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ENGLISH MATTERS<br />
LA REVISTA PARA MEJORAR TU INGLÉS Nº 4 - <strong>2018</strong><br />
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HOW TO LEARN<br />
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BASIC LINKING WORDS<br />
Clauses of contrast<br />
Linking words of contrast – we use them in a sentence in order to express a contrast. These are:<br />
• but<br />
•although / even though / though<br />
•in spite of / despite<br />
•however<br />
•while / whereas<br />
• yet<br />
•nevertheless<br />
•on the other hand<br />
Clauses of result<br />
Clauses of result, as the name suggests, express result of something. These are:<br />
•as a result<br />
• therefore<br />
•consequently / as a consequence<br />
• so<br />
• so / such...that<br />
Clauses of reason<br />
Clauses of reason are introduced with the following expressions/words:<br />
• because<br />
• as /since<br />
•the reason why / for<br />
• for<br />
•because of / on account of / due to<br />
Clauses of purpose<br />
Clauses of purpose are used to show the aim of an action.<br />
What linking words of purpose are there? There are a few of them, namely:<br />
• to<br />
•in order to / so as to<br />
•so that / in order that<br />
•in case<br />
• for<br />
Fill in the blanks with linking words:<br />
1. We wanted to go to the museum, __________ it was closed.<br />
2. It was quite warm _____________________ it was winter.<br />
3. My boss went down with the flu. ________________________, the meeting was called off.<br />
4. She wanted to learn Spanish _____________________ she was planning to go to Barcelona.
INSIDE 4/<strong>2018</strong><br />
PULSAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
PULSAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
PULSAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
This and That<br />
4 This & That<br />
People and Lifestyle<br />
6 25 Reasons to Read Dickens<br />
11 Judging David Baldacci<br />
14 How to Learn English with<br />
Memory Tricks<br />
18 Be Friends with Your Brain<br />
Culture<br />
20 Homeland or Homelands?<br />
24 The ‘Chunnel’ Under the Water<br />
26<br />
6<br />
PULSAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
Conversation Matters<br />
26 At the Petrol Station<br />
30 Comic Strip: Girls’ Night Out<br />
Language<br />
33 Mixed Conditionals<br />
Travel<br />
35 Exploring New Orleans<br />
Leisure<br />
40 From A to Z: Killer K<br />
42 Rack Your Brain!<br />
35<br />
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28042 Madrid
This & That<br />
by Katarzyna Szpotakowska<br />
AMERICA’S<br />
FAVOURITE<br />
FOOD<br />
Chocolate chip<br />
cookies<br />
S’mores (marshmallows and chocolate put<br />
together between graham crackers, usually<br />
melted over a campfire)<br />
Macaroni and<br />
cheese<br />
marshmallow |<br />
malvavisco, nube<br />
melted | fundido<br />
campfire | fogata, hoguera<br />
jerky | cecina<br />
cornbread | pan de maíz<br />
staple | alimento básico<br />
|<br />
GORP (good old raisins<br />
and peanuts)<br />
Meatloaf<br />
Fried chicken and<br />
waffles<br />
raisin /ˈreɪzn/ | uva pasa<br />
peanut | cacahuente<br />
meatloaf | rollo de carne<br />
rib | costilla<br />
yolk | yema<br />
FERRIS WHEELS<br />
AUTUMN<br />
IN IDIOMS<br />
Not everyone knows that the first ferris<br />
wheel was in fact the American architectural<br />
answer to the Eiffel Tower. The<br />
Americans were determined to design<br />
something that would surpass the splendour<br />
of the French invention. The original<br />
ferris wheel was presented at the World’s<br />
Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.<br />
It was equipped with 36 cars and required<br />
20 minutes to complete two revolutions.<br />
One of the most well-known contemporary<br />
ferris wheels is the London Eye which in<br />
the year 2000 was the tallest ferris wheel<br />
in the world. In Poland, the landscape can<br />
be admired from a ferris wheel in Gdańsk,<br />
which is called AmberSky and has 36<br />
air-conditioned cars. At present, the tallest<br />
ferris wheel is the High Roller in Vegas,<br />
however, soon it will be conquered in size<br />
by a ferris wheel which is being built in<br />
Dubai.<br />
ferris wheel | noria<br />
to surpass sth | superar<br />
to require sth | necesitar<br />
revolution | vuelta<br />
conquered | superado<br />
• old chestnut – a story/joke<br />
told a lot of times and no<br />
longer interesting<br />
• autumn years – old age<br />
• to turn over a new leaf – to<br />
start again; to have a new<br />
beginning<br />
• to drive someone nuts – to<br />
make someone crazy<br />
• to squirrel something away<br />
– to hide something e.g. money<br />
FOT. DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM<br />
4
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
Jerky (pieces of dried,<br />
salted meat)<br />
Cornbread (a staple from the<br />
south of the US)<br />
WADDESDON<br />
MANOR<br />
Barbecue ribs<br />
Key lime pie (made of Key lime juice,<br />
condensed milk and egg yolks)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Waddesdon Manor is a country house in<br />
Buckinghamshire that is annually visited by<br />
hundreds of thousands of tourists. Originally<br />
erected for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild,<br />
now it is open to the public. The house is full<br />
of works of art – porcelain, furniture, textiles,<br />
books, clocks, metalwork and paintings.<br />
Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild started the<br />
building of the French-château-style house in<br />
1874. The mansion was equipped with running<br />
water and central heating right from the<br />
beginning. Electricity was installed in 1889.<br />
It even had a small lift for Queen Victoria that<br />
she could use during her visits, but she was<br />
reluctant to do so.<br />
The property was passed to the National Trust<br />
by James Rothschild, together with a huge<br />
endowment for the upkeep of the mansion. The<br />
property is still managed by the Rothschild<br />
Foundation on behalf of the National Trust.<br />
Apart from a visit to the house, visitors to<br />
Waddesdon can also enjoy a walk through its<br />
iconic Victorian garden and see the aviary.<br />
CAPPADOCIA<br />
Cappadocia, in central Turkey, is known for its houses hollowed out<br />
in rocks. The conical structures created by nature over centuries,<br />
called ‘fairy chimneys,’ have been turned by humans into houses and<br />
churches. Nowadays, many of them serve as hotels and shops.<br />
fairy | hada<br />
chimney /ˈtʃɪmni/ | chimenea<br />
nowadays | actualmente<br />
to erect sth | construir, erigir<br />
furniture | muebles<br />
running water | agua corriente<br />
central heating | calefacción central<br />
lift | ascensor<br />
reluctant | reacio<br />
endowment | donación<br />
upkeep | mantenimiento<br />
on behalf of sb | en representación de<br />
aviary /ˈeɪviəri/ | pajarera<br />
5
People and Lifestyle<br />
"Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes and<br />
prism, are all very good words for the<br />
lips". Charles Dickens.<br />
Reasons<br />
to Read<br />
DICKENS<br />
by Jonathan Sidor<br />
6
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
Sure, his writing may be a bit<br />
antiquated and his novels’ length<br />
could easily top 500 pages, but<br />
Charles Dickens definitely had a way<br />
with words. Why is Dickens still worth<br />
reading today? Curl up with a good<br />
book, as English Matters runs down<br />
25 reasons why Dickens’ Victorian<br />
volumes are still worth checking out.<br />
People and Lifestyle<br />
definitely | indudablemente<br />
to have a way with sth | tener talento para<br />
be worth | merecer la pena<br />
to curl up | acurrucarse<br />
Vocab Trainer<br />
Charles Dickens is credited<br />
with coining numerous<br />
words for the English language.<br />
Here are some of his<br />
contributions:<br />
• abuzz: filled with a humming<br />
sound or intense<br />
activity<br />
• the creeps: a feeling of<br />
fear or apprehension<br />
• devil-may-care: reckless<br />
and careless<br />
• flummox: to confuse or<br />
perplex someone<br />
• on the rampage: acting<br />
in an aggressive, violent<br />
manner<br />
to credit sb with sth | atribuirle algo a<br />
alguien<br />
to coin sth | acuñar, aquí: inventar<br />
numerous | muchos<br />
apprehension | temor<br />
reckless | imprudente, temerario<br />
to perplex sb | desconcertar<br />
violent /ˈvaɪələnt/ | violento, agresivo<br />
7
People and Lifestyle<br />
1<br />
Dickens realistically<br />
depicts life in England during<br />
the Victorian Era.<br />
2<br />
Real-life events inspired<br />
Dickens to write some of his<br />
novels. For instance, Dickens<br />
began working at a shoeblacking<br />
factory when he was<br />
just 12, to support his family.<br />
The strenuous and bleak<br />
working conditions Dickens<br />
endured found their way onto<br />
the pages of Oliver Twist.<br />
3<br />
Dickens threw a fair bit<br />
of social commentary into<br />
his works. He fiercely criticised<br />
the rampant poverty of<br />
Victorian England and sought<br />
to shock readers with his<br />
images of crime and destitution.<br />
He declared that “virtue<br />
shows quite as well in rags<br />
and patches as she does in<br />
purple and fine linen.”<br />
4<br />
Every single word in<br />
a Dickens novel carries<br />
immense significance, down<br />
to the names of characters.<br />
Most names were well<br />
thought out and not just randomly<br />
chosen. For instance,<br />
the name of Mr. Murdstone<br />
from David Copperfield<br />
is linked to both “murder”<br />
and a stone-cold personality,<br />
offering meaningful insights<br />
into the character himself.<br />
5<br />
Several characters from<br />
Dickens’ novels are some<br />
of the most memorable in<br />
all of literature. Names like<br />
Tiny Tim and The Artful<br />
Dodger are internationally<br />
well-known. The name of<br />
“Scrooge” has even entered<br />
the English language to<br />
describe any miserly person,<br />
in particular one who is hostile<br />
towards Christmas<br />
celebrations.<br />
6<br />
Like Scrooge, other<br />
Dickens characters have<br />
also made contributions to<br />
the English language. The<br />
word “Pickwickian” refers<br />
to a jovial, plump individual.<br />
“Pecksniffian” describes<br />
a prim and proper person, and<br />
a “gamp” is British slang for<br />
an unwieldy umbrella.<br />
7<br />
Dickens’ own name has<br />
had an impact on the English<br />
language too. The adjective<br />
“Dickensian” describes a situation<br />
that is reminiscent of<br />
Dickens’ books, specifically<br />
something dealing with poor<br />
social conditions or comically<br />
repulsive characters.<br />
8<br />
The novella A Christmas<br />
Carol helped shape many<br />
modern Christmas traditions<br />
and celebrations. The<br />
2017 film The Man Who<br />
to depict sth | representar<br />
shoe-blacking factory | fábrica<br />
de betún<br />
to support sb | mantener<br />
strenuous | extenuante, arduo<br />
bleak | lúgubre, desolador<br />
to endure | sufrir, padecer<br />
fair bit of sth | bastante<br />
fiercely | encarnizadamente<br />
rampant | descontrolado<br />
to seek sth | buscar<br />
destitution | miseria, pobreza<br />
rags | harapos<br />
patch | parche, remiendo<br />
linen | lino<br />
thought out | bien pensado<br />
randomly | aleatoriamente<br />
stone-cold | frío como el hielo<br />
insight | percepción<br />
artful | astuto<br />
miserly | tacaño, mezquino<br />
contribution | aportación<br />
jovial /ˈdʒəʊviəl/ | alegre<br />
plump | rechoncho<br />
prim and proper | formal y<br />
remilgado<br />
unwieldy | poco manejable<br />
to be reminiscent of sth |<br />
recordar<br />
repulsive /rɪˈpʌlsɪv/ | repugnante<br />
Charles John<br />
Huffam Dickens<br />
(7 February 1812 – 9 June<br />
1870) was an English writer<br />
and social critic. He created<br />
some of the world’s bestknown<br />
fictional characters<br />
and is regarded by many as<br />
the greatest novelist of the<br />
Victorian era.<br />
When Dickens moved into<br />
Tavistock House he installed<br />
a hidden door to his study,<br />
made to look like part of an<br />
unbroken wall of books,<br />
complete with dummy<br />
shelves and fictitious titles.<br />
dummy | simulado, ficticio<br />
8
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
Invented Christmas focuses<br />
on Dickens’ life as he wrote<br />
the book.<br />
9<br />
A multitude of statues have<br />
been erected in Dickens’ honour<br />
around the world. A lifesize<br />
statue can be found in<br />
Sydney, Australia. Another<br />
memorial is located in<br />
Philadelphia, USA. Dickens’<br />
own hometown of Portsmouth<br />
unveiled a statue in 2014 with<br />
his great-great grandsons in<br />
attendance.<br />
10<br />
Dickens appeared on<br />
a £10 note that was circulated<br />
between 1992 and 2003.<br />
11<br />
Dickens’ portrait, or<br />
images of his works have<br />
graced postage stamps from<br />
places like the UK, the Soviet<br />
Union, Austria, Dubai and<br />
Mozambique.<br />
12<br />
14<br />
In a BBC survey conducted<br />
in 2003 dubbed “The<br />
Big Read,” Britons named five<br />
Dickens’ novels on their list of<br />
their 100 most-loved books.<br />
15<br />
Many protagonists in<br />
books by Charles Dickens<br />
are easy to relate to, even in<br />
today’s world. They are all<br />
admirable people with struggles<br />
we can empathise with.<br />
The characters of Oliver<br />
Twist, Nicholas Nickleby,<br />
Esther Summerson, and Pip<br />
are still beloved by countless<br />
readers today.<br />
16<br />
While the length of some<br />
books may seem a bit daunting,<br />
Dickens populates his<br />
novels with a thriving world<br />
of characters and stories that<br />
are incredibly engrossing.<br />
There are so many characters,<br />
incidents, fights, and joys that<br />
it’s easy to get caught up in all<br />
of it and never want it to end.<br />
to focus on sth | centrarse en<br />
to erect sth | construir, erigir<br />
life-size | tamaño real<br />
to unveil sth | aquí: inaugurar<br />
to be in attendance | estar presente<br />
note | billete<br />
to grace sth | adornar<br />
theme park | parque temático<br />
water ride | paseo acuático<br />
haunted /ˈhɔːntɪd/ | encantado<br />
animatronic | animatrónico<br />
poll | encuesta, votación<br />
survey | encuesta, sondeo<br />
to relate to | identificarse con<br />
struggle | aquí: conflicto, problema<br />
to empathise with | empatizar,<br />
identificarse<br />
countless | innumerable<br />
daunting /ˈdɔːntɪŋ/ | desalentador,<br />
abrumador<br />
thriving | próspero, favorable<br />
engrossing | interesante, atrayente<br />
Dickens Plaque<br />
at Guildhall in<br />
Rochester.<br />
People and Lifestyle<br />
A theme park named<br />
Dickens World opened in<br />
Kent, England in 2007.<br />
It included a water ride,<br />
a haunted house, an animatronic<br />
show, a play area<br />
and other attractions all<br />
themed after one of Dickens’<br />
popular works. Unfortunately,<br />
it closed down in 2016.<br />
13<br />
A BBC poll in 2002<br />
ranked Dickens 41st on their<br />
list of the “100 Greatest<br />
Britons.”<br />
9
People and Lifestyle<br />
A Christmas Carol is a 2009 American 3D<br />
computer animated motion-capture dark fantasy<br />
film written, co-produced, and directed by Robert<br />
Zemeckis. It is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’s<br />
1843 story of the same name and stars Jim Carrey<br />
in a multitude of roles, includ-ing Ebenezer<br />
Scrooge as a young, middle-aged, and old man,<br />
and the three ghosts who haunt Scrooge.<br />
17<br />
The actual text of several<br />
books by Dickens is remarkably<br />
approachable and not too<br />
challenging to read. He wrote<br />
many of his tomes as weekly<br />
periodicals, one chapter at<br />
a time. Read a few chapters<br />
