Conversation in a Birthday Party

Father: Hi Michael. Happy Birthday! How old are you today?

Son: Seven.

Father: Alright. Well, let's sing Happy Birthday:

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Michael,
Happy Birthday to you.

Father: Alright. So what should we do first?

Son: How about cake and ice cream?

Father: Okay. Well, uh let . . . let's light the candles. Okay, and make a wish! Don't . . . don't tell me.

Son: Don't tell you?

Father: Yeah, don't tell me. Okay, and go ahead and blow out the candles. Okay, let's cut the cake, and then we can have cake and ice cream. And what do you want to do after the cake and ice cream?

Son: Play freeze tag.

Father: Now, how do you play tag?

Son: Um . . . one person is it, and the person who is it tries to tag everyone [Alright. And then . . . ] before I tag someone and then, another person tags me.

Father: Oh, wow. And whose coming over later today for your birthday?

Son: Well, everyone. Uh, my cousins, all my aunts and grandmas, grandpas.

Father: Alright. Well, Happy Birthday, Michael.

VOCABULARY WORDS:

• freeze (verb): become cold to the point of changing water to ice
  - It was so cold out last night that I thought I was going to freeze to death.
• tag (verb): touch a player, usually as part of a game
  - I tried to get away during the game at the park, but she tagged me on the back, so I was it.

Questions: 
What activities do people do at a birthday party in your country? 

What traditional foods do people prepare and eat at such events?

Credits to: RANDALL's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Conversation about Business Communications

Secretary: Hello, Ultimate Computers. May I help you?

Caller: Yes, this is Jack Kordell from Hunter's Office Supplies. May I speak to Elaine Strong, please?

Secretary: I'm sorry, but she's not in right now.

Caller: Okay, do you know when she'll be back?

Secretary: Uh, yes, she should be here later on this afternoon maybe about 4:30. May I take a message?

Caller: Yes. Ms. Strong sent me a brochure detailing your newest line of laptop computers with a description of other software products, but there wasn't any information about after-sales service.

Secretary: Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like me to fax that to you?

Caller: Yes, but our fax is being repaired at the moment, and it won't be working until around 2:30. Hum . . . could you try sending that information around 3:30? That should give me time to look over the material before I call Ms. Strong, say, around 5:00.

Secretary: Sure. Could I have your name, telephone number, and fax number, please?

Caller: Yes. Jack Kordell and the phone number is 560-1287. And the fax number is 560-1288.

Secretary: Okay. Jack Kordell. Is your name spelled C-o-r-d-e-l?

Caller: No. It's Kordell with a "K" and two "l's." K-o-r-d-e-l-l."

Secretary: All right, Mr. Kordell. And your phone number is 560-1287, and the fax number is 560-1288. Is that correct?

Caller: Yes it is.

Secretary: All right. I'll be sure to send you the fax this afternoon.

Caller: Okay, bye.

VOCABULARY WORDS:

• brochure (noun): pamphlet, small booklet
  - Could you send me a brochure of your laptop computers?
• detail (verb, also noun): to explain
  - The manager decided to detail his recent visit to our parent company.

Credits to: RANDALL's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Conversation about A Fun Day

Girl: Dad, I'm bored today. I want to go to a movie?
Dad: A movie today? Well, I don't know. Here. Let me look at the newspaper. Okay. Ah, here's a movie that starts in the afternoon at 2:45. Well, should we take mommy with us?
Girl: Yeah.
Dad: Okay, we have to wait for mommybecause she's at a meeting right now.
Girl: Okay.
Dad: Alright. And what should we do after we see the movie?
Girl: Go on a walk.
Dad: Well, where would you like to go on a walk? Would you like to go down to the beach or through the park?
Girl: To the beach.
Dad: To the beach. Well, that sounds great. And then maybe we can go out to eat tonight. Does that sound okay?
Girl: Yeah.


VOCABULARY WORD:

• yeah (adverb): informal for yes; also yep
  - May I use your pen.
  Yeah, sure.
• mommy (noun): an informal word for mother usually used by children; alsomom.
  - Mommy. May I watch TV?

Question: If you were a child, where would you want your mother or father to take you on their day off (e.g., amusement park, zoo, swimming pool, a park, etc.)?

Credits to: RANDALL's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

A conversation at the English Language Center

Receptionist: English Language Center. How may I help you?

Caller: Yes. I'm calling to find out more information about your program. For example, what kind of courses do you offer?
Receptionist: Well, first of all, the purpose of our program is to provide language learning opportunities to this area's community [Uh-hum], whether a student's goal is to master basic functional language skills, let's say, for his or her job, or to study intensively to enter a US college or university.
Caller: Okay. I'm calling for a friend who is interested in attending a US university.
Receptionist: And that's the kind of, uh, instruction that we provide, from basic communication courses to content-based classes such as computer literacy, intercultural communication, and business English.
Caller: Great. What are your application deadlines for the next semester?
Receptionist: Well, we ask applicants to apply no later than two months before the semester begins. [Uh-hum] This gives us time to process the application and issuethe student's I-20.
Caller: An I-20?
Receptionist: Oh, an I-20 is a form that indicates that we are giving permission for the student to study in our program, and then the student takes this form to the US embassy in his or her country to apply for the F-1 student visa.
Caller: Alright. What is the tuition for a full-time student?
Receptionist: It's two thousand thirty dollars.
Caller: And how does one apply?
Receptionist: Well, we can send you an application and you can mail it back to us, or you can fill out our application that's online at our Web site.
Caller: And are there other materials I would need to send in addition to the application form?
Receptionist: Uh, yes. You would need to send in a $35 non-refundable application fee [Uh-huh], a sponsorship form indicating who will be responsible financially for the student while studying in our program, and a bank statement showing that you or your sponsor has sufficient funds to cover tuition expenses and living costs for the entire year of study.
Caller: And how can I send these materials to you?
Receptionist: You can either send the application packet by regular mail or you can fax it.
Caller: And the application fee?
Receptionist: We accept money orders, travelers checks, or credit cards.
Caller: Alright. I think that's about it.
Receptionist: Okay great.
Caller: Oh and what is your name?
Receptionist: Ok. My name is Tony Nelson. You can just call and ask for me.
Caller: Great. Thank you for help.
Receptionist: No problem and please don't hesitate to call again if you have any other questions.
Caller: Okay. Goodbye.


VOCABULARY WORDS:

• attending (verb): going to
  - I'm thinking about attending a language school in England next fall.
• content-based classes (noun): classes that focus on a particular subject
  - This program is well-known for its emphasis in content-based classes such as engineering.
• literacy (noun): the ability to read and write
  - Literacy is one key to educating the public.
• deadlines (noun): dates by which something must be done or completed
  - What is the deadline for submitting my application?
• apply (verb): to turn in or submit an application
  - I've decided to apply for an academic scholarship.
• issue (verb): to prepare and distribute
  - The police officer issued the driver a warning for speeding in a school zone.

Question: What questions would you ask if you called a language program overseas to find out more about it? 

Credits to: RANDALL's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Energy Drinks Irreversibly Damage Teeth

A new study has found that energy drinks and sports drinks cause irreversible damage to teeth, with energy drinks being twice as damaging as sports drinks. A report recently published in the journal "General Dentistry" found that the high acidity levels in the drinks erode tooth enamel, the glossy outer layer that protects the tooth. 


Lead author Dr Poonam Jain said: "Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are 'better' for them than soda….Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid." This has led to an increase in tooth decay and the need for fillings.


The report says 30 to 50 per cent of American teenagers regularly consume sports and energy drinks, with as many as 62 per cent drinking at least one sports drink a day. It also says brushing teeth after drinking one of the drinks does more harm than good as this will spread the acid over the tooth enamel. 


The doctors advised people to wait at least an hour before brushing your teeth. Dr Jennifer Bone of America's Academy of General Dentistry recommended people chew sugar-free chewing gum and rinse the mouth with water after drinking the drinks. She said: "Both tactics increase saliva flow, which naturally helps to return the acidity levels in the mouth to normal."


WORD PRONUNCIATION 


irreversible
erode
glossy
chew
tactics 


EXERCISE 2: SHARING IDEAS
1. Do you worry about your teeth? How do you take good care of your teeth?
2. Will you think twice from now about drinking energy and sports drinks? 
3. What can people do instead of drinking energy drinks?

Article source: BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH

Anger Disorder High Among U.S. Teens

A new study suggests that a high number of American teenagers suffer from a disorder that leads to fits of uncontrollable rage. Researchers from the Harvard Medical School conducted a survey and interviewed over 10,000 teens aged 13 to 17. They discovered that eight percent of them suffered from a mental disorder called intermittent explosive disorder (IED).


The team says that based on its results, up to six million youths in the U.S. could be suffering from this illness. IED leads sufferers to suddenly lose control of even the smallest, non-threatening situations. They can fly into a fit of rage on impulse and become extremely aggressive. Sufferers break or smash things, scream and shout, become violent and can attack others. The scientists say it is responsible for a lot of domestic violence and problems at school.


