Free Daily English Lessons!: April 2012

Mini-Lessons from Monday, Apr. 30, 2012

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Link: How to write English essays: http://www.1-language.com/essayedge/index.html
Ancient History: Hammurabi: died c. 1750 BC, first king of Babylonian Empire. Famous for one of first written law codes, called Hammurabi's Code.
Irregular Verbs: I put my books on some bookshelves. I put three more there yesterday. I have put hundreds on the shelves in my room.
Idiom: hold water: be logical. A: "Who did you vote for?" B: "Jones, because Smith's arguments didn't hold water."
Pop Culture: George Gershwin: (1898-1937) American composer who used jazz in his classical works; also wrote popular songs with his brother Ira.
Slang: Where are you off to?: "Where are you going?" informally. A: "Gotta run!" B: "Where are you off to?" A: "The bank." B: "See ya!"
Government: attorney general: chief law officer of a country or state; in US, head of Department of Justice and member of president's cabinet.

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

This lesson is ©2012 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."

Mini-Lessons from Sunday, Apr. 29, 2012

Tip: Practice follow-up questions. "Where are you from?" "Peru." "Oh, Peru. What's that like? What language do you speak?" etc. Learn more!
Proverb: You can't unscramble an egg: Once you've done something, you must accept the consequences. It can't be "undone."
Academic Vocabulary: instance: particular example of something. "There have been several instances of discrimination this year."
Literature: zodiac: 12 signs in the night sky (animals made of stars) that can supposedly tell the future of people born at certain times.
Art: bronze: A metal made of copper (Cu) and tin (Sn); also, a statue made of bronze. Rodin's "The Thinker" is a famous bronze.
Slang: What next?: Feeling that another bad thing will happen. "First I lost my wallet; then my phone battery died. What next?"
Geography: Kilimanjaro: an inactive volcano in Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa. It is 5,895 meters or 19,341 feet above sea level.

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Saturday, Apr. 28, 2012

Science: garbage in, garbage out: or "GIGO," the idea that bad input to a computer gives bad results--you can't blame the computer!
Language Study: ordinal: regarding the order of something; ordinal numbers are first, second, third, etc. (One, two, three are "cardinal.")
Business: windfall: an unexpected payment or other benefit. Named for the idea of fruit falling from a tree by surprise when the wind blows.
Literature: Victor Hugo: (1802-1885) popular French author, wrote "Les Miserables" and "Hunchback of Notre-Dame."
New Words: ginormous: very big; "giant" + "enormous." "I can't go out this weekend; I have to go to the office and finish a ginormous project."
Slang: something sucks: something is really bad. A: "How's your tennis game?" B: "Well, my forehand is OK, but my backhand sucks!"
Modern History: Battle of Trafalgar: Oct. 1805 sea battle; British Admiral Nelson with 27 ships beat 33 French/Spanish ships, became a national hero.

NOTES:

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.
The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Friday, Apr. 27, 2012

Link: Vocabulary and Idiom practice: http://eslus.com/LESSONS/VOCAB/VOCAB.HTM
Ancient History: Aztecs: ancient people of central Mexico, centered on Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City). Conquered by the Spanish in 1521.
Irregular Verbs: I bid my friends goodbye when they leave. I bade one farewell last week. I have bidden goodbye to far too many!
Idiom: damn with faint praise: criticize by praising it a little, for example: A: "Do you like my new dress?" B: "Yes, it's not too bad."
Pop Culture: Girl Scouts of the USA: popular club for American girls 5-17, to teach them to be good citizens and to learn many skills.
Slang: That cuts both ways: something applies to two sides. "Brian wants me to work more; but that cuts both ways: he has to do more, too."
Government: Red Cross: international group that cares for people during wars and natural disasters. Headquarters in Switzerland.

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Thursday, Apr. 26, 2012

Tip: Use a picture dictionary. If you look at a picture and say the word in English, you'll stop "translating" and start "speaking."
Proverb: The best things in life are free: Money can't buy happiness. "I love walking in the woods; 'The best things in life are free.'"
Academic Vocabulary: discriminate: see a difference; also, treat people differently. "It's illegal to discriminate against women at work."
Literature: Midas: king in a Greek myth who asked that everything he touched would turn to gold. He died because he couldn't eat.
Art: mausoleum: a building built to bury and honor a dead person; first one, for King Mausolus, was one of Seven Wonders of Ancient World.
Slang: between a rock and a hard place: having two bad choices. "I hate to study, but I can't fail. I'm between a rock and a hard place!"
Geography: Aleutian Islands: chain of over 300 small islands, most in Alaska (US) but some in Russia; line between Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean.

