People communicate in many different ways these days thanks to new technologies. But do people in Britain still write letters?
Hear from some British people to find out how often they write letters and for what reasons they write them.
You can also learn about the effect technology is having on British people's handwriting.
How does the situation compare with letter writing today in China?
Listen to Jo's report and then try the quiz to check your understanding
2008年11月8日星期六
Family Day Out 家庭出游
When the weekend comes, everyone in the family is looking for fun ways to spend time together. Where would they like to go and how do people organise their day trips?
Helen met up with Chris and his family in central London for dimsum and spoke to everyone about their views on family trips and what's important to them.
Listen to the programme and then try the quiz to check your understanding.
Helen met up with Chris and his family in central London for dimsum and spoke to everyone about their views on family trips and what's important to them.
Listen to the programme and then try the quiz to check your understanding.
Challenges for Chinese Students 中国学生面临的挑战
We have seen increasing numbers of Chinese students coming to the UK for further studies over the past 20 years. Now you can find Chinese students in almost every university across the UK.
But how are they doing? What is the biggest challenge for them while they are at British univeristies?
Yang Li and Finn Aberdein ask Gail Langley, head of the English language training programme at London South Bank University for some good advice.
Listen to the programme and then try the quiz to check your understanding.
But how are they doing? What is the biggest challenge for them while they are at British univeristies?
Yang Li and Finn Aberdein ask Gail Langley, head of the English language training programme at London South Bank University for some good advice.
Listen to the programme and then try the quiz to check your understanding.
Good News Stories from KOLAS
1. Korean Steel Exporter benefits from the ILAC MRA
A large Korean steel manufacturer, POSCO, has enjoyed improved market access benefiting from the accreditation of its laboratory by KOLAS in the year 2000.
In 2004, a Mexican automobile parts manufacturer was interested in buying POSCO steel, demanding the proof of the reliability of POSCO steel. The Mexican buyer was delighted to learn POSCO steel had been tested in an accredited laboratory by KOLAS and POSCO successfully secured order from the Mexican customer.
Again in 2004, an Indian buyer of POSCO steel required the steel to have certification from BIS (Bureau of India Standard). POSCO’s accredited laboratory was accepted thereby satisfying the BIS requirement. The steel tested by the POSCO laboratory was not required to be retested in India, resulting in a considerable saving on the cost of retesting.
POSCO is very pleased with its KOLAS accreditation, and its benefits from KOLAS’ signatory status in the ILAC MRA. POSCO estimates the ILAC MRA has brought the company US$5 million in economic benefits in 2004 alone. ILAC MRA has created the reliability of testing, realizing the vision of ILAC “One test, accepted everywhere” in the real world.
2. No need for costly re-calibration thanks to the ILAC MRA
When Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company Ltd. (DSME) made a bid to build an offshore semi-submersible rig facility for British Petroleum (BP), it was required by BP that DSME prove the competence of its calibration laboratory and its operation to ISO/IEC 17025.
Since DSME is accredited by KOLAS, a signatory to the ILAC MRA, British Petroleum soon recognized its competence in calibration. The Korean manufacturer successfully won the US$400 million contract. KOLAS’ participation in the ILAC MRA was of huge benefit to DSME, and therefore there was no need for duplicating the calibration tests. DSME estimates that if their calibration reports had not been accepted, an additional US$10 million would have been budgeted for the project, reducing the international competitiveness of DSME. The Korean manufacturer views its laboratory’s accreditation status, and KOLAS’ participation in the ILAC MRA, as offering clear and measurable benefits to its profitability
A large Korean steel manufacturer, POSCO, has enjoyed improved market access benefiting from the accreditation of its laboratory by KOLAS in the year 2000.
In 2004, a Mexican automobile parts manufacturer was interested in buying POSCO steel, demanding the proof of the reliability of POSCO steel. The Mexican buyer was delighted to learn POSCO steel had been tested in an accredited laboratory by KOLAS and POSCO successfully secured order from the Mexican customer.
Again in 2004, an Indian buyer of POSCO steel required the steel to have certification from BIS (Bureau of India Standard). POSCO’s accredited laboratory was accepted thereby satisfying the BIS requirement. The steel tested by the POSCO laboratory was not required to be retested in India, resulting in a considerable saving on the cost of retesting.
