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What’s new? .
B2+ course
If you need more practice during your B2.2 course, or you have completed group lesson 72, or you have taken the FCE/BECV exam, you may now want to take another step in your learning process.
Sign up for our new B2+ course starting on 15 January.
The B2+ course is on Wednesdays from 18:30 to 20:00.
Ask your consultant for details.
What’s on at ECB .
C1+ course
If you have passed the CAE or BEC H exams, you might be interested in our C1+ course (previously called, “Advanced Plus General English”). Unlike our new B2+ course, the C1+ course does not have a fixed beginning and end. You can join at any time for any number of lessons. You attend lessons at whatever rhythm suits you.
The C1+ course is on Thursdays from 18:15 to 19:45.
Ask your consultant for details.
DVD Nights
If you want to come along to a DVD night, please ask reception for a copy of the transcript of the episode. You can read the text before the showing and look up new words. Before we start watching the DVD, there will be time to ask your teacher about any words or expressions you do not understand.
Special events
We are experimenting with the timings of various group activities. Please do give us some feedback on your preferences.
Please sign up at Reception or telephone 061 269 41 41
DVD Nights – Due South
Watch an episode of a Canadian TV series about a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer (or “Mountie” for short). The same episode is shown twice a month. Note new times! Mon, 20 Jan, from 19:00 to 20:30 Wed, 29 Jan, from 17:00 to 18:30 Tues, 11 Feb, from 19:30 to 21:00 Thurs, 20 Feb, from 17:00 to 18:30
Speaking Practice Apéro
Speak English in a relaxed, sociable way Wed, 15 Jan, from 17:00 to 18:30 Tues, 25 Feb, from 18:00 to 20:00
Newspaper Meeting
Offer new ideas for the next issue of What’s Happening? Wed, 22 Jan from 13:00 to 14:00 Wed, 27 Feb, from 12:00 to 13:00
What’s Happening? Party
For all contributors of the newspaper Please let us know if you can come. Thurs, 13 Feb, from 18:00 to 20:00
movie about Bobby Sands who was the first man to die on hunger strike (1981) in a jailhouse near Belfast. It wasn’t an action movie: it was a beautiful and slow-paced movie with accurate pictures showing the real and normal brutality of people.
And then, in Derry, on the wall of a house, I saw a big picture of Bobby’s face and the faces of other people who had died on hunger strike! Twelve faces, twelve people who had died. And also on that wall was the sentence: “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children.” It was a moment which is hard for me to describe. I don’t know, I saw these faces, these eyes, and I felt so many feelings and thoughts and questions.
Also in Derry, one woman told me of a horrible time. One day, her mother
Communication
by June Winterflood
This issue seems to have developed a theme all by itself! Whatever the contributors use, be it music, words, pictures, songs or hugs, they want to communicate love, hate, ideas or inspiration: it’s all about communication.
While all forms of communication are equally valid, language is our main tool for expressing ourselves. That’s why language skills are so essential.
In autumn 2013, I was in Northern Ireland for a few days. I felt a special feeling there, but I don’t know if it was the feeling from this country or if it was the feeling in my mind. In any case, it was a really intensive experience!
I don’t know a lot about the conflict in Northern Ireland (I have to read about it), but I think it’s crazy, this war because of religion. Or is it political? Or is it hatred, only stupid hatred?
The war is finished, but the conflict isn’t! On special days, when they have parades, for example, they sometimes have battles in the streets again.
A short time before I went to Northern Ireland, I had seen the movie ‘hunger’ by Steve McQueen in the Schaulager Münchenstein. It’s a
Who’s that? .
A little woman
with a great
voice
by Rudolf Schnider
She is 17 years old and her name is Jasmine van Bogarde. She was born in Lymington (Hampshire, England) and she is the great niece of the famous actor Dirk Bogarde. She started learning to play the piano at seven years of age.
When she was 12 years old, she won the open Mic UK 2008 (a singing talent competition) in the category "under 18 years" with her song "Be Free". This song was composed by her. The winner’s prize was a six-day recording session in a sound studio and, after 2 years, the first single was ready. She started with the song "Skinny Love" (a cover version of a song by Bon Iver). In March 2011, the song was placed in the Top 20 of the British Singles charts, and so was the second single "Shelter" (a cover version of a song by the band The xx) in June 2011.
Do you know who the girl is? No? All right. It will help you if you know her first album. In November 2011, the album "Birdy" (only cover songs) was ready and the start was really great. In different countries, the album stood in first position in the charts. On 27 September 2013, the second album "Fire Within" with her own songs was finished and you can buy it now in the shops or you can hear it on the web site www.srf.ch/radio-srf-3/musik/exklusiv-jetzt-das-neue-album-von-birdy-hoeren.
Last month, Birdy played a set with her band on the "Baloise session" in Basel. I was attending the concert and it was great. She has a special voice and she plays piano and guitar very well. At times, her voice gave me the feeling that I was listening to a very strong girl. She was singing about love, pain, trust, and a lot of her songs sometimes had an Irish touch. In the future, I think you will hear more about her.
For me: I am waiting for her next album and her next concert in Switzerland.
ENGLISH CENTER BASEL SCHOOL OF ENGLISH ADDRESS Weisse Gasse 6, 4001 Basel TELEPHONE 061 269 41 41 E-MAIL [email protected] WEBSITE www.englishcenterbasel.ch
People | Events | News | Reviews | Stories | Comment | Language | Other stuff .....
Northern Ireland by Urs Schmid
was working in her kitchen and there was a demonstration in the street; a shot from a soldier, from outside, injured her mother’s shoulder. That moment changed the life of the whole family.
In Belfast, I made a photo of graffiti on a wall. The iron lady and the words: “the most nasty”. An older man spoke to me. He saluted me with a proud gesture, like a soldier, and he offered me a drink of whiskey from his flask.
In Belfast too, I saw one of the peace walls. It’s a long, long wall and bars, many metres high, between the Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods.
It isn’t necessary now. Normally, there is no fight any more, but all of the people say the conflict isn’t solved. Some of the people want to tear down these walls. Others want to leave them as memorials, like the wall in Berlin. The route of the sightseeing bus goes along the wall. Some tourists write their names on it. OK...
But some hotheads have sprayed the words: “fuck Islam”. Big and often. It made me sad and it makes me worry. I think there are always the same idiots: people, displeased and unhappy who hold on to a lot of anger. And they are everywhere, also in Switzerland…
I will not paint our future black, but we all have to be careful: idiots never die, and these idiots would make real hell on earth. We have to stop these toxic ideas!
We have to believe in the wonderful diversity on this planet so that we can all get a little closer to paradise.
Please write for What’s happening?
Write on any theme you wish or pick one below:
Can you tell us the story of Basel Fasnacht?
What do you do during the time of Fasnacht?
Why is Basel’s Fasnacht the best? or is there a carnival which you think is better?
Remember: this is your chance to put into practice what you have been learning. Send your text by e-mail to the editor, receive a corrected version and compare it with your original.
Send your text & pictures to
DEADLINE: 21 Feb 2014
Many times we come across people who appear less interested in interacting with others. Such people appear to remain aloof. Our general attitude is to label them as “arrogant,” “rude” or “abnormal.” But how many of us have ever thought about the real reason behind this social awkwardness? As far as I know, ‘NONE’. It’s always easier to draw one’s own conclusions and assume rather than analyze rationally and logically. However, a genuine attempt on our part to interpret the circumstances will give us the insight that the person standing alone is not being rude. He most likely wants to interact with others, establish contact and get involved but simply does not know how! His anxiety prevents him from being friendly and amicable. There could be a possibility that such a person has a condition known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by significant
difficulties in social behaviour and non verbal communication. Even small ‘normal’ social tasks, such as picking up the phone, meeting friends, or answering the front door can cause debilitating anxiety in people with Asperger’s.
What can we do to help? Next time we see someone who is withdrawn or reserved, instead of assuming they are being indifferent, why not make the first move and greet them? The simple gesture of saying “hello” will let them know we acknowledge their presence. They will appreciate our effort, even if the interaction stops there. A simple smile and “hello” can make someone’s day.
In short, instead of being judgmental and unreasonable, let us all make a sincere effort to help such people feel integrated and accepted. After all, they are also a part of our society and deserve equal treatment.
For more information, visit the facebook
page “The girl with the curly hair.”
A word to the wise .
Asperger’s Syndrome
by Shalini Sairam
Quotation contributed by Mirjam Schnyder .
Have you had enough hugs today?
“Hugging is good medicine. It transfers energy and gives the person hugged an emotional lift. You need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth. Scientists say that hugging is a form of communication because it can say things you don’t have the words for. And the nicest thing about a hug is that you usually can’t give one without getting one.”
Source: Letang.tumblr.com
What’s happening? Jan - Feb 2014 Free ~ Issue 31 News and Views from the Students and Staff
English Center Basel
Keep learning English! Join our
B2+ and C1+
English courses
New B2+ course starting on
15 January 2014
We would like to start a new type of group activity, called “Short Talks”, where a student gives a short talk on something he or she is passionate about, for example, a hobby, like dancing, photography or cookery. Students can ask questions and a teacher will help the speaker and the questioners.
If you would like to give a short talk or attend such an activity, please tell reception so that we can organize it.
