Learning English – Lesson Eleven (Irony and Coincidence)

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 look at Irony and Coincidence.

The word Irony means a situation where two events relate to each other often there is a deep and profound meaning to this. Sometimes producing an emotional response…such as regret or sadness. Irony can be either positive or negative…depending on the situation.

The occurrences can also be described as Ironic. You may find yourself saying…

• ”Isn’t it ironic?”
• “That is so ironic!”

Here are some examples of irony.

• “I went to town this morning to buy a new wallet and on the way I lost my money!”
• “I rushed to catch a Bus, but just missed it. Then fifteen minutes later three buses arrived at the same time!”
• “My first child was born on the anniversary of my Father’s death”
• “I travelled all the way to Greece for my holiday and it rained every-day. When I returned to England I found that the weather here had been hot and sunny!”

So as you can see…irony can be a very ironic thing indeed!

Coincidence

The word coincidence means two events that happen at or around the same time which seem in some way to have been planned. A coincidence can be either a positive or negative enent…depending on the situation.

Examples of Coincidence

• “Yesterday I was talking about my best friend in China” and this morning I received a letter from him! “What a coincidence!”
• “The car and motorbike were coming around the sharp bend at the same time…” and could not avoid each other…it is a sad coincidence”
• “I travelled all the way to Australia and during the second day there…I bumped into one of my former work colleagues!” “Such a coincidence”

Maybe you discovered my English lessons while you were searching for something else on the Internet! What a lucky coincidence!.

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

Learning English – Lesson Ten (Saying Sorry)

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

Wow, this is such as beautiful vase! How much did you say it’s worth? Ten thousand pounds. That’s a lot of money. And there’s only two of these left in the world? Yes. Well all I can say is I hope you take good care of it because the last thing you want to do is…drop it!

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 will look at an action, which for many of us, is very hard to do…saying “Sorry”.

Sorry. Exclamation Mark. We all make mistakes and sometimes we say and do things that hurt or upset other people. More often than not, we end up feeling bad about these events and the emotion of Regret, takes over from our feeling of anger. We suddenly feel the need to say sorry for our actions and behavior. There are many ways of saying sorry…

• I’m terribly sorry for what I said to you.
• I deeply regret my actions yesterday.
• Please accept my sincerest apology.
• I’m so very sorry for what I did.
• I was in the wrong when I said those things to you.
• I did not mean to hurt you and now I regret it.
• It was wrong of me to behave that way and I’m sorry.
• Nothing I say or do will take that action away but now I want to make it up to you by apologising. I realise my mistake now and I’m sorry.
• I hope you can forgive me.
• I apologise wholeheartedly.
• I hope we can still be friends.
• I’m ever so sorry.
• That’s my bad.
• Oh, I’m sorry!

You can also say sorry as a way of showing sympathy towards another person. When you hear some bad news from them.

• I’m sorry to hear about your fathers death.
• I’m sorry to hear that you lost your job.
• I’m sorry to hear that you have been ill recently.
• Of course the person you are apologising to must accept your remorse and if they do they can say…
• That’s quite alright, I forgive you.
• There is no need to apologise, let’s forget it.
• I accept your apology, so do not worry.
• Yes I forgive you.
• Apology accepted.
• Hey! I’m sorry too.
• Ok, let’s just forget all about it.
• So we are friends again?
• Yes we should let bygones be bygones.
• Oh that is all water under the bridge now.
• Sure I forgive you, now come here and give me a…big hug!

When we say sorry…we offer our apology. We show our remorse. We  apologise profusely. We ask for forgiveness. We want to make amends.

• I’m sorry for eating your last banana, do you forgive me?
• Yes I forgive you.
• That’s nice.

Saying sorry to another person can be a very difficult thing to do. It can take us a long time to offer an apology, sometimes months or even years. We often resist saying sorry because in our own mind we feel that there is nothing to apologise for. Also there is the feeling of losing face or backing down, which can put us off apologising to someone indefinitely, thus preventing us from ever saying sorry to that person.

Is there anyone in your life who you would like to say sorry to? Did you recently have an argument with a friend or relative and did you say something to them that you now regret? Saying sorry can be the hardest thing in the world to do but once you have said it and it has been accepted. Then a huge weight will be lifted from your shoulders and your friendship will be saved. I suppose the big question must be, is it worth destroying a close relationship over a few badly chosen words? Surely the reply must be…’Of course not!’

Well another lesson has come to an end. Thank you for watching me teaching you! This is Misterduncan in England saying..forgive and forget before it’s too late and of course..ta-ta for now.