POSCO is very pleased with its KOLAS accreditation, and its benefits from KOLAS’ signatory status in the ILAC MRA. POSCO estimates the ILAC MRA has brought the company US$5 million in economic benefits in 2004 alone. ILAC MRA has created the reliability of testing, realizing the vision of ILAC “One test, accepted everywhere” in the real world.
2. No need for costly re-calibration thanks to the ILAC MRA
When Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company Ltd. (DSME) made a bid to build an offshore semi-submersible rig facility for British Petroleum (BP), it was required by BP that DSME prove the competence of its calibration laboratory and its operation to ISO/IEC 17025.
Since DSME is accredited by KOLAS, a signatory to the ILAC MRA, British Petroleum soon recognized its competence in calibration. The Korean manufacturer successfully won the US$400 million contract. KOLAS’ participation in the ILAC MRA was of huge benefit to DSME, and therefore there was no need for duplicating the calibration tests. DSME estimates that if their calibration reports had not been accepted, an additional US$10 million would have been budgeted for the project, reducing the international competitiveness of DSME. The Korean manufacturer views its laboratory’s accreditation status, and KOLAS’ participation in the ILAC MRA, as offering clear and measurable benefits to its profitability
Good News Stories from CAEAL
Research undertaken by the Canadian Association For Environmental Analytical Laboratories (CAEAL) has found that accredited laboratories consistently out-perform non-accredited laboratories in the CAEAL proficiency testing program. The research findings clearly show that test results from accredited laboratories are more precise thanresults from non-accredited laboratories, and therefore are more reliable than results originating from non-accreditedlaboratories. The benefits of using an accredited laboratory in terms of precision, reliability and confidence in the results are clearly demonstrated by the research findings.
The performance of accredited and non-accredited environmental laboratories was compared in two carefullydesigned studies that have been published and are also available on the CAEAL web site (see "1997 Performance Comparison" and "2001 Performance Comparison" at http://www.caeal.ca/aboutus.html).
At the same web site, CAEAL has continued to illustrate the advantage of accredited laboratories by posting (at the same web site) comparative success rates for all laboratories participating in about 35 test groups two times each year. More than 350 laboratories participate in CAEAL's program, 72% of which are private sector laboratories, and 28% are public sector laboratories which are associated with local, provincial and federal levels of government in Canada.
The performance of accredited and non-accredited environmental laboratories was compared in two carefullydesigned studies that have been published and are also available on the CAEAL web site (see "1997 Performance Comparison" and "2001 Performance Comparison" at http://www.caeal.ca/aboutus.html).
At the same web site, CAEAL has continued to illustrate the advantage of accredited laboratories by posting (at the same web site) comparative success rates for all laboratories participating in about 35 test groups two times each year. More than 350 laboratories participate in CAEAL's program, 72% of which are private sector laboratories, and 28% are public sector laboratories which are associated with local, provincial and federal levels of government in Canada.
Good News Stories from UKAS
1) Rolls-Royce, which operates in the global aerospace, marine and energy markets, confirmed the central role accreditation plays a central role to its business success. This success is founded on their ability to cut costs whilst maintaining quality through outsourcing certain key services such as calibration to UKAS accredited laboratories. This has allowed Rolls-Royce to focus on core activities, whilst outsourcing non-core activities to third parties (accredited laboratories), and clearly demonstrating Rolls Royce’s confidence in UKAS accreditation.
2) Two British insurance companies have launched new insurance products designed to benefit UKAS accredited testing laboratories. Such schemes are excellent examples of the benefits that can result from becoming accredited. Howden Insurance Brokers offer a professional indemnity scheme specifically tailored to the needs of UKAS accredited testing laboratories and has recently announced an increase in cover to £5 million pounds. Miles Smith also offers a preferential scheme for UKAS-accredited asbestos testing laboratories—in particular, for smaller firms— and has now produced an agreed format for clearly describing the extent of cover held by accredited companies.
3) In December 2005, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney achieved a world first by gaining UKAS accreditation for its unique testing facilities, providing detailed and highly accurate data on the performance of devices developed to harness wave energy. This accreditation is significant as it demonstrates that UKAS can meet the challenges posed by the need to accredit bodies that are developing evaluation techniques for new and innovative technologies. Through the accreditation of this activity, UKAS has been able to assist the British Government in its obligations to reduce the production of greenhouse gases and to support the development of green energy sources.
