Showing posts with label Burgau. Show all posts

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Condor Airlines arrives at T.F. Green: German bloggers add R.I. to their 'Places We Love' list

Providence Journal
Posted Jul. 17, 2015 at 11:09 AM By Paul Edward Parker , Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island is a hit in Germany, if the German lifestyle blog Uberding is any indication.

Uberding, which roughly means "about things," sent a crew on the first Condor Airlines flight to Rhode Island from Frankfurt on June 18. Bloggers Mia Bühler and Thies Janknecht spent four days visiting Newport, Westerly and Providence.

"When you ask us about New England, we respond with our memories of Newport," Bühler wrote in her blog report, which posted on July 10. "The town, with its small boutiques, sports facilities (the International Tennis Hall of Fame) and the nature, between sandy beaches and coastal paths, is pretty much everything you would expect from New England!"

Even a rainy day spent in Westerly captured Bühler's heart. "It is not surprising that the South coast of Rhode Island has attracted stars like Taylor Swift," she wrote. "The area is ideal for exploring the beautiful countryside when it rains ... I would have liked to stay here longer."

Bühler found Providence less captivating, finding downtown deserted on a Sunday morning. "The capital of the U.S. state Rhode Island, we must say, was worth the visit for a day -– but we wouldn’t have liked to stay longer," she wrote, thanking a homeless woman who gave her a tour of street art. "My highlight was visiting the prestigious Brown University in Providence. The campus is green and full of life -– quite contrary to downtown Providence."

Bühler concluded her blog report, which is accompanied by a sharp-looking video, "Lil Rhody, it was a party for us! We have experienced so much in these four days and are happy to have added an until-recently-unknown place to our 'Places We Love' list!"

Check the above video link. Here's the description:

Vor wenigen Monaten hatten wir "Neuengland" als Reiseziel noch nicht mal auf dem Schirm und dann klirrte das Telefon und der Anruf der unser Interesse am kleinsten Staat der Vereinigten Staaten Amerikas war geweckt. Seit diesem Anruf gab es vor allem ein Thema:

Unsere Vorbereitung, Vorfreude und Aufregung:

#CondorTraveldingLilRhody stand auf dem Plan.

Musik: Thies Janknecht / Tease

Posted June 18, 2015 at 11:15 PM

By Paul Edward Parker , Journal Staff Writer

Inaugural flight by German carrier links R.I. with Europe

Condor Airlines arrived for the first time at Warwick's T.F. Green Airport Thursday night.

WARWICK, R.I. — At 6:17 p.m. Thursday, a Condor Airlines 767 touched down on runway 23 at T.F. Green Airport, marking the first time ever that scheduled airline service has linked Rhode Island to the European continent.

Michael Aziz, of Boston, was the first passenger on the flight from Germany who cleared customs and emerged into the airport terminal. "I'm so excited to have won the race to be the first human being to fly from Frankfurt to Providence," Aziz told reporters. He exulted about the new service, "I'm going to Boston, and I saved over a thousand dollars by flying through Providence. It's compelling. I hope the rates stay as they are." And to dash an old saying about air travel, Aziz said, "The food was excellent." The menu included a seafood salad with crayfish, as well as chicken satay.

Christine Husted, a native of Germany who has lived in the United States for 50 years, waited in the terminal for her sister and brother-in-law and also raved about the German airline. "I think it's half-price what Lufthansa charges to Boston," said the Middleboro, Mass., resident, adding, "It's much more easy to travel to Providence."

A total of 118 passengers made the inaugural flight from Germany, with another 236 booked on the return flight two hours later.

The new international service — which joins Cape Verdean airline TACV, which also this month began flying between the island nation off the coast of Africa and Green — is at least a major psychological boost to Rhode island's main airport, which had seen years of plummeting passenger numbers before turning in mixed results the last two years.

