Fact File – Prague (Capital of Czech Republic)

Prague capital of the Czech Republic can rightly rank high among the most beautiful cities of Europe. For centuries the city has developed its unique beauty being guarded from two sides by ancient castles, located on rocks above the Vltava river – the Prague Castle and Vyšehrad. Burgess houses, temples and palaces of various architectural styles have retained spirit of the ancient times of its origin.


Source: Vitochova, Marie. Prague Mother of Cities. VRAJI Publishing House. Pardubice.

Fact File – Schools and Languages (Fiji)

Over 90 percent of Fiji’s people can read and write. Fijians are not required to go to school, but almost all children attend primary school. Education is free for the first 8 years. Students must pay for grades 9 to 12, but most are still able to attend. After secondary school, some students go on to a trade school, and some go on to a university or medical school.

Fiji’s official language is English, and almost everyone can speak it. But Indo-Fijians often speak to each other in a dialect of Hindi (HINdee), and Indian language. Fijians often speak to each other in Fijian.

Fijian was not written language until Christian missionaries put spoken Fijian in writing. The missionaries used some English letters in unusual ways – for example c sounds like th, b sounds like mb and q sound like ng! The name of the 1800s Fijian leader Cakobau is pronounced “thank-OM-bau.”

Source: Stevens, Kathryn. Admit One Fiji. Chanhassen: The Child’s World, Inc.

Fact File – Schools and Languages (Switzerland)

Children begin primary school at age six or seven and continue through grade nine. After that, they have two choices. They can either go to high school or take lehre (LAY-reh). A lehre is an apprenticeship for learning a trade such as carpentry or plumbing.


Switzerland has four languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch. Two-thirds of the people speak a dialect, or types of German called Schwyzertütsch. People in Geneva and the west speak French. Italian is spoken in southern Switzerland. A few people in the eastern Alps speak Romansch, a very old language. Many Swiss people know two, three, or even four languages. Sometimes when two people talk, each person is speaking a different language!

Source: Harris, K. Pamela. Admit One Switzerland. Chanhassen: The Child’s World, Inc.

Fact File - La France

What is France like? Well, it is many things, all in a six-sided area smaller than the state of Texas. (The French often refer to their country as l’Hexagone because of its shape.) It is rolling fields of wheat stretching as far as the eye can see. Off in the distance, rising above the fields, may be the bell tower of a church built 800 years ago. Or it is green pastures, where cows and goats are grazing in the shadow of high mountains, with cars whizzing past on a nearby superhighway.

France is vineyards, neat rows of grapevines clinging to the side of a hill. France has mountains, and it has plains; it has hundreds of tiny streams and four major rivers: la Seine, la Loire, la Garonne, and le Rhône.

Source: Son et Sens. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresmen and Company. 3rd Ed.

Fact File - Bells Over Belgium

Belgium, the “Land of Singing Towers,” has had bells as a means of expression in its community life for many centuries. The historical background and development from single bells into the mighty bell-instruments called carillons is a true story of human interest and fascination, because bells have always been closely connected with the people in their struggle for freedom and happiness.


Carillon music has also played a large part in the many traditional observances of which Belgium, probably more than any other country of its size, has such a great and varied number. They take the form of processions, pilgrimages, medieval pageants and historical celebrations and the carillon is still the finest interpreter of the old and traditional folksongs which accompany them.

Art and literature have often found their inspiration in the soft music of the bells, especially after their musical quality and purity in town had been perfected through the artistic efforts and accomplished of numerous bell founders. Bells have run in historical events, rejoiced with the rejoicing, mourned with the grieving, chanted with the praying of the people, inspired architecture, enriched literature in prose and verse. Nathaniel Hawthorne once described their workings in these felicious terms: “The accents of the bells’ iron tongue have a strange influence over human sympathies: or rather, they chime in with every bone of sentiment, and make religion more venerable, grief more tender and joy more gladsome.”

Source: Lefevere, Kamiel. Bells Over Belgium. New York: Belgian Government Information Center.