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Wednesday, Apr. 25, 2012

Science: Rachel Carson: (1907-1964) American author who fought against pollution. She wrote "Silent Spring" and "The Sea Around Us."
Language Study: semicolon: a mark (;) used between two sentences, or between parts of a list. "I like cats and dogs; soda and tea; and pens and books."
Business: assumption: the act of taking over a debt or obligation. "Upon assumption of the loan, we will double our monthly spending."
Literature: "Rock-a-Bye, Baby": a "lullaby" (song to put a baby to sleep), first published around 1765. "Rock-a-bye, Baby, on the treetops..."
New Words: foodies: people interested in food, especially professionals. "All the foodies say the new restaurant is great."
Slang: Why not?: one way to say OK. A: "Hey, would you like to go to a movie with me?" B: "Why not? What time shall we meet?"
Modern History: Al Capone: (1899-1947) powerful American gangster in Chicago, made money from selling illegal alcohol and other activities.

NOTES:

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.
The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Tuesday, Apr. 24, 2012

Link: Learn through poems and story writing: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~leslieob/pizzaz.html
Ancient History: Tutankhamen: 1341-1323 BC, "pharaoh" (king) of Egypt. Most famous today because his tomb was found with all its treasures in 1922.
Irregular Verbs: I buy lots of books. I bought two last week. I have bought thousands in my life.
Idiom: make ends meet: make enough money for your needs. "I may need to take a second job to make ends meet."
Pop Culture: Star Trek: 1960s TV series (and later films) about Captain James T. Kirk and his men exploring outer space in the USS Enterprise.
Slang: to not cut it: to not be enough. A: "I'll try to be on time from now on." B: "'Try' doesn't cut it. You MUST be on time!"
Government: legislative branch: part of government that makes laws. In some places, separate from the police (executive) and courts (judicial).

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Monday, Apr. 23, 2012

Tip: Read aloud. Some of us learn better by listening; so listen to yourself! Makes you move your mouth too. Read naturally; don't shout.
Proverb: No news is good news: Because most news is BAD news! "My boss hasn't said anything about my raise." "Well, 'No news is good news.'"
Academic Vocabulary: phenomenon: anything that happens; especially, something special. "Who can explain the Lady Gaga phenomenon?"
Literature: millennium: a period of 1,000 years; especially, a future time when Christians say Jesus will rule the earth before it is destroyed.
Art: phallic symbol: item representing a penis in art or stories. "The knights' spears in the King Arthur stories may be a phallic symbol."
Slang: Go for it!: expression of encouragement. A: "I don't know if I should take this job." B: "Why not? It sounds great! Go for it!"
Geography: British Columbia: most western province of Canada, known for natural beauty. + US states Oregon and Washington = Pacific Northwest.

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Sunday, Apr. 22, 2012

Science: iceberg: a large piece of ice floating in the sea. As most of it is underwater, what we see is the "tip of the iceberg."
Language Study: conditional: a sentence with "if" and "then": "If it rains, (then) I won't go." May be untrue: "If I were a bird, (then) I would fly."
Business: International Monetary Fund: or "IMF," a fund (collection of money) started by richer countries to lend money to developing countries.
Literature: Marcus Aurelius: (121-180) Roman emperor and philosopher; wrote the "Meditations" on how to live a good life.
New Words: personal shopper: someone hired to do one's shopping. "I've been busy since I started my new job, so I hired a personal shopper."
Slang: See ya around: "See you later." A: "Bye! Take it easy." B: "Thanks! See ya around."
Modern History: French Revolution: 1789 rebellion of French people against their king, when old-fashioned ideas were suddenly replaced by new ones.

NOTES:

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.
The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Saturday, Apr. 21, 2012

Link: Learn to paraphrase (say things in other words): http://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/28/
Ancient History: 1066: year in which French duke William of Normandy beat the British at the Battle of Hastings and became King of England.
Irregular Verbs: Children often outgrow their clothes. When my brothers outgrew theirs, I got them. When mine were outgrown, we threw them out!
Idiom: take the bull by the horns: face an unpleasant thing directly. "I hear Tom's always late; take the bull by the horns and fire him."
Pop Culture: Elvis Presley: (1935-1977) one of America's first rock 'n' roll superstars. His dancing style was considered very daring in the 1950s.
Slang: dead on: exactly right. A: "The weatherman said it would rain today." B: "Well, he was dead on. It's pouring out there!"
Government: extradition: agreement between some countries to send back a person who breaks the law in one country and runs away to another.

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Friday, Apr. 20, 2012

Tip: Set goals and measure progress. Simple tests will help you see how much more you've learned, and give you a reason to keep going.
Proverb: Ignorance is bliss: It may be better not to know something bad. "Don't tell the boss the bad news 'til Monday: Ignorance is bliss."
Academic Vocabulary: contradict: say the opposite of someone; disagree. "You say you're 25, but your passport says 28; that's a contradiction."
Literature: Rumpelstiltskin: a strange little man in Grimm's Fairy Tales who makes a king's new wife guess his name.
Art: cubism: 20th century painting style, breaks up objects and puts them together again in a new way to show them from many sides.
Slang: knuckle down: get serious and do something. "If you don't knuckle down and study, you're going to fail this class."
Geography: Mason-Dixon line: named for two surveyors, border of several states in eastern US; once thought division between Northeast and South.

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Thursday, Apr. 19, 2012

Science: binary: based on two. Computer code using 0 and 1, like 01100001 means "a"; two stars circling each other are a "binary star," etc.
Language Study: run-on sentence: two or more complete sentences written without proper punctuation or conjunctions, like "I love my dog he is cute."
Business: recruit: as a verb, "to hire"; as a noun, someone recently hired. "When we finish recruiting, we'll have to train the new recruits."
Literature: Francis of Assisi: (1182-1226) Italian Catholic saint; son of a rich man, he started a group dedicated to poverty and good works.
New Words: baby bump: the rounded belly of a pregnant woman. "I didn't realize my boss was pregnant until I saw her baby bump."
Slang: to have (or keep) one's nose to the grindstone: to work hard. "Keep your nose to the grindstone and someday you'll own this company!"
Modern History: Peter the Great: (1672-1725) Tsar (king) of Russia, who brought his country from the Middle Ages into the modern European community.

NOTES:

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.
The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Wednesday, Apr. 18, 2012

Link: 100 Spelling quizzes with and without sound: http://eslus.com/LESSONS/SPELL/SPELL.HTM
Ancient History: Pompeii: Roman city covered by a volcano in 79 AD, discovered again in 1749. Much has been learned from well-preserved ruins.
Irregular Verbs: I like to spin plates on sticks. I spun four this morning. The most I have ever spun is six.
Idiom: under the weather: ill; A: "Why didn't Susan come in today?" B: "I don't know; she might be a little under the weather."
Pop Culture: cult: group of religious people, in ancient tribes or modern life, with one main object of worship. Sometimes used to mean a bad group.
Slang: Yuck!: a sound of disgust. A: "Sorry to tell you, but I think you stepped in some gum." B: "Yuck! I'll never get it off."
Government: draft: selection of young people to serve in a nation's military (army, navy, etc.) Not always used, but common in times of war.

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Tuesday, Apr. 17, 2012

Tip: Read magazines about your passion. If you read something boring, you'll be bored. So read something you love: you'll love it!
Proverb: Don't judge a book by its cover: Don't decide if something (or someone) is good or bad based on appearance. See what's inside.
Academic Vocabulary: terminate: end (something). "I can't believe Mike got fired; his termination was a surprise to everybody."
Literature: Adonis: Greek god of beauty and desire; used to describe any young, very handsome man.
Art: venue: a place where an event happens: a gallery may be an art venue, a concert hall a music venue, a stadium a sports venue, etc.
Slang: a million times: an exaggeration, "many, many times." "I told you a million times to stop exaggerating!" (ha)
Geography: Tahiti: Pacific island, center of French Polynesia. Capital is Papeete; official language is French.

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Monday, Apr. 16, 2012

Science: satellite: an object that orbits (goes around) another in space. The moon is earth's satellite; there are also man-made satellites.
Language Study: e.g.: Latin "exempli gratia" meaning "for example." "I love old stories, e.g. myths, legends, and fairy tales."
Business: obsolescence: becoming outdated (obsolete). Some products with "planned obsolescence" need to be replaced more often.
Literature: transcendentalists: New England philosophers like Emerson and Thoreau, believed humans are good, especially when self-reliant.
New Words: man cave: a room or other area made into a comfortable place for a man to use. "Stay out of the garage; it's my husband's man cave."
Slang: to sleep on something: to think about something, at least overnight. A: "So, do you want to buy this car?" B: "Let me sleep on it."
Modern History: Fourth of July: informal name for America's Independence Day, when a group of citizens made the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

NOTES:

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.
The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Sunday, Apr. 15, 2012

Link: Word search games: http://www.1-language.com/wordsearch/index.htm
Ancient History: Lady Godiva: story of an 11th-century English lady who rode through her town without clothes to get her husband to lower taxes.
Irregular Verbs: Don't forget your book. You forgot it yesterday, and I think you have forgotten it most days this semester.
Idiom: ace in the hole: a hidden resource. A: "Jack's so lazy; why don't they fire him?" B: "He has an ace in the hole: his dad's the boss."
Pop Culture: John Wayne: (1907-1979) American film actor who played cowboys and soldiers; nicknamed "Duke."
Slang: to land something: to get something you want. A: "I'm trying to land a job at ABC Company." B: "Good luck!"
Government: nationalization: process of a national government taking over a business (such as a phone or electric company) or some property.

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Saturday, Apr. 14, 2012

Tip: Carry something--ALWAYS. Have a book to read, cards to study, an MP3 to listen to. There are many "empty" times in the day, so STUDY.
Proverb: Time heals all wounds: Whatever happens, you feel better after time passes. "I know you're sad now, but 'Time heals all wounds.'"
Academic Vocabulary: accurate: correct and true; giving correct information. "We need an accurate report before we make a decision."
Literature: Apocrypha: meaning "hidden," especially refers to books that are not accepted by the Church but are about Bible people (like Jesus).
Art: Saint Peter's Basilica: a church located inside Vatican City thought by many to be the most important church building in the world.
Slang: you guys: a slang plural of "you." A: "Can I bring some friends to the party?" B: "Sure! We'd love to have you guys."
Geography: Rocky Mountains: or the Rockies, major mountain range in Canada and US. Much of the range is public lands, popular for recreation.

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Friday, Apr. 13, 2012

Science: reboot: start (boot) a computer again. Now used for restarting other things, like a film series: "The reboot of the James Bond films."
Language Study: topic sentence: the main sentence in a paragraph, that tells what the paragraph is about. Usually (not always) the first sentence
Business: breach of contract: failure to fulfill a legal agreement. "When he was fired for no reason, he sued for breach of contract."
Literature: Aeschylus: (c. 524-455 BC) one of three great writers of tragedies in ancient Athens; seven of his plays are still read and performed.
New Words: bulletize: make a text into a bullet list. "This is good, but it would be clearer if you bulletized the third paragraph."
Slang: a cinch: easy, simple. A: "How was the test?" B: "It was a cinch! I'm sure I passed."
Modern History: Pocahontas: (c 1595-1617) Indian near Jamestown, Virginia. Daughter of a chief, saved Englishman John Smith; later went to England.

NOTES:

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.
The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Thursday, Apr. 12, 2012

Link: Write better sentences: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/5/
Ancient History: Iron Age: third of 3 ages (after Stone and Bronze) before modern age. 1200 BC-400 AD in Europe, different times in other places.
Irregular Verbs: If you try to bend a pencil, it might break. I broke several trying it. My friend hasn't broken any.
Idiom: butter someone up: praise a powerful person to get them on your side. A: "I'm failing math!" B: "Oh, better butter up the teacher."
Pop Culture: empty nest: the time in the lives of moms and dads when all the children have left home.
Slang: Whoa!: expresses surprise; can also mean "stop." A: "I'm getting married to Sue." B: "Whoa! Didn't you just meet her?"
Government: Oval Office: office of US president, located in the White House. May mean "the president," as in "The Oval Office announced today..."

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Wednesday, Apr. 11, 2012

Tip: Read graded novels. Maybe you can't read the 704 pages of Moby Dick; but one simple version is only 48 pages! Simple vocabulary, too.
Proverb: Nothing ventured, nothing gained: Winning requires risk. "I'll invest in that company, because 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained.'"
Academic Vocabulary: objective: goal; something that you are trying to do. "The objective of this meeting is to choose a new CEO."
Literature: Delphic oracle: a woman priest at the temple of Apollo in Delphi who could supposedly tell the future.
Art: ethnography: area of cultural anthropology attempts to understand the meanings of things important to a particular society or culture.
Slang: talk something out: discuss until the problem is solved. "He said no at first, but after we talked it out, he said yes."
Geography: Alexandria: 2nd-largest city of Egypt, on Mediterranean coast. Founded 331 BC by Alexander the Great; Lighthouse was one of 7 Wonders.

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Tuesday, Apr. 10, 2012

Science: digestive system: parts of body that eat food; break it into very small parts that can enter the blood stream; remove waste from body.
Language Study: active voice: makes a sentence where subject "does" the main verb, as "Bill" in "Bill loves Sue." Passive voice "Sue is loved by Bill."
Business: implement: perform, do, carry out. "They implemented the new policy." "Turn out the lights! We're implementing a cost-cutting plan."
Literature: Baha'i Faith: a modern religion founded in 19th century Persia which shows respect for all faiths, with a wide range of holy books.
New Words: Epic Fail: a complete failure, often used in the world of computers and technology. "Google Buzz was an epic fail."
Slang: to pour buckets: to rain a lot. "If you go out, be sure to take an umbrella; it's pouring buckets out there!"
Modern History: Plessy versus Ferguson: 1896, Supreme Court said facilities for blacks and whites could be "separate but equal." Changed in 1954.

NOTES:

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.
The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Monday, Apr. 9, 2012

Link: Brush up your grammar: http://www.1-language.com/articles/category/english-grammar
Ancient History: Mesopotamia: means "between the rivers," the Tigris and Euphrates in modern-day Iraq and area. Home of the earliest civilizations.
Irregular Verbs: I teach in a college. I taught 80 students today. I have taught for over 30 years.
Idiom: sacred cow: something that one is not allowed to doubt or question. "This project is a sacred cow; the boss will never let it go."
Pop Culture: Francis Scott Key: (1779-1843) poet who wrote the words of "The Star-Spangled Banner," America's national anthem.
Slang: why don't you: a way to suggest something. A: "I can't sleep at night." B: "Why don't you count sheep?"
Government: birth control: use of condoms, pills, and other means to prevent pregnancy. Can be disagreed over, based on people's beliefs.

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Sunday, Apr. 8, 2012

Tip: Play online games in English. Learning's more fun when you play! Build vocabulary, fluency by playing in English.
Proverb: Blood is thicker than water: Family connections are the most important. "The boss hired his nephew; 'Blood is thicker than water.'"
Academic Vocabulary: authority: power to do something. "The police have the authority to arrest people who break the law."
Literature: forbidden fruit: something we want but can't have; from the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible. "Another's wife is forbidden fruit."
Art: narrator: person telling a story. May be the author's own voice, or the voice of a character in the story. Used in novels, movies, etc.
Slang: Phew!: more a sound than a word, means someone is relieved. A: "You can come out now; my dad's gone." B: "Phew!"
Geography: Okinawa: a group of hundreds of islands in the south of Japan, once an independent kingdom called the Ryukyu Islands.

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Saturday, Apr. 7, 2012

Science: proteins: one of three types of molecules found in plants and animals (others are fats and carbohydrates). Found in all living cells.
Language Study: taboo: word or action not permitted by society. Swearing, marrying close relatives, some kinds of sex, eating some foods may be taboo.
Business: division of labor: cutting a job into small parts, with one worker or team assigned to each part, as in factories, for more efficiency.
Literature: anthropomorphism: showing a non-human thing as human: a lonely tree, an angry God, a talking rabbit (in a cartoon).
New Words: unfollow: stop being connected to someone on a social networking site like FaceBook or Twitter. Also "unfriend."
Slang: What's going on?: "What's happening?" Sometimes used to mean "How are you?" A: "What's going on?" B: "Not much. How are you?"
Modern History: British Empire: lands belonging to the UK, once largest empire in history; controlled 1/5 of the world's people and 1/4 of its area.

NOTES:

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.
The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Friday, Apr. 6, 2012

Link: Improve your listening skills: http://www.zozanga.com/listeningskills.htm
Ancient History: Ming Dynasty: rulers of China 1368-1644, a time of great government leadership and growth of culture.
Irregular Verbs: "Shake the bottle before opening it." "I shook it already." "But have you shaken it enough?"
Idiom: fits and starts: starting and stopping; not steadily. "You do your homework by fits and starts; that's why it takes you so long."
Pop Culture: "John Henry": song about a legendary black railroad worker who won a contest against a machine, but died doing so.
Slang: (I) told you so: "Things happened as I predicted." A: "Well, you were right: the boss hated my proposal." B: "Told you so!"
Government: franchise: The right to vote. Those who have no power in a democracy (like US women before 1920) are called "disenfranchised."

