Is Education the Key? (discussion)

How do you understand the word "Education"? Why is it important to get higher education?
Watch the video and say wether you agree or disagree with this young man. Why, why not?

American System of Education vs British

https://en.islcollective.com/resources/printables/worksheets_doc_docx/differences_between_american_and_british_system_of_education/school-preintermediate-a2/10438 

Educational System of Great Britain

Great Britain doesn't have a written constitution, so there are no constitutional provisions for education. The system of education is determined by the National Education Acts. Schools in England are supported from public funds paid to the local education authorities. These local education authorities are responsible for organizing the schools in their areas. If we outline the basic features of public education in Britain, firstly we'll see that in spite of most educational purposes England & Wales are treated as one unit, though the system in Wales is a different from that of England. Scotland & Northern Ireland have their own education systems. Then education in Britain mirrors the country's social system: it's class-divided & selected. The first division is, as you, I think, have already guessed, is between those who do & don't pay. The majority of schools in Britain are supported by public funds & the education provided is free. They are maintained schools, but there's also a considerable number of public schools. Most pupils go to schools which offer free education, although fee-paying independent schools also have an important role to play. Another important feature of schooling in Britain is the variety of opportunities offered to schoolchildren. The English school syllabus is divided into Arts/or Humanities/ and Sciences which determine the division of the secondary school pupils into study groups: a science pupil will study Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Economics, Technical Drawing , Biology, Geography; an Art pupil will do English Language and Literature, History, foreign languages, Music, Art, Drama. Besides these subjects they must do some general education subjects like PE, Home Economics for girls, Technical subjects for girls, General Science. Computers play an important part in education. The system of options exists in all kinds of secondary schools. The national Education Act in 1944 provided 3 stages of education: primary, secondary and further education. Everybody has a right to school place for a child from age 5 to 16, and a school of college place for him or her from 16 to 18. These places are provided free of charge. Everybody has a duty to make sure that the child goes to school until he or she is 16, that means that education is a compulsory from age 5 to 16 /11 years in whole/. There's no law which provides for education on the under-fives. In England about 47% of three- & four-year-olds receive education in nursery schools or classes. In addition many children attend informal pre-school play groups organized by parents and voluntary bodies. In 1944 The National Curriculum was introduced. It sets out in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievement they should reach by the ages of 7, 11, 14 & 16, when they are tested. The tests are designed to be easier for teachers to manage than they were in the past. Most pupils will also be entered for GCSEs/General Certificate of the Secondary Education/ or other public examinations, including vocational qualifications if they are 16. Until that year headmasters and headmistresses of schools were given a great deal of freedom in deciding what subjects to teach and how to do it in their schools so that there was really no central control at all over individual schools. The National Curriculum does not apply in Scotland, where each school decides what subject it will teach. The child is taught the subjects he or she must study under the National Curriculum. These are English, Maths, Science/the core subjects/, Technology, a foreign language in secondary school, as it was mentioned, PE, History, Geography, Art, Music/ foundation subjects/. The last 4 ones are not compulsory after the age of 14. But the child must be given religious education unless the parents decide otherwise. Each subject has a set programme of study and attaining levels for each subject covering the years from 5 to 16. There're 10 levels. The full requirements of the National Curriculum are being introduced gradually. All the pupils will be following it in full by September 1997.The National Curruculum itself was introduced in 1989(until that time the schools had a curriculum supervised by the local LEA). According to The National Curriculum schools are allowed to introduce a fast stream for bright children. Actually after young people reach 16 they have 4 main 'roads' of their next life: they can leave the school, stay at school, move to a college as a full time student, combine part-time study with a job, perhaps through the Youth Training programme. School-leavers without jobs get no money from the government unless they join a youth training scheme , which provides a living allowance during 2 years of work experience. But a growing number of school students are staying on at school, some until 18 or 19, the age of entry into higher education or universities, Polytechnics or colleges. Schools in Britain provide careers guidance. A specially trained person called careers advisor, or careers officer helps school students to decide what job they want to do and how they can achieve that. Now let us talk about the exams the young people in Britain take during their process of education. Since 1988, most sixteen-year-old have taken the GCSE in 5,10 of even 15 subjects. Pupils going on to higher education or professional training usually take 'A' level examinations in two or three subjects. These require two more years of study after GSCE, either in the sixth form of a secondary school, or in a separate 6-form college. Others may choose vocational subjects / catering, tourism, secretariat, building skills/. Subsidized courses in these subjects are run at colleges of further education.

