JFK ANNIVERSARY

John Fitzgerald Kennedy ( 1917-1963) 

" ....And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

These were the famous words John Fitzgerald Kennedy pronunced during his inaugural address on  January 20, 1961 as 35th President of the USA.
Almost three years later he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswall in a visit to Dallas.  

Follow the links to know more about it. 
Inaugural speech
His assassination 

J F Kennedy was a popular President in USA and all over the world but his term of office was full of lights and shadows like the Cuban missile crisis,  Bay of Pigs Invasion , start of Vietnam War and others. 

Coming from a family with political ambitions (with Irish ancestors, his father and some of his brothers were also politicians), he was a democrat Congressman and Senator. 

His family life ( married to Jacqueline Bouvier)  was a model for families in USA at the time. 

All women followed the First Lady's fashion. There were programmes devoted to her and their family on TV. Jackie even opened the White House to the public.

  His death was a shock all over the world, he was buried at Arlington Cemetery

 (Washington)  where there is an eternal flame burning. His wife and two children are buried right beside him. 

There was a controversy over his assassination. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and shot by Jack Ruby shortly afterwards. Some thought it had been a conspiracy and others that there was a second or third gunman. We'll never know. 

Lots of documentaries, films and books have been shot or written about the President and his death. It is said that the song " The sounds of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel was composed to show the feelings after JFK's death. 

If you want to know more about it, do some research and answer the following questions: 

1. What was the President's academic and military background? 

2. How old was he when he became President?

3. What other people in his family were politicians?

4. Kennedy was a great defender of the civil rights movement, What did he do? 

5. There were lots of new projects during his Presidency, one of them was related to space? What did he do? 

6. He won an important prize for writing? Which? What did he write?  

7. There were many tragedies in JFK life, which ones? 

8. In spite of having an idilic family life, he had a double life. What kind of relationships did he have?

9.  Who became President after Kennedy's death?

10. Who is the only surviving child of JFK? What does he/ she do?  

Follow the anniversary in the Press: The Guardian 

Charles Dickens Activity

In 2012 we  celebrated  the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens ( Portsmouth, February 7th, 1812) , one of the greatest storytellers of all time. Most of us have read books such as " Oliver Twist", "David Copperfield" etc in our childhood.

A lot of his novels have been adapted for the theatre and made into films or series, How many times have you seen " A Christmas Carol" ? and many of them, including Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby were originally published in a serial format, with a new part of the book being published each month. Dickens often wrote the episodes without knowing what would happen next.
Most of his characters and stories were based on people and events in his own life which was really interesting.
His works reflected real life in Victorian times, different social classes, hard times, romance, adventure, mystery etc, everyting you can think about.
So I encourage you to get into his world and read some of his novels or even know more about him clicking in the following links:
Dickens2012
Charles Dickens
More about Dickens and works
Click on the following link and watch a cartoon about his life.

Go Ahead and answer the following questions about Dickens and send the answers to your teacher who would be really pleased.

1.What was his birthdate?
2. What was his birthplace
3. What was his father's name?
4. What was Charles Dickens' first job?
5. How old was he when he started working?
6. How long did he work in the factory?
7. Where did he return to study after working in the factory?
8. What was 'Boz'?
9. Whom did he marry?
10. How many children did Dickens and Catherine have?
11. What novel was published in 1837-38?
12. In which other country was Dickens very popular?
13. Which famous novel did he write in 1843?
14. Which novel is considered to be largely autobiographical?
15. Where is Dickens buried?