English signs in foreign countries

I've already told you about my own experience in Sitges of seeing "Rape a la Marinera" translated as "Rape to the Sailor-like".

Here are some other examples of mis-translations into English from around the world.
Unfortunately, I collected them some time ago, and can't credit the source. Sorry!


In a Bangkok temple:
"IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN, EVEN A FOREIGNER, IF DRESSED AS A MAN."

Cocktail lounge, Norway:
"LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR."

Doctors office, Rome:
"SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES".

Dry cleaners, Bangkok:
"DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR THE BEST RESULTS".

In a Nairobi restaurant:
"CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER."

On an Athi River highway, the main road to Mombasa, leaving Nairobi.
"TAKE NOTICE: WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE."

On a poster at Kencom:
ARE YOU AN ADULT THAT CANNOT READ? IF SO, WE CAN HELP."

In a City restaurant:
"OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WEEKENDS.

 A sign seen on an automatic restroom hand dryer:
"DO NOT ACTIVATE WITH WET HANDS."

In a cemetery:
"PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN GRAVES."

Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations:
"GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN BED."

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
"OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR."

In a Tokyo bar:
"SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS."

Hotel, Yugoslavia:
"THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE CHAMBERMAID."

Hotel, Japan:
"YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID."

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel, across from a Russian Orthodox monastery:
"YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET COMPOSERS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS ARE BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY."

A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest:
"IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN ON OUR BLACK FOREST CAMPING SITE THAT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SEX, FOR INSTANCE, MEN AND WOMEN, LIVE TOGETHER IN ONE TENT UNLESS THEY ARE MARRIED WITH EACH OTHER FOR THIS PURPOSE."

Hotel, Zurich:
"BECAUSE OF THE IMPROPRIETY OF ENTERTAINING GUESTS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX IN THE BEDROOM, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LOBBY BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE."

Advertisement for donkey rides, Thailand:
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE ON YOUR OWN ASS?"

The box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong:
"GUARANTEED TO WORK THROUGHOUT ITS USEFUL LIFE."

In a Swiss mountain inn:
"SPECIAL TODAY: NO ICE-CREAM."

Airline ticket office, Copenhagen:
"WE TAKE YOUR BAGS AND SEND THEM IN ALL DIRECTIONS."

A laundry in Rome:
"LADIES, LEAVE YOUR CLOTHES HERE AND SPEND THE AFTERNOON HAVING A GOOD TIME."


One good webpage for mis-translations is http://www.engrish.com/, although I must admit the English is so bad, it's sometimes difficult to guess what they meant!

Good country

At this time of the year, when we're probably all thinking about how fabulous we're going to be next year and do everything differently: stop smoking, lose weight, become a vegetarian, recycle more, do some English listening every day, do some exercising, stop mugging people and running off with their handbags, etc, etc, etc, perhaps it's the time to think more globally? Just an idea!

Especially those of you who might be dreaming of the possibility of a new country? Maybe it's the time to consider what makes a country a "good" one.

In this TED talk, Simon Anholt talks about the factors that make some countries better than others, and about how what we like about a country may not be what we would have initially imagined.

He also says the name of the country that currently does the most good, and guess what: the country is... SPOILER!!! CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED!!!



(Remember to watch the video without subtitles a couple of times, if you're watching it for listening practice.)


Along the same lines, on this webpage http://www.goodcountry.org/ Anholt promotes the idea of a political party concerned with doing good.

And if you're like me and enjoy lots of statistics in different colours, you should really check out this part, where you'll be able to compare different countries and different aspects: http://www.goodcountry.org/index_intro

And if all that doesn't make you feel like being good in 2015, I give up! :)

Happy new year everyone!

Does Learning a Foreign Language Pay Off?

Is learning a foreign language really worth it?

Here they talk about the pros (and no cons): Does Learning a Foreign Language Pay Off?



In more detail here: http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2014/03/language-study

The world is running out of chocolate!!

It's a tragedy!! Apparently they've known for some time.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/worlds-largest-chocolate-manufacturer-adds-voice-to-warnings-of-potential-cocoa-shortage-by-2020-9864437.html

Natural reader

I've used this in class before, when I have a sore throat and can't force my voice, but it's also useful for you: http://www.naturalreaders.com/

I haven't downloaded it, but that option seems interesting too. If anyone does downlaod it, let me know if it's useful!

Weird Al Yankovic - Word Crimes

Weird Al's parody of Blurred Lines: "Word Crimes", although maybe some of you will prefer the original. ;)



Lyrics here.

