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!

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!

“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:

 Animal idioms and vocabulary

Idioms with “green”

Various helpful idiomatic expressions

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.

The Whaley House, which is included in the tour, is known as San Diego's most famous "haunted" house. You decide for yourself if it truly is!

The tours, which take place on April 27 from 10am to 11:30pm, take visitors through some of Old Town San Diego’s most haunted locations. Learn the fascinating true stories of each of these historic sites and of the real people who inhabited them, and hear the legendary ghost stories that surround them. The tour includes a visit to the Adobe Chapel, El Campo Santo Cemetery and, of course, “the most haunted house in America” the Whaley House. Tours are $25 per person and begin in the Whaley House side yard. For more information, visit whaleyhouse.org/ghostwalk.htm

Last week, we studied the Third Conditional, which is all about looking back on the past. Sentences such as “If I hadn’t stayed up so late, I wouldn’t have been so tired for the test” and “If I had known you were going to wear a fancy dress, I would have worn one, too!” are examples of this conditional. As we mentioned in the last grammar post, you can’t change the past, but we often look back and speak about the “what if” scenarios. This is why we use the Third Conditional.

The Zero Conditional is completely different. It is used to talk about things that are true; often, it is used to express a scientific fact.

Zero Conditional

The Zero Conditional has two possible forms:

[if/when + subject + simple present] + [imperative]

[if/when + subject + simple present] + [subject + present simple]

• If you don’t water your plants, they die.
• If it rains, the streets get wet.
• If it gets below freezing, water turns into ice.
• When he finishes the application, ask him to turn it in to their front desk.
• When the guests arrive, offer them a drink and appetizer. 
• If she is late, call me and let me know.  

Notice how both of these forms often do not refer to a specific event. Instead, they refer to a general truth. Also notice how you can use “if” or “when” to begin the conditional clause.

What is the best way to practice the Zero Conditional? There are two methods that work very well: pretend that you are a boss or a scientist. Both use the Zero Conditional often! Here are some examples of the Zero Conditional:

Your boss

“If my 2:30 appointment is late, let me know. If they are more than 15 minutes late, call them and reschedule the appointment for Friday. If they can’t meet on Friday, ask them to meet on Monday. If they can’t meet on Monday, tell them ‘tough luck’!”

A scientist

“Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. If you leave an ice cube on the counter, it melts. When it melts, the molecules change their structure. If you heat water, the molecules change their structure again. If you heat water to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, water will boil. When water boils, it turns to vapor.”

Radka was kind enough to share her experience (and photos!) with us. Thanks! We hope that your first baseball game was a wonderful experience!

CISL: What was your favorite part during the baseball game?

Maybe, pauses were the best part , because our seats weren´t on the very good place. (We love the 7th inning stretch!)

When was game in its half, we left our seats and walked in the stadium. It was great that we could enter in all sections.

CISL: Did you eat anything? If yes, what did you have?

Yes, I ate hot dog and drank coca cola.

CISL: Did you buy a souvenir?

No, but they gave T- shirts on the entry = we have a souvenir [for] free

For the rest of our students who did not get the chance to go to the Padres’ Opening Week, don’t worry! We have another CISL trip to the ballpark planned for Friday, May 18th at 7pm. Tickets must be purchased by May 11th and are $11.

The history of this event is quite interesting. In 1995, the Academy of American Poets created the celebration as a way to increase the appreciation and awareness of poetry. That year, the celebration was small… but 17 years later, many interesting things have happened to celebrate the holiday! To celebrate the month in 1998, the Academy of American Poets gave out 100,000 free books throughout the United States. The same year, President Clinton and his wife Hillary hosted an event at the White House, and many poets attended.

In 2001, the Academy asked Americans to vote on their favorite poet. Langston Hughes, an African-American poet who lived from 1902-1967, was chosen. To honor him, he was given a postage stamp the following year.

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of National Poetry Month in 2005, the Empire State Building in New York City was lit with blue lights. Blue is the color of National Poetry Month.

Each year, the event receives more and more attention from teachers and poetry lovers. Last year, an event called 30 Poets/30 Days was created to celebrate children’s poetry. The event is hosted on author Gregory Pincus’s blog, GottaBook, and features a different poet and poem every day.

