Sunday, November 30, 2008

#902 Macha Latte


Show 902 Sunday 30 November
Watch today's show at Youtube or BlipTV.

Sunday Kitchen #118 Macha Latte

Today I’m going to show you how I make macha latte. First I heat up some soymilk in a pot.
Then I pour it in the blender and add macha.
Then pour it into a bowl.
And then drink it by itself or with some delicious sweets – which is definitely the better option.





music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

bgm
artist: Ensono
album: Night Culture
track: Alien Groove
from: Vigo, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

#901 ESL Video – Past Continuous: What Were They Doing?


Show 901 Saturday 29 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


1. He was protesting.
2. He was counting.
3. She was complaining.
4. She was holding some books.
5. She was modelling.
6. She was cutting a ribbon.
7. She was campaigning.
8. He was gloating.
9. She was reading a book.
10. She was teaching.
11. She was bleeding.
12. He was ordering a pizza.
13. He was delivering a pizza.
14. They were talking photos.
15. She was ordering a glass of wine.
16. He was crying.
17. They were stripping.
18. She was giving her son a Christmas present.
19. He was writing on the wall.
20. He was making toast.
21. They were weightlifting.
22. They were throwing up.
23. They were watching TV.
24. They were eating pasta.
25. He was screaming.
26. He was digging.
27. They were riding bikes.
28. He was riding a bike.
29. She was telling someone off.
30. He was explaining something.
31. She was tramping.
32. She was falling.
33. He was singing and playing the guitar.
34. He was celebrating.
35. He was delivering some documents.
36. She was picking mushrooms.
37. He was filling up his tank.
38. He was riding in a hot air balloon.
39. He was shooting.
40. She was pushing her baby.
41. He was threatening someone.
42. She was giving him a cup of tea.
43. She was giving him some money.
44. He was refusing to get up.
45. She was kicking something.
46. He was running.
47. She was giving him a hat.
48. She was reading the paper.
49. They were dancing.
50. She was giving them some cocoa.
51. They were swimming.
52. She was drawing.
53. She was apologising.
54. She was throwing something in the bin.
55. She was flying.





music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: Tranquilizer Jam
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Friday, November 28, 2008

#900 Nine Hundredth Show!


Show 900 Friday 28 November
Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.









music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: Cold Fusion (The 2nd Jam)
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

#899 Crackers, Holiday Plans, Enya Plants Tree, Flounder


Show 899 Thursday 27 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

November is almost over, which means it’ll be the end of the year before you know it. And Christmas is coming – which I kind of forget about living in Japan, because it’s not such a big holiday here. But yesterday I got a very nice package from family in New Zealand – and in it was this beautiful Christmas card, I think it was hand-painted by my cousin. So that was exciting and it got me thinking about Christmas.

And speaking of the holidays, The Acadia Report today is about what people at Acadia University are planning to do on their Christmas break. Up until now we’ve been using footage that we took when we were visiting the university. But these interviews were all done by students who are studying English at Acadia and I think they did an excellent job. And we have more of their work that we’re going to be using in The Acadia Reports coming up - so that’s very exciting too. I think doing interviews is a great activity for improving your English – and it’s great that we get to use the footage too.

The video I recommend today is called Crackers.

I love this video, I think it’s really well done. And I thought it was really funny because I’ve had the exact same problem eating those exact same crackers while using the computer.



The Acadia Report

Hi, my name is Melissa Berger. And I’m from Cape Breton. So, that’s what I plan to do on Christmas break, I plan to go to Cape Breton and have fun with my family. And enjoy a family Christmas.

Hi my name is Masaki. Ah, my Christmas plan, ah, I will go back Japan, yeah, I want to go back Japan because here is … little bit boring. And I want to go shopping in Japan and want to see my friend.

For Christmas break I’ll go back to Japan because I want to. I want to spend time in Japan.

Hi, my name’s Claire Reynolds. Um, for Christmas break I want to go back home to Ottawa, that’s where I was born and raised. I haven’t seen the family in a while, so I want to do that.

I’m Cody LeBlanc, I work at the info desk. And my plan for Christmas break is to head home, spend it with my family.

My name is Ahamed (?) I am from Jordan. My plan in Christmas, I will be … stay here in Canada with my wife.

