THE ICE HOTEL OF QUEBEC

 HÔTEL DE GLACE

Go to the following linksite Hôtel de Glace watch the video and answer the following questions:

a) How many tones of snow and ice do they need to make it?
b) How many people  visit the hotel every year?
c) What are the instructions for?
d) What do some of the common areas include?
e) What is one of the most stunning things of the hotel ? What happens there?
f) What is the name of the place where everyone goes?
g) What can visitors do in the daytime?
h) What are the names of the two suites?
i) What months  can you visit the hotel ?

To get more information you can also watch the following video or read below


READING

The Ice Hotel opened on New Year's Day in 2001. For its first year it was located in Montmorency Falls Park, which is on the outskirts of Quebec City,  with plans right from the beginning to move to the nearby Duchesnay  resort for its next year, where it has been built ever since.

The hotel is located 10 km west of Québec City, steps away from the ecotourism resort, Duchesnay, in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier. It is the first Ice Hotel in North America and is built each January. The hotel has a four-month lifespan each year before being brought down in April. It had 22 beds when it first opened in 2000. In its last iteration it had 85 beds, all made of ice but lined with deer furs and covered with mattresses and Arctic sleeping bags. Only the bathrooms are heated and located in a separate insulated structure.

It takes about a month and a half to build with 60 workers. The Hotel makes its own snow using a special mixture to adjust the humidity. It is built with metal frames, it is allowed to harden for a few days, and then the cranes are removed. The hotel is made of 15,000 tons of snow and 500,000 tons of ice and the walls are up to four-feet thick.
Description
Ice Hotel Chapel, Quebec (February, 2006)
Same Chapel from afar

The hotel is usually made (the architecture and size may vary from season to season) in arches over rooms with 16 foot (5 m) and larger and higher spaces for one art galleries a club dubbed the N'Ice Club, an "Ice Café" and a 60-feet slide. The walls are over 4 feet (1.2 m) thick on average. All furniture is made of ice. In addition to using ice glasses as in the Kiruna ice hotel, the bar (and room service) also serves cold cuts on ice plates.

Amenities include a nightclub, movie theater, indoor heated washrooms and outdoor hot tubs.

The hotel has been described as a "tourist hotspot"and is backed by Quebec's tourism department. For its first year, it costs $350,000 to build, including $125,000 from the Quebec government.

Tours are available in French or English, seven days a week, and the hotel is otherwise open to the public.After the fourth season, the official statistics reported 220,000 visitors and 10,500 overnight guests.In its fifth season, it hosted around 70,000 tourists.

 Weddings

There is a chapel where weddings are celebrated. The Ice Hotel has been described as one of the "10 dream wedding locations.

Eighteen weddings were conducted for the 2003 season, and the Ice Hotel had its first same-sex wedding in February 2005, after same-sex marriages became legal in Quebec in April of the previous year.

Other interesting weblinks:
travel documents
TravelInformation
HOW TO TRAVEL CHEAPLY

Travel Travel Travel - How to Get Paid to Travel the World! 

SONG: 
Will.I.Am - The Travelling Song

I’ve been around the world, in the pouring rain
Feeling out of place, really feeling strange
Take me to a place, where they know my name
Cause I ain’t met nobody that looks the same

I’m a fish out of water, lion out of the jungle
[He a fish out of water, lion out of the jungle]
I need my peoples, my peoples, take me to my peoples
THEY GOT JUNGLE FEVER, SHOW HIM SOME LOVE,
SHOW HIM LOVE.

Could I have someone, could I have someone,
To relate to, to relate to
Could I have someone, could I have someone,
To relate to, to relate to

See I’ve been traveling, been traveling forever
But now that I’ve found a home,
Feels like I’m in heaven

See I’ve been traveling, been traveling forever
But now that I’m home,
Feels like I’m in heaven

See I’ve been traveling, been traveling forever
But now that I’ve found a home,
Feels like I’m in heaven

Feels like I’m in heaven
Feels like I’m in heaven
Feels like I’m in heaven
Feels like I’m in heaven, heaven

Traveling the world, like a touring man
Been around the planet in the foreign land
I’ve seen things that I’ve thought I’ve never seen
Take me to a place where they live like me

I’m a lion out the jungle, fish out of the ocean
[He’s a lion out the jungle, fish out of the ocean]
I need my peoples, my peoples, take me to my peoples
THEY GOT JUNGLE FEVER, SHOW HIM SOME LOVE,
SHOW HIM LOVE

Could I have someone, could I have someone,
To relate to, to relate to
Could I have someone, could I have someone,
To relate to, to relate to

See I’ve been traveling, been traveling forever
But now that I’ve found a home,
Feels like I’m in heaven

See I’ve been traveling, been traveling forever
But now that I’m home,
Feels like I’m in heaven

See I’ve been traveling, been traveling forever
But now that I’ve found a home,
Feels like I’m in heaven

Feels like I’m in heaven
Feels like I’m in heaven
Feels like I’m in heaven
Feels like I’m in heaven,

Feels like I’m in heaven
Feels like I’m in heaven
I’m in heaven,

Oh and I’m feeling right at home
Feeling right at home
Feeling right at home
[I’ve been around the world]

Feeling right at home
Feeling right at home
Feeling right at home
Feeling like I’m in heaven,

It’s like I’m in heaven
It’s like I’m in heaven
I’m in heaven

It’s like I’m in heaven
I’m in heaven
It’s like I’m in heaven
I’m in heaven

Oh yeah

JUST FOR LAUGH

The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist. 

AMERICAN ENGLISH VERSUS BRITISH ENGLISH

American English&British English
Quotations from famous authors
""We (the British and Americans) are two countries separated by a common language."
G.B. Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
The Americans are identical to the British in all respects except, of course, language."
Oscar Wilde
Giving English to an American is like giving sex to a child. He knows it's important but he doesn't know what to do with it."
Adam Cooper (19th century)
CURIOSITY
The Englishman commented to the American about the "curious" way in which he pronounced so many words, such as schedule (pronounced shedule). The American thought about it for a few moments, then replied, "Perhaps it's because we went to different shools!"
We find some differences between American and British English.

1) There are  some grammatical differences:

a) In American English the past simple is often used to give new information or to announce a recent happening (in this case the present perfect is mainly used:
   -I lost my key.Can you help me look for it?  (In standar English would be: I´ve lost my key.)

    The past simple is used with just,already and yet  :

     - I´m not hungry.I just had lunch.( In standar English : I´ve  just had lunch, It´s used the present perfect)
     - Did you do the ironing? I already did it.
     -I didn´t do the ironing yet.
b) In American English the forms I have, I don´t have,do you have? are more usual then the forms I´ve got,I haven´t got,have you got?
     -Do you have any money?

c) Americans say "on  a team" after a superlative instead of " of"
   He´s the best player on the team.

d) Americans say " on the weekend " or "on weekends" instead of at the weekend/weekends.

e) Americans use different than not different to

f) Americans say write someone without to:
    Don´t forget to write me.
g) Some verbs having double form for the past simple(e.g learned,learnt) are used mainly in the regular form( learned) in American English.

h) The past participle of get is gotten in American English.
   Your English has gotten much better since I last saw you.
i)AmE: It looks like it is broken
BrE: It looks as if it is broken / It looks like it is broken
j)AmE: Tuesday through Sunday (to also possible)
  BrE: Tuesday to Sunday

2) There are also some spelling differences for example:
 traveling, traveled,canceling,color,honor.

Words ending in -or (American) -our (British) color, colour, humor, humour, flavor, flavour etc.
Words ending in -ize (American) -ise (British) recognize, recognise, patronize, patronise etc.
AmE: Program BrE: Programme

3)There are many different accents in both British and American English. Someone from Boston sounds very different from someone from the immigrant Italian community of New York, and they both sound very different from a Texan farmer.