This year, CISL would like to join in the celebration by offering a few poems by famous poets who wrote in English. We will start with a short poem by Emily Dickinson. Dickinson was an American author who lived from 1830-1886. She was a shy woman and a recluse (she never went outside of her house and was afraid to speak to strangers). When Dickinson died, her family found thousands of poems in her room. They published the poems, and the girl who never spoke to anyone became one of the most famous poets of all time.

This poem is very short, but there is sometimes more meaning in short poems! What do you think the poem means?

The pedigree of Honey (poem 1627)

by Emily Dickinson

The pedigree of honey
Does not concern the bee ;
A clover, any time, to him
Is aristocracy.

One of our students, Rena from Japan, spoke with us about her experience rock climbing. This was Rena’s second time rock climbing, so we think she is a professional! Even though this was her second time rock climbing, Rena admits that she was a little nervous because “I’m not good at exercising.” Oh no! Her friend took some great photos as she climbed. She might not think she is good at exercising, but she sure makes it look easy!

The real question after any extreme sport is “Would you do it again?” Rena admits that after rock climbing, she was “very tired because we use [the] power of our entire bodies!” but she also says that she would definitely go again “if there is a chance.” Don’t worry, Rena: there will be! CISL San Diego goes rock climbing about once a month, although students can always book a session on their own if they cannot wait until the next activity.

Will Rena’s next rock climbing adventure be different than this one? Rena says that “I have to train body to climb more smoothly.” Let us know if you go back, Rena, and if you rock climbing skills improve. And thanks for sharing your experience with the CISL Blog!

If you eat a lot of cookies, you might get a tummy ache.

If I had been born in Spain, I would have spoken Spanish as my mother tongue.

If you do not water your plants, they die.

April’s Grammar Lesson of the Month is… conditionals!

What are Conditionals?

Conditionals are a special type of sentence that explains a situation and its consequences. Conditionals use the word “if” to express this relationship between two things. If one thing happens, then another thing happens; for example, if you don’t use an umbrella when it rains, you get wet. Using an umbrella causes you to stay dry, and not using an umbrella causes you to get wet. Of course, CISL San Diego students rarely worry about this example, since it hardly ever rains in SD!

The Star of India, a ship at the Embarcadero in San Diego, is the world's oldest sailing ship. "If the Star of India is not sailing tomorrow, we will take a tour of the ship's deck."

There are four main conditionals that are commonly used in the English language, and they are called the first conditional, second conditional, third conditional, and the zero conditional. In honor of “Conditional Month” at CISL, we will present a different conditional (and practice work!) for a new conditional each week. Make sure to check back on our blog and practice using the conditionals each week this April! And remember: IF you read the blog each week, you WILL know each of the conditionals by May! (Grammar joke!)

We will start with the easiest and most commonly used conditional: the first conditional.

First Conditional

[if + subject + verb] + [subject + will/shall/can/may + base verb]

The first conditional presents issues that have a real possibility of happening. Typically, this conditional is used for real events in the future (you probably would not use this conditional to talk about winning the lottery since, let’s be honest, it probably won’t happen!). But there is a good chance that you often talk about future plans, and that these plans change depending on things like the weather or people’s schedules.

• If it rains Wednesday, we will postpone the soccer game.
  
• If I can get vacation time, I will go to Spain.
  
• If it is sunny, we may go to the park. 

It is important to note that you can flip this conditional; for example:

• We will postpone the soccer game if it rains Wednesday.
  
• I will go to Spain if I can get vacation time.
• We may go to the park if it is sunny.

Did you notice anything about this switch? The comma disappears! In addition, the word “then” is also omitted when you switch the “if” clause to the end of the sentence.

• If Susie comes over, then we shall eat fish (she’s a vegetarian).
• We shall eat fish if Susie comes over.

Practice with the First Conditional

Are you ready to practice the first conditional? Answer these questions:

1. What will you do this weekend if it is sunny? (“If it is sunny, I will/may + base verb…“)

2. What will you do this weekend if it is rainy? (“If it is rainy, I will/may + base verb…”)

3. What will you do if your friend cancels your plans for tonight?

4. What will  you do if you forget your homework?

5. What will you say if your friend asks to borrow five dollars?

Note: the words “will” and “shall” and “may” CANNOT go in the “if” clause.

INCORRECT: If we will go to Burger Lounge, I will buy a hamburger.

CORRECT: If we go to Burger Lounge, I will buy a hamburger.

Have fun practicing your conditionals! And remember to check the CISL Blog next week to learn about the second conditional!