This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about the percentage of classrooms closed due to Covid-19. There's “On This Day”, “Music from Erwan”, lots of good music - and of course, the new quiz question. Just click on the “Audio” arrow above and enjoy!
Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday – here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll hear the winner's names announced and the week's quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you've grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, “On This Day”, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music … so be sure and listen every week.
I am busy cooking up special shows with your musical requests, so get them in! Send your musical requests to [email protected]. Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all!
Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts!
In addition to the breaking news articles on our site, rfienglish.com, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts which will leave you hungry for more.
There's Paris Perspective, Africa Calling, Spotlight on France, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We have a bilingual series - an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. And there is the excellent International Report, too.
As you see, sound is still part of the RFI English service! Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our excellent staff of journalists.
To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website and click on the three horizontal bars on the top right, choose "Listen to RFI / Podcasts", and you've got 'em! You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.
To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show.
Teachers, take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is [email protected] If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below.
Another idea for your students: my beloved music teacher from St Edward's University in Austin, Texas, Br Gerald Muller, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They are also a good way to help you improve your English - that's how I worked on my French, reading books which were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it's a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald's free books, click here.
RFI Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni ([email protected]) from our Listener Relations department in all your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me ([email protected]) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!
And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognised RFI English Club, go to the Facebook link above and fill out the questionnaire!!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click “decline”).
There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club, too. Just click on the link and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don't like to do!
This week's quiz: On 9 October, I asked you a question about France's decision to allow primary school children in 47 departments across France to attend classes mask-free. On 4 October, the government announced that any French administrative department where the number of Covid cases had dropped to less than 50 per 100,000 people was eligible to become a “green level” department, the lowest health protocol level.
Although children were no longer required to wear masks to school in those regions, teachers were required to keep wearing them.
Currently, one Covid case in a classroom leads to the closure of the entire class. My question to you was, as of 1 October, what was the percentage of France's classrooms which were closed due to Covid, according to the French Education Ministry?
The answer is: On 1 October, according to the Education Ministry, 1,692 classes were closed due to Covid, representing 0.32 percent of the country's classes.
Unfortunately, Covid cases are on the rise again. In October, in 47 of France's 101 administrative departments, schoolchildren were allowed to attend school mask-free. That number has now dropped to 40.
The winners are: Muhammad Shamim S., the president of the Golden Eagles RFI Club in Keralam State, India; the president of the RFI Butterflies Club Ain Kechera, Ferhat Bezazel from West Skikda, Algeria, and two RFI Listeners Club members from Bangladesh: Haridas Roy from Panchagarh, and Shadman Hosen Ayon from Kishoreganj. Last but not least, there's Riaz Hussain from District Chiniot, Pakistan, who is also an RFI Listeners Club member.
Congratulations winners!
Here's the music you heard on this week's programme: “Lullaby of Birdland” by George Shearing and George David Weiss, performed by George Shearing; “Le plus beau des foules” by David Lewis Luong, played by the composer with accordionist Yuri Ryadchenko; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “African Savannah” by Derek and Brandon Fiechter, and “Allah Hoo” by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Do you have a musical request? Send it to [email protected]
This week's question ... You'll have to listen to the show to participate. You have until 29 November to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 5 December podcast. When you enter, be sure you send your postal address in with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.
Send your answers to:
[email protected]
or
Susan Owensby
RFI – The Sound Kitchen
80, rue Camille Desmoulins
92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux
France
or
By text … You can also send your quiz answers to The Sound Kitchen mobile phone. Dial your country's international access code, or “ + ”, then 33 6 31 12 96 82. Don't forget to include your mailing address in your text – and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.
To find out how you can win a special Sound Kitchen prize, click here
To find out how you can become a member of the RFI Listeners Club, or to form your own official RFI Club, click here
4,300 Liberians at Buduburam Refugee Camp to return home
Two dead in premix fuel depot explosion at Essikado-Ketan
Driver of President Akufo-Addo convoy SUV dies in road crash
Akufo-Addo's convoy in fatal crash
Mepe flood victims still in tents 8months after Akosombo Dam spillage
Kpemka’s appointment as Deputy BOST MD is unconstitutional – Kwabena Donkor
Voter registration: Two Togolese Nationals arrested in Buem for attempting to re...
DR Congo thwarts Kinshasa 'coup attempt': army
Media has made good progress in Ghana — Frema Opare
Election 2024: NDC pledges to scrap betting tax, targets 80% youth support
