FREE DAILY ENGLISH LESSONS!
In time, these lessons and "stubs" will be migrated to the Buzzwords site.
Until then, consider them historical.


Mini-Lessons from Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011

These Mini-Lessons are posted on Twitter, and in China on Weibo, throughout the day. You can follow them there!

To get the most from them, you should try to use them in sentences, or discuss them with friends. Writing something on Twitter or Weibo is a great way to practice!
  • Sci [Science]: algebra: type of mathematics using symbols instead of numbers, like solving for "x" in x-5=27.
  • Eng [Language Study]: abbreviation: Short form of a word or expression, like "Mr." for "mister" or "USA" for "United States of America."
  • Biz [Business]: workforce: all the people working in a company, a country, etc. "There are more women in the workforce than before."
  • Lit [Literature]: Bard of Avon: a nickname for Shakespeare, who was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. "Bard" means "poet," one who writes poems.
  • New [New Words]: bridezilla: a woman planning to get married (bride) who becomes difficult to the people around her (like the monster Godzilla)
  • Slang: Atta boy (or girl): words of encouragement or praise. "I just won first prize in an English speech contest!" "Atta boy!"
  • Hist [History]: Billy the Kid: Late 19th-century American outlaw and folk hero, killed at age 21. He said he killed 21 men; others say only 4 to 9.

NOTES:
  1. Except for the Slang words, all the words in these Mini-Lessons came from lists either on the Oxford University Press site or in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
  2. The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

This lesson is ©2011 by James Baquet. You may share this work freely. Teachers may use it in the classroom, as long as students are told the source (URL). You may not publish this material or sell it. Please write to me if you have any questions about "fair use"

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