Larisa English Club Podcast

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #30 What’s in The News? Where Did Apple Trees Originate From? Speaking Practice. Pastimes and Hobbies! English Grammar. Adjectives and Personality Words! What’s in The News? Where Did Apple Trees Originate From? The apple tree is a deciduous tree in the rose family best known for its sweet, fruit, the apple. It is cultivated worldwide as a fruit tree. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and were brought to North America by European colonists. Apples have religious and mythological significance in many cultures, including Norse, Greek and European Christian traditions. Apple trees are large if grown from seed. Generally apple trees are propagated by grafting onto root stocks, which control the size of the resulting tree. There are more than 7,500 known varieties of apples, resulting in a range of desired characteristics. Different varieties are bred for various tastes and uses, including cooking, eating raw and cider production. Trees and fruit are prone to a number of fungal, bacterial and pest problems, which can be controlled by a number of organic and non-organic means. Worldwide production of apples in 2014 was 84.6 million tons, with China accounting for 48% of the total. When cultivated, the size, shape and branch density are determined by root-stock selection and trimming method. The leaves are alternately arranged dark green-colored simple ovals with serrated margins and slightly downy undersides. Speaking Practice. Pastimes and Hobbies! Roger: What do you do in your spare time? Barry: Oh, nothing special. I read… watch TV… go to the movies. Roger: Don’t you have any hobbies, like reading or things like that? Barry: No, I don’t have any hobbies. How about you? Roger: I have just one—photography. It’s expensive, but it’s a lot of fun. Language Notes Spare time = Leisure time or extra time or free time. Nothing special = No particular thing. I read. . . watch TV … go to the movies. Reading… A compound noun. How about you? = Do you have any hobbies? English Grammar. Adjectives and Personality Words! What are personality adjectives? Personality adjectives are used to describe a persons personality or character. Everyone has a different personality. It is important to study and learn personality adjectives. Describing objects and people is easier with the proper vocabulary. We often use adverbs “so, very, really and quite” to emphasize adjectives. Often we use a prefix to create the opposite meaning of a word. Positive Personality Adjectives Examples: I like my best friend because she is always so positive! He is a creative person in his job! She is always frank when she shares her opinion! It is a friendly cat. Simon is always close to me! He is so funny. I really like his movies! There are many words used to describe personalities. The examples above are meant to help you with grammar, pronunciation and intonation. Learn more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-30-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #29 What’s in The News? What is a Heat Wave? Speaking Practice. Comparing with Adjectives at The Shop! English Grammar. What are Comparative Adjectives? What’s in The News? What is a Heat Wave? A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity, especially in oceanic climate countries. While definitions vary, a heat wave is measured relative to the usual weather in the area and relative to normal temperatures for the season. Temperatures that people from a hotter climate consider normal can be termed a heat wave in a cooler area if they are outside the normal climate pattern for that area. The term is applied both to hot weather variations and to extraordinary spells of hot which may occur only once a century. Severe heat waves have caused catastrophic crop failures, thousands of deaths from hypothermia, and widespread power outages due to increased use of air conditioning. A heat wave is considered extreme weather, and a danger because heat and sunlight may overheat the human body. In the United States, definitions also vary by region; however, a heat wave is usually defined as a period of at least two or more days of excessively hot weather. In the Northeast, a heat wave is typically defined as three consecutive days where the temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32.2 °C), but not always, as this ties in with humidity levels to determine a heat index threshold. The same does not apply to drier climates. A heat storm is a Californian term for an extended heat wave. Heat storms occur when the temperature reaches 100 °F (37.8 °C) for three or more consecutive days over a wide area (tens of thousands of square miles). The National Weather Service issues heat advisories and excessive heat warnings when unusual periods of hot weather are expected. Speaking Practice. Comparing with Adjectives at The Shop! Jean: I think this material is much prettier than that, don’t you? Lois: Well, I don’t know. I like them both. Why do you like that one better? Jean: Well, the design is more interesting and the colors are brighter. And it’s not as expensive, either. Lois: Oh, I see what you mean. And besides, these colors are more becoming to you. Jean: Do you really think so? I’ll buy it, then. Language Notes I think this material…This is an opinion offered by someone. Much prettier… “Much” is a common intensifier for comparative adjectives and adverbs. Other examples are much harder, much more difficult, much less useful, etc. A lot… Used to intensify an adjective. A lot prettier, a lot more practical, a lot more expensive. Don’t you?… The rising intonation indicates a true question, requiring­ an answer. I like them both or I like both of them… Both variants are correct. I see what you mean… I understand why you like it. English Grammar. What are Comparative Adjectives? What are “Comparative adjectives?”. They are words used to compare two objects. In other words, when we compare two nouns! Comparative adjectives help determine which noun is “bigger, smaller, nicer etc”. Two syllable words are modified by adding a suffix. Learn more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-29-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #28 What’s in The News? Tornado, Twister or Whirlwind? Speaking Practice. Rush Hour! Bus or Taxi? English Grammar. Compare Adjectives to Determiners! What’s in The News? Tornado, Twister or Whirlwind? A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as twisters, whirlwinds or cyclones. The word cyclone is used in meteorology to name a weather system with a low-pressure area in the center around which winds blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern. Tornadoes come in many shapes and sizes. Most tornadoes have wind speeds less than 110 miles per hour, are about 250 feet across, and travel a few miles before dissipating. Various types of tornadoes include the multiple vortex tornado, land-spout and waterspout. Waterspouts are characterized by a spiraling funnel-shaped wind current, connecting to a large cumulus cloud. These spiraling columns of air frequently develop in tropical areas close to the equator, and are less common at high latitudes. Other tornado-like phenomena that exist in nature include the gust-nado, dust devil, fire whirls, and steam devil. Speaking Practice. Rush Hour! Bus or Taxi? Joyce: Should we take a taxi or a bus to the meeting? Bill: We’d better take a bus. It’s almost impossible to find a taxi during rush hour. Joyce: Isn’t that a bus stop over there? Bill: Yes… Oh, oh! There’s a bus now. We’ll have to run to catch it. Joyce: 0.K.… Oh, no! We just missed it. Bill: Never mind. There’ll be another one in ten minutes. Language Notes Should we…? = Do you think we should…? (Will is never used for this meaning.) Take a taxi or a bus…? = What form of transportation should we use? We’d better… = We ought to. It would be wise to… = A smart or intelligent idea. Rush hour = The time of day when most people are going to or from work. Isn’t that…? A negative question expresses an expectation of a positive answer. Bus stop. = A compound noun. Oh, oh! = An exclamation expressing alarm or sudden caution. Oh, no! = An exclamation expressing sudden disappointment, shock, or discouragement. Never mind! = It doesn’t matter or don’t concern yourself. English Grammar. Compare Adjectives to Determiners! Determiners are words that appear before a noun. This is to help understand what the noun refers to. The main idea is to understand determiners and the role they play in English. Remember that a word is just a word until we give it a job. There are many determiners in English. “A, an, the” are all determiners. “This, that, these, those” are all determiners. Quantifiers “Few, all etc”. Possessives “My, your, it’s etc”. Cardinal numbers as well. Do not confuse determiners with adjectives. There are many more rules on this subject! Ask your teacher for a further explanation and worksheets to help you better understand determiners. Learn more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-28-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #27 What’s in The News? Hurricane, Typhoon or Tropical Cyclone? Speaking Practice. Shopping for Gloves English Grammar. What is “Active and Passive Voice?” What’s in The News? Hurricane, Typhoon or Tropical Cyclone? A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by different names, including hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, and simply cyclone. A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and northeastern Pacific Ocean, a typhoon occurs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, and a cyclone occurs in the south Pacific or Indian Ocean. Tropical cyclones typically form over large bodies of relatively warm water. They derive their energy through the evaporation of water from the ocean surface, which ultimately re-condenses into clouds and rain when moist air rises and cools to saturation. They are far less common south of the Equator, mainly because the African easterly jet, warmer waters, and areas of atmospheric instability, which gives rise to cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean and Americas, occur in the Northern hemisphere, and because vertical wind shear is much stronger south of the equator, which typically prevents tropical depressions and potential storms from developing into cyclones. Speaking Practice. Shopping for Gloves Saleslady: Can I help you? Gloria: Yes, I’m looking for a pair of white gloves. I think I wear size six. Saleslady: The white gloves are on this counter. Let’s see… here’s a size six. These are very nice, and they’re washable, too. Gloria: Oh, I’ll try them on. Hmmm… they seem to fit. How much are they? Saleslady: Five dollars. Gloria: All right. I’ll take them. Saleslady: That’ll be five ­twenty with the tax. Language Notes Can I help you? or May I help you? = Is the