MY ENGLISH CLASS

  4 Two men, John and Jim, travelling through the country in America, stopped at a small inn for dinner. On the table there was a large cup of mustard. One of them, thinking the contents were custard or a sweet of some kind, took a spoonful of it in his mouth. Tears ran down his cheeks, but wishing to have his friend caught in the same trap, he said nothing of the mistake he had made. The other man, seeing that his friend was crying, said: ”Listen, Jim, what are you crying about?” ”I was thinking of my father who was hanged twenty years ago.” Jim replied. Soon after, John took a spoonful of the mustard and as the tears started down his cheeeks, Jim, in his turn, said: ”What are you crying about?” ”To think you were not hanged the same day your father was,” the answer came.   COMMENTS AND EXPLANATIONS   1.      ............... To travel To journey To voyage They all mean ”covering a distance” To travel is the neutral term: we may travel

  3   Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used to tell of a conversation he once had with a young actor who had a small part in one of his plays. The actor laughingly suggested that they should agree to divide their incomes for the rest of their lives. Naturally Sir Arthurrefused such an absurd idea, since the actor was only getting 3 pounds a week. The young actor'‌s name was Charlie Chaplin.   COMMENTS AND EXPLANATIONS   1.      To tell To make sth known, to disclose, to reveal sth These vestiges tell us much of the past. She told me the glad news as soon as I returned.   To relate, to narrate sth, to utter or express sth in words Grandmother told the children a story.   To order, to request sth He told me to go away at once.   To learn by observation, to make sth out, to become aware of sth I could tell he was a teacher at first sight.   To distinguish, to know apart (esp. with can/ could/ be able to) It is impossible to tell Ann from her twin sist

  2 Bald customer: ”I should like something to make my hair grow again.” Hairdresser: ”Here is the best hair-restorer in the world. Would you like to buy a big bottle or a small one?” Bald customer: „Give me a small one. I do not like my hair too long.„   COMMENTS AND EXPLANATIONS   Bald = having no or not much hair   CUSTOMER CLIENT PATIENT People who buy goods from shopkeepers and tradesmen are customers Clients are only those people who got o an architect, alawyer or any professional man, except for the doctors to whom people come as patients .   To grow To develop, to increase in size, length, height, etc My sons have grown taller than their father. Most plants grow from seeds.   To become gradually Grandfather has grown old, but he is still a handsome man.   To reach the point or stage where one is/ likes, etc When living in the country, one grows to like simple people.   To produce by cultivations,

  1 A man came home one evening rather tipsy. He had a bottle of brandy in his pocket. It was very dark and he stumbled on the stairs and fell down. He felt something wet on his leg. ”I hope it is blood,” he muttered.   COMMENTS AND EXPLANATIONS 1.       Tipsy = slightly drunk Drunk/ drunken = overcome by drinking alcoholic liquor Drunk is used predicatively Drunken is used attributively   NOTE To be dead drunk To be as drunk as a fiddler To be as drunk as a lord   2.         A bottle of brandy = a bottle containing brandy   A brandy bottle = a bottle for brandy   3.       Stairs = a series of fixed steps leading from one floor of a buiding to another Step = a place for feet when going from one level to another   NOTE A stair-case inside a building consists of several flights of stairs (siruri de scari) and several landings (paliere) Wet Damp Dank Moist Humid   They all mean more or less ”soaked with water

  Prof. Adriana COSCAI Liceul Teoretic ”Nicolae Cartojan” Giurgiu     One of the most engaging way of teaching English     Using realia is one of the most engaging and catchy ways of teaching English. By far it is   heuristic and well-rounded. A teacher of English often employs realia in order to strenghten students’ associations between words for common items and the items themselves. Realia may be used to improve students’ understanding of other cultures and real-life situations. It relates classroom teaching   to the real life. Objects and materials from everyday life may be used as teaching aids: extracts from company brochures, manuals, tickets, receipts, coins, instructional kits, household items. A teacher could describe the atmosphere of a certain city bringing an assortment of authentic city maps, brochures, restaurant menus or coupons to class. Such kind of teaching aids may be useful for a successful English class. Students are eager to connect to these g