Generally, though, there are differences in vowel sounds, particularly the short vowels. British speakers often don't pronounce the R in words like "car" and "hard" but Americans nearly always do.

AmE: More nasal vowels than in BrE
BrE: The sound “o” is rounded short (dog)
AmE: Pronunciation of the sound made by a+consonant is pronounced /ae/
BrE: The pronunciation is different than in AmE for the sound of the vowel like in home, go, open.
AmE: “r” is pronounced no matter where it is positioned in the word.
BrE: “r” is pronounced only before a vowel sound.
AmE: The “t” and “d” are softer and lighter than in BrE.
BrE: The “u” sound (new, tune) is pronounced like /ju:/
BrE: The suffix –ile is pronounced with /aIl/
AmE: The suffix –ile is pronounced like /l/
AmE: Every syllable is pronounced in long words ending in –ary, -ery or –ory
AmE: The final vowel of a word borrowed to French is most of the time stressed
( here you are some interesting webpages to notice this contrast)

VOCABULARY
Sometimes, a given word may have a different meaning depending on the variety of English that is used.

AmE: Mad is a synonym of crazy
BrE: Mad is a synonym of angry

And often, a different word is used in both Englishes to refer to the same idea.

AmE: Candy
BrE: Sweets
AmE: Diaper
BrE: Nappy

Flat    AmE:Apartment
Lift    AmE:Escalator
Pop    AmE:Soda
Jumper    AmE:Sweater
Car parkAmE:Parking lot
Bonnet    AmE:Hood
Boot    AmE:Trunk
Pavement AmE:Sidewalk
Waistcoat AmE:Vest
Clothes peg AmE:Clothes pin
Vest: n undershirt. The item of clothing worn under your shirt. What Americans call a “vest,” Brits call a “waistcoat.”

CROSSWORDS PUZZLES
http://iteslj.org/cw/1/ck-brit1.html

Food and Cooking Terminology: British to American
http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US1/REF/foodx.html

English Usage in the UK and USA
http://www.krysstal.com/ukandusa.html
Selected Vocabulary Differences

Between British and American English
http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US1/REF/usgbdiff.html

AMERICAN-ENGLISH/ENGLISH-AMERICAN TRANSLATION GUIDE
http://www.ling.ed.ac.uk/~aaron/amlish.html
Comparing American English and British English
http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHERREFERENCE/GRAMMARANDPUNCTUATION/AmerEngBritEng.html
English (British) - American Dictionary
http://www.bg-map.com/us-uk.html

CARTOONS

 

In American English, the usual spelling of the word is "check"

Vet - In England, vets look after the health of our animals and pets. They are rarely seen loitering on street corners, begging for work or money. The first American who tolda British he was a vet heard all about his dog before he put him straight! Whoops! You call them veterinarians I believe.

An Eddy Izzard sketch which takes a humorous look at some of the differences between American and British English. 

"American vs. British English" the tongue match

 

UK vs US English

British are also NOT stupid - WITH SUBTITLES

The Resident / Why People Hate The USA

How to be English.How to "make" a cup of tea

Sting - Englishman In New York

"Englishman In New York"

I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York

See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun

Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run

If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

USA VS ENGLAND

JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Short -term goal-objetivo a corto plazo
to bluff my way -salir adelante o salir de apuros

Here you are some interesting links connected with job interview questions and expressions
job interview questions

You will hear a

business English job interview. The Questions will follow after the listening so try to keep as much information as you can when you first listen to it.If your score is not very high you can restart it and listen to it again.

