Song 14: You worry me (Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats)

Song 14: You worry me (Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats)
(Level: B2 / Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / ***) 

Photo credit: rollingstone.com

Before listening / watching:

The following notes could be useful:

Nathaniel (David) Rateliff (born on 7 October 1978) is an American folk, rhythm and blues singer and songwriter based in Denver. 

If you are interested, you can go to N. Rateliff's official site to get more information.  Click HERE!

Vocabulary:
You gonna (very informal) = You're going to
ain't no water (very informal) = There isn't any water
to put... out: to extinguish     éteindre   (fire...) 
to get carried away: to lose (self-)control    s'emporter 
a getaway: an escape or quick departure (e.g. after committing a crime) or a short holiday       fuite    /  escapade
to be on the mend: to get better after an illness / an accident    se sentir mieux / être en voie de guérison



While listening / watching:


Watch the official music video by clicking HERE


If you want the lyrics, here is the lyric video: click HERE

No questions this time!  Enjoy the music! 

Why wouldn't you sing it along with your family or your friends? 

Chernobyl - Fire hits a post-nuclear wilderness

Chernobyl - Fire hits a post-nuclear wilderness
(Level:  B1 to B2 / Intermediate / **)

Photo credit: cnn.com

Before watching:

You are going to watch a BBC report focusing on a fire which had been raging until recently in large parts of the forest inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine...   A fact most people tended to ignore because of the coronavirus crisis...
Fortunately, it didn't reach the power plant. Yet, the conservation zone, which is home to rare animal and plant species, has been partially destroyed.

Map credit: bbc.co.uk

Vocabulary
the nuclear fallout: particles resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending onto the earth     retombées radioactives 
the red data book: a list of endangered species        livre rouge des espèces menacées 
ungulates: mammals with hooves (enlarged toenails)    ongulés  

a moose
Picture credit: ukrinform.fr 

a roe deer
Picture credit: en.wikipedia.org

A Przewalski horse
Picture credit: fr.wikipedia.org

While watching:

Answer the following questions:

1. What makes the exclusion zone in Ukraine a unique area?

2. What impact will the fire have had on the area?

You can also watch the report on the BBC site by clicking HERE







When you are finished, you can check your answers: 


1.
La zone d'exclusion autour de la centrale de Tchernobyl, désertée par l'homme depuis plus de 30 ans, est devenue un lieu où la nature a repris pleinement ses droits, avec une faune et une flore abondante. On y trouve, entre autres, toutes sortes de grands mammifères ongulés (dont des espèces rares) comme des chevaux de Przewalski, des élans, des chevreuils... 

2.
L'incendie aura un impact néfaste dans la région: 
- moins de sources alimentaires pour la faune, pour les grands mammifères;
- des plantes rares auront disparu... 
- on ignore en quoi les nouvelles pousses pourraient être différentes;
- la forêt détruite va mettre dix ans pour se régénérer.
- ... 

Song 13: Could you be loved? (Bob Marley)

Song 13: Could you be loved? (Bob Marley)
(Level: B1 to B2 / Intermediate / **)

Bob Marley
Photo credit: rtbf.be 

Before listening:


The following notes could be useful:

Bob Marley: born Robert Nesta Marley (Feb. 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981), he was a Jamaican singer, guitarist and songwriter  He is the most widely known writer and performer of Reggae music. Much of his music dealt with the struggles of the impoverished and/or powerless. Bob Marley is also renowned for the way in which he spread faith through his music.

He recorded  his first two singles in 1962 and Uprising  was his final studio album released in 1980.

In July 1977, he was found to have a wound on his right big toe, which he thought was from a football injury but the wound would not completely heal, and his toenail later fell off during a football game. It was then that the correct diagnosis was made. Marley actually had a form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, which grew under his toenail.

But he refused any treatment (or any amputation) because of his religious beliefs that the body must be whole and also because of the impact of an operation on his career.

His cancer spread to his brain, lungs and stomach. During the Uprising Tour in 1980, he collapsed while jogging in NYC’s Central Park.

He wanted to spend his final days in Jamaica but became too ill on his flight from Germany where he had tried to find medical help and comfort and died in Miama on May 11, 1980.

If you are interested, you can find more details about Bob Marley on his official site

Vocabulary
ya = you
to stumble: trébucher
you ain't gonna... (very informal) = you aren't going to...



While listening:

This is no real music video but at least you can read the lyrics as you are listening to the song. 

No question this time!  Enjoy, and sing along with your friends or family! 

Click HERE ! 



If you are interested, here is a LIVE VERSION !

