Ten Questions Esl Podcast

LnR 085 Gift of the Magi 5 "You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously, as if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labor. "Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me just as well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, ain't I?" Jim looked about the room curiously. "You say your hair is gone?" he said, with an air almost of idiocy. "You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the chops on, Jim?" Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He enfolded his Della. For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight dollars a week or a million a year--what is the difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gif

LnR 083 Gift of the Magi 4   At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops. Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit for saying little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am still pretty." The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two--and to be burdened with a family! He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentimen

LnR 081 The Gift of the Magi 3 Where she stopped the sign read: "Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the "Sofronie." "Will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it." Down rippled the brown cascade. "Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della. Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Forget the hashed metaphor. She was ransacking the stores for Jim's present. She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. There was no other like it in any of the stores, and she had turned all of them inside out. It was a platinum fob chain simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretricious ornamentation--as all good things should do. It was even worthy of The Watch. As soon as she saw it sh

LnR 079 The Gift of the Magi 2 http://www.online-literature.com/o_henry/1014/ Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling--something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim. There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room. Perhaps you have seen a pierglass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks. Del

Hi! I'm still n the US. I have recovered from the surgery I had in January and the complications in wound healing that followed it. However, it's too late for me to go back to my classes in China this term. Even worse, my university told me that they wouldn't rehire me for next term. Grrrrr. (That's a sound that means you are angry.) They have four teachers for next term but they only need three teachers. So they won't rehire me because I'm the oldest and because I missed this term. It's not fair, but sometimes life isn't fair! I'll really miss my students and teaching in a classroom. I have some ideas about what I'll do next, but I haven't quite decided yet. On the one hand, I hate losing my job, but on the other hand there are a lot of possibilities ahead of me. Here is a podcast series from 2 1/2 years ago. I made these into YouTube videos and have used them in my classes. You can find them by going to YouTube and searching for Miss Buswell. I'm posting all of the "Gift of the Magi" podcast episodes tonigh

This is a replay of a recording I made 2 1/2 years ago. It's about the American baseball championships, which we call the World Series. I made this in November of 2016. Right now it is May of 2019. It's the beginning of baseball season, and the end of basketball and hockey season. ==== LnR 076 Like I Said A: Hey, why do you (d'ya) look so tired? B: I stayed up late last night watching the last game of the World Series. A: Oh, was that last night? I'm not a sports fan. B: Yeah, it was last night! The game was fantastic! A: Why? Baseball seems so boring. B: What are you (what'r ya/whatcha) talkin' about? It was the final game. The winner would be the champion. A: So who won? B: The Chicago Cubs. It was amazing. The last time the Cubs won the World Series was 108 years ago. A: Really? I didn't know that. B:: How come? Everybody knows that! A: Like I said, I'm not a sports fan!

LnR 074 Long Time No See (Replay) NOTE: This podcast episode is from October 2016! I say that I have just spent the summer in the US with my mother and her two cats (now she has three cats) and am now in China again. I am writing this in April 2019 and am not in China, but still in the US recovering from surgery. I am almost recovered, but it's probably too late for me to go back to China to teach this term, so I most likely will stay here with my mother and her three cats until August. ---- Lnr 074 Long Time, No See! I'm going to write the sentences the way that I pronounce them. Remember, never write the words this way for your teacher or in an email to your foreign customer, client or boss! For example, never write "gonna"; always write "going to". But when you speak, you can say "gonna". 1. I'm gonna go home now. 2. She's gotta go tuh the store. 3. They wanna see the movie tonight. 4. I like tuh watch football un basketball. 5. We need tuh have a meeting at 9:30. 6. Please buy some bread un milk. 7. My br

This is a podcast episode from about two years ago. I'm still in the US at my mother's house, recovering from surgery. I'll be OK eventually, buy my wounds are healing slower than usual. I'm resting a lot, and enjoying being with my mother and her three cats. I really miss my students n China, but I can't return there until I am completely healed, and that will take some more time. LnR 073 Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley (Replay) http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/poetrycompetition/article3228951.ece For a change, I'm giving you a very short podcast episode. It's just one poem by a famous British poet. Sometimes I wonder if you think my podcasts are too long. Maybe I talk too much. :-) This one has the text of the poem and very little talking. Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, T

