by Katy Perry

an American singer-songwriter who wrote this song with Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm and Ester Dean.  It’s from her 2010 album, Teenage Dream.

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,
Drifting through the wind
Wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards,
One blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?
6 feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there’s still a chance for you
‘Cause there’s a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

‘Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on, show ’em what you’re worth
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you’re a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh”
You’re gonna leave ’em all in awe, awe, awe

You don’t have to feel like a wasted space
You’re original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it’s time, you’ll know

You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

‘Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on, show ’em what you’re worth
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you’re a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make ’em go “Oh, Oh, Oh”
You’re gonna leave ’em all in awe, awe, awe“

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It’s always been inside of you, you, you
And now it’s time to let it through-ough-ough

‘Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on, show ’em what you’re worth
Make ’em go “Oh, Oh, Oh”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you’re a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make ’em go “Oh, Oh, Oh”
You’re gonna leave ’em all in awe, awe, awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon 

Vocabulary:

plastic –  a thin clear material
drifting – moving slowl
paper thin – very thin, thin as paper
house of cards – playing cards stacked to look like a house
caving in – falling down
buried – put under the ground
screams – loud yells
spark –  a small piece of fire
gotta – got to
ignite – set on fire
4th of July – U.S. celebration of independence
you’re worth – you deserve
shoot – fly fast
burst – explode
gonna – going to
in awe – very surprised
wasted space – someone who shouldn’t be here
original – the only one like you
replaced – put someone in your place
holds – will be
hurricane – strong windy storm
rainbow – beautiful arc of light
lightning bolt – electricity shooting across the sky
glow – shine brightly
brighter – with more light
boom – the sound of fireworks exploding

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

The history of the English language really started with the arrival into Britain of three Germanic tribes who invaded the islands during the 5th century CE. These tribes, the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes, crossed the North Sea from what is today Denmark and northern Germany. At that time the inhabitants of Britain spoke a Celtic language. Most of these Celtic speakers were pushed west and north by the invaders into what is now Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The Angles came from “Englaland” and their language was called “Englisc”, which is where the words “England” and “English” come from.  This is the beginning of the period we call Old English, also sometimes called Anglo-Saxon.  Old English did not sound or look like English today.  It would sound like a foreign language to a modern speaker of English.  Even though this is true, about half of the most commonly used words today have Old English roots.  Words like cow, house, oaf, pig, and woman, as well as Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday come from the Anglo-Saxons.  There were other influences, however.   “Martyr, bishop and font” came from Catholic missionaries of the time, and the Vikings gave us the words ransack, thrust, drag, die, give and take.

Middle English starts with the arrival of the Normans from north-west France in 1066 CE.  These people spoke an old form of French called Old Norman.  This is when a major change started to happen to the English language.  The inflectional speech (high-voiced syllables and low-voiced syllables) spoken by speakers of Old English started to break down.   At the same time the Royal Court and the business class didn’t speak English at all, but spoke their form of French.  Only the lower classes continued to speak English.  In the 14th century English became dominant again but with many French words added.  This language would also be very difficult for anyone to understand today.  An example of words from Old Norman are judge, jury, evidence, justice, beef, and pork.  In all, there are about 10,000 words that came from this language.

Towards the end of Middle English around 1500 CE, a sudden change in pronunciation happened.  People started pronouncing their vowels shorter and shorter.  This was the beginning of Modern English.  The Renaissance introduced the Greek and Roman cultures bringing vocabulary from their languages into the English language.  The invention of the printing press meant that the language in print had to be understood by everyone, which meant standardization.  Spelling, for example, was standardized in the first dictionary in 1604.  Not only spelling but grammar also became fixed.  Books became cheaper and more and more people learned to read.  The English of London, where most of the publishing houses were, became standard English.  Around 1800 a lot of vocabulary was added to the language from the Industrial Revolution and technology.  Because the British Empire was worldwide, the language adopted many words from other languages.  Even today new words continue to enter the English dictionary when the need arises.  Currently there are over 600,000 words in English.  Don’t worry about that, though.  The average university-educated person in North America only knows less than ten percent, or between 40,000 and 60,000 words.

