I Heart English - Coffee

I Heart English

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• The Coffee Issue
• Starbucks Coffee Culture
• The Perfect Coffee
• Tom’s Diner, by Suzanne Vega
• The Space Station Gets A Coffee Bar
• Coffee Quotes
• Solutions #44 The Coffee Issue

The Coffee Issue Posted: 11 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT Starbucks Coffee Culture Reading and discussion activity The Perfect Coffee Conversation, vocabulary & video Tom’s Diner, by Suzanne Vega Song, listening & vocabulary The Space Station Gets A Coffee Bar Discussion & listening activity Coffee Quotes Conversation activity

Starbucks Coffee Culture Posted: 11 May 2015 01:52 PM PDT Reading and discussion activity Is coffee popular where you live? Is there a coffee culture? How often do you drink coffee? Where do you usually drink coffee? Are there any Starbucks coffee shops in your area? Who are their typical customers? What do you know about the company Starbucks, origin, name, success, etc.? Read the text below and find the answers to the last question, among other information on the company. Starbucks The first Starbucks opened in 1971 in downtown Seattle. Back then, the company was a single store in the historic Pike Place Market. The small coffee shop offered some of the world’s finest fresh-roasted whole bean coffees. The name, inspired by Moby Dick, evoked the romance of the high seas and the tradition of the early coffee traders. In 1981 a New York man by the name of Howard Schultz became curious about the company. Schultz went to Seattle to see what Starbucks did, and met the three partners who owned Starbucks. He wanted to become part of the company. In 1982, he was hired as the company’s head of marketing A year later, in 1983, Howard traveled to Italy and became captivated with Italian coffee bars and the romance of the coffee experience. He had a vision to bring the Italian coffeehouse tradition back to the United States. A place for conversation and a sense of community. A third place between work and home. Between 1987 and 1992, Starbucks opened 150 new stores—and that was only the beginning. Starbucks first international coffeehouse opened in Tokyo in 1996 and the response was extraordinary. Starbucks coffeeshops have been embraced by millions of people around the world. With more than 21,000 stores in over 65 countries, it’s clear that the company’s passion for great coffee, genuine service and community connection transcends language and culture. Source: starbucks.com Can you answer the following questions without going back to the passage? Check your answers afterwards with the text. 1.What is the main topic of the reading?    2.Who is Howard Schultz? 3.Where does the name Starbucks come from? 4.What idea did Howard Schultz get from his trip to Italy?        5.What’s the reason behind Starbucks success? Answers here!

The Perfect Coffee Posted: 11 May 2015 01:49 PM PDT Conversation, vocabulary & video A)Match the terms to the pictures: an espresso – instant coffee – a French press or Cafetier  a latte -   an Italian percolator/coffe maker  an espresso machine  -  a plastic cup with a lid B)Discuss the questions below with a parter or in small groups. Do you drink coffee, tea or any kind of hot drink in the morning? What kind of coffee do you prefer? Do you care if you have instant or blend coffee? Is there a particular brand or coffee shop that you like? What’s the best method to prepare a perfect cup of coffee: a French Press, an Italian Coffee Maker, an Espresso Machine,..? Do you know the difference between blend, cappuccino, espresso, latte, etc? Is coffee bad for you?  Does coffee affect your appetite? Does coffee have any health benefits? Which? C)VIDEO Segment: Whatch the clip. Are these statements TRUE or FALSE? Correct the ones you think are wrong. 1. You can make a decent cup of coffee with any good coffee maker. 2.14 grams of coffee for 2 cups is a right amount. 3.They are using a cafetiere for 7 cups. 4.You will also need mineral water. 5.Oxigen helps percolate(a) the coffee. 6.It is best to pour(b) a little water, stir(c)and then pour the rest of the water. 7.To stir is very important. 8.Coffee needs to brew for at least 2 minutes. Glossary: (a)filter  (b) serve liquids  (c)mix in circular  motions Answers here!

