Learning English – Lesson Eighteen (Small Talk)

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You know, the world of English is a fun and exciting place to be. I’m so glad that you could join me for another lesson.

Hi everybody…this is Misterduncan in England!

How are you today? Are you OK? I hope so!

Are you happy? I hope so!

 In this lesson..we are going to take a close look at another fascinating part of the English language. Today we will discuss the fine art of small-talk. Turn tape off!

Cheers!

The word small-talk, means to hold a conversation and talk about a general topic. The subject is normally a simple or common one which will not cause any discomfort or awkwardness between the people involved. There are many popular topics of conversation when it comes to using small-talk.

You will find that the topics used during small-talk will vary from country to country. For example…Here in the UK…we talk about the Weather

• “Isn’t it a lovely day?”
• “Do you think it will rain later?”
• “Isn’t it cold today?”
• “Oh, terrible Weather we are having these days!”
• “I don’t like the Weather today, it’s too hot!”
• “Did you hear what the Weather Forecast is?”

“La la la la la, America!” People in the USA also use small-talk. They generally talk about their family. For example…

• ”Is your family keeping well?”
• Hey! “How’s your Sister getting along in Florida?”
• “Did you know my Cousin Rachael…got married last Fall?”
• “My Dad has just retired from working…hey how’s your Pop these days?”
• “You must come and visit the family one weekend”

Small-talk is often used when there is very little time to have a full conversation. In many cases it is done out of courtesy or to be polite. It is worth remembering that there are some general rules surrounding small-talk. For example.

Be careful not to run out of things to say.

“Do you know what my favourite food is?”

“My favourite food is bread”

“What’s your favourite food?”

“Do you like food?...I like food very much. But as I said..my most favourite food of all is bread”

“Do you know why I like bread?”

“Because bread is very simple..and it’s very easy to prepare. You can have it with butter.. You can have it with meat.. You can have it with vegetables”

Keep the conversation interesting.

That was a really boring conversation…don’t you think? Finally it’s worth remembering how to end the conversation..politely.

• “Oh..i really have to dash now..or I’ll be late for work.”
• “It’s been great talking to you..but I must go..or I’ll miss my train.”
• “Wow..is that the time?”
• “I really had better get a move on”
• “Oh..I would love to chat longer but I have something else to do. Maybe another time..OK?”

So as you can see..small-talk is quite a common part of everyday life. And it allows us all to take time to chat. Even it it’s just for a few moments. Oh my goodness, my chat time is also up now! This is Misterduncan in England saying..thanks for watching, see you again soon…bye-bye for now.

Learning English – Lesson Seventeen (Time)

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Hi everybody…this is Misterduncan in England!

How are you today? Are you OK? I hope so!

Are you happy? I hope so!

In this lesson we’re going to spend some time…talking all about…Time!

The easiest way to describe time would be to say that it runs in the form of a straight line. That is the reason why we often describe time as being “Linear”. There are some pretty strict rules when it comes to our understanding of time. For example, time can only go forwards. Time cannot be slowed down. And time cannot…be stopped.

Luckily for us we have a neat little system called “Stressing Tense”. This allows us to use words to show when something has happened that it’s happening now or when it will happen.

But how does this relate to learning English? I will tell you.

In English Grammar. We need to know when an event is happening and we need to be able to show it clearly by what we say. Sorry..It may seem a little strange to be linking the subject of time with learning English but in fact there is a very strong connection between the use of English and it’s relation to time. Needless to say everything happens at a certain time. So it is important for us to be able to say when a certain event happened. We have three basic points to consider when talking about placing an event at a particular moment. We have the past…we have the present…and of course we have the future. It is also worth remembering that the only part of this that is moving forward is the present. The future always lies ahead. And the past is constantly trailing behind. However, the present is also constantly changing. It is a little bit like sitting in a moving car. The car represents now…and the road is time itself. So when speaking English…you will need to know, how to express words to clearly show the point of time to which it relates. A very simple example would be…did…doing..do.

