PLS English Users

DIFFICULT QUESTIONS: Am I a MAN or am I a MUPPET?

2012-01-31T23:34:00.001-03:00

For those born less than 20 years ago, this question might not only seem difficult, it might prove impossible. On the other hand, for everybody else, it might make a little more sense.

Either way, here is the main Music Video from The Muppets movie recently released, sung and acted by Jason Segel and his muppet brother.

As you will see, it's not only fun, but provides three interesting language points:

Asking questions about yourself (Am I... ?)
Wondering about "possible" situations with the ever-popular First Type of conditional in the form of an If - then statement.
Using a noun as an adjective: a hell of a day, the beauty of it all, a muppet of a man

Enjoy!

Lyrics:

I reflect on my reflection

And I ask myself the question

What's the right direction

to go

I don't know

Am I a man?

or am I a muppet?

(Am I a muppet?)

If I'm a muppet

then I'm a very manly muppet

(Very manly muppet)

Am I a muppet?

(Muppet)

Or am I a man?

(Am I a man?)

If I'm a man that makes me a muppet of a man

(A muppet of a man)

I look into these eyes

And I don't recognize

The one I see inside

It's time for me to decide

Am I a man?

Or am I a muppet?

(Am I a muppet?)

If I'm a muppet

well I'm a very manly muppet

(Very manly muppet)

Am I a muppet?

(Muppet)

Or am I a man?

(Am I a man?)

If I'm a man that makes me a muppet of a man

(A muppet of a man)

Here I go again

I'm always running out of time

I think I've made up my mind

Now I understand who I am

I'm a man

I'm a muppet

I'm a muppet of a man

I'm a very manly muppet

I'm a muppet-y man

That's what I am

Best Wishes this Holiday Season!!!

2011-12-25T23:08:00.000-03:00

We raise our glasses to you and really DO wish all our English Users the very best this holiday season and hope that 2012 is a great year for you!

Have some fun, be safe and thanks for being there!

You probably think this post is about tags, DON'T YOU?

2011-11-30T22:32:00.001-03:00

Tag questions are as common in English as fleas are on dogs. They are used everyday in all kinds of situations.

To confirm information.

To let others know we know.

Yes, even to be a little sarcastic.

So, you probably know this post is about tag questions, don't you?

But just in case, we'll do a little review.

In short, a tag question is a statement with a short question at the end to confirm the first part. Something like this:

You're my new neighbor, aren't you?
Tom broke the printer, didn't he?
We can make it on time, can't we?

The structure is simple:

If the statement is positive, the short question is negative.
If the statement is negative, the short question is positive.

Notice the verbs?

Yes, if the auxiliary verb (can, be, have, do) is positive on one side, it's negative on the other
If there is no auxiliary (just a regular action verb: run, eat, fly, listen), use the auxiliary do with opposite logic on the other side.
Verbs on both sides are in the same tense.

Why tags?

Tags are used mostly in conversation when the person speaking is almost sure he or she is right, but wants confirmation from someone else.

Tags are also use to confirm what you already know, but wish to express to others.

Yet tags can additionally be used sarcastically, when the speaker is sure about something, but uses a special tone or emphasizes a certain word to "make believe" that there is still some doubt. The listener will quickly identify the sarcasm. The speaker might also make the statement opposite of what he or she actually believes.

Example: (Speaker believes the test was easy)

Wow, that was really a hard test, wasn't it?

This use will be very frequent in comedies.

Intonation:

Rising intonation >> if it's really a question and there is some doubt
Falling intonation >> if you're just confirming
Special intonation >> if you're being sarcastic

Famous example:

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
(Albert Einstein)

That was pretty easy, wasn't it?

So easy in fact, you should have no probably following the words to this classic song by Carly Simon.

"You're so vain" (you probably think this song is about you, don't you?)
Enjoy, English Users!

(TRIVIA: Listen to it a few times if you can. See if you can figure out who sings back up vocals. Answer in our next post.)

Birthday QUESTIONS?

2011-11-21T13:30:00.001-03:00

For many, turning 21, 30, 40, 50 or whatever represents something to celebrate. A birthday celebration. For others, it represents a major crisis.

Well, we're not sure, but since the Chinese say that crisis is opportunity, today we're going to take the opportunity to ask you questions about birthdays.

Some are fun, some are innocent, others you might consider inappropriate.

But whatever your answer, whatever your age, the most important thing is that you take these questions as an opportunity to review question-building in English.

And when you think of the answers, try to make them complete and meaningful.

In fact, you could use this as a template to ask questions on a number of subjects.

How are birthdays celebrated in your country?
What are some birthday traditions you know of from other countries?
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
What is your best birthday memory?
What is your worst birthday memory?
Have you ever had a surprise birthday party for yourself or someone else?
What is the best birthday gift you have ever received?
What is the worst birthday gift you have ever received?
What are some things you like to do for your birthday?
When is your birthday?
Did your parents give you birthday parties when you were a child?
In your opinion, What is the best time of year to have a birthday?
How do people you know celebrate turning 40?
Do you think getting older (40, 50, 60) is depressing for people, or a happy occasion?
What do you think is the best age?
Do you like going to work on your birthday?
Did you like going to school on your birthday when you were a child?
Have you ever had a surprise party?
Whose birthday do you always remember?
Among your close friends and relatives, whose birthday is coming up next?
About how many birthday gifts or cards do you send or give to people each year?
Have you ever forgotten someone's birthday that you should have remembered?
Do you know any famous people's birthdays? (Are any the same as yours?)
Do you know of any big events that happened the year you were born?
What is the best birthday gift you have ever received?
What is the best birthday gift you have ever given?
What is the worst birthday gift you have ever received?
What is the worst birthday gift you have ever given?
If you are in your teen years, tell how old you will be in twenty years time and say whether you look forward to that age or does it scare you.
If you could celebrate your own birthday the way you wanted, what would you do?
- Where would you like to go?
- How many people would you invite?
Would you rather celebrate your birthday with just your relatives or just your friends?
Do you remember what gifts you received on your last birthday?
What would you like to get most for your birthday this year?
Is the cost of a present important to you?
What kind of gift do you usually prepare for your friend's birthday?
- Your mother's?
- What about for other family members?
Which is a better present, a well-chosen gift or money?
Are birthdays really important?
How do you celebrate your birthday?

So speaking of birthdays, here's wonderful short animated film called "Bob's Birthday" about a man who discovers that turning 40 might be a great opportunity for some changes. Enjoy!

Business Lingo (Part 2)

2011-10-31T23:49:00.002-03:00

In our last post, we looked at some English idioms used in business by native speakers. Today, we'll present you with the second part. And if you can, try to make your own sentences with these, so you can get a feel for how to use them.

1. back-of-the-envelope calculations

quick calculations; estimates using approximate numbers, instead of exact numbers

Example: I don't need the exact numbers right now. Just give me some back-of-the-envelope calculations.

Note: This expression refers to the quick calculations one would do informally, as on the back of an envelope.

2. (to) climb the corporate ladder

advance in one's career; the process of getting promoted and making it to senior management

Example: You want to climb the corporate ladder? It helps to be productive and to look good in front of your boss.

3. (to) face the music

to admit that there's a problem; to deal with an unpleasant situation realistically

Example: Enron executives finally had to face the music and admit that they were involved in some illegal activities.

4. (to) jump through hoops

to go through a lot of difficult work for something; to face many bureaucratic obstacles

Example: We had to jump through hoops to get our visas to Russia, but we finally got them.

5. nothing ventured, nothing gained

If you don't try to do something, you'll never succeed.

Example: It's risky to spend so much money developing a new brand, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

And speaking of Face the Music, here's the classic hit "Running in the Family" by the pop group LEVEL 42 that tells you what this concept is all about. Listen and view and you'll see why. Enjoy!

Business Lingo (Part 1)

2011-10-19T14:34:00.000-03:00

If you're an adult English User, part of the challenge is getting a grasp of (understanding) the real meaning of business idioms.

Often, it's difficult to stay up to speed with (keep up with) all the expressions that English speakers use when discussing professional matters.

Today, we'll take look at a few of these:

1. blockbuster

a big success; a huge hit

Example: Eli Lilly made a lot of money with the prescription drug, Prozac. It was a real blockbuster.

Origin: This term comes from the blockbuster bombs used during World War Two by the British Royal Air Force. They were huge and created a large explosive force. Blockbuster ideas similarly create a big impact - and hopefully don't cause destruction like blockbuster bombs!

2. cash cow

a product, service, or business division that generates a lot of cash for the company, without requiring much investment

Example: With strong sales every year and a great brand name, Mercedes is a cash cowfor DaimlerChrysler.

3. dog-eat-dog world

a cruel and aggressive world in which people just look out for themselves

Example: Your company fired you shortly after you had a heart attack? Well, it's certainly a dog-eat-dog world!

Origin: This expression dates back to the 1500's. Wild dogs were observed fighting aggressively over a piece of food. The connection was made that people, like dogs, often compete aggressively to get what they want.

4. (to) generate lots of buzz

to cause many people to start talking about a product or service, usually in a positive way that increases sales

Example: Procter & Gamble generated lots of buzz for its new toothpaste by giving away free samples to people on the streets of New York City.

Note: "Buzz" is a popular word for "attention."

5. mum's the word

let's keep quiet about this; I agree not to tell anyone about this

Example: Please don't tell anybody about our new project. Remember: mum's the word!

Origin: The word "mum" comes from the murmur "mmmmm," the only sound you can make when your mouth is shut firmly. Try making other sounds besides "mmmmm" with your lips and mouth shut firmly, and you will see that it's impossible!

And now, for those of you who like rock and roll, here's a classic song from the world famous heavy metal group AC/DC that will now make a lot more sense. The lyrics are below. It's loud. Enjoy!

"Dog Eat Dog" by AC/DC

Well, it's a dog eat dog,
Eat cat, too
The French eat frog,
And I eat you
Businessman, when you make a deal,
Do you know who you can trust?
Do you sign your life away?
Do you write your name in dust?

[Chorus]
Hey, hey, hey!
Every dog has his day!
It's a dog eat dog!
Dog eat dog!

"Dog Eat Dog"
Read the news
Someone win,
Someone lose
Up's above and down's below,
And Limbo's in between
Up, you win - down, you lose,
It's anybody's game

[Chorus]
Hey, hey, hey!
Every dog has his day!
It's a dog eat dog!
Dog eat dog!
Whoo!

[Solo]

And it's an eye for eye,
Tooth for tooth
It's a lie,
That's the truth
See the blind man on the street,
Lookin' for somethin' free
Hear the kind man ask his friends,
"Hey, what's in it for me?"

[Chorus]
Hey, hey, hey!
Every dog has his day!
It's a dog eat dog!
Dog eat dog!
(Dog eat dog! Dog eat dog!)
(Dog eat dog!) Dog eat dog!
(Dog eat dog!) Hey!
(Dog eat dog!) Whoo! Aaooo...
(Dog eat dog!) Dog eat dog!
(Dog eat dog! Dog eat dog!)
Dog eat dog eat dog eat dog!
(Dog eat dog!) Dog eat dog eat dog eat dog!
(Dog eat dog!) Dog eat dog eat - dog eat dog!
(Dog eat dog! Dog eat dog!)

SITCOM HUMOR - (Part 2)

2011-09-30T23:37:00.001-03:00

In our last post, we introduced the language concept of paraprosdokian, which is often used in sitcoms and by stand-up comedians.

In this post, we want to take it to the next level and define the three key elements of humor. And in fact, these are not only things that work in sitcoms or for stand-up comedians, but if applied properly, can be used by any English User trying to break the ice of any situation.

So what are those 3 ingredients of humor?

