = contra
23. army = exército
24. battle = batalha
25. won = venceu
26. became = tornou-se
27. refused = recusou-se
28. sign = assinar
29. oath = juramento
30. support = apoiar
31. southern states = estados do sul
32. resign = demitir-se
33. dismissed = dispensado, despedido
34. fired = demitido
35. being fought = sendo lutada
36. died = morreu
37. owned slaves = possuiam escravos
38. paid = pagavam
39. angered = irritou
40. southerners = sulistas
41. efforts = esforços
42. slavery = escravidão
43. speaking tour = turnê de discurso
44. through = através
45. strength = força
46. stance = postura
47. predicted = previu
48. go down = cair
49. sea of smoke = mar de fumaça
50. own price = próprio preço
51. reap = colher (verbo)
52. harvest = colheita, safra
53. main = principal
54. surrendered = rendeu-se
55. murdered = assassinado
56. freed = libertou
57. gave = deu
58. businesses = negócios, comércios
59. remains strong = permanece forte 

THE POWER OF POETRY

Source: http://www.maganews.com.br

Language level: C1 Advanced

Speaker: Mark Worden

Standard: British accent

The Power of Poetry

Will Stone is an award-winning English poet and translator. He recently attended the Poetry on the Lake Festival and it was here that he met with Speak Up. We began by asking him what had first attracted him to poetry:

Will Stone

(Standard English accent)

It was just something that came, really. Well, I was always good at English at school and I used t write stories, and that was obviously my forte, but I didn’t really take it up later on, English. I probably should have done a degree, but for some reason I didn’t and then the poetry just started…well, actually I started writing songs first, I was more of a musician, and I wrote a lot of songs, I had a long period of writing songs, and then I sort of…that sort of died off and I started writing poetry more, so it came out of the song.

SOCIETY TODAY

In 2008 Will Stone received the Glen Dimplex Poetry Award. this was for his book, Glaciation, which one critic called “a collection of poems of oblique and uncomfortable beauty.” The Glen Dimplex is in fact an Irish award. Will Stone believes that his poetry is considered too heavy for Britain audiences, who tend to prefer lighter, less serious work:

Will Stone:

I’m not saying that it’s all bad, but I just think a lot of what is most obvious, or what Is most evident, to people, seems to be the same genre of poetry all the time because partly that’s because that’s what people relate to, and it’s what people are…’cause a lot of people in England were turned off poetry by having to do it at school, so anything that’s difficult, or got any real depth, it’s not easy for them to engage with it. I think they tend to be more drawn to a kind of poetry that is more of an entertainment, or something that sort of has part entertainment and part…it has some meaning that corresponds with people, but it isn’t always something that your really need to think about for too long. You know, it’s like an instant hit and then it’s over, which kind of reflects our society.

Why Sleep Apnea Raises Risk of Stroke, Heart Attack

I confess during the night, according to my mum and my wife I snoring aloud, that's a problem indeed, check it out why. I've been talking about the importance of VOANEWS website and Fan page for English teachers and Students for more info, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ybEOUUlXoc&feature=relmfu 


Source: VOALearningEnglish Gostou promova apra amigos, liked? Telling for friends?

Words and Their Stories: Clothing Expressions, Part One

Source: http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/words-stories/Words-and-Their-Stories-Clothing-Expressions-Part-One-128099963.html

Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s see if I can name a few off the cuff, or without any preparation.

People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have ants in their pants. They might also fly by the seat of their pants. They use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge. Sometimes, people may get caught with their pants down.  They are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say she wears the pants in the family.

Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can burn a hole in your pocket. Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants.  If you have less money than usual, you may have to tighten your belt. You may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully. But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money, you will have that skill under your belt.

I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really take my hat off to them. Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it at the drop of a hat – immediately, without waiting. And sadly, you cannotpull money out of a hat. You cannot get money by inventing or imagining it.

Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are too big for their boots think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people. I really do. You can bet your boots on that. Yet, truly important people are hard to replace. Rarely can you fill their shoes or replace them with someone equally effective.

My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie, and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe. They think he is a realstuffed shirt. But I know that my father wears his heart on his sleeve. He shows his feelings openly. And, he knows how to keep his shirt on. He stays calm and never gets angry or too excited.

Also, my father has never lost his shirt in a business deal. He is too smart to lose all or most of his money. This is because my father rolls up his sleeves and prepares to work hard. He often has a special plan or answer to a problem that he can use if he needs it. He is like a person who does magic tricks. We say he has a card up his sleeve.

(MUSIC)

This VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES was written by Jill Moss.  I’m Faith Lapidus.

JAPANESE'S DESCENDANTS VISITING CARNAUBA'S ROCK ART PAINTINGS

First of all, I'd say to you that I use to post entries about my daily routine, and of course to talking about the tourism or tourists who visit the tourism spots. Today, for example, I guided two descendants of Japanese, but they are Brazilian who both Ricardo and Cuniagh live in Sao Paulo and they decided to visit Carnauba dos Dantas (town) guided for a friend of mine, also tour guide, Eduardo. 

In conclusion we visit both Xique-Xique I and II, afterwards we visit Biva's Castle and a religious spot, Monte do Galo. Check out the pictures bellow. 

                          From left to right: Eduardo, Ricardo, Dona Maria and Cuniagh, Dona Maria is owner of Xique-xique Ranch. 

                          Ricardo and Cuniagh shooting the rock art paintings. 

                         Cuniagh, me in the middle and Ricardo 

SBT celebrates its 30th anniversary

Source: http://www.maganews.com.br/
Television SBT celebrates its 30th anniversary

The station began broadcasting [1] on August 19, 1981.  To remember a little of its history, SBT is airing [2] a weekly program called "SBT - Festival 30 anos"

    

  Silvio Santos began his career in television in the early 1960s. By the late 1970s he was considered the greatest presenter in the history of Brazilian television. But it was only on August 19, 1981, that he achieved one of his biggest dreams: to own his own TV station. Early programming was modest, with movies, cartoons and a bit of journalism. The biggest attraction, of course, wasthe traditional "Programa Silvio Santos," shown on Sundays. Over the years the station enriched its programming and grew a lot. Now, Silvio Santos' channel competes with “Rede Record” for second place in the Ibope ratings, after Globo.

---

A journey through time....

In May SBT put together a special program to tell a little of its history.  Presented by Patricia Abravanel, one of Silvio Santos' daughters, SBT - Festival 30 Anos has been featured on Saturday nights. In total, 17 programs will be shown by the end of August. Watching this program is liketaking a trip back in time [3] and remembering landmark [4]  programs, such as "Jô Soares Onze e Meia" and "Casa dos Artistas," as well as enjoying again old editions of the comedy show, "A Praça é Nossa."   The program also provides an opportunity for the public to watch special features on the series "Chaves" and to watch again some of the greats of Brazilian television, like the late [5] comedian, Ronald Golias.

Matéria publicada na edição de número 62 da revista Maganews.

Foto (divulgação) Patricia Abravanel - Festival SBT 30 Anos.

Vocabulary1 broadcasting – transmissão 

2 to air - exibir

3 to take a trip back in time – fazer uma viagem no tempo

4 landmark – aqui = marcante

5 late - saudoso