Learning English – Lesson Nine (Fame)

Hi everybody…this is Misterduncan in England!

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

Are you happy? I hope so!

Welcome to another one of my learning English videos. Today we are going to talk about a very special subject. Being famous! Oh I’m back to normal, what a pity. There are many words we can use to describe a person who is famous. We can call them a ‘Star’. We could describe them as a ‘Celebrity’ or a ‘Superstar’  or perhaps an ‘Idol’ and if they are very famous we can call them a ‘Megastar’. There are many ways to become famous. You could be an Actor on the Television or in a Movie. You could be a Singer and become an international pop star. Maybe you could have a special skill, perhaps you could become a well known ‘Magician’. Look at that…It’s Magic!

Of course sometimes people become famous for doing something bad. Throughout history there have been people who have done terrible things and have become a celebrity because of it. We can use the word ‘Infamous’ or ‘Iniquitous’ to describe this kind of fame. So fame is not always a good thing!

Some people desire fame because they want to become rich & wealthy and have lots and lots of money. The industry that produces celebrities is called ‘show-Business’ so whenever we talk about fame or famous people, we normally use the word ‘Show-Business’ to describe the whole thing. We can also shorten the word to..’Show-Biz’. It’s much easier to say. Many people want to be famous. Would you like to be famous? So that is the end of todays lesson. If you want to be famous and become a ‘Superstar’ remember…”Keep your eyes on the clouds” “But keep your feet firmly on the ground”.

This is Misterduncan..saying thanks for watching and bye-bye for now. What! You want my “Autograph” you want me to write my name down for you on a piece of paper? I’m not famous. Not yet anyway. Bye-bye for now.

Learning English – Lesson Eight (Stress and Worry) part II

Words connected to worry…

• Agonize = To go over or think about something that causes you worry and stress in your mind, again and again. Agonize over something. An agonizing choice.
• Angst = To be fearful and worried. To feel anxious. His angst was (is) unbearable.
• Concern = To feel worried about something or someone. You feel concerned. You show your concern.
• Dread = The feeling of worry and a fear of a future event. I dread going back to work next week.
• Fret = To show worry. To express your concern. He fretted over the new arrangement.
• Perturb = To think about something that has caused you [to] worry. He was perturbed by his new neighbour’s attitude.
• Stew = To continually worry about something. There is no need to stew over this problem.
• Sweat = To be concerned or worried. Get in a sweat. He got himself into a real sweat over the latest report.

Ask any person living in a big city what causes them the most stress in an average day and they will most likely reply with…’Driving my car!’. There is something paradoxical about the way in which we need a car to live, yet we find it such a burden, both mentally and financially. As our lives become more hectic, we are finding that we need to get to places much quicker. This causes stress, which causes us to become more irritable. Have you every lost your temper and become angry whilst driving? We call this negative feeling…Road rage!

One of the biggest causes of stress is work. These days it seems as if our lives are controlled and dominated by our jobs more than ever. Some people blame to computer for this problem, as we can now take our work home with us more easily, thanks to the laptop computer. Mobile phones mean that our supervisors and managers can contact us anywhere at any time. It would be fair to say that these days our free time is even more precious than it ever was before.

If you suffer too much stress and worry over a long period of time, then your health may begin to suffer. Your mind may be affected to such a degree that your way of thinking and behaving becomes erratic and disorganised. You may begin to suffer from Insomnia, which means that you will find it difficult to get to sleep. A doctor may prescribe you medicine, or you may wish to talk to a professional councellor, who will listen to your worries and help guide you through the difficulties you are experiencing. Believe it or not, talking to someone about your worries can be a great help indeed.

So how do we deal with stress and more importantly, how do we prevent ourselves from getting stressed? Well, it is of course better to avoid becoming stressed in the first place. Try to give yourself plenty of time before setting off on a journey. It is better to seek out the reason for your stress, than to simply blame everything. Some people find it helpful to talk to (with) another person in private about their worries and concerns. Taking regular rest breaks from work is very important. Some people use relaxation exercises to ease their stress, such as meditation. The important thing is to avoid keeping hold of your stress and bottling it up inside because one day you may explode..emotionally that is.

We all have times in our lives when things seem too much to bear. The problems we face, the unexpected occurrences which seem to come from nowhere, out of the blue. A large problem may quickly blow away and cause us very little stress, while a small problem may linger with us for a long period and may over time seem far worse than it actually is. It is not the problem itself which causes us stress, but the way in which we deal with it in the first place. Talking over your worries with a close friend can be a great help. After all, a problem shared is a problem solved, or at the very least, eased. That is all from me for today. I hope this lesson has not caused you too much stress. May all your worries be small ones. Take care until we meet again. This is Misterduncan in England saying thank you for watching me and of course…ta-ta for now.

