Keep in Mind

Please remember these three important sayings as you seek to improve your English.

1. English is Crazy.
You are not crazy, English is. There are many things that make English a challenge for language learners. The most obvious is the spelling and pronunciation which makes English very difficult to read.

2. No Pain. No Gain.
Like any discipline, improving your English takes time and energy and sometimes discomfort. So if you are shy and afraid to practice your English, just push through it. You will not improve if you don't try.

3. If you don't use it, you will lose it.
It is very important that you use the the English you are learning during your classes. It is not enough to write a new word or phrase down in your notebook. Try to make a sentence with it or use it in a conversation. It won't become a part of your working vocabulary if you don't use it.

I'm very glad you have decided to take English lessons with me. But please remember the time we spend together is just an hour or two a week. You need to interact with English on a daily basis to help your brain get accustomed to it. Have fun!

Why is the Superbowl such a big deal?

The Superbowl is the biggest sports event of the year in the United States. It is the championship game between the two top two teams in the National Football Conference (NFL).  Watching the Superbowl has become  a big part of American culture. Even people who are not fans of the two teams or don't like  football at all,  have been found attending a party or watching the big game. So what is the big deal?  I think there are three main reasons for this phenomena.

1. ONLY ONE GAME
All other major sports championships in the U.S. (MLB, NBA,NHL) are played over a series of games. The champions are the first team to win four games (out of a maximum of seven).  Unlike the other leagues, the NFL only plays one game a week due since the players need  time to recover from the physical demands of each game. Since so much rides on the game, the   What were last year's ratings? What are the ratings of past Superbowls?

2.  THE COMMERCIALS
Because so many people are watching the Superbowl, major corporations pays millions of dollars to advertise during the game. Many people tune into the Superbowl just to watch the ads. and there is much discussion leading up to the game and after concerning what was the most unique or effective commercial.
How much is a 30 second ad this year? 

3. THE TIME OF YEAR
The regular season of the NFL lasts from September to December and it is followed by at least three weeks of the playoffs. This means that the championship game is usually the last week of January or the first week of February, right smack in the middle of winter. Since winter can be very long and gray in many parts of the United States, people are excited to have any distraction from the colder temperatures.  Honestly, some people look for any reason to throw a party. Most Superbowls  have been held in warm weather climates.  What is different about the 2014 Superbowl? 

Here are some links to articles that also answer this question .
SHORTER
LONGER

On the lighter side of the news...

Many of the late nite shows have been spending time on making fun of the situation on the North Korean peninsula. Do you have any questions?

Jimmy Fallon: Pros and Cons

Jon Stewart: Comedy Central:

Even before Kim Jong Un became the leader in 2010, he was making the news...
David Letterman: Top Ten

The Champions....

The game.
The coach:  Rick Pitino.
The player of the game: Luke Hancock.
How does this Final Four compare to others in history?

A quick and enthusiastic summary by Dick Vitale !

Update on North Korea

The saber rattling continues:

US Delays Missile Test

Foreign Embassy Staff Asked to Leave  

Signs of Nuclear Test

March Madness (but isn't it April?) Updates

1. Good Night Cinderella: The FINAL FOUR teams finished their games tonight. Who won and what are the stories coming out of each game? . Wichita St vs. Louisville  and Michigan vs. Syracuse. 

2. Hopeful Recovery: It's a good sign that Louisville player Kevin Ware can make light of last week's horrific injury. Watch him give the nightly Top Ten List on the David Letterman Show. Read the list or watch the video, the list begins @ 3:50. (QUESTION: What does "it" refer to in Number 6)?

3. Preview of Monday's Championship Game: Comparisons of two teams in key areas at Bleacher Report. Who do YOU predict will win?

What questions do YOU have?  

Baseball's back

Ok, whether you like it or not...the good old American pastime is back. April has begun and baseball season is here. Whether you think baseball is boring or exciting to watch, many baseball idioms are a part of the American landscape. Here are some websites that will give you a good summary of the most common idioms.
1. ecenglish.com
2. Sports idioms
3. 17 baseball idioms
4. You can take a short quiz at English Zone
Question for discussion (or comments) Why do Americans like baseball????