1. Without a doubt, surprise is a major factor. Most comedians take us in one direction, establishing a narrative context that has a certain logic. Then, they completely change directions and break that logic with the surprise. And if it works, it's the part that will generate the laughs. In fact, it should be no surprise that the term paraprosdokian comes from the Greek word for "expectation".

2. Another trick that usually works in humor is recognition. Whether it's a paraprosdokian or not, this is the kind of situation that will appeal to those that are familiar with specific jargon, experience or information. A special joke for engineers, scuba divers or Star Wars fans will not only work but resonate with them because in addition to the joke, there is the knowledge that they are laughing at something "others" could never understand. And in a sense, it means they're laughing at themselves. Obviously, in stand-up comedy and sitcoms, recognition is also used a great deal.

3. The last one has to do with making fun of yourself and not of others when making a joke. The obvious reason is that if you make fun of someone else, you may offend that person in doing so. On the other hand, if you show yourself as the one with the flaw that can be laughed at, others might feel identified, but by choice.

To illustrate these 3 strategies in humor, let's take a look at the classic "Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld. A recap is provided below, but we recommend watching the entire episode for greater effect.

To VIEW the VIDEO RECAP click here.

To VIEW the COMPLETE EPISODE click here.

To READ the complete TRANSCRIPT of this episode: click here.

So after watching (and reading), does the "Soup Nazi" meet these three conditions?

1. SURPRISE: Certainly, the surprise is the ending, like in all good drama and comedy. After seeing how the maker of the best soup in New York, known by all as the "Soup Nazi" tortures Jerry, George and Elaine with his harsh and arbitrary rules for ordering soup and his frequent punishment of "No soup for you!", Elaine takes revenge in a clever and unexpected way.

2. RECOGNITION: Once we know what the Soup Nazi is all about, we learn that the key to getting his good soup is to behave very well at his shop. So clearly, we recognize that Elaine is making a "big" mistake by behaving the way she does and that the punishment will be equally big.

3. MAKING FUN OF YOURSELF: For years, Seinfeld was described as "a show about nothing". But it's basically a show about four very crazy friends who live in a crazy world. And in this episode, with the excuse of the "Soup Nazi", we see just how willing to put up with abuse Jerry and George are - in this case, for a taste of good soup. They are making fun of themselves. Yet, we might get an extra laugh when we realize that... maybe we also do such silly things in our life.

SITCOM HUMOR - (Part 1)

2011-09-15T22:44:00.000-03:00

Do you like SitComs? Great! Because this blog post begins with a word that is NOT funny: paraprosdokian.

What is it, right? It basically refers to a sentence or phrase in which the second part gives new meaning to the first part.

So what does it have to do with SitComs, you might ask? Well, a paraprosdokian is a language resource that usually causes us to laugh when watching SitComs, or stand up artists. In fact, it's one of the basic ingredients in this type of humor.

In fact, some paraprosdokians not only change the meaning of the first part of a phrase, but they also play on the double meaning of a particular word.

And other times, they actually refer to something many of use feel as true or have wanted to express in a certain situation.

Let's look at some examples...

If I could just say a few words... I'd be a better public speaker. - Homer Simpson

The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

These are my principles. If you don't like them I have others - Groucho Marx

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

What has four legs and tics?... My dog. - Bart Simpon

So by now you probably have an idea of what this basic ingredient of SitComs is all about.

After reading this post, Google the word paraprosdokian to search for more examples or Images (there are plenty of those). You can also check on YouTube where you will likely be linked to examples from well-known comedies. You could even try to come up with one yourself.

Here's one you're probably familiar with by now. Enjoy!

Itching for Idioms (Part II)

2011-08-31T16:30:00.000-03:00

Make no bones about it, in this blog post we will deal with the second part of "Itching for Idioms".

So maybe it's no blessing in disguise, but it's still a chance for you to learn a little more about the way native speakers really speak.

However, if you're a little lost wondering what some of those things mean, we invite you to check out our previous post.

Now here are today's idioms:

1. A Dime A Dozen:
Anything that is common and easy to get.

2. Cut to the Chase:
Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to thepoint.

3. Flash In The Pan:
Something that shows potential or looks promising in thebeginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.

4. Get Over It:
To move beyond something that is bothering you.

5. Good Samaritan:
Someone who helps others when they are in need, with nodiscussion for compensation, and no thought of a reward.

6. Hit The Books:
To study, especially for a test or exam.

7. Keep An Eye On Him:
You should carefully watch him.

8.Pedal to the metal:
To go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle.

9. Raining Cats and Dogs:
A very loud and noisy rain storm.

10. You Are What You Eat:
In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.

As always, we hope you find these idioms useful and we encourage you to use them and to look for them in conversation, in movies or as we suggested last post on Google.

In the meantime, have fun and if you get hungry remember: You Are What You Eat!

Itching for Idioms (Part I)

2011-08-22T00:00:00.000-03:00

A frequent question by English Users is:

Aside from grammar and pronunciation, what else do I need to learn to acquire the full skills of a native speaker?

The answer is simple: learn, study and use idioms as much as possible.

In fact, you should be itching (having a strong desire) for idioms. So today, we'll provide with a few:

1. A Blessing In Disguise:
Something good that isn't recognized at first.

2. Bend Over Backwards:
Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.

3. Don't count your chickens before they hatch:
Don't rely on it until your sure of it.

4. Feeding Frenzy:
An aggressive attack on someone by a group.

5. Get Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed:
Someone who is having a horrible day.

6. He Lost His Head / She Lost Her Head:
Angry and overcome by emotions.

7. It Takes Two To Tango:
A two person situation where both people are at fault, although it doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing they're doing together.

8. Let Bygones Be Bygones:
To forget about a disagreement or argument.

9. Make No Bones About:
To state a fact so there are no doubts or objections.

10. Pass The Buck:
Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.

GOOGLE ACTIVITY

Now, if you're still itching, try the following. Google any of these idioms, making sure that you put "parentheses on both sides of the expression". Hit ENTER and see for yourself how these idioms are used in the real world of English.

You might have to get passed the DICTIONARY examples, but after that you will find them used in sentences, titles of articles, quotes and in all other sorts of way.

Good luck and have fun!

And remember, it takes two to tango. So practice your English with someone. It's twice the fun! So, why not call PLS and find a course to suit your needs?

In the meantime, enjoy this classic from classic Hollywood superstar Dean Martin singing the song: "Takes Two to Tango".

Talking about movies – Part II

2011-07-31T23:14:00.012-03:00

You loved Part I so much, we decided to do a second part.

Here in Part II, we provide you more cool vocabulary you can use next time you're talking about movies and the things that make them unique and even ridiculous.

B film: a low budget movie, possibly with a second rate cast and production
Backstory: the events that happened before a movie begins (backstories are sometimes revealed with flashbacks or opening text)
Blooper: Mistakes made by actors or the film crew while the movie is being filmed
Extra: An actor in a film or TV show that has no spoken parts
Flick: another way to say movie
Foreshadowing: Something in the movie that suggests what is going to happen next
Prequel: A second or third movie in a series that takes place in time before the original movie
Damsel in distress: a beautiful young woman placed in danger by a villain, but eventually rescued by the hero
Slapstick: Comedy that uses a lot of funny, harmless, violence
Green screen: A screen used to film actors and actresses, that is later replaced by a virtual background.

Examples.

1. Ed Wood was one of the most famous directors of B films during the 1950s.
2. The backstory of each Star Wars episode is presented as a text in scroll at the beginning of each movie.
3. A common blooper in movies is when a microphone or a member of the crew appear in the middle of the action.
4. I have friend who's worked as an extra on a famous movie.
5. The girls met at the mall to watch the same flick for the third time.
6. The black raven in the scene foreshadows the return of the dark forces.
7. The prequel of the original movie tells the story of why the bad guy became a gangster.
8. Kim Bassinger played the damsel in distress in the Batman movie starring Michael Keaton.
9. Charlie Chaplin was the master of slapstick comedy.
10. The movie 300 was mostly filmed on a green screen studio.

And speaking of ridiculous, we invite you to check out some of the biggest bloopers in movie history.

Talking about movies – Part I

2011-07-27T19:26:00.017-03:00

When you’re an English User, a great way to practice conversation is to talk about movies. In order to help you achieve that, we're providing a list of some of the most common expressions used to talk about show business.

Synopsis: a short summary of the main points of a movie plot
Cameo: a brief appearance by a famous person in a movie
Adaptation: when a TV show or movie was created from a book
Cliché ridden: something that has been overused so many times it has lost its effect
Thriller: an exciting story, usually associated with horror or suspense
A-list: the most popular actors and actresses
Tale: a story, often associated with adventure stories
Highest-grossing: movies that made the most money for a certain period of time
Genre: category or type of film
Star-studded: a show with many recognizable actors and actresses

Let's check out some examples:

What's that movie about? Can you give me a synopsis?
My favorite tennis player makes a cameo in the movie.
That movie was an adaptation of a great novel.
Although the movie has great moments, it’s very cliché ridden.
I love watching thrillers, but my girlfriend prefers comedies.
The movie must have a huge budget because there are about 20 A-list actors in it.
Back to the Future tells the tale of a young boy who must travel back in time to save his parents’ marriage and his own existence.
Titanic was one of the highest-grossing movies in history.
My favorite genre is sci-fi.
The Oscars is the most star-studded event of the year.

And speaking of movies, here is a synopsis of one of the highest-grossing movies of all times, starring one of the A-list actors of the 1980s and 1990s: Michael J. Fox.

Back to the Future

High school student Marty McFly doesn’t have the most pleasant of lives. Scorned by his principal at school, Marty must also endure the deteriorating relationship between his nerdy father George and his once lovely mother Lorraine. On top of that, the family suffers the constant bullying of Biff, George's supervisor at work. But Marty is also friends with an eccentric scientist: Doc Brown, who is building a time machine. Yet accidentally, Marty gets sent back into the 1950s. And without meaning to, he interferes with the budding romance of his now-teenaged parents. Marty finds himself having to reunite his parents-to-be or disappear from existence in the 1980s. It won't be easy, especially with Biff, now also a teenager, complicating matters.

Think about a movie you really loved. Could you write a synopsis for it like this, without giving away the end?

And closing out our post, here is a memorable clip that will take lovers of Back to the Future back in time... edited to the movie's mega hit song "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News. Enjoy...

Talking like the BAD GUYS!

2011-06-30T22:46:00.018-03:00

How to talk about crime and get away with it.

It's a fact. Just about everyone who studies English as a second language has heard English words related to criminal activities. Are we implying that English Users break the law?

Not at all. But many do watch cop movies and TV shows filled with the special lingo of the street.

Still, after turning off the tube (the TV), how many words can anyone remember?

Just in case, today we'll go over the key words that describe crime and criminal activities. See how many of these you know. Can you use them in a sentence?

CRIME WORDS:

To Commit Homicide: To kill someone (on purpose or accidentally).
To Mug: To steal from a person on the street with the threat of force.
To Kidnap: To take a person without their permission (often for money)
To Shoplift: To steal from a store (or shop).
To Rob: To steal from a person or business
To Commit Arson: To intentionally start a fire.
To Pickpocket: To quietly steal a small item (wallet) from someone's pocket
To Burglarize: To enter a private property and take things without the owner's permission
To Vandalize: To damage private or public property intentionally
To Embezzle: To steal money placed in one's trust belonging to the organization for which one works

By the way, to murder is to commit an intentional homicide.

EXAMPLES:

1. An innocent man at the scene of the crime was charged with committing homicide.
2. My uncle was mugged by two guys with a knife who took his watch and wallet.
3. The SWAT team liberated 5 office workers kidnapped by an armed man who used to work with them.
4. A famous actress was arrested for shoplifting at an expensive store.
5. Bonnie and Clyde were famous bank robbers during the 1920s.
6. He was accused of committing arson after burning down his neighbor's house.
7. Lately, there has been a lot of pickpocketing on the subway.
8. My house was burglarized while I was on vacation and they took all my electronics.
9. The monument was vandalized with offensive spray painted messages.
10. The city mayor was arrested for embezzling one million dollars of the city's funds.