Hi, I’m Julie and I live in Seminary House. And for this Christmas break I’ll be going home to Ontario.

I’m Tara and I’m an education student. And my plan for Christmas break is to go home and work at the hospital and earn some money to pay off the debt that I have from spending all my money during the strike. So that’s what my plan is for Christmas break.

* I'm not sure about the spelling of these names. Please leave a comment if you think they need correcting.



Word of the Day

Today’s word is flounder.

to struggle to know what to say or do or how to continue with something

I thought the advice that Nick gave on Monday was really good - he said that students should ask themselves why they want to learn English.

He said: The difference between students I’ve seen succeed and students I’ve seen flounder, is a clear sense of what they want to do with English.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora this is Stick News. This evening in Tokyo, Japan, Enya planted a tree.

Enya is a 47-year-old singer from Ireland. This year she’s scheduled to appear on an end-of-year music program in Japan. And according to Japan Today, this evening Enya planted a tree in Roppongi.

And that was Stick News for Thursday 27th of November.
Kia Ora.





conversations with sarah
#561 Are you going to put up decorations?

Step 1: Repeat Jun’s lines.
Step 2: Read Jun’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Jun How are you going to celebrate Christmas?

Sarah Hmm. I haven’t decided yet. Probably eat some delicious food and drink some delicious wine.

Jun That sounds nice.

Sarah Hmm. Yeah.

Jun Are you going to put up decorations?

Sarah Hmm, maybe. I still have those silver trees, so I might hang them up again.

Jun Are you going to send Christmas cards?

Sarah Hmm, I might actually this year. I haven’t sent Christmas cards in ages. But I have an idea for a design.

Jun What’s the design?

Sarah Now, that would be telling.



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures


music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

The Acadia Report start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Concerto
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: City Flight
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

#898 Nasty Fantasies, tdes mp3s, Duck Causes Car Crash


Show 898 Wednesday 26 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Yesterday I went shopping at my local supermarket, which is great place to go shopping. And I bought this sweatshirt, which I really like, partly because I like the colour and the design but I also love what is written on it.
This is a classic modern Japanese style of T-shirt or sweatshirt – with the strange English writing. So I thought I’d talk about it today because today is mistake day. Often the writing on this kind of clothing doesn’t make any sense or it kind of makes sense but it’s full of mistakes.

But they’re usually not the kind of mistakes that you’d want to correct because it’s kind of like strange poetry. And actually the writing on this is almost perfect – apart from the lack of punctuation. So I’m going to read it to you. I love it.

The work team name is brain head project On the screen of my imagination I always project nasty fantasies Not because my mind is nasty But life without fantasies Is like an empty screen



click here


About a month ago someone left a comment saying: Hi Sarah, did you think of uploading TDES in just mp3 format?

And they explained that they download all the videos and then convert them to mp3 so that they can listen to them again over and over for listening practice – and the reason why they don’t want to do that with video is because video drains the battery really fast.

And my answer was no, I hadn’ t thought of that. But sure, why not … if enough people want the mp3 files, then it makes sense for us to do the converting. So, recently, we started uploading mp3 files. First on a site called Podomatic - www.podomatic.com – but then it turned out that that had a limit. So I found another site called Gcast which seems to be going pretty well, so far. So if anyone wants to listen to The Daily English Show on your mp3 player, then you might want to check out this site.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora in Stick News today a duck in New Zealand caused a car accident by crossing the road.

Yesterday a duck and her ducklings crossed the road in a city called Palmerston North. According to news reports, the ducks crossed Centennial Drive at 9:15 yesterday causing a car to swerve into an oncoming van. The impact rolled the van and sent it spinning sideways down the road. Apparently no ducks or drivers were hurt in the accident.

And that was Stick News for Wednesday the 26th of November.
Kia Ora.





Word of the Day

Today’s word is nasty.
I quite like this word, for some reason. Maybe it’s something to do with the way it sounds. Nasty.
It says here nasty has four meanings - none of them are good.

1. very bad or unpleasant
2. unkind; unpleasant
3. dangerous or serious
4. offensive; in bad taste

And here’s an idiom using nasty: a nasty piece of work.

It says here it’s British English so maybe they don’t use it in North America.
It means: a person who is unpleasant, unkind or dishonest.



conversations with sarah

#560 How much was it?

Step 1: Repeat Mel’s lines.
Step 2: Read Mel’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Mel How much was it?

Sarah I can’t remember.

Mel You only bought it yesterday.

Sarah Yeah, that was twenty four hours ago.

Mel Useless.

Sarah Well, I can remember the price range. It was somewhere between about 700 and 1000 yen. Yeah, maybe it was 800 yen.

Mel Wow, that’s cheap.

Sarah Yeah, well, I bought it at a supermarket. It’s not exactly a designer store.

Sweatshirt poetry:




links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

click here start
artist: #NarNaoud#
album: Green Vision
track: Oriental Standing
from: Gironde, France
artist at Jamendo
album at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: City Flight
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

#897 What's Up Fellas? Put Your Foot Down, Forward-facing Pushchairs


Show 897 Tuesday 25 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.
Today we’re studying another scene from Enemy of the State.
In this scene, the main character, who is called Robert, is hiding in the very back of his nanny’s car. And his son and his son’s friend are sitting in the back seat. And he wants to talk to his son, but he doesn’t want anyone to see him because he’s being followed.

So when he starts talking, and his son and his son’s friend turn around to look at him, he says: No, no, turn around, sit down. Face forward!

The first thing Robert says is: What’s up fellas?
Fella is an informal way of referring to a man.
So fellas is a group of males.

In NZ, this is usually fullas with a u and it’s not just for males, it can be a group of any kind of person.

For example: What are you fullas up to?

Robert’s son Eric hasn’t seen him for a while and he asks his dad: Where did you go?
And Robert answers: Oh, they been keeping me really busy on this case. They're trying to work me to death out there.

They been is an informal way of saying they have been. This is for native speakers only, I don’t recommend trying to speak like that because it will probably sound wrong.

To death is an idiom which means extremely or very.
You can be bored to death, scared to death, sick to death.

By about February I’ll probably be sick to death of winter and I’ll be really looking forward to spring.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora in Stick News today life may not be such a box of fluffy ducks for children who ride in forward-facing push chairs.

Pushchairs, or strollers are popular vehicles for babies and young children. But new research from the UK has found that some kinds of pushchairs may be harmful for babies. The study found that parents using face-to-face pushchairs were more likely to talk to their children, and those children were less likely to exhibit signs of stress. The psychologist who led the research said the data suggests that for many babies today, life in a buggy is emotionally impoverished and possibly stressful. "Stressed babies grow into anxious adults,” she said.

And that was Stick News for Tuesday the 25th of November.
Kia Ora.





Word of the Day

Today’s word is foot.

There are many idioms using the word foot or feet.
be rushed off your feet get a foot in the door start off on the wrong foot keep your feet on the ground have one foot in the grave put your feet up put your foot it in

And an idiom used in today’s conversation: put your foot down.

to be very strict in opposing what sb wishes to do

Eric asks his Dad about the fight that his parents had.
He says: Who won the fight?
And Robert says: This is your Dad, Eric. You know when I put my foot down, that's it.
He’s trying to say, of course he won, because he’s the one that has the most power in the relationship – which is actually not true.



conversations with sarah
#559 What's up fellas?

Step 1: Repeat Eric’s lines.
Step 2: Read Eric’s lines and talk to Robert.

* On the DVD I have, this scene is: Chapter 18 (1:17:55)

Robert What's up fellas?

Eric Dad?

Robert No, no, turn around, sit down. Face forward!

Eric But Dad!

Robert What did I say Eric? You guys both pick a spot on those seats. We're going to play a game. You pick a spot and look right at it. You can't let anyone know I'm back here, OK? How you been, E? I missed you man.

Eric I missed you too Dad. Where did you go?

Robert Oh, they been keeping me really busy on this case. They're trying to work me to death out there.

Eric Are you and mum getting a divorce?

Robert Face forward. What are you talking about? No, we're not getting a divorce! So we, we had a little fight. Sometimes married couples have fights. And that's nothing for you to worry about.

Eric Who won the fight?

Robert This is your Dad, Eric. You know when I put my foot down, that's it.

Eric My mum won.



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: City Flight
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

* Thanks to Joon for pointing out the mistake in this script.

Monday, November 24, 2008

#896 Nick From USA, Three Greedy Old Men And A Pretty Princess


Show 896 Monday 24 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah. Welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today’s guest is Nick. He’s from somewhere near Philadelphia, in the United States. He’s been teaching English in Japan for five years. And he currently teaches young children at an English school in Hokkaido.

I met him at the JALT conference last month and I asked him what he enjoyed most about teaching.

At its best moments I, I enjoy watching students, ah, get to goals that we’ve set together. Um, or, actually, the most rewarding is watching the student get to the goals that they set by themselves. Um, when you’re lucky enough to have two or three years with the same student – cause I teach mostly young kids - you’re actually watching, um, their growth not only as an English speaker, but as a human being, which is very rewarding.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora in Stick News today Three Greedy Old Men and a Pretty Princess have just won lotto in New Zealand.

Four people in Dunedin, New Zealand formed a lotto syndicate. They called themselves, “Three Greedy Old Men and a Pretty Princess”. They all work in a factory for a company called Fisher & Paykel. In April, the company announced it would be closing the factory and 430 workers would lose their jobs – including the Three Greedy Old Men and the Pretty Princess. Last Saturday, the Pretty Princess brought a lotto ticket for the group. They’ve been playing lotto with the same numbers for seven years. This time they won. They said they planned to pay off mortgages, upgrade cars, travel and semi-retire with the money.

And that was Stick News for Monday the 24th of November.
Kia Ora.





conversations with sarah
#558 Why did you come to this conference?

Step 1: Repeat Sarah’s lines.
Step 2: Read Sarah’s lines and talk to Nick.

Sarah Why did you come to this conference?

Nick Ah, well, I’m teaching young children English and I’d like to get my way back up the age scale. So, I’m kind of curious in developments, particularly in the self-access. Self-access is something that I have a strong interest in and I wanted to see this keynote speaker.

Sarah What advice do you have for people who are studying English?

Nick Ask yourself why you want to learn English. I don’t think most people really have a concrete idea, aside that it’s a class that they’re required to take. And the difference between students I’ve seen succeed and students I’ve seen flounder, is a clear sense of what they want to do with, ah, with English, so …

Sarah What songs or movies do you recommend for studying English?

Nick Well, personally favourite singers are Simon & Garfunkel. Um, they, I think Paul Simon, their diction is rather clean, so it’s relatively easy even for non-native speakers to understand. And the content of the songs, I think, is kind of meaningful for older students.
Um, as for movies, ah, I got a kick out of Batman, the recent Batman series. Um, I don’t know, movies are a little different because, ah, although I think they’re valuable, ah, different people enjoy different genres, and so it’s really hard … I mean personally I like the, the hero type of, you know, difficult, difficult crisis resolved by the end. So that for me is very meaningful. Whereas, for someone who’s not interested in that, they won’t get much English out of that.
Ah, but the main thing I say with, with movies is … I always tell students, “avoid science fiction”. Ah, just too many words you’ll never use. And, ah, and, ah, avoid, um, 24 which also has too many words they’ll never use. Try to think of something … for example, when I study Japanese, one of the better movies I’ve watched is, ah, is となりのトトロ (Tonari No Totoro). And because the majority of the movie is about a family spending time, you know … and so you don’t really get lost in words that you’ll never … the core of the movie is that family. And in the same … I just don’t know many movies off the top of my head in English like that, because I like Batman, so …



notes

flounder v. have trouble doing or understanding something

diction n.
1. the choice and use of words in speech or writing
2. the style of enunciation in speaking or singing

get a kick out of something idiom
to enjoy something very much


links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: City Flight
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

#895 Apple Crumble Inspired Dessert


Show 895 Sunday 23 November 2008
Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Sunday Kitchen #117 Apple Crumble Inspired Desert



Tonight I made a dessert inspired by apple crumble.

I grated an apple.
And cooked it in a frying pan with a bit of oil, some sugar and some cinammon.

Then I put some of the apple in a bowl and sprinkled muesli on top.

Finally I added a scoop of ice cream.

Mmm. Divine.





music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

qa bgm
artist: Antony Raijekov
album: See U
track: When Waves Trying to Catch a Marvel
from: Sofia, Bulgaria
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

#894 ESL Video – Present Continuous


Show 894 Saturday 22 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

He’s cleaning a shoe.
She’s playing tennis.
They’re queuing.
They’re riding on a rollercoaster.
He’s falling out the window.
He’s playing golf.
He’s crying.
She’s watching TV.
He’s smoking.
He’s drilling.
She’s talking on the phone.
He’s getting a massage.
She’s holding some books.
She’s crying.
They’re talking on the phone.
He’s escaping.
She’s buying a ticket.
She’s dreaming.
They’re dreaming.
They’re getting married.
He’s driving.
He’s rowing.
He’s throwing a rock.
He’s sleeping.
He’s doing a wheelie.
They’re flying.
They’re drinking.
He’s voting.
He’s leaving.
She’s dancing.
He’s skateboarding.
He’s drinking coffee.
He’s giving a speech.
He’s crying.
He’s listening to water.
She’s counting.
They’re eating.
They’re getting married.
They’re arguing.
They’re talking.

* All the photos used in today's show are from STICK NEWS, shows 800-900.

He’s cleaning a shoe. 802
She’s playing tennis. 803
They’re queuing. 804
They’re riding on a rollercoaster. 804
He’s falling out the window. 812
He’s playing golf. 813
He’s crying. 814
She’s watching TV. 814
He’s smoking. 820
He’s drilling. 822
She’s talking on the phone. 822
He’s getting a massage. 830
She’s holding some books. 833
She’s crying. 835
They’re talking on the phone. 837
He’s escaping. 841
She’s buying a ticket. 842
She’s dreaming. 842
They’re dreaming. 842
They’re getting married. 843
He’s driving. 847
He’s rowing. 848
He’s throwing a rock. 848
He’s sleeping. 851
He’s doing a wheelie. 861
They’re flying. 868
They’re drinking. 870
He’s voting. 876
He’s leaving. 878
She’s dancing. 878
He’s skateboarding. 879
He’s drinking coffee. 883
He’s giving a speech. 884
He’s crying. 885
He’s listening to water. 886
She’s counting. 889
They’re eating. 890
They’re getting married. 891
They’re arguing. 891
They’re talking. 893



links

Present continuous (also called present progressive)

music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: City Flight
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Friday, November 21, 2008

#893 Le Freak, Up To You, Craze, IBM Study


Show 893 Friday 21 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah. Welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today I thought I’d talk about a song that came out 30 years ago in 1978. I really like the disco music from that era.

The song we’re studying today is called Le Freak. It’s a pretty simple song, about dancing and having a good time.

Have you heard about the new dance craze?
Listen to us, I'm sure you'll be amazed
Big fun to be had by everyone
It's up to you, it surely can be done

Be up to somebody is a common idiom.
To be sb’s duty or responsibility; to be for sb to decide

For example if you’re eating out and your friend asks you: Do you feel like Italian or Sushi?
You can say: I don’t really mind. It’s up to you.

There’s another idiom later on in the song:

Young and old are doing it, I'm told
Just one try, and you too will be sold

be sold on sth
(informal) to be very enthusiastic about sth

For example: we were really sold on the idea.

So if you try this dance just once, you’ll love it.



STICK NEWS


Kia Ora in Stick News today according to a new study by IBM the number of people who watch online video has risen 27% from last year.

This year the International Business Machines Corporation, conducted their second global online survey of consumer digital media and entertainment habits.
They surveyed 2,800 people in six countries.
Last year 49% of the people surveyed said they had watched video on their computers. This year 76% answered yes.
IBM also reported that cannibalization of overall television consumption is becoming more apparent.
More than half of online video watchers say they watch less television as a result.

And that was Stick News for Friday the 21st of November.
Kia Ora.





Word of the Day

Today’s word is craze.

A widespread but short-lived enthusiasm for something.

This is from the song: Have you heard about the new dance craze?

Fad means pretty much the same thing. And speaking of fads and crazes. I’m very happy that the 朝バナナダイエット (asa banana diet) – one of the recent diet fads in Japan, seems to be over. So now I can buy bananas again.



friday joke

Patient:
Doctor! I have a serious problem. I can never remember what I just said.

Doctor:
When did you first notice this problem?

Patient:
What problem?



conversations with sarah
#556 What’s the story?

Step 1: Repeat Pat’s lines.
Step 2: Read Pat’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Sarah The story behind that song is interesting too.

Pat What’s the story?

