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Use the blog to find out what is going on at CISL and things to do in San Francisco and San Diego. You can also read about some of our students and get English practice material.
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The history of the ABCs
How did you learn the ABCs? The classic song–sung to the same tune as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”–is how most children and adults learn the English alphabet. But did you know that this was not always the most common way of learning the ABCs? In the 19th century, most students learned the alphabet with a rhyme titled “The Tragic Death of A, Apple Pie, Who Was Cut in Pieces, and Eaten by Twenty-Six Gentlemen, With Whom All Little People Ought To Be Very Well Acquainted.” Phew! That is a long name for a poem that is for simply memorizing the ABCs!
Here is how the original poem goes:
A was an Apple pie,
B bit it,
C cut it,
D dealt it,
E eats it,
F fought for it,
G got it,
H had it,
J joined it,
K kept it,
L longed for it,
M mourned for it,
N nodded at it,
O opened it,
P peeped in it,
Q quartered it,
R ran for it,
S stole it,
T took it,
V viewed it,
W wanted it,
X, Y, Z all wished for a piece in hand.
As you can see, there are quite a few verbs in this poem that make for a great vocabulary lesson! Let’s take a look at a few:
- dealt: past tense of the verb “deal”; to distribute, to give
- longed: past tense of the verb “long (for)”; to want, to miss
- mourned: past tense of the verb “mourn”; to miss, especially after death
- nodded: past tense of the verb “nod”; to shake your head up and down
- peeped in: past tense of the verb “peep”; to quickly or slyly look at something
- quartered: past tense of the verb “quarter”; to cut into four pieces
Did you notice that some things are missing? There letters I and U are not mentioned in this poem! That is because at the time the poem was written, the capital letters I and J were not defined as separate. The same situation occurred with U and V.
Who knew that something as simple as the alphabet could have such an interesting history? We are thankful that the old ABCs poem gives us some great vocabulary words, and after reading it and its surprisingly long title, we are also thankful for today’s simple song that makes learning the English letters so easy!
SD Event: Fashion Show at Pacific Beach’s Typhoon
Many of our students say that one of the most exciting aspects of living in California is the fashion. Californians are known for their relaxed, colorful, and fashion-forward dress, and the state is full of inexpensive shops with great merchandise!
On Friday, May 11, students will have an exciting opportunity to learn a little more about Southern California fashion with an event called “Eye Candy: A 2012 fashionable preview of local designers and artists”. The event will be hosted at Typhoon Saloon in Pacific Beach and will showcase an enormous array of entertainment including a fashion show, music, and cocktails.
Guests can enjoy drinks while watching the fashion show, which will feature models wearing the newest summer trends. The models will walk the runway to music mixed by a local DJ.
There will be a VIP reception starting at 9:30 with a hosted bar and sneak peak of the night’s events. For more information, visit the event’s website.
We hope our fashion-loving students have an opportunity to attend this exciting event!
Idioms with “May”
April showers bring May flowers, and May brings… a lot of idioms! There are quite a few idioms that use the word “may”. Today, we are looking at a few that are easy to incorporate into everyday speech. Note: these all use the word “may” that is a modal, not the word “May” that is used for the month.
“come what may”
No matter what will/might happen.
Examples:
“I will continue to work this job, come what may, because I am loyal to my company.”
“There was recently a crime in this neighborhood, and some fear for their safety. However, I believe that it was one incident and not a trend, we will stay in this house come what may.”
“be that it may”
Use this expression when you understand a piece of information, and this piece of information might be able to change your opinion, but it doesn’t. In more simple terms, it can often be substituted for “however.”
Examples:
“I understand that you were late for work because of a flat tire; be that it may, you must still stay late tonight to work your full shift.”
“It is too bad that your computer stopped working. Be that it may, your paper is now late.”
Want to learn some more idioms? Check out some of our other blogs on this subject:
Various helpful idiomatic expressions
Christie Brinkley stars in “Chicago” in SD
Supermodels usually walk the catwalk, but this weekend, world-famous supermodel Christie Brinkley will grace a different stage–the theater–in a production of Chicago. Brinkley will perform at the San Diego Civic Theater from May 8 to May 13.
Brinkley is one of the world’s most successful supermodels. She has been featured on the cover of over 500 magazine covers, including three Sports Illustrated covers, and has had a contract with Cover Girl cosmetics for over 25 years.
