English beginner

Hostels
Hostel is pronounced HOS-tel. Another word, which is spelled differently, is sometimes pronounced the same way in English. That word is hostile. This adjective means excessive anger or meanness. For example, if you are hostile towards someone, they probably will act angrily towards you. Sometimes the "i" sound in hostile is pronounced with a short sound, as in the word hostel but sometimes, as in British English, it is pronounced hos-TILE. You can tell by the context in which the word is used which one is hostel, the noun and hostile, the adjective.

Summer holidays
As a child, I always loved my summer holidays. One summer, my family drove across Canada to visit some relatives. It took a week to drive to Vancouver from Ontario. It is a 2500 kilometer trip! In Ontario, we saw many forests and lakes. In the Prairies, the sky was very big! The land was flat or hilly. In Alberta, the land was hilly. Then we drove into the Rocky Mountains. We drove through the mountains to Vancouver. Vancouver is by the ocean. It was a long trip, but it is my favorite summer memory!

VOCABULARY LESSON
Unscramble the words from the story. The meaning of the word is in parentheses.
1. We traveled far to visit our ''ertievsla''. (family)
2. We saw many ''orfsets''. (an area with many trees)
3. The land is not flat, but there are no mountains. It is ''lihly''. (gently rolling)
4. The water in the ''enaco'' is salty. (large body of salt water)
5. I love summer ''olihdasy''!! (vacation)
ANSWERS
1. relatives
2. forests
3. hilly
4. ocean
5. holidays

How would you describe your country? Is it hilly? Flat? Are there forests? Where is your favorite place? Can you describe it?

Summer holidays
Here is a dialogue about summer holidays. These two friends are at university. What does "I need a break" mean?
1. Evan: School is almost over. What will you do on your holidays?
2. Doug: I don''t know. I am studying very hard for my exams. I have no time to think about my holidays. What will you do on your holidays?
3. Evan: I will take some summer courses at university. I want to finish university soon. It is too expensive!
4. Doug: That''s a great idea, but not much fun. I need a break from studying. I''ll go home and visit my parents. I''ll visit all my friends and just relax.
5. Evan: Your summer sounds more fun than mine!
6. Doug: I hope so!

VOCABULARY

exams difficult tests
courses school classes
relax do no work
IDIOM LESSON:
What does "I need a break" mean?
1. Can you break this for me?
2. Something is broken.
3. I need a rest.
4. I need breakfast.
The answer is 3. Doug is studying very hard for his exams. He wants to rest and relax. He needs a break from his studies!

Let''s Go to the Movies
Joe and Sam just saw a movie. Did they like the movie?
Joe: That movie stunk!
Sam: Yep. That was a stinker. I''ve seen better acting at grade school.
Joe: I can''t believe we stayed for the whole movie.
Sam: I stayed because I thought you liked it! You were laughing a lot.
Joe: I know! It was so bad it was funny! What a turkey.
Sam: If I were an actor in that bomb, I''d consider a new career.
Joe and Sam didn''t like the movie at all!
VOCABULARY
stunk (slang) (verb: to stink) was terrible
turkey (slang) a terrible movie
bomb (slang) something that fails completely

Hostels
Have you ever stayed in a hostel? Where was it? What was your experience?
If you have ever stayed in a youth hostel, then you know that it is an inexpensively priced form of accomodation for international and national travellers. Hostels are places to meet other travellers from around the world. However, when you choose this form of lodging, you sometimes sacrifice the privacy and luxury of a private hotel room with a private bathroom. Hostellers say that it is worth it, both in terms of price and in terms of friendships made with other travellers.

Summer holidays
In my town, there are many signs of summer. People stop wearing long pants and coats. They are wearing shorts and T-shirts. More people are outside. They are walking, riding their bicycles, or sitting in the sun. More people are eating ice cream and drinking cold drinks. The trees are green. The beach is busy and flowers are everywhere!

VOCABULARY
T-shirt shirts with short sleeves (arms/word)
GRAMMAR LESSON
In English, we use the present progressive tense to express an action happening now. For example, you "are reading" this now!
To make the present progressive, use the present tense of "to be" and the present participle (--ing) of the main verb. For example, I am walking, you are eating, he is jumping, we are teaching, they are studying
Find the present progressive verbs in the reading.
ANSWERS
1. They are wearing shorts.
2. They are walking, riding, or sitting.
3. People are eating and drinking.

Breakfast
READING
Joan: I''m really hungry. What time is it?
Brenda: It''s only 10:30. Didn''t you have breakfast?
Joan: No, I almost never eat breakfast. I don''t have time in the morning.
Brenda: I think breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I can''t get any work done if I''m hungry!
Joan: I guess you''re right. Hey, I think there are donuts in the break room!
Do you eat breakfast in the morning before school or work? What do you eat?

Let''s visit Dublin
When traveling in a place you are not familar with, it''s a good idea to take some safety precautions.
Anna: I just read this great article on women and traveling!
Jenny: Any good tips?
Anna: Definitely. A lot of good safety tips. Like always traveling with a cell phone.
Jenny: Right. I suppose it''s time I just break _____ and buy one.
Anna: Well, either that, or just carrying something that looks like a cell phone will deter any possible thieves or attackers.
Jenny: Maybe you should get one before your trip to Dublin!
What preposition best fills in the blank?
1. down
2. up
3. off
ANSWER: 1

On the Move
Do you know what it means to be "in a rut"? We are without action, motion, or progress. We simply exist. When this happens, we desire excitement and fun. Outside activities and people add variety to our lives.

Discussion Topic:
Are you on the move, or are you in a rut? Come to the chats or forums and share the activities and interests that keep you moving.

Breakfast

MISSING WORDS
Can you remember the missing words from yesterday''s reading? Number the words below from 1 to 5 in their correct place in the reading.
work, hungry, meal, breakfast, morning
Joan: I''m really (1). What time is it?
Brenda: It''s only 10:30. Didn''t you have (2)?
Joan: No, I almost never eat breakfast. I don''t have time in the (3).
Brenda: I think breakfast is the most important (4) of the day. I can''t get any (5) done if I''m hungry!
Joan: I guess you''re right. Hey, I think there are donuts in the break room!
Answers:
1. hungry
2. breakfast
3. morning
4. meal
5. work

Do you eat breakfast in the morning before school or work? What do you eat?