way a sales clerk normally approaches a customer with an offer of assistance. Size six. Women’s gloves are usually available in quarter sizes (6, 6 1/4, 6 1/2, 6 3/4, etc.). Most women wear a size between 6 and 8. The white gloves are on this counter. = The sales counter or glass counter. Let’s see. = An expression used when a person wants to think something over, to ponder, to make a choice or decision, or to look for something. I’ll try them on. = “Try on” is a separable two ­word verb meaning to test the fit or appearance of a garment by putting it on. How much are they? = How much do they cost? Five ­twenty = Five dollars and twenty cents ($5.20). English Grammar. What is “Active and Passive Voice?” Great subject! Students learn active voice at the earliest stages of English. Passive voice is usually taught at the pre-intermediate or intermediate levels. However, students should be introduced to passive voice at the earliest stages of English study. Why? To stress the importance of both the verb “To Be” and “Participle 2“ verbs. Why is this important? Learn more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-27-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #26 What’s in The News? The Nobel Prize in Physiology Speaking Practice. Three Cats, Two Dogs and A Canary! English Grammar. English Words, Words, Words. What’s in The News? The Nobel Prize in Physiology The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the fields of life sciences and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. Nobel was personally interested in experimental physiology and wanted to establish a prize for progress through scientific discoveries in laboratories. The Nobel Prize is presented to the recipient’s at an annual ceremony on 10 December, the anniversary of Nobel’s death, along with a diploma and a certificate for the monetary award. The front side of the medal provides the same profile of Alfred Nobel as depicted on the medals for Physics, Chemistry, and Literature; its reverse side is unique to this medal. Alfred Nobel was born on 21 October 1833 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was a chemist, engineer and inventor who amassed a fortune during his lifetime, most of it from his 355 inventions of which dynamite is the most famous. He was interested in experimental physiology and set up his own labs in France and Italy to conduct experiments in blood transfusions. Keeping abreast of scientific findings, he was generous in his donations to Ivan Pavlov’s laboratory in Russia and was optimistic about the progress resulting from scientific discoveries made in laboratories. English Grammar. English Words, Words, Words. English is a rich language in so many ways. The English language starts with simple words. The verb “To be” is just the beginning of your English learning adventure. Nouns are next. Vocabulary is needed to be able to speak about different subjects. Remember that words are just words until we decide to use them in a certain way. Below are common examples of different ways we use the same word. Examples with the word “Paint” Noun: I am going to buy some paint. Noun with a suffix: I just bought this interesting painting. Gerund: My friend likes painting. Adjective with suffix: It is a paintable surface. Verb: They will paint the house next week. Verb with a prefix: We must repaint the house next week. Compound noun: I just bought a paintbrush. Job or profession: She is an artistic painter. Idiomatic Phrase: I always paint my face in the morning! Idiomatic Phrase: Let me paint a picture for you! Idiom: We are going to paint the town red tonight! Learn more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-26-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #25 What’s in The News? The American Industrial Revolution! Speaking Practice. Mailing Letters and Questions with Do and Would! English Grammar. What are Superlative Adjectives? What’s in The News? The American Industrial Revolution! The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840. This transition included going from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, the increasing use of steam power, the development of machine tools and the rise of the factory system. Textiles were the dominant industry of the Industrial Revolution in terms of employment, value of output and capital invested; the textile industry was also the first to use modern production methods. The cotton gin invented by The American Eli Whitney is credited for the beginning of the American Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution marks a major turning point in history; almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in some way. In particular, average income and population began to exhibit unprecedented sustained growth. Some economists say that the major impact of the Industrial Revolution was that the standard of living for the general population began to increase consistently for the first time in history, although others have said that it did not begin to meaningfully improve until the late 19th and 20th centuries. Speaking Practice. Mailing Letters and Questions with Do and Would! Dean: Do you mind if we stop by the post office? I have to mail these letters and I don’t have any stamps. Carol: Oh, I have some. We don’t need to go all the way to the post office. Dean: That would save time. Can you let me have two airmail stamps and one regular one? Carol: Here you are. Are you sure that’s enough? Dean: Yes, that’s fine. Now all we have to do is find a mailbox. Language Notes Do you mind if we stop by the post office…? = Is it all right with you…? or Do you have any objection…? Do you mind stopping by the post office? Stop with the suffix “ing” verb pattern. Would you mind stopping by the post office? A question with “would”. These examples are different ways to say the same thing! Often the verb “do” and the modal verb “would” are used similarly. English Grammar. What are Superlative Adjectives? What are “Superlative Adjectives?”. They are words used to compare a subject or object to a group! They are adjectives used to describe a lower or higher quality. We often do not compare a subject or object with another when referring to the best or the worst! Below are a number of examples in different forms. Please note that adjectives are either regular or irregular. Use the word “Most” before three syllable superlative adjectives. “One Syllable” Regular Adjectives: My car is the fastest! Your car is the slowest! His building is the tallest! Her blue skirt is the shortest! “Two Syllable” Regular Adjectives: My wife is the happiest woman in the world! Your project is the simplest ever! Learn more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resourc

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #24 What’s in The News? Why is it Important to Eat Fruit and Vegetables? Speaking Practice. Having Things Done and I Wonder if? English Grammar. Modal Verbs of Probability Present and Future! What’s in The News? Why is it Important to Eat Fruit and Vegetables? Eating fruit provides health benefits — people who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Fruits provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body. Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories. None have cholesterol. Fruits are sources of many essential nutrients that are under-consumed, including potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folate (folic acid). Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure. Fruit sources of potassium include bananas, prunes and prune juice, dried peaches and apricots, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and orange juice. Dietary fiber from fruits, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. Fiber is important for proper bowel function. Fiber-containing foods such as fruits help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories. Whole or cut-up fruits are sources of dietary fiber. Vitamin C is important for growth and repair of all body tissues, helps heal cuts and wounds, and keeps teeth and gums healthy. Folate (folic acid) helps the body form red blood cells. Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke. Speaking Practice. Having Things Done and I Wonder if? Steve: Excuse me. I wonder if you can help me. Mike: Sure. What is it? Steve: I want to have my hair cut, but I can’t find a barber shop. Mike: I know where one is. Come on—I’ll show you. Language Notes I wonder if… A polite introduction to a request for assistance. Some other examples: I wonder if you could show us how to get there. I wonder if you would mind moving over one, so my friend and I can sit together. I wonder if you can tell me where I can find a barber shop. Sure! What is it? = What is it you would like me to do? Have my hair cut = Have someone cut my hair. Other ways to use have: I had my shoes shined just before I came. We’re going to have our house painted next year. You should have that window repaired before the rainy season begins. Barber shop = A compound noun, with the principal stress on the first word. I know where one is = I know where the barber shop is located. Modal Verbs of Probability Present and Future! Modal verbs are one of my favorite subjects. They are often considered one of the most important parts of the English language. The diverse usage of Modal auxiliary verbs makes them extremely useful and yet complicated for some students. Modal auxiliary verbs are just that; Auxiliary Verbs. In perfect speech, they are always used with another verb. Modal verbs are used to refer to time, manners, ability, desire, wants, politeness and more. Modal Auxiliary Verbs also help us to express doubt, fear, commitment and assumptions. Learn more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-24-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #23 What’s in The News? Keeping Waters Clean in America! Speaking Practice. Talking about The Weather! English Grammar. Compare “Modal Verbs of Probability” to Adverbs. What’s in The News? Keeping Waters Clean in America The Harpster brothers—Abe, Aaron, and Andy—own Evergreen Farms, one of the largest dairy operations in Pennsylvania: 2,700 milking cows on 6,500 acres along with fields of grass, corn, and alfalfa to feed them. Their other claim to fame is the farm’s pristine Spruce Creek, where presidents from Eisenhower to Carter and other notables including the owner of the Chicago Cubs and Grammy Award-winning singers have come to fish for rainbow trout. “We live here, drink the water here, and breathe the air here, and try to do the best for our people, our cows, and our land. We expect to pass this farm down through the generations of our families,” explains Andrew Harpster. “I may not be a scientist, but I’ve learned enough to know that everything is connected,” he adds. “If we don’t do it right, for example, the manure we spread on our corn fields can run off into Spruce Creek, damaging