Can you make more of your own?

And in closing of today's post, here's a classic song about two baddies (bad people) called Take the Money and Run by the Steve Miller Band with lyrics. WARNING: This song contains some intentional incorrect use of English. Can you spot where this happens? Enjoy!

You may also check out the lyrics here.

FEELINGS and HOW to EXPRESS Them!

2011-06-07T15:46:00.010-03:00

No matter what language we speak, we all have feelings.

As an English User, by now you probably know the more common ones. Especially, since instant messaging programs represent so many of them with a smiley.

But what about all the other feelings?

Well, the purpose of this post is to talk about how to express some of them.

Cranky: A bit angry or in a bad mood.
Self-conscious: Uncomfortable with one's self in public.
Listless: No energy and/or no feelings.
Agreeable: Pleased or comfortable.
Ecstatic: Very very happy.
Pissed Off: A more common (but honest) way to say you are angry at someone / something
Restless: Anxiously anticipating something (good or bad) and can't wait.

Let's check out some examples:

1. Mr. Woods is often cranky in the morning.
2. I get self-conscious when I get on stage.
3. After the accident, she felt listless for months.
4. After being denied a promotion at work, Bob was not feeling agreeable with his job.
5. When Walter heard the news of the prize, he became ecstatic.
6. Homer got pissed off at his cable company for interrupting his service for an hour.
7. I had a restless night and couldn't get any sleep.

By the way, try thinking of your own examples for these words.

And last but not least, since traditional smileys are so much fun, we now invite you to watch them sing and rap in the following commercial video. Enjoy!

WORDS with MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES (part 2)

2011-05-31T23:29:00.013-03:00

Yes, English Users, last post we broke the news that some words in the English language are affected with multiple personalities.

Looking back, we're truly sorry if we've broken the heart of those who thought that a simple word like "move" only had one meaning.

Today, we'll prove the same holds true for the word "break".

But hey, it doesn't mean that every time you see a new word, you should break out in tears because you have to break the code to break through to the "other" meaning.

So let's break this down in simple terms.

Whatever you read, try to understand and infer the general meaning (or topic) of the text first.
Then and only then, use a dictionary to find words that are unclear.
Remember: words that describe basic ideas, attributes, objects and actions are used in a denotative and connotative ways.
When they are used in a denotative way, the sentence will usually have a simple linear structure. (He broke the glass. Get the report! Where did I put my keys? The box is heavy.)
Beware: often they can also form part of an idiom, so the entire expression gives a connotative meaning to the original word.
There are usually clues in such sentences that will determine if it has a simple denotative meaning or if it's something more complex or connotative. (Remember step 1)
In English - and really in any language - you shouldn't search for the meaning of a word out of context.

WORDS with MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES (Part 1)

2011-05-28T23:48:00.004-03:00

Words in English - just like in most other languages - often have more than one meaning. That`s right, English Users, they have... multiple personalities.

But before calling the word psychiatrist, let`s take a closer look at how this works.

The meaning of a word is either denotative or connotative.

The denotative meaning or the denotation of the word is basically its basic literal meaning, the one that normally appears first in the dictionary.

The connotative meaning on the other hand is a meaning that comes from an emotional or cultural association of the word. This meaning is usually not obvious and sometimes generates confusion when we first learn it.

Let`s take the word “move” for example.

Denotative Meaning
move (v.intr.) to change in position from one point to another.
Ex. Bill moved to Florida last week. (He literally changed his position from where he was before)

Connotative Meaning
move (v.intr.) to generate emotion
Ex. I was moved by Sally`s graduation speech. (The speech generated emotion in me, but I did not literally “move” anywhere).

“Moving Pictures” - The cover of Canadian rock band RUSH`s 1981 album Moving Pictures intentionally depicts a situation where both the denotative and the connotative meaning of the word “move” are true.
In the picture, we see a group of movers moving pictures from a museum to a different location. At the same time, we see a family, and especially an older woman who is so “moved” by the pictures (or the fact that they`re being moved) that she drops her grocery bags.

Interestingly enough, the compound term “moving pictures” is synonymous of “motion pictures” or movies, as the scene looks like it might be part of a movie.

So remember, English Users, words don`t usually have just one meaning.

For a better idea of this, see if you can find denotative and connotative meanings for the following words:

Cool (adj)
Sharp (adj)
Soft (adj)
Drive (noun)

Next post, we`ll provide our suggested answers. Good luck!

TURNED ON by Phrasals - part 2... (No TURNING BACK!)

2011-04-30T00:09:00.011-03:00

Hey, English Users, there's no turning back (returning) because we're back with the second part of Phrasal Verbs with "TURN".

We just hope, you're still turned on!

to turn against (change opinion from positive to negative)

* Althought they were traditional allies, they have now turned against each other.
* After the scandal, many fans turned against her.

to turn someone away (refuse entry to a place to someone)

* The store manager turned away a man who was behaving very strangely.
* Don't turn me away just because you don't like what I have to say!

to turn back (to return to where you were before)

* You passed the point of no return. There's no turning back now.
* I forgot my keys at home, so I had to turn back.

to turn down (refuse something or someone)

* Management turned down Bill's proposal.
* Although she was confident when she applied for the job, they turned down her application.

to turn down (lower the volume or the intensity of a device)

* Hey, man. Could you turn it down a little? Your radio is killing my ears!
* It's really chilly here. Could you turn down the air conditioner, please?

to turn in (to surrender to authorities)
* After a 13 hour standoff with police, the kidnappers turned themselves in.
* Despite commiting a terrible crime, he took advantage of his celebrity status and didn't turn himself in right away.

So once again, we truly encourage you review these sentences and try to come up with samples of your own. And if you'd like, share them in the comments section below!

And for a memorable use of "No Turning Back...", we encourage you to WATCH the classic "Blue Pill / Red Pill Scene" from THE MATRIX. Can you spot it?

It's got optional subtitles in English (CC), but embedding is disabled, so please click HERE to watch. Enjoy!

TURNED ON by Phrasals - part 1

2011-04-26T22:47:00.012-03:00

Do you get turned on (seduced) by phrasal verbs? Probably not, eh?

Well, either way, before you turn in (go to bed), please turn your attention to this week's post about phrasal verbs with TURN.

As it turns out (could result) you might learn a few before you turn off the computer.

turn on (seduce)

* Maggie was turned on by his charm rather than his looks.
* What turned you on to buying this smart phone? I thought you hated them.

turn in (go to bed)

* I'm really tired. I think I'm going to turn in.
* So, what time did you turn in last night?

to turn in (deliver results)

* Our company's turned in its best results in over ten years.
* Time's up. Please turn in your test.

to turn into (change or transform into something different)

* If we don't stop inflation now, the situation could turn into a nightmare.
* The architects turned this old building into a modern condominium.

to turn off (switch the power to "off" on a machine or device)

* I forgot to turn off the A/C before I left.
* I recommend you turn off the computer and restart it.

to turn on (switch the power to "on" on a machine or device)

* The first thing I do in the morning, is turn on my computer and the coffee machine.
* It was dark in the house when I went in. Nobody had turned the lights on.

to turn on (betray or be disloyal)

* The president fired a staff memmber who turned on him.
* Mike turned on his boss because he wanted his job.

to turn out (have a particular result)

* We had a very good afternoon. The weather turned out well.
* I was so pleased with the food. Even the cakes turned out perfectly.

to turn out (people who go and participate at an event)

* Hundreds of thousands turned out to see the Royal Wedding.
* How many people do you think will turn out in the next elections?

In conclusion, whether you are turned on or not by phrasal verbs with TURN, we strongly recommend you practice them in your everyday use of English.

Who knows... you just might turn someone else on... without meaning to. But you wouldn't be the first one.

Robert Palmer beat you to it (did it before you), in this classic hit from the 80s. Enjoy!

APRIL FOOL'S DAY

2011-03-31T23:24:00.008-03:00

For Mr. T, the famous TV personality from the 1980's, everyone was a fool everyday, all the time.

However, for many countries of the world, this may not be true, except on April first... also known as: April Fool's Day.

And although it's not a national holiday, many people really get a "kick" out of celebrating it. Why? Mainly, because, it's a day to tell wild stories, play hoaxes and other practical jokes on friends, family or colleagues.

But not everybody agrees on the history of April Fool's Day. Most historians believe it comes from a misreading of a date in Geoffrey Chaucer's classic The Canterbury Tales (1392), in which one character is tricked by another.

Still, others believe that it originated during the Middle Ages when people who celebrated the New Year on April 1st were ridiculed by those who celebrated it on January 1st as a result of a change in the Gregorian calendar.

Nevertheless, for decades the media has been known to play April Fool's day practical jokes on audiences. Here are some of the most memorable ones:

2002: Google reveals its page-ranking system is actually done by domestic pigeons.

2007: The BBC reported that it was conducting a trial run of a new Sniff-Screen technology on its website, prompting numerous people to call in and claim it really worked.

1998: Burger King takes out an ad in USA Today saying it would sell special left-handed burgers, which were designed to have condiments spill out of the right side.

1976: An astronomer tells listeners of BBC radio that the alignment of two planets had caused a strange disturbance in gravity, and told people to jump up and feel like they were floating. Many listeners called in exclaiming it worked.

1998: Alabama lawmakers vote to change the value of pi.

1957: A British tv program reports that Italians were harvesting spaghetti from trees, causing people to call in and ask how to grow their own.

If you enjoyed those, here's a link to a website that lists the top 100 April Fool's Day pranks of all time.

For more on April Fool's Day, we invite you to watch this video that includes a report from Voice of America, telling the story of this famous day.

Enjoy, English Users and remember to send in your 20 page reports on this topic by next week!

COMMON MISTAKES - Weather vs. Whether

2011-03-27T22:44:00.011-03:00

Here are another two words that sound alike, are often confused and have absolutely different meanings:

Weather: the atmospheric conditions in a specific place, usually making reference to the sun, clouds, temperature, wind and rain.

Whether: a way to introduce a statement or question involving alternative possibilities.

EXAMPLES:

1. The weather for today is partly-cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of rain and winds from the South-East at 40 miles per hour.

2. Tina loves rainy weather when she has to paint.

3. Tom needs to decide whether or not he's going to work together as a member of this team.

4. Whether we have the soccer match this afternoon depends on the weather.

ACHING FOR more PHRASALS?

2011-02-28T23:05:00.010-03:00

Last post, we discussed what phrasal verbs were essentially about. Today, we'll look at examples, starting with the letter A.

ACHE FOR - want something a lot
Ex. Tom's aching to go surfing again next weekend.

ACT ON - take action as a result of information obtained or of an event
Ex. Acting on evidence found at the crime scene, police are now looking for two suspects instead of one.

ACT UP - behave badly or strangely
Ex. I called you here because your son has been acting up all week in class.

ADD UP -to be a satisfactory explanation for something.
Ex. If you left your house an hour ago, you couldn't have been here for the past two hours. Something doesn't add up!

ANSWER FOR - be responsible for someone or something
Ex. Mary is the team leader, so she'll have to answer for any of its members.

ASK OUT - invite someone on a date (can also be expressed as "Take out")
Ex. I wanted to ask her out, but she's already got a date for the dance.

ASK OVER - invite to your home or place
Ex. Forget about the dance, ask her over to your place next time.

And speaking of aching and not having the nerve to ask or take someone out, here's a song from Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand that deals with just that. Check it out and practice today's phrasals!

What'S UP with PHRASAL VERBS?

2011-02-21T23:33:00.013-03:00

So what’s up (happening) with phrasal verbs? Why do we need to know them?

First of all, phrasal verbs are used by native speakers to describe things in a natural way. So, to truly understand them, you’ll have to get friendly with them. And the first step to doing that is understanding what they are and what they are not.

So what are phrasal verbs then?

Basically, they’re two or three word phrases that native speakers use in place of a more formal or academic way of describing a verb idea or phrase. In other words, they don't use phrasal verbs to show off (demonstrate with pride) how cool they talk. It is how they talk.

But here’s the thing about PVs. You know, phrasal verbs... Oh wait, we just invented an acronym. A what? An acronym. You remember, right?

Naturally, if you checked out (studied closely) our last POST, you know what we mean. If you didn’t, maybe it’s a good idea to catch up (reach the same point others have reached before you). LOL!

Anyway, for the lovers of technicalities out there, a phrasal verb is made up (composed) of a verb plus one or more prepositions or adverbs.

VERB + PREPOSITION (or ADVERB) = PHRASAL VERB :O

But, guess what? That’s basically irrelevant.

You see, the meaning of that verb or that preposition or adverb alone will tell you nothing about the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Why? Because a PV has a meaning of its own.

It’s the way native speakers naturally express themselves. In fact, often you might notice native speakers stress the preposition or adverb (also called particle) more than the verb. Almost as if the real meaning was there, although it really isn’t.

But don’t some native speakers - perhaps managers or scientists - speak without the use of phrasal verbs? What about the British? No, not really. So get over (overcome the reality of) it.

So what’s the best way to learn PVs? Learn a few and practice them in context any chance you get. Catch on (understand)?

Great! So that sums up (concludes) this first approach on phrasal verbs. Next time, we’ll check out (study closely) a few more. In the meantime, look out (be alert) for any PVs that might come your way ;)

Oh, look, here are some... in this famous song by The Beatles. So what's that phrasal verb John, Paul, George and Ringo are singing? And what on Earth does it mean?

BTW RU LOL? (Know what they mean?)

2011-01-31T18:46:00.005-03:00

As electronic communication (email, chat, sms, mms) becomes more and more pervasive in our world, users of English as a second language are also beginning to use acronyms on a frequent basis.

Here are some of the most popular ones:

FAQ Frequently Asked Question
Thx Thanks
TIA Thanks in advance
IMO In my opinion
CU See you
FYI For your information
BTW By the way
Fwd Forward
LOL Laughing out loud
2 to
U you
RU are you

And there are many, many more. The important thing is that you keep in mind that these acronyms are to be used for business friendly or informal situations. In other words, don't use them for very formal communication.

For more information, you may also check out this very complete Acronym List on the web. There you will find a very extensive list, some formal, some informal.

Acronyms are almost a way of life in English speaking countries. So just for fun, here's a video that tells a silly little story with acronyms. Watch it and see how many you know... and how many you don't? Enjoy!

FORMAL and INFORMAL "Word-drobe"

2011-01-27T14:58:00.013-03:00

Sometimes the words we use are like the clothes we put on. Like our wardrobe.

If we need to be formal, we choose more formal and academic words. When we need to be friendlier, we relax our tone a bit. Of course, when we're hanging out with friends or close colleagues, we pretty much say things in a casual way.

Unfortunately, when using English as a second language things are not always so simple. This is especially true for speakers of Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian) who tend to use the familiar "latin-based" words in any given situation. Well, as it happens, those sound formal in English. Whereas, the "anglo saxon" words usually sound more common and relaxed.

To provide some insight, here are ten formal words and their informal (or more relaxed) counterparts used in context so it makes more sense.

This plan is convenient = This plan works for me.
Please contact Susie this afternoon = Please get in touch with Susie this afternoon.
Could you provide us with some assistance please? = Could you help us out?
I need to postpone the meeting until next week. = I've got to put off the meeting 'til next week.
Inform them that the conditions of the agreement are not acceptable. = Tell them the deal is off.
Later, I will arrange a meeting between you and the team. = Later, I'll set up a meeting between you and the team.
They require two references. = They need two references.
Thomas has not replied yet. = Thomas hasn't answered back.
We need to inquire you on what happened. = We need to ask you about what happened.
I truly regret the incident at the club. = I'm so sorry about what happened at the club.

Read the list over a few times. See which one you would probably use and in which situation. Ask yourself if you tend to be more formal or informal when using English as a second language.

And speaking of formal and informal wardrobe, we invite you to practice listening comprehension with "The Pen is Mightier than the Pencil" epidode of THE ODD COUPLE, a classic American sitcom about Felix and Oscar, two divorced men. Felix is a neat freak while Oscar is sloppy and casual. They share the same apartment, and their different lifestyles inevitably lead to some conflicts and laughs. Enjoy!

Happy New Year's and CARPE DIEM in 2011!

2010-12-31T15:22:00.010-03:00

New Year's is usually a time of resolutions. A time to think about all
those things you wanted to do, but didn't get around to doing.
A time to SEIZE THE DAY! In other, words... don't hold back,
make the most of the day, of the year... of Life!

So on this occasion, we are posting one of the most memorable scenes in
movie history from the film DEAD POETS' SOCIETY with Robin Williams
that deals precisely with resolutions and seizing the day.


Below, we transcribed this part of the original movie
script written by Tom Shulman and directed by
Peter Weir. Enjoy!


INT. ENGLISH CLASSROOM - DAY                                  

      The junior students--Todd, Neil, Knox, Charlie, Cameron,
      Meeks and some of the others we've seen--enter.  They are
      loaded down with books and look weary.  Sitting in the front
      of the room, staring out the window is JOHN KEATING, the
      teacher we glimpsed earlier.  He wears a collared shirt, tie,
      no jacket.

      The boys take seats and settle in.  Keating stares out the
      window a long time.  The students start to shuffle
      uncomfortably.  Finally Keating stands, picks up a yardstick,
      and begins slowly strolling the aisles.  He stops and stares
      into the face of one of the boys.

                              KEATING
                      (to the blushing boy)
               Don't be embarrassed.

      He moves off, then stops in front of Charlie Dalton.

                              KEATING (CONT'D)
                      (as if discovering
                       something known only to
                       himself)
               Uh-huh
                      (he moves to Todd Anderson)
               Uh-huh
                      (he moves to Neil Perry)
               Ha!

      Keating slaps his free hand with the yardstick, then strides
      to the front of the room.

                              KEATING (CONT'D)
               Nimble young minds!

      He steps up onto the desk, turns and faces the class.

                              KEATING (CONT'D)
                      (energetically)
               Oh Captain, My Captain. Who knows where
               that's from?

      No one raises a hand.

                              KEATING (CONT'D)
               It was written by a poet named Walt
               Whitman about Mr. Abraham Lincoln.  In
               this class you may refer to me as either
               Mr. Keating, or Oh Captain, My Captain.

      Keating steps down and starts. strolling the aisles.

                              KEATING (CONT'D)
               So that I become the source of as few
               rumors as possible, let me tell you that
               yes, I was a student at this institution
               many moons ago, and no, at that time I
               did not possess this charismatic
               personality.  However, should you choose
               to emulate my manner, it can only help
               your grade.  Pick up a textbook from the
               back, gentlemen, and let's retire to the
               honor room.

      He steps off the desk and walks out.  The students sit, not
      sure what to do, then realize they are to follow him.  They
      quickly gather their books, pick up texts, and follow.

INT. THE WELTON OAK PANELED HONOR ROOM - DAY                   

      This is the room where the boys waited earlier.  The walls
      are lined with class pictures: dating back into the 1800s.
      School trophies of every description fill trophy cases and
      shelves.  Keating leads the students in, then faces the class.

                              KEATING
               Mister...
                      (Keating looks at his roll)
               Pitts.  An unfortunate name.  Stand up,
               Mister Pitts.

      Pitts stands.

                              KEATING (CONT'D)
      Open your text, Pitts,  to page forty and read for us the
      first stanza of the poem.

      Pitts looks through his book.  He finds the poem.

                              PITTS
               To The Virgins to Make Much Of Time?

                              KEATING
               That's the one.

      Giggles in the class.  Pitts reads.

                              PITTS
               Gather ye rosebuds while ye may

      Old time is still a flying

               And this same flower that smiles today

               Tomorrow will be dying.

                              KEATING
               Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.  The
               Latin term for that sentiment is "Carpe
               Diem." Anyone know what that means?

                              MEEKS
               Carpe Diem... seize the day.

                              KEATING
               Very good, Mr._?

                              MEEKS
               Meeks.

                              KEATING
               Seize the day while you're young, see
               that you make use of your time.  Why does
               the poet write these lines?

                              A STUDENT
               Because he's in a hurry?

                              KEATING
               Because we're food for worms, lads!
               Because we're only going to experience a
               limited number of springs, summers, and
               falls.  One day, hard as it is to
               believe, each and every one of us is
               going to stop breathing, turn cold, and
               die!  Stand up and peruse the faces of
               the boys who attended this school sixty
               or seventy years ago.  Don't be timid, go
               look at them.

      The boys get up.  Todd, Neil, Knox, Meeks, etc. go over to
      the class pictures that line the honor room walls.

      ANGLES ON VARIOUS PICTURES ON THE WALLS.  Faces of young men
      stare at us from out of the past.

                              KEATING
               They're not that different than any of
               you, are they?  There's hope in their
               eyes, just like in yours.  They believe
               themselves destined for wonderful things,
               just like many of you.  Well, where are
               those smiles now, boys?  What of that
               hope?

      THE BOYS are staring at the pictures, sobered by what Keating
      is saying.

                              KEATING (CONT'D)
               Did most of them not wait until it was
               too late before making their lives into
               even one iota of what they were capable?
               In chasing the almighty deity of success
               did they not squander their boyhood
               dreams? Most of those gentlemen are
               fertilizing daffodils!  However, if you
               get very close, boys, you can hear them
               whisper.  Go ahead, lean in.  near it?
                      (loud whisper)
               'Carpe Diem, lads.  Seize the day.  Make
               your lives extraordinary. -

               Todd, Neil, Knox, Charlie, Cameron,
               Meeks, Pitts all stare into the pictures
               on the wall.  All are lost in thought.

EXT. THE WELTON CAMPUS - DAY                                  

      The class files out of the honor room.  Todd, Neil, Knox,
      Charlie, Cameron, Necks, and Pitts walk together, books in
      hand.  All thinking about what just happened in class.

                              PITTS
               Weird.

                              NEIL
               But different.

                              KNOX
               Spooky if you ask me.

                              CAMERON
               You think he'll test us on that stuff?

                              CHARLIE
               Oh come on, Cameron, don't you get
               anything?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year's from the PLS English Users Team!!!

The Story of the REAL Santa Claus

2010-12-22T15:11:00.005-03:00

Every year at Christmas time, there are many who ask about the origin of Santa Claus and how it connects with the central theme of Christmas. Normally, very few know the real story, yet the American version seems to be the one we are visually most familiar with.

This holiday season, PLS English Users invites you to view and read about the real story.

The American version of the Santa Claus figure received its inspiration and its name from the Dutch legend of Sinterklaas (a Dutch variant of the name Saint Nicholas).

Dutch colonists took this tradition with them to New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the American colonies in the 17th century.

As early as 1773 the name appeared in the American press as "St. A Claus," but it was the popular author Washington Irving who gave Americans their first detailed information about the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas. In his History of New York, published in 1809 under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, Irving described the arrival of the saint on horseback each Eve of Saint Nicholas.

This Dutch-American Saint Nick achieved his fully Americanized form in 1823 in the poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas more commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas" by writer Clement Clarke Moore. Moore included such details as the names of the reindeer; Santa Claus's laughs, winks, and nods; and the method by which Saint Nicholas, referred to as an elf, returns up the chimney. (Moore's phrase "lays his finger aside of his nose" was drawn directly from Irving's 1809 description.)