Types of Schools in Great Britain

What different types of schools do they have in England?

Children's education in England is normally divided into two separate stages. They begin with primary education at the age of five and this usually lasts until they are eleven. Then they move to secondary school, there they stay until they reach sixteen, seventeen or eighteen years of age.

The main categories of school are:-

·                    local authority maintained schools (State Schools). Free to all children between the ages of 5 - 16

·                     independent schools. (Private/Public Schools). Parents pay for their children's' education.

State Schools

In the UK 93% of the children in England and Wales go to "state schools". State schools are non fee-paying, funded from taxes and most are organised by Local Authorities (LA).

Parents are expected to make sure that their child has a pen, pencil, ruler etc. but the cost of other more specialised equipment, books, examination fees are covered by the school.

Parents are, however, expected to pay for their child's school uniform and items of sports wear. Charges may also be made for music lessons and for board and lodgings on residential trips. Schools may ask for voluntary contributions for school time activities - but no pupil may be left out of an activity if their parents or guardian cannot or do not contribute.

Primary schools (5 - 11 year olds)

In the UK, the first level of education is known as primary education. These are almost always mixed sex, and usually located close to the child's home. Children tend to be with the same group throughout the day, and one teacher has responsibility for most of the work they do.

Parents are strongly encouraged to help their children, particularly with reading and writing, and small amounts of homework are set to all children, even during the early years at school.

Secondary schools (11 - 16 year olds)

Most children transfer at the age of 11 - usually to their nearest secondary school, though the law allows parents in England and Wales to express preferences for other schools too. A place has to be offered at the parents' preferred school unless the school has more applicants than places; in that case it will admit the children who have the highest priority under its published admission arrangements which can vary a little in different places.

Most secondary schools cater for both sexes. They tend to be much larger than primary schools.

Nearly 88 per cent of secondary school pupils in England go to comprehensive schools, as do all pupils in Wales. These take children of all abilities and provide a wide range of secondary education for all or most of the children in a district from 11 to 16 or 18. All children in Scotland go to non-selective schools.

Grammar Schools are selective, they offer academically oriented general education. Entrance is based on a test of ability, usually at 11 (11+). Grammar schools are single sexed schools i.e. Children either go to a boys Grammar School or a Girls Grammar School. There are grammar schools in Northern Ireland and some parts of England.

Fee Paying Schools

Independent Schools - 7% of the children in England go to independent schools. Independent schools are known as private schools and public schools . Parents pay for their children to attend these schools.

Nursery/Kindergarten 2 to 4 years

Pre-preparatory 3 or 4 to 7 years

Preparatory 7 to 11 or 13 years

Public 11 or 13 to 18 years

Prep Schools - A preparatory school is a school to prepare pupils to go to a public school.

Public Schools - A public school is an independent secondary school. Public schools in England are not run by the government. The entrance exams used by most public schools are known as Common Entrance exams and are taken at the age of 11 (girls) or 13 (boys).

The most famous public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester

27.03 - International Theatre Day (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London)

The Globe Theatre opened in 1599 with a production of As You Like It , and continued with works by Shakespeare, Jonson, Beaumont, Fletcher, and others. In 1613, during a performance of Henry VIII , a cannon went off to mark the entrance of the king, and a stray spark set the thatch roof aflame. In one hour, the theatre was destroyed. Reconstruction of the Globe began immediately, and it was finished by June 1614. Performances continued until 1642, when the Puritans, who found theatre vulgar and intolerable, shut all theatres down. Two years later the Globe was levelled to make way for tenement dwellings.

Plays were big business for those who owned them: Shakespeare was only one man who became rich from his involvement as a shareholder in the most popular theatre. The plays produced by the Globe were very high in quality and the theatre was always full. The competition among the theatres created a huge demand for new material and is the single most important factor in the flowering of drama that is now known as the ‘golden age’ of English drama. Apart from Shakespeare’s, scores of the plays of that period are regularly performed today. This great demand is reflected in Shakespeare’s vast output. If you look at a timeline of Shakespeare’s life you will see how fast he worked. He wrote up to four plays in some years and averaged 1.5 plays a year during his working life.

A day out at the Globe Theatre was a real treat. The grounds around the theatre would have been bustling, withplenty of entertainment. Even people not attending performances would flock to the Globe for the market stalls and the holiday-like atmosphere. There were many complaints about apprentices missing work to go to the theatre.

