Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Show 518 Wednesday 3 October


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

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

Today I’m going to talk about convenience and convenient.
This is a common mistake – people say it is very convenience when they should say it is very convenient.

Convenience is a noun and convenient is an adjective.

Here are some examples of how to use the adjective:
It’s more convenient to go by bicycle.
Online lessons are really convenient.


And here are some examples I found online using the noun convenience:
Convenience is not all it's cracked up to be.
Quote from here.

And this was someone talking about a hotel:
I highly recommend it for its convenience to public transport, its location and its cleanliness.
Quote from here. (Edited)

You probably more often want to use the adjective, which is convenient not convenience.

When you are describing what something is like, use the adjective:
I am happy not I am happiness.
Today is cold not today is coldness.
She is grumpy not she is grumpiness.


Today we had another workshop and Yuki came today and she took us to her residence, which is called the Tower. It was cool to have a look inside it and we walked around and tried to get people to answer a question for today’s Asking Acadia.
The people who were the most obliging were the RAs. RA stands for residence assistant and they are kind of like managers who are also students.
So thank you to everyone who answered a question – even one guy who had just got out of the shower and was half naked. He was like, “Do you want me to put some clothes on?” and I was like, “No, you’re fine”.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora this is Stick News. Yesterday the opening ceremony for the 2007 Special Olympics was held in Shanghai, China.

Special Olympics is an international organization created to help people with intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence, social skills and a sense of personal accomplishment through sports training and competition.
Special Olympics World Games are held every four years.
This year the games are in China. The opening ceremony was held in Shanghai last night.
Around 7,500 athletes will compete in 25 events over the next nine days.


And that was Stick News for Wednesday the 3rd of October.
Kia Ora.



ASKING ACADIA
What do you think of the Tower?

Ah, well, the Tower, I was told that it was leaning, like The Leaning Tower of Pisa. But actually it’s not really that bad. My room is a lot bigger than I had expected it to me. And it’s well furnished. Not too many holes in the walls.

I love living in the Tower. It’s fantastic. Very homey.

Ah, actually this is my first year in Tower. And at first I find it kind of weird because this building haven’t been used for one year I guess. And then coming here for the first time it’s quite ... since I’m a RA I came back early and it’s quiet and there’s not a lot of people. But after frosh week and after the returning student came back. I find it quite it interesting. Especially the people on my floor and I guess it’s the same goes to the people on other floors too. And, I really like it. It’s more like not just a building, but it’s more of a family or community.

I love Tower. It is awesome.



conversations with sarah
#321 What’s it like in New Zealand?

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

Bobby How many residences are there at Acadia?

Sarah There are 11 in total – but one of them is closed at the moment. It’s being renovated.

Bobby Wow, quite a few.

Sarah Yeah, for a university of only about four thousand people – I think over a quarter live in the halls.

Bobby Is that a lot?

Sarah Yeah, it seems like a lot to me – but apparently there used to be even more than that living on campus.

Bobby What’s it like in New Zealand?

Sarah Usually the halls are only for first years. So people would think it’s a bit strange if you’re still living in the hall in your second year or third year.

Bobby Did you live on campus in your first year?

Sarah Yeah, well, it wasn’t actually at the university, but it was pretty close.

Bobby What was it like?

Sarah It was fun – but I got sick of it after a while. Having people knock on your door all the time or knock on the window and ... yeah, just having to try and be nice to people when you’re in a bad mood and you just want to go and brush your teeth or something.




notes

not all it's cracked up to be = not as good as its reputation

cracked up to be = asserted to be

eg. Acting is not as glamorous as it's cracked up to be.

links

today's news

today's STICK NEWS picture

Special Olympics

Special Olympics World Games

2007 Special Olympics

Halls of residences at Acadia
Residence Assistant at Wikipedia

music

show start
artist: AdHoc
album: Toutes directions
track: La note en cage
from: Annecy, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

asking acadia start
artist: XL Ant
album: XL Ant
track: Levitation (Club Mix)
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

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

qa start
artist: Manu Cornet
album: Distance & Temps
track: Silk Road
from: Paris, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Fabio Basile
album: Mabbit
track: The Carousel Beginning
from: Verona, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

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