to pose, to storm [across Tower Bridge], a prayer, to pay off, fitness, stressful, a tough [time], to come through [a car crash], [runners] fit, to rock [threads], to unveil, to wave [to the crowd], up for grabs, to break away, to keep up with [Marcel Hug], to surge, time off etc.
lunes, 22 de abril de 2024
The London Marathon 2024: Olympic Athletes, Minions, Wine Tasters and Charities
to pose, to storm [across Tower Bridge], a prayer, to pay off, fitness, stressful, a tough [time], to come through [a car crash], [runners] fit, to rock [threads], to unveil, to wave [to the crowd], up for grabs, to break away, to keep up with [Marcel Hug], to surge, time off etc.
miércoles, 17 de abril de 2024
The Irrational Biases that Create Anxiety in the Age of Information Overload
Fresh Air host Tonya Mosley talks to Amanda Montell about the contents of her new book in the interview 'Magical Overthinking' author says information overload can stroke irrational thoughts. The interview is very interesting for advanced language learners and teachers, the vocabulary is very rich so it is recommended for C2 students and Experts, although there is also a script available which could be most useful for C1 learners. In the interview you will come across interesting words like: gluttonous, [cognitive] dissonance, to square, confirmation bias, sunk-cost fallacy, to fulfill, to serve [me], to double down [on something], to stick around, to engineer, zeitgeist, clash, cognitive bias, deep-rooted,
a [mental] trick, [a term] was coined, a saber-toothed tiger, [existential] pain, innate, onslaught [of information], to catch up with, to overthink, to underthink, worldly, nurturing, to align with [our political beliefs], to jump to the conclusion, gregarious, a role model, the halo effect, to prompt [us to do something], disfigurement, parasocial [relationships], to set [everyone] up for [failure], to uplift, to mend, to dethrone [them], a fallible [human being], [parent-child] attachment, superfan [relationship], to trace [something back to the early 1980s], to turn out, [the lines] to blur, an outsider, a [new] paragon, to swerve, the stan, to long [for role models], ruthless, a surrogate mother, a slim [margin of error], to be transfixed, to crack [my world open], a malapropism, to cut my teeth [as a writer], a crash course in [feminist sociolinguistics], it is our penchant [to think], lore, ad nauseam, low-stakes, a factoid, a double-edged sword, nefarious [intentions], a buzzword, manifest, healing wounds, to dovetail, a stock [of expressions], a grifter, to put dissonance to bed, a mindset, an edgy [point], to boil down to, a bunch of, random, a misfortune, over-the-top, freak, to crave, to hold accountable, the outcome, sketchy, grifty, culty, gainfully, bespoke, vernacular, an op-ed, doomslang, numb, doomscrolling, bed-rotting, demise, small talk, blasé, doomy, grounded, detrimental, screech owls, doomsayers, the rapture, ennui, harrowing, a coping [mechanism], to get through, grassroots, to reckon with [something], wisdom, daydreaming, overthinky panic, awe, quaint, [brains] are wired for, DIY, easier said than done, a disorder, the attention span, to shrink, to scroll [through her feed], zero-sum [bias], to clock, stiff [competition], clout, nemesis, aka, a compound, haywire, to indoctrinate, chills, a tenet, a kink, sunk-cost, MAGA, a zealot, blackout, to cling to [something], a glut [of something], tradwives, anemoia, hardcore, a back-to-basics [style], cottagecore, tchotchkes, toadstool, delulu, to be soothed, a backfire [effect], doomed, verbatim, declinism, to stomach.