Chicago is the longest-running play in the history of Broadway: it has been in production for 15 years! It was made into an Academy Award-winning movie, also called Chicago, which starred Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere. The movie and the musical feature song, dance, and a story of two women on death row for the murder of their lovers. The 1920s setting and costumes give the audience a feel of America almost 100 years ago, at a time when jazz music flourished.
The show will take place at the Civic Center Theatre, a stunningly beautiful theater located in downtown San Diego. It is just a short cab ride (or approximately 10-15 minute walk) for students living in CISL’s residence halls; for students staying in homestays, the theatre is located just half a block from the Civic Center trolley station. Tickets start at $20.00.
For more information, visit: www.broadwaysd.com/
Useful vocabulary in this article:
Catwalk (noun): Also called the “runway”. This is the stage that models walk on.
Example: “She first walked the catwalk at 16.”
Grace (verb): To be seen, usually on the cover of a magazine, on stage, or on a TV show.
Examples: “She graced seven magazine covers last year.”
Flourished (adjective): Grow or develop in a healthy way
Example: “The business flourished after we moved to the new location.”
Note: “Flourished” is the past participle of the verb “flourish.”
Take the 30-Day Phrasal Verb Challenge with CISL!
It’s phrasal verb month at CISL!
Many students groan when they hear the words “phrasal verb.” We understand why: there are hundreds of phrasal verbs in the English language, and the only way to learn them is to memorize them. There is no “quick fix” when it comes to learning phrasal verbs!
Or is there? Take the “30-Day Phrasal Verb Challenge” with us and find out! Here is how it works: read the list of phrasal verbs listed below. Each day for the month of May, learn a new phrasal verb. CISL will provide worksheets for you to practice these phrasal verbs each week in order to test your memory. Who knows? It could be…. fun? Yep, FUN!
What IS a phrasal verb? Check out our post on Phrasal Verbs to learn more.
Converse International School of Languages 30-Day Phrasal Verb Challenge
1. Go on – continue
Student: “Teacher, I have something to tell you… I… I…”
Teacher: “Go on.”
Student: “I didn’t do my homework!”
2. Set up – to establish something
We set up the party by putting up decorations and putting out the food.
3. Pick up – to clean
This room was filthy so I had to pick it up.
4. Pick up – to give a ride to someone
I have to pick up my little brother at eight.
5. Go out – to date someone.
We have been going out for three months.
6. Find out – discover; learn of
I just found out that my great-grandmother was from Japan! That means I am part Japanese!
7. Come up – to happen unexpectedly. (Also literal.)
I wanted to visit my friend, but something came up and I couldn’t go.
8. Make up – to create a story
I made up a story about how I was lost at sea… and my nephew believed it!
9. Take over –to take control
The country took over the other country after the war.
10. Work out – to solve a problem
We need to work this out before we go home, or we will have a lot of work to do tomorrow!
11. Take up – to start a new hobby
I took up snorkeling when I moved to San Diego.
12. Turn out – to end happily
I was so worried that I would burn my dinner, but it turned out great!
13. Take on – to start a new project or challenge
I took on a new job at work and I am so busy!
14. Give up – to quit;
I gave up on playing the guitar. I was no good!
15. Look up – to search for information
I looked up my boss on the internet, and he has an impressive resume!
16. Take out – to take someone on a date
Can I take you out sometime?
17. Jot down – to write quickly
Jot down your shopping list before you go to the grocery store.
18. Turn up – to appear
I had been looking for my glasses all day. They turned up under the sofa.
19. Bring up – to mention a person or thing;
I shouldn’t have brought up Sarah’s ex-boyfriend. I didn’t realize that they had broken up!
20. Bring up – to raise a child
I was brought up by my grandparents after my parents passed away.
21. Bring back – to return
That song brought back memories of high school!
22. Break down – to fall apart; to have a physical or mental collapse
I broke down after I heard that my dog needed surgery.
23. Take off – to begin to fly
My plane takes off at ten.
24. Take back – to cancel a statement
I take back what I said about your sister being so nice. She was rude to me today!
25. Go in – pay a part of
Do you want to go in on a new camera with me for Mom’s birthday?
26. Set off – make angry
Getting an expensive bill really set James off!
27. Bring about – make something happen
To bring about change, you must first educate people on the problem.
28. Put off – postpone
I put off writing my paper and now it is due in two hours!
29. Make up – to forgive and stop fighting
We made up after a big fight.
30. Break up – to end a relationship
After we made up, we fought again and we broke up.