here and there, treating each<br />
of them as an individual short<br />
story. That way, a book numbering<br />
a few hundred pages<br />
will be much easier to digest.<br />
18<br />
Dickens was known to<br />
wander the streets of London<br />
and build his stories using<br />
the sights and sounds around<br />
him. That’s why many of<br />
his characters and much of<br />
the dialogue come across as<br />
authentic. The novel David<br />
Copperfield is popularly suspected<br />
to be a veiled autobiography<br />
of the author.<br />
19<br />
The works of Charles<br />
Dickens are frequently quite<br />
funny. The jokes, however,<br />
are often subtle or<br />
hidden. Meticulous readers<br />
are often rewarded if they<br />
can spot the amusing<br />
details going on in the<br />
background of a variety<br />
of scenes. It definitely takes<br />
a keen eye, though.<br />
20<br />
There’s a world of film<br />
adaptations open to you if<br />
you’re familiar with Dickens’<br />
works. Over 70 films and<br />
television series have retold<br />
Dickens’ most familiar tales<br />
over the years, and Hollywood<br />
shows no signs of slowing<br />
down. A Christmas Carol<br />
from 2009 grossed 325 mln<br />
dollars worldwide.<br />
21<br />
A few creative geniuses<br />
have gone one step further<br />
and developed entirely new<br />
ideas based on the books of<br />
Charles Dickens. The BBC’s<br />
Dickensian TV drama threw<br />
characters from all sorts<br />
of Dickens novels together<br />
into one storyline revolving<br />
around a detective investigating<br />
a murder in a Victorian<br />
London neighbourhood.<br />
22<br />
Many books by Dickens<br />
are marked by a high degree<br />
of sentimentality and<br />
optimism. Protagonists are<br />
idealised to the point of<br />
always doing the right thing<br />
and facing positive outcomes.<br />
Some have called Dickens’<br />
works maudlin, but the<br />
cheerfulness expressed by<br />
several characters is one<br />
reason that they have become<br />
fan favourites.<br />
23<br />
Dickens has been praised<br />
for making his stories so universal.<br />
Despite their specific<br />
settings, books by Dickens<br />
continue to be well-received<br />
by audiences today all across<br />
the world. Anyone can pick<br />
up one of his books and<br />
relate to the human stories it<br />
tells. The struggles, emotions,<br />
dreams, and habits of<br />
Dickens’ characters are shared<br />
by most people today.<br />
24<br />
Books by Dickens are<br />
classics, plain and simple.<br />
Exploring the pages of one of<br />
Dickens’ works lets you enter<br />
a dialogue that’s been going<br />
on for over a century now.<br />
25<br />
You’ll impress people by<br />
mentioning that you’ve read<br />
Dickens. You’ll be seen as<br />
well-read, and you’ll be able<br />
to have conversations with<br />
a host of enlightened people.<br />
You shouldn’t read Dickens<br />
just to astound others, but it<br />
certainly is a nice perk.<br />
Dickens’ reputation alone<br />
should be motivation enough<br />
to crack open one of his<br />
books. While they may be<br />
old and lengthy, the works<br />
of Charles Dickens are a true<br />
pleasure to read. If you’re<br />
still undecided about which<br />
book to read next, have a go<br />
at any of the marvels penned<br />
by Dickens. <br />
approachable | accesible,<br />
abordable<br />
chapter | capítulo<br />
to digest /ˈdaɪdʒɛst/ | asimilar,<br />
digerir<br />
to wander | deambular, pasear<br />
veiled | encubierto<br />
subtle /ˈsʌtl/ | sutil, imperceptible<br />
meticulous | minucioso, detallista<br />
to spot sth | detectar, localizar<br />
amusing | gracioso<br />
background | contexto, trasfondo<br />
keen eye | buen ojo<br />
to revolve around sth | tratar<br />
sobre, girar en torno a<br />
neighbourhood | barrio<br />
outcome | resultado<br />
maudlin | sentimental, sensiblero<br />
cheerfulness | entusiasmo, alegría<br />
to praise | elogiar, alabar<br />
despite /dɪˈspaɪt/ | pese a<br />
a host of sth | un montón<br />
enlightened /ɪnˈlaɪtənd/ | cultivado,<br />
preparado<br />
to astound sb | sorprender,<br />
asombrar<br />
perk | beneficio, gratificación<br />
to crack open | abrir<br />
to have a go at | probar, hacer un<br />
intento<br />
penned | escrito a mano<br />
10
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
Judging<br />
David<br />
Baldacci<br />
by Jonathan Moore<br />
One of America’s most successful writers is David<br />
Baldacci, who has published 35 novels for adults.<br />
Incredibly, every one of them has been a worldwide<br />
bestseller.<br />
Indeed, his novels have<br />
been translated into more<br />
than 45 languages and<br />
130 mln of them have<br />
been sold in over 80 countries.<br />
Plus, he has published<br />
six novels for younger readers.<br />
Childhood<br />
Passion, Maternal<br />
Inspiration<br />
Even in his childhood,<br />
David was always writing.<br />
His inspiration came from<br />
his mother Joyce Rose, who<br />
gave him a notebook. When<br />
David publicly expressed his<br />
gratitude to her for being<br />
the spark which ignited his<br />
literary career, she<br />
confessed that she had<br />
given him this notebook to<br />
keep him quiet.<br />
Virginian Born,<br />
Virginian Bred<br />
David Baldacci was<br />
born on 5 August 1960 in<br />
Richmond, Virginia State,<br />
where he also grew up.<br />
As his surname suggests,<br />
his ancestors emigrated<br />
to America from Italy.<br />
Nonetheless, he obviously<br />
feels a strong bond with his<br />
home state: even today he<br />
lives with his wife Michelle<br />
in Virginia.<br />
A Legal Expert<br />
Having graduated from<br />
Virginia Commonwealth<br />
University with a B.A. in<br />
political science, he went on to<br />
gain a J.D. (Juris Doctor) from<br />
the University of Virginia<br />
School of Law. He spent<br />
nine years practising law<br />
in Washington D.C., which<br />
inspired some of his works.<br />
The Best of<br />
Baldacci<br />
It is impossible to cover all<br />
of David Baldacci’s works in<br />
one article. However, in The<br />
Telegraph, the man himself<br />
selects five titles as the best<br />
of his books.<br />
Absolute Power (1996)<br />
Absolute Power was<br />
Baldacci’s debut novel, which<br />
he still calls his favourite. In<br />
this 500-page sizzler, the central<br />
figure is the US President<br />
– an insane, sociopathic villain.<br />
The scene is set when a<br />
cat burglar is trapped inside<br />
the bedroom of one of the<br />
world’s richest men. The<br />
burglar sees Secret Service<br />
agents kill the billionaire’s<br />
wife as she tries to resist the<br />
President’s advances. The burglar<br />
begins to run for his life,<br />
as he becomes a target for the<br />
Secret Service. At the same<br />
time, corporate lawyer Jack<br />
Graham becomes embroiled<br />
in the case, as this burglar<br />
turns out to be the father of his<br />
ex-fiancée, a prosecutor from<br />
Virginia. The plot progresses<br />
from one intriguing storyline<br />
to the next, but one of the<br />
key elements is the burglar’s<br />
burning desire to end the evil<br />
President’s reign of terror.<br />
indeed | de hecho,<br />
ciertamente<br />
publicly | públicamente<br />
spark | chispa<br />
to ignite sth | encender.<br />
prender<br />
to grow up | crecer<br />
nonetheless | sin embargo<br />
bond | vínculo<br />
B.A. | licenciatura<br />
J.D. (Juris Doctor) | doctorado en<br />
Derecho<br />
law | Derecho<br />
sizzler /ˈsɪzləʳ/ | gran obra, sensacional<br />
villain /ˈvɪlən/ | villano<br />
cat burglar | ratero, ladrón de<br />
viviendas<br />
trapped | capturado, atrapado<br />
to embroil in sth | aquí: implicar<br />
ex-fiancée | exnovia<br />
prosecutor /ˈprɒsɪkjuːtəʳ/ | fiscal<br />
11
People and Lifestyle<br />
ESCANEAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
accepts the offer and promises<br />
to leave America for good –<br />
but a decade later she secretly<br />
returns and meets a new<br />
man with a deep dark past.<br />
Unfortunately, she is noticed<br />
by a ruthless reporter, the FBI<br />
– and an infuriated Jackson.<br />
Wish You Well (2001)<br />
This story is a radical<br />
departure from Baldacci’s<br />
usual style. It begins in 1940<br />
in New York City, home to<br />
the main character - a 12 year<br />
old girl called Louisa Mae<br />
Cardinal – and her family.<br />
Suddenly, her father tragically<br />
dies in a car accident, forcing<br />
Lou, her brother Oz and their<br />
incapacitated mother to move<br />
to the mountains of Virginia.<br />
In this new environment, Lou<br />
makes her first true friend,<br />
and has some funny, tragic<br />
and daring experiences. Later,<br />
an evil force encroaches on<br />
the family’s new home, and a<br />
court case decides the destiny<br />
of the two children - and even<br />
a whole town.<br />
The Camel Club (2005)<br />
The Camel Club is a return<br />
to Baldacci’s quintessential<br />
format: it’s about a group of<br />
four dysfunctional men –<br />
Milton Farb, Reuben Rhodes,<br />
Caleb Shaw and Oliver Stone<br />
David Baldacci<br />
The Winner (1998)<br />
This aptly named novel is<br />
about LuAnn Tyler, a 20-year<br />
old single mother trying to<br />
escape from the poverty trap.<br />
A mysterious man called<br />
Jackson guarantees her a 100<br />
mln dollar lottery win. At first<br />
she refuses, but the very next<br />
day a false murder charge is<br />
pinned on her. So finally she<br />
Fact File<br />
David Baldacci’s<br />
family comes<br />
from the<br />
medieval town of<br />
Barga in Tuscany<br />
in northern Italy.<br />
It is dominated<br />
by the Apuan<br />
Alps but also<br />
surrounded by<br />
grape vines,<br />
chestnut trees<br />
and olive groves.<br />
aptly | acertadamente,<br />
apropiadamente<br />
poverty trap | círculo de<br />
pobreza<br />
lottery win | premio de lotería<br />
to refuse | rechazar, negarse<br />
false murder charge | falsa<br />
acusación de asesinatoto<br />
to pin on sb | acusar a alguien<br />
for good | para siempre<br />
ruthless | despiadado, inflexible<br />
infuriated | furioso<br />
to encroach on sth | invadir,<br />
traspasar<br />
court case | proceso judicial<br />
quintessential | prototípico<br />
12
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
– who are involved in investigating<br />
political conspiracies in<br />
the White House. Sometimes<br />
they are joined by honorary<br />
club member, Secret Service<br />
Agent Alex Ford. The Camel<br />
Club is the original in a series<br />
of six political thrillers about<br />
these agents. The remaining<br />
five are: The Collectors<br />
(2006), Stone Cold (2007),<br />
Divine Justice (2008), Hell’s<br />
Corner (2010) and Bullseye<br />
(2014).<br />
The Memory Man (2015) The<br />
central figure here is<br />
an extraordinary detective<br />
called Amos Decker, whose<br />
brain has been altered by a<br />
traumatic accident. When he<br />
discovers his family murdered,<br />
the effects of this<br />
accident on his brain make<br />
the pain even more intolerable.<br />
He becomes incapable<br />
of forgetting anything, so he<br />
cannot recover from his family’s<br />
murders and is desperate to<br />
find out what exactly happened<br />
to them. Consequently,<br />
his life becomes a constant<br />
struggle with his troubled<br />
mind. The story also shows<br />
the reader what the human<br />
mind is capable of. The<br />
Memory Man is the first in the<br />
Amos Decker Series, which<br />
also includes The Last Mile,<br />
The Fix and The Fallen.<br />
From the Page to<br />
the Screen<br />
A considerable number of<br />
Baldacci’s literary masterpieces<br />
have been adapted for<br />
TV and film. For instance,<br />
Absolute Power was made<br />
into a Hollywood feature<br />
film with a world-renowned<br />
lead-ing actor and director<br />
Clint Eastwood, no less.<br />
A Great<br />
Philanthropist<br />
Not only is David a prolific<br />
novelist and Doctor of<br />
Jurisprudence: he is also a<br />
dedicated philanthropist. In<br />
2002, he and Michelle created<br />
the Wish You Well Foundation.<br />
The purpose of this charitable<br />
organisation is to develop and<br />
expand literary and educational<br />
programmes, which<br />
will increase adult literacy in<br />
the United States.<br />
Baldacci’s<br />
Crusade Against<br />
Illiteracy<br />
The message written by<br />
David and Michelle on the<br />
foundation’s website is certainly<br />
hard-hitting. In a nutshell,<br />
they ask the reader to<br />
imagine going about their<br />
daily life, processing information,<br />
making important<br />
decisions and acting accordingly<br />
– without the ability<br />
to read even at an average<br />
level. Alarmingly, they add<br />
that this is true for almost<br />
100 mln people in<br />
America, which is as much<br />
as half the adult population<br />
of the USA. They<br />
conclude that it is impossible<br />
to overcome the major<br />
issues facing the American<br />
people today without making<br />
illiteracy history. Anyone of<br />
a responsible nature would<br />
surely wish them and their<br />
foundation well.<br />
Feeding<br />
Body & Mind<br />
In 2008 the Baldaccis<br />
formed a partnership with<br />
another charitable organisation<br />
called Feeding America,<br />
and launched Feeding Body<br />
& Mind. They saw a clear<br />
connection between poverty,<br />
hunger and illiteracy, so the<br />
idea behind Feeding Body &<br />
Mind was to tackle this widespread<br />
problem. Thanks to<br />
this scheme, over a million<br />
new and nearly new books<br />
have been collected and subsequently<br />
distributed amongst<br />
impoverished families via<br />
food banks.<br />
Brotherly Love<br />
David also joined the<br />
National Multiple Sclerosis<br />
Society when his sister, fellow<br />
author Sharon Baldacci, was<br />
diagnosed with this crippling<br />
disease. There is no doubt<br />
about it – Mr. Baldacci has<br />
enormous empathy with people<br />
in need.<br />
An Incomparable<br />
Character<br />
Synoptically, David<br />
Baldacci is incomparable.<br />
Combining formidable literary<br />
talent with legal expertise<br />
and an exceptionally<br />
philanthropic nature, this<br />
man has certainly made his<br />
mark on this world. He is<br />
certain to keep up the good<br />
work well into the future. <br />
involved in sth | involucrado en<br />
to join sb | aquí: acompañar<br />
to find out | descubrir<br />
struggle | aquí: batalla, lucha<br />
world-renowned | reconocido<br />
mundialmente<br />
charitable /ˈtʃærətəbl/ | benéfico<br />
to expand sth /ɪkˈspænd/ |<br />
expandir<br />
to increase sth | aumentar<br />
illiteracy | analfabetismo<br />
hard-hitting | contundente<br />
in a nutshell | en resumidas<br />
cuentas<br />
at an average level | en un nivel<br />
medio<br />
to overcome sth | superar,<br />
vencer<br />
to feed sth | alimentar<br />
to launch sth | presentar, lanzar<br />
hunger | hambruna<br />
to tackle sth | abordar, afrontar<br />
widespread | extendido,<br />
generalizado<br />
scheme /skiːm/ | programa,<br />
proyecto<br />
nearly | casi<br />
impoverished | empobrecido<br />
via sth | a través de, por medio<br />
de<br />
crippling | incapacitante,<br />
devastador<br />
in need | necesitado<br />
13<br />
People and Lifestyle
People and Lifestyle<br />
ESCANEAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
Ron White<br />
14<br />
If you want to get to know<br />
more information connected<br />
with training memory, there<br />
are a lot of tutorials run by Ron<br />
White, a mnemonist, who was<br />
the USA Memory Champion in<br />
2009 and 2010. One of the top<br />
memory experts in the world,<br />
he shares his experiences<br />
and gives other examples of<br />
memory techniques, like the<br />
Mind Palace, which is also used<br />
in the current BBC series by<br />
Sherlock Holmes who solves<br />
his crimes thanks to this mnemonic<br />
device. Check it out.
