Cultured Learning

INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY

Notting Hill Carnival has been taking place in London, on the last weekend in August, every year since 1966. It was initiated by London’s immigration population from the Caribbean, particularly from Trinidad. Back in the 1950s and 60s, these immigrants were facing harsh racism: limited job opportunities and poor housing conditions were the norm. They decided to create a festival in the style so synonymous with the Caribbean, to bring people together after the race riots of the 1950s. What began as a small party now has up to two million revellers every year. It is Europe’s biggest street festival and probably London’s most exciting annual event, involving twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls, over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill Carnival revellers.

A. Read the text quickly and find out: What is Notting Hill Carnival?

B. Read the text again and answer these questions

1) Which two-word phrase in the text is similar in meaning to:
happening / on / going on /

2) Which two-word phrase in the text is similar in meaning to:
standard / usual / typical /

3) Which word in the text is opposite in meaning to:
dull / grey / boring

THE EVENT
Notting Hill Carnival always takes place during the last weekend in August, on the Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. The first day of the carnival (Sunday) is traditionally Children’s Day, with the parade and events aimed at the whole family. The second day (Monday) is for all ages to dance in the streets. The parade floats keep moving through the streets till about 9pm and then you can move on to the local clubs and bars. Pumping sound systems around the parade route vie for your attention. As well as music and dancing, authentic Caribbean cuisine is also available.

1) Where and when does the carnival take place?
2) What happens on Sunday and on Monday?

Looking for ways to improve your English this weekend?

Why not go to the Holland House festival in Trafalgar Square to celebrate the Dutch Queen Mum’s Birthday?  There you can chat to people and practise your conversation skills, watch or take part in some of the fun activities, listen to live music and sample some Dutch delicacies.  Better still, there’s no entrance fee, so what are you waiting for?

http://www.holland.com/uk/hollandhouse2009/hollandhouse2009.jsp

Vocabulary

Chat - to talk to someone informally.

Take part in - to participate / join in doing an activity.

Live music - bands / groups of musicians performing on stage (not recorded on a CD for example)

Sample… delicacies - to taste the lovely traditional food.

Entrance fee - price to enter / participate in an event.

Homework

Try and find out what these three Dutch idioms mean

1. To go Dutch
2. It’s all double Dutch
3. Dutch courage

Have fun!