• I did in the past. à past
• I have done it already. à past
• I’m doing it in the present. à present
• I’m doing it now. à present
• I will do it in the future. à future
• I will do it later. à future

• I did my homework.
• I did my homework in the past. à past
• I’ve done it already.
• I’m doing my homework. à present
• That means it is being done now.
• I will do my homework. à
• Means it will be done later…in the future.

Another example for you…

• I went for a run. à past
• I’m running. à present
• I will go for a run. à future

And one more example…

• I carried my shopping home. à past
• I’m carrying my shopping home. à present
• I will carry my shopping home. à future

If I used the word “Walked” in a sentence would I be talking about something I did already in the past? Or would I be talking about something I will do later in the future? If you say it was something I did already…then you would be right…well done! Time is a very complicated thing to understand. It took humans thousands of years to discover the relation between when and what. But we finally did manage to work it out…when a Scientist named Albert Einstein scratched his head one day and said…”it is all relative”. It was at that precise moment…when the “Theory of Relativity” was born. It is much easier nowadays to explain…when and what but there is still one question we cannot answer…and that question is…why?

There are some Idioms and proverbs which relate to time. For example…

• ”Time waits for no man”
• “No time like the present”
• “All in the fullness of time”
• “just in the nick of time”
• “A stitch in time…saves…nine”
• “Time marches on”
• “The sands of time”.

Well, it seems as if I have run out of time. I only have a few moments left. So..i will wrap up here. This is Misterduncan in England saying..thanks for your time and for watching…see you later…next time..hopefully soon. Bye-bye for now.

Learning English – Lesson Sixteen (Technology)

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Hi everybody…this is Misterduncan in England!

How are you today? Are you OK? I hope so!

Are you happy? I hope so!

In this lesson, we’re going to talk about the complicated and some would say forever changing world..of modern technology.

A long time ago in a galaxy, far far away…Well..actually it was not all that long ago…In fact it was not all that far away either.

In the beginning there was darkness. Computer, DVD players and I-pods did not exist. There were no cellular phones, no jet aeroplanes, no microwave ovens and no internet. Yes before technology came along, the world was quite a dull place to be…Or so we are told!

“Greetings Earth People”. The word technology generally relates to any complicated tool that has been created to carry out a task of some sort. This task can be a simple one..such as..adding up numbers. Right up to the really complex ones…such as steering a jumbo jet or sending a rocket into space. There are some other words that relate to technology. Such as…”Electronics”, “Hi-Tech”, “Micro-Tech” and …”Info-Tech”. These days virtually all modern technology is powered by electricity for example…”Televisions”,  “Radios”, “MP-3 Players”, “Cellular Phones”, “Washing Machines”, “Notebook Computers”. Even the good old…”Buzzzzz”, “Toothbrush”, The list is endless!

Do you mind if I take your photograph? Is it ok? Ok. Give me a lovely smile..go on! Say cheese…”Cheese!!!” That’s great. It would be fair to say that virtually all of the great technological leaps forward have occurred during the past fifty years. Since the discovery of Electricity…our world has been magically transformed into an amazing wonderland…where our thirst for information can be quenched and imagination is allowed to run free.

However…all is not perfect. There are some people who are sceptical of our ultra-modern way of living. And say that modern inventions such as the Computer and Television have made us lazy and less in touch with the real world.

Other examples being..the cellular telephone and the internet. Which critics say, have helped to make the world smaller…while at the same time making us less likely. To speak face to face. Also we musn’t forget. The environmental impact that these energy guzzling devices are making.

Of course it is true., that technology has been created for bad purposes…as well as good. Nuclear power has enabled us the generate energy but it also been used to create weapons. So I imagine, perhaps in the future…we could be using Lazer guns..just like in the science-fiction movies.

