Words you never learn at school (2) : swear words

Words you never learn at school (2):  swear words
(Level: B2 / Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / ***) 

Picture credit: goodmenproject.com 

Before watching / listening

You are going to watch a lesson by Leila and Sabrah from "Love English with Leila and Sabrah" focusing on the use of some English swear words which are ranked as mild or a bit more offensive. 

Since every swear word in the English language has been ranked in order of offensiveness (mild, medium, strong, the strongest), there are definitely words you should never use. 
They are considered to be utterly vulgar, too rude and therefore totally inappropriate ("the strongest" category).

A good example of such a word that you may know is what the Brits call the F-word (F**k). So never use it or its derivatives (motherf****er  or f****ing)! 

Remember: these words should never be used as they are... too vulgar! 

Vocabulary

bollocks / balls:  alternative vulgar words for "testicles".
Fudge: a type of confectionery made with milk, butter, sugar and flavouring... 
  

Fudge
Picture credit: greatbritishchefs.com

While watching / listening

Now listen to Leila and Sabrah giving an interesting array of "socially acceptable" swear words the Brits usually use. 

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

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

Click HERE to watch!

After watching / listening

Fill in the sentences with the missing words / phrases! 

They all express how frustrated you are! 

Oh ...............................  !   I forgot my keys at work! 
     ................................ !
     ................................ !
     ................................ !
     ................................ ! 
     .................................!
     .................................! 

........................!  I'm leaving!  (That's enough! I'm fed up with waiting in this queue!)

 We watched a film on TV last night! It was ......................! (It was rubbish!) 
 What a ........................ film that was! 







When you are finished, you can check your answers!


(Oh)  crap!                                                       I forgot my keys at work! 
        bloody hell!
        shit!     shite!

        my God!    my gosh!    my days!
        fiddlesticks!      fudge!
        balls!     bollocks! 
        bugger!   bugger it!             

Sod it! I'm leaving...  

We watched a film on TV last night! It was crap! 
What a crappy film that was! 

        

Song 10: Lullaby (The Cure)

Song 10: Lullaby (The Cure) 
(Level: B2 / Upper-Intermediate / ***)

The Cure
Photo credit: virginradio.fr

Before watching / listening

The following notes could be useful:

The Cure are an English rock band formed in 1978 with Robert Smith (songwriter ; lead vocalist ; guitarist) as the only constant member.

The band's debut album,Three Imaginary Boys (1979), placed the band in the new wave movement. With the second (17 Seconds – 1980) and third (Faith – 1981) albums, the band adopted a darker and more tormented style before they turned to more commercial pop music. 

So far, the band have released 13 studio albums and some live albums. Their 14th studio album is due to come out in 2020.  

If you want to get more details about The Cure, get to their OFFICIAL SITE

Lullaby is a 1989 single from the album Disintegration.

If a lullaby is meant to soothe children, or lull them to sleep, this one is sinister as it is about the march of a monster or giant spider ...  

Vocabulary

a lullaby: a song to calm / lull children to sleep       berceuse

candy-stripe(d) legs: legs with stripes (like on candy / sweets)  

          jambes rayées comme des bonbons 

blissfully: wonderfully / happily 

to shiver: shake or tremble uncontrollably as a result of cold or fear     frissonner  

fright: fear   peur / angoisse 

While watching / listening

First watch the music video.  Click HERE

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

On candystripe legs the spiderman comes
Softly through the shadow of the ___________________
Stealing past the windows of the blissfully dead
Looking for the victim ___________________
Searching out fear in the gathering gloom

And suddenly a movement ________________________!

And there is nothing I can do

When I realise with fright

That the spiderman is _________________________

Quietly he laughts and shaking his head

Creeps closer now

__________________________

And softer than shadow and quicker than flies

His arms are all around me and _______________________

"Be still, be calm, be quiet now my precious boy

Don't struggle like that or I will only love you more

For it's much too late ________________________

The spiderman is _______________________

And I feel like I'm being eaten

By a thousand million shivering furry holes

And I know that in the morning I wall wake up

In the shivering cold

And the spiderman ________________________

When you are finished, you can check your answers.

On candystripe legs the spiderman comes
Softly through the shadow of the evening sun
Stealing past the windows of the blissfully dead
Looking for the victim shivering in bed.
Searching out fear in the gathering gloom

And suddenly a movement in the corner of the room!

And there is nothing I can do

When I realise with fright

That the spiderman is having me for dinner tonight.

Quietly he laughts and shaking his head

Creeps closer now

Closer to the foot of the bed

And softer than shadow and quicker than flies

His arms are all around me and his tongue in my eyes

"Be still, be calm, be quiet now my precious boy

Don't struggle like that or I will only love you more

For it's much too late to get away or turn on the light

The spiderman is having you for dinner tonight. 

And I feel like I'm being eaten

By a thousand million shivering furry holes

And I know that in the morning I wall wake up

In the shivering cold

And the spiderman is always hungry. 

Words you never learn at school (1): swear words

Words you never learn at school (1): swear words 

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

Picture credit: daily.jstor.org 

Before watching / listening

You are going to watch a lesson by Leila from "Leila and Sabrah You Tube Channel" (Love English with Leila and Sabrah) focusing on the use of some English swear words which are ranked as mild or a bit more offensive. 

Every swear word in the English language has indeed been ranked in order of offensiveness (mild, medium, strong, the strongest). 

There are definitely words that should never be used because they are utterly vulgar, too rude or totally inappropriate ("the strongest" category).

A good example of such a word that everyone knows is the F-word (F**k) and its derivatives like motherf****er or f****ing !   

They should never be used as they are the most vulgar words. 

Vocabulary

bollocks: a vulgar word for testicles

to catch one's drift: to see what someone means    

     Do you catch my drift? = Do you understand what I mean?  

While watching / listening

Now listen to Leila who is giving an interesting array of milder,  socially acceptable and commonly used English swear words.

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 find more videos from Love English with Leila and Sabrah by clicking HERE

After watching / listening

Fill in the sentences with the missing words / phrases! 

More than one answer is sometimes possible! 

They went on a drinking spree. Obviously they were ............................................ (= their intention was really to get drunk (or get ...............................).

She slams doors when she's ..............................  (= angry). 

Oh, .................................................., I can't believe I forgot to phone her. 

We spent a .................................   awful holiday.

The boss told her off  for being late again = The boss ................................................for being late again. 

........................................!  You're saying you didn't get my texts! I don't believe you! 

........................................!  (a milder and more socially acceptable phrase for: "Piss off!" or "F***k off!").

I bought this new gadget! It's absolutely ...................................  ( = amazing / great...) !

I've been trying to call the ministry all day long!  I've had enough of it!  ..........................! 

She's been chatting on Messenger all evening: she's done .......................... (= nothing).

Their concert I attended last year was ......................................  (the best ever).

When you are finished, you can check your answers!

They went on a drinking spree. Obviously they were on the piss (= their intention was really to get drunk (or get pissed).

She slams doors when she's pissed off  (= angry). 

Oh, bloody hell / bleeding hell /  bollocks ...   , I can't believe I forgot to phone her. 

We spent a bloody awful holiday.    

"Bloody" as an intensifier (before an adjective); but also as an adjective in: We spent a bloody holiday. 

Also: We spent a bleeding / blinking / blooming / sodding...  (awful) holiday.

The boss told her off  for being late again = The boss gave her a bollocking for being late again. 

Bollocks!  You're saying you didn't get my texts! I don't believe you! 

Sod off! (a milder and more socially acceptable phrase for: "Piss off!" or "F***k off!").

I bought this new gadget! It's absolutely bollocks ( = amazing / great...) !

I've been trying to call the ministry all day long!  I've had enough of it!  Sod it! 

She's been chatting on Messenger all evening: she's done sod all (= nothing).

Their concert I attended last year was the dog's bollocks (the best ever).

What happens in an Intensive Care Unit?

What happens in an Intensive Care Unit?
(Level: B1 / Intermediate  / **) 

Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org 

You are going to listen to BBC health correspondent Laura Foster explaining how Intensive Care Units (or ICUs) work. 



Before watching / listening:

The following words could be useful: 

to monitor: to keep track of, to watch or check    contrôler / examiner...  
a (hospital) ward: a division in a hospital or a room...   salle d'hôpital  



While watching / listening:


As you are listening / watching, make notes about how an ICU works!

