Effortless English

Day of the Dead

I arrive in Guatemala on The Day of the Dead, November 1st. I’m curious about this holiday, so I go
to the cemetery to see what’s happening. What I find is quite interesting.

The atmosphere is like a party. There are people everywhere. Families are sitting around the
graves of their dead ancestors. They clean the graves and add fresh flowers. I walk through the
cemetery and admire the beauty of all the colorful flowers.

There is also color in the sky, because many kids are flying kites. Some families are having a picnic
next to the graves. They eat, drink, and chat together. People laugh and smile.

In the Unites States, cemeteries are always somber. We certainly never have festivals or parties
next to graves. We don’t laugh or play music or fly kites in cemeteries either.

I find that I prefer the Guatemalan approach. I like the way they remember and celebrate those
who have passed away. I like that they acknowledge death, instead of denying it the way
Americans do. I like that there is life, as well as death, in their cemeteries.

Guatemalans call it “The Day of the Dead”, but it is also a day to appreciate life.
 Effortless English
A Kiss
Carlos buys a new car. It's a very expensive car. It's a huge, blue,
huge: adj. very very big fast car. While driving down the street, Carlos sees a girl on a bicycle.
She has long blond hair and is beautiful.

What’s up: a greeting, He yells to her, "What's up?"

“hello”
ignores: v. doesn’t listen to She ignores him.

How’s it going: a greeting, He yells, "How's it going?"

“How are you?”
keeps: v. continues She keeps going and ignores him.

That’s it: idiom. “That is all”, He yells, "Hey, why won't you talk to me? I want to go to dinner with
there is no more, that is you. I'll take you to an expensive restaurant."
everything
The girl turns, gets off the bike, and looks at him. She says, "I don't
want to go to dinner. But if you give me your car, I will give you a sur-
prise."
Past Tense Verb Forms
Carlos says, "OK!" He jumps out of the car. He gives her the keys
buys: bought and says, "Here are the keys."
is: was
driving: was driving The beautiful blond takes the keys and then kisses Carlos on the
drive: drove cheek. Then she jumps into the car and drives away.
sees: saw
has: had Carlos stands on the sidewalk. Now he has no car and no girl. He
yells: yelled says, "That's it, just a kiss on the cheek?"
ignores: ignored
keeps: kept He gets on her bike and rides home.
turns: turned
looks: looked
says: said
jumps: jumped
gives: gave
takes: took
kisses: kissed
drives: drove
stands: stood
gets on: got on
rides: rode
 Effortless English
Bubba’s Food
Sara Smith, who lives in San Francisco, went shopping for cat food.

Sara is 30, and lives at 3037 Market St. She has lived there since 1990. Sara is married. She is
married to a man named John. She has been married for 7 years.

They have two children, and one very big cat. Their son Bob is five years old and their daughter
Nancy is three. Their cat, Bubba, is 2 years old. Bubba is huge. He weighs 258 pounds (117
kilos)!

At 9am, Sara got into her car and drove to the pet store. She bought 68 bags of cat food for $10
each plus tax. The regular price was $15, so she got a good deal. The total was $680. She paid
by credit card.

On her way home, Sara stopped at a convenience store to buy milk. Bubba loves milk. The milk
was $3.00 for one gallon, and Sara bought 30 gallons. She paid $100 and got $10 back in
change.

Sara got home at 11 a.m. Bubba was waiting at the door. He was very hungry.
 Effortless English
Changed
NO AFFECTION ANYMORE

DEAR ABBY:

My husband of 39 years no longer hugs me or shows me any affection. I have seen him through
cancer and diabetes. We have four grown children, and we have been seeing a therapist for a year
and a half. He is kind, generous and friendly, but there are no compliments or any of the flirtatious
banter we used to enjoy.

He swears he's not having an affair, and he doesn't know why he has changed. Perhaps you do?

-- GRACE IN PHOENIX
 Effortless English
Drag
HIGH PRICE OF MOM'S HELP IS DRAG ON FAMILY BUSINESS

DEAR ABBY:

Twenty years ago, my sister and I bought a business from our mother. We all love and respect one
another and get along well. We will be finished paying off the business in two years.

Our problem: Mom, who is now 77, still draws a salary from us above and beyond the payment for
the business. Her workload has lessened greatly, as it should. She could do all of her work in one
day and lessen the burden of her salary. However, she says she'd "go crazy" if she retired. We
don't want that. She could still come in as often as she wants and do her personal paperwork, bank-
ing, letter-writing, reading, etc. These are all things she does at "work" -- on the clock.