It is amazing to think of how much the world has changed because off all the new technology around us many of the devices we use today would have been mere fantasy and science-fiction fifty  years ago. It proves one very important rule. If it can be imagined, it can be created.

I wonder what our world will be like in another fifty years. Can you imagine what it will be like living then? Flying cars! Fusion power! Maybe even a “Time machine”will be invented by then. I could travel back to the past..and visit myself as a child. Then again..maybe not.

How many pieces of technology do you own? What are your favourite electronic devices? Do you think you could live without them? It is amazing to think that without all these incredible inventions. I would not be able to stand here today and talk to you. Many of the things we can do today have been made possible, thanks to our own creativeness and ingenuity. This is Misterduncan..via the internet…saying thanks for watching and..bye-bye for now. Ok, Misterduncan ready to beam up,

Learning English – Lesson Fifteen (Slang)

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Hi everybody…this is Misterduncan in England!

How are you today? Are you OK? I hope so!

Are you happy? I hope so!

In this lesson, we’re going to talk about a very fascinating part of the English language. Give me an ‘S’, Give me an ‘L’ Give me an ‘A’ ‘Give me an N’ ‘Give me an G’. Yes, today we’re going to talk about Slang.

So the first question must be..what exactly is slang?

Using slang means replacing a common word or sentence with a totally new one. The use of slang has been around for many years. It is often associated with younger people. Mainly due to the fact that each new generation wants it’s own identity. So in many ways it would be true to say that slang defines a generation. Lets take a look at a simple example of slang.

Can you see what I’ve got in my hand? Look!..i have some money. There are many slang words that can mean money. For example, we can say 

• “Cash” 
• “Dosh”
• “Dough”
• “Foldable Stuff”
• “Moolah”
• “Notes”
• “Readies”
• “Smackers”. 

We can also use slang to express certain currencies for example,  The English Pound, could be described as..”Quid” or “Nicker”. So in my hand I have 20 Quid. The US Dollar on the other hand..can be called “Buck” or “Green-Back”. So I could say…In my pocket I have 20 Bucks.

Another word that has had many slang terms given to it, is the word “Great”. For example, instead of saying great, we could say 

• “That’s ace”
• “That’s awesome”
• “That’s bad”
• “That’s bona”
• “Cool”
• “Excellent”
• “Far-Out”
• “Intense”
• “Radical”
• “Wicked”. 

These days, the most commonly used slang word for good or great is “Awesome!” and “Cool!”. Between you and me, I think that’s pretty awesome.

Did you know that the word ‘cool’ has been around as a slang term for over 50 years! So as you can see there are many slang words around. Although it’s worth remembering that some slang terms from years ago are no longer used today. For example…in the past we may have described a woman as a bird or a chick..Nowadays these two terms are considered, very offensive..so if you used it today, you may…get a slap in the face!

Let’s take a look at some more slang words.

Common Examples of Modern Slang

• “Aggro” = Means to fight violently with someone or use aggressive behavious
• “Babe” = A young attractive Woman
• “Barbie” = A slang word from Australia, meaning barbecue
• “Berk” = A stupid or foolish person
• “Cabbage” = A person who is “Brain-dead” from an injury or on a Life-Support machine
• “Cancer Stick” = A Cigarette
• “Chav” = A poorly educated person often used nowadays in the UK to describe young anti-social people
• “Cheerio” = This means goodbye
• “Chill-Out” = Relax
• “Choppers” = Your Teeth
• “Dead” = Meaning Extremely. For example..”It is dead hot in here”
• “Diamond” = This is used to mean wonderful or great. Originally used in London
• “Diddle” = To cheat someone or lie to them
• “Dish” = A good-looking and attractive man
• “Egg-Head” = A clever and intelligent person
• “Emo” = A shy, emotional young person
• “Erk” = An unimportant and worthless person
• “Fag” = A Cigarette
• “Fancy” = To be attracted to someone. I really fancy you!
• “Fisty-Cuffs” = A fight using the clenched hands
• “Fit” = Meaning, an attractive person. She is really fit. He is really fit.
• “Fuddy-Duddy” =  An old fussy person
• “Gay” = Unfashionable or Useless. This T-shirt is so gay.
• “Get a Life” = Do something useful. Sort yourself out.
• “Google Box” = The Television.
• “Graveyard Hours” = To work through the night

