#MyStupidThings
Hi everyone
It’s the old owl again.
I’ve been trying to go to bed early recently but no use. I go to the bed but I somehow find it difficult to fall asleep. Old habits die hard like they say.
Anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to post a thing or two before trying to sleep again. Here we are then with a new episode of Jamaica Inn. Hope you like it.
Hi everyone
It’s the old owl again.
I’ve been trying to go to bed early recently but no use. I go to the bed but I somehow find it difficult to fall asleep. Old habits die hard like they say.
Anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to post a thing or two before trying to sleep again. Here we are then with a new episode of Jamaica Inn. Hope you like it.
#Shakespeare_Speaks
Not budge an inch
The battle of the sexes
The Taming of the Shrew is one of William Shakespeare's earliest plays. It's often referred to as the battle of the sexes. Many people have criticised the way this play portrays women. But the story of the wild Katharina who is tamed by her husband has inspired many films and television shows, including the American movie '10 Things I Hate About You'.
Will and his actor friend Thomas Swann are fighting while they rehearse The Taming of the Shrew.
Not budge an inch
The battle of the sexes
The Taming of the Shrew is one of William Shakespeare's earliest plays. It's often referred to as the battle of the sexes. Many people have criticised the way this play portrays women. But the story of the wild Katharina who is tamed by her husband has inspired many films and television shows, including the American movie '10 Things I Hate About You'.
Will and his actor friend Thomas Swann are fighting while they rehearse The Taming of the Shrew.
Upper Intermediate
#Shakespeare_Speaks
Not budge an inch
Meaning
The phrase not budge an inch is used these days to describe objects that won't move, and also people who won't change their minds.
Example sentence
That stupid dog refused to move. I kept pulling on the lead, but he wouldn't budge an inch.
____________________
Extra vocabulary
an inch
2.54 centimeters
budge
move
the battle of the sexes
the fight for power between men and women
tame
change something wild so that it is easier to control
stubborn
describes a person who refuses to change their ideas or behaviour
strong-minded
not easily influenced by others
stand your ground
refuse to change your opinion or behaviour, even when other people disagree with you
dig your heels in
refuse to change your ideas or behaviour
back down
admit that you are wrong
No way!
Definitely not!
not even if you paid me!
I would never do that, even if you gave me a lot of money
it's out of the question
it's impossible; I won't let it happen
never in a million years
absolutely never
oh go on then
I agree to do or allow something that I didn't want to do before
I suppose so
I agree to something that I am not certain or happy about
Meaning
The phrase not budge an inch is used these days to describe objects that won't move, and also people who won't change their minds.
Example sentence
That stupid dog refused to move. I kept pulling on the lead, but he wouldn't budge an inch.
____________________
Extra vocabulary
an inch
2.54 centimeters
budge
move
the battle of the sexes
the fight for power between men and women
tame
change something wild so that it is easier to control
stubborn
describes a person who refuses to change their ideas or behaviour
strong-minded
not easily influenced by others
stand your ground
refuse to change your opinion or behaviour, even when other people disagree with you
dig your heels in
refuse to change your ideas or behaviour
back down
admit that you are wrong
No way!
Definitely not!
not even if you paid me!
I would never do that, even if you gave me a lot of money
it's out of the question
it's impossible; I won't let it happen
never in a million years
absolutely never
oh go on then
I agree to do or allow something that I didn't want to do before
I suppose so
I agree to something that I am not certain or happy about
#MyStupidThings
Hi everyone
Hope things are going well for you all.
It’s been a couple of days since the last post. But here I am once again sitting at my computer and looking for good stuff on the net to post here for you. Enjoy what follows!
Hi everyone
Hope things are going well for you all.
It’s been a couple of days since the last post. But here I am once again sitting at my computer and looking for good stuff on the net to post here for you. Enjoy what follows!
#Shakespeare_Speaks
**To be or not to be, that is the question**
William Shakespeare's greatest play, Hamlet, explores the themes of revenge, tragedy, death and madness. Hamlet also brings us Shakespeare's most famous quote: To be, or not to be: that is the question. Hamlet is asking a very deep question - is it better to live or to die?
**To be or not to be, that is the question**
William Shakespeare's greatest play, Hamlet, explores the themes of revenge, tragedy, death and madness. Hamlet also brings us Shakespeare's most famous quote: To be, or not to be: that is the question. Hamlet is asking a very deep question - is it better to live or to die?
Upper Intermediate
#Shakespeare_Speaks
I must be cruel, only to be kind
Meaning
In modern English, Shakespeare's phrase is usually shortened to I must be cruel to be kind. Or just cruel to be kind. People say it when they do something unkind that will actually benefit someone.
Example sentence
I know I upset her when I told her to get a haircut, but it was such a mess: I had to be cruel to be kind.
___________________
Extra vocabulary
listen (here)
to pay attention to what someone tells you and do what they suggest
collocation
the natural way words go together
put down (an animal)
kill in a humane way
a vicious circle
a repeating situation in which one problem causes another problem that makes the first problem worse
tough love
a strict way of dealing with someone who has a problem
a cold-blooded killer
a killer who shows no sympathy
a nasty look
looking at someone in a unkind way
a harsh punishment
make someone suffer in a cruel way for something bad that they have done
a mean streak
unkind behaviour which is part of someone's personality
Meaning
In modern English, Shakespeare's phrase is usually shortened to I must be cruel to be kind. Or just cruel to be kind. People say it when they do something unkind that will actually benefit someone.
Example sentence
I know I upset her when I told her to get a haircut, but it was such a mess: I had to be cruel to be kind.
___________________
Extra vocabulary
listen (here)
to pay attention to what someone tells you and do what they suggest
collocation
the natural way words go together
put down (an animal)
kill in a humane way
a vicious circle
a repeating situation in which one problem causes another problem that makes the first problem worse
tough love
a strict way of dealing with someone who has a problem
a cold-blooded killer
a killer who shows no sympathy
a nasty look
looking at someone in a unkind way
a harsh punishment
make someone suffer in a cruel way for something bad that they have done
a mean streak
unkind behaviour which is part of someone's personality
I am introducing a new feature today called 👉🏽 #Crash_Course in our channel. Hope you all like it. 👇🏽👇🏽
Upper Intermediate
#study_skills Time management is a vital skill for success both in the workplace and at school. Question number 1: How much time do I have available for studying? I always hear my students complain about not having enough time to study or do their homework.…
#Study_skills
I keep saying to my students all the time that learning a language is not difficult at all but what makes learning difficult is “studying”. With all the distractions that we are surrounded with -like playing computer games, chatting with friends, watching TV and so on- most of us find it quite difficult to sit down at our desks and study our lessons.
Therefore, it is very important to have not only the right mindset for success but also the right tools and know-how to get there.
The first thing I addressed in the #study_skills series was time management and you all were asked to fill in the weekly planner that was posted in the channel. The point was to find out how much free time you had available for studying. If you have done the first step, then let us move forward with more practical tips for speeding up your learning process.
I keep saying to my students all the time that learning a language is not difficult at all but what makes learning difficult is “studying”. With all the distractions that we are surrounded with -like playing computer games, chatting with friends, watching TV and so on- most of us find it quite difficult to sit down at our desks and study our lessons.
Therefore, it is very important to have not only the right mindset for success but also the right tools and know-how to get there.
The first thing I addressed in the #study_skills series was time management and you all were asked to fill in the weekly planner that was posted in the channel. The point was to find out how much free time you had available for studying. If you have done the first step, then let us move forward with more practical tips for speeding up your learning process.
#study_skills
If you set yourself tasks that are planned out hour by hour, day by day, you will achieve far more than you could ever hope to do.
There are several golden rules that you should follow when you make your timetable
**Golden rule – 1 (Establish a daily routine)
a. Try to pace yourself, working regularly each day.
