Seollal, Korean New Year | By Learn English with KT

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Seollal, Korean New Year, is one of the most important national holidays in Korea. It is celebrated on the third of February, according to the Lunar calendar, a calendar based on the different phases of the moon, and it is a three-day national holiday. Traditionally, families gather from all over Korea at the house of their oldest male relative to pay their respects to both elders and ancestors. 

During Seollal celebrations, it is customary for all members of the family to wear hanbok, the colourful traditional costume. These clothes are simple dresses for women or vests and loose-fitting trousers for men. Hanbok outfits are often coloured with bright reds, pinks, or oranges.

Seollal is known for its feast of traditional Korean food. One of the main dishes during this holiday is tteokguk, a soup made of beef, vegetables, egg, and rice cakes. According to Korean traditions, tteokguk symbolises starting out the year with a clean mind and body. Other classic foods eaten on the New Year’s Day include mandu, a type of dumpling. Making mandu is a multi-day family activity, involving preparing its ingredients and wrapping the dumplings. Another commonly enjoyed dish during seollal is three-color namul, a popular vegetable dish. It is made up of three vegetables that are coloured green, white, and brown. Popular choices include spinach, fern shoots, and balloon flower roots. 

After finishing a meal, it is customary for the entire family to pay respect to their ancestors with a brief prayer. The younger generations of the family pay respect to their elders by performing sebae, a deep bow. Once sebae is completed, the elders offer their blessings and wishes for a prosperous year. Children often receive sebaetdon, or New Year’s money, as a gift. For the remainder of the day, family members spend quality time and share stories with one another. 

Seollal is more than just a holiday to mark the beginning of a new year. It is a special occasion for Korean people. Not only is it a time for paying respect to ancestors, but it is also an opportunity to spend time with family members, eat traditional foods, exchange gifts, listen to stories and have fun.

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1. any member of your family from long ago, for example, the grandparents of your grandparents
2. According to the customs or usual practices associated with a particular society, place, or set of circumstances.
3. the set of clothes typical of a particular country or period of history, or suitable for a particular activity
4. a special meal with very good food or a large meal for many people
5. the words that someone says or thinks when they are praying
6. the movement of bending your head or body forward, especially as a way of showing someone respect or expressing thanks to people who have watched you perform
7. a prayer asking for God’s help, or a prayer of thanks for God’s help
8. rich and successful

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Tet (Lunar New Year) in Vietnam | By Awabe

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Lunar new year or Tet is Vietnam's main holiday. It is the grandest and most important occasion in the year which falls somewhere between the 19th of January and 20th February on the western calendar. Tet marks the beginning of spring and for agrarian people the start of a new year. Tet's preparations and celebrations used to be spread over months but nowadays the holiday is much shorter. A great deal of excitement still builds up well before tet however streets are decorated with coloured lights and red banners. Shops are full of goods people are busy buying gifts, cleaning and decorating their houses, and cooking traditional foods. Homes are often decorated with plants and flowers. At this time peach blossom is traditional at tet in the north while apricot blossom is traditional in the south. The kumquat tree with its ripe deep orange fruit is popular throughout the country. One of Tet's most special foods is Banh Chung (Chung Cake) which is made from sticky rice, green beans, and fatty pork. Mut (Jam) is candied fruit such as sugared apples, plums, or tomatoes is also popular. On the days of Tet, everyone tries to be nice and polite to each other. People believe that what they do on the first day of the year will influence their luck during the whole year thus only positive comments should be made. People visit other family members or friends and they exchange new year's wishes. Children receive their lucky money inside red envelopes. Many people go to the pagodas to pray for a happy year for themselves and their families. Both children and adults take part in games and various forms of entertainment. Tet is really a time of fun and festival throughout the country.

