Idioms - A Drop in the Ocean

Learning idioms isn't easy, because there are thousands and thousands of them. Here are 20 idioms about nature. It's only a drop in the ocean, I know, but it's a start!

Idioms based on nature Click on the idiom to read the full explanation.
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Now, make your own sentences with five new idioms that you have learned.

Weekend Events

What are you up to this weekend? Here are some ideas...

Book Sale

The Vancouver Public library is holding their spring book sale at the Central Branch. Books range in price from $0.75 to $2.00. There are  lots of children's books too. Click here for more information VPL

Thursday, Apr. 26  10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday, Apr. 27      10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Apr. 28   10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, Apr. 29     12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Plant Sale

Van Dusen's annual plant sale is this Sunday. It's a great opportunity to buy plants, or to visit the gardens. Admission is free on this day. The gardens open at 10 a.m., but avid gardeners will probably start lining up by 6 a.m. to get the first choice of the 40,000 plants that are for sale. If you are just going to tour the gardens, it might be best to take the bus, otherwise it may be difficult to find parking.

5251 Oak Street (37th & Oak St.)

Click here for more details VanDusen 

OWL Open House

OWL is an organization that rescues and rehabilitates birds of prey, such as eagles, hawks and owls. This weekend is their free open house, where you can get a behind-the-scenes tour of the bird hospital.

Where: 3800 72 Avenue

Date: Saturday April 29th & Sunday April 29th, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information visit OWL

Field Trip to Stanley Park

Although the weather doesn't look promising, I'm still really looking forward to our field trip to Stanley Park. Julie, our naturalist guide from the Stanley Park Ecology Society is going to talk about:

-   the importance of Stanley Park to people and to the environment

-   the forest and wetland ecosystems in Stanley Park

-   historical presence of native peoples in the Park

-   examples of how native people used the resources of nature

-   the beavers at Beaver Lake

-   spring birds

-   trees - how to identify the three main conifer species

-   whatever else may come up

 What to wear

-  Wear comfortable shoes or boots that you feel comfortable walking in for an hour.
-  Be prepared to walk on uneven ground and to step into mud and puddles.
-  Do not wear sandals.
-  Wear warm clothing, as it is cooler in the forest.
-  Bring an umbrella
-  You do not need to bring pen or paper

Have fun!

So or such?

Review quizzes for SO and SUCH  Quiz 1  Quiz 2

Invitations

Level 4 AM class

A summer get-together with friends

Review the language we use for extending, accepting and declining invitations.
 Would you like to come over?

Unfortunately, the website for the invitations doesn't seem to be working on some computers. Please leave a comment below to let me know if you were able to do the exercises.

Here are some useful expressions you can use for making, accepting and refusing invitations. I copied these from the lists you made in class, and I added a few more.

Making Invitations

- We're having a few people over. We'd like you to join us.
- I was wondering if you'd like to come over.
- We're holding a small get-together. Would you like to come?
- Would you like to come over?
- I'd like to invite you to my house.
- I hope you can make it.
- I'd like to invite you over for coffee.

Accepting Invitations

- We'd love to come.
- That's really nice. I'm sure my husband would like that. We'd love to come.
- I appreciate the invitation. What can I bring?
- That sounds great! Thanks for inviting me.
- I'm looking forward to it.
- Can I bring anything?
- What time should I be there?
- Let me know if I can bring anything.

Declining Invitations

- Sorry, I'd love to come, but I'm busy.
- I'd love to come, but I can't make it.
- I'd like to, but I have a meeting that day.
- I wish I could come, but I have an appointment.
- Thanks for thinking of me, but I'm afraid I have other plans that day.

Hesitating

- Thanks, but I have to check my calendar. Can I get back to you?
- I'm not sure what my plans are. Can I let you know?

Avoiding Jet Lag

Watch the video.

Questions:

1. What is the purpose of this video?

a) request

b) advice

c) invitation

2. Who is this video for?

a) travellers

b) students

c) hamsters

Watch the video again. This time, number the steps in the order you hear them:

a)  _____ Fly west instead of east.

b)  __1__  Adjust your schedule by an hour or two a few days before your trip.

c)  _____  Put on your sunglasses near the end of your flight, and for the first few hours after you arrive.

d)  _____ Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

e)  _____ Cut down on fat, salt, sugar and coffee, and eat more fruits and vegetables before your trip.

f)  _____  Set your watch to the new time zone as soon as you get on the plane. Pretend it’s already that time.

g)  _____  Avoid caffeine and alcohol while you’re flying.

h)  _____ Don’t nap. Try to exercise and get out into the sun instead.

Airplane Travel

Vocabulary Practise:  Airplane Travel

Listening: Airport Announcements
- Listening Exercises
-Quiz.

Listening: Travel Arrangements
- Listening Exercises
- Mixed-Up Sentence
- Sentence and Vocabulary Matching
- Test Completion Quiz

Here's one more: Airport Information

Travelling Experiences

Review: Listen again to the conversation about travelling experiences we heard in class today. Do exercises 1-4.

Travelling Experiences

Up time America! Watch this YouTube video.  How many idioms are there with "UP"? Write down a few of them and bring them to class on Monday.

Here is the transcript of the video Up Time America transcript

Intersection Safety




a T-bone steak

 

A T-bone collision



How are these similar?

Vocabulary

Crackdown - strict enforcement of a law

Red light runner - driver who goes through red lights

T-bone collision - a collision in which the side of one vehicle is hit by the front end of another

Watch this YouTube video about Intersection Safety

Copy these sentences and fill in the blanks as you listen:

1. Soon there will be __________ red light cameras throughout BC.

2. If you run a red light, you could be fined $______.

3. Running a red light  causing a  T-bone  collision is one of the most ___________ collisions that can cause _________ or _________ injuries to people in a vehicle.

4. More than _______ of all pedestrian-involved collisions occur at _________________.

Why is it important to be cautious at intersections? _____________________________________________________________

Driving Idioms

Watch on YouTube Driving Idioms
1. in the driver's seat
2. a back seat driver
3. a Sunday driver

Listening: Getting pulled over  Traffic Ticket

Crime vocabulary review: Phrasal Verbs - Crime

Quiz: Tag Questions