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
How to Learn<br />
English with<br />
Memory<br />
Tricks<br />
by Ewelina Błońska<br />
It is thought that memories<br />
are stored in our brains just<br />
as they are in computers.<br />
Unfortunately, human memory<br />
can be unreliable, and even<br />
though our teacher has presented<br />
new words to us and explained<br />
their meaning several times, the<br />
next day we feel like we are seeing<br />
them for the first time. Sound<br />
familiar? If you are expected to<br />
remember, learn, and instantly<br />
recall a lot of information, the following<br />
mnemonic devices will be<br />
a great help to you. Memory techniques,<br />
or mnemonics are ways of<br />
remembering information that is<br />
otherwise quite difficult to recall.<br />
Acronyms<br />
For memorisation, an acronym<br />
can simply be a pronounceable<br />
word or a combination of letters<br />
which constitute a cue to an item<br />
you need to remember. In other<br />
words, acronyms are words created<br />
by the first letters of a series<br />
of words. Let’s take a look at the<br />
following examples:<br />
Learning a foreign language is not<br />
a piece of cake. Luckily, there are<br />
various techniques that can improve<br />
your memory and help you boost your<br />
language skills. This time English Matters<br />
presents the most useful memory tricks<br />
that will stay in your head forever.<br />
As Canadian novelist Gilbert Parker once<br />
said: “Memory is man’s greatest friend<br />
and worst enemy.”<br />
to recall sth | recordar<br />
to boost sth | estimular,<br />
mnemonic | nemotécnico<br />
incrementar<br />
device | aquí: estrategia<br />
stored | almacenado<br />
optherwise | de otra manera<br />
unfortunately |<br />
ronounceable /prəˈnaʊnsəbl/ |<br />
lamentablemente, por desgracia<br />
pronunciable<br />
unreliable /ʌnrɪˈlaɪəbl/ | poco<br />
to constitute sth | formar<br />
fiable<br />
cue | pista<br />
meaning | significado<br />
in other words | es decir, dicho de<br />
instantly | al instante,<br />
otro modo<br />
inmediatamente<br />
People and Lifestyle<br />
15
People and Lifestyle<br />
Thanks to the acronym<br />
NEWS it is easier to remember<br />
the four cardinal directions,<br />
or points of the compass.<br />
N - north<br />
E - east<br />
W - west<br />
S - south<br />
If you struggle to remember<br />
what the difference<br />
between “affect” and “effect”<br />
is, the same technique can be<br />
useful. Just use the acronym<br />
RAVEN and remember the<br />
following pattern:<br />
Remember<br />
Affect<br />
=<br />
Verb<br />
Effect<br />
=<br />
Noun<br />
Psychology students may<br />
also have some difficulties<br />
mastering The Big Five<br />
Personality traits model, that<br />
consists of five factors: conscientiousness,agreeableness,<br />
neuroticism, openness, extraversion.<br />
If you use the acronym<br />
CANOE or OCEAN it<br />
is much easier to remember<br />
them.<br />
Storytelling<br />
Another great way to<br />
recall information on any<br />
subject is creating stories,<br />
where each word or idea you<br />
have to remember triggers<br />
the next piece of information<br />
you need to recall. The<br />
more bizarre and humorous<br />
the story and characters, the<br />
better for our memory. If you<br />
had to remember the words<br />
glass, coffee table, mouse,<br />
butter, and camera, you could<br />
create a chain of events that<br />
had a glass falling off a coffee<br />
table, onto a mouse which was<br />
standing on a pat of butter and<br />
you took a picture of it with<br />
a camera. Although it may<br />
sound quite weird, it is highly<br />
recommended to create funny,<br />
unexpected stories as these<br />
tend to be easier to remember.<br />
Association and<br />
Visualisation<br />
This technique links new<br />
information with old information<br />
stored in your long-term<br />
memory. You can also associate<br />
facts with images, which<br />
helps to make the information<br />
meaningful and aids in the<br />
organisation and structure<br />
of the material. For example,<br />
if the plane that we need to<br />
catch takes off at 2 p.m., we<br />
can imagine the plane in our<br />
mind, and notice that it has 2<br />
wings. Thanks to this, we can<br />
associate the two wings with 2<br />
p.m. and remember the takeoff<br />
time long after it has faded<br />
from our short-term memory.<br />
While learning a foreign<br />
language, this mnemonic<br />
device is crucial as well. For<br />
instance, if you have a new<br />
word like pelvis, you can<br />
imagine Elvis Presley moving<br />
his pelvis. Just add the letter<br />
p at the beginning and you<br />
will never forget pelvis, which<br />
means the curved group<br />
of bones at the level of your<br />
hips. Try to always visualise<br />
new words and remember them<br />
in context. For example: if<br />
your new word is “impolite”,<br />
you may write something like “the<br />
tall, impolite man”, which<br />
will help you to remember<br />
that “impolite” is an adjective<br />
and that it describes<br />
people. Don’t learn isolated<br />
vocabulary, because you will<br />
not know how to use it in the<br />
future.<br />
Another way of association<br />
and visualisation can be<br />
applied in learning prepositions,<br />
which can be confusing<br />
or even nightmarish for some<br />
students.<br />
• In winter – just notice in<br />
inside winter<br />
This refers to all the seasons,<br />
so thanks to this<br />
rule, you will never forget<br />
which preposition should<br />
be used.<br />
• On Monday – just notice<br />
on inside Monday<br />
This refers to all the days<br />
of the week, so again, you<br />
can easily remember the<br />
right preposition.<br />
Mind Maps<br />
This is a great technique<br />
for those who love to draw.<br />
A mind map is a hierarchical<br />
diagram used to visually<br />
organise information<br />
and show the relationships<br />
raven | cuervo<br />
to master sth | dominar,<br />
controlar<br />
trait | rasgo, característica<br />
conscientiousness | aquí:<br />
responsabilidad<br />
agreeableness | amabilidad<br />
to trigger sth | desencadenar<br />
bizarre | extraño<br />
character | personaje<br />
pat | porción, un poco de<br />
weird | raro<br />
to aid | ayudar<br />
to take off | despegar<br />
to fade | desaparecer,<br />
desvanecerse<br />
short-term | de corto plazo<br />
crucial //ˈkruːʃəl/ | esencial<br />
hip | cadera<br />
impolite | maleducado<br />
nightmarish /ˈnaɪtmeərɪʃ/ |<br />
catastrófico, horrible<br />
GREAT WAY<br />
TO RECALL<br />
INFORMATION<br />
ON ANY<br />
SUBJECT IS<br />
CREATING<br />
STORIES<br />
16
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
HOW ADVERTISING<br />
HAS CHANGED<br />
THROUGH THE<br />
YEARS<br />
CHARACTERS<br />
SMOKEY<br />
SUGAR<br />
CEREAL<br />
SWEETS<br />
NUTRIENTS<br />
FAT<br />
CARBS<br />
FIBRE<br />
CHICKEN<br />
BEEF<br />
PORK<br />
TURKEY<br />
TASTE<br />
CAKE<br />
SWEET<br />
VITAMINS<br />
PROTEIN<br />
MEAT VEG<br />
CRISPS<br />
MILK<br />
SOUR<br />
FLAVOURS<br />
SPICY<br />
SLOGANS<br />
FRUIT<br />
SAVOURY<br />
COUNTRIES<br />
STYLES<br />
AMOUNTS OF FOOD<br />
GROWN IN DIFFER-<br />
ENT COUNTRIES<br />
E.G. POTATOES<br />
HOW LONG CAN YOU<br />
DIP DIFFERENT<br />
BISCUITS IN TEA FOR?<br />
IRON<br />
POTATO<br />
CHEESE<br />
PIZZA<br />
PASTA<br />
BREAD<br />
PREFERRED<br />
FLAVOURS<br />
AMOUNT OF<br />
FOOD WASTED<br />
MEXICAN<br />
FRENCH<br />
SPANISH<br />
INDIAN<br />
CHINESE<br />
PACKAGING<br />
SHAPES &<br />
TEXTURES<br />
HEALTHY &<br />
UNHEALTHY<br />
MILES FOOD<br />
TRAVELS<br />
NUTRIENTS?<br />
FOODS USED?<br />
SIZE OF<br />
PORTIONS?<br />
DESIGN<br />
COLOUR<br />
ASPECTS<br />
OF FOOD<br />
PAPER<br />
PLASTIC<br />
GLASS<br />
HOW LONG FOOD<br />
LASTS<br />
HOW FOOD IS<br />
GROWN<br />
between them. It is often created<br />
around a single subject, drawn as an<br />
image in the center of the page, to<br />
which associated representations of<br />
ideas, such as images, words and parts<br />
of words, are added. If you want to<br />
revise vocabulary connected with<br />
food and cooking, this is a great way<br />
to do it. Just write FOOD in the center<br />
of the page and then start to draw<br />
lines and write down the words that<br />
you associ-ate with this subject. You<br />
can divide it into ways of cooking,<br />
kinds of meat, kitchen equipment etc.<br />
It all depends on your creativity and<br />
imagination.<br />
Mind maps are considered to be<br />
a type of spider diagram, and can<br />
also be used for revising and learning<br />
grammar. Some people can remember<br />
things better if they see pictures<br />
or diagrams. So, this device is great<br />
for all visual learners and drawing<br />
enthusiasts.<br />
Whether you are a beginner trying<br />
to learn new words, or a more<br />
advanced second-language learner<br />
trying to master language skills, mnemonics<br />
and various memory tricks<br />
can be very beneficial and useful.<br />
One should, however, bear in mind<br />
that not all students are the same, and<br />
the effectiveness of the above strategies<br />
really depends on various factors,<br />
like the learner’s personal characteristics<br />
(attitudes, motivation, prior<br />
knowledge, etc.), the vocabulary to be<br />
learned (type, complexity, difficulty),<br />
and the learning environment (the<br />
learning culture, support afforded to<br />
the learner, etc.). However, one thing<br />
is certain, you should try out a variety<br />
of approaches in order to finally<br />
find the most effective technique<br />
for you. <br />
to bear sth in mind | tener en cuenta<br />
prior knowledge | conocimiento previo<br />
environment /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ | ambiente,<br />
entorno<br />
approach | aquí: estrategia<br />
in order to | para<br />
People and Lifestyle<br />
17
Culture INTERVIEW<br />
So, you have been learning<br />
English for five, ten, twenty<br />
years now. You are making<br />
some progress with every passing<br />
year, but you also keep forgetting<br />
words and phrases, or occasionally lose<br />
the motivation to learn. For this reason,<br />
you may sometimes have doubts whether<br />
you are learning in the best possible way.<br />
Educational specialists have recently discovered<br />
that if you want to learn something<br />
relatively quickly, efficiently and permanently,<br />
you must learn in a brain friendly<br />
way. But what does this actually mean? To<br />
throw some light on the subject, we held<br />
an interview with Stella Collins, a<br />
recognised specialist in brain friendly<br />
learning and teaching.<br />
Be Friends<br />
with Your<br />
Brain<br />
by Emilia Królak<br />
English Matters: What does it mean to<br />
learn and teach in a brain friendly way?<br />
Stella Collins: What do you notice<br />
about learning something you enjoy? It<br />
might be a hobby, something you learn at<br />
work or perhaps a language.<br />
You will find you have a strong reason<br />
to learn; you actively seek relevant information<br />
and materials; you explore ideas<br />
and repeatedly test your skills. Because<br />
it is pleasurable, you repeat the activities<br />
and improve your skills or knowledge.<br />
You probably share your enthusiasm with<br />
others and perhaps even teach them. It feels<br />
natural and not like hard work.<br />
When you learn in a brain friendly way<br />
you are involved, immersed, fascinated<br />
and persistent. At the end of the day, your<br />
brain, and maybe your body, will feel as if<br />
they had a work out, but aren’t drained. At<br />
night when you sleep your brain starts to<br />
lay down long term memories, so you can<br />
build on them again the next day.<br />
For example, I’ve moved to Spain, so<br />
if I want to eat, work or communicate,<br />
I must speak Spanish. I explore Spanish<br />
in a multimodal, diverse way, and<br />
everything fascinates me. I test, practice<br />
and repeat my Spanish in real life<br />
situations, and I gain friends, food and<br />
information, so I’m rewarded too.<br />
Brain friendly learning is about designing<br />
and delivering learning that is natural<br />
and gets results. It helps to know something<br />
about the neuroscience and psychology of<br />
learning, you need a design and delivery<br />
process to ensure you cover all the stages<br />
of learning, and you can be creative and<br />
An interview with Stella Collins, author<br />
of the book Neuroscience for Learning and<br />
Development<br />
inspire your learners to create meaning<br />
for themselves.<br />
When you teach in a brain friendly way<br />
you create the physical and psychological<br />
environment to enable learning to happen<br />
naturally and then you stand back and let<br />
your learners do the work. You are there<br />
to motivate, support and keep people on track,<br />
but you can’t do the learning for them. It<br />
feels great because you can see change,<br />
development and excitement as people learn<br />
for themselves and get the results they want.<br />
<strong>EM</strong>: What advice would you give to<br />
people who want to learn English as<br />
a Second Language at home in a brain<br />
friendly way?<br />
SC: Immerse yourself. Speak and listen<br />
to English a lot; watch films, listen to audio/<br />
radio, use technology like Duolingo, read<br />
silently and out loud, think in English.<br />
Celebrate your mistakes and learn from<br />
