Essential ( and fun) vocabulary for more eloquent articulation Part 1 :

 

Coddiwomple ( Verb.) : 'to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination'.

• I thrive off of coddiwompling up hills when going on a hike. Sometimes, when I feel blue, I coddiwomple around my area - nothing better than a good walk !

Convivial ( Adjective.) : Of a person = Cheerful and friendly. Of an atmosphere or event = Lively, enjoyable.

• My friend threw a most convivial party - everyone was in their element !

• I am rather fond of your friend, he is so convivial - it truly was a pleasure to meet him.

Latibulate ( Verb.) : The Latin word latibulum means a “refuge or hiding place of animals.” It derives from the same root that gives us the English word latent, meaning “hidden.” A 17th-century dictionary defines the now-rare English word latibulate as “privily to hide oneself in a corner.”

• Sometimes, I feel so exhausted and depressed that I just want to latibulate !

• She latibulated when asked to read her presentation to the group. One could almost smell the fear.

• Any plans for the weekend? I plan to Netflix and latibulate ! ;) 

Pandemonium (Noun.) : A place with chaos, noise and confusion.

If you look carefully at the word pandemonium, you’ll see the word demon inside it. This makes sense, since the word pandemonium was coined in Milton’s Paradise Lost, where it was the name of the palace built in the middle of Hell. Milton wrote back in the 17th century. Nowadays, pandemonium crops up whenever journalists are describing a chaotic scene. High school students have been heard to use it to describe their lunchroom. - Vocab.com.

• There was complete pandemonium when everyone heard the company was shutting down.

• There will be moments of pandemonium when working with a class of 34 children !

Superfluous (Adjective.) : Too much of what is wanted or needed. An excess of something.

An example of superfluous is a buying a stuffed animal for a child who already has too many stuffed animals. - Yourdictionary.

• The way products are packaged now - a - days is superfluous, a massive box, tissue paper and even bubble wrap for a tiny item !

• The royals always look a tad superfluous when out and about, don't you think? Wearing hats that almost graze the skyline and dresses mirroring delicious cupcakes freshly plucked from a display case...

• In the age of technology, posting letters to friends has become superfluous.

Whimsical ( Adjective.) : Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.

• Her outlook on life is rather whimsical - she has never lost her inner child and I quite admire her for it considering all that she has had to endure through the years. 

• Look at these divinely whimsical designs on the teacups !

• My paintings are often whimsical unlike my sketches which tend to be gloomy and focussed on painful subject matters. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTvSFZWdXK0&ab_channel=BernadetteBehr

“Alone”

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

From childhood’s hour I have not been

As others were—I have not seen

As others saw—

I could not bring

My passions from a common spring—

From the same source I have not taken

My sorrow—I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone—

And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—

Then—in my childhood—in the dawn

Of a most stormy life—was drawn

From ev’ry depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still—

From the torrent, or the fountain—

From the red cliff of the mountain—

From the sun that ’round me roll’d

In its autumn tint of gold—

From the lightning in the sky

As it pass’d me flying by—

From the thunder, and the storm—

And the cloud that took the form

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)

Of a demon in my view—

 

Poem : Mary Oliver

 

To live in this world

you must be able

to do three things

to love what is mortal;

to hold it

against your bones knowing

your own life depends on it;

and, when the time comes to let it go,

to let it go

— Mary Oliver, New and Selected Poems, Volume One

Grammar : ‘Me too’ and ‘Me neither’, either/or and tasks

 

A fabulous link :

https://www.oxfordinternationalenglish.com/neither-or-either-whats-the-difference

A short message from your mad hatter of a teacher : 

My fabulous student from Russia had some relevant questions in our session this week and so I decided to put together this tiny abstract to assist those who wrestle relentlessly with the differences between either, neither, me too and so on ! I do so hope that it clears up a few doubts and washes away the confusion. Remember that practice makes PERMANENT! Do some revision daily if time allows. Even weekly - every ounce of effort will come to fruition. Try and then try again ! YOU can do this ! :) 

Remember : Either is used when presented with two options.

