zak washington's guide to england - introduction 2

 

 

These are the sounds in English.

At the top there are

12 VOWEL SOUNDS (top left) and

8 DYPTHONGS (top right).

Below are the CONSONANTS

(TEXT VERSION)

 

ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY ADJECTIVES 1

 

VERY ANGRY → FURIOUS

VERY BEAUTIFUL → GORGEOUS

VERY FIT → HEALTHY

VERY HUNGRY → STARVING

VERY BIG → MASSIVE

VERY BORING → DULL

VERY NOISY → DEAFENING

VERY POOR → DESTITUTE

VERY CLEAN → SPOTLESS

VERY SHORT → BRIEF

VERY DIFFICULT → ARDUOUS

VERY QUICK → RAPID

VERY BAD → AWFUL

VERY PERFECT → FLAWLESS

VERY LOVELY → ADORABLE

VERY OLD → ANCIENT

VERY RICH → WEALTHY

VERY SMELLY → STINKY

VERY HAPPY → OVERJOYED

VERY COLD → FREEZING 

(TEXT VERSION)

ESSENTIAL ENGLISH - FUN IDIOMS 1

 

 

PIECE OF CAKE

SOMETHING EASY

'Learning to ride a scooter was a piece of cake.'

 

TO GO BANANAS

TO GO CRAZY

'When I told my wife she went bananas.'

 

TO BRING HOME THE BACON

TO EARN MONEY

'In that family she brings home the bacon.'

 

TO HAVE BIGGER FISH TO FRY

TO HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO

 

THAT'S THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS

'Sorry baby. That's just the way the cookie crumbles.'

 

LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD

NEARLY IDENTICAL / VERY SIMILAR

 

 

AS RED AS A CHERRY

VERY RED

'She burped in public and went as red as a cherry.'

 

TO EAT LIKE A HORSE

TO EAT A LOT

'Your friend eats like a horse.'

 

TO BE AS COOL AS A CUCUMBER

TO BE VERY RELAXED / COOL-HEADED

 

 

HARD NUT TO CRACK

DIFFICULT PROBLEM OR PERSON

'Robbing that bank will be a hard nut to crack.' 

 

 

 

GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY EXERCISE.

 

1. CHOOSE (SP: elegir IT: scegliere) THE CORRECT ANSWER (SP: respuesta IT: risposta). 

2. LISTEN (SP: escuchar IT: sentire) TO THE AUDIO FOR THE ANSWERS.   

3. CLICK ANSWER BUTTON FOR THE EXPLANATION / LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS IN THE AUDIO BELOW

 

 

 

Dear Raji Fred,

 

Hello darling! How do you do?/How have you been? This is your favourite little Queenie here.

It’s been so long/so long time since I last saw you. I’m absolutely dying to get my hands on you again, and pass/spend some time together.

 

Being/to be a monarch can be so boring sometimes. I get tired with/of/from all those stupid diplomats and tedious European royals.

Yesterday, I must have/had to spend all day long with the Danish royal family. What bored/boring people!

Then my usual meeting with the prime minister; I wish he’d brush his teeth occasionally. Anyway/By the way, enough of this nonsense.

 

Why don't you come up to my palace in Balmoral next week to talk around/talk over some of the plans for the royal wedding?

What a splendid event it is going to be! I hope it’ll be even more successful than Charles and Diana’s. Between you and me, I never did care much for that Diana.

 

My nephew/niece Lady Sara Winthorpe is so excited and nervous. The press are following her everywhere.

I’m really so glad that she is getting married to your son Ali. Ali is such a charming, handsome gentleman.

He’s yet/already become very popular with the British public.

The only thing that really worries me is his English. He hasn’t spent much time living in this country and I’m worried about him not understanding our language and culture.

 

Therefore/Moreover, I’ve arranged for some special classes for him, to prepare him correctly for the wedding.

He will have his own particular/personal teacher, a very competent professional called Zak Washington. Ali starts studying with him tomorrow. The sooner, the better, eh?

 

Write me/write to me soon, and tell/say me if you want to come and see your little Queenie in Balmoral Palace.

I might have to punish you for not having kept in contact for so long! Naughty little boy!

 

                The Queen of England.

             

 

0.3 VOCABULARY PRACTICE ACTIVITY 

 

1. CHOOSE (SP: elegir IT: scegliere) THE CORRECT ANSWER (SP: respuesta IT: risposta). 

2. LISTEN (SP: escuchar IT: sentire) TO THE AUDIO FOR THE ANSWERS.

3. CLICK ANSWER BUTTON FOR THE EXPLANATION

 

(TEXT VERSION)

0.3 VOCABULARY

 

Dear Zak Washington,

 

I am/This is Jack Lawton, the director of studies of The Bumsberry School of English, where you supposedly ‘work’.

 

Where the hell are you? I’ve had much/many/a lot of students asking after you.

 

Well, I’ve got a very important class coming up, and you’re the only teacher that I’ve got left who can teach it.

It’s a private one-to-one class with a very important student.

 

Have you heard of Ali Fred? He’s the son of Raji Fred, the important businessman, who owns half/the half of Britain.

He owns a couple of football teams, a few department stores, private jets, helicopters, etc.

 

Therefore/Anyway, his son Ali is going to get married with/to Lady Sara Winthorpe, the Queen’s niece.

Do you remember her? I remember you saying in the staff room, that she had the best bust in the whole royal family. Remember?

 

Ali Fred has a quite high level of English already, but he speaks like someone from the 1920s.

He needs a lot of practice. Also/As well, he doesn’t understand much about the British way of life.

 

I want that/want you to teach him about typical British customs, our culture, the food, the way of life, how to greet people, etc.

 

He will be doing a week-long intensive course.

You will have to look after him during the day; in the evening he will be returning to the Ritz Hotel, where he’s staying.

 

I’m giving you a special expense account for this. Bring/Take him to the parks, nice restaurants, Speaker’s Corner, the museums and places of cultural interest.

You’ve got a week to prepare him linguistically and culturally before the wedding.

 

I cannot express to you how important this job is for me, and for The Bumsberry School of English!

 

So secure yourself/make sure that you look presentable…and it’s against this man’s religion to drink alcohol; so no bars or nightclubs!

This is a chance for us to put the school on the map. Get in touch ASAP, and I’ll give you all the details.

 

        Jack Lawton,

        Headmaster/Director of studies.

 

(TEXT VERSION)

0.4 VOCABULARY

 

Dear Ms. Forbsworth, my divine aristocratic lady!

How are you?

How is your new job as a nightclub stripper?

They tell me that you’ve been dressing (...or should I say ‘undressing’?) as a Victorian aristocratic lady.

Nice touch! I can’t hope/wait to see you in action.

I bet you are the sexiest/most sexy girl in Soho.

 

I too, have been given some interesting job/work.

Jack wants me to teach Ali Fred how to speak English. Do you know him?

He’s the one getting married/to get married to Lady Sara Winthorpe next week.

He’s giving me an expense account!

 

All I have to do is teach this guy a little of/a bit about British culture.

He wants me to take him to lots of cultural places like the British Museum and the Tate Gallery, eat with him in the best restaurants, and teach him a bit of diplomatic English. What an easy job!

 

I was thinking in/about keeping the money, and just taking him to normal places like cafés/coffees and bars.

Above all/After all, if he wants to learn about real British culture, there is no better way to do it than among ‘real’ people, not ‘posh’ snobs in ‘snotty’ restaurants.

 

I have another small group of foreign students arriving this afternoon; I’ll probably take them with me too.

I was thinking that it would be a good idea to do a kind of ‘alternative tour’ of all the tackiest and naffest places.

 

What do you think? Do you want to know/meet them? We may/could meet tomorrow in the café, if you feel like it.

Send me an SMS and let me know.

              

Your humble servant,

'Lord' Zak Washington!!

 

(TEXT VERSION)

 

MAN [mæn] MEN [men]

 

FOOT [fʊt] FEET [fiːt]

 

TOOTH [tuːθ] TEETH [tiːθ]

 

CHILD [ˈtʃaɪld] CHILDREN [ˈtʃɪldrən]

 

MOUSE [maʊs] MICE [maɪs]

 

SHEEP [ʃiːp] SHEEP [ʃiːp]

 

FISH [fɪʃ] FISH [fɪʃ]

 

LEAF [liːf] LEAVES [liːvz]

 

GOOSE [ɡuːs] GEESE [ɡiːs]

 

WOMAN [ˈwʊmən] WOMEN [ˈwɪmɪn]