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مکالمه انگلیسی


speaking_club

تاسیس: 9 دی 1384  پروفایل کلوب
مدیر کلوب: Kouhsaran M - معاونان
اگر علاقه مند به یادگیری جملات قصار(Quotations)،ضرب المثل ها (Proverbs)،اصطلاحات(Idioms) و یا علاقه ادامه »
اگر علاقه مند به یادگیری جملات قصار(Quotations)،ضرب المثل ها (Proverbs)،اصطلاحات(Idioms) و یا علاقه مند به مکالمه به شیوه رسمی و غیر رسمی(Formal & Informal)هستید،می توانید با ثبت نام در این کلوب از تمامی آنها بهره مند شوید. در ضمن با عضویت در این کلوب می توانید از قابلیت گفتگوی زنده بهره مند شوید که امکان انتخاب پارتنر(partner)نیز،جهت بهبود یادگیری،برای شما مهیا خواهد بود. کوهساران
 

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عنوان بحث :: این بحث را 4 نفر دنبال می کنند.

علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 11:58 1389/06/21

I want to speak English

برای یاد گیری زبان حتما باید به نکات زیر توجه کنید:
1-انگیزه
2-دیکشنری
3-اشتباه ممنوع
4-تلفظ
5-ورودی


1-انگیزه:
انگیزه برای فراگیری زبان انگلیسی
چه چیزیبرای فراگیری صحیح زبان لازم است؟
شاید شما همه‌ی نکات فراگیری زبان را بدانید، ولی اگر آنها اجرا نکنید، چیزی زیادی یاد نخواهید گرفت. واقعیت این است که اگر می‌خواهید به خوبی انگلیسی صحبت کنید، باید کمی زندگی روزمره‌تان را تغییر دهید. در اینجا چند نمونه از کارهایی که می‌توانید انجام دهید آورده شده است:

    * می‌توانید روزی یک ساعت یک کتاب انگلیسی را مطالعه کنید و ساختارهای گرامری جملات را بررسی کرده و کلمات جدید را در یک دیکشنری جستجو کنید.
    * می‌توانید به یک منبع شنیداری (مثلاً یک نوار کاست یا یک سی‌دی mp3 و...) گوش کنید و آن قسمت‌هایی که متوجه نمی‌شوید را آنقدر تکرار کنید تا آنچه گفته می‌شود را کاملا درک کنید.
    * می‌توانید یک ایمیل به انگلیسی بنویسید و مرتباً از یک دیکشنری استفاده کنید و یا در اینترنت به جستجو بپردازید تا مطمئن شوید تمام کلمات به درستی به کار برده شده‌اند.
    * هنگامیکه در خیابان مشغول قدم زدن هستید درباره آن چیزهایی که می‌بینید با خودتان به انگلیسی صحبت کنید.

به نظر شما چه کسی می‌تواند این کارهای ظاهراً عجیب و غیرعادی را انجام دهد؟ فقط کسی که از انجام دادن آنها لذت می‌برد. اگر می‌خواهید به خوبی انگلیسی بیاموزید، بایستی به همین شکل عمل کنید. مشکل اینجاست که همه‌ی زبان‌آموزها می‌خواهند خیلی خوب به انگلیسی صحبت کنند، اما بیشتر آنها نمی‌خواهند برای فراگیری آن (در تنهایی) وقت صرف کنند. کمبود انگیزه باعث می‌شود که زبان‌آموز حاضر نشود از وقت آزاد خود برای فراگیری زبان استفاده کند و یا اگر هم وقت می‌گذارد، نمی‌تواند بطور پیوسته و منظم آن را ادامه دهد.

تفاوت بین زبان‌آموزان معمولی و زبان‌آموزان با انگیزه
یک زبان‌آموز معمولی (فاقد انگیزه‌ی لازم) روز قبل از یک آزمون یا تست انگلیسی، ممکن است تـا 12 سـاعت هم مطالعـه کنـد، امـا (برخلاف زبان‌آموزان با انگیزه) در روزهای بعد حاضر نخواهد بود روزی نیم ساعت هم به مطالعه‌ی یک کتاب انگلیسی بپردازد. از نظر او آموزش انگلیسی چندان لذت بخش نیست، بنابراین تنها زمانی که مجبور باشد به مطالعه می‌پردازد. مسئله اینست که تنها مطالعه‌ی مستمر و روزمره (حتی اگر کوتاه باشد) باعث پیشرفت سریع شما می‌شود. نتیجه‌ی حاصل از یک مطالعه‌ی سخت و بی‌تداوم (مثلاً دو روز کامل قبل از امتحان) مأیوس کننده است، چونکه 90 درصد آنچه که یاد گرفته شده پس از حدود یک ماه فراموش می‌شود. تنها مرور کردن پیوسته‌ی چیزها باعث بخاطر سپردن آنها می‌شود و در غیر اینصورت شما آنها را فراموش خواهید کرد.
یک زبان‌آموز با انگیزه از فراگیری زبان لذت می‌برد و بنابراین وقت بیشتری روی آن می‌گذارد و آن را بطور منظم انجام می‌دهد. انگیزه‌ی بالا برای او امتیاز دیگری هم دارد و آن اینست که بخاطر سپردن کلمات و ساختارهای گرامری آسان‌تر می‌شود، زیرا مغز انسان اطلاعات مربوط به چیزهای مورد علاقه‌اش را به راحتی به خاطر می‌سپارد.
افزایش انگیزه برای آموختن زبان
در اینجا تكنیك‌هایی جهت افزایش انگیزه‌ی شما برای فراگیری یک زبان دیگر (در اینجا انگلیسی) ارائه می‌شود:

خودتان را در آینده مجسم کنید
تصور کنید که مثل زبان مادریتان می‌توانید با انگلیسی‌زبان‌ها هم صحبت کنید. تصور کنید که همه می‌خواهند مثل شما انگلیسی صحبت کنند. فکر کنید که دیگر می‌توانید به راحتی با افرادی از سرتاسر دنیا مکاتبه کنید. تصور کنید که وقتی آشنایان شما با مشکلی در زمینه‌ی زبان مواجه می‌شوند، به شما مراجعه می‌کنند. این تصورات کمک می‌کنند تا انگیزه‌ی لازم برای فراگیری زبان در شما شکل بگیرد. باید بدانید که شما می‌توانید به خوبی زبان انگلیسی را بیاموزید و به آن مسلط شوید.

زبان شما هم‌اکنون خوب است ولی...
شما احتمالاً تا حدی به زبان انگلیسی مسلط هستید و این خود یک موفقیت بزرگ است! حالا باید به موفقیت‌های بزرگتری فکر کنید. وقت آن رسیده است که از روش‌های مؤثر و کارآمد برای رسیدن به سطح قابل قبولی از دانش انگلیسی استفاده کنید.
درست است که انگلیسی شما خوب است، ولی احتمالاً کامل نیست. شما احتمالاً هنوز نمی‌توانیدفیلم‌های زبان اصلی را متوجه شوید، کتاب‌هایی به انگلیسی‌ بخوانید، با انگلیسی‌زبانها به راحتی صحبت کنید و یا بدون اشتباه نامه بنویسید.
شما هرگز نباید تصور کنید که انگلیسی شما کامل شده است. حتی اگر بهترین دانش‌آموز کلاستان هستید، همیشه باید به دنبال یافتن نقاط ضعف خود باشید و روی آنها کار کنید. مثلاً در حال حاضر ممکن است در این زمینه‌ها مشکل داشته باشید: عدم تلفظ صحیح بعضی از کلمات، دایره‌ی لغت محدود، مشکلات گرامری با مثلاً زمان حال کامل و جملات شرطی و....

هر کجا که می‌توانید از انگلیسی‌تان استفاده کنید
این یک نکته بسیار مهم است، هر چقدر بیشتر از انگلیسی‌تان استفاده کنید، بیشتر می‌خواهید که آن را یاد بگیرید.
زبان انگلیسی آنقدر متداول است که شما می‌توانید همه جا از آن استفاده کنید. مثلاً می‌توانید از موتور جستجوی گوگل برای یافتن اطلاعات مورد علاقه‌تان در سایتهای انگلیسی‌زبان بهره بگیرید، کارتون‌های زبان اصلی را تماشا کنید، از بازیهای ماجرایی در کامپیوترتان استفاده کنید، کتابهایی به زبان انگلیسی بخوانید و....
با انجام این کارها شما نه تنها آموزش و تفریح را با هم ادغام کرده‌اید، بلکه وقتی می‌بینید که فراگیری یک یا چند کلمه به شما این امکان را می‌دهد که برنامه زبان اصلی مورد علاقه‌تان را متوجه شوید (یا بتوانید با دیگران مکاتبه کنید)، قطعاً خواستار فراگیری لغات بیشتری خواهید شد.