The study is published in the journal of Archives of General Psychiatry. It is the first large-scale research to document the extent of IED in the USA. Lead researcher doctor Ronald Kessler described the potential importance of his research, saying: "If we can detect IED early and intervene with effective treatment right away, we can prevent a substantial amount of future violence." He added: "It's a problem because it really gets in the way of your life. 


There are lots of things people don't get treatment for because it doesn't really impact them. This does. The problem is an awful lot of people have it — more than I thought — it's awfully chronic, and it's impairing." Dr Kessler believes it is important this problem is given more recognition. "Social disorders can fall through the cracks, and this is one of them," he said.


WORD PRONUNCIATION


uncontrollable[an-kon-trow-la-bel]
rage[reyj]
intermittent[in-ter-mi-tent]
explosive[ekz-plow-siv]
sufferers[saf-fer-rers]
impulse[im-pals]
substantial[sabs-tan-shal]




EXERCISE 2: SHARING IDEAS


1. How do you treat someone who gets angry all the time?
2 .Is there anything positive about anger?
3. Are we angry from birth or do we learn to become angry? Why do you say so?






Article source: BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH

12 Killed in Batman Shooting in U.S.

A gunman killed 12 people and wounded 59 at a Colorado cinema early Friday morning. Police apprehended the killer and identified him as James Eagan Holmes, 24, a former neuroscience PhD student. He armed himself with an assault rifle, a shotgun and a pistol and fired at random at moviegoers attending the midnight premiere of the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises". Holmes had dyed his hair red, just like Batman's nemesis the Joker, and wore full body armour and a gas mask. Many initially thought he was part of a stunt for the movie screening. Cinemas in New York got police protection after the shooting to prevent copycat killings. The premiere in Paris was immediately cancelled.


U.S. President Barack Obama has led the mourning after the massacre, ordering flags to be lowered to half-mast. He said: "There are going to be other days for politics. This, I think, is a day for prayer and reflection." The shooting has once again reignited the debate on gun control in America. All the weapons used in the killings were bought legally in a local gun store. The shooting brings back memories of the 1999 Columbine High School murders, just 25km from the cinema, in which 13 people lost their lives. Tragedies like this are becoming all too common but do little to get tighter gun controls enforced. Gun ownership is a right in the USA. There are an estimated 192 million firearms in the country.


EXERCISE 1. PRONUNCIATION/WORD VOCABULARY 


1. Apprehended-[a-pRi-hEnd]
Meaning (verb):1.to arrest someone
                      2.to understand or to know the
                         meaning (of something)


Example Sentences:1.Within hours, police had
                           apprehended the thief.
                          2.I need to read some additional
                            information to fully apprehend his
                            research topic.


2. Assault-[uH-zult]
Meaning (noun): a violent physical or verbal attack
Example Sentence: She was injured in a brutal
                              assault.


3. Moviegoers-[moo-vi-gow-werz]
Meaning (noun)-someone who likes watching movies
Example Sentence: I am a moviegoer, I watch movies
                             every Sunday.


4. Nemesis-[ne-me-sis]
Meaning (noun)-A source of harm or ruin
Example Sentence:He will be playing his old nemesis
                           for the championship.


5. Massacre-[ma-sak-ker]
Meaning (noun)-the act of killing a number of
                helplessly human beings at
                 the same given place and time.
Example Sentence: The game turned out to be a
                      complete massacre.


6. Reignite-[ri-eeg-neyt]
Meaning (verb)-to flare up again
***flare means a sudden outburst or excitement
Example Sentence: After a long investigation, his case
                 was reignited in the court.




WORDS TO PRONOUNCE:
wounded
apprehended
neuroscience
assault
rifle
premiere
dyed
nemesis
massacre
reignited
tragedies


EXERCISE 2: SHARING IDEAS


Tell me something about the article.
1. What is this article all about?
2. What do you think about this article?
3. Is gun crime common in your country?
4. Do you think people need gun? Why or why not?
5. How can society reduce the number of gun crimes?






Article Source: Breakingnewsenglish

Calls to Punish Bad Language in Football

There are calls from top officials in British football to clamp down on the use of bad language in the game. Many believe the reputation of English soccer was badly damaged this week during the trial of former England captain John Terry. Mr Terry, also captain of Premier League side Chelsea, was accused of using racially and sexually offensive language towards Anton Ferdinand, a player with Queens Park Rangers. The court found Terry not guilty of the charges but the case has brought to light the level of foul and abusive language used by players in Britain. Gordon Taylor, CEO of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), believes that the image of English football has suffered at the trial this week.