The Most Common Travel Scams by Country

This page has an interesting list of tourist scams that I hope you're all avoiding right now!

http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/blog/16-40-tourist-scams-to-avoid-this-summer.html

A couple of examples:

Trip to England July 2014

My daughter and I made a short trip to England a couple of weeks ago, just to visit family really, not to do sightseeing, although we did get to visit a nice garden (as a lot of you know, I love plants!) here: RHS Garden Hyde Hall.

Here are some photos of our brief stay:

I wonder why they give a Spanish wine a French name...

Notice the price of the peppers is per unit!

Prices.

More prices.

Personally I like the chickens I eat to live a life of luxury.

You are continental, in case you didn't know.

Scones!!! My favourite type of tea thingy.

English country garden.

Can you believe they didn't ask me?

Some serious calories...

Does anyone get this play on words?

Bucolic countryside. And I swear those two horses were smiling at me from their field!

Tea in the garden with different bits of my aunt's china.

Who to support in the World Cup

If you're one of those football fans who doesn't know who to support in this World Cup, this chart might be able to help you.

Powdered alcohol?

I'm finding this hard to believe: alcohol in powder form?

Really, aren't there enough problems with alcohol already without making it easier to consume?!! "Yay, let's sprinkle alcohol on the guacamole"!!! Incredible.

I might have believed it coming from the UK, but no: it seems to be a US invention.

Read about it yourselves and reach your own conclusions: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/palcohol-us-government-reveals-it-has-approved-powdered-alcohol-9273019.html

The official page: http://www.palcohol.com/home.html 

Is it just me or does it remind anyone else of one of those weird sects? 



!!! Update from the 22nd of April: the government has withdrawn approval of the product, granted only 2 weeks before, at least temporarily: http://time.com/71664/powdered-alcohol-palcohol-error/

You shall not pass, dog

I love dogs, but you have to admit that cats are way cooler. ;)

10 Unexpected Things Dirtier Than Your Toilet

This topic came up recently in the C1 class.

Visuwords online graphical dictionary

Hi everyone!

I've just discovered this great toy tool for learning new vocabulary. Not only does it create* a cute colourful mind map of words that bob around, but it's also FREE and you don't even have to register.

http://www.visuwords.com/

It's very complete and apart from double-clicking to extend the map you can also just hover over the word with the mouse to see an explanation.

I should also add that it's quite relaxing and a bit hypnotic. Or maybe I just don't get out enough.

This is what I got from being serious and typing in the word "learn", but I tried other less serious words too and got really good results.

*I dedicate this inverted sentence to Montse P. from C1

Ricardo Montesinos

This year, going back to work after the summer holidays has been especially hard: last Tuesday Ricardo Montesinos, an EOI El Vendrell student, was killed in a road accident.

Several of us, students and me, received the news on Tuesday evening via email, courtesy of unofficial class organiser, Miguel P.

I imagine that we all stared at the information on our screens for a long time, not believing it, or not wanting to believe it.

As everyone knows, teachers don't have favourite students, but if we did have favourite students, he would definitely have been one of mine. He was an important part of class debates (as he often caused them...), he always had a vehement opinion on something, and he always had something to say or to ask. Sometimes I couldn't understand some of his questions, but I always tried to answer or explain, and then he would always say "that's right". :)

He was also a born entertainer, as his classmates would testify to, and those of you who attended the Students' Day presentations last April will remember his mini-play "Love", performed by himself (standing up) and Miguel P (sitting down). 

I don't really know what more to say, as I only knew him as a student: two days a week plus the occasional email. But from my limited relationship with him, I can say that he was original and obviously genuine and good-hearted, and personally I was very fond of him. 

This is a photo of Ricardo that I've nicked from JuntsPelVendrell's webpage (I hope they don't mind), as the class photos we took at the dinner didn't come out very well. He looks a bit formal and serious here, quite different from class, so if anyone has a better photo, I'd appreciate it.

From the reactions that I've seen and read about, it's clear that Ricardo was dearly loved by lots of people. The public homage to him by his "colla" of "castellers" was particularly moving.

In case you weren't able to be there, here's the video (in Catalan) taken by http://www.rtvelvendrell.cat/noticies/emotiu-comiat-al-casteller-ricard-montesinos





I know I'm not alone in saying that we'll miss him very much.

British/London slang expressions

This page has a short list of some useful slang expressions that you might need if you're travelling to the UK this summer, especially if you're going to London:

http://languageandthecity.tumblr.com/post/55253475861/10-british-slang-expressions-you-will-hear-when

From "mind the gap!" to "quid", I'm sure you'll find these expressions handy.