Click on the audio recording below to hear the lesson.

Vocabulary:

by James Taylor

an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who has won 5 Grammy Awards.  This song is from his 1976 album, In the Pocket.

You can play the game; you can act out the part
Though you know it wasn’t written for you
Tell me how do you stand there with your broken heart
Ashamed of playing the fool

When one thing can lead to another
It doesn’t take any sacrifice
Oh father and mother and sister and brother
If it feels nice, don’t think twice, just

Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna turn out fine
If we only will; what I mean to say tonight is

Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way you feel
Things are gonna be much better
If we only will

You can run but you cannot hide
This is widely known
And what do you plan to do with your foolish pride
When you’re all by yourself alone?

Once you tell somebody the way that you feel
You can feel it beginning to ease
I guess it’s true what they say about the squeaky wheel
Always getting the grease; it’s better to

Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be just fine
If you only will now; what I mean to say to you is to

Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way you feel
Things are gonna be much better
If you only will

Oh, shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel    (repeat)
[Enjoy the rest of the song without any words]

Vocabulary:

act out – be like an actor
part – the character an actor plays
though – but
ashamed – feeing like you’ve done something bad
playing the fool – believing it was real love when it wasn’t
lead to – take you to
sacrifice – hard work
think twice – think that you are making the wrong decision
gonna – going to
turn out – become
Lord – God
widely – by most people
foolish pride – not wanting to think you’re wrong
by yourself – with no one else
once – when
ease – get easier
squeeky wheel – a wheel that makes a lot of noise when it’s used
damn – a word you say when something is giving you a problem
grease – an oil product used to stop squeeks

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Neil Pasricha

a blogger whose blog, “1000 Awesome Things,” is visited by millions of people.  The blog shows people the free, easy joys that make life sweet.  His blog has won two Webby Awards, the Internet’s highest honor.

First preview the vocabulary below.  Then do the exercise by first reading a single question and then listening for the answer.  When you hear the answer, pause the video and answer the question.  Then read the next question and do the same thing.  If you get the answer wrong, then go back to where the answer is given and listen again.

Vocabulary:

taking for granted:  accepting as normal
settled down:  decided to live in one place
sitcom:  funny TV show
tougher:  harder, more difficult
heavy:  serious
brink:  edge
collapse:  death, end
livelihoods:  ways to make money
challenging:  difficul
dark clouds:  sadness
the positives:  the good things
mood: general feeling
blogs:  websites where someone keeps adding new things
skyrocket:  go up very fast
fake:  not real
overshadowed:  made less importance
lumps and bumps:  troubles
doom and gloom:  hopelessness, sadness
move forward:  leave the past behind
hanging out with:  being with
centerpiece:  flowers in the middle of the table
embracing:  loving
authenticity:  being yourself
NFL:  National Football League
chicks:  women
fulfilled:  satisfied with life
atlas:  a book of maps of the world
fleeting:  passing quickly
© 2014 Ambien Malecot

Aimee Mullins learned to walk on artificial legs and then run.  She broke records at the Paralympic Games in 1996.   She is a model, actor, and supporter of women and sports.

First preview the vocabulary below.  Then do the exercise by first reading a single question and then listening for the answer.  When you hear the answer, pause the video and answer the question.  Then read the next question and do the same thing.  If you get the answer wrong, then go back to where the answer is given and listen again.

