2022 – The Year of the Grammar. Back to Basics

5th January 2021

Basic grammar is a continual problem with my online classes, that and the stubborn reluctance [contumacy for those who like to learn new words] to write down new words, or to learn from their mistakes.

Basic grammar is basically lacking.

Many older student will, I am sure, have traumatic memories of conjugating verbs endlessly, without ever applying them in real-life situations. Hence, I propose a synthesis; drilling of verb ending, and then applying them in simple sentences.

Enough preamble, let’s go to work !

The verb ‘to be’

Only teach constructions in upper level classes

I am // I’m

you are // you’re

he is // he’s

she is // she’s

it is // it’s

Mr John is // Mr John’s

we are // we’re

they are // they’re

Have students repeat until their grammar is perfect. Make games, see who can conjugate the verbs clearest and quickest.

Now … practice:

First let’s use an adjective:

happy / sad / lucky / hard-working / lazy

Let’s start with the adjective ‘happy’

I am happy // I’m happy

you are happy // you’re _______

he _____ \

she ______ \

it _______\

Mr John ______ \

we ____ \

they ______

Secondly, let’s use a continuous verb (verb + ing)

reading / playing / swimming / watching TV / eating

I am reading

you ___ _______

he __ _________

she __ _______

It __ _______

Mr John __ _____

we __ ______

they __ ________

The verb ‘to have’

I have

you have

he has

she has

it has

Ms Jane has

we have

they have

Now … practice:

Let’s use some common nouns

sister (or twin sister) / piano / dog / iPad / new book

I have a ____

you ____ ______

he ___ _________

she ___ _______

Ms Jane ____ _______

we ____ ______

they ____ _______

OK, Snoopy, enough is enough … but we have just started. More blogs to follow.

Happy 2022, the Year of the Grammar

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Paul Ritter: R.I.P.

2nd January 2022

Paul Ritter, 'James Bond' and 'Harry Potter' Actor, Dies at 54

Living overseas, I sometimes miss news from the UK, one such example being the passing of British actor Paul Ritter back in April of 2021.

People in the UK will know him from the sitcom ‘Friday Night Dinner’ which ran for six series starting in 2011.

Friday Night Dinner creator calls Paul Ritter 'greatest actor' in touching tribute | JOE.co.uk — ‘Friday Night Dinner’, a sitcom on Channel 4 in the UK

International viewers may recognise him from the HBO miniseries ‘Chernobyl’ from 2019.

Mr Ritter also appeared in the 2008 Bond film ‘Quantum of Solace’ and a film in the Harry Potter franchise, ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ from 2009.

Paul also performed in Shakespeare demonstrating his versatility, from comedy to drama, excelling in both.

I was very sad to hear of his death, and I’m not alone. Apparently some fans posted how they were in tears watching the sitcom after he died.

Tasmin Greig, his co-star in ‘Friday Night Dinner’, wrote “We all miss him terribly, an incredible actor, a true friend and a lovely human being.”

Actor Paul Ritter has died at the age of 54 | WhatsOnStage

Paul Ritter 20th December 1966 – 5th April 2021

Alice Sara Ott ‘Nightfall’: French piano music

30th December 2021

One of the joys of the past few years has been discovering the work of Ms Alice Sara Ott, a pianist born in 1988 of a German father and Japanese mother.

I have introduced her to some professional musicians of my acquaintance, including pianists, and they unanimously praise her playing, her tone and sensitivity.

Alice Sara Ott's Deeply Considered Approach to a Concept Wigmore Hall Recital – Seen and Heard International

Alice Sara Ott: Wonderland CD review – Grieg recital lacks magic | Classical music | The Guardian

Ms Ott, who has been recording since 2009, interprets some quintessential French classics of the late C19th and early C20th on the 2018 CD ‘Nightfall’. Debussy, Ravel & Satie are all represented.

I’d like to share this promotion film, shot in Paris, to accompany the Erik Satie piece ‘Gnossiennes No 1: Lent’:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUFxAxTZJZg&list=RDqUFxAxTZJZg&start_radio=1&ab_channel=DeutscheGrammophon-DG

A Happy New Year to you all

CSO Sounds & Stories » Pianist Alice Sara Ott 'still in the process of discovering'

Poland: history, culture and beer

27th December 2021

A compilation of exercises about this east European country, birthplace of the scientist Nicolaus Copernicus, the musician Frédéric Chopin, filmmakers Roman Polanski & Krzysztof Kieślowski and footballer Robert Lewandowski, to name just a few.

14 miles from Krakow in South Poland is this deep salt mine. Everything here has been hand-carved from blocks of salt. The mine has nine levels with over 300km of tunnels. Part of the mine is open to visitors.

The mine has 22 galleries, 64 metres to 135 metres underground. Guided tours take about two hours.

Additionally there is a chapel here measuring 54 m by 18m and 12m high. It took two men over thirty years to build. Visitors can also see an underground lake, and musicians playing brass instruments.

Pope John Paul and Bill Clinton are some of the famous visitors.

Image result for Krakow" — Krakow Town Square

Poland is famous for its vodka, as well as its beer.

It’s beer o’clock !

What does our friend think of this Polish beer ?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUjQhsbAi6k

Cheers – Twoje zdrowie

New vocabulary:

infamous / indication / originally / generic /bouquet / aroma /synthetic

Instead of saying ‘ let’s smell it’, he says ……..

What does he say before he drinks ?

Just by watching his expression, can you tell if he likes it ?

How does he describe the taste ?

20 Things to do in Kraków

Do you think they planned their trip well ?

If not, why not ?

story of (my / your / our) life (lives) / place was buzzing / our mood / for starters / hop aboard / simmer down / booze cruise / the place was buzzing

Did you notice any superlatives ?

(the highest, smallest, most fascinating etc)

What do you think about Krakow ?

How does it compare with your home city or town ?

Polish food and drink

Would you like to try any of the food the travellers tried ?

Were there any new expressions you heard ?

Is Polish cuisine closer to the Russian or to the German cuisine? What does a Polish dinner table and food for dinner look like? Are there any pictures? - Quora

Peter O’Toole: a legend

24th December 2021

During the 1950s a new group of actors emerged who captivated audiences, firstly on stage, later on screen. Talent, charm, charisma, personality, magnetism, attributes that could never be taught; actors such as Richard Burton, Richard Harris, John Hurt and Peter O’Toole had these gifts in abundance.

I was lucky in that living in London, I was able to go to the theatre and saw Mr John Hurt in ‘Month in the Country’, while I caught Peter O’Toole in ‘Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell’. Additionally, I once ‘met’ Mr O’Toole at a book signing in London.

Actor Peter O'Toole new book expose | UK | News | Express.co.uk — Peter O’Toole in ‘Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell’

As for Mr Richard Harris, I had the pleasure of serving him one time in an upmarket bakery in west London. He was on form that day, possibly having partaken of a liquid lunch. Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to see Mr Richard Burton. Now, back to Peter O’Toole.

I have a great clip of the magnificent Irish actor being interviewed by the fast-talking USA TV host David Letterman. Students can compare the two accents.

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Letterman asks O’Toole if he has a story about fellow actor, Richard Harris. Instead of a rather pedestrian, “Let me see …,” O’Toole, cigarette in hand, responds, “Oh, I’ll shuffle through my memory,” before proceeding to tell said story (this occurs at 0:32 – 3:33).

The activity can be extended by asking the students to copy O’Toole’s voice and elocution. Obviously I don’t condone smoking but students have had great fun sitting crossed legged, imaginary cigarette held aloft, and repeating, “Oh, I’ll shuffle through my memory.”

The serious aspect here is to demonstrate the rhythms and stresses in English – the elongated “oh,” as he thinks, the focus on the verb, “shuffle’, the linking of “through my,” and the final stressed but downwards – intonations of “memory.” A lot of work covered in just six words. Good value for your teaching bucks !

Peter O'Toole Documentary | Brendan O'Connor - RTÉ Radio 1

Young Learners, Level 4: what can you do ?

23rd December 2021

Mind-Blowing Drum Solo From Senri Kawaguchi (VIDEO) | 102.9 The Buzz

Student Survey

Students ask each other:

Can you play football ?

If not, what sports can you play ?

Can you swim ?

Can you sing in English ?

Can you play piano ?

Image result for Mozart as a child" — Young Mozart from Austria

Can girls play drums ? Yes, they can or no, they can’t.

The amazing, incredible Senri Kawaguchi from Japan

Can boys dance ? Yes, they can or no, they can’t ?

Madu Mmesoma Anthony from Nigeria

Can you eat a huge sandwich ?

Can you wiggle your ears ?

Finally, can anybody walk on water ?

Yes they can or no, they can’t ?

The brilliant magician Dynamo from the U.K.

Bear waves goodbye to photographer at Olympic National Park in Washington | Metro News — Bye bye from the big brown friendly bear

Phil Ochs – Happy Birthday

21st December 2021

A tribute to singer-songwriter Phil Ochs, born on December 19th 1940. Phil wrote many political and protest songs against events of the 1960s and 70s such as the war in Vietnam, racial segregation and capital punishment.

Here’s a list of my top 5 Phil Ochs songs:

1 No More Songs

2 Santo Domingo

3 The Iron Lady

4 Men Behind the Guns

5 The Crucifixion

Phil Ochs December 19th 1940 – April 9th 1976

Mike Nesmith R.I.P

12th December 2021

What Was Michael Nesmith's Net Worth When He Died?

Throughout the 70s and early 80s, British viewers were able to watch ‘The Monkees’ TV show, laugh at the zany adventures, sing along with the catchy pop songs.

The members were distinct: the charismatic and diminutive singer (Davy), the wacky drummer (Micky), the innocent, slightly simple blonde (Pete) and the serious, beanie-wearing musician, Mike.

Mike Nesmith of 'Monkees' passes away at age of 78

The show was a success but short-lived lasting just two seasons, September 1966 – March 1968.

The guys were actors, they had auditioned for a TV comedy about musicians yet when the public learnt they didn’t play their instruments on recordings, there was a violent backlash.

Mike Nesmith actually was a musician, and The Monkees demanded to be allowed to prove that they could play, and wanted to be taken seriously.

From 1969 Mike began planning a solo career which including writing, performing, producing and pioneering early music videos.

Here’s my favourite Monkees song, ‘Daydream Believer’ with Mike on acoustic guitar.

Mike Nesmith December 30th 1942 – December 10th 2021

Two birds with one stone: listening and vocabulary

11th December 2021

Two Birds with One Stone”: Transmedia Serialisation in Twin Peaks | M/C Journal

Outside of the classroom, students will often be using English with other non-native speakers. Therefore, it is good practice to listen to people speaking English to see how much, or how little, you understand.

With that in mind, here’s a short video on extending your vocabulary, learning ‘low-frequency words’, or better words. However, the instructor is from India and has an accent. To test your understanding, try listening first, then look to check if you are correct:

New Vocabulary

Instead of using ‘very’ + adjective (I am very tired), use a single word:

Try to use ‘sagacious’, ‘exquisite’, ‘colossal’ and ‘spacious’ EXAMPLES:

The classrooms in Block D are ……….. (big, plenty of room)

The furnishings are perfect, they are ………. (very tasteful)

Building an underground train network is a ………… undertaking (very big, challenging)

The old man was ………. People came to him for advice. (very clever, wise)

Traffic talking points

7th December 2021

A lesson chockablock with phrases, slang and expressions on the subject of traffic.

THEME: Traffic

rush hour / ring road / congested / blind spot / flyover / motorway Metro or Subway/ U-Bahn (Germany) / the Tube (London) / roundabout

road rage / one-way street / traffic jam / chockablock / cutting in / cut me off / hit every red light !

Discuss any words you don’t know with your teacher or look online

What are the issues facing you when you travel around your town or city? [what problems do you have ?]

This is an opinion question, so start your answer with:

In my opinion // In my experience // For me // I believe // I think / It seems to me

First, think of the positives:

Is it easy to travel around ?

Is petrol or gas cheap ? Are there many petrol stations ?

Can anyone attain a driver’s licence ?

What about public transport ? Cheap, reliable, clean, safe ?

Conversely, think of the negatives such as the time spent travelling.

Accidents and costs: insurance, petrol, maintenance

Dangers: pollution, other drivers, road etiquette

Condition of roads

Is traffic getting worse in your home city ? Why do you think so ?

What can be done to ease this situation ?

Finally, what is your conclusion ?

What is happening here ?

What do you think will happen to the driver of the bus ?

Taking a Viet driving test

The second clip is from ‘Top Gear’ (UK). The boys came to Vietnam, in 2008. They had a challenge: to buy a car then drive from HCM City to Hanoi.

What could possibly go wrong ?

Note down any new expressions, then practice … and practice … and practice