If we try to discuss this, Mom gets hurt and says, "Just let me know when I'm not worth the money."
We don't want to do that. We would hope she would see the fairness of this and suggest it herself.

Business expenses are going through the roof, and there are updates we should make, but we
can't do it as long as we are paying Mom at the level we are, on top of the money for the buy-out.

-- DAUGHTERS DEAREST
 Effortless English
Intimacy
DEAR ABBY:

My husband, "James," and I have been married only three years. We are both in our 20s.
Everything is really great between us -- except our sex life. As far as he is concerned that's fine,
too, but I am not satisfied. It may seem odd to hear the female wants to have sex more frequently
than a young and healthy male, but that's the case in our relationship.

Abby, I work with the public and I get frequent remarks about what a beautiful woman I am. This
makes it hard for me to believe that I don't attract him at all. I have expressed many times that I
wish we were more intimate. I have even expressed it to him in more than one letter, hoping to
reach him.

I am at a total loss as to how to make him realize how important this is to me. Is there something
wrong with my body? I just don't know who to turn to for advice on this subject. Please help me.

-- SHORT ON INTIMACY IN OHIO

 Effortless English
Secret Love
WOMAN HESITATES TO REVEAL SECRET LOVE FOR COLLEAGUE

DEAR ABBY:

I am a single woman in my early 30s who has never been married. I recently fell in love with a won-
derful man with whom I spend a great deal of time. He is unaware of the intensity of my feelings,
and I'm afraid of telling him out of fear of rejection.

There are a couple of additional concerns: He is 15 years my senior and a medical doctor. I am a
social worker in a lower economic class. In addition, we are of different religions, but we have simi-
lar spiritual beliefs and values. He is also my co-worker.

I am very interested in pursuing a deeper relationship with this man, but would like to hear your
advice first. Thank you for your thoughts on this.

-- LONGING FOR MORE IN CHICAGO

 Effortless English
The Race
It's 5 o'clock and Allen is riding his motorcycle in San Francisco. He is riding down Van Ness street
and comes to a stop light.

A red Ferrari pulls up next to him. The driver's wearing dark sun glasses. He looks over at Allen.
Allen looks at him and realizes that the driver is Tom Cruise!

Tom sneers at Allen. He says, "When the light turns green, let's race".
Allen says, "Allright, you're on!"
Tom says, "I'm gonna smoke you, sucka!"
Allen says, "You wish. I'm gonna beat you and your sorry-ass car".

Allen and Tom wait at the light. They rev their engines.

Suddenly, the light turns green. Allen and Tom take off! They zoom down Van Ness at top speed.
Tom is winning.

But suddenly, blue and red lights appear behind Tom-- its the police. They pull him over.

Allen zooms past Tom, laughing. He yells, "Better luck next time!"
Allen is the winner!

www.EffortlessEnglishClub.com
 Effortless English
Bad Choices
Publish Date: April 6, 2007

Dear Dr. Tracy,

I am a 33 year old divorced woman with four kids. I was married for 12 years and I have been divorced for
approximately 3 years. I met my new boyfriend during my divorce. We hit it off and have been together ever
since. He is a 44 year old divorced man. When I met him he had been divorced for 2 years. Well, I met his ex-
wife and she seemed to be an okay person. What I found out 3 months into my relationship with him was that
he was fooling around with his ex-wife again-- who also at this time had a boyfriend of her own. I figured
that since I did not have a committed relationship with him, I had no place to say anything. The problem is
it continued further into our relationship, up to the point when I found out I was pregnant. At the same time I
found out that he and his ex-wife planned to go to his family reunion together. Of course before all of this, I
drove by his house one night and saw her car parked outside his home. The excuse I got after all of this was
that they were considering getting back together. I thought it was very funny that as soon as she met me, she
found interest in him again.

I guess my issue is the fact that now I am still in this relationship. I have brought a child into this nonsense
and I hate the fact that he keeps in contact with her. My boyfriend has taken responsibility for her son from a
previous relationship. His excuse for having so much contact with his ex-wife is because of that boy. I know
this is not true but I have no real proof otherwise. I have also dealt with him taking women to hotels and my
gut tells me it was her, but he promises it was not her.

