Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages：English and French. There are 10 provinces in the country but only one of these—Quebec is known as "French Canada". This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventurers discovered the rest.

    Canada left the Britain in 1867 to become an independent country, and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since.

    Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country. Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast, French television is very rare.

    The same goes for traffic signs and menus, for example. Outside of Quebec, there are only a few places where you'll see traffic signs in French. In restaurants, it's almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland of French Canada. However, all products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels（标签）and instructions in both languages.

    In Canada's English speaking provinces, official bilingualism（双语）means that students can choose to complete a special French language course. Under this programme, they are taught most of their subjects in French. If a student begins the course in kindergarten（幼儿园）or Grade One, it is likely that all their lessons will be in French. However, if they start at junior high school, 25 per cent of the teaching will continue to be in English.

    A mouse looked through the hole in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a pckage, and he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Returning to the farmyard, he warned everyone. “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap inthe house! There is a mousetrap inthe house! ”

    The chicken raised her head and said, “Thanks for your warning. Mr. Mouse, but why should I be bothered by a mousetrap?” the pig sympathized, but said, “Wow, Mr. Mouse, I'm sorry for you I can tell this is a great concern to you, but it is none of my business.” The mouse returned to the house, head down and depressed, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

The very night a sound was heard throughthe house—-like that of a mouse trap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a snake whose tailwas caught by the trap, and it bit her. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

    The farmer killed the chicken to make fresh chicken soup for his wife, but her sickness continued. Frineds and neighbors came to visit her, and to feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. Then she died. So many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow cooked to provide enough meat for all of them.

    The mouse looked upon it all from his hole in the wall with great sadness.

    Navarathri, which is celebrated throughout India, falls in September or October. On the first three days, people pray (祈祷) to the goddess Durga, the protector who destroys all evil. The next three days they pray to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Then, also for three days, they look to Saraswathi, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. The tenth and final day of the festival is for the goddess Durga. On this day many years ago, Durga killed the evil buffalo-headed monster, Mahishasura.

    My daughter and I took out the models of the gods and goddesses that we had stored away last year. Soon the room was littered with all kinds of dolls. We usually buy at least one new doll every year. On the tenth day, the dolls are carefully put away. If a doll is too damaged to be shown, it is never thrown away. Instead, it is put deep into the seas.

    In our hallway six long wooden steps are set up. First, we spread a thick white cloth over the steps. Now it's time to put the dolls on the steps carefully. Every year, the gollu is different. Sometimes — as the collection grows — there is no space to fit all of the dolls on the steps. Smaller dolls can also be placed on the floor.

    Every night there are prayers, music, dancing, and a large meal for many people. In northern India, the children sing songs while doing the dandiya raas, a traditional dance. Every dancer also has two wooden sticks — called dandiya — that he or she uses to make a sound in time to the lovely music. Dancing the dandiya raas helps people think of the true meaning of Navarathri — togetherness, laughter, and fun!

    Professional development courses in London

    Business writing

    Delivery method: Online, Video

    Price: £49

    About the course: Many people get blocked when forced to put their thoughts into words at work. This course gives you the tools and techniques to improve your writing, whether it's a two-line email or a two-hundred-page report.

    Travel writing courses

    Delivery method: Classroom, Seminar

    Price: £115 (full day); £125 (evening classes)

    About the course: Do you want to be a travel writer? Then come along to a one-day travel writing workshop or a four-week travel writing evening class. The courses help participants to write travel features and publish them in newspapers, magazines or on websites.

    Pre-sessional programmes in EAP

    Delivery method: Classroom, Seminar

    Price: Starting from £1,250

    About the course: Our five pre-sessional programmes in English for academic purposes are intended for international students who plan to study at Aston University. These programmes aim to equip you with the language and academic skills necessary for success in your future chosen subject area.

    Masterclass

    Delivery method: Classroom, Seminar

    Price: Starting from £335

    About the course: Whether you write fundraising letters, or for your website(s), this course will help you gain the ideas, knowledge and skills you need to write fundraising copy that produces more impressive and profitable results.

Best London walking tours

    Sandemans New London Tours

    Gain an attractive insight into London's history. Visit the City of London, stopping at St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London; explore East London covering Brick Lane, Cockney culture and the criminal underworld; learn about Jack the Ripper; or board on a five-venue pub crawl.

    Opening Times: Daily at 11:00 and 14:00

    City Visitor Trail

    The City Visitor Trail takes you on a journey through the heart of London. Take in famous attractions such as St. Paul's Cathedral, Guildhall, the Bank of England and the Tower of London or try the themed "side-tracks", each one moving away from the main path to give a more in-depth look at one part of the city.

    Opening Times: Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Check with individual attractions for entry requirements.

    Brit Movie Tours

    Join a unique movie and TV sightseeing walking tour experience in London and go on location to see incredible sets and fascinating landmarks. Local guides provide fascinating insights into the industry and there are multiple tours available, including Doctor Who, Gangster London and Harry Potter Tour of London locations.

    Opening Times: Monday to Friday 9:00am t05:30pm

    Royal Tour of London

    Visit three royal palaces as you journey from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. Along the way you will discover plots to destroy Parliament, Churchill's hidden shelter, very expensive clubs for the rich and famous, and more. And if that's not enough excitement, listen closely for incredible tales of man-eating pelicans (鹈鹕)and crazy lost tourists. This walking tour is run by Strawberry Tours.

    Opening Times: The tour starts at 10am everyday.

    Ask any new college graduate about his immediate goals, and it is likely that he will tell you he wants a job. But it turns out that today's students are not going to be satisfied with any job. According to the latest survey, making a difference through their work is essential(必要的) to young people's happiness.

    The survey found that 72 percent of graduating college seniors believe being able to have a positive social influence through their work is essential to their happiness. Making a difference is so important to them that 45 percent say they would take a 15 percent pay cut to work at an organization that has a social or environmental influence, and 58 percent say they would take a pay cut to work for an organization whose values are the same as their own.

    Besides this, the survey found that female students are far more likely to put social influence in first place than their male classmates, echoing the results of a former study showing that female maths and science majors are more likely to say they go into those fields to make a difference.

    One reason for the emphasis(强调) on improving the world probably has to do with the culture of colleges, which encourages students to connect their studies back to real-world problems. Students are used to discussing important social issues(问题) with their friends and professors, and doing something about them in class or through volunteer activities. Once students develop those habits, they don't shut them off when graduation rolls around.