Grammar: the Simple Past - pronunciation of final -ED + general use

Grammar: the Simple Past - pronunciation of final -ED   + general use 
(Level: A2 to B1  / Pre-intermediate  / **) 

Final -ED is confusing for learners of English. So here is a great lesson on how to pronounce -ED correctly with the regular verbs (Simple Past and Past Participle). 

You can find a more complete lesson about the Simple Past (regular and irregular verbs), its use, the pronunciation and some exercises on this blog: click HERE

Now, watch Leila from Love English with Leila and Sabrah teaching how to pronounce properly and do the test at the end.

Note: there is a transcription mistake of one phoneme in the test: the pronunciation of "helped" is  /helpt/ and not /helpd/.

You can also watch the video (and other lessons) by clicking HERE

Song 12: Beds are burning (Midnight Oil)

Song 12: Beds are Burning (Midnight Oil) 

(Level: B2 to C1 / Upper-Intermediate / ***) 

Midnight Oil
Photo credit: lemonde.fr 

Before watching / listening:


The following notes could be useful: 

Midnight Oil are an Australia rock band (Peter Garett - vocals, harmonica; Rob Hirst - drums; Jim Moginie - guitar and keyboard; Martin Rotsey - guitar and Bones Hillman - bass guitar).
The band issued their first album in 1978 and achieved later more popularity, even in the USA with the release of their 1982 album and well-acclaimed singles (Power and the passion / US Forces). 
They achieved their first Australian number one album in 1984 (Red Sails in the Sunset) whereas they topped Australia's singles chart for six weeks thnks to their subsequent EP album (Species Decreases).
The group then gained worldwide attention with their 1987 album (Diesel and Dust) and its singles (The Dead Heart and Beds are Burning). 
The band continued having global success with the subsequent albums until they disbanded in 2002. They held concerts sporadically during the 2000s and reformed in 2016. 

Lead singer and band leader Peter Garett (born on 16 April 1953) is a musician, environmentalist and politician. He is known to be active in anti-nuclear, environmental and indigenous causes. 

Beds are Burning is their 1987 hit single and the first track of Diesel and Dust. It is a song about giving lands back to an Aboriginal tribe. 

Vocabulary
Bloodwood: in Australia the name refers to distinct groups of trees (eucalypt). The name bloodwood for these trees stems from the dark red to brown gum  that accumulates on wounds on the trunks.

Bloodwood
Picture credit: amusingplanet.com

Bloodwood
Picture credit: pinterest.com

 Cuckatoo:  one of the 20 bird species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. Its name derives from the Malay word for these birds (kakaktua). They are similar to parrots but are on average larger.

Australian cuckatoos

Picture credit: natureaustralia.org.au

While watching / listening:

Watch the music video! Click HERE !

Words you never learn at school (4): American English words you should never use in Britain !

Words you never learn at school (4): American English words you should never use in Britain! 

(Level: B2 to C1 / Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / ***) 

Photo credit: lbc.co.uk

Before watching / listening:

You are going to watch a lesson by Leila from "Love English with Leila and Sabrah" focusing on some American English words that you can use as long as you are in the USA but that you must absolutely avoid in the UK because they are utterly rude and offensive. 



While watching / listening:

Now listen to Leila explaining what the American words are and what they really denote when used in Britain, causing people to react like Prince Charles in the picture or even worse! 

You can also watch the video by clicking HERE



After watching / listening:

Have a look at the pictures! 

- What do they show in the USA and in the UK?  
- What are the objects called?  What do they denote in both countries? 
- Why mustn't the American counterparts be used in the UK?
- What does "Trump" really mean?


1.

Picture credit: doodletogs.com

2.

Picture credit: 7esl.com

3.

Picture credit: 123rf.com

4.

Picture credit: moss.co.uk

5.

Picture credit: shutterstock.com

6.

Picture credit: france24.com

When you are finished, you can check your answers!

1.
Aux USA: a fanny pack 
En Grande-Bretagne: a bum bag 
  =  un sac banane
a fanny: à éviter en GB puisque le terme est une variante vulgaire pour se référer au sexe féminin...

2.
Aux USA: a period
En Grande-Bretagne: a full stop. 
    = point  (ponctuation) 

Exemple d'utilisation aux USA: I won't help him. Period.  ( Je ne l'aiderai pas. Point à la ligne!) 

L'équivalent anglais n'existe pas.  Donc, on ne dit pas: I won't help him. Full stop. 

En revanche, le terme "Period" au Royaume-Uni se réfère à la période des règles ou la menstruation; ce qui n'est en effet pas censé être un sujet de conversation!  

3.
L'adjectif "thick" utilisé aux USA pour dénoter la morphologie d'une personne plutôt "forte",  "aux formes généreuses ou voluptueuses"..   Tandis qu'il signifie "stupide" ou "bête" en Grande-Bretagne - Connotation très négative; une véritable insulte! 