Watch the report (without English subtitles)! 

If necessary, you can also watch the report on the BBC site (with English subtitles): click HERE





When you are finished, you can check your answers

Suggestions de réponses

Les services de soins intensifs accueillent des patients souffrant de graves pathologies ou lésions à un ou plusieurs organes (coeur, reins, poumons...). 
Les patients du coronavirus souffrent de problèmes respiratoires...

Le matériel d'assistance y est conséquent et le personnel très qualifié! 

Les patients sont "reliés" aux machines par des tubes, cables, fils etc... pour contrôler leur état. 

On compte généralement un(e) infirmièr(e) par patient mais pas dans le contexte actuel du coronavirus...  

Dès que l'état général du patient est satisfaisant, il est transféré dans un autre service / département... 

Song 9: Stupid Girl (Garbage)

Song 9: Stupid Girl (Garbage)
(Level: B2 / Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / ***)

Garbage
Photo credit: bestclassicbands.com

Before listening / watching:

The following notes could be useful: 

Garbage: a Scottish-American rock group formed in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1994. 

The band consists of Scottish-born Shirley Manson and Americans Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig.

Garbage released a few successful singles in 1995-1996, including Stupid Girl. 

Their debut album, Garbage, sold over 4 million copies and was certified double platinum in the UK, the USA and Australia. Garbage won the Breakthrough Artist Award at the 1996 MTV Europe Music Awards. 

Garbage spent two years working on follow-up album, Version 2.0, which topped the charts in the UK and the following year was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Garbage then performed and co-produced the theme song to the nineteenth James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough.

Garbage's 2001 third album Beautiful Garbage didn’t succeed in matching the commercial success achieved by the previous albums.

After disbanding in 2003, Garbage regrouped to complete their fourth album Bleed Like Me in 2005. 

The band later announced they had not broken up and wanted to pursue personal interests. But they regrouped again in 2007 to release a greatest hits album before considering recording a fifth studio album in 2008. 

They later released Not your Kind of People in 2012 and Strange Little Birds in 2016.

If you want to get more details about the band, get to their official site.

"Stupid Girl" was a single released in 1996 from Garbage’s 1995 debut album. It became Garbage's highest charting single in the UK and the USA. The song was subsequently nominated for two Grammy Awards as well as an MTV Video Music Award and MTV Europe Music Award.

While listening / watching:


Watch / Listen and fill in the gaps with the missing words. 

You pretend you're ................. (1)
Pretend you're ................... (2)
Pretend you're anything
Just to be .................. (3)
And what you need
Is what you get

Don't believe in .................. (4)
Don't believe in .................. (5)
Don't believe in anything
That you can't break

You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you .................... (6)
All you had you .................... (6)

What drives you on
Can drive you ................ (7)
A million lies to sell ................... (8)
Is all you ever had

Don't believe in ................... (9)
Don't believe in ................... (10)
Don't believe in anything
That you can't waste

You stupid girl
You stupid girl
Can't believe you fake it
Can't believe you fake it

Don't believe in .................... (11)
Don't believe in .................... (12)
Don't believe in anyone
That you can't tame

You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted
All you had you wasted
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
Can't believe you fake it
Can't believe you fake it

You stupid girl

Click HERE to watch the music video! 








When you are finished, you can check your answers!

You pretend you're high (1)
Pretend you're bored (2)
Pretend you're anything
Just to be adored (3)
And what you need
Is what you get

Don't believe in fear (4)
Don't believe in faith (5)
Don't believe in anything
That you can't break

You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted (6)
All you had you wasted (6)

What drives you on
Can drive you mad (7)
A million lies to sell yourself (8)
Is all you ever had

Don't believe in love (9)
Don't believe in hate (10)
Don't belive in anything
That you can't waste

You stupid girl
You stupid girl
Can't believe you fake it
Can't believe you fake it

Don't believe in fear (11)
Don't believe in pain (12)
Don't believe in anyone
That you can't tame

You stupid girl
You stupid girl
All you had you wasted
All you had you wasted
You stupid girl
You stupid girl
Can't believe you fake it
Can't believe you fake it

You stupid girl

MAKE and DO

Collocations with make and do
(Level: B1  / Intermediate  / **)

Picture credit: expressoenglish.net

Before watching:

You are going to watch two videos from Leila and Sabrah You Tube channel (Love English with Leila and Sabrah).

They both focus on collocations, i.e. when two words get together to make a whole.

In this case the collocations are made up of the verbs "make" (video 1) and "do" (video 2) + a noun.



While watching:

Try to remember as many collocations as possible!
Listen to the explanations! 


Video 1: collocations with "make"

Video 2: collocations with "do"

After watching:


Complete the sentences with a form of make or do!

I ....................... a complaint because the neighbours were always .......................... noise at night.

When he saw the killers, he ............................ a break for the exit. 

The accused can  ............................. an admission of guilt or plead not guilty.

Could you ........................ me a favour?

I helped that old lady ...................... her shopping! I ..................... a good deed!

The scientist ....................a report on his observations in the lab.

You really .................... badly in your examinations! You should ................. better in September when you have your resits. 

It's 10.30. I'd like to ................... myself a good cuppa ( = a cup of tea). Would you like me to .................... you one too? 

When you use collocations in English, you may ....................... mistakes because they are not always easy to remember! 

OK, it's late! Let's get back home!  Who ..................... the driving? I don't because I think I've drunk a bit too much! 

The country expects its citizens to ................... their duty. 

When they ...................... threats to get my money, I .................... them believe I ........................karate. 


Replace the underlined parts in the sentences with a collocation that expresses the same idea! 

Her granny always gives her a lot of attention when she drops by. 

I almost stood up and sang but I decided I didn't want to be ridiculous. 

Recent discoveries about corruption have brought about a bad image to the President's reputation. 

Scientists are now doing a lot of experiments to find a vaccine against Covid-19.

He wanted revenge on those who had mistreated him. 

As a manager, he always dealt with his employees and workers in a kind way. 
He behaved badly with his servants. 

Stop working on people's nerves and complaining about unimportant things!

Phone me as soon as you get her news! 

She washes her clothes every weekend. 

Did that guy really try to attract you?  But he's twice your age! 

They had sex shortly after they met. 

I want to bring about the fact that you are always late! 

I'm used to having at least 10 push-ups  when I get up. 

Push-ups
Photo credit: fitme-fityou.com 

DO or MAKE?  Complete the collocations! 

................ research
................ harm      (+ give the opposite: ........................................)
................ a Spanish course
................ a profit   ( + give the opposite: .........................................)
................ stretches
................ the paperwork
................ a crossword
................ business
................ the ironing
................ a comment
................ a deal 
................ something right ( + give the opposite: ................................)
................ the cleaning
................ yoga
................ a joke
................ a mess
................ exercise
................ a rude gesture
................ a statement
................ amends
................ an excuse
................ room
................ an enquiry
................ an attempt
................ war (+ give the opposite: ..............................) 
................ a puzzle



If you are interested, you can find more videos on Leila and Sabrah Youtube Channel by clicking HERE


You can also get to Leila's and Sabrah's official site: http://loveenglish.co.uk/






When you are finished, check your answers!


Complete the sentences with a form of make or do!

I made  a complaint because the neighbours were always making noise at night.

When he saw the killers, he made a break for the exit. 

The accused can  make an admission of guilt or plead not guilty.

Could you do me a favour?

I helped that old lady do her shopping! I did  a good deed!

The scientist did a report on his observations in the lab.

You really did badly in your examinations! You should do better in September when you have your resits. 

It's 10.30. I'd like to make  myself a good cuppa ( = a cup of tea). Would you like me to make  you one too? 

When you use collocations in English, you may make  mistakes because they are not always easy to remember! 

OK, it's late! Let's get back home!  Who does the driving? I don't because I think I've drunk a bit too much! 

The country expects its citizens to do their duty. 

When they made threats to get my money, I made them believe I did karate. 


Replace the underlined parts in the sentences with a collocation that expresses the same idea! 

Her granny always gives her a lot of attention when she drops by. 
Her granny always makes a fuss of her when she drops by.