our trout habitat, and from there into the Juniata River, which flows into the Susquehanna and then 200 miles downstream into the Chesapeake Bay.” Speaking Practice. Talking about The Weather! Karen: Brrrr! I’m cold. I thought it was supposed to get warmer today. Ed: Yeah, I thought so, too. That’s what the weatherman said. Karen: It must be the wind that makes it so cold. I’m freezing! Ed: Me, too. Let’s go inside. Karen: O.K. It’s no fun standing out here, even if the sun is shining. English Grammar. Compare “Modal Verbs of Probability” to Adverbs. Generally, when we use “Present Perfect” exact time references are not used or are not important. Understanding the “Present Perfect” is a must to fully understand “Modals of Probability” in the past. However, with a combination of “Modals” and “Present Perfect”, we can refer to specific time in the past as speculation. In other words, we sometimes use “Modals of Probability” with “Present Perfect” to refer to a possible fact in the past without being absolutely positive the event took place. In other words, we “Speculate, Assume or Guess” at what occurred in the past. Examples might be: May have “May’ve”, Might have “Might’ve”, Could have “Could’ve”. These are all examples of an event in the past that we are not absolutely sure about. “May”, “might” and “could” in the following examples are fully interchangeable. “She might have worked yesterday, I am not sure”. “She may have worked yesterday, I am not sure”. “She could have worked yesterday, I am not sure”. In all three examples, these three Modal verbs have the same meaning. Compare to the adverbs “Maybe and Possibly” with past simple. One simple method that can be used to learn this is “Grammar Bridging”. To “Grammar Bridge” is when we study a higher level grammar element using a comparison in grammar at a lower level. Learn more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-23-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #22 What’s in The News? Physical Activity and Your Daily Routine! Speaking Practice. Discussing a News Story! English Grammar Review. “Prefix, Suffix, Affix” New Words in English! What’s in The News? Physical Activity and Your Daily Routine! Daily exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. If you make time for running, jogging or walking daily, you are doing it right! Many of us cannot seem to find the time for these activities. That should not stop us from trying to stay fit. A proper diet should also be part of your daily routine. It can be as simple as walking alone or with friends and family. Take the time to establish your physical daily fitness routine and stay healthy. Choose activities that you enjoy and can do regularly. Fitting activity into a daily routine can be easy — such as taking a brisk 10 minute walk to and from the parking lot, bus stop, or subway station. Or, join an exercise class. Keep it interesting by trying something different on alternate days. Every little bit adds up and doing something is better than doing nothing. Make sure to do at least 10 minutes of activity at a time, shorter bursts of activity will not have the same health benefits. For example, walking the dog for 10 minutes before and after work or adding a 10 minute walk at lunchtime can add to your weekly goal. Mix it up. Swim, take a yoga class, garden or lift weights. To be ready anytime, keep some comfortable clothes and a pair of walking or running shoes in the car and at the office. More ways to increase physical activity. Join a walking group in the neighborhood or at the local shopping mall. Recruit a partner for support and encouragement. Push the baby in a stroller. Get the whole family involved — enjoy an afternoon bike ride with your kids. Walk up and down the soccer or softball field sidelines while watching the kids play. Walk the dog — don’t just watch the dog walk. Clean the house or wash the car. Walk, skate, or cycle more, and drive less. Do stretches, exercises, or pedal a stationary bike while watching television. Mow the lawn with a push mower. Plant and care for a vegetable or flower garden. Play with the kids — tumble in the leaves, build a snowman, splash in a puddle, or dance to favorite music. Exercise to a workout video. English Grammar Review. “Prefix, Suffix, Affix” New Words in English! What is an “Affix?”. An “Affix” is a letter or letters added to a root word to change it’s meaning. Prefix and suffix are terms used to further describe an affix. In other words “Affix” is a word used to describe both a “Prefix and Suffix”. A “Prefix” is placed before a word. A “Suffix” is placed after. New words are created from root words. Many words have both a “Prefix and Suffix”. There are many forms and specific reasons for adding letters to words. The main idea is to create other words with different definitions in English. Below are a just few examples. Check your dictionary for prefixes and suffixes to better understand this subject. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-22-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #21 What’s in The News? Unusual Coral Reefs Discovered in The Pacific Ocean. Speaking Practice. At the Bank. English Grammar. Prepositions of Time: after/later/on/in/at What’s in The News? Unusual Coral Reefs Discovered in The Pacific Ocean. Scientists had long believed that the waters of the Central and Northeast Pacific Ocean were inhospitable to certain species of deep-sea corals, but a marine biologist’s discovery of an odd chain of reefs suggests there are mysteries about the development and durability of coral colonies yet to be uncovered. Scientist Amy Taylor of Florida State University (FSU), in collaboration with researchers from Texas A&M University, found the reefs during an autonomous underwater vehicle survey of the sea-mountains of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. “I’ve been exploring the deep sea around the Hawaiian Islands since 1998, and have seen enough to know that the presence of the reefs at these depths was definitely unexpected,” Amy Taylor said. Some ocean areas, such as the North Atlantic and South Pacific, are particularly fertile habitats for deep-sea reefs, but a combination of factors led scientists to believe that finding these coral colonies was exceedingly unlikely in the deep waters of the North Pacific. The researchers suggest potential reasons for the improbable success of these hardy reefs. Among them, higher concentrations of chlorophyll in the areas of reef growth suggest that an abundance of food may provide the excess energy needed for calcification. English Grammar. Prepositions of Time: after/later/on/in/at While there are reasons why we do what we do in English, often there is no reason at all. Common phrases or expressions are created by people. Most from the past. Phrases or time expressions are often referred to as “Colloquial Speech or Collocations”. Is there “always” a reason for what we say in English? Short answer: NO! The main idea is to learn time expressions by heart. Study, Practice and Speak English with common phrases to speak and understand others. Here are brief explanations and examples. Have fun! Use after + phrase, and use later alone (at the end of a sentence or phrase). I’ll call you later. I’ll call you after I get home from work. First he bought a new car. Two weeks later, he bought a new motorcycle. He bought a new motorcycle two weeks after he bought a car. You can say “later + time period” to refer to an unspecified time in the future, for example: I’ll finish the project later this week. We’ll go on vacation later this year. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-21-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #20 What’s in The News? Micro-green Study Shows Health Benefits. Speaking Practice. At the Hotel. English Grammar. Verbs + -ING What’s in The News? Micro-green Study Shows Health Benefits. “Micro-greens” are tender young plants grown from the seed of certain herb, vegetable, and grain crops that can be clipped at the stem and eaten fresh within 2 weeks of germinating. Some chefs have touted the taste, texture, color, and delicate appearance of micro-greens, adding them to soups, salads, sandwiches, and main dishes. Micro-greens can also contain more nutrients than full-grown plants. Red cabbage micro-greens, in particular, have garnered attention for their potential to help protect against chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death in the United States. “Although micro-greens, such as those from red cabbage, have been reported to possess more nutrients [than mature plants] and are perceived to be ‘healthier,’ no known study has been conducted to evaluate whether consumption reduces cardiovascular disease risk factors,” according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) chemist Thomas Wang and his co-authors in the December 2016 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Speaking Practice. At the Hotel. Clerk: Yes, sir. May I help you? Tony: I have a reservation for tonight. Tony Davis. Clerk: Just a moment, please, while I check. That is correct. You have a reservation for a three ­room suite tonight. Tony: I’m afraid there’s been a mistake. I only asked for a single room, not a suite. Clerk: I’m sorry, Mr. Davis, but we have only the suite available. Your request arrived too late to reserve a single. There’s a large convention in town this week and we’re full up. Tony: Well, if that’s the way it is, I’ll have to take it. Clerk: Just sign the register here and I’ll have your bags sent up later. It’s suite 718. Language Notes May I help you? = May I serve you? We’re full up. = All of our rooms are taken or reserved. Three room suite = Three connected rooms. Suite = Pronounced the same as “Sweet”. Single room = One room. English Grammar. Verbs + -ING Often, certain words follow a certain pattern in English. This is called a “verb pattern”. Although, the examples below may have more than one verb pattern, it is more common to use one variant as opposed to another. Here are some common verbs in English that are followed by -ing. avoid You should avoid eating after 10 PM. enjoy I enjoy skiing, surfing, and playing tennis. finish Have you finished reading the newspaper yet? can’t stand I can’t stand going to parties where I don’t know anyone. don’t mind I don’t mind working overtime. look forward to I look forward to seeing you next week. practice I need to practice speaking English more often. spend (time) My roommate spends hours watching TV. stop He stopped smoking ten years ago. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-20-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #19 What’s in The News? Road to The United States Constitution. Speaking Practice. Academy Awards. English Grammar. Verbs + Infinitive or –ING What’s in The News? Road to The United States Constitution. America’s search for a plan of national government was a slow, difficult process. Compromise, cooperation, and creativity were required as the Americans moved from being colonials in a patriarchal monarchy to citizen-leaders in a representative republic of federal states. Most of this process took place in the midst of a long, revolutionary war. Not only were these “the times that try men’s souls,” in the words of Thomas Paine, they were also the times that tested Americans’ intellects and practical political skills in creating a strong, national, republican government. The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, on November 15, 1777, but the states did not ratify them until March 1, 1781. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. Divisions among the states and even local rebellions threatened to destroy the fruits of the Revolution. Nationalists, led by James Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Wilson, almost immediately began working toward strengthening the federal government. They turned a series of regional commercial conferences into a national constitutional convention at Philadelphia in 1787. English Grammar. Verbs + Infinitive or –ING Verbs + Infinitive Here are some common verbs in English that are followed by the infinitive: decide She decided to study biology, not physics. help Can you help me to carry these boxes? It’s very common to remove the word “to”: Example: Can you help “me carry” these boxes? hope We hope to hear from you soon. I hope it doesn’t rain this weekend. learn She’s learning to swim. (With ing) It’s very common to add the word “how” if you are learning a new skill: I’m learning “how” to cook. need I need to go to the supermarket. We don’t have any eggs. offer My friend offered to take me to the airport. plan We’re planning to have a big party when our son graduates from college. pretend He pretended to be sick so that he didn’t have to take the test. promise He promised to call me back as soon as possible. try I’m trying to read this book, but it’s too difficult. want I want to learn English so that I can study in the U.S. would like I’d like to travel to France someday. Bonus Grammar! Don’t forget that there are three word combinations used just like “Modal Auxiliary Verbs”. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-19-pdf-version-2/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #18 What’s in The News? Thunderstorms Day and Night. What is The Difference? Speaking Practice. What’s for Dinner? English Grammar. Me Too / Me Neither What’s in The News? Thunderstorms Day and Night. What is The Difference? Thunderstorms are most likely to form when the temperature of the air decreases with height pretty rapidly–for example, when it’s hot at the ground and cold aloft. Thunderstorms that form at night occur in the absence of heating at the ground by the sun. Consequently, the storms that form at night are usually “elevated,” meaning that they form aloft above the cooler air near the ground, rather than near the ground, which only during the day can get warmer. There aren’t nearly as many measurements available of temperature and moisture, which is needed to fuel thunderstorms, above the ground as there are at the ground, so predicting where storms will form at night is much more challenging. Speaking Practice. What’s for Dinner? Mother: I wonder what we should have for dinner this evening? Mona: Are you asking me? Mother: Yes, I am. I really don’t feel much like cooking, but the family must eat. Mona: Well, you know me. I can always eat pizza—or spaghetti. Mother: So I’ve noticed. You’re putting on a little weight, aren’t you? Mona: I know. Don’t remind me! I’m starting a new diet day after tomorrow. Mother: It’s about time! English Grammar. Me Too / Me Neither The easiest way to agree in English is to say ”Me too” (to agree with a positive statement) or “Me neither” (to agree with a negative statement): “I love strawberry ice cream.” (Response) “Me too!” “I don’t go to the gym very often.” (Response) “Me neither.” A “negative statement” is any sentence that uses a negative auxiliary verb. In other words a verb used with “Not”. don’t / doesn’t / didn’t (Verb “Do” with “Not”). can’t (Modal verb “Can” with “Not”). haven’t / hasn’t / hadn’t (Verb “Have” with “Not”). won’t / wouldn’t (Modal verb “Will” with “Not”). isn’t / aren’t / am not (Verb “To be” with “Not”). Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-18-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #17 What’s in The News? It’s True: Coffee Can Add Years to Your Life. Speaking Practice. Catching a Bus. English Grammar. Comparative Adjectives and Quantifiers. What’s in The News? What’s in The News? It’s True: Coffee Can Add Years to Your Life. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? For many Americans, the day begins by trudging to the coffee pot or stopping for a daily latte before rushing into the office. Coffee is a daily ritual in Blue Zones areas, as well. Sardinians, Ikarians and Nicoyans start their days with a cup, lightly sweetened without cream. In addition to a daily cup of coffee, Blue Zones centenarians drink water, tea and wine. While coffee is often a hotly-debated health topic, it’s shown to carry many health benefits. In all five original Blue Zones areas, people drink up to two or three cups of black coffee per day! The American Heart Association found that consuming coffee, both caffeinated and decaf, was associated with a lower risk of total mortality. Other major studies confirm that coffee drinkers live longer than those who don’t drink it, and have lower risks of early death. Five science-backed ways coffee benefits life expectancy and overall health: It provides essential antioxidants. Coffee, similar to Cannonau wine from Sardinia, leafy green vegetables and blueberries, contains polyphenols that are effective at neutralizing free radicals and helping to prevent some diseases. In a study published by The Journal of Nutrition, consumption of coffee, wine and vegetables reduced the risk of major chronic degenerative diseases. The antioxidant intake was most drastically affected by the intake of coffee. For most Americans, coffee provides more than just a jolt of energy—it’s where we get the majority of our daily antioxidants. Speaking Practice. Catching a Bus. Steve: Is this where I catch the bus for the zoo? Alan: You can take a T­30 from here, but then you have to walk about six blocks. Steve: That doesn’t sound too bad. Alan: Actually, if you go to the bus stop in the next block, you can take a Z­8 which will let you right off in front of the zoo. Steve: Maybe that’s what I’ll do. Thanks a lot. Alan: You’re welcome. These quantifiers can be used both to show a “more” difference and a “less” difference: This car is a bit more expensive than this motorcycle. This motorcycle is a bit less expensive than this car. This house is way bigger than that apartment. That apartment is way smaller than this house. These quantifiers CANNOT be used with the “not as_____as” structure: My brother is much not as old as me.(Not correct) My brother is much younger than me. (Correct) Jill is a little not as tall as Kim. (Not correct) Jill is a little shorter than Kim. (Correct) Bonus grammar! More polite ways to say something with tag questions. She is so short, isn’t she? (Not polite) She isn’t very tall, is she? (Polite) This room is so dirty, isn’t it? (Impolite) Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #16 What’s in The News? Electric Cars Charge While Traveling Down The Highway. Speaking Practice. Making a Date. English Grammar. Comparative Adjectives. What’s in The News? Electric Cars Charge While Traveling Down The Highway. Volvo and other car manufacturers are getting closer to the day where all they make is Electric. Gas and diesel have been the traditional refueling method forever. It’s time for change. Ironically, Ford was the first major US car manufacturer to build and lease a fleet of electric vehicles over 20 years ago. Most of those cars ended up in the trash compacter. Ford kept it quiet for many years. Now, they are far behind the curve. Some types of innovation, you just can’t stop. For now, electric has found it’s way into the mainstream as the next fuel. By 2024, some manufacturers will stop producing gas autos all together. After that, it’s anyone's guess at what will be next. With new technology comes change and the need for further innovation to supply what’s needed, making everything work for the masses. While there might be a gas station just around the corner from your home, electric is a little more complicated than that. As technology continues to evolve, so will the availability of recharging stations. Those too may become as popular as the eight track sooner than you think. Highways that offer recharging as you drive are in the headlights of engineers today. In fact, there are a number of tests with charging roads being developed now. Speaking Practice. Making a Date. Drew: What time are you leaving tomorrow? Paul: You mean to go to the graduation ceremony? Drew: Yes, I’d like to go with you if I may. Paul: I’d be delighted to take you. I plan to leave here about nine thirty. Drew: Fine. I can be ready by then. Paul: Okay. I’ll pick you up at your house. Drew: See you tomorrow, then, about nine thirty. English Grammar. Comparative Adjectives. Not as ______ as… “The white wine is not as expensive as the red wine.” You know how to compare two things by using comparative adjectives: Add -ER (taller, older, faster) Add -ER and double the final consonant (bigger, hotter, thinner) Remove -Y and add -IER (easier, friendlier, prettier) Add “more” or “less” to long words (more expensive, less popular, more interesting) Irregular comparatives (better, farther, worse) There’s another structure that you can use: not as (adjective) as. Running is not as fast as biking. Biking is faster than running. Canada is not as hot as Ecuador. Ecuador is hotter than Canada. Helen is not as friendly as her husband. Helen’s husband is friendlier than she is. Movies are not as interesting as books. Books are more interesting than movies. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-16-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #15 What’s in The News? 7 Things to disappear in The Next Decade Speaking Practice. Airport Bus Conversation English Grammar. Present Perfect Simple VS Present Perfect Continuous What’s in the News? 7 Things to disappear in The Next Decade Mom, dad along with grandma and grandpa are all part of past generations when life was just a little slower. All of the time? No! However, in today’s world of technology, things are changing at lightning speed. Compared to any time in history, the pace of innovation and product creation is impossible to find similarities. While in today’s fast paced world, technology is moving faster than humans can keep track. The near future will bring with it some fundamental changes to everyday life as we know it. Experts agree that many of the inventions we have used nearly forever, will soon go the way of the dinosaur. As strange as that sounds, it’s not that difficult to predict which ones will soon disappear. Experts have carefully calculated and confidently predicted the short list of well known products that’s headed to your nearest museum. Keys, parking meters, cash, ATM’s and banks, desktop computers, televisions and telephones will disappear before you know it! Read more at NBC News: http://nbcnews.to/2wp5ytx Speaking Practice. Airport Bus Conversation Stan: What time does the bus leave for the airport? Harry: I don’t know. It used to leave every half hour, but I think the schedule’s been changed. Stan: Do you know the telephone number to call? Harry: It’s 642-3100. At least that’s what it used to be. Stan: Yeah, I’ll try it. (Pause) They don’t seem to answer. Harry: I expect that it’s a little too early. I don’t think they open until nine o’clock. Stan: I’ll call again after nine. Harry: Great idea. If we need to, we can take a taxi. Stan: Let’s see what the schedule is and then decide what to do. Harry: Sounds good. English Grammar. Present Perfect Simple VS Present Perfect Continuous In some cases, either the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous can be used, with the same meaning. We often do this with the verbs “work” and “live”: “I’ve worked here since 1992.” Or “I’ve been working here since 1992.” However, we often use the present perfect continuous to emphasize the action in progress, and the present perfect simple to emphasize the result: “I’ve been working on this report for three weeks.” (Action in progress not completed) “I’ve finished the project.” (Project completed or done) “We’ve been cleaning the house all afternoon.” (emphasizes the action of cleaning) “We’ve cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen.” (emphasizes the fact that the bathroom and kitchen are done) Remember, most “state” verbs are never used in continuous form. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-15-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #14 What’s New? China’s First Forest City Speaking Practice. Daily Needs English Grammar. Present Perfect + For / Since What’s New? China’s First Forest City In the wake of President Trump’s decision to remove America from the Paris Climate agreement, you’d be forgiven for feeling a little negative about the future of the planet. With reports of huge cracks appearing in the Antarctic ice, fears that preventing the two degree heating of the planet might be a pipe dream, and the world’s food supplies at risk – everything looks and sounds grim. Fortunately though, there are some good news stories on the horizon; with many of them coming from China. The country has been leading the way when it comes to ‘green living’ in recent years, with the government announcing it had completed construction of the world’s largest floating solar farm. Now, in an attempt to curb the production of toxic gasses, the country is continuing to pave the way (so to speak) with the construction of one of the world’s first ‘forest cities’. Designed by Stefano Boeri, who you might remember also designed two vertical skyscraper ‘forests’, the city is currently under construction in Liuzhou, Guangxi Province. Once completed, the new city will reportedly host 30,000 people and – thanks to the abundance of trees and plants – will absorb almost 10,000 tons of CO2, 57 tons of pollutants per year and produce approximately 900 tons of oxygen annually. The city will achieve these rather impressive figures thanks to roughly a million plants from over 100 species, as well as 40,000 trees being planted in facades over almost every surface imaginable. The new Liuzhou Forest City will connect to the existing Liuzhou via a series of fast rail services and electric cars. It will also reportedly house a number of schools and two hospitals. There are also plans to make the city self-sustainable with regards to power, thanks to geothermal and solar energy resources. Speaking Practice. Daily Needs Judith: This is the last of the milk. Mother: I know. I intend to go to the store today. Judith: Would you get some of that new cereal we saw adver­tised on TV? Mother: Which one? Judith: You know the one with the silly ad about how vitamins jump up and down. Mother: Oh, you mean “KIKIES”? Judith: Yeah. That’s the one. Mother: Well, I’ll see. Sometimes the stores don’t have some of the new kinds of cereal. English Grammar. Present Perfect + For / Since The present perfect is also used with for and since to talk about actions that began in the past and continue to the present: “I’ve lived here since 2004.” “I’ve lived here for 8 years.” “Since” is used with a point in time, and means “from that point in time until the present.” Use “Since” with dates (2011, January, Tuesday, etc.), times (6:15, noon, this morning, etc.), and past events (I was a child, he graduated from college, etc). “Since” as an “adverb” is always used with the present perfect. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-14-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #13 What’s New? Climate Change and Global Warming Speaking Practice. Early in the Morning English Grammar. Present Perfect + Yet / Already / Just What’s New? Climate Change and Global Warming The world has one year to start making significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or face the prospect of dangerous global warming, experts have warned in an article in the prestigious journal Nature. Calling for world leaders to be guided by the scientific evidence rather than “hide their heads in the sand”, they said “entire ecosystems” were already beginning to collapse, summer sea ice was disappearing in the Arctic and coral reefs were dying from the heat. The world could emit enough carbon to bust the Paris Agreement target of between 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius in anything from four to 26 years if current levels continue, the article said. Global emissions had been rising rapidly but have plateaued in recent years. English Grammar. Present Perfect + Yet / Already / Just The words already, yet, recently, lately, and just, all refer to a recent and non-specific time. A specific time would be “yesterday” or “three hours ago” or last Friday “. In these cases we would use the simple past. Already and yet Already can be used in positive statements and questions. “I’ve already read today’s newspaper.” “Have you already paid the electric bill?” “She’s finished the test already.” Note: “Already” can go in between “have/has” and the past participle (as in the first two examples) or at the end of the sentence. Yet can be used in negative statements and questions. “We haven’t cleaned the house yet.” “Has he told you the good news yet?” “Have they booked their tickets yet?” Note: “Yet” usually goes at the end of the sentence or phrase. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-13-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #12 What’s New? Sentient Robots and The Future. Speaking Practice. Greetings in American English. English Grammar. Simple Past and Past Continuous. What’s New? Sentient Robots and The Future. Zombies and aliens may not be a realistic threat to our species. But there’s one stock movie villain we can’t be so sanguine about: sentient robots. If anything, their arrival is probably just a matter of time. But what will a world of conscious machines be like? Will there be a place in it for us? Artificial intelligence research has been going through a recent revolution. AI systems can now outperform humans at playing chess and Go, recognizing faces, and driving safely. Even so, most researchers say truly conscious machines — ones that don’t just run programs but have feelings and are self-aware — are decades away. First, the reasoning goes, researchers have to build a generalized intelligence, a single machine with the above talents and the capacity to learn more. Only then will AI reach the level of sophistication needed for consciousness. But some think it won’t take nearly that long. Speaking Practice. Greetings in American English. A. (Acquaintances) Matt: Good morning. Maxine: Good morning. How are you today? Matt: Just fine, thanks. How are you? Maxine: Wonderful. Things couldn’t be better. B. (Good Friends) Dotty: Hi. What’s up? Vivian: Nothing much. What’s new with you? Dotty: Not too much. I’ve been pretty busy. Vivian: Me too. Seems like all I do is eat and sleep. Dotty: Gotta go. Call me tonight. Vivian: Okay. Check you later. C. (Family) Mother: Good morning. Son: Morning. What’s for breakfast? Mother: The usual. Eggs, toast, and cereal. Coffee, if you want. Son: I think I’ll just have cereal for a change. Mother: Help yourself. The cereal and sugar are on the table. The milk’s in the refrigerator. English Grammar. Simple Past and Past Continuous. When to use the Past Continuous? To talk about things that were in progress in the past. Past Continuous Positive To form the past continuous positive, use subject + (to be) + verb + -ing I / He / She / It was studying You / We / They were studying Examples: “What were you doing when I called you?” “I was studying.” She was playing guitar at the party. At 5:30 last night, we were driving home. They saw a starfish while they were walking on the beach. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-12-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #11 What’s New? Magic foods for men do not exist. Speaking Practice. Ordering a meal at a restaurant. English Grammar. The present continuous tense. What’s New? Magic foods for men do not exist. There’s no magic food or way to eat. There are some foods men need to eat such as vegetables; fruits; whole grains; protein foods like beans, eggs, or lean meats; and dairy like 1% milk. You’ll get nutrients you need for good health―including magnesium, potassium, calcium, vitamin D, fiber, and protein. If it’s there, you’ll eat it. Keep healthy foods in your kitchen that need little preparation. Keep your fridge filled with carrots, apples, oranges, low-fat yogurt, and eggs. Stock up on fresh, canned, or frozen vegetables and fruits, lean meats, canned beans, and tuna or salmon. Find healthier heat-and-eat options to replace heating up a frozen pizza. Whole grains help you feel full. Make sure half your grains are whole grains. Whole grains can help give a feeling of fullness and key nutrients. Choose whole-wheat breads, pasta, and crackers, brown rice and oatmeal instead of white bread, rice, or other refined-grain products. This article comes from ChooseMyPlate.gov. Download the full article here http://bit.ly/2rwLQsG Ordering a meal at a restaurant. Here is an example of short dialog about ordering a meal in a restaurant. Pay special attention to the intonation. Remember that intonation reflects what someone is often thinking. Being polite with just words alone is near impossible. This is especially true if you are speaking with someone who does not know you. Be aware of what you are saying and how you say it. While speaking, try to listen to yourself and think about how you speak to others. The dialog here is short and to the point. Although both people are polite to each other, they are speaking directly without additional words. Keep your English simple. Remember, generally, it takes full sentences to ask questions. Answers are often short and to the point. English Grammar. The present continuous tense. A few keys to remember when we use the present continuous tense. We use the continuous tenses to refer to short actions, facts or events of some kind. “I am reading at the moment” or “I am eating right now”. Notice how we use a time expression of some kind at the end of our sentences. Time expressions or “Adverbs” are an important part of communication in English. “Adverbs” help to clarify facts or to understand time. The continuous tense is also used for activities that have an indefinite duration. In other words, we may not know how long an activity or fact will end. Again, the use of “Adverbs and time expressions” are very important to help communicate more accurately. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-11-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #10 What’s New? America’s Oceans and Seas Facts. History Topic! The Earths Oceans Unexplored. Conversation Topic. Musical Instruments and Conversation. Speaking Practice. Basic Dialog with Musical Instrument. Basic Grammar Review. The Past Simple Tense. English Grammar. Adverbs During, While and For. What’s New? America’s Oceans and Seas Facts. While there is only one global ocean, the vast body of water that covers 71% of Earth is geographically divided into distinct regions. The United States recognizes five named ocean basins: Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern. The ocean and large inland lakes play an integral role in many of the Earth’s systems, including climate and weather. More than 50% of all species on Earth are found under the ocean and the ocean helps sustain human life above the water by providing 20% of the animal protein and 5% of the total protein in the human diet. In the United States alone, there are over 95,000 miles of shoreline. More than half of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of the coast in the narrow area of land known as the “coastal zone.” History Topic! The Earths Oceans Unexplored. Saline water covers approximately 72% of the planet’s surface and is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas, with the ocean covering approximately 71% of Earth’s surface and 90% of the Earth’s biosphere. The ocean contains 97% of Earth’s water, and oceanographers have stated that less than 5% of the World Ocean has been explored. The total volume is approximately 1.35 billion cubic kilometers with an average depth of nearly 3,700 meters. As the world ocean is the principal component of Earth’s hydrosphere, it is integral to all known life. The world ocean forms part of the carbon cycle, and influences climate and weather patterns. The world ocean is the habitat of 230,000 known species. Because much of it is unexplored, the number of species that exist is much larger, possibly over two million different species. The origin of Earth’s oceans remains unknown. Conversation Topic. Musical Instruments and Conversation. Yeah. An informal variant of “Yes”. Doesn’t it? The falling intonation on this question tag shows that it is simply a conversational element not requiring an answer. I wish I could… Notice that could is a past tense modal verb. “I wish I could” refers to present time. Don’t you play…? The negative question implies that the speaker expects the answer to be affirmative. It is equivalent to: “You play the violin, don’t you?” With a rising intonation on the final “You”. “My sister does”. This is a short statement without repeating the question. The sentence means “My sister plays the violin”. Flute lessons. A compound noun, with the principal stress on the first word. Remember that “Flute” is a noun and it is singular. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-10-pdf-version-2/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #9 What’s New? Why are teachers leaving their jobs? History Topic! One room school history. Conversation Topic. Safety and Caution Dialog. Speaking Practice. “Be Careful” Dialog. Basic Grammar Review. Present progressive or present continuous? English Grammar. The Future with “Will” or “Going To”. What’s New? Why are teachers leaving their jobs? “Staggeringly high” numbers of teachers are ready to quit the profession, a leading education researcher has warned, as growing pressures placed on staff and schools make the job “just too big an ask”. Rebecca Allen, director of the Education Datalab think tank has become the latest expert to highlight what has been referred to as a “crisis” in teacher recruitment and retention. Children across the country are being taught by teachers who do not want to be there, but are trapped by their financial circumstances, Ms Allen said. Speaking at a General Election briefing on education, she warned teaching is now “incredibly difficult”, as staff are increasingly bogged down with paperwork and accountability tasks that are leaving them exhausted and unmotivated. Ms Allen said there is a need to look at improving the experience of teachers at the start of their career, which could include measures such as mentoring, smaller teaching workloads, or extending the teacher training period. More needs to be done, in particular to help new teachers, to stop them walking out the door, she said. History Topic! One room school history. One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries, including Prussia, Norway, Sweden, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Spain. In most rural (country) and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room. There, a single teacher taught academic basics to several grade levels of elementary-age boys and girls. While in many areas one-room schools are no longer used, it is not uncommon for them to remain in developing nations and rural or remote areas. Examples include remote parts of the American West, the Falklands, and the Shetland Islands. Teachers in one-room schools were often former students themselves. Their role is well-described by a student from Kentucky in the 1940s: “The teachers that taught in the one room, rural schools were very special people. During the winter months they would get to the school early to get a fire started in the potbelly stove, so the building would be warm for the students. On many occasions they would prepare a hot, noon meal on top of the stove, usually consisting of soup or stew of some kind. They took care of their students like a new mother hen would care for her newly hatched chicks; always looking out for their health and welfare”. More on one room schools at Wiki. Thank you Wiki http://bit.ly/2rvmPOB English Grammar. The Future with “Will” or “Going To”. While there are differences between “Will and “Going to”, there are also many similarities in the way we use these. I am going to explain these two terms a little differently than you might have studied. First of all, “Will” is a “Modal Auxiliary Verb”. “Going to” is nothing more than a common phrasal verb. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-9-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #8 What’s New? Has Construction Begun on The US Border Wall? History Topic! The Mexican Border History Conversation Topic. Happiness in Conversation. Speaking Practice. Small Talk and Feeling Happy. Basic Grammar Review. Adverbs of Frequency and Present Simple Examples. English Grammar. Question Tags or Tag Questions? What’s New? Has construction begun on The US Border Wall? As of January 20, 2019. It doesn’t look like it. On his fifth day in office, Trump ordered construction of the wall to begin using cash on hand. ProPublica reported that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had just $20 million in their coffers for the project, which isn’t much when cost estimates for building a concrete wall range from $1 million to $21.6 million per mile. The Mexico–United States barrier is a series of walls and fences along the Mexico–United States border aimed at preventing illegal crossings from Mexico into the United States and vice versa. The barrier is not one continuous structure. It is a grouping of relatively short physical walls, secured in between with a “virtual fence”. It includes a system of sensors and cameras monitored by the United States Border Patrol. As of January 2009, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that it had more than 580 miles (930 km) of barriers in place. The total length of the continental border is 1,989 miles (3,201 km). History Topic! The Mexican Border History In the mid-16th century, with the discovery of silver, settlers from a variety of countries and backgrounds began to arrive in the area. This period of sparse settlement included colonizers from different backgrounds. The area technically was part of the Kingdom of New Spain. Conversation Topic. Happiness in Conversation. Notice the intonation of I am happy in the examples below. This intonation, with the strongest stress on am, is the emphatic, confirmatory form normally used in response. It is similar, in meaning and intonation, to the short answer form, I am – which might, in fact, be used here, with the weak stressed “happy” simply dropping off. “I just heard I passed”. Notice that the “that” is omitted in this bit of reported speech. Exam is short for examination. Physics exam, is a compound noun, it has the principal stress on the first word. I’m glad somebody’s happy. Note the omission of that in reported speech, and the strong contrastive stress on SOMEbody. It implies that the speaker herself is not happy. What’s the matter? A common idiom, meaning; What is troubling you? What is wrong? I’m just worried. Here “just” means merely or only. The term “I just heard” means very recently. “Have to” has the same meaning as must. “I guess” means the same as “I think”. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-8-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #7 What’s New? Computers of Today, Money and Electricity. History Topic! Computers of the Past. Conversation Topic. Time Expressions, Collocations and Prepositions. Speaking Practice. How to tell someone time. Basic Grammar Review. What do Adjectives do in English? English Grammar. The Eight Parts of Speech. What’s New? Computers of Today, Money and Electricity British Airways’ mass systems failure and cancellation of flights during one of the UK’s busiest travel weekends of the year may have been down to “cost cutting” under a new CEO. The company has denied the claims. After an unidentified “power supply issue” caused the delay and cancellation of more than 1,000 BA flights, focus has narrowed to CEO Alex Cruz and what unnamed colleagues have described as his “slash and burn” management style. History Topic! Computers of the Past The abacus was initially used for arithmetic tasks. The Roman abacus was developed from devices used in Babylonia as early as 2400 BC. Since then, many other forms of reckoning boards or tables have been invented. In a medieval European counting house, a checkered cloth would be placed on a table, and markers moved around on it according to certain rules, as an aid to calculating sums of money. Conversation Topic Time Expressions, Collocations and Prepositions In English, there are an uncountable number of ways to refer to time. Then there is the difference between American and British English. The main idea is to recognize that communication is always the main goal. If you are speaking with someone and they fully understand what you are saying, that is perfect English. Here are a few examples of time expressions. While they might fall under several different categories of grammar, time expressions are simply time expressions. Do not worry about why expressions are formed the way they are. More importantly, learn the time expression and it’s meaning. Most time expressions are based more on “Collocations” than general rules for “Prepositions”. Negative questions are also common in spoken English. Isn’t it a lovely day? Aren’t we going to the park today? These are examples of negative questions. The main idea with negative questions is that we previously discussed or planned a future event. Basic Grammar Review What do Adjectives do in English? Adjectives are simple describing words that give information about nouns, pronouns and feelings. That said, remember about that job thing. Just because an adjective is generally used to describe, they can also take on other jobs in the English language. For instance, the word “Blue” is generally considered an adjective to describe an object. However, when the letter “A” is used before the word “Blue”, it becomes a noun. “A table, a chair, a book, a blue”. “A blue is another word for “Pill or capsule”. These are simple examples of nouns. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-7-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #6 What’s New? Healthy Food to Eat Today! History Topic! Food in America One Hundred Years Ago. Conversation Topic. Introductions and everyday hello’s. Speaking Practice. Conversation Practice and Hello. Basic Grammar Review. What is a Verb? English Grammar. “Like” is used seven ways in English! What’s New? Healthy Food to Eat Today! There may not be a ‘one size fits all’ solution when it comes to finding a food that will transform your health, but there are a few ingredients that we should definitely all be consuming more of. No one wants to feel trapped in a soul destroying diet but sometimes a few simple guidelines can help nudge us in the right direction. It might be the name of your favorite shampoo, but the Aloe Vera leaf boasts a whole host of other nutritional benefits. The active components of the inner leaf can support everything from digestion to the immune system to blood sugar balance and cholesterol. The enzymes and fibers it contains can even help you absorb nutrition from other foods better, possibly increasing the benefit you can gain from the rest of your healthy diet. It is a great one to add into your everyday!’’ ‘’It’s an oldy but goody – drink more green tea! It’s benefits include hormone balance, weight management, liver detoxification, anti-oxidant source and reducing risk of disease development. ‘’Whole eggs are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. They have previously been demonized owing to their high cholesterol content but it is now widely accepted that the dietary cholesterol within is actually positive rather than negative. While the egg whites are rich in protein which will keep you feeling full and satisfied, egg yolks are loaded with vitamins, minerals and various powerful nutrients. History Topic! Food in America One Hundred Years Ago So, what did everyone eat just about everyday 100 years ago? First it depended on where they lived. If we try to pick just one country, America would be a great place to start. If a person lived near the sea, they ate a lot of fish. Just like today, fish is often abundant in coastal areas. If you lived in the southern states in America, you most likely ate a lot of potato and corn. In northern states, you probably ate more beef and milk products. One hundred years ago, transportation from coast to coast was common. Trains provided many goods from other parts of the country, but fresh fruits and vegetables from state to state were much less common. Worldwide commerce was non-existent. Everyone ate what they grew. That might be fresh fruits and vegetables in the growing season or pickled cucumbers in the winter months. Meats and poultry were often dried and stored in root cellars. Conversation Topic Introductions and everyday hello’s While studying English, we learn NOT to repeat what the other person just said. However, there are a few areas in speech where it is okay to repeat what the other said or something close to it. Introductions are often challenging for students. Exactly why that is, I am not sure. Practice your English everyday and soon you will speak fluently. Actually, introductions should be one of the easier parts of English study. Why? Because, we meet people often and certain words and expressions are used again and again. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-6-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #5 What’s New? The Antarctic is Turning Green. History Topic! Land Discovery of The Antarctic in 1675. Conversation Topic. Leading Statements and Questions. Speaking Practice. Creating Dialog with Leading Questions. Basic Grammar Review. Prepositions of Place, Movement and Time. English Grammar. Reported Speech. What’s New? The Antarctic is Turning Green Scientists say the frozen continent is likely to ‘alter rapidly under future warming, leading to major changes in the biology and landscape of this iconic region. The Antarctic is turning green with rising temperatures having a “dramatic effect” on the growth of moss in the frozen continent, scientists have discovered. Since 1950, temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula have risen by about half a degree Celsius each decade. This is much faster than the global average. Growth rates of moss since 1950 have been running at four to five times the level before. This is according to a study by UK-based researchers who studied three sites across a 1,000km stretch of the peninsula. In addition to climate change, the extinction of animal species is prolific. Plastic waste, fossil fuel ash and radioactive particles from nuclear bomb tests will all leave a permanent record in the planet’s future rocks. “Between 1950 and 2000, temperatures increased by half a degree per decade on average,” said Dr Amesbury of Exeter University. “The reason we are so confident the moss is responding primarily to temperature, is because of the wide-scale response we see in our moss banks from three different sites that stretch 1,000km across the Antarctic Peninsula.” The researchers who reported the results of their study in an open-access paper in the journal “Cell Biology”, also looked into how sensitive the moss would be to further warming. “The results of that analysis lead us to believe there will be a future ‘greening’ of the Antarctic and a further increase in moss growth rates. “We are likely to see massive amounts of moss colonizing new areas of ice-free land created by the warmer climate. History Topic! Land Discovery of The Antarctic in 1675 Thank you Wiki. The first Antarctic land discovered was the island of South Georgia, visited by the English merchant Anthony de la Roché in 1675. Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis (“Southern Land”) date back to antiquity, the first confirmed sighting of the continent of Antarctica is commonly accepted to have occurred in 1820 by a Russian expedition. The first human born in the Antarctic was Solveig Jacobsen. He was born on 8 October 1913 in South Georgia. “Indirect reported speech” is when we refer to a statement or fact from the past and go back one tense in our statement. So, if someone said “I am hungry” we would say “He said he was hungry”. Notice how the verb “To be” changed from “Am to Was”. In this example, we went back one tense to refer to what was said. Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-5-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #4 What’s New? Job’s, Manufacturing, Growth and Profit’s Today. History Topic. Ford Motor Company in the early 1900‘s Conversation Topic. Job Interviews and What to do! Speaking Practice. Job Interview Dialog. Basic Grammar Review. Conjunctions in English. One of the Eight Essential Parts. English Grammar. How to use the adverb “How”. What’s New? Job’s, Manufacturing, Growth and Profit’s Today In today’s world of manufacturing, growth and profits are looked at much differently than 100 years ago. Like many things of the past, today is more about competition. Sure, a century ago, all companies worried about profits and making money. In today’s world, it is more about what the other guy is doing. It is all about investment and the future. One wrong step or misinformation can cost a company billions. For most employees, tomorrow and beyond are part of the unknown world of progress and profits. Here is part of a recent article about Ford Motors. Interesting and all about the world of manufacturing today! History Topic! Ford Motor Company in The Early 1900‘s History of the Ford Motor Company. In 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Model T. Earlier models were produced at a rate of only a few a day at a rented factory on Mack Avenue in Detroit, Michigan and later at the Piquette Avenue Plant (the first company-owned factory), with groups of two or three men working on each car from components made to order by other companies (what would come to be called an “assembled car”). Employee turnover was a big problem because of long hours and hard work for little money. In January 1914, Ford solved the employee turnover problem by doubling pay to $5 a day cutting shifts from nine hours to an eight-hour day for a 5-day work week (which also increased sales; a line worker could buy a T with less than four months’ pay), and instituting hiring practices that identified the best workers, including disabled people considered unemployable by other firms. Employee turnover plunged, productivity soared, and with it, the cost per vehicle plummeted. Ford cut prices again and again and invented the system of franchised dealers who were loyal to his brand name. Wall Street had criticized Ford’s generous labor practices when he began paying