با دیگران راجع به زبان انگلیسی صحبت کنید
این یک روش ساده و در عین حال بسیار کارآمد است. شما معمولاً درباره‌ی چیزهایی صحبت می‌کنید که برایتان جالب باشد. اما برعکس آن هم درست است: اگر شما درباره‌ی یک موضوع خسته کننده صحبت کنید، کم‌کم به آن علاقمند خواهید شد.
تصور کنید که چیزی را مطالعه می‌کنید که از آن نفرت دارید. مثلاً فرض کنید با اینکه خسته و کسل هستید، مجبورید برای امتحان روز بعد خودتان را آماده کنید. شما دو گزینه پیش رو دارید: یا می‌توانید به دیگران بگویید که چقدر عذاب می‌کشید و یا می‌توانید با آنها درباره‌ی چیزهایی که یاد گرفته‌اید صحبت کنید. اگر گزینه‌ی اول را انتخاب کنید تنها اوضاع خودتان را بدتر می‌کنید.
اما اگر گزینه‌ی دوم را انتخاب کنید و درباره‌ی آن موضوع خسته کننده صحبت کنید، کم‌کم نظر شما درباره‌ی آن عوض می‌شود و به موضوعی تبدیل خواهد شد که ارزش حرف زدن درباره‌ی آن را داشته باشد – یعنی یک موضوع جالب.
و اما در مورد زبان انگلیسی: شما می‌توانید دوستانتان را با گفتن چند جمله‌ی انگلیسی غافلگیر کنید! یا مثلاً می‌توانید به آنها بگویید که امروز 20 لغت جدید یاد گرفته‌اید. همیشه از پیشرفتهایتان با آنها صحبت کنید. از آنها بپرسید آیا معنی فلان کلمه را به انگلیسی می‌دانند؟ اگر کسی در نزدیکی شما نیست، می‌توانید به دوستانتان تلفن کنید و یا ایمیل بزنید.
احتمالا این چیزها برای دوستان شما هیچ اهمیتی ندارد، تنها چیزی که مهم است این است که وقتی شما درباره‌ی «انگلیسی» صحبت می‌کنید، علاقه و اشتیاق شما نسبت به فراگیری آن بیشتر و بیشتر می‌شود.

دوستی پیدا کنید که به فراگیری انگلیسی مشغول باشد
اگر بتوانید دوستی پیدا کنید که مانند خود شما در حال فراگیری زبان انگلیسی و سطح معلوماتش نیز در حد شما باشد، در شرایطی بسیار ایده‌آل قرار خواهید گرفت، زیرا:

    * کسی را خواهید داشت که بتوانید درباره‌ی «انگلیسی» با او صحبت کنید. همانطور که در بالا گفتیم، این گفتگوها علاقه‌ی شما به فراگیری زبان را افزایش خواهد داد.
    * فراگیری زبان برای شما آسان‌تر خواهد شد، زیرا در این صورت می‌توانید اشکال‌هایتان را با دوستتان در میان بگذارید.
    * بیشتر به مطالعه‌ی انگلیسی خواهید پرداخت، چونکه می‌خواهید از دوستتان بهتر باشید (رقابت). (-:

شما باید به طور منظم با دوستتان در تماس باشید. او باید در نزدیکی شما زندگی کند و یا به همان مدرسه، دانشگاه، یا محل کار شما بیاید. اگر نمی‌توانید چنین دوستی پیدا کنید، می‌توانید کسی را از طریق ایمیل پیدا کنید (Pen-pal). البته یک دوست ایمیلی هرگز نمی‌تواند جای یک دوست واقعی را برای شما پر کند، زیرا رقابت با کسی که او را بخوبی نمی‌شناسید دشوار است و این نوع گفتگوها اغلب دوامی ندارند.

کمی پول خرج کنید!
اگر پولتان را صرف خرید چیزی بکنید، از آن استفاده خواهید کرد. به عنوان مثال اگر شما یک راکت گرانقیمت خریداری کنید، احتمالاً هر روز بیرون می‌روید و بدمینتون بازی می‌کنید.
این قاعده برای فراگیری زبان نیز صادق است. اگر می‌خواهید اشتیاقتان را برای فراگیری زبان بالا ببرید، می‌توانید (به عنوان مثال) یك دیكشنری نو، یک کتاب مصور به زبان انگلیسی و یا یک سی‌دی مولتی مدیای آموزشی خریداری کنید. این یک اصل ساده است: وقتی برای چیزی پول خرج می‌کنید، از آن استفاده خواهید کرد و بدین ترتیب سطح انگلیسی شما ارتقاء پیدا می‌کند. توصیه‌ی ما این است که دور و بر خودتان را با انواع کتاب، سی‌دی، نوار و دیگر امکانات سمعی و بصری پر کنید. بدین ترتیب همیشه از انگیزه‌ی لازم برای فراگیری زبان برخوردار خواهید بود

  • ارسال پاسخ

پاسخ ها

ترتیب پاسخ ها : از اولین پاسخ
علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 00:51 1390/11/16
44

Quitting Smoking

Feb 03 2012

http://www.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lessons/image/0000/0002/2280/2280623_1326410961_146631.jpg

Intro

It’s easy to start smoking. But quitting is a different story. Many people want to quit smoking for their health, their skin or their families. But it takes a lot of willpower to stick to it.

There are a lot of different tools and methods to help people quit smoking. Hear Amy tell Marni about one of the strangest methods she’s heard of for quitting smoking.

Vocab

fascinating adj.

Definition

very interesting

Example

The artwork inside of the building was fascinating.

go cold turkey expr.

Definition

quit immediately, without any help

Example

It's too hard to go cold turkey. I'm going to cut back and try to quit smoking over time.

the patch n.

Definition

product worn on the body that gives a small amount of nicotine to help people quit smoking

Example

My dad was able to quit smoking by wearing the patch for six months.

fake adj.

Definition

not real; pretend version

Example

That sushi in the window is fake. It's made out of plastic.

That sushi in the window is fake. It's made out of plastic.

quit v.

Definition

stop using or doing something

Example

Would you please quit borrowing my clothes without asking?

willpower n.

Definition

ability to control oneself, ability to resist temptation, determination to do the right thing

Example

I have a lot of willpower. I never eat dessert because I'm trying to get in shape.

stick to v.

Definition

stay with; use something familiar

Example

I try not to stick to one routine for very long. I like variety.

method n.

Definition

approach, way

Example

I need to find a new method of meeting guys. Going to bars just isn't working.

ween v.

Definition

slowly stop using or become less dependent on something

Example

I've had to ween myself off sweets because I really love them, but I want to lose weight.

hypnotize v.

Definition

mesmerize; put in a trance

Example

Some music is so good, it has the power to hypnotize people.


Dialogue

Amy: I just heard of the craziest way to quit smoking.

Marni: Really? Do tell.

Amy: A good friend of mine was hypnotized.

Marni: Really?

Amy: Yes! And she really believes that it has worked. I mean, she hasn’t had a cigarette in six months.

Marni: Was she a smoker for long? I mean, was she really…

Amy: Years and years, yes.

Marni: Wow. OK. That’s fascinating. You know, I know a lot of people who have quit smoking, a lot of friends and family. And they’ve all tried various methods, but I have actually never known anyone who’s done hypnosis, so I think that’s really interesting. I mean I’ve had friends who’ve gone cold turkey, which…I just really admire them, because they stuck to it, and I know it was hard.

Amy: Do you think some of those tools can help, like the patch or that kind of thing?

Marni: You know, I think it’s probably just dependent on the person, and I think some people have a strong willpower and a real desire to quit. And I’ve known people who have literally been like, “This is stupid,” and stopped and never gone back. But then I’ve known people that have also needed a patch or, you know, have used those fake cigarettes, those electronic ones, for that hand-to-mouth contact, to sort of ween them off that. And the whole thing is just very fascinating to me. I have to be honest, it makes me really grateful that I was never a smoker.

Amy: Definitely.

Discussion

Amy tells Marni about a friend of hers who was hypnotized in order to quit smoking. She was a smoker for many years, but it’s now been six months since she had a cigarette.

Marni says she knows many people who have tried to quit smoking. They’ve tried lots of different methods, from using fake cigarettes to going cold turkey. She thinks it takes a lot of willpower and a strong desire to quit smoking.

Have you ever tried to quit smoking? What advice would you give someone who wanted to stop smoking?

Grammar Point

Contractions and Abbreviations

Marni has a lot of friends who have tried to quit smoking. She says, “They’ve all tried various methods, but I have actually never known anyone who’s done hypnosis, so I think that’s really interesting.”

Marni uses three contractions in this sentence: they’ve (short for they have), who’s (short for who has) and that’s (short for that is).

Contractions are shortened words or phrases that are made by removing certain letters and replacing them with an apostrophe. Contractions are especially common in spoken English because they are informal and help you say things quicker.

In this sentence, “It’s been two years since I had a cigarette,” what is the contraction “it’s” short for?