Vocabulary:

curious:  wanting to know
influences:  teaches indirectly
unruly:  without order, too excited
disabled:  unable to do normal things like walking
potential:  possibilities
attendees:  people who attend a conference
decade:  a period of ten years
form:  the shape of something
function:  what something does
aesthetics:  the beauty of something
numerous:  a large number, many
prosthetic:  an artificial body part
stunning:  very beautiful
transform:  change
polyurethane: a kind of plastic
door jams:  the top of doors
profoundly: very much
augmentation:  becoming better than normal

© 2014 Ambien Malecot

One of the most often asked grammar questions is about the difference between “you and I,” and “you and me?”  The problem is that there are two ways to refer to myself (I / me), and only one word for the person you’re talking to (you.)  Surprisingly, even native speakers of English make mistakes with this grammar.  Here is the rule with examples:

Use you and I before a verb.  Remember that the verb is always plural.  This usually happens at the beginning of a sentence.

Examples:
• You and I are going out tonight.
• Sometimes you and I argue, but it’s never serious.
• Maybe you and I should get an apartment together after we graduate.
• You and I often agree about politics.
• Next, you and I will visit the botanical gardens.

Also use you and I at the beginning of an independent clause followed by a verb.

Examples:
• When we were young, you and I used to walk to school together.
• After you get home, you and I are going to go shopping.
• We went to high school together, and then you and I went to different universities.
• Our friends are often late, but you and I are always on time.
• Because we like the same things, you and I should become friends.

Use you and me after a subject and verb.  This usually happens in the middle or at the end of a sentence.

Examples:
• Your sister saw you and me kissing last night at the party.
• The teacher gave you and me a math problem to solve.
• It took them more than a hour to find you and me.
• Remember when our parents let you and me sleep outside in the backyard?
• They thought their lies would make you and me fight, but they were wrong.

Also use you and me after a preposition.

Examples:
• The manager wants to talk to you and me after work today.
• This is between you and me.
• Our friends are throwing a party for you and me.
• She needs a ride, so I invited her to come with you and me.
• Remember that couple who was sitting next to you and me in the theatre?

An easy way to know whether to use you and I or you and me is to drop “you and.”  The sentence should still be correct.

Examples
Is that cake for you and me?
Is that cake for me?

She knows because she saw you and me together last night.
She knows because she saw me (together with you) last night.

You and I have to go.
I have to go.

When you and I get busy, we get a lot done.
When I get busy (with you), we get a lot done.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Many students have trouble with the word “even.”  Here is how it should be used.

Even in the positive means “do the most surprising thing of.”
It goes after the verb “be” but before any other single verb.  It goes between two verbs.

Examples:
• He’s very talented, isn’t he?  Did you know he even writes his own music?
• His daughter is even willing to move in and take care of him.
• He even has a signed portrait of the President.
• She can even stand on her head.

Even in the negative means “do the minimum thing of.“

Examples:
• My grandfather can’t even put on his own socks anymore.
• They won’t even answer my phone calls.
• She couldn’t even look me in the eyes when she told me.
• Do you remember when you wouldn’t even jump off the low diving board?

Even also goes before a noun and means “also the surprising thing of” in the positive.

Examples:
• Everything was red, even the icing on the cake.
• Even the president of the company was there to congratulate him.
• She brought everything with her, even her cat.
• That box isn’t so heavy.  Even my grandmother could lift it.

Even in the negative before a noun means “the expected thing of.”

Examples:
• Not even his own mother believed he was innocent.
• He never got sick, not even a cold.
• Not even the army could prevent the flood waters from entering the town.
• Our sailboat couldn’t move.  There wasn’t even a mild wind.

Even if is used when a condition makes no difference in a decision.  The condition that follows even if sounds like it would make the person change his mind, but it doesn’t.

Examples:
• Even if the thief were my brother, I would still call the police.
(I would call the police no matter who the thief was.)

• I don’t want to go for a bike ride even if it stops raining and the sun comes out.
(It doesn’t matter what the weather is like, I don’t want to go for a bike ride.)

• They want to go to Las Vegas even if they have to put it on a credit card.
(It doesn’t matter how they are going to pay for it, they want to go to Las Vegas.)