Tom’s Diner, by Suzanne Vega Posted: 11 May 2015 01:46 PM PDT Song, listening & vocabulary A diner is a small, usually inexpensive restaurant with a long counter and designed to resemble a dining car on a train. They are characteristic of American life, especially in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, as well as in the Midwest. You can find the original video here: https://youtu.be/58Nz7y26Tfs 1.Listen to the song and mark the words mentioned. Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner from Maria Padró Casas on Vimeo. morning tea Milk umbrella afternoon chair corner Rain table window clock cake horoscope midnight boy cathedral train question picnic reflection Paper eyes woman waiter voice 2.Listen again if necessary  and answer the questions below. Afterwards, read the lyrics and compare your responses. Where is she? What is she doing? What is she thinking about? Who else is mentioned in the song? What are they doing? Is this a happy or a sad song? Why? Answers here!

The Space Station Gets A Coffee Bar Posted: 11 May 2015 01:43 PM PDT Discussion & listening activity How do astronauts eat in space? Is eating in space the same as eating on Earth? Do astronauts eat the same foods we do? How do astronauts make sandwiches? How do astronauts drink? What if astronauts want ketchup on their meat? Can you eat chips in space? Research the answers to these and other questions on www.NASA.gov NPR Report - Length: 2.59 minutes Listen to the report and mark the statements below as TRUE or FALSE. Correct the mistaken ones.               1.At the International Space Station nothing is considered more precious than water. 2.Nasa sent an espresso coffee maker to the station. 3.In space all they've got is instant coffee. 4.There’s an Italian austronaut on the station who likes his coffee very strong, with foam on top. 5.Three companies got together and created an espresso maker for space, called ISSpresso. 6.The coffee maker looks like a box, bigger than a toaster but smaller than a microwave. 7.The machine has been tested to work in zero gravity. 8.Some think it will be also a great occasion to meet and have a coffee on the space station. 9.For the astronaut who manages the space station's food supply, the capsules will produce a lot of trash. 10.Once astronauts get a taste of espresso, the machine will have to stay. Answers here!

Coffee Quotes Posted: 11 May 2015 01:40 PM PDT Conversation activity Look at the images and discuss the sayings. How do you feel about them? Compare and contrast. Give your opinion and fundament your views. Discuss the following quotes with a partner or in small groups. Ckeck any vocabulary you might not known. What do you think the author was trying to say or show? Do you agree? Why (not)? If this is coffee, then please-bring me some tea. But if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.     ~Abraham Lincoln  “Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.”     ~ Talleyrand Decaffeinated coffee is kind of like kissing your sister.     ~Bob Irwin In Seattle you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.     ~Jeff Bezos I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.     ~T.S. Eliot Coffee makes us severe, and grave, and philosophical.     ~Jonathan Swift Good communication is just as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.     ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh I would rather suffer with coffee than be senseless.     ~Napoleon Bonaparte The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.     ~Oliver Wendall Holmes, Sr. I never laugh until I’ve had my coffee.     ~Clark Gable It is the duty of all papas and mammas to forbid their children to drink coffee, unless they wish to have little dried-up machines, stunted and old at the age of twenty     ~Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Solutions #44 The Coffee Issue Posted: 11 May 2015 01:36 PM PDT Starbucks Coffee Culture 1.Starbuck’s business history  2.the man who transformed and made the company grow. 3.the name was inspired by Moby Dick and evoked the romance of the high seas and the tradition of the early coffee traders. 4. the coffee experience, the idea of a place for conversation and a sense of community. A third place between work and home.  5.the atmosphere of their stores, community connection and the quality of the coffee served. The Perfect Coffee A) 1. a French press or Cafetier  2. a plastic cup with a lid 3. an Italian percolator/coffe maker  4. an espresso  5. an espresso machine  6. instant coffee  7. a latte C) 1.F with a cafetier 2.T 7 grams per cup 3.F 3 cups cafetier 4.F Fresh water 5.T 6.T 7.T  8.F 4 minutes Tom’s Diner, by Suzanne Vega 1.All except: tea – afternoon – chair – clock – cake – boy  - question – eyes - waiter 2.Lyrics : TOM’S DINER I am sitting in the morning at the diner on the corner I am waiting at the counter for the man to pour the coffee And he fills it only half way and before I even argue He is looking out the window at somebody coming in. “It is always nice to see you,” says the man behind the counter to the woman who has come in, she is shaking her umbrella and I look the other way as they are kissing their hellos and I’m pretending not to see them, and instead I pour the milk. I open up the paper, there’s a story of an actor Who had died while he was drinking, it was no-one I had heard of And I’m turning to the horoscope and looking for the funnies When I’m feeling someone watching me and so I raise my head. There’s a woman on the outside looking inside, does she see me? No, she does not really see me ‘cause she sees her own reflection And I’m trying not to notice that she’s hitching up her skirt And while she’s straightening her stockings her hair has gotten wet. Oh, this rain, it will continue through the morning as I’m listening To the bells of the cathedral, I am thinking of your voice And of the midnight picnic once upon a time before the rain began And I finish up my coffee and it’s time to catch the train. The Space Station Gets A Coffee Bar 1.F : a cup of espresso coffee is considered even more precious than water.    2.F: it was the Italian Space Agency    3.T  4.T  5.F: it was two companies   6.F: it’s about the size of a microwave. 7.F: This is an experimental machine. Nobody's sure how all that coffee and steam will behave in zero gravity.  8.T  9.T  10.T https://youtu.be/58Nz7y26Tfs