Sarah In 1977 on New Year’s Eve, they went to go into Studio 54 but they couldn’t get in.

Pat Why not?

Sarah Their names weren’t on the door or something.

Pat Uh-huh.

Sarah And then they went back to someone’s apartment and they came up with the song.

Pat Every cloud has a silver lining.

Sarah Yeah, true. Anyway the whole story is in Wikipedia, so you can read it there.



notes

21st of November - I accidentally said 23rd

links

today's news and here
today's STICK NEWS pictures

listen to Le Freak here
read the lyrics here (under lyric library)

music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

friday joke start
artist: AdHoc
album: Toutes directions
track: Sumbala
from: Annecy, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: Tranquilizer Jam
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

#892 TDES Day Off, Thank You!


Show 892 Thursday 20 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah. Welcome to The Daily English Show.

The Daily English Show is taking the day off today. So I’m filming this on Wednesday. And tomorrow we’re going to Sapporo for the day and night and hopefully we’ll find a nice glass of wine or two.

So I’ll see you back on Friday for the next regular show. I’ll be older and probably not wiser, just older.

And I just wanted to say thank you for all the nice comments people leave every day. And the emails too – people send such nice emails. I really appreciate them and I’m sorry that I hardly ever reply. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day.

A few more thank yous.

Last week a box arrived from Korea which was very exciting. I’ll be eating these tomorrow … they look delicious. 감사합니다

And today another very kind person came by to give me these. どうもありがとう。とても嬉しいです。

See you tomorrow!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

#891 Annoying Phrases, Project Gutenberg, Gutted, Kiwi Ingenuity, Virtual Affair


Show 891 Wednesday 19 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah. Welcome to The Daily English Show.

The other day I found a really interesting article on the New Zealand Herald website –actually it wasn’t an article, just a thread of comments. They asked the question: What phrase annoys you the most? And hundreds of people replied. I thought it was very interesting – you should go and have a read if you’re interested in what irritates people in New Zealand, or people who read that website.

People seem to be irritated by all kinds of things, like the usual mistakes, such as confusing you’re and your or bought and brought. And also just particular idioms or sayings that aren’t mistakes, but just annoying them for some reason.

One person said the most annoying phrase was to be honest. I’ve always thought this was a strange phrase too, although it doesn’t annoy me as such.

This is what they wrote: When I hear this, I cast my mind back to the preceding conversation and assume it was all lies. People use "to be honest" as a way of stressing a point, but the alternative meaning is amusing.



click here

The site I recommend today is called Project Gutenberg – if that’s how you pronounce it.

This is from their about page:

Project Gutenberg is the first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.

It’s a great site. They have thousands of books that you can read for free.
For example, one book that I recommend reading if you haven’t already read it is: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.



Word of the Day

Today’s word is gutted.

In the Concise Oxford Dictionary it says:
bitterly disappointed or upset

But some people in New Zealand use this word when they’re just a little bit disappointed or upset. For example: Ugh, I’ve run out of lead! Gutted!

And this is rather irritating to someone called Sheriff of Nothing from Auckland.

They wrote this: Gutted is probably the most overused word today. It implies that one feels like they have had their entrails ripped right out of them. Possibly appropriate for, say, a guy whose wife just ran away with his best friend, followed by the death of his dog. Not appropriate for mild disappointment!



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora in Stick News today a British woman is divorcing her husband after she caught him having an affair in Second Life.

Amy and David met in an online chat room in 2003 and got married in real life. They also had a wedding in a virtual world called Second Life. Then this year Amy caught David’s Second Life character in a compromising position with another virtual woman. Amy said that David confessed he’d been talking to a female player for a few weeks and said he didn’t love her anymore. She filed for divorce the next day.

And that was Stick News for Wednesday the 19th of November.
Kia Ora.





conversations with sarah
#555 Do you know what ingenuity means?

Step 1: Repeat Takeshi’s lines.
Step 2: Read Takeshi’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Takeshi What are some other phrases that annoy people?

Sarah A few people mentioned “Kiwi ingenuity”.

Takeshi What does that mean?

Sarah Well, do you know what ingenuity means?

Takeshi No.

Sarah It means: the ability to invent things or solve problems in clever new ways.

Takeshi And what about the “kiwi” part?

Sarah Kiwi means New Zealand and this is a common stereotype of New Zealanders – that we can solve any problem like MacGyver, just using a piece of Number 8 wire.

Takeshi But it’s not true?

Sarah Well, there might be some truth to it. But the way some people use it, it sounds pretty arrogant, like one person commented: as if no one else on the planet is capable of inventive, commonsense solutions.



notes

1. The question was actually which but I said what by accident.

2. I pronounced assume incorrectly.

3. I fixed the spelling mistakes in the quote from Sheriff of Nothing.

4. They actually wrote possibly, but I accidentally said probably.

5. compromising adj. if sth is compromising, it shows or tells people sth that you want to keep secret, because it is wrong or embarrassing

6. Kiwi means:
n. a kind of bird
n. a New Zealander
adj. New Zealand (eg. I love New Zealand music.)
* Kiwi is also means “kiwifruit” in some countries outside of New Zealand.



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

click here start
artist: #NarNaoud#
album: Green Vision
track: Oriental Standing
from: Gironde, France
artist at Jamendo
album at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: Tranquilizer Jam
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

#890 Enemy Of The State, Special Samosas 10,000 Rupees, Attached


Show 890 Tuesday 18 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah. Welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today we’re studying a scene from a movie called Enemy of the State. I really like this movie.
In this scene two guys have just been rowing and they’re talking in a changing room. And one of the guys has just had his house broken into so they’re talking about that.
Breaking and entering is another name for burglary which is the crime of breaking into a house or a home in order to do something bad … usually steal something.

And here’s an idiom for you to study: on top of sth.
This means: in addition to sth.

The guy has just been saying that he’s upset because his blender was stolen and all but one of his suits was ruined. And then he says: Yeah, then, on top of it, the only suit that they leave me is three years old.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora in Stick News today a stall owner in India charged a Dutch couple over 200 dollars for 4 samosas. He told the tourists they were expensive because they were special samsoas.

A couple from The Netherlands went to India on holiday. They bought 4 samosas, which usually only cost a few rupees. But Reuters reported that after the tourists ate the snacks they were charged 10,000 rupees. The stall owner said his samosas were special because they were made of herbs and had aphrodisiac qualities. The couple apparently argued with the shopkeeper, and then paid him. They then complained to a police officer who forced the shopkeeper to return the change which was 9990 rupees.

And that was Stick News for Tuesday the 18th of November.
Kia Ora.





Word of the Day

Today’s word is attached. Attached means joined.

These keitai straps are attached to this phone.

Attached also means emotionally attached – as in full of affection for something or somebody.

One of the guys in today’s scene says:
You seem a little attached to this blender, Robert.

He’s trying to say that it’s strange to be so upset about losing a blender – because it’s not the kind of thing that people usually have so much affection for.



conversations with sarah

#554 Loved that blender

Step 1: Repeat the friend’s lines.
Step 2: Read the friend’s lines and talk to Robert.
* On the DVD I have this is in chapter 11 (0:42:55)

Friend Take any of your clothes?

Robert No, they threw all my shoes and suits in the tub and spray-painted my damn dog.
They trashed my computers, my big screen TV. Took my blender.

Friend What about jewellery?

Robert No.

Friend What about silverware?

Robert No. Just my blender.

Friend Blender, huh?

Robert Loved that blender.

Friend You know, I did stuff when I was a kid.
I mean, not breaking and entering, but, you know, stuff.

Robert Hey we all did stuff. I just wished they hadn't stolen my damn blender.

Friend You seem a little attached to this blender, Robert.

Robert Yeah, then, on top of it, the only suit that they leave me is three years old.

Friend Hasn't gotten any better with age.



notes

1. Apparently keitai straps are called phone straps in English. I'd never heard of them before coming to Japan, which is why I use the Japanese word in English.

2. He actually says thrashed in the movie, but I accidentally said trashed. I think trashed makes more sense anyway.

3. I think it's kind of strange how Robert says "on top of it". I would say "on top of that" - but maybe that's just me.

4. I accidentally left out a line in the dialogue - so, rather than record it again, I cut both of these two lines:
Robert Yeah, well, some people meditate, some people get massages, I blend.
Friend You're really weird, you know that?
(They should go after "You seem a little attached to this blender, Robert".)



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: Tranquilizer Jam
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.