The Moscow English Team

Good day, chaps! Let's continue on a poetic note set by the previous post and talk about an important poem and song of Scottish origin - Auld Lang Syne — ORIGINS: "Auld Lang Syne" is a famous Scottish poem written by Robert Burns, although it would be misleading to describe "Auld Lang Syne" as entirely Burns's invention: he adapted material belonging to a much older Scottish folk tradition. Earlier versions of the song existed in print before Burns, including forms dating to the eighteenth century. Burns himself presented it as an old traditional song that he had heard from an elderly singer. Burns's version was subsequently published in The Scots Musical Museum. The history of its melody, however, is somewhat different. The tune originally associated with Burns's words was not the melody most people sing today. In 1799, George Thomson published the words with a different traditional Scottish tune—the melody that eventually became standard. This tune is pentatonic, meaning that its basic musical scale uses five notes rather than the seven-note scale most familiar from Western classical music. — TRANSLATION & MEANING: Opening stanza reads: Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne! The title is written in Scots and in ordinary English the phrase is most naturally rendered as “for old times' sake”. The song's opening question—whether old acquaintances and friendships should be forgotten—immediately establishes its central theme. The answer is, of course, no. Later on the poem suggest taking (raising) "a cup of kindness" for old friends and Auld Lang Syne. The main message of the song gives Auld Lang Syne an unusual emotional character. The combination of nostalgia and fellowship makes the song particularly appropriate for moments of transition. — CULTURE & TRADITIONS: In Scotland, Auld Lang Syne became closely associated with Hogmanay, the Scottish celebration of New Year's Eve. Traditionally, it is sung at midnight as the old year gives way to the new. The practice eventually spread beyond Scotland and became a New Year's tradition in Commonwealth nations and the USA. The twentieth century transformed it from a Scottish custom into a global cultural ritual. In the United States, Auld Lang Syne plays at New Year's celebrations from 1929 onwards, helping establish its association with midnight on New Year's Eve in American popular culture. By 1929, a line from the song was even displayed on the electronic ticker during New Year's celebrations in New York's Times Square. The song has also accompanied more solemn historical moments. During the celebrations of Victory in Europe Day in May 1945, communities across Britain sang it as the Second World War in Europe came to an end. At Aldershot (a town in Hampshire county, England), for example, thousands of British and Canadian troops and civilians gathered for celebrations and sang Auld Lang Syne, followed by the British and Canadian national anthems. Another humorous example of Auld Lang Syne being performed is in the European Parliament at the very end of Brexit in 2020. I will leave a link to a video of this event (and some other circumstances prior to that event) at the end of the post. Such examples demonstrate why the song has become a musical language for endings themselves: the end of a year, a gathering, a period of history. — WHY AULD LANG SYNE MATTERS: For the study of British cultural history, Auld Lang Syne is significant precisely because its journey crosses cultural boundaries. What began as an old Scottish folk tradition, was reshaped by Robert Burns, and was paired with its familiar pentatonic melody in 1799 has consequently become one of the world's most recognisable songs. To sing Auld Lang Syne is therefore to participate in a tradition of remembering the past while stepping together into the future. — LINKS: - Auld Lang Syne classic version here - Humorous Auld Lang Syne sung during Brexit process here #countrystudies

