Poucas palavras:

Blog criado por Bruno Coriolano de Almeida Costa, professor de Língua Inglesa desde 2002. Esse espaço surgiu em 2007 com o objetivo de unir alguns estudiosos e professores desse idioma. Abordamos, de forma rápida e simples, vários aspectos da Língua Inglesa e suas culturas. Agradeço a sua visita.

"Se tivesse perguntado ao cliente o que ele queria, ele teria dito: 'Um cavalo mais rápido!"

quinta-feira, 17 de novembro de 2011

Learning English from three Cartoons: Meet the new boss, Carol singers, Yetis off to UK

Cartoon: Meet the New Boss.



This cartoon by Dave Brown from The Independent relates to claims that Libyan rebels are 'torturing suspected Gaddafi mercenaries'. According to a report released on Wednesday by Amnesty International, the mercenaries are being held by armed militias without warrants and are routinely beaten to force them to confess to pro-Gaddafi crimes. 
The cartoon shows a Gaddafi loyalist being beaten by a group of rebels in a prison cell. The rebels are trying to force their prisoner to reveal the whereabouts of the former Libyan dictator—but the irony is that they all have the same features as Gaddafi himself.
NOTE

The title of the cartoon 'Meet the New Boss' is a phrase taken from 'Won't Get Fooled Again' by The Who. In this song about revolution, the singer expresses his disappointment that the new regime is the same as the old one — "Meet the new boss/Same as the old boss". You can listen to the song here (the 'Meet the New Boss' line comes at 7.52).



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Cartoon 2: Carol Singers

This cartoon by Mac from The Daily Mail relates to the snow which continues to cause disruption in the UK.
It is Christmas time (note the wreath on the door and the  Christmas tree). A husband and wife are having breakfast. Outside the front door, three snow-covered figures with a lantern are visible. The wife says to her husband: 'Was it my imagination or did I hear the first carol singers last night?'
EXPLANATION


The three shapes are carol singers who have been enveloped (or blanketed) by the snow.
CULTURE NOTE

Carol singing, or Caroling, is singing carols (traditional Christmas songs) in the street or public places. It is one of the oldest customs in Great Britain, going back to the Middle Ages when beggars, seeking food, money, or drink, would wander the streets singing holiday songs. People today still go carol singing, going from house to house singing carols and collecting money for charity. The traditional period to sing carols is from St Thomas's Day (21 December) until the morning of Christmas Day. [Source: Woodlands Junior School]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cartoon 3: Yetis Off To UK

This cartoon by Mac from The Daily Mail is based on two news stories. First, tens of thousands of immigrants will be stripped of the right to settle in the UK permanently under Home Office proposals. And second, Russian and American scientists have joined forces to track down a tribe of yetis in Siberia.
NOTE

The  Yeti
 or Abominable Snowman is an ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, India and Tibet. The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology. Stories of the Yeti first emerged as a facet of Western popular culture in the 19th century. The scientific community generally regards the Yeti as a legend, given the lack of conclusive evidence, yet it remains one of the most famous creatures of cryptozoology. The Yeti may be considered a sort of parallel to the Bigfoot of North America. (Source:  Wikipedia)




Nenhum comentário: