Backstage with Shakira

Shakira is in the middle of a tour in North and South America, "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women No Longer Cry)" and Mark Savage has interviewed the Colombian artist in the backstage of the Miami show for BBC News in the article "My kids are the reason I'm alive: Backstage with Shakira". The report peeps into all the seamstress and laundry work behind an international musical show with an interview to head of wardrobe, Hannah Kinkade, and it also revisits the recent personal upheavals of Shakira and how she has managed to get over every setback and relaunch her career. 

The first half of the article contains very precise fashion & music show vocabulary, colloquial expressions and interesting collocations but the sentences are quite short, so, it can accessible for B2 students and above, who can pick up words like: backstage, bowels, to be taped, on fire, a scrawl, to put on [a stadium tour], sold out, to polish, frayed nerves, a screaming [match], vibe, to stretch, seamstress, to sew, a catsuit, a [guitar] check, tuning, to hang around, a tumble dryer, to plumb in, a venue, wardrobe, a costume, to care for, to stitch, to scrub, an outfit, to scuff [their shoes], to stash [reserves of Gatorade], iced coffee, sticky [Miami heat], a trade-off, the underworld, a set, to stash away, to stud, a [sound] check, [non-]deceitful, to be flanked, a [police] escort, flared, a vest [top], flawless, the crew, to deliver, a quip, a wink, to be [full] out, to figure something out, one way or another, a pan pipe, a riff, a wristband, a workout, [the obsession] to pay off, a parade, a [tribal-knife] routine, to thrash, to howl, to bray, heartbreak, [personal] upheaval, to fall apart, [tax] fraud, to settle [a case], out of court, to prompt, an outburst, a barb, a string [of hits], to rack up [13 billion], streams, furry, a she-wolf, commitment, [to come] off [stage], to put together [a show], to make something happen, to carry you through, to break into [the Western pop market], precarious, humane, to catch up with [the BBC], to christen, a [powerful] statement, to underpin, to span [generations], to bounce around, a tender [ballad], to duet, mixed emotions, stressed out, [to stay] tuned, to tease. 

If you want to watch the Mexico show of Shakira's "Women No Longer Cry" tour, you can click on the YouTube link below:

Celebrities Lose their Home in L.A. Wildfires

 

BBC news reports that Mel Gibson, Jeff Bridges and other LA celebrities lose their homes to wildfires. This story contains simple vocabulary, content and syntax, so it can be recommended for B2 students. Here is a lesson plan which includes reading, listening and speaking tasks for B2 learners and above who will encounter words like: wildfire, to rage, a sibling, to toast, devastation, Pacific Palisades, a burnt-out [house], to acknowledge, to burn down, and whatnot, to turn it off, to make do, heiress, heartbreak, indescribable, a beachfront [home], ash, a statement, hazard, to be under threat, to raise a child, a hit [show], gossip, [fire] to take over, a blaze, a livable [house], to grieve, a razed [property], to grab, to flee, a gnarly [situation], a fellow [actor], to pledge [money] to [fire] relief, smouldering [ruins], [to start] from scratch, a heavy heart, [on the] bluffs,a devastating [scene], [wind] to howl. 

Below, you can watch a TV report on YouTube, by Inside Edition, titled "Billy Crystal Heartbroken After Home Burned Down in LA Fire" (02':57") with a listening and speaking task which can be recommeded for B2 students and above, with interesting expressions like: a smoldering [house], to raise [children], to come to terms with, charred, wreckage, the shell [of his car], to flee/ fled, numb, to be gutted, a bearded dragon, to ravage [a neighbourhood], to make it, to be on fire, concrete, foundation, [to feel] fortunate, by sheer [luck].

For further background information to the story, students (and teachers) can read Sarah Lentz' article,  "L.A. Wildfires 2025: The Human, Environmental, and Financial Impact", which is more complex (C1 level), and was published by BAM, a media company for real estate professionals, on January 9th.

U.S. Presidential Campaign 2024: Issues, Polls, & Fakes

The U.S. Presidential campaign is in full swing, with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris as the two presidential candidates.  They have recently held a television debate on ABC News to discuss the election issues (the economy, immigration, abortion, democracy in the U.S., Israel, Ukraine etc.) and their character suitability for the job. Here you can find the highlights of the debate (9:11), a video with subtitles for C1 students, who can pick up words like: the gloves were off, grievances, to punch [back], the stakes [are high], [to be locked in] dead heat, to get away with [something], to be fired, [to get] heated, the GOP, hence, to factcheck, to overturn [a court decision], to hammer [the Biden administration], [to defend her] record, a bipartisan [border bill],  debunked [claims], to bring up [an issue], to reach out to [the city manager of Springfield, Ohio], to needle, a windmill, [to ban] fracking, a buyback [programme for assault weapons], [opinion] polls, to hold back, to go down as [the worst vice pressident], to face off against [a different candidate], a bid [for a second term], a tight [race], [to hold] steady, a hush money [case], liable, weaponization, to endorse [Harris],to champion [the rights and causes], a powerhouse [roundtable], a contentious and consequential [Presidential election].

The election is very tight, and it is, problably going to be decided in 7 swing states -also called battleground or purple states, where there is no clear majority of red (Republican) or blue (Democrat) voters: Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan. The presidential electors from these states are key to reach the 270 majority in the electoral college that will eventually vote for the President and Vice President, according to the U.S. Constitution. The polls keep changing marginally, so if you want to keep track of the latest polls from now till election day on November 5th, you can follow 270 to Win, Presidential Election Polls.  Here you can take a quick look at the current election map, with the swing states coloured in grey:

The Presidential election 2024 is also being fought bitterly in the social media, where fake pictures, lies and exaggerations live hand in hand with satire and the plain truth. X-Twitter and Instagram are, perhaps, the most popular media for anyone to express their own views freely, but also to spread lies without any restraint.  The fake image of Kamala Harris dressed as a Communist dictator, which was published by Elon Musk (the owner of X and a staunch supporter of Trump)

was soon responded by the hacktivist Anonymous group with the fake picture of Mr. Musk depicted in a Nazi uniform. But the most powerful fake images revolve around pop celebrities like Taylor, and her Swifties, whose photos have been tampered with to vote for Trump, as The Times of India reports in "From 'Communist Harris' to 'Swifties for Trump': AI Generated Images Muddy US Presidential Election 2024".  Some interesting words and collocations C1 students will find in this article are: to muddy, [to raise] concerns, a deepfake, a winking [smiley], blatant, to downplay [the comment], a hacktivist [group], backlash, a [tech] mogul, to groove, to sync [to the music], to caption, to poke fun at [critics], witty, banter, to pose [a threat].

Taylor Swift has finally ended this misleading debate by posting a statement on Instagram to endorse Kamala Harris with a real photo of herself as a "childless cat lady", as Mehera Bonner reports for Cosmopolitan, in "Taylor Swift Breaks her Political Silence and Endorses Kamala Harris for President in Moving Statement", where B2 students will find words like: to endorse, the upcoming [election], to conjure up [fears], to cast [my vote], a steady-handed, gifted [leader], to stand up for [LGBTQ+ rights].

Met Gala 2024: Stunning Images and a Fake

Steven McIntosh published the story Met Gala 2024: Zendaya, Tyla and Sabrina Carpenter lead eye-catching looks on BBC News with humorous comments and stunning pictures. This article is accessible for B2 students -with the support of the pictures- and above, who will encounter fashion & clothes technical terms like: eye-catching, groundbreaking,a theme, a string [of stars], A-listers, to stun, an outfit, to accessorise, a gown, to split, down low, to bloom, backless, a column [dress], embroidered, a [floral] pattern, to blossom, a spot, archery, to hand [it to somebody], a bow, an arrow, velvet, a peony, archival, to branch out, an overhaul, a corseted [dress], a georgette, a tulle, [to bring up to] date, a headpiece, hawthorn, glowing, turquoise, a [tulle] cape, to be overjoyed, pouring [rain], a bob [hairstyle], arched , bubble, a ponytail, a bouquet, to yank, a rapper, custom [Maison-Margiela], threading, a pinstripe, the flax [plant], to prick [your finger], a roll, [non-stick] tinfoil, can't hold a candle, an appliqué, a gemstone, a vine, to nail [it], sparkly, [sequined] fabric, a marigold, to settle for [something], peckish, [to be] draped [in a cloak], a raven, to dazzle, a stem, to ditch, to coordinate [with gloves], to toss aside, soaking [wet], oversized, seemingly, to pour, to steal the show, to zoom in [on something], avant-garde, a [tail] train, a [floral] motif, a sketch, to channel, to team up, taffeta, iridescent, a baby bump, to sport, ruffled, a crop top, wicked, a smash hit, scattered, to craft [a dress], bespoke, bouffant, a corset, to pair with, sheer, lace, trim [with flowers], an understatement, strapless, couture, a bugle, boudoir, to spruce up, lacy, bedazzled, polka-dot [gloves], a [feather] boa, to spring, an encore, a vibe.