One thing about me: I can't pass up a catchy slogan. And neither could they. Today, let's look at some of the catchiest lines in American history. "Give me liberty, or give me death!" Patrick Henry, Second Virginia Convention, March 23, 1775. The voice of a discontented public on the brink of the War for Independence. Fun fact: no transcript of the speech survives. The version we all quote was reconstructed in 1817 by his biographer William Wirt, 42 years after the fact. So the most famous line in American oratory… may be partly ghostwritten. "Taxation without representation is tyranny" Attributed to James Otis, a rallying cry against the Stamp and Townshend Acts. Otis argued the principle in court back in 1761. What survived of that was the snappy one-liner, which is very much how slogans work. "Manifest Destiny" The 19th-century belief that American settlers were fated to expand westward across the continent. Coined by journalist John O'Sullivan in 1845 and rooted in American exceptionalism and romantic nationalism, it found its most enthusiastic executor in President James K. Polk. "Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain!" The USS Maine sank in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. American newspapers pinned it on Spain, and the country marched into the Spanish-American War on the strength of a really smooth rhyme. Later investigations point to an internal explosion, most likely a coal-bunker fire. But who needs fact-checking? Four slogans, not one of them quite what it says on the tin: one reconstructed from memory, one condensed by history, one coined by a journalist, one just... wrong. Catchy beats accurate every time!

На федеральном портале проектов нормативных правовых актов выложен проект перечневых олимпиад школьников и их уровней на 2026/2027 учебный год✨ Единственное изменение по сравнению с предыдущим годом: олимпиада «Ломоносов» стала II уровня. Общее количество олимпиад не изменилось — 13: Олимпиады I уровня: 1. Всероссийская олимпиада школьников «Высшая проба» 2. Олимпиада школьников «Покори Воробьевы горы!» 3. Олимпиада школьников СПбГУ Олимпиады II уровня: 1. Олимпиада школьников «Ломоносов» 2. Межрегиональная олимпиада школьников «Евразийская лингвистическая олимпиада» 3. Герценовская олимпиада школьников 4. Межрегиональная олимпиада школьников на базе ведомственных образовательных организаций 5. Плехановская олимпиада школьников 6. Олимпиада КФУ 7. Олимпиада РГГУ для школьников Олимпиады III уровня: 1. Олимпиада школьников РАНХиГС 2. Всероссийская олимпиада школьников «Миссия выполнима. Твое призвание – финансист!» 3. Региональный конкурс школьников Челябинского университетского образовательного округа А на следующей неделе (20 августа) уже будет открыта регистрация на олимпиаду Высшая проба! Не пропустите:) #news

Good evening, chaps! Alex here. Today we’ll examine the various accents and dialects of the British Isles! The fact that English has been spoken in England for 1,500 years explains why England has a great wealth of regional dialects. English in England can be divided into four major dialect regions: South East English, South West English (also known as West Country English), Midlands English, and Northern English. Within each of these regions, several local dialects exist: within the Northern region, there is a division between the Yorkshire dialects, the Geordie dialect (spoken around Newcastle in Northumbria), and the Lancashire dialects, which include the urban subdialects of Manchester (Mancunian) and Liverpool (Scouse). Scottish English comprises the varieties of Standard English spoken in Scotland; most varieties are Northern English accents, with some influence from Scots. Modern Irish English, however, has its roots in English colonisation in the 17th century. Today Irish English is divided into Ulster English (the Northern Ireland dialect with strong influence from Scots) and various other dialects of Ireland. ———————————————————— I put together a short video showcasing some of these accents with their respective origins! 1 - Received Pronunciation (“BBC English”) 2 - Cockney accent 3 - Essex Estuary English 4 - Yorkshire accent 5 - Liverpool accent (Scouse) 6 - West/South Wales accent 7 - one of the many accents of Scotland 8 - Northern Irish (Ulster) 9 - one of the many accents of Ireland #listening #countrystudies

Elizabeth II, Charles something, James… Um… Monarchs are tough. Believe me, we know. All of the battles and wars and breaking away from the Church because you want to remarry a very fair maiden… But let's start with the names. I have a great tool to help you remember each and every one. And that's of course the Horrible Histories Monarchs song! You best believe this lovely melody has rung in the ears of Prize Winners and Winners alike. And if you're ever in doubt, just give it a shout, "William, William, Henry, Stephen, Henry, Richard, John!" https://youtu.be/vC6okzIKQvg?si=y5lJY68IMD9wRN_G

Fancy a ride, eh? 🏎️ Top-5 automotive companies from the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 The boys are gonna love this! 😁

🎞️Friday night is great for watching anything in this world since you can finally unwind, stay up late, and revel in the relaxed atmosphere🎞️ If you try to compile a list of films for such evenings, we really recommend adding musicals as well!✨⤵️ 🎞️The Phantom of the Opera Experience a hauntingly romantic tale of a disfigured musical genius and his infatuation with a young singer. The ending won’t leave you indifferent; 🎞️Hamilton If you want to learn American history in an entertaining way, look no further! Witness the story of Alexander Hamilton through groundbreaking hip-hop, dynamic choreography, and an inclusive take on the formation of the USA; 🎞️Chicago Dive into a satire of corruption, as two murderesses manipulate their way to freedom with iconic Bob Fosse-inspired jazz; 🎞️The Sound of Music Enjoy a heartwarming, timeless story of family and faith set in WWII-era Austria, filled with beloved, uplifting songs; 🎞️Mamma Mia! Escape to a Greek island for a joyful, feel-good musical where a bride seeks her father among three ex-lovers, all set to the iconic hits of ABBA; 🎞️My Fair Lady Delve into a witty, classic tale of social transformation as a phonetics professor bets he can turn a Cockney flower girl into a lady, featuring a lush score and clever dialogue. Personally, I was surprised to see the mastery of Audrey Hepburn in the original musical version; 🎞️Cats Marvel at a unique theatrical spectacle of Jellicle cats seeking rebirth, known for its extraordinary dance, elaborate costumes, and the powerful ballad "Memory"; 🎞️West Side Story Experience a powerful, tragic retelling of Romeo and Juliet set amidst rival gangs in 1950s New York, brought to life with thrilling dance and a legendary score. #countrystudies #usefulmaterial

🧠 OLYMPIAD BRAIN GYM Think you can handle five quick challenges? Let's see! 👀 1️⃣ TRIOS Find one word that fits all three sentences: • The scandal may ___ serious doubts about his reputation. • The announcement is likely to ___ a heated debate. • The discovery could ___ major changes in the field. 2️⃣ GRAMMAR TRAP Which sentence contains a grammatical error? A) Hardly had I closed my eyes when the phone rang. B) She suggested that we postpone the meeting. C) No sooner had he arrived than the discussion began. D) I would rather you to keep this information confidential. 3️⃣ WORDBUILDING Complete the sentence with the correct form of the word in brackets: The proposal was met with considerable __ from the scientific community. (SCEPTIC) 4️⃣ COLLOCATION Which is correct? A) He is good in mathematics B) He is good at mathematics C) He is good on mathematics D) He is good with mathematics 5️⃣ CULTURE Which American author wrote The Great Gatsby? A) Ernest Hemingway B) F. Scott Fitzgerald C) Mark Twain D) John Steinbeck ——————————————— ✅ ANSWERS: 1️⃣ spark — to spark doubts / a debate / changes 2️⃣ D — I would rather you kept this information confidential. After would rather + subject, we normally use the Past Simple to talk about a present or future preference. 3️⃣ scepticism (BrE) / skepticism (AmE) 4️⃣ B — He is good at mathematics. 5️⃣ B — F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby was published in 1925 and is one of the best-known novels of American literature. 🏆 How many did you get?