them, repeat often and test yourself with<br />
quick quizzes. Act out scenarios, find<br />
activities in English, move whilst you learn<br />
to connect brain and body. A simple tip is<br />
set your phone to English and you’ll find<br />
you quickly learn without having to<br />
translate.<br />
<strong>EM</strong>: What are the key, brain-friendly<br />
methods of learning vocabulary and<br />
grammar?<br />
SC: Your brain processes patterns,<br />
so seek the patterns that occur naturally in<br />
language. Learn like children learn.<br />
They discover patterns because they listen,<br />
form a mental hypothesis, test it, note the<br />
response, adjust and keep using language<br />
in real situations. Native English speaking<br />
children can say ‘put on my hat’ and ‘put<br />
off going to bed’ long before learning the<br />
theory of ‘phrasal verbs’. Map out the<br />
patterns you find, draw and create mental<br />
pictures. Trying to learn lists of words or<br />
grammatical terms is difficult, dull and<br />
not productive.<br />
<strong>EM</strong>: How can we boost our motivation<br />
to learn?<br />
SC: Find a strong personal reason to<br />
learn, even if it’s something you’ve been<br />
neuroscience | neurociencia<br />
actually | realmente<br />
throw light on sth | arrojar luz, aclarar<br />
to seek sth | buscar<br />
pleasurable /ˈpleʒərəbl/ | agradable,<br />
placentero<br />
to improve sth | mejorar<br />
persistent | persistente, constante<br />
work out | entrenamiento<br />
drained | exhausto<br />
to lay down | fijar<br />
to cover sth | cubrir, incluir<br />
keep on track | mantener en el buen<br />
camino<br />
advice | consejo<br />
quiz | prueba, examen<br />
to act out sth | representar<br />
tip | consejo<br />
to map out | planear<br />
dull /dʌl/ | aburrido<br />
to boost sth | estimular, incrementar<br />
18
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
asked to learn at work – what will be a good<br />
result for you? Make the process enjoyable<br />
and part of your daily routine, so you create<br />
a learning habit. Set goals and reward<br />
yourself when you reach them. Often we’re<br />
presented with material that might be dull,<br />
so find ways to make it more fun. Draw<br />
pictures, create mindmaps, act out scenes,<br />
build models – whatever works for you. Our<br />
brains can’t work well without our bodies so<br />
use your body too – stand up, walk around,<br />
learn physically as well as mentally. And<br />
remember that as humans we are social, so<br />
work with other people who are learning<br />
too, and share what you know.<br />
<strong>EM</strong>: What is the role of emotions and<br />
stress in the process of learning?<br />
SC: Stress is bad for learning. It reduces<br />
your capacity for high level thinking and<br />
damages your long term memory. On<br />
the other hand, emotions make learning<br />
‘sticky’. When we feel motivated or curious,<br />
we release dopamine, a neurotransmitter<br />
that makes us feel good, and it’s addictive<br />
so we want more of it. Find a learning<br />
activity that makes you feel great and you’ll<br />
be happy to repeat it. For me, that’s talking<br />
to people in Spanish and seeing they<br />
understand; I feel happy, remember the<br />
experience better and want to repeat it, so<br />
it becomes a virtuous circle.<br />
<strong>EM</strong>: What else can we do to learn or<br />
remember better?<br />
SC: Memory is complex and there are<br />
many ways to improve it. Here’s a memorable<br />
set of ideas:<br />
• Link to what you already know. Build<br />
on your current neural networks rather<br />
than creating new ones. Make the links<br />
curious, multisensory and richly encoded.<br />
• Emotions are vital. What isn’t emotional<br />
usually isn’t important, so we don’t waste<br />
energy remembering it. Use your emotions<br />
to remember.<br />
• Anchors are links you create between<br />
ordinary actions or objects and your learning.<br />
It’s easier for your brain to process<br />
concrete information rather than abstract<br />
information, so connect a real chair with<br />
the word ‘chair,’ rather than translating<br />
one word ‘krzesło’ into another word<br />
‘chair’.<br />
• Repetition – neuroplasticity is<br />
repetitive firing of the same neurons<br />
together until they ‘wire’ together. You<br />
can never repeat enough, but you can<br />
improve the way you repeat; spaced<br />
repetition with breaks over time is more<br />
successful than<br />
massed learning, where you cram in all<br />
the information at once.<br />
• Novelty, anything new, makes us pay<br />
attention because it may prove to be something<br />
dangerous, and we only remember<br />
what we pay attention to.<br />
• Stories use all of these ideas to create<br />
a flow we remember better than a set of<br />
disconnected items. Your brain responds<br />
more strongly to stories than facts.<br />
Connecting ideas together to create<br />
a new word also helps you to learn, i.e.<br />
take the first letter from Links, Emotions,<br />
Anchors, Repetition, Novelty and Stories<br />
and you get the word LEARNS – that’s all<br />
you have to remember!<br />
We hope you will be inspired by<br />
Stella’s tips on how to learn in the way<br />
most favourable for your brain. Even if<br />
Stella Collins<br />
you cannot follow in her footsteps and<br />
move to an English speaking country to<br />
fully immerse yourself in the world of<br />
English, you can certainly do many of the<br />
things she mentions to learn in a wiser,<br />
more effective and pleasurable way. Good<br />
luck! <br />
to set a goal | fijar un objetivo<br />
mindmap | esquema, mapa mental<br />
to damage sth | perjudicar, dañar<br />
on the other hand | por otro lado<br />
to release sth | liberar<br />
dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/ | dopamina<br />
to waste sth | derrochar<br />
anchor /ˈæŋk ə( r)/ | aquí: enlace<br />
wire | conectar<br />
to cram in sth | apiñar<br />
Stella Collins<br />
Stella Collins is Creative<br />
Director at Stellar Learning<br />
and the author of Kogan<br />
Page’s sellout book<br />
Neuroscience for Learning<br />
and Development, already<br />
translated into three other<br />
languages, as well as many<br />
articles devoted to the<br />
subject of brain friendly<br />
learning in journals and<br />
magazines.<br />
She also founded the Brain<br />
Friendly Learning Group, a<br />
network for learning professionals<br />
with an interest in<br />
the brain. Stella says ‘There<br />
is no such thing as a boring<br />
topic – just boring training’.<br />
She has a BSc in<br />
Psychology, an MSc in<br />
Human Communication, is<br />
a Fellow of the Insitute of<br />
Training and Occupational<br />
Learning and has a business<br />
background in the IT industry.<br />
Contact Stella via<br />
www.stellarlearning.co.uk<br />
or follow her on twitter<br />
@stellacollins<br />
to found sth | fundar<br />
Culture INTERVIEW<br />
19
Culture<br />
Homeland<br />
or Homelands?<br />
by Owen Williams<br />
ESCANEAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
“Home is where the heart is” may make people<br />
feel at home, but it’s a long way from<br />
a country recognising them as citizens. How,<br />
when and where is citizenship possible?<br />
homeland | país natal, patria<br />
citizen | ciudadano<br />
citizenship | nacionalidad<br />
20
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
In Britain, the earliest surviving reference to a "safe<br />
conduct" document appears during the reign of Henry<br />
V, in an Act of Parliament dated 1414. At that time,<br />
documents like these could be issued by the king to<br />
anyone, whether they were English or not. Foreign<br />
nationals even got theirs free of charge, while English<br />
subjects had to pay. Needless to say, the monarch did<br />
not - and still does not - need a safe conduct document.<br />
www.theguardian.com<br />
Culture<br />
Affect or effect?<br />
If you’re unsure which word to use<br />
remember, ‘affect’ is almost always<br />
a verb and ‘effect’ is a noun.<br />
21<br />
FOT. DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
Culture<br />
Citizenship incurs<br />
the rights, rules<br />
and requirements<br />
of being a legally<br />
recognised member of a country.<br />
It is granted or gained in<br />
a number of ways, with almost<br />
all countries having different<br />
requirements regarding<br />
it. Some of these rules are not<br />
internationally compatible, so<br />
there can be cases where two<br />
countries both consider a person<br />
to belong to their nation<br />
and no other. Confusion can<br />
arise when a certain person<br />
meets the requirements<br />
of more than one country’s<br />
citizenship criteria. This can<br />
then lead to problems, if either<br />
or both of those countries<br />
do not recognise or allow<br />
multiple citizenship! On the<br />
other hand, there are many<br />
coun-tries which recognise<br />
individuals as being their<br />
citizens, and citizens of other<br />
countries at the same time.<br />
The Origins<br />
The complicated regulations<br />
of citizenship are<br />
a result of changing trends<br />
in migration. Until the end<br />
of the 1800s, citizenship<br />
was not really dwelled upon<br />
much. Following overseas<br />
travel, people returned to their<br />
homeland – the place where<br />
their heart was, and that was<br />
enough. This all changed<br />
after many Irish-Americans<br />
came from America to fight<br />
in Ireland, then got tried<br />
for treason by the British<br />
authorities who considered<br />
them British citizens. This<br />
led to the Expatriation Act of<br />
1868 in the USA, and similar<br />
acts in Britain and Canada,<br />
which allowed people to<br />
freely renounce their<br />
citizenship (meaning Brits<br />
who had become US citizens<br />
could no longer be charged<br />
with treason). Over the next<br />
century, until World War II,<br />
most countries outlawed dual<br />
citizenship for fear it would<br />
lead to diplomatic problems.<br />
Now however, many countries<br />
(especially those with<br />
high emigration) permit dual<br />
citizenship, by allowing their<br />
citizens to maintain citizenship<br />
despite gaining another,<br />
or by granting citizenship<br />
to others without requiring<br />
them to forfeit their original<br />
citizenship.<br />
Becoming<br />
a Citizen<br />
The most common way<br />
of gaining citizenship is ‘by<br />
descent,’ that is through a parent<br />
or grandparent. It’s recognised<br />
by almost all countries<br />
and does not require a person<br />
to be living in their homeland.<br />
In the UK for example,<br />
a child born to a British citizen<br />
(irrespective of the other<br />
parent’s citizenship) is also<br />
a British citizen, irrespective<br />
of where they are born. If they<br />
were born overseas, though,<br />
their children would not automatically<br />
be British. In other<br />
words, if a British citizen emigrates,<br />
their future children<br />
are eligible for British citizenship,<br />
but their grandchildren<br />
are not (unless they are born<br />
in the UK). None of this is<br />
affected by having another<br />
citizenship.<br />
Birth and<br />
Marriage<br />
Being born in a country<br />
automatically entitles you<br />
to that country’s citizenship<br />
far less commonly than was<br />
once the case. Most American<br />
countries allow this, but<br />
most other countries around<br />
the world do not, for fear of<br />
‘citizenship tourism.’ Still<br />
accepted in the US though,<br />
granted | otorgado, concedido<br />
gained | conseguido, adquirido<br />
regarding sth | con relación a<br />
to arise | surgir<br />
to meet the requirements of<br />
sth | cumplir los requisitos<br />
to lead to sth | llevar a<br />
to dwell upon sth |<br />
preocuparse por<br />
treason | traición<br />
to renounce sth /rɪˈnaʊns/ |<br />
renunciar<br />
to be charged with sth | ser<br />
acusado<br />
to outlaw sth | prohibir, ilegalizar<br />
despite sth | a pesar de<br />
to forfeit sth | renunciar a<br />
by descent | por descendencia<br />
irrespective of sth | sin importar,<br />
independientemente de<br />
though | sin embargo<br />
eligible for sth | con derecho a<br />
unless | a menos que<br />
to entitle sb to sth | dar derecho a<br />
UKMADRID<br />
Centro de Idiomas en Torrejón de Ardoz<br />
Preparación para exámenes Cambridge<br />
Business English<br />
Formación de Calidad<br />
912 474 027 - www.ukmadrid.com<br />
22
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
The Other Five<br />
Ways<br />
Challenge<br />
to a Duel<br />
a child born in the USA to<br />
a British parent, for example,<br />
would be entitled to dual<br />
American-British citizenship.<br />
Marriage is also a reason for<br />
citizenship to be granted (but<br />
citizenship is not a reason for<br />
marriage!) in many countries,<br />
although usually only a certain<br />
period of time after the<br />
wedding. In Poland, for example,<br />
a person living legally<br />
on a permanent residency<br />
permit in Poland for at least<br />
two years, can apply for citizenship<br />
after being married<br />
to a Polish citizen for three<br />
years (given that their Polish<br />
language skills are<br />
adequate). Poland does not<br />
forbid dual citizenship,<br />
but also does not recognise<br />
it. For example, a Brit who<br />
gets Polish citizenship<br />
through marriage would be<br />
treated as a Polish citizen<br />