Learning English – Lesson Eight (Stress and Worry) part I

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 will take a look at two negative parts of our lives, which can occur at any moment, both of which have the ability to cause us varying degrees of misery, upset, and even sickness. In today’s lesson we will take a look at..strees and worry.

• Life these days seems to be getting more hectic.
• I don’t think I can handle this.
• It all seems too much for me.
• What will I do?
• How will I cope?
• So many problems.
• It’s all too much for me.
• I can’t take this pressure any longer.
• I need a break.
• Make it all go away…

Please! Stress! + Worry!

Stress, The word ‘stress’ relates to the physical or emotional pressure that we experience every day of our lives. Although for most of us the stress is bearable. However there may be times when you feel as if you are under too much pressure from your daily life. This is when stress becomes a problem. You may have many things on your mind and you constantly worry about them. The stress can be both physical and mental. Prolonged stress can lead to ill health. Both physically and mentally. The most common side effect of stress is anxiety. Too much stress over a long period of time can lead to physical and psychological problems.

Worry. The word ‘worry’ means to continually think about something, over and over again. Something concerns you. There is something on your mind which is making you unhappy. Worry is a negative feeling and it can make you feel miserable for a long period of time. The things we worry about vary. Maybe you unhappy at work or perhaps you are afraid of losing your job. Maybe there is a problem with a relationship. Perhaps you are worried about where your life is going. The biggest worry is that of survival, which leads us to the most common worry of all…money!

There are many times during the day when you may become stressed and feel tense. You may be in a hurry to get somewhere. You could be late for an appointment. You may have just missed your bus, or your car may have broken down. The bad attitude or behaviour of another person can wind you up. All of these things are likely to make you feel frustrated and annoyed. Stress comes from the anger you feel and the anger comes from your stress. In other words, they feed each other.

There are many words connected to stress, such as…

• Anxiety = The physical feeling of stress. You feel anxious.
• Nervousness (Nervous) = The feeling of stress and worry.
• Trouble = you feel bothered and troubled by stress.
• Difficulty = The feeling of being unable to cope.
• Distress = The feeling of panic and upset from stress.
• Panic = To lose control of your feelings, usually resulting in some sort of outward reaction, such as sudden movements and vocal sounds, such as screaming.
• Pressure = The combined feeling of all the different types of stress. You feel under pressure.
• Trauma = Damage caused by physical injury or mental stress. To feel distressed.
• Strain = The tiredness or pain caused by too much work or mental pressure. You are under strain.
• Tension = The pressure caused by stress, which can have a physical effect on the body.
• Worry = One of the main causes of stress.
• There are some key words connected to stress and worry.
• Anxiety = You feel anxious and constantly worried, sometimes for no reason.
• Nervous = To feel worried and on edge. You may show this feeling by constantly moving about and fidgeting. A nervous person may…chew their fingernails or talk and chat continuously, or they may do the opposite and stay still and silent. They may sweat and look anxious. Nervousness is commonly felt just befor (doing) an important task, such as sitting an exam or giving a performance.

Learning English – Lesson Seven (Health and Exercise) part II

The way you take care of your health depends on many different factors. The things you put in to your body, such as alcohol and cigarette smoke, have the ability to affect the way your body functions. Alcohol damages the brain and liver, while cigarettes cause damage to the lungs. The combination of both can lead to many forms of cancer. The phrase ‘smoke and drink yourself to death’ is a very true one. Besides taking regular exercise, you must also ensure that you are getting enough rest. For example, by making sure that you are getting plenty of sleep every night. The sleeping process allows your body to unwind mentally, while at the same time, recharging you physically.

One, two, three,! It’s okay. I’m just exercising my word-power. Please yourself! Believe it or not, it is possible to exercise too much. You can do too much exercise. If you work out too often, or try to push your body too far then you run the risk of causing damage to your muscles and joints. It is better to do a little over a short time, rather than a lot over a long time. Especially if you are not used to taking exercise. Just one hours exercise per day should be enough to keep you feeling fit. If you ever find yourself feeling any pain or dizziness during exercise, then you should stop. For most people, daily moderate exercise, with a once or twice weekly workout will be sufficient. Remember! Overdoing exercise can be just as bad as not doing it enough.

There are many sports activities that can give you a vigorous workout and help keep you fit. Such as…badminton, football, squash, tennis, and volleyball. Another great activity is…swimming, which is good for giving you a relaxing all-over body workout as you float (and move) in the water. Without all that tiring muscle strain.

Health and Exercise. There has never been a time when the issue of health has been such a hot topic. Our hectic lifestyle and the need for that magic quick fix from a burger or a bar of chocolate has lead to an ever-growing proportion of us becoming unhealthy. Eating less and exercising more are both easier said than done. But just like anything, a habit can be changed or broken. With a little determination and will power, it is possible to change the way you live and keep in shape. Just an hour a day, for a walk around the block or a couple of workout sessions per week at the local gym can help you stay as fit as a fiddle.

That’s better! Going out on a fine day for a spot of exercise is the best way (of keeping) to keep your body in good condition. Of course you don’t always have to do something strenuous or tiring to say fit. Taking a brisk thirty minute walk at least once a day is a great way to stay in shape. If the weather is not good, then you can walk up and down the stairs in your house a few times. The important thing is to work your body and tire it out a little. That is all from me for today. Stay healthy and happy, until the next time we meet. This is Misterduncan in England saying, thank you for watching me, teaching you..and of course..ta-ta for now.

Learning English – Lesson Seven (Health and Exercise) part I

You know the world of English is a fun and exciting place to be, I’m so glad you could join us 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 today’s lesson we will take a look at two aspects of our lives. One is something we take for granted while it is there, but miss it terribly when it has gone. The other is an activity that we are all encouraged to do, but few of us seem to have the time to carry out.

In this lesson we will take a look at..health and exercise.

When we talk about our health, we are actually describing two things. First we refer to our…physical health, the way our bodies are functioning, how well it is working, how (well) all the different parts of your body are functioning. Then we refer to our…mental health,  how each one of us feels emotionally. How we deal with all of the problems in our lives. How we see other people around us. How (well) we cope with the effects of worry and stress. It would be fair to say that there is a connection between physical and mental health and that they (both) have the ability to affect each other.

If you feel tired after any sudden activity, such as getting up from the sofa and walking a short distance or feeling out of breath after climbing a few stairs, then there is a good chance that you are out of shape. You are unfit. Your health is poor. You are unhealthy. Prolonged inactivity or situations where you are not moving around much, such as sitting in front of the television, driving a car, or working in an office, may lead to you becoming unfit. The food you eat also decides how fit you are. Many of us eat far too much food containing fat and sugar such as biscuits, burgers, cheese, chocolate and other types of so-called junk food. Over time you wil gain weight and become obese. Your blood pressure will rise and your heart will be put under strain by all the extra body mass. You will find simple activities more exhausting. If your unhealthy lifestyle continues over a long period of time, you run the risk of suffering from diseases such as diabetes and your heart will become weak. Your chances of dying of a heart attack or stroke greatly increase if you are overweight.

There are many words connected to exercise such as..aerobics. Exercise that makes the heart beat fast from (through) constant body movement. We call this cardiovascular exercise. Burn, this word is used to express the energy being used up during exercise. Recreation, a general word for any exercise or leisure activity. Keep Fit, the act of taking exercise or following a course of exercise routines. Workout, a strenuous (tiring) exercise session focusing on certain parts of the body, such as the muscles of your arms, legs, chest, and abdomen.

There are many types of exercise for the body to perform and which one you do depend on how fit you are. And what you are trying to achieve from the exercise. There is light exercise such as walking, stretching, or just generally moving about. If you do a job where you are always on the move, then you are not only working, you are keeping fit as well.

Then there is moderate exercise. A light jog or fast walk will make you sweat a little and it will provide a good session of exercise to make your heart work and help your joints stay flexible and supple. Then there is vigorous or strenuous exercise. This is what really breaks you out into a sweat. For example, a long run or jog will really make your body work and you will be able to feel the effects of this exercise immediately. You can have (go for) a workout at a gym or health spa (health centre). Lifting heavy objects such as weights, do not only keep you fit, they also help to build up your body.

There are many simple exercise for keeping fit and healthy. The most popular ones include…walking. Yes, just go for a walk. Walk to the end of your street, then around the corner, across the field, up the hill and back down again. Walk in a big circle, around (through) the streets and along the roads,  keep on walking, until you arrive back home. Oh you can also jog. Jogging is quicker than walking, but not as fast as running. You can jog to the end of your street, then around the corner, across the field, up the hill and back down again. Jog in a big circle, around (through) the streets…and along the roads. Keep on jogging…until you arrive…back home. Or..you can go for a run. Oh dear! Running is much faster (quicker) than jogging. It can make you feel very tired. So…run to the end of your street, then around the corner, across the field, up the hill and back down again. Run in a big circle, around (through) the streets and along the roads, keep on running…until you arrive…back home!