English Recordings

1. hard headed means "stubborn" or "unwilling to change an opinion or idea

Example: I can't work with Joe any more. He's so hard headed!

2. keep in touch (or "stay in touch") means "do not stop communicating - send letters or call sometimes"

Example: Don't forget to keep in touch. I want to know how you're doing while you're away.

3. miss the boat means "to miss an opportunity"

Example: The sale ends today at noon. If we don't hurry, we're going to miss the boat!

4. be fed up with means "to hate something now, even though I may have liked it before"

Example: I'm fed up with my job! I think I should start looking for a new one.

5.to cram means "to study hard a few days before a test"

Example: If you had studied hard for the past four months, you wouldn't have to cram so much this weekend.

1. broke means "to have no money"

Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.

2. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"

Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!

3. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"

Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.

4. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"

Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.

5. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"

Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.

1.sharp means "exactly at a that time"

Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!

2. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"
Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.

3. take it easy means "relax"

Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.

4.to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"

Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.

5. up to the minute means "the most recent information"

Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.

Perhaps reflecting the vaguaries of the weather, there are only 19 films in competition at Cannes this year instead of the usual 20 to 22 – and all of them are directed by men.

The action kicks off with Ridley Scott’s “Robin Hood” which is showing out of competition to open the festival.

Films from Asia make a strong showing in the competition this year. From South Korea comes The Housemaid and Poetry. China and Thailand are also competing for the Palm d’Or.

Director Tim Burton is the president of the jury this year and says he’s excited to be in Cannes.

Thierry Frémaux, the festival’s artistic director said: “We have known him for a long time, he has been a part of the competition and he is a generous man, he’s very open and nice. And we like his talent, it is enough for him to be president of the jury, his legitimacy is enough, but more than that he is a movie buff.”

Michael Douglas reprises his 1987 role in Oliver Stone’s sequel “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps”.

Korean film The Housemaid (aka Hanyo) is in competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. A steamy love triangle, it tells the story of how an innocent women gets caught up in the machinations of the couple who employ her.

The film stars Jeon Do-Yeon who won critical acclaim for her performance in “Secret Sunshine” at Cannes in 2007. She says she was taken aback at how little attention she received at Cannes in 2007. This year however, things are likely to be different for the Korean star. Apart from anything else, The Housemaid includes some steamy scenes which are guaranteed to set tongues wagging.

Robin Hood will be shown out of competition on the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival. Ridley Scott directs Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow and Sir Walter Loxley in this slash n burn all-action thriller.

-Purple herons nest in UK for first time-

<RSPB and Kent police protecting herons' nest in Dungeness in the hope pair will successfully breed>

A pair of purple herons are nesting for the first time in the UK, conservationists said today.

The striking birds breed in southern Europe and visit Britain in small numbers each year, but the pair have nested on the Dungeness peninsula in Kent and could be the first to successfully breed here, if they can hatch the eggs they have laid and rear the chicks to fledging.

Experts said the bird, which has struggled in Europe in recent decades, is one of the species likely to be setting up home in southern Britain as climate change pushes wildlife further north.

But according to the RSPB, the site at Dungeness is under threat from the potential development of the airport at Lydd.

For now, a round-the-clock species protection scheme has been set up to give the purple herons the best chance of becoming the first successful breeding pair ever recorded in the UK.

Kent police are helping the RSPB protect the nest, and officers warned that any attempt to damage the nest or remove eggs was a criminal offence.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's conservation director, said: "The RSPB has a century-long heritage of protecting birds in Kent.

"Our protection scheme at the site provides immediate security for the birds, but the potential development of an airport on the peninsula casts a long shadow over the future of this magnificent site and its wildlife.

"Purple herons are up on the list of birds that we expect to see setting up home in southern Britain as changing climate pushes them further north.

"This highlights the importance of wildlife havens like Dungeness in providing space for species displaced by global warming."

The purple heron, which is closely related to grey herons that are widespread in the UK, can reach 90cm in height with a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres (5ft).

In Europe, the bird breeds in colonies in reedbeds and feeds on insects, reptiles and amphibians. Purple herons are migratory and winter in Africa.

The RSPB said the pair in Dungeness were currently sitting tight on their nest and there was little for visitors to see.

If the eggs hatch, the wildlife charity hopes to set up a viewing station at a safe distance to give the public a glimpse of the "historic wildlife moment", Dr Avery said.

But the annoying thing was that by now they no longer had the faintest idea of the way back. A sudden gust of wind sprang up; the grass stirred, the leaves rustled, and the trees creaked and groaned.
“I really am hungry!” said one. “I’ve had an awful empty feeling under my ribs for quite a while.”
“So have I,” said the other. “I don’t feel like walking any farther.”
“Oh, for something to eat!” said the first.
The pampas grass was rustling all about them as they talked. Just then, one of them happened to look round, and what should he see standing there but a fine brick building. Over the entrance there was a notice that said, in large letters:

RESTAURANT WILDCAT HOUSE

“Look! This is just right,” said one. “The place is civilized after all! Why don’t we go in?”
“Funny,” said the other, “in a place like this. But I expect we shall be able to get a meal, at any rate.”
“Of course we shall silly. What do you think the sign means?”
“Why don’t we go in? I’m ready to collapse with hunger.”
They stepped into the entrance hall. It was very fine, being done all over in white tiles. There was a glass door, with something written on it in gold letters.

