Category Archives: Lingva English Café

05 Mar

Newscast Review by Ivan Beljic

Phoenix Lights II by n8kowald

Many people usually do not believe in the UFOs but would you think differently if you happened to be in Arizona 15 years ago ? In 1997, in Phoenix, there were some unexplained lights showing up over the sky. People were shocked and amazed and some of them even terrified.

In the news, we can see a man and a woman, who witnessed this event. They describe it as huge lights which unequaly spread over the town . People say that it was the size of a football pitch. They were just standing on the ground, probably thinking how small and helpless they were that they could not do anything about it.

Fife Symington, who was the Governor of Arizona at the time also noticed this mystery. Leslie Kean, who is in a coalition for the freedom of information explains why he could not claim that he had seen an UFO, and she adds that the reason is obvious. He was a public figure.

To sum up, Fife Symington could not tell in public what he had seen because it would cause panic between the people and it would bring them to some negative emotional reactions. But, I believe that was not the reason. In my opinion, the Defence Department did not want anyone to talk in public because it was their aircraft which they had probably developed against the terrorists.

I assume that can be one of the reasons, but in the end who knows. That remains a mystery till today.

05 Mar

Newscast Review by Milica Cvetinovic

 

On the 3rd March 1997, a strange event happened in Phoenix, Arizona. Some lights were seen and not even today has anyone explained exactly what happened that night. Gary Tuchman, a CNN journalist decided to make a newscast about it. It is interesting, especially because the former Governer of Arizona talks about it.

Fife Symington who was the governer at the time speaks about what the event and the situation were ike at the time. He introduces us to a place of the event and speaks about the situation in the Goverment. Apparentlly, back in 1997 he couldn’t speak freely about everything because otherwise he would create panic in the state. However, he claims that behind the eyes of the public he wasn’t sure himself what happened that night.

Apart from the governer’s uncertainty, people who witnessed the event are more than certain what happened. In the videos from 1997 we can see how upset they were by the vividness of their descriptions. They claim to have seen something large, something strange, and that there is no way that it was made by the human hand.

What is interesting is the fact that not even today is it explained what was seen in the Phoenix sky that night. It doesn’t matter whether you believe in the existence of the aliens and their craft or not, this is an interesting story to be heard. Lots of questions, still no answers. Not even ten years later.

05 Mar

Character Reference by Milica Cvetinovic

Sonia Kyrilenko

I have known Sonia for twenty years now, both as a family member and as a person who looked after my children in the past. When I gave a birth to my first child, I couldn’t think of anyone better to help me out then her. Later, when I got my second child, she had a full time job at my home, helping me with the new baby, apart from studying at University. When my children started going to school she found a new job at a local kindergarten
During her work at my house she proved herself to be very patient with children and very careful about teaching them to have healthy eating habits. I am grateful for that because, even today, my children have the most beautiful teeth in their class and have no health problems at all. In spite of her not giving them too much candies my children adored her, because she was so good with them and had many ways to make them laugh.
As a friend I have always thought of her as a nice and polite person. She has also been very well organized and she has never had problems striking a balance between her full time job and her school. I can confirm that she has always been persistance and she did everything I asked her to, even more!

But sometimes her persistence can lead to unexpected events, such as arguing with my neighbour because he had parked his car in my children’s playground. However, she made up with him and even made him promise that he wouldn’t disturb my children again!

Sonia informed me recently that she would be glad to work for you, and it is clear from the job description that the job is perfect for her, so I have no hesitation in recommending her.

05 Mar

I Never Knock On Wood by Milica Cvetinovic

I never do that. It is pointless to make noise by knocking on wood in order “not to be heard by the evil”. I do admit that everyone of us is a little bit superstitious, but some things as knocking on wood are just ridiculous! Also, I am glad to notice that it is nowadays more rare to hear this sentence, probably because it is more often being told by elderly people than people of my age.

05 Mar

Newscast Review Assignment

 

Watch the following Video News Story and write some notes about it. Use the following template: Video News Template

Write a review of the news story. Give a brief outline of the event and say what you opinion of the video was. Use 180-220 words.


