Friday, November 27, 2009

Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day

You can download more ESL 5 pictures from Flickr.

ESL Podcast Blog: Black Friday

Black Friday is the unofficial first shopping day of the Christmas and holiday season, and it’s the busiest shopping day of the entire year.
  • Listen to all of ESLPod's Shopping Podcasts

ESL Holiday Lessons: Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing Day is a great way of reminding yourself you don’t need to go shopping.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

JenniferESL: Lesson 6 - THANKSGIVING - English Vocabulary

JenniferESL: Lesson 6 - THANKSGIVING - English Vocabulary

Vocabulary for the advanced English language learner. Lesson 6 topic: Idioms and sayings related to Thanksgiving.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

ESL 5 Summary of Vocabulary and Idioms Nov 23-25 , 2009


Ch 5: Eating Dinner with a Roommate

Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten…
breaking new
come to (cost)
decadent
doesn’t look half bad
dough
gossip
I don’t know how to break this to you…
in mint condition
in the buff
in the long run
jack-of-all-trades
on the fritz
s/o = someone
s/t = something
s/w = somewhere
the can
to chow down on s/t
to drop in on s/o to pop up s/w
to fix breakfast / lunch / dinner
to give s/o the creeps / creepy
to let s/o down
to let s/o off the hook
to lip one’s mind
to make s/t from scratch
to never let s/o live s/t down
to rip s/o off
to stay on one’ good side
to talk turkey
to turn beet red
to work out

Friday, November 20, 2009

Unusual Hotel Promotions

ESLPod Blog: Unusual Hotel Promotions

Dr. Lucy Tse: "This is a difficult time for the travel industry (business) . . . Hotels have always offered special promotions (offers) during the slow seasons, but now hotels are getting even more creative." (read more)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

US Government Task Force Issues New Guidelines for Mammograms



VOANews: US Government Task Force Issues New Guidelines for Mammograms

A U.S. government task force has released new guidelines on how often women should get mammograms to test for breast cancer. The task force says for most women, mammograms should start at age 50, not at the previously recommended age of 40. Not everyone agrees with the new guidelines. VOA's Carol Pearson reports.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Debate Over New Guidelines for Breast Cancer Screening

VOANews: Debate Over New Guidelines for Breast Cancer Screening

A group of U.S. medical experts now advises against mammograms for most women under 50 years old. And those age 50 to 74 are advised to get tested every two years, instead of yearly.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Obama Holds Town Hall in Shanghai



VOAVideo: Obama Holds Town Hall in Shanghai

VOA News Special Report: President Obama in Asia

All VOA News stories and videos related to the President Barack Obama's first Asia trip began November 12, taking him to Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea. The historic 10-day journey includes bilateral and multilateral meetings, a town hall-style meeting in China and a visit with U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Obama's Town Hall Meeting in Shanghai


Remarks by President Obama at Town Hall Meeting in Shanghai (by question)


VOA News Special Report:

President Obama in Asia

All VOA News stories and videos related to the President Barack Obama's first Asia trip began November 12, taking him to Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea. The historic 10-day journey includes bilateral and multilateral meetings, a town hall-style meeting in China and a visit with U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.

Related Links

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Friday, November 13, 2009

ESL 5 Summary of Vocabulary and Idioms Nov 9-13, 2009


After a brief layover in Alaska, President Obama is currently in Japan, the first stop on Asian journey that will also take him to a meeting of APEC leaders in Singapore, then to China and South Korea.
Accelerate
Antique / antiquated
Appendicitis
Certain <> uncertain
Comfortable <> uncomfortable
Commit / commitment
Competent <> incompetent
Cooperate / cooperation
Developing countries
Donate / donation
Embryo / fetus / baby
Evidence
Frustrate / frustration
Giggle / wiggle
High risk population
I can’t make it.
Insomnia
Itch / itchy <> scratch / scratchy
Jump / jump-rope / Chinese jump-rope
Keep / keepsake
Kick / kick-off
Knock / knock-out
Medical imaging
Miscarriage / abortion
Oblige / obligate / obligation
Possible / possibility
Reschedule
Response /.responsible
Sense / sensitive
Short / shortage
Tender / swollen / sprained
Veterans Day
X-ray / CAT scan / MRI

Obama Begins First Presidential Trip to Asia



VOANews: Obama Begins First Presidential Trip to Asia

US president on his way to Japan, first stop on Asian journey that will also take him to China, South Korea, and meeting of Pacific Rim leaders in Singapore.

Watch VOAVideo on YouTube:

Thursday, November 12, 2009

US Development of H1N1 Vaccine Hits Snag

VOAVideo: US Development of H1N1 Vaccine Hits Snag

Health officials around the world say they are frustrated by the shortage of vaccine to protect against the H1N1 flu. The United States and other wealthy countries have promised to donate 10 percent of their supply to developing countries. But due to a global shortage, that has not happened yet. VOA's Vidushi Sinha reports. (Read more)

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Sculptor Salutes War Dogs


VOANews: Sculptor Salutes War Dogs

An estimated 100,000 dogs have served in the United States military over the past century. They have been trained to carry out a variety of assignments, from recognizing mines and booby traps, to serving as sentries, messengers and scouts. The heroic stories of war dogs have inspired artist Susan Bahary, who created several sculptures honoring them.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Healthcare Reform Bill Passes U.S. House of Representatives



VOAVideo: Healthcare Reform Bill Passes U.S. House of Representatives

It's a major victory for President Barack Obama, and his Democratic Party supporters in the House of Representatives. But what took a matter of hours in the House could take weeks in the Senate. VOA's Laurel Bowman takes a look at the hurdles this healthcare legislation faces ahead.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Listen a Minute: Grammar


Sean Banville has a new website: Listen A Minute
  • One minute a day is all you need to improve your listening skills

  • Focus on new words, grammar and pronunciation in these short texts.

