Show 578 Wednesday 12 December

The latest version of this transcript has been moved here:
http://www.thedailyenglishshow.com/show/578-no-smorking-x-i-hope-to-hearing-x/

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today’s mistake comes from a website for a place in Niseko called Gentem Café – I’ve never actually been there, but I really want to go and check it out.
Anyway, I was looking at their website and on the front page, it says “No Smorking”.
I think what they mean, is No Smoking, so there shouldn’t be an r there.
But that’s quite a common mistake. I’ve seen No Smorking signs before.

Something else to talk about today ...

Someone asked me this:
Why does one have to write: I hope to hearing from you soon. Why is it not: I hope to hear from you soon.

Actually, there are two ways you can write it:
I hope to hear from you soon.
And I look forward to hearing from you soon.

This is something you could write at the end of a business letter or email. It’s a polite way of saying “hurry up and reply”.

They basically mean the same thing. But I think they are slightly different. I hope to ... sounds like you’re not sure if they will or not, but you really hope that they do.
I look forward to ... sounds like they’re definitely going to do it, like you’re not giving them the option of refusing.
So, I would go with the second one.

As for the grammar, why do you need –ing after look forward to?
And why can’t you say, “I hope to hearing from you?”

The answer is that some verbs take to plus infinitive and some verbs take the –ing form (or the gerund). And some verbs take either and they mean the same thing, and some verbs take both but they mean different things.

So how do you know which is which? Well, I recommend doing exercises with books like this, this is one of my favourite books.

If someone asks me a question about grammar, I usually look it up in this book. It has really clear explanations on one side and then exercises you can do to practice on the other side.

For example, in unit 52, you can practice what we were just talking about. Although it might not be unit 52 anymore because this isn’t the latest version of this book.

Anyway, for today remember this:

Hope goes with to plus infinitive.
And look forward to goes with the -ing form or the gerund.

I hope to see you soon.
I look forward to seeing you soon.

I hope to meet you soon.
I look forward to meeting you soon.

I hope to hear from you soon.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, this is Stick News. Yesterday an American airline began offering email and instant messaging on one aircraft.

On most planes in the world, passengers can’t use the internet.
It looks like soon it’ll be a different story.
Yesterday was the inaugural JetBlue flight with e-mail access.
Next year other airlines are planning to introduce internet services on some flights.
But CNN reports some people aren’t too keen on having internet access on planes, which are “one of the few downtime environments you get in this day and age”.
A guy called Jon said that between kids, meetings and electronic interruptions on the ground he gets some of his best work done on the plane.
He said good decisions and breakthroughs often arise from "the kind of deeper, reflective thinking" not possible when new messages continually arrive.
Not everyone is crying though. A guy called Henry said he hates that sense of dread when he turns on his BlackBerry after landing and gets a flood of e-mail.
He said the new system is a godsend. 

And that was Stick News for Wednesday the 12th of December.
Kia Ora.

SNOW REPORT

on the road

This is Kutchan at 1am this morning. The good thing about doing the snow report in the middle of the night is that if you want you can stand in the middle of the road and not get hit by cars. Hang on, I hope there’s no one coming. No. Sweet.

conversations with sarah

#352 Would you like a cup of tea?

Step 1: Repeat Brenda’s lines.
Step 2: Read Brenda’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Brenda Would you like a cup of tea?

Sarah No, I’m OK, thanks.

Brenda Are you sure?

Sarah Yeah, I’m fine.

Brenda I’m just about to have one anyway.

Sarah Oh, OK then, you’ve twisted my arm.

Brenda What would you like?

Sarah Whatever you’re having.

Brenda OK then, is Earl Grey OK?

Sarah Perfect.

notes

reflective - the actual quote said "reflecting", but I accentally said "reflective"

links

today's news

today's STICK NEWS pictures

English Grammar In Use by Raymond Murphy

This is one of my favourite books. I highly recommend it.

gerund

music
show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Silence
album: Encre
track: Plume
from: Bruxelles, Belgium
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes. Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Show 577 Tuesday 11 December

Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Christmas is two weeks away. Not I really care because I’m in Japan and Christmas isn’t a big deal here. But the other day I actually got a present and a card from someone in my family, so that’s pretty cool. Presents are always good.
And I wanted to tell you about the card. It has a joke in it and I was explaining it to my boyfriend and he just didn’t get it ... so I thought I’d try explaining it to you and see if you can get it.

On the front of the card there’s a reindeer, wearing boots for some reason and green gloves and a hat and he’s saying, “I told Santa you’d been good all year.”

And on the inside it says, “and we both had a good laugh”, and there’s a picture of Santa and the reindeer laughing.

So it’s not like the funniest card in the world, but it’s pretty funny, I like it.

I think part of the joke is that, after the reindeer says, “I told Santa you’d been good all year“, you expect him to say something like, “so he said you deserved a great present” or something like that, but instead it says, “and we both had a good laugh”.

And why are they laughing? Well, the implication is that I’m a naughty person or something, so there’s no way I could have been good all year ... so they think it’s funny.

Do you get it? Does my explanation make sense?

Of course I have been good all year. Don’t believe anything reindeers say.

Anyway, apart from this hilarious card, another early Christmas present ... from Italy.
A guy called Anton started translating The Daily English Show transcripts into Italian. Thank you Anton, that’s awesome!

Italian Version TDES

And this is my favorite new Italian word: zenzero
It means ginger. It looks like it’s a Japanese word, zenzero – but I’m sure it’s not pronounced like that.

So that’s excellent, now we have English, Japanese, German and Italian.
I wonder what the next language will be.

Remember if you feel like starting a blog and translating some scripts, you don’t have to do it every day, you can just do it sometimes and when you’ve done one, let me know and then I’ll put a link so you’ll be helping others too.

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, this is Stick News. This year for the first time in history coral reefs will be included on the World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species.

Twenty five percent of the world's marine fish species live in coral reefs. Those reefs are disappearing.
The World Conservation Union is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation.
Every year they publish the Red List. Wikipedia says it’s the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species.
This year for the first time coral reefs are on the list.
According to a CNN article, 30 percent of the world's coral reefs are already damaged, some irreparably.
At the present rate of destruction, by the year 2050, 70 percent of the world's reefs will have disappeared.
This means 600 species of coral and 3,000 separate species of plants are at risk.
The article says: “to call this situation serious, or even worrying, doesn't really give it the gravity it deserves.”
A scientist is quoted as saying, "we are precipitating a mass extinction of absolutely everything."

And that was Stick News for Tuesday 11th of December.
Kia Ora.

THE SNOW REPORT

in the gondola

thanks to Leif from NISS

Where are you from?
I’m from Sydney, Australia.

How long are you staying in Niseko?
About four months.

Have you been to Niseko before?
This is my first time here. It seems awesome.

Are you a skier or a snowboarder?
I do both. Mostly snowboarding though.

conversations with sarah
#351 What kind of movies do you watch?

Step 1: Repeat Sarah’s lines.
Step 2: Read Sarah’s lines and talk to Sam.

Sam What kind of movies do you watch?

Sarah Um, well usually only movies with people speaking English or Japanese.

Sam Can’t you read the subtitles?

Sarah Not fast enough. I can usually read about half the sentence before they change.

Sam So you don’t see many foreign films?

Sarah No – well not apart from American movies, I can understand them. Sometimes I watch movies with Japanese subtitles though.

Sam Like what?

Sarah Some Chinese and Korean movies ... I remember going to the movies with my Kiwi friend in Tokyo. And we saw this Chinese movie – it looked really cool but I don’t really know what it was about. Afterwards we were both laughing about the fact that most of what we could understand from reading the subtitles was really inconsequential to the plot.

links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Silence
album: Encre
track: Plume
from: Bruxelles, Belgium
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Show 576 Monday 10 December

Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.
Today’s guest is Yo-kun.
He has been a professional snowboarder since 1999.
And he’s originally from Saitama and he moved to Niseko 3 years ago.
And he’s now the co-owner of Loaf Lounge, which is a bar here in Kutchan. Actually it’s not just a bar, they have a skateboard bowl and a clothes shop as well.

The first thing I asked him was:
What exactly does a professional snowboarder do?

ボードの開発、
Snowboard design,

あとはスノーボードを使って
and, while snowboarding

ビデオの撮影とか
doing video shoots

（写真）雑誌の撮影、
and magazine shoots

テレビの撮影、
and TV shoots.