Examples of Slang From The USA

• “Airhead” = A stupid person
• “Bad” = This means good.
• “Barf” = To be sick or Vomit
• “Cruise” = To drive or move fast
• “Dough” = This means money
• “Dynamite” = Something that is impressive or exciting
• “Far-Out” = Something that is Unbelievable
• “Gut-Full” = This means enough of. I’ve had a Gut-full of you.
• “Hang Five” = Wait a moment
• “Pad” = Your apartment or home
• “Screw-up” = Make a big mistake. In the UK we say cock-up.
• “Split” = Leave. It’s time to split
• “Time-Out” = Take a break
• “Take it Easy” = Be careful
• “Out There” = Perform well
• “Wheels” = your car. Can I borrow your wheels?
• “Zip” = Nothing or zero

So as you can see, the world of slang is an ‘awesome’ and ‘far-out’ place. Part of the fun of learning English is discovering these new expressions and widening your use of the language to fit into your everyday life. This is Misterduncan in England..saying Hang tight until next time.  Bye-si-bye!, “Cheerio”,  “Later”..”Ta-rah”, “See ya…wouldn’t wanna be ya!”, “Goodbye!”

Learning English – Lesson Fourteen (Body Language)

Hi everybody…this is Misterduncan in England!

How are you today? Are you OK? I hope so!

Are you happy? I hope so!

In this lesson, we’re going to talk about…expressing yourself, using body language!

When we say “Express Yourself”. We mean that you show the way you feel…about something. Your reaction! There are two ways to express yourself…by doing…or by saying!

Showing your reaction by doing…normally means using your body. Maybe the expression on your face will change..but you say nothing..You “Pull a Face”.

Maybe you wave your arms around…In anger…Perhaps you stamp your foot. Maybe you jump up and down..or perhaps you simply walk away. We call these particular reactions…”Body Language”

Examples of body language

• “Happy”
• “Miserable”
• “Excited”
• “Confused”
• “Sleepy”
• “Surprised”
• “Unsure”
• “Lonely”
• “Exhausted”
• “Angry”
• “Shy”
• “Bored”
• Very…very…”Hungry”
• “Feeling proud”

You may not realise it..but we use body language, all the time. Even if you’re sitting still..and saying nothing. You are still sending out messages…to other people. Using your body language.

When we are looking for a partner..Body language is very important. You want other people around you to know that you are attracted to them. So body language is very important, if you are trying to find a mate. There are many ways to get the attention of a possible mate. But out of all the available methods, body language is still the best way. We call this method of attraction ‘FLIRTING’ and both Men and Women are capable of this!

You could say that it’s a part of nature just like all those wild animals in the Jungle. So the next time you are sitting on a train…or enjoying a party…or simply walking through the town. Remember…your body is always giving off signals…Your body language never stops. This is Misterduncan in England saying thanks for watching and Do you know what that means? Bye-bye for now!

Learning English – Lesson Thirteen (Grammar)

Hi everybody…this is Misterduncan in England!

How are you today? Are you OK? I hope so!

Are you happy? I hope so!

In this lesson…we’re going to talk about a part of English that causes many young learners of English..to have difficulty. A part of English that is very scary..something that many students learning English tend to avoid. Today we’re going to talk about..Grammar!

What exactly is Grammar? Grammar is the system that is built up by words, all with their own meaning and place within a sentence. The sentence is a result of composing these words in the correct order. Grammar is one of the hardest parts of learning English and is the main reason why many people give up studying English as a second language.

