SMART Goals to Improve Your English Learning
source: Oxford Online English 2018年4月12日
To make progress in English, you need to think about your goals. In this lesson, you'll learn how to set SMART goals and how this can help you learn English more effectively.
This lesson will help you learn:
- About SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound)
- What SMART goals are and why it's important to set them.
- How to add effective time limits to your goals.
- Ways to make sure your goals are achievable.
- How to make goals like 'Improving English Pronunciation', and set them up so you can achieve them using SMART goals.
- Ways to set minor goals so you can better achieve your bigger goals.
You Are FIRED! – Business English Vocabulary
source: Learn English with Let's Talk 2018年4月9日
You are learning English so that you could speak English in Real life. English in textbooks is so different from spoken English in the real world. You need a lot of English conversation practice to be a fluent English speaker. This Business English lesson brings you a conversation between an employee and a boss who is annoyed, learn some English phrases from the conversation and focus on the English pronunciation. You would also learn some great idioms used in the conversation. We hope this English conversation lesson helps you gather some great vocabulary that you could use in your daily English conversations. Practice English phrases from this lesson and implement them as you get a chance.
for Advanced Reading Comprehension: Train Station
source: Learn English with EnglishClass101.com 2018年4月20日
In this video, you’ll challenge your English reading comprehension skills.
Who needs a manbag? Learn to talk about men's fashion in 6 minutes!
source: BBC Learning English 2018年3月29日
6 Minute English discusses the trend for manbags. These designer accessories are being carried on the arms and shoulders of many modern men but they're not just for looking good, they're practical too. Find out who really is carrying one and learn some new vocabulary along the way.
# materials below: from http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/feat...
This week's question:
According to market research company Mintel, do you know how many men bought a manbag in the UK last year? Was it…
a) 5%
b) 15%
c) 25%
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary:
accessory: an additional item added to something to make it more useful or attractive
laughing stock: someone who people think of as silly
sturdy: strong and not easily damaged
masculinity: characteristics that are traditionally thought to be typical of men
hefty price tag: high price
inhibitions: a feeling of embarrassment that stops you from doing something
Transcript
(Note: This is not a word for word transcript)
Rob
Welcome to 6 Minute English, the programme where we explore an interesting topic and bring you some useful items of vocabulary. I'm Rob.
Neil
And I'm Neil. And today we are discussing manbags.
Rob
Yes, manbags - they are the height of fashion at the moment – a stylish accessory that modern men are carrying. An accessory is an additional item added to something to make it more useful or attractive.
Neil
I'm not so sure Rob. I mean, I wouldn't be seen dead carrying a manbag!
Rob
Really! So what do you carry your lose change, your credit cards, tickets and mobile phone in?
Neil
I just stuff everything in my pockets Rob – it's better than being a laughing stock, carrying a handbag around!
Rob
By laughing stock you mean everyone thinking of you as silly – but you wouldn't be because it's a manbag Neil – not a woman's handbag. Maybe I can convince you to change your mind by the end of the programme. But now let's not forget to ask you today's question…
Neil
Is it about manbags by any chance?
Rob
It is so it might be tricky for you to answer! According to market research company Mintel, how many men bought a manbag in the UK last year? Was it…
a) 5%
b) 15%
c) 25%
Neil
Well obviously not many, so I'm going to say 5%. And I'm not one of them!
Rob
OK, you've made that very clear! We'll find out the answer at the end of the programme anyway. Now let's talk more about manbags. For hundreds of years women have carried their possessions around in handbags, so why can't a man do the same with a manbag?
Neil
Maybe it's the name. Why can't it just be a bag? Why does a bag have to have a gender?
Rob
It's a trend Neil – a stylish fashion item designed to look good on men. Many big names have flocked to adopt the trend. Pharrell Williams, David Beckham and Kanye West, are just some of those who've been spotted rocking a manbag. Rocking is an informal way of saying 'wearing'.
Neil
But what's wrong with a sturdy briefcase – sturdy means strong and not easily damaged. Are you saying manbags are just fashionable?
Rob
No, they're practical too. We've always needed bags to carry stuff around but what we carry these days has changed – you know laptops, mobiles, even our lunch – so why not have a trendy looking bag to carry these things around in?
Neil
I think part of the problem is carrying one is not seem as very a British by some people. We're not always as stylish as our some of our European neighbours, are we?
Rob
Well, speak for yourself! But Nick Carvell, GQ Contributing Fashion Editor has a reason for this. Here he is speaking on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme…
Nick Carvell, GQ Contributing Fashion Editor
In Britain we are still very tied up with that idea of masculinity that is almost so fragile that it can be dented by carrying a bag. We think a lot about that in this country in a way that I don't think a lot of European men do.
Rob
So Nick feels some British men are still tied up with the idea of masculinity – these are the characteristics traditionally thought to be typical of men. And for us British men, these characteristics are fragile – they can be easily broken.
Neil
Yes, we can also call it manliness – things like not crying during a sad film. It's a slightly old-fashion idea but it could still be dented – or affected – if a man was caught carrying a manbag.
Rob
Whereas some European men don't give it a lot of thought, according to Nick Carvell.
Neil
But with people like Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana designing these bags, they're bound to have a hefty price tag – that's an informal way of saying a high price.
Rob
Well fashion comes at a price Neil – you need to shake off your inhibitions – that's a feeling of embarrassment that stops you from doing something. And if you really want to be on trend you could also splash out on a 'murse' that's a man's purse, or a 'mote' – a man's tote bag? Have I convinced you?
Neil
No, not really Rob. I have a feeling that a manbag by any other name is, well, a bag – and I have one - my trusty backpack.
Rob
Well for some people, manbags are the thing – but, as I asked earlier, according to market research company Mintel, how many men actually bought a manbag in the UK last year? Was it…
a) 5%
b) 15%
c) 25%
Neil
And I said a) 5%. Come on, I must have been right!
Rob
You were wrong Neil. The answer was actually 15%. And nearly a quarter of 16-34 year olds have bought one.
Neil
Well as I say Rob, a good practical backpack is for me. But now shall we unpack some of the vocabulary we've discussed today. Starting with 'accessory' which is an additional item added to something to make it more useful or attractive. "A tie is a smart accessory to wear with a suit."
Rob
Maybe, but you wouldn't catch me wearing a suit in my media job – it's all t-shirts and jeans for us! If I came to work in a suit I would be a 'laughing stock' – I mean, I would be seen as someone who people think of as silly.
Neil
Our next word was 'sturdy' – something that is sturdy is strong and not easily damaged. "If you're walking up a mountain you need to wear some sturdy walking boots."
Rob
Good advice – if I was going up a mountain, which I'm not. Next we mentioned 'masculinity'. These are the characteristics that are traditionally thought to be typical of men. So we sometimes refer to it as being macho! Like: "Neil went swimming in ice cold water to prove his masculinity."
Neil
That I would never do – I'd rather carry a manbag – despite their hefty price tag – that means 'high price'.
Rob
Finally, we also mentioned the word 'inhibitions' – that's feelings of embarrassment that stop you from doing something. "Neil's inhibitions are stopping him from carrying a manbag."
Neil
It's a bag Rob – just a bag! But we've talked enough about this so that's it for this edition of 6 Minute English. But before you rush off to purchase a designer manbag, don't forget to visit our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages. Bye for now.
Rob
Bye.
FOMO: fear of missing out (The English We Speak)
source: BBC Learning English 2018年1月15日
Rob's off to a rock concert and Feifei's not been invited. She's not happy, especially because she thinks she's got 'FOMO'. Find out what this means and if FOMO is an illness of the body or the mind. But don't worry, Feifei's FOMO won't last long!
Transcript: from http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/...
Rob
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. I'm Rob...
Feifei
And hello, I'm Feifei. We're here to teach you a real English phrase… Rob, what's that you're holding there?
Rob
Oh this… just a ticket to see one of my favourite rock bands in concert – The Rolling Thrones.
Feifei
Oh great – and I see you've got more than one ticket.
Rob
Yes, that's right, a few of us from the office are going – it's tonight! I'm very excited.
Feifei
[SOUNDING JEALOUS] Oh right – Rob, it sounds fun - maybe I could get a ticket and join you?
Rob
Why? You don't like rock music and you always stay in and wash your hair on a Thursday – or so you tell me anyway. Oh Feifei, you've got FOMO.
Feifei
I've got 'FOMO'? Is that bad? Is that why you didn't invite me? Oh dear, should I go and see a doctor?
Rob
No, don't see a doctor. FOMO is an acronym for 'fear of missing out'. It's a worried feeling you have that other people are doing fun things when you are not – you're missing out!
Feifei
Oh, we'd better hear some examples of other people with FOMO…
Examples
I know Martha's got FOMO, she's been moaning about not being invited to Wang's karaoke party – but she doesn't even like karaoke!
All my friends are going on holiday together but I can't afford it so I've got FOMO.
There's a message on Facebook that all the tickets to that gig are sold out – now I have a feeling of FOMO!
Feifei
So that's FOMO – fear of missing out – which describes a feeling you might have when you feel other people are doing something fun, when you are not. Well Rob, now I know what it means, I know I haven't got it. I just wanted to be sociable, and have some fun with you all.
Rob
Sorry Feifei, even if you could get a ticket, it's boys only I'm afraid.
Feifei
Oh look, I've got a message on my social media feed… is the lead singer of your band called Mick Dagger?
Rob
That's him – the finest rock singer around – why?
Feifei
It says here, he's fallen down the stairs and broken his leg. The rock concert is cancelled!
Rob
Cancelled? Oh no. Err, what did you say you were doing tonight?
Feifei
Washing my hair.
Rob
Any chance I could come round… watch a movie, get a takeaway?
Feifei
Oh dear Rob. Have you got FOMO now? Bye.
Rob
Bye.
15 HAPPY WORDS | English Vocabulary Lesson
source: Interactive English 2017年7月25日
Get happy with us and learn 15 happy words! These synonyms for "happy" will make you a better speaker as well as help you better express yourself when you are feeling happy.
Being French In The USA, With Mathilde Piton
source: Speak English with Christina 2015年11月29日
Contents:
0:00 - introduction
3:40 — Culture shock, living abroad and going back to your own country
4:40 — Things Mathilde found different when she first arrived in USA
7:00 — Differences in mentality, attitude towards French people, American stereotypes of French people
10:45 — Speaking English with Americans, understanding the American accent, and speaking so Americans you can understand you
13:00 —Working on your pronunciation
18:15—Lack of confidence when speaking English and what to do about it
16:50 —Work culture in the US vs France; advice for working with Americans
21:00 —One piece of advice for French people coming to the US, either to live, work, or just to visit
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