Ad of the Day — Hula Hoops

Here's a new ad for Hula Hoops, the popular UK snack brand, which would be great for teaching a couple of English idioms, and can also be used for some classroom activities (see below for ideas).

TRANSCRIPT

BANK ROBBER: Stop what you're doing. Give me all the money.

BANK CASHIER: Sorry love. I've got my hands full.

VOICEOVER: When it comes to the crunch, it has to be Hula Hoops.

IDIOMS

1. If you have your hands full, you are so busy that you do not have time to do anything else: I'd love to help but I've got my hands full organizing the school play. In the ad, there's a play on words, since the woman literally has her hands full (of Hula Hoops!)

2. When it comes to the crunch is an idiom used when a situation becomes serious or an important decision has to be made: You know that when it comes to the crunch, she will do what needs to be done. Once again, there's a play on words because Hula Hoops are a crunchy snack.

LESSON IDEA — WITNESS

1. Show the ad and tell the students they have to watch carefully as they'll be asked questions after to test their powers of observation and see whether they would make a good witness.

2. Ask the following questions:

·    what colour was the robber's car? (beige)

·    how many people were in the street? (two)

·    what was the name of the bank? (West Heath Bank)

·    what was the robber wearing? (black leather coat, purple polo neck sweater, stocking over his head, a glove)

·    what was the robber carrying? (a black leather holdall)

·    what time was it? (3pm on the clock, 15.03 on the CCTV footage)

·    what was the cashier's name? (Polly)

·    how many police cars arrive? (three)

TRIVIA NOTE

The snack gets its name from the hula hoop, a toy hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck. See here for photos.

From: http://www.englishblog.com/

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Criamos uma página com os alunos da universidade. A ideia é praticar a língua fora da sala de aula e divulgar informações sobre quem faz a universidade. Sintam-se convidados a curtir a mesma:

https://www.facebook.com/Humans-of-Ufersa-1768823170006421/

Charlie Chaplin's Controversial Speech - The Great Dictator 1940

Hope... I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor -- that's not my business -- I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that.

We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful.

But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls -- has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair".

The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish...

Soldiers -- don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you -- who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.

Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate -- only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers -- don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty.

In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written " the kingdom of God is within man " -- not one man, nor a group of men -- but in all men -- in you, the people.

You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power -- let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.

Soldiers -- in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting -- the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world. A kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality.

The soul of man has been given wings -- and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow -- into the light of hope -- into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up.

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

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Undercover Bosses

Quite recently, a Brazilian television network started to show a new TV series in one of its programs – a weekly television newsmagazine broadcast on the nights of Sundays also known as The Show of the Life.

The program is actually based on a television franchise series created by Stephen Lambert called Undercover Boss.

I have watched a lot of them and I must say that they are interesting, but as you watch them over and over they get sort of boring.

Nonetheless, I would like to share with you some of the best (in my opinion) episodes. I do hope you guys like them. I particularly liked the idea of the experiences of senior executives – CEO and presidents – working undercover in their own companies in order to investigate how their firms work on a daily basis and to identify how they can be improved, as well as to reward hard-working employees.

You will meet a lot of interesting people with equally interesting histories.

ADULT WARNING

If you are under 21 years of age, or if it is illegal to view adult material in your community, please leave now. We cannot be held responsible for your actions. We are not acting in any way to send you this information; you are choosing to receive it! Continuing further means that you understand and accept responsibility for your own actions, thus releasing the creators of this Web page and our service provider from all liability.

“When Coby Brooks, President and CEO of "Hooters" goes undercover in his own company, he finds himself struggling to keep up in a fast-paced kitchen and is, later, forced to take immediate action when a restaurant manager steps out of line”. - Written by CBS Publicity

An Employee's lack of southern hospitality frustrates the Chief Talent Officer or Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

ADULT WARNING

If you are under 21 years of age, or if it is illegal to view adult material in your community, please leave now. We cannot be held responsible for your actions. We are not acting in any way to send you this information; you are choosing to receive it! Continuing further means that you understand and accept responsibility for your own actions, thus releasing the creators of this Web page and our service provider from all liability.

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

Did you spot a typo?

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Animated English - Cookie Recipe. (In this lesson a TV chef presents a recipe for cookies)

I believe you guys will like this one!

Animated English is a series of animated video lessons for learners of English. Each lesson features a dialogue based on an everyday situation, a 'listen and repeat' activity, a listening comprehension text, and some personal questions. The accompanying PDF files contain transcripts, language notes, worksheets, crosswords and word search puzzles.

In this lesson a TV chef presents a recipe for cookies. You can download the PDF for this lesson here. A similar PDF is available for each lesson.

The complete set of ten lessons is available on several different platforms - choose the one that suits you best!

• YouTube Channel
• Animated English (a dedicated blog)
• iTunes U Collection (for computers)
• iTunes U Course (for tablets and phones)

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that does not look right, contact me!

