Do you want to save money?
Do you want a new job?
Do you want a new life?
If you have any big goals, this is the perfect tense for you. You can set a goal with a deadline. A deadline is a time or date you must achieve/accomplish/do something in your life.
The big question in this clip is, “By this time next year, what will you have achieved in your life?” Will you have saved some money by this time next year? Will you have gotten a new job? Will you have learned how to speak English fluently?
People ask you about what you did in the past all the time, so it’s important to know how to explain all the details of what happened in the past. Someone might ask you what you did yesterday or what you did last week. Do you know how to answer? Here’s a video lesson on the simple past. After you watch, think about what you did this weekend and answer it out loud. (to say s.t. out loud = to say s.t. so that people can hear, not to yourself)
One more note: If it’s early in the week, you ask, “What did you do this weekend?” If it’s later in the week, like Thursday or Friday, you ask, “What did you do last weekend?”
When I lived and traveled through Mexico and Central America for a year (Note – ‘traveled’ can be spelled as ‘travelled’ if you are not living in the United States), every day I wrote in a spiral notebook, which served as a journal (a spiral notebook – a notebook that has a wire binding…wires that hold the pages together and twist down in a spiral). I wrote in Spanish and this, more than any other factor, (factor = element, point, aspect) probably helped me improve the fastest.
As a result, I always encourage my students to write as much as they can (as a result = therefore). Writing is one of the best ways to improve your language skills, both in your native language and in other languages. Any new vocabulary words that you’ve learned can be included in the journal.
I went to Mexico with a guy who I didn’t trust. Go figure. (Go figure = Who knows why. It’s crazy. You can’t figure it out.) For many reasons, we did not part ways, (to part ways = to go on your separate paths, to say goodbye to someone) but mostly it was because I was young and foolish. The good thing about writing in this journal was that (the good thing was that … = It was good that …) this guy could not speak Spanish, so I could write down all of my thoughts without any fear that he would read the journal, which, of course, was not the kind of journal that locks.
Perhaps you are afraid to write down your deepest thoughts (deepest thoughts = private/personal thoughts and feelings) because someone might read them. Well, it’s perfect – just write in English. Of course, it’s hard (hard=difficult) if the person who you don’t want to read your journal speaks English too!
Now, I want you to look back at all of the paragraphs in this blog post. All of them have adjective clauses. This is a description after a noun. Often, the description uses ‘who’, ‘that’ or ‘which’. However, it doesn’t have to do this.
Look at the first sentence in the last paragraph, especially: “the paragraphs in this blog post.” The adjective clause is “in this blog post.” It describes “paragraphs.” I could have said, “…the paragraphs that are in this blog post.” However, if you can cut ‘that’ and the ‘be’ verb, you should (cut=delete).
Now, I’d love you to write about a travel experience you had. (Note – do you see that I cut ‘that’ in the adjective clause in the previous sentence?) (previous=last)
Use one adjective clause in every paragraph to practice. Use a comma before the adjective when it’s just extra information. Don’t use a comma before ‘that’ or before any description that is essential to identify the person or thing (essential = important, can’t be deleted).
Feel free to email me your essays (feel free = go ahead, don’t worry, I don’t mind if you…, It’s okay if you…). I’d love to see them.
Are you too pretty or too intelligent? You’d better hope you are NOT too pretty or too intelligent. It’s much better to be so intelligent or very pretty. In this video lesson, I explain the difference between too + an adjective and so/very + an adjective. See the transcript below if you can’t understand.
Hello,
This is Kim Purcell at RealESL.com and today I’m in Beverly Hills. There is a good old garbage truck – oh no – it’s a fire truck. Yep. And this is Beverly Hills. It’s not as fancy as what a lot of you see in the movies. Yes, there are parts of Beverly Hills that are not that fancy. So, what we’re going to talk about is using too, so or very + (plus) an adjective.
When do you use them? When do you use too + an adjective and when do you use so or very?
Let me give you an example: She is too pretty. How is that different from ‘She is so pretty’ or ‘She is very pretty’? Now … ‘She is so pretty’ or ‘She is very pretty’ … that just means ‘a lot’. You know, her level of attractiveness (attractiveness – being attractive/pretty/good-looking) is high. That’s all. Now, ‘She is too pretty’ means you don’t like it, it’s, her … she’s so pretty that something’s bad about it. Okay? So, maybe it’s just that for you, (it’s just that … = the point is that…,) you don’t like women that are so attractive (attractive = good-looking). You would rather have someone who is not so pretty. So, you say, “She’s too pretty. I don’t want to go out with her.” For example. It just depends on your purpose. But when you add too + the adjective, it makes it bad.
