Author Archive: admin

Berkhamsted Revisited: surprisingly popular among men

Podcast Berkhamsted Revisited

Pre-Reading Questions: Do you have a diary when you were young? What is your unforgettable moment when you were a teenager? Vocabulary: embarrassing /em-BAR-uhs-sing/ [adjective] making you feel shy or ashamed I once fell in front of my classmates and it was so embarrassing! edit /ED-it/ [verb] to make changes to a text or film in order to prepare it You need to edit it first before showing it to others. percentage /per-SEN-tij/ [noun] an amount of something, often expressed as a number out of 100 The percentage of television show ratings are going down. ecstatic /ek-STAT-ik/ [adjective] extremely surprising She was ecstatic when her parents gave her a car…
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1 out of 50 people falls in love on an airplane

Airplane-12-19-18

Pre-reading questions: Do you like to travel by airplane? Have you been to another country? Vocabulary: result /ri-ZUHLT/ [noun] the information you get from something The result of the exam was posted. willingly /WIL-ing-lee/ [adverb] readily and enthusiastically I willingly babysit my granddaughter. stranger /STREYN-jer/ [noun] someone you do not know My father always warned me not to talk to strangers. lasting /LAH-sting/ [adjective] continuing to exist for a long time Did any of your teachers make a lasting impression on you? chance /chahns/ [noun] the level of possibility that something will happen She doesn’t have a chance to win the game. 1 in every 50 airplane passengers falls in…
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1 out of 50 people falls in love on an airplane

Airplane-12-19-18

Vocabulary: literally /LIT-er-uh-lee/ [adverb] using the real or original meaning of a word or phrase There were literally hundreds of pages to read in the book. reveal/ /ri-VEEL/ [verb] to allow something to be seen A study reveals that 87% of parents think that technology is useful to the students. survey /ser-VEY/ [verb] to ask people questions in order to find out about their opinions and behavior The researchers surveyed the lifestyle of 200 people for their presentation next week. routine /roo-TEEN/ [noun] a usual set of activities or way of doing things Visiting a doctor is part of his weekly routine. opportunity /op-er-TOO-ni-tee/ [noun] an occasion or situation which…
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1 out of 50 people falls in love on an airplane

Airplane-12-19-18

Pre-reading questions: Do you like to travel by airplane? Why or why not? When was your first flight? Vocabulary: interview /IN-ter-vyoo/ [verb] to ask someone questions to get information One of her tasks is to interview applicants. habit /HAB-it/ [noun] something that you do often and regularly I always buy the same brand of shoes out of habit. increase /IN-krees/ [verb] to become larger in amount or size The crime rate in the country is alarmingly increasing. moreover /MAWR-oh-ver/ [adverb] used to add information That was a good deal, moreover, the price was reasonable. interact /in-ter-AKT/ [verb] to communicate with or react to Teachers interacted well with the students. 1…
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AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

Vocabulary: proficiency /pruh-FISH-uhn-see/ [noun] the condition or fact of producing the results you want without waste They will check his English proficiency first before he gets accepted to school. ministry/ /MIN-uh-stree/ [noun] a government department led by a minister The ministry of Education has a proposed budget of 20 billion yen for classroom improvement. aspire /uh-SPAHYUHR/ [verb] to want something very much or hope to achieve something or be successful I aspire to become one of the greatest poets of all time. curriculum /kuh-RIK-yuh-luhm/ [noun] all the courses given in a school, college, etc. There will be a change in the school curriculum starting next month. mandatory /MAN-duh-tawr-ee/ [adjective] made…
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AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

Pre-reading questions: Do you like the English language? Is learning English difficult for you? Why or why not? Vocabulary: aim /eym/ [verb] to plan for a specific purpose I aim to become the best writer of this generation. improve /im-PROOV/ [verb] to get better, or to make something better She promised to improve her reading skills. oral /OHR-uhl/ [adjective] spoken; not written They did not do well in their oral presentation. trial /Y-uhl/ [noun] a test, usually over a limited period of time The trial project was opposed by the people. require /ri-KWAHYUHR/ [verb] to order or demand something I require you to always wear your ID when you are…
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AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

Pre-reading questions: Do you like studying English? Do you think that learning English is difficult? Vocabulary: help /help/ [verb] to make it possible or easier for someone to do something She helps the students with their homework. project /PROJ-ekt/ [noun] a piece of planned work or activity that is completed over a period of time The project that we are working on is nearly finished. lesson /LES-uhn/ [noun] an amount of teaching given at one time Today we are going to study a new lesson material. include /in-KLOOD/ [verb] to make something part of something else Our exams will include the topics that we studied last month. change /cheynj/ [noun]…
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The pursuit of a brighter tomorrow

The pursuit of a brighter tomorrow

Vocabulary: short-sighted /SHAWRT-SHAY-tid/ [adjective] a short-sighted person can only clearly see objects that are closer to them She is a short-sighted person that’s why she can’t easily recognize people who are coming towards her. steer clear of /STEER-KLEER-ov/ [idiom] to avoid someone or something because you think the person or thing may cause trouble He is trying to steer clear of his bad habits before it’s too late. a blitz on /ah-BLITS-awn/ [idiom] a great effort to improve something or doing something that needs to be done We had a blitz on dad’s old car and upgraded all the machine for his birthday. main character /meyn KAR-ik-ter/ [noun] most important…
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