Vocabulary for the elections

Good morning everyone, since we are approaching the time to choose a candidate both for governing our state and our country I thought it might be a good idea to bring to front some relevant words to the theme:

The politician who wants a job in the government is called a candidate. The person who chooses him or her in an election is a voter. and all the people in a country who have the right to vote are called together the electorate.

When a candidate decides to be a candidate we can say that he is running for president, for example:

Marina Silva is running for president now that Eduardo Campo's died. 

Eduardo Suplicy is running for senator.

Gilberto Kasssab is running for senator of São Paulo state.

It's important to note that we use run for a position. Like:

run for president
run for governor
run for senator

The same word goes when you choose your candidate, you should say vote for somebody;  for example:

I'm going to vote for Eduardo Suplicy for senator.
I still haven't decided who I'm going to vote for in these elections.

The period of time we are in now is called in English run-up to the elections, this is when the candidates make their campaigns, talk to the voters and try to persuade the electorate to vote for them. During the run-up to the elections Brazilians must deal with intensive political propaganda on TV, radio, as well as debates with the main candidates.

On the day of the elections we must go to a polling place (this is a British term) and direct ourselves to a polling booth (a British and Canadian term for a voting booth), which is a compartment with one open side in which one voter at a time stands to mark their ballot (New Oxford American Dictionary).

The ballot is a synonym of vote, but it is also the name of the piece of paper on which we mark our vote. In Brazil we have a very modern voting system and we only need to press buttons. Our system is entirely computerized.

In our country a candidate for president, governor or even mayor of a city must have 50% + 1 of the votes. When this does not happen we have what is called a run-off election. A second chance for the 2 candidates who received the biggest number of votes in the first time.

When we read the news about who MIGHT win the elections, we are in fact reading survey results. Survey is like an investigation of the opinions or experience of a group of people, based on a series of questions (New Oxford American Dictionary).

Well, I guess this is the basic vocabulary.

How about you? Have you chosen your candidate yet?

How wolves change rivers

How wonderful dear students!

Advice for senior girl

I read today off the facebook page of widely famous writer Elizabeth Gilbert this wonderful text:

Dear Ones -
Yesterday, a friend of this page named Gloria asked if I would write some advice to her daughter, who is in her senior year, about to head off into life.
Such an honor to be asked!

So today I thought I would share with you all the thoughts I gathered for this young girl on the brink of adulthood (or, as we say it my family, "on the adult of brinkhood"):
"Out into the world you go! Here is some advice along your way: Stay out of debt! Keep your expenses low and learn how to live without luxuries so you can have a bigger and more free life, unbound by the fear of the bill collector. Remember that Autonomy Is The God of Woman. Never give your heart or your body to anyone who doesn't view you as a precious treasure. Never use another person's heart or body as a way to pass time while you're waiting for real love to come along. Don't ever expect somebody else to hand your destiny to you — go out and find it. Follow your curiosity bravely, because ultimately it is your curiosity that will lead you to your passion. Remember that you are not made of sugar candy: You are stronger than you think, more powerful than you could ever imagine. Therefore, stay near people who know that you are strong and stay away from people who fear that you are weak. Character is more important than personality, both in yourself and in your friends. Learn how to be happy alone. Listen more than you speak. (I'm still learning this one!) Don't worry what anyone is thinking about you; they are only ever thinking about themselves, anyhow. Don't smoke. Don't ride motorcycles — especially not in Southeast Asia. Floss. Wear your seatbelt. Don't drink sugary sodas. Try to be creative for a half an hour a day. Save your money (have I mentioned this?) and give yourself the gift of travel. Don't get married too young: Statistics show that the happiest women are those who delayed marriage. (In the meantime, if you want to wear a pretty diamond ring, you can always buy one for yourself.) Be interested and you will always be interesting. Have FUN! Love, Liz"

(ps: I took this photo of the sky yesterday with my iPhone. It really is a pretty spectacular world. Go out there and look up.)

How angry are you?

What are you like?
Are you a more easy-going person, or a more stressed person?
Do you spend lots of time in traffic jams? Does that make you angry?
Do you mind waiting for people?
What gets on your nerves?
What calms you down?
What are some of the synonyms of angry that you can remember?
How about its opposites?

Listen to this 6 minute English from BBC Learning English and find out what research has found out about anger:

Angry People


Now that you have listened to the clip help me out with some vocabulary:

public transport annoys me
it's the passengers that I find most annoying
it really makes my blood boil when...
things that used to make us angry

A Job Interview

 

What happens in the sketch? (up to 1:55'')

What impression do you get of the interview? Is the applicant successful?

How does the video turn out?

How did your last job interview go?

Have you ever felt as wrong about a situation as the guy in the video?

What advice can you give him? (use should)

Teapot Tower - I like it, do you?

Believe it or not, this is an office building:

Listen to this BBC report and tell me if you would like to work there:

Words in the news: Teapot Tower

Cinema Etiquette

Do you think there is a proper way to behave at the cinema?

What are some of the things you may do?

And what are the things you shouldn't do?

Listen to this BBC Learning English Lesson:

Cinema Etiquette