あと大会に出て賞金を稼ぐ、
And going in competitions to win money.

あとメーカーの宣伝をする、
And promote the sponsor.

等々がプロスノーボーダーの仕事、かな。
Yeah, that’s pretty much what pro boarders do.

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, this is Stick News. On Friday, there was a major oil spill in South Korea. Government officials have called it South Korea’s worst ever oil spill.

On Friday the 7th of December a tugboat was pulling a crane barge near South Korea when the cable linking the boats snapped in rough seas.
The barge then crashed into a ship which was carrying 260,000 tonnes of oil.
Three of the five containers of oil were punctured and more than 10,000 tonnes of oil leaked into the sea.
By yesterday, it was reported that the oil slick was already 33 km long and at least 30 beaches had been affected.
The South Korean government has declared a state of disaster in the region. The cost of the cleanup has been estimated at 300 billion South Korean won.

And that was Stick News for Monday the 10th of December.
Kia Ora.

conversations with sarah
#350 Why did you move to Niseko?

Step 1: Repeat Sarah’s lines.
Step 2: Read Sarah’s lines and talk to Yo-kun.

Sarah Is it difficult to find a sponsor?

Yo タイミング次第、人と人との出会いの、つながりの場所なんで。
It’s really about timing, and connections ...

Sarah Do you still go in competitions?

Yo うん、もうね、大会には出てないんだけど、
I don’t go in competitions anymore but

今は雑誌とか、雑誌の撮影、
now I do magazine shoots

ビデオの撮影とか
video shoots

テレビの撮影とか、
TV shoots.

そういうのメインでやってます。
I mainly do that kind of thing.

Sarah Why did you move to Niseko?

Yo 最高だから。　
Because it’s awesome.

(The snow?)
(雪が）

Yeah, the snow, the mountain, the people.
雪が山も人も、うん。

Sarah Do you think Niseko is the best place in Japan for snowboarding?

Yo 一番、かは分からないけど、
I don’t know if it’s the best

自分が日本を旅した中では、
But out of the places that I’ve been in Japan

一番イイところ
It’s the best

Sarah Why did you decide to open Loaf?

Yo 地域に根付いて、こう何だろう、
I wanted to settle down

みんなと一緒に、地域に密着して何か形を残したかった、てゆうのがあって、
and start something here with my friends.

あとはこう、スノーボードやってて、プロでやってて、
And because I’m a professional snowboarder,

これから始める人とか、
For people who are just starting out

若い奴らとかに、
And young people

色んな（正しい）良いスノーボードの仕方とかを教える場を作りたかった。　
I wanted to create a place to foster a good snowboarding lifestyle.

そういうところっすね。
Something like that.

Sarah How long did it take to find this place?

Yo １年くらい探したかな。
We looked for about a year.

春前くらいから、冬から話してて、
We started looking before spring, in winter

あーでもないこーでもないって言ってて、
We looked at a lot of different places.

秋に見つかった、みたいな感じ。
Then we finally found something in Autumn.

Sarah Did you find it through a real estate agent?

Yo もう直接見てて、
No, we just saw it,

あっ、使ってないなココ、
and we saw that it was empty,

大家さん誰だ、みたいな。
And we were like, “Who’s the owner?”

Sarah What did this place used to be?

Yo ココはね、ショクレンさんって、
This used to be a place called Shokuren,

お米屋さんの倉庫。
a rice warehouse.

Sarah How long did it take to prepare before you opened?

Yo ２ヶ月くらい、
About two months,

１ヶ月半くらいか。
one and a half months ...

Sarah There aren't many places like this in Japan, are there?

Yo うーん、そうだね、東京とかじゃね、多分広すぎ、
Yeah, in places like Tokyo,

これだけのスペースは借りられないと思うしね。
you probably can’t rent a space as big as this.

田舎だから出来る、このシステム！みたいな。
You can do it here because it’s a small town.

Sarah How would you describe Loaf Lounge?

Yo そうですね、Loaf Loungeは酒も飲めて、
Well, at Loaf Lounge you can drink

スケボーも出来て、
skate

ビリヤードも出来て、
play pool

お洋服も買えて、
buy clothes

インターネットも出来て、
use the internet ...