(not a dual-citizen) by the<br />
Polish authorities, but would<br />
still be recognised as a Brit<br />
by the British authori-ties<br />
(and would be treated as<br />
either Polish, British, or both, by<br />
all other nations).<br />
permanent residency<br />
permit | permiso de<br />
residencia permanente<br />
to apply for sth | solicitar<br />
to forbid sth | prohibir<br />
varying | diverso<br />
substantial | importante<br />
former | anterior, antiguo<br />
to hold office | tener un<br />
trabajo importante<br />
to relinquished | retirado<br />
duel /ˈdjuːəl/ | duelo<br />
Naturalisation is possible<br />
in many countries. This is<br />
where citizenship is granted<br />
by the government to an individual<br />
for any reason. It’s governed<br />
by varying laws, but<br />
affects dual citizenship no<br />
differently than the other ways<br />
to citizenship. Citizenship by<br />
adoption is granted to children<br />
in the country of their parents.<br />
Citizenship through investment<br />
– where a substantial<br />
investment in a country gives<br />
the investor citizenship – is<br />
possible in Malta, Cyprus,<br />
Austria and many Caribbean<br />
islands. Religion is another<br />
way to citizenship. Most notably,<br />
Israel allows all Jewish<br />
people to become citizens. To<br />
do this, the individual doesn’t<br />
have to renounce former citizenship<br />
(dual is permitted)<br />
but they must use their Israeli<br />
passport when entering Israel.<br />
Finally, holding office in<br />
some countries (particularly<br />
Vatican City) automatically<br />
gives that individual citizenship.<br />
This is then relinquished<br />
when the term in office comes to<br />
an end. Due to its temporary<br />
nature, dual citizenship<br />
is essential in this situation.<br />
When original citizenship<br />
must be renounced because<br />
the original country does not<br />
allow dual citizenship, the<br />
person is granted Italian citizenship<br />
when their Vatican<br />
one expires.<br />
A long history of migration<br />
and occupation has led<br />
to the complicated regulations<br />
of citizenship around<br />
the globe. For most people,<br />
the issue is not complicated,<br />
as they take the citizenship of<br />
their parents, or the country<br />
they grow up in. When the<br />
parents hold differing citizenships,<br />
often the children<br />
can choose which to have, or<br />
keep both. Their children can<br />
then do the same,<br />
depending on where they<br />
live. Multiple citizenships<br />
are more widely accepted<br />
than before, but it’s still<br />
common for people to<br />
fight for additional citizenship<br />
to be granted. <br />
Vatican City<br />
Vatican City has<br />
the least citizens<br />
of any country,<br />
with fewer than<br />
1,000! China<br />
has the most,<br />
with ~1.4 mln,<br />
despite not<br />
allowing dual<br />
citizenship!<br />
Naturalisation is possible in many countries. This is where<br />
citizenship is granted by the government to an individual for<br />
any reason.<br />
The British Flag: a Symbol of Unity<br />
Did you know that the "Union Jack" or "Union Flag" is a composite design<br />
made up of three different national symbols?<br />
+ + = =<br />
St. George's Cross,<br />
the flag of England.<br />
St. Andrew's Cross,<br />
the flag of Scotland.<br />
St. Patrick's Cross,<br />
the flag of Ireland.
THE TOUGH<br />
GUY<br />
COMPETITION<br />
by Jorge Moreno Álvarez<br />
In today’s world, running is a<br />
popular sport. Many people<br />
believe that this type of sport is<br />
extremely effective and perfect for<br />
becoming fit, since it is such a<br />
healthy habit. However, this sport<br />
can be addictive for some, leading<br />
runners to participate in potentially<br />
dangerous competitions like the<br />
"Tough Guy." Does this<br />
competition sound familiar?<br />
The Tough Guy competition has<br />
been held in Staffordshire<br />
(England) since 1987. This<br />
extreme type of race is organized<br />
by Billy Wilson, who is ex-military<br />
and whose nickname is "Mr.<br />
Mouse." This, the toughest race in<br />
the world, is about 9 miles (15<br />
kms) with narrow tunnels, freezing<br />
pools, bonfires, electric cables,<br />
and other crazy obstacles.<br />
In total, these 30 fearsome<br />
obstacles demand overcoming<br />
physical and mental limits, which<br />
can bring about scrapes, burns,<br />
dehydration, claustrophobia,<br />
sprains, and twisted limbs or broken<br />
bones. What’s more, in 2000, one<br />
competitor suffered a heart attack<br />
brought on by extreme hypothermia<br />
and later died in the hospital. Maybe<br />
you should think twice before<br />
signing up.<br />
On the other hand, it is often<br />
said that this type of competition<br />
represents a personal challenge in<br />
which it is essential to not only to<br />
have the right training, but to have<br />
the courage to deal with its harsh<br />
conditions. It could be a lifechanging<br />
experience that awaits<br />
you.<br />
After all is said and done, it's<br />
important to understand that<br />
running in a "Tough Guy"<br />
competition is a difficult goal, and<br />
that it's perfectly normal to have<br />
doubts. Am I training enough? Will<br />
I be able to finish? A doubt may be<br />
knowing that half do not complete<br />
the competition. But the most<br />
important thing is to not give up,<br />
and, although it's difficult, to have<br />
fun!<br />
Are you really a tough guy?<br />
ENGLISH 4REAL<br />
tough /tʌf/ | duro, difícil<br />
race | carrera<br />
fearsome | imponente, aterrador<br />
overcoming | superación<br />
scrape | rasguño<br />
burn | quemadura<br />
sprain | esguince<br />
limb | extremidad<br />
to sign up | inscribirse<br />
challenge | reto, desafío<br />
harsh | duro, difícil<br />
to give up | abandonar<br />
ANGLÈS GENERAL Y PREPARACIÓ PER A<br />
24<br />
EXÀMENS OFICIALS DE CAMBRIDGE.<br />
Carrer de les Acàcies, 34<br />
Barcelona<br />
Tlf. 930 07 68 61
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
Today, it is still the world’s longest<br />
undersea tunnel. Known<br />
as one of the seven wonders<br />
of the modern world, it has<br />
a surprisingly long history.<br />
Over Two Centuries Old<br />
The first design for a fixed link between<br />
Britain and France was produced back in<br />
1802 by a French mining engineer called<br />
Albert Mathieu-Favier. He designed a tunnel,<br />
lit by oil lamps, for horse-drawn carts.<br />
In the 1830s another Frenchman, Aimé<br />
Thomé de Gamond, performed the first<br />
geological surveys for a tunnel. In the 1860s<br />
he presented his proposal for a mined railway<br />
tunnel to England. In 1876 England<br />
and France signed the first agreement to<br />
build the tunnel, and digging began in 1881.<br />
However, in 1882 the project was abandoned<br />
as British politicians expressed fears that<br />
it would compromise Britain’s defence.<br />
Many proposals were discussed and rejected<br />
over the years; not until 1987 did work<br />
begin on the successful Chunnel project.<br />
The Opening<br />
On 8 May 1994 the Chunnel was inaugurated<br />
by Queen Elizabeth II and President<br />
François Mitterand of France. It is mostly<br />
used by long distance electric trains, but the<br />
Eurotunnel Consortium also operates ‘Le<br />
Shuttle’, a special double-decker<br />
train service between<br />
Folkestone and Calais.<br />
Cars, coaches and trucks are<br />
driven onto the train and sped<br />
across the Channel in 35<br />
minutes.<br />
The<br />
‘Chunnel’<br />
Under the<br />
Water<br />
Steady Growth<br />
Passenger and freight traffic via the<br />
Chunnel has grown steadily. Since it opened,<br />
it has been used by the equivalent of five<br />
times the population of Britain, and over<br />
80 mln vehicles.<br />
The Downsides<br />
Sadly, the Chunnel has had its difficulties.<br />
Its eventual price tag – 9 bln pounds<br />
– was almost double the initial estimate.<br />
Moreover, its operations have been disrupted<br />
by both cold weather and fires, and<br />
many illegal immigrants use it to sneak<br />
into Britain.<br />
The Upsides<br />
The good news is that passengers can<br />
board a 300 km/h Eurostar high speed<br />
train in London and get to Brussels in<br />
2 hours, Paris in 2 hours 15 minutes, and<br />
even Amsterdam in 3 hours 40 minutes.<br />
The Chunnel is a vital link between the UK<br />
and Europe, and appears to have a<br />
secure and promising future. <br />
undersea | bajo el mar<br />
mining engineer | ingeniero de minas<br />
lit | iluminado, alumbrado<br />
horse-drawn cart | coche de caballos<br />
survey | aquí: estudio<br />
railway | vía férrea<br />
digging | excavación<br />
defence | defensa<br />
rejected | rechazado<br />
double-decker train | tren de dos pisos<br />
coach | aquí: autocar<br />
freight | cargamento<br />
eventual | final<br />
price tag | precio, coste<br />
estimate | aquí: presupuesto<br />
moreover | además<br />
disrupted | interrumpido<br />
to sneak into sth | colarse<br />
to board | embarcarse<br />
ESCANEAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
Culture<br />
Fact File<br />
In the summer, Eurostar operates<br />
a high speed rail service up to four days<br />
a week from London via the Chunnel<br />
to Avignon, in the South of France.<br />
The journey takes 5 hours<br />
42 minutes.<br />
by Jonathan Moore<br />
25
If you plan on going driving in a foreign<br />
country, you’ll likely need to pay the<br />
petrol station a visit once or twice. To<br />
make a trip to the pump as pain-free as<br />
possible, don’t be idle. Review English<br />
Matters’ list of common expressions to<br />
say at the petrol station.<br />
idle /ˈaɪdəl/ | vago<br />
Conversation Matters<br />
At the Petrol<br />
Station<br />
by Jonathan Sidor<br />
Things at the Station<br />
• Does your local petrol station have a vacuum cleaner?<br />
• While I fill the tank, could you clean the windscreen<br />
with a squeegee?<br />
• Most stations have an air compressor to take care of<br />
any underinflated tyres.<br />
• Before activating the pump, make sure the nozzle is<br />
completely inside your car’s petrol/gas tank.<br />
• My car could use a carwash once we’re through with<br />
this.<br />
• You’ll need to pay at the convenience store before you<br />
begin filling your tank.<br />
• The exact amount of petrol you’ve pumped and the<br />
price should be on the display next to your car.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
desinflado<br />
//neumático<br />
boquilla<br />
tienda<br />
cantidad<br />
monitor<br />
Asking the Attendant<br />
• Could I have £20 on pump number 5, please?<br />
• Do you only have regular unleaded petrol<br />
and diesel?<br />
• Is this a full-service station?<br />
• Is it possible to get my oil and tyre pressure<br />
checked here?<br />
• Fill her up!<br />
unleaded petrol | gasolina sin plomo<br />
oil pressure | presión de aceite<br />
tyre pressure | presión de los neumáticos<br />
FOT. DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM<br />
26
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
CONVERSATION 1<br />
A QUICK<br />
PIT STOP<br />
ESCANEAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
Mark: Guys, I think it’s time for a brief break. I’m going to pull<br />
in to this petrol station and fuel up. Does anyone want anything?<br />
Jill: I’d love a coffee from the convenience store.<br />
Andrew: Me too. I’m also quite hungry. Do you think they’ll<br />
have any of those petrol station hotdogs?<br />
Jill: Oh, I hope so. Tell you what, I’ll come in with Mark and<br />
get everyone coffee and snacks.<br />
Mark: Thanks, that would be a big help.<br />
Andrew: I’ll try to pull my own weight as well. I’ll get out and<br />
wipe the windows.<br />
Mark: I really don’t think that’s necessary. I washed them<br />
quite recently.<br />
Andrew: Nonsense, it’s the least I could do. There’s a squeegee<br />
in that bucket right over there.<br />
pit stop | parada técnica, alto en el camino<br />
to wipe sth | limpiar<br />
the least | lo mínimo<br />
Conversation Matters<br />
Phrasal Verbs for the Road<br />
• I usually fill up my tank once a week.<br />
• Stop at the next station so we don’t run out<br />
of petrol.<br />
• I think you just drove by the last petrol station<br />
for a while, so I’m not even sure if we’ll be<br />
able to get out of the city.<br />
• Even though we’re just sitting in the car while<br />
dad pumps the petrol, you should stay buckled<br />
up in case anything goes wrong.<br />
• It looks like a tight fit. I think if you back up,<br />
it’ll make the parking job easier.<br />
• I was waiting for a long time, but another car<br />
that just arrived cut me off, so now I have to<br />
wait a little while longer.<br />
to run out of sth | quedarse sin<br />
buckled up | abrochado con el cinturón<br />
Useful Utterances<br />
• I visit petrol stations quite infrequently<br />
because I have a fuel-efficient car.<br />
• He wanted to stay inside the car while I<br />
pumped. He loathes the smell of petrol fumes.<br />
• There was a long queue leading to the bay of<br />
the petrol station, so I decided to try coming<br />
back later.<br />
• After filling up, I’ll park the car over to the<br />
side so we can take a look under the bonnet<br />
(UK) / hood (US) to see if we can find what’s<br />
causing the problem.<br />
• My kids love going to petrol stations just<br />
because of all the fast food and sweets they<br />