The American image of Santa Claus was further elaborated by illustrator Thomas Nast, who depicted a rotund Santa for Christmas issues of Harper's magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s. Nast added such details as Santa's workshop at the North Pole and Santa's list of the good and bad children of the world. In the first Nast illustration, Santa was delivering Christmas gifts to soldiers fighting in the Civil War. The cartoon, entitled "Santa Claus in Camp" appeared in Harper's Weekly on January 3, 1863.

A human-sized version of Santa Claus, rather than the elf of Moore's poem, was depicted in a series of illustrations created by Haddom Sundblom for Coca-Cola advertisements introduced in 1931. In modern versions of the Santa Claus legend, only his toyshop workers are elves.

An advertising writer named Robert May, invented Rudolph, the ninth reindeer, with a red and shiny nose, while working on a catalog for the Montgomery Ward Company in 1939.

In looking for the historical roots, one discovers that Santa Claus, as we know him, is a combination of many different legends and mythical creatures.

The basis for the Christian-era Santa Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna (Izmir), in what is now Turkey. Nicholas lived in the 4th century A.D. He was very rich, generous, and loving toward children. Often he gave joy to poor children by throwing gifts in through their windows.

The Orthodox Church later raised St. Nicholas, miracle worker, to a position of great esteem. It was in his honor that Russia's oldest church, for example, was built. For its part, the Roman Catholic Church honored Nicholas as one who helped children and the poor. St. Nicholas became the patron saint of children and seafarers. His name day is December 6th.

In the Protestant areas of central and northern Germany, St. Nicholas later became known as der Weinachtsmann. In England he came to be called Father Christmas. St. Nicholas made his way to the United States with Dutch immigrants, and began to be referred to as Santa Claus.

In North American poetry and illustrations, Santa Claus, in his white beard, red jacket and pompom-topped cap, would sally forth on the night before Christmas in his sleigh, pulled by eight reindeer, and climb down chimneys to leave his gifts in stockings children set out on the fireplace's mantelpiece.

Children naturally wanted to know where Santa Claus actually came from. Where did he live when he wasn't delivering presents? Those questions gave rise to the legend that Santa Claus lived at the North Pole, where his Christmas-gift workshop was also located.

From all of us at PLS English Users, we wish everyone Happy and Safe Holidays!

GOOD Way to Give BAD News

2010-11-30T22:25:00.011-03:00

Sometimes when speaking English as a second language -as in life- we need to give bad news or tell someone that something is not possible or available.

Fortunately, if it's not a matter of life and death, there are ways to lessen the negativity of the situation.

So if you wish to make a lesser impact, avoid the use of no, as natives speakers tend to do in a similar situation and apply the following special phrases:

I'm afraid...

I'm afraid Bill is still in a meeting.
Instead of: Bill can't talk to you right now.

I'm afraid we're going to go with the other product.
Instead of: We will not buy your product.

I'm sorry, but...

I'm sorry, but the hotel is full until the end of the week.
Instead of: We don't have any vacancy.

I'm sorry, but Sally was feeling ill and went home.
Instead of: Sally is not here now.

Actually...

Actually, I'm speaking to someone on the other line right now.
Instead of: I can't talk to you right now.

Actually, I'm in the middle of a meeting now.
Instead of: Can't you see I'm busy?

**Remember, Spanish speakers: actually does not mean currently/presently; it means in fact/in reality.

TURKEY DAY (An important American Holiday)

2010-11-23T16:37:00.012-03:00

Thanksgiving Day, also known as "Turkey Day," is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Its name refers to expressing thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation. It's also a time for family and friends to get together.

Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. And with the passing of time, this holiday has since moved away from its religious roots.

In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October. In the United States, it falls on the fourth Thursday of November.

The precise historical origin of the holiday is disputed. Although Americans commonly believe that the first Thanksgiving happened in 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, there is strong evidence for earlier celebrations in Canada (1578) and by Spanish explorers in Florida (1565).

Thanksgiving and the turkey dinner it's identified with are also commonly found in American pop culture.

To provide a well-known example, here is a fragment of the memorable 1973 Thanksgiving special from a true American classic: Charles Shultz's cartoon series PEANUTS featuring Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown. Enjoy!

Thank you for you stopping by and Happy Thanksgiving from PLS English Users!

HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

2010-10-28T23:19:00.005-03:00

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31st in many English speaking countries and made popular worldwide through pop culture (literature and movies)

But what is Halloween? And where does it come from?

It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints' Day, but is today largely a secular celebration.

Behind the name... Halloween, or the Hallow E'en as they call it in Ireland , is All Hallows Eve, or the night before the 'All Hallows', also called 'All Hallowmas', or 'All Saints', or 'All Souls' Day, observed on November 1. In old English the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctify'.

Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherians used to observe All Hallows Day to honor all Saints in heaven, known or unknown.

Despite this connection with the Roman Church, the American version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called "Samhain", celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with cow. In Ireland the festival was known as Samhein, or La Samon, the Feast of the Sun.

Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?" The word "trick" refers to a (mostly idle) "threat" to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. In some parts of Scotland children still go guising. In this custom the child performs some sort of trick, i.e. sings a song or tells a ghost story, to earn their treats.

National Geographic video on the History of Halloween.

Business Stories: STORYTELLING (Episode 3)

2010-10-25T13:58:00.013-03:00

In the last two posts we've been discussing the Basics and the Structure involved when TELLING STORIES to communicate important ideas (in English as a second language) Today, we'll look at a practical application of this.

Suppose you have to give a Power Point presentation. Your goal is to sell a new line of business. Your team has been developing this for over a year and your audience is the board of regional directors. Your research indicates that if launched smartly and soon, this new business could save your company from doom. You are confident this is the opportunity of a lifetime. But can you get their attention, let alone convince them?

Yes, you've prepared the slides with all the pretty pie charts and projections for the next five years. But before any of that, you need to engage your audience at a far deeper level.

Can Storytelling help?

Sure. First, you'll need characters: a hero, a damsel in distress, and naturally, a bad guy. And a plot (storyline) with conflict, if possible one that involves, say... the end of the world or something of the kind. And sure, there will be a happy ending, but only after the bad guy has inflicted serious damage on the good guys and maybe even walked away with the damsel. Otherwise, who cares?

So how would this translate to your "new business" presentation? Easily.

Naturally, you should present the situation at hand in dramatic terms (see last post). Take no more than 5 minutes, but don't forget to make it fun...

"Once upon a time, there was this great company. Efficient, proud... no other like it in the kingdom", could be a good start. But then go on to tell them the tale of how this once great company (the hero) went from being successful and solving problems for its demanding clients (the damsel in distress) to running into serious trouble when confronted by the ruthless recession (the bad guy).

You can even illustrate this with some visuals for effect (just don't over do it).

It won't take your audience look to figure out what you're up to. And they'll want to know where you're planning on taking this "story". Some will be entertained, some might be concerned you might go overboard, but none of them will flip out their smart phone to see when their next meeting is. Why? Because you have engaged them.

So you go on. Now you tell them how the ruthless recession eventually smoothed out and the company survived. Unfortunately, in that time, other companies (new bad guys) have been quick to adjust their armor and spears to the new situation and have been advancing into your territory (market share), taking many of your damsels (clients). Darkness is upon you again.

Your audience will now be wondering who or what will come to the rescue.

Hold for a few seconds. Now tell them the story of a brave group of knights (your department) who has "burned the midnight oil" (worked really hard) to create a new secret weapon (new line of business) to win back your land (market share), and most important of all, bring back your damsels (clients).

But before deploying this secret weapon, the brave knights will submit the plan for approval of a wise council (the regional directors). "To be continued... ".

Surely, most will probably laugh and enjoy the fact you put some creativiy into your intro. But deep in their minds you also instilled the idea that - behind the cute little fairy tale - there is a very serious problem that is in their hands and potential solution equally at hand. They are far more ready to hear your solution now, then if you had simply walked in and started flipping the slides.

Or course, there are probably many other story models to follow. You might make yours a western, a romantic comedy, a gangster tale, a telenovela or even a space opera. It doesn't matter, as long as you engage them.

Naturally, if you're doing this as a speaker of English as a Second Language, it is in your best interest to plan out your story on paper first. But we don't recommend you memorize it either. This is not for everyone. But we still recommend you try to tell your company situtation in story terms at some point, at least for practice. You might learn something and even come up with some ideas.

Later on, for those interested we will be offering a Business Stories Workshop, where participants will discuss situations in creative ways, with the assistance of a business stories coach.

Last but not least, we close out this post with a video by Doug Stevenson, the guru of storytelling in business who provides some clever insight into the art of telling stories in a company environment.

STORYTELLING… The Basics (Episode 2)

2010-09-30T23:46:00.011-03:00

So you’ve decided you’re going to tell a story. But before moving any further, let’s ask the following question.

What is a story?

At its simplest, a story is a description of change. It's how something went from being one way to being something else. But there's a little more to it than that.

Because to truly be a story, this description of change needs to have the secret ingredient.

Conflict.

You know, struggle, adversity, hardship, danger or desire. In other words, all those things that force us to take action or suffer the consequences.

In communication, this means that we should think about ways to raise the stakes on whatever we're talking about. This holds especially true in business presentations, sales pitches, press releases, but holds equally true outside of business when we wish to communicate important ideas.

However, for the speaker of English as a Second Language, it's a unique opportunity to engage a listener beyond the common practice of small talk.

So where do we find conflict? It's really everywhere in Life.

First we need to locate what in drama is called the inciting incident.

This is the event that sets the action of a story in motion. An inciting incident is what disrupts balance and forces people to take action, to restore that lost balance or perhaps to achieve a new one.

For people working in business, there can be many inciting incidents. Like maybe a major client who calls to tell you that they're taking business somewhere else... to your competitor. Naturally, something like this will set you in motion. And whatever the result, for better or for worse, will result in lessons learned and a great story to be told.

But in life in general, there are inciting incidents all the time. Like maybe you get an outrageously high bill from the phone company about those "calls" you made to Tokyo. But there's a just a little problem... you never made those calls. Most people in the modern world, have stories like these to tell.

In any case, after we identify this incident, we need to focus our attention on the 3 basic building blocks of a story:

1) The set up: This is where we set up the basic elements of the story. Here we quickly identify the protagonists, the place, the time, the context and of course, the inciting incident that leads to ... the conflict and the rest of our story.

2) The confrontation: This is the "meat" of your story, where you spend most of your time because it's where the protagonists take action as a result of the inciting incident that led to conflict. His or her goal is to restore balance and solve the conflict. To be engaging, this action should be full of challenges and set-backs. Nothing good ever comes easy, right?

3) The solution to the conflict. How does the story end? Do the protagonists solve it or not, and if so, how? What are the lessons learned here if any?

In fact, these are the key elements that make up the mechanics of any story, whether it's a simple event like a customer service experience or the story of a space crew that might not come home. Let's elaborate on these two examples.

ACTIVITIES:

1) WATCH the two videos that follow and try to identify the following: the inciting incident, the protagonists, the conflict, the context, the confrontation and the solution to the conflict.

2) THINK of a personal experience that might constitute a story. How do you know if it's a story? Test it to see if it has the right ingredients.

Bad customer service

Houston, we have a problem

In the next post, we'll talk about fundamental story elements. In other words, what details are necessary to make a situation that has story elements become a compelling story.

STORYTELLING... The SUPER Skill (Episode 1)

2010-09-21T17:15:00.021-03:00

When you learn English as a second language, they tell you there are 4 skills, right?

Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking

And that’s pretty good to get you going. But as you advance, there is a 5th skill that comes in pretty handy.

Storytelling.

