JohnPlusEnglish

AMA (Ask Me Anything) about Ireland, St Patrick’s Day, Cillian Murphy, whatever you wish, and I’ll answer you this evening here. ☘️

A little advanced-level preposition exercise for the day that’s in it. (answers in the chat) Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🇮🇪☘️ I’ll share an audio this evening talking more about what this day means to us Irish.

Have you heard of looksmaxxing before? If not, then you had better read up on it as it’s part of a growing (if toxic) subculture among young men. Here are a few articles I’ve read recently on it: Guardian Article 📰 El Pais Article 📰 Leave a comment and contribute to the discussion on it.

These news lessons centre on a Guardian article about UK universities closing foreign language degrees due to falling demand. They include pre-reading discussion, vocabulary exercises, comprehension tasks, academic language practice, and discussion/writing activities. The article in question highlights declining enrolment, the impact of AI and Brexit, and argues language skills remain culturally and professionally vital despite increased app-based learning. #newslesson

This.

Here are those phrases in very popular TV ads from back in the day! 😁

“Thank Crunchie it’s Friday!” 🍫🎉 is a playful twist on “Thank God it’s Friday” (often shortened to TGIF 🙌). It was part of a big UK advertising campaign that started in the 70s 📺🕺. Basically, those ads showed people celebrating the end of the week in dramatic, funny ways (dancing 💃, singing 🎶, etc.) and the Crunchie bar was the “Friday reward” 🍯✨ This is similar to other everyday expressions that come from advertising slogans and then enter normal speech 🗣️📢. I’ve taught quite a few of these to my groups in recent weeks 👨‍🏫: “Someone’s had their Weetabix!” 🥣💪 (from Weetabix cereal) Said when someone is full of energy or is working hard ⚡ “Does exactly what it says on the tin.” 🛠️📦 (from Ronseal wood varnish) Said about something that is simple, honest, no surprises ✔️👍🏻 “Marmite.” 🍞😅 From Marmite yeast extract. Said about something people either love or hate ❤️‍🔥❌ (We use all of these, take it from me! 😉) Have a nice Friday! 🌤️🍻

Good morning amazing people!☀️ I hope you’re doing great, hope you’re safe and sound and hope you’re able to embrace the day. I came across this lovely video on Instagram recently and thought I’d share it with you. A touching message and one that should strike a chord with all of us. ❤️ Have a bloody great day, you wonderful human being! 😁 🫶🏻

Another gem from Chris Rea. He wrote the song to comfort his younger sister following a breakup. She was heartbroken, upset, and he tried to reassure her that heartbreak isn’t the end of the world. How nice is that?!! Writing a beautiful song for your heartbroken little sister! Just amazing. And the lyrics? Beautiful! A dying flame You're free again Who could love And do that to you? Chris Rea - so so so underrated. Hope you like these! ✨ (Getting carried away here but nothing hits me deeper than great music + lyrics)

Hey guys! 👋🏻 So, here’s a song. This is an oldie but a goldie and one of my all-time favourites. It has one of my favourite idioms in it - to stand the test of time “Through good and bad, we stood the test of time …” 🎶 In other words, our relationship survived for a long time and stayed strong despite difficulties. 💪⏳ Standing the test of time ⏰ implies durability 🧱, resilience 🌿, and proof through longevity 📆 Anyway, hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 😌 (I’m having a quiet night in here, vibing to music, dancing around the kitchen while preparing food for tomorrow 😂) Feel free to share some of your favourite songs in English for me to check out.

A chat I had with a good friend of mine about/on prepositions! 🤪 If you like this format, I can share more.

An astonishing, 400 year old speech that is as on point today as it has ever been, from the pen of William Shakespeare through the performance of the great Sir Ian McKellan. It’s quite challenging to read Shakespeare, even for natives but entirely worthwhile.