4.
Aux USA: "pants" = un pantalon
En Grande-Bretagne: "pants" = caleçon ! 
                                "Trousers" = un pantalon



Autres mots
sous-vêtements en général: 
underwear (US/UK): both for men and women
knickers (UK) / panties (US) / lingerie (US/UK - bottom and top) :  for women only 
underwear (US/UK) / (under)pants (UK): for men 
                           
5.
Aux USA: a bum  = a homeless person   (un SDF)
En Grande-Bretagne: a bum = a butt / a bottom / buttocks  (le derrière / fesses / cul) 

Saying "I saw a nice bum" in London  won't have the same effect as in New York! 

6.
Aux USA: "to trump" = to override : dépasser / surpasser
En Grande-Bretagne: "to trump" = to break wind / to fart : faire un vent /péter/ lâcher une caisse...  

Aussi: trump = trump card  (atout au jeu de cartes / carte maîtresse).
What's trumps? = Quel est l'atout?
Diamonds / Hearts / Spades / Clubs are trumps!  (C'est) atout carreau / coeur / pique / trèfle
No trumps: sans -atout

Grammar: all 12 tenses in English

Grammar: all 12 tenses in English 
(Level: A2 to B1 / Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate / **) 

Leila and Sabrah
Picture credit:  Love English with Leila and Sabrah

This lesson is the ultimate grammar guide to all the English tenses! 

Watch, listen and make your personal notes! 


Click HERE to watch the lesson!


Don't forget to have a look at the other lessons in this blog for some practice!  


You can indeed find an interesting recap of all the tenses by clicking    HERE ... 

and a review as well by clicking HERE

Click also on this: 

Song 11: Every Breath You Take (The Police)

Song 11: Every Breath You Take (The Police) 
(Level: B1 / Intermediate / **)

The Police
Photo credit: rfm.fr 

Before watching / listening

The following notes could be useful:

The Police were an English band formed in London in 1977 and consisting of Sting (singer, bass guitarist), Andy Summers (guitarist) and Steward Copeland (drummer, percussionist). The band disbanded in 1986 and reunited briefly in 2007 for a world tour. They released five studio albums that saw critical and commercial success. 

Every Breath You Take was their fifth UK number one hit and first one in the US. It was released on the 1983 and last studio album Synchronicity.

Vocabulary

a bond: a binding element     lien 
to fake: to simulate      
to ache: to hurt    faire mal 
to stake a claim: to claim something      revendiquer quelque chose 
  

While watching / listening

First watch the music video!  Click HERE

Then have a second listen and fill in the gaps with the missing words!

Every breath you take
_________________________
Every bond you break
_________________________
I’ll be watching you

Every single day
Every word you say
__________________________
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you

Oh, can’t you see
_________________________
How my poor heart aches
With every step you take

Every move you make
_________________________
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you

Since you’ve gone I been lost without a trace
_______________________________________
I look around but it’s you I can’t replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying baby, baby, please...

Oh, can’t you see
___________________________
How my poor heart aches
With every breath you take

Every move you make
_______________________
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you

Every move you make
_______________________
I’ll be watching you

I’ll be watching you
I’ll be watching you
I’ll be watching you
   I’ll be watching you...

When you are finished, you can check your answers

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you

Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you

Oh, can’t you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches
With every step you take

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you

Since you’ve gone I been lost without a trace
I dream at night I can only see your face
I look around but it’s you I can’t replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying baby, baby, please...

Oh, can’t you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches
With every breath you take

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you

Every move you make
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you

I’ll be watching you
I’ll be watching you
I’ll be watching you
   I’ll be watching you...

Words you never learn at school (3) : British expressions to talk about ... sex

Words you never learn at school (3):  British expressions to talk about ... sex
(Level: B2 / Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / ***) 

Kate Middleton was...  shocked... 
Photo credit: dailymail.co.uk 

Before watching / listening

You are going to watch a lesson by Leila and Sabrah from "Love English with Leila and Sabrah" focusing on some English expressions and words used to talk about sex. 

British people don't like talking about sex because they find that embarrassing. So they use euphemisms to simply replace words referring to any sexual behaviour.

Of course, as was the case in the previous two lessons - "Words you never learn at school (1) and (2) -  the F-word (F**k) is to be totally avoided because it is utterly vulgar! 

Vocabulary

cheeky: audacieux / coquin 
cuddly: câlin
casual: occasionnel  

While watching / listening

Now listen to Leila and Sabrah giving a few typically British English words and phrases used to refer to kissing and having sex. 

They are the sort of words you’ve never been taught at school ! 

Listen carefully and try to remember as much as you can!

