Friday, December 25, 2009

HAPPY XMAS!





Merry Christmas around the world

Afrikaner (Afrikaans) ~ "Een Plesierige Kerfees"

Argentine ~ "Felices Pascuas"

Bohemian ~ "Vesele Vanoce"Brazilian ~ "Boas Festas"

Chinese (Cantonese) ~ "Saint Dan Fai Lok"

Danish ~ "Glædelig Jul"

Dutch ~ "Vrolijk Kerstfeest" - Gezellige kerst

English ~ "Merry Christmas"

Filipino ~ "Maligayang Pasko"

Finnish ~ "Hyvaa Joulua"

French ~ "Joyeux Noël"

German ~ "Froehliche Weihnachten"

Greek ~ "Kala Christouyenna"


Hawaiian ~ "Mele Kalikimaka"

Hebrew ~ "Mo'adim Lesimkha"

Icelandic ~ "Gledileg Jol"

Indonesian ~ "Selamat Hari Natal"

Irish ~ "Nollaig Shona Dhuit"

Italian ~ "Buone Feste Natalizie" - Natale italiano

Japanese ~ "Kurisumasu Omedeto"

Korean ~ "Sung Tan Chuk Ha"

Lithuanian ~ "Linksmu Kaledu"

Malay ~ "Selamat Hari Natal"

Maori ~ "Meri Kirihimete"

Norwegian ~ "God Jul" - Norsk Jul

Romanian ~ "Craciun Fericit"

Peruvian ~ "Felices Fiestas"

Portugese ~ "Boas Festas"

Slovakian ~ "Vesele Vianoce"

Spanish ~ "Feliz Navidad"

Swedish ~ "God Jul" - Jul i Sverige

Welsh ~ "Nadolig Llawen"



























Christmas Facts
Every year more than 400 million people celebrate Xmas around the world -- that makes Xmas one of the world’s biggest religious and commercial festivities. In approximately year 300 A.D., the birthday of Jesus was determined to be on December 25, the day that has been celebrated from then till this very day. The celebration on the 25th of December starts with Christmas Eve, the evening of December 24.

The religious festival is originally a blend of pagan customs. The Romans held a festival on December 25 called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, i.e. "the birthday of the unconquered sun.". Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called Yule, held in late December to early January. However, it is uncertain exactly why December 25 became associated with the birth of Jesus since the Old Testament doesn’t mention a specific date of the event.

Christmas around the world:







In Italy, children receive gifts from the good witch La Befana, old, bent and dressed in black. La Befana was a widowed, childless woman when the Three Kings passed on their way to see the Christ child. When they asked her the way to Bethlehem she was busy cleaning and sent them away. Realizing her mistake, she left to search for the Baby Jesus. To this day she is still searching going from house to house on Epiphany, January 6, leaving a gift for good children.

Russian children await gifts from Babouska, a farmer's wife who offered food and shelter to the Three Wise men on their journey to Bethlehem, Baboushka declined their offer of travelling with them to visit the Christ child. Realizing her error on the eve of Epiphany, she tried unsuccessfully to find them, but handed the presents she had intended for the infant Jesus to children she passed along the way.



In Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico and South America, the Three Kings or Wise Men bring Christmas gifts to children, while in France children eagerly await the coming of Father Christmas or Pere Noel who brings their gifts.



In some cultures, Saint Nicholas travels with an assistant. The old bishop Sinterklass arrives in Holland on December 6 in his red bishop's costume astride a white horse. In many port towns, he is said to have sailed in on a ship from Spain. Beside him walks Black Peter with a black sack and a book recording each Dutch child's behavior through the year. Good children receive a gift from the bishop while bad children may be carried away in Black Peter's sack.

In Germany Saint Nicholas also travels with a helper, known as Knecht Ruprecht, Krampus, or Pelzebock, and comes with a sack on his back and a rod or switches in his hand. Saint Nicholas gives gifts to good children, while those who have been bad are punished by the assistant with a few hits of a switch.

Swedish children wait for the gnome Jultomten, also called Julemanden or Julenisse, who dresses in red and carries a sack of gifts on his back. He flies in his sleigh pulled by the Julbocker, the goats of Thor, the god of thunder. Elves, called the Juul Nisse, hide in the attics of families throughout the year, eagerly waiting to help him. Children leave bowls of milk or rice pudding in the attic for the elves, hoping they will be empty in the morning.