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1. impressive and large or important
2. relating to the land, especially the use of land for farming
3. a strip of material showing a name, such as of a sports team, or a message, which is often put in a place where it can be seen by many people
4. a small flower, or the small flowers on a tree or plant
5. a small, oval fruit that looks like an orange and has a sweet skin that can be eaten
6. (of fruit or crops) completely developed and ready to be collected or eaten
7. to put sugar in or on something
8. a tall religious building in Asia with many levels, each of which has a curved roof

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COVID variant Omicron: What are the main symptoms? | BY Al Jazeera English

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The five most common symptoms associated with the omicron variant include runny nose, fatigue which can be mild or severe; headache; sore throat as well as sneezing; However there are other symptoms that are also common with other variants. These include coughing, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, as well as loss of smell. Although this is less common with the omicron variant. Omicron is different than other variants because of the mutations. 32 mutations around the spike protein itself which mean that it has changed shape and is better able to enter the cells of the body and replicate faster, replicating 70 times faster than previous variants and has a higher ability to reinfect. So you're more likely three to four times more likely to be reinfected if you've had the previous covid with the Omicron variant. Overall, we also see that based on early data the reproduction number is between three to five. The existing vaccines still do help protect against severe symptoms of Omicron but we are seeing much higher rates of breakthrough infection with just two doses which is why it's very important to get a booster jab as well. With a booster, we see that protection against severe symptoms goes up to 80 percent compared to the halving effect that we've seen with Pfizer just with two doses alone. The risk of hospitalization has decreased with Omicron; however, due to its increased ability to transmit, it's very high transmissibility. This means that we have many more people who are affected with Omicron at the same time and the growth rate is much higher than for any other variant that we have seen before. So, because it's spreading much more quickly across the population, many more vulnerable people will all be sick at the same time. So the public health threat remains because it will apply a significant amount of pressure on a health care system. So even if Delta had higher rates of hospitalization, it impacted fewer people at the same time. We will see that younger people may have milder symptoms, but those with underlying conditions and the elderly will still be at a greater risk of hospitalization with omicron and can develop complications. Overall, if we look at the advantage that is given by being milder is essentially canceled out by the sheer rate of growth.

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✍ Vocabulary Review (find the word in the text that is suitable to each below description): 

1. any feeling of illness or physical or mental change that is caused by a particular disease
2. more liquid than usual
3. extreme tiredness
4. the way in which genes change and produce permanent differences
5. to make or do something again in exactly the same way
6. to infect again
7. A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.
8. an injection
9. the act of taking someone to hospital and keeping them there for treatment
10. the fact of a disease, etc. being able to be passed from one person or animal to another
11. able to be easily physically or mentally hurt, influenced, or attacked
12. not violent, severe, or extreme
13. real but not immediately obvious
14. used to emphasize how very great, important, or powerful a quality or feeling is; nothing except
15. an extra medical problem that makes it more difficult to treat an existing illness
16. to send air out from the nose and mouth in an explosive way that you cannot control

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How bridges are built over water? | By Interesting Engineering

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Bridges are marvels of engineering that stand inconspicuously amongst us. We don't think of them much even when we are passing over them. Nowhere are these structures more impressive then when they are built over water which brings us to the question; how are bridges built over water? 

When the water is shallow, construction is easy. A temporary foundation is made on which piers are built to support the upper structure and the bridge is then built! It's when the water is deep that other techniques are needed. There are many methods to complete such a task in deep water but here we will explore the main three. These three methods of bridge-building are called battered piles, cofferdams, and caissons. 

Let's begin with battered piles. These are poles that are driven into the soil underneath the water. Piles are hammered into the water until they turn outward or inward at an angle. This makes the piles firm and increases their ability to carry lateral loads. Piles are inserted in the ground using pile drivers. These are mechanical devices that may be transported to a location on a floating pile driving plant. Pile drivers may also be cantilevered out over the water from piles that have been installed in advance. With the use of pile frames, pile hammers, and winches, pile drivers hammer the piles into the soil until they turn outward or inward at an angle. The piles are now ready to carry lateral loads and can provide the foundation of support for the bridge. The next step is to construct the pile caps above the piles. Once this is done the bridge is ready to be built. 

Next up are cofferdams. These are temporary enclosures made by driving sheet piling into the bed of a body of water to form a watertight fence. This is called the cofferdam. There's more to this bridge-building technique. Once the sheet piles have been inserted in the water to create a cofferdam. The water is pumped out of the enclosure. Now, the construction workers can build the bridge as if they are working on dry land. The process then becomes relatively easy. 

