Prime time : RHYME TIME

This activity has been taken from BRAIN GAMES, a book meant to expand your memory, your reasoning and your creative thinking.
In the following exercise you´ll have to answer each clue below  with a pair of rhyming words. The numbers that follow each clue indicate how many letters are in each word. For example,"Angry child(3,3) would be hot tot. I´ll do the first ten for you and you try to do the others.

CRIMSON LUGE (3,4) would be          RED SLED
HUMOROUS CURRENCY (5,5) "        FUNNY MONEY
SPOT ABOVE THE KING (3,5)  "        ACE PLACE
BAKERY´S FALSE ITEM (4,4)  "         FAKE CAKE
REAR RIBS (4,4)                     "          BACK RACK
WHERE GOLDILOCKS SAT   "           BEAR CHAIR
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR(4,5) "        NEWS VIEWS
DISTANT CELESTIAL OBJECT (3,4)   FAR STAR
A HOUSE IN ITALY´S CAPITAL(4,4) ROME HOME
SUBDUED REACTION TO A JOKE(4,5)HALF LAUGH


KEY TO THE POEM SECRET MESSAGE (3,4)....................
LONG-LASTING WINTER ILLNESS (3,4)..........................
ATLANTIC WAVE  (5,6)....................................................
DANGEROUS PLACE FOR A STROLL(4,4).......................
MISSING COLOUR (5,4)...................................................
ROBIN HOOD, TO HIS MERRY MEN(5,5)........................
SHORT POEM (5,5)...........................................................
THE FISH ALWAYS BITE IT(4,4).....................................
STINGY MONARCH(4,5)..................................................
IDENTIFICATION PROBLEM(4,4)...................................
FUN 24 HOURS(4,3).........................................................
EXTREMELY UNSHAVEN(4,5)........................................
TENNIS(5,5)...................................................................
BOVINE THAT JUST ATE(4,4).......................................
AN ENTIRE NAVY (8,5).................................................
WHERE IS HANNIBAL BURIED?(7,7)...........................
UNEXPECTED ENGLISH CASH (5,5).............................
THE ENTIRE ARMY RAN AWAY(8,7)...........................
PLANT SEEDS WELL UNDERGROUND(3,3).................
WHERE THE PLANE CROSSED THE CHANNEL(4,5).....

English: a language of monosyllables

Why, you may wonder , is monosyllable such a long word?
Part of the international succes of English is due to its simplicity and the triumph of the linguistic law of least effort. The 100 essential words to learn are monosyllabic: pronouns, the verb to be,etc. And those words which are not monosyllables are reduced to one syllable because of linguistic APHERESIS( the loss of one or more sounds from a word),SYNCOPEi.e.I´d´ve, APOCOPE or CLIPPING and ELISION: twixt instead of between.
"Small words can be crisp, brief, terse--go to the point, like a knife. They have a charm all their own. They dance, twist, turn, sing. Like sparks in the night, they light the way for the eyes of those who read. They are the grace notes of prose. You know what they say the way you know a day is bright and fair--at first sight. And you find, as you read, that you like the way they say it. Small words are gay. And they can catch large thoughts and hold them up for all to see, like rare stones in rings of gold, or joy in the eyes of a child. Some make you feel, as well as see: the cold deep dark of night, the hot salt sting of tears."
(Joseph Ecclesine, "Advice to Scientists--in Words of One Syllable." American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 1965)
The best English poetry has been written in monosyllables: "When I do count the clock that tells the time and see the brave day sunk in...."
Most proverbs  and idioms are monyllabic: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones;Don´t cry over spilt milk;Like two peas in a pod; pie in the sky;etc..