28 Feb

Character Reference by Sanja

Julijana Dobrasinovic

Julijana Dobrasinovic and I have known each other since childhood, and we went to school together where she was always liked and respected by other children. We have also worked together in local kindergarten in Belgrade.

When she started working with me I noticed that she really likes children and that she totally devotes herself in that job. Last year she was to pronounced as the best nursery nurse.

I have always known her to be responsible whatever she has done. She comes from a large family where she has discharged big part of house obligations. She has always been honest and hardworking person. She has gone through a lot of hard situations in her life and you can be sure that she is able to handle unexpected problems very well.

She always gives impression that she is earnest, because of her earnest face, but she is sensitive, energetic  and friendly. I can also confirm that she treats everyone in a reasonable and equal way. As a colleague she is level-headed, practical and in every situation she is able to judge things well which means that she always acts in the best interest of others. With children she is always tactful and children find her fun and they like to spend time with her.

 

Now we are both training to become primary teachers, because we want to continue our job on a higher level. I have to concede that Julijana is better than me in that area, and I am sure that she will be very successful.

I regret having to say anything negative about her, but sometimes she is persistent when there is no necessity for that.

For the reasons I have given I have no reservations in supporting Juliana’s application for taking care of your children.

 

 

 

22 Feb

Character Reference by Ivan Beljic

Water boy...by marc falardeau

I have known Petar for 10 years, both as a friend and as a schoolmate. We met at primary school and have continued to be friends until the present day. Our friendship is real, without any envy or looking down on each other, so I can say that I know him pretty well. At this moment, we are both in Grammar school in the natural science course.

I have always known him to be very kind to children. He has always proved himself to be extremely sensitive, for example, he used to take poor children from the streets for lunch. I can confirm that he is easy to connect with children. I remember him doing babysitting once. He was caring for two young children aged two and three years old. Their parents had to attend a very important meeting in order to get a higher position in the same firm they worked in, so he offered to take care of their kids. To children, he looks so fun and they quickly get interested in his fantasy stories and fairy tales.

I must say, however, that sometimes his tolerance can lead children to behave even worse than they usually do. I suppose that is because he is very patient with children and there is a moment when his flexibility comes into effect. I assume this is the only drawback he has when dealing with children. I suppose he should be more strict and everything will come into its place.

For the reasons I have given I have no hesitation in supporting Petar’s application for this job. I believe that you will be more than happy to have him as a babysitter.

22 Feb

I NEVER KNOCK ON WOOD by Marko Lazic

I think I am a little bit superstitious. I think it is my grandmother’s fault because she is a very superstitious woman. She really knows all customs from her homeland and she is really keen on keeping them alive. She would go crazy if anyone did not respect them. So that is the origin of my superstitions and they became a type of habit and not something I believe in. When someone talks about how well they are doing, it is like an instict for me to say ”Demons should not hear that”. However, I really do not care about black cats, mirrors and such things even though I used to when I was younger. For me there is no person who is not a bit superstitious because you simply must believe in something.

 

22 Feb

I never knock on wood by Katarina Savic

I never do things like knocking on wood. The reason why I don’t is probably because it never became a habit to me, as it did to many people I know, both older and younger. I guess nobody really believes that it works, whatever knocking on wood  might mean… It just became a habit to them, for example they learned it from seeing older superstitious people do it, who probably thought it worked. On the other hand, some people probably hope that knocking on wood or something else of that kind will prevent a bad thing from happening. However, if they actually tried doing something more than just knocking, there would probably be less of so called bad things and at least they’d feel they really did something to try and prevent them from happening. That would probably mean the total end of the ‘magic knock’.

22 Feb

I never knock on wood by Sanja

I am not the person who was taught to believe in magic, or  to be superstitious. That is why I cannot understand someone who believes in that strange stuff in our life. I think that it is really unnecesarry to be a part of us especially when we have to deal with the rest of our usual life problems.  I am not here to ruin someone’s rituals, but I am sure that superstition cannot be a good thing. You know, when you believe in something then you expect it to come true. But what is happening when you realise that everything crashes in front of you? Even if you have your rabbit foot with you it will not help you, it would just mean that in those  situations you replace faith with anger and madness. If my thoughts are right, because I talk from my own experience, I am sure that being superstitious is not good at all.