Thomas_Anderson  +  630219 Sun, 04 Jan 09 02:57 PM "The report suggests that everything be mashed into six “learning areas”. The titles alone appal. History will be part of “human, social and environmental understanding”, where it will compete for airtime with geography and, no doubt, global warming (is it any wonder that Gordon Brown has to scrabble about for a recognisable definition of national identity?). Britain’s increasingly fat children will presumably cut back what limited running around the playground they do now and sit, rapt, through lessons in “understanding physical health and well-being” (rumoured to include “happiness” lessons too). Sir Jim is no fool, and he talks the talk better than most. There is to be “challenging” subject teaching as well as “equally challenging” cross-curricular study, the report insists; nothing will be lost. This is disingenuous. Maths looks safe; and reading and writing reasonably so (although English has to share its “understanding” area with other languages). But other hard, fact-filled subjects—history, geography and so on—will be compressed to make room for the sloppy, politically correct mush." This excerpt is from Economist December 11th, 2008 issue in "In Praise of Facts" link In the article, writer has alleged that British government is making primary curriculum less challenging to appease teachers' unions. What I don't understand is the use of "he talks the talk better than most". What does it mean? Where can we use it? Thomas_Anderson Joined on Wed, Dec 3 2008 Junior Member 61 Education, Information and Software should be free and unrestricted. Articles, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Teaching, Languages

	Avangi  +  630262 Sun, 04 Jan 09 03:41 PM These guys are just a little too cute.  You should switch to reading British sports magazines.  (I can't understand a word they say.) Again, this is a reworked idiom.  "Don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk."  (Then there's also, "Money talks, B.S. walks."  Entirely opposite meanings of both words.) I think the implication is that Sir Jim can hold his own in a B.S. conversation about this topic.  He is conversant with the language and concepts which are currently being employed in this discussion   -   more so than most people are.   - A. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,182 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier Idioms, Speaking, Chat, Friendships, Conversational, Languages

	Thomas_Anderson  +  630314 Sun, 04 Jan 09 04:35 PM Thanks a lot Avangi. You used the B.S. in your explanation. This abbreviation was new for me but thankfully a little google-ing solved the problem.   Well, so you think reading Economist isn't a good idea. Actually, I am more interested in magazines on international politics. I thought that Economist is a good read as it covers all the important issues. So what do you suggest? Which magazine should I go for? P.S: I am not into sports. Thomas_Anderson Spelling, Abbreviations

	Avangi  +  630334 Sun, 04 Jan 09 05:02 PM I was just kidding.  It's a well regarded magazine.  But I think you can expect many more examples like this.  I expect it's frustrating   -    like reading poems in highschool senior English class which are full of so-called classical allusions. Sometimes it seems like they stick in some obscure things about the Greeks and Romans just to show off.  Does it really add anything to the "conversation"? Avangi Speaking, Chat, Friendships, Writing, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Conversational, Languages, Poetry