2) Two British insurance companies have launched new insurance products designed to benefit UKAS accredited testing laboratories. Such schemes are excellent examples of the benefits that can result from becoming accredited. Howden Insurance Brokers offer a professional indemnity scheme specifically tailored to the needs of UKAS accredited testing laboratories and has recently announced an increase in cover to £5 million pounds. Miles Smith also offers a preferential scheme for UKAS-accredited asbestos testing laboratories—in particular, for smaller firms— and has now produced an agreed format for clearly describing the extent of cover held by accredited companies.
3) In December 2005, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney achieved a world first by gaining UKAS accreditation for its unique testing facilities, providing detailed and highly accurate data on the performance of devices developed to harness wave energy. This accreditation is significant as it demonstrates that UKAS can meet the challenges posed by the need to accredit bodies that are developing evaluation techniques for new and innovative technologies. Through the accreditation of this activity, UKAS has been able to assist the British Government in its obligations to reduce the production of greenhouse gases and to support the development of green energy sources.
Good News Stories from A2LA
(1) The CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) Certification Forum has
published a 2005 version of their "Testing Facility Authorization
Process" which relies heavily on having its Candidate Testing Facilities
accredited by accreditation bodies recognized under the ILAC MRA.
(2) A2LA was able to accept an assessment by DATECH of an
A2LA-accredited laboratory in Germany in place of an on-site
surveillance assessment by A2LA by virtue of the EA MLA.
(3) General Electric has begun to accept laboratories accredited by
A2LA by virtue of A2LA's signatory status within the ILAC MRA.
(4) Because of our MRA partner status with JAB, A2LA worked with
General Motors to facilitate their acceptance of JAB accredited
laboratories in Japan, rather than having A2LA conduct separate
assessments of these laboratories.
(5) The State of Minnesota Dental Association and the Metropolitan
Council Environmental Services have specified in their document related
to hydraulic testing of amalgam separators that all hydraulic testing
laboratories must be accredited by an accreditation body which is a
signatory to the ILAC MRA.
(6) A company in Kenya, East Africa that imports goods from the U.S.
contacted us for a list of accredited laboratories that their U.S.
supplier could contract with in order to have the imported goods tested.
Because of A2LA's status as an ILAC signatory, the tested products would
not have to be retested in Kenya.
(7) A user of accredited lab services submitted a testimonial that
A2LA's international recognition by virtue of the MRAs of which we are a
signatory is key, as they frequently use A2LA accredited labs for
products that must comply with the European Pressure Equipment Directive
97/23/EC.
(8) Automotive testing laboratories have begun to make use of A2LA's
MRA signatory status to market themselves to international automakers,
reacting to the shift in market share away from the U.S. "Big Three".
(9) The U.S. Department of Energy's NNSA Metrology Program now
explicitly recognizes accreditation bodies that are signatories to the
ILAC MRA for the purposes of accrediting DOE/NNSA Contractor Standards
Laboratories.
(10) The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has begun to accept A2LA
accredited calibration laboratories (by virtue of A2LA's signatory
status within international MRAs) without the need for additional audits
by the NRC
published a 2005 version of their "Testing Facility Authorization
Process" which relies heavily on having its Candidate Testing Facilities
accredited by accreditation bodies recognized under the ILAC MRA.
(2) A2LA was able to accept an assessment by DATECH of an
A2LA-accredited laboratory in Germany in place of an on-site
surveillance assessment by A2LA by virtue of the EA MLA.
(3) General Electric has begun to accept laboratories accredited by
A2LA by virtue of A2LA's signatory status within the ILAC MRA.
(4) Because of our MRA partner status with JAB, A2LA worked with
General Motors to facilitate their acceptance of JAB accredited
laboratories in Japan, rather than having A2LA conduct separate
assessments of these laboratories.
(5) The State of Minnesota Dental Association and the Metropolitan
Council Environmental Services have specified in their document related
to hydraulic testing of amalgam separators that all hydraulic testing
laboratories must be accredited by an accreditation body which is a
signatory to the ILAC MRA.
(6) A company in Kenya, East Africa that imports goods from the U.S.
contacted us for a list of accredited laboratories that their U.S.
supplier could contract with in order to have the imported goods tested.
Because of A2LA's status as an ILAC signatory, the tested products would
not have to be retested in Kenya.
(7) A user of accredited lab services submitted a testimonial that
A2LA's international recognition by virtue of the MRAs of which we are a
signatory is key, as they frequently use A2LA accredited labs for
products that must comply with the European Pressure Equipment Directive
97/23/EC.
(8) Automotive testing laboratories have begun to make use of A2LA's
MRA signatory status to market themselves to international automakers,
reacting to the shift in market share away from the U.S. "Big Three".
(9) The U.S. Department of Energy's NNSA Metrology Program now
explicitly recognizes accreditation bodies that are signatories to the
ILAC MRA for the purposes of accrediting DOE/NNSA Contractor Standards
Laboratories.
(10) The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has begun to accept A2LA
accredited calibration laboratories (by virtue of A2LA's signatory
status within international MRAs) without the need for additional audits
by the NRC
Off the Pitch 绿茵场外
International Fears for England 国际足坛为英国捏把汗
England failed to impress in their first round of qualifying matches 资格赛 for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, despite beating Andorra 安道尔 2-0 in Barcelona on Saturday.
Andorra is a tiny country in the Pyrenees Mountains 比利牛斯山脉 with a population of just 75,000, and their football team is made up of amateurs 业余选手 who play in their free time and players from the lowest echelons 最底层 of professional leagues.
The result of Saturday’s game should never have been in doubt yet England’s team of Premier League multi-millionaires 千万富翁 still managed to make heavy-going of it 费力的， 艰难的 with an unimpressive display 不佳的表现 in the first half.
Many fans, who had hoped for England to improve under their new Italian manager Fabio Capello, were disappointed by the game and began booing 嘘声一片 as the players came off for half-time 中场休息.
However second-half substitute 替补 Joe Cole spared the manager’s blushes 分担教练难堪之情 by scoring twice to turn the game in England’s favour.
But many questions remain unanswered as England seem not to have improved as a team or even to have changed their negative style of football under successive managers 众多教练.
The excuses came thick and fast 接二连三的 as England players discussed their victory over a team ranked 排名 186th in the world (England are ranked 15th).
Goalscorer Joe Cole blamed Andorra’s negative defensive tactics 被动防守战术 and a "sticky pitch" 场地很粘 for the lacklustre 表现欠佳的 performance.
"It was our first qualifier and our confidence was low," added Cole, who was praised by his Chelsea team mate and England captain John Terry.
"I am delighted for Coley. He’s been on fire at Chelsea," said Terry, meaning that Cole has been playing exceptionally well for his club side.
England will now face a much sterner test 更严峻的考验 when they play Croatia at home in Zagreb on Wednesday, having lost their last two games against the Croats.
Capello has said it is a game which England "have to play to win", but the England manager remains optimistic 乐观的.
"Are England good enough to get a result 获胜? Yes, I think so. I am confident in my team," said Capello.
England failed to impress in their first round of qualifying matches 资格赛 for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, despite beating Andorra 安道尔 2-0 in Barcelona on Saturday.
Andorra is a tiny country in the Pyrenees Mountains 比利牛斯山脉 with a population of just 75,000, and their football team is made up of amateurs 业余选手 who play in their free time and players from the lowest echelons 最底层 of professional leagues.
The result of Saturday’s game should never have been in doubt yet England’s team of Premier League multi-millionaires 千万富翁 still managed to make heavy-going of it 费力的， 艰难的 with an unimpressive display 不佳的表现 in the first half.
Many fans, who had hoped for England to improve under their new Italian manager Fabio Capello, were disappointed by the game and began booing 嘘声一片 as the players came off for half-time 中场休息.
However second-half substitute 替补 Joe Cole spared the manager’s blushes 分担教练难堪之情 by scoring twice to turn the game in England’s favour.
But many questions remain unanswered as England seem not to have improved as a team or even to have changed their negative style of football under successive managers 众多教练.
The excuses came thick and fast 接二连三的 as England players discussed their victory over a team ranked 排名 186th in the world (England are ranked 15th).
Goalscorer Joe Cole blamed Andorra’s negative defensive tactics 被动防守战术 and a "sticky pitch" 场地很粘 for the lacklustre 表现欠佳的 performance.
"It was our first qualifier and our confidence was low," added Cole, who was praised by his Chelsea team mate and England captain John Terry.
"I am delighted for Coley. He’s been on fire at Chelsea," said Terry, meaning that Cole has been playing exceptionally well for his club side.
England will now face a much sterner test 更严峻的考验 when they play Croatia at home in Zagreb on Wednesday, having lost their last two games against the Croats.
Capello has said it is a game which England "have to play to win", but the England manager remains optimistic 乐观的.
"Are England good enough to get a result 获胜? Yes, I think so. I am confident in my team," said Capello.
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