ESL in Ho Chi Minh City

ESL in Ho Chi Minh City

ESL podcasts from the heart of Vietnam; written by a Vietnamese English teacher and taught by an American teacher.

  1. Idiom Quiz

    07/30/2011

    Idiom Quiz

    Contact us here or at ESLHCMC@gmail.com for the answers and additional information. 1- Which of these expressions mean "at a time in the future"? some day one of these days one of those days these days 2- Which of these sayings would you like to hear? That'll be the day Your days are numbered This is definitely not my day You made my day 3- Which is the odd one out? all day and everyday day in, day out day by day day after day 4- Which one means "from the beginning"? from day to day from one day to the next from day one from that day forth 5- When you are getting married, you certainly ... ? end your days name the day save for a rainy day have seen better days 6- Which of these animals can be eaten? a home bird a fatted calf a cold fish a sitting duck 7- Which does not mean “to have a lot of money”? in the money have money to burn made of money on the money 8- Which guy is rich? Thomas Achilles Midas Alec 9- Who is the most wanted by girls? Uncle Sam Prince Charming plain Jane John Q. Public 10- Which is the odd one out? Mr Parkinson Mr Big Mr Nice Guy Mr Right 11- Which means "money is not important"? Money is nothing Money is no problem Money is no object Not for love or money 12- Which doesn't emphasize the power of money? Money makes the world go round Money talks Money makes money A golden key opens every door 13- Which has nothing to do with money literally? on the money value for money have your money’s worth have a good run for your money 14- Which of the following isn't about money? golden handshake peanuts goose egg nest egg 15- Which means lots of money; money earned with hard work? easy money pin money good money money for old rope 16- How should you spend your money? throw money around put your money where your mouth is spend money like water money burns a hole in your pocket 17- Complete this proverb " A miss is …" as happy as the day is long as pretty as a picture as cool as a cucumber as good as a mile 18- Which noun can go with “black and white”? elephant sheep spot issue 19- What can't you bite? teeth fingernails tongue lip 20- Complete this proverb "Better the devil you know than…" a country bumpkin the black sheep of the family the devil you don't the devil's advocate 21- Which one did not originate from Latin? bona fide alumnus carpe diem fait accompli 22- When having your picture taken, you have to say when say cheese say what say the word 23- Who is important? the back-room boys the boys in blue the boy next door the blue-eyed boy 24- Which "old" in these expression is "old, ancient”? old flame old woman old man old maid 25- What would you say if you do not believe what somebody has said? a tall story a sob story a likely story a c**k-and-bull story 26- Which one is not close to ""What a life!"" in meaning? Such is life This is the life That’s life C’est la vie 27- Which one doesn’t mean “talk a lot”? talk a hind leg off a donkey talk a blue streak talk nineteen to the dozen talk turkey 28- Which “talk” do couples prefer? talk big talk dirty talk shop talk back 29- Which of these two expressions are similar? facts and figures the facts of life the birds and the bees the fact of the matter 30- Which “big” isn’t good? big cheese big name big mouth big fish Review our previous podcasts for the answers and contact us to check your work.

    12 min
  2. French - The Language of Love - Episode 41

    02/25/2011

    French - The Language of Love - Episode 41

    A petite story: They met when she was an au pair for an English nouveau riche family and he was a chauffeur for the next door cafe owner. They had to work their way through college although he was the son of a chargé d'affaires and she was the daughter of a bureau de change owner. It was coup de foudre. Both shared an interest in music genres such as ballet and opera. They were au fait with music themes and could go on and on about them without making any faux pas. They had a great passion for cuisine. They loved to have croissants or omelettes for breakfast. For entrees, it had to be always a sauted or a flambéd dish. And their favorite beverage was red wine. They had many romantic rendezvous that were beyond description. She dreamt of becoming a coiffeur and a couture designer and was on her way to make her first debut. He wanted to be a fashion connoisseur and manage the creme de la creme of the fashion houses. However she made friends with a few faux amis and they were jealous of her dream like relationship. They tried to sabotage her liaisons with him. Her laissez-passer was expired and she couldn’t have it renewed at that time so she had to return to Italy. They maintained their great rapport par avion. After a few months being away from her, he decided she was the one and his only raison d'être. He started to move in with her and flew back and forth between the two countries. Now she was a femme fatale working for a haute couture in Milan. He was an entrepreneur possessing many boutiques in London. In terms of appearance, she’s a brunette with a unique dressing style. She looked stunning all the time whether she wore her hair au naturel or not. He’s a homme du monde always wearing things a la mode. They were a chic matching couple. After five years de facto marriage, she agreed to become his fiancé. They even chose a venue for a soiree to announce their engagement. Then en route to a mansion, which he was going to buy as a wedding present for her, she had a car accident. Now go ahead and write the ending to this story using French-inspired English words from the vocbulary lesson and other French words not in the lesson. The following exercise may help you with that. Exercise One - Here are other familiar English words borrowed from French, let’s see if you know when and how to use them: attaché à la carte coup d'état hors d'oeuvre entourage c'est la vie avant-garde carte blanche cul-de-sac déjà vu double entendre fait accompli je ne sais quoi laissez-faire Mardi Gras nom de guerre protégé risqué RSVP touché voilà! tête-à-tête tout de suite par excellence matinee Which "word/ phrase" ... is eaten before the main course? is used at the end of an invitation card? is seen on a menu? describes a holiday celebration? can describe art or new ideas? means a dead-end street? is used to advise people to accept a bad situation? is a movie shown during the day? can be a type of briefcase? can be a group of friends? do governments guard against? is a name you earn in battle? is one that you can’t quite put your finger on? is one of the best? wouldn’t you use in front of your granny? means “finished?” is an art of word play? gives you creative freedom? needs to get done immediately? wants to be left alone? wants to be instructed and guided? is shared between friends? is shared between opponents? is that gut feeling you just experienced? is the only one left from our French word list?

    14 min
  3. The ABC's of Love - Episode 40

    02/14/2011

    The ABC's of Love - Episode 40

    ABC of Love - Version One with idioms A is for apple. You’re the apple of my eye. B is for blind. I choose to be blind willingly. C is for conquer. Our love conquers all. D is down. You never let me down E is for eyes. I only have eyes for you. F is forgive and forget. That’s how you are. G is short for gold. I struck gold when I found you. H is when I’m head over heels in love with you. I is short for if. There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it: I love you. J is joy; my heart jumps for joy when I see you everyday K is for kiss. I’m glad we have never had to kiss and make up L is large. You are larger than life. M stands for mean. You mean the world to me. N is never. With you I never say die. O is as in One. You’re the one and only P is for promised land. Together, we have arrived in the Promised Land. Q is quiet; I find peace and quiet when I’m with you R is rhyme or reason. My love for you defies rhyme or reason. S is sweet- you’re just perfect for my sweet tooth. T is for take. You take my breath away every time you whisper in my ear U is under; you have me under your spell V is short for Venus. When we’re together, you make me feel like Venus W is for wish. You’re a wish that comes true. X stands for X’s and O’s. My hugs and kisses are countless. Y is for you. Thank you for having stolen my heart. Z is for Z’s. Lying next to me, you cannot catch some Z’s. Definitions are dictated in the podcast ABC of Love - Version Two exercises Please complete these exercises before listening to ABC of Love version 2 Re-arrange these words to make meaningful lines of ABC of love. A is for addicted: you/ to/ addicted/ I’m. B is for bliss; you/ to/ bliss/ is/ know. C is from/ I/ long/ caressing/ you/ which/ for. D is for are which is to what me darling you. E is for your embrace, never can I get something of. F is for fun. you/ of/ me/ no/ fun/ bring/ end. G represents give. you/ my/ all/ I/ heart/ give. H is for home. with/ home/ I’m/ you/ last/ at/ at. I stands for impossible. With/ impossible/ you/ is/ nothing. J is for join. joined/ we/ sooner/ I/ have/ could/ wish/ hands. K : kisses/ better/ make/ your/ only/ things/ can. L is laughing/ created/ loving/ and/ we/ have/ memories. M stands for match; heaven/ made/ match/ in/ our/ is. N is me/ in/ you/ the/ thing/ is/ which/ best/ naughtiness/ out. O is as in One; I’m pretty sure you’re the one P is passion; I’m/ for/ we/ the/ glad/ share/ each/ passion/ other/ same. Q is for queen. a/ queen/ like/ me/ you/ treat. R is for/ we/ have/ each/ other/ respect. For the rest of the letters, complete the sentences by adding your own words: S is for strength. Your ______ gives me strength. T is for tears. Tears of ________ that I will never _________. U I hadn’t _______________ until I met you. V is short for valentine; I’m _______ to be yours. W is words with wings that you____________________. X stands for extra super special; now you know ____________________. Y is yes- your _______ to all my __________. Z I feel like a zillion dollars when ________________________________.

    14 min

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ESL podcasts from the heart of Vietnam; written by a Vietnamese English teacher and taught by an American teacher.