In Austria and Switzerland it is Christkindl or the Christ Child who arrives bearing gifts. In some towns children await the Holy Child and in others Christkindl is a beautiful girl-angel who comes down from heaven bearing gifts.



And in England a thinner version of Santa Claus known as Father Christmas, wearing long red robes with sprigs of holly in his hair, delivers gifts to children.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION




The History of Thanksgiving and its Celebrations



Throughout history mankind has celebrated the bountiful harvest with thanksgiving ceremonies.
Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.
Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians.





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THANKSGIVING DAY




The History of Thanksgiving and its Celebrations


http://whyinglesamerica.blogspot.com

OUR ON LINE MAGAZINE

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Cambio de nombre a Isla Cerralvo B. C. S.

Publicado en El Ombligo del Ocio por Oyalep

http://elombligodelocio.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/la-isla-de-las-perlas/

La Isla de las Perlas

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Isla Cerralvo, sudcaliforniana por nacimiento, conocida por los primeros españoles como ‘La Isla de las Perlas’. Ubicada a 16 km al frente de la Bahía La Ventana, 65 km de la ciudad de La Paz, siendo la más sureña de las islas de la Baja. Cuenta con una longitud de 30 km y su historia se remonta a los tiempos de los primeros pobladores de la Baja, Guaycuras que vagaban por sus costas en sencillas canoas de tronco vaciado, de ahí su apodo común de ‘Vagabundos del Mar’.

Hogar de leyendas e historias, de abundantes perlas y de miles de especies de diferente tipo de vida marina, aves y mamíferos, y una flora constituida principalmente por matorrales, pero que en épocas de lluvia se convierte en un verdadero paraíso verde. Isla coronada con sus profundas aguas de azul intenso.
Sitio perfecto para el buceo por sus cañones submarinos ubicados a los largo de su litoral, refugios naturales del tiburón martillo y las mantarrayas gigantes, que acompañan al aventurero en su recorrido por las profundidades. Área privilegiada para la pesca, tanto comercial, como deportiva. De igual manera ‘centro’ de estudios e investigaciones.
Isla orgullo de humildes pescadores de la región, de visitantes, locales, nacionales y extranjeros, ahora ostentará presuntuosa el nombre de Jacques Cousteau, en honor al explorador francés conocido por los documentales de sus investigaciones sobre la vida marina. Orgullo que desafortunadamente no compartirá con nadie.
Molestia e indignación es lo que ha causado la decisión autoritaria y sin sentido del Ejecutivo Federal de cambiar el nombre de esta isla. No hay explicación alguna sobre la decisión. ¿Quién fue quién inició la propuesta? ¿Por qué fue autorizada? Es obvio que desconocen el interés y arraigo que la isla tiene para los locales. Para la identidad de la región. Ahora le cambian el nombre por el de un francés. Nada personal contra él o su país de origen, simplemente la decisión es estúpida, sin fundamento e irracional.
Gerardo de Dominicis dijo “…que el Gobierno de México pida al de Francia que la Isla Clipperton, que nos robaron, la rebauticen como isla Francisco King”. No es una solicitud tan descabellada considerando el tema que ahora nos ocupa.
¿Pero qué nos queda por hacer si son una bola de representantes inútiles los que toman las decisiones? Decisiones como esta, que buscan quedar con no sé quién, sin consultar a sus ‘representados’. Eso no existe, llegan al poder y el glamur de la política mexicana los encandila. No queda más que denunciarlos, a ellos y a sus actos ignorantes ante cualquier foro. Conservar la memoria. Algo tendremos que hacer. Mientras me voy de paseo a la Isla Jacques Cousteau.
~ por Oyalep en 18 Noviembre 2009.

Friday, November 13, 2009

English Mania from Elllo Blog



Ladies and gentlemen, let's talk about manias. Beatlemania.

Hysterical teenagers crying, screaming. Pandemonium!

Sports mania. Deafening crowds…whole nations obsessed for one reason: Get the ball in the net. -Goal!

Religious mania. Rapture. Weeping. Visions. Manias can be good; manias can be alarming. Or manias can be deadly...


You can read the complete Script at:
Why? ...It´s our project!http://whyinglesamerica.blog



or at Elllo blog:

http://ellloblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/english-mania.html

Friday, November 6, 2009

The next Generation Celebrates


The next Generation Celebrates its partners birthday. today is Diana´s, Congratulations!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween and Day of Dead


Halloween and The Day of Dead

Halloween




Halloween, or Hallowe'en, is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses" and carving jack-o-lanterns. The term Halloween (and its alternative rendering Hallowe'en) is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day", also which is now known as All Saints' Day. Some modern Halloween traditions developed out of older pagan traditions, especially surrounding the Irish holiday Samhain, a day associated both with the harvest and otherworldly spirits. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century. Halloween is now celebrated in several parts of the Western world, most commonly in Ireland, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom and occasionally in parts of Australia and New Zealand.

Many European cultural traditions, in particular Celtic cultures, hold that Halloween is one of the liminal times of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world, and when magic is most potent (according to, for example, Catalan mythology about witches and Scottish and Irish tales of the Sídhe).

History
The modern holiday of Halloween has its origins in the ancient Gaelic festival known as Samhain (pronounced /ˈsˠaunʲ/ from the Old Irish samain). The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes erroneously regarded as the "Celtic New Year". Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, where the bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them. When the Romans occupied Celtic territory, several Roman traditions were also incorporated into the festivals. Feralia, a day celebrated in late October by the Romans for the passing of the dead as well as a festival which celebrated the Roman Goddess Pomona, the goddess of fruit were incorporated into the celebrations. The symbol of Pomona was an apple, which is a proposed origin for the tradition of bobbing for apples on Halloween.

History of name
The term Halloween (and its alternative rendering Hallowe'en) is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day", also which is now known as All Saints' Day. It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions, until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saints' Day from May 13 to November 1. In the ninth century, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the Florentine calendar. Although All Saints' Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were, at that time, celebrated on the same day. Liturgically, the Church traditionally celebrated that day as the Vigil of All Saints, and, until 1970, a day of fasting as well. Like other vigils, it was celebrated on the previous day if it fell on a Sunday, although secular celebrations of the holiday remained on the 31st. The Vigil was suppressed in 1955, but was later restored in the post-Vatican II calendar.


Symbols

Jack-o'-lanterns are often carved into silly or scary faces.The carved pumpkin, lit by a candle inside, is one of Halloween's most prominent symbols. This is a Scottish and Irish tradition of carving a lantern which goes back centuries. These lanterns are usually carved from a turnip or swede (or more uncommonly a mangelwurzel). The carving of pumpkins was first associated with Halloween in North America, where the pumpkin was available, and much larger and easier to carve. Many families that celebrate Halloween carve a pumpkin into a frightening or comical face and place it on their home's doorstep after dark.

The jack-o'-lantern can be traced back to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a greedy, gambling, hard drinking old farmer who tricked the devil into climbing a tree, and trapped him by carving a cross into the trunk of the tree. In revenge, the devil placed a curse on Jack which dooms him to forever wander the earth at night. For centuries, the bedtime parable was told by Irish parents to their children. But in America the tradition of carving pumpkins is known to have preceded the Great Famine period of Irish immigration, and the tradition of carving vegetable lanterns may also have been brought over by the Scottish or English; documentation is unavailable to establish when or by whom. The carved pumpkin was associated generally with harvest time in America, and did not become specifically associated with Halloween until the mid to late 19th century.

The imagery surrounding Halloween is largely an amalgamation of the Halloween season itself, nearly a century of work from American filmmakers and graphic artists, and a rather commercialized take on the dark and mysterious. Halloween imagery tends to involve death, magic, or mythical monsters. Common Halloween characters include ghosts, ghouls, witches, vampires, bats, owls, crows, vultures, haunted houses, pumpkinmen, black cats, aliens, spiders, goblins, zombies, mummies, skeletons, and demons. Particularly in America, symbolism is inspired by classic horror films, which contain fictional figures like Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, and The Mummy. More modern horror antagonists like Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, Leatherface, Jason Voorhees, and the Jigsaw Killer have also become associated with the holiday. Homes are often decorated with these symbols around Halloween.

Black and orange are the traditional colors of Halloween.




Taken from Wikipidia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween


Publicado por Why en 21:01 0 comentarios Enlaces a esta entrada
 
The Day of Dead










Day of The DeadMexico celebrates a yearly tradition called Day of the Dead during the last days of October and the first days of November. Due to the duration of this festivity and the way people get involved it has been called “The Cult of Death.”


As in many Latin American countries, Mexico commemorates the Day of the Dead or All Souls’ Day on November 2nd. The legacy of past civilizations is graphically manifested on this occasion through people’s beliefs that death is a transition from one life to another in different levels where communication exists between the living and the dead. This communication takes place once a year throughout the country.


Differing from the Roman Catholic imposed ritual to commemorate All Souls’ Day, which is observed in many countries, the custom established by pre-colonial Mexican civilizations become a ceremony where indigenous beliefs blended with Catholic beliefs. Therefore, the Day of the Dead in Mexico is not a mournful commemoration but a happy and colorful celebration where death takes a lively, friendly expression.


Indigenous people believed that souls did not die, that they continued living in Mictlan, a special place to rest. In this place, the spirits rest until the day they could return to their homes to visit their relatives. Before the Spaniards arrived, they celebrated the return of the souls between the months of July and August. Once arrived, the Spaniards changed the festivities to November 2nd to coincide with All Souls’ Day of the Catholic Church.


Presently, two celebrations honoring the memory of loved ones who have died take place: On November 1st, the souls of the children are honored with special designs in the altars, using color white on flowers and candles. On November 2nd the souls of the adults are remembered with a variety of rituals, according to the different states of the Mexican republic.


The celebrations of Day of the Dead or All Souls Day are referred to differently in some of the states. For example in Yucatan it is known as Hanal Pixan which means “The path of the soul through the essence of food;” in the highlands of Michoacan it is known as Jimbanqua or the party honoring with flowers the people who died that year; in San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo and in the southern part of Oaxaca it is known as Xantolo and Day of the Dead in the majority of Mexico. Whatever name is given, this is an ancestral tradition that blended with Catholicism to create a special time and space to remember and honor the loved ones by offering them an ofrenda, the fragrance of the flowers, the light of the candles, the aroma of special foods and the solemnity of prayers.
It is also a time to joke and make fun of death through “calaveras”, poetry allusive to a particular person, generally politicians; sugar, chocolate and amaranth skulls which are given to one another with their friend’s name so “they can eat their own death” and special crafts allusive to different aspects of the living, with skeletons representing daily activities.

People start getting ready for the celebration on the third week of October with the harvesting of the cempasuchitl flower, also known as the flower of the twenty petals or the flower of the dead which is sold in the market place or Tianguis, where the family goes to buy everything that they will need to put on the altar. On the altar they will place the ofrendas of fruits, vegetables and the special dishes prepared for the soul to enjoy the essence of the aroma of the food. This altar will also have items that once belonged to the deceased.

On November 1st in many towns the ritual of the Vigil of the Little Angels takes place in the cemeteries, particularly in the islands of Janitzio and La Pacanda in Lake Patzcuaro, Michoacan. Little girls dressed in satin blouses and colored skirts, white stockings and shiny shoes are the center of this ceremony. Wearing the white pinafore, an important piece of the Tarascan feminine attire, the girls calmly comply with the tradition while they are observed from a certain distance by their parents. This is the way the tradition is passed down from generation to generation.

On November 2nd, the souls of the adults are honored in their homes with beautifully decorated altars. Each state has different styles but all of them represent a place where the ofrenda becomes a spiritual communion between life and death. Again, in each state the making of the altar and the rituals are different.

The celebration concludes in many towns with the vigil in the cemetery. In some places the vigil is done during the whole night of November 1st to November 2nd. In other towns the vigil is done during the day. Mysticism is the rule in the cemeteries, but in many of them music is also part of the ritual that combines religious prayers with the sounds of the trumpet playing a tune by a Mariachi band. In others it is a trio that sings a song by the tomb or in some cases even a band plays danzones at the entrance of the cemetery. Ritualistic dances are also part of the celebrations in many places honoring the deceased.

Whichever way is celebrated, Day of the Dead is a time of reflection about the meaning of life and the mission that one needs to fulfill. Death in many situations imparts a feeling of pain and loss, particularly for those who do not know the purpose of their path on this earthly plane. For others, death is transcendence, transformation and resurrection. During the celebration of Day of the Dead all those feelings and beliefs come together in a season that brings to life the memory of the loved ones.


Taken from Day of Dead Blog at:

http://www.dayofthedeadblog.com/

By Mary J. Andrade.

CBS 5 Interview with Mary Andrade
Mary Andrade shares her knowledge about the Day of the Dead Celebration in Mexico with CBS 5 / KPIX TV in San Francisco, CA. This interview is part of the “Hispanic Heritage Month” and featured by CBS 5.
To view the interview please follow this link (note that it starts with a short commercial)


http://cbs5.com/video/?id=39318@kpix.dayport.com
To view the “Hispanic Heritage Month” spot trailer please follow this url:
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=74203@kpix.dayport.com
To learn how Hispanic Heritage Diversity is being celebrated in the San Francisco Bay Area please follow these two links:
http://cbs5.com/community/Celebrate.Hispanic.Heritage.2.816365.html
http://cwbayarea.com/community/kbcw.community.hispanic.2.810161.html


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OUR ON LINE MAGAZINE


Check news about Halloween and The Day of Death...

