Alex Huth’s paper, “Semantic information in natural narrative speech is represented in complex maps that tile human cerebral cortex” has just been published in Nature. Where exactly are the words in your head? Scientists have created an interactive map showing which brain areas respond to hearing different words. The map reveals how language is spread throughout the cortex and across both hemispheres, showing groups of words clustered together by meaning. The interactive model allows us to explore the complex organisation of the enormous dictionaries in our heads.
To see a detailed semantic map of the brain click on the Brain Viewer available here: http://gallantlab.org/huth2016/
Class
Pronunciation - weak forms, assimilation
Present Perfect Continuous
Listening p. 29
Listening for specific information, listening for opinion, noticing grammatical structure (present perfect continuous)
Modals continued - Can for general or occasional possibility. Didn't need to versus Needn't have done. May and Shall in Legal English.
Alternatives to modals: to be required to, to be + to + infinitive (e.g. You are to submit the document by Friday = obligation) had better (should/ought to), to be under no obligation to (don't have to), tobe advisable to (should), to feel obliged to, to be forbidden to (must not).
Company Law - Memorandum of Association
Vocabulary
objects = the company's objectives
bylaws = regulations
stipulations = terms or conditions of the agreement
Class Listening Problems:
Weak forms - can you hear the difference between major decision and made your decision?
Assimilation - can you hear the difference between did carefully and dig carefully?
New Vocabulary wipe term lead (noun = a soft, grey, heavy metal)
The sudden death today of Prince Rogers Nelson was a terrible shock. Prince was an enormously talented and prolific composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and performer. His concerts were a thing to behold and during the 80's he released a string of albums, including 1999, Purple Rain, Around The World In A Day, Parade and Sign O'The Times, that defined and inspired a generation. This beautiful ballad is the closing track to his 1986 release, Parade, and stands as a fitting tribute to the great man himself.
[Verse 1]
Tracy died soon after a long fought civil war
Just after I wiped away his last tear
I guess he's better off than he was before
A whole lot better off than the fools he left here
I used to cry for Tracy cause he was my only friend
Those kind of cars don't pass you every day
I used to cry for Tracy cause I want to see him again
But sometimes, sometimes life ain't always the way
[Chorus]
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad
Sometimes I wish that life was never ending
And all good things, they say, never last
[Verse 2]
Springtime was always my favorite time of year
A time for lovers holding hands in the rain
Now springtime only reminds me of Tracy's tears
Always cry for love, never cry for pain
He used to say so strong unafraid to die
Unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized
No, staring at his picture I realized
No one could cry the way my Tracy cried
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
I often dream of heaven and I know that Tracy's there
I know that he has found another friend
Maybe he's found the answer to all the April snow
Maybe one day I'll see my Tracy again
[Chorus]
[Outro]
All good things, they say, never last
And love, it isn't love until it's past
Vocabulary (to be) in/of two minds undecided; wavering default setting/position/language to bulldoze to get a word in (edgeways) contribute to a conversation with difficulty because the other speaker talks incessantly. a boon something extremely useful, helpful, or beneficial; a blessing or benefit ⇒ the car was a boon to him dim/bright stumbling block disingenuous not sincere; lacking candour verbiage the excessive and often meaningless use of words; verbosity verbage (informal) verb + garbage = (1) a made up word used to impress, (2) a synonym for copy or text, (3) a variation on verbiage derogatory term for redundant official text. See http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=verbage for more usages. Homework Phone a Swedehttp://seansstudypage.blogspot.it/2016/04/speaking-practice-why-not-call-up.html
1. Listening Problems:
Weak forms - can you hear the difference between major decision and made your decision
Assimilation - can you hear the difference between did carefully and dig carefully
2. Introduction to present perfect continuous.
3. For and Since New Language Leader p. 29 Questions 6a & 6b
Homework
Look at the modals you highlighted in the article from last week's homework. After what you have discovered in this week's lesson, would you still categorise them in the same way?
Cultural impressions - based on travel/based on film
Changes to employment and the journalism profession
Homework
Phone a Swede http://seansstudypage.blogspot.it/2016/04/speaking-practice-why-not-call-up.html Vocabulary New Year's Eve Cell Bunk (bed) Mop (noun and verb e.g. He mopped the bathroom floor) Road code To give way (to another motorist) To have right of way Corrections We were 4 people - There were 4 of us. Structure Many much money Countable/Uncountable nouns
As with other tenses, choosing the right future form depends on
context
point of view
the verb you are using
For example when using the verb go it's more natural to use I'm going rather than I'm going to go even when talking about arrangements.