夢のようなお店？
It’s a dream shop

何でもある、夢のようなお店ですね。
It’s a dream shop which has everything.

bonus question

Script:

Yo: メキシカン・ピンポン・ナイト。
Mexican Ping Pong Night.

Sarah: 今回は何回目？
This time what number is it?

Yo: 第２回目ですね
It’s the second ...

Sarah:五百 ...
The five hundredth ... ?

Yo:うー、じゃあ、第421回！
Oh yeah, it’s the 421st!

KNF: 言い直した、今！
You changed your answer!

Explanation:

Last year Loaf Lounge had an event called Mexican Ping Pong night (I talked about it on Show 229). It was the first time they’d had this event, but on the flyer they said it was the “420th Mexican Ping Pong Night” – which was pretty funny because they’d just had their first anniversary.

links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report bgm
artist: OPRACHINA
album: The jazz farm
track: Torti
from: Roma, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Silence
album: Encre
track: Plume
from: Bruxelles, Belgium
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Show 575 Sunday 9 December

Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Sunday Kitchen #72 Mashed Potatoes

First wash some potatoes.
Then cut them.
Then put them in a pot with some water.
And cook them for a while.

Pour the water out.
Then if you like you can add some stuff like: soymilk, salt, pepper, olive oil, ginger.

Then mash the potatoes. If you have a potato masher you could use that. But this rice spoon works pretty well.

Mmm mashed potatoes.

music

show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

other music
artist: Silence
album: Encre
track: Flocon
from: Bruxelles, Belgium
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Show 574 Saturday 8 December

Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.

On Thursday, I went to a place called Jam Garden and took a pottery class.
They do 2 hour classes for 3000 yen.
First I had to draw what I wanted to make.
I decided to make a macha chawn - which is a little bowl for drinking macha.
First the teacher explained what to do.

こういう風にやっていると、まん丸くなりますので、
If you do this, it becomes round.

こういう風にまん丸くしてください。
So please do this and make it round.

で、ここから作り始めていきますが、
So now we can start.

どうやるかと言うと、
How you make it is,

まず親指を真ん中に乗せます。
first, put your thumb in the middle.

必ず、全てが真ん中、真ん中です。
It's important to make sure everything is properly centred

真ん中に必ず親指を当てて、
Make sure you put your thumb in the centre,

外側に四本指を真っ直ぐに当てて、
and put your four fingers straight down against the outside,

ゆっくり、こう回しながら、
and while slowly turning the wheel like this

下に、下に、親指で押して行って下さい。
push your thumb down, down.

指の跡を取りますね。
Now I'm going to get rid of the finger marks.

ます最初にここ、
First, here

ここはキュッと内側に入っているのに、
this slopes in at the bottom,

これは逆に外側にキュッと出ちゃっているので、
but this one is sloping outwards.

これを切りましょう。
So I'll cut this off.

思いっきりロクロを回して、
Turn the wheel as hard as you can

中心にキュッとコテを当てて、
touch the stick like this in the middle

ゆっくり自分の方に、こういう風にコテを引っぱっていくんです。
Slowly pull the stick towards yourself, like this.

そうすると、ボコボコが消えるですね。
Then you can get rid of the bumps.

弓を当てて、
Cut it like this.

弓を動かさないようにして、
Try not to move the cutter.

こういう風にロクロを回すと、
If you move the wheel like this,

まっすぐに切れますので、
then you can cut it straight.

これで外します。
Cut if off like that.

Then I made my piece.
First I made the clay into a round ball.
Then put the ball on the wheel.
Then spun the wheel to check if it was in the centre.
The teacher that it's really important to make sure it's in the centre.
Then I started pressing the clay with my thumb and fingers like she told me.
My thumb got kind of tired so I used two hands.
Gradually it got bigger and bigger.
And then it was time to cut the bottom.
Then I smoothed out the sides.
Then cut the top.
And smoothed around the top.
Then I changed the shape a bit, by pushing out with my fingers.
I cut the bowl off the wheel.
Looking good!
Then I wrote my name on the bottom. Sara.
Then I washed my hands.
And I drew a picture of my piece.
Finally, I chose the colour.
Pink.

links

Jam Garden

Pottery at Jam Garden

music

show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

qa bgm
artist: OPRACHINA
album: The jazz farm
track: The Moon In August, Fat-Fast
from: Roma, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Show 573 Friday 7 December

Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

The survey isn’t over yet, but I’ve already read some of them and I thought I’d start doing something that somebody suggested. They wanted me to talk about songs more and recommend songs to study.
So, I’ve decided Friday is song day. I’m going to talk about a song every Friday. So feel free to suggest a song that you want me to talk about.