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"Did you go to Nautilus for middle school?" Judge recognizes burglary suspect as childhood friend.

What are the odds? Ok, I believe you folks have seen this video already!

It is a video about an unexpected class reunion – a sad one, I would add.

Let’s give our characters names, shall we?

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mindy Glazer, a Florida judge who was presiding over the case of a man arrested for burglary and theft on Thursday.

And

Arthur Booth, a 49-year-old man from Miami who was in court for a hearing on a burglary charge.

Now that we are not strangers to each other, let’s understand what really happened.

(Warning) Be ready for this. It will break your heart!

Well, sadly, burglary suspect Arthur Booth meets his childhood friend and breaks down in shock when he realizes that her life has taken, say, another direction.

It needs only one question to break the ice and take the man down:

"Did you go to Nautilus for middle school?" Glazer asked the suspect standing before her. 

Booth starts crying “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness”

“I’m sorry to see you there, I always wondered what happened to you, sir,” said Judge Glazer. “This was the nicest kid in middle school. He was the best kid in middle school, I used to play football with him ... and look what has happened, I’m so sorry.”

“Mr. Booth, I hope you are able to change your ways, good luck to you,” added the judge.

According to NBC Miami, Booth, 49, was arrested on Monday by police in Hialeah. Citing an arrest report, the station reports he was spotted driving a gold Honda Accord suspected to be tied to a home burglary.

How sad, right?

“What’s sad is how old we’ve become,” joked the judge. 
“I hope you’re able to come out of this OK and lead a lawful life” She said while wishing her childhood friend luck and that he would turn things around.  

Have you ever thought about that? I mean, about how far our decisions, opportunities and the hand of fortune can take us?

It’s not over; there is another video. See Arthur Booth’s cousin talking about his cousin:  

Sad, but what can we do? C'est la vie. It is a French expression that is rather famous in English and other languages; it means "it is the life!" 

Move on Mr. Booth. I do hope you find your way! 

All right, Booth is a 49-year-old person, but as we are all talking about another issue related to justice, crime and the like in Brazil, I would like to ask you these questions:

What should the age of criminal responsibility be? Why?

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that does not look right, contact me!

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“Hope” is the thing with feather (BY EMILY DICKINSON)

I have nothing concerning TESOL to share with you guys today. I am really busy at this very moment. The only thing I would like to show you today is this beautiful poem written by Emily Dickinson. 

“Hope” is the thing with feathers 
(BY EMILY DICKINSON)

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.

Summary

The speaker describes hope as a bird (“the thing with feathers”) that perches in the soul. There, it sings wordlessly and without pause. The song of hope sounds sweetest “in the Gale,” and it would require a terrifying storm to ever “abash the little Bird / That kept so many warm.” The speaker says that she has heard the bird of hope “in the chillest land— / And on the strangest Sea—”, but never, no matter how extreme the conditions, did it ever ask for a single crumb from her. (SparkNotes)

Like almost all of Dickinson’s poems, “ ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers—...” takes the form of an iambic trimeter that often expands to include a fourth stress at the end of the line (as in “And sings the tune without the words—”). Like almost all of her poems, it modifies and breaks up the rhythmic flow with long dashes indicating breaks and pauses (“And never stops—at all—”). The stanzas, as in most of Dickinson’s lyrics, rhyme loosely in an ABCB scheme, though in this poem there are some incidental carryover rhymes: “words” in line three of the first stanza rhymes with “heard” and “Bird” in the second; “Extremity” rhymes with “Sea” and “Me” in the third stanza, thus, technically conforming to an ABBB rhyme scheme. (SparkNotes)

Commentary

This simple, metaphorical description of hope as a bird singing in the soul is another example of Dickinson’s homiletic style, derived from Psalms and religious hymns. Dickinson introduces her metaphor in the first two lines (“ ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers— / That perches in the soul—”), then develops it throughout the poem by telling what the bird does (sing), how it reacts to hardship (it is unabashed in the storm), where it can be found (everywhere, from “chillest land” to “strangest Sea”), and what it asks for itself (nothing, not even a single crumb). Though written after “Success is counted sweetest,” this is still an early poem for Dickinson, and neither her language nor her themes here are as complicated and explosive as they would become in her more mature work from the mid-1860s. Still, we find a few of the verbal shocks that so characterize Dickinson’s mature style: the use of “abash,” for instance, to describe the storm’s potential effect on the bird, wrenches the reader back to the reality behind the pretty metaphor; while a singing bird cannot exactly be “abashed,” the word describes the effect of the storm—or a more general hardship—upon the speaker’s hopes. (SparkNotes)

References

Poetry Foundation. (2015). Retrieved June 27, 2015, from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171619

SparkNotes Editors. (2002). SparkNote on Dickinson’s Poetry. Retrieved June 27, 2015, from http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/dickinson/

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Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that does not look right, contact me!

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