Finally, caissons may be used. There are two types of caissons: open and pneumatic. An open caisson is a structure that is usually shaped like a box. It is open at the top and bottom. The caisson is usually constructed on land then floated into position and sunk so that the upper edge is above water level. The caisson has a cutting bottom edge so that it sinks through the soft silt on the bed. Inside is a series of large pipes or dredging wells. These are used to dredge up the bed material. As more material is dredged up the caisson sinks and more sections are added to the shaft to keep it above water. 

Once the caisson reaches the correct depth, concrete is laid to seal the bottom and then more concrete is poured into the caisson to form a solid post. A pneumatic caisson is similar to an open caisson but it has an airtight bulkhead above the bottom edge. This is fitted with airlocks. The space between the cutting edge and the bulkhead is called the working chamber. In this space, the water is removed using air pressure. Construction workers can then enter the chamber and excavate the soil. It is important that the air pressure in the chamber be carefully monitored so the workers do not get the bends. 

But how do engineers pick which technique to use? This all depends on the condition of the site and the technology available. These are important decisions to make that only experts can fully handle. Now that you know a bit more about how bridges are built you can admire them even more. After all, all bridge-building techniques are impressive feats of Engineering.

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1. in a way that is not easily or quickly noticed or seen
2. having only a short distance from the top to the bottom
3. a low structure built at the edge of water, used especially for getting into and out of boats
4. A pile driven at an inclination to the vertical to provide resistance to horizontal forces
5. to hit or kick something with a lot of force
6. relating to the sides of an object or plant or to sideways movement
7. Support by a long projecting beam or girder fixed at only one end (used in bridge construction)
8. a machine that lifts heavy objects by turning a chain or rope around a tube-shaped device
9. an area surrounded by fences or walls
10. having no openings to allow water to get in
11. operated by air pressure
12. Go down below the surface of something, especially of a liquid; become submerged.
13. sand or soil that is carried along by flowing water and then dropped, especially at a bend in a river or at a river's opening
14. to remove unwanted things from the bottom of a river, lake, etc. using a boat or special device
15. a deep hole in the ground from which you can get water, oil, or gas
16. to cover a surface with a special liquid in order to protect it
17. completely closed so that no air can get in or out
18. a wall that divides the inside of a ship or aircraft
19. something difficult needing a lot of skill, strength, courage, etc. to achieve it

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Building with Concrete vs. Wood - Which is Safer? | By Civil Mentors

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Wood and concrete have been used in construction for thousands of years and for a good reason. Both materials have properties that make them appealing building materials. In this video, we will tackle the age-old debate between wood and concrete. But before we dive headfirst into this heated debate, there are a few considerations you need to keep in mind. As professionals in construction, we know that you can look at this question from various perspectives, which ultimately affects your interpretation of the advantages and disadvantages listed below. We also recognize the distinction between immediate advantages and long-term benefits. In other words, the benefits that material provides in the long term may outweigh the drawbacks you experience today. Therefore, you should keep your own priorities in mind as you watch this video. 

According to a study, concrete is the second most used material after water, and there are lots of reasons why it is so popular. Still, there are advantages and disadvantages to using concrete as a building material: 

On the other hand, when we think of wood we often imagine a natural, sustainable, and environmentally friendly building material. And in many ways, it is. Wood stores carbon dioxide, which results in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 2432 metric tons (equal to taking 500 cars off the road for a year). It is inexpensive, light, and easy to work with. A natural resource (readily available, presenting promising opportunities). 

On the other hand, concrete is often criticized for being unsustainable as it takes a lot of resources to produce. Cement, a main component of concrete is one of the world's biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Many people assume that because cement production is bad for the environment, so is concrete production. But the truth is far more complicated than that. Let's take a closer look. Concrete is durable - its lifespan is actually two or three times longer than other common building materials. Concrete is great at absorbing and retaining heat, which means it will increase the energy efficiency of a building and reduce HVAC expenses. Its reflective properties will decrease air conditioning costs in the hot summer months. Concrete produces little waste as it can be produced in batches specific to project needs. 

So now the question is which is safer concrete or wood? 

Last but not least, there's safety. In general wooden structures are not as safe as concrete buildings. Wood is vulnerable to external threats like fire, wind, insects, and moisture. All of which can result in structural damage and safety risk. While concrete is a durable, strong material, it too poses some safety risks. For example, if a concrete structure collapsed, either at a jobsite or once the building is occupied, falling concrete could seriously injure anyone who is nearby. Also, if you are a builder working with dry or wet concrete, you may experience irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, or skin. Furthermore, exposure to silica, a made ingredient in dry concrete, can even cause far more serious health issues, including lung cancer. Now that you know everything about building with concrete and wood, which one would you choose?

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✍ Vocabulary Review (find the word in the text that is suitable to each below description): 

1. attractive or interesting
2. to try to deal with something or someone
3. (a) serious discussion of a subject in which many people take part
4. the act of thinking about something carefully
5. a particular way of considering something
6. finally, after a series of things have happened
7. an explanation or opinion of what something means
8. a difference between two similar things
9. to be greater or more important than something else
10. a disadvantage or the negative part of a situation
11. something that is very important and must be dealt with before other things
12. able to continue over a period of time
13. the act of making something, or of something becoming, smaller in size, amount, degree, importance, etc.:
14. the act of sending out gas, heat, light, etc.
15. to express disapproval of someone or something
16. to accept something to be true without question or proof
17. involving a lot of different parts, in a way that is difficult to understand
18. the length of time for which a person, animal, or thing exists
19. to keep or continue to have something
20. the good use of time and energy in a way that does not waste any
21. able to send back light, hear, energy, or sound from a surface
22. a group of things that are dealt with or produced at the same time
23. able to be easily physically or mentally hurt, influenced, or attacked
24. to cause something, especially a problem or difficulty
25. (of a structure) fall down or in; give way.
26. (of a building, seat, etc.) being used by someone.
27. a painful or sore feeling in a part of the body
28. The state of being exposed to contact with something.

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The Colosseum, Rome | By Simple History

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The Colosseum - Roman Empire. The Colosseum is located in Rome, Italy. Also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, it is an oval amphitheater and the largest ever built. Construction began under Emperor Vespasian around 70-72 A.D. and was completed under his successor and heir, Titus, in 80 A.D. Further modifications were made during the Flavian dynasty, so the amphitheater was named as the Amphitheatrum Flavium, or Flavian Amphitheatre. It stood at 50 meters high, and 156 meters wide, and was constructed from concrete and sand. Arches and columns framed the structure and strengthened it. It had 80 exits and entrances, 76 of which were used by ordinary citizens. The Colosseum was also covered by a controllable velarium to shade spectators from the sun. Nearby the Colosseum stood the Colossus of Nero, a great bronze statue, later changed to a statue of the sun god, Sol. The arena was made of a wooden floor covered by sand. Around it were the spectators' seats, determined by the citizens' importance, with the best seats reserved for senators. Special boxes were reserved for the emperor. The Colosseum could hold around 70,000 spectators. Under the arena was the hypogeum, still visible today. This was a series of underground tunnels used to house animals imported from Africa and the Middle East, such as lions, rhinos, and panthers, which could be released through trapdoors. The hypogeum was also used to release slaves through lifts, and to create different moving scenarios or scenery, such as hills, groves, and small lakes. The arena hosted a variety of blood sports as entertainment. The schedule for the day consisted of men hunting dangerous animals and executions of criminals, but the main event would be the gladiatorial combat. Ancient writers wrote about mock sea battles, or 'naumachiae,' before the hypogeum was developed. It is speculated that hydraulic mechanisms were used to flood the arena rapidly for such naval battles. Gladiatorial combat, and public entertainment, was shown at the Colosseum all the way until the 6th century A.D., when costs became too high to justify it, and public taste had shifted. Over the centuries it was reused for various purposes, such as a material quarry. Today, it is the symbol of Rome, and one of the most-visited archaeological sites all over the world.

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1. a group of countries ruled by a single person, government, or country
2. (especially in Greek and Roman architecture) an open circular or oval building with a central space surrounded by tiers of seats for spectators, for the presentation of dramatic or sporting events.
3. a male ruler of an empire
4. someone or something that comes after another person or thing
5. a person who will legally receive money, property, or a title from another person, especially an older member of the same family, when that other person dies
6. a structure, consisting of a curved top on two supports, that holds the weight of something above it
7. an awning used to protect the audience in ancient Roman theatres and amphitheatres
8. to prevent direct light from shining on something
9. a person who watches an activity, especially a sports event, without taking part
10. a very large statue (= large artistic object)
11. a large, flat area surrounded by seats used for sports or entertainment
12. a politician who has been elected to a Senate
13. an underground vault, esp one used for burials
14. a small door in a ceiling or floor
15. a description of possible events, or a description of the story of a movie, play, or other performance
16. a group of trees planted close together
17. to provide the space and other things necessary for a special event
18. the legal punishment of killing someone
19. any sport that involves animals being killed or hurt to make the people watching or taking part feel excitement
20. relating to violent fighting in which only one person or group can win
21. a fight, especially during a war
22. to guess possible answers to a question when you do not have enough information to be certain
23. operated by or involving the pressure of water or some other liquid
24. belonging to a country's navy, or relating to military ships
25. to give or to be a good reason for
26. involving or relating to archaeology

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La Sagrada Familia | By Candelas Education

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La Sagrada Familia is one of the most authentic buildings you might ever see. It is a basilica located in Barcelona, Spain, and the most significant brainchild of the famous Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi. He is also known for the spectacular Park Güell, which combines mosaic-installed architectural elements with nature. Initially, the project, La Sagrada Familia was initiated by Francisco de Paula del Villa in 1882. He was responsible for the first design of the basilica, which was supposed to be a cathedral. The first designs, compared to Gaudi's were not authentic at all. They looked like any other Gothic cathedral of the 1800s. Later on, the project was taken over by Antonio Gaudi. He gave La Sagrada Familia a design like no other. This design was so hard to plan, engineer, and apply that even Gaudi knew he wouldn't live long enough to see his most ambitious work built. This is why some researchers think Gaudi rushed some parts of the building to be completed earlier. There are a lot of unique details about the story, the design, and the construction stage of the cathedral. The name La Sagrada Familia roughly translates into the sacred family, which symbolically stands for Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, the Four Evangelists, and the 12 Apostles. The 18 tower design of La Sagrada Familia represents these 18 crucial figures in Christianity. It was later declared a basilica by the pope, which was a great honour for the building. As for the design, the building possesses some of the most modernist touches of its own era. There are almost no right-angled edges or straight lines, thus making the building look incredibly detailed and circular. One of the students of Gaudi stated that the structure resembles a colossal sculpture like no other. In the previous decade, the construction of the building was halted because of the riots during the Spanish Civil War and insufficient funding. The absence of computers and technology also made the construction take longer than it was originally planned. To this day, it has been very hard to both construct the building and keep Gaudi's original design. For now, architects say that the building can be finished by 2026. It is obvious that Gaudi dedicated most of his time and energy to the precious La Sagrada Familia. Therefore, a crypt was made for him in the basilica after his accidental death by getting hit by a trolley car on June 10th. 1926. If you ever get to visit Barcelona, don't forget to admire the magnificent La Sagrada Familia, even though it will still be under construction. 

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✍ Vocabulary Review (find the word in the text that is suitable to each below description by your comment): 

1. based on facts; accurate or reliable
2. a public building in ancient Rome that was round at one end and had two rows of columns supporting the roof, or a large church with a similar design
3. an original idea, plan, or invention
4. very exciting to look at
5. a pattern or picture made using many small pieces of coloured stone or glass, or the activity or method of making these
6. to cause something to begin
7. a very large, usually stone, building for Christian worship. It is the largest and most important church of a diocese
8. (of buildings) built in an old style that uses stone, very high ceilings, and lots of decoration
9. having a strong wish to be successful, powerful, or rich
10. to (cause to) do something very quickly
11. considered to be holy and deserving respect, especially because of a connection with a god
12. a person who tries to persuade people to become Christians, often by travelling around and organizing religious meetings
13. someone who strongly supports a particular belief or political movement
14. extremely important or necessary
15. a religion based on belief in God and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and on the Bible
16. to announce something clearly, firmly, publicly, or officially
17. (the title of) the leader of the Roman Catholic Church
18. to have or own something, or to have a particular quality
19. relating to or a member of the modern art movement
20. a period of time of which particular events or stages of development are typical
21. shaped like a circle
22. to be similar to someone or something
23. extremely large
24. the art of forming solid objects that represent a thing, person, idea, etc. out of a material such as wood, clay, metal, or stone, or an object made in this way
25. the art of forming solid objects that represent a thing, person, idea, etc. out of a material such as wood, clay, metal, or stone, or an object made in this way
26. a period of ten years
27. to (cause to) stop doing something or happening
28. an occasion when a large number of people behave in a noisy, violent, and uncontrolled way in public, often as a protest
29. not enough
30. believing that something is very important and giving a lot of time and energy to it
31. of great value because of being rare, expensive, or important
32. a room under the floor of a church where bodies are buried
33. an electric vehicle that transports people, usually in cities, and goes along metal tracks in the road
34. very good, beautiful, or deserving to be admired

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The Eiffel Tower | By Free School

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Over the streets of Paris, France, rises the Eiffel Tower. An internationally recognized symbol of France and one of the most famous structures in the world, the Eiffel Tower was originally built as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. More than 100 artists competed with plans for the monument, but the contract was given to Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, a bridge-builder, architect, and metals expert who had already designed the framework for the Statue of Liberty. The final design required more than 18,000 pieces of iron and 2.5 million rivets to construct. It took hundreds of workers more than 2 years to finish, and when it was completed in March of 1889 it was almost 1,000 feet or more than 300 meters high - more than twice the height of the pyramids at Giza - making it the tallest structure in the world until the Chrysler building was completed in 1930. The tower was originally meant to be a temporary structure and only stand for 20 years. Many of the people of Paris disliked the tower. They thought it was ugly, or that it was dangerous and might fall down. By the time the tower was supposed to be removed, however, people had realized that it was a valuable way to transmit wireless telegraph and radio signals, and city officials decided to keep it. It continues to be used for communications today, with more than 100 antennas on it. Despite its height, the Eiffel Tower is incredibly wind-resistant. It only sways up to five inches in wind, but when the side facing the sun heats up and expands, the top may move up to seven inches from its original position. The tower is completely repainted every seven years to protect it from rusting, using 60 tons of paint each time. Originally, the tower was reddish-brown and the color was changed sometimes when it was repainted. It was once even painted yellow! These days it is painted a bronze color called "Eiffel Tower Brown." Today, the Eiffel tower is the most popular paid attraction in the world, with about 7 million visitors each year. It has been the inspiration for replicas and imitations around the world, from Japan to Guatemala to Las Vegas. No longer considered an eyesore, the Eiffel Tower is an icon of France and is inside the World Heritage Site that includes certain parts of Paris.

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✍ Vocabulary Review (find the word in the text that is suitable to each below description by your comment): 

1. the day on which an important event happened in a previous year
2. a change in the way a country is governed, usually to a different political system and often using violence or war
3. to try to be more successful than someone or something else
4. a structure or building that is built to honour a special person or event
5. a metal pin used to fasten flat pieces of metal or other thick materials such as leather
6. unpleasant to look at; not attractive
7. to broadcast something, or to send out or carry signals or messages using radio, television, etc
8. in the past, the method of sending or receiving messages by electrical or radio signals
9. a structure made of metal rods or wires, often positioned on top of a building or vehicle, that receives or sends radio or television signals
10. not harmed or affected by something
11. to move slowly from side to side
12. a red-brown substance that forms on the surface of iron and steel as a result of decay caused by reacting with air and water
13. someone or something that gives you ideas for doing something
14. an exact copy of an object
15. something copied, or the act of copying
16. an unpleasant or ugly sight in a public place
17. features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages, or buildings, that were created in the past and still have historical importance

🗣Speak (paraphrase/ retell)