Here's a replay from 2 1/2 years ago! Right now I'm visiting my mother and her three cats. I had surgery three weeks ago and am having a slow recovery. I have to rest a lot. I'm supposed to return to China in two weeks for the beginning of the school term, but I'll have to arrive two weeks late, due to the slow recovery from surgery. I hope that all of you are well! I'll be fine, too . . . soon. LnR 062 Give me = gimme Never write "gimme" when you are writing for your English teacher or your job. I'm using this spelling below to show you how we pronounce it. 1. Can you gimme some advice? 2. Hey, gimme that! I'm not gonna give you that. 3. Please, gimme a chance! I won't do it again. 4. Can you gimme the money tomorrow? Can you give it to me tomorrow? 5. I'm almost ready. Just gimme three more minutes. 6. Oh, gimme a break! Give me a break! 7. Do you want some cookies? Yea, I'll take two. No, wait, gimme three. I love chocolate chip cookies. 8. My children always want something. All I hear is "Gimme, gimme, gi

I'm sorry I haven't made any new podcast episodes for you for a while! I actually have three TQ (Ten Question) interviews that I've recorded, but haven't edited yet. I'm such a procrastinator! Do you know that word? It means that I put things off, I delay them. It's a terrible habit, but a very common one! Here's a casual language podcast from 2 1/2 years ago. LnR 060 Didja call 'im? "Did you call him" sounds like "Didja call 'im" if you are speaking quickly and informally. Never write "didja" and never write "im". I'm doing that here to show you how they are pronounced. 1. Didja (Did you) call 'im? Didja call 'em? Didja call 'er? 2. What's 'e doing? What's she doing? What are they doing? 3. Is that his or hers? It's his. It's hers. 4. They gave 'im the wrong number. They gave 'em the wrong number. They gave 'er the wrong number. 5. Is 'e the one? Isn't 'e your friend? 6. I see 'im. I see 'em. I see 'er. 7. What's his name? What's her name? 8. I got an email from 'im yesterday. I got an email from 'er yesterd

I made this podcast episode in December 2015, and then replayed it last year just before Christmas. It's time for it again, as Christmas is in a couple of days! I had a nice dinner with some foreign teachers last night. There were two Canadians, three Americans, three Brits, four Chinese, and two babies. The dinner was held at the apartment of my co-worker from Canada and his wife and baby. My other two Foreign Language College co-workers were there. along with a few other people we know. We had a nice time together. And now for the podcast . . . .   LnR (Classic) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Listen and Repeat: Once upon a time—of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve—old Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house. It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal: and he could hear the people in the court outside, go wheezing up and down, beating their hands upon their breasts, and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them. The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was qui

LnR Around the World in Eighty Days 16 Chapter IV Having won twenty guineas at whist, and taken leave of his friends, Phileas Fogg, at twenty-five minutes past seven, left the Reform Club. Passepartout, who had conscientiously studied the programme of his duties, was more than surprised to see his master guilty of the inexactness of appearing at this unaccustomed hour; for, according to rule, he was not due in Saville Row until precisely midnight. Mr. Fogg repaired to his bedroom, and called out, "Passepartout!" Passepartout did not reply. It could not be he who was called; it was not the right hour. "Passepartout!" repeated Mr. Fogg, without raising his voice. Passepartout made his appearance. "I've called you twice," observed his master. "But it is not midnight," responded the other, showing his watch. "I know it; I don't blame you. We start for Dover and Calais in ten minutes." A puzzled grin overspread Passepartout's round face; clearly he had not comprehended his master. "Monsieur is going to leave home?

TQ 059 Lydia from the Netherlands (Replay) I hosted Lydia two years ago. And then, a couple months later, I hosted her again as she headed back to Europe! ======== Lydia, 21, stayed with me for several days. She's been on the road for 15 months, cycling from the Netherlands to China and then on to Southeast Asia. She desired to see China because she lived here for two years when she was a little girl. Listen as we talk about how she learned English quickly by being put in an English school in Shanghai, why she is a vegetarian, and as she tells about the beauty of the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan. She also tells us about a Dutch holiday called Sinter Klaas. Lydia has a very good English vocabulary. Here are some words that she uses that you may not know: biblical name, repetitive, baguette, to feel alienated, to integrate, refugee, densely populated, accessible, mode of transport, sleigh, communal feeling, controversial. Her blog is www.thegoldenroadtosamarkand.com.

LnR Around the World in Eighty Days 15   Stuart, whose turn it was to deal, gathered them up, and went on: "You are right, theoretically, Mr. Fogg, but practically—" "Practically also, Mr. Stuart." "I'd like to see you do it in eighty days." "It depends on you. Shall we go?" "Heaven preserve me! But I would wager four thousand pounds that such a journey, made under these conditions, is impossible." "Quite possible, on the contrary," returned Mr. Fogg. "Well, make it, then!" "The journey round the world in eighty days?" "Yes." "I should like nothing better." "When?" "At once. Only I warn you that I shall do it at your expense." "It's absurd!" cried Stuart, who was beginning to be annoyed at the persistency of his friend. "Come, let's go on with the game." "Deal over again, then," said Phileas Fogg. "There's a false deal." Stuart took up the pack with a feverish hand; then suddenly put them down again. "Well, Mr. Fogg," said he, "it shall be so: I will wager the four thousand on it." "Calm yourself, my dear Stu

TQ 058 Milena from Poland (Replay) Milena and Alicja (TQ 056) stayed with me for two nights as they were on their way from China to Vietnam. Alexei (TQ 057) was also here at the same time - three house guests! Milena has a somewhat strong Polish accent, so this will be good listening practice for most of you. Listen as we talk about skiing, safety while hitchhiking, and Hong Kong. Here are some words that Milena uses that you may not know: to be fit, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, adrenaline junkie, to be terrified, pepper spray, ethnology, internship, anthropology, thesis, to horseride (to ride a horse), trekking, hiking, hippies, populated, peak.

LnR the World in Eighty Days 14 Around "Certainly," returned Ralph. "I agree with Mr. Fogg. The world has grown smaller, since a man can now go round it ten times more quickly than a hundred years ago. And that is why the search for this thief will be more likely to succeed." "And also why the thief can get away more easily." "Be so good as to play, Mr. Stuart," said Phileas Fogg. But the incredulous Stuart was not convinced, and when the hand was finished, said eagerly: "You have a strange way, Ralph, of proving that the world has grown smaller. So, because you can go round it in three months—" "In eighty days," interrupted Phileas Fogg. "That is true, gentlemen," added John Sullivan. "Only eighty days, now that the section between Rothal and Allahabad, on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, has been opened. Here is the estimate made by the Daily Telegraph:      From London to Suez via Mont Cenis and        Brindisi, by rail and steamboats .................  7 days      From Suez to Bombay, by steamer ......

LnR Around the World in Eighty Days 13 There were real grounds for supposing, as the Daily Telegraph said, that the thief did not belong to a professional band. On the day of the robbery a well-dressed gentleman of polished manners, and with a well-to-do air, had been observed going to and fro in the paying room where the crime was committed. A description of him was easily procured and sent to the detectives; and some hopeful spirits, of whom Ralph was one, did not despair of his apprehension. The papers and clubs were full of the affair, and everywhere people were discussing the probabilities of a successful pursuit; and the Reform Club was especially agitated, several of its members being Bank officials. Ralph would not concede that the work of the detectives was likely to be in vain, for he thought that the prize offered would greatly stimulate their zeal and activity. But Stuart was far from sharing this confidence; and, as they placed themselves at the whist-table, they continued to argue the matter. St

TQ 057 Alexei from Belarus (Replay) Here's an interview with a cyclist I hosted almost two years ago. Alexei (also called Alex) stayed in my apartment several nights on his way from China to Vietnam. He had already been traveling for a long time by bike. He is from Minsk, the capitol of Belarus. His native language is Russian. Listen as we talk about his trip and the names of all the countries he has cycled in. Here are some words you may not know: the road surface, brakes, to burn calories, vegetarian, Austria, the Alps, mountain pass, serpentine road (up a mountain), bicycle gears, equipment, and visa. You can see his pictures on Instagram. His name is Alex_Landres.

LnR Around the World in Eighty Days 12 At the beginning of this recording, I invite you to visit my website http://www.missbuswell.com/. On the right side of the page you'll see a chance to subscribe to my email list and get a free copy of "How to Improve your English Speaking". I talk quite a lot at the beginning of this podcast episode! If you want to only hear the Listen and Repeat part, you can start at 8:47.   ----------- It was Phileas Fogg, whose head now emerged from behind his newspapers, who made this remark. He bowed to his friends, and entered into the conversation. The affair which formed its subject, and which was town talk, had occurred three days before at the Bank of England. A package of banknotes, to the value of fifty-five thousand pounds, had been taken from the principal cashier's table, that functionary being at the moment engaged in registering the receipt of three shillings and sixpence. Of course, he could not have his eyes everywhere. Let it be observed that the Bank of England repo

TQ 108 Arina and Aleksei from St Petersburg, Russia I hosted Arina and Aleksei for three nights on near the beginning of their round-the-world hitchhiking adventure. They had already crossed Russia and Mongolia and most of China. Arina is a lawyer and Aleksei an engineer, and they are taking time out to travel for a year or so. Arina is originally from the Republic of Bashkortostan, while Aleksei grew up in St Petersburg. Listen as they talk about their names, their jobs, and their travels. Some of you will have problems understanding Aleksei because he has a strong Russian accent. Others will enjoy the challenge! Arina said that English was her favorite subject in school, which is why she speaks so well. And even though Aleksei has a strong accent, his vocabulary is quite good. Here are some words that we used that you may not know: nanny, puppet, diminutive, to be inspired by someone/something, saint, fortress, infrastructure, contractor, peninsula.