can grab from the neighbouring stores.<br />
to loathe sth | odiar, detestar<br />
queue /kjuː/ | fila, cola<br />
bonnet (UK) / hood (US) | capó<br />
to grab sth | coger<br />
27
THE FULL<br />
TREATMENT<br />
CONVERSATION 2<br />
Conversation Matters<br />
Monica: Wow, Charles. I think this is one of those full-service<br />
petrol stations.<br />
Charles: You know, you’re right. Look, there’s even an attendant<br />
standing right there at the pump.<br />
Attendant: Hello, how can I help you.<br />
Charles: Sorry, we’re not used to this kind of service. Most of our<br />
petrol stations back home are self-service.<br />
Attendant: Don’t worry, we get that all the time. Would you like<br />
me to fill it up?<br />
Charles: Well, yes please. But we were also worried about one of<br />
our tyres, it feels a little flat.<br />
Attendant: OK, then once we’re done here, just drive your car over<br />
to our car park, and I’ll have a look. We have an air compressor and<br />
everything you may need to be on your way.<br />
Monica: My, I wish we had this kind of service back where we<br />
come form. You’d be the most popular station in town by far.<br />
Parts of a Car<br />
• The fuel warning light on the dashboard just lit up.<br />
We’d better find a station soon.<br />
• My fuel gauge never works, so I’d feel better if we<br />
stopped at a petrol station anyway.<br />
• Her car’s petrol tank is located on the driver’s side by<br />
the boot (UK) / trunk (US). You should find the filler<br />
cap close to the back.<br />
• Make sure the ignition is switched off before you begin<br />
pumping. It’s dangerous to leave the engine running.<br />
• I always turn off my headlights when I’m waiting for a<br />
pump at the station. I’ve always thought other drivers<br />
find the lights distracting and annoying.<br />
fuel warning light | l testigo, luz de la reserva<br />
dashboard | salpicadero<br />
fuel gauge /ˈfjuːəl ɡeɪdʒ/ | indicador de combustible<br />
boot (UK) / trunk (US) | maletero<br />
filler cap | tapón del depósito<br />
ignition | arranque<br />
switched off | apagado<br />
engine | motor<br />
headlight | faro<br />
to distract sb | distraer<br />
Mobile Phones<br />
at Petrol Stations<br />
At the start of the 2000s, as mobile<br />
phone use became more prevalent,<br />
an urban legend began spreading<br />
across the Internet. It claimed that<br />
using mobile phones at petrol stations<br />
would potentially set off explosions<br />
due to gas vapours interacting<br />
with the static electricity given off by<br />
the phone. Online posts cited news<br />
reports from Indonesia, Australia,<br />
or some other far-flung location, in<br />
which a poor soul suffered burns<br />
after talking on their phone while<br />
fuelling their car. Parents passed on<br />
the warnings to their children, and<br />
some petrol stations even posted<br />
signs advising against the use of cellular<br />
phones.<br />
Despite the fact that the belief<br />
gained widespread acceptance, does<br />
the story hold any water? Can your<br />
phone spark a fire at a petrol station?<br />
The verdict is a resounding “No.” Talk<br />
of any isolated incident that resulted<br />
in bodily harm has never been corroborated.<br />
After extensive experiments,<br />
scientists were unable to find<br />
any real reason why mobile phones<br />
might ignite fires at petrol stations.<br />
It seemed as if it had been a myth<br />
all along, and mass hysteria had<br />
helped fan the flames. But although<br />
it appears as if we’re in the clear, it<br />
never hurts to be safe, right?<br />
prevalent | frecuente<br />
to spread | extenderse, difundirse<br />
to set off sth | aquí: provocar, desencadenar<br />
far-flung | lejano, remoto<br />
poor soul | pobrecito<br />
to pass on sth | transmitir<br />
belief | creencia<br />
to hold water | tener sentido<br />
to spark a fire | provocar un incendio<br />
resounding | rotundo<br />
to ignite sth /ɪɡˈnaɪt/ | prender, desatar<br />
to fan sth | aquí: avivar<br />
FOT. DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM<br />
28
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
Petrol Stations<br />
Over Time<br />
Idioms about Fuel<br />
• Add fuel to the fire: to do or say something<br />
that makes a situation worse<br />
• Fuel up: to fill one’s petrol tank<br />
• Hit the gas: to accelerate, move faster<br />
• Gas guzzler: a vehicle that consumes a lot<br />
of petrol<br />
• Run out of gas: to lose one’s energy or motivation<br />
• High-octane: powerful and dynamic<br />
STARTING<br />
A LONG<br />
JOURNEY<br />
Attendant: Hello, sir. How can I help you?<br />
Phil: I’d like £30 on pump number 10. I’d also like to purchase two<br />
breakfast combos if possible.<br />
Attendant: Sure thing. Is there anything else I can help you with?<br />
Phil: Just a question about the petrol. Do you carry any premium<br />
unleaded?<br />
Attendant: As a matter of fact, we do.<br />
Phil: Fantastic. I’d also like to ask for directions. I’m trying to get to<br />
Glasgow. Do you know the fastest way to get there from here?<br />
Attendant: Of course. As you leave the station, turn left and continue<br />
on for another five miles or so. Then, you’ll see the signs for the motorway,<br />
and you’ll need to merge onto it heading north. Shouldn’t be too<br />
complicated.<br />
Phil: Thank you so much. I’ve been driving for hours and I still don’t<br />
feel like I’ve got out of London yet.<br />
It wasn’t too long ago when petrol<br />
stations really pampered those<br />
who rolled up and requested their<br />
services. Full-service stations were<br />
commonplace in the 50s and 60s.<br />
Having an attendant fuel your<br />
automobile for you sounds luxurious<br />
enough. Stations didn’t stop<br />
there, though. They would also<br />
offer a full range of services such as<br />
washing your windows, measuring<br />
the air pressure in your tyres, and<br />
checking your oil. In the UK, workers<br />
performing these services are<br />
known as petrol butlers.<br />
Today, however, much of that<br />
seems slightly impractical. A visit to<br />
the petrol station is often seen as<br />
a hassle, so people aren’t necessarily<br />
looking for an eye-opening<br />
experience. Speed is the priority.<br />
Get in, and get out. We want to pay<br />
ourselves and pump ourselves.<br />
Modern technology, like the growing<br />
acceptance of credit cards at<br />
petrol stations, continues to ensure<br />
an even speedier pit stop. For<br />
those looking to catch a glimpse<br />
of a bygone era, certain places,<br />
like Brazil and the US state of New<br />
Jersey, still employ full-service stations.<br />
to pamper sb | mimar<br />
to roll up | aquí: llegar<br />
commonplace | común<br />
range of sth | gama, variedad<br />
slightly | un poco<br />
hassle | molestia, engorro<br />
to catch a glimpse of sth | vislumbrar<br />
bygone /ˈbaɪˌɡɒn/ | pasado, antiguo<br />
CONVERSATION 3<br />
Conversation Matters<br />
to purchase sth /ˈpɜːtʃɪs/| comprar<br />
motorway | autopista<br />
to merge onto sth | incorporarse<br />
to head | dirigirse<br />
29
Girls’ Night<br />
out<br />
by Anna Słonina<br />
illustration Stasia Lebedenko<br />
Sally: Hi Emma. Getting ready for<br />
tonight’s fancy dress party?<br />
Emma: I could come,<br />
I guess, but just imagine<br />
Princess Leia with<br />
bloodshot eyes, runny<br />
nose, having a coughing<br />
fit; add a few violent<br />
sneezes and my<br />
beautifully styled buns<br />
would fall off my head in<br />
an instant.<br />
Conversation Matters<br />
Emma: Hi Sally, yeah…, about that… I<br />
don’t think I’m going to make it.<br />
Sally: What? Why not? We’ve been planning<br />
our costumes for weeks. What’s up with your<br />
voice? Have you been crying? What’s the<br />
matter?<br />
Emma: I’m feeling under the<br />
weather today. I think I’ve caught the<br />
flu or something.<br />
Sally: Oh, I’m so sorry<br />
to hear that! What a<br />
bummer!<br />
Emma: Yeah, I’d be more fitted for a<br />
“scruffy looking nerf herder”<br />
… or, better yet, Chewbacca! No<br />
one could see my fatigued<br />
face through all the hair.<br />
Sally: (Laughs) But you<br />
haven’t lost your sense of<br />
humour, so it can’t be<br />
that bad! I’ll tell you what<br />
– take an aspirin and get<br />
tucked in with a blanket<br />
and a cup of hot tea. I’m<br />
sure you’ll feel better.<br />
to get ready for sth – prepararse<br />
fancy dress party – fiesta de disfraces<br />
to cry – llorar<br />
to feel under the weather – sentirse mal, enfermo<br />
flu – gripe<br />
bloodshot – irritado, inyectado de sangre<br />
runny nose – secreción nasal<br />
coughing fit – ataque de tos<br />
sneeze – estornudo<br />
bun – moño<br />
to fall off – caerse<br />
what a bummer – ¡vaya mierda!<br />
scruffy looking nerf herder – pastor desaliñado<br />
(icónico insulto del universo de Star Wars).<br />
to tuck in – arropar<br />
blanket – manta<br />
to come by – pasarse<br />
Emma: Oh, I’m already<br />
doing that. But it still won’t<br />
make me look better! I<br />
really can’t be Princess<br />
Leia tonight.<br />
Sally: Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ve<br />
got a brilliant idea! I’ll come by in an<br />
hour and get us ready.<br />
30
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
Hostess: Welcome! I’m glad<br />
you could make it. I love your<br />
costumes! And the make-up!<br />
You’ve done an amazing job.<br />
Sally: Oh, Emma is not in the best shape today,<br />
so the pale face, dark circles under her eyes,<br />
bluish tint to her lips, all that was already there…<br />
Emma: Why thank you, Cruella<br />
Conversation Matters<br />
Sally: … I just had to add a touch of red face paint to<br />
make her skin look as if it was about to fall off.<br />
Emma: Yeah, I told her she should just stick slices of<br />
salami to my face, but she said you had a Golden<br />
Retriever and it could be a bit risky!<br />
Hostess: Oh, yeah,<br />
totally, you’re better<br />
off with the paint! Speak<br />
of the devil! Here’s my<br />
chubby little boy all<br />
dressed up!<br />
More dangerous than<br />
ever!<br />
pale – pálido<br />
bluish tint – tono azulado<br />
to stick – pegar<br />
slice – loncha<br />
Speak of the devil! –<br />
hablando del rey de Roma<br />
chubby /ˈtʃʌbɪ/ – regordete<br />
to dress up – aquí:<br />
disfrazarse<br />
Carrer de Sant Joan Bta. La<br />
Salle, 6 (Girona)<br />
academymaxwell@gmail.com<br />
Tlf. 872 98 96 55<br />
ACAD<strong>EM</strong>IA DE IDIOMAS<br />
Inglés para todos los niveles y edades.<br />
Sesiones de conversación y clases de<br />
grupos reducidos (69€/mes). Clases<br />
particulares (89€/mes para 1h/semana<br />
o 169€/mes para 2h/semana).<br />
Descuentos por segundo miembro de<br />
la familia.<br />
31
Sally and Emma:<br />
Aww, he’s adorable!<br />
Conversation Matters<br />
Sally: And slobbery as always! Stop licking my<br />
face! Oh, Goldy, knock it off or I’ll bite you and<br />
you’ll be Zombie-X in a second.<br />
Hostess: OK. girls, have fun at the party!<br />
Emma: Wow, I never thought I’d say this<br />
but I’m so glad I caught a cold!<br />
slobbery – baboso<br />
to lick sth – lamer<br />
knock it off – ¡para! ¡basta!<br />
to catch a cold – resfriarse<br />
32
y Owen Williams<br />
Mixed conditionals are a vital<br />
part of the English Language.<br />
They’re easy to get the hang<br />
of, on one condition: you first<br />
understand second and third<br />
conditionals.<br />
Mixed Conditionals<br />
For example: If I had superpowers, I would have joined<br />
The Avengers long ago.<br />
(In the imaginary present where I have superpowers,<br />
I imagine that my Avengers membership would<br />
have started in the (imaginary) past)<br />
if + past perfect, would + infinitive<br />
(a hypothetical present/future as a result of<br />
a hypothetical past)<br />
First things irst: second and third<br />
conditionals. The second conditional<br />
is used to describe<br />
a hypothetical present<br />
or future, dependant<br />
on another hypothetical<br />
present or<br />
future.<br />
[first clause] if + past simple/continuous, [second<br />
clause] would + infinitive<br />
for example: If I had super powers, I would join The<br />
Avengers.<br />
(I don’t have superpowers now, but in an imaginary present<br />
where I did, the consequence would be membership<br />
of The Avengers now or in the future)<br />
The third conditional describes a hypothetical past,<br />
dependant on another hypothetical past, as such:<br />
Language<br />
[first clause] if + past perfect, [second clause] would +<br />
have + infinitive<br />
For example: If I had learnt about mixed conditionals at<br />
school, I would have skipped this article.<br />
(I didn’t learn about mixed conditionals at school, so<br />
I started reading this article. In an alternative past, learning<br />
about mixed conditionals had the result of not reading<br />
this article)<br />
As with all conditionals, it’s possible to negate either or<br />
both clauses, or position them in reverse. Both second and<br />
third conditionals describe hypothetical situations. One<br />
wholly in the present/future, and the other in the past.<br />
Imagine however, a hypothetical past which affects the<br />
hypothetical present/future. Or conversely, a hypothetical<br />
present/future which affects the past. In these situations,<br />
second and third conditionals are split, then joined together<br />
in a mixed conditional. Simply follow the grammar of the<br />
first clause from one, then connect it to the grammar of<br />
the second clause of the other:<br />
if + past simple/continuous, would + have + infinitive<br />
(a hypothetical present leading to a hypothetical past)<br />
For example: If I had learnt about mixed conditionals at<br />
school, I would not be reading this article.<br />
(I didn’t learn about mixed conditionals at school, but in<br />
the imaginary past where I did, the result would affect<br />
the present, making a hypothetical present where I’m not<br />
reading this article)<br />
to get the hang of sth | pillar, coger el<br />
tranquillo<br />
dependant on sth | dependiente de<br />
to join sb | unirse<br />
The Avengers | los Vengadores<br />
membership | miembro<br />
to skip sth | saltarse<br />
in reverse | al revés, en orden inverso<br />
to affect sth | afectar<br />
split | divido, separado<br />
joined | unido<br />
leading to sth | que lleva a
Mixed Conditionals | EXERCISES<br />
Language<br />
A. Complete the second conditional sentences by putting<br />
the verbs in the correct tenses (you may need<br />
to add auxiliary verbs)<br />
eat, be, grow, win, live, have<br />
1. If I ……………… a superhero, I would help people<br />
in need.<br />
2. If I liked strawberries, I ……………… them<br />
everyday.<br />
3. If I could live anywhere, I ……………… in Japan.<br />
4. If I ……………… the lottery, I would quit my job.<br />
5. If I ……………… a garden, I ……………… lots<br />
of flowers.<br />
B. Complete the third conditional sentences by putting<br />
the verbs in the correct tenses (you may need<br />
to add auxiliary verbs)<br />
cry, join, invest, complete, read, have<br />
1. If I hadn’t forgotten her birthday, she<br />
……………… all evening.<br />
2. If I ……………… in Facebook, I would have<br />
retired when I was 21.<br />
3. If I hadn’t got married, I ……………… an internet<br />
dating site.<br />
4. If I hadn’t drunk so much at the weekend, I<br />
……………… such a headache on Monday.<br />
5. If I ……………… the article about mixed conditionals,<br />
I ……………… this exercise.<br />
D. Match the sentence halves to make six complete<br />
mixed conditionals<br />
1a. If I liked playing<br />
football<br />
2a. If I hadn’t bought the<br />
tickets<br />
1b. I would be playing in<br />
the park now.<br />
2b. we wouldn’t have<br />
gone on holiday.<br />
3a. If I wasn’t hungry 3b. I wouldn’t be in the<br />
Italian restaurant<br />
now.<br />
4a. If I was ill 4b. I wouldn’t be at the<br />
concert now.<br />
5a. If I hadn’t gone to<br />
school today<br />
6a. If I had known about<br />
the Chinese food<br />
5b. I would have gone<br />
to the football stadium.<br />
6b. I wouldn’t have<br />
ordered pizza.<br />
to quit sth | dejar<br />
to retire | retirarse, jubilarse<br />
internet dating site | página web de citas<br />
headache /ˈhedeɪk/ | dolor de cabeza<br />
allowed | aquí: admitido, autorizado<br />
advice | consejo<br />
to match sth | unir<br />
halves (pl. half) | mitades, partes<br />
to order sth | pedir<br />
C. Complete the mixed conditional<br />
sentences with the verbs in brackets<br />
1. If I ……………… (not cheat) at blackjack, I would<br />
still be allowed in casinos.<br />
2. If I were you, I ……………… (not go) to Turkey<br />
last year.<br />
3. If I didn’t have a fast internet connection, I<br />
……………… (not subscribe) to Netflix two<br />
months ago.<br />
4. If we had listened to her advice, we ………………<br />
(not be) in this mess now.<br />
5. If we ……………… (be) from England, we<br />
……………… (speak) English as children.<br />
Answers:<br />
A. 1 were, 2 would eat, 3 would live, 4 won, 5 had, would grow<br />
B. 1 wouldn’t have cried, 2 had invested, 3 would have joined,<br />
4 wouldn’t have had, 5 hadn’t read, wouldn’t have completed<br />
C. 1 hadn’t cheated, 2 wouldn’t have gone, 3 wouldn’t have subscribed,<br />
4 wouldn’t be, 5 were, would have spoken.<br />
D. 1a – 5b, 2a – 4b, 3a – 6b, 4a – 2b, 5a – 1b, 6a – 3b
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
Exploring<br />
New<br />
Orleans<br />
by Jonathan Sidor<br />
Travel<br />
ESCANEAR<br />
PARA<br />
ESCUCHAR<br />
New Orleans is a city of juxtapositions,<br />
jambalaya and jazz. Hop on our tour of<br />
“Nawlins,” as English Matters takes a bite of<br />
the Big Easy.<br />
jambalaya | paella típica de Luisiana<br />
to hop on | subir, montar<br />
35
Travel<br />
New Orleans, situated at<br />
the mouth of the mighty<br />
Mississippi River, is one of<br />
America’s most magnificent<br />
and mysterious cities. Its unique history<br />
and mélange of cultures rightfully makes<br />
it a tourist hotspot that should be on everyone’s<br />
bucket list. Once you book a visit,<br />
you’ll realise your toughest decision will be<br />
choosing what to see first.<br />
A History Lesson<br />
To fully appreciate the magic of New<br />
Orleans, some rudimentary knowledge<br />
of the city’s background would do you<br />
some good. New Orleans was founded by<br />
French settlers to the colony of Louisiana<br />
in 1718. It wasn’t until 1803 that the<br />
United States purchased all of Louisiana<br />
from the French, and New Orleans started<br />
to see a major influx of English-speaking<br />
residents for the first time. Many elements<br />
of French culture and language can still<br />
be found in New Orleans today.<br />
In 1815, British forces attempted to<br />
seize New Orleans but were repelled by<br />
soldiers under the command of Andrew<br />
Jackson, who would go on to serve as US<br />
President. Jackson became a hero of sorts<br />
to the people of New Orleans, and you’ll<br />
find many landmarks bearing his name<br />
throughout the city. Prior to the American<br />
Civil War, New Orleans thrived as a trade<br />
centre, since it was located at the mouth<br />
of the Mississippi River. It played a significant<br />
role in the slave trade, but the<br />
city also had the largest number of free<br />
African Americans in the country. New<br />
Orleans saw no devastating battles during<br />
the Civil War, so its rich historical<br />
architecture remains entirely intact.<br />
New Orleans is known for being<br />
a melting pot of all kinds of cultures.<br />
Throughout the city, the term “Creole”<br />
refers to people of any race who can<br />
trace their ancestry to the colonial French<br />
and Spanish who populated Louisiana<br />
before the area became part of the USA.<br />
Artists fell in love with New Orleans’<br />
bohemian climate, and flocked to the city at<br />
the turn of the twentieth century. Shortly<br />
afterwards, jazz music burst onto the<br />
scene, and New Orleans became<br />
internationally recognisable. The event<br />
having the largest impact on the city in<br />
modern times is Hurricane Katrina,<br />
which struck New<br />
Orleans in August 2015. About 80 percent<br />
of the city was flooded. Sections of the<br />
city still show signs of damage, but valiant<br />
rebuilding efforts are a testament to<br />
the love Louisianans have for their home.<br />
Creole Crowd-Pleasers<br />
The city of New Orleans is itself<br />
a major tourist attraction, but there are a<br />
number of delightful draws that bring in<br />
throngs of travellers every year. Its mostvisited<br />
section is the French Quarter,<br />
the original heart of the city. The iconic<br />
Bourbon Street, which many call a tourist<br />
trap, is home to several watering holes and<br />
eateries. It may come across as a tad gaudy<br />
and sleazy, but it’s still worth a glimpse.<br />
A leisurely stroll or a carriage ride<br />
mélange /meɪˈlɑːnʒ/ | mezcla<br />
hotspot | foco, centro<br />
bucket list | lista de deseos<br />
to book sth | reservar<br />
to realise | darse cuenta<br />
tough | difícil, duro<br />
rudimentary | básico<br />
background | origen, trasfondo<br />
founded | fundado<br />
settler | colono<br />
to purchase sth | comprar<br />
influx | influjo, afluencia<br />
to attempt | intentar<br />
to seize sth | tomar por la fuerza<br />
landmark | monumento, lugar<br />
emblemático<br />
to thrive | prosperar, desarrollarse<br />
melting pot | crisol, punto de encuentro<br />
ancestry | linaje, origen<br />
to flock | ir en tropel, acudir en manada<br />
at the turn of | a finales de<br />
to burst onto the scene | irrumpir,<br />
aparecer en escena<br />
to strike sth | golpear<br />
flooded | inundado<br />
crowd-pleaser | que agrada a la multitud<br />
major | gran<br />
draw | atracción<br />
throngs of | multitud de<br />
quarter | barrio, distrito<br />
watering hole | aquí: antro<br />
eatery | restaurante<br />
to come across as sth | parecer, dar la<br />
impresión<br />
Native Speaker<br />
Says<br />
New Orleans might have<br />
more nicknames than any<br />
other city out there. Most<br />
of them are used by native<br />
speakers, but are easy<br />
enough to remember:<br />
The Big Easy: possibly<br />
refers to the easy-going<br />
lifestyle found in the city.<br />
New Orleans has a much<br />
more relaxed mood than<br />
many other major cities.<br />
Crescent City: alludes to<br />
the curved course of the<br />
Mississippi River through<br />
New<br />
Orleans<br />
Nawlins: imitates how<br />
many locals pronounce<br />
the city’s name. Any visitor<br />
to New Orleans will be<br />
quick to notice the thick,<br />
sometimes incomprehensible<br />
accent of true-blue<br />
New<br />
Orleanians<br />
NOLA: a shortcut of New<br />
Orleans, Louisiana<br />
a tad | poco<br />
gaudy | ordinario<br />
sleazy | sórdido<br />
be worth | merecer la pena<br />
glimpse | vistazo<br />
stroll | paseo<br />
carriage ride | paseo en carruaje<br />
36
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
will let you soak in the 18th-century ambiance. You’re bound to<br />
stumble upon some live jazz music and tacky souvenirs, too. The<br />
neighbouring Royal Street is calmer, and boasts beautiful art galleries<br />
and antique stores.<br />
Right next to the French Quarter, you’ll find the Central Business<br />
District. While it’s essentially the financial district, it’s teeming with<br />
things for tourists. Most of New Orleans’ best museums are located<br />
here. Perhaps the most famous is the National WWII Museum.<br />
This serves as America’s official museum documenting the USA’s<br />
contribution to the Allied victory in World War II. A collection<br />
of multimedia exhibits makes the museum one of the city’s true<br />
treas-ures. What’s New Orleans’ connection to World War II, you<br />
may ask? Various amphibious landing craft, like Higgins Boats,<br />
were manufactured in Louisiana during the war, and locals are fiercely<br />
to soak in sth | sumergirse,<br />
impregnarse<br />
ambiance | clima, ambiente<br />
to stumble upon sth | encontrar,<br />
toparse<br />
tacky | hortero<br />
neighbouring | contiguo, cercano<br />
to teem with sth | abundar, rebosar<br />
The Allied /ˈælaɪd/ | Aliado<br />
landing craft | lancha de desembarco<br />
fiercely | intensamente,<br />
apasionadamente<br />
PREPARACION ESPECIFICA<br />
TRINITY ISEiii<br />
PREPARACION CAMBRIDGE y<br />
TODO TIPO EXAMENES<br />
Old New Orleans houses<br />
in the french Quarter<br />
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Beautiful view of Jackson Square<br />
in New Orleans, Louisiana
will leave a lasting impression. You can<br />
even explore the tomb of Marie Laveau,<br />
a voodoo queen interred in St. Louis<br />
Cemetery. For those who prefer something<br />
tamer, specialty shops like Esoterica,<br />
museums, and even churches of the occult<br />
are sprinkled throughout the city.<br />
Fans of the outdoors will be pleased to<br />
hear that New Orleans is one of America’s<br />
greenest cities. The sprawling City Park<br />
lets visitors catch their breath, and its<br />
sculpture garden elegantly blends art<br />
and nature. Audubon Park, named after<br />
famed naturalist J.J. Audubon, who lived<br />
in New Orleans for a number of years,<br />
houses its own zoo, golf course and stables.<br />
Even private estates, like the Longue<br />
Vue House and Gardens, feature stunning<br />
gardens that add to New Orleans’<br />
exquisite character.<br />
Travel<br />
proud of their pivotal role in the conflict.<br />
Other noteworthy museums in the area are<br />
the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the<br />
Ogden Museum of Southern Art.<br />
Regardless of where you go, there’s a<br />
laundry list of foods that are must-haves<br />
for anyone setting foot in New Orleans.<br />
Regional seafood specialties include oysters<br />
and crawfish. A po-boy is a popular type of<br />
sandwich made with something akin to<br />
French bread. Gumbo, a traditional soup<br />
with African roots, is also a hit. Those with<br />
a sweet tooth will likely run into bananas<br />
foster, a delicacy<br />
New Orleans is known for being<br />
a melting pot of all kinds of cultures.<br />
made up of warmed bananas atop vanilla<br />
ice cream drizzled with rum and other<br />
flavours. Amongst several foods showing<br />
off the city’s French influence are<br />
beignets, fried square-shaped doughnuts<br />
sprinkled with powdered sugar.<br />
Off the Beaten Path<br />
Visitors to New Orleans will likely<br />
be rewarded for choosing the road less<br />
travelled, too. For instance, trips to historic<br />
cemeteries in the Uptown and Tremé areas<br />
pivotal | esencial, fundamental<br />
noteworthy | importante, digno de ser tenido en<br />
cuenta<br />
regardless of sth | independientemente de<br />
laundry list | montón, lista interminable<br />
must-have | imprescindible<br />
oyster | ostra<br />
crawfish | cangrejo de río<br />
something akin to sth | algo parecido a<br />