I Heart English - THE DREAM

Following your Dreams Video & discussion activity Dream Idioms Vocabulary activity The Legend Of the Dream Catcher Discussion & Gap-Filling activity Daydreaming Discussion & Vocabulary activity Dreams: When I Grow Up Video & discussion activity

Following Your Dreams Video & discussion activity What did you want to be when you grew up? What were your dreams when you were a child? Billy Elliot A)Watch the trailer clip and answer the questions. BILLY ELLIOT - International Trailer from PPC Film on Vimeo. 1.How different from other boys does Billy seems to be? 2.How does he seem to feel about boxing? 3.What’s his trainer’s attitude? 4.Why aren’t any other boys in the ballet class? 5.What is his family’s opinion about Billy taking ballet? 6.What´s the ballet teacher’s attitude? 7. Who says...?  “You’re a disgrace to the glove”  and  “Why dont you join in?” B)Complete the  Film Synopsis with the words given ballet class   -  sport   - passion  - dance    -  ballet dancer  -  boxing gym The film centers around the life of Billy, his love of ........................  and his hopes of becoming a professional ...............................     Billy's father and brother Tony are miners.  One day his father takes him to a ..............................., but Billy finds out that he doesn't really like the .........................   Part of the gym is used by a ............................... Billy is drawn by it and secretly starts taking ballet lessons.  Billy's father finds out what he is doing and forbids him to dance, but Billy continues to do so secretly. Finally, once he has seen Billy dance, his father understands that ballet is Billy's ........................ and he takes him to an audition for the Royal Ballet. Billy is accepted by the Royal Ballet, and moves out to London at age 11 to attend the school. The Blind Side – A True Story The Blind Side trailer from Cooke Pictures on Vimeo. What kind of family are “the Tuohys”? What are they like? How do they live? What is Big Mike’s situation and background? How do people see him? What does this family do for him? What does Mike get to do as a result of this family’s influence? Discuss How are both movies related? How are they different? Compare and contrast. Answers here!