Why? For one thing, storytelling is the ability to tell stories. But it’s a little more than that. After all, language is communication. And in terms of communication, storytelling is the ability to tell something… anything in way that is organized, clear and maybe even a little interesting.

So what's anything? How about a situation, incident, anecdote, experience, idea, possibility, proposal, problem, solution. The point is... if you want to get passed talking about the weather for social situations or answering "yes", "no" or "check with Tom" when discussing work matters, you're going to need this extra skill.

But you don’t have to be William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens or Steven Spielberg to know how to tell a story. It’s simply a question of managing three basic elements:

Basic Story Structure

Fundamental Story Elements

Key Storytelling Language

That's why, storytelling is great for professionals using English to do any of the following:

Business Presentations

Sales

International Marketing

Social Media Communication

Applying for a Job

And the best part is that storytelling is a skill that helps any English User speak in short, effective and meaningful phrases. So it's actually easier than whatever you've done up to now when you wanted to tell or explain something important.

How's that for a happy ending?

So, coming up next... here on PLS English Users: How any user of English as a Second Language can apply Story Structure to organize information in a much more compelling way.

Stay tuned...

If I asked you about... (Scene from GOOD WILL HUNTING)

2010-08-31T23:25:00.017-03:00

In this post, we'll take a scene from the classic film GOOD WILL HUNTING in order to showcase how a language structure is used repetitively to prove a point.

In the scene we've chosen, a psychiatrist played by Robin Williams uses the following conditional structure repetitively in order to prove a point about his patient's (Matt Damon) predictable behavior:

If I asked you about.... you'd probably...

SITUATION:

WILL (Matt Damon) is an unusually brilliant young man who's grown up in a very adverse environment. He's got a smart ass attitude about everything and this usually gets him in trouble. He starts getting help from SEAN (Robin Williams), a caring couselor who's been through his share of trouble.

In the previous scene, WILL assumes he knows everything about SEAN by just looking at a paining in his office. Needless to say, SEAN is no longer upset because he's figured out WILL's behavioural pattern. This is their next meeting.

ACTIVITY:
(1) WATCH the scene once without reading the script (below) and try to identify the repetitive structure used by Robin Williams. Don't worry if you don't understand every single word. Go for the main idea.

(2) Then READ the script without watching and look for special vocabulary you are not familiar with. Remember, you've got a vocabulary list at the end.

(3) Now that you know what each character says, WATCH the scene again without reading. If you're a little more daring, you can PRACTICE role-playing the scene with a language group, a friend or even with your cat or goldfish.

(4) Try to WRITE more examples of what SEAN might say to WILL. If I asked you about ... (anything)... you'd probably (DO this, that or the other). Try MAKING SENTENCES with the vocabulary words. And SHARE it with us in the comments box.

Enjoy, English Users!

SCRIPT (vocabulary list below)

(Warning: contains strong language)

WILL: So what's this? A Taster's Choice moment between guys? This is really nice. You got a thing for swans? Is this like a fetish? It's something, like, maybe we need to devote some time to?
SEAN: I thought about what you said to me the other day, about my painting. Stayed up half the night thinking about it. Something occurred to me and I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep and haven't thought about you since. You know what occurred to me?
WILL: No.
SEAN: You're just a kid. You don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about.
WILL: Why, thank you.
SEAN: It's all right. You've never been out of Boston.
WILL: Nope.
SEAN: So if I asked you about art you’d probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written...Michelangelo? (beat) You know a lot about him. Life's work, political aspirations, him and the pope, sexual orientation, the whole works, right? But I bet you can't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You've never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling. Seen that.....

If I asked you about women you'd probably give me a syllabus of your personal favorites. You may have even been laid a few times. But you can't tell me what it feels like to wake up next to a woman and feel truly happy. You're a tough kid.

I ask you about war, and you'd probably--uh--throw Shakespeare at me, right? "Once more into the breach, dear friends." But you've never been near one. You've never held your best friend's head in your lap and watched him gasp his last breath, looking to you for help.

And if I asked you about love y'probably quote me a sonnet. But you've never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone could level you with her eyes. Feeling like God put an angel on earth just for you...who could rescue you from the depths of hell. And you wouldn't know what it’s like to be her angel and to have that love for her to be there forever. Through anything. Through cancer. You wouldn't know about sleeping sittin’ up in a hospital room for two months holding her hand because the doctors could see in your eyes that the term visiting hours don't apply to you. You don't know about real loss, because that only occurs when you love something more than you love yourself. I doubt you've ever dared to love anybody that much.

I look at you; I don't see an intelligent, confident man; I see a cocky, scared shitless kid. But you're a genius, Will. No one denies that. No one could possibly understand the depths of you. But you presume to know everything about me because you saw a painting of mine and you ripped my fuckin' life apart.

You're an orphan right? (Will nods) Do you think I'd know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you? Personally, I don't give a shit about all that, because you know what? I can't learn anything from you I can't read in some fuckin' book. Unless you wanna talk about you, who you are. And I'm fascinated. I'm in. But you don't wanna do that, do you, sport? You're terrified of what you might say.

Your move, chief. (Sean stands and walks away.)

VOCABULARY:
smart ass: (colloquial) someone who presumes to know everything about everything
Taster's Choice Moment: (pop culture) refers to a well-known coffee commercial about sharing special moments from the brand "Taster's Choice"
give the skinny on (something): (colloquial) provide a summary or short version of something
be / get laid: (colloquial) to have sexual experience
breach: a gap or rift that provides defense to a fortress or castle
gasp: to breathe convulsively or laboriously
cocky: (colloquial) arrogant
sport: (U.S. colloquial) a way of referring to someone suggesting they play fair and know how to win or lose (used ironically in the script above)
your move: (from chess) a way to say to someone, "it's your turn now" to act or do something
chief: (colloquial) if the person is not actually someone's chief, it's just a way for men to refer to one another when they wish to show a friendly attitude (used ironically in the script above)

MAY vs. MIGHT... a matter of degree

2010-08-23T17:52:00.008-03:00

Some time back, we received a request from Maria Cecilia, a PLS English User, asking us to clarify the difference between MAY and MIGHT.

So here goes…

The fact is that the difference isn’t really all that big. Both MAY and MIGHT are used to suggest the possibility of something happening in the future.

However, MAY suggests the “possibility” as more likely, whereas MIGHT suggests that "possibility" as less likely. A matter of degree some would say.

SITUATION:
Congratulations! Yes, you’ve been offered a job. Now depending on how much you really want it, you could use MAY or you could use MIGHT in reference to whether you're going to take the job or not.

Example 1:
You know, I really need a change so I may take that job offer.
(I am seriously considering the job offer)

Example 2:
There aren’t really any other openings, so I might take that job offer.
(I am considering it because I have no choice, but it's not really what I'd like to do)

So far, we’ve been referring to talking about things happening in the future. Yet of course, you may have seen some uses when referring to situations in the past. You don't need to get your eyes checked. You saw it right.

MIGHT is the past tense of MAY. Just like COULD is the past of CAN, or WOULD is the past of WILL.

Example in the Past:
If I had known about the party, I might have gone to it.
(Here there is no possibility of anything because you never knew about any such party... or so you say)

Bottom line. If you get an invitation to a place you really want to go to, but you’re not sure if you can, say you MAY go. On the other hand, if you get invited to a place you really don’t want to go to and you still want to be polite, say you MIGHT go. It all depends on HOW MUCH you really want to do something.

At the end of the day… it’s a matter of degree.

Thanks Maria Cecilia!

Not just British or American... 21 Accents

2010-07-30T11:12:00.015-03:00

It's safe to say that users of English as a Second language have for the most part learned English either from British or American English methodologies. In terms of listening and pronunciation, this means that in many cases, they learned from someone with a British or an American accent. And sure, some prefer the former, while others the latter. This might even apply to you.

But are there really only two accents in all of English? Hardly. First of all, there are many other English-speaking countries. Then, within each country there are many regional accents. In addition to that, just like you, people from all over the world speak English, often although not always with a distinct accent.

To get a taste of this, for today's post, we'll let YouTube accent trainer and actress Amy Walker walk you through at least 21 of them. The first 3 alone are only from London, mind you. So if your ears are ready, check out this entertaining video and see the many different ways to say, "Hi, my name is Amy Walker, I'm 25 years old and I was born in ...". Enjoy!

If you'd like, share your thoughts in the comments box below. Let us know which Amy Walker accents are easier for you? Which are more difficult? Which one did you like the most? And last but not least, can you guess where Amy Walker is really from?

(After you listened to it a couple of times, you may check the transcript posted in the "comments" section down below")

UP IN THE AIR (Listening Comprehension)

2010-07-17T17:43:00.008-03:00

As an English User, you may have on ocassion traveled abroad. Who knows, you may even be a frequent flyer. Well, regardless of how much time you've spent "up in the air", today we'll be practicing some listening comprehension with a scene from UP IN THE AIR, the film starring George Clooney.

If you haven't seen it. UP IN THE AIR is an American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman. It's about a corporate downsizer named Ryan Bingham (Clooney) who spends most of his time traveling. The film follows his life and philosophies along with the people he meets along the way.

In fact, Bingham is a frequent-flyer because he makes his living traveling to workplaces around the United States and conducting layoffs for bosses who don’t want to do it themselves. Ryan also delivers motivational speeches, using the analogy "What's In Your Backpack?" to extol the virtues of a life free of relationships with people and things, like his own life.

Yet events happen along the way that make him change the way he looks at his life up in the air.

WATCH the scene where Bingham delivers his typical "What's in your backpack?" Speech. Only try to understand the main idea. Then READ the transcript below and STUDY the vocabulary. Finally, WATCH the video again and try to APPLY the vocabulary the next time you use English. Enjoy the video and good luck, English Users!

"WHAT’S IN YOUR BACKPACK?" SPEECH (Transcript)
Now this is going to be a bit difficult, so stay with me. How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you’re carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life. You start with the little things. The shelves, the drawers, the knickknacks, and then you start adding larger stuff. Clothes, tabletop appliances, lamps, your TV the backpack should be getting pretty heavy now. You go bigger. Your couch, your car, your home. I want you to stuff it all into that backpack.

Now I want you to fill it with people. Start with casual acquaintances, friends of friends, folks around the office and then you move into the people you trust with your most intimate secrets. Your brothers, your sisters, your children, your parents and finally your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend. You get them into that backpack; feel the weight of that bag.

Make no mistake. Your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are sharks."

Vocabulary:

Up in the air: Expression to refer to something that is undefined or has not yet been decided.
Corporate downsizer: A person whose job it is to assist a company to reduce its operational cost, often implying the task of laying off staff.
Along the way: Expression that refers something that happens while traveling from one place to the other
layoff: the act of dismissing an employee from his or her employment
extol: praise, glorify, or honor someone or something
Knickknacks: A small trivial article intended for ornament
Appliance: a machine or device, esp an electrical one used domestically like a microwave oven
To Stuff: To pack (a container, a suitcase) tightly, almost to the limit
Acquaintance: a person with whom one has been in contact but who is not a close friend

HOW MUCH or HOW MANY?

2010-06-28T17:12:00.011-03:00

For many English Users, these two question forms generate confusion. Below are some guidelines to determine the correct use:

First, determine if you are talking about countables or non-countables.
For more information see our previous POST about this topic.

Use HOW MANY for countables or plural concepts.
Ex.1) How many boxes do you need?
Ex.2) How many people did you see at the gate?

Use HOW MUCH for non-countable or singular concepts.
Ex.3) How much coffee would you like?
Ex.4) How much pressure can the tank sustain?