Today’s song is: All I Want For Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
Because it’s December and it’s one of my favorite Christmas songs. I love the tune and the lyrics ... so romantic.

Wikipedia says it was recorded for Carey's fifth album Merry Christmas which was released in 1994.

Its protagonist declares that she doesn't care about Christmas presents or lights; all she wants for Christmas is to be with her lover.

Do you know what protagonist means?

protagonist noun (formal)
The main character in a play, film/movie or book

Or song, I guess ...

Anyway, it also says:
It is one of the most commercially successful Christmas singles of the modern era.

It’s good for studying. Most of the vocabulary is pretty straightforward ...

I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace

Upon means on – it’s just a more formal version

I won't ask for much this Christmas
I don't even wish for snow
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe

Mistletoe is a plant that people use as a Christmas decoration and if two people meet under it they’re supposed to kiss. Well that’s what happens in the movies anyway. I don’t think I’ve seen mistletoe in real life ... but maybe we don’t have it in New Zealand.

I also quite like how this song is not consumeristic ...
Not that I’m really anti-shopping ... but it’s just nice that this song’s not about spending money.

Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today a town in Nova Scotia is considering a by-law that would ban smoking on all town property including streets and footpaths.

The town of Bridgewater, NS has proposed banning smoking in all public places in the town, except for two bridges – because they are owned by the Province of Nova Scotia.
CBC News reports the town is fuming – and opponents of the by-law plan to take a stand on Saturday by smoking on one of the bridges.
The proposed by-law is expected to be voted on in a few weeks.

And that was Stick News for Friday the 7th of December.
Kia Ora.

conversations with sarah
#349 Are there many bars in Kutchan?

Step 1: Repeat Tim’s lines.
Step 2: Read Tim’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Tim Are there many bars in Kutchan?

Sarah Mmm, yeah there are a lot actually, for the population size.

Tim About how many?

Sarah There are like only about 15 thousand people living here and about 50 bars.

Tim 50? Really? That’s a lot.

Sarah Yeah, but most of them are just small snacks.

Tim Snacks? What does that mean?

Sarah It’s a kind of bar for men.

Tim Like a strip bar?

Sarah Mmm, yeah, but um they don’t usually strip. The women just talk to the guys and, like, pour their drinks and stuff.

Tim And female customers aren’t allowed?

Sarah No, you can go there. Like I’ve been to snack bars with a group of people. And it’s OK. But, there are like women sitting there fake smiling and clapping while you’re singing. So, it’s kind of annoying. I’d rather go to a normal bar or izakaya.

Tim Are they beautiful young women?

Sarah Ah, well ... maybe if you go to an expensive place. But, I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

notes

won't - I accidentally said don't

consumeristic - this is actually a word (I looked it up), but I don't think it's very common

a kind of bar - I talked about snack bars in Show 192 and shot bars in Show 202.

links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

Powder Company
Takaku Tomoki's blog
GENTEM

All I Want For Christmas lyrics

music

show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report bgm
artist: OPRACHINA
album: The jazz farm
track: Torti
from: Roma, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Wikoo
album: Neologism
track: Neologism part.4
from: Paris, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
MySpace
YouTube channel

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Show 572 Thursday 6 December

Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

YouTube had a short film competition recently and I really like the film that came third.

And I think it’s an excellent one for studying English – both for self study and for discussing in class.

So try watching it. The dialogue isn’t too difficult so I think you can easily understand it.

One word you might not know is: shenanigans.

As part of the competition, the films had to include this line: I demand an explanation for these shenanigans. What do you have to say?

shenanigans n. pl. (informal)
secret or dishonest activities that people find interesting or amusing

It’s kind of like the word mischief – it’s quite a light word. So, you can use it for something that’s kind of bad – but not very bad. And you wouldn’t use it for a serious crime, like murder.