The groundlings paid a penny to stand in the pit of the Globe Theatre. The others sat in the galleries. The very grand could watch the play from a chair set on the side of the stage itself. Theatre performances were held in the afternoon, because they needed the daylight. The turnover of plays was unimaginable to the modern mind. The theatres could often present eleven performances of ten different plays in two weeks. The actors generally got their lines only as the play was in progress – very different from the well-rehearsed performances that we expect these days. There would be someone backstage whispering the lines and the actors would then repeat them. Women were not allowed to appear on the stage so the female roles were played by men and boys.

Shakespeare was not only a shareholder in the Globe and a prominent writer; he also acted in some of the plays. We don’t know exactly how many roles he played himself, although we do have some documented information.

Shakespeare had begun his career on the stage by 1592. It is probable that he played the title role in Edward I by Edward Peele in 1593. Regarding the major roles in his own plays, he was probably directing because he gave way to the other actors and played small, peripheral parts, including Adam in As You Like It ; Duncan in Macbeth ; King Henry in Henry IV ; and the ghost in Hamlet . Shakespeare’s first biographer, Nicholas Rowe, refers to a role by Shakespeare as ‘the Ghost in his own Hamlet’ and says that he was at ‘the top of his performance’. http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/resources/shakespeares-theatres/globe-theatre/

Catholic Easter ( Easter in Great Britain)

For Christians Easter Sunday is the high point of the year. They celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As in many other European and New World countries, eggs and rabbits (signs of fertility and new life) are traditional symbols of Easter in the British Isles. Chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs, often adorned in colorful foil wrappers, are given to children as presents or are hidden for the Easter morning "egg hunt."

The tradition of decorating real eggs for Easter dates back to the Middle Ages. In 1290 the English king, Edward I, ordered 450 eggs to be covered in gold leaf to be given as Easter presents. It is thought that the bright hues used to decorate Easter eggs were meant to mirror the colors of the reawakening spring growth.

Another British Easter custom is egg rolling or the egg race, when competitors try to be the first to roll their egg across a course or down a hill… without breaking it!

Aside from eggs, the best-known English Easter food is probably the hot cross bun. Dating back to medieval times, the buns were traditionally eaten on Good Friday, but they are now popular all around the Easter season. These sweet treats, fragrant with fruit and spices, are marked with a cross, either slashed into the dough before baking, or drizzled on in icing afterwards. The history of hot cross buns dates far back to the pre-Christian era. It is thought that they are descendants of the small cakes offered to Eostre, the goddess of spring. They may have been marked with a cross even in ancient times, to represent the four quarters of the moon. In later centuries the church, unable to stamp out ancient pagan traditions, decided instead to "Christianize" the buns by associating the cross with that of Jesus.

Easter Sunday in the British Isles is traditionally marked by church services, often held at dawn so that worshippers can view the sunrise, a symbol of Christ's resurrection. Afterwards Easter eggs are exchanged and eaten. 

Easter parades were also once an important tradition, during which people would wear their new clothes - the ladies in particular would show off their new "Easter bonnets" - as another sign of spring's renewal. Later the family would gather for Easter lunch or dinner, which in England traditionally consisted of roast spring lamb with mint sauce, potatoes and green peas. There was time to rest from the celebrations the next day, since Easter Monday is traditionally a holiday in Britain. http://www.lengto.ru/publ/topiki/easter_in_great_britain/3-1-0-20

Celebrating Holi in India (Colourful March)

Holi is one of the major festivals of India and celebrated with immense joy and fervor throughout the country. It is celebrated in the month of Phalgun according to the Hindu calendar which commemorates with the month of March in the Gregorian calendar. The date of Holi is decided according to the Hindu calendar according to which the date lying on the Phalgun Purnima is considered the day for Holi. Though the festival is celebrated in most of the parts of the country, the celebrations have a regional influence in their rituals and traditions. The celebration of Holi is known as the ‘celebrations of colors and joys’. Holi starts at midnight with a bonfire of Holika and the celebrations come to climax in the morning when colors and music fill the entire atmosphere with zeal of joy and celebrations.

 North India North India is famous for its rough and tough kind of Holi. Legends say that Lord Krishna spent most of his childhood in Mathura and Vrindavana and he was the one to introduce the modern form of Holi in this part of the country. That is why Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm at these places for about a week. In North India, the Holi of Mathura and Vrindavana are specially known for its immense enthusiasm and zeal. In Mathura and Vridavana, the major temples of the region dedicated to Krishna and Radha celebrate Holi on a different day. Very similar to these two places, in most of the North Indian states, Holi means getting drenched with colored water and gulal. It is considered auspicious as well as becomes quite enjoyable. The playful teasing by women and attempts by men to color them with 'gulal' and wet colors from 'pichkari', the attempts to escape and beating the men with sticks to scamper them away makes Holi very fun filling and enjoyable. These celebrations are accompanied with scrumptious food and lip smacking items. 

Punjab and Haryana In Punjab and Haryana, Holi is celebrated in a yet interested way. The brides of the families hang a pot of buttermilk high up in the streets and challenge to their brothers-in-law, who try to get to break the pot by forming a human pyramid. Women try to stop them by beating them with their saris rolled up as ropes. This mock-drama is staged to commemorate the playful pranks of child Krishna, who would steal milk, butter and curd from the maids' houses. In the evening, the brothers-in-law bring sweetmeats for the women of the house for their contribution in keeping the family united. The color play also takes place simultaneously. 

Western India Like Haryana, Maharashtra and Gujarat and other states of West India, also has mock-drama of Krishna trying to break the pots and steal the butter. Besides, this ‘Matka-breaking ceremony’, men in these states also takes out several grand processions singing Holi songs and poems. Soaked with colored water, they walk through the streets and sing to mock alert the people of the house in the locality to take care of their pots of butter and milk as Krishna may come in and steal them. At the time of evening, people visit each others home, exchange sweets and good wishes.

 Eastern India In eastern state of India, West Bengal has an interesting and different kind of Holi. In Bengal, Holi is called Dol Yatra (the Swing Festival) in which idols of Krishna and Radha are placed on swings and devotees take turns to swing them. Women perform devotional songs and dances around the swing as men spray colored water and 'Abeer' (colored powder) on them. However, the tradition is being lost gradually and the modern trend of playing with colored water and powders in the morning and then take out processions on the streets with music and drums has also influenced the Bengali Holi. In Orissa, traditions are similar to that of Bengal except for the fact that the idols of Jagannath is placed on the swing here instead of Krishna and Radha, who is believed to be another form of Krishna. The tradition of sweet exchange, feasting and color play has also become prominent in the state now.

North East If we talk about the North Esatern Holi, the Holi of Manipur is interesting enough to draw the attention. Holi is a six-day long in Manipur and commences on the full moon day of Phalguna. In the 18th century, it merged with the traditional and centuries-old Yaosang festival of Manipur. In earlier times, there were folk songs and dance performances under the moonlight accompanied by the indigenous drums. Today, modern musical instruments have replaced the drums and fluorescent lamps have replaced the moonlight. Days before, people collect money from the community for the expenses on the festivities. A thatched hut of hay, twigs and sticks is built, only to be set ablaze. Next morning, groups of boys go to play 'gulal' with the girls and pay them money to get the favor. Devotees play 'gulal', sing devotional songs and dance in front of the Krishna temple dressed in the traditional white and yellow turban. On the last day of the festival, a grand procession is taken out to the main Krishna temple in the capital of Manipur, Imphal where multitude of cultural programs take place.

Read more at http://festivals.iloveindia.com/holi/holi-celebrtions.html#O7qgrEEfAwzZ8y49.99

Edvantages and Disadvantages of Extreme Sports ( 8th Graders)

The thrill of extreme sports draws in many who are looking for a little excitement. Snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding, free running and other extreme sports offer the freedom of physically and psychologically challenging yourself to perform feats that may make other athletes queasy. But many extreme sports have an element of danger beyond the risks associated with traditional sports. It is important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of the extreme sport of your interest.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Adventure Sports

'It’s not for the faint hearted' - You must have come across these words in many television and reality shows. Another area which proudly hosts this tagline is the adventure sports or sometimes we call it extreme sports. It is something we don’t normally do every day. Did you swim with the dolphins? Or gone scuba-diving or deep sea diving? Or been sailing? Have you ridden on an elephant or a camel? Or been sky diving? All these and many more things form the adventure sports. They seem really very exciting and fascinating. But how exciting they remain when we fall in the other lot? The lot in which sports like sky diving, bungee jumping from a cliff, etc. evoke fear.