Use HOW MUCH for questions where the non-countable concept is implied by context, but not used directly.
Ex.5) How much does the computer cost?
How much implies how much "money" (non-countable concept)
Ex.6) How much does the car get per gallon/liter?
How much implies how much "distance" (non-countable concept)

Here are some irregular plural countables to be aware of:
Man > men
Woman > women
Child > children
Person > people
Mouse > mice

An Argentine Passion (Listening Comprehension)

2010-06-18T15:35:00.034-03:00

No matter where you're from, you probably know there is a World Cup going on. Well, as PLS is based in Buenos Aires, for today's post, we thought we'd tell you something about the history and the cultural importance of football in Argentina.

LISTENING COMPREHENSION
You will hear a fragment from one of our Executive Travel English courses - called PLS EXPRESS - about the history of football in Argentina.

LISTEN and TAKE NOTES on details regarding: individuals, entities, teams and figures. PAUSE as many times as necessary.

After viewing it, take following QUIZ to see how much you understood. Click HERE to view on a larger separate window. Good luck!

If the results suggests you missed something, no problem. View the video again, and give the quiz another go. Good luck, English Users!

And Good Luck to all Teams in the 2010 World Cup!

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*Argentine FOOTBALL ENTITIES mentioned (in Spanish):

Copa America, Copa Libertadores, Primera Division, Apertura, Clausura, Copa Sudamericana, Boca Juniors, Independiente, Estudiantes de La Plata, River Plate, Racing Club, Argentinos Juniors, Vélez Sársfield

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**Glossary:

Soccer: Another way to refer to football, especially used in the United States and Canada
So-called: Refers to someone or something popularly called in a certain way
Go (went) on to (do something): Refers to the next action taken
Tier: a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
Feat: A notable achievement
Winning streak: A series of continuous victories
Glued to the TV: Informal expression referring to being really engaged in watching television

Hat trick: In sports it often refers to scoring three times in succession. It may originate from various tricks performed with a top hat in magic. In a sense the hat trick implies great skill and a little bit of magic to accomplish. Gonzalo Higuain - the Argentine player in the photo above recently performed this feat in the match against S. Korea in the FIFA 2010 World Cup

The BLACK HOLE of Predicting the Future

2010-05-29T01:52:00.027-03:00

This lesson is about black holes.

Or at least that's what the title says.

It's really about.. predicting the future. But not the future of the universe and the world. It's simply about predicting the future of a lonely office employee who has a crisis with the photocopying machine.

But as the the Chinese proverb says, Crisis is Opportunity.

So, anyway. Let's practice some English. Let's predict the FUTURE with WILL or GOING TO.

What’s the difference? It’s subtle.

WILL suggests you are more certain about your prediction than GOING TO. As a result, it’s more common to hear GOING TO.

EXAMPLES:
What do you think John will do? / I think he’ll sign the contract.
What do you think John is going to do? / I think he’s going to sign the contract. (Pronounced “gonna” in Am. Eng)

So are YOU ready to enter the BLACK HOLE and PREDICT the future? If so…

a. PLAY THE VIDEO UP TO 0:30 only. Then press PAUSE (That means don't continue watching the video)

OK, what's going to happen next? (write your answer somewhere, we'll wait while you go get something to write with). Fill in the blank.

I think the photocopy machine will / is going to ________________.

b. PLAY THE VIDEO UP TO 01:00. Then press PAUSE

What's going to happen next?

I think the office employee will / is going to _________________.

c. PLAY THE VIDEO UP TO 01:30. Then press PAUSE

What's going to happen next?

I think the office employee will / is going to _________________.

d. PLAY THE VIDEO UP TO 0 2:00. Then press PAUSE

What's going to happen next?

I think the office employee will / is going to _________________.

e. PLAY THE VIDEO UP TO 0 2:30. Then press PAUSE

What's going to happen next?

I think the office employee will / is going to __________________.

Suggested Answer Key:
a. print a white paper with a black hole
b. put his hand through the black hole.
c. take a chocolate/candy bar from the vending machine
d. take money from the safety box
e. There is no right prediction. Your guess is as good as ours.

Moral of the story: Use WILL / GOING TO to predict the future, but beware of mysterious photocopy machines, English Users.

SAY or TELL, what's the difference?

2010-05-19T18:34:00.008-03:00

Well, here at PLS English Users we do have something to say about when to use SAY and when to use TELL.

Here are some guidelines...

SAY

We use it to report someone's words:

Bill said, "I'm tired"
Bill said that he was tired.

We use say followed by 'to' before the object:

What did he say to you?

We use say to ask about languages :

How do you say 'water' in Spanish?

We use say for the following:

Bill said hello.
She left without saying goodbye.
Remember to say please.
Please say congratulations on my behalf.
I just called to say Merry Christmas / Happy New Year / Happy Birthday / etc.

TELL

We use tell to provide information or to give orders:

Could you tell me how to get to the Marriot hotel?
Tell Tom that I cancelled the meeting.

You might have noticed that tell is followed directly by the object :

Did Mary tell you what happened?

We also use tell for the following:

Tom is good at telling stories.
Could you tell me the time?
Tell me your name, please.
Don’t tell me lies.
Hey, I’m telling the truth.
I can’t tell the difference between these two products.

Deliver SATISFACTION

2010-04-27T15:47:00.023-03:00

Now, let's get something straight. This article is not about music. It's about making your English as a second language delivery style far more satisfying and effective for you and for the rest of us.

But wait a second…

Maybe it is a little bit about music. After all, nobody likes to listen to something that isn't music their ears.

So here is the million dollar question:

What makes the delivery style of a speaker of English as a Second Language (ESL) satisfying for any listener?

Perfect grammar? Not really.
Perfect pronunciation? Try again.
Sophisticated vocabulary? Ice cold.

Those are very important, but to reach our goal of listener satisfaction, we need to think outside the box of conventional English courses. In fact, there are just 2 (two) steps to approaching a satisfying delivery style in English as a Second Language:

1) Use the Logic of English when constructing ideas, sentences or phrases, instead of translating from the Logic of your native language to English.

2) Develop a sense of tone. In other words, detect and decide how much formality or informality a situation requires, based on the context at hand.

Delivery style is not rocket science. But just like music, you can learn a lot from assimilating what others do in the same situation. And with the Internet today, you have infinite ways to do that.

From my experience as a TEFL and communication consultant in Latin America, I know that this is actually the area of most difficulty. Coincidentally, it's also the area most overlooked by English courses offered in Spanish-speaking countries.

But the reason for this difficulty in delivery style is simple. Native Spanish speakers often implement the same delivery style in English as they do in Spanish. This means they often use long sentences, BIG academic words (of Latin origin), very few verbs (and hardly ever phrasal verbs), too many nouns, inordinate amounts of passive voice and excessive formality.

Now for our purposes, whether this is the way to go in Spanish is irrelevant. However, in English this delivery style will in most cases undermine the value of your message. It will be perceived as wordy, not entirely candid, and even contrived. Making matters a bit more complex, English Users today have 24/7 access to English thanks to the barrage of mass media that surrounds us. But you have to know when to use what you hear.

A few years ago, I was assisting a team of young professionals. They were writing a power point presentation about "the complications in aspects of the implementation of the principal stage of the …. program". They wanted to know if the goal was clear. I told them that if you read it 27 times, it’s clear, but it sounds awful in English.

I pointed out that it would sound more English to say it was about “The challenges of implementing the main stage of the ... program”. In other words, instead of using the lifeless noun “implementation”, we "implement" something. Instead of using "complications in aspects", we use "challenges". Just reading a few power points by native English speakers (which are available… everywhere) will give you more examples of what is normally used for these.

Then in the next slide, it said, "this is how we wanna do it". Asked why they used it “wanna”, one group member replied, "If Mick Jagger uses it. we can use it too, right?". I understood their dilemma, but reminded them that the leader of the Rolling Stones was most definitely not singing about software architecture, but more informal aspects of life.

In conclusion, delivery style is all about choosing the right words and the right tone, and in recognizing that English works best when it’s written in "English”. At the very least, it’s good way to ensure that your audience won’t say they ”can't get no satisfaction!" from your message.

In the weeks ahead, look for more articles and videos that address how to improve your English delivery style.

GLOSSARY

get something straight (phrasal verb) - aclarar las cosas de entrada
outside the box (idiomatic expression) – pensar de manera lateral, no convencional
rocket science (idiom) - ciencia oculta
overlooked (adj) - ignorado porque lo pasaron por alto
the way to go (idiom) - lo que hay que hacer
undermine (verb t.) - socavar
wordy (adj) - con palabrería
candid (adj) - franco
contrived (adj) - forzado
24/7 (idiom) - las 24 hs, todos los días de la semana

© 2010 P. Ponce de Leon TEFL, eMedia Producer, Consultant

EASY language, COMPLEX Love... ACTUALLY

2010-04-06T23:36:00.038-03:00

In today's post, we'll look at a great scene from a movie that actually uses very simple language to solve a complex dilemma.

It's from the hit romantic comedy of 2003, Love Actually.

By the way, remember that actually in English means "in fact", "in reality" and not something happening at the present time (as Spanish speakers sometimes mistake).

Anyway, as you will see in this scene, for Mark - a young man from London - it's difficult to say what he's got to say to that special someone (Juliet), even if they speak the same language.

Of course, who says you've got to say anything? Sometimes, all you actually need is some cardboard, a magic marker and some basic knowledge of verb tenses.

See for yourself and WATCH THE SCENE BY CLICKING HERE.

As you can see (and read), the language Mark uses includes:

simple present: You are perfect...

simple future: My wasted heart will...

And not much more.

Now imagine how this would change if the guy had actually tried to say his feelings instead of writing them. Put yourself in Mark's shoes or in Juliet's. What do you think they would actually say to one another?

Here at PLS English Users we can't actually recommend that this technique will work for your personal life.

But if you want to enjoy a simple and delicious comedy - in English - from the director of Four Weddings and a Funeral, we can recommend you rent Love Actually at your local DVD rental store.

And as an EXTRA from PLS English Users - if you click here - you can download a PDF of the script that was actually written to make this movie. (The script is for educational use only).

Movie scripts are fast, easy and fun to read. They are also mostly written in historical present (simple present). So, you can actually read this one before, during and after you watch it. By the way, the scene mentioned above is on page 120-121.

To catch a glimpse of the movie, you can also check out the trailer below.

Enjoy!

COMMON MISTAKES - Plural Noncountables

2010-03-25T13:26:00.015-03:00

When learning a foreign language, there is probably only one rule that never fails. What works in your native language, doesn’t necessarily work in another language.

Look at the following examples. What's wrong with the words in bold?

1) Waiter, I would like two sandwiches and two waters.

2) I’m receiving different informations from my team.

Naturally, in romance languages like Spanish, words like water and information can be singular and plural. However in English, the situation is a little different.

The reason is that they are noncoutables (or non-count nouns). Noncountables refer to things that are generic like water or plastic; as well as abstract ideas such as peace and love.

So what are some examples of these generic and abstract things known as noncountables?

Generic materials: wood, cloth, plastic, wool, steel, glass, leather, porcelain, hair

Generic activities: reading, boating, smoking, dancing, soccer

Generic substances: ice, dust, air, oxygen, water, milk, wine, beer, sugar, rice, meat, cheese, flour

Other generics: luggage, equipment, furniture, experience, applause, photography, traffic, harm, publicity, homework, advice, heat, cold, humidity, sunshine, electricity, biology, history, mathematics, economics, poetry

Abstract concepts: information, peace, anger, courage, violence, safety, justice, work, friendship, love, freedom, good, evil, time

But here is the million dollar question. Can any of these words ever be plural?

Sure, some of them can, but not when they are in the generic or abstract sense. In other words, they can be plural when they refer to something specific in plural quantities.

