121. The Flatmates Episode 121
120. The Flatmates Episode 120
Express English: Success
Hear what people in London say, then join the conversation!
One woman said: "It depends on what it is – I mean successful in my career? I’m almost successful!"
A man said: "I’ve been a college professor and I’ve taught things. I’ve worked in the media. I’ve been able to explain things to people make things a little clearer so I think I’ve contributed something and I’ve been able to pay my bills."
Did you know?
- Fact
In the 2011 Forbes magazine list of the richest people in the world there are 1,210 billionaires worth US$4.5 trillion.
China doubled its number of ten-figure fortunes in the last year, and Moscow has more billionaires than any other city.
- Language tip
When talking about the measure of success you use the words 'amount' or 'degree'.
For example:
The company enjoyed a fair amount of success before it went bankrupt.- Cultural tip
In some cultures it is considered rude to ask people how much money they earn.
English Express: Photographs
Hear what people in London say, then join the conversation! What is your most treasured photograph and why?
One woman said "it's a picture of my grandmother... it's interesting to see how she was when she was around my age."
Another man said "it's one of me on a beach in the south of France... it brings back memories of the time; the light, the colour, the atmosphere."
Did you know?
- Fact
The first permanent photograph was an image produced in 1826 by the French inventor Joseph Nicephore Niepce.
- Language tip
Taking a snap means taking a quick, informal photograph, usually with an unsophisticated camera.
- Cultural tip
In some cultures it is rude to photograph someone. Always check before you photograph someone you don't know.
Express English: Awards
Hear what people in London say, then join the conversation! Who would you give an award to and why?
One woman would give an award to her parents because they have been an inspiration and have motivated her to work hard. She wants to make them proud of her.
Another man wants to give a posthumous award to Johannes Gutenberg for inventing the printing press.
Did you know?
- Fact
The official name of the Oscars ceremony is the Academy Awards. The first ceremony took place on 16 May 1929.
- Language tip
Someone who is nominated for an award is called a nominee.
- Cultural tip
If you win an award you might have to make an acceptance speech, but keep it short and to the point!
119. The Flatmates Episode 119
118. The Flatmates Episode 118
117. The Flatmates Episode 117
116. The Flatmates Episode 116
115. The Flatmates Episode 115
114. The Flatmates Episode 114
113. The Flatmates Episode 113
112. The Flatmates Episode 112
111. The Flatmates Episode 111

Hello Friends ! Please send your requests,comments,suggestions to improve this blog.
compendious discuss | |
Definition: | (adjective) Containing or stating briefly and concisely all the essentials. |
Synonyms: | succinct, summary, compact |
Usage: | It was a sort of hand-book for women with grievances (and all women had them), a sort of compendious theory and practice of feminine free morality. |
![]() ![]() Wife CarryingInitially introduced as a joke in Finland, wife carrying has become a competitive sport in which male participants race through an obstacle course while carrying a female teammate. Carrying styles include piggyback, fireman's carry, and Estonian-style, in which the female participant hangs upside-down with her legs around the man's shoulders and her arms around his waist. Major wife carrying competitions are held throughout the US as well as in Sonkajärvi, Finland, where the winner gets what? More... Discuss |
![]() ![]() Dow Jones Averages Reaches Its Lowest Point of the Great Depression (1932)The Dow Jones Industrial Average, often referred to as the Dow, is the best-known and most widely followed market indicator in the world. Tracking the performance of 30 blue-chip US stocks—which sometimes change—the Dow is thought to reflect the overall condition of the US economy. In 1932, the Dow reached its lowest point of the Great Depression, closing at 41.22—down almost 90 percent since 1929. It did not return to pre-1929 levels until 1954. Who is the Dow named after? More... Discuss |
![]() ![]() John Davison Rockefeller (1839)After two years of high school, Rockefeller—the man destined to become, by some estimates, the richest person in history—got a job as a bookkeeper. A few years later, he formed a food handling firm that prospered in the American Civil War. In 1863, he entered the brand new oil business, and within 15 years, his company dominated the American petroleum industry. A noted philanthropist, he donated $550 million during his lifetime. It has been said that Rockefeller had what two ambitions in life? More... Discuss |
![]() ![]() Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) Discuss |