I have tried to get over all the cheating. I know that she is very close to his family and I also know that his
family does not like me because I stand up for myself. I guess the bottom line is knowing how much contact
his ex-wife has with him and the fact that he knows I can’t stand her. Am I in a weird relationship with a man
that wants to have his cake and eat it too? Or am I being paranoid and need to trust him when he says he
does not want her. I have never had so much animosity towards two people in my life. I do love this man, but
I feel like I have put myself back in an unhealthy relationship with a man that is trying to lie to me.

To be totally honest, now that I have his child I even hate the fact that he helps her son. She never has to ask
for anything regarding that boy, but I have to constantly remind him when our son needs something. He does it
for the other boy without thinking, but my son is a second thought even when I have said, “Look at your son.
He is in dire need”. I was married to a cheating man and hooked up with another cheating man. I wonder if
it’s just my bad choices in men.
 Effortless English
Double Standard
Publish Date: April 8, 2007

FAMILY IS UNEASY WHEN ONE SISTER DATES OTHER'S EX-LOVER

DEAR ABBY:

My sister, "Jane," and I are both in our mid-50s. Jane has had numerous affairs over the past several years
after her third divorce, and was involved in an "intimate relationship" with a terrific man, "Will," that lasted
about three months. Jane broke up with Will several months after she decided he wasn't what she was looking
for, and she's presently engaged to be married to a very nice man ("Sam") and seems very happy.

I dated Will several times before he and Jane became involved. We weren't intimate at that time, and we start-
ed seeing each other again over the last month. This time we have fallen in love.

My problem is Jane is upset that Will and I are together and says I have "betrayed" her. She is worried about
having her former and current lovers present at family gatherings, and our parents are also concerned. They say
it's "just weird." The fact that my sister was intimate with Will doesn't bother me or Will, but it sure bothers
them.

Abby, I have always been the "good girl" in the family and bowed to their pressure, but my relationship with
Will is more than I could have ever imagined, and I don't want to give up my future happiness just to make my
sister and my parents more comfortable. My adult children have all met and approve of Will and our relation-
ship, but Jane and my parents won't budge. Any suggestions?

-- WANTS WILL IN WALLA WALLA, WASH.

DEAR WANTS WILL: Perhaps it's time to stop being the "good girl," begin acting like a woman who knows
what she wants, and confront the double standard in your family. If your sister was "sophisticated" enough to
have serial affairs, and your parents have been so worldly they have turned a blind eye to it, then they should
all be adult enough to realize that you are entitled to your happiness, too.

Although this may make for some awkward first few family gatherings, as grown-ups, everyone should be able
to get past it. But if they can't, you are going to have to decide whether you want this man, or to be a people-
pleaser for the rest of your life.
 Effortless English
Greek Family
Publish Date: April 1, 2007

WOMAN WILL NEVER BE GREEK ENOUGH FOR HUSBAND'S FAMILY

DEAR ABBY:

I married a Greek man whose family never accepted me. Being young and naive, I tried everything to fit in,
converting from Catholicism to the Greek Orthodox faith, attending all family functions, including them in
our lives. It was never enough.

My husband and I traveled to Crete with his family to visit his relatives there, and some extended family
members refused to share the dinner table with me because I was not Greek. One of those family members
was a priest!

Our daughter, "Athena," was born four years later. What broke the camel's back for me was a Christmas din-
ner when she was 6. My father-in-law gave cards with $100 to all the grandchildren of Greek heritage. Athena
received nothing and cried for hours wanting to know why her grandfather didn't love her. My husband just
tried to stay neutral.

Abby, how far should someone have to go to fit in with their husband’s family?

-- IRISH AGAIN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

 Effortless English
Longtime Affair
LONGTIME AFFAIR APPEARS SET TO LAST FOR LONG TIME TO COME

DEAR ABBY:

I'm married; he's married. We're in love and have been for eight years. We've tried breaking it off several
times over the years, but a force bigger than both of us keeps bringing us back together.

I never believed in soulmates or true love until we met. Our love is deep and unconditional; our roots are
intertwined. It's a shame that it happened late in life, but it happened nonetheless. He treats me like a queen.

Neither of us is leaving our spouses or family. We are both in our 50s and sometimes act like we're in our 20s.
It's magical!

Is it wrong? Do we go on until something changes? Do we try for the 100th time to break away? An affair, no
matter how you slice it, will never be accepted in the eyes of traditional society, so it will be perceived as
unacceptable. What's your opinion?

-- BEWITCHED, BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED IN NEW YORK

 Effortless English
Lost Custody
Publish Date: March 20, 2007

YOUNG MOTHER IS FRIGHTENED BY THREAT OF LOST CUSTODY

DEAR ABBY:

I am 22 years old and have been married 17 months. "Derek" and I have a 23-month-old son. Derek hasn't
worked for about a year and refuses to help support our family. He also belittles me whenever he talks to me. I
am not happy in this marriage, but I am not sure what to do about it.

On our honeymoon, Derek told me if I ever divorced him that he'd make sure he would get custody of our son.
And his mom already said that she would tell the judge that I was an unfit mother.

My son is my world, Abby. He doesn't even let his daddy hold him, so I know he wouldn't be better off with
Derek. But because I am on disability, I don't know if I have a good chance of getting custody if I leave. I
don't feel Derek loves me or my son.

What should I do? Stick it out with my husband or take the chance of losing my son?

-- TRAPPED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

 Effortless English
Meddling Mother-In-Law
Publish Date: March 12, 2007

Old Audio Article Archives Available At:

http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com

WIFE READY TO WASH HER HANDS OF MEDDLING MOTHER-IN-LAW

DEAR ABBY:

How do I politely tell my mother-in-law to stop doing my laundry? It all started when I was on bed rest due
to my pregnancy. I didn't mind her doing an occasional load to help us out. But now she does it anytime she's
over to watch the kids.

I'm very picky about how I do my laundry, and this is the main reason I don't want her doing it. Also, I'd pre-
fer she spend time playing with the kids than with the laundry!

She also puts things away in the wrong places. She does it with my dishes, too. Once I told her not to worry
about my laundry because I wasn't done sorting it. She took it upon herself to do it anyway.

She's very strong-willed. My husband and I have had problems with her not respecting our parenting, too.
She often takes things the wrong way. What's the best way for us to tell her that her help is not needed?

-- DIRTY FAMILY LAUNDRY

 Effortless English
Nudist
NEIGHBORS GET AN EYEFUL WHEN NUDIST STEPS OUTSIDE

DEAR ABBY:

We have a male neighbor I'll call "Flash" who frequently walks out to get his newspaper -- or the mail, or to
retrieve something from his car -- while he's as naked as the day he was born. (He's in his late 50s and
divorced.)

Some of the women in the neighborhood know not to look toward Flash's home if they're out for a walk. They
have discovered that he is most likely in the buff, standing at his glass door or sitting at his front office com-
puter with the door open.

Flash is otherwise a likable and helpful neighbor. We hesitate to say anything. We do not want to say anything
that might destroy that relationship. It's not against the law to be a nudist, or for a woman to go topless in pub-
lic in this city. However, to see a fella streak to his car is a little surprising and unsettling, even for another
adult.

In the normal course of things, he may be spotted in the nude once a week. I can only assume this goes on
daily, but thankfully, our paths don't cross more than once a week. Is this something we should be concerned
about?

-- STARTLED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

 Effortless English
Obsessive Behavior
Publish Date: March 23, 2007

PARENTS DENY PROBABLE CAUSE OF SON'S OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOR

DEAR ABBY:

My nephew, "Vincent," is 16 and has had problems with obsessive handwashing for years. I have
enough professional experience to strongly suspect that he suffers from obsessive-compulsive disor-
der (OCD).

My brother and his wife refuse to believe their child has a problem and will not take him to get help.
My nephew's hands are chafed and raw, and his parents reprimand him for this behavior when he
really needs professional help.

His mother is the biggest problem. She nixes all issues that suggest a problem, and my brother will
not stand up to her. What can I do?

