What Is Cinema For?

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Transcript

Audio Time: 9 min 54 sec

Level: Upper intermediate

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Astonishing: causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder; amazing.

To induce: to cause (something) to happen or exist.

To weep: (somewhat formal) to cry because you are very sad or are feeling some other strong emotion.

Downcast: not happy confident, or hopeful.

Strenuous: requiring or showing great energy and effort.

Profound: having or showing great knowledge or understanding.

Flick: (informal): movie.

To conceive: to think of or create (something) in the mind.

Predecessor: a person who had a job or position before someone else.

Self-righteousness: having or showing a strong belief that your own actions, opinions, etc., are right and other people's are wrong.

Conscience: the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong.

Compensate: to provide something good as a balance against something bad or undesirable: to make up for some defect or weakness.

Prone: likely to do, have, or suffer from something — usually + to.

To grind down: to make (something hard) smaller and smoother by gradually rubbing off tiny bits.

Solemn: very serious or formal in manner, behavior, or expression.

Outlook: a set of conditions that will probably exist in the future: the future of someone or something.

Brittle: easily broken or cracked.

To restore: to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.

To edge: always followed by an adverb or preposition: to move slowly or with small movements in a specified direction.

Trauma: a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time.

Lustful: feeling or showing strong desire; usually sexual desire.

To spiral: to greatly increase, decrease, or get worse in a continuous and usually fast and uncontrolled way.

To speed up: to become faster or to make (something or someone) faster.

To erode: to gradually destroy (something) or to be gradually destroyed by natural forces (such as water, wind, or ice).

Vindictive: having or showing a desire to hurt someone who has hurt or caused problems for you.

To crush: to defeat (a person or group that opposes you) by using a lot of force.

To witness: to see something happen.

Forthright: honest and direct: providing answers or information in a very clear and direct way.

To head off: to prevent (something) from happening.

Inclined: not used before a noun: wanting to do something or likely to do something.

Deserving: having good qualities that deserve praise, support, etc.

Swank: very fashionable and expensive.

Glamour: a very exciting and attractive quality.

To eject: to force (someone) to leave — often + from

Bizarre: very unusual or strange.

Appeal: a quality that causes people to like someone or something.

Obvious: easy to see or notice.

Timidity: feeling or showing a lack of courage or confidence.

Victory: success in defeating an opponent or enemy.

Ruthless: having no pity: cruel and without mercy.

Outwit: to defeat or trick someone by being more intelligent or cleaver: outsmart.

Awe: a strong feeling of fear or respect and also wonder.

Daring: willing to do dangerous or difficult things.

Immaturity: acting in a childish way: having or showing a lack of emotional development.

Bearable: able to be accepted or to be able to exist in the same state or condition.

Bully: someone who frightens, hurts, or threatens smaller or weaker people.

Potent: very effective or strong.

To swear: to use offensive words when you speak.

Tentative: not done with confidence: uncertain or hesitant.

Acknowledgement: the act of showing that you know, admit, or accept that something exists or is true.

Subtle: hard to notice or see: not obvious.

Merely: only, just—used to say that someone or something is small, unimportant.

Folly: Not having good sense or judgment: foolishness.

Vice: bad or immoral behavior or habits; a bad habit or weakness.

Discussion questions:

1. According to the video, why is film important?

2. Can you think of any other reasons film is important that the video didn’t discuss?

3. Can you think of a film that helped you with one of the problems mentioned?

4. Do you agree that film can be a type of therapy for problems in life? How so?

5. What do you think of the idea in the video of giving ratings for films according to how they can help people with different problems in life?

The Classroom Where Fake News Fails

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Transcript

Audio Time: 3 min 51 sec

Level: Upper Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Pizzagate: The suffix “gate” means a political scandal. It derives from the Watergate scandal of the United States in the early 1970s, which resulted in the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon.

To air: to broadcast something on radio or television.

Bottom line: the most important part of something : the most important thing to consider; the result or outcome. 

Conspiracy: a secret plan made by two or more people to do something that is harmful or illegal.

Pizzeria: restaurant where mainly pizza is served.

Intel (intelligence): information of political or military value.

Annotation: a note added to a text, book, drawing, etc., as a comment or explanation.

Rumor: information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true.

To sort fact from fiction: To separate what is true from what is false.

To kick off: to start.

To pilot: done as a test to see if a larger program, study, etc., should be done.

Vignette: a short written description.

Meme: an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from one person to another in a culture.

To catch on: to become popular.

To figure out: to understand or find (something, such as a reason or a solution) by thinking.

Credible: able to be believed : reasonable to trust or believe.

To label: to put a word or name on something to describe or identify it : to attach a label to (something).

Red flag: a warning sign: a sign that there is a problem that should be noticed or dealt with.

Byline: a line at the beginning of a newspaper or magazine article that gives the writer's name.

Damn: informal + impolite: used to show that you are angry, annoyed, surprised, etc.

Literacy: the ability to read or write; knowledge that relates to a specified subject.

To unveil: to show or reveal (something) to others for the first time; to remove a cover so that people can see it.

To endorse: to publicly or officially say that you support or approve of (someone or something).

To ignore: to do nothing about or in response to (something or someone).

To run through: to read, repeat, or practice (something) quickly.

Bias: a tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others that usually results in an unfair influence on something.

Face value: Something that is taken/accepted at face value is regarded as true or genuine without being questioned or doubted.

To admit: to say usually in an unwilling way that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something).