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Thursday, Apr. 5, 2012

Tip: Learn parts of speech. Recognize nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc., and build your vocabulary. Analyze, analysis, analytical: like that!
Proverb: He who hesitates is lost: Don't wait, or you'll miss an opportunity. "Should I ask her now?" "Yes! 'He who hesitates is lost!'"
Academic Vocabulary: scope: area of things to deal with. "This is a marketing company; technical repair is outside of our scope."
Literature: Holy Grail: a special object, maybe a cup used by Jesus, that many knights were looking for in the King Arthur stories.
Art: American Gothic: painting by American Grant Wood, shows a farmer with unmarried daughter standing in front of an old-fashioned house.
Slang: Forget about it!: can be used many ways, to agree or disagree. "I love spicy food. And chilis? Forget about it!" is agreement.
Geography: Far West: or Old West, US west of Mississippi River; some say west of the frontier strip (a line of states from N. Dakota to Texas).

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Wednesday, Apr. 4, 2012

Science: absolute zero: lowest possible temperature, where all molecules stop moving. Around –273C, –460 F. It has never actually been seen.
Language Study: person: idea about pronouns and verbs. In English, 1st is speaker (I, we); 2nd listener (you); 3rd another (he, she, it, they)
Business: delegate: assign someone to do something. Also, sometimes, the person assigned. "Don't waste time on small things; delegate them."
Literature: C. S. Lewis: Oxford professor who wrote books on Christian teaching, as well as popular books like "The Chronicles of Narnia."
New Words: life coach: someone who gives people advice on how to live successfully. Not a psychologist, but still a trained professional.
Slang: how'd it go: asks if something was successful. A: "How'd your job interview go?" B: "Really well. They hired me!"
Modern History: Bill of Rights: an addition to the US Constitution limiting government power and making certain individual rights clear; has 10 items.

NOTES:

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.
The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Tuesday, Apr. 3, 2012

Link: LOTS of fun vocabulary games: http://www.englishclub.com/esl-games/vocabulary/index.htm
Ancient History: Crusades: attacks (wars) by European Christians on Muslims in the Middle Ages. They wanted to take back lands where Jesus had lived.
Irregular Verbs: On the weekend, many people flee the city. I fled last weekend. I have fled six times this year.
Idiom: pay through the nose: Pay too much. A: "Nice car!" B: "Thanks, but I paid through the nose for it."
Pop Culture: P. T. Barnum: (1810-1891) showman whose circus was called "The Greatest Show on Earth." Known for his "sideshows" of strange people.
Slang: zero something: absolutely none of something. "We can't hire Bill; he has zero experience." Or "I have zero time to meet with you."
Government: separation of church and state: idea that religion ("church") and government ("state") should not control each other.

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Monday, Apr. 2, 2012

Tip: Do exercises. It's not enough just to read something; it's better if you answer questions, fill in blanks, etc., like in a textbook.
Proverb: A miss is as good as a mile: Missing your goal by a little is like missing it by a lot. Anything less than perfect is unacceptable.
Academic Vocabulary: fundamental: basic, serious, essential. "There is a fundamental difference in how men and women see themselves."
Literature: Job: a man in the Bible who had many bad things happen to him, but never lost his patience. "The patience of Job" is a saying.
Art: gallery: a place where art is shown; may be a room in a museum (one museum may have many galleries) or a private business
Slang: mope around: hang around in a sad mood. "I know your boyfriend dumped you, but stop moping around and go out and have some fun!
Geography: Eurasia: physically, a single continent; culturally divided into Europe and Asia, so usually counted as two continents.