Here is a list of English monosyllables: You´ll have to complete the missing consonants "W""Y" "Z":
(Special thanks to Patricia Pérez Gallardo for her suggestion) 

Mono-syllabic Words

A, ache, act, add, age, aid, aim, air, all, am, an, and, arch, arm, arms, art, as, ash, ask, at, aunt, awe, axe.

back, bad, bag, bake, bald, ball, ban, band, bang ,bank, bar, bare, bark, base, bath, bathe, be, beach, beak, beam, bean, bear, beard, beast, beat, bed, bee, beef, beer, beg, bell, belt, bench, bend, best, bet, bid, big, bike, bill, bind, bird, birth, bit, bite, blab, black, blade, blame, blank, blaze, bleed, blend, bless, blind, blink, block, blood, blot, blow, blue, blunt, blush, board, boast, boat, boil, bold, bomb, bone, book, boot, bore, born, boss, both, bound, bow, bowl, box, boy, brain, branch, brand, brass, brave, breach, bread, breadth ,break, breast, breath, breathe, breed, breeze, bribe, brick, bride, bridge, brief, bright, bring,

broad, brook, broom, brow,

brown, bruise, brush, bud, bug, build, bulb, bull, bump, bunch, burn, burst, bus, bush, but, buy, by.

cage, cake, calf, call, calm, camp, can, cane, cant, cap, car, card, care, cart, carve, case, cash, cast, caste, cat, catch, cause, cave, cease, cell, chain, chair, chalk, chance,

change, chap, charge, charm, chart, chase, chat, cheap, cheat, check, cheek, cheer, cheese, cheque, chess, chest, chew, chief, child, chill, chime, chin, chip, choice, choke, choose, chop, chum, ccite, claim, clap, clash, clasp, claw, clay, clean, clear, cleave, clench, clerk,

click, climb, cling, clip, clock, close, cloud, clown, club, clue, clutch, coach, coal, coarse, coast, code, coil, coin, cold, comb, come, cone, cook, cool, cope, cord, cork, corn, corpse, cost, conch, cough, could, count, course, court, crack, craft, cramp, crash, crawl, craze, cream, creep, crew, crime, crisp, crop, cross, crow, crowd, crown, crush, crust, cry, cub, cuff, cup, cure, curl, curse, curve, cut.

dam, damn, damp, dance, dare, dark, dash, date, dawn, day, days, dead, deaf, deal, dear, death, debt, deck, deed, deep, deer, den, dense, depth, desk, dew, die, dig, dim, dine, dip, dirt, dish, ditch, dive, do, dock ,dodge, dog, doll, door, dose, dot, doubt, down, drag, drain, draw, dream, dress, drill, drink, drip, drive, drop, drown, drug, drum, drunk, dry, dub, duck, due, duet, dull, dump, dusk, dust, dwarf, dwell.

Each, ear, earn, earth, ease, east, eat, edge, egg, eight, else, end, err, eye.

face, fact, fade, fail, faint, fair, faith, fake, fall, false, fame, far, fare, farm, fast, fault, fear, feast, fee, feed, feel, fence, fetch, few, field, fierce, fifth, fight, file, fill, film, filth, find, fine, fire, firm, first, fish, fist, fit, fire, fix, flag, flame, flap, flash, flask, flat, flea, flee, fleet, flesh, flight, float, flock, flood, floor, flour, flow, flue, fluid, flush, fly, foam, fog, fold, folk, fond, food, fool, for, force, forge, fork, form, fort, foul, found, four, fourth, fox, frail, frame, frank, free, freeze, freight, fresh, fridge, friend, fright, frog, from, front, frost, frown, fruit, fry, fuel, full, fun, funds, fur, fuse.

gab, gain, game, gang, gap, gape, gas, gasp, gate, gay ,gaze, gear, get, ghost, giant, gift, girl, give, glad, glance, glare, glass, gleam, glide, glimpse, globe, glove, glow, glue, gnaw, go, goal, God, gold, good, goods, grab, grace, grade, grain, grand, grant, grape, graph, grasp, grass, grave, graze, grease, great, greed, green, greet, grey, grief, grill, grim, grind, grip, groan, grope, ground, group, grow, growl, growth, grudge, grunt, guard, guess, guest, guide, guilt, gulf, gum, gust, guy (gi).‘

hail, hair, half, hall, halt, halve, hand, hang, hard, hare, harm, harsh, haste, hate, hatred, haul, haunt, have, hay, haze, he, head, heal, health, heap, hear, heart, heat, hedge, heed, heel, height, heir, hell, helm, help, hen, her, herd, here, hers, hide, high, hill, him, hint, hip, hire, his, hit, hive, hoarse, hoax, hoist, hold, hole, home, hook, hoot, hop, hope, horn, horse, hose, host, hour, house, how, howl, huge, hunt, hurt, hut.

ice, if, ill, in, inch, ink, inn, is, it, its, itch.

jack, jail, jam, jar, jaw, jazz, jet, job, jog, join, joint, joke, joy, judge, jug, juice, jump, just.

Keen, keep, key, kick, kid, kill, kin, kind, king, kiss, kit, kite, kith, knee, kneed, kneel, knife, knit, knock, knot, know.

Lace, lack, lad, lag, lake, lamb, lame, lamp, lance, land, lane, lap, large,

last, late, laugh, launch, law, lawn, lay, lead, leaf, leak, lean, learn, least, leave, left, leg, lend, length, lense, lent, less, lest, let, liar, lick, lid, lie, life, lift, light, like, limb, lime, limp, line, link, lion, lip, lisp, list, live, load, loaf, loan, lock, lodge, log, long, look, loose, lord, lose (looz), loss, lot, loud, lounge, love, low, luck, lump, lunch, lung, lux.

Mab, mad, maid, mail, main, maize, make, male, man, map, march, mark, marsh, mask, mass, mat, match, mate, may, me, meal, mean, means, meat, meet, melt, men,

mend, mere, mesh, mess, midst, might, mild ,mile, milk, mill, mince, mind, mine, miss, mist, mix, moan, mob, mock, mode, moist, mole, monk, month, mood, moon, more, mosque, most, moth, mount, mourn, mouse, mouth, move, mow, much, mud, mug, mule, mum, muse, must, mute, myth

nab, nail, name, naught, near, neat, neck, need, neigh(na), nerve, nest, net, new, news, next, nice, nick, niece, night, nil, nine, ninth, no, nod, noise, none, noon, nor, norm, north, nose, not, note, noun, now, nun, nurse, nut, nymph.

Oak, oar, oath, odd, of, off, oil, old, on, once, one, or,ore, ought, our, ours, out, owe (–o), owl, own, ox.

pace, pack, pad, page, pain, paint, pair, pale, palm, pan, pane, pang, pant, par, park, part, pass, past, paste, pastry, pat, patch, path, pause, pave, paw (po), pawn, pay, pea, peace, peach, peak, pear, pearl, peek, peel, peep, peer, pen, per, pet, phase, phone, phrase, pick, piece,

pierce, pig, pile, pill, pin, pinch, pink, pint, pious, pipe, pit, place, plain, plan, plane, plank, plant, plate, play, plead, please, plot,

plough, pluck, plug, plum, plump, plus, point, pole, pond, pool, poor, pop, pork, port, post, pot, pound, pour, praise, pray, preach, press, prey, price, prick, pride, priest, prime, prince ,print, prize, proof, proud, prose, prove, pub, pull, pulse, pump, punch, pure, purse, push, put.

Quack, quail, quaint, queen, queer, quench, quest, queue, quick, quiet, quit, quite, quote.

Race, rack, raft, rag, rage, raid, rail, rain, raise, rake, range, rank, rare, rash, rate, raw, ray, reach, read, real, reap, rear, reef, rent, rest, rhyme, rib, rice, rich, rid, ride, ridge, right, rind, ring, riot, ripe, rise, risk, road, roam, roar, roast, rob, robe, rock, rod, role, roll, roof, room, root, rope, rose, rot, rouge, rough, round, rouse, route, row, rub, rude, rug, ruin, rule, run, rush, rust.

sac, sack, safe, sail, saint, sake, same, sand, sane, sauce, save, saw, scale, scar, scarce, scare, scarf, scene, scent, scheme, scoff, scold, score, scorn, scout, scrape, scratch, scream, screen, screw, script, sea, seal, search, seat, seed, seek, seem, seize, self, sell, send, sense, serve, set, sew, sex, shade, shake, shall, shame, shape, share, sharp, shave, she, shed, sheep, sheer, sheet, shelf, shell, shield, shift, shine, ship, shirt, shock, shoot, shore, short, shot, shrug, should, shout, show, shrewd, shriek, shrink, shrug, shut, shy, sick, side, siege, sigh, sight, sign, silk, sin, since, sing

jack, jail, jam, jar, jaw, jazz, jet, job, jog, join, joint, joke, joy, judge, jug, juice, jump, just.

keen, keep, key, kick, kid, kill, kin, kind, king, kiss, kit, kite, kith, knee, kneed, kneel, knife, knit, knock, knot, know.

lace, lack, lad, lag, lake, lamb, lame, lamp, lance, land, lane, lap, large, last, late, laugh, launch, law, lawn, lay, lead, leaf, leak, lean, learn, least, leave, left, leg, lend, length, lense, lent, less, lest, let, liar, lick, lid, lie, life, lift, light, like, limb, lime, limp, line, link, lion, lip, lisp, list, live, load, loaf, loan, lock, lodge, log, long, look, loose, lord, lose, loss, lot, loud, lounge, love, low, luck, lump, lunch, lung, lux.

mab, mad, maid, mail, main, maize, make, male, man, map, march, mark, marsh, mask, mass, mat, match, mate, may, me, meal, mean, means, meat, meet, melt, men, mend, mere, mesh, mess, midst, might, mild, mile, milk, mill, mince, mind, mine, miss, mist, mix, moan, mob, mock, mode, moist, mole, monk, month, mood, moon, more, mosque, most, moth, mount, mourn, mouse, mouth, move, mow, much, mud, mug, mule, mum, muse, must, mute, myth.

nab, nail, name, naught, near, neat, neck, need, neigh, nerve, nest, net, new, news, next, nice, nick, niece, night, nil, nine, ninth, no, nod, noise, none, noon, nor, norm, north, nose, not, note, noun, now, nun, nurse, nut, nymph.

oak, oar, oath, odd, of, off, oil, old, on, once, one, or, ore, ought, our, ours, out, owe, owl, own, ox.

pace, pack, pad, page, pain, paint, pair, pale, palm, pan, pane, pang, pant, par, park, part, pass, past, paste, pastry, pat, patch, path, pause, pave, paw, pawn, pay, pea, peace, peach, peak, pear, pearl, peek, peel, peep, peer, pen, per, pet, phase, phone, phrase, pick, piece, pierce, pig, pile, pill, pin, pinch, pink, pint, pious, pipe, pit, place, plain, plan, plane, plank, plant, plate, play, plead, please, plot, plough, pluck, plug, plum, plump, plus, point, pole, pond, pool, poor, pop, pork, port, post, pot, pound, pour, praise, pray, preach, press, prey, price, prick, pride, priest, prime, prince, print, prize, proof, proud, prose, prove, pub, pull, pulse, pump, punch, pure, purse, push, put.

quack, quail, quaint, queen, queer, quench, quest, queue, quick, quiet, quit, quite, quote.

race, rack, raft, rag, rage, raid, rail, rain, raise, rake, range, rank, rare, rash, rate, raw, ray, reach, read, real, reap, rear, reef, rent, rest, rhyme, rib, rice, rich, rid, ride, ridge, right, rind, ring, riot, ripe, rise, risk, road, roam, roar, roast, rob, robe, rock, rod, role, roll, roof, room, root, rope, rose, rot, rouge, rough, round, rouse, route, row, rub, rude, rug, ruin, rule, run, rush, rust.

sac, sack, safe, sail, saint, sake, same, sand, sane, sauce, save, saw, scale, scar, scarce, scare, scarf, scene, scent, scheme, scoff, scold, score, scorn, scout, scrape, scratch, scream, screen, screw, script, sea, seal, search, seat, seed, seek, seem, seize, self, sell, send, sense, serve, set, sew, sex, shade, shake, shall, shame, shape, share, sharp, shave, she, shed, sheep, sheer, sheet, shelf, shell, shield, shift, shine, ship, shirt, shock, shoot, shore, short, shot, shrug, should, shout, show, shrewd, shriek, shrink, shrug, shut, shy, sick, side, siege, sigh, sight, sign, silk, sin, since, sing, sip, sir, sit, site, six, size, sketch, skill, skin, skirt,

skull, sky, slack, slap, slave, sleep, sleeve, slice, slide, slight, slim, slip, slit, slope, slot, slow, smack, small, smart, smash, smell, smile, smoke, smooth, snack, snail, snake, snap, snatch, sneer, sneeze, sniff, snow, soak, soap, soar, sob, sober, sock, soft, soil, sole, solve, some, son, song, soon, sore, sort, soul, sound, soup, sour, source, south, sow, space, spade, spare, spark, speak, speech, speed, spell, spend, spill, spin, spit, spite, splash, split, spoil, sponge, spoon, sport, spot, spread, spring, square, squat, squeeze, stab, staff, stage, stain, stair, stairs, stale, stall, stamp, stand, star, stare, start, starve, state, stay, steal, steam, steel, steep, steer, stem, step, stern, stick, stiff, still, sting, stir, stitch, stock, stone, stool, stoop, stop, store, storm, stout, stove, straight, strain, strange, strap, straw, streak, stream, street, strength, stress, stretch, strict, stride, strife, strike, string, strip, stripe, strive, stroke, strong, stuff, stunt, style, such, suck, suit, sum, sun, sure, swamp, sway, swear, sweat, swell, swift, swim, swing, switch, sword.

tab, tack, tail, take, tale, talk, tall, tame, tan, tank, tap, tape, tar, task, taste, tax, tea, team, teach, tear, tell, tempt, ten, tend, tense, tent, tenth, term, test, text, than, thank, that, their, them, theme, then, there, these, they, thick, thief, thin, thing, think, third, thirst, this, thorn, those, though, thought, thread, threat, three, thrill, thrive, throat, throne, throng, through, throw, thumb, thus, tide, tie, tight, tile, till, time, tin, tip, tire, toast, toe, toil, ton, tone, tongs, tongue, too, tool, tooth, top, torch, toss, touch, tough, tour, town, toy, trace, track, trade, trail, train, tram, tramp, trap, tray, tread, treat, tree, trench, trend, trial, tribe, trick, trim, trip, troop, truck, true, trunk, trust, truth, try, tub, tube, tug, tune, turn, twelve, twice, twin, twist, two, type, tyre.

up, urge, urn, us, use, used.

vade, vague, vain, valve, van, vase, vast, vault, veil, verse, very, vest, vice, view, voice, vogue, vote, vow.

Scientific laws and life principles

The universe and our whole human existence is goverrned by sets of rules. There are biological laws,laws of Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Phonetics, Electromagnetism, etc.. These laws are constantly being revised, they change, their validity may be challenged: that´s the essence of life and the construction of human and scientific thought as opposed to dogmas.
If we start by having a look at five BASIC laws of Economics:

PARKINSON´S LAW:" Work expands to fill the time available" The more time workers have to complete their task, the less efficcient they become.

Jean Baptiste SAY´S LAW: "Supply creates its own demand" Every time industrial or agricultural output rises, so does income.

GRESHAM´S LAW :"Bad money drives out good" If a government issues debased currency instead of gold and silver, the old "pure" currency disappears from circulation.

The Iron Law of Wages: "Wages are always set at subsistence level" If earnings fall below it, workers won´t be fit to work; if earnings rise above it, the working population grows, and increased competition for jobs forces wages back down to subsistence levels. David Ricardo

The law of Diminishing Returns: "In any venture there comes a point at which further investment ceases to bring a worthwhile profit" A. R. J. Turgot

 

 RESEARCH PROJECTS:

 

Now it´s your turn to describe the basic laws of the following subjects:

PHONETICS: OSTHOFF, VERNER; GRIMM; ,G.K. ZIPF´S or The Law of Least Effort,etc..

CHEMISTRY: ARCHIMEDES,BERNOUILLE´S, POISEUILLE´S, STOKE´S,etc...

PHYSICS: NEWTON´S THREE LAWS OF MOTION, NEWTON´S LAW OF GRAVITATION,EULER´S, MAXWELL´S, HOOKE´S LAW, SNELL´S LAW, BRAGG´S LAW, PLANCK´S LAWetc..

ELECTROMAGNETISM: GAUSS´S, FARADAY´S, AMPERE´S, MAXWELL´S,OHM´S LAW,COULOMB´S, etc...

BIOLOGY: MENDEL´S INHERITANCE LAWS...

MATHEMATICS LAWS: PYTHAGORAS´,H. GROSSMAN´..

ASTRONOMY: 3 KEPLER´S LAWS, HUBBLE´S LAW...

PSYCHOLOGY: ABRAHAM MASLOW´S , PAULOV´S, J.M. KEYNES,etc.. 

THERMODYNAMICS LAWS,etc..

 

from Ideas that shaped our world by Robert Stewart Marshall Publishing London 1997
 Thanks to Dr. A. Montero for his ideas on the subject..

Optical & Mind illusions

Life is full of optical illusions and deceits as there are tricks everywhere and you cannot trust your eyes.  
An illusion is an effect which is different from reality.Everything is in our heads. You´ll see double or even see things that never existed. You´ll have to put everything in perspective as both your eyes and your mind will be tricked. Does your mind´s eye see what it´s really out there or just what it thinks it sees? The French coined the term "trompe l´oeil" or trick the eye to define this phenomenon.
You´ll see imaginary things: both an old lady and a young lady , both two faces and two cups, someone both angry and happy at the same time, a man and a woman.  What we see is partly invented...We´ll see some impossible figures and situations, like How many legs has a particular elephant got? or How many prongs does a particular pitchfork have?
Perceptions are one thing, reality another and, in general, we may be full of wishful thinking to make life bearable.
As the Spanish folk song goes" daisies dreaming of becoming rosemary", or Mª Ángeles Pérez López´s
poem "scissors dreaming of becoming keys", nowhere will you find all this better expressed than in surrelist painters, such as Dali or Magritte´s hallucinatory imaginations.

Let´s start by mentioning some of Salvador Dali´s most surprising paintings:

 

THE LOBSTER TELEPHONE

DREAM CAUSED BY THE FLIGHT OF A BEE AROUND A POMEGRANATE A SECOND BEFORE AWAKENING

THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY (melting clocks)

THE MAE WEST LIPS  SOFA

THE METAMORPHOSIS OF NARCISSUS

THE GREAT MASTURBATOR

LEDA ATOMICA

THE PROFANATION OF THE HOST

THE BIRTH OF LIQUID DESIRES

SWANS REFLECTING ELEPHANTS

ANTHROPOMORPHIC BREAD

MORPHOLOGICAL ECHO

THE BURNING GIRAFFE

APPARITION OF FACE AND FRUIT DISH ON A BEACH

FOUNTAIN OF MILK FLOWING USELESSLY ON THREE SHOES

SLAVE MARKET WITH THE DISAPPEARING BUST OF VOLTAIRE

 

 

TRY TO SEE THE IMAGES OF THE FOLLOWING WORKS BY MAGRITTE:

 

MEMORY

THE MAN OF THE SEA

THE KEY TO DREAMS

THE KEY TO THE FIELDS

PERPETUAL MOTION

THE MARCH OF SUMMER

THE THERAPEUTIST

VICTORY

PHILOSOPHY IN A BOUDOIR

THE CHILDHOOD OF ICARUS

THE MAN IN THE BOWLER HAT

EVERY DAY.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT M.C. ESCHER´S IMPOSSIBLE FIGURES &  BUILD YOUR OWN ILLUSION.

from Optical illusions, a D.K. book Pearson
        Revista de Occidente  July- August 2014 nº 398-399

Teachers as "demented" creatures

This is a tongue-in-cheek exercise to practise both relative pronouns and modal auxiliaries.. (Sorry imagination is running dry after this long dry spell)

A TEACHER WHO IS HAPPY ONE DAY AND GRUMPY THE NEXT MAY BE A SERIOUS CASE OF SPLIT PERSONALITY or DR. JEKYLL & Mr. HYDE SYNDROME..

A TEACHER WHOSE BUSHY EYEBROWS MEET IN THE MIDDLE MAY BE A WEREWOLF.

A TEACHER WHO SPENDS A LONG TIME IN THE LABORATORY MAY BE A MAD SCIENTIST.

A TEACHER WHO DOES NOT HAVE A REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR MAY BE A VAMPIRE.

A TEACHER WHO DOES NOT FEEL PAIN MAY BE A ZOMBIE.

A TEACHER WHOSE ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION IS PERFECT BROKEN ENGLISH MIGHT BECOME A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR.

A TEACHER WHO IS OBSESSED ABOUT THE PAST WILL NOT ENJOY THE PRESENT

A TEACHER WHO ALLOWS HIS/HER STUDENTS TO CHEAT AT EXAMS MAY GO VERY FAR IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.

A TEACHER WHO IS A FRUSTRATED POLITICIAN MAY ENJOY THE TRANSIENT "GLORY" OF BEING THE SCHOOL HEAD.

A TEACHER WHO REFUSES WEDDING PRESENTS AND ASKS FOR DONATIONS TO N.G.O.´S  MAY BE A SAINT WITHOUT A HALO .

A TEACHER WHO SYSTEMATICALLY FAILS ALL HIS/HER STUDENTS MAY BE A SADIST.

A TEACHER WHO PASSES ALL HIS/HER STUDENTS  MAY BE A MASOCHIST.

A TEACHER WHO ABUSES TERMS OF ENDEARMENT MIGHT AS WELL BE A MONSTER or A WITCH.

A TEACHER WHO HATES TEACHING MIGHT AS WELL END UP BEING AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER.

A TEACHER WHO IS ALWAYS SILENT MIGHT HIDE  A SAVAGE BEAST.

A TEACHER WHO ALWAYS ARRIVES LATE MIGHT BE AWARDED  THE ALPHONSE X TEACHING DIPLOMA  FOR THEIR TEACHING SERVICES..

A TEACHER WHOSE HOUSE HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO MAY BE VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

A TEACHER WHO BECOMES THE PPRINCIPAL WILL FIND IT VERY HARD TO GO BACK TO ORDINARY CLASSROOM TEACHING.

A TEACHER WHO LOVES TO LEARN MAY MAKE HER STUDENTS LEARN TO LOVE LIFE....

A TEACHER WHO....

IT´S YOUR TURN NOW TO BUILD UP TEN MORE SENTENCES STARTING WITH 
A STUDENT WHO...  (TRY TO BE FUNNY WITHOUT HURTING PEOPLE´S FEELINGS)
INITIAL INSPIRATION DRAWN FROM JOHN BYRNE´S THE WORLD´S SCARIEST JOKE BOOK.

Most faMous Mountains

We have many mountains to climb and many rivers to cross in our lives...both literally and metaphorically...

WHERE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU FIND THE FOLLOWING SUMMITS?:

ACONCAGUA

ANETO

TEIDE

MULHACÉN

BEN NEVIS

CHIMBORAZO

COTOPAXI

EVEREST

ELBRUS

HUASCARAN

K2

KILIMANJARO

FUJIYAMA

LHOTSE

LOGAN 

LUCERO

MAKALU

MAROMA 

MATTERHORN/ CERVINO

Mt. RAINIER

El CAPITÁN

SAN CRISTÓBAL

SCAFELL PIKE

SLIEVE DONARD

SNOWDON

GRAND TETON 

TORRECILLA

HUMA

VELETA

VINSON MASSIF

 

 

 

Basic Roleplays for oral interaction and testing

This is part of an alternative English syllabus, which will focus on the students´ real future needs.
I have selected the role-play situations below using my experience as an English teacher in Spain for nearly four decades. Role-plays require a lot of practice and the reward is immense...:FLUENCY

At a Shoe shop/ At a clothes shop/ souvenir shop/ pet shop/mobile phone shop...

At a restaurant / pub/ bar /cafe/coffee bar/bistro/..

At the airport check-in desk/ passport control/ customs

Taking a taxi cab

A job interview

At the doctor´s

Discussing where and how to go on holiday

Conversation with a policeman/woman to report the theft of your car/the burglary in your house/ a street mugging/witness to an accident..

Two friends are commenting on an interesting news item

At the garage/filling station

At the campsite

at a hotel/youth hostel 

At the cleaner´s/ launderette

At the bank/ exchange office

At the post office

On the telephone

At the lost property office

At the tourist information office

Asking the way

Visiting and receiving an exchange partner

Expressing your feelings

Using public transport ( BY RAIL/ AIR/ BUS/ TAXI/..)

At a hairdresser´s

At a chemist´s

Asking favours

The weather

Complimenting people

Apologising

At the concert/ theatre/ cinema

Renting a car/ a house 

Flat hunting

Buying and selling property 

Family problems

 

As a typical example of any role-play above: The clothes shop role-play could be similar to this:

 

Customer: Good morning

Shop Assistant: Good morning. Can I help you?

C.: Yes, please I´m looking for a T-shirt

S.A.: What colour?

C.: Black

S.A.: What size?

C.: Medium

S.A.: Here you are

C.: How much is it?

S.A.: 8 euros

C.: Can I pay by credit card?

S.A.: If you have cash it´ll be better in cash

C.:O.K. Here you are

S.A.: Thanks . have a nice day

C.: Bye 

 

Special thanks to Manuel Jesús Platero Jimena, a handling agent at Málaga airport,  for suggesting the role-plays below:

 

CONVERSATION 1

Passenger: Good morning, is this the check-in desk for Stansted?

Handling Agent: Yes,sir. May I see your boarding card?

P.: Passport as well?

H.A.: Yes please.

P.: Can I put my luggage on the belt now?

H.A.: Sure… Your luggage is four kilos overweight. You can take some stuff out or pay for that.

P.: How much is it?

H.A.: It's 40 €.

P.: I think I will reorganise my luggage and put some clothes in my carry-on bags, is that ok?

H.A.: Ok, please stay on one side and let me know when you finish.

P.: I also have a buggy and a car seat.

H.A.: You can take your buggy to the boarding gate if it is more comfortable for you, but the car seat must be checked in before going to the security control.

P.: Ok, I have already finished. Where do I go now?

H.A.: Straight on to the end of terminal three for the security control and then check the screens for your boarding gate.

P.: Two more questions, please. Can I smoke in the security area? And is there anywhere to eat?

H.A.: Smoking is not allowed in the airport. But you still have a lot of time to smoke some cigarettes outside. And there are plenty of shops and restaurants in the security area.

P.: And for my child?

H.A.: There is a baby lounge and a small park with some swings.

P.: Excellent, thank you very much for your help. Have a nice day.

H.A.: You're welcome, have a nice flight.

CONVERSATION 2

Passenger: Hi there, I checked in online but forgot to print out my boarding pass.

Handling Agent: Can you show me your boarding pass on your phone, tablet, laptop…?

P.: No, why?

H.A.: You can reprint your boarding pass here free of charge if you have a proof that you downloaded it from our website. Otherwise you have to pay a fee of 15€. That's why I asked. By the way, let me see your passport. Where are you flying?

P.: Liverpool. Ok, I'll pay. Do I have to pay here?

H.A.: Not here. With this receipt, you have to go to the office in front of you. Once you pay, come back for your boarding pass.

P.: Do I have to queue again?

H.A.: No, just come directly to me without queueing.

P.: Here I am again.

H.A.: And here you are .Your boarding pass.

P.: Is my flight on time?

H.A.: I don't know that information from here. In case there is a delay, you will have all the information on the screens 40 minutes before your plane takes off.

P.: Is the flight full?

H.A.: It is completely full. Probably they will ask you to check in your hand luggage for free if you are one of the last to board the plane.

P.: Why is that?

H.A.: Because of the limitation of space in the cabin. Sometimes last passengers have to send their hand baggages into the hold of the aircraft.

P.: Alright, thanks.

H.A.: It's ok. Bye.