Dream Idioms Posted: 14 Jan 2015 09:09 AM PST Vocabulary activity English has several idiomatic expressions related to dreams and dreaming. These are a few popular ones. A dream come true: a wish or hope that was realised. American dream: the idealistic notion that Americans are preoccupied with obtaining certain materialistic goals. Bad dream or nightmare: a terrible situation to go through. Broken dreams: wishes or desires that cannot be fulfilled. Chase a dream: to actively pursue something that you want to happen. Daydream: to have daytime fantasies about someone or something. Dream on!: something that you say to someone who has just told you about something they are hoping for, in order to show that you do not believe it will happen. In your dreams!: something that you say to someone who has just told you about something they are hoping for, in order to show that you do not believe it will happen. Live/be in a 'dream world': to constantly be thinking about what you would like to happen rather than what is happening. Pipe dream: a wish that is impossible or very unlikely to come true. Sweet dreams: an expression to say good night. Wouldn’t dream of doing: would not even consider doing something. Complete the following sentences with words related to the idioms above:    1.Her new job is........................................: the people are great, the work is interesting and the salary is amazing. 2. A:Can I borrow some money to buy new clothes? B:What?? ........................................! 3.My ...................................... is to become a rock star. 4.So sad, she’s not very realistic so her life is full of ..................................... 5.She’s a very popular painter and her pictures have brought her riches beyond her ................................ 6.John is living the ................................: a great wife, the two kids and a beautiful house in the suburbs 7.I have to stop living .................................! If I want to graduate I’ll have to study harder. 8. I hope you ................................ of travelling without  medical insurance, it’s too risky. 9.She told me she wants to marry a movie star, so i said “.........................................!” 10.My favorite place to ................................. is during the bus ride to work. 11.It was a .................................... to finish the project on time. We ended up with a headache! 12.She’s .......................... big dreams but very determined and I have no doubt that she will succeed. Answers here!

The Legend Of the Dream Catcher Posted: 14 Jan 2015 09:07 AM PST Discussion & Gap-Filling activity ·        Do you know what a dream catcher is? ·        If not, what it could be used for? ·        Considering its name and shape how do you think it works? Complete the text about the legend of the dream catcher, with the ten words given. caught   -     vary    -   travel    -   carried   -    adopted  - hung    captured  -    destroyed  -   pass  -   credited   The Chippewa believe that night is full of both good and bad dreams. When a dream catcher is 1.........................above the place where you sleep it moves freely in the night air and catches the dreams as they drift by. The good dreams, knowing their way, 2.......................through the opening in the center of the webbing while the bad dreams, not knowing the way, are 3.........................in the webbing and 4.............................at the first light of the morning sun. There are many variants to the dream catcher legend, some which say both the good and bad dreams are 5........................ and some which say the good dreams 6.......................... down the feather to those sleeping below. Although the Ojibwa are 7............................... as the first people to use Dream Catchers many other Tribes and Native peoples have 8.................. Dream Catchers into their culture. Even though the designs and legends of Dream Catchers 9............................  slightly, the underlying meaning and symbolism is universal and is 10............................. across cultures and language barriers. Answers here! ·        Were your predictions right?

Daydreaming Posted: 14 Jan 2015 09:05 AM PST Discussion & Vocabulary activity What do you dream of when you are awake?  Is your daydreaming realistic or fantastic? When do you daydream most? DEBATE  :  Dreaming with other cultures and exotic places to  live If you had to chose an exotic destination to live for a couple of years, how would you make your decision? Compare the advantages and disadvantages of living in different countries. A) What do you understand by these terms?  B) Rank them in order of importance.  -standard of living                         -mentality                             -cuisine -political situation                         -environment                      -climate -culture Procedure:  You will have to choose a different country to go to live in from the following list : CHILE                       IRELAND                 JAPAN MAURITUS              AUSTRALIA            SOUTHAFRICA     PORTUGAL             JAMAICA                  SWEEDEN Before talking to the group you will have to make an individual decision. 1. Small debate : Debate the choice of country with a partner. Why have your classmates chosen that? Does it agree with your choice and your ranking? 2. Group discussion : Discuss the situation as a group. What is the best or most voted country to live in?