You can also watch the video by clicking HERE

After watching / listening

Fill in the sentences with the missing words / phrases! 

How would you translate them in French? 

Write six ways to say: "They had sex the last time they saw each other". 

-
-
-
-

More informal: 
-
-


Write two ways to say: "When I saw them, they were kissing passionately". 

-
-
                                                                         

 Complete: 
Father to child: "It's about time we talk about ..............................................
(= les choses de la vie / les cigognes et les choux) 





When you are finished, you can check your answers.

Five ways to say: "They had sex the last time they saw each other". 
-They had rumpy-pumpy ...   (Ils ont fait une partie de jambes en l'air) 
-They had a nookie ( ... idem)
-They had hanky-panky (Ils ont fait des galipettes)
-They got it on  / they did it  (Ils l'ont fait) 
More informal
-They had a shag / they shagged. (Ils ont tiré un coup / ils se sont envoyés en l'air) 
-They got laid (idem) 


Two ways to say: "When I saw them, they were kissing passionately". 
-...they were having a snog / ...they were snogging   (Ils se bécotaient) 
-...they were having a smooch / ...they were smooching (Ils flirtaient)

Complete: 
Father to child: "It's about time we talk about the birds and the bees. 
(= parler des choses de la vie / de cigognes et de choux) 

Boris Johnson discharged from hospital

Boris Johnson discharged from hospital 
(Level: B1 / Intermediate / **) 

Boris Johnson
Photo credit: time.com 

You are going to watch a BBC breaking news story focusing on Prime Minister Johnson being discharged from hospital.

Before watching

The following words could be useful:

to pay tribute to: to do homage to       saluer / rendre hommage à 

to owe one's life: to be indebted to someone for one's life    devoir la vie à qn.

recovery: the process of becoming well again after an illness or an operation  convalescence 

A ventilator 
Photo credit : cnn.com 

It was of great concern: people felt worried a lot about....    se sentir très préoccupé / inquiet 

the Foreign Secretary: the minister in charge of how the country deals with the foreign nations       le ministre des Affaires Etrangères.  

to deputize:  to appoint / act as deputy ( = a second person in command when the superior is absent)       suppléer / remplacer 

to hold one's breath: to wait anxiously (until the situation gets better)   retenir son souffle 

unlikely: improbable 

to be sitting (for the Parliament):  to be in a meeting      être en session parlementaire 

Chequers: the Prime Minister's country residence
Picture credit: itv.com

Dominic Raab; First Secretary of State and
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Photo credit: standard.co.uk 

While watching

Are the following statements true or false?

Justify your answers! 

1. Boris Johnson was discharged from hospital after he'd spent a week in intensive care.

2. Boris Johnson is now back to 10 Downing Street.

3. He got oxygen treatment on a ventilator. 

4. It takes longer to recover for patients who go on a ventilator. 

5. The First Secretary of State is in charge of the government this week.

6. Boris Johnson's fiancée is six months pregnant.

7. British Parliament is about to gather soon in the House of Commons.

You can also watch the news video on BBC News You Tube by clicking HERE.

When you are finished, you can check your answers.

1. Boris Johnson was discharged from hospital after he'd spent a week in intensive care.
FALSE: He was discharged after one week in hospital and three nights in intensive care. 
Il est resté une semaine à l'hôpital, dont trois nuits passées aux urgences. 

2. Boris Johnson is now back to 10 Downing Street.
FALSE: He is now in Chequers, his country house. 
Il est dans sa résidence secondaire à la campagne (Chequers). 

3. He got oxygen treatment on a ventilator.
FALSE:  He got oxygen treatment but not on a ventilator. 
Il a bien été oxygéné mais n'a pas été placé sur un respirateur. 

4. It takes longer to recover for patients who go on a ventilator. 
TRUE. Patients who go on ventilators are more serious cases although the situation varies from patient to patient. 
Oui, les patients placés sur un respirateur sont des cas plus graves. Mais un cas n'est pas l'autre. 

5. The First Secretary of State is in charge of the government this week.
TRUE. 
D. Raab is First Secretary of State AND Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. 
D. Raab est le Premier Secrétaire d'Etat ET Ministre des Affaires Etrangères

6. Boris Johnson's fiancée is six months pregnant.
FALSE. She's seven months pregnant.
Elles est enceinte de 7 mois.

7. British Parliament is about to gather soon in the House of Commons.
FALSE. Due to social distancing, the MPs won't get together in the House of Commons. The sitting will be virtual...  It's not decided yet. 
Le Parlement va se réunir mais certainement pas à Westminster, dans la Chambre des Communes, vu les mesures de distanciation sociale...  
La session parlementaire sera sans doute virtuelle...   Des décisions doivent encore être prises sur la manière dont cela va se passer.