On a more serious note, Marianna Spring warns of a fake image after the Met Gala in the video BBC Verify examines fake Katy Perry AI-generated image, where she gives more recent examples of fake photos and explains why these shams matter. This video (1:24) is accessible to C1 students with subtitles, who will hear less frequent words like: to turn out, flowery, to fool, tricked, a clue, to zoom in on [the background], celebs, to target [voters], to heighten [tensions], to fan [flames], offline, unrest, to put [something] to the test, sleuthing. Below, you can find a YouTube video from the entertainment platform What's trending that covers the same Katy Perry story:

Taylor Swift Remembers Dylan Thomas in "The Tortured Poets Department"

Rowenna Hoskin recently wrote a short article for BBC News, "Why is Taylor Swift singing about Dylan Thomas?", where she explains the references to the Welsh poet and the Chelsea Hotel in the pop singer's latest album. This article is suitable for B2 learners who will find words like: to wake up to [a new album], to name-drop, to sell out, a gig, to release [an album], a staple [poem], a memorial service, to settle, [to set] a template, stabbed [to death], to rake in [$1.04 bn], to crash [a ticket site], resale [tickets], a scammer, to dupe.

Tamantha Ryan also covered the story for Page Six, a celebrity news magazine, and wrote "Who are Dylan Thomas and Patty Smith? Meet the poets Taylor Swift mentioned on TTPD" to let young readers know. In the accompanying video the reporter says that Taylor Swift's new album also includes disses at her nemesis Kim Kardashian (check out "From VMAs Drama to 'thanK you aIMee': a Timeline of Taylor Swift's Feud with Kim Kardashian, Kanye West" in Rolling Stone), other scathing songs aimed at her former boyfriends (Matty Healy, Joe Alwyn, John Mayer), as well as a loving allusion to her current sweetheart Travis Kelce. This article and video is suitable for C1 students who will encounter interesting words like: to release [an album], to catch the eye, the title track, to scroll, a swelling, fatty, roistering, doomed, tenant, to file a lawsuit, gentrification, an accolade, outspoken, disdain, a condition, to place [a child] for adoption, [her] late [husband]. The short accompanying video is fast, colloquial and has no subtitles, so it is recommended for C2 students, who will hear: to hold my typewriter, an installment, to take aim at [people], to call out, bronze, spray-tanned, a bully, to spell out at, a fair share, seemingly, lovingly, to allude to [somebody], a bunch of, her ex[es], a front man, to revisit, an [age] gap, when it comes to [those exes], jokingly, fitting, to chime in [on X about her track], [to get] wrecked, scathing [songs], to avenge.

If you want to read a full review of the album, you can check "I judged Taylor Swift's album immediately after it came out. Here's why I was wrong", written by Oliver Darcy for CNN. This text is recommended for C1 students and above, or you can listen to the NPR programme Pop Culture Happy Hour "On 'The Tortured Poets Department,' Taylor Swift spares no one" (34:01) where the host and two experts discuss the album and play some clips of outstanding songs. This radio programme is rather complex linguistically, but with the help of the script, it can be accessible to C2 "Swifties", who will find words like: to span, ticked off, unpack, underdog, compelling, to suck me in, corny, unhinged, to toss around, to hearken, samey, [synth-pop] beats, [first] arc, opus [fatigue], to buckle under [their own weight], grievance, a [public] darling, a bop, hype, jock jams, defiance, catchy, snippet, to rep [for an artist], zany [sense of humour], [send your head into a] tailspin, to stink, to gasp, to stand the test of time, clunky, to wrack your brain [around this record], to scroll [across the page], scathing, to rip [everything] down, bleachers [warmer], to kick in, to finagle, to wield [power], stealthily, to winnow down to, [high] kicks, to epitomize, cheeky, boppy, to groove, to mess [her] up, a full-blown [message], to hint, [teenage] petulance, a tantrum, to scold, to cater for [vipers], empath's clothing, taken aback, to craft [a narrative], to rip [apart a narrative].

Below, you can watch the official video of the title track, "The Tortured Poets Department" with lyrics, and here you can find a fill-in-the gap task with the lyrics of the song for B2 level with interesting words & references like: spike, Charlie Puth, to scratch, a retriever, pounding, undone, cyclone, to screw up, to decode.