Your brain is a muscle, not very different from the other muscles in your body. It performs best if you subject it to a regular rhythm. Think of two people climbing a steep hill. The one who gets to the top fastest is the one who establishes a steady, regular pace. The one who runs as hard as he can until he drops and then rests, only to rush on again, takes much longer to get there if he ever gets there at all.
==============
Answer the following questions about yourself (truthfully!).
1. How often in an hour do you feel the need to get up and stretch your legs while you are reading a textbook?
2. At what time of the day do you work best? (Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Late at night)
==============
b. Try to study in the same place each day.
Your mind will establish an association between your regular desk and work; this means that, your brain will automatically prepare itself for work when you sit down.
c. Do not try to study for long periods of time without a rest.
It is important to work hard while you are actually at your best, but it is just as important to allow your brain time to rest and relax fairly regularly. No one can concentrate for extended periods of time.
Allow yourself a ten-minute break every hour. Go for a walk round the building, have a look at the newspaper or just go and sit under a tree. When you take one of these breaks, make it a real break: do not keep thinking about what you have been reading. It will all still be there when you get back to your seat.
d. Give yourself at least half a day off each week.
During this time, do not think about your work. Think about anything else. Your brain needs a regular holiday, just as much as you do.
**Golden rule – 2
Set yourself easily attainable goals.
a. Do not set yourself a task that you cannot finish in the time available.
b. Define your goals as precisely as possible.
The first rule about reading anything for information is that you must have clearly in your mind the reason why you are looking at the book.
**Golden rule – 3
Recognize your own strengths and weaknesses and build them into your timetable.
It is not good writing out a timetable that you will not be able to keep to, even on the first day.
You must try to build in your own shortcomings as well as your own strengths. For instance, if you work best in the morning, it is silly to give yourself the morning free and put yourself in the library every afternoon, when you are at your worst.
(Adapted from 'A Study Skills Handbook' by Mike and Glenda Smith ©1990)
If you set yourself tasks that are planned out hour by hour, day by day, you will achieve far more than you could ever hope to do.
There are several golden rules that you should follow when you make your timetable
**Golden rule – 1 (Establish a daily routine)
a. Try to pace yourself, working regularly each day.
Your brain is a muscle, not very different from the other muscles in your body. It performs best if you subject it to a regular rhythm. Think of two people climbing a steep hill. The one who gets to the top fastest is the one who establishes a steady, regular pace. The one who runs as hard as he can until he drops and then rests, only to rush on again, takes much longer to get there if he ever gets there at all.
==============
Answer the following questions about yourself (truthfully!).
1. How often in an hour do you feel the need to get up and stretch your legs while you are reading a textbook?
2. At what time of the day do you work best? (Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Late at night)
==============
b. Try to study in the same place each day.
Your mind will establish an association between your regular desk and work; this means that, your brain will automatically prepare itself for work when you sit down.
c. Do not try to study for long periods of time without a rest.
It is important to work hard while you are actually at your best, but it is just as important to allow your brain time to rest and relax fairly regularly. No one can concentrate for extended periods of time.
Allow yourself a ten-minute break every hour. Go for a walk round the building, have a look at the newspaper or just go and sit under a tree. When you take one of these breaks, make it a real break: do not keep thinking about what you have been reading. It will all still be there when you get back to your seat.
d. Give yourself at least half a day off each week.
During this time, do not think about your work. Think about anything else. Your brain needs a regular holiday, just as much as you do.
**Golden rule – 2
Set yourself easily attainable goals.
a. Do not set yourself a task that you cannot finish in the time available.
b. Define your goals as precisely as possible.
The first rule about reading anything for information is that you must have clearly in your mind the reason why you are looking at the book.
**Golden rule – 3
Recognize your own strengths and weaknesses and build them into your timetable.
It is not good writing out a timetable that you will not be able to keep to, even on the first day.
You must try to build in your own shortcomings as well as your own strengths. For instance, if you work best in the morning, it is silly to give yourself the morning free and put yourself in the library every afternoon, when you are at your worst.
(Adapted from 'A Study Skills Handbook' by Mike and Glenda Smith ©1990)