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ON MONDAY
ESL Podcast 754 – Being in a Flood

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “soaked” and “go ahead.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “The Biggest U.S. Floods.”
“Most people are “familiar with” (have seen) images from the “horrific” (terrible; awful) flooding caused in and around New Orleans, Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. But there have been many other large…” - READ MORE in the Learning Guide
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ON WEDNESDAY
English Cafe 328
Topics:  The Scopes Trial; American Cities: Aspen and Vail, Colorado; The City of New York versus New York City; verge versus brink; to compliment versus to complement

In the Learning Guide:  Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear).
In “What Insiders Know,” you will read about “The Play Inherit the Wind.”
“In 1955, two “playwrights” (authors of plays), Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee “debuted” (showed for the first time) a play called Inherit the Wind.  This play was a “parable”…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
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ON FRIDAY
ESL Podcast 755 – Rejecting Newer Technology

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.

In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “to act up” and “spring.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “Classic Video Games.”
“Pong is one of the “classic” (traditional; one of the first of something and still admired) video games. Released in 1972, it was based on a tennis game…” - READ MORE in the Learning Guide

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times cites (refers to; tells about) a new poll (survey) that finds that fewer Americans are getting married. Saying “I do,” or getting married, has become less popular in the past few decades (periods of 10 years), with nearly 20% fewer adult Americans married now than in 1960.  In fact, it’s likely that within a few years, less than 50% of Americans will be married compared to 72% in 1960.

Those who are getting married, the report says, are getting married later.  In the past 50 years, the age when men and women first marry has risen (gone up) six years.  For men, the age is now 28.7 and for women, 26.5.

These days, other living arrangements have become more popular.  Couples, people who are together romantically, may cohabit (live together) instead of getting married, and many children live in single-parent homes (with only a father or mother, not both).  The study points out (shows) that the U.S. is not alone in this shift (change) in rates of marriage.  In most post-industrial countries (countries where manufacturing (making products) becomes less important and developing services, information, and research become more important), marriage has become less popular, regardless of (despite) good or bad economic times.

Are these trends (direction that change is moving) the same where you live?  Are you married?  Are you cohabiting, or living with (we would say, more informally), someone?  Are you part of a single-parent family?

~ Lucy

Photo Credit: Cakeinwhitesatin from Wikipedia

Last week, I talked about five things I was thankful for in the year 2011. With 2012 upon us (here; with us now), it is of course time to make some New Year’s resolutions. Here are a few of mine:

1. Exercise more. I discovered recently that, although I wish otherwise (want something else or something different), I am getting a little older every year. My doctor that says the best thing for me to do is more exercise.  I already exercise everyday on a treadmill (a machine for walking), but I could stand to do (could benefit from doing) a little more, especially after all of that pumpkin pie I ate over the holidays.

2. Eat more pumpkin pie. Eating pumpkin pie is one of my favorite things in the world to do. So, hey, if I exercise more, I can eat more pie, right? Of course, if I eat more pie than I do now, I will need to exercise even more, but that just means I can then eat more pie and then…well, you get the idea.

3. Learn something new. I am what my father used to call a “professional student” – I was in school for so many years that it seemed as though that was my “career.” But the truth is I really do enjoy going to school and learning something new. Last year I took a couple of classes at my local community college, and I had a lot of fun, even though I was by far (easily) the oldest person in the class. I plan to do that again this year.

4. Spend less time watching television. It is too easy to sit down and spend half of your evening watching the silly programs that are on the TV. That time can be better spent talking to my wife and my family, reading a good book, or eating pumpkin pie.

5. Suffer fools (more) gladly. Fools are people who are do things we think are stupid or who might annoy (bother) us with their silly actions. To suffer usually means to undergo (experience) pain, but it can also mean to tolerate, to put up with someone. Gladly means happily.  There is an old expression that we should learn to suffer fools gladly, meaning that we should be more patient and kind to those whose behavior (actions) we don’t like, who are foolish, or who bother us in some way. I think we can all afford to do (are able to; will benefit from) that. We can make the world around us just a little bit nicer by being nicer ourselves.

What are five things you want to do more of, less of, or differently in 2012?

~Jeff

Photo credit: Treadmill by McQuillan

It’s a new year! Are you finally ready to reach a higher level of English? The Learning Guide is the answer.

We designed the Learning Guide to help you learn English better and faster. Get more vocabulary, language explanations, sample sentences, comprehension questions, cultural notes, and more.

Get the Learning Guide and support ESL Podcast today by becoming a Basic or Premium Member!
………

ON MONDAY
ESL Podcast 752 – Working With Unreliable People

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.

In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “to hold up” and “line.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “The Unreliable Narrator.”
“A “narrator” is the character or person who tells the story in a book, show, or play. A “first-person narrator” is a character in the story who tells the story from his or her perspective, using the word “I.” A “third-person narrator” is an…” - READ MORE in the Learning Guide
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ON WEDNESDAY
English Cafe 327
Topics:  Famous Americans: Lucille Ball; The Great Depression; hermit versus loner versus introvert; other than versus rather than; Et tu, Brute?

In the Learning Guide:  Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear).
In “What Insiders Know,” you will read about “The Cecil B. DeMille Award.”
“If you are a “fan” (enthusiastic follower) of television shows and movies, you may look forward to the Golden Globe Award show each year. Unlike the Emmy Awards, which “honor” (give recognition and respect to) only television shows…” - READ MORE in the Learning Guide
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ON FRIDAY
ESL Podcast 753 – Enduring Hazing

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.

In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “club” and “to streak.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “Film Depictions of Hazing: A Few Good Men.”
“A “highly acclaimed” (popular; admired; reviewed favorably) 1992 film called A Few Good Man “depicts” (shows) a fascinating, “dramatized” (exaggerated for a play or movie) instance of hazing…” - READ MORE in the Learning Guide