TALKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS

STUDENT A

1. Do you like Christmas? Why, why not?
2. Is Christmas celebrated in your country? If not, do you have any other kind of celebration around that time of year?
3. Who do you usually spend Christmas with? 
4. What does Christmas mean to you?
5. Some people argue that we are losing the "true spirit of Christmas". Do you agree?
6. Did you believe in Santa Claus/ Father Christmas when you were a child? How did you react when you found out that Santa Claus wasn't real?
7. Do you celebrate Christmas in your country? If so, how? Here are some ideas to help you. Do you…?

• Make a snowman?
• Decorate the outside of your house for Christmas?
• Eat/ have  turkey for your Christmas dinner?
• Sing Christmas songs?
• Put up a Christmas Tree?
• Hang up a stoking?
• Exchange presents with your relatives?
• Visit your relatives?
• Donate something (money, clothes...) to charity?
• Go to church on Christmas Day?
• Send Christmas greetings?

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STUDENT B

1. Do you give presents to everyone in your family, including cousins, aunts and uncles, our just to your immediate family?  Do you prefer giving presents or receiving them? Do you hope to get anything special or do you know what you'll always receive from certain people?
2. What foods are traditionally eaten in your country at Christmas?
3. Do you enjoy singing Christmas songs?What’s your favourite Christmas song? Why?
4. Do you like watching Christmas movies? What’s your favourite? Talk about it.
5. What do you usually do on Christmas Day? What about on Christmas Eve?
6. Have you ever celebrated Christmas in a foreign country?What was it like?
7. Do you usually have a White Christmas in your country? If not, what’s the weather like?

"IS THAT RAIN?' TALKING ABOUT RAIN IN ENGLISH

As a student of English, you must have realised that English native speakers love talking about the weather, particularly British people. In fact, the UK is so famous for having absolutely unpredictable weather, that it is reflected on how people use language to communicate on a daily basis.

Today, I have chosen some common expressions to use when talking about RAIN.

Obviously, the most basic sentence to use is “It’s raining.” However, if you want to sound more appropriate, you are expected to make use of more specific expressions, depending on whether you are referring to light rain or heavy rain.

You can say the two following sentences if you are talking about light rain:

1.It’s spitting.

2. It’s drizzling.

In turn, “It's only a shower” may be used if you want to say that it is going to stop raining soon.

The greatest number of expressions describe heavy rain:

1. It’s pouring (American or British English)
2. It’s pouring (with rain)
3. It’s bucketing down (= Informal British English)
4. It’s coming down in buckets.
5. It’s lashing down.
6. It’s raining pitchforks
7. It’s raining cats and dogs (an idiomatic expression, which is not used very often by British native speakers).
8. It’s pissing down = (according to the online Cambridge Dictionary, this expression sounds offensive)

Last but not least, If you are all wet, you may want to say: 

1. I’m soaked. 
2. I’m drenched.

For Portuguese speakers

Remember that when we talk about the weather in English, we use ‘it’. 'It’s raining' ( not "is raining’). “It's drizzling” in Portuguese means “está chuviscando/ está garoando”.

The expressions for heavy rain are equivalent to “está chovendo torrencialmente”, “está chovendo a cântaros”. Essa última, bem menos usada, atualmente, por brasileiros.

THE TOILET AND ITS SYNONYMS

As a visitor to a foreign country, you will definitely need to ask for the toilet.The English language offers a great number of words, which may vary not only from country to country, but also in degree of formality. It is important to note that some terms are very colloquial and, therefore, should be avoided in public and/or professional situations, mainly when you do not know the person you are talking to.

1. Lavatory = more formal expression, often used in airplanes.
2. Toilet= general expression in British English used by almost everybody.In American English, the word toilet refers to the fixture itself and not to the room that it is in.
3. Washroom= a room with a toilet and a place to wash your hands in it, in a public place such as a restaurant or school.
4. Loo=  British informal word for lavatory.
5. John= an informal American word for a toilet or bathroom. e.g I gotta go to the john.
6. Bog= British informal word, but sounds a little impolite.
7. Dunny= informal Australian/ New Zealand English.
8. Crapper= vulgar word for toilet.
9. Water closet = Another euphemism 'water closet' is often used in restaurants and hotels. Nowadays it has been shortened to the acronym ‘W.C.’.
10. 'ladies' and 'gentlemen' are the traditional notices posted outside public toilets in the UK. 'Gentlemen' has become abbreviated to ‘gents’.
11. powder room= a polite word for a women's toilet in a public building, such as a restaurant, hotel, theatre, etc.
12. The smallest room = An euphemism for toilet, which is now rather dated and is little used.
13. Little boys' room / little girls' room e.g Can you please tell me where the little girls’ room is?
14. Restroom= American word for toilet; a room with a toilet for customers to use in a restaurant or other public place.
15. Public convenience = it is a polite way to refer to public toilet.
16. Bathroom =1) in British English, it is a room in a house that contains a bath or shower, a washbasin, and sometimes a toilet. 2) General word in American English.
17. .An en-suite bathroom = it is directly connected to a bedroom: e.g I ‘d like to stay in a hotel room with an en-suite bathroom.

Here are some common expressions that English-speakers use to ask where the toilet is situated.

“Where is the ______________?”

“Can/ Could you tell me where the __________ is?

“Which way is the _____________?”

“I need to use the _________, where can I find it?

“Excuse me, where can I find the _______________?

‘Can/ Could I use the___________, please?

Obviously, in casual situations, native speakers use zillion ways to say that they need to use the toilet. However, as learners of English, you just need to use the following sentences in order to sound informal but polite.

"Excuse me, I have to go to the ________”.

“Excuse me, I’m just going to the________”

‘Excuse me, I just need to use the _______"

ENGLISH LOVE EXPRESSIONS YOU COULD SAY TO THE PERSON YOU LOVE.

Today is June 12th, when we celebrate ‘Lover's Day" in Brazil. Unlike most countries, Brazil doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day on 4th February. Instead, ‘Dia dos Namorados’, as it is called, is held on 12th June in honor of Saint Anthony’s of Padua, who is recognized as the marriage saint. In fact, this celebration takes place on the eve of Saint Anthony’s Day because he is known for helping out single people to find their soul mates.

As the day is seen as a get together date for beloved people.  Couples celebrate it by exchanging gifts and cards, giving flowers, arranging meals in restaurants or romantic nights in hotels. If you are still a single lady and you haven’t met the perfect match yet, you might make a promise to Saint Anthony or perform rituals known as 'Simpatias' to find a good boyfriend or husband for yourself.

To celebrate Saint Anthony's Day, how about learning some English love expressions that you could say to the person you love? 

• I fancy you.
• I’ve got a crush on you.
• You’re my soul mate.
• I’m hooked on you.
• I’m infatuated with you.
• I’ve totally fallen for you.
• I’m desperately in love with you.
• I’m mad about you. 
• I’m crazy about you. 
• I’m truly in love with you.
• You are the one.
• I’m head over heels (in love) with you

These are just a few sentences. There are plenty more. Do you know any others? Please, add one?

REFUSING IN ENGLISH

One of the challenges of learning a foreign language is to be able to sound appropriately. It is true that being able to say something in basic English is the first step, but if you want to be fully understood, you should also behave adequately. Do you agree with me? 

Today, I’ll show you a few ways to refuse an invitation. When you refuse something, you say firmly that you will not do it. However, there are different ways of declining an invitation depending on the circumstance.

The diagram above shows how to say "no" in English, ranging from informal and strong refusals, to polite responses. So, let’s have a look at some ways of turning down something that is not desirable. 

Cheers!

'WHAT CAN I DO', A SONG BY THE CORRS

The Corrs are an Irish band consisting of siblings (three sisters and a brother). They became very popular during the 1990’s playing a blend of pop, rock and Irish traditional music. ‘What can I do’, from the album ‘Take on Corners’ became one of the band's most known hits worldwide. Personally speaking, the Corrs have proven to be one of the best and most successful bands to come out of Ireland since U2 in the early 1980's.

When I use music in my classes, I want my students to go beyond just listening to the song. Actually, I want them to develop their speaking skill by analyzing the song lyrics. This activity allows the students to look more closely at the meaning of “What can I do’, by the Corrs, which talks about ‘unrequited love”.

The song worksheet is appropriate for both pre-intermediate and intermediate students.

For Students: 

Listen to the song and do the tasks. 

For teachers: 

Pre-listening

• Warm up students by asking them about what they already know related to the song/ band. You can ask questions as 'Who sings this song?' 'What’s the meaning of ‘unrequited love'?

While-listening

• Hand out the worksheet and ask students to carry out the tasks. Then check answers with them.

Wrap up activity

• Students sing along with the video.

ASKING FOR INFORMATION IN A POLITE WAY

10 DIFFERENT WAYS TO WISH ' HAPPY NEW YEAR' IN ENGLISH.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

CHRISTMAS VOCABULARY

QUE TAL VARIAR O 'THANK YOU’ E O 'YOU'RE WELCOME' EM INGLÊS?

Que tal variar o “Thank you’ e o “You're Welcome” em Inglês?

Agradecer em inglês é uma das funções mais importantes, pois faz parte da cultura dos falantes desse idioma, sobretudo no Reino Unido. Há várias maneiras de dizer “Thank you”, em inglês, mas independentemente da maneira escolhida, o importante é sempre demonstrar gratidão.

