Divided by a common language...

Nationalities

Communication problems

Remember 'Fawlty Towers'? Let's watch the following episode where Basil and Polly meet a difficult customer, Mrs.Richardson, a very demanding woman who is hard of hearing. Meanwhile, Basil bets on a horse that is sure to win, however he must not let Sybil find out.

Have fun!

Confusing words

Viure per sobre de les teves possibilitats = to live beyond your means
a burden = una càrrega

win - beat =
You win the contest/game/match.
You beat your opponent(s).

They are not synonyms.

arise - raise - rise

tasty - tasteful =
Tasty - Pleasing to the sense of taste (sabroso, apetitoso)
Tasteful - Having or showing or conforming to good taste; free from what is tawdry or unbecoming (de buen gusto)


 












































to take up a hobby = to start a hobby

























































diputat





















capgros





















I like lying in on Saturdays

Last but not least...

To crave = When she was pregnant she had a craving for chocolate
To splurge = to spend (money) unrestrainedly or extravagantly

Random acts of kindness

lame excuse
to be at stake = At risk; in question.
to praise
to be fined ... Don't miss this piece of news!!!!

                                                                      guinea pig



a GP = metge capçalera
tonsilitis

                                                   operating theatre & surgeons
to faint = to lose consciousness

To talk someone into /out of doing something

To drop out (dropouts)
It's a chore

To be through = to be finished
Stalking

a prop

to put off = to postpone

to be sanctioned = e.g. sanctioned by the Church

to revolve = The Earth revolves around the Sun

Word cloud

A bit of everything long overdue...

Here are some words and phrases that we have come across in our lessons:

To worship

To fulfill some requirements for a job
Above reproach = not deserving of blame or criticism (por encima de todo reproche)
A cock up
Complimentary gift = something given free to repay a favor or as an act of courtesy

e.g.  complimentary copies of the new book

doble standards

La avaricia rompe el saco = if you're too greedy you end up with nothing
Posar la mà al foc = to stick one's neck out for somebody
Fer uns encàrrecs = to run some errands
To talk  nonsense = dir bajanades
Mecenazgo = patronage


To harm = These pills won''t harm your system
To fund = to provide capital (funds) or other resources for a transaction, a project, a person, a business or other private or public institutions


To finance
To encourage = I encoraged him to apply for a position in the bank

laughing-stock = A figure or object of ridicule and laughter.
to prejudice
hatred = Hatred is blind, as well as love (Oscar Wilde)

Beauty without brains

A non p.c. (politically correct) video on the subject of blondes and intelligence....

Types of humour

Here are some of the most typical kinds of jokes:

a put-down
a pun
offbeat humour
an epigram
black humour
a stock joke

And  here is a link to The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce , where words are defined in a different way:

DENTIST, n. A prestidigitator who, putting metal into your mouth, pulls coins out of your pocket.
POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
FAITH, n. Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.

If you want to listen to jokes in English:
 
http://www.manythings.org/jokes/ (quite easy, though)

http://www.dailycomedy.com/jokes/mp3

Laughing matters