What’s the capital of the United States of America? Well, if you had asked Mr. Washington himself, he would have said Philadelphia! That’s because the first US President died in 1799, less than a year before the federal government relocated to Washington, D.C. In a twist of historical irony, the man the city was named after, who personally selected the site and hired its architect, never lived to see it become the capital. Interestingly, over the course of its history, the US has had 14 official capitals across 9 different cities. Here’s a compiled timeline for your convenience! Sept 5, 1774 - Oct 26, 1774: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (First Continental Congress) May 10, 1775 - Dec 12, 1776: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Second Continental Congress) Dec 20, 1776 - Feb 27, 1777: Baltimore, Maryland March 5, 1777 - Sept 18, 1777: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sept 27, 1777: Lancaster, Pennsylvania (For exactly one day) Sept 30, 1777 - June 27, 1778: York, Pennsylvania July 2, 1778 - June 21, 1783: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania June 30, 1783 - Nov 4, 1783: Princeton, New Jersey Nov 26, 1783 - June 3,1784: Annapolis, Maryland Nov 1, 1784 - Dec 24, 1784: Trenton, New Jersey Jan 11, 1785 - March 2, 1789: New York City, New York (Under Articles of Confederation) March 4, 1789 - Aug 12, 1790: New York City, New York (Under U.S. Constitution) Dec 6, 1790 - May 14, 1800: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Temporary 10-year capital) Nov 17, 1800 - Present: Washington, D.C. P.S. Yes, there were days when the United States functionally did not have a capital city because the government was actively fleeing for its life on horseback. 1777 was a rough year!

The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. The Manx are a Celtic nation. Humans have lived on the island since before 6500 BC. There was Gaelic cultural influence and settlement by the 5th century AD, and the Manx language emerged as a branch of the Goidelic languages (it’s very similar to Irish and Scottish). Irish missionaries following the teaching of Saint Patrick spread Christianity on Man. In 627, King Edwin of Northumbria conquered the Isle of Man. In the 9th century, Norsemen founded the Kingdom of the Isles, which included Man and the Hebrides. For a hundred and sixty years Man was a dependency of Norway. After a period of alternating rule by the Kings of Scotland and England, the island came under the feudal lordship of the English Crown in 1399. The lordship revested in the British Crown in 1765, but the island did not become part of the 18th-century Kingdom of Great Britain, nor of its successors, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the present-day United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It has always retained its internal self-government. The island's parliament, Tynwald, is the oldest continuously governing body in the world, and claimed to have been in continuous existence since 979 or earlier, though evidence supports a later date. GEOGRAPHY: Ranges of hills in the north and south are separated by a central valley. The northern plain, by contrast, is relatively flat. The island has one mountain higher than 600 metres, Snaefell, with a height of 620 metres. According to an old saying, from the summit one can see six kingdoms: those of Man, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales and Heaven. Some versions add a seventh kingdom, that of the sea, or Neptune. SYMBOLS: For centuries, the island's symbol has been the so-called "three legs of Man" (Manx: Tree Cassyn Vannin), a triskelion of three legs conjoined at the thigh. The Manx triskelion, which dates back with certainty to the late 13th century, is of uncertain origin. FUN FACTS: The Isle of Man is also known for the TT (Tourist Trophy) Motorcycle Races,and the Manx cat, a breed with short or no tails. In 2016, UNESCO awarded the Isle of Man biosphere reserve status. #countrystudies

Did you know that the most common letter in English is E? And in many English texts, the most common word is THE. Edgar Allan Poe used this idea in his mystery story "The Gold-Bug". In the story, the characters find a strange note made of numbers and symbols. At first, this cryptogram seems impossible to decipher. To solve it, a method called frequency analysis is used: 1. Count how often each symbol appears in the text 2. Compare the data with common English letters and words 3. Notice the pattern 4. The symbol 8 appears more often than any other symbol, so it probably represents the letter E. The group ;48 appears several times, so it is likely to mean THE. Once these first clues are found, the rest of the code becomes much easier to solve. The decoded message gives directions to hidden treasure. Turns out, it is not only a treasure story, but also a language puzzle. Will we see a cryptogram during the municipal stage? Stay tuned to find out! Tags: #useofenglish #countrystudies #literature #puzzles

What do you think is the northernmost natural habitat for penguins? Obviously the answer is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! The Steel city is home to the Penguins of the NHL, Steelers of the NFL, and Pirates of the MLB. The only city in America whose teams all wear the same colours. Its nickname is derived from the industrial past of the ‘Burgh. The city played a crucial role in the history of the US, providing the country with much needed steel during the Industrial Revolution. It also connects the relaxed Midwest to the vibrant rest! By rest I of course mean New England and the Atlantic Coast. Bridging the gap is something this PA’s baby is notorious for. Pittsburgh is sometimes called the "City of Bridges" for its 446 bridges. Some other prominent PA babies are hip-hop artists Wiz Khalifa and late Mac Miller, whose music can be used to study the geography of the city, which is surely one of a kind. Three rivers come together to form the steel City. With the point of convergence being the Point State Park. It also hosts some of the best universities in America, among them Carnegie Mellon University. To end this late night article, I want to quote a certain Pittsburgh native. Keep your eyes to the sky, never glued to your shoes! Good night, Max #countrystudies

Instead of doomscrolling or constant surfing in the late evening, you’d better roll up your sleeves and learn 10 proficient adjectives (to get closer to the gift of the gab)🌸 🔴dexterous showing or having great skill, neatness, or quickness, especially with the hands (or metaphorically with the mind). 🔴insipid lacking flavor, vigor, or interest; dull, bland, or lifeless. 🔴pensive engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought (often with a hint of melancholy). 🔴affable friendly, good-natured, easy to talk to, and approachable. 🔴auspicious conducive to success; favorable, promising a bright or fortunate outcome. 🔴fortuitous happening by a lucky accident or chance rather than by design; highly opportune. 🔴indomitable impossible to subdue, defeat, or discourage; possessing unyielding courage and resilience. 🔴laudable deserving praise and commendation, even if the effort falls short of complete success 🔴sagacious having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise and shrewd. 🔴effusive expressing gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained, highly enthusiastic, or emotional manner. Besides the words, we have something practical in store for you. Now try to write an adventure story using at least 5 of the given adjectives for description. The word limit is 100-150. We are waiting for your creative works in the comments below📌⬇️ #useofenglish #words #writing

Today I’d like to dive into something that has been a personal interest of mine ever since I started preparing for the Olympiad: Ships! Ships come in all shapes, sizes and materials: wooden, metal, rubber (those usually sail the seas of bubble baths). Let’s go through some of the most famous ships in British and American history! SS Great Britain The SS Great Britain was the first iron steamer to cross the Atlantic, designed by the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. She was launched in 1843 as the largest ship in the world at the time. The USS Arizona A United States Navy battleship that was famously sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, resulting in the deaths of 1,177 crewmen. Its submerged wreckage in Hawaii now serves as a memorial site. HMS Victory HMS Victory is the oldest commissioned warship in the world. She served as Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar, where Nelson was mortally wounded. The ship was launched in 1765 and now calls the harbor of Portsmouth home. Cutty Sark The Cutty Sark was launched in 1869 on the River Leven. The ship visited every major port across the world in her working life. She was used for tea, wool and other cargo in her voyages around the world and is now found in Greenwich, London. Royal Yacht Britannia Britannia, the Royal Yacht, was launched in 1953 and served the royal family for over 44 years. This royal residence was used to travel to official receptions, state visits and family holidays. The ship is now berthed at Leith in Edinburgh and is open to visitors. When I was 7 I got to visit the USS North Carolina on a summer camp trip. I can’t really remember going inside, but I do have a snow globe from the gift shop. Have you ever visited a famous ship?

Remember, Sunday is your day to shine and bring to the world the most interesting ideas (share with our dear subscribers)!⚡️ Today we have our repeat guest who unremittingly comes up with all kinds of tasks. It is none other than @nurturng, and this time he wants to challenge you with an enigmatic Integrated Listening & Reading Task✨ Don’t cheat: solve everything on your own and then view the hidden answers;) KEYS: 1. B 2. D 3. C 4. C 5. A 6. D 7. C 8. A 9. B 10. A #integrated