We also invite you to visit

http://www.dayofthedeadblog.com

Why? ...it´s our project!

WHY? is our gazette at Instituto de Inglés América Published for English and Spnish Language Students who want to practice and improve their language skills. Instituto de Inglés América Centro de Difusión Cultural. Cursos de Inglés

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Monday, October 26, 2009

CHALK MURAL CONTEST 09 AT INSTITUTO DE INGLÉS AMÉRICA



 
Observe las fotografías del concurso en el link que se indica en el recuadro de la derecha y envíe un mensaje de correo electrónico (un mensaje por cada dirección de coreo electrónico), a la dirección iameryk@gmail.com con el mensaje:


VOTO POR + CODIGO DE DIBUJO








You are invited to view the photo album: CHALK MURAL CONTEST 09 AT INSTITUTO DE INGLÉS AMÉRICA

CHALK MURAL CONTEST 09 AT INSTITUTO DE INGLÉS AMÉRICA
Instituto de Inglés América La Paz B. C. S. México. -
Oct 23, 2009
by Antonio
29th. ANNIVERSARY ACTIVITIES OF INSTITUTO DE INGLÉS AMÉRICA. CHALK MURAL CONTEST ON OUR "CULTURAL FRIDAY"
Message:
Check the pictures about our Chalk Mural Contest and VOTE for the drawing you like at iameryk@gmail.com before October 30th.
To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009


La Paz B. C. S. Julio de 2009.

Señores Padres de familia y Alumnos

del grupo Avanzado 3, Personal y Alumnado

en general de Institutos de Inglés América.

P r e s e n t e s .

Por este conducto invitamos a ustedes a la Ceremonia de Graduación de nuestra 39a. Generación, este Viernes 24 de Julio de 2009 a las 20:00 hrs., en nuestras instalaciones del Plantel Centro. Esperando de ustedes su puntual asistencia, aprovechamos para expresarles un saludo y nuestro agradecimiento por su preferencia.

A t e n t a m e n t e :

Language is Culture

Dirección General




¡Obtén la mejor experiencia en la web!
Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8
http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1

Saturday, July 4, 2009

CURSO DE VERANO


Curso Intensivo de Verano

Inglés y algo más


Para: Niños, Kids 5 a 7, Jóvenes, y Adultos.


PRINCIPIANTES Y AVANZADOS


Matutino de 9 a 11 a .m.

Kids 5 a 7 años 9 a 12 hrs.


Vespertino de 5 a 7 p.m.


Nocturno de 7 a 9 p.m.


Duración: 4 Semanas (del 13 de Julio al 7 de Agosto)


INSCRIPCIONES ABIERTAS

Tels: 122-43-87 y 123-51-92

iameryk@yahoo.com


APLICA PROMOCIÓN

SOLICITE INFORMES


También contamos con asesorías y Cursos de

Regularización en Inglés, Matemáticas, Física y Química


Instituto de Inglés “América”


Clave SEP 03PBT0061Y


Héroes de Independencia No. 1935 e/ Bravo y Rosales


Tel: 122-43-87 y 123-47-19 ~ Fax 123-51-92


www.inglesamerica.blogspot.com iameryk@yahoo.com


La Paz – Cabo San Lucas – Pescadero Todos Santos – San José del Cabo





Instituto de Inglés "América"
Héroes de Independencia No. 1935
La Paz, Baja California Sur
Tel. (612)122-43-87 C.P. 23000 México

SUMMER 2009



Friday, May 15, 2009

TEACHERS

Happy Teacher's Day


The celebration of Teacher's Day is a tradition observed in many countries on different dates, but in México we celebrate it on May 15th. We offer a sincere congratulation to all our teachers, in special those at Institutos de Inglés América.
Go Ahead and Never give up!!!


The Art of Teaching


From: tarannau20, 1 year ago





Quotes about teaching


SlideShare Link



World Teacher's Day History


World Teacher's Day history is associated with the adoption of Recommendation concerning the status of teachers. Read on to know more about Happy World Teachers' Day origin.

