Word of the week: "Touching"

This week's adjective is

Touching

which means causing feelings of pity or symphaty or making you feel emotional. It's a synonym of "moving".

Example: It was a touching story that moved many of us to tears.


On the other hand, the adjective "touchy" is a synonym of "sensitive" and means easily upset or offended.

Example: He's a little touchy about his weight. 

You shouldn't confuse both adjectives since they have different meanings.

By the way, 2012 has one more day, 29th February. 

Do you know how this type of year is called in English?

Look it up & write it in a comment!

Podcast: Social Mobility

We talked in class about moving houses but now we're going to listen about social mobility and social hierarchy. Is it possible for a person to change their social class? The British government is trying to. So, listen to this podcast and discover how.

Social Mobility

After listening remember to check the transcript.

What do you think of this initiative?

Have a nice weekend!

Hey everyone!! 

The weekend is here! Remember to practise your English!

Read a magazine or a newspaper article! There are many interesting pieces of news!

Or even better, listen to something! You can check out the latest podcasts or watch a film or a TV show in English! You can change the language of your TDT.

Usher

This week I want to talk to you about Usher, an American R&B musician who started singing in church choirs when he was a boy and  who signed his first recording contract when he was still in high shcool. He also starred in some films and musicals. 

Nowadays apart from selling millions of records worldwide, he does some charity work in an organization to help educate youths from lower-class backgrounds about the business of entertainment management. 

This is his song Stanger

Did you know Usher? Do you like this type of music?

Silent Letters

I always remind you in class about the importance of pronunciation. A particular trait of English pronunciation is the existence of silent letters, that is to say, letters which are written but we don't pronounce. 

In  the following videos you can have a look at common words with silent letters.

Can you think of more words with silent letters? 

Write them in a comment!

Word of the week: "To stick up for s.o."

This week's expression is

To stick up for someone

which means to support someone or something; to speak in favour of someone or something.

It's an irregular verb, so remember stick - stuck - stuck.



Examples:
You have to stick up for what you believe in.
Our team was losing, but I stuck up for it anyway.
Everyone was making unpleasant remarks about John, but I stuck up for him.

Home Sweet Home

We talked about houses and parts of houses in class. Now in order to revise the vocabulary and learn even more, have a look at the following website!

Houses Vocabulary

Here you can find vocabulary related to rooms in a house, what's inside each room and what people do in each room! 

Happy Presidents' Day!

Today it's Presidents' Day in the United States, it is also known as Washington's Birthday. It always falls on the third Monday of February and it is intended to honor all the American Presidents. 

              

It's a federal holiday, so children don't go to school and some people take the day off from work. Some people celebrate it by having barbacues or get-togethers and they sometimes sing happy birthday to Washington and Lincoln. 

Podcast: Captain's Etiquette

This podcasts talks about acceptable and unacceptable behaviour for the captain of a ship during a disaster at sea.

Captain's etiquette

After listening to it, you can check the transcript.

What do you think? Do you agree with the podcast?

Whitney Houston

I want to dedicate this week's music post to one of the greatest voices of all times Whitney Houston. We've all heard her songs and most of us fell in love with her most famous hit "I will always love you". Isn't it a nice feeling to believe that you'll love someone forever? I think so! But what can I say, I'm one of those romantic people who believe you can!

I also want to share with you the beautiful words dedicated to Whitney I found on her remembering site.

Terencia Coward-thompson · Insurance Agent at Sagicor Life Inc

Dear Whitney, may I call you Whitney? I feel like I've known you all my life.....I have followed your career from its inception...your ups and downs....I never left your side, no matter what others said to hurt your pride...when the chips were down I stayed around. Your voice soothed me in my painful times and lifted me when I needed inspiration. I wish I could have been there by your side during your tough times, to be that friend that said I'M NOT GOING..I'M STAYING and you are going to get through this........ I pray that in your moment of solitude before leaving us...you found that peace that surpasses all understanding....you have left us with beautiful music, performances both recorded and LIVE that you can be proud of.....WHITNEY ELIZABETH HOUSTON...SUPERSTAR, DIVA, ICON...THANK YOU , THANK YOU FOR GRACING US WITH YOUR GIFT! YOU WERE CLASS PERSONIFIED.....FLY MY SWEET SWEET ANGEL.....YOU ARE FINALLY FREE....FLY.

Reply · 754 · Like · Follow Post · Monday at 1:36am

Isn't it amazing how fans support their idols in social networks?

Because you made us believe in love! Rest in peace!

Word of the week: "Bone-tired"

This week's adjective is

Bone-tired

which means absolutely exhausted or really shattered, in other words, very tired.You already know what "bone" means, right? The hard parts that form the skeleton in our bodies. So imagine how tired you are, when you're bone-tired!

Example: After moving houses I was bone-tired.

Have you ever been bone-tired? When?

Happy Valentine's Day

Today we celebrate Valentine's Day in many places around the world. But do people really believe in this celebration?

Here you can find an opinion essay and a vocabulary exercise on Valentine's Day for you to practise.

Saint Valentine's Day Essay

Vocabulary Exercise

And if you want to surprise your partner, use these free printables.

Now, tell us your opinion!

Do you belileve in Valentine's Day? 

Or is it just a commercialized holiday?

Podcast: Football Rivalries

Last week we talked in class about football rivalries, do you remember? Now you can listen to this podcast about football fans. Are they passionate about their favourite sport or do they get really angry?

Football Rivalries

After listening to it you can check the transcript.

So, what do you think? Are they violent or just passionate?

Adele

"As soon as I got a microphone in my hand, when I was about 14, I realised I wanted to do this," Adele says. "And I don't know what's going to happen if my music career goes wrong", she laughs, "I haven't had a proper job yet". 

Those were her words when she created her first album '19' in which she wrote about teenage love. Now with her second album '21' she's became a very famous artist thanks to her exceptional voice and I really think she has nothing to worry about. She's proved she can make a living from music!

I really like her song Someone Like You

Do you like Adele?

BBC World News

There's no doubt about how important is it reading when you're learning a language. That's why from today on we have a new section on our blog the "BBC World News" which you can find on the right column. 

In this way you can get the latest headlines as soon as they're published by the BBC. You'll be not only informed but also learning English at the same time! 

Remember to check out the breaking news everyday!

Word of the week: "To pull a few strings"

This week I want to teach you the expression

To pull a few strings

which means to influence others to one's advantage, that is to say, to use your influence in order to get something or help someone.

Originally this idiom comes from the world of entertainment and it's related to puppets. Just like a person can pull the strings to make things happen for a puppet, people can pull a few strings to get something done.

Examples:

You need a job? I'm going to pull a few strings and I'll see what I can do.

I may be able to pull a few strings if you need the document urgently.

Try to use this expression to remember it!

Sports Quiz

We talked about sports in class the other day. But are you ready to revise vocabulary on sports?

If you are, do the quizzes you'll find on the following links!

Sports Quiz
Fill in Gaps Text

Podcast: Cycling for Food

Do you remember the term publicity stunt we saw in class? The following podcast may talk about one, since there's a new hotel in Copenhagen which is offering free meals to guests who generate electricity for the hotel by cycling.

Cycling for food

Here you can check the transcript.

What's your opinion on this original idea?

Madonna

This week I want to talk to you about one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all times: Madonna. I'm sure you've all listened to her on many occasions, since most of her songs have hit number one on the record charts. Besides, Madonna's music style has developed throughout the years.

There has always been a lot of controversy around Madonna, due to her lyrics, her image, etc. However, Madonna has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is recognized as the world's top-selling female recording artist of all time by the Guinness World Records.

Madonna's other ventures include being a fashion designer, children's book author, actress, film director and producer.

One of my favourite songs by Madonna is 4 minutes which she sings with Justin Timbelake.



Do you like Madonna?

Home Spa

We talked in class about natural medicine and we all know there are many natural or alternative remedies. Obviously they aren't a solution for everything. In my opinion traditional and natural medicine can complement each other. Moreover, the remedy or treatment we use would depend on the illness we want to treat.

If we think about stress and our stressful society, natural remedies can help us fight against it. Have you ever tried aromatherapy, for example? Would you like to create a home spa?

Then, have a look at the following article.

Word of the week: "Hair-raising"

This week's adjective is

Hair-raising

and it means extremely frightening but often exciting, in other words, something so scary that your hair stands up.

Example: The other day I read a hair-raising story about dead people.

Now tell us in a comment!

Have you ever had a hair-raising experience

that scared you to death?