Author Archives: Dr. Lucy Tse

You Be the DJ

Posted on Tuesday - March 23, 2010 by Dr. Lucy Tse

From time to time, I have selected songs and provided the lyrics (words in songs), with explanations.  They are usually songs I like, so you’ve had to suffer (go through the pain of) my choices. Finally, it’s your turn to … Continue reading →

Posted in Karaoke English, Polls | 28 Comments

Desert Island Companion

Posted on Tuesday - March 2, 2010 by Dr. Lucy Tse

I often come across desert island questions, asking if we were stranded on (not able to leave) a desert island, or a deserted island, that is uninhabited (with no people, other than me), what would we want to bring along?  … Continue reading →

Posted in Television and Movies | 20 Comments

It’s the Law…Now

Posted on Tuesday - February 23, 2010 by Dr. Lucy Tse

Every January 1st, new laws go into effect and people must begin to follow them. Last year in the U.S., 40,000 new laws were passed.  Here are a sampling of (examples of) some of the new laws now in effect … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 19 Comments

A Fusion Hybrid Combination

Posted on Tuesday - February 9, 2010 by Dr. Lucy Tse

Have you ever heard the famous saying: “Necessity is the mother of invention”? Necessity is a need for something and invention is the creation of something new, something that no one has ever made before. Many new inventions come about … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 15 Comments

“Mind Over Matter,” “Relationship Chicken,” & “Not Even Close”

Posted on Tuesday - January 26, 2010 by Dr. Lucy Tse

QUESTION: Yana from Russia wants to know the meaning of the phrase “mind over matter.” ANSWER: Mind over matter refers to the ability to use the power of our thinking, or of our brain, to overcome (succeed in dealing with) … Continue reading →

Posted in Language & Terms | 16 Comments

Street Dance and Dance Crews

Posted on Tuesday - January 19, 2010 by Dr. Lucy Tse

In last week’s English Cafe, we talked about hip-hop culture. A big part of hip-hop culture is hip-hop dancing, or street dancing. Hip-hop dancing has been around for a long time, since the early 1970s, and it has continued and … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 15 Comments

Dog as a Second Language

Posted on Tuesday - January 12, 2010 by Dr. Lucy Tse

Yesterday, I offered a little ditty to help us all get through Monday. Today, I have a little joke for you.  If we get past Monday and Tuesday, then we should be able to get past hump day, right?  Hump … Continue reading →

Posted in Jokes and Humor | 19 Comments

“Living in a Tree” by Priscilla Ahn

Posted on Monday - January 11, 2010 by Dr. Lucy Tse

Here’s a little ditty (a short, simple song) to help ease (make something unpleasant easier) your way into a new work week.  When we’re not looking forward to going to work, we sometimes say, “Another day, another dollar,” expressing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Karaoke English | 13 Comments

You Give Me the Creeps!

Posted on Tuesday - January 5, 2010 by Dr. Lucy Tse

QUESTION: Benjamin in Thailand wants to know what this sentence means: “You give me the creeps!” ANSWER: To give (someone) the creeps means to make someone feel frightened or uncomfortable. For example, if you ride the subway every morning and … Continue reading →

Posted in Language & Terms | 11 Comments

A Stowaway Cat

Posted on Tuesday - December 29, 2009 by Dr. Lucy Tse

Here is a story that appeared in the Los Angeles Times recently that caught my eye (got my attention).  The headline is: “Cat stows away (hides and rides without paying) on cross-country (across the country) flight” This is what happened: … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 13 Comments