1.About me

  My name is Karolina. I'm 17 and I go to the second class of the high school. In my free time I play the guitar and listen to music. My huge passion is English. Exactly with this language I connect my future.

    I'm interested in travelling too.   I love Canada very much. I have never been there, but I'm going to visit it.

 I've decided to use the store of my knowledge, especially in order to introduce you the customs, culture and other interesting information associated with this country. I'm sure that writing about it will be a perfect opportunity to improve my language. I  hope you'll enjoy my articles.


2.A bit of history 


Historical Calendar 


Symbols of Canada 


3.Culture 


Famous Artists 


Poets & Authors 


Music 

Long history from national to worldwide music

    It is not easy to describe Canadian music. It's definitely differ than music in other continents.
   
   Canada is a multinational and multicultural country. Many years ago  emmigrants from all over the world, including Nothern and Southern Europe arrived in Canada. Important role in creating Canadian music  England and France have benn played. The mass emmigration caused that new inhabitants were creating their own culture. It exerted influence on music too.

    History of Canadian music is long. In the past Canadian music was under American influence.

   From early sounds of national Canadian music through patriotic songs to the most famous artists in the world.

FOLK

  So as in other countries popular are all kinds of music. It's obvious. The most characteristic and traditional  music of native Canadian is folk. This kind of music is the result of cultural diversifying of inhabitants. The beginnings of folk reaches XVII and XVIII centuries. Folk was created mainly in North Canada: New Brunshwick, New Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebeck. Actually folk is still made in New Founland. Annual folk festivals are: Winnnipeg Folk Festival and Vancouver Folk Music Festival-which take place every third weekend of July.

PATRIOTIC SONGS

   The first Canadian patriotic songs appeared in XIX century. Those songs played an important role during World Wars. It was created for boys and cheer patriots who were fighting for their country. The most popular were : 'The Maple Leaf Forever' and 'O Canada'. This last song was composed by Calix Lavallee. The French version was performed in 1880 on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. However English version was presented during the stay of the Prince and Princess of Cornwall in Canada. Despite of many disputes „O Canada” has been the national anthem since 1980.

MODERN AND WORLDWIDE CANADIAN MUSIC 
 
   Like I've already mentioned, artists contributed to develop Canadian music. We can rank to modern Canadian artists these celebrites: Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morissette and many others. The first one is pride of Canadians. Generally speaking, thanks to talent of these artists, Canadian sounds  has equalled music of other countries and become famous all over the world.

Canadian Literature 


People who played an important role in Canadian culture 


Canadian productions


National holidays 


Books which are worth to reading 


4.Canadian entertainment 


Sport 

Canada is considered the most beautiful country in the world. It's often called a country 'from sea to sea' because it is situated between The Hudson Bay and Rocky Mountains. In Canada there are a lot of woods, lakes, rivers and mountains. Thanks to them Canadians have many opportunities to rest in the active way.

    One of them is sport. People who are in favour of walking and going out, can find  good conditions to take up sport and active spending of  leisure time outisde. The most popular Canadian sports are: basketball, baseball, canoeing, skiing, tennis.

    If you like skating, thank Canadians for it because they invented the ice hockey at the beginning of XIX century. It became the national sport. The first match was played by Royal Canadian Rifles who stationed in Halifax and Kingston. Soon later many people started to take up this sport. Young boys played on the streets and frozen ponds. Canada is the land of low temperatures so there is a thick layer of ice. The second national sport is lacrosse. French emmigrants brought it to Canada in XVII century. It's simillar to ice hockey but played on the grass.

    Other Canadian sports are: husky races and races of snowy rockets. I think these are extraordinary kinds of sport.

    Inhabitants of the Maple Leaf Country are able to surprise. They use natural climate conditions of their country and have created own sports deriving joy from them.

What is worth seeing? 


What to do in Canada 


5.Society 


Canadian English 

Own language of Canadians

  Canada is a bilingual country. The official languages are English and French.This is the result of British and French colonization.The second one is used by French Canadians, mainly in Quebeck, Ontario, New Founland and other east places. Over 98%  people speak two languages. Actually these languages are both used in the education, judiciary and other institutions.

   Nevertheless many people speak English. It is a variety of British and American English, which is spoken in Canada. No matter when you are in Canada, the language  seems to be the same, but there are only differences between American vocabulary and accents.

   Many worlds, which in American are written by „o” or  „er” Canadians write by „ou” and „re”.



CANADIANISMS

Here are some contrasted words with American English:

Eh-it's a small world which is often used by Canadians.People use it „huh” instead. --What's up,eh?

Washroom- ”loo” in British means toilet,but Canadians say it:„washroom”, ”bathroom”, ”restroom”

Canuck- inhabitant of Canada

Newf and Newfie-people who come from New Founland

Zed-the last letter of alphabet

Toonie-this people say one-dollar coin; two-dollar coin it's loonie

Eraser-it's just rubber

Hydro- this word has nothing in common with water,only with electricity

Runners-tennis shoes

Click- a synonime of kilometre

Bill- Canadians ask for it in the restaurants

Smarties- sweets like M&Ms

Mountie- a person who works for Royal Canadian Mounted Police


POPULAR CANADIAN PROVERBS

1.You can't catch skunks with mice

2.When you talk about the sun, you will see her beams

3.Walk a mile in my moccasins to learn where they pinch

4.Patience is a tree whose root is bitter, but its fruit is very sweet

5.Do not yell "dinner" until your knife is in the loaf

6.The devil places a pillow for a drunken man to fall upon

7.All Hallows moon, witches soon


Regional diversion of people 


6.Environment 


The beauty of Canadian forests 

   Another important topic I'm going to write about are forests. While staying in Canada, tourists cannot resign from walking in beautiful forests, or parks. Who will visit this amazing country without watching and admiring Canadian treasure? Lovers of nature will be delighted with her beauty and the impecciability.


 
No doubt the biggest  treasure of Canadians is nature which influences especially on tourists and life of many inhabitants. I can't say it's similiar to a typical American one, because it's exeptional. That'sr a lot of visitors decide to go to Canada. Good natural conditions make 'The maple leaf country' the most beautiful nook in the world!

Canadians have lived in accordance with the nature for many years. The first national inhabitants have discovered her natural beauty. Today there are many natural reserves and national parks. Lakes and rivers are clean and forests are fresh. People know how to care about them.

It is unique because there is everything what's natural and connected with wildness. It won't be weird when you go for a walk and meet wild animals (like grizzly bears) going freely in the forest. Most of them are protected but no one worries about hunting them. Of course sometimes poachers hunt seals or bears but Canadians make everything to protect them in best way.

Canadian nature astonishes and simultaneously inspires. Everyone who leaves can't forget about these charming views and moments spending in the bosom of nature. Even Arkady Fiedler, a polish traveller, was surprised by the diversity of natural environment during his journey to Canada. According to his book Canada smells a resin and maple sirup. It's definitely true.


Forests in Canada play an important role. They constiture 45% areas of the country. Most of them are conifers like: spruce, fir, pine and larch. For many people Canada is associated with a maple. It seems to be probably a „national tree”. The maple leaf is showed on the Canadian ensign. People  also use maples to produce the maple sirup. It is delicacy of inhabitants.


I've presented you only a bit of uncontaminated nature. If you want to discover the real beauty on your own, you have to definitely  go there.


National parks 


7.A trip around Canada 


Vancouver 


Montreal 


Toronto 


Ottawa 


Quebec City 


Winnipeg 


8.Let's plan your journey! 


What you must know about Canada 


Before you'll plan your journey 


If you want to know more.. 


Major Canadian institutions 


9.Let your dreams come true!-Study in Canada 


List of popular Canadian Univeristies 


Is it possible to study and learn English in a one of Canadian universities and feel unforgetting adventure in an amazing country?.Many young  people say „yes”.

Learning abroad in an  English-language university  is a huge dream of many young people, including mine. It is a kind of something new, not connected with a typical speaking, that after a succesed passing of The Matura Exam, you have to choose an interesting university and study like other people there. It doesn't mean that by learning abroad you can be much more tallented than by studying in your home country. I think the learning process might have be similiar, but more interesting. The learning isn't the most important thing. Students can develop themselves by doing and discovering new things. By studying abroad you can not only prove your language but also you can use it in practise after your classes. It's completely different from studies in Poland. I think you're constrained only to learning there. You have only occasion for speaking in a foreign language among people from your students' groups.  If you want to be proficienty in English, the learn abroad it's just for you.

It can be a chance for meeting new and interesting people. In my previous article I've written that in Canada there is a huge diversifying of people, so thanks to it  you can make friends with other students who come from all over the world.  You are able to know customs and traditions of native countries of your colleagues. Atmosphere in international groups is brilliant, because every student can carry a part of the culture into the university. I'm certain that in this group of students there is always so much to talk about. It is completely different entertainment. Who knows maybe you would visit your friends in Japan or China in the future? These friendships can survive for many years.

Owing to the learning in one of Canadian universities, you can feel like a great adventurer, spending time together with your friends. It might be the first step to the international career too.

I am going to present some useful advice which can help you in the application process: 


1. Apart from passing The Matura Exam you need certificates like: FCE, CEA, CPE or TOEFL 


2. You have to fill in and send an application to the university- it must be co translated correctly. All these documents  should include:


* Why are you interested in and why you have chosen this university
* What are your future plans
* Your hobbies and achievement 


3. The fees for students who hasn't a pernament accomodiation in Canada are higher, so it is better to find some flat there.

Canada can boast about many prestige universities which cheer a huge popularity. Every year about 150 000 students decide to study there. Needless to say there are good conditions to learn. 


I am not going to describe all Canadian universities, only the most popular ones:

University of Toronto -  the best - known university in North America. It is located in Toronto, the leargest city of Ontario Province. It was ranked for the one of the top Canadian universities. I have to say that  the University of Toronto is famous for its 6 Nobel Prize winners who graduated there. It is best for these who want to study Economy, Business, Maths, Law

University of British Columbia - the second popular Canadian university, situated only 30 minutes  from Vancouver. Thanks to the close location to  the most beautiful Canadian city, there are great conditions to learn. It graduates in specializations like: Medicine,  Law, Arts 


University of Montreal - which is located in the east. It is considered  to be the oldest  university in Canada; great for studying French.

As you've already known it is worth studying in Canada. Some people think that years devoted for learning are not only difficult but boring, however studies in Canada can be  the unforgetable and long journey.


English courses in Canada