-- WORRIED AUNT IN FLORIDA

 Effortless English
Cafe Puccini
Publish Date: December 28th, 2006
spot: place
immigrants: foreigners who come All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
to live in a (new) country
http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
period: time
served as: was
literary: re: writing and books My favorite spot in San Francisco is Cafe Puccini- located in the
renaissance: a time of artistic North Beach neighborhood of the city. North Beach has a long and
improvement; a time of art (and interesting history. It was originally the neighborhood for Italian immi-
science)
grants in the city- and even today it has many Italian people, cafes,
in particular: specifically
developed: made, created and restaurants. As a kid, the famous baseball player Joe Dimaggio
style: way of doing something lived in North Beach.
challenged: disagreed with
conservative: traditional; old; The most famous period for the neighborhood, however, was in the
against change
late 1950s and the 1960s--when North Beach served as the center of
uniquely: specially; not like others
liberal: new; wanting change and San Francisco's literary renaissance. In particular, North Beach
improvement; open was home to the Beat writers and poets. The Beats developed a
credit: compliment; identify new, free, open style of writing. They also challenged the conser-
renaissance: a time of great art vative society of America in the 50s, and helped create San
(and science)
Francisco's uniquely liberal culture. Many credit the Beats as the
various: different, some
focal point: center point; gather- fathers and mothers of the 1960s cultural renaissance in America.
ing place
the movement: a change in socie- Among the most famous Beat writers were Jack Kerouac, Allen
ty; a group trying to change socie- Ginsberg, and Gary Snyder- all of whom lived in North Beach at vari-
ty
ous times in their lives. The focal point of the movement was City
anarchist: political group that is
against authority and control Lights Bookstore- owned by the anarchist poet Lawrence
made history: became famous; Ferlinghetti. In the 1950s, City Lights made history when they pub-
did something famous lished Allen Ginsberg's controversial poem "Howl"- which shocked
controversial: creates conflict or mainstream Americans at the time. Soon after, Jack Kerouac fol-
disagreement
lowed with his books "On The Road" and "The Dharma Bums"-- and
shocked: surprised and angered
mainstream: normal (society, cul- the Beat movement was born. Ferlinghetti is still the owner of the
ture) bookstore, and City Lights is still a popular independent publisher.
independent publishers: a small
bookstore or publisher (not a And North Beach is still home to artists and writers, although it has
chain)
become much more expensive and now attracts wealthier residents
wealthier residents: richer people
(living in the neighborhood) as well as tourists. Even though the literary scene is not what it
the literary scene: the writing sit- used to be- North Beach still has many family owned cafes. You'll
uation (in the city) find artists, writers, poets, entrepreneurs, musicians, businesspeo-
entrepreneurs: businesspeople ple, and tourists relaxing together in them.
who start and own a business
 My favorite is Cafe Puccini, which is named after the Italian opera
named after: given the same composer. The cafe owner is Italian. He often plays opera music,
name as someone or something
composer: someone who writes
and every day he sits at a table in the back and chats with his friends.
music They hold long animated conversations in Italian, adding to the
hold: have; do music of the place.
animated: emotional; having a lot
of movement and gestures I go to that cafe often. I usually get a mocha, find a small table, and
then write articles for Effortless English. Sometimes I study a little
to mind: to be bothered; to care Spanish or Japanese. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I just watch the
people walk by the windows. The staff never seems to mind that I
stay a long time- they are always friendly.

On sunny days I sit at a table on the sidewalk, but now, during the
the intersection: where two (or winter, I stay indoors.
more) streets cross each other
If you get a chance to visit San Francisco, stop by Cafe Puccini. Its
hurry: rush; make you leave located near the intersection of Columbus and Vallejo streets, in
quickly
North Beach. Be sure to bring a book by Kerouac or Ginsberg. Sit ,
enjoy the opera music, and relax for a while. No one will hurry you.

Learn More:

North Beach
http://www.sfnorthbeach.org/

Jack Kerouac
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kerouac

Allen Ginsberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Ginsberg

Gary Snyder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Snyder
 Effortless English
Disobedience
just: fair, good, correct and fair
by means of: because of
well-disposed: people with good
thoughts (with good hearts) Publish Date: December 3, 2006
agents: actors, doers
injustice: unfairness, wrongness,
badness, evil
All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
undue: too much, not necessary http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
a file of: a line of
soldiers: fighters, army people “Law never made men more just; and, by means of their respect for
colonel, captain, privates: ranks
(levels) of people in the army it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice. A
admirable: should be admired; wor- common and natural result of an undue respect for law is, that you
thy, good may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, privates and all,
against their wills: not by choice;
marching in admirable order over hills to the wars, against their
against what they want to do
common sense: what most think is wills, indeed, against their common sense and consciences. They
correct and right have no doubt that it is a damnable business in which they are con-
conscience: feeling of what is right cerned; they are all peaceably inclined. Now, what are they? Men
and wrong; moral feeling
damnable: horrible, terrible, wrong
at all? Or small movable forts, at the service of some unscrupulous
inclined: what someone usually man in power?
does or thinks (usually peaceful)
forts: an army building, a base The mass of men serve the State thus, not as men mainly, but as
unscrupulous: without morals; with-
out goodness
machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army. In most
the mass of men: most men cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the
the State: the country, the nation moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth
standing army: permanent army and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will
exercise: use (noun)
the judgement: ability to make deci-
serve the purpose as well. Such people command no more respect
sions than men of straw, or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of
the moral sense: ability to decide worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these are commonly
what is right and wrong considered good citizens.”
manufactured: made, created
command: demand, require
straw: hay -- Henry David Thoreau (Civil Disobedience)
lump: small round piece
considered: thought to be
Many of the abominable problems in the world are the result of obe-
abominable: horrible, terrible
obedience: doing what someone dience. In our personal lives, in the media, we cry and moan and
else tells you to do blame "our leaders" for the problems of the world. We shift responsi-
the media: newspaper, TV, etc... bility to them. But are they solely responsible? What about the thou-
moan: make a sad sound
blame: criticize
sands and millions who are actually carrying out their orders?
shift: move; change These people are the ones actually doing the terrible things that their
solely: only leaders want done. These people have abandoned their conscience
carrying out their orders: doing and have abandoned their responsibility.
what they say to do
abandoned: left; got rid of
dutifully obeying: doing what other Can such people be considered adult human beings at all; or are they
people say-- because of duty still children, or dogs-- dutifully obeying their master-parent?
soldiers: fighters in an army
trigger: part of a gun that you pull Think of the American soldiers currently in Iraq. In the end, it is not
(in order to shoot)
torturing: hurting (someone who
George Bush who is pulling the trigger or dropping the bombs or tor-
is helpless or powerless) turing the prisoners. He merely gives the orders- orders which no
orders: commands particular man or woman must follow. For while they might be dis-
particular: individual charged or put in prison for refusing an order, no one will be hurt or
discharged: fired (from the army) killed for doing so.
refusing: saying no (to an
order/command)
disobey: not do something that Isn't Thoreau correct? Aren't our true heroes the ones who disobey
you are told to do unjust laws? Aren't the true heroes the ones who follow their con-
unjust: not fair, not good, not science? Here in America, it is our rebels who are our historical
moral heroes- those who refused to support injustice: Martin Luther King,
follow their conscience: do what
you think is right/good/moral
the heroes of the American revolution, John Brown, Malcolm X, Susan
rebels: those who fight against B. Anthony, Vietnam War resistors....
authority/power
resistors: people who resist, peo- In the present, such people are always condemned. They are
ple who don’t obey attacked, called unpatriotic, imprisoned, and vilified. Yet history is
condemned: criticized, blamed,
said to be guilty, accused
usually kind to such people, and harsh to the unjust. In the 1950s,
unpatriotic: not loving your coun- Martin Luther King was vilified as a radical. Today, he is celebrated
try, not loyal to your country as a hero, while the authorities he resisted are now viewed as the
imprisoned: put in jail, put in worst kind of scum.
prison
vilified: described as a bad per-
son, described as a terrible or evil
Thoreau, and later Gandhi and Martin Luther King, all believed that
person individual conscience was more just and powerful than law. All three
harsh: tough, not kind, not gentle encouraged people to break unjust laws; and to instead have
a radical: someone who fights for respect for what is good, right, true, and just. Though all three men
big changes; someone who fights are now dead, their message is as important today as it was during
the government
celebrated as: praised as
their lifetime.
the authorities: the government;
those with power “Thoreau was a great writer, philosopher, poet, and a most practical
scum: low class people, criminals, man, that is, he taught nothing he was not prepared to practice in
bad person/people himself. He was one of the greatest and most moral men America has
to break unjust laws: to disobey
bad laws
produced.”
lifetime: time a person lives; time
when a person is alive --Mohandas Gandhi

Learn More:

Civil Disobedience (Wiki Article)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Disobedience_(Thoreau)

Civil Disobedience Essay (Full Text)

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The Martin Luther King Center

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 Effortless English
Emotionally Intelligent Husbands
Publish Date: September 16, 2007

Old Audio Article Archives Available At:

http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com

data: n. information, facts by Dr. John Gottman

newlywed: adj./n.people who
were recently married; newly My data on newlywed couples indicate that more husbands are being trans-
married formed. About 35 percent of the men we've studied fall into the category of
indicate: v. show "emotionally intelligent husbands". Research from previous decades sug-
transformed:v. changed gests the number used to be much lower. Because this type of husband hon-
emotionally intelligent: adj. ors and respects his wife, he will be open to learning more about emotions
good at handling emotions, from her. He will come to understand her world and those of his children
good at talking about emotions and friends. He may not emote in the same way that his wife does, but he
honors: v. respects will learn how to better connect with her emotionally. As he does so, he'll
emotions: n. feelings make choices that show he honors her. When he's watching the football
emote: v. show feelings game and she needs to talk, he'll turn off the TV and listen. He is choosing
"us" over "me".