• Even if we apply today, our passports won’t come in time for her wedding.
(It doesn’t matter if we apply today, our passports won’t come in time for her wedding.)

Even though is used before a fact that would seem to make a result harder to.

Examples:
• Even though he was short  and stout, all the women seemed to like him.
• She passed the exam even though she hadn’t had much time to study.
• Even though snow covered the ground, it wasn’t a very cold day.
• My grandfather is in great physical shape even though he’s close to ninety years old.

Even when is used before a time that would seem to make something not true, but it’s still true.

Examples:
• Even when he was a boy, he was taller than anyone else his age.
(He’s been taller than others all his life, even as a boy.)

• She wears the earrings he gave her even when she is sleeping.
(Not even sleeping would make her take the earrings off.)

• Even when I stay up late, I’m not tired the following day.
(Not even staying up late makes me tired the following day.)

• She never stops talking even when she’s eating.
(Not even eating makes her stop talking.)

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

by Ash Koley

the lead singer in the Canadian band of the same name with guitarist and keyboardist Phil Deschambault.  This song was released in March of 2012.

Standing up straight; I’m ten feet tall
I like this look; I love you all 
A hundred feet off the ground it seems 
That a beautiful day is gracing me

Don’t let your feet touch ground 
And don’t look down; Oh, Oh 
Don’t let your feet touch ground 
And don’t look down; Oh, Oh

I pull my boots up to my knees 
No coats or hats, thank you please 
I dig up dirt and I find no wrong 
All while singing a silly song

Don’t let your feet touch ground 
And don’t look down; Oh, Oh 
Don’t let your feet touch ground 
And don’t look down; Oh, Oh

There are no mistakes 
Up in our secret place 
We’re not just getting by 
Everything is fine

Don’t let your feet touch ground 
And don’t look down; Oh, Oh 
Don’t let your feet touch ground 
And don’t look down; Oh, Oh

Don’t let your feet touch ground 
And don’t look down; Oh, Oh

Vocabulary:

off – above
gracing me – making my life better
boots – shoes that come up the legs
dig up dirt – find out something bad about someone
while – at the same time
silly – ridiculous, foolish
getting by – having just enough money but no more

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only  

Poker is spreading at a fast rate.  It is now the most popular card game in the world with over 150 million players, a third of whom live in the United States.  It is more popular than golf, billiards, or tennis.  In addition, it’s a game where both men and women have an equal chance of winning.  Because poker is 40% skill and 60% luck (as stated by the “godfather” of poker, Doyle Brunson,) anyone with the basic skills can win on any day.

Here is the vocabulary for the game of Texas Holdem poker, and as you learn the vocabulary, you will also get an idea of how the game is played.

Names of cards:

• Ace

• King

• Queen

• Jack

• Ten / Nine / Eight / Seven / Six / Five / Four / Trey / Deuce

Your position at the table:

• Dealer / On the button:  The last person to act, except for pre-flop bets.

• Small blind:  The first person to act, except for pre-flop bets.

• Big blind:  The second person to act, except for pre-flop bets.

• Under-the-gun:  The first person to act after receiving two hole cards.

• Under-the-gun-plus-one:  The second person to act after receiving two hole cards.

• Hijack:  The person 2 to the right of the dealer.

• Cut-off:  The last person to the right of the dealer.

General vocabulary:

• the deck:  all 52 cards

• your hole cards:  your 2 cards that nobody else can see

• chips:  the flat round things that represent money

• the button / dealer button:  the round white disk that is in front of the dealer

