Learning English through Topic: How to build social relationships ( topic for 3/11 Sunday evening club)

TOPIC (3/11/2013)

HOW TO BUILD SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

VOCABULARY: Words used to describe relations and relationships

1.       Acquainted (adjective)

if two people are acquainted, they know each other, usually not very well

2.       arm’s-length (adjective)

used for describing something such as a business deal in which the different sides avoid having a close relationship with each other

3.       brittle (adjective)

a brittle relationship or situation is not very strong and could easily be damaged

4.       broken adjective

a broken relationship has failed

5.       bromantic adjective

typical of or relating to a very close friendship between two men

6.       brotherly adjective

typical of the feelings that a man or boy has for his male friends

7.       chummy adjective:

chummy people are friendly with each other, especially in a way that stops other people from joining the group

8.       clannish adjective

concentrating on people in your own family or group and not wanting other people to join it

9.       dysfunctional adjective

dysfunctional relationships do not work normally and are not happy or successful

10.   estranged adjective

not seeing friends or relatives very often, especially because of having fought with them

For more, visit here: http://www.macmillandictionary.com/thesaurus-category/british/Words-used-to-describe-relations-and-relationships

http://easyamericanenglish.blogspot.com/search/label/ENGLISH%20CLUB

QUESTIONS

1. How do you understand social relationships? (Give examples)

2. Do you think that social relationships are important today? If yes, why?

3. How can we make social relationships work and stay happy?

4. Is it essential to creat some strong, inimate relationships?

5. Personally, are you a person having a lot of social relationships?
6. What do you think about virtual relationships in the internet?

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My English club's photos for the last week discussion of Oct (27/10/2013)

This week our club was full of members again. I am very glad that so many old members joined club in this evening. Despite long time no speak, their english is much more improved that really make me happy.  About today's topic, it was "Embarrassing moments". We listened to some interesting and awkward stories. There were a lot of laugh and fun. Now let's enjoy some snapshots here :->

Keep joining and learning English!!!

Club's address: 31, Giai Phong street, Ha Noi (LESH English Center)

Time: Every Sunday evening (from 6.30pm-8.30pm)

Host: Ms. Fiorella and one foreign teacher 

Phone: 01635.136.522.

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9 Slang Words For Every College Student

This is  a very funny video to help students upgrade their own vocabulary. You may find some words familiar and popular. If you haven't ever seen these words, this video will help you understand them easily. These 9 slang words are also 9 urban dictionary words that every college student should know. This video says American accent and contains subtitles so you can understand what you're hearing.

After listening to the video, how many words can you get???

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Touching love between Jane and Roschester in "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre is a well-known story written by Charlotte Bronte. The story does not only impress the readers by the main character’s stormy life but aslo make them moved by Jane and Roschester’s love in particular. Their love is truly described as Rose Franken’s quote “Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly”.

It is silly but true love. When Jane decides to return to Thornfield, she lost in touch with this place for long time. She has no ideal about it, especially her master Mr. Roschester and keeps asking herself so many questions like “was it a mere nervous impression-a delusion”?. Commonly, we’re very excited and happy to go home or at least some where we think we belong to, but Jane does feel much more doubtful than happy. Moreover, the unreal voice that she heard inside herself probably is the only one reason to make her come back to Thornfield and she bases on doubt to prolong hope.  It seems quite silly and how nonsense it is when basing on an ambiguous voice to make up her mind! However, the readers can realize how strong that unreal voice was that it give her bravery to reach the destination. Jane follows that voice, it means that she follows her heart. The true love conquers her mind.

That love overcomes any challenges and difficulties. When Jane arrives in Thornfield and knows Roschester’s accident, she wants to rush to him as soon as possible. Her love is even stronger though she knows that Roschester is no longer a perfect man like before. Roschester’s leg was broken and he couldn’t see her as well. She feels hurt, painful and just wants to meet him at any cost, by all means. How silly she is! With what she has now, she can live happily without Roschester, but she overrides everything. She is much in love and wants to spend her rest life with her poor master. If it were not because of true love, she would never do that. 

About Mr. Roschester, in the extract, even though  he is a curious character and somewhat capricious in his nature, readers still realize his true love for Jane. “The servants say they never saw anybody so much in love as he was: he was after her continually.” “Nobody but him thought her so very handsome”. The reason he falls in love with Jane is not Jane’s appearance, it is because of her soul, her personality. She is straightforward and doesn't simper to him. He almost treats her as an equal in intellect and this shows in his conversations with him. When Jane’s with him he's trying to find out if Jane really loves him. However, perhaps he's also afraid of what will happen then : he doesn't forget he's married and that Jane would never accept this relationship if she knew so he's trying to resist his love for Jane (because of his past), but when she proclaims her love for him, he proposes to her. He finds out that Jane’s the soulmate that he needs. Losing Jane means that losing everything he has, even he loses himself. “He walked just like a ghost about the grounds and in the orchard as if he had lost his senses”. He closed his heart “broke off acquaintance with all the gentry, and shut himself up, like a hermit, at the Hall”. Jane saves from the fire and wakes up his heart again. Now, it belongs to only Jane. 

In short, Jane and Roschester are in love with each other so much.  Their true love gives them courage and bravery to overcome many challenges and obstacles. At the end of everything, they deserve to have a happy ending.

Now let's watch the movie! Hope you enjoy it :->

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Learning English through Topic: Time management ( topic for 27/10 Sunday morning class)

Time management is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity.
Managing your time effectively will not only help you get more done each day, but also bring you important health benefits. By managing your time more wisely, you can minimize stress and improve your quality of life.
But how do you get back on track when organizational skills don't come naturally? To get started, choose one of these strategies, try it for two to four weeks and see if it helps. If it does, consider adding another one. If not, try a different one.

Discussion:

1. Describe a normal day for you and how you spend your time.

2. Do you think that you are spending your time wisely? Why?

3. Do you agree that time is the most valuable asset? Why?

4. If you had more time what would you do with it? 

5. What are the most common distractions that take you too much time uselessly? Do you have any method to limit them?

6. Have you ever felt exhausted when you had a lot of work to do? Did you think that it was because you didn’t spend your time wisely or because it was too much to do?

7. Have you applied any above methods of managing time? Are they effective? How long did you continue doing those methods?

Club's address: 31, Giai Phong street, Ha Noi (LESH English Center)

Time: Every Sunday evening (from 6.30pm-8.30pm)

Host: Ms. Fiorella and one foreign teacher 

Phone: 01635.136.522.

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Learning English through Topic: Embarrassing moments ( topic for 27/10 Sunday evening club)

Embarrassing moments mean the awkward moments that occurred by accident.

Vocabulary: Feeling words

(click to zoom out)

Now let's see how to express embarrassment in English.

Here are some funny pics I grabbed in the Internet :))

So...

Questions for discussion:

1. Tell us at least 2 most embarrassing moments that you wish they never happened.

2. How do you react if you get embarassed?

3. Do you learn something from those awkward moments?

4. What makes some people more and others less likely to feel embarrassed?

5. What is the best way to deal with embarrassment?

6. Can animals get embarrassed? Give examples.

Club's address: 31, Giai Phong street, Ha Noi (LESH English Center)

Time: Every Sunday evening (from 6.30pm-8.30pm)

Host: Ms. Fiorella and one foreign teacher 

Phone: 01635.136.522.

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My Oedipus Complex by Frank O'Connor

My Oedipus complex was an attractive short story by Frank O’Connor. This story, as its own unique title, was about the complicated feelings of Larry – the main character and his parents from beginning of the First World War until it ended. The war was the most peaceful period of the boy’s life but everything became complex right after its end and father returned.

Summary:

Father was away for the first world war. Larry was his mother's only concern during that time. She and Larry would pray for Father's safe return. Well, he returned and Larry regretted it in a hurry. Now Larry had to compete with his father for his mother's attention. It was a bitter battle.

Walking with Father was like walking with a mountain. When Father wanted to stop, Father stopped and Larry came to an abrupt standstill.

When a new baby, Sonny, came into the house, Sonny replaced Father in Mother's bed as Sonny wailed and wailed. And Father slept with Larry. Larry comforted him.

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Best songs by women 2012 for this special day!!

Happy Vietnamese women's day :-* :-* :-*

Here's the list of 10 favorite songs released by women in the last 2012, ranging from feel-good car radio sing-along tunes to dance floor favorites to tracks made for headphones and downtime. 
Hope you like them ;)

1. “Diamonds” -- Rihanna

2. Anything from "Girl On Fire" -- Alicia Keys

3. "Stronger" -- Kelly Clarkson

4. "Die Young" -- Ke$ha

5. "Bel Air" -- Lana del Ray

6. Anything from "Red" -- Taylor Swift

7. "Good Girl" -- Carrie Underwood

8. "Emmylou" -- First Aid Kit

9. "Primadonna" -- Marina and the Diamonds

10. "Is Your Love Big Enough?" -- Lianne La Havas 

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My English club's photos for the 3rd week discussion of Oct (20/10/2013)

Right on this special day, our club was still lively though fewer members joined club. We did have a lot of things to share with each other. On behalf of club's female members, I was very happy to receive a bunch of flowers from Mr. vice president of club. That gift was so surprising and cute. By the way, I'd love to send my best wishes to you girls, your mother, your grandmother! Thanks for joining today!