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today a café in Wellington, New Zealand has been fined six hundred dollars for allowing people to smoke.

Since the 10th of December 2004, it has been illegal to smoke in bars and restaurants in New Zealand thanks to the Smokefree Environments Amendment Act which was passed in 2003.
It’s still legal to smoke in outdoor areas of bars.
But yesterday a café in Wellington was fined because their smoking area did not comply with the law.
A co-owner of the café said the rules were difficult to interpret.
"We're living in a police state,” he said. “You can't do anything any more."

And that was Stick News for Thursday the 6th of December.
Kia Ora.

THE SNOW REPORT
Miyako Dori

At five o’clock this evening, I went for a walk.
The road next to our place is called Miyakodori.
See, this sign says “thanks, miyakodori, thanks”.
Miyako music plaza. I’ve never actually been inside here.
I like the line the snow makes on this building.
I think there’s something wrong with this light.
I saw that cat again. It’s always hanging outside the sushi shop hoping to get some fish.
This is a majang club – I’ve never been in here either.
And this is my favorite shop in kutchan. They sell the best soymilk I’ve ever tasted. And the staff are really nice.

conversations with sarah
#348 You already made me lunch.

Step 1: Repeat Mum’s lines.
Step 2: Read Mum’s lines and talk to Lisa.

Lisa Hi, my name is Lisa and I’ve been inspired by my mum to tell everyone to walk away from their computers and read more books, like ...

Mum So, you’re using the computer to tell them to stop using the computer?

Lisa Now, I have to start over.

Mum Now is your lunch break.

Lisa Ah, you already made me lunch.

Mum Oh my god.

Lisa I had a sandwich five minutes ago. I only need one lunch.

my name is lisa
by Shelton Films

watch the film here

Lisa: Hi, my name is Lisa and I’ve been inspired by my mum to tell everyone to walk away from their computers and read more books, like ...
Mum: So, you’re using the computer to tell them to stop using the computer? That’s my Lisa use the ???
L: Now, I have to start over.
M: Now is your lunch break.
L: Ah, you already made me lunch.
M: Oh my god.
L: I had a sandwich five minutes ago. I only need one lunch.

L: What’s up mum?
M: Hi Lisa.
L: Are you going somewhere?
M: I guess not.
L: I’m going inside.
M: Me too, I’m going inside.

L: And why is it that when I say I’m reading J. R. R.Tolkien that you other kids correct me and saying it’s J. K. Rowling. Ah, no, I’m talking about Middle Earth not stupid Hogwarts.
Seriously, I demand an explanation of these shenanigans. What do you have to say?
M: That a girl. Go for it. Tell them to read ? books. Steinbeck, Salinger, Doll (?), Twain, screw the New York Times bestseller list.

L: Mum! This is my thing, OK?

L: But most kids read Tom Sawyer, instead of Huck Finn. And they don’t get it. They think life is just a colouring book. But it’s not. It’s an ugly, unpredictable, very difficult book.
It’s hard, really, really, really ...

M: Lisa don’t forget about your, ah, I made you your um ...
L: Lunch, mum, it’s called a lunch, and you already made me one. Why do you keep making me lunches? You wanna make me fat? I’m doing my video blog.
M: Tell them about ? books. Steinbeck, Salinger, Doll (?), Twain.

Pizza guy: Oh we only accept cash, cheque or major credit card. Sorry.
M: Oh, OK.
L: Their money, mum, pay them their money.
M: I know that. I know they need their money. I can do it.
L: No you can’t. You can’t do the laundry, you can’t do the dishes, you can’t do anything.
I’ll be right back with the money.

L: Because 99 percent of the time the book is better than the move. It’s more ... imaginative. It gives you the chance to understand the whole story, rather than just one point of ... Mum, I’m working right now, can you please go back upstairs.

L: Did you read a book today?
M: What book?
L: I’m asking you a question. Did you read a book today?
M: Tell me what book. I can’t think of one book. Which book? I can’t read your mind.

L: It’s OK mum. Let’s eat lunch.