“He is too tall.” Maybe you’re a short person and you don’t want a friend who’s really tall.
Another example is “He is too intelligent.” Now, how is it possible to be too intelligent? Intelligent is a good thing, right? Well, if someone is too intelligent, perhaps he’s hard to talk to. Maybe he only talks about intellectual things and you want to talk about beer and baseball or football or soccer or maybe you want to talk about going out last night and meeting a hot chick. (a hot chick = a good-looking woman) He’s not a real good friend for that because he wants to talk about quantum physics. So, he’s too intelligent. You don’t want to hang out with him. (to hang out with s.o. = to spend time with s.o.)
[Note from Kim: It would be more common to say 'He's too intellectual' than 'He's too intelligent' because someone can be intelligent without constantly talking about academic subjects, whereas an intellectual tends to be mostly interested in academic subjects. However, the example still works because for some people, someone might be too intelligent, which then makes the person less attractive as a friend or mate.]
Let’s see. (Let’s see = Let me think, let me give you an example) She is too rich. Maybe you don’t like having a friend who is… who has so much money. Maybe you don’t have much money and you don’t want to hang out with someone who has money and they’re always spending it and you feel poor.
Uh – he’s too poor. Now poor is more of a negative adjective. It doesn’t have to be, but generally it is. So, ‘He’s too poor’ just means, okay, a little poor, maybe that’s okay, I don’t mind, but this guy is so poor that it’s bad for me. Okay?
So, ‘too’ always makes that adjective something that’s bad, even if that adjective is normally a good thing, that quality is normally a good thing. Alright, give it a try, think of some adjective or quality in a person that’s good usually and then add ‘too’ to it to think of what would make it suddenly bad. Okay? Now, find something that’s a little bit bad, but you don’t mind it, but if it’s too extreme, (extreme = having too much or a lot of something, being on one end of the spectrum) if that quality is too much, you wouldn’t like it. Like, let’s say, (like, let’s say = for example) a hairy back, well, some women don’t like men with hairy backs, but a little bit of hair, not so bad, it’s okay. But if the guy has, you know, a forest back there, you might say, “He’s too hairy.” Or, “His back is too hairy.”
Okay, you got it? (You got it? = Do you understand?)
Now, you think of a few examples of your own. Okay, go for it. (Go for it = Try it)
Some of my students have watched a lot of American TV. Some of my students decided they wanted to study five hours a day after going to class for six hours. Some of my students partied with Americans (to party with s.o. = to go out with s.o., to have a party with s.o., to go to bars with s.o.) Some of my students found an American boyfriend or girlfriend.
I have some experience learning languages (to have experience ___ing s.t.). In my life, I’ve learned French, Spanish and Korean. My French is very rusty (rusty = not strong anymore because it hasn’t been used) and so is my Korean (so is __ = ___ is also …). If you don’t use it, you lose it! I think I could pick them up again (to pick up a language = to learn a language naturally), though, if I tried. My Spanish is decent (decent = not bad, not perfect, just okay) because I use it a lot.
Today I want to talk about how I learned Korean. Most of my students have not done what worked for me when I learned Korean. I went to Korea to teach English, but I didn’t speak a word of Korean. I wanted to learn, but all of the Koreans who befriended me (to befriend s.o. = to become friends with s.o.) wanted to practice speaking English and my job required me to speak English all day. Even though I lived in Korea, I didn’t have many opportunities to practice speaking Korean.
After a couple weeks of this, I decided I had to do something. I started taking a Korean class a couple times a week, but it wasn’t enough. Mostly, I learned how to write and read, but speaking was a challenge. (a challenge = a difficulty, something to be overcome)
The big thing that helped me was taking personal-interest classes. I could have taken gardening classes or photography classes, but I happen to enjoy exercise and sports (I happen to enjoy s.t. = I enjoy s.t.), so that’s what I chose to focus on.
I started one-on-one Taekwondo lessons (one-on-one = private) with an instructor who spoke only Korean. I trained with him for an hour and a half a day, five days a week. Not only did I get in great shape, (to get in great shape = to get a strong body) but I also started speaking Korean (not only did I …, but I also…. = both ____ and _____ happened). I did this for the entire year and I got my black belt at the end of it. This helped me the most.