PFA chairman Clarke Carlisle believes there should now be a clampdown on bad language. He said the laws of world football's governing body, FIFA, allow the referee to send a player off for "using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures". Mr Carlisle said: "If players were sent off and banned because of the language, it would cause them to address their behaviour. It would cause the clubs to clamp down on it too." Lord Ouseley, chairman of the anti-racism group Kick it Out, said: "I think at the highest level of football it's got to stop because these are people who are highly paid role models, they influence their fans." However, both Terry and Ferdinand said bad language on the pitch was "acceptable".


source: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1207/120715-bad_language.html

PRONUNCIATION/VOCABULARY WORDS:


1. Reputation[rep-pyu-tey-shun]
Meaning: (noun)- overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general
Example sentence: He has earned a reputation as a good English teacher.


2. Accused [ ak-kyust]
Meaning: (noun)- one charged with an offense especially the defendant in a criminal case.
Example sentence: He was accused of cheating during their final examination.


3. Offensive [off-fen-siv]
Meaning: (adjective)- unpleasant or painful things [through words or actions] that can hurt someone's feelings and reputation.
Example: He made some offensive remarks against some politicians during his speech.

Old People Smell Nicer Than Young People

"Old-person smell" is for real, according to a new study into body odor. And what's more, it's not as bad as the smell of younger people. Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Centre in the USA tested people's perceptions of the body odor emitted by people aged 20 to 30, 45 to 55, and 77 to 95. Volunteers in each age group wore a T-shirt containing underarm pads to bed for five nights. 
Samples from the pads were then tested on 41 "sniffers," who had the task of evaluating each armpit smell. The evaluators were able to distinguish between the different age groups and said the smell from the older age group was less intense and less unpleasant than the others.




The study is part of wider research into how our brain interprets different human smells and how we react to them. Lead researcher Dr Johan Lundstrom said: "Similar to other animals, humans can extract signals from body odors that allow us to identify biological age, avoid sick individuals, pick a suitable partner, and distinguish kin from non-kin." He said of his test results: "Elderly people have a discernible underarm odor that younger people consider to be fairly neutral 
and not very unpleasant. This was surprising given the popular conception of old age odor as disagreeable." He said other bodily smells other than B.O. might also differ with age, especially that of our breath.

source: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

Anger Disorder High Among U.S. Teens

 A new study suggests that a high number of American teenagers suffer from a disorder that leads to fits of uncontrollable rage. Researchers from the Harvard Medical School conducted a survey and interviewed over 10,000 teens aged 13 to 17. They discovered that eight per cent of them suffered from a mental disorder called intermittent explosive disorder (IED). The team says that based on its results, up to six million youths in the U.S. could be suffering from this illness. IED leads sufferers to suddenly lose control of even the smallest, non-threatening situations. They can fly into a fit of rage on impulse and become extremely aggressive. Sufferers break or smash things, scream and shout, become violent and can attack others. The scientists say it is responsible for a lot of domestic violence and problems at school.


The study is published in the journal of Archives of General Psychiatry. It is the first large-scale research to document the extent of IED in the USA. Lead researcher doctor Ronald Kessler described the potential importance of his research, saying: "If we can detect IED early and intervene with effective treatment right away, we can prevent a substantial amount of future violence." He added: "It's a problem because it really gets in the way of your life. There are lots of things people don't get treatment for because it doesn't really impact them. This does. The problem is an awful lot of people have it — more than I thought — it's awfully chronic, and it's impairing." Dr Kessler believes it is important this problem is given more recognition. "Social disorders can fall through the cracks, and this is one of them," he said.


source:http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

Batman Could Fly, but He'd Crash and Die

Scientists have finally answered one of life's mysteries – whether Batman can really fly. Researchers from Leicester University in the U.K. conducted tests on the type of cape Batman wears as he flies around Gotham City watching for mischief and criminals. They concluded that he would be able to glide pretty well, but would crash at high speed and die once he tried to land. The researchers say this is because the wingspan of his cape is too short to allow him to land smoothly. Researcher and superhero addict David Marshall said: "If Batman wanted to survive the flight, he would definitely need a bigger cape. Or if he preferred to keep his style intact he could opt for…jets to keep himself aloft."

The research paper is called 'Trajectory of a Falling Batman'. The research team tested the physics behind the cape worn in the 2005 movie "Batman Begins". The wingspan of the cape is 4.7 metres, which is around half that needed for a human to land safely. The research team said that if Batman jumped from a building about 150 metres high, he would be able to glide for about 350 metres. The problem would come when he attempted to land. The impact would be the equivalent of being hit by a car driving at 80kph. The team concluded that: "Clearly gliding using a batcape is not a safe way to travel, unless a method to rapidly slow down is used such as a parachute."

source: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/