Vocabulary
Synonyms acquire - buy, purchase domestic - home foreign - overseas branch - local office enter - go into establish - set up launch - introduce distributor - dealer global - international head office - headquarters Pronunciation foreign
Many of my students complain that they have no one to practice their English with. Well now you do. You can call up a number and talk to someone in Sweden.
It is almost 20 years since Jeff Buckley's tragic death by drowning but his debut album Grace (1994) remains one of the best loved and most influential rock albums of all time. Many people will know his moving version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah(click on the link to watch the video) but for my money, his original songs, Last Goodbye and Lover You Should've Come Over are just as extraordinary, showcasing his song writing talent as well as his incredible voice.
So take a listen and tell me what you think in the comments section below. Besides, there are far worse ways to practice the modal perfect.
Lover, You Should've Come Over (Jeff Buckley) Looking out the door I see the rain fall upon the funeral mourners Parading in a wake of sad relations as their shoes fill up with water And maybe I'm too young to keep good love from going wrong But tonight you're on my mind so you never know Broken down and hungry for your love with no way to feed it Where are you tonight, child you know how much I need it Too young to hold on and too old to just break free and run Sometimes a man gets carried away, when he feels like he should be having his fun And much too blind to see the damage he's done Sometimes a man must awake to find that really, he has no-one So I'll wait for you and I'll burn Will I ever see your sweet return Oh will I ever learn Oh lover, you should've come over Cause it's not too late Lonely is the room, the bed is made, the open window lets the rain in Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him My body turns and yearns for a sleep that will never come It's never over, my kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder It's never over, all my riches for her smiles when I slept so soft against her It's never over, all my blood for the sweetness of her laughter It's never over, she's the tear that hangs inside my soul forever Well maybe I'm just too young To keep good love from going wrong Oh... lover, you should've come over Cause it's not too late
Well I feel too young to hold on And I'm much too old to break free and run Too deaf, dumb, and blind to see the damage I've done Sweet lover, you should've come over Oh, love well I'm waiting for you Lover, you should've come over Cause it's not too late
Congratulations to Barbara and Pierluigi our running dictation champions.
Vocabulary pros and cons = advantages and disadvantages a no-brainer = an easy decision that you don-t have to think about homeworking versus homework outweigh hot desk work station work-life balance to spend time doing something time management time consuming (check pronunciation)
kənˈsjuːm
lose time versus waste time to lose time refers to a watch, clock or timepiece that operates slowly. to lose track of time means that you are so absorbed in an activity you don't notice how much time has passed. to waste time means to spend time on a useless activity Punctuation marks . full stop , comma ? question mark
Feedback ✔︎ Good introductions and effective linking and signposting language. Effective use of rhetorical questions too. ✔︎ Facts, procedural history, legal issues and reasonings were clearly explained. ✔︎ Accurate and appropriate use of legal vocabulary throughout .
Corrections Pronunciation - check the vowel sounds in the following: aiding, increase, imprisonment, breach, judge, claimant, clause, asylum, forfeit, circumstances. Noun forms performance, denial, guilt Prefixes uncorrect - incorrect Irregular verbs arise, arose, arisen Use the correct collocation or a verb rather than noun When the judge did the sentence to him When the judge passed sentence When the judge sentenced him
Homework
Find an article and highlight all the modal auxiliary verbs - what are their uses?
Think about whether you would like to extend the class and for how long for?
What legal or language subjects should we cover in the remaining lessons?
Learn phrasal verbs in context as they often have many different meanings e.g. take off
lift off, leave the ground, take to the air, become airborne ⇒ We eventually took off at 11am and arrived in Venice at 1.30pm.
remove ⇒ Come in and take off your coat.
depart, go, leave, split (slang), disappear, set out, strike out, beat it (slang), hit the road (slang), abscond, decamp, hook it (slang), slope off, pack your bags (informal) ⇒ He took off at once and headed home.
do well, succeed, thrive, flourish, progress, boom, prosper, have legs (informal), turn out well ⇒ He joined the company in 2014, and his career took off.