Quiz

  1. If you want to quit smoking, you have to __ it.

    • stick on
    • stick to
    • stick for
    • stick over
  2. How did Amy’s friend quit smoking?

    • She used the patch.
    • She went cold turkey.
    • She was hypnotized.
    • She used a lot of willpower.
  3. Was Marni ever a smoker?

    • Yes.
    • No.
    • She doesn’t say.
  4. For how long did Amy’s friend smoke before she quit?

    • 1 year.
    • 1 month.
    • Several months.
    • Several years.
وفا  , asalbanoo1370
وفا - 20:19 1390/10/29
43

mr. alireza!

i am so sorry to say this sentence, but i thinke it is better to let us to speak with each other in this diccision.

i am so sorry again

i though i can speak with my friends when i came in this diccusion

thanks mr. asghari

علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 20:57 1389/12/3
42
In-Laws

http://www.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lessons/image/0000/0001/1973/1973954_1295039894_827224.jpg

Feb 18 2011

Intro

We don’t always have a lot in common with our relatives, or even particularly like them. But we have to love them and try to get along with them, because we’re related to them. That’s just the way family works.

When you get married, you suddenly have a whole new set of relatives whom you have to try to get along with. In-laws have a bad reputation of being tough to deal with, from the father-in-law who is overprotective of his daughter, to the mother-in-law who criticizes every decision her son’s wife makes.

Amy is about to get married, and she’s a little nervous about having in-laws. Dale has been married for five years, so he can give her some advice

 

Vocab

grow up expr.

Definition

get older

Example

I did a lot of growing up in college. I'm much more mature now.

mother-in-law n.

Definition

the mother of one's spouse

Example

My mother-in-law is coming to stay with my wife and me so she can help out with our new baby.

overprotective adj.

Definition

too protective; strict

Example

My parents are so overprotective, they always need to know where I am.

in-laws n.

Definition

the relatives of one's spouse

Example

George has a good relationship with his in-laws.

get along v.

Definition

work well together; be friendly with one another

Example

I would rather not drive in his car to the party because we don't get along.

two peas in a pod expr.

Definition

people who have a lot in common

Example

My sister and I have so much in common, we're like two peas in a pod.

cliche adj.

Definition

stereotypical; expected

Example

A poor, starving artist is so cliche. Aren't there any successful painters out there?

give the third degree expr.

Definition

question someone a lot; give someone a hard time

Example

My boyfriend is so suspicious, he gives me the third degree every time I go out with my friends.

.

Dialogue

Amy: Do you have the situation that I’m beginning to have of having to deal not only with your own family but also with in-laws?

Dale:  Yes. I actually have in-laws that are from another city who’s coming into town, and I’m kind of excited about it. But you know, I’ve been with my wife for almost five years, so I’ve gotten used to the in-laws. But at first, it was a bit tough.

Amy:  Really, so do you and your mother-in-law and father-in-law have stuff in common?

Dale:  No.

Amy:  You don’t?

Dale:  No. But, I mean, she’s really sweet. But I think that I grew up differently, with a lot of culture, because I’m Philippino. So I don’t think they understand me that much, and in the reverse, I can’t understand them.

Amy:  Did your…when you met your wife’s father, did he give you the third degree or anything, like that cliche?

Dale:  Yeah.

Amy:  But you survived.

Dale:  Yep. And how about you, you’ve met your in-laws already?

Amy:  Future in-laws, yes.

Dale:  And they’re really nice?

Amy:  His mom and I are two peas in a pod.

Dale:  Well, there you go. There you go.

Discussion

Dale has been married for five years. Amy asks him about his relationship with his wife’s parents. He likes his in-laws and gets along pretty well with them, even though he doesn’t have a lot in common with them.

Dale has a very different background from his wife’s family. He is from the Philippines, and they are from the U.S. That makes it harder for them to understand one another, but they are nice and do their best.

Dale asks Amy about her future in-laws. She says that she and her fiance’s mom are like two peas in a pod. They get along great.

If you are married, do you get along well with your in-laws? If you aren’t married, is it important to you that your future husband or wife get along well with your parents?

Grammar Point

Used to do vs. Be used to

Dale says that he is used to his in-laws. When you are used to something, it is normal or habitual for you. You are accustomed to it and able to deal with it.

Be used to looks similar, but is very different from used to do. When you use used to + verb, it means you did something regularly in the past that you no longer do now.

For example, “I used to have a bad relationship with my in-laws.” This means that we had a bad relationship in the past, but now we get along better.
Which of these means that I was married in the past, but I am no longer married now? “I used to be married” or “I am used to being married”?

Quiz

 

  1. Dale’s father-in-law gave him __.

    • the third degree
    • three degrees
    • the three degree
    • a degree
  2. Where did Dale grow up?

    • France
    • Mexico
    • Spain
    • The Philippines
  3. Amy is __.

    • single
    • engaged
    • married
    • divorced
  4. Amy and her __ are like two peas in a pod.

    • mother
    • mother-in-law
    • sister-in-law
    • father-in-law
  5. Dale __ his in laws.

    • be used to
    • used to
    • is used to

علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 11:24 1389/11/13
41

The Next Three Days

Feb 02 2011

Intro
http://www.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lessons/image/0000/0001/1978/1978186_1295564104_815954.jpg

Prison break movies are almost guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Think of The Fugitive. There is just something thrilling about watching someone fight to clear his name while running from the cops. But it’s also an old formula that can easily seem cliche.

The Next Three Days puts a new twist on an old standard by having a husband break his wife out of jail. She’s been convicted of murder and all the evidence suggests that she is guilty, but he still believes in her innocence. Finally he decides to take justice into his own hands. Find out if Amy or Beren has ever gone that far for love.

Vocab

plot n.

Definition

the main story in a book or movie

Example

I liked the movie, but the plot was hard to understand.

play it safe v.

Definition

be careful, act safe

Example

To play it safe when swimming in the ocean, you should always face the water so you can see anything coming towards you.

thriller n.

Definition

a very exciting movie

Example

Intense music always adds a lot to a good thriller.

take into one's own hands expr.

Definition

do on one's own; take charge of something

Example

When Alicia's group members got lazy, she took their project into her own hands.

clear one's name expr.

Definition

prove one's innocence

Example

Kayla cleared her name by proving that she was out of town when the robbery took place.

on the edge of my seat expr.

Definition

when a movie makes you very excited and nervous

Example

During the prison escape scene, I was on the edge of my seat.

loyalty n.

Definition

faithfulness; devotion

Example

Dogs have more loyalty to their owners than cats.

break out v.

Definition

escape; get out of

Example

Two convicts broke out of jail last night.

far-fetched adj.

Definition

unrealistic; difficult to believe

Example

His story was so far-fetched that nobody believed him, including his own mother.

appeal v.

Definition

try to get a new trial

Example

After he was convicted of robbing a bank, Kurt decided to appeal.

Dialogue

Beren: Do you know anything about that movie, The Next Three Days with Russel Crowe?

Amy:  It looks great, are you kidding? It looks like such a great thriller.

Beren:  It looks great? What’s the plot? Like, I’m so confused.

Amy:  Well, it’s a man whose wife is convicted of a murder, but she, you know, she swears she didn’t do it, and of course he believes her. They try to appeal and do everything they can to get her off but when all else fails, Russel Crowe decides to break his woman out of jail.

Beren:  That is like the craziest thing I have ever heard. I mean, I guess it’s not that far-fetched really, ‘cause people do crazy things for love.

Amy:  Well, the thing is you hear of people breaking out of jail, but not breaking into jail to break someone else out. That kinda adds a new twist.

Beren:  Yeah, totally.

Amy:  That shows more than a normal amount of loyalty and crazy love for your partner, to risk your own life and everything, breaking them out of jail. It’s kind of romantic. Would you do that?

Beren:  Maybe. Probably not, actually. I don’t know, I haven’t done very many crazy things for love. Have you?

Amy:  I guess I kinda play it safe when it comes to love, but if someone broke me out of jail, then that would really win my heart.

Beren:  Totally! Yeah, that’d be a keeper for sure.

Discussion

Amy is going to see the movie The Next Three Days. She thinks it looks exciting. Beren doesn’t know much about the film, so Amy explains that it is about a man who breaks his wife out of jail after she is convicted of murder.

Amy thinks that breaking someone out of jail is a pretty crazy thing to do for love. Neither she nor Beren has ever gone quite that far for love. But Amy says that if she was ever in jail and someone broke her out, she would definitely be impressed with him.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done for love?

Grammar Point

Second Conditional

Amy says that if someone broke her out of jail, that would win her heart. This is an example of the second conditional.

We use the second conditional to talk about unreal, or imagined, situations and their consequences. Amy isn’t really in jail, so nobody is going to break her out. But if someone did something that crazy for her, he would win her heart.

We form the second conditional with two clauses. One uses if + past tense verb and the other uses would + verb. For example, “If my wife went to jail, I would be shocked!”

Which is correct, “If you loved me, you would break me out of jail” or “If you loved me, you will break me out of jail”?

Quiz

  1. What crime is the man’s wife convicted of?

    • robbery
    • espionage
    • murder
    • assault
  2. Amy thinks breaking someone out of jail sounds __.

    • foolish
    • violent
    • romantic
    • boring
  3. Who has done something really crazy for love?

    • Amy
    • Beren
    • Both Amy and Beren
    • Neither Amy nor Beren
  4. What kind of movie is The Next Three Days?

    • action-thriller
    • romantic comedy
    • period piece
    • slapstick
  5. If someone broke Amy out of jail, he __ her heart.

    • would won
    • would win
    • will won
    • winning

علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 10:55 1389/11/8
40

Talking to Strangers

Jan 28 2011

http://www.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lessons/image/0000/0001/1971/1971711_1294792272_051009.jpg

Intro

One rule that almost everyone learns as a child is “Don’t talk to strangers.” But when you get older, being able to approach someone you don’t know and start a conversation becomes a good skill to have. Talking to strangers makes you a social, outgoing person.

But some adults still don’t like talking to strangers. If you aren’t in the mood to talk, it can be annoying if a stranger comes up to you and tries start a conversation with you. Ella loves to chat with people she doesn’t know, but Amy prefers to keep to herself. Find out why.

Dialogue

Ella: So growing up, you know, one of the main rules as a kid is to never talk to strangers, right? But I feel like I talk to strangers every day, and I learn more about them than I’m supposed to, especially in my career.

Amy:  But you don’t just go up to people on the street and start a conversation out of the blue, do you?

Ella:  Well, if I like what they’re wearing I’ll be like “Oh, where’d you get that?” I think it’s easier for girls to approach girls and guys. But when a guy does it, you just get completely creeped out.

Amy:  It’s true, it can be creepy. Have you ever started talking to a stranger and just become fast friends with them?

Ella:  I do that a lot on the airplane, ‘cause you’re in such confined spaces.

Amy:  That’s so true.

Ella:  You know, there’s layovers. Like, “Hey, do you want to get a cup of coffee? I don’t know your name, but I don’t care ‘cause we’ll never see each other again.” So you get close pretty quick. I’ve done that many times.

Amy:  Do you have a particular icebreaker or anything that you use when you’re starting to talk to a stranger?

Ella:  I remember one time, this girl sitting next to me on the plane happened to have the same magazine. Or I try to find similarities first.

Amy:  See, I’m sort of the opposite. When I’m like on a plane or the bus or whatever, I do not want people to talk to me. I just have my book, and I just want to be left alone, and, you know, sometimes it’s not true but for the most part, I still follow the rule of don’t talk to strangers.

Discussion

Ella likes talking to strangers and does it all the time. She often starts conversations with people she doesn’t know when she’s traveling on an airplane, but sometimes she says things to strangers she passes on the street, too. She thinks a good way to break the ice with a stranger is to point out something you both have in common, or to give the stranger a compliment.

Amy disagrees with Ella. She doesn’t like talking to strangers. Sometimes she even gets annoyed if someone she doesn’t know tries to start a conversation with her. Both Amy and Ella agree that when guys approach girls they don’t know and try to start a conversation, it can be a little creepy.

Do you like talking to strangers? Are you outgoing, or do you prefer to keep to yourself?

Grammar Point

First Conditional

Ella says that if she likes what someone is wearing, she will give that person a compliment. In this sentence, Ella uses the first conditional.

The first conditional is used to discuss things that will probably happen in the future as the result of something else that happens first.

The first conditional consists of two clauses, one with if + simple present verb and the other with a simple future verb, as in, “If someone talks on the plane, I will be annoyed.”

Which is correct, “If I meet a cute girl at the party, I will try to talk to her” or “If I will meet a cute girl at the party, I will try to talk to her”?

Quiz

  1. Ella often talks to strangers __.

    • in the street
    • on airplanes
    • at restaurants
    • at bars
  2. How does Ella start a conversation with a stranger?

    • By asking her what her name is.
    • By pointing out a similarity between them.
    • By asking her what she does for a living.
    • By talking about her favorite music.
  3. Ella likes to compliment people on their __.

    • smile
    • dog
    • clothes
    • personality
  4. Ella thinks it’s easier for girls to talk to __.

    • girls
    • guys
    • both girls and guys
  5. Amy would rather __ than talk to a stranger.

    • read a book
    • listen to music
    • watch a movie on her iPad
علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 22:36 1389/10/28
39

Had It Up To Here

http://www.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lessons/image/0000/0001/1967/1967795_1294354771_340886.jpg

Jan 18 2011

Intro

For most people, frustration is sort of like a bucket filling with water. You can keep putting water in and nothing happens. You stay calm. But all of a sudden, the bucket gets full and overflows. That’s when you get frustrated.

That’s when you can say, “I’ve had it up to here!”

When people say, “I’ve had it up to here,” they often hold their hand at the top of their head as if to show they are filled with frustration.

Lately, Marni has been bothering Beren at the office by making her do extra work. Beren is surely getting frustrated. See what it takes for her to tell Marni that she’s “had it up to here

Vocab

disaster n.

Definition

a very big problem

Example

The show was a disaster. People booed and left early.

no way expr.

Definition

to not believe something or be very surprised

Example

bother v.

Definition

annoy

Example

It bothers me when you ignore me.

had it up to here expr.

Definition

lost patience, become frustrated

Example

I've been listening to you complain all day and I've had it up to here. Speak no more!

frustration n.

Definition

feelings of anger because of a limit or annoyance

Example

I have so much frustration when I'm playing golf. I just suck at the game, and I can't get better no matter what I do.

menial adj.

Definition

boring, unimportant

Example

I want to do something important at my new job. I am tired of menial work.

can't take it anymore expr.

Definition

have to stop, have to go, have no more patience

Example

The music here is too loud. I can't take it anymore. Let's leave.

alphabetized adj.

Definition

in alphabetical order, listed from A - Z

Example

It took several hours, but my CD collection is now alphabetized so I can find just what I want to listen to.

Dialogue

Marni: Ella!

Ella:  Yeah?

Marni:  I just wanted to say, I looked over the Johnson file and you did a fabulous job! Exactly what I wanted. Thank you for your hard work. Go ahead and take tomorrow off!

Ella:  No way, really?

Marni:  Absolutely. You’ve earned it!

Ella:  Thank you!

Marni:  Thank you! Now…Beren.

Beren:  Marni.

Marni:  I have a special project for you.

Beren:  Awesome.

Marni:  Yeah. It’s gonna have to start now, and then just go…You’re actually probably gonna have to work late.

Beren:  What? It’s, like, five o’clock!

Marni:  It’s not five o’clock! It’s 4:59! So, here’s what it is. This file drawer is an absolute disaster, as you can see. It needs to be completely reorganized.

Beren:  That’s not even my file drawer!

Marni:  Well, it is now, so.

Beren:  No!

Marni:  It needs to be done! Sorry!

Beren:  Are you kidding me?

Marni:  Yeah, I mean these snacks and tissues need to go. But then, this is all alphabetized, you know, in alphabetic order, and it needs to be by date, so.

Beren:  By date?

Marni:  By date, yeah…

Beren:  That’s gonna take me days!

Marni:  You know what, you can do it.

Beren:  No! Marni, I’m sorry. I’ve had it up to here. It started down low, it’s slowly risen, and now I’m, like, outraged. I can’t take any more. That’s it. You started out, you know, asking me to do little menial things, and I was OK with it for a while. But now, like, no more. I can’t take any more.

Marni:  So, what do you mean…

Beren:  I can’t take it any more! And you can clean up…

Marni:  What?

Beren:  ...your own file cabinet.

Marni:  Are you serious?

Beren:  I’m serious. I’m done. That’s it.

Marni:  So…what do you mean you’re done? You’re done for the day? You’re coming back? What do you think she means by that?

Ella:  Well, alright, I’m just gonna head to the beach now. Bye!

Marni:  I don’t know what to do now…

Discussion

After congratulating Ella on some good work and telling her to take a day off, Marni tells Beren that she has to stay late and reorganize a filing cabinet. This, of course, upsets Beren. She tells Marni that she has “had it up to here.” She leaves and says she’s done.

Marni isn’t sure what Beren means when she says that she’s done. Do you think Beren just quit her job? Can you think of a time when you had just “had it up to here”?

Grammar Point

Gerunds vs. Infinitives

Marni tells Beren that her file drawer needs to be reorganized. She also says the garbage needs to go.

As you can see, the verb need is often followed by an infinitive such as to be or to go. An infinitive is the base verb form with “to.” It can act like a noun in a sentence.

Some verbs, such as love or hate, can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund. You can say “I hate to work late” or “I hate working late.” But the verb need cannot be followed by a gerund. It can only be followed by an infinitive.

Which is correct, “I need taking a break” or “I need to take a break”?

علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 12:34 1389/09/18
38

"scope out"

http://www.englishbaby.com/dynamic/slang_lessons/image/0000/0001/1936/1936836_1290477172_904051.jpg

Dec 09 2010

Quote

“I’m very nervous about giving birth. I don’t know how much privacy you have in the hospital. I have to scope it out.”

- Singer Mariah Carey talking about her baby fears. (Us Weekly)

Meaning

investigate; research; check out

Use

There are a lot of different instruments used for viewing things that end in scope. For instance, you use a telescope to view the stars. And you use a microscope to look at really, really tiny things like cells or germs.

So it makes sense that the expression scope out has to do with looking. When you scope something out, it’s similar to checking something out. You look at, explore, or investigate it, in order to gather more information about it.

Mariah Carey is pregnant with her first baby. She is excited about being pregnant, but she’s also nervous about giving birth. She has no idea what the hospital will be like where she will have the baby. So she wants to scope it out in advance. That way, she’ll know what it’s like before the baby comes, and maybe she’ll feel less nervous.

What was the last thing you scoped out?

Examples

“Louise spent the weekend scoping out her new neighborhood.”

“Will you scope out the party for me and make sure my ex isn’t there?”

“When we go to Mexico City, I want to scope out the club scene.”


علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 08:34 1389/09/14
37

Dream Job

Dec 03 2010

Intro

1931538_1289949770_379079.jpg

Vocab

factor n.

Definition

element, one of many parts, important part of something

Example

The most important factor in this whole situation is whether or not you love her. If you do, you two should be together, no matter what.

retire v.

Definition

stop working; have enough money to no longer work

Example

I want to retire by the time I'm 30 years old.

satisfaction n.

Definition

a good feeling that comes after you do something

Example

I had so much satisfaction after I bought my house! It was hard work but it was worth it!

suburbs n.

Definition

a small, residential community near a big city

Example

I don't like living directly in the city so I'm going to move to the suburbs.

downtown n.

Definition

central part of a city (usually where the tall buildings are)

Example

I work downtown, but I live in the suburbs. It takes me about 30 minutes to drive to work.

I work downtown, but I live in the suburbs. It takes me about 30 minutes to drive to work.

stand v.

Definition

endure, tolerate, suffer through

Example

I can't stand carrots. They are so gross! I hate them!

spontaneous adj.

Definition

natural, impulsive, without planning

Example

My brother surprised us all by taking a spontaneous trip to Hawaii by himself.

hub n.

Definition

center of activity

Example

Frankfurt is one of the main hubs for air travel in Europe.

homey adj.

Definition

comfortable and familiar, like home

Example

This bar has a nice homey feel to it.

if money was no object expr.

Definition

if money was irrelevant; if money didn't matter

Example

If money was no object, I would buy a Porsche.

For most people around the world, work is an unavoidable part of life. And although most of us would love not to work if we didn’t have to, some jobs are easier to stand than others. When a job doesn’t feel like work at all, when it is something you love to do and would keep doing even if you weren’t getting paid for it, it is a dream job.

On the Ebaby! soap opera, Mason already has his dream job, as a janitor. Hear him chat with Dale about his real-life dream job.

Dialogue

Mason: So Dale, my office just moved downtown, which has been a huge improvement over having to drive out to the suburbs every morning. So I’m feeling pretty good about the old job situation these days. How’s your work going?

Dale:  You know, about a year and a half ago, I just got what I consider my dream job. And it has nothing to do about money. It has nothing to do about fame. The dream job is to do things that for me is creative release. Sometimes it’s with an artist, and I consider that a dream job. For me, when a dream job comes along like that, somehow everything, the speed of the job…it’s not really a job, it’s like playing.

Mason:  It’s satisfaction, right? That’s the dream job factor.

Dale:  It’s complete satisfaction.

Mason:  If money wasn’t an object, and that’s sort of the whole dream job factor, I’m one of those homey people, I would love to own a movie theater or something, a place that’s more of a community hub, and just get to have that sort of established feeling. But that’s part what I like, the idea of satisfaction from a job. The other part is what I do now, which is that creative release and spontaneity and back and forth and energy with everybody. So we’ll see. When I retire, then I get the movie theater.

Dale:  There you go.

Discussion

Mason’s job recently moved into a new office in the center of the city where he lives. Now he enjoys his job even more than before, because he likes his new workspace. Overall, he is pretty happy with his job, which gives him a chance to be creative.

Dale loves his job. He also gets to be creative at work. For him, when a job is satisfying and fun, it is a dream job. It doesn’t matter how much the job pays him or how much status and respect it brings him.

Even though Mason likes his current job a lot, his dream job is a little different. He would like to own a movie theater or some other place where people in the community could hang out. He would like to have a job that felt more like hanging out at home than going to work.

What is your dream job? Do you like the work you do now?

Grammar Point

Second Conditional

Mason says that if money was no object, he would love to own a movie theater. This is an example of the second conditional.

We use the second conditional to talk about a situation that is not real and its imagined consequences. For example, I might say, “If I had a million dollars, I would quit my job.” I don’t have a million dollars. That situation is unreal. But if I did, I would take an around-the-world trip.

The second conditional is formed with two clauses, one with if + past tense verb and the other with would + verb, as in, “If you stopped working, you would be poor.”

Which is correct, “If money was no object, I buy a new house” or “If money was no object, I would buy a new house”?

Quiz

  1. When did Dale get his dream job?

    • six months ago
    • a year ago
    • a year and a half ago
    • two years ago
  2. What kind of business would Mason like to own?

    • restaurant
    • movie theater
    • clothing shop
    • convenience store
  3. What is most important to Dale in a job?

    • money
    • fame
    • satisfaction
    • being in charge
  4. If money was no object, Mason __ something homey.

    • will do
    • would to do
    • would have done
    • would do
  5. Where did Mason’s office move?

    • downtown
    • the suburbs
    • Europe
    • Asia

علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 22:54 1389/09/11
36

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علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 21:52 1389/07/30
35

The Romantics


Oct 20 2010
Intro

1901214_1286321099_299729.jpg

People who have been friends for a long time have a lot of shared memories, and sometimes, they have shared baggage too. In the new movie The Romantics, a group of college friends comes together for the wedding of two of the friends.

Although weddings are supposed to be a purely joyful occasion, this celebration causes old wounds and conflicts to reemerge. Find out if Amy expects to have any drama at her upcoming wedding.

Vocab

groom n.

Definition

the man in a wedding; opposite of bride

Example

The bride and groom looked very happy at their wedding.

in common expr.

Definition

a shared interest

Example

I have a lot in common with my best friend. We both play music, love ice cream and hate the rain.

rival n.

Definition

competitor

Example

Coke and Pepsi are rival companies.

tie the knot expr.

Definition

get married

Example

Do you think Brad and Angelina are going to tie the knot soon?"

"I am going to tie the knot. Matt and I are going to get married.

drama n.

Definition

difficult or emotional situations

Example

Mandy has had a lot of drama in her life lately. So many bad things keep happening to her.

baggage n.

Definition

ideas, memories, sorrows from the past that you can't forget and that make your life harder

Example

Even though I'm in my 30s, I'm still working through a lot of childhood baggage from my troubled youth.

She still has a lot of baggage from her last relationship. It might not be a good idea to date her yet.

He came back from the war with a lot of baggage. He saw a lot of terrible stuff there.

reunion n.

Definition

gathering of people with a shared past

Example

My ten-year class reunion is this summer. It's going to be fun to see how people have changed over the past ten years.

fiance n.

Definition

engaged person; person one will marry

Example

My fiance is going to college in Texas, but he will return to Oregon this summer.

potential n.

Definition

possibility, capable of happening in the future

Example

The movie had the potential to be good, but then it turned out to be really bad.

crush n.

Definition

romantic feeling for someone

Example

I have a crush on Sandy. She's so cute!

Dialogue

Devan:  So, I know you’re about to tie the knot soon. Are you excited?

Amy:  I am.

Devan:  I saw the preview for that movie The Romantics, about the girl that’s getting married and her friends coming home for the wedding.

Amy:  Right, with Katie Holmes.

Devan:  Yeah. And I guess in the preview it looks like two have long rivaled over the groom.

Amy:  Interesting.

Devan:  Is there anything like that, did any of your old friends have crushes on your fiance or anything?

Amy:  Not as far as I know. My best friend is dating my fiance’s best friend. So there is some potential for a little bit of drama, but most of my old friends, you know, have only met my fiance recently. So…

Devan:  So are you still friends with most of your friends from college?

Amy:  Yeah, I have a lot of old friends. None of them live close to me anymore, but we actually just got together for sort of a reunion. It was interesting because we’re pretty different but we’re still really close. What about you, are you friends with your college friends?

Devan:  Yeah, it’s kind of the same thing where we don’t have anything in common anymore, but we still have our past in common and that’s what keeps us together.

Amy:  Well, it’s true that there’s nothing like a wedding to bring out sort of crazy weird emotions and conflicts that you didn’t know were there before, so I’m kind of interested in seeing this movie, but also a little afraid.



علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 21:37 1389/07/30
34
Today's Idiom

Get carried away

احساساتی شدن، ذوق زده شدن

   http://dude-club.com/uploader/images/big/921824145.JPG

Calm down. Alex doesn't get carried away. We have to sit down and talk sense.

آروم باش.الکس ذوق زده نمیشه. مجبوریم بشینیم و با احساس صحبت کنیم



علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 17:06 1389/07/30
33

Happiness

http://www.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lessons/image/0000/0001/1905/1905672_1286920901_344254.jpg

Oct 22 2010

Intro

Vocab

debilitate v.

Definition

make unable to function

Example

Alex had a debilitating accident and can't work anymore.

key n.

Definition

answer, solution

Example

The key to success is hard work.

from time to time expr.

Definition

every once in a while, occasionally

Example

I go to the beach from time to time.

succumb v.

Definition

give in; be defeated

Example

After a long game, the Knicks finally succumbed to the Bulls.

strive v.

Definition

try, aim for

Example

I am striving to get an A in Biology this term.

in general expr.

Definition

most of the time, mostly

Example

I like candy in general, but I don't like licorice.

melting pot n.

Definition

place with many people from different cultures

Example

San Francisco is a big melting pot. I can walk one block down my street and find four different types of restaurants!

San Francisco is a big melting pot. I can walk one block down my street and find four differnt types of restaurants!

steer clear expr.

Definition

to stay away; to avoid

Example

I have to steer clear of fast food and sweets because I'm on a diet.

blue adj.

Definition

depressed, down, sad

Example

The rain always makes me feel blue, but sunshine makes me happy.

glum adj.

Definition

unhappy; bland or expressionless

Example

He looks really glum today. What happened?


The United States’ Declaration of Independence states that all people have the right to pursue happiness. But it doesn’t explain what you can do to become happy, or how to stay happy all the time.

The World Database of Happiness measures which countries are happiest by asking people all over the world if they’re happy. The U.S. ranks 23rd on the happiness index, below countries such as the Netherlands, Thailand, and Bhutan.

You might think that the richest countries in the world would also be the happiest, but that isn’t necessarily true. People are happy (and unhappy) for different reasons. Find out what makes Marni and Dale happy.

Dialogue

Dale: So Marni, are you happy?

Marni:  You mean right now, or in general, or…

Dale:  Generally, how do people stay happy?

Marni:  That is actually a very good question. And I want to be, I strive to be happy, but you know, I can succumb to a little sadness, a little depression from time to time. You know, nothing debilitating, but I get glum, I get blue about world events or things when I see injustice is happening. Sometimes it’s hard to not feel the weight of the world on your shoulders.

Dale:  Is there a way for you to steer away from that by looking at the bright side of things?

Marni:  Well I feel like part of that is the people I know. I have good friends and family that support me, and you know, people I can talk to. I think that that’s a huge part of it.

Dale:  Do you know…the United States is a melting pot of cultures.

Marni:  Sure.

Dale:  And now they’re saying that some cultures are happier than others. I mean, do you agree with that? I mean personally, I’m a Philippino guy, I’m generally happy. I think it is culturally, my culture, we are happy people.

Marni:  You know, it’s an interesting question. I’m not really certain. I don’t know if it’s a cultural thing, I think there could be something to that. But here in the Northwest I think sometimes it’s hard to be happy because of the weather. People are affected by the weather. Sometimes that can happen. So who knows, if it’s cultural or environmental.

Dale:  Do you think it’s the sun?

Marni:  I don’t know. But I am all for finding the key to happiness.

Discussion

Dale asks Marni if she is happy. Marni says that she tries to be happy, but she isn’t happy all the time. Sometimes she gets depressed when she thinks about all the problems and injustice in the world. But her friends and family help her feel happier when she’s blue.

Dale, on the other hand, is pretty happy all the time. He thinks that happiness might be cultural. Dale is from the Philippines, and he says that people from the Philippines are usually happy. Marni thinks that weather might have to do with happiness. Where she lives, it rains a lot, so people might be less happy there than in sunnier places.

Are people generally happy in your country? What makes you happy?

Grammar Point

Simple Present Tense

Dale says he is generally a happy person. He thinks people from his culture are usually happy people. These are both examples of the simple present tense.

We use the simple present to talk about talk about regular or habitual actions, as well as general truths. Generally, Dale is happy.

For most verbs in the simple present tense, you must add an “s” to the end of the verb when using he/she/it, as in, “Marni’s family supports her.” But the verb to be is irregular. So in the present tense, we say I am, you are, he/she/it is, we are and they are.

Which is correct, “I am happy most of the time” or “I is happy most of the time”?

Quiz

  1. Which country is Dale from?

    • India
    • Mexico
    • The Philippines
    • France
  2. Dale says that the U.S. is a melting __.

    • place
    • planet
    • pot
    • plot
  3. Marni thinks that the weather where she lives makes people _.

    • happy
    • bored
    • unhappy
    • angry
  4. Marni __ blue sometimes.

    • get
    • gets
    • getting
    • was got
  5. The United States _ a melting pot.

    • is
    • are
    • were
    • have

علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 22:08 1389/07/27
32

Cut Corners

http://www.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lessons/image/0000/0001/1906/1906362_1287019339_708342.jpg

Vocab

rein in v.

Definition

stop or slow something that is out of control

Example

I have to rein in the number of bad words I say in front of my friends' kids.

tighten the belt expr.

Definition

spend less, buy less, save more

Example

Since my husband lost his job, we've been tightening the belt. No more eating out at restaurants for us!

priority number one n.

Definition

the primary concern, the most important thing to think about

Example

The reason we are losing games is defense. Defense is our new priority number one at practice.

the books n.

Definition

financial records

Example

The business deals were done in secret, off the books. There was no record of them.

cut corners expr.

Definition

choose the easiest or least expensive option

Example

Antonio's project is do tomorrow, so he's going to have to cut some corners if he wants to get if finished in time.

------------------


Oct 19 2010

Intro

Spending money is easy, but saving money is hard. One way you can save a little more is by finding ways to spend a little less. That’s called cutting corners.

Since her company merged with Devan’s, Marni has been looking at the books and realized they need to reduce spending. Watch as she asks her employees if they have ideas for ways the company can cut corners.

Dialogue

Marni: Alright, everyone! I need your attention! Please stop what you’re doing. This is very important.

Dale:  OK, boss!

Marni:  Alright! I have been going over the numbers and we need to cut some corners around here. So, if we cut corners, we could save money, and then potentially make more money. So, I really want this to be priority number one. I want to hear some ideas right now if you’ve got ‘em.

Dale:  I’ve got a good idea!

Marni:  Dale?

Dale:  We can get rid of the tables! Like, who needs a table? I can do this! All the furniture!

Marni:  OK, I was actually thinking more of, like, business practices, you know, like conserving supplies.

Ella:  Um, I’ve been cutting corners all the time. You know, like when I bill you for an hour of work? I only work half. I mean…or I could just not come to work! That would be so much more efficient! You wouldn’t have to pay me at all!

Marni:  We’ll talk to you about that later. Alright. Anything else? Come on, guys! How can we cut corners?

Beren:  We could all use my water glass? The same one. Rinse, reuse…

Dale:  Can I borrow you water glass?

Beren:  Of course! Any time!

Marni:  This is not…this is not working. Alright. Let’s think of ways that we can be more productive using less supplies. If you all want to start bringing your own cups, that’s great, but…I’m afraid about you sharing one because then you could get sick. Which would actually be counterproductive. So! Any more ideas? Nobody has anything?

Beren:  We could not pay Devan? I don’t even know why she’s here!

Marni:  That is not a way to cut corners. You need to think about just, you know, kinda tightening the belt, and reining in spending. We need to make sure we’re not over using any supplies. I see excessive staples a lot of times. You’re just stapling. Like, nonstop! I think once is sufficient. Let’s try that! That would be an example of cutting corners. And saving money. Cutting costs! That’s what this company needs to be about. Are you with me, people? Are you feeling it?

Discussion

Marni comes in and tells her employees that the company needs to cut corners. She means they need to save money. But Ella reminds her that cutting corners if you’re an employee can also mean not fully doing your job. When you cut corners, you do the cheapest or easiest thing, but cheapest and easiest aren’t always the same for everyone involved!

In this case, the goal is saving money. Beren suggests the employees all use one water glass. Marni worries this will make them sick and actually cause the company to lose money. She suggests just using one staple, since Dale seems to like to use 20 or so.

Have you ever had to cut corners to save money? Do you ever cut corners at your job so you can slack off?

Grammar Point

Modal Verbs: Can & Could

Everyone at the office has different ideas about what they could do to cut costs. Beren says they could stop paying Devan. Or they could share one water glass. Ella says that she could stop coming to work.

