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| Uncle Sam on a U.S. Army recruiting poster (Wikipedia) |
Note: When we want someone to give up, we tell them: "Say Uncle!" But the word has lots of other idiomatic uses besides.
Get Ready: What does the word "uncle" mean to you (besides the obvious, literal meaning)?
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| Fractions of a cake (Wikipedia) |
Note: What are numerators and denominators? How do we keep them straight? And how do we pronounce fractions in English? The answers are here!
Get Ready: Do you have a good understanding of fractions? When did you first learn about them?
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| The six big joints (Wikipedia) |
Note: Wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle: most of these important joints have idioms to go with them, some of which you can learn in this lesson.
Get Ready: Move ("flex") each of the joints shown in the picture above. Which ones move differently? Which ones move in the same way?
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| Professor Jim Bucket's social links (see live version at the bottom of the page) |
Note: This lesson and #03-012 were written in 2012. Social media is more popular--and more challenging--since then, but I think most of what you'll read here is still useful.
Get Ready: Do you use any social networking sites? If so, how many friends (fans, followers) do you have? Do you think that's a good number? Why or why not?
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| Some small appliances (Wikipedia) |
Note: This time, Roberto and Becky look at the smaller appliances in their dorm's kitchen, and talking about how they're used.
Get Ready: Skim through the lesson. Which of the appliances named seem useful? Which seem unnecessary?
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| A modern kitchen (Wikipedia) |
Note: Roberto and Becky are looking at the major appliances in the kitchen area of their dormitory, and talking about their use.
Get Ready: What appliances do you have in your house for cooking? For food storage? For taking care of garbage?
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| The branches of science as their subjects evolved through time (Wikipedia) |
Note: We live in the age of science. Let's listen in as Sunny and Antonio discuss the many branches of this important field of study.
Get Ready: Are you "good at" science? Do you like it? Why or why not?
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| How to make a billion (Wikipedia) |
Note: Most of us can write big numbers--say, thousands, millions, or billions--but saying them out loud can be a challenge. Learn how in this lesson.
Get Ready: What's the biggest number you know how to say? Do you know anything past one billion?
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| The cast of The Big Bang Theory (Wikipedia) |
Note: Mark, an American student, talks with his Indian friend about the TV show, The Big Bang Theory.
Get Ready: Do you know any "nerds"? Do you think they're funny?
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| Amanda Seyfried as Red Riding Hood (Wikipedia) |
Note: Mark, an American student, and his Indian friend Sunil talk in their dorm about a new movie adaptation of an old fairy tale.
Get Ready: Have you seen the film Red Riding Hood, or read the original fairy tale? What do you think of either one?
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| Shenzhen, the Boomtown (Wikipedia) |
Note: Between Lesson #01-128 and #01-208, I wrote 72 lessons explaining expressions in articles published in the Shenzhen Daily. Read more about "Reading Boomtown Chronicles."
Get Ready: What sorts of things have you done with chalk? Writing on a blackboard? Drawing on a sidewalk? Or...?
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| Shenzhen, the Boomtown (Wikipedia) |
Note: Between Lesson #01-128 and #01-208, I wrote 72 lessons explaining expressions in articles published in the Shenzhen Daily. Read more about "Reading Boomtown Chronicles."
Get Ready: How do you signify that you have struck a deal with someone? Shaking hands is common; do you do anything else?
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| Shenzhen, the Boomtown (Wikipedia) |
Note: Between Lesson #01-128 and #01-208, I wrote 72 lessons explaining expressions in articles published in the Shenzhen Daily. Read more about "Reading Boomtown Chronicles."
Get Ready: Do you own any stocks or bonds? Did you buy them yourself, or were they given to you? If you don't have any, have you ever thought about getting some?
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| Shenzhen, the Boomtown (Wikipedia) |
Note: Between Lesson #01-128 and #01-208, I wrote 72 lessons explaining expressions in articles published in the Shenzhen Daily. Read more about "Reading Boomtown Chronicles."
Get Ready: What, if anything, are you enthusiastic about?
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| Shenzhen, the Boomtown (Wikipedia) |
Note: Between Lesson #01-128 and #01-208, I wrote 72 lessons explaining expressions in articles published in the Shenzhen Daily. Read more about "Reading Boomtown Chronicles."
Get Ready: If you wanted to buy or sell stocks, would you trade over-the-counter, or would you only deal through a proper stock exchange?
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| Shenzhen, the Boomtown (Wikipedia) |
Note: Between Lesson #01-128 and #01-208, I wrote 72 lessons explaining expressions in articles published in the Shenzhen Daily. Read more about "Reading Boomtown Chronicles."
Get Ready: What transactions are you comfortable with doing at an ATM, and what would you rather do (or do you have to do) with a human teller?
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