For further information, you can see here a past entry about Dylan Thomas and the poem "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night" with a lesson plan for C2 students.

 

Flowers by Miley Cyrus on Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day 2024 there are a number of texts to read and listen to. Below you can watch the Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions video of her hit "Flowers", which recently won the Grammy Record of the Year Award, and do a fill-in-the gap task for B2 students and check it with the key. You can try to figure out what the lyrics talk about, and if you need some background information about the personal references included in the song, you can read the Glamour article "Miley Cyrus Opend Up About the Origins of her Hit Song 'Flowers", which can be suitable for B2 students. You will find interesting words like: chart-topping, cover, release, a refresher, the chorus, empowering, to wallow, to fake, to make [it], to rebuff [the idea], [album] rollout, to be littered [with something], clues, the craft, to trick, to set [something] on fire, on the nose, [an] outlandish [theory], alledgedly, a tuxedo.

If you want to find out how Artificial Intelligence is changing dating apps, you can read the Cosmopolitan article "How the AI Revolution is Coming for your Dating Life", which publishes the results of a survey about the attitude that actively dating millenials and Gen Zers have on the use of AI tools for dating. But for a more personal prediction on your own Valentines' Day, you can check out your horoscope in the article Your Valentine's Day Horoscope is Here and learn how your Valentine's Day 2024 is going to unfold today, whether you are single or you are in a relationship. These two articles are suitable for C1 students.  

Happy Valentine!

Dolly Parton, the Unlikely Bipartisan American Icon

Dolly Parton is much more than a successful country and pop singer in the USA: she is a composer, a TV host, an actress, a business woman, a philanthropist and, problably, one of the few cultural leaders who has drawn loyal admiration by both Republicans and Democrats when the country became deeply polarized, a rare virtue in times of culture wars bitterly fought by pugnacious politicians.

She was born into a "dirt poor" family in a remote Appalachian valley, and she grew up with profound Pentecostal roots.  Her first public performance took place at the age of six in her local church, and now she is a committed Christian, artist and philanthropist who has helped a number of charitable causes including children's literacy, wildfire victims, cancer, HIV-AIDS and COVID-19 research (her contributions helped to develop the Moderna vaccine), but she has also denounced women's discrimination in the workplace or supported transgender women in her songs and films. Musically, she acknowledges the influence of her aunt Dorothy Jo, an evangelist, and the English, Welsh and Irish folk tradition through her mother, Avie Lee Caroline. Here you can find three lesson plans created by my former colleague Carmen B. based on three of her hits: Country Road with its lesson plan, Family  with its lesson plan and I'll Always Love You (Whitney Houston's version) and its lesson plan. The level of the tasks is B2/ B1+ and you will find words like: fit, to spin, neon lights, to choke, a fast lane, ole, calico, a dead end, preacher, gay, stray, ain't, sinners, [to be] in your way, a step, darling, bittersweet,  Other major Dolly Parton's hits include Jolene, Coat of Many Colors and Working 9 to 5. Dolly Parton is a self-made woman and the epitone of the American Dream, her net worth was estimated at $5 million in 2017, including her own theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennesse.

If you want further info, you can listen to the 2019 NPR podcast Dolly Parton's America which is a thorough account of her long career and how her songs have appealed to the most diverse audiences, from cowboys, hillbillies (derogatory for an Appalachian country person) and traditional families to lesbians, feminists or people dressed in drags for over 50 years (this 9 hour radio podcast without a script and full of American cultural references is recommended for "Experts", beyond C2 level). You can also watch a clip of her 1977 interview by Barbara Walters (4:02) where she talks about her hillbilly background and the outrageous image she has created for herself to succeed in show biz (C1 level), or you can watch the two full Barbara Walters' interviews (1977 and 1982) with commercials (C2 level), or you can read the recently published book Dolly Parton. Un retrato americano written by Spanish journalist Beatriz Navarro (Sabiñánigo, 1977). 

You can click below to watch the two full Barbara Walters' interviews (1977 and 1982) on YouTube:

The Princess of Asturias Awards & Leonor's Pledge of Allegiance to the Constitution

In an emotional evening, the winners of the 43rd edition of the Princess of Asturias Awards received the warm applause of the audience and the recognition of the Spanish Royal Family last Friday, while Princess Leonor read a mature speech about sacrifice and service, that made her parents gaze at her with profound pride. Then a band of pipers and drummers played the anthem of the principality of Asturias to contribute to the solemn and joyous atmosphere for the ceremony. Meryl Streep received the award for Arts, Nuccio Ordine for Communication and Humanities, Hélene Carrière D'Encausse for Social Sciences, Eliud Kipchoge for Sports, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) for International Cooperation, Jeffrey Gordon, E. Peter Greenberg and Bonnie L. Bassler for Scientific and Technical Research, Mary's Meals for Concord and Haruki Murakami for Literature. 

The award ceremony was the prelude of a historical week for Princess Leonor, who has taken a week off her military training at the Military Academy of Zaragoza to pledge alliance to the Spanish Constitution and become the official heir to the throne, according to the Daily Mail, which also published the new photos released for her 18th birthday. These two articles are suitable for C1 students, you can find the key words under the following paragraph. 

The texts and videos about the Award Ceremony come from the Princess of Asturias Foundation and they are suitable for B2 students and above.  You can find interesting vocabulary for example, in Meryl Streep's multimedia contents: holder, to star [in a Broadway production], to stand out, a leading role, to gain [recognition], [her best] performance, to earn [her an Oscar], committed to [defending women's rights]. In Nuccio Ordine's: to earn [a PhD], outstanding, numerous [articles], well-being. In Hélene Carrière D'Encausse's: to head [a Department]. In Eliud Kipchoge's: to stand atop [the highests podium], so-called, ups and downs, [to be] nicknamed, prowess, [ability] to focus, to cut [thirty seconds] off [the previous record], to go through [the arches], to smash [the world record], [300 metres] to go, a lap [of the track], endurance runs, tempo runs, to come down to [this], [history] unfolding, a marathon event, a [considerable] chunk, a history maker, [simply] stunning, scrambling [for superlatives]. Haruki Murakami: a graduate [in Literature], to converge, an unnerving [writer], the dreamlike [world], to be rooted, a budding [writer], to garner [success], a writing fellow [at Princeton University], an earthquake, [universal] scope. DNDi: a non-profit organization, underdevelopment, research, headquarters, to be chaired, funding, [public and private] entities, ailments, affordable [access], to plague [our world], neglected, toxic, scars, powerless, to launch [an initiative], to harness [the science], to develop [drugs], a conductor, a hit, to run clinical trials, to deliver [a treatment], to shape [the next years]. Jeffrey Gordon, E. Peter Greenberg and Bonnie L. Bassler: to spearhead, the microbiome, epithelial [cells], polysaccharides, thereby, to make up [the microbiota], a [new] approach, distinguished, gut, undernourished [children], to play a key role, to address [a problem], an acknowledgment, thrilling. Mary's Meals: to aim [to provide], relief, to achieve a goal, to carry out [its work], to devise, to the utmost, [local] produce, likewise, to ensure, fundraising, affiliates, to beat [in harmony], remarkable, to dwell, to struggle, a ladder, [all] walks of life.

The Daily Mail report on the oath of allegiance to the Constitution, you can find complex words like: to hail, to swear loyalty to the constitution, to be flanked, the heir [to the throne], [to look] regal, to be gripped, to step [on to the stage], [to look] composed, allegiance, queen regent, to engulf, to be betrayed, a [slight] hint [of nerves], a touching [moment], to glance, reassurance, to be honed, a stint, a boarding school, to mark [the anniversary], an unwavering delivery, to state, a commitment, to step up [her role], Queen-in-training, poignant, [hair] pulled back, a sleek ponytail, understated [make up], a fleeting [gesture].

In the Daily Mail photo report, you will find these words: a snap, a casual [display], a chic [display], a V-neck [t-shirt], to gaze [away], minimal [make up], to reveal, the coming of age, the queen-in-waiting, [to take an] oath, [to preserve] the Magna Carta, the successor, to wave [a flag], appreciation, to be bustling [with revellers], to be chaired, cavalry, squadron, to be deployed, to be up to par, an impressive [speech], to watch on, to entail, to praise, incredible, to achieve, the principality [of Asturias], outstanding, a low-key [birthday], fanfare, the Royal Mint, to mark [the birthday], the effigy, to be engraved, to undergo [military training], to be dubbed, a strict [timetable], [to be on] manoeuvres, to head to. 

★★★

Further reading: If you are interested in the microbiome and inmune system research, you can check these past entries in the blog: How the Inmune System Works and Super Poo Donors Wanted.