English beginner

Figurative language
Students sometimes say that English is not as expressive as their own language. As one student said, "I can describe something seven ways in English, but I can describe something 20 ways in my own language."
One way to increase your ability to express yourself in English is with "figurative" language. Here''s an activity to try: describe a table, but don''t use the words "legs, flat, wood, or square."
Move beyond a literal description. See an example in tomorrow''s lesson.

Summer camps
CAMPING EQUIPMENT or WHAT TO BRING WHEN YOU GO CAMPING
Read the paragraph and find the one item that a camper WOULD NOT NEED to bring on a camping trip into the woods.
Packing for a camping trip means that you must prepare for living outdoors in all kinds of weather and in different con***ions. To prepare for living outdoors most campers bring sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, a flashlight so that they can see at night, a very big television, a waterproof tent and a warm sleeping bag. Often campers need to carry their own food and water into the woods so if you cannot carry all the water you will drink on your trip you will need a water purifier to make the water you find drinkable. You will also need a way to make a fire and a small stove to cook on. A good saw for cutting wood and a good knife for cutting food are also necessary camping items.
Answer: Campers definitely would not need a very big television in the woods.

Expressing an opinion
In English, we stress meaning (or content) words in a sentence when we''re speaking. A stressed word is said a little louder and a little longer than the rest of the sentence. We can also change the meaning of a sentence by changing the stressed words. In this dialogue, the capitalized words are stressed. Why?
Harry: We''re definitely going the WRONG way.
Kim: WHAT? I turned right just like you suggested!
Harry: I didn''t say, ''Turn RIGHT.'' I said, ''Turn LEFT!''
Kim: You said ''Turn RIGHT at the second lights.''
Harry: I don''t think so. I said, ''Turn LEFT at Second STREET.''
Kim: Well then, you''re RIGHT about one thing. We''re DEFINITELY lost.

If we want something clarified (like directions), we can stress the confusing words. In the last line of the dialogue, Kim stresses the word "definitely" to emphasize the fact that they are lost.
Now try saying the dialogue out loud, adding stress to the capitalized words.

Going to the beach
TANNING
In some places in the world, people try very hard to stay out of the sun. They cover their heads with hats, their faces with veils and wear clothing that covers most of their bodies, even when swimming. In the United States, many people feel that to have skin that has turned darker in the sunlight is healthy and looks beautiful. Many people go to beaches or sit or lie outdoors under the sun so they can get a tan.

Buying clothes
CULTURAL NOTE
People in different countries shop at different places. Shops may be on residential streets, or in shopping areas outside town with few houses, or in a shopping center . In the US, shopping malls are very popular, not just for buying things, but also for entertainment. Shopping malls are called shopping centres in the UK.
Many shops are part of a chain : a number of similar shops with the same name selling the same products in different locations.

Expressing an opinion
People often write to newspapers to share their opinions about a topic in the news. The best opinion writing is published. Often, the letters include the following phrases:
1. In my opinion,
2. On the contrary,
3. On the other hand,
These phrases are polite ways to introduce your own opinion. Try using the above words to complete these sentences (watch for commas!):
1. ________, the non-smoking law should be ended.
2. ________, we should not have to breathe smoky air in public places.
3. ________, I feel that we should continue the discussion.

ANSWERS : 1.(1) 2.(2) 3.(3)

Going to the beach
BODYSURFING
Beach goers who like to swim in ocean waves can spend hours in the water bodysurfing. What is body surfing? To bodysurf, you don''t need any equipment except a bathing suit, your body and a love of the water. The way it works is this: You get into the water until it is about the height of your waist or your shoulders (or wherever you feel comfortable). With your feet touching the sea floor, you look over your shoulder and watch the waves roll into the beach. When you see a wave just starting to curl, throw your body onto it and let the wave carry you into the shallow water of the shore/beach. That''s all you have to do. It works in any sea or ocean which has small to medium size waves and is not too deep. Enjoy!

Expressing an opinion
Read this movie review. Underline the words you consider opinion words . Did the writer enjoy the film?
"Final Fight" was a disappointing movie. I went to the theater to see a good action film. I love action films, but in this film the plot and dialogue were sacrificed to the action. The dialogue seemed unnatural and the plot was predictable. The action scenes were fabulous, but overall, the gaps in the story were too distracting for me to really enjoy the film.

VOCABULARY
plot story
sacrificed given away, given up
predictable you know what is coming next
gaps holes
distracting takes your attention away
The writer uses negative words like sacrificed , unnatural , predictable , gaps , and distracting to tell us his or her opinion.
Did the writer enjoy the film? Definitely not!

Going to the Beach
BEACHCOMBING
What do the words "beach" and "comb" have to do with each other? If you keep your eyes on the sand or rocks at the beach, you will get your answer. Beachcombing means to "comb the beach" with your eyes in search of shells, wood, pretty stones or sea life. Many people go to the beach and take some of it away with them in the form of shells or other things they have "beachcombed".

Beachcombing isn''t a bad hobby, unless too many people carry away too many things. Colorful and large seashells, like the kinds one can find on beaches in warmer climates, are so popular that people will pay for them in stores. However, some of the shells provide protective homes for sea life like crabs and so carrying too many shells away can hurt this particular species.

Let''s Go to the Movies
MOVIE REVIEW
The movie "The Sixth Sense" was very suspenseful. It''s the story of a young boy who sees dead people. No one else can see these ghosts and he doesn''t know why they come to him. A mysterious man comes to help him find the answer. The answer is a great surprise to both of themĂư and the audience!
Unscramble the words (use the review for help):
1. Another word for "dead people" is THOGS.
2. Another word for "suspense" is YTRMESY.
3. We have IVEF senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell).
ANSWERS: 1. ghost 2. mystery 3. five
What is the "sixth" sense? Bring your ideas to the Voice and Text Chats or the About English forum.