Although Amanda Montell is a very young author and a podcaster, she has a long, successful experience as a feminist sociolinguist and producing audiovisual content for young people. Here you can find a link to one of her earliest video series "The Dirty Word" -when she was "finding her voice" in YouTube- it is called "I hate the word "PANTIES_THE DIRTY WORD", and below you can watch a short video (3:51) of herself with the podcasters "The Minimalists", where she feels cutely embarrassed and laughs out loud when they remind her of that "cringy" video about language and gender:
martes, 9 de abril de 2024
25 Best Dresses on Amazon in 2024
The gist of this article can be understood by B2 students with the support of the photos, but the language in the article is very descriptive and it includes loads of technical terms, slang, informal words and abbreviations which are C1 level. You will find interesting words and collocations like: cute, bajillion, fab, pricey, meh, a retailer, stylish, a maxi [dress], BTW, upcoming, just because, a round-up, clutch, flowy, an outfit, a pick, button down, satin, strapless, sleeveless, bodycon, a tube [dress], halter neck, ruffle, chiffon, plus size, V neck, a wrap [dress], ballet flats, balletcore, to thrive, peep, knee-high [boots], a tab, a dive, lil, petite, fabric, to zhuzh up, oversized, button-up, to pair with [a blazer], kitten heels, a stiff [fit], a [last-minute] get up, a must-have, closet, aka, LBD, a vibe, a theme, slinky [fabric], a mock [neck design], ruching, some punch, stretchy, to fit the bill, to throw on [a blazer], a knit [cardigan], a laid-back [outfit], elastane, a breezy [fabric], [fully] lined, hack, silhouette, a [supportive] fit, a hit or a miss, [a belt] to sit [on your waist], to mess up, cohesiveness, a lightweight [fabric], to flag, flirty, a slip [dress], spandex, vintage, stand collar, 3/4 sleeve, a plaid [dress], BFFR, a staple [work dress], to cut off [a few inches], ofc, to rave about, stretchiness, comfortability, IDK, profesh, cozy, off shoulder, an [evening] gown, panty, gorgeous, floor-length, ahem, hi, a draping [skirt], a [high] slit, glowing, to conform [to your body], to rock [a dress], a [fancy] gathering, a bridal shower [dress], PSA, JSYK, a feat, bump, roomy, a tank swing [dress], ASAP, athleisure, a crew neck, tie-dye, pickleball, a split [dress], gorge, cozy, frumpy, comfy, alluring, batwing, a snug [fit], to shrink, boho, striped, flimsy, crisp, smocked [back], puff [sleeves], gingham, sleek, wrinkle-free, to cling [to the body], to dress up/ to dress down, buttery, seamless, to gauge.
sábado, 30 de marzo de 2024
Fawlty Towers
Here below, you can watch a selection of funny sketches called "Bad Customer Service". Although the video (10:38) has subtitles and some of the humour is visual, the language is fast and there is no context for each of the clips, so, it is recommended for C1 students, who will find intersting words like: crummy, shady, to crawl, to lick, to spit, a puff adder, to trespass, mahogamy, to top, to stuff, to sharpen, the punch line, garbage, to shup up, highly strung, a dump, puke, proper, to unscrew, to scrape [it off], to drop in, to stick [your nose], to get my dander up, grotty, to get away with it, prawn, to faint [it], bastard, to care for [something], snob, stuck up, toffee-nosed, half-witted, upper-class.
If you want to watch Manuel's humorous misunderstandings, you can watch "Too Much Butter", "Manuel's in Charge", or "Manuel's Funniest Moments. Part 1". Happy Easter!
miércoles, 27 de marzo de 2024
Telepathy? A Brain Implant Lets Impaired Patients Do Incredible Things with their Thoughts
[brain computer] interface, [to play] pong, FDA [approval], a caregiver, paralysis, [motor] impairment, a wired mesh, [electrode] sensors, a stent, to sit in a [major] vein, deployed in a blood vessel, [minimally] invasive, a device, to fire impulses, an [electrical] signature, [electrical] patterns, [to take] a snapshot, a domain [of function], skull, garbled, [in the patient's] setting, tournament.
viernes, 8 de marzo de 2024
International Women's Day 2024
In another article, BBC 100 Women 2023, you can read about the most inspiring and influential women of 2023, including Spanish football player Aitana Bonmatí (this video is in Spanish, Catalan and English, with a voice over in Spanish), Qiyun Woo, a storyteller and environmentalist from Singapore; Timmit Gebru, an AI expert and anti-racial bias campaigner from Ethiopia, Huda Kattan, an American beauty businesswoman; Najla Mohamed-Lamin, a Western Sahara women's rights and climate activist; Isabel Farías Meyer, an early menopause campaigner from Chile; Sara Al-Saqqa, a general surgeon in the Palestinian Territories (the images in the video might hurt your sensibility); Sonia Guajajara, a State Minister in Brazil; America Ferrera, the actress who played Barbie and its iconic monologue.
Paulina Chiziane, a writer in Mozambique, Clara Elizabeth Fragoso Ugarte, a Mexican truck driver (this video is in Spanish); Xu Zaozao, an egg freezing campaigner in China (this video is in Chinese with English subtitles), Ulanda Mtamba, a campaigner against child marriage in Malawi.Afroze-Numa, a shepherdess in Pakistan (the video is in Wakhi language with French subtitles), Neema Namadamu, a disability rights campaigner in Congo, Gloria Steinem, a feminist leader in the US, Sumini, a forest manager in Indonesia, Yael Braudo-Bahat, a peace activist in Israel, Vee Kativhu, a YouTuber in Zimbabwe and UK, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, a Ugandan veterinarian, and Dayeon Lee, a campaigner for Kpop4Planet in South Korea, among other women.
To finish the entry with a joyful note, you can watch Dayeon dancing "Se Acabó" and celebrate International Women's Day, 2024: