Discussion Topic : Lord Denning

(23 January 1899 – 5 March 1999)




Lord Denning was a judge for over 30 years before retiring at the age of 83 in 1982. Lord Denning analyzed many important concepts that would become pillars of the common law and many more which would ultimately be rejected in the House of Lords (such as the doctrine of fundamental breach). He made some famous (and infamous) decisions in his court over his long career, and is considered as somewhat of a legend for his witty, no nonsense judgments.
Creatively using his flexible approach and eloquent prose he shaped appellate law whilst following his primary interest: justice.
He was awarded with the Order of Merit in 1997 in recognition of his distinguished career.

Some interesting quotes:

"I have had to be a detective, inquisitor, advocate and judge and it has been difficult to combine them." On the Profumo scandal inquiry
"It's not the first time and probably won't be the last". On reversal of his decisions
"Parliament does it too late". On legislation.
"I was ambitious and saw it as the best way to advancement". On a career in law.
"Without religion, no morality; without morality, no law."
"Some persons, who would otherwise be good and worthy citizens, are deliberately breaking the law."
"I have all the Christian virtues - except resignation".
"You can do good work after 75. I think I gave some of my judgments of greatest value after 75."
"By eating plain English food. I don't want any of that French stuff." On how to live long.
"Remembrance of me in good works, that is how I should like to be remembered." His chosen epitaph.

Fourth Lesson 30th October 2008

The Italian legal system is a Parlamentarian Repubblic Based on a written constitution.


Based ON
Bound BY
Derived FROM
Developed THROUGH
Distinguished FROM
Settled By ( Sin. To Solve)

Trial = Process


Debating on the main differences between the Civil Law sytem and the Common Law system we concluded that :

Civil Law
+Certainty ( 1 written law to refer to)
+Accessibility ( 1 written law to refer to)
+Stability ( is not always changing)
+Judges have to be objective
= Faster to resolve problem
-Long process to change the law
-Inflexible, rigid
-Expensive
-Out of touch with the community


Common Law
+Respect of the traditions
+flexibility
+Less bureaucratic
+Cheaper
-Less democratic
-Less accessible

Discussion Topic One: Cinema & English Language Learning

I enjoy watching films in their original language even though italian cinemas usually dub them : the solution is to buy the DvD or surf websites such as http://www.nabolister.com/( which now is offline and i don't know why : / )
I do not remember seeing any film in particular about law but i guess i may need, seen the complexity of the topic, subtitles ;Also we shoud consider the differences between American and English pronunciation ( i heard some actor are even dubbed)
Most of my english skills come from enjoying original english sources, so their usefulness must not be discussed.

Third Lesson Homework

Find Ten Mistakes in the verb patterns in the report and correct them

The day began like any other. I'd started ( I WAS STARTING) to get ready for school when i turned on the radio.
The announcer said that the Wall was down. I couldn't help to wonder if I was dreaming, it was so unbelievable. I thought i'd( I WOULD HAVE ) better hurry to school to see what was happening.
In the school playground everyone seemed to be very happy and excited. Then the head teacher came out. He said he wanted that we join( HE WANTED US TO JOIN) in the celebrations and so would let us to have( HAVING) the whole day off school.
My friend and I decided to go immediately to Checkpoint Charlie, the main crossing point from East to West Berlin.
We were keen ON welcoming the people arriving from the East.
When we arrived , everything was in chaos. We saw young, old people, friends , and strangers laughing and hugging each other.
The first cars from East Berlin started arriving and people were clapping , cheering, and throwing flowers.
At first the border guards attempted controlling the flow of cars but soon gave up trying because there were so many, and instead joined in dancing.
After a while they didn't prevent people to climb the Wall either.
Soon the people at top were helping others to clamber up - me and my friends among them- and we all carried on to dance.
Someone lent us a hammer and suggested us to knock chunks of concrete off the wall.
I remember ( WAVING )to East German guards in their watchtowers and they waved back. Only yestertday they would have been ordered TO shoot us! What a day. I shall never forget it.

Third Lesson 23/10/2008

Common Mistakes :
-Word Order
-Prepositions
-Fixed Phrases
-Verb Structure ( ex. To ask someone for something)
-Collocation
- Phrasal vers (ex. to Descende : God descends from heaven but i don't descend from the train, instead i get off the train)
-False friends

Ex.
A tremendous success ( positive meaning)
A terrible mistake ( negative meaning)
A terryfing horror film ( frightnening)
A terrific party (positive meaning = awesome)

Help someone (to) do something
Make someone do something.
Suggest someone doing something

To and fro = backwards and forwards
Destroyer = battle ship

Look carefully :
1)
I stopped buying a newspaper
I stopped to buy a newspaper on the way to work

In the first example "buy" is the action stopped, while in the the second one "buy" is the reason for stopping, is another action, and so is used in its infinitive form.


2)
Try lo learn eight words for next week
Try using a dictionary to help you with your vocabulary

In the first example the "learn" action is done once for all, while the " use" action in the second phrase is a continuos action


3)
Remember to lock the door before you go out
I remember locking the door before i went out

Let's analyze the action timing :
Remember ( I) to lock ( II) the door before you go out . You remember THEN you will lock
I remember (II) locking the door before i went out ( I). You locked the door THEN you remember doing it now

Second Lesson 16/10/08

Group 14, Level B2+ Teacher = Sean

Overview of the English Tense System
Listening and Pronunciation

We analyzed the differences between the Italian and the English tense system, and we arrived at the conclusion that the English tense system is easier than ours because of the lack of different coniugations ( except for the 3rd ones) and the absence of many difficult tenses such as the future.

In the English system there are 2 elements of meanings :



Time : which for English is much more flexible than Italian

The meeting starts at 9.00 tomorrow ( present tense referring to the future)
I was i could swim ( past tense referring to the present)
I could buy it next week if you like. ( past tense referring to the future)




Aspect : Simple, continuous, perfect

Simple - complete, finished, formal ( i look forward to see you, master), permanent ( i love Roma and live there forever), emphasises amount ( i read ten times this books)

Continuous - duration, in progress, temporary, surprise, irritation, informal ( i am looking forward to see you, brother)

Perfect- completed before another time, action producing a result relevant to a later situazion. Shows the relationship between different times.

Each of these aspects adds another layer of meaning to the verb
Choosing the right tenses depends on many factors-


We must consider :

1. The Nature of the action or event ( What is going on- situation)
2. How the speaker sees the event ( point of view)
3. The nature of the verb ( a verb may indicates a state or a duration. Ex. to own indicates a state, to wait indicates a duration)

First Lesson : 9/10/08

Group 14, Level B2+ Teacher = Sean


At the end of the course we will be able to explain the italian law, and learn to compare different law systems, such as the English Common and Public law ones.

Things Learnt:

Collocation :

How words work together, you can be grammatically correct but still wrong.
It includes phrasal verbs, idiomatic forms
Es. Heavy rain is correct, strong rain it's not.

Verb Phrases

To apply the law
To put someone in prison/jail
To turn convint
To place someone in a cell
To be plunged into crisis
To impose a sentence on someone
To serve an order


Sentences ( Sentence in legal English is the penalty, the punishment ; Judge's decision's instead the judgement)

Non custodial sentence
Custodial sentece
Community based punishment
Rehabilitation
Torture

Crimes

Serious crimes/offences
Petty offences/crimes
Gun possesion
Drunk driving