You can have either the steak or the pizza - not both !

What would you rather have/ either the steak or the pizza?

Example answer : I would rather have the pizza. I much prefer it to steak, thankyou ! / I would prefer to have some pizza please.

.............................................................................................................................................................

Let's practice !!!

Either you keep quiet in our lecture or you can leave !

Would you rather leave the class or keep quiet. You can do either ! Either leave or stay ? 

Example answer : I am sorry ! I would prefer to stay.

Please either keep it down or leave my classroom.

You may stay or either leave - 

Answer :

You have two options, either start behaving or we are leaving the restaurant. ( Parent to child.)

Answer :

Now your turn :

Make 5 sentences using the form ‘’either…..or…..’’ and then respond to your questions with '' I would rather/I would prefer to + verb.)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

‘Me too’ and ‘Me neither’

How are the two different? When to use it?

‘Me too’ agrees with a positive statement.

We NEVER SAY : I like pizza. Answer : Me either. = WRONG. 

CORRECT : Agreeing with a positive statement : 

I really appreciate our lessons! = Me too !

I can not say that I dislike watching football at all. = Me too !

I love TedTalks ! = Me too !

I am rather fond of reading. = Me too !

‘Me neither’ agrees with a negative statement.

N. B: 

If someone says something affirmative and the same is true for you, then you can say, ‘me too’.

For example:

Friend: I like pizza.

You (who likes pizza): Me too!

If someone says something in the negative and the same is true for you, then you can say, ‘me neither’.

For example:

Friend: I don’t like pizza

You (who hates pizza): Me neither!

I do not like nor appreciate sarcasm : Me neither ! ( NEVER USE ' ME EITHER ' !!!!!! BLLEGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

,

Exercise 1 : 

A: I like to play badminton. B: __________ (you like to play badminton.)

A: I can’t dance. B: ____________ (you cannot dance.)

A: I’m not going to school today. B: ________ (you are note going to school.)

A: I can speak Spanish. B: ________ (you can speak Spanish.)

A: I like to drink tea. B: __________ (you do like tea.)

A: I can’t hear the teacher. B: I can’t either. C: ________ (C can’t hear the teacher.)

A: I’m not happy. B: Neither am I. C: _______ (C is not happy).

Either and Neither Exercise 2

Choose 'either' or 'neither'

1) A: I don’t like pizza. B: 

do I.

2) David doesn’t live in London and I don’t ………...

3) John doesn’t want an ice cream and the children don’t ……………..

4) Amanda isn’t French and ……………….

is Lukas.

5) She doesn’t have a job at the moment and ………………...

do I.

6) They haven’t eaten breakfast and Jane hasn’t…………………. 

.

7) She hasn’t studied Latin and …………………..

have I.

8) You won’t go to the party and ………………..

will Lucy.

9) John isn’t going to the meeting and I’m not …………………..

.

10) The weather isn’t good in London and it isn’t good in Scotland …………………….

Thank you my darling students ! Go well, stay safe and BE KIND !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Polite ways to respond when someone says : ''I feel tired/I am tired.''

Polite ways to respond when someone says : ''I feel tired/I am tired.''

Remember : Telling someone they look tired says they look awful and

it will make them irritated with you or it will hurt their feelings - it is impolite. Tip : If they look tired, don't say anything...

Use the following tips : If someone sys that they are exhausted/tired, say something agreeable, like :

I so understand how you feel - we have all been there.

Better/preferred responses :

“Have you been sleeping alright?” ,

“You’re such a dedicated worker, that is a great trait.” ,

“I don’t know how you juggle so many things, I would never be able to !” ,

“Is there anything I can do to help?” ,

‘’Have you been taking breaks between work?’’ Or

‘’Have you thought about maybe taking a day off - it may help you feel a bit better.’’ Thank you so much for being such amazing students -

learning polite language is essential especially when at a higher language level -

Intermediate through to Advanced level !

A kind reminder : Be good to each other.