Have you ever been betrayed by a friend?It happened to me in the past and I must say, it’s pretty awful! Unfortunately, it’s something common and there are several ways to refer to this kind of people:
The 11th episode of English4Gamers is out! In this episode, we keep playing Donkey Kong Country (1994), a platforming video game. As always, I suggest that you read the vocabulary list before watching the episode. There is also a fill in the gaps exercise (with downloadable version and answers) to test your listening comprehension.
NEMESIS: an opponent or enemy that is very difficult to defeat.
Ex. The superhero fought her nemesis for years.
SCATTERED: placed or found far apart.
Ex.The toys were scattered all over the room.
PRECISE: exact and accurate.
Ex. Thanks to Marilyn’s precise directions, Louis and Natalie found the house without any problems.
HUGE: very large; very great in size, amount, or degree.
Ex. They live in a huge house.
TRICKY: difficult to deal with.
Ex. It’s tricky to learn to ride a skateboard, but you never forget how.
SEVERAL: more than two but not very many.
Ex. He arrived several hours ago.
TO RETRIEVE: to find and bring back something.
Ex. Linda hoped she would be able to retrieve her files after her computer crashed.
This is a listening activity based on The School of Life’s short video (about 7 minutes long)“LITERATURE – Jane Austen”. This activity is aimed at students who have an English level between B2 and C1 (Upper Intermediate and Advanced).
I suggest that you read the following vocabulary list before watching the video. Under the video, there are two exercises (with answers) and a writing practice suggestion.
VOCABULARY
AMBITIOUS: having a desire to be successful, powerful, or famous; having ambition. Ex. She was ambitious enough to aim for the company’s presidency.
STERN: very serious; severe. Ex. Journalists received a stern warning not to go anywhere near the battleship.
CONSCIOUS: awake, thinking, and knowing what is happening around you. Ex. When I took the exam, I was conscious that my parents were expecting a lot of me.
DIGNIFIED: serious and somewhat formal; having or showing dignity. Ex. Even when very old, he was very dignifiedin appearance.
WELL OFF: moderately rich. Ex. They must be well off if they can afford to buy a house there!
TEMPTED: to want something or to want to do something. Ex. “Would you like some more pie?” “I’m tempted, but no thank you.”
STRUGGLE: a long effort to do, achieve, or deal with something that is difficult or that causes problems. Ex. The people of this country will continue in their struggle for independence.
TO CONDEMN: to say in a strong and definite way that someone or something is bad or wrong. Ex. We strongly condemn this attack against our allies.
TO OVERCOME: to prevail over (opposition, a debility, temptations, etc.); surmount. Ex. To overcome one’s weaknesses.
INCOME: money that is earned from work, investments, business, etc. Ex. He has a very high annual income.
TO FELL APART: to break into pieces (often used figuratively). Ex. I feel as if my family is falling apart.
TO SUPPLY: to furnish or provide (something wanting or requisite). Ex. Tosupply a community with electricity.
WEALTH: a large amount of money or valuable possessions that someone has. Ex. Thewealth of a city.
ELUSIVE: hard to find or capture. Ex. Police are trying to track down the elusive criminal, who has so far avoided all their attempts to capture him.
SNOBBISH: like a snob (a person who respects and likes only people who are of a high social class). Ex. He’s a snobbish rich kid.
GREED: a selfish desire to have more of something (especially money). Ex. He was a ruthless businessman, motivated by naked ambition and greed.
Watch the video and answer the following questions
Austen wanted to change people with her novels. How did she want them to become?
When is Jane Austen born and where?
How was the writer’s family social status?
Did she get married?
What’s Jane’s sister name?
How many novels did Jane complete?
What are the titles of the novels she completed?
What are the four main things Jane Austen wanted to teach us?
In Jane Austen’s opinion marriage depends on two factors, do you remember them?
Name the two mistakes people make around money according to Jane Austen.
Writing practice suggestion
Write Jane Austen’s main opinions concerning love, marriage, judging people, money, and being snobbish. Do you agree or disagree with the writer? Justify your answer.
Watch the video then fill in the gaps in the following sentences
Jane Austen is loved mainly as a guide to fashionable life in the _____________ period, but her own vision of her task was radically different.
She was an ambitious and ______________ moralist.
Born in _____________, Austen grew up in a small village in Hampshire, where her father was the Anglican _________________.
She did much of her writing at a ______________ octagonal table.
The _______________ was her chosen weapon in the struggle to reform humanity.
________________ starts of feeling superior because he has more money and higher status.
The story ______________ them because they have developed well.
______________________________ starts when quiet, shy Fanny Price goes to live with her much richer cousins, the Bertrams.
In Pride and Prejudice, she explains that Mr. _________________ has an income of _________________ pounds a year –that’s rather a lot- while Darcy has more than twice that.
At one point in _______________________________, it looks like Elinor Dashwood and Edward Ferrars who are otherwise well suited won’t be able to get married.
In Emma, the heroine –Emma herself- takes ______________________ -a pretty girl from the village- under her wing.
This is the 2nd part of the “Survival Kit” for English Language Learners. Many students want to practice English, but it’s difficult for them to find someone willing to talk with them in English. There are several websites online where you can look for English speakers willing to talk with you and learn your language while helping you improving your English skills. Furthermore, there are WhatsApp groups. I will try to narrow them down to 5.
1. PALTALK
You have to download it, but you don’t have to pay anything.
Once opened, it looks like this:
As you can see, you can either create a new room or join one. For instance, by clicking “What’s hot” I’ve found a chat room called “English practice room for people around the world”, probably a useful one ;-). Paltalk is very easy to use.