Advantages of extreme sports –

1. It keeps us extremely fit. It helps to burn calories and keeps the blood flowing. It stretches the limits of our body little by little thus helping us become stronger.
2. It is a great way of having fun. Just like any other sport, it relaxes one's mind and rejuvenates it.
3. It provides us with new experiences. It gives an opportunity to live life to the fullest and to escape from everyday routine. It gives some thrill to life and these experiences become great memories to cherish during the routine life.
4. It also gives a sense of achievement.
5. It helps build confidence and motivation. This in turn helps people to take risks in their work where sometimes when needed, people are too timid to take a risk or hard decision.
6. They help get rid of monotonous life as well as frustration, stress, bad emotions, etc.
7. It also helps overcome fear and builds strength - physical and mental, endurance, will-power, responsibility, etc.
8. Added to this, many of the extreme sports are outdoor activities and help us get in touch with nature.
Disadvantages of extreme sports –

1. They are very dangerous.

2. It is like putting your life in unnecessary danger just for recreational purpose.

3. There is a very high possibility of injuries even with the safety precautions. Many even die trying and performing these feats. It is straining the body out of the comfort zone and may not go down well if the body is not prepared for such heavy workout or one is not a regular practitioner of adventure sports.

4. Also, sometimes a person may not realize the fragility of one's health and may get into trouble. He or she might think they are fit but such adventure sports increase heart rate, give an adrenaline boost, etc. which can cause even heart attacks. So there is no way to determine accurately whether a person is fit for these sports or not.
5. These sports can be traumatic too.
6. Also if a person is unable to perform satisfactorily in such sports, it can dent the confidence as many see these sports as a proof of guts, daring and many a times masculinity.
7. Equipent or gears needed may be very expensive. Also the gear and equipment are mostly for safety purposes. So safety is costly in such sports.
8. Some might get into trouble with law. E.g. Extreme sports’ athletes also are commonly prosecuted for defacing property and trespassing as in skateboarders, BMX riders, etc.
9. Also family, relatives and friends worry about us and our safety. So choosing such a sport takes a toll on them too. They live in fear of our safety.


10. For some sports, to enjoy them in a better manner one needs to train properly. In such a hectic schedule and fast paced life it is difficult to find time for such things.
Like two sides of a coin, extreme sports come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Many a time the disadvantages outnumber the advantages. They are not compulsory.But one needs to understand that these extreme sports are mostly meant as a break from life and not something to be included in your regular life. If they are to be included in a regular life, then no person can go far without proper training and equipment. It’s up to us to decide what we need to do, how cautious we must be and what limits we must follow. Proper precautions and training can help us enjoy the sports to the fullest.http://www.careerride.com/view.aspx?id=26017

For and Against Essays

For and against essays

A "for and against" essay is a formal piece of writing in which a topic is considered from opposing points of view. You should present both sides in a fair way by discussing them objectively and in equal detail. A good essay of this type should consist of:

a) an introductory paragraph in which you clearly state the topic to be discussed, without giving your opinion;
b) a main body in which the points for and against along with your justifications, examples or reasons are presented in separate paragraphs; and
c) a closing paragraph in which you state your opinion or give a balanced consid¬eration of the topic.

Note: Opinion words (I think, I believe, In my opinion, etc.) can only be used in the closing paragraph where you give your opinion on the topic.

Points to consider

• Before you start writing your essay you should make a list of the points for and against.
• Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence which summarises the topic of the paragraph.
e.g. In addition, many people feel reading is a relaxing and worthwhile activity.
• Do not use informal style (e.g. short forms, colloquial language, etc.) or strong language to express your opinion (e.g. I know…, etc.). Express your opinion in a non-emotional way (e.g. It seems that, I therefore feel, etc.).
• Well-known quotations relevant to the topic you are writing about will make your composition more interesting. For example, if you are writing an essay on education, a quotation you may include is: "Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." (Will Durant)
Note: Although these are "balanced" arguments, if you feel that either the for or against side is stronger and should be supported, this side should be presented in paragraphs 4 & 5, thus leading the reader to your conclusion.

Introduction
Paragraph 1
state topic (summary of the topic without giving your opinion)
Main Body
Paragraphs 2 & 3
arguments for & justifi¬cations, examples, and/ or reasons
Paragraphs 4 & 5
arguments against & justification, examples, and/or reasons
Conclusion
Final Paragraph
balanced consideration/ your opinion directly or indirectly

Go to Practical Exercises

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases
• To list points:
Firstly, First of all, In the first place, To begin/start with, Secondly, Thirdly, Finally
• To list advantages:
One/Another/A further/An additional (major) advantage of… is … The main/greatest/first advantage of… is …
• To list disadvantages:
One/Another/ A further/An additional (major) disadvantage/drawback of. The main/greatest/most serious/first disadvantage /drawback of… Another negative aspect of…
• To introduce points/arguments for or against:
One (very convincing) point/argument in favour of… / against, A further common criticism of… / It could be argued that…..
often claimed/suggested
It is widely argued maintained that…..
generally felt/believed/held

Some/many/most people/experts/scientist/skeptics/critics
claim/suggest/argue/feel that…
maintain/believe/point out/agree/hold that…
advocate (+ing/noun)/support the view that…
oppose the view that…
are in favour of/against…
are of the opinion that/convinced that…
are opposed to…

• To add more points to the same topic:
in addition (to this), furthermore, moreover, besides, apart from, what is more, as well as, not to mention (the fact) that, also, not only … but also/as well, both … and, There is another side to the issue/question/argument of…
• To make contrasting points:
on the other hand, however, still, yet, but, nonetheless, nevertheless, even so,
it may be said/argued/claimed that,…
others/many people oppose this viewpoint/strongly disagree…, claim/feel/believe this argument is incorrect/misguided
although, though, even though, while, whilst, whereas, despite/in spite of (the fact that), regardless of the fact that
Opponents of … argue/believe/claim that…
The fact that… contradicts the belief/idea that…
While it is true to say that…, in fact…
While/Although …, it cannot be denied that…

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases
• To introduce examples:
for example, for instance, such as, like, in particular, particularly, especially, This is (clearly) illustrated/shown by the fact that… One/A clear/striking/ typical example of (this)… The fact that…. shows/illustrates that…
• To emphasise a point:
clearly, obviously, it is obvious, naturally, of course, needless to say, indeed
• To express reality:
In fact, the fact (of the matter) is, actually, in practice, it is a fact that, in effect
• To make general statements:
as a (general) rule, generally, in general, on the whole, by and large, in most cases
• To make partially correct statements:
to a certain extent/degree, to some extent/degree, in a way/sense, this is partly true (but), to a limited extent, there is some truth in (this), in some cases, up to a point
• To explain/clarify a point:
in other words, that is to say, this/which means that
• To express cause: owing to, due to (the fact that), on account of, on the grounds that, given that, because, as, since
• To express effect: therefore, thus, as a result/consequence, consequently, so, for this reason, if… were to happen, … the effect/result would be…
• To express intention: to, so as to, in order to, so that, with the intention of (+ing)

Go to Practical Exercises on the Use of linking words and phrases

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases: Conclusion expressing balanced considerations/opinion indirectly
In conclusion,
On balance,
All things considered,
Taking everything into account/consideration,
To conclude,
To sum up,
All in all,
Finally/Lastly,

……………………. it can be said/claimed that …
……………………. it seems/appears that…
……………………. it would seem that…
……………………. it is likely/unlikely/possible/foreseeable that …
……………………. it is clear/obvious that…
…………………….. there is no/little doubt that …
…………………….. it is true to say that …
…………………….. although it must be said that …
……………………. it may be concluded/said that …

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases: Conclusion expressing opinion directly
In conclusion,
On balance,
All things considered,
Taking everything into account/consideration,
To conclude,
To sum up,
All in all,

…………………………… it is my belief/opinion that …
………………………….. I (firmly) believe/feel/think that …
…………………………… I am convinced that …
…………………………… I am inclined to believe that …
…………………………… I (do not) agree that/with …

NOTE

1. A for and against essay can end in a balanced consideration in which you restate that there are points for and against the topic using appropriate expressions given above.
2. Alternatevely, it can end by expressing an opinion, in which case you state, directly or indirectly, that you are either in favour of oragainst the topic, using appropriate expressions given above. http://academicwriting.wikidot.com/for-and-against-essays

Happiness Day, March 20th

 Top 10 things to do to create happiness:

1. Love yourself, YES!  be your best friend, celebrate your accomplishments, and give yourself a hand to work on your challenges.

2. Feel magical. My first glimpse at magic came looking at chloroplasts in plants. So here I was amazed to see the organelles that eat sun and transform it into food for the rest of us to live off. When you think about all that needs to happen for  you to read this and for me to write it… well, there has to be magic.

3. Experience tenderness. When was the last time you smile at that delicate feeling? when did you feel protective and compassionate? give that smile, hold that hand, water than plant, feed that pet.

4. Wave at a kid. Yes, specially if you are driving…  watch for a surprised waved back… and probably a concern parent too!

5. Make a sign.  Happiness day… or better yet, make a poster with precut ends: Free happy thoughts.6. Call or write to an old friend, remember a good time. Better yet, call or write to your old loved teacher, or that neighbor that was kind of eccentric.

7. Text a person you love:  I love you.

8. Feel grateful. Pray, say thanks. Nothing is more refreshing than feeling blessed. If you don’t follow any God, be grateful to Nature. Honestly, you didn’t do anything to get here. But we are happy you are.

9. Work well. Get some work done with gusto. Flip your wings like a butterfly… not because you care but because you can.

10. Ask and share what makes you happy.  Bring happiness into people’s lives. At work, at home, at school. Start the conversation.

Mind that  Happiness day is every day!

My home is my castle

I personally think that home is a small world where one lives according to his/her own rules. It's a place where you feel comfort, warmth and reliability.

The importance of home is depicted in languages of all the nations: we say "East or West, home is best ", the English say "My home is my castle." Home is a place that awakens the most pleasant feelings and high emotions in soul of every person. Always after a hard day I return home and think "At last I came home". For me there is no place like home. 

I'm sure that home of a person is as much a reflection of his personality, as the clothes he wears, the food he eats, the books he reads and the friends he spends his time with. Homes reflect the way of life and habits of their owners. 

I adore my home; I like to be there, because it's always filled with happiness and joy. Even after the first few minutes in our flat you can understand all hospitality and friendliness of this place and the family which lives there. Our flat is very warm and cosy, so it makes any person feel at home. It's the place where I wake up every morning to the refreshing smell of coffee from the kitchen and where every day of my life starts, that's why it is so important for me. 

My favourite room is our kitchen. Perhaps the kitchen is the most important room in many houses, but it is particularly so in our house becaus it's not only where we cook and eat but it's also the main meeting place fo family and friends. I have so many happy memories of times spent there:! special occasions such as homecomings or cooking Christmas dinner; troubled times, which lead to comforting cups of tea in the middle of the night; ordinary daily events such as making breakfast on dark, cold winter mornings for cross, sleepy children before sending them off to school, then sitting down to read the newspaper with a steaming hot mug of coffee. Whenever we have a party, people gravitate with their strong drinks to the kitchen. It always ends up the fullest and noisiest room in the house.

So what does this special room look like? It's quite big, but not huge. It's big enough to have a good-sized rectangular table in the centre, which is the focal point of the room. There is a large window above the sink, which looks out onto two apple trees in the garden. The cooker is at one end, and above it is a wooden pulley, which is old-fashioned but very useful for drying clothes in wet weather. At the other end is a wall with a large notice-board, which tells the story of our lives, past, present, and future, in words and pictures: my school photo, postcards and wedding invitations. All our world is there for everyone to read!

My home, my sweet home... Sometimes after a long journey I return home with such pleasure and happiness, that I feel myself like a baby that returns to its mother. I love every corner and every thing in my flat. "My home is my fortress", it is my territory, my place where I feel good and comfortable. And nobody can disturb me here.

St Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland.

Saint Patrick’s Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early seventeenth century. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.

History

The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. Until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. During his captivity he became a Christian and adopted the name Patrick.

He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery for a period of twelve years. During his training he got the notion that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.

He returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact rightfully upset the Celtic Druids, who had their own native religion. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his indoctrination of the Irish country into Christianity.

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick’s Day ever since.

There are many myths and legends about St. Patrick. Perhaps the most well known legend is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using a native Irish clover, the shamrock. He used the three-leafed shamrock in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

St. Patrick’s Day Around the Wor

Today, people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day throughout the world, especially in the United States, Canada and Australia. This holiday is also celebrated in many other locations far from Ireland, including Japan and Singapor.

Approximately 1 million people annually take part in Ireland ‘s St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks shows. Many people dress up in entirely green outfits to celebrate the holiday. One reason St. Patrick’s Day might have become so popular is that it takes place in the beginning of spring. One might say it has become the first green of spring.

http://www.dinternal.com.ua/country-study/st-patricks-day-2/