Canada's Provinces and Territories

GET READY!
B.E.S.T. will be posting information that is needed for citizenship tests.  Of course, you need to know lots of stuff about Canada and especially geography.
Here are some questions for you to think about:
1.  Do you think Canada is a big country compared with other countries in the world?
2.  Is Canada bigger than your country of origin?
3.  About how many kilometres wide do you think Canada is, from east to west?
4.  What continent is Canada in?
5.  What continent is your country of origin in?
6.  How many provinces and territories does Canada have?  Can you name them?
7.  What is the capital of Canada?
8.  What is the capital city of the province where you are?
9.  Describe the weather in Canada.
10. Describe the weather in your country of origin.


If you would like a teacher to answer your questions, write the answers in the comment box below.  We will correct your grammar, punctuation and your answers, too!


Good luck!

CANADA!

Oh Canada!
Part of the curriculum for B.E.S.T. will include information about Canada; history, geography, law, health services, education - anything you can think of!


Why do you need this information?  Think of all the possible answers.....


What is the name of the song you sing for your country?
Our n-t--n-l -nth-m is called O Canada!
We stand when we sing these songs.
Here are the lyrics:

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

 And because we are a bilingual country, here are the French lyrics:



O Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux.
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix.
Ton histoire est une épopée,
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

If you don't know what any of the words in English mean, you can look them up online at:  www.thefreedictionary.com

Slang

So what is slang?  Who uses slang?
Here is a dictionary definition:
an informal nonstandard vocabulary composed typically of coinages, arbitrarily changed words, and extravagant, forced, or facetious figures of speech
(Merriam Webster dictionary)


Now you're saying.... what does THAT mean?
Well really it means street language.  Something you hear everyday that maybe doesn't sound like 'good' English but is used all the time.


Here are some examples of slang that use colour words:


My fever got so high that I BLACKED OUT.
I'm feeling BLUE today.
You really have a GREEN thumb.
Whenever she drinks, she holds her glass her with her PINKY sticking up.
Laura TURNED BEET RED when she ripped her dress in public.
You look WHITE AS A GHOST!  What happened?
He didn't want to speak in public.  He's so YELLOW.


What do you think they mean?

BBQ and fundraising with Linda Jeffrey MPP

B.E.S.T. attended Linda Jeffrey's BBQ at Loafer's Lake Park in Brampton.
We set up a table, sold memberships, did henna, got to meet the community and spread the word!
Here are a few photos from the day.
Mrs. Jeffrey has kindly asked us to attend her New Year's Levee at the Rose Theatre.  

Don't miss out!

IDIOMS - An Introduction

What is an idiom?
So many newcomers have problems understanding English speakers and probably it's because English speakers use idioms ALL THE TIME!


Here is an example of the confusion you might be having:
"I have a lot of bread."  What does this mean?
1.  the LITERAL meaning is that I have a lot of bread (to eat and make a sandwich with)
2.  the IDIOM means:  I have a lot of money.
Confused?


Maybe you'll ask.... how do I remember all of this?


As my colleague Angelo has said so many times.... practice, practice, practice!


So, an idiom is:
1.  an expression/phrase  that is fixed - you can't develop one of your own
2.  an expression that uses languages in a 'metaphorical' way


Where can you hear idioms?
television, radio and read the newspapers!


This is the first installment of idioms work ... stay tuned for more!