What else … It’s possible to video chat, but it’s not mandatory. If you’re shy or you’re not up to a video chat, just turn off the webcam.
Link: http://www.paltalk.com/
2. ITALKI: Learn a Language Online
Watch this video and see how it works:
On Italki you can find Native English Speakers willing to learn your language (the Language Exchange feature is free).
On Italki, you can also read interesting articles, discuss with other people interesting topics, and with Notebook you can improve your writing skills:
Link: https://www.italki.com/
3. MY LANGUAGE EXCHANGE
For example, I’ve looked for native English speakers who want to learn Italian. As you can see, there are more than 60000 people willing to speak English with me while learning Italian:
Link: https://www.mylanguageexchange.com/
4. MY ENGLISH TEACHER
On this website, you can find people to practice English with (on Skype or on WhatsApp), useful tips and resources.
Link for WhatsApp: http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/question/does-anybody-want-to-practice-english-on-whatsapp/
Link for Skype: http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/question/practice-english-on-skype-for-free/
5. BUSUU
This is probably one of the most famous Language Exchange Websites, not all the features are for free, but you can get corrections from native speakers, writing exercises, and flashcards for free.
The 10th episode of English4Gamers is out! In this episode, we keep playing Doom (1993), a science fiction horror-themed first-person shooter videogame by id Software. As always, I suggest that you read the vocabulary list before watching the episode. There is also a fill in the gaps exercise (with downloadable version and answers) to test your listening comprehension.
TO PICK UP: to take hold of and lift up.
AHEAD:in or toward the front.
KEY CARD: a plastic card, similar to a credit card, containing data on an embedded magnetised strip that can electronically unlock a door, activate a machine, etc.
Don’t Rain On My Parade – Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl)
Don’t tell me not to live Just sit and putter Life’s candy and the sun’s A ball of butter Don’t bring around a cloud To rain on my parade Don’t tell me not to fly I’ve simply got to
If someone takes a spill It’s me and not you Who told you you’re allowed To rain on my parade! I’ll march my band out I’ll beat my drum And if I’m fanned out Your turn at bat, sir At least I didn’t fake it
Hat, sir, I guess I didn’t make it! But whether I’m the rose Of sheer perfection Or freckle on the nose Of life’s complexion The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye I gotta fly once I gotta try once Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, life is juicy Juicy, and you see I gotta have my bite, sir! Get ready for me, love Cause I’m a “comer” I simply gotta march My heart’s a drummer Don’t bring around a cloud To rain on my parade!
I’m gonna live and live now Get what I want, I know how One roll for the whole shebang One throw, that bell will go clang Eye on the target, and wham One shot, one gun shot, and bam Hey, Mister Arnstein, here I am!
I’ll march my band out I’m beating my drum And if I’m fanned out Your turn at bat, sir At least I didn’t fake it Hat, sir, I guess I didn’t make it
Get ready for me, love ‘Cause I’m a “comer” I simply gotta march My heart’s a drummer Nobody, no, nobody Is gonna rain on my parade!
Click here if you want to know the origin of this idiom:Know Your Phrase
Last Tuesday Richard published the 9th episode of English4Gamers. Unfortunately, I was a bit busy last week 😦 and I didn’t manage to share it with you. As always, I wrote a vocabulary list and I suggest that you read it before watching the video. This time, we decided to play Donkey Kong Country, a 1994 platforming videogame published by Nintendo. The game is set on an island and the protagonists are Donkey Kong and his nephew Diddy Kong. They must recover their stolen hoard of bananas stolen by the Kremlings (anthropomorphic crocodilians). You can test your listening skills with a fill in the gaps exercise.
VOCABULARY
CROCODILE:
TO PICK: to take something with your fingers; to gather together; to collect. They were picking strawberries last week.
TO DEFEAT: to win against someone in a fight, war, or competition. We must be ready to defeat our enemies in battle.
TO ROLL:to move forward while turning over and over.
BARREL:
STORYLINE:the plot of a book, film, play, etc.
SUPPLY: the amount of something that is available to be used.
Ex. We have three months’ supply of tuna to eat.
RHINO: rhinoceros.
TO SWITCH:to make a change from one thing to another.
Ex. After the bank robbery, the gang switched cars.
ROPE: a strong, thick string that is made by twisting many thin strings or fibres together.
Ex. She made a knot in the rope.
TO SWING: to move backwards and forward or from side to side while hanging from something.
WASP: a flying insect, often black and yellow, that can sting.
BEE:a yellow and black flying insect that makes honey and can sting you.
TIP:a useful suggestion. Bob gave us some tips about travelling in Italy.
CAVE: a hollow or natural passage under or into the earth, especially one with an opening to the surface.
Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with the correct words:
R: I finished it _______________times.
R: What kind of _______________ do we have here?
R: Basically, you are versus _______________.
A: How many_______________do we have?
A: How can you _______________ enemies?
R: Or you jump over them or you _______________.
A: Is there a _________________?
R: You are Donkey Kong. You live in this_______________. One day, this crocodile, the Crocodile King came to your island and stole all your bananas.
A: Yeah … My secret supply of _______________ hidden somewhere … He’s found it and …
R: It’s a _______________ hard game, I must say.
R: When you _______________ three of them … oh … I’ve just failed … When you pick three of them you gain a bonus _______________ where you can get more lives.
A: But it’s difficult. I cannot see _______________.
R: This is the first _______________, you have to collect four of them.
A: I don’t like _______________ … This is _______________ rain. I want a sunny day.
A: No, the big one is a _______________.
R: This is a _______________, right? Not a bee.
A: Bees are really nice and _______________ actually.
A: Did you just _______________ at the exit?
A: I like that they’re _______________ together.
R: This is our _______________ probably, who give you tips and …
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