One day in the early sixties, I was visiting my mother’s house in Montreal. Her house was beside a park and in the park was a tennis court where many people come to watch the beautiful young tennis players enjoy their sport. I wandered back to this park which I’d known since my childhood, and there was a young man playing a guitar. He was playing a flamenco guitar, and he was surrounded by two or three girls and boys who were listening to him. I loved the way he played. There was something about the way he played that captured me. It was the way that I wanted to play and knew that I would never be able to play.
And, I sat there with the other listeners for a few moments and when there was a silence, an appropriate silence, I asked him if he would give me guitar lessons. He was a young man from Spain, and we could only communicate in my broken French and his broken French. He didn’t speak English. And he agreed to give me guitar lessons. I pointed to my mother’s house which you could see from the tennis court, and we made an appointment and settled a price.
He came to my mother’s house the next day and he said, “Let me hear you play something.” I tried to play something, and he said, “You don’t know how to play, do you?”
I said, “No, I don’t know how to play.” He said “First of all, let me tune your guitar. It’s all out of tune.” So he took the guitar, and he tuned it. He said, “It’s not a bad guitar.” It wasn’t the Conde, but it wasn’t a bad guitar. So, he handed it back to me. He said, “Now play.”
I couldn’t play any better.
He said “Let me show you some chords.” And he took the guitar, and he produced a sound from that guitar I had never heard. And he played a sequence of chords with a tremolo, and he said, “Now you do it.” I said, “It’s out of the question. I can’t possibly do it.” He said, “Let me put your fingers on the frets,” and he put my fingers on the frets. And he said, “Now, now play.”
It was a mess. He said, ” I’ll come back tomorrow.”
He came back tomorrow, he put my hands on the guitar, he placed it on my lap in the way that was appropriate, and I began again with those six chords – a six chord progression. Many, many flamenco songs are based on them.
I was a little better that day. The third day – improved, somewhat improved. But I knew the chords now. And, I knew that although I couldn’t coordinate my fingers with my thumb to produce the correct tremolo pattern, I knew the chords; I knew them very, very well.
The next day, he didn’t come. He didn’t come. I had the number of his, of his boarding house in Montreal. I phoned to find out why he had missed the appointment, and they told me that he had taken his life. That he committed suicide.
I knew nothing about the man. I did not know what part of Spain he came from. I did not know why he came to Montreal. I did not know why he played there. I did not know why he he appeared there at that tennis court. I did not know why he took his life.
I was deeply saddened, of course. But now I disclose something that I’ve never spoken in public. It was those six chords, it was that guitar pattern that has been the basis of all my songs and all my music. So, now you will begin to understand the dimensions of the gratitude I have for this country.
Everything that you have found favourable in my work comes from this place. Everything , everything that you have found favourable in my songs and my poetry are inspired by this soil.
So, I thank you so much for the warm hospitality that you have shown my work because it is really yours, and you have allowed me to affix my signature to the bottom of the page.
We use ‘used to’ to talk about things that happened in the past – actions or states (PAST HABITS) – that no longer happen now.
Affirmative: Used to + infinitive
Tom used to smoke a lot 5 years ago.
There used to be a great restaurant here, but it closed a few years ago.
Negative: didn’t use to + infinitive
Mary didn’t use to like vegetables when she was a little child.
Interrogative: Did you use to + infinitive …?
Did he use to be thinner when he was younger?
There is no present tense equivalent of ‘used to’. To talk about present habits we use the present simple and an adverb of frequency (usually, always, often, never, etc.)
I usually study at the library.
You can practise the "USED TO" structure with this song:
"Did they use to talk?"
We Don't Talk Anymoreby Charlie Puth (feat. Selena Gomez)
Chorus 1. Fill in the gaps
[Charlie Puth:]
We don't talk anymore, we don't talk anymore
We don't talk anymore, like we .......... to do
We don't love anymore
What was all of it ..........?