Learn phrasal verbs and dependent preposition not as grammar rules but as "chunks" of vocabulary e.g. depend on, look for, fluency/fluent in, responsible for, in charge of, a good knowledge of, to learn on the job.
Class
Future forms p. 67
(Click on the image to enlarge)
Homework
Finish exercise 4 on page 67
Notes
There is no distinct future tense in English - so we can choose from a number of forms depending on the function we wish to perform/express (prediction, intention, opinion, arrangement, intention, plan, offer, promise, decision in the moment of speaking, scheduled event, future fact) Forms will or other modals going to
present simple
present continuous
future perfect
future continuous
Other Phrases
When you expect something to happen very soon in the near future: to be about to do to be on the point of doing
For a scheduled event: To be due to do e.g. The guests are due to arrive at 11 am.
For obligations, commands, instructions: to be to do e.g. Can you please tell Andrea that he is to contact the Dublin office immediately. Future Perfect & Future Continuous
For events that will have been finished/completed by a certain time in the future: will + have + past participle (future perfect) I will have finished the report by Monday.
For events/actions that will be taking place at a certain time in the future: Will + be + -ing (future continuous) I will be lying on the beach this time next week. We will be landing in 15 minutes. (The event will happen as a matter of course) I will be meeting John on Saturday (A future event without intention - I will see him anyway because we work together - I don't necessarily intend to see him)
Vocabulary I'll get back to you (next week etc.) Little white lies
This week's song is from Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly. The expression, before too long is an oblique or understated way of saying soon and is used here to show the writer's cynical view of romantic love. The song is deceptively cheery but really a little bit stalkerish like The Police's Every Breath You Take and shows Kelly's dark sense of humour. The lyrics also include some other interesting idioms like every dog has his day which means everyone gets a chance eventually.
Before Too Long
by Paul Kelly (1986)
Before too long
The one that you're loving
Will wish that he'd never met you
Before too long
He who is nothing
Will suddenly come into view
So let the time keep rolling on
It's on my side
Lonely nights will soon be gone
High is the tide
Before too long
We'll be together
And no-one will tear us apart
Before too long
The words will be spoken
I know all the action by heart
As the night time follows day
I'm closing in
Every dog will have his day
Any dog can win
Shut the shade do not fear anymore
Here I come creeping round your back door
Before too long
I'll be repeating
What's happened before in my mind
Before too long
Over and over
Just like a hammer inside
As the nighttime follows day
I'm closing in
Every dog will have his day
Any dog can win
Vocabulary loot pillage stubble = any bristly growth or surface, especially a on a man's unshaven face. to set out your stall Pronunciation mythologise comfortable Corrections lose versus waste time to lose time refers to a watch, clock or timepiece that operates slowly. to lose track of time means that you are so absorbed in an activity you don't notice how much time has passed. to waste time means to spend time on a useless activity money to lose money means you don't have it anymore, probably through theft, accident or making a bad bet e.g. I've lost 20 euros, it must have dropped out of my jacket pocket or I lost 20 euros on that horse race yesterday. to waste money means that you spend it unwisely e.g. I wasted 30 euros on that English class - I didn't learn a thing.
We have done a lot of work lately on how important the target reader is when sitting down to write a letter or email. Getting the tone right and using an appropriate register is of the utmost importance as this spoof letter from The Poke Website demonstrates.
(click on the image for the full view)
When a Christian bakery in Belfast was found guilty last year of discriminating against a gay man, by refusing his request for a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan on it, it became headline news around the world. It also divided people in Northern Ireland. Many there see it as a battle between freedom of conscience and the right to religious expression, and Northern Ireland's equality laws.
Listen to the discussion at 19:00 between Reverends Chris Hudson, David McIlveen and journalist Fionola Meredith.
What does each of them say about the case?
Which view do you find the most persuasive and why?
According to the speakers, what does the debate say about Northern Irish society?
Who do you think will win the appeal?
Do you think the case is more about discrimination, religious freedom or freedom of political expression?