L: How are you doing?
M: I can’t find my car keys.
L: You’re not going anywhere.
M: Have you seen my car keys?
L: Let’s go inside.
M: You’re not coming inside.
L: Let’s just go inside and rest.
M: Don’t come any closer.
L: It’s OK.
M: Who are you? What’s your name?
L: My name is Lisa.

L: It’s lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with starts. And we used to lay on our backs and look up at them. And discuss about whether it was made or it only just happened.
Good story, huh?

notes

for - the correct line uses "for", I said "of" by mistake (because that's what Lisa says in the film, so I assumed that's what it was)

anymore - this can be spelt as one or two words, both any more and anymore are OK.

links

today's news

today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report bgm
artist: OPRACHINA
album: The jazz farm
track: Torti
from: Roma, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: OPRACHINA
album: The jazz farm
track: Attimi
from: Roma, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Show 571 Wednesday 5 December

Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today’s mistake comes from a flyer for Loaf Lounge.
Internet is written as two words.

Internet should be one word and it’s usually spelt with a capital I like that ... but I prefer to spell it with a small i. How about you? How do you spell internet?
I always wondered why it was spelt with a capital and I read an interesting explanation of that the other day. So I’ll put a link to that, check it out if you’re interested.

And I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether to spell it with a capital i or a small i – but it’s definitely one word.

I have a few other words I’d like to talk about today – scumbag and prick.

These are some words used in parliament today by a super classy New Zealand politician.

scumbag
noun (slang, offensive)
an unpleasant person

That only has one meaning.

As for prick, it has a few meanings. For example, the verb prick can mean to press something briefly with a sharp point.
For example, Sleeping Beauty pricks her finger and falls into a deep sleep.

But that’s not the meaning the deputy prime minister was going for today.

prick
noun (vulgar slang)

a man regarded as stupid, unpleasant or contemptible

If you see vulgar slang, be careful when you use it because it means that it’s not appropriate for some situations, like parliament ... I would have thought.

Apparently, Dr Cullen called John Key a "rich prick" and then said: "You scumbag, John. Scumbag, scumbag."

It’s pretty disgraceful that politicians speak like that in parliament, don’t you think? Not that I’m saying John Key’s not a rich prick ... but surely there are other ways of saying it.

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today prisoners in New Zealand jails may soon be unable to use cellphones thanks to a bill which was introduced to Parliament yesterday.

When people are sent to prison in New Zealand, they’re not usually issued with cellphones.
So prisoners smuggle them in and use the phones to conduct their dodgy deals.
Now the government has introduced a bill which “permits the electronic detection, monitoring, disabling and disruption of wireless transmissions within prison boundaries”.
The NZ Herald reported it also increases penalties for staff who are caught delivering banned items to prisoners.

And that was Stick News for Wednesday the 5th of December.
Kia Ora.

THE SNOW REPORT

the view from the studio

This is the view outside at 8 pm.
And this is three hours later.
Hmmm. Not much different. Well, that was fascinating.

conversations with sarah
#347 So, do you think John Key is a “rich prick”?

Step 1: Repeat James’s lines.
Step 2: Read James’s lines and talk to Sarah.

James So, do you think John Key is a “rich prick”?

Sarah Well, I wouldn’t really use those words ... but um ... hmm, I was just reading about him in Wikipedia actually and it sounds like the rich part is true.

James What does it say?

Sarah It says, hang on a minute, “his net worth is estimated to be in excess of 40 million New Zealand dollars”.

James Wow, 40 million. How did he get so much money?

Sarah He used to be an investment banker.

James Ahhh. And what about his political views?

Sarah Well, from what it says in Wikipedia most of the bills he supported or opposed are the opposite of what I think, so hmm ...
And I really don’t like how he said there’s an “underclass” in New Zealand.

James You don’t think there’s an underclass in New Zealand?

Sarah No, not at all. I mean, some people don’t have enough money or food or whatever but it doesn’t mean they are underclass. It just means they have certain issues and as a society we should help each other – but I don’t see how labeling people as “underclass” really helps the situation.

James Did he say that recently?

Sarah No, it was last year.

links

today's news

today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: OPRACHINA
album: The jazz farm
track: Grigioscuro
from: Roma, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.