ELC  Newsletter
St. Patrick's Day Issue
News you can use
Volume 6.3 March 2002
 
Welcome to our special March Issue of the ELC Newsletter. March is the beginning of spring and this month we commemorate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. We wish you the luck of the Irish this month and hope that you find a pot of gold at the end of your rainbow.
 
 
A HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK
Patrick, originally named Succat, was born in 373 AD to a Gaelic family in Britain. When he was young he was abducted and sold into slavery. He toiled in bondage for six years before escaping. With his new found freedom Patrick travelled to Ireland and spent the rest of his life preaching and building churches and schools. He played a major role in the conversion of the Irish to Christianity. Legend has it that he also drove all the snakes off the Emerald Isle by beating his drum. Each year people commemorate the patron saint of Ireland on 17 March by wearing green clothing.  
 
 
 
THE BLARNEY STONE
The Blarney Stone is found in Blarney Castle, near Cork in Ireland. People come from all around the world to kiss it, but this is not as easy as it sounds. Since the stone is set between the main castle wall and the parapet it is necessary to lie on your back and bend over backwards to kiss it. According to legend, those who kiss the stone are given the gift of the gab.
 
Irish Folklore: The Leprechaun
The leprechaun is a little fellow who keeps a pot of gold hidden at the end of a rainbow. If you are lucky enough to catch one you should hold on tight.
 
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Beware the ides of March."
 
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
 
The Soothsayer in Shakespeare's famous play Julius Caesar whispers this premonition to the Emperor. The ides of March is another way of saying 15 March, the day on which Brutus killed Caesar.
 
 
QUICK QUIZ
 
Question: Who invented the Caesar Salad?
Answer: Caesar Cardini in 1923
 
Of Lions and Lambs
The weather at the start of March is usually still wintry, but by the end of the month spring has arrived. Hence the saying:
 
March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
 
The Long March
 
In 1935, the Communist Party began a 6,000-kilometre trek from Jiangxi Province to Shaanxi to escape the encroaching National Forces. Of the 86,000 who began, only 8000 survived the march.
 
 
SPRING FLOWERS
Flowers are often chosen as national emblems. Match the flowers and the countries below.
 
Rose Malaysia
 
Tulip England
 
Rafflesia Wales
 
Bauhinia Thailand
 
Daffodil Holland
 
Orchid Hong Kong
 
 
THE MARCH HARE
 
The March Hare is a character in Lewis Carroll's famous book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. He is a mad hare who talks nonsense.
 
 
THE FROGMARCH
 
The word frogmarch can be used as a verb. It means to force somebody to move forward with their arms held tightly together behind the back.
 
 
 
English Club News – Big Mouth Corner & Boat Trip
Following the International Pop Culture Festival in February, the English Club will be hosting Big Mouth Corner and a boat trip in March.
 
Big Mouth Corner
Date: Every Thursday evening during term time
Time: 6:30p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Venue: EF Podium
Mark your calendars (Every Thursday) and make sure you join us for this fun meeting with international students.
 
Boating
Want to go sailing? Join the boat trip hosted by the English Club. It is a great chance for you to meet foreign students and have some fun. Remember to check your e-mail for updated information.
For more information about the activity, please visit our website: http://welcome.to/englishclub or send us an e-mail to englishclub@elc.polyu.edu.hk. We are looking forward to seeing you!
 
 
 
WAP
 
The Writing Assistance Programme allows writers to develop their skills while receiving personalised attention from a teacher at any stage during the writing process. Appointments may be booked in ST405.
 
 
 
 
Mark your diaries for PIFS Movies
PIFS has three more films and discussion events this semester. Coming next is Brazil by Terry Gilliam, an unusual comedy from the UK. And yes, it has been two years since the Film Society began with a bang. We celebrate our 2nd anniversary with a French film by Krzysztof Kieslowski, Trois Couleurs: Blanc on 22 March. Be there! You may remember that the first anniversary of the PIFS (ELC) was celebrated with Trois Couleurs: Bleu by Krzysztof Kieslowski. Please join and become part of the PIFS’s multi-cultural community. We meet every two weeks.
 
 
 
The PIFS Events Calendar Semester 2
 
Date
Events
Friday 8 March
Friday 22 March
Friday 12 April
Brazil (English)
by Terry Gilliam
Trois Couleurs: Blanc (French)
by Krzysztof Kieslowski
Requiem for a Dream English
by Darron Aronofsky
 
 
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
 
Would you like to be part of our next issue? Stop by ST405 and have a chat with the editors. We would like to meet you. Come speak with us in ST405d and f.
 
 
 
MARCH ON DOWN TO CILL
The Centre for Independent Language Learning, located in L009, G/F, E Core is the place to be this month as you prepare for your EIW assessments. They have a wealth of resources to help you with workplace writing and speaking and a friendly staff to answer any questions you may have. So get yourself to CILL on the double! One, Two, Three, Four…
 
 
 
LINGUISTIC MIGRATION
Words travel around the world just like people. They cross borders and influence other languages. Did you know that there are many words in English that come from Chinese? Sometimes it is obvious to the native English speaker that a word is from Chinese. The word kung fu is a good example of this. But there are other words that people use every day in English without ever realising that they are of Chinese origin. Below you'll find a list of Chinese words that are commonly used in English. Can you think of any others?
 
Ginseng - The root of the ginseng plant is believed to have medicinal properties.
Dim sum - A snack or special food served in small portions.
Chop - An official stamp or permit
Tofu - A healthy food, bean curd
Typhoon - A tropical hurricane
Chow - (slang) Chow is used informally.
As a noun it means food. It can also be used as a verb for to eat. The chow at this restaurant is great. We always stop here to chow after work.
Ketchup - A kind of tomato sauce
Kowtow - (verb) To be submissive to someone’s demands.
 
 
 
IT'S THAT TIME OF THE MONTH IDIOMS
 
To get one's marching orders- To be dismissed from one's job.
Given the economic climate, Joe was not surprised when he received his marching orders.
 
On the march- Acting in a vigorous or determined manner to fulfil an aim or purpose.
 
When Anne left the house it was clear that she was on the march. She had several errands to run and wanted to be home in time for dinner.
 
 
As mad as a March hare- Acting in a silly way.
 
I was speaking to Tony yesterday and he said something really stupid. He's as mad as a March hare.
 
March with the times- To progress or develop at the same rate as changing fashions and general social customs.
 
Her grandfather really marches with the times. They keep in touch by ICQ.
 
 
The Marches- a border area especially between Scotland or Wales and England.
He comes from the Welsh Marches.
 
 
 
 
SPRING
Spring heralds an explosion of life with trees and plants bursting with colour. Green shoots and sprouting leaves prove once more that Earth is still alive and fertile. But is it going to stay like this? Not if we continue to waste the precious resources it gives us. Not if we continue to pollute and ravage the very place that is our home.
 
Below you will find a word search. Try to locate as many words as possible related to the environment and the Earth. We hope you can find them and in doing so promise to do something for the protection of our home so that spring will come every year with the same splendour and beauty.
 
Wordsearch
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GREEN VOCABULARY
 
deforestation global warming greenhouse effect ecosystem ozone layer CFCS environment food chain endangered species
 
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