LISTENING JOB INTERVIEW

INTERVIEWING DOS AND DONT´S

HOW TO BE SUCCESFUL AT A JOB INTERVIEW
Sooner or later, everyone must face the daunting task of interviewing for a job. Whether it’s for just a job to keep your bills paid, or if it’s the dream job you’ve always wanted, there are many things that you have to remember before you can get that job that you so desire.There are many things to be taken into account such  as the way to contact your company( phone or e-mail).
Generally, when a company is hiring they post an ad in the newspaper or an online jobbank. How to contact them is usually included in the ad as well. You don’t want to email a resume to a company that is requesting that you walk in with your resume. You don’t want to call a company that requires a faxed resume etc.
It is not particularly common anymore for companies to ask you to call them for an interview. That is usually saved for jobs that include sales and/or jobs that are not so easily applied for by the other methods. Telephoning for an interview is a bit common when a company requires that you be on the phone a lot. It gives them a feel for the quality and the personality of the person on the phone.
You also need to do some research on the company,it doesn’t matter how much knowledge or experience you have about the position that you are trying to get in a company if you don’t have a clue who the company is or what they do. It is disastrous to enter into an interview and not be able to tell your interviewer what their company is about.
It is also important to know your contact.When called for an interview, ask to whom you will be talking to. It is nice to be able to greet your interviewer by name at the beginning of the interview without first being told who they are. It shows that you are on top of things, and have prepared before hand. You will also want to do some research on the person that will be conducting your interview. Learn what they do for the company and try to get some samples of their work or achievements in the company.
 You also need to practise your responses beforehand.You should practice your wording and the tone of voice that you plan to use. Try keeping your responses as brief as possible, but with as much detail as you can.
It is also very important the way you dress yourself.You want to make sure that your clothes do not have any wrinkles or stains on them. Pick an outfit that best suits the type of job that you are applying for. If you are going to work in an office setting, you should dress conservatively. Soft earth tones are best for women. Try to avoid mini skirts and shirts that show too much skin. A nice dark suit is good for a male.

Get organized and make sure that all of the things that you will need for the interview are prepared the day before. Make a checklist of the things that you will need if you have to.You should always have an extra resume handy during the interview. You should also bring with you a note pad to take notes during the interview if needed. (Only write down the important things that you think you will need to remember). If you have a business card, have one handy, it makes for easy contact later, and it also shows that you are professional and may help the employer to remember your name.

And don´t forget the following advice:show confidence, keep eye contact and keep a positive attitude.
Here are some of the things you should avoid doing:
Avoid fidgeting while speaking to your interviewer. It shows a lack of self confidence.
• Avoid speaking while using overly expressive hand gestures. It is distracting.
• Avoid biting your lips in between sentences. It gives the impression that you are making things up.
• Do not sit with your arms crossed because it makes you appear stand-offish.
• Do not shrug your shoulders when asked a question that you are unsure of. Take a second to think of your response. Shrugging your shoulders gives the impression that you don’t know the answer.
• Don’t answer with nods and head shakes. Use your words to answer questions.
• Get plenty of sleep the night before the interview.
Do: Arrive on time, or better yet 10 minutes early.
Don’t: Be overly aggressive or egotistical
Do: Refer to the interviewer by name.
Don’t: Spend too much time talking about money.
Do: Smile and use a firm handshake.
Don’t: Act uninterested in the company or the job.
Do: Be alert and act interested throughout.
Don’t: Act defensively when questioned about anything.
Do: Maintain eye contact at all times.
Don’t: Speak badly about past colleagues or employers.
Do: Make all comments in a positive manner.
Don’t: Answer with only yes or no.
Do: Speak clearly, firmly, and with authority.
Don’t: Excuse your bad points about work history.
Do: Except any refreshment offered. Excuse yourself halfway through the interview, even if you have to use the bathroom.
Don’t: Promote your strengths. Ask for coffee or refreshments.

And now watch a couple of videos where you´ll be able to listen to some people telling you about some tips for a job interview.

Interviewing DO´S and DONT´S

How to Prepare for a Job Interview : How to Answer Job Interview Questions

How to ace a job interview