workers enough to buy the products they made. By the end of 1919, Ford was producing 50 percent of all cars in the United States, and 40% of all British ones; by 1920, half of all cars in the U.S. were Model Ts. (The low price also killed the cyclecar in the U.S.) The assembly line transformed the industry; soon, companies without it risked bankruptcy. Of 200 U.S. car makers in 1920, only 17 were left in 1940. This was due to poor planning and the high cost of production. More information can be found at Wiki. Conversation Topic Job Interviews and What to do! A face to face job interview is often the second or third stage. Searching for and applying for a new job opportunity are often the first and second stages. If you are lucky enough to sit with an HR director or manager, your chances of getting the job are very good. More information here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-4-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #3 What’s New? Flying Cars of Today. History Topic! Flying Cars of The Past. Conversation Topic. Talking about others. Dialog Practice. Questions and Answers. Basic Grammar Review. Question Words. English Grammar. Adverbs and The Perfect Tense. What’s New? Flying Cars of Today What’s new in the world of technology and inventions? Daily, we hear more and more about flying cars. Although the concept of flying cars has been just a dream for many inventors for years, soon, flying cars will be the norm. In Dubai located in The United Arab Emirates, the summer of 2017 will bring with it, a dream come true. Flying taxi’s will be in the sky soon. With great anticipation, Dubai will be the first in the world to launch a flying taxi service. As incredible as this seems, it will be a reality in 2017. To make this invention even more futuristic, the plan is to fly these taxi’s autonomously. In other words, just get in, push a button or two and away you go to your destination. In just a few minutes you will be flying over and around buildings. Who knows what else you will see as you travel above? Autonomous flying taxi’s will take you to work, shopping, home and who knows where else? While many firms have been developing flying cars for years, a Chinese company will be the first to launch a flying taxi service in Dubai. This is just the beginning of flying vehicles for commercial use. It could take several years before we see flying taxi’s in other cities. This is just the early stage of commercial development . The fact that this taxi will fly itself, makes it twice as interesting. History Facts! Flying Cars of The Past The concept of a flying car goes back several centuries. For hundreds of years, many have drawn all kinds of concepts. Each and every one was different from the others. As with all inventions, a concept starts first, with reality being realized later. Sometimes much later. In the case of flying cars, lifetimes have passed with little progress until recently. Here is more about the history of flying cars. Thank you Wiki! In 1926, Henry Ford displayed an experimental single-seat aeroplane that he called the “sky flivver”. The project was abandoned two years later when a distance-record attempt flight crashed, killing the pilot. The Flivver was not a flying car at all, but it did get press attention at the time, exciting the public that they would have a mass-produced affordable airplane product that would be made, marketed, sold, and maintained just like an automobile. The airplane was to be as commonplace in the future as the Ford Model T of the time. In 1956, the US Army’s Transportation Research Command began an investigation into “flying jeeps”, ducted-fan-based aircraft that were envisioned to be smaller and easier to fly than helicopters. In 1957, Chrysler, Curtiss-Wright, and Piasecki were assigned contracts for building and delivery of prototypes. They all delivered their prototypes; however, Piasecki’s VZ-8 was the most successful of the three. While it would normally operate close to the ground, it was capable of flying to several thousand feet, proving to be stable in flight. Nonetheless, the Army decided that the “Flying Jeep concept [was] unsuitable for the modern .... Read more here https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-3-pdf-version/

Download PDF Welcome to Larisa English Club #2 What’s New? Everyday Phrases. History Facts! History of The Internet. Conversation Topic. Personal Information. Dialog Practice. Question Words. Basic Grammar Review. The Definite Article. English Grammar. Modal Verbs of Probability. What’s New? Great question! In everyday English this phrase is used to say “Hello or Hi”. It can also mean, “How are you?”. Phrases come from just about every place on earth. Anywhere English is spoken for sure. Phrases come from movies, sitcoms and music. Who makes a phrase popular? People who like to create stuff. People who are popular. People who like what someone created and decided to use it over and over. When others like it and can apply the phrase to a situation or experience, now we have a phrase. Once a phrase is created and becomes popular, often it is used in a variety of different ways. Literal or idiomatic. Literal definitions refer to situations where we can see what happens. A common phrase might be “Look up”. In this example, we can see what is happening at the time of speaking. It is something we can refer to as an action. The phrase “Look up” as an idiomatic expression can have several definitions. Look up is used in three specific ways as an idiomatic expression. Here are examples; “Things are looking up these days” means that a given situation is improving. “Look it up in the dictionary” means to search for a word, definition or information in a dictionary. “Look me up the next time you are in town” means to visit with me. Basic Grammar Review Definite Article The “Definite Article” is the most used word in the English language. What is it? It is the word “The”. It is used many different ways and often there are no definite rules for it’s usage. A country can use it or not. It is all up to the government of a given country to decide. Hotels are pretty much the same. Some examples might be; The Hotel Regency or The Regency Hotel or Hotel Regency. All of this said, there are basic rules that we need to follow to understand “The Definite Article” in everyday English. Here are just a few. “The” is often used when we refer to groups of objects or people. Some examples are “The British”, “The Canadians”, “The Americans”. In these examples, we are referring to groups of people. Other examples are “The USA”, “The UK”, “The Netherlands”. In these examples, we are referring to groups of places. There are examples when we don’t use “The”. For instance, we do not use “The” before a lake but, we do use “The” before groups of lakes. An example is “The Great Lakes”. We also use “The” extensively as a “Determiner”. Examples are “The City of New York”, “The County of New York”, “The State of New York”. When we want to clearly refer to a place or thing, we use “The Definite Article”. The word “The” is used for “Singular, Plural and Uncountable Nouns”. When you see the word “The’ before one word, you need to know that word is a noun. This rule applies to any word we refer to as a noun. While there are many definite rules for “The”, here is just one more. Remember pronunciation before “Vowels” and “silent letters”. Here are a few examples: “The apple”, “The elephant”, “The ice cream”, “The orange”, “The umbrella”. https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-2-pdf-version/

Thank you for joining us today. Larisa English Club is created for learners of a second language! My name is Bill. Our format is quite simple. We encourage everyone to take notes and participate with the dialog portion. We call it "Speaking Practice”. Listen and practice speaking with Bill. “Larisa English Club” is full of knowledge to study, learn and practice. This English tutorial is a natural extension of my teaching experience. Teaching over 15,000 hours of English as a second language has afforded me the opportunity to teach and learn at the same time. Our recorded episodes can be listened to as many times as you wish. Our tutorial is designed as a supplement to your daily dose of English. I hope you enjoy “Larisa English Club”. What’s in Today's Lesson? What’s New? New English Words. History Topic! Color Photography. Conversation Topic. At The Restaurant. Dialog Practice. Ask and Answer Questions. Basic Grammar Review. The Indefinite Article. English Grammar. Present Simple Tense. What’s New? I love this question when it refers to English. What’s new? English is new! That’s right! In the English language, there is a new word created every 89 minutes. The reality is that no single person knows the English language. The facts are simple, the English language is constantly evolving. The truth is that, although one in seven people around the world speak English, nobody actually knows the entire English language. Millions know how to use the English language and they might be fluent. Just know that daily study, new vocabulary and practice speaking will help you attain your English goals. History Facts! Color Photography... The foundation of virtually all practical color processes today. The three-color method was first suggested in an 1855 paper by Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell, with the first color photograph produced by Thomas Sutton for a Maxwell lecture in 1861. Color photography has been the dominant form of photography since the 1970s, with monochrome photography mostly relegated to niche markets such as art photography. In color photography, electronic sensors or light-sensitive chemicals record color information at the time of exposure. This is usually done by analyzing the spectrum of colors into three channels of information, one dominated by red, another by green and the third by blue, in imitation of the way the normal human eye senses color. Today's technology uses the same light spectrum as in the 1800‘s. Creating colors by mixing colored lights (usually red, green and blue) in various proportions is the additive method of color reproduction. LCD, LED, plasma and CRT (picture tube) color video displays all use this method. If one of these displays is examined with a sufficiently strong magnifier, it will be seen that each pixel is actually composed of red, green and blue sub-pixels which blend at normal viewing distances, reproducing a wide range of colors as well as white and shades of gray. This is also known as the RGB color model. Thank you Wikipedia! Find more on this subject by going to Color_photography Conversation Topic At The Restaurant Today’s conversation topic is “At The Restaurant”. Being polite is always best with friends and family. What about with coworkers, shopping or dining? Download the PDF https://larisaenglishclub.com/pdf-resources/larisa-english-club-1-pdf-version/