Discussion questions:

1. What do you think about the project to help students improve their news literacy?

2. What are some of the ways to tell fact from fiction in the news?

3. How can we reduce fake news?

4. How can we help students to be better critical thinkers?

5. Have you ever been fooled by fake news?

Desiderata

Level: Intermediate

Listen to a spoken version here, here and here.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,

even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, 1927

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Desiderata: something that is needed or wanted.

Placid: calm and steady.

Amid: in or into the middle of. 

Haste: speed of motion or action: quickness that can result in mistakes.

To surrender: to agree to stop fighting, hiding, resisting, etc., because you know that you will not win or succeed.

On good terms: Having a friendly or good relationship with someone.

Dull: not exciting or interesting.

Ignorant: lacking knowledge or information.

To avoid: to stay away from someone or something.

Vexation: something that worries or annoys you.

Vain: too proud of your own appearance or abilities.

Bitter: an unpleasant flavor that is the opposite or sweet; causing painful or unpleasant emotions.

Humble: not proud: not thinking of yourself as better than other people.

Possession: the condition of having or owning something.

Trickery: the use of tricks to deceive or cheat someone.

Virtue: morally good behavior or character.

To strive: to try very hard to do or achieve something.

To feign: to pretend to feel or be affected by (something).

Cynical: believing that people are generally selfish and dishonest.

Aridity: very dry: having very little rain or water.

Disenchantment: no longer happy or satisfied with something.

Perennial: existing or continuing in the same way for a long time.

To nurture: to help (something or someone) to grow, develop, or succeed.

Misfortune: an unlucky condition or event.

Distress: unhappiness or pain: suffering that affects the mind or body.

Fatigue: the state of being very tired: extreme weariness.

Wholesome: good for your health and wellbeing.

To unfold: to spread or cause (something) to spread or straighten out from a folded position.

To conceive: to think of or create (something) in the mind.

Labor: physical or mental effort: work.

Aspirations: something that a person wants very much to achieve.

Sham: something that is not what it appears to be and that is meant to trick or deceive people.

Drudgery: boring, difficult, or unpleasant work.

Discussion questions:

1. What part of this poem do you like the most?

2. What parts do you agree or disagree with?

3. Where do you get inspiration and wisdom?

4. How can we live a good and wise life?

5. What’s the best way to “strive to be happy”?

Exercise Helps Students in the Classroom

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Transcript

Audio Time: 4 min  1 sec

Level: Intermediate

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Endurance: the ability to do something difficult for a long time.

To go for it: to try to achieve or get something.

Racket: a piece of sports equipment that is used to hit a ball or other objects in games like tennis or badminton.

To shuffle: to slide your feet along the ground or back and forth without lifting them completely.

To backpedal: to move backward with quick steps.

Pursuit: the act of following or chasing someone or something.

To eliminate: to remove (something that is not wanted or needed) : to get rid of (something).

Disparities: a noticeable and often unfair difference between people or things.

Background: the experiences, knowledge, education, etc., in a person's past.

Fit: physically healthy and strong.

To fidget: to make a lot of small movements because you are nervous, bored, etc.: to move or act in a nervous or restless way.

Disruptive: to cause (something) to be unable to continue in the normal way : to interrupt the normal progress or activity of (something).

Self-esteem: a feeling of having respect for yourself and your abilities.

Depression: a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is unable to live in a normal way.

Anxiety: fear or nervousness about what might happen.

To impair: to make (something) weaker or worse.

Attentiveness: thinking about or watching something carefully : paying careful attention to something.

Extensively: large in size or amount : very full or complete.

Capacity: the largest amount or number that can be held or contained.

Nutrients: a substance that plants, animals, and people need to live and grow.

To whittle away: to reduce or get rid of (something) slowly.

Sub-set: a group of things, people, etc., that is part of a larger group.

Discussion questions:

1. How can exercise help students in the classroom?

2. Do you exercise? If so, what kind of exercise do you do?

3. Do you find that exercise helps your mental performance?

4. What kind of exercise have you done in school?

5. Do you think exercise can help you improve your English skills?

TED:Why I'm A Weekday Vegetarian

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Transcript

Audio Time: 3 min  58 sec

Level: intermediate

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Vegetarian: a person who does not eat meat.

Hippie: a usually young person who rejects established social customs (such as by dressing in an unusual way or living in a commune) and who opposes violence and war; especially: a young person of this kind in the 1960s and 1970s.

Log: a long, heavy section of a tree that has fallen or been cut down.

Cabin: a small, simple house made of wood.

Mere: used to say that something or someone is small, unimportant, etc.

Cruelty: someone who hurt others and do not feel sorry about it; causing or helping to cause suffering.

Hypocritical: a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs.

Environment: the conditions that surround someone or something: the conditions and influences that affect the growth, health, progress, etc., of someone or something; in this case, natural world.

Emissions: the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source.

To convince: to cause (someone) to believe that something is true.

To stall: to avoid doing something or to delay someone in a deliberate way because you need more time, do not want to do something, etc.

To pitch: things that are said by someone (such as a salesman) in order to make someone want to buy, do, or accept something.

Binary: relating to or consisting of two things or parts.

To swap: to replace (something) with something else.

Sustainable: involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources.

Harvest: the amount of a natural product gathered in a single season.

To end up: to reach or come to a place, condition, or situation that was not planned or expected.

Intake: the amount of something (such as food or drink) that is taken into your body.

Pocketbook: the amount of money that someone has available to spend: someone's ability to pay for things.

Discussion questions:

1. What do you think about the idea of being a “weekday vegetarian”?

2. What were some of the reasons the speaker gave about becoming a weekday veg?

3. Are there many vegetarians where you live?

4. What are the pros and cons of being a vegetarian?

5. What do you think is the best diet for the health of people and the planet?