On 5 October 1966, the world's teachers made a giant step forward. A Special Intergovernmental Conference adopted the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This Recommendation, for the first time ever, gave teachers, throughout the world, an instrument that defines their responsibilities and asserts their rights.

UNESCO inaugurated World Teacher's Day on 5th October 1994. This day was selected to commemorate the adoption of UNESCO/ILO joint Recommendation. World Teacher's Day also highlights the Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Pe rsonnel. World Teacher's Day is celebrated in almost 100 countries. It lays emphasis on the achievements and contributions of the teachers around the world.

Education International strongly believes that World Teacher's Day should be internationally recognized and celebrated around the world. It also believes that, on this date, the principles of the 1966 and 1997 Recommendations should be considered for implementation in all nations. The efforts of Education International and its 348 member organizations have led to the wide spread recognition of World Teacher's Day. Every year, Education International launches a public awareness campaign to highlight the contributions of the teaching profession.

CONFUCIOUS, A GREAT TEACHER


Much of what is known about Confucius life is legendary. It is hard to separate facts from fiction. Confucius was born in 551 BCE in the city of Qufu, which was located in the Chinese State of Lu (now part of present-day Shandong Province). His original name was K'ung Ch'iu. Confucius was born into a poor family. His father was a commander of a district in Lu. But, Confucius nevertheless received a fine education. He was married at the age of 19 and had one son and two daughters.

Confucius taught in his school for many years. His theories and principles were spread throughout China by his disciples, and soon many people learned from his wise sayings. Some of Confucius quotes, famous around the world are:
• Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have.
• They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
• It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family.
• The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.
• He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.
• To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness.
• We don't know yet about life, how can we know about death?
• Mankind differs from the animals only by a little, and most people throw that away.
• If you enjoy what you do, you'll never work another day in your life.

Confucius had no opportunity to put his theories to a public test until the age of 52. At 52, he was appointed magistrate of Chung-tu. The next year, he became Minister of crime of the state of Lu. His administration was successful; reforms were introduced, justice was fairly dispensed, and crime was almost eliminated. Lu became very powerful under Confucius. As a result, the ruler of a neighboring state maneuvered to secure the minister's dismissal.

Confucius left his office in 496 BC, traveling about and teaching, vainly hoping that some other prince would allow him to undertake measures of reform. In 484 BC, after a frui tless search for an ideal ruler, he returned for the last time to Lu. Confucius was then abandoned from his province and he wandered about China for 13 years. When Confucius was 69 years old, he returned to Lu, his home state.

Confucius died 3 years after settling in Lu - 479 BC. After Confucius died, he was buried in a grave in the city of Ch'uFu, Shandong. Today the site of his final resting place is the beautiful K'ung Forest.

When Confucius died, many people built temples in every city of China to honor him and his work. Since Confucius teachings and philosophy were so advanced, it became the education for China for 2,000 years. It is called Confucianism.


The word "teacher"
in over 50 languages


AFRIKAANS Onderwyser, ALBANIAN Mesuese, ASTURIAN Maestru, AYMARA Yatichiri, AZERI Muelim, BASQUE Irakasle, BRETON Skolaer, CATALAN Mestre, CORSICAN Maestru, CROATIAN Nastavnik, CZECH Ucitel, DANISH Laerer, DUTCH Leraar, ENGLISH Teacher, ESPERANTO Instruisto, ESTONIAN Opetaja, FAEROESE Laerari, FINNISH Opettaja, FRENCH Professeur, FRISIAN Learaar, GALICIAN Mestre, GERMAN Lehrer, GUARANI Mbo’ehara, HUNGARIAN Tanar, ICELANDIC Kennari, INDONESIAN Guru, IRISH Muinteoir, ITALIAN Maestro, JAPANESE Sensei, JUDEO-SPANISH Maestro, KOREAN sun-saeng-nim, LADINO Maester, LATIN Magister, LATVIAN Skolotajs, MALAY Pengajar, MALTESE Lekcerer, MAORI Kaiwhakaako, NORWEGIAN Laerer, OCCITAN Regent, PAPIAMENTO Instruktor, POLISH Nauczyciel, PORTUGUESE Mestre, QUECHUA Yachachijj, ROMANIAN Invatator, Profesor, ROMANSH Magister, SAMOAN Faia’oga, SLOVAK Ucitel, SPANISH Maestro, Profesor, SWAHILI Malimu, TAGALOG Guro, WELSH Athro, YUCATEC Ka’nsah, ZULU Uthisha