I almost stood up and sang but I decided I didn't want to be ridiculous. 
I almost stood up and sang but I didn't make a fool of myself. 

Recent discoveries about corruption have brought about a bad image to the President's reputation. 
Recent discoveries about corruption have done damage to the President's reputation. 

Scientists are now doing a lot of experiments to find a vaccine against Covid-19.
Scientists are now doing research to find a vaccine against Covid-19. 

He wanted revenge on those who had mistreated him. 
He wanted revenge on those who had done him harm. 

As a manager, he always dealt with his employees and worker in a kind way. 
He behaved badly with his servants. 
As a manager, he always did right by his employees and workers. 
He did wrong by his servants. 

Stop working on people's nerves and complaining about unimportant things!
Stop making a fuss about unimportant things! 

Phone me as soon as you get her news! 
Make (me) a call as soon as you get her news! 

She washes her clothes every weekend. 
She does the laundry every weekend.

Did that guy really try to attract you?  But he's twice your age! 
Did that guy really make a move on you? But he's twice your age!

They had sex shortly after they met. 
They made love shortly after they met.

I want to bring about the fact that you are always late! 
I want to make a point of it that you are always late! 

I'm used to having at least 10 push-ups after I get up. 
I've made a habit of having at least 10 push-ups when I get up. 



DO or MAKE?  Complete the collocations! 

Do research
Do harm      (+ give the opposite: Do good)
Do a Spanish course
Make a profit   ( + give the opposite: make a loss )
Do stretches
Do the paperwork
Do a crossword
Do business
Do the ironing
Make  a comment
Make / Do a deal 
Do something right ( + give the opposite: Do something wrong)
Do the cleaning
Do yoga
Make a joke
Make a mess
Do exercise
Make a rude gesture
Make a statement
Make amends
Make an excuse
Make room
Make an enquiry
Make an attempt
Make war (+ give the opposite: Make love / Make peace) 
Do a puzzle

Song 8: Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd

Song 8: Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
(Level: B1 to B2 / Intermediate /  ** )

Picture credit: soundofbrit.fr

Before listening / watching:

The following notes could be useful:

Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London back in 1965. The band were essentially psychedelic and were distinguished for their extended compositions and experimentation. They became a leading band of the progressive rock genre.

Pink Floyd were founded by students Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined the band in December 1967.

Barrett left the band early because of deteriorating mental health and Waters became the band leader.

Because of internal tensions, Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979, and Waters in 1985.

Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd, rejoined later by Wright.

If you are interested, you can get to Pink Floyd's official site. 

"Another Brick in the Wall" is a three-part composition on Pink Floyd’s 1979 rock album The Wall, written by bassist Roger Waters.

"Part 2", a  protest song against rigid schooling and features a children's choir

The song was released as a single and was Pink Floyd's only number-one single in the UK, the United States, and many other countries, and sold over four million copies worldwide. 

picture credit: en.wikipedia.org

While listening / watching:


Watch the video first, listen to the song and then fill in the missing words from the song! 


Here are two video versions. 

This version is the original one. Click HERE to watch it. 

The second version which actually comprises two songs ("The Happiest Days of our Lives" and "Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2") became the official music video of "Another Brick in the Wall" after the release of the film in 1982.  
To watch it: click HERE  

Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)

We don't need no ………………………….. (1)
We don't need no …………………………..   (2)
No dark ..................……………………………. (3)
Teachers leave them kids …………………………….. (4)
Hey, Teacher, leave them kids alone !
All in all it's just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall

We don't need no ………………………… (5)
We don't need no …………………………......  (6)
No dark  ...........................………………………….. (7)

Teachers leave the kids …………………………..(8)

Hey, Teacher, leave us kids alone !
All in all you're just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall







When you are finished, check your answers! 

Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)

We don't need no  education (1)
We don't need no thought  control (2)
No dark sarcasm in the  classroom (3)
Teachers leave them kids alone (4)
Hey, Teacher, leave them kids alone !
All in all it's just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall

We don't need no  education (5)
We don't need no thought control  (6) 
No dark sarcasm in the  classroom (7)

Teachers leave the kids alone (8)

Hey, Teacher, leave us kids alone !
All in all you're just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall