Short and Simple English
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jahsi Keep swimming!
Work
- exercise sheet (second in the series of Basic Business English vocabulary exercises)
An inspirational expression to encourage somebody in their future goal, however small it may be.
- I think I’m going to buy this bar of milk chocolate. But should I? I should be on a diet right now…
- Come on! You deserve a good treat for how much you work. Go for it!
Said when you don’t have control over a situation and when you don’t have the power or authority to influence the outcome of things.
I would really like to raise your salary but my hands are tied you know. I can’t do it without checking at first with the managers.
When you’d like to sum up the story you’ve been telling for hours (as in “finally” or “in the end”) or you would like to give a moral lesson to your listeners.
Mary became a workaholic and earned a lot of money by working ten hours a day. But, at the end of the day, she had to realize that friends and family are more important than money.
Google Glasses - the latest invention!
The world of technology has been in a constant buzz about Google’s latest project, which is still in the process of development; however, they said that they wanted to pop the bubble in the media to get valuable feedback from possible future users by generating a conversation about this new invention.
#1 What can you seen in this video? What’s happening?
#2 Do you have a smartphone? If yes, are you familiar with Android and Google apps? If not, are you using Google services on your laptop or PC?
#3 How well informed do you think you are in terms of technological developments? Do you follow what’s hot on the market?
#4 When you choose an electronic device (computer, mobile phone, tablet, ebook reader, MP3 player, DVD player, etc.), what priorities do you have? What would you like your gadget to be able to do?
#5 What could be the advantages and disadvantages of these glasses? Try to list at least 3 points on each side.
#6 Read the following article [abridged & edited version] to learn more about these glasses!
Google to Sell Heads-Up Display Glasses by Year’s End
People who constantly reach into a pocket to check a smartphone for bits of information will soon have another option: a pair of Google-made glasses that will be able to stream information to the wearer’s eyeballs in real time.
According to several Google employees familiar with the project who asked not to be named, the glasses will go on sale to the public by the end of the year. These people said they are expected “to cost around the price of current smartphones,” or $250 to $600.
The glasses are not yet for sale. Google will, however, be testing them in public.
The people familiar with the Google glasses said they would be Android-based, and will include a small screen that will sit a few inches from someone’s eye. Project Glass could hypothetically become Project Contact Lens.
They will also have a unique navigation system. “The navigation system currently used is a head tilting to scroll and click,” Mr. Weintraub wrote this month. “We are told it is very quick to learn and once the user is adept at navigation, it becomes second nature and almost indistinguishable to outside users.”
The glasses will have a low-resolution built-in camera that will be able to monitor the world in real time and overlay information about locations, surrounding buildings and friends who might be nearby, according to the Google employees. The glasses are not designed to be worn constantly — although Google expects some of the nerdiest users will wear them a lot — but will be more like smartphones, used when needed.
People I have spoken with who have have seen Project Glass said there is a misconception that the glasses will interfere with people’s daily life too much, constantly streaming information to them and distracting from the real world. But these people said the glasses actually free people up from technology.
One person who had used the glasses said: “They let technology get out of your way. If I want to take a picture I don’t have to reach into my pocket and take out my phone; I just press a button at the top of the glasses and that’s it.”
One Google employee said the glasses would tap into a number of Google software products that are currently available and in use today, but will display the information in an augmented reality view, rather than as a Web browser page like those that people see on smartphones.
Everyone I spoke with who was familiar with the project repeatedly said that Google was not thinking about potential business models with the new glasses. Instead, they said, Google sees the project as an experiment that anyone will be able to join. If consumers take to the glasses when they are released later this year, then Google will explore possible revenue streams.
Apple engineers are also exploring wearable computing, but the company is taking a different route, focusing on computers that strap around someone’s wrist.
![The Book of the Future
What an interesting idea!
#1 How do you feel about ebooks and tablet PCs today? Do you use any of these devices?
[related adjectives]: essential, annoying, convenient, unsafe, fun, invasive
#2 Do you think they make our life easier or more complicated?
#3 Can you imagine that in 50 years, let’s say, people will celebrate the re-emergence of the traditional book?
