Diamonds and Rust: Joan Baez and her Relationship with Bob Dylan

Love is the driving force that gives us the extra energy to help and sacrifice for our beloved ones. It is the only feeling that makes sense of the craziest decisions, of selflessness and generosity beyond any rational restraints; love is the the fuel for unstinted creativity.  Yet, love can be bitter and sweet. When you feel your lover takes your sacrifice for granted and no longer makes the effort, when passion is followed by indifference, and bliss by disdain, when you have an on-and-off relationship that seems to be stuck in a dead end street, then "diamonds" become "rust", the metaphor that Joan Baez found to describe her relationship with Bob Dylan after a sudden phone call ten years after their break-up.

"Diamonds and Rust" is a haunting song, one of the best songs ever written, it is a moving song, full of winter sun and chilly shade, but the melody and the words unveil the serenity, the maturity and the power that Joan Baez felt when she revisited her youthful relationship with Bob Dylan. Here you can watch a video without subtitles of "Diamonds and Rust", next you can find a lesson-plan for B2 students with listening and speaking tasks and the answer key (and the same document in PDF). Some interesting words to be found in the song are: damned, a ghost, robin egg blue, lousy, a booth, the midwest, a cufflink, rust, to burst, to stray, the Madonna, on the half-shell, unharmed, a crummy [hotel], to mingle.

If you want some background information about the song, you can check out the post "Stella: 'Diamonds and Rust' by Joan Baez" written by Elaine Irvine on the NPR affiliated radio station KRUI-FM, from Iowa University, which is suitable for C1 students. On BBC Sounds you will also find an excellent radio documentary about the song, Soul Music: Diamonds and Rust, which has no script and can be recommended for C2 students. Finally, the most ardent fans of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, can read "Diamonds & Rust, Joan & Bob, 1960's - 1980's", a thorough musical and personal biography published in the Pop History Dig, which is recommended for Experts, that is, for students beyond C2 level.

Below you can watch another video of the song with English subtitles and pictures of their relationship:

Humour: Amber Marie, Foil Arms & Hog, and Big Train

Today, you can find a selection of 3 sketches of British and American comedy that will definetly cheer you up. 

The first one is produced by a Tik Tok influencer Amber Marie, who works as a dance teacher in a school and has published this very funny video "If teachers acted as students..." on Instagram (#teachergram) and on Tik Tok. The vocabulary is not difficult, so it is recommended for B2 students and above, who can pick up words like: a presentation, the book bag, an essay, [it's not my] fault, to take [a test], you guys, just give me a minute! If you want more stories, you can also check Amber Marie You Tube Channel.

History can be a very controversial subject, as the comedians of Foil Arms & Hog will show you on How Different Countries Teach History, which is recommended for B2 students and above,where the following words can be found: savages, to get on with [something], to welcome [someone], a birthplace [of democracy], to set out [for India], Scots, [the weather was] shit, gold, natural resources.

Finally, you can watch the old BBC Comedy show Big Train and the sketch "Do you Speak English?", which is also easy and can be recommended for B2 students, who will find words like: [a car] to break down, to waste [on somebody], sorry [about that].

 

Best Places to Travel in 2025

Are you tired of winter? Have you had enough of chilly nights, foggy mornings, rain, sleet and gale-force winds? Of course we are right in the middle of winter, halfway through the winter solstice and the spring equinox, time to celebrate the Gaelic Imbolc festival or the Christian Candlemas feast or St. Brigid's Day in Ireland..., or time to start planning your next holiday!

If you want to learn which are the coolest (and the hottest) holiday destinations this year you can read the BBC report The 25 best places to travel in 2025, and you will find sustainable holidays in exotic landscapes like Haa Valley, Bhutan (above) or the Western Australia bubblegum-pink lakes (below). The article is a compilation of 25 short, but vocabulary rich, descriptions with a picture, where context can help you to guess the meaning of unknown words, so the article (or a selection of destinations) can be recommended for highly-motivated B2+ students, C1 students and above. Here you can find a lesson plan for B2/C1 students with reading, vocabulary and speaking tasks (for the Word version, please click here). Some of the expressions students can pick up are:

 

[pink] bubblegum-coloured, to connect, to peer, the edge, a crashing [waterfall], sawtooth [spires], wondrous, to overwhelm, to grapple with [the negative effects], overtourism, a spot, the [cultural] heritage, to compile [a list], to soar, a bucket-list [destination], to trek, glamping. Dominica: a sperm whale, a groundbreaking [commitment to marine conservation], sustainable [tourism], to ease [arrival], to launch [a direct flight], to top [a list], a [hidden] gorge, a towering [waterfall], to feast, an eatery, a burgeoning [model]. Naoshima: polka-dotted, connoisseur, copper, to smelt, stunning, dwindling [population], unveiling of [artwork],  to scatter, one-of-a-kind, an [art] installation. The Dolomites: sawtooth [cliff], to be overwhelmed, a detour, rugged, a limestone [cliff], to sprawl, [Italians] in droves, stick-to-your-ribs [dishes], to be overlooked, to be poised [to change], to be stated [to co-host the Olympics], a ski lift, to enhance [connections to public transit], a cable car, a trail. Greenland: to span [more than 2 millio sq km], an ice cap, unspoiled wilderness, a coveted [geopolitical entity], stunning, spellbinding, dog sledding, a bucket-list [destination], a pledge, a launchpad for [hiking], a waterfront, glamping, a gateway, a jaw-dropping, gorgeous, scenic [green hills], dotted [with sheep farms]. Wales: awe-inspiring, up-and-coming, to showcase, to position [yourself], at the forefront, sustainable. Western Newfoundland and Labrador: mainland, a rugged [region], windswept, a towering [iceberg], to underpin, a boardwalk, a settlement, to enhance, to upgrade. Tucson, Arizona: to mark [an anniversay], a [hiking] trail, squash, to meld, a crop, a staple, edible [cacti], a prickly pear. Western Australia: to play second fiddle, a gateway, an [aviation] hub, to be poised [to become], to span, to encompass, pristine, bubblegum-pink [lakes], towering [forests], a winery, to snap [a selfy], a foraging [tour]. Sri Lanka: misty, a roaming [elephant], rolling [surf], to tick a box, bankrupcy, resilient, to get back on your feet, an oculus, to stargaze, to launch, a coolcation, a mixologist, to put your spin on [arrack], a startup, a tuk tuk. Panama: to hand [control], namesake, a waterway, to hint at [a possibility], to reseize, timely, to weave, lush, to boost, staggering. Rif Mountains: snowcapped [mountains], sweeping, [cultural] heritage, an earthquake, a medina, an [almond] grove, cedar, craggy [peaks], unwinding, white-washed. Bradford: to be poised [to step out], a mill, a brass band, an array of  [warehouses], a moor, rugged, an accolade. Jordan: breathtaking, stunning, to weave [through], rust, to be teeming with, illusive, to dwell, a gorge, to dive. Haa Valley, Bhutan: mesmerising, erstwhile [kingdom], nestled, pristine, graze, a bid for [visitors], canopy, a [bamboo] grove, a homestay, a glimpse. Hawaii: to devastate, a downturn, to embody, stewardship. Uzbekistan: to take over, to strive [to maintain], a startup. Haida Gwaii, Canada: off the coast, groundbreaking, [envisonmental] stewardship, a murrelet, to underscore. Emerald Coast, Nicaragua: mist-shrouded [rainforests], set [to be completed], a sprawling [capital], a [surf] hub, to lure in [backpackers], ridley, a leatherback [turtle]. Isle of Man: to be ringed, a cliff-fringed [island], Manx, brew, to partake, myriad, craggy [coastlines], a trekker, a wind-whipped [summit]. Gilgi-Baltistan, Pakistan: a slew [of initiatives], a coveted [trekking visa], a glance, to be dubbed, to brim with [lush valleys], pristine, cradled, a [cherry] blossom, an [apricot] orchard, undulating, to venture. Azores: marrooned [in the ocean], a [steaming] hot-spring, sparkling, to boast, a coral reef, a boon, eager, a scenic [drive], to hop your way, bubbling, lush, a [leisurely] stroll, bonafide. Kansas City, Missouri: a glow-up [year], heretofore, barbeque, slated [to open], renovations, an upgrade. Bolivia: to stargaze, a salt flat, to sip, a booming [town], an up-close [look], a capybara, a cougar, a macaw. Botswana: to be hailed as [a leader], high-income, to usher in [a new government], a cache, to bolster [tourism], to grant [free entry], a wetland, a cheetah, savannah, a [luxury] lodge, a blend, mokoro, an armchair safari, an owl. Oslo: tongue-in-cheek, to nod, overetourism, to sully, to showcase, to lure [visitors], [organic] produce. 

A very different list of destinations is provided by Lonely Planet, you can check it out at "Best in Travel 2025". But if you want to watch wonderful videos, you can click below on Ryan Shirley's "Top 10 Places to Visit in 2025 (Year of Travel", which is recommended for C1 students. 

Happy Imbloc/ Candlemas/ St Brigid's Day!

Almodovar's Gaze at Life & Death

Death is part of life and death can be gorgeous. These paradoxical aphorisms could have been written by Teresa of Ávila, but they have been painted by Pedro Almodóvar in his latest film, "The Room Next Door". 

"The Room Next Door" (01:42':23") is a La Mancha cinematographic work of art, only that it was shot in New York City, in Echo Lake Park & Westfield, New Jersey..., and in the "lush pine woods of San Lorenzo de El Escorial", Madrid, the capital of Spain (located in geographical La Mancha). Tilda Swinton (Martha) and Julianne Moore (Ingrid) walk and talk together, like Don Quixote and a fruit-loving Ingrid, through their lives and Martha's upcoming death while Ingrid helps her along the increasingly arduous trail. But this Shakespearean tragedy is regarded in Almodóvar's eyes as a festival of colours, sounds and literary references, which make it .... just beautiful! The film was awarded the Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival, 2024.

Based on the novel "What Are You Going Through" by Sigrid Nunez, the film version is inspired by Edward Hopper's paintings, with references to Astrology Angel Number 1614, Fred Flintstones, Dora Carrington, Lytton Strachey, Virginia Wolf, James Joyce, the Film Society at Lincoln Center ("Journey to Italy" issue), "Erotic Vagrancy", Martha Gellhorn, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, Buster Keaton, Stefan Zweig, John Huston etc. The movie frames are accompanied by a delicate score of chirping birds, violins, celloes, violas, oboes, harps and the odd piano or horn, and Ingrid often relishes delicious meals with fruit, wine, herbal teas, tender kisses and sex table talk in the city or in the "Green World", with a gentle breeze, flowers blooming and "the snow falling faintly through the universe, and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead" (a quote from James Joyce's The Dead). But Almodóvar is also an actively engaged filmmaker who drops occasional political statements in the movie about climate change, doom mongers, euthanasia, the rise of the far right and religious fanaticism, which contrasts sharply with the joyful sacrifice of the gay Carmelite priest, Bernardo, when he refuses to abandon his flock in his Baghdad mission, during the Iraq war.

"The room next door" has just been released in Movistar Plus, Apple TV, Filmin, etc. in Spain and it opened in cinemas the U.S. last December 20. The dialogues are slow and clear and the vocabulary is colloquial, full of phrasal verbs and interesting collocations, so, it can be recommended for C1 students and above with subtitles.  Some of the expressions that come up in the dialogues are: to make out to [somebody], to draw [a crowd], to run into [somebody], a guinea pig, in [good] spirits, to give up, to forgo [treatment], to get along, to swap, to take over, [to be] over, to be high [on drugs], to carve out [an abyss], rehab, to ease [his conscience], to track down, to be trapped, to pass out, a nuisance, to stop by, to be [right] over, to feel obliged, to be infatuated, to devote [time to somebody], an alley, to let [somebody] down, to keep [somebody] company, an opioid, to settle in, to impose [something on somebody], defeatist, bullshit, [what's the] point [in doing something?], a terrible fear of [death], to be confused, to be in touch, to flirt, a blood count, to fill [somebody] in with [information], a caretaker, to misplace [something], the skyline, hassle, [I] got it, a chemo brain, to be spared [something], to budge [from something], to waste away, unacceptable [behaviour], unbearable, [to be] one of a kind, to be winded, a lawsuit, the life of the party, to rush [in], to fend off, looming [thoughts of death], spell, a rehearsal, to act out [all things], here you go, a will, chilly, a downer, [a topic] to come up [in a conversation], to mutter, a coward, blitzed, appalled, a miscarriage, death throes, a scavenger, teethering, to fade away, a patch, the specifics, faith, to aid, to abide [in], the charges, an attorney, an asshole, a [religious] fanatic, sorry for your loss, to pack up, here you go, an estranged [child], to be hard on yourself, dawn.

If you want further information, you can listen to the Fresh Air interview Tilda Swinton thinks about death and says you should too, by Terry Gross, where Tilda talks about her own real life experience as a carer of her friend Derek Jarman and her terminally-ill mother and how tough -and eventually rewarding- it was to accept her own powerlessness. She also talks about her film career, her sexual orientation, and about her wonderful experience working with Pedro Almodóvar and Alberto Iglesias (composer of the score). This long interview (44') has a transcript, so it can be recommend to C1+, or C2 students.

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.

Marianela Núñez, Ballerina, on Desert Island Discs

 

Marianela Núñez (OBE) is the first ballerina with The Royal Ballet, London. She is the latest guest of BBC Radio 4's renowned programme "Desert Island Discs", where a leading figure of society talks about their life and some of the music that has marked them at different turning points. This interview is particularly fascinating for the passion, laughter & positivity of Nela's emotions all throughout and linguistically, for her command of colloquial oral English, her rich choice of adjectives and intensifiers, and her example as a bilingual role model for Spanish learners of English.

The radio interview is not too complex lexically, but it is quite long (58':46") and has no script, so it is ideal for C2 students to listen to as "extensive listening", while they are walking in the park or doing household chores (see "How and Why to Use this Blog").

 

If you want a list of some key words to use as a listening guide, the following expressions will come up: a todler, to pursue [a dream], to rise through the ranks, the [company] repertoire,  infectious [joy], to grab [the bar], emotional, the opening night, a [new] production, an [extra] buzz, to come down, bouquet, to go along with [that], to sew [shoes], spoilt, ribbons, darning, toes, the dressing room, neat, layers, a shawl, meticulousness, a track, to contain [myself], homesick, [ice in your] veins, this drive, talent, a stay-at-home mum, [to go to] uni, to fulfil [his dream], shaky, extra [energy], gruelling, my bun, a duvet, to shift, [any word won't come] close, a customary [quinceañera], to audition, [to make] a buzz, [main] roles, a [major] shock, to be all over the place, to focus [on that], to mime, Blockbuster [store], snobby, to go up to the roof, vulnerable, a solo [role], bumpy, promotions, [enough room] to fit in, a curtain call, a run [of Don Quijote], foamy, to check on [her], [red] lipstick, to overthink, total [pleasure], incredible, partnership, to give the tools [for that], intense [jobs], a debut, to work out, fiery [people], to stay [really good friends], to call [a role], [part of my heart] stayed there, to reshape [the roles], [to find new] layers, to live through [the COVID pandemic], clichéd, to count on [me], [my] security blanket, a [gas] leak, to pick up the pieces, to give it all, to cast [you] away, to fend for yourself, to be called upon [stage], a hectic [life], my me-time, a rehearsal, an [exquisite] companion, solace, to encapsulate, the audiences.

You can watch Marinela Núñez discussing the current production of "Cinderella" for The Royal Ballet in a short (03':08") YouTube video below:

Words of the Year 2024, in the UK, USA and Australia

All major English dictionaries have recently published their Word of the Year, so these terms are going to be the focus of the last entry of this blog in 2024. 

The Oxford English Dictionary has chosen the term "Brain rot", which means "the deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state as a result of the overconsumption of trivial online contents". You can read all Oxford University Press has published about "Brain rot" on this link, or you can read CBS report "Oxford University Press picks "Brain rot" as word of the year. See other finalists". B2 students will find new words like (NOTE: the words with no hyperlink are not listed in the dictionary yet, but their definition can be found in the news reports): brain rot, demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy, lore, to endorse, rizz, brat. 

The Cambridge English Dictionary has opted for "Manifest", which is defined as "to visualize or to imagine achieving something so as to make it more likely to happen".

Again, you can look up Cambridge Dictionary web page for "Manifest" on this link or read the BBC article "Manifest: Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year". B2 learners can come across interesting vocabulary like: to manifest, wellness, to endorse, to look up [a word], to spike, demure, brat, goldilocks.

The Collins Dictionary has decided on "Brat", which describes "a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude". On this link, "Brat", you can check out Collins winner and the shortlisted words, which include "brain rot", or you can read CNN's piece "Collins Dictionary's word of the year is a confident, messy way of life". B2 learners can pick up words like: brat, messy, to resonate with [people], dumb, a breakdown, blunt, to outline, strappy, bra, a seal of approval, to be shortlisted, delulu, looksmaxxing, rawdogging, anti-tourism, supermajority, to make the cut.

For American English, Merriam-Webster Dictionary has gone for "Polarization", which, in short, is explained as "a division into two distinct opposites, where the beliefs or interest of a society concentrate at opposing extremes".

You can read all about the word "Polarization" on this Merriam-Webster link, or else, read the story in Time magazine "Merriam-Webster picks its word of the year and highlights nine others that defined 2024". B2 students will encounter attractive terms like: to highlight, sharp, to date back to [1800s], to split [apart], MAGA, to be decried, totality, demure, fortnight, pander, to spike, a [conservative news] outlet, to resonate, allision, weird, to lob [back], cognitive, [to put] the spotlight [on something].

Aussies voted for Enshittification, which was also chosen by a committee of experts, and is defined as "the deterioration of a service, esp. of an online platform, by a reduction in quality, to seek profit". Here is the link from Macquarie Dictionary to Enshittification, and next you can access ABC News report "Macquarie Dictionary names 'enshittification' as 2024 Word of the Year. But what does it mean?". B2 learners will discover new coinages and less trodden vocabulary like (NOTE: the words with no hyperlink are not listed in the dictionary yet, but their definition can be found in the news report): enshittification, to sum up, to deem [someting offensive], cozzie livs, to coin [a word], shrinkflation, right to disconnect (RDD), rawdogging, to stem from, a long-haul [flight], brain rot, social battery, fairy porn, incidentaloma, looksmaxxing, kup murri, overtourism, Q-day, pig-butchering, a scammer, rent bidding, a sigma, skibidi, spoon bowl, colesworth, derogatory.

Finally, you can watch a thorough news analysis of the Word of the Year story by Palki Sharma for the Indian news website "Firstpost" (05':06"), which sarcastically explains the meaning of the winners and some of the runner-ups. 

Happy New Year, 2025!