Saturday, February 22, 2014

Tom's Diner & Vocabulary

This week we listened to a wonderful song by Suzanne Vega called Tom's Diner. This is  a version without music (called A Capella).  You can go online to hear one with music. The lyrics are below.

I am sitting
In the morning
At the diner
On the corner

I am waiting
At the counter
For the man
To pour the coffee

And he fills it
Only halfway
And before
I even argue

He is looking
Out the window
At somebody
Coming in

"It is always
Nice to see you"
Says the man
Behind the counter

To the woman
Who has come in
She is shaking
Her umbrella

And I look
The other way
As they are kissing
Their hellos



I'm pretending
Not to see them
Instead
I pour the milk

I open
Up the paper
There's a story
Of an actor

Who had died
While he was drinking
It was no one
I had heard of

And I'm turning
To the horoscope
And looking
For the funnies

When I'm feeling
Someone watching me
And so
I raise my head

There's a woman
On the outside
Looking inside
Does she see me?

No she does not
Really see me
Cause she sees
Her own reflection


And I'm trying
Not to notice
That she's hitching
Up her skirt
And while she's
Straightening her stockings
Her hair
Has gotten wet

Oh, this rain
It will continue
Through the morning
As I'm listening
To the bells
Of the cathedral
I am thinking
Of your voice...

And of the midnight picnic
Once upon a time
Before the rain began...

I finish up my coffee
It's time to catch the train


Click here to practice some of the vocabulary in the song.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

It's a Long Weekend.....





We're celebrating 3 holidays this weekend: Valentine's Day, Lincoln's Birthday, and Washington's Birthday.

To read about Lincoln click here.
To read about Washington click here.
To read about President's Day click here.  (This is the official holiday on Monday)
To read about Valentine's Day click here.

After you're finished doing all that reading -- and eating chocolate and writing a poem to your sweetie -- check out some of this week's vocabulary here.

Bye for now!


Friday, February 7, 2014

Rude Questions, Germs, and other Vocabulary

This week in class we talked about questions that are considered rude in the U.S.  Like:

How old are you?
How much [money] do you make?
How much do you weigh?
Why aren't you married?
Why don't you have children?
What size are you?
Are you expecting? (pregnant)

If someone asks you questions like that, you can respond with:

   That’s personal.  (polite) 
    I’d rather not say. (polite)
                                               It’s a secret! (polite & funny)
                                               None of your business! (rude)

We also listened to a great song called, "I'll never fall in love again"  (Listen to the song to find out why.) sung by Dionne Warwick.



Here are the lyrics:




What do you get when you fall in love?
A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
That's what you get for all your trouble
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again

What do you get when you kiss a guy?
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
After you do, he'll never phone ya
I'll never fall in love again
Don't you know that I'll never fall in love again

Dont' tell me what's it all about
'Cause I've been there and I'm glad I'm out
Out of those chains, those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you

What do you get when you fall in love?
You only get a life of pain and sorrow
So for at least until tomorrow
I'll never fall in love again
No, no, I'll never fall in love again

I'm out of those chains, those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you

What do you get when you fall in love?
You only get lies and pain and sorrow
So for at least until tomorrow
I'll never fall in love again
Don't you know that I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again


And, finally,  click here to practice some vocabulary and idioms about the body.


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