[related grammar] Don’t forget to check the following tenses and their usages: *future simple (It will happen) *going to future (People are going to get rid of their telephones) *future perfect (By 2020 they will have invented MiniTerminators)
*present continuous for future meaning (The train is leaving)
[related expressions] Since you are not sure about the future, you can use the following hedges: *probably *maybe *possibly *presumably *People may… *supposedly *I guess they will… *I doubt that they will… *I’m not sure whether or not they will…
#4 Have you noticed a similar “yo-yo” or “pendulum” pattern throughout history? In what sense? Can you mention some examples?
[related to pendulum] swing - After several years of Republican government, the pendulum will undoubtedly swing back and voters will elect a Democrat.
#5 Look at the language of this ad! What kind of techniques are used here and used generally to make things look more appealing and to make people want to buy them. As an additional task, look for advertisements which make use of these marketing tricks!
[words to check] jingle, ploy, gimmick, logo, branding, slogan](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1t1ay2rhx1qmoni4o1_500.jpg)
The Book of the Future
What an interesting idea!
#1 How do you feel about ebooks and tablet PCs today? Do you use any of these devices?
- [related adjectives]: essential, annoying, convenient, unsafe, fun, invasive
#2 Do you think they make our life easier or more complicated?
#3 Can you imagine that in 50 years, let’s say, people will celebrate the re-emergence of the traditional book?
- [related grammar] Don’t forget to check the following tenses and their usages:
*future simple (It will happen)
*going to future (People are going to get rid of their telephones)
*future perfect (By 2020 they will have invented MiniTerminators) - *present continuous for future meaning (The train is leaving)
- [related expressions] Since you are not sure about the future, you can use the following hedges:
*probably
*maybe
*possibly
*presumably
*People may…
*supposedly
*I guess they will…
*I doubt that they will…
*I’m not sure whether or not they will…
#4 Have you noticed a similar “yo-yo” or “pendulum” pattern throughout history? In what sense? Can you mention some examples?
- [related to pendulum] swing - After several years of Republican government, the pendulum will undoubtedly swing back and voters will elect a Democrat.
#5 Look at the language of this ad! What kind of techniques are used here and used generally to make things look more appealing and to make people want to buy them. As an additional task, look for advertisements which make use of these marketing tricks!
- [words to check] jingle, ploy, gimmick, logo, branding, slogan
(via fuckyeahbookarts)
This phrase is said when you are faced with a new commonly accepted behavior which you find strange. You assume that all the people have attended a secret meeting where they came up with this idea without telling you.
Hey, when did people start wearing gloves on their heads?? Did I miss a meeting?
Last week I spent my easter break in London and Manchester! Wheee. As you may have already guessed it was awesome. Some pictures from the trip can be seen below ^_^
Another thing that happened during my stay in England is that I bought a book called “It’s not rocket science and other irritating modern clichés.” “Cliché” I think is not the best definition for these terms with respect to language learners. These are really widespread expressions, hence very useful for people who would like to speak or write English naturally. Maybe these phrases do sound commonplace to native speakers themselves but they will be perfect for spicing up your textbook vocabulary!
Let’s start with expression #1!
JUNKIE
This word originally comes from the slang spoken by drug addicts but is now rarely used in that meaning. Today if you’re an adrenalin-junkie or a coffee-junkie it simply means that you go crazy for these things and you spend most of your free time with searching for adventures or coffee shops.
1. When first starting out, try to just listen to your target language as much as possible without attempting to speak it. This helps you acquiring an ear for the language.
2. Develop a deep desire to learn the language. Without a desire you won’t get far.
3. Use time for…
Money and Loans worksheet
Cultural stereotypes and the importance of teaching math
#1 What do you think, is this video a joke or is it real?
#2 Do you agree with these girls?
#3 What do you think about cultural stereotypes? What are the first things that come into your mind when you think about Americans?
#4 And what are the stereotypes about your country or culture? Do you agree with them?
#5 How would you raise awareness about your culture to make people think freely from stereotypes?
#6 And what about the teaching of math? Are you for or against teaching math and why?
#7 Do you think that with the appearance of new technology we are starting to forget how to our mathematical knowledge?
How do you call the major mathematical operations?
And have a look at another hilarious video about cultural stereotypes!
Stephen Fry’s Idea of Greatness
Download the worksheet and the transcript from the following links!
Worksheet (to be uploaded soon)
