To start the year off right, let’s take a look at someCelebrity New Year’s Resolutions.
(1)
“To be more sympathetic and generous.”
Ashton Kutcher – Actor and model
(2)
“Not to work so much” in 2013.”
J.J. Abrams - Filmmaker and TV show producer
(3)
"Not to sweat the small stuff.”
Kelly Ripa – Actress and TV host
Sweet! “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?”
Language Learning Section
At this time of year, everyone is saying “Happy New Year!” or “What did you do at New Years?” or “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?”
From the Celebrity New Year’s Resolutions we can get some pretty cool and natural English for talking with friends and colleagues.
Let’s take a look at the Question:
“What are your New Year’s Resolutions?”
The question is usually in the plural form but your answer can be singular (1 idea) or plural (2 or more ideas). Also, you probably noticed that the 'Celebrity Answers' all used short answers and omitted part of the grammar in their answers. This is quite common when answering the New Year’s Resolution Question.
Long style of speaking
(1)My New Year’s resolutions are “To be more sympathetic and generous.”
(2)My New Year’s resolution is “Not to work so much in 2013.”
(3)My New Year’s resolution is "Not to sweat the small stuff.” (expression: ‘not to sweat the small stuff’ = not to worry about the trivial, small, or unimportant things in your life)
Natural English Speaking Practice
“What are your New Year’s Resolutions?”
(1)”To be more sympathetic and generous.”
(2)“Not to work so much in 2013.”
(3)"Not to sweat the small stuff.”
Some Ideas to get you started:
(1)”To be more helpful and caring.”
(2)“Not to eat so much in 2013.”
(3)"Not to worry about the small things in life.”
Find a friend to practice this New Year’s Speaking Style this week. Also, ask everyone you meet and chat with online: “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?”
Write down or record their answers. I am sure you will get lots of new and interesting phrases and ideas. And of course, understand your friends better and find new ones.
So enjoy your week! And my New Year’s resolution is to make more friends on face book!
Christmas is almost here! Trees are decorated, parties are happening and Christmas music is everywhere! Justin Bieber’s song "Mistletoe"is back on the air and in the stores! It debuted in 2011 and is still on many people’s Xmas music play list. So don’t be surprised if you keep hearing this song wherever you go!
Check out the video and try to fill in the missing blanks below. Enjoy!
"Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber
It’s the most beautiful time of the year
Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer
I should be playing in the winter snow
But I'mma be under the mistletoe
I don’t wanna miss out on the holiday
But I can’t stop staring at your face
I should be playing in the winter snow
But I’mma be under the 1________
With you, shawty with you
With you, shawty with you
With you under the mistletoe
Everyone's gathering around the fire
2________roasting like a hot July
I should be chilling with 3________, I know
But I’mma be under the mistletoe
Word on the street 4________'s coming tonight,
5________'s flying through the sky so high
I should be 6________, I know
But I’mma be under the mistletoe
With you, shawty with you
With you, shawty with you
With you under the mistletoe
With you, shawty with you
With you, shawty with you
With you under the mistletoe
Aye, love, the 7_______followed the star
The way I followed my heart
And it led me to a 8________
Aye, love, don't you buy me nothing
'cause I am feeling one thing, your lips on my lips
That’s a merry, 9________
It’s the most beautiful time of the year
Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer
I should be playing in the winter snow
But I’mma be under the mistletoe
I don’t wanna miss out on the holiday
But I can’t stop staring at your face
I should be playing in the winter snow
But I’mma be under the mistletoe
With you, shawty with you
With you, shawty with you
With you under the mistletoe
With you, shawty with you
With you, shawty with you
With you, under the mistletoe, under the mistletoe
Kiss me underneath the mistletoe
Show me baby that you love me so-oh-oh
Oh, oh, ohhh
Kiss me underneath the mistletoe,
Show me baby that you love me so-oh-oh
Oh, oh, ohhh
Listening Answers
1. mistletoe
2. Chestnuts
3. my folks
4. Santa
5. Reindeer
6. making a list
7. wise men
8. miracle
9. merry Christmas
Ok, now go through the video one more time and answer the Comprehension Questions below. However to help you out, I have given you the meanings to some of the key slang terms from the song.
Slang Terms & Meanings from Justin Bieber
wanna = want to
imma be = I am going to be.
a "shawty" = a pretty girl.
Comprehension Questions
(1)What is mistletoe?
A plant; see picture of Mickey and Minnie under the mistletoe below.
(2)What usually happens under the mistletoe?
Christmas custom, any two people who meet under a hanging of mistletoe are obliged to kiss.
(3)Does Justin Bieber want a Christmas gift from his girlfriend?
No.
(4)What does Justin Bieber want to do for Christmas?
He wants to be together with his girlfriend under the mistletoe.
(5)What are some of the Christmas activities that Justin Bieber feels he ‘should be’ doing?
He should be: playing in the winter snow, chilling with his folks, making a list.
The latest release of Skyfall marked the 50th anniversary of the James Bond 007 film franchise. Currently Daniel Craig is starring as the legendary 007 British Spy. Adventure, intrigue, cars, women/men, futuristic gadgets, “saving the world” are all part of the James Bond "cloak and dagger lifestyle".
This week I started to wonder what it takes to be a real spy. So in the tradition of James Bond I based this Celebrity English feature on a mixture of MI5 and MI6 security services.
Here are some of the highlights I found.
Eligibility
Need to be a British citizen of the home country; however there are some exceptions.
21 years old (+).
Able to pass a high Security Clearance.
Pass the medical test; physical and mental.
Personal Attributes
Personal Integrity
Working with Others / Teamwork
Planning and Organizing
Analysis and Problem Solving
Leading and Decision-Making
Communicating
Innovative
Strong Desire to make a difference in the world!
Recruiting Areas
“The roles for which we recruit fall into the following areas:
Degrees ranging from Architecture to Zoology from 36 different universities have joined us as Intelligence Officers over the last two years. We also have opportunities for people with a range of technical, vocational or professional qualifications, from IT or Electronics to Carpentry or Accountancy.”
Common Jobs in the Secret Service
Intelligence Delivery Officers - Collecting, analyzing and reporting global secret intelligence.
Administrators - Assisting with the essential daily running of the organization, through a broad range of administrative tasks.
Technology - ensuring we have secure, innovative IT systems to communicate internationally.
Corporate Services - Working with a range of departments such as HR and Finance.
Language Specialists - Translating raw intelligence in many different languages and dialects from both written and spoken sources.
Benefits
Continued training in your field.
Salary similar to many other organizations. Depends on skill, experience, and performance.
Pension scheme comparable with the Civil Service.
Maternity and paternity leave.
25 days’ annual leave rising to 30 days after five years service (even a spy needs a few days off!)
Current Employment Vacancies
Business Analysts
Business Relationship Managers
Data and Information Professionals
Forensic Speech & Language Specialist
Internet Investigation, Exploitation and Cyber Security
Specialists
Portfolio Managers
Speech Technician
Strategy, Architecture, IT Security and Testing Specialists
IT Technical Operations roles
IT Service Management roles
Intelligence Officer
Project Managers
Service Desk Analyst
Information Specialist
Application Support Analysts
Network Systems Engineers
Administrator
Language Specialist
Transport Supervisors
Facilities Assistants
So now can you pass the test to become like James Bond?
Here are a few to try out:
(1)Try our Intelligence Officer challenge, which will test your ability to maintain a simple cover story.
Here are some common words you will hear in Spy Movies. Test Yourself for Fun! What do the following words mean? Just put a few notes or ideas beside each word.
Espionage
MI6
CIA
A spy
A terrorist
To do/conduct surveillance
A bug
Cloak and dagger
Answers and More Espionage Vocabulary!
Verbs
to be classified: something that is considered confidential or secret information; need a high level security clearance to view the information.
to do/conduct surveillance: the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime.
to stake out: to do surveillance.
to spy : to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes.
to have one's cover blown: you have been exposed as being a spy.
to keep/maintain a low profile: to behave in a way that does not attract attention.
to sabotage: something: the act of destroying or damaging something deliberately so that it does.
to destroy something : to cause (something) to end or no longer exist : to cause the destruction of.
Adjectives
undercover: acting or executed in secret; specifically : employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation <an undercover agent/police officer>.
clandestine: done in a private place or way : done secretly. <clandestine activities/organization>.
Nouns
Espionage: ,or spying, involves a government or individual obtaining information that is
considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information.
a spy: (1)one who keeps secret watch on a person or thing to obtain information (2) a person employed by one nation to secretly convey classified information of strategic importance to another nation; also : a person who conveys the trade secrets of one company to another.
an operative: a secret agent; a person who works toward achieving the objectives of a larger interest <political operatives>.
a bug: a small hidden microphone (listening device) that is used to secretly listen to and record people.
a conspiracy: an agreement by 2 or more people to commit a crime.
a covert operation : a plan made in a way that is not easily seen or noticed : secret or hidden.
a threat: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage.
a bomb: a device that is designed to explode in order to injure or kill people or to damage or something.
terrorism: the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal.
a terrorist: a person who uses or supports the use of terrorism <terrorist activities/attacks/bombings/threats> <a terrorist organization/group/network>.
a sleeper (agent): A sleeper agent is a person who is recruited to an intelligence service to wake up and perform a specific set of tasks or functions while living under cover in an area of interest.
a double agent: a spy pretending to serve one government while actually serving another.
Organizations
MI5: Military Intelligence, Section 5 - the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence.
MI6: Military Intelligence, Section 6 - the agency which supplies Her Majesty's Government with foreign intelligence.
FBI: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a governmental agency belonging to the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency (counterintelligence).
CIA: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence.
Military: of or relating to soldiers or the armed forces (such as the army, navy, marines, and air force)
Expressions
behind closed doors: in private; only the people in the meeting know the information.
cloak and dagger: dealing in or suggestive of melodramatic intrigue and action usually involving secret agents and espionage <a cloak–and–dagger novel>.
Until next week! Enjoy the Skyfall trailer and the original Dr No.
Black Fridayis coming this week on Friday Nov. 23!
What is it?
-Prices will be slashed and bargain shoppers will be lining up early at their favorite stores. Even celebrities like to shop for a deal!
When is it?
-This American shopping tradition occurs the Day After Thanksgiving (4th Thursday of November). Not an official holiday but treated like one unless you work in retail.
-Generally 5am start time is pretty standard but some stores will open earlier or even be open all night from Thanks Giving Eve. Check the company's website for times.
Where is it?
-Everywhere in America and catching on in other countries.
-At your favorite shopping store and at their website.
Who will be there?
-Friends, Family, Everyone! One of the busiest shopping days of the year in the United States. Expect long line-ups and chaos as people rush to get the best deals!
Why is it called Black Friday?
Black Friday – 2 ideas:
(1)Originally a slang idea/expression coming out of Philadelphia, USA: Black Friday was used to describe the idea of huge numbers of people and vehicles jammed packed on the streets the day after Thanks Giving. Everything seems black, not moving, and people’s tempers rise bringing out the worst in them. There doesn’t seem to be any light or space. The term had negative connotations.
(2)Currently, Black Friday, simply invokes an idea of bargain shopping. It is considered the first day of the Christmas shopping season. Retailers also claim that this is the first day of the year that their companies make a profit or are ‘in the black’. So, for retail companies from January 1 to Nov. 22 the stores are considered ‘in the red’ or not making a profit. These two expressions stem from older accounting practices where black pen ink was used for profit and red pen ink was used to show financial losses. Thus we have the term Black Friday or the day of the year when retail stores feel they are profitable.
How to get ready for Black Friday!
-Check out your favorite Retail Store for Black Friday Advertisements online and in the local newspapers and flyers. Moreover, social media like Face book, Twitter, Pinterest, You Tube, etc. is filled with Black Friday fun! There are also tons of apps out there! Just select a site you trust!
New to the United States?Here are some common 'Big Store Names' that everyone knows.
Some Common Casual Language for talking about what you are buying or looking for on Black Friday.
For the Shopper that knows what she or he wants on Black Friday.
I am going to buy an Ipod.
I am gonna buy a flat Screen TV.
I want to get a new laptop.
I wanna buy a pair of sneakers.
I’m buying a new set of sunglasses.
I’m looking for a bargain on watches.
I’m looking for a deal on coffee makers.
For the shopper with an idea of what he or she wants on Black Friday.
I’m gonna look for a Christmas present for my husband.
I am looking for something new in the way of winter coats.
I am going to take a look at the appliances.
I am going to take a look at what they have in the way of golf clubs.
I might pick up an espresso machine if they have any good deals on.
I think I might buy some new blouses if I see any at a good price.
Didn’t find what you where looking for on Black Friday?No problem! There is also Cyber Monday!
‘Back in the day’ a lot of people weren’t very keen to shop online or use company websites. So to fix this problem and capture email addresses, the retail community invented Cyber Monday in 2005. Cyber Monday occurs every year on the Monday following Thanks Giving Day. If you don’t believe me check outAmazon’s Cyber Monday Deals.
Well that is all for this week! Enjoy the shopping experience of Black Friday and Cyber Monday! Oh yeah and of course Thanks Giving with family and Friends!