Could is a modal verb, a special verb that comes before the main verb in a sentence. We use could to talk about possibility. Dale, Ella, Marni and Beren think of all the possibilities for reducing costs at the office, or all the ways they could cut corners.

Modal verbs have only one form. So, could never changes. There is only one way that we write could.

Which is correct, “Marni could also to fire Beren” or “Marni could also fire Beren”?


علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 13:01 1389/07/12
31
یادگیری مشارکتی و تدریس زبان انگلیسی

محمد احمدوند

با توجه به تغییرات و پیشرفت های سریعی که در علوم روی می دهد ، دانش آموزان ما نیازمند روش هایی هستند که از طریق آن ها به مهارت های یادگیری دست یابند تا خود بتوانند علوم را بهتر و سریع تر و همگام با پیشرفت ها بیاموزند. روش " یادگیری مشارکتی " یا " آموزش از طریق همیاری " دانش آموزان را در این امر یاری می دهد. یادگیری مشارکتی خود شامل 5 روش است که عبارتند از : 1. کارآیی تیمی 2. تدریس اعضای تیم . 3. قضاوت عملکرد . 4. قضاوت طرز تلقی . 5. حل مسأله . از میان این روش ها، نگارنده دو روش :" کارایی تیمی " و " حل مسأله " را با توجه به مسائل آموزشی ایران ، برای تدریس زبان انگلیسی مناسب تشخیص داده است و از بین این دو ، روش کارایی تیمی را جذاب تر می داند. به همین دلیل روی این روش تأکید و تمرکز دارد.

روش کارایی تیمی 10 مرحله دارد که عبارتند از :
1. مشخص کردن هدف های آموزشی توسط معلم ؛
2. ارزشیابی تشخیصی توسط معلم ؛
3. ارائه محتوای درس توسط معلم ؛
4. مطالعه انفرادی دانش آموزان ؛
5. ارائه سؤال ها به دانش آموزان توسط معلم و پاسخ دادن به آن ها ؛ از سوی فراگیران
6. تشکیل گروه های دانش آموزی توسط معلم ، برای بحث روی جواب ها و رسیدن دانش آموزان به یک جواب مشترک ؛
7. دادن پاسخ درست به سؤال ها توسط معلم و نمره دادن هر دانش آموزان به خود و تصحیح ورقه مشترک گروه توسط سر گروه ؛
8. ثبت نمرات در جدول و تفسیر جدول توسط معلم ؛
9. ارزشیابی پایانی توسط معلم و پاسخ انفرادی دانش آموزان ؛
10. بازخورد توسط معلم .

در این مقاله ، روش کارایی تیمی ، مراحل آن ، نقاط ضعف وقوت آن و نکاتی که در اجرای آن باید در نظر گرفته شوند ، با مثال کافی توضیح داده شده اند.

الف ) مقدمه
" به راستی که دل ها خسته می شوند ، همان طور که بدن ها خسته می شوند ، پس نوبرانه ها و تازه یافته های حکمت را برای این دل ها بجویید . " حضرت علی (ع)

آینده ای که امروزه پیش بینی می شود از راه خواهد رسید . اگر ما بدانیم که آینده چگونه باید باشد ، می توانیم بر آن تأثیر بگذاریم . فرزندان ما در کلاس های درس از روش هایی بهره می گیرند که پنجاه سال پیش به کار می رفت و اگر ما می خواهیم آنان را برای آینده آماده کنیم ، باید درک درستی از روش های آموزشی نوین پیدا کنیم. یکی از بزرگان گفته است : " من معلمی را می پرستم که اندیشیدن را به من بیاموزد نه اندیشه ها را."

از آن جا که قواعد علمی و دانش بشری دائماً در حال پیشرفت و جایگزینی هستند ، ما باید به دانش آموزان مهارت های فراگیری علوم را هم بیاموزیم تا هیچ گاه در تنگناه قرار نگیرند. " یادگیری مشارکتی " یا "آموزش از طریق همیاری " ، رویکردی جدید در آموزش دنیاست که هدف های عمده آن عبارتند از : درگیر کردن دانش آموزان در فرایند یادگیری ، از بین بردن حالت تک بعدی ومعلم محور کلاس ها ، و ایجاد علاقه و انگیزه به یادگیری فعال1 در دانش آموزان.

با توجه به مشکلات فعلی در جامعه ما که انگیزه تحصیل را در دانش آموزان و به خصوص پسران ، تاحدود زیادی از بین برده است ، اگر روشی بتواند این انگیزه را به آن ها برگرداند و به کلاس و درس علاقه مند کند ، باید از آن استقبال کرد.

در کار گروهی ، دانش آموزان مهارت هایی مانند : مشورت کردن ، فرماندهی و سازماندهی راهم می آموزند (جانسون و جانسون 1990) . در این روش ، معلم تدریس نمی کند ، بلکه نقش راهنما را دارد و فقط اشکالات را رفع می کند. وظیفه یاد دادن و یادگیری به عهده دانش آموزان است ( نظری صارم ، 1379) . یادگیری مشارکتی شامل پنج روش است که عبارتند از :
1. کارایی تیمی ؛
2. تدریس اعضای تیم ؛
3. قضاوت عملکرد ؛
4. قضاوت طرز تلقی ؛
5. حل مسأله .

با توجه به این که رشته تحصیلی نگارنده زبان انگلیسی است و با توجه به مطالعات و تجربیات شخصی خود ، برای تدریس زبان انگلیسی در مدرسه ها ، روش کارایی تیمی را مناسب ترین روش می داند و به همین دلیل توضیحات و مثال این مقاله در مورد این روش است. نکته مهمی که باید متذکر شد ، این است که اولاً برخلاف تصور بعضی همکاران ، در این روش ، اقتدار معلم که لازمه کنترل کلاس است ، از بین نمی رود. ثانیاً این روش باید دقیق و کامل اجرا شود ؛ در غیر این صورت ، اثر بخش نخواهد بود.

ب ) روش کارایی تیمی ( یک مثال )
1. مشخص کردن هدف های آموزشی ( معلم )
مثلاً : دانش آموزان متن کوتاهی درباره میمون ها می خوانند و در پایان سعی می کنند به پنج سؤال چهار گزینه ای که بعد از متن می آید ، پاسخ درست بدهند.
2. ارزشیابی تشخیصی ( معلم )
معلم از دانش آموزان دو سؤال می پرسد : " به نظر شما میمون ها چه خصوصیاتی دارند و میمون ها چه چیزهایی را می توانند یاد بگیرند ؟"
این سؤالات توسط دانش آموزان داوطلب پاسخ داده می شود و معلم پاسخ های درست را روی تابلو می نویسد.
3. ارائه محتوای درس (معلم )
معلم متن درس و گاهی متن و سؤالات را با هم به دانش آموزان می دهد.
4. مطالعه به صورت انفرادی (دانش آموزان )
5. ارائه سؤالات به دانش آموزان ( معلم ) و پاسخ دادن انفرادی ( دانش آموزان ).
6. تشکیل گروه ها ( معلم ) و بحث روی جواب ها و رسیدن به یک جواب مشترک ( دانش آموزان )
معلم کلاس را به چند گروه مساوی تقسیم می کند ( حداقل تعداد افراد گروه 2 نفر و حداکثر 6 نفر است ).

باید توجه داشت که ترکیب کلی گروه ها تا حد امکان متجانس باشد. بهترین روش برای کار ، روش قرعه کشی تیم های فوتبال جام جهانی است. یعنی دانش آموزان قوی و ضعیف باید بین تمام گروه ها پخش شوند. نکته دوم این که این گروه ها در طول سال تحصیلی نباید ثابت بمانند و برای مباحث جدید گروه های جدیدی تشکیل شوند. این کار باعث آشنایی و صمیمیت هر چه بیش تر دانش آموزان کلاس با یکدیگر می شود.
بعد از تعیین گروه ها ، معلم یک نفر از هر گروه را به عنوان رئیس و یک نفر دیگر را به عنوان منشی گروه انتخاب می کند. رئیس گروه وظیفه ایجاد هماهنگی ، رفع نهایی اختلافات ، انجام رأی گیری در موارد اختلاف ، ارتباط با معلم و درگیر کردن همه اعضای گروه خود را با تکلیف داده شده به عهده دارد. منشی اکثریت اعضای گروه را می نویسد. توضیح این که اعضای گروه حق دارند برای گروه خود اسم تعیین کنند.
اگر در هرجلسه ، متناسب با موضوع جلسه اسم گذاری صورت گیرد ، بهتر است مثلاً در یک جلسه از اسامی گل ها ، در جلسه های بعد از اسامی حیوانات ، شهرها ، کوه ها ، رنگ ها و مانند آن ها . این کار باعث تنوع ، جذابیت وجالب تر شدن رقابت گروه ها می شود ؛ ضمن این که خود اسامی انتخاب شده ممکن است نکات قابل تفسیری داشته باشند. لازم است رؤسا و منشیان گروه ها در جلسات بعد عوض شوند.