PRAY, COME IN. NO ONE NEED HAVE A MOMENT’S HESITATION

They were terribly pleased.
“Just look at that!” said one of them. “Things always turn out right in the end. Everything’s been going wrong all day, but look how lucky we are now. This place is a restaurant, but they feed you for nothing!”
“I must say, it seems like it,” said the other. “That’s what ‘no one need to have a moment’s hesitation’ means.”
They pushed open the door and went through. On the other side was a corridor. Another notice in gold letters on the back of the glass door said:

PLUMP PARTIES AND YOUNG PARTIES ESPECIALLY WELCOME.

They were both overjoyed at this.
“Look, we’re especially welcome, it says,” said one.
“Because we satisfy both conditions!” said the other.
They walked briskly along the corridor and came to another door, this time painted bright blue.
“What a strange place! I wonder why there are so many doors?”
“This is the Russian way of doing things, of course. It’s always like this in cold places or in the mountains.”
They were just going to open the door when they saw a notice in yellow letters above it:

WE HOPE YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS A RESTAURANRT OF MANY ORDERS.

Using audio books for learning English

My children's knowledge of the English language is far better than their friends'. The only reason for it is that they are using audio books for learning English. My elder son has just finishing listening to the last Harry Potter audio book. Of course he became a great fan of the story. I bought him the original script along with the audio book so he can search for words he can not understand within the book. This Harry Potter audio book was a book on tape and consisted of several 30 minutes audio book cassettes.

Students all over the world are learning English using audio books. Audio books are the most effective way of learning English. It is well known that the best way to learn a new language or to improve the existing knowledge of a language is listening or talking it.

Learning English by using audio books broadens the vocabulary, helps understanding rapid speaking but more than all it is the only method that helps you learn the right pronunciation.

Using audio books to learn English is quite easy. You should only get audio books on Cd, books on tape or download audio books (You can even download free audio books).

You should find an audio book that suits your needs. If you are a beginner, The speech should be clear and slow. I also recommend getting an audio book with more than one speaker.

I consider myself as a good English speaker. Yet, listening to the English audio book version of Crime And Punishment by Feodor Dostoyevsky was not easy. I listened to each of the three audiobook cds at least a couple of times. I enjoyed broadening my vocabulary with rare words and listening to the British accent.

Henry James wrote : "Summer afternoon, Summer afternoon... The two most beautiful words in the English language" so get your children the Harry Potter audio books on cd, get out for the summer afternoon and let him enjoy learning English using audio books

The fastest ways to expand your vocabulary

When people think of expanding their vocabulary, the first thing that comes to mind is often those boring CD courses that used to be advertised on late-night infomercials in the 80's and 90's. The good news is that technology has come a long way since then. For example, new vocabulary building software such as Ultimate Vocabulary uses the latest technology to make learning words as easy and effective as possible. Other methods of expanding your vocabulary involve a bit more hard work but may also be worth the effort. These include reading widely, keeping lists of new words manually, and reading the dictionary.

How can expanding your vocabulary lead to financial gains?

An excellent vocabulary will yield financial gains. Many of us do not realize how that can happen. Most of us speak and write well and do not think ourselves lacking in words, but the sad truth is that the majority of us have an average vocabulary. As we grow older, we become resistant to learning new words with the result that our vocabulary remains stagnant. Expanding vocabulary is a practical solution which can boost your income and earn you respect.

Expanding your vocabulary with vocabulary building software such as Ultimate Vocabulary can turn bland speech into power speech. Effective conversation is a key to opening many closed doors. A superb vocabulary helps you be in control of your circumstances. Expand your vocabulary and you will say what you should say in a particular situation. Such mastery over language will impress people all around you.

Moreover, this added skill gives you confidence and improves your self-esteem, which will show in your behavior and speech. People will respect you and see you as a successful person or a person who will eventually gain success. Creating such an impression is made possible by expanding your vocabulary so you can use the right words at the right time.

A hesitant, fumbling person, even if he is incredibly intelligent, will not be able to pull it off at an interview. To be successful, you need to be able to express yourself effectively. Pausing to think of the right word is not something that you would like to do when facing the interviewer. Expanding your vocabulary will make you look better even when you are sure what to say.

An excellent vocabulary is the right way to land into a high-paying job. Researchers have found that youth who had above-average vocabulary skills were found in high-paying jobs, whereas those who had average vocabulary were doing low-paying jobs. There might not be too much difference in their intelligence level; the difference is in how they communicated that intelligence. It is essential to expand your vocabulary to ‘speak smart’.

Impress everybody with power words
Just a little change of words here and there can turn an ordinary sentence into a convincing one. Learning power words is not as difficult as learning a new language. You already know English and you already know the words you need to use in order to communicate. The only thing to do is to replace ordinary words with powerful words. A good selection of power words can be found in the vocabulary building software Ultimate Vocabulary.

What are power words?

Powerful words are words that create a dominant image or an impression in our minds. Words such as bravery, hurt, sacrifice, worship, justice etc. generate a strong impression whereas words like hill, sea, paper, water, stairs etc. remain passive. That is because we associate feelings and actions with powerful words.

‘Push-Button Technology’ and ‘Killer Sales’ are powerful words. Most writers use these kind of words where they bring together two entirely disparate objects in a simile for effect. People enjoy it because it’s novel. You can also create words such as these to impress people with your innovativeness and cleverness.

You can pick up powerful words from the Internet or coin some of your own. An excellent selection of powerful words are available in the vocabulary software Ultimate Vocabulary . Memorize them and use them while talking. You can be sure it will create a good impression. Writing is much easier, as you can stop, think and revise what you have written.

Use positive, active, potent words loaded with emotions. Words such as dedicated, faith, creative, enterprising, sharp, efficient etc. will do great in a resume. Choose which powerful words suit your needs and sprinkle them into your writing and speech accordingly.
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