Recipe of the Week - Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie

A typical British treat.

  Ingredients

• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 large onion , chopped
• 2-3 medium carrots , chopped
• 500g pack minced lamb
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• large splash Worcestershire sauce
• 500ml beef stock
• 900g potatoes , cut into chunks
• 85g butter
• 3 tbsp milk 

1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, then soften the onion and carrots for a few mins. When soft, turn up the heat, crumble in the lamb and brown, tipping off any excess fat. Add the tomato purée and Worcestershire sauce, then fry for a few mins. Pour over the stock, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 40 mins, uncovering halfway.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180C/ fan 160C/ gas 4, then make the mash. Boil the potatoes in salted water for 10-15 mins until tender. Drain, then mash with the butter and milk.
3. Put the mince into an ovenproof dish, top with the mash and ruffle with a fork. The pie can now be chilled and frozen for up to a month. Bake for 20-25 mins until the top is starting to colour and the mince is bubbling through at the edges. (To bake from frozen, cook at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 for 1 hr-1 hr 20 mins until piping hot in the centre. Flash under the grill to brown, if you like.) Leave to stand for 5 mins before serving. 

 For more British dishes, visit:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/cuisines/british/

Videos in English

Book of the Week - Little Red Ridding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood, also known as Little Red Cap, is a European fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings. The story was first published by Charles Perrault in Histoires ou contes du temps passé in 1697.

To read a PDF version of this book along with some other children's stories, click on the link below:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11592/11592-h/11592-h.htm



To watch some other classic stories, go to the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2btbpvezs4&feature=relmfu

Tips on Pronunciation

Jokes in English - 23

Q: Can a kangaroo jump higher than the Empire State Building? 
A: Yes, because the Empire State Building can't jump!

A teacher is talking to a student.
Teacher: Did your father help your with your homework? 
Student: No, he did it all by himself.

To listen to this joke, click on the link below:
http://www.manythings.org/jokes/9963.html

Tips for Successful Job Interview

INTERVIEW  QUESTIONS 
Preparation for an interview is essential.
The list of questions below is designed to serve as a guide so that you are not taken by surprise!.  

	1	Tell me about yourself.
	2	How would you describe yourself? (character/personality)
	3	What are your strengths/weaknesses?
	4	Are you married?  Single?   Do you have a partner?
	5	What do you do in your free time?   What are your hobbies? / Do you have any hobbies?
	6	Why are  you interested in working for our company?   Why do you want to work for this company?
	7	What type of position do you think you are suited for / would suit you?
	8	How would you describe the position we have to offer?
	9	What aspects of the position are you most / least interested in?
	10	What would you like to find in this job that you didn't have in your previous job?
	11	How do you think you could develop the position?   What would be your strategy to develop the position?
	12	What have you got to offer us?   What could you contribute to our company?
	13	Why do you want to leave your present job?   Why do you want to change jobs?
	14	What were you responsible for?   What did your job involve?
	15	What do you think you gained by working in your last job?
	16	What do you think of your (last) boss?
	17	What are your salary requirements?   How much would you hope to earn in this position?   How much do you think you should be offered for this position?   What salary would you expect (to be offered) for this position?
	18	Have you received any offers of a job?
	19	Why have you had to look for a job for so long?   Why have you been looking for a job for so long?   Why did it take you so long to find a new job?
	20	How do you feel about your future in the profession?
	21	Have you had any failures? / What failures have you had?   Have you had any negative experiences?
	22	What sort of obstacles have you come across/encountered in your work?
	23	If you had to recruit colleagues, what qualities would you look for?
	24	Would you be willing to relocate/to move to another part of the country/   to work abroad?   Did you have to travel abroad in your last job?
	25	Don't you think you have too much experience/you are over-qualified for this job?
	26	How long do you think you would stay with us?   If we offered you the job, how long would you expect to stay with us?
	27	Which do you prefer : to work alone or in a team?   Do you prefer working alone or with other people as part of a team?
	28	Do you know how to manage a team?   Are you capable of leading a team?   Do you think you have the ability to be a team leader?
	29	Why should I recruit you?   How could you persuade me to recruit you?
	30	Do you have any comments to make, or questions to ask?

For more tips visit the following websites:

http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa120797.htm
http://esl.about.com/od/businessspeakingskills/a/job_interview.htm
http://www.englishlink.com/en-us/free-english-tools/prepare-job-interview.aspx

Songs of the Week - English x Foreigners

We are the World

 USA for Africa

Without You

Mariah Carey