A little bit about a little word - SO

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So, How have you been?  I know it's been a long time since you've heard from me.  It's been so long since I posted that you are probably wondering what happened to me. At least, I hope you have been wondering and you haven't forgotten about me entirely. 

Sports and American English

I was looking through an old news article about the US Presidential election and I found this quote with 2 great sport metaphors.  When asked about the final Presidential Debate US Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat and Obama supporter said that "... Romney has to hit it out of the park. This is probably his last chance and I bet on Obama." 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/02/chuck-schumer-mitt-romney_n_1932602.html

To hit it out of the park is a baseball phrase for hitting the ball over the fence or back wall ensuring a point for your team.  

To bet means to place a wager on the outcome of a game.  

In other words, Senator Schumer said that Romney needs to have a big success in the debate but he believes that Obama will be more successful.  

Read my previous post about sports metaphors in American English.
http://fastfoodenglish.blogspot.com/2012/06/baseball-metaphors-and-idioms.html

Songs for a Rainy Day

It's raining and you are stuck inside with nothing to do.  Why not sing a song and practice your English!  Here are 2 songs about the rain.  They are children's songs most Americans learn when they are very young.  You may think these songs are too easy for you but remember it's part of the culture as well.  Americans will often refer to things they learned when they were young.  An American college student might shout to the clouds "rain, rain go away!"  when the bad weather messes up his outdoor plans.  If you didn't know about this song, you might think it was a strange way to express his feelings.

How's the Weather?

Hello, everyone.  How's the weather in your part of the world?  Here in Hanoi it's bright and warm.  

Talking about the weather is a great way to start a conversation with someone.  In the United States, it's very common for people to talk about the weather with friends, family and even strangers.  

If you are waiting at a bus stop, you can say something about the weather to the person standing next to you and it won't seem strange or inappropriate.  They will probably say something in return and now you are having a conversation.

Give it a try!


How's the Weather by Cbrenn on GoAnimate

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Holiday - St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  In the United States, this is a day to wear green, party and think about all things Irish.  I have a video to share with you but it won't help your English practice because there are no words.  It's a group of young people doing Irish dancing.

However, it does have a connection to the US because there are schools that teach this type of dancing there and you can see performances at different festivals and events especially on St. Patrick's Day.  The US is a multicultural place, so you can enjoy and learn about many different countries.

Communication Events

Welcome to Fastfood English with Cassie.  In today's audio post I talk about strategies for studying English using dialogues and set phrases.  I've also included links to websites with dialogues for eating in restaurants.  Please click on the Read More button below to listen to the show.

English Central Ordering Fast Food