Oh, we don't talk anymore, like we .......... to do
Order the sentences
I wish I would have known that wasn't me
I just heard you found the one you've been looking
Why I can't move on
Cause even after all this time I still wonder
Just the way you did so easily
You've been looking for
Chorus 2. Cross out the odd word
Don't wanna to know
What kind of dress you're wearing on tonight
If he's holding onto you so very tight
The way that I did before
I overdosed it
Should've known your love was not a game
Now that I can't get you out of my brain
Oh, it's just such a shame
That we don't talk anymore
Chorus 1 Fill in the gaps
[Selena Gomez:]
I just .......... you're lying next to somebody
Who knows how to love you .......... me
There must be a good reason that you're ..........
Every now and .......... I think you
Might want me to come show up at your ..........
But I'm just too .......... that I'll be wrong
Don't wanna ..........
If you're looking .......... her eyes
If she's holding onto you so .......... the way I did before
I overdosed
Should've known your love was a ..........
Now I can't get you out of my ..........
Oh, it's such a shame
[Charlie Puth & Selena Gomez:]
That we don't talk anymore (We don't, we don't)
We don't talk anymore (We don't, we don't)
We don't talk anymore, like we .......... to do
We don't love anymore (We don't, we don't)
What was all of it for? (We don't, we don't)
Oh, we don't talk anymore, like we .......... to do
Why do we get allergies? Understanding what causes them and how your body reacts to an allergen is important.
Discuss these questions in groups:
1. Describe your nose and eyes when you suffer from an allergy.
2. What do antibodies normally do?
3. What does the inmune system make antibodies do in cases of allergy?
4. What is the name of the antibody produced by the immune system in allergic people?
5. Is allergy-causing-pollen in big flowers? Why?
6. Which is one of the chemicals that causes reactions?
7. Why do we get the sensation of itchy nose?
8. When is there more pollen floating around, in the morning or in the afternoon?
Answers:
1. You've got a runny nose and puffy (swollen) eyes.
2. Fight and recognize germs.
3. Recognize harmless things such as pollen or animal dander.
4. Immunoglobin E.
5. No, it isn't. Because it's too heavy to go airborne.
6. Histamine.
7. Because histamine can activate the receptor on nerves.
8. Early in the morning.
Some Tips for Allergy Season
Do you usually do any of them? Do you find them useful?
3 Natural Allergy Remedies
Have you tried any?
10 Rather Strange Allergies
How many did you know? Does any of them seem fake?
When someone tells you very directly to do something. For example:
Direct speech: "Sit down!"
We use 'told me + to + infinitive'
Reported speech: She told me to sit down.
To report a negative order, use 'not':
Direct speech: "Don't shout."
Reported speech: She told me not to shout.
Direct Order
Reported Order
“Go to bed!”
He told the child to go to bed.
“Don't worry!”
He told her not to worry.
“Be on time!”
He told me to be on time.
“Don't smoke!
He told us not to smoke.
Reported Requests
If someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:
Direct speech: "Close the window, please"
Or: "Could you close the window please?"
Or: "Would you mind closing the window please?"
All of these requests mean the same thing, so we don't need to report every word when we tell another person about it. We simply use 'asked me + to + infinitive':
Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.
To report a negative request, use 'not':
Direct speech: "Please don't be late."
Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.
Here are a few more examples:
Direct Request
Reported Request
“Please help me”.
She asked me to help her.
“Please don't smoke”.
She asked me not to smoke.
“Could you bring my book tonight?”
She asked me to bring her book that night.
“Could you pass the milk, please?”
She asked me to pass the milk.
“Would you mind coming early tomorrow?”
She asked me to come early the next day.
Let's practise with the lyrics of these songs:
"7 Years" -LUKAS GRAHAM
Once I was seven years old, my mama told me,
"Go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely."
Once I was seven years old
It was a big big world, but we thought we were bigger
Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker
By eleven smoking herb and drinking burning liquor
Never rich so we were out to make that steady figure
Once I was eleven years old, my daddy told me,
"Go get yourself a wife or you'll be lonely."
Once I was eleven years old
I always had that dream, like my daddy before me
So I started writing songs, I started writing stories
Something about that glory just always seemed to bore me
'Cause only those I really love will ever really know me
Once I was twenty years old, my story got told
Before the morning sun, when life was lonely
Once I was twenty years old
(Lukas Graham!)
I only see my goals, I don't believe in failure
'Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major
I got my boys with me, at least those in favor
And if we don't meet before I leave, I hope I'll see you later
Once I was twenty years old, my story got told
I was writing about everything I saw before me
Once I was twenty years old
Soon we'll be thirty years old, our songs have been sold
We've traveled around the world and we're still roaming
Soon we'll be thirty years old
I'm still learning about life
My woman brought children for me
So I can sing them all my songs
And I can tell them stories
Most of my boys are with me
Some are still out seeking glory
And some I had to leave behind
My brother, I'm still sorry
Soon I'll be sixty years old, my daddy got sixty-one
Remember life, and then your life becomes a better one
I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once
I hope my children come and visit once or twice a month
Soon I'll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
Soon I'll be sixty years old
Soon I'll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
Soon I'll be sixty years old
Once I was seven years old, my mama told me,
"Go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely."
As we are dealing with Art, today we are going to learn about the history of this beautiful sculpture. How many questions can you answer before watching the video?
The
Statue of Liberty
1-What was the
reason why France gave this statue to the USA?
2-Who was the
sculptor commissioned to design the statue?
3-What part of the
statue had to be financed by the USA?
4-Where and when
was the statue completed?
5-When was the
pedestal finished?
6-How was the
statue transported?
7-How long did it
take to reassemble the statue on her pedestal in the USA?
8-When was the
Statue of Liberty declared a National Monument?
9-What does this
statue represent besides friendship?
10- Which goddess
does the statue represent?
11- How many points
has the crown got and what do they represent?
12- Which date is
written on the stone tablet in her left hand and why?
13- What is the
flaming torch in her right hand covered in?
14- What is the
statue covered in?
15- How many tons
does the statue weigh?
16- How high is the
statue without the pedestal?
17- How many people
visit the Statue of Liberty every year?
18- Why was the
poem inside the statue written?
19- How old is the
Statue of Liberty?
20- The Statue of
Liberty is considered a World Heritage
Site. What does that mean?
Talking about hypothetical situations. These kids ages 3 to 11 play"Would You Rather". Listen and see if they have
anything to teach us.
In this video, taken from Jamie Keddie's site, Lessonstream.org, James and Jess decide which would be better: to spend a month in prison or two
years alone on a desert island.
Now, it's your turn to talk. Do you agree or disagree with James and Jess? Give reasons for your answers.
Let's discuss similar questions proposed by Jamie Keddie:
Would you rather be able to speak English like a native English speaker, or speak 12 other languages at elementary level?
Would you rather walk to work naked or eat a sheep’s eye ball?
Would you rather be the world’s best singer or the world’s best dancer?
Would you rather be able to fly or make yourself invisible?
As we have just heard in the video, when talking about hypothetical situations, we can use these expressions below:
I would … / I’d …
I wouldn’t …
Would you … ?
You would have to …
You would be able to … / You could …
Second conditional structures (e.g. If I had enough books, I would choose a desert island.)
Video
transcript
Jamie: Would
you rather spend a month in prison or two years alone on a desert island?
James: Oh, a
month in prison, definitely.
Jess: Why?
James:
Because, a month in prison, you have company for a start. It’s only a month
long and you get adequate care taken of you. A desert island, you’re left
alone. You don’t have that.
Jess: But
that’s kind of fun.
James: Well,
it’s fun if you have, you know, adequate resources.
Jess: If I
had enough books, I would definitely choose a desert island.
James: What
about water and food?
Jess: Well,
yeah. As in like ... hmm ... yeah, I wouldn’t be very good at that.
James: Plus,
you have to think suncream ... you know ... you get books in prison.
Jess: Then
I’ll sit in the shade. I don’t know. Hmm ...
James: What
would be the problem for prison for you?
Jess: It
would just be a bit grim. Like at least if you were on a nice island, it would
be nice and scenic.
James: Yeah.
And you’d feel like a free person.
Jess: It’d
be like ... it’d be like a holiday. But then you wouldn’t see anyone for two
years and probably go crazy.
James: Two
years is quite a long time ...
Jess: Yeah
James:
Whereas one month is ...
Jess: Maybe
I’d pick prison as well.
James: Yeah
Jess: You’d
also get really ripped because you’d probably ...