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline touted the service as much more than flights between Rhode Island and Frankfurt, saying it will connect "Central Europe and the heart of New England." Cicilline said he spoke to travelers waiting for the flight to Frankfurt who were making connections to Italy and to Poland. "It's going to be a wonderful thing for tourism and for business," agreed his colleague in Congress, U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin.

The first flight wasn't the only good news for Green to arrive from Condor. The airline also announced that is has begun selling tickets for the Frankfurt-Providence service for next year, extending what had been a trial summer for the seasonal service. This year, service will run until Sept. 3, before resuming for a similar season next year. Tickets begin at $680 roundtrip.

"We're going to come back year after year," Condor vice president Titus Johnson told The Providence Journal in an interview last week. "We're here to stay. We're very confident that this will follow the Condor traditional model." That model, he said, includes expanding the season in subsequent years if passenger demand supports it, with an eye toward eventual year-round service.

Earlier reports had Condor flying into Düsseldorf, which would have been just perfect for us. Having our partners meet us in Düsseldorf, and also deliver us there at the end of our visit put a definitive start and end to our exchange. As delighted as I am to have this direct (summer) service to Rhode Island, I must admit to being somewhat disappointed to see the destination airport changed to Frankfurt. For me personally, Lufthansa's ICE connections between Frankfurt and Cologne presented some of our biggest challenges this year. And that was supposedly WITH the cooperation both of the Airline and our Partners. I'm now wondering just what kind of land connections our tour operators with Condor might book for us, if any.

Certainly I'm hoping that, in two years the Condor-season into TF Green will have extended at least one week earlier. This year, with June 27th being Burgau's last day of school, and with us slated to attend 2 full weeks, I could not even consider delaying our trip to wait for Condor's opening. (That will be different in 2017, when the summer break in Nordrhein Westfalia begins July 17; so yes, I hope there will be the option to consider flying with Condor then.) -- rsb

Friday, February 20, 2015

Two more English writing samples to understand and critique

Burgau 10th Graders are happy to have an outside audience for their work to use stylistic devices.
First, here is a background tool they used to learn about these devices.

A. Model analysis of the speech extract by Nelson Mandela

(cf. worksheet: text analysis)

Caution: This is by no means a perfect analysis.
This is a slightly improved version of what the course,

(mainly two ladies), produced in our last lesson.
It serves to show what is possible in limited time and

what the general structure of an analysis should look like.

In the following I will analyse the speech by Nelson Mandela.
I will focus on rhetorical means and stylistic devices.

In the text there are many anaphoras, ll. 1ff.:
»We ... We... We....«, cf. l. 17 The anaphoras combine different
sentences into one unit and also create a rhythmn and in that way
catch the listeners’ interest and go right into their mind.

The anaphora in ll. 1ff. is also an example of the inclusive we.
It creates a feeling of togetherness. The repetition in l. 21
»Never ... never ... never« creates a dramatic atmosphere.
It also creates a rhythm making the text more powerful.
Nelson Mandela directly addresses the audience in l. 9
»you, the people« and maybe l. 24 (»let freedom reign«).

He also uses imperatives (e.g. l. 18: »Let there be justice for all ...«).
This makes the audience feel directly involved. It also encourages
the audience to be strong.

Throughout the whole text the author uses religious language and
religious allusions (l. 26 »God bless Africa«, also l. 3 and l. 13).
The listeners paymore attention to the speech because religion plays
a big role in their lives. Nelson Mandela uses an enthusiastic way
of speaking (many, strong adjectives and short sentences or phrases),
cf. ll. 2ff. »We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society
in which all South Africans, both black and white...«).

As we have seen, Nelson Mandela uses different stylistic devices
to convince his audience and supporters.

B. With that example in mind, here (WAY BELOW) are the
final 2 excerpts from a recent assignment, along with comments
(critiques) from their fellow classmates.
Certainly the written projects aren't to be of the same caliber as
Mandela. But this advanced writing class is focusing on
incorporating more writing style.

How can we show these students that we appreciate their efforts
to express their thoughts in English -- while they explain for us
some of the quirks of their culture?

#1. Do you understand just how the Excuse Book is used? -- rsb

Tuesday, 3 February 2015, 11:28 PM

Excuse book

Germans always have to be punctual. But in the seldom cases they aren’t,German school kids use an “Entschuldigungsheft” (the English translation would be something like excuse book). That little blank book has a lot of space for excuses if they miss lessons or days. But to fill it in is so complicated that not even Germans understand it.

There is a system – unfortunately it’s just known by teachers who have worked with it for a really long time. But don’t worry: With a little help it is possible to get something like an idea of what the excuse book is good for.

First of all, the most frequently happening situation: You wake up in the morning and feel absolutely terrible. No problem – stay at home for a day. But don’t forget to fill in your excuse book with what is giving it his name: Excuses.

If you are 18 or older you can write and sign it on your own. If not, you will have to ask your parents. When you feel better and return to school, the first step is to walk to your tutor and show your excuse (the tutor is your German teacher). Then you have to tremble, sweat and hope that it’s accepted. Sometimes it depends on the teacher and sometimes on his “mamadelovelylunchpcket”.

But if he says yes, the hard part is not over yet. Because now you have to play hide and seek with every single teacher you would have had. With every single teacher you have to discuss and every single teacher has to be convinced.

Now you certainly think that it was a very stupid idea to invent an excuse book. But that is just the easiest version to excuse yourself. If you miss the day of an exam, for example, it is the most terrible situation you can imagine.

Stupid ideas like an excuse book are why Germans always have to be punctual.

Julia/Chantal

Love the text but why does it is the most terrible Situation to excuse a day of an exam?

Re: Excuse book by Chan B - Wednesday, 4 February 2015, 8:31 AM

Because it is sooooooooooo complicated

Re: Excuse book by Ha-Ma La - Wednesday, 4 February 2015, 8:29 AM

The whole text is very funny and you describe the problem very well! You used very stylistic devices to make the text more interesting like irony, hyperboles and neologism.
Because of the sentence structure the text is very attractive!
Good job!

#2 Does this review pique your curiosity? Would you be inclined to visit this establishment? Or rather stay away? Do we have anything which resembles the EndArt in NK? - In RI?

Wednesday, 4 February 2015, 12:19 AM

EndArt

You visit Germany for a few weeks and want to have a good Friday or Saturday. Then you can go to the EndArt. There are a few party rooms where you can dance, eat and drink — not just alcohol. So we stay sober all night.

The disco EndArt is located in an old factory. Over three floors there are dance rooms with modern light effects, for example blinding effects or lasers are there for you. And if you feel warm, you can leave your clothes at the checkroom.

There are many stairs which you have to climb, bt if you're sober, it's no problem.

Felix, Lea, Marc

The text is understandable, but a little bit too short. You should use more stylistic devices- not just an enumeration/ accumulation. It would be more meaningful to mention more meaningful to mention more information about the "EndArt".
Sofia, Ann-Kathrin

Re: EndArt by lisa r - Wednesday, 4 February 2015, 8:20 AM

Your text is understandable and there are a few information, but a little bit short.
There is only one stylistic device: an enumeration.

Re: EndArt by Mo Mü - Wednesday, 4 February 2015, 8:36 AM

I think this text has good aspects, but it's definitely too short. Also I only find one stylistic device. In line 2, there could be irony -- because maybe you did drink alcohol that night.

Finally I think you describe some parts of the Endart very good, but there is missing a lot!

For the future I wish, that you write more longer texts with a well structure and many stylistic devices. :)

MORE 10th Grade English from our Partner School

Thema #1 What do you make of the "Oberstufenraum?" Do we have one at NKHS? --rsb

Oberstufenraum

School is just as stressful in Germany as it is in America. Day in, day out we have to sit through boring classes and learn so much that our brains feel like mush while trying to get good grades.
But luckily, now and again we've got a free lesson and we students mostly spend that in our so-called "Oberstufenraum". There we can just relax for a while, sleep or chat a little. Also, you are only allowed to spend your time there if you're a tenth grader or older and a teacher seldom steps over the threshold.

In the "Oberstufenraum" there are a few couches and tables as well as chairs and a foosball-table.
Basically, it’s a room just for us students to spend our time without any disturbance.

Kim, Zoe, Louisa

The text is understandable and not too long. All relevant information are given and it is interesting to read.
You used stylistic devices like similes, hyperboles, accumulations and many adjectives and Adverbs.
Well done! ;)

We think the text is understandable and there are much Information. It is not too long and very interesting to read.
There are many stylistic devices for example enumerations, hyperboles and similes :-)

We think that the text is understandable but not so intresting, because you doesn't use much stylistic devices.
The length is ok and the structure too.

we have the same opinion as Luca.

We like your text and you use accumulations, for example in line 8 "couches and tables (...)", a hyperbole in line 2 "Brains feel like mush" and many adverbs and adjectives to make it more interessting and vivid. There is also some irony.
There is only one line we do not understand, but you explained it for us :)
Otherwise it is really good

All in all the text is very good. It is readable and interesting. You also used stylistic devices like irony and similies. It is good, that the text is not too long, too.
We love it! Sofia/ A-Kan
---------------------
#2 OK I admit having edited out several half sentences (see the elipses). Do you understand teh Abigag?

Abigag

Have you ever heard about the German "Abigag"? No?! Well, then I absolutely have to tell you!
First things first: You don´t have lessons util 12 o´clock.

I´m sure you are asking yourself: "What .. is she talking about?!" I´ll explain it now. It´s the most important day of your school life, where your degree is safe and you only have one thing on your mind: Party!

So you enjoy the day, teasing the ´kids´ who still have to go to school for years. You think it is boring? You think it is always the same? Oh, then you are wrong. For example the high-school graduates, feeling like the kings and queens, are splashing people with water and driving in shopping carts over the whole school yard, not sparing anyone.

Feeling like iceblocks all the other people try to flee, not thinking about the next joke. But you.... have to leave the school yard with music and games and instead of still making party you have to go to your lessons!

So you slowly go to the entrance, searching for your motivation. Without success.

The head master opens the door and then: surprise, surprise, the joke isn´t over. The whole entrancehall is full of balloons. You move nimbly like a rat always being on your guard, so the balloons don´t burst.

Finally, after you survived the trip through hell, you and your classmates arrive at the classroom. The teacher comes, you sit down and the lesson starts. Of course, you didn´t find your motivation on the way. I mean, how could you? It is just impossible.

But then you hear a strange noise, far away. It comes closer and closer and finally somebody tears the door open. What do you think, who did it? Yes, of course a group of the ´kings´.

They storm the room and scribble their slogan ´Abi 2014´ on almost everything: on tables, exercise books, in faces and so on.

But after that, it is really over with surprises. You finish your lessons and in the afternoon you go home, remembering this funny day!

Hanna and Maren

The text is almost perfect. It is very informational and well written. You used many stylistic devices- for example: similies, irony, accumulations, rhetorical questions.... You always want to know how the text is going on. It is very interesting and readable.
We love it! Sofia, Ann-Kathrin

The text is very interresting and understandable. We learn a lot of information about the 'Abigag'. The writer makes use of many stylistic devices, for example rhetorical questions and ironie.
Marc & Lea

We love your text, it is very very funny but also interessting

Hey Guys! Your text is very nice, we like to read it. But the text is hard to understand, because there are so many words we cannot understand.
It's amazing, we love you

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Schueler aus Burgau reisen nach Kiew in der Ukraine!

Koennten wir auch solch einen Film von unserer Reise machen???