1) The best wines in Argentina are from Mendoza. (doesn’t refer to wine as a generic substance, but to specific wines of a specific region)
2) The works of Pablo Picasso are magnificent. (specific pieces of art)
3) Tell us about your experiences as an English User. (specific moments in your life)
4) Remember the times you went to the library this week (specific occasions)

But what about those cases like information that cannot be expressed as plural? For those, we can add a countable + of to describe a plural situation.

This means we can talk about:

1) Pieces of/ types of / tons of / a lot of information, equipment, luggage
2) Cups of coffee, tea, juice
2) Bottles of / glasses of wine, water, milk

In conclusion, in English - before you make something PLURAL - you just need to ask yourself if whatever you're talking about is of the generic / abstract type or if its use is more specific.

St. Patrick's Day is Here...

2010-03-16T22:32:00.015-03:00

VIDEO: Courtesy of: Mojo.com

Saint Patrick's Day is a yearly holiday celebrated on March 17th. It is named after Saint Patrick who lived in the 5th Century. He is the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland.

However, he was originally born in Wales under the name of Maywyn. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped by mauraders (pirates) and taken as a slave to Ireland.

But he would eventually undergo a religious awakening, changing his name to Patrick and dedicating his life to Christianity. Founding churches and schools, his work would eventually lead to Ireland becoming a Christian country.

Originally, St. Patrick's Day began as a purely Christian holiday. But in the early 1600s, it became an official feast day. And gradually, it has become a more secular celebration of Ireland's culture, legends and traditions.

In fact, it is a public holiday on the island of Ireland; including Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish community internationally, especially in places such as Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Montserrat, among others.

Vocabulary associated with St. Patrick's Day and Irish culture:

leprechaun: A mischievous elf in Irish folklore who enjoys playing tricks on people

clover: A sweet-smelling plant with three leaves on each stem that symbolizes Irish culture

limerick: A funny poem written with five lines. The first two lines and the last line all rhyme. The third and the fourth lines rhyme.

St Paddy’s Day is here
Everybody is drinking beer
A sea of Green, White and Gold
Blowing in the cold,
And now it’s over, back next year

by Dean Murphy

APOSTROPHE MONSTERS get very Possessive!

2010-03-11T21:58:00.017-03:00

Here's a cartoon sketch for English Users young and old.

It provides further use of apostrophe S for Possessive Case. It is from the new version of award-winning American children's television show THE ELECTRIC COMPANY.

And as the show's sketch's character's dialogue demonstrates, you may use the apostrophe S repeatedly when there is repeated possession.

THE ELECTRIC COMPANY is a classic of American Pop Culture. Its original show ran back in the 1970s and made a stars out of many up and coming talents. One of the was a young comedian with a PhD in Education by name of Bill Cosby.

PLS English Users salutes Sesame Workshop & PBS - producers of the show - for officially uploading their content to an Official YouTube Channel, enabling other sites to publish and make their content known in a legal manner.

The Secret has been revealed... at the OSCARS

2010-03-08T11:52:00.011-03:00

As many followers of this blog are from Argentina, we just wanted to share the great news...

On March 7th, 2010, Argentine film EL SECRETO DE SUS OJOS (translated as "The Secret in their Eyes") received the OSCAR for best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards Ceremony in Hollywood, California.

This is the second time in history that Argentina has been blessed with an Oscar. The film - directed by veteran Argentine Director Juan José Campanella - revolves around a man who is trying to solve a brutal murder committed 30 years ago.

We recommend this Interview with the Director from THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, as well as this review from the Hollywood magazine VARIETY.

And last but not least, you have the trailer with English subtitles. Remember you must activate the subtitles at the bottom right-hand of the screen (CC button).

Enjoy!

DO vs MAKE: "Make a choice and just do it!"

2010-03-05T11:18:00.010-03:00

One of the most challenging things to learn in English as a Second Language (ESL) is when to use DO and when to use MAKE.

The truth is that there really aren’t fixed rules about this. But fortunately, there are clear patterns to follow. Here they are:

DO

Used when referring to work, an action, an activity, a task or a desired result in a generic way. They key point here is that all this DOING does not (usually) produce a
physical object.

do the work
do your homework
do your job
do a crossword puzzle
do the shopping
do the laundry
do the washing
do the washing up
do anything
do everything
do nothing
do badly
do business
do the dishes
do a favour
do good
do harm
do time - (to go to prison)
do well
do your best
do your hair
do your nails
do your worst
do it - (that's right... Nike didn't invent the phrase, but they made it famous)

MAKE

Used when referring to constructing, building or creating something physical or tangible.

make a cake
make a house
make food
make coffee
make breakfast / lunch / dinner
make a dress
make a work of art

Also used for a number of standard expressions that follow no particular pattern. You just need to learn them.

make amends
make arrangements
make believe - (to pretend)
make a choice
make a comment
make a decision
make a difference
make an effort
make an enquiry
make an excuse
make a fool of yourself
make a fortune
make friends
make a fuss
make a journey
make love
make a mess
make a mistake
make money
make a move
make a noise
make a phone call
make a plan
make a point
make a profit
make a promise
make a remark
make a sound
make a speech
make a suggestion
make time
make a visit
make your bed - (to prepare the bed for sleeping in)

"It just... happened"

2010-02-28T11:00:00.007-03:00

CLARA PARDINI - a conversation student at PLS - talks about how she became confident in the use of Everyday English. Check out her story and find out more about Classroom and Online Conversation Courses at PLS

More to see on the home page

2010-02-25T19:19:00.011-03:00

This is just to let you know we added some new links and resources on the home page of PLS English Users.

From the top all the way down, the additions are as follows:

A Search Box: to look for content within the blog

Main Sections (Buttons): To simplify looking for Posts on SKILLS, POP CULTURE and RESOURCES

Recent Posts: So you can quickly scan the latest information on the blog

Useful Links

Videos: A constantly changing selection of Movie Trailers, Music Videos and our own videos.

News: A constantly changing selection of news items about technology, sports, entertainment, travel, fashion and cuisine

Topics: A topic by topic list of posts

Suscription to RSS

Blog Archive

Coming home in style... sort of

2010-02-22T23:06:00.017-03:00

PLS ENGLISH USERS HOST PAUL POSTED A LETTER.
READ IT AND CHECK THE VOCABULARY AT THE END:

Dear English Users,

My vacation has come to an end. Today, I'm coming home to my favorite roadside stop on the web.

And you'll never believe it! The boss was really cool and sent the company jet to get me. But that's the good news.

The bad news is the pilot drank the water over here. He got really sick. Now, he'll have to stay a few days to recover.

So guess who has to fly himself home? But I look at it this way. If I can teach future perfect continuous (passive) to false beginners, I can fly a LearJet.

Just in case, wish me luck.

Warm Regards,
Paul

----------------------
TARGET VOCUBULARY

sort of: an idiomatic expression at the end of statement indicating uncertainty
host: the person who conducts an activity or show
to come to an end: to finish
you'll never believe it: you will be surprised
to be cool: to have an attitude and style that people really like
to get me (someone): to transport me (someone)
over here: in this place
get sick: to become ill
recover: to return to good health
future perfect continuous: a difficult verb tense
just in case: in the unlikely event that something happens...
luck: good fortune

Bigger, Better, the Best: REVIEW of Comparatives and Superlatives

2010-02-19T01:21:00.014-03:00

When we describe something or someone we use adjectives.

Bill is tall.
Tom is short.

But when we need to compare, we use comparatives and superlatives.

Bill is taller than Tom.
Tom is shorter than Bill.
Who is the tallest man?
Who is the shortest man?

So here is how to do it...

CASE 1: One Syllable adjectives (big, tall, green) / Two Syllable adjectives ending in Y (pretty)

<> Comparatives (+ er)

(big) New York is bigger than Denver.
(tall) Arthur is taller than Jack.
(green) The grass is greener than the grapes.
(pretty) Do you think Susan is prettier than Mary? (change the "y" for an "i)

<> Superlatives (+ est)

(big) Shanghai is the biggest city in the world.
(tall) Bill is the tallest kid in his class.
(grass) That is the greenest grass I’ve ever seen.
(pretty) Jane thinks she’s the prettiest girl in school. (change the "y" for an "i)

CASE 2: Adjectives with Two or More Syllables (interesting)

<> Comparatives (more +)

(interesting) This book is more interesting than the previous one I read.
(complete) Tom’s plan is more complete than Michael’s plan.

<> Superlatives (the most +)

(interesting) Dr. Smith wrote the most interesting book on this topic.
(complete) Ellen has the most complete plan.

CASE 3: Irregular Adjectives (good, bad, far)

Good – Better – The Best
Bad – Worse – The Worst
Far – Farther/Further – The Farthest/The Furthest

<> Comparative

(good) This coffee is better than the other one.
(bad) The situation is worse today than yesterday.
(far) We need to travel farther before we find a roadside stop.

<> Superlative

(good) That is the best coffee in the world.
(bad) We considered the worst possible scenario.
(far) This is the farthest I have ever travelled.

TERMINATOR Tells the truth about "T" SOUNDS

2010-02-02T19:53:00.005-03:00

One of Hollywood's best known "talking machines" is our guest host. He talks about the many different SOUNDS of the "T" in the English language.

Learn what most courses never teach you how Americans really reduce "T" sounds in words like "water".

TERMINATOR Guest Host

2010-02-01T01:58:00.005-03:00

Our regular host Paul will be out a few weeks, but will be replaced by TERMINATOR for a lesson about T SOUNDS in the English Language.

Sorry, we couldn't get anyone else.

COMMON MISTAKES - Affect vs. Effect

2010-01-24T23:38:00.016-03:00

Here are two words which sound alike and are often used the wrong way.

Affect (verb): to modify something
Effect (noun): the result of a modification

Examples:
Were you affected by the new tax?
The visual effects of the movie were incredible.

VIP visitor at our "Washington DC Branch"

2010-01-23T14:11:00.010-03:00

Recommended by world leaders, PLS English Users is the roadside stop on the web for Users of English as a Second Language. (CC: Subtitles in English)

Join us on FACEBOOK

Join us on TWITTER

Join us on LINKEDIN

A HIT Song about... CUSTOMER SERVICE?

2010-01-16T11:57:00.006-03:00

This lesson focuses on the use of PAST, PRESENT and CONDITIONAL forms used in the hit song and music video of 2009: UNITED BREAKS GUITARS by Dave Carroll and The Sons of Maxwell.

You can learn more about this song, its artist and the remarkable true story behind it at http://www.davecarrollmusic.com

The Apostrophe Police is on Patrol

2010-01-13T22:17:00.002-03:00

Just found this great BLOG that really goes into the misuse of apostrophes, with a touch of humor. This blog is like the Sherlock Holmes of Apostrophe Catastrophe... nothing escapes them.

Really great stuff, like this one for a place that serves "Traditional English Breakfast", as well as croissant's and coffee's.

You can find it at: www.apostrophecatastrophes.com

If you've got a few minutes, take the time to go through some of these. Some are harder to spot than others.

One thing is for sure. We'll definitely be producing a sequel to our Apostrophe Castrophe video lesson.

So stay tuned, English Users!

The Right and Wrong USE of 'S (Apostrophe S)

2010-01-10T14:47:00.003-03:00

This lesson is about the right and wrong use of: 's (apostrophe "s") in the English Language.

Welcome to your Roadside Stop, English Users!

2009-12-31T15:25:00.002-03:00

Welcome to the roadside stop on the web for Users of English as a Second Language. A new concept in online English Lessons.

PLS English Users... COMING SOON!

2009-12-15T01:51:00.000-03:00

There's a new stop for Users of English as a Second Language.

Whether you're studying English now, had to stop for a while or are thinking about starting again, PLS English Users is the place for you.

Great tips, cool resources, fun activities and convenient discounts on online courses from PLS.

Membership is free of cost.

Sign up at plsenglishuser@gmail.com

You can also join us on Facebook or on Linkedin

Hope to see you there!