I also took an aerobics class for a month, which was very confusing because everyone knew the moves (to know the moves = to know the movements, the actions, the steps), but I didn’t. On top of that, (on top of that = in addition, also) I didn’t speak the language. When the teacher said “Turn,” everyone crashed into me (to crash into s.o. = to fall into s.o., to hit s.o.). That lasted (lasted = continued) one month.
Then, I started a Dahn Hak class, which is a Korean form of yoga and meditation. After the class, everyone sat around, drank tea and chatted. (to chat = to talk casually) I didn’t understand much, but I sat with them and listened. I really liked that part of the class. However, one woman always brought her kids to the class. During the meditation, they ran around around our still bodies (still = no moving). It could have been a time for me to find that peaceful place inside me, despite my environment. But I didn’t reach this blissful state (blissful state = happy way of thinking). Instead, it freaked me out (to freak s.o. out = to scare s.o.). I thought one of them was going to fall on my head. I could never relax. I finished this class after three months.
I think it’s great to date someone (to date = to go out with s.o., to become a girlfriend or boyfriend with s.o.) from the country where you are trying to learn the language. However, I didn’t find a Korean boyfriend because about two weeks after I arrived, I met a very good-looking American guy who made me laugh. He ended up becoming my husband! (to end up ___ing = in the end, ____ happened)
I would love to hear from you today.
What is the best thing you’ve done to improve your English?
Sometimes you really need a caffeine fix (a caffeine fix = caffeine to help your brain work). If you do, you don’t want to be stressed out about (to be stressed out about s.t. = to be worried about s.t.) how to order your java (java = coffee).
This is a simple explanation to help you with the vocabulary and American culture involved in ordering some brew (some brew = some coffee). So, watch the video and next time you’re jonesing for some caffeine (to be jonesing for s.t. = to be craving/wanting something very badly, usually some kind of drug), you’ll know what to do.
Check out the transcript below for words you don’t understand and have a great day!
Kim
Transcript for Real ESL Video Lesson 9:
Hi. I’m in Starbucks right now – loud music playing – don’t know if you can hear me and I don’t really know if we can shoot in here, but whatever (whatever = I don’t care), we’ll try. Okay. So, we’re going to turn our attention to (to turn one’s attention to s.t. – to think about s.t., to talk about s.t.) how to order a coffee. Easy, but hard for some people.
You just have to be polite, direct, you don’t need to be rude and you don’t need to be overly polite. You just say, “Can I have a latte please?” They have tall, grande, venti. You say, “Can I have a tall latte please?” And you can also say, “I’d like a latte please.”
Now, do not say: “Give me a latte” or “Let me have a latte.” You’re not Mr. Tough Guy (Mr. Tough Guy = a rude, tough person). You are just a regular person.
Also, don’t bow. “Can I have a latte please?” When I lived in Korea – after I came back – I started bowing at people and you know, they really do think it’s weird here (weird = strange). So, (it’s) better not to bow here, if you’re from Asia. Just look at the person directly, smile and order your coffee. It’s very simple.
Then, they might ask you, “What is your name?” That’s normal here. Just give any name. They don’t care. They just want to make sure you get your coffee.
The other thing is (the other thing is = another point is, another element is, also) they might ask you, “Do you want anything to eat? Do you want a pastry?” You say, “No, thanks,” or “Yes, I’d like …” whatever it is. And that’s it.
So, go for it (go for it = do it). I want you to find a coffee shop in your area. Even if you live in another country, surely (surely = I’m sure, definitely, for sure) you can find a coffee shop in the American/English district. Go for (go for = choose) that place and practice your English.
I went to the Getty Center for this video post. I think this museum is thoroughly enjoyable and those of you who come through LA should bathe, put on clean clothes and go. Though you should leave your gothic, moth-eaten clothes along with the Christmas wreaths in your filthy closet.
Does this seem like a strange post? Reread the above paragraph to practice the ‘TH’ sound. Make sure your tongue is between your teeth when you say ‘th’.
thoroughly = completely
enjoyable = easy to enjoy, fun
to bathe = to take a bath
gothic = black clothing, style
moth-eaten = eaten by moths
filthy = dirty
The transcript for the video post is at the bottom. Thanks for watching.
Transcript for RealESL.com video post 8:
Hi. This is Kim Purcell at RealESL.com. And today we’re going to practice pronouncing ‘th’ – TH – ‘th’. You’ve got to put your tongue between your teeth – ‘th’.
Okay now the big problem is when it’s at the end of the sentence.
Usually people make it a ‘t’ or a ‘d’ sound.
They don’t get their tongue between their teeth if it’s at the end of the word.
So let’s try that:
Math
Moth
Sleuth
Month
Okay? You got that? (You got that – Do you understand that?) Try that. ‘Th’
All right, now try it with an ‘s’. That requires your TH – ‘th’ and your tongue slides back for ‘ssss’. That’s even harder because a lot of people miss the ‘TH’ or they miss the ‘S’. If you’re going to miss one of those sounds, it’s okay, drop the ‘TH’, but don’t drop the ‘S’.
For example, months, some people say ‘mons’ – that’s okay, but don’t say ‘month’ when you mean ‘months’. Okay?
Today I want to talk about the value of television (the value of s.t. = the benefit of s.t.) (s.t. = something).
But first, I must start with a confession: I’ve always been anti-TV (anti- s.t = you don’t like s.t. or you disagree with s.t. or you think it’s bad in some way). I think it can harm creativity (harm = hurt) and get in the way of people becoming successful (get in the way of s.t. = stop s.t., keep s.t. from happening). And don’t even get me started on how bad it is for kids (don’t even get me started on how … = don’t let me start talking about …). Why do you think Americans are so fat? Oh, wait a minute, (wait a minute = oops, I made a mistake, let me stop myself here) I’m supposed to be convincing you to watch TV!
For ESL learners, English television is very helpful.
You may find the following story hard to believe, but it’s true. I had a student from Brazil who didn’t take any English classes, but she became nearly fluent in English while she was living in Brazil. She didn’t have any English-speaking friends or any opportunities to speak English. Instead, she did it by sitting on her sofa, watching television.
When she came to my advanced English class at Kaplan in Westwood, she took the practice TOEFL for her first time and she aced it (to ace a test = to get a top mark, to score high). I asked her how she did it.
She told me she was a couch potato in Brazil (couch potato = someone who watches television all day). She watched English television for about six hours a day. She put on the English subtitles (subtitles = words at the bottom of the screen) and looked up all the words she didn’t know (to look up words = to check for the meaning in a dictionary). She repeated words out loud (to say s.t. out loud = to speak it so that people can hear). She practiced the vocabulary by having conversations with herself.
No, she wasn’t a big loser (a big loser = a person with no friends). She was a really neat woman (neat = cool, fun). I’m sure she could have been going out, partying and having a good time. But she chose to learn English.
Should you swear in English? The answer is NO! Think about when foreigners swear in your language (swear = saying a bad word). Usually, it sounds wrong. They don’t use the word in the right situation or they say it a bit wrong. It’s like when a child swears. It makes you wince (wince = feel uncomfortable, make a face, cringe). Maybe it’s just because I don’t really think swearing is necessary in general, but it’s worse when a child, a foreigner or an old person swears. It’s more offensive (offensive = rude, causing insult). Having said that, you do need to understand it so that you know how to respond. Watch the video and learn the proper meanings of ‘bitch’ and ‘slut’.
If you really want to speak English well, you should ask yourself this question: why do you want to learn English? I want you to come up with five reasons. (come up with something = think up s.t., find s.t. in your mind, list s.t., have an idea)
When you are trying to think up these reasons, ask yourself what will change in your life when you can speak perfectly. Will you make more money? Will you get a better job? Will you be able to travel more? Will you move into a nicer home? Will you be able to move to another country? What will change in your life?
Any time you want to make a positive change, it’s important to examine your reasons and find strong motivations to change. If you want to quit smoking, for example, you should think about your reasons. You might envision yourself (envision = see s.t. in your mind) hiking up a mountain with a strong body, breathing easily. Maybe you will see a sexy person at your side.
The important thing is that the reasons must be your reasons, not your wife’s reasons, not your boss’s reasons and not your friend’s reasons. You can’t ever do something for someone else. You will see it as a drudgery (a chore, a difficult thing) and you won’t do the work that’s required.
It’s tough to say, “I will do everything I can to speak English well.” It means that when you want to listen to the radio or watch TV in your language, you’ve got to turn it to the English station. It means that you have to go to English websites. You have to find opportunities to speak English and stop speaking your own language. You will have to study, even if it’s just for five minute periods several times a day.
In short, you will have to make some sacrifices (to make sacrifices = to give up things you like) in order to achieve your goals. Are you willing to do this? You’ve got to find reasons for these sacrifices or you will always find another excuse not to work toward your goal.