Key Vocabulary
to impugn
to flaunt (n.b. flout and flaunt are commonly confused: Flaunt and flout may sound similar but they have different meanings. Flaunt means ‘display ostentatiously,’ as in tourists who liked to flaunt their wealth, while flout means ‘openly disregard (a rule or convention),’ as in new recruits growing their hair and flouting convention. It is a common error, recorded since around the 1940s, to use flaunt when flout is intended, as in the young woman had been flaunting the rules and regulations.)
Going Further
In the introduction and conclusion of the podcast, the presenter makes a number of puns - e.g. chewing over the case, temperatures are sure to rise, stir into the mix, half baked, digest the evidence, rise to the top (of the tin). What different possible meanings do these expressions have?
Corrections
The first thing that bumped into my mind → The first thing that came to mind/leapt (in)to my mind
Learn phrasal verbs in context as they often have many different meanings e.g. take off
lift off, leave the ground, take to the air, become airborne ⇒ We eventually took off at 11am and arrived in Venice at 1.30pm.
Remove ⇒ Come in and take off your coat.
depart, go, leave, split (slang), disappear, set out, strike out, beat it (slang), hit the road (slang), abscond, decamp, hook it (slang), slope off, pack your bags (informal) ⇒ He took off at once and headed home.
do well, succeed, thrive, flourish, progress, boom, prosper, have legs (informal), turn out well ⇒ He met her in 1944, and his career took off.
Learn phrasal verbs and dependent preposition not as grammar rules but as "chunks" of vocabulary e.g. depend on, look for, fluency/fluent in, responsible for, in charge of, a good knowledge of, to learn on the job.
Going Further
Start or join a discussion in the comments section of the blog. You can comment below on today's lesson or, join in the discussion on the other D'Amico thread about favourite adverts. Even it's only a sentence or two, it is helpful to practice. It also gives me more opportunities to give you feedback and correction.
Type up a good copy of your case brief - the more concise the better, try to get it down to a page.
Prepare your presentation of the brief (3 - 5 minutes). Use the signposting language from the example and think about what area you want to improve on from your last presentation.
Class
Reading Skills - Matching pp. 64 -65
Listening Skills p. 66
Vocabulary cut out/tear out/tear off a coupon intwined spot - n.b. difference spot = a short period between regular television or radio programmes that is used for advertising Homework
p. 66 question 5 - use the audio script on p. 144 to find words that fit the definitions.
Corrections - from the homework Spelling choice, then or than? ad, advert, advertisement Noun forms - articles - countable/uncountable - singular/plural a an everyday story, the Italian excellence, family values, Italian products abroad, plurals or uncountable noun when speaking generally - a regulation regulations Word Forms fits perfect perfectly c.f. a perfect fit Sentence Structure - Subjects When it was shown in some countries ⌃ was censored. (it was censored) It represents an era that now it's is almost lost. Going further
Keep adding your links and comments to the discussion on TV commercials. Keeping up an online discussion is a good way to practice your English and to try out new structures and vocabulary.
Homework Check key vocabulary from the reading. e.g. what do the following mean? to tread carefully lobby group to put an end to something to fight a losing battle open slather to gather data/statistics stiff penalties to get rid of to back down/retreat with your tail between your legs Also:
* rort = an Australasian word for a fraudulent or dishonest practice.
* a gravy train = a very easy job that gives you lots of money or benefits.
Idioms - their use depends on cultural, regional and social factors and sometimes the power relations between the speakers. Reading: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/22/language-idiom-red-herrings-skeletons. Some of the idioms discussed include: a red herring(a misleading clue), skeletons in the closet (a shameful secret), taking the mick(ey out of someone) (to mock/make fun of), Bob's your uncle(a simple way of achieving a successful result). Some idioms can date quickly e.g. martini yodel (a 1950's expression that means getting so drunk that you end up vomiting).
Ironclad (also iron plated, iron coated, cast iron) = covered or protected with iron or impossible to contradict, weaken, or change: e.g. an ironclad guarantee
Shooting fish in a barrel = ridiculously easy. The Mythbusters team tested and proved the accuracy of their interpretation of the idiom. If the fish does not die from the shot, it is quite likely to die from the shockwave. Before the days of refrigeration, fish were packed and stored in small barrels. The barrels were packed to the rim full of fish. Any shot that entered the barrel would hit at least one of them. Thus nothing can be easier than shooting fish in a barrel.
To waylay someone = (1) tostop or interrupt someone and detain them in conversation or trouble them in some other way: he waylaid me on the stairs, (2)to lie in wait for and attack, (3) to await and intercept unexpectedly.
Class Notes:
Reading
How well did the airline handle the situation?
What would you have done if you were Mrs Rabinowitz/the air steward?
Would the situation be any different if the Ultra Orthodox man had complained about sitting next to a gay person?
When a Christian bakery in Belfast was found guilty last year of discriminating against a gay man, by refusing his request for a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan on it, it became headline news around the world. It also divided people in Northern Ireland. Many there see it as a battle between freedom of conscience and the right to religious expression, and Northern Ireland's equality laws.
Listen to the discussion at 19:00 between Reverends Chris Hudson, David McIlveen and journalist Fionola Meredith.
What does each of them say about the case?
Which view do you find the most persuasive and why?
According to the speakers, what does the debate say about Northern Irish society?
Who do you think will win the appeal?
Do you think the case is more about discrimination, religious freedom or freedom of political expression?
Key Vocabulary
to impugn
to flaunt (n.b. flout and flaunt are commonly confused: Flaunt and flout may sound similar but they have different meanings. Flaunt means ‘display ostentatiously,’ as in tourists who liked to flaunt their wealth, while flout means ‘openly disregard (a rule or convention),’ as in new recruits growing their hair and flouting convention. It is a common error, recorded since around the 1940s, to use flaunt when flout is intended, as in the young woman had been flaunting the rules and regulations.)
Going Further
In the introduction and conclusion of the podcast, the presenter makes a number of puns - e.g. chewing over the case, temperatures are sure to rise, stir into the mix, half baked, digest the evidence, rise to the top (of the tin). What different possible meanings do these expressions have?
On My Heart is the second track on the 2016 album SVIIB by New York based indie rock band School of Seven Bells. The song features a number of food based idioms:
to feed someone a line = to deceive someone with false, insincere or exaggerated talk.
to stew = to be troubled or agitated.
to simmer = to be about to have an angry outburst.
[Verse 1]
It hurts to know
That you don't trust me
When you try to bust me
It only makes me trust you
Less to know that I don't get respect
When I've given you my word
And you go with what you heard
Instead you go and simmer through the night
Then we end up in a fight
And it's such a waste of time
Now I know you're feeding me a line
But you say that you're in love
But you're stewing all the time
[Verse 2]
I know you got a lot to question
That made a big impression
I know that you've been hurt for a while--why did you apologize
When it was before my time is an answer I will give you
And so when you call me on the phone
And you hear I'm not alone
No it doesn't mean that things have gone wrong
There was a you before me
There was a me before you
And that's the way it goes
[Chorus]
You don't need to worry on my heart
It's written one way
You won't give her the ground, just forget her
With me you're love-safe
With me you're love-safe
With me you're love-safe
With me you're love-safe
[Chorus]
You don't need to worry on my heart
It's written one way
You won't give her the ground, just forget her
With me you're love-safe
With me you're love-safe
With me you're love-safe
With me you're love-safe
[Outro]
With me you're love-safe
With me you're love-safe
With me you're love-safe
work (uncountable noun - some work, I have lots of work)
job (countable noun - a job, I work 3 jobs, I have many jobs to do)
overpaid = paid too much
underpaid = paid too little
tight deadline (If money or time is tight is means there is very little of it)
job security
shift work
(fashion) designer - a person who designs clothes
stylist - a person whose job is to arrange and coordinate food, clothes, etc. in a stylish and attractive way in photographs or films.
Vocabulary Skills
Create a lexical set around a particular job to help you remember new vocabulary e.g. Shop assistant: filling shelves, serving customers, changing window displays, chain (store), branch, refund, dealing with customer complaints.
Listening Skills
As you discovered in the lesson, there is often a lot of ambiguity when listening in English. For example the words patients and patience sound the same. Remember to always listen for other clues in the sentence to help you make the right choice and sometimes it will just be confusing as in the following sentence: A doctor needs lots of patience when dealing with lots of patients. Homework
Do some listening practice using a video or podcast. Check the audio script afterwards. What made the text confusing or ambiguous?
I am a freelance teacher based at the British Council in Rome. This is a Blog for my students, not only to keep up with what we are doing in class but also to ask questions, share ideas and practise English.