Grammar can be divided into eight sections.

• Verbs = words that describe an action (doing words).
• Nouns= words that give a name to something (naming words).
• Adjectives = words that add description to something (describing words).
• Adverbs = words that add meaning to an action (action words).
• Pronouns = words that show possessiveness and replacing nouns (relate words).
• Prepositions = words that describe ‘where’ and ‘when’ (placement words).
• Conjunctions = words that continue a sentence (join words).
• Interjections = words that show emotional sounds (exclaim words)

Examples of verbs

• Act
• Bake
• Jump
• Open
• Push
• Run
• Speak
• Swim
• Throw
• Walk

Examples of nouns

• Cat
• Computer
• Dictionary
• Dog
• Egg
• House
• Man
• Paper
• Water
• Woman

Examples of Adjectives

• Big
• Cold
• Damp
• Fat
• Hairy
• Heavy
• Small
• Stupid
• Tall
• Weak

Examples of adverbs

• Loudly
• Fervent
• Slower
• Lazily
• Often
• Well
• Quietly
• Abruptly
• Constantly
• Faster

Examples of pronouns

• Hers
• His
• Ours
• Some
• Their
• Who
• You
• Yours

Examples of prepositions

• At
• During
• For
• From
• In
• Of
• On
• Since
• To
• With

Examples of conjunctions

• Also
• And
• But
• For
• Or
• So
• Though
• Yet

Examples of interjections

• Ah!
• Dear!
• Eh!
• Erm!
• Oh!
• Uh!
• Um!

How important is Grammar?

If you want to master the English language, then you will need to know how sentences are formed. However it is not the most important part of learning English. Remembering the meaning of words and expanding your vocabulary will always be the most important part of learning English. So try to relax and take it easy! 

Remember, Grammar is not a set rule! Infact the English language is constantly changing…so it is fair to say that grammar will change too. Even if you are the greatest English speaker in the world..you will need to keep up to date with the new words and ways of speaking.

I hope you have found this lesson useful and interesting. This is Misterduncan in England saying…thanks for watching and bye-bye for now.

Lesson English – Lesson Twelve (All About You!)

Come on Misterduncan we’re waiting, Hurry up! Where are you? Come on…Hurry up! Get a move on! Come on…we’re waiting! Misterduncan where are you?...Quickly! Come on…Hurry up! Hurry up! Misterduncan we’re waiting for you! My gosh!

Ok, Oh…I’m so sorry I’m late!

Hi everybody…this is Misterduncan in England!

How are you today? Are you OK? I hope so!

Are you happy? I hope so!

In this lesson we’re going to talk all about “You and your character”.

The way you behave and the way you act with other people…can be described using many different words for Example….

• …your “Character”
• …or your “Individuality”
• …your “Manner”
• …your “Persona”
• …your “Personality”
• …your “traits”

Your emotional reactions determine your character. What you say…what you do…even what you think! There are many different types of character and they are all very individual and unique.

Each group of characteristics…fall into two categories….they can be positive or negative.

Words that describe a positive character.

• Affable
• Bright
• Cheerful
• Extrovert
• Friendly
• Genial
• Generous
• Gregarious
• Happy
• Sociable
• Sunny
• Warm

Words that describe a negative character

• Aloof
• Bitter
• Cold
• Cynical
• Dark
• Dour
• Introvert
• Odd
• Scathing
• Sceptical
• Spiteful
• Unsociable

Would you say that you have a positive…or negative character?

Another word for describing your character is”mood” this word means, the way you feel at a certain time. Your mood can change. Depending on many things. For example….If you feel tired. Maybe you have heard some bad news. You may feel unhappy. You are in a bad mood.

Perhaps you have found your perfect partner maybe you are in love! Or perhaps you are just glad to be alive. You are happy, you are in a good mood.

I hope you are in a good mood today.

This is Misterduncan in England…saying thanks for watching…and bye-bye for now!