NOTES:

Academic Vocabulary is the Academic Word List from Oxford University Press. This is "a list of words that you are likely to meet if you study at an English-speaking university."
The Proverb, and the Literature, Art, and Geography words are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Tip and Slang words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Mini-Lessons from Sunday, Apr. 1, 2012

Science: Milky Way: a white band across the night sky; the galaxy we are in. In some cultures, it's called a road, a river, or a bridge.
Language Study: modifier: a word that modifies (changes) the meaning of another word; often an adjective or an adverb, but may be other kinds of words.
Business: shortage: lack of something. "Because there is a shortage of skilled workers, we may have to train some of our new employees."
Literature: The Metamorphosis: a short novel by Franz Kafka in which Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to discover he's a giant bug.
New Words: bestie: best friend, also called "BFF"=Best Friend(s) Forever. A: "Hi, Bestie. Wannna go to the mall?" B: "Yeah! Let's go!"
Slang: to ease up: to not be so aggressive. A: "You're so dumb! Why did you do that?" B: "Hey, ease up, will ya? Everyone makes mistakes."
Modern History: Luddites: a group of workers in 19th-century England who protested against the use of machines to do the work of many people.

NOTES:

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.

The Slang words are from my own list, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

Taking a Break

Hi, Friends.

During April, Uncle James will be taking a little break. The Mini-Lessons and summaries will still be posted, but not the main lesson.

peace,
Uncle James

Mini-Lessons from Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012

Link: Listen to spoken interviews on many topics: http://www.splendid-speaking.com/learn/podcasts/
Ancient History: Oxford and Cambridge Universities: England's oldest universities (founded 1096 and 1209). Still thought two of the best in the world.
Irregular Verbs: My local TV station often reruns shows. They reran my favorite yesterday. They have rerun it many times.
Idiom: an ax to grind: a strong opinion to discuss. "The man went to the city council because he had an ax to grind."
Pop Culture: rite of passage: an event like graduation or marriage that marks a person's change from one stage in life to another.
Slang: That's it?: Is that all? (usually shows disappointment) A: "Here's your present." B: "A pen? That's it?"
Government: contempt of court: Action of a court of law against a person who will not follow its orders. Can involve a fine (payment) or jail.

STUDY:

Read the Mini-Lessons above. Make cards and study them. When you think you know them, answer the questions below. You may have to look up some new words to answer the questions!

QUESTIONS:

1. Today's Idiom is "an ax to grind." You would probably use this when someone goes to the school office because:
a. he wants to sharpen a tool.
b. he wants to cut down a tree.
c. he loves the new school lunch menu.
d. he is angry about a change in the school lunch menu.

2. Use the correct form of the Irregular Verb "rerun," as well as the noun form, in these sentences:
a. Good news! They're __________ my favorite show on TV!
b. I've seen everything that's on. Let's go out; I hate __________.
c. Will they __________ that show again next week?
d. Let's watch something else; this is a __________.
e. They __________ the show five times before they showed a new one.

3. Match the Ancient History, Pop Culture, and Government terms below to these related ideas:
a. sometimes put together and called "Oxbridge"
b. this might be because a person argued with the judge
c. both are named for places to cross water
d. this is often done in a ceremony
e. even spectators might be subjected to this
f. other things can be called this informally, like buying one's first car

(1) Oxford and Cambridge Universities
(2) rite of passage
(3) contempt of court

4. What does the Slang term "That's it?" probably mean in this sentence?

You're leaving me? That's it?

a. You have a new boyfriend.
b. There won't be any discussion.
c. You're taking my things.
d. You don't love me.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION OR WRITING:

If you can, try to talk about these questions in English with a friend. If not, try writing your answers. You may need to do some research in your language, but then you should express your answers in English.

1. What do you know about the type of education given at Oxford and Cambridge Universities? Do you know anyone who has gone there? Did you ever hope to go there?
2. What "rites of passage" have you experiences? Or have you ever seen another person go through one?
3. Why do you think courts need a tool like "contempt of court"? Do you think it's a good idea?

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS:

1. d.

2. Irregular Verb:
a. rerunning
b. reruns
c. rerun
d. rerun
e. reran

3. Matching:
a. (1) Oxford and Cambridge Universities
b. (3) contempt of court
c. (1) Oxford and Cambridge Universities; a "ford" is a crossing in the water, and a "bridge" is over water.
d. (2) rite of passage; like a wedding or graduation exercises
e. (3) contempt of court; this could happen when a visitor in the courtroom causes a problem
f. (2) rite of passage; this is a modern use of the term.

4. b. The other things MIGHT be true, but here the expression definitely means "We won't be talking any more about it."

NOTES:

The Idiom, the History and Government words, and some of the Pop Culture words, are from lists in the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. I wrote the definitions and examples myself.
The Link was found online; the Slang words, the Irregular Verbs, and some of the Pop Culture words are from my own lists, and I wrote the definitions and examples myself.

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