NA NA NA

Dear Students,

Here you are a great song to practice the rhythm of English (weak and strong parts of the sentence). Sorry for any swear words or disgusting content, this is just for the sake of phonetis ;)

Enjoy!

Happy Hump Day

Hi everyone!

On Wednesday, people say 'Happy Hump Day" which implies that the week is like a hill and when you're over the hump - that is the highest part- you're closer to the end of it.

To put it in a nutshell: the weekend is closer!

Hump as a slang meaning too... it's up to you if you want to find it out! I you feel like doing so, go to the SLANG DICTIONARY link on the left.

Happy Hump Day!

The History of English in 10 minutes

Family issues

Dear NA2 students,

Please have a look at the article below and match the definitions with the words in blue
(source: http://www.examiner.com)

Family is a concept which has become increasing difficult to define. The idea of what a family is can differ from person to person. There was a time when a family was strictly defined as two parents (mother and father), their biological children, and extended relatives. Today, the family dynamic is considerably more complicated and its boundaries can seem endless.

If one were to open photo albums of a dozen families in 1955, and compare them to families in 2009; there would be a considerably different look to the individuals and the roles they play. Step-parents are almost as numerous as biological parents. Step-siblings, half-siblings, and all the corresponding relationships and associations, can be overwhelming and confusing. There may be difficulty in finding a name for some of the relationships due to the newness of the phenomenon of the blended family. There may be a great deal of confusion surrounding the new idea of family. For instance, what does an adult child call their new relatives? How far-reaching do these new extended relationships go? Extended family can include step-grandparents, step-aunts and uncles. How is an adult child supposed to refer to the mother of their half-siblings? There is no limit to the possibility for confusion and discomfort.

Adult children may find these transitions and new relationships especially difficult to absorb and integrate into their lives. They may have their own families and a full spectrum of activities and issues to deal with. Parents divorcing and dating others can be difficult for adult children to accept or understand. Remarriage can bring extreme feelings as well. Add to that, half-siblings, who are as young as their own children, can be a source of embarrassment or resentment. The ability to accept a remarriage after the death of a parent, and the subsequent introduction of step-siblings may seem impossible. Not having grown up with step-siblings can make them feel like complete strangers, who are suddenly expected to be a family.

Whether it is through divorce and remarriage, or the death of a parent; adult children may feel resentful and disconnected from their parent and the new spouse. Being an adult does not insulate one entirely from the complicated feelings and mixed-emotions which accompany these situations. It may be painful to discuss feelings with family members; and the desire to avoid the new family dynamic may cause rifts or periods of no communication. In some cases, this need for distance can alleviate itself. Time and space is often necessary for adult children to adjust to the new environment. Each person and each family will have their own way to handle and cope with familial changes.

Becoming a step-grandparent can present its own difficulties as well. When adult children marry a person with children, it can be uneasy for the children and the adults to forge the role of step-grandparent. As with most situations, honest discussion and sincere kindness can help to work through the initial period of awkwardness, and transition beautifully into a loving relationship.

Parents of adult children should reach out with love and honesty to with their children, and step-children, and find ways to blend the families reasonably and sensibly for all concerned. There are resources and literature on the subject; and professional counseling may be beneficial for those who are experiencing prolonged detachment from their family members.

DEFINITIONS
1. a social unit consisting of two previously married parents and the children of their former marriages

2. an open break in a prevhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7496744729898497750iously friendly relationship

3. a feeling of anger due to a real or imagined injury or offense.

4. a line or something else that marks a limit or border.

5. to make (something false) or imitate (something genuine) for purposes of deception or fraud; esp., to counterfeit (a check, signature, etc.)

6. astonishing

7. to make something easier to deal with or endure

8. clumsiness or embarassement

9. having a wide range, extent, influence, or effect

10. to set apart; detach from the rest; isolate or separate

You can check your definitions in this dictionary. Also, you can listen to the words!

http://www.yourdictionary.com

The doodle I fell in love with

Phonetic Link for Module 6 students

Hi there!

Please go to this link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/chart.shtml

There you can click and listen to the sounds of English. Hope it helps!

Enjoy

Razzle Dazzle them

This is for NA2 students...

http://youtu.be/YW3MIixEps4


BAILIFF(Spoken)
Mr. Flynn, his honor is here

BILLY(Spoken)
Thank you. Just a moment.
You ready?

ROXIE(Spoken)
Oh Billy, I'm scared.

BILLY(Spoken)
Roxie, you got nothing to worry about.
It's all a circus, kid. A three ring circus.
These trials- the wholeworld- all show business.
But kid, you're working with a star, the biggest!

(Singing)
Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate
Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Bead and feather 'em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?

What if your hinges all are rusting?
What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?

Razzle dazzle 'em
And they;ll never catch wise!

Give 'em the old Razzle Dazzle

BILLY AND COMPANY
Razzle dazzle 'em
Give 'em a show that's so splendiferous

BILLY
Row after row will crow vociferous

BILLY AND COMPANY
Give 'em the old flim flam flummox
Fool and fracture 'em

BILLY
How can they hear the truth above the roar?

BILLY AND COMPANY
Throw 'em a fake and a finagle
They'll never know you're just a bagel,

BILLY
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll beg you for more!

BILLY AND COMPANY
Give 'em the old double whammy
Daze and dizzy 'em
Back since the days of old Methuselah
Everyone loves the big bambooz-a-ler

Give 'em the old three ring circus
Stun and stagger 'em
When you're in trouble, go into your dance

Though you are stiffer than a girder
They'll let you get away with murder
Razzle dazzle 'em
And you've got a romance

COMPANY(The same time as BILLY's)
Give 'em the old
Razzle Dazzle

BILLY
Give 'em the old Razzle Dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Show 'em the first rate sorceror you are
Long as you keep 'em way off balance
How can they spot you've got no talent
Razzle Dazzle 'em

BILLY AND COMPANY
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Razzle Dazzle 'em

And they'll make you a star!