to have a sweet tooth | ser goloso<br />
bananas foster | postre típico elaborado con<br />
plátano<br />
drizzled with rum | rociado con ron<br />
to show off sth | resaltar, presumir<br />
beignet | tipo de donut<br />
square-shaped | forma cuadrada<br />
sprinkled with sth | aquí: espolvoreado<br />
off the beaten path | fuera del trayecto turístico<br />
interred | enterrada<br />
tamer | aquí: menos emocionante, más suave<br />
sprinkled | aquí: repartido<br />
outdoors | aire libre<br />
to catch one’s breath | tomarse un respiro<br />
to blend | combinar<br />
to house sth | albergar<br />
stable | establo<br />
stunning | imponente, impresionante<br />
38
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
Thankfully, many New Orleans sights can be enjoyed<br />
without ever standing up. The city’s streetcars are some of<br />
the oldest in the United States. If you’re looking to head out<br />
a bit further, then a riverboat cruise would do you good. These<br />
cruises offer not only breathtaking views of the Mississippi,<br />
but they also have restaurants serving authentic New Orleans<br />
cuisine and live jazz bands that keep the atmosphere lively.<br />
If you’re willing to leave the city altogether, tours of pristine<br />
plantations and wild swamplands are a short drive away.<br />
Gaga Over NOLA<br />
You’d be hard-pressed to find a city that can combine<br />
disparate parts as seamlessly as New Orleans does. Whether<br />
you’re into urban architecture or natural beauty, rowdy bars<br />
or refined restaurants, a piece of history or a new novelty, New<br />
Orleans has got it all. It’s a modern city that has maintained<br />
some Old World charm. Everyone may be looking for something<br />
different once they arrive in New Orleans, but tourists<br />
and locals alike can agree that any experience in New Orleans<br />
will undoubtedly be unforgettable. <br />
Marie Laveau’s<br />
Mausoleum<br />
in St Louis<br />
Cemetery, New<br />
Orleans.<br />
TYPICAL SPANISH MISTAKES IN ENGLISH<br />
Give me it! No No, No!<br />
Although this is basic grammar, I have found that some<br />
intermediate students still make this grammar mistake.<br />
When in a sentence, we replace the object with the object<br />
pronoun we must always use the object pronoun before the personal<br />
pronoun.<br />
Let's make this point more clear with examples<br />
- Show me your passport or Show your passport to me - Show it<br />
<br />
to me! but never say: Show<br />
<br />
me it!<br />
- Give me my book! or Give my book to me! - Give it to me! and <br />
<br />
never say Give me it!<br />
<br />
- Send me the fax or send the fax to me! - Send it to me! and never<br />
<br />
Send me it!<br />
<br />
The same happens with the plural object pronoun<br />
<br />
<br />
- Give her the documents or Give the documents to her. Give them<br />
to her but never say Give her them! <br />
More examples<br />
- Pass me the salt, please - Pass it to me please but not Pass me it.<br />
- Bring some candies for the kids! - Bring them for the kids but not<br />
Bring the kids them.<br />
Hope it is clear now and hope this helps!<br />
Juan Manuel Leiva<br />
TEFL ENGLISH TEACHER<br />
http://alcalaenglish.es/<br />
Alcala de Henares.<br />
Phone contact +34 625483677<br />
OTHER AUTHOR´S BOOKS AVAILABLE AT AMAZON<br />
to head out | partir, ir<br />
cruise /kruːz/ | crucero<br />
breathtaking | impresionante<br />
pristine | aquí: puro, virgen<br />
swampland | marisma, pantano<br />
seamlessly | perfectamente, sin<br />
problemas<br />
rowdy | tumultuoso<br />
alike | por igual<br />
undoubtedly /ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli/ | sin<br />
duda<br />
unforgettable | inolvidable
From A to Z:<br />
Killer K<br />
by Katarzyna Szpotakowska<br />
To Kick or not to Kick<br />
• to kick the bucket – to die<br />
He had been taking drugs for ages. Finally, he kicked the bucket last week.<br />
• to kick your heels – to wait for someone for a long time<br />
I had to kick my heels for half an hour in the rain.<br />
• to kick somebody in the teeth – to upset/criticise someone who is already disappointed,<br />
or in a vulnerable position<br />
It was a kick in the teeth when Peter told me that I would not be promoted.<br />
• to kick the habit – to give up something<br />
I can see that you are still smoking? Are you planning to finally kick the habit?<br />
• to kick around – to have an informal discussion about something<br />
Yesterday, we kicked several topics around.<br />
• to kick off – to begin<br />
Let’s kick off with rehearsing the songs.<br />
• a kick in the stomach/guts – something that makes someone disappointed/upset<br />
It was a real kick in the stomach when our project was rejected without any explanation.<br />
to kick | patear<br />
bucket /ˈbʌkɪt/ | cubo<br />
drug | aquí: medicina, fármaco<br />
to upset sb | molestar<br />
disappointed | decepcionado<br />
to be promoted | ser ascendido<br />
to give up sth | dejar, abandonar<br />
to rehearse | ensayar<br />
gut | tripa, barriga<br />
rejected | rechazado<br />
knackered | hecho polvo<br />
kinky | pervertido, fetichista<br />
knotty | enrevesado<br />
lack of sth | falta de<br />
indeed | de hecho, ciertamente<br />
Adjectives starting with ‘K’<br />
Leisure<br />
• knackered – very tired (informal)<br />
To be honest, I’m too knackered to help you. I haven’t slept for 2 days.<br />
• kinky – referring to unusual/strange sexual behaviour (informal)<br />
There are a lot of people in this club wearing kinky clothing.<br />
• knotty – difficult (informal)<br />
Lack of funds, indeed, is a knotty problem in this situation.<br />
• knowledgeable – adjective used to describe someone who knows a lot<br />
I’m really impressed by him. He is so knowledgeable.<br />
• kind-hearted – kind and helpful, good to other people<br />
I love being around your family. Everyone is so kind-hearted.<br />
Pictionary<br />
keyboard kennel kettle<br />
Kingpin<br />
40
ENGLISH MATTERS 4|<strong>2018</strong><br />
knight | caballero, jinete<br />
Kingpin<br />
knot<br />
kitten<br />
knitting needle<br />
key ring<br />
knight<br />
knob<br />
villainous /ˈvɪlənəs/ | malvado<br />
evil | mal<br />
walking stick | bastón<br />
gold rush | fiebre del oro<br />
stampeder /ˈstæmpiːd ər/ | aquí: buscador<br />
de oro<br />
mainly | principalemnte<br />
to trek | hacer un viaje largo<br />
harsh | duro, hostil<br />
in order to | para<br />
to strike it rich | hacerse rico<br />
border | frontera<br />
supplies | provisiones, reservas<br />
treacherous | aquí: peligroso<br />
disease | enfermedad<br />
drowning | ahogamiento<br />
discouraging | desalentador<br />
to realise | percatarse, darse cuenta<br />
shelter | refugio<br />
influx /ˈɪnˌflʌks/ | afluencia<br />
The word ‘kingpin’ refers to a person who is the most important and powerful in<br />
an organisation. It also refers to ‘the Kingpin,’ a villainous character created by<br />
Marvel Comics. The Kingpin was an enemy of Spiderman and Daredevil. This<br />
New York lord of evil was well-built, and usually wore a white suit and had<br />
a walking stick.<br />
Klondike Gold Rush<br />
Gold was discovered in Canadian Yukon on Rabbit Creek, which soon<br />
became known as Bonanza Creek, in 1896. Tens of thousands of stampeders,<br />
mainly from the USA, decided to trek to the harsh land in order<br />
to strike it rich. Everyone who wanted to participate in the<br />
gold rush and cross the Canadian border was expected by the<br />
authorities to have the relevant equipment and supplies. The<br />
journey was tiring and treacherous, full of dangers such as<br />
diseases, avalanches, drowning. The weather conditions were<br />
discouraging. After reaching their destination, the travellers<br />
were often disappointed, when they realised that the stories of<br />
an abundance of gold were in fact exaggerated. Only few of the<br />
stampeders found gold, the rest had to concentrate on survival and<br />
building a shelter for the winter season. All in all, the influx of<br />
people had a positive impact on the development of the region (the<br />
establishment of Dawson City) and its infrastructure, and a negative<br />
impact on the environment. The Klondike Gold Rush ended in 1899.<br />
Leisure<br />
The Kooks<br />
The Kooks is a band from Brighton<br />
formed in 2004. The best known<br />
songs of the band include: Naive,<br />
You Don’t Love Me, Eddie’s Gun,<br />
Sofa Song, Sway<br />
41
Rack Your Brain<br />
by Katarzyna Szpotakowska<br />
Leisure<br />
1. Answer the questions to the text<br />
25 Reasons to Read Dickens<br />
a) What inspired Dickens to write some of his novels?<br />
b) Where did Dickens work when he was 12?<br />
c) What did Dickens criticise in his novels?<br />
d) Were the names of Dickens’ characters chosen randomly?<br />
e) Which Dickens’ characters are well-known internationally?<br />
f) Where was a theme park named Dickens World opened?<br />
g) Which novel is suspected to be a veiled autobiography of<br />
the author?<br />
h) What is the BBC’s Dickensian TV drama about?<br />
i) Did Dickens idealise some of his protagonists?<br />
j) Why are Dickens’ novels considered to be universal?<br />
Answer key:<br />
see the article 25 Reasons to Read Dickens<br />
randomly | aleatoriamente<br />
theme park | parque temático<br />
veiled | encubierto<br />
2. Match the idioms with their meanings<br />
a) to drive someone<br />
nuts<br />
1) to start again; to have a new<br />
beginning<br />
b) to run out of gas 2) to lose one’s energy or motivation<br />
c) to kick the bucket 3) to give up something<br />
d) to turn over a new<br />
leaf<br />
e) to add fuel to the<br />
fire<br />
f) to kick the habit 6) to die<br />
4) to upset/criticise someone who<br />
is already disappointed, or in a<br />
vulnerable position<br />
5) old age<br />
g) to kick somebody 7) to make someone crazy<br />
in the teeth<br />
h) autumn years 8) to do or say something that<br />
makes a situation worse<br />
Answer key:<br />
3. Do you know the meaning of the<br />
following words from the article<br />
Judging David Baldacci? Find them<br />
in the article and look them up in<br />
a monolingual dictionary.<br />
• gratitude<br />
• villain<br />
• incapable of<br />
• poverty<br />
Answer key:<br />
a)T; b)T; c)F; d)T; e)F<br />
• incomparable<br />
• ancestor<br />
• burglar<br />
• ruthless<br />
to outlaw sth | prohibir, ilegalizar<br />
dual citizenship | doble<br />
nacionalidad<br />
to gain sth | conseguir, adquirir<br />
• divine<br />
• struggle<br />
4. Homeland or Homelands?: mark the<br />
sentences true (T) or false (F)<br />
a) Until World War II, most countries outlawed dual citizenship<br />
for fear it would lead to diplomatic problems T/F<br />
b) The most common way of gaining citizenship is ‘by descent,’<br />
that is through a parent or grandparent. T/F<br />
c) Citizenship through investment – where a substantial investment<br />
in a country gives the investor citizenship – is possible<br />
only in Malta. T/F<br />
d) Poland does not forbid dual citizenship, but also does<br />
not recognise it. T/F<br />
e) The complicated regulations of citizenship are a result of<br />
changing trends in inheritance. T/F<br />
substantial | importante<br />
to forbid sth | prohibir<br />
inheritance | herencia, sucesión<br />
DELICIOSO<br />
DESNUDO<br />
QUERIDO<br />
ESCUÁLIDO<br />
HÚMEDO<br />
MAREADO<br />
CONSENTIDO<br />
AGRADECIDO<br />
DIVERTIDÍSIMO<br />
HUMILDE<br />
a)7; b)2; c)6; d)1; e)8; f)3; g)4; h)5<br />
bucket /ˈbʌkɪt/ | cubo<br />
to give up sth | dejar, abandonar<br />
to upset sb | molestar<br />
disappointed | decepcionado<br />
42<br />
YUMMY<br />
BARE<br />
BELOVED<br />
BONY<br />
DAMP<br />
DIZZY<br />
FUSSY<br />
GRATEFUL<br />
HILARIOUS<br />
HUMBLE
English Ma ters 5|2015<br />
Baked Egg Custard<br />
Ingredients:<br />
Pastry<br />
- 1 cup unsalted butter<br />
- 3/4 cup white sugar<br />
- 1 egg<br />
- 2 1/2 cups plain flour<br />
Egg Custard Filling<br />
- 4 eggs<br />
- 1/2 cup white sugar<br />
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract<br />
- 2 cups milk<br />
- nutmeg or cinnamon<br />
Directions:<br />
1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Grease the bottom of a deep-dish plate.<br />
2. Beat butter, sugar, and egg in a bowl until creamy. Blend in flour to form a dough, using your hands to knead it<br />
together.<br />
3. Roll pastry out on a lightly floured surface and place into the prepared pie plate so it covers the bottom and the sides.<br />
4.Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl using an electric mixer. Beat in vanilla extract. Gradually stir in cold milk until fully<br />
incorporated. Pour custard mixture over the pastry base and sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon.<br />
5. Bake in the preheated oven until custard is set and a sharp knife inserted near the centre comes out clean, about 45<br />
minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely before serving, at least 1 hour.<br />
pastry | masa<br />
nutmeg | nuez moscada<br />
cinnamon | canela<br />
to preheat | precalentar<br />
to grease | engrasar<br />
to beat | batir<br />
to blend sth in | incorporar<br />
dough /dəʊ/ | masa<br />
to knead /niːd/ | amasar<br />
to roll out | estirar con rodillo<br />
to stir in | incorporar<br />
to sprinkle | espolvorear<br />
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2 CLASES DE INGLÉS ONLINE<br />
1 - <strong>2018</strong> 2 - <strong>2018</strong> 3 - <strong>2018</strong><br />
Próximas publicaciones: enero 2019, abril 2019, julio 2019 y octubre 2019