  • Doing the online activities, discussion, survey and writing will help.

  • Listen many times - enough for you to you understand everything.

Listen a Minute: Grammar!

Why is English grammar so confusing?

Saturday, November 7, 2009

House passes health care bill on close vote

House passes health care bill on close vote (exerpt from AP Report By DAVID ESPO)

WASHINGTON – In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.

The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin a long-delayed debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.

A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later — and Obama issued a statement saying, "I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year."

The bill drew the votes of 219 Democrats and Rep. Joseph Cao, a first-term Republican who holds an overwhelmingly Democratic seat in New Orleans. Opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats.

Friday, November 6, 2009

ESL 5 Summary of Vocabulary and Idioms Nov 2-6, 2009


VOANews: Stage Set for Historic US Health Care Debate

Debate expected in a special Saturday session in US House of Representatives comes amid growing concerns that US Senate will be unable to bring a measure to a vote before end of year


Accordingly
Blister
Canker sore
Designer frames & tint
Detect / detection / early detection
Diagnose / diagnosis
Extreme / extremely / extremities
Freckle / mole: smooth/round; rough/irregular
Healthcare reform
Helpful <> helpless
HMO health maintenance organization
Humble
Humid / humidity
Immune system
Internal <> external
Know / knowledge / knowledgeable
Leading cause of something
Lifestyle
Manageable (problem or disease)
MCO managed care organization
(someplace) is packed with people
Placebo
PPO preferred provider organization
Private insurance <> Public Option
Promptly
Rear view mirror
Stage / stages / early stages of ____
Healthcare Pros

Advice Nurse
ENT (ears, nose, throat) specialist
Gynecologist
Obstetrician
Ophthalmologist
Optician
Optometrist
Primary Care PhysicianStool
Symptoms
To break ____ news
Trigger
UV / ultraviolet rays
Womb / woman

Medical conditions

Allergy / allergies / allergic
Anemia
Arthritis
Asthma / asthma attack
Blood clots / blockage
Cancer
Cataracts
Congested / congestion
Diabetes
Drug addiction
Emphysema
Epilepsy
Fainting
Gasping / wheezing
Glaucoma
Heart disease
Heart attack
Hepatitis
High blood pressure
HIV/AIDS
Hempophilia
Leukemia
Lympomia
Melanoma
Migraines
Nervousness
Obese / obesity
Pregnancy / miscarriage
Prostate cancer
Rheumatism
Scarlet fever
Stroke
Tuberculosis
Ulcers
Uterine cancer

Healthcare Pros
Advice Nurse
ENT (ears, nose, throat) specialist
Gynecologist
Obstetrician
Ophthalmologist
Optician
Optometrist
Primary Care Physician

Medical Treatments

Antibiotics
Blood thinner
Colonoscopy
Endoscopy
Exam / examine / self-examination
Hysterectomy
Inhaler / Portable inhaler
Orajel
Out-patient surgery
Pap smear
Penicillin

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Stage Set for Historic US Health Care Debate


VOANews: Stage Set for Historic US Health Care Debate

Debate expected in a special Saturday session in US House of Representatives comes amid growing concerns that US Senate will be unable to bring a measure to a vote before end of year

Monday, November 2, 2009

Pregnant Women at Greater Danger From H1N1 Flu



VOALearningEnglish: Pregnant Women at Greater Danger From H1N1 Flu
09/15/2009

The H1N1 flu virus that has spread around the world is especially risky for pregnant women. If they become infected, especially after the first three months of pregnancy, they can get very sick or even die. Cases of fetal death have also been reported.

Pregnant women face an increased risk even during outbreaks of seasonal influenza. But the new H1N1 flu has been affecting a younger age group than seasonal flu epidemics.

The WHO says pregnant women should take the antiviral drug Tamiflu as soon as possible after they show signs of illness. The drug is also called oseltamivir.

The agency says treatment should begin without waiting for the results of laboratory tests to confirm the presence of H1N1 virus. The drug is most effective when given within forty-eight hours.
But experts say the medicine could still do some good even if there is a delay.

Since April, more than one thousand deaths have been reported from the H1N1 virus, commonly called swine flu. But so far the virus has not shown itself to be more severe than seasonal flu.

The World Health Organization has predicted that the H1N1 virus will infect at least two billion people in the next two years. Agency chief Margaret Chan has expressed concern there is not a good process in place to produce enough vaccine against the virus.

In the United States, there are now guidelines for the use of H1N1 vaccine as it becomes available.
An advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there are five groups that should be vaccinated first.

These include pregnant women and people who live with or care for children younger than six months. They also include workers in health care and emergency services,
and people between six months and twenty-four years of age.

The fifth group on the list is people twenty-five to sixty-four with chronic health problems.

If vaccine supplies are limited, then the committee says two groups of children should be vaccinated before other children. One group is those who are six months to four years old. The other is those five to eighteen with chronic medical conditions.

In April, after the first cases in the United States, officials told schools to close at the first sign of an H1N1 outbreak. The government later eased those warnings.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

ESL Podcast 523 – Having Trouble Making a Decision

ESL Podcast 523 – Having Trouble Making a Decision

If you can’t decide if you should listen to this episode or not, then you should listen to this episode about making decisions. Download Podcast

Lorenzo: Have you bought a new television yet?

Katia: No, I’m still looking at consumer reviews and weighing my options. I’m not sure yet what size I want or what features I need. I’m keeping my options open for now.