7. دادن پاسخ به سؤالات ( معلم ) و نمره دادن انفرادی ( دانش آموز ) و نمره دادن به پاسخنامه مشترگ گروه ( رئیس گروه ):
معلم پاسخ صحیح سؤالات را ارائه می دهد ، دانش آموزان برگه های انفرادی خود را نمره می دهند و سپس رئیس هر گروه ورقه گروه را تصحیح می کند.
8. ثبت نمرات در جدول وتفسیر جدول ( معلم ) :
معلم روی تابلو جدولی می کشد
نکته 1: به جای A،B و… اسامی انتخاب شده توسط گروه ها را می نویسیم .
نکته 2: نمره مؤثر بودن یادگیری را بر اساس فرمولی که در زیر نویس آمده است محاسبه می کنند. 2
نکته 3: رتبه بندی گروه ها بر اساس " نمره مؤثر بودن یادگیری " تعیین می شود ، یعنی گروهی که کار گروهی آن ها از کار انفرادی آن ها بهتر باشد ، رتبه بالاتری کسب می کنند.

نکته 4: چنانچه معدل نمرات اعضای گروه از نمره ورقه مشترک گروه بیش تر باشد ، نشان دهنده این است که اعضای گروه مورد نظر همکاری مناسبی با هم نداشته اند. در این حالت نمره مؤثر بودن یادگیری منفی خواهد بود.
نکته 5: چنانچه به هر دلیل قادر نباشیم گروه های متجانسی تشکیل دهیم ، این کار مشکلاتی به بار می آورد ؛ از جمله ، وقتی اعضای یک گروه و نمره ورقه مشترک گروه به هم نزدیک خواهد بود. در نتیجه نمره مؤثر بودن یادگیری و رتبه گروه پایین می آید. بنابر این در گروه بندی ها باید دقت زیادی اعمال کرد و در این زمینه شناخت معلم از دانش آموزان بسیار مؤثر است.

نکته 6: از تقسیم بندی دانش آموزان به زرنگ و تنبل خودداری کنیم وبه جای آن اصطلاحات قوی و ضعیف به کار ببریم.

9. ارزشیابی پایانی ( معلم ) و پاسخ دادن انفرادی ( دانش آموزان )
معلم ، گروه ها را منحل می کند و سپس بر اساس متن قبلی سؤالات دیگری در اختیار تک تک دانش آموزان قرار می دهد و بعد از زمان تعیین شده ورقه ها را می گیرد.
10- بازخورد (معلم )
معلم در اولین فرصت ممکن باید نمرات آزمون پایانی را به دانش آموزان اعلام کند. از آن جا که دانش آموزان بعد از هر گونه آزمونی مشتاق و حتی نگران نمره خود هستند ، اگر کلید آزمون ها فوراً به آن ها داده شود و به نمرات هم سریعاً اعلام شود ، در یادگیری آن ها بسیار مؤثر است.
باید به خاطر داشت که خود برگزاری آزمون ها ، نوعی آموزش هستند و برگزاری آزمون های منظم و ارزشیابی تدریجی هم از این منظر قابل توجیه هستند. بعضی متخصصان آموزشی حتی پیشنهاد می کنند که انواع آزمون ها را وسیله تدریس قرار دهیم ؛ یعنی از یک نکته چند سوال به دانش آموزان بدهیم و جواب ها را به بحث بگذاریم و سپس نکته مورد نظر را از دل سؤالات آزمون بیرون بکشیم .

فرض کنیم سه گروه پنج نفره داشته ایم که حاصل کار آن ها به قرار زیر است :
گروه اول : زاگرس
نمرات انفرادی اعضای گروه : 20- 19-17-17-15
نمره ورقه مشترک گروه : 18
گروه دوم : دماوند
نمرات انفرادی اعضای گروه : 20-20-16-16-12
نمره ورقه مشترک گروه : 15
گروه سوم : الوند
نمرات انفرادی اعضای گروه : 20-20-19-18-18
نمره ورقه مشترک گروه : 20
این نمرات را در جدول می بینید :

1. رتبه بندی گروه ها بر اساس میزان مؤثر بودن یادگیری تعیین می شود. در این کلاس اعضای گروه زاگرس کار گروهی بهتری داشته اند ؛ به طوری که معدل نمرات اعضا از نمره ورقه مشترک گروه پائین تر است و این نشانه اثر بخشی کار تیمی است ، بنابر این رتبه اول را دارند.
2. معدل نمرات اعضای گروه الوند (19) از همه بیش تر است ، اما حاصل کار گروهی پائین است و رتبه دوم را کسب کرده اند. همان طور که از کم ترین و بیش ترین نمره اعضای گروه (18 و 20)
می توان فهمید ، آن ها تقریباً همگی قوی بوده اند که این البته اشکال مهمی است.
3. نمره مؤثر بودن یادگیری گروه دماوند منفی شده است و نشان می دهد که کار انفرادی اعضای این گروه از کار گروهی آن ها قوی تر بوده است . این ضعف در کار گروهی ممکن است به دلیل عدم توانایی سر گروه در سازماندهی افراد ، تسلط یک یا دو نفر بر کل اعضای گروه و یا عدم بحث و همفکری اعضا باشد و این هم اشکال مهمی است.

ج ) چند نکته مهم
1. درستی این روش به همکاری دانش آموزان و وجود اعتماد بین معلم و دانش آموزان بستگی دارد. البته ارزشیابی پایانی که باید ملاک اصلی نمره دادن به دانش آموزان باشد، به صورت انفرادی و زیر نظر کامل معلم انجام می شود. بهتر است معلم نمره ورقه مشترک گروه را هم برای اعضای گروه یادداشت کند. اما در نمره کارنامه دانش آموزان ، اهمیت کم تری برای آن قائل شود. حتی می توان ورقه یک گروه را به گروهی دیگر داد تا تصحیح کند.
2. توصیه می شود معلمان همه رشته ها ، روش مطالعه " SQ4R" را به دانش آموزان بیاموزند. این روش از بخش های زیر تشکیل می شود : "Survey " ( مطالعه عمیق ) ، " Question" ( ارائه سؤال ) ، "Review" ( مرور محتوای درسی ) ، " Respond" ( پاسخ به سؤالات ) ، " Repetiton" ( تکرار نکات اصلی ) و " Write the Summory" ( نوشتن خلاصه مطلب ).
3. بهتر است کتاب های دانش آموزان کنترل شود تا کسی قبلاً و مثلاً با کمک حل المسائل به سؤالات پاسخ نداده باشد. سؤالات ارزشیابی پایانی هم بهتر است توسط معلم مطرح شوند.

نتیجه گیری
همان طور که ذکر شد، در روش آموزش از طریق همیاری ، هرچند به دانش آموزان نقش زیادی واگذار شده است ، اما هنوز هم معلم نقش کلیدی و مهمی دارد. یکی از ایرادات مهمی که ممکن است بعضی از همکاران به این روش وارد بدانند ، کمبود وقت است . پاسخ این است که در مدرسه هایی مانند مدرسه های نمونه دولتی ، شاهد ، غیر انتفاعی و مانند آن ها که معمولاً یکی دو ساعت به ساعات هر درس اضافه شده است و تعداد دانش آموزان هم زیاد نیست ، این روش کاملاً جواب می دهد. در مورد مدرسه های عادی هم این روش قابل اجرا است و نویسنده خود این روش را در هر دو نوع مدرسه با موفقیتت تجربه کرده است. البته در مدرسه های عادی ، به دلیل کمبود وقت ، می توان حداقل برای تنوع در کلاس ها ماهی یک بار این روش را اجرا کرد. یادمان باشد انگیزه دادن و ایجاد نشاط هنگام یادگیری هنر معلم به حساب می آید. این روش در این زمینه ، کمک زیادی به ما می کند.

زیر نویس
1. ActiveLearning
2. معدل نمرات اعضای گروه – نمره ورقه مشترک گروه = نمره مؤثر بودن یادگیری
منابع
1.آقازاده ، محرم (1380) . " ساختار یادگیری از طریق همیاری " . " تکنولوژی آموزشی " . اردیبهشت ماه . شماره 8. صفحه 27-21
2. نظری صارم ، یحیی ( 1379) . " یادگیری مشارکتی ". جزوه کلاسی ضمن خدمت.
3. Davidson , N (Ed.) (1990) .Cooperative Leaning in mathematics .N.Y. Addison – Wesley
4. Johanson , W. and Johanson , T (1990) .social skills for successful groupwork . " Educational Leadereship ". Jan -1990-P .33
5. Schniedewind , N. and Davidson , E. (1987) . Cooperative learning Cooperative lives . Dubugue , lowa : Wm. C. Brown company Publishers

منبع :مجله رشد معلم


علی رضا اصغری , alireza13540
علی رضا اصغری - 15:21 1389/07/10
30

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