• Thank you (very much/ so much) / Thanks! (very much/a lot)= São as maneiras mais clássicas de agradecer, podendo ser usadas em qualquer situação. 
• Thanks a million. Quando enfatizamos a nossa gratidão, como se disséssemos “Obrigadão mesmo”. 
• Thanks for your help.
• You’ve saved my life/ I owe you one.= São maneiras informais de dizer obrigada, quando alguém nos ajuda em uma situação bem complicada. Além disso, com essas frases deixamos claro que pretendemos retribuir o que foi feito. Em português, dizemos “te devo uma”ou “te devo essa"
• Cheers.= É bem coloquial e bastante usado no inglês britânico, podendo ser traduzido pelo nosso “Valeu!”
• Ta = É outra forma bastante informal de dizer “thank you", usada no inglês britânico. Escutava com muita freqüência em Birmingham, onde morei. 
• That’s very kind of you.= É uma maneira de agradecer a alguém que foi muito gentil conosco. É o mesmo que dizermos, em português, “é muita gentileza sua”. Por exemplo, quando recebemos um presente. Também podemos usar a expressão “You shouldn’t (have), que é equivalente ao nosso “Não precisava”.
• Thanks a bunch. Outra maneira informal de dizer obrigada, mas pode ser usada de modo meio sarcástico, quando na verdade não houve a ajuda esperada. Nesse caso, devemos caprichar na entonação.
• I really appreciate it. Maneira mais formal de agradecer. 
• Much obliged. É bem formal e deve ser usado, por exemplo, em correspondência comercial.
• I would like to thank …. É maneira formal de agradecer, principalmente quando deixamos claro a quem agradecemos. 

Da mesma forma que agradecemos, esperamos ouvir uma resposta ao nosso agradecimento. Assim, listo abaixo algumas das frases frequentemente usadas.

• You’re welcome = De nada, disponha.
• Thank you.= Eu que agradeço. Nesse caso, devemos enfatizar o “you"
• Not at all = De nada.
• Don’t mention it = O que é isso, não há de que.
• My pleasure.  Foi um prazer/ O prazer foi todo meu.
• It’s no bother (at all) = Não há de que. 
• No problem= Sem problema.
• That’s all right = Tudo certo.
• Anytime = Ao seu dispor.
• It’s nothing= Não foi nada.

10 WAYS TO EXPRESS POLITENESS IN ENGLISH

BRITISH X AMERICAN ENGLISH (I)

Da mesma forma que existem diferenças entre o português de Portugal e o português do Brasil, também há distinções entre o inglês norte-americano e o britânico.

No primeiro dia de aula, meus alunos sempre me perguntaram ’Teacher, o seu inglês é americano ou britânico?" É uma resposta sempre difícil de dar, pois não sou falante nativa da língua inglesa e, por melhor que eu fale o idioma, continuarei carregando resquícios de meu sotaque brasileiro. Então, explico que tenho a tendência a seguir o inglês britânico, não só por ter morado na Inglaterra, mas por ter, desde criança, estudado com livros publicados na Inglaterra. Enfatizo, contudo, que o mais importante é a comunicação.

Acredito que os alunos se preocupam, excessivamente, com as variações linguísticas do inglês. Há, sim, diferenças de pronúncia, vocabulário, gramática e ortografia, mas que não devem ser vistas como um grande problema para a aprendizagem, ou um empecilho  para se viajar para um ou outro país. Afinal de contas, estamos tratando de uma só língua. Obviamente, que existe a possibilidade de haver problemas de compreensão entre os falantes, sobretudo no que diz respeito ao sotaque, mas creio que os meios de comunicação têm sido nossos grandes aliados, sendo responsáveis por amenizar essas discrepâncias. Ora, independentemente de estudarmos o inglês britânico, todos nós assistimos a filmes americanos, não é?

Na verdade, as diferenças ortográficas e lexicais podem ser rapidamente aprendidas em lições temáticas- como por exemplo, “clothes”, “housing"-, através de filmes, letras de músicas. Tranquilizo vocês, alunos, que as vezes que fui aos Estados Unidos, não tive problemas de comunicação. Da mesma maneira, quando morei na Inglaterra, dividi apartamento com duas americanas e sempre fui compreendida.

Nessa secção do ‘blog’ pretendo trazer algumas diferenças entre o inglês Britânico e Americano. Primeiramente, começarei pelas Diferenças Ortográficas.

No que diz respeito a grafia de algumas palavras, podemos dizer que existem diferenças sutis entre o inglês britânico e o americano. Geralmente, na ortografia americana há maior simplicidade. Assim, enquanto no Inglês Britânico escrevemos colour, favourite, travelling e programme, no inglês americano omitimos certas letras (color, favorite, traveling, progam), deixando a escrita mais parecida com a pronúncia. Veja o quadro abaixo para conhecer algumas das diferenças e até o próximo 'post'

Spelling
American	British
dialog	dialogue
catolog	catalogue
color	colour
favorite	favourite
neighborhood	neighbourhood
organize	organise
finalize	finalise
theater	theatre
center	centre
kilometer	kilometre
gray	grey
traveled	travelled
canceled	cancelled
program	programme
license	licence
ofense	ofence
leukemia	leukaemia
maneuver	manoeuvre