• your hand:  your 5 best cards

• your stack:  all the chips that belong to you

• the blinds:  the small blind of half a bet and the big blind of a full bet

• shuffle:  mix up the cards

• cut:  put the top cards of the deck on the bottom

• deal:  pass out the cards to everyone at the table

• burn:  put the top card in the deck face down on the table

• the flop:  the first 3 cards put face up on the table

• pre-flop:  before the flop

• the turn / 4th street:  the 4th card put face up on the table

• the river / 5th street:  the 5th or last card put face up on the table

• the pot:  all the chips that have been bet

• bet:  put the first chips into the pot

• all in:  a bet of all your chips

• check / pass:  not put chips into the pot

• call:  put the same amount of chips into the pot as someone else

• fold:  throw your cards into the middle of the table and not continue to play

• the muck:  all the cards that  players don’t want to play

• raise:  bet double or more what another player bet

• re-raise / 3 bet:  bet double or more what another player raised

• re-re-raise / 4 bet:  bet double or more what another player reraised

• bluff:  pretend that you have a good hand by betting

• suit:  the kind of card – spade, heart, diamond, or club

Hands:

• high card

• one pair

• two pair

• three of a kind / trips / a set

• straight

To read about the history of poker, click here.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

WILL and (BE) GOING TO are similar but different.  Here are the differences. 

WILL is used for: 

Promises:  things we promise to do in the future

Examples:
I will pay you back as soon as I get paid.
She told me she’ll be here by four o’clock.
I promise I won’t tell your parents you weren’t in school.
I will stop by after work and we can finish this.
Don’t worry.  I’ll help you when the time comes.

Facts:  things that are always true

Examples:
Water will boil at 100 degrees centigrade.
(Also:  Water boils at 100 degrees centigrade.)
Near the end of its life, a star will collapse into a tiny “white dwarf.”
(Also:  Near the end of its life, a star collapses into a tiny “white dwarf.”)
Don’t phone her now.  She’ll be asleep.
(Also:  Don’t phone her now.  She is asleep.)
More light will be needed to make this plant healthy.
(Also:  More light is needed to make this plant healthy.)

With expressions: probably, I think, I hope:  when we’re uncertain about the future

Examples:
He’ll probably fall asleep in the back seat.
I think they’ll be very happy together.
I hope you’ll reconsider your decision.

Volunteering:  doing something for someone else

Examples:
I’ll get the phone.
I’ll get a broom and clean it up.
I’ll make some sandwiches to take with us.
That looks heavy.  I’ll help you carry it.

Requesting:  asking for something

Examples:
Will you get some paper towels to soak this up?
Will you marry me?
Will you help me move this couch closer to the window?
Will you come with me to the immigration office?
(“Will” can be replaced  by “would”, “can”, and “could.”)

Refusing: saying no

Examples:
I won’t tolerate her bad behavior any longer.
I will not do your homework for you.
I won’t be coming to your graduation.  I’ll be out of town.
The professor says she will not accept any late papers.

(BE) GOING TO is used for:

Evidence: things that tell us that something is true

Examples:
It looks like it’s going to be another beautiful day today.
We’re not going to get in the restaurant for hours.  Look at that long line.
Stop driving so fast.  One of these days you’re going to get a ticket.
Be careful!  You’re going to spill your coffee.

Plans:  things we’re already thinking about.

Examples:
Tomorrow I’m going to look for a new pair of shoes.
We’re going to visit our relatives in Manitoba this summer.
How are you going to keep dry if it starts raining?
Who’s going to cook for us while mommy is in the hospital?
I’m going to be a fire fighter when I grow up.

Both WILL and (BE) GOING TO are used for:

Certainty:  things we are sure about

Examples:
I know you will like the present I picked out.
I know you’re going to like the present I picked out.
The boss won’t like what you’re doing.
The boss isn’t going to like what you’re doing.
You’ll be sorry.
You’re going to be sorry.

Predictions:  things we believe about the future

Examples:
I’m sure she will be here soon.
I’m sure she’s going to be here soon.
When he arrives, I know he will be tired.
When he arrives, I know he’s going to be tired.
Tomorrow it will be sunny.
Tomorrow it’s going to be sunny.
I’m certain he’ll do a good job painting the kitchen.
I’m certain he’s going to do a good job painting the kitchen.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot