Living English (5): Are You Married?
[8:16 AM | 0 comments ]





Living English is a 42-part series that looks at the English language used in everyday situations such as checking into a hotel or describing people.



An episode will be posted each week. Scroll down the page, press the button "play", and watch episode  5 . You can do an exercise to check your understanding of the simple present by clicking on the link below.



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ANNE describes her brother to the private investigator.
ANNE Can you help me?
JOHN Well I’ll try. Now tell me about your brother Ms Lee. How old is he?
ANNE He’s twenty-three.
JOHN Well that would make him your younger brother. What’s his name?
ANNE David.
JOHN And what does he do?
ANNE He’s a student. Or – he was a student. I don’t know where he is.
JOHN (looks at the photo)
Hmmm. How tall is he?
ANNE About a hundred and seventy-five centimetres.
JOHN Hmmm. And does he speak English?
ANNE Yes. He speaks English and Chinese. Mr Barbour – can you find him?
JOHN I’ll certainly try. Now, tell me a little about yourself Miss Lee. Where are you from?
ANNE I come from Singapore. I’m Singaporean.
JOHN Right, and how old are you?
ANNE I’m twenty-five.
JOHN What do you do?
ANNE I import wine. I’m a businesswoman. I work in my family’s business.
JOHN And are you married?
ANNE No, I’m single.
JOHN And..er..do you have a boyfriend?
ANNE Pardon?
JOHN Oh sorry. We private detectives are a naturally curious bunch. Ms Lee, perhaps you’d
better tell the whole story.
ANNE It all started two years ago...
Vocabulary :
businesswoman (n): a woman who is in business.
naturally (adv): from nature
curious (adj): eager to learn (A curious pupil reads more than just schoolbooks.)
wanting to know something
bunch (n): fruit that grows in a group (a bunch of grapes. a bunch of bananas.)
a group of things of the same kind that are fastened together
whole (adj): all of something (a whole week.)
in one piece; not broken (The plate fell, but it's still whole.)
whole (n): all of something

Episode Note

1. About Nationality (Practice)
2. About Age (Practice)
3. The Numbers (Practice)
4. About Occupation (Practice)
5. Other Questions about a person

How to Read a Book You Don't Like to Read
[2:58 PM | 2 comments ]

Sooner or later each one of us will have to read a book we don’t want to read. Sometimes we are reluctant to read a given for no other reason than it is an obligation to read it. To make reading such a book bearable, Jim Trelease suggests the leaning-pine tree approach. To get more insights about this approach, watch this video.




Download Word by Word Picture Dictionay
[4:14 PM | 0 comments ]

Pictures are very important in learning foreing languages. Sometimes some words can be explained only by pictures. Therefore, picture dictionaries save much time and effort.

Try this picture dictionary, Word by Word Picture Dictionary.


This dictionary is very easy to use. The pictures are classified according to topics.

Living English (4): Second on the Left
[4:09 PM | 0 comments ]

Living English is a 42-part series that looks at the English language used in everyday situations such as checking into a hotel or describing people.  

ANNE is looking for JOHN’s office. A WOMAN is waiting at a bus stop. ANNE approaches her.
ANNE Excuse me.
WOMAN Yes?
ANNE Could you tell me how to get to Mitchell Street?
WOMAN Yes. You’re going the wrong way. You need to go straight along here, past the silver
balls, turn left, and it’s the second on the right, opposite the Town Hall.
ANNE Thankyou very much.
WOMAN You’re welcome.
ANNE follows the directions. She approaches a shopkeeper.
ANNE Excuse me.
SHOPKEEPER Yes?
ANNE I’m looking for number 23. Barbour’s Private Investigator.
SHOPKEEPER Over there. Next to the trees.
ANNE Oh. Thankyou
SHOPKEEPER Good luck. You’ll need it.
ANNE enters the building and goes up the stairs. She knocks at the door.
JOHN Come in!
ANNE enters and looks around.
JOHN (to ANNE) Sorry.
(to phone) Yes, any time…yes usual rates. Must go now. Right. Goodbye. Julia. Bye.
He hangs up and leaps to shake ANNE’s hand.
ANNE Mr Barbour?
JOHN John. Private investigator. You must be Ms Lee. Please sit down.
She does so, hesitantly.
JOHN Now - what can I do for you Ms Lee?
She puts the photo of DAVID on his desk.
ANNE Could you find him for me?



Vocabulary :
  1. approach (v): come near someone or something 
  2. silver (adj): made of silver, silver jewelry.the color of silver, silver paper.
  3. silver (n): a shiny, white metal that is used for coins, jewelry and other things.
  4. follow (v): go after
Episode Note
  1. Asking Directions 
  2. Present Continuous Tense (Practice)
  3. Visiting 
  4. Directions (Practice)

Living English (3): What time is it?
[3:15 PM | 0 comments ]

Living English is a 42-part series that looks at the English language used in everyday situations such as checking into a hotel or describing people.



An episode will be posted each week. Scroll down the page, press the button "play", and watch episode 3 . You can do an exercise to check your understanding of the simple present by clicking on the link below.

In her hotel room, Anne rings a number.
John Barbour, the privatedetective, answers the phone.
JOHN: Hello, Barbour’s Private Investigation. John Barbour speaking.
ANNE: Hello. Can you find missing people?
JOHN: Sometimes we can. Have you lost somebody?
ANN: Yes.
JOHN: Perhaps you’d like to tell me about it?
ANN: Can I make an appointment please?
JOHN: When would you like to come in?
ANNE: Is tomorrow okay?
JOHN: Let’s see… Yes, I can see you at ten o’clock. Will that suit you?
ANNE: Okay, thankyou. (consults business card) 23 Mitchell Street – is that right?
JOHN: That’s right. Second floor.
ANNE: Okay. See you then. Goodbye.
JOHN: Goodbye.
He puts down the phone and celebrates.
In her hotel room, Anne puts the phone down, and rings again.
CLERK: Hello?
ANNE: Hello. Reception? What time is it please?
CLERK: It’s five o’clock.
ANNE: And what time do you serve dinner?
CLERK: The restaurant opens in an hour, and dinner is served between six and nine pm.
ANNE: And breakfast?
CLERK: Breakfast is served between seven and nine thirty am ma’am.
ANNE: Thankyou.
CLERK: You’re welcome.
Anne puts the phone down, then notices the photo by her bed and picks it up again. There is a tear in her eye.

Vocabulary :
ring (v): call someone on the phone
private (adj): personal; not for everyone to know
detective (n): someone whose job is to investigate crimes, etc
appointment (n): a meeting that you fix in advance
suit (v): be what you like or what you want: Does this car suit you or would you like to see something else?

Episode Note:
1. Making An Appointment (Practice)
2. Can (Practice)
3. Will and 'll: Use negative form (Practice)
4. The Time (Practice)
5. Preposition with Time (Practice)

Living English (2): Enjoy Your Stay
[3:03 PM | 0 comments ]


Living English is a 42-part series that looks at the English language used in everyday situations such as checking into a hotel or describing people. An episode will be posted each week. Scroll down the page, press the button "play", and watch episode2 . You can do an exercise to check your understanding of the simple present by clicking on the link below.

Episode 2. Enjoy Your Stay

Sarah and Mark take Anne to her hotel. She checks in.
ANNE: Thank you very much for picking me up.
SARAH: You’re very welcome. Will you be alright here?
ANNE: Thanks. I’ll be fine. And thankyou Mark, for helping with my heavy bags.
MARK: Don’t mention it.
SARAH: Alright then. Nice to meet you finally. I’ll ring you tomorrow.
ANNE: Nice to meet you too.
SARAH: Goodbye.
CLERK: Good morning. Would you like to check in?
ANNE: Yes please.
CLERK: And your name?
ANNE: Anne Lee.
CLERK: Ah yes. Could you just fill this out please?
How long will you be staying?
ANNE: Two weeks.
CLERK: Are you here on business?
ANNE: Mainly business.
CLERK: Will you need a hire car?
ANNE: No thankyou.
CLERK: And will you need a map of the city?
ANNE: Maybe later.
CLERK: Will you want a newspaper in the morning?
ANNE: No thankyou.
CLERK: OK. And how will you be paying Ms Lee?
ANNE: Credit card.
CLERK: Thankyou. Here’s your key. It’s room 309. Enjoy your stay Ms Lee.
ANNE: Thankyou. I hope I will.



Vocabulary :
check in/into (v): register at a hotel
pick up (v): come and get someone at a certain place and time
I'll pick you up at your house at 7:30.
mention (v): say something about
You never mentioned that you were going to quit your job.
fill in, fill out (v): give information on a printed page, card, form, etc
on business (~): the reason why someone is someplace is because he/she has business there
hire (v): give work to someone

Episode Note
1. Saying Thankyou
2. Saying Goodbye
3. The Future Tense (Practice)
4. Paying
5. Formal Titles

Living English (1): Pleased to Meet You
[2:55 PM | 0 comments ]


Living English is a 42-part series that looks at the English language used in everyday situations such as checking into a hotel or describing people. An episode will be posted each week. Scroll down the page, press the button "play", and watch episode1 .


Living English: Episode 1_Pleased to meet you

Episode 1. Pleased to meet you
Anne, a wine dealer from Singapore, arrives at Adelaide Airport and meets her local buyer, Sarah.
Anne walks out with the other passengers...
ANNE Excuse me...
SARAH Anne Lee?
ANNE Yes. Hello
SARAH I’m Sarah Taylor. I’m your new local buyer. Pleased to meet you.
(they shake hands)
ANNE It’s very kind of you to meet me.
SARAH Oh. Sorry. This is my husband, Mark.
MARK Good morning. How are you?
ANNE Very well thankyou.
MARK How was your flight?
ANNE Actually, I’m a bit tired. It was a very long flight.
SARAH Let’s get your bags.
The three watch as the bags go around. Anne points.
ANNE That’s mine there! The red one.
MARK It’s heavy!
ANNE Sorry.
SARAH Don’t worry. Mark’s strong – aren’t you dear?
MARK No worries.
SARAH
Come on. Let’s go to the hotel.
They leave the airport.

Vocabulary

dealer (n): someone who buys and sells something 
buyer (n): someone whose work is to buy for a department store, a company, etc.
local (adj): in or of a certain place
shake hands (ph.v): hold someone's hand as a greeting and move it up and down 
flight (n): a trip on an airplane

Episode Note
1 Greetings (Practice and check your answers)
2. Introductions (Practice)
3. Simple Sentences (Practice)
4. Personal Pronouns (Practice)
5. THAT and THIS (Practice)
6. Adjectives (Practice)