International News – Los Mejores Empleos de EU

Carreras prometedoras - Buena paga y perspectivas de crecimiento superiores. Éstas son algunas de las cualidades que buscó Money para hallar los mejores empleos de EU.A continuación te presentamos los 10 primeros, por qué lo son y las desventajas que pueden tener estos grandiosos empleos.

1. Ingeniero de sistemasSon los grandes pensadores de proyectos complejos, desde redes de transporte a programas militares de defensa. Dirigen a otros ingenieros y determinan las especificaciones técnicas requeridas en cada proyecto.

Lo bueno: La demanda está a la alza. La paga fácilmente puede superar los cien mil dólares, aunque para muchos lo mejor de este trabajo son los aspectos creativos y ver cómo los proyectos cobran vida.

Lo malo: Las desventajas de este empleo son las largas jornadas, puesto que los plazos para la entrega de los proyectos suelen ser muy rigurosos.

2. ParamédicoTrabajando bajo la supervisión de un doctor, los paramédicos hacen todas las tareas de rutina, como diagnosticar, asistir en cirugías y hasta prescribir recetas en algunos estados.

Lo bueno: Tienen la satisfacción de atender a pacientes sin las responsabilidades administrativas de los médicos, además de que no gastan tanto tiempo, dinero y esfuerzo en su preparación.

Lo malo: Como todavía es una nueva profesión, el número de plazas aún es pequeño; sin embargo, esta desventaja se revertirá, pues muchos paramédicos serán contratados por ser más económicos que los médicos.

3. Profesor universitarioLos profesores de universidad no sólo imparten materias, también investigan.

Lo bueno: Gran libertad de horario, amplias vacaciones y reducida carga de trabajo durante el verano.

Lo malo: Salario inicialmente bajo y larga competencia por una plaza. Se requiere un doctorado, o al menos una maestría y experiencia dando clases.

4. Enfermero practicanteAdemás de tareas de cuidado rutinarias, tienen entrenamiento para diagnosticar y tratar muchas enfermedades y preescribir medicamentos.

Lo bueno: Cada vez más centros de salud de todos los tamaños requieren contratar personal de esta naturaleza.

Lo malo: Tiene que lidiar con las aseguradoras.

5. Jefe de proyecto de tecnología de informaciónMantienen grandes proyectos de tecnología, como mejoras de software con plazos muy definidos.

Lo bueno: Las oportunidades de crecimiento no terminan; pueden ascender a jefe oficial de tecnología de una compañía, donde los salarios pueden alcanzar incluso los $300,000.

Lo malo: Desafortunadamente, suelen tener reuniones de horas. Los tiempos de entrega de trabajos son generalmente muy rigurosos. El trabajo del personal puede ser externalizado a consultores.

6. Contador público certificado Son los expertos en números, para análisis financieros y preparación de impuestos.

Lo bueno: Los negocios comenzaron a contratarlos tras los grandes escándalos de contabilidad al principio de siglo. Las agencias de gobierno también les requieren para monitorear que las compañías cumplan con las nuevas reglas.

Lo malo: Las fechas límite, que no son negociables. Si estás en la preparación de tus impuestos, dile adiós a tu vida personal entre mediados de febrero y el 15 de abril.

7. FisioterapeutaSe dedican a restaurar la fuerza, flexibilidad y movimientos a personas que han sufrido lesiones o enfermedades.

Lo bueno: Con una población cada vez más anciana, no les faltará trabajo. La gratificación de ver mejorar mucho a los pacientes.

Lo malo: El impacto de la reforma de salud en la profesión es impredecible. Puede ser físicamente demandante.

8. Consultor de seguridad de redes/computadorasProtegen sistemas y red informáticas de hackers, software espía y virus.

Lo bueno: Ninguna compañía o agencia de gobierno puede permitirse ninguna violación a su sistema informático. En posiciones altas, cobran muy buenos sueldos. Además, muchos pueden trabajar desde casa.

Lo malo: Se trabaja con mucho estrés y no se permiten fallos, porque manchan para siempre la carrera profesional del responsable. Además, el trabajo requieres una dosis de genialidad y autoaprendizaje.

9. Analista de inteligenciaRecopila y analiza información relacionada a la política internacional y estrategias militares.