Club's address: 31, Giai Phong street, Ha Noi (LESH English Center)

Time: Every Sunday evening (from 6.30pm-8.30pm)

Host: Ms. Fiorella and one foreign teacher 

Phone: 01635.136.522.

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Check out 10 mistakes you will make at least once in your life!

Let's see what those "10 mistakes" are and if you're a frank person, just answer questions below (lol)

1. Is it right to you?

2. How many times do you make one of those mistakes?

3. Do you feel regret?

4. What lessons do you learn from your mistake?

5. Any mistakes are too serious?

Here are 10 most common mistakes that everyone will make!

1. Spending too much on something unnecessary.

For example: you buy an expensive coat, but it really doesn't fit you or you soon find it no longer fashionable :-(

2. Neglecting your body

It is true if you've just broken up with your boy/girlfriend.

3. Leaving your dishes undone for more than a week

It's rather true for men, right?

4. A deep and crippling and all-consuming addiction to a TV show.

What TV shows make you be like that?

5. Sharing too much your personal information on the internet.

Some people are lazy to update their profile on Facebook, but some really like showing everything.

6. Looking after your boy/girlfriend as if he/she was a child.

Well, everyone needs breathing space ;-)

7. Throwing out pieces of clothing because you think you’ll never need them again.

You don't know you can save money from them.

8. Starting a drastic and unrealistic diet/cleanse with unwavering resolve to lose at least 5 kg.

..and the result is that you gain weight ;)

9. Washing your whites with your colors.

It will make your white bra turn grey

10. Ever considering yourself a responsible adult.

Chill, don't always take it serious!

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Top 5 HIT on Billboard for third week of Oct.

For this third week of Oct, three powerful women Lorde, Miley Cyrus and Katty Perry continues dominating Hot 100 Billboard chart. There's no much difference in comparision with the last week.

No.1 still belongs to the song "Royal" by Lorde, "Royals" crowns the subscription services-based On-Demand Songs chart with 2.8 million on-demand U.S. streams and "Royals" tops Digital Songs for a fourth week with 293,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen BDS (up 1%).  It pushes closer to the Radio Songs chart's summit, bulleting at No. 2 with an 11% gain to 158 million audience impressions, according to BDS.

No.2 of this week is "Wrecking ball" in Miley's very new album calles " Bangerz". Cyrus' debut RCA album "Bangerz" debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 270,000 copies sold. "Ball" drops 3-4 on Digital Songs (which it led four weeks ago) with 128,000 downloads sold, a 40% decline, according to Billboard webiste.

No.3, compare to last week, "Roar" by Katty Perry drops one step and remains third position! Plus, Perry's album "PRISM" is due on Tuesday (Oct.  22) and will debut on the following week's Billboard 200. 

No.4 and No 5.  " Wake me up" by Avicii  and "Hold on, we're going home" by Drake Featuring Majid Jordan remain the same position in comparision with the last week. 

Listen to 5 Hit songs (click over here)

No. 6. Let's enjoy "The Fox" by Ylvis

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Video: Tips for Halloween costume ^^

Hey guys, It's Halloween coming soon!!! Who are you gonna be? Do you have any ideas about Halloween costume yet? Check out some tips over here!

But, first of all you may have to take a look at some Halloween vocabulary right on this video!

Ok, so now let's see some Halloween costume tips!

1. A beloved little red hooding ( plus Make up)

2. A very cute minion ( why not?)

3. A sexy vampire (plus Make up)

Now, you got any ideas? Let's share!

Hope those videos helpful for you ^^

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Video: The Vampire Diaries Season 5 - Damon And Elena Won't Last

Are you a fan of  "The Vampire Diaries" movie? Let's update the newest information about this movie for season 5.

And don't forget to take a look at some vocabulary below!

Vocabulary:

• To have their happily ever after = to have a happy ending forever
• To deal with = to handle with
• To break them apart = to seprate them
• To be isolated = to be alone
• To stay up to date = to keep updating

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Video: British and American

For most English learns, they're taught English at school with British version. However, when speaking many learners tend to be mixed up between British and American version because of the influences of mass media. So, how to distinguish these two versions? Let's watch this video made by Rachel and Ango-link. They're gonna help you find out the differences and practice concrete examples.

After watching, tell me which version do you tend to speak? British or American?

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