Dreams: When I Grow Up Posted: 14 Jan 2015 09:03 AM PST Video & discussion activity “When I Grow Up” Animated Short by Colin Hesterly   Read the comment from the director and author, then watch the short and compare and contrast his ideas to yours when you were groping up. “As a kid my imagination was my closest friend, and I spent a lot of time dreaming about my future. I wanted to explore the jungles like Indiana Jones, or search the oceans alongside Captain Nemo. Over time I caught on that these people were just fictional characters but that spirit of imagination and adventure never left. I eventually had to “grow up” and become an adult. So I pursued a career that was founded on the ideas of exploration and imagination. I chose to become a filmmaker. “  When I Grow Up from The Academy on Vimeo. Source:   http://vimeo.com/51704432

Solutions - The Dream Issue Posted: 14 Jan 2015 09:00 AM PST Following your Dreams Billy Elliot Who says...?  “You’re a disgrace to the glove”    “Why dont you join in?” The film centers around the life of Billy, his love of dance and his hopes of becoming a professional ballet dancer. Billy's father and brother Tony are miners.  One day his father takes him to a boxing gym, but Billy finds out that he doesn't really like the sport. Part of the boxing gym is used by a ballet class. Billy is drawn by it and secretly starts taking ballet lessons. Billy's father finds out he is taking ballet lessons and forbids him to dance, but Billy continues to do so secretly. Finally, once he has seen Billy dance, his father understands that ballet is Billy's passion and he takes him to an audition for the Royal Ballet. Billy is accepted by the Royal Ballet, and moves out to London at age 11 to attend the school. The Blind Side A well-to-do white family take in a homeless black teenager and help him realize his potential on and off the football field. Dream Idioms 1. a dream come true    2. Dream on/ In your dreams  3. pipe dream   4. broken dreams  5. wildest dreams  6. American dream  7. in a dream world  8. wouldn’t dream  9. In your dreams/dream on   10.daydream  11.nightmare/ bad dream 12.chasing The Legend Of the Dream Catcher 1. hung   2. pass    3. caught   4. destroyed    5.captured    6. travel    7. credited   8. adopted    9. vary  10. carried

Weather Instruments

Gap filling  - Word families* - Vocabulary

*Word families are groups of words with the same form and related in meaning, for example : family - familiar - unfamiliar - familiarity - to familiarize

1-Read the text below. Use the words on the right to form a noun, adjective, adverb or verb in the same family, to fill the gap as in the example. Then check the correct answers.

Why is it that a promised day of sunshine may often bring rain or 1..cloudy... skies? Weather forecasters are 2. ................ criticized for their frequent false predictions and most people 3. ................ weather reports with caution. Truth is that the weather is 4. ................. Even in this day and age of 5. ................ advances, it is not easy to predict the weather next week, and even less next month, or next year. There are just too many factors. Meteorologists use many instruments to study the atmosphere. Normally, these instruments work together to give the most 6. ................ possible vision of weather conditions. We are all 7................. with “thermometers”, to measure temperature, and “weather satellites” that orbit the Earth to track the atmosphere. Also “wind vanes” are not strange on house roofs, a device that 8................. to show the direction the wind is blowing. However, to give the world the 9................. forecast, a warning of tsunami or determine the chance of a thunderstorm,  weather 10................. also rely on other devices. These are  an “anemometer”, to measure wind speed, a “barometer” for atmospheric pressure,  a “rain gauge” to measure millimeters of liquid precipitation, and a “sling psychrometer” for humidity. Nature is 11................. and the weather has its whims, which sadly makes it almost impossible for us to get a 12................ weather forecast.

1.CLOUD 2.USUAL 3.TREATMENT 4.CHAOS 5.TECHNOLOGY 6.UNCOMPLETE 7.FAMILY 8.ROTATION 9.DAY 10.PROFESSION 11.POWER 12.PRECISION

 (author: Verónica de la Vega 
some contents and definitions adapted from National Geographic Education)

2-Read the text again and find the terms for the following definitions:

a) water that falls to the ground as rain, snow, etc. = ____________ b) a prediction  = ____________ c) an instrument, object, machine, or piece of equipment made for some special purpose  = ____________ d) a sudden wish, desire, decision, etc.  = ____________ e) to trust or believe (someone or something)  = ____________ f) an action that tells someone about possible danger or trouble  = ____________definitions from Merriam-Webster’s Learners Dictionary

at learnersdictionary.com

3-Just For Fun  

 Can you identify the weather instruments in the image below? Match the seven pictures and names.  

2015 calendars to download