Lo bueno: Con la preocupación por la seguridad nacional, no faltará trabajo. Y tiene su componente aventurero y de espionaje.

Lo malo: Es estresante y no puedes hablar de tu trabajo con los amigos.

10. Director de ventasSe encargan de definir y lograr las metas de ventas, generar nuevas cuentas y enseñar a los nuevos vendedores.

Lo bueno: Un director de ventas exitoso –especialmente uno que pueda superar una crisis económica—siempre será buscado y suelen llegar a altos niveles.

Lo malo: Si caen las ventas, peligra el trabajo. Demasiados viajes. Buena parte del pago depende de comisiones.

Source: Univisión.com

Latin American News - Grito Mundial

¿Estás listo para gritar con Daddy Yankee? Entonces no puedes perderte el nuevo video del puertorriqueño titulado Grito Mundial, que grabó en diferentes ciudades y que corresponde a uno de los temas más festivos de su trayectoria. Si quieres unirte al grito del 'Cangri' tienes que mirar el audiovisual, que aparece como antesala del disco Daddy Yankee Mundial. No te lo pierdas y opina qué te parece.
El videoclip fue filmado durante el recorrido de Daddy por América Latina a finales de 2009 y recrea la fiesta que se vive entorno al futbol. Sobre todo en tiempos de la copa mundial."Hoy el mundo va a sentir, el poder que llevo en mi. Hay una fiesta en mi país, a la cima hay que llegar. Sólo hay una vida por vivir, esto va pa' mi gente de corazón. Uno pal baile, dos pa' la unión , tres pa' que acepte la invitación de la fiesta, porque esto es mundial", dice la letra de la melodía.

Grito Mundial, fusiona el reggaeton con la samba y la soca. Es una canción enérgica que tiene como mensaje principal la unión y tolerancia. "Cero racismo y cero egoísmo", de esta forma puedes "expandir más tu mente en sentidos culturales", explicó hace un tiempo el músico, en entrevista con Efe.

Asimismo, el álbum Daddy Yankee Mundial es un medio para decirle a la humanidad que rompa con las barreras sociales existentes y se una por el amor a la música, difundió su sello discográfico."

Este álbum es un llamado a la unión a través de la música y el baile. Hasta en nuestros peores momentos, la alegría nos puede unir", manifestó Yankee.

En el disco, el reggaetonero incluyó la colaboración de su compatriota Don Omar en el tema Desafió y del dúo urbano conformado por Jowell y Randy en la melodía Bailando fue.

Se espera que el más reciente trabajo musical de Daddy Yankee llegue a las tiendas en febrero o marzo del 2010, una vez que el artista termine con las negociaciones de distribución de su material.

Source: Univision.com 21 de Enero de 2010

Work and Leisure - Australia

Is has always been difficult and is currently becoming even more so to talk about leisure in Australia without talking about work. There is in Australia a tension between the work ethic and the attitude symbolized by what is known as “the long weekend” – the fact that Australia’s relatively plentiful public holidays are regularly transferred to Monday so that workers can get away for three successive days (or even four if they can swing it with their boss or doctor). One book by social commentator Ronald Conway even has the reproving title The Land of the Long Weekend (1978), which followed his equally tart The Great Australian Stuper (1971).



Source: Clancy, Laurie. Culture and Customs of Australia. London: Greenwood Press.

Austria – Fact File

The Kaffeehaus

Since the late nineteenth century the Kaffeehaus has been the most important social institution in the towns and cities of the former Habsburg Empire. It was described by writer Stefen Zweig “a sort of democratic club to which admission costs the small price of a cup of coffee. Upon payment of this mite, every guest can sit for hours on end, discuss, write, play cards, receive his mail, and above all, can go through an unlimited number of newspapers and magazines.”

There is still something unique about the institution even today. While the rest of the world queues up for the fast food, the Kaffeehaus implores you slow down, or, as the sign in one such Viennese café says, “Sorry, we do not cater for people in a hurry”. For the price of a small coffee, you can still sit for as long as you like without being asked to move on or buy another drink. Understandably, then, the price of this first drink is fairly steep and will regularly set you back around up to 3 Euros. Naturally enough, Vienna has the best selection, but in most large towns and cities, you’ll find at least one authentic Kaffeehaus, with the daily newspapers in wooden frames, the waiters in tuxedos, traditional Austrian food on the inexpensive menu, and of course, a selection of cakes and strudels on display.

Source: Bousfield, Jonathan and Rob Humphreys. The Rough Guide to Austria. New York: Rough Guides.

Chinese in Plain English

Chinese is made up of 405 basic syllables, many of which have different tonal pronunciations, for a total of some 1,277 “building blocks.” At first glance, this large number of syllables and building blocks makes Chinese appear extraordinarily complex. By comparison, the English language has only 44 basic sounds. But those 44 sounds are used to make up several thousand syllables, and, in that sense, English is far more complicated than Chinese.



The Chinese syllabic alphabet is made up of combinations of 5 vowel sounds, 15 compound vowels (combinations of the five basic sounds), and 23 consonants (21 if you discount “y” and “w” which the Chinese consider variations of “i” and “u”). These are combined in sound patterns what are repeated over and over making the learning and pronunciation of the 405 syllables much less formidable than they might first appear.

Grammatically, Chinese is easier than English. The sentence order is generally subject, verb, object just as it is in English; and adjectives come before nouns just as they do in English. But, in Chinese, there are no plurals, no articles (a, or an), and no verb conjugations.

Source: De Mente, Boye Lafayette. Chinese in Plain English. Chicago : Passport Books.

Une Nouvelle Géopolitique

« Melting Pot »

Selon le dernier recensement décennal, le nombre des Hispaniques aux Etats-Unis a progressé de plus de 60% entre 1990 et 2000, dépassant celui des Noirs. Les Hispaniques, 22,4 millions en 1990, étaient 35,4 millions en 2000 ; les Noirs ont progressé que 16% au cours de la même période, passant de 30 à 34,7 millions, tandis que la population totale des Etats-Unis augmentait de 13,4 % pour atteindre 281 millions d’habitants (298 millions en 2006).

Source : Colin, Armand. L’Atlas. Paris : Le Monde Diplomatique : Armand Colin Editeur.

International News – Leaders of the New School

Latin American may be lagging behind in many areas, but one thing it does have is a fresh take on education.

Free after-school programs and the opportunity to learn foreign languages may be pretty common in the U.S., but not so in parts of Latin America – until now, thanks to a wave of education reforms sweeping the region.

The changes couldn’t be more needed. The average Latin American only earns about a fifth-grade education. In Honduras and Nicaragua, one in five people can’t read. Even in Brazil, the region’s otherwise big success story, fewer than one in 10 people graduate college. Not surprisingly, experts say the number one problem holding back out “países” is a week school system.

Here is an example of just one of the many initiatives improving millions of children’s lives.

Last year, Uruguay became the first country in the world besides the tiny South Pacific island of Niue – to give every elementary public school student a free laptop. Pupils (380,000) use their little green-and-white computers daily at school, then tote them home to work on their “tareas.”

Launched by MIT professor Nicholas Negroponte, the program called One Laptop per Child, costs only about $260 per student, which in total adds up to less than five percent of the nation’s total education budget.

Still, not everyone is convinced. Half of families surveyed worried the computers expose their children to bad influences. Plus, despite installing miles of new Internet cables, Uruguay’s connectivity is still spotty. But in a country where most adults have never used e-mail, this is progress that can’t be denied.

Source: Castillo, Franziska. “Leaders of the New School.” Latina. January/February (2010): 36.

International News – Latino Boy Scouts Wanted

True to their motto, the Boy Scouts of America are preparing for the demographic shift in the U.S. The Boy Scouts are making their debut en español with an advertising campaign and newly released Spanish-language handbook intended to draw Latinos to the century-old organization. The outreach aims to keep the Scouting movement relevant and growing as the country’s cultural landscape evolves. Latinos currently make up one in five children in the United States, according to the U.S. Census, but they comprise only 3 percent of Boy Scouts, the country’s largest youth organization with 2.8 million members.

Source: “Youth – Latino Boy Scouts Wanted.” Hispanic. January (2010): 13.