Jeff Beck R.I.P.

12th January 2023

JEFF BECK 1944 – 2023

Young Learners: Time Travellers

9th January 2023

Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “The Battle Between Carnival and Lent,” 1559 Kunsthistorisches Museum

Today we travel back in time to see how people lived 400 or 500 years ago. What was different ? What games did children play ?

First, we need a modern avatar. Team captains can choose from the following:

FBI Agent, Dale Cooper // Black Panther // Mulan

James Bond 007 // Reva // Lady Penelope

Sinbad the Sailor // The Minotaur

LEVEL 1

What do we have now that children did not have in the 1500s ? I want 3 things.

LEVEL UP: score 50 points

LEVEL 2

Tell me what you see in this picture. Remember to use adjectives.

Start with, “I can see …

LEVEL UP: score 100 points

LEVEL 3

The paintings are by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Read about his life:

Pieter Bruegel was born in Holland in 1529.

In the 1550s, he lived in Italy to study art. Bruegel liked to paint landscapes, and life in villages.

Many of his pictures tell a story. He had two sons who became painters. Their names were Jan and Pieter.

Bruegel died in 1569 in Belgium.

Questions:

Where was Bruegel born ?

When was Bruegel born ?

What country did he visit in the 1550s ?

What did he like to paint ?

When and where did he die ?

What were the names of his two painter sons ?

LEVEL UP: score 200 points

LEVEL 4

Many of Bruegel’s painting are in the Art Museum in Vienna, Austria. Have a look at this virtual tour: https://www.khm.at/en/explore/digital-museum/bruegel-begegnen-en/#:~:text=Only%20in%20Vienna&text=The%20Kunsthistorisches%20Museum%20Vienna%20houses,course%2C%20The%20Tower%20of%20Babel.

Look at the first picture at the top of this page.

Can you see it on the virtual tour ?

Look at the picture of the boys playing.

What is the name of this painting ?

Can you find this part of the painting ?

What other games can you see ?

LEVEL UP: score 500 points

LEVEL 5

Look at the painting ‘Children’s Games’ from 1560. In your teams, write a short story about what you see. Some people can draw, others can write. When you are finished, you may present to the class.

LEVEL UP: score 1000 points

GREAT WORK

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE

Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.

Absolutely about adjectives

6th January 2023

Margaret Hale, the protagonist in the novel ‘North and South’ returns to her childhood home, and revisits her old school. The new school mistress, who has made drastic changes, cajoles Margaret into giving an impromptu lesson.

One student is having difficulty with the ‘a’ sound.

“A, an indefinite article,” said Margaret mildly.

“I beg your pardon,” said the Vicar’s wife … “ (the new teacher).

The children had been taught to refer to ‘a’ as an adjective absolute. Margaret sat down “abashed.”

“The children knew more than she did. Mr Bell turned away, and smiled.”

(Chapter XLVI Once and Now)

Mr Bell, who is a fellow at Oxford and therefore very educated, passes no comment, yet his body language sufficiently expresses his opinion.

I had not come across an adjective absolute before. I could have taken the blue pill and kept on reading, or taken the red pill; I switched over to Google and began my descent into the rabbit hole of grammar taxonomy.

Others word forms have subdivisions; nouns can be proper, concrete, collective etc, verbs can be transitive or intransitive, and there are several types of adverbs.

Fortunately, the nomenclature is more frightening than the definition. So, without further ado let’s have a rabbit about adjectives (1), starting with the adjective absolute.

Most adjectives can be modified, e.g.

London is very expensive.

The book is extremely confusing.

Studying Vietnamese is quite difficult.

However, some adjectives do not need to be modified; they are superlatives (the biggest, the tallest) or binary (either yes or no). An old joke cracks that a woman phones her mother and tells her that she is a little bit pregnant. Of course, a woman is or is not pregnant.

Show, don’t tell:

A mark of 25% is unacceptable.

The building was destroyed in the fire.

Dinosaurs are dead.

The hostages were set free.

Modifiers such as absolutely, completely, totally may be used for emphasis.

The holiday was totally perfect.

My shirt is completely ruined.

I’m afraid it is absolutely impossible for you to get into Cambridge with those grades.

Now we know why Mr Bell “turned away, and smiled.”

I mentioned the rabbit hole because there are over a dozen types of adjective. Should you be interested, here’s some links to enlighten you:

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar/adjectives-gradable-and-non-gradable

https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/what-are-the-types-of-adjectives/

Notes

(1) Rabbit is London slang for talk or talking

Grammarians of the Galaxy for Young Learners, levels 1 & 2.

28th December 2022

A version of the Grammarians game but this time aimed at younger students.

The teacher could give points for individual answers or use the Monopoly board template. Place students in teams, and make sure every member takes part, writing and speaking.

Without further ado … the game:

Grammar:

What is the correct grammar ?

EXAMPLE:

I to be sad … NO !

I am sad.

I to be hungry

You am happy

He to be tired

She are angry

ms huong am beautiful

WE is to be quiet

They to be loud

Adjectives: What is the opposite ?

EXAMPLE: hot and cold

fast and ______

young and _______

big and ______

tall and ______

beautiful and ______

Animals:

Tell me two animals that are fast

Tell me two animals that are slow

Tell me two animals that are big

Tell me two animals that are small

Tell me three animals that can fly

Tell me three animals that can swim

Sentences

EXAMPLE:

I like dogs but I don’t like cats.

I like cats but I __________________

I like dolphins but I __________________

I like birds but I __________________

I like cats but I __________________

I like cake but I __________________

I like pizza but I __________________

I like chicken but I __________________

I like tomatoes but I __________________

Dancing

Who can dance like Starlord ?

Happy New Year one and all

Butterfly Decal: ‘When in Rome’

22nd December 2022

Peter Townsend and Princess Margaret

Butterfly Decal have a Bandcamp page: https://butterflydecal.bandcamp.com/

The demo version is available on YouTube:

Viewers of ‘The Crown’ will know the story of Princess Margaret falling in love with war hero Peter Townsend, and how the establishment forbade the marriage.

Niall wrote this song based on a doomed love affair, two people from different worlds who can never be together.

As the band Butterfly Decal, Niall and I try to do something a little different, often using spoken word and sound effects as opposed to conventional singing.

The first demo has the narrative too low in the mix, so we will be re-recording the song. Additionally, we decided to add a female voice in some sections. Here are the lyrics:

When In Rome

Well, it was never likely to work, was it?

He was a famous musician, a guitarist of some renown,

American, he had settled over here to escape the petty prejudices of his own country.

As if we have none.

Still, better here at least; some acceptance.

He was loaded, money meaningless with so many noughts in his account,

Far richer than she, despite her royal blood.

A princess, only a short hop, skip and abdication from the throne.

She’d always been the flighty one,

A little rebellious,

Safe in the security of her family, her position, her fame, her history.

They met at a charity gala,

The classic ‘eyes across a crowded room’ deal.

They knew of each other, naturally,

And had each secretly fantasised and fetishised the other.

Unbeknownst; hidden; covert.

They had made a big play of outbidding each other in their bizarre mating ritual.

The charity being the clear winner in this elaborate and ostentatious courtship.

A secret rendezvous was arranged that night,

When their imaginations gave way to wonderful reality.

Love – real and deep love – followed.

The fires burned brightly until an indiscrete confession to an ambitious maid

Forced a decision.

Well, it was never likely to work, was it?

A scene from ‘La Dolce Vita’ (1960) by Federico Fellini. The film, which shows the decadence of the rich and famous in Rome, was a forerunner of the ‘Swinging Sixties.’

Young Learners, levels 2 & 3: Grammarians of the Galaxy.

21st December 2022

You have to use your English grammar to save the Galaxy from evil … can you do it ? Of course !

Game 1: correct these sentences

1: I is happy (1 point)

2: You am sadd (1 point)

3: He am is angree (2 points)

4: She is is beautifulll (2 points)

5: they is brave verry (3 points)

6: We are to watching a film good (3 points)

7: He am strong and liking to dance (3 points)

8: He am Groot and are cute very. Also he friendly (4 points)

9: Hiss name are rocket and she to be very small and angry (4 points)

10: the joker am in the Guardian film no. He am in film battmann ( 10 points)

Game 2: write 3 sentences using helping verbs

Subject // helping verb // verb 1 or infinite verb // object // adverb

An infinite verb is to + verb 1

EXAMPLE: to eat // to watch // to go // to buy // to learn.

We NEVER use to + verbing:

to swimming // to drinking // to writing X

Subject // helping verb // verb 1 or infinite verb // object // adverb

I // can // play // piano // very well

I // like // to watch // TV // sometimes

I // want // to visit // Thailand // soon

What is different about helping verbs can and like & want ?

Can uses verb 1, but like & want use infinite (to + verb 1)

Now … Your turn

Write 3 sentences using can, like & want.

Remember:

can + verb 1 // like + infinite // want + infinite

Only good grammar can defeat Thanos …

Good Luck !

Young Learners, Levels 3 & 4. Monopoly: Christmas Market

12th December 2022

For this game, you will need the Monopoly board template from this blog: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2022/12/12/young-learners-all-levels-board-game-template/.

You will therefore be able to freeze that image on the screen while reading these (or your own) questions.

The aim is to move around the board, answering questions and collecting Christmas items.

The winning team will be the first to collect:

Christmas pudding // Christmas crackers //

A visit from carol singers // A Christmas tree and decorations //

Classic film on TV // A snowman (snowperson) // Sleeping uncle // Massive box of chocolates

Hideous jumper // Slade singing ‘Merry Christmas Everybody.’

Now … let’s start !

Arrange class into small teams. Each team can roll the die, highest number goes first. Start on the top left square.

Every time a team completes a turn around the board, they collect £200. However, the top right space is the jail. If they land on the bottom left space, the team goes to jail and misses a turn.

A correct answer means the team can choose a Christmas item, or they can buy one for £300

The red stops are vocabulary

Stop 1: Give me three words for food

Stop 2: Give me three words for family

Stop 3: Give me five words for Christmas

The yellow stops are speaking

Stop 1: Tell me a sport you like and why

Stop 2: Tell me a film or TV show you like and why

Stop 3: Tell me why you like learning English. I want TWO reasons.

The green stops are writing

Stop 1: Write a sentence about a present you would like.

Stop 2: Write a sentence about a present you would not like.

Stop 3: Write about a present you would give to your English teacher !

The dark blue stops are listening. Repeat what I say

Stop 1: Apples, oranges, chocolate, mince pies and Christmas log.

Stop 2: Turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips, sprouts, cranberry sauce and thick gravy.

The brown stops are forfeits

Stop 1: Loose 1 present or £50

Stop 2: Loose 1 present and £100

The sky blue stops are grammar. Conjugate these sentences

Stop 1: I am having a wonderful Christmas time.

Stop 2: I am eating too much food.

Stop 3: I don’t want to wear this awful jumper !

The pink stops are singing. Sing these Christmas songs

Stop 1: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way

Stop 2: Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright

Stop 3:

So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody’s having fun
Look to the future now
It’s only just begun

Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you sure you got the room to spare inside?
Does your granny always tell ya
That the old songs are the best?
Then she’s up and rock ‘n’ rolling with the rest

So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody’s having fun
Look to the future now
It’s only just begun

The Orange spaces are free speaking. Remember to speak for as long as possible.

Stop 1: Tell me things you like and don’t like about your city

Stop 2: Tell me what you like to do in your free time

Stop 3: tell me what job you would like to do when you are older.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, HAPPY HANUKKAH

Young Learners, all levels. Board game template.

12th December 2022

A useful template for classroom activities. The teacher can add various instructions on the squares to suit the abilities of the students. The game is, of course, Monopoly.

An online die and some markers are all that is needed.

I shall add some sample questions based on the text books at my centre in the next blog(s).

The image was taken from a free printable site https://www.monopolyland.com/printable-monopoly-board-template/ \

Many thanks to the site operators.

Enter the Matrix: Young learners, levels 2 – 4

6th December 2022

The mission is to use all your English skills to find Neo, meet Morpheus, learn English, beat Mr Smith and save Morpheus, then come back to the classroom safely.

First, we need two teams RED & BLUE. Next we need to find Neo and his friends.

Task 1 describe these people. Use lots of adjectives.

Task 2 You will need grammar to enter the Matrix. Conjugate these sentences. All team members must speak.

I like to eat oranges

I don’t want to do homework

I have a new laptop

Task 3 Time to meet Morpheus. Tell me about his house.

Next tell me about three favourite things in your house and why you like them.

EXAMPLE: I love my sofa because I can watch TV and play games on it. Also I can sit or sleep because it is very comfortable.

Task 4 Now it’s time to fight Agent Smith. He knows so many words … can you beat him ?

Write down 7 colours

Write down 10 animals

Write down 5 healthy food items

Tell me your favourite sport and why

EXAMPLE: I really love football because it is exciting and fun.

TASK 5 At the board correct these sentences:

I very loves to going fish

You is goes to homes

Hes having a coat red

Seh don’t liking to red boooks

It are rain twoday

Neo are a hundsame men

We is happy wen we win the games

They is drink any milk

Task 6 You can rescue Morpheus if you can tell me about your home.

How many rooms do you have ?

What do you have in the rooms ?

What are the colours ?

What is your favourite room and why ?

Task 7 Time to return to the class. Choose the best actor in your team; they have to say this:

“Unfortunately no one can be told what the matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.”

(The clip starts at 1:00 – 1:13)

Now you have entered the Matrix. Keep learning English or Agent Smith will chase you.

Butterfly Decal – now on Bandcamp

5th December 2022

Finally ! finalement ! endlich ! cuối cùng ! finalmente !

최종적으로 ! 终于 ! 遂に !

Butterfly Decal have a Bandcamp page where people can go and listen to our music and, if they so wish, download.

The address is: https://butterflydecal.bandcamp.com/

So far we have our Jazz-inspired EP ‘Red Ribbon in Long Hair.’ The EP has four tracks, two spoken word with Jazz background, and two instrumental pieces.

The tracks are:

1) Red Ribbon – A Short Story

2) Red Ribbon Suite

3) Swing, Princess, Swing

4) Miles et Juliette

The final track tells the story of the doomed love affair between Jazz legend Miles Davis and French singer Juliette Greco, while the opening cut is a narrative about a man down on his luck who falls for a mysterious lady who wears a red ribbon in her hair …

The EP is for sale at 3 GBP, or you can buy individual tracks for 1 GBP each.

Videos for all four tracks are available on YouTube, and here is a link to ‘Miles et Juliette’:

Thank you all for listening

Niall & Paul