I believe the emotionally intelligent husband is the next step in social evolu-
evolution: n. change over time, tion. This doesn't mean that he is superior to other men in personality,
development upbringing, or moral fiber. He has simply figured out something very
superior: adj. better important about being married that the others haven't yet. And this is how to
upbringing: n. how someone honor his wife and convey his respect to her. It is really that elementary.
was raised (by parents)
moral fiber: n. goodness The new husband is likely to make his career less of a priority than his fam-
convey: v. show, communicate ily life because his definition of success has been revised. Unlike husbands
elementary: adj. simple, basic before him, he makes a detailed map of his wife's world. He keeps in
priority: n. something that is touch with his admiration and fondness for, and he communicates it by
important turning toward her in his daily actions.
revised: v./adj. changed, edited
map of his wife’s world: This benefits not only his marriage but his children as well. Research shows
detailed knowledge of wife’s that a husband who can accept influence from his wife also tends to be an
life outstanding father. He is familiar with his children's world and knows all
keeps in touch with: remem- about their friends and their fears. Because he is not afraid of emotions, he
bers teaches his children to respect their own feelings-- and themselves. He turns
admiration: n. liking, respect off the football game for them, too, because he wants them to remember him
fondness: n. good feelings for as having had time for them.
outstanding: adj. great
leads: v. does, lives The new type of husband and father leads a meaningful and rich life.
troubled: adj.having a problem, Having a happy family base makes it possible for him to create and work
upset effectively. Because he is so connected to his wife, she will come to him not
delighted: adj. very happy only when she is troubled but when she is delighted. When the city awak-
mourn: v. feel sad for someone ens to a beautiful fresh snowstorm, his children will come running for him to
who is dead (or gone) see it. The people who matter most to him will care about him when he lives
and mourn him when he dies.

The other kind of husband and father is a very sad story. He responds to the
entitlement: n. power (given by loss of male entitlement with righteous indignation, or he feels like an
society or government) innocent victim. He may become more authoritarian or withdraw into a
righteous indignation: n. feel- lonely shell, protecting what little he has left. He does not give others very
ing very angry and correct; much honor and respect because he is engaged in a search for the honor and
angry because you think you respect he thinks is his due. He will not accept his wife's influence because
are right he fears any further loss of power. And because he will not accept influence
authoritarian: adj. bossy, con- he will not have very much influence. The consequence is that no one will
trolling much care about him when he lives nor mourn him when he dies.
withdraw into a lonely shell:
idiom. stop communicating
with other people
is his due: idiom. he is sup-
posed to get, is his right
consequence: n. result Learn More:

Dr. Gottman’s Relationship Institute

http://www.gottman.com/

Bill Ferguson’s Relationship Mastery

http://www.masteryoflife.com/
 Effortless English
First Battle
howl: n. yell, scream
thudded: v. hit, pounded
in unison: adv. at the same time,
Publish Date: April 25, 2007
together, in harmony
braced: v. held
giddy: adj. nervous by AJ Hoge
tendrils: n. lines, tentacles
wiry: adj. thin with muscles A howl from the opposing army..... swords thudded against shields... thunder
clad in: v. wearing beat in unison. Hearts pounded. I gripped my sword... and braced the shield
scale: n. scale armor against my shoulder. Giddy tendrils raced through my gut and chest....... a wild
strode: v. walked (confidently) grin broke upon my face. I began to bounce.... knees spring-like.....standing on
cackling: v./adj. laughing (loudly) toes. A racehorse in the gate.
goose bumps: n. bumps on skin
(caused by fear or excitement) A wild shout went up to my left..... I turned to see a wiry warrior clad in
butt: n. bottom sparkling scale and a green cape..... carrying a coffin shaped shield. He strode
rattan: n. a plant similar to bam- the front of our lines, turned to our enemies and threw insults against them,
boo “Cowardly vermin of Trimaris, prepare to die”... he shook his sword and our
advanced: v. moved forward army let out a cackling howl. Goose bumps spread across arms and belly..... I
adrenaline: n. a hormone, a body thudded the butt of my (rattan) sword on the inside of the shield.... our lines
chemical (released by fear or advanced.
excitement)
awe: n. amazement
The enemy continued drumming their shields, and likewise strode forward. Full
anachronism: n. something out
of adrenaline, eyes wide with awe, muscles tense as steel....... I approached my
of place in time/history (doesn’t
first battle... almost forgetting that none of this was “real”. No one would die.
belong to that time period)
oddballs: n. strange people No one would kill.
medieval: adj. middle ages period
strap on: v. put on, wear This was my introduction to the SCA, or the “Society for Creative
outlandish: adj. dramatic, fun & Anachronism”. The SCA is a collection of oddballs who dress in medieval
creative clothing, strap on armor, and beat each other with wooden swords. They also
hyper-intelligent: adj. very smart dance, sing, and create works of art. The group is a collection of outlandish
geeks: idiom. smart uncool people creatives, hyper-intelligent geeks, talented artists, hammish performers, history
hammish: adj. too dramatic buffs, academics, poets, social misfits, and folks who simply refuse to succumb
buffs: n. people who like some- to the drudgery of being “normal”. I was a member for nearly ten years.... and
thing, fans loved every minute.
misfits: n. people who don’t fit in
with normal society The heart of the SCA is the weekend “event”..... an affair that revolves around
to succumb: v. to be beaten by, to a number of semi-historic activities, usually held at a state park. Typically, a
surrender to battle or tournament is the centerpiece of the “event”. My first battle was
drudgery: n. boring work small by today’s standards..... each army had only 100 people. The group now
affair: n. experience, event hosts battles which involve thousands of participants... the largest is held annu-
revolves around: v. focuses on ally in Pennsylvania, in August, and is known as the “Pennsics War”. As the
centerpiece: n. most important Pennsics example implies, SCA groups and events are spread throughout the
part
United States. In fact, the group is growing internationally, especially in
implies: v. says indirectly, sug-
Europe. There are also groups in Japan and Korea.
gests
patchwork: n. a loose collec- The SCA divides the US, and the world, into a patchwork of regional organiza-
tion tions, called “kingdoms”. Georgia, for example, is part of the “Kingdom of
Meridies”, which also includes Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. North and
guild: n. a trade group, a union South Carolina are the “Kingdom of Atlantia”. California is in the “West
Kingdom”. Each Kingdom is further divided into local groups, called Baronies
full-fledged: n. complete, total or Shires.
counter-society: n. alternative
society, alternative culture The function of local groups is to host events, welcome newcomers, and teach
monarchy: n. a government medieval skills. Skills include arts such as calligraphy, jewelry making, wood-
ruled by a king or queen working, and costuming; craft arts such as armoring & blacksmithing; perform-
ing arts such as medieval dancing and singing; and martial arts such as hand-to-
clans: n. large extended fami-
hand fighting and archery. Most groups host a weekly business meeting and
lies, tribes
various “guild meetings” to practice these arts.
persona: n. personality, charac-
ter Since I joined, the organization has expanded tremendously and is now a full-
fledged counter society: with its own government (a monarchy- with rulers
stunning: adj. amazing chosen by combat), its own economy (some members make a full-time living
nerves: n. nervous feeling selling their arts), and its own social system (a system of titles, clans, knights,
intensity: n. power and nobles). Every member of the SCA develops an alternate persona: a
manic: adj. super-energetic medieval character they become during events.

meticulous: adj. very careful The combined effects are stunning. At times, I felt I’d been transported back in
accomplished: adj. successful time. My first SCA battle produced all the nerves, all the excitement, all the
embracement: n. acceptance intensity of entering a “real” battle: pounding heart and manic energy and fear
eccentricity: n. weirdness of being “killed”.
(harmless strangeness)
camaraderie: n. friendship, For some, the SCA is an exercise in living history. Many members are meticu-
feelings of friendship lous researchers- accomplished experts in a chosen discipline of history. Others
jubuliant: adj. very happy join the group for its unique social characteristics-- its embracement of eccen-
defiance: n. rebellion, disobedi- tricity.... its community and camaraderie. But for me, the SCA was an act of
ence jubuliant defiance: an enthusiastic refusal to surrender to tedium.
tedium: n. boredom
I did not, and do not, want to abandon the creative flow of childhood. I am
abandon: v. leave, neglect convinced that play.... fantasy and creativity for its own sake... is a deep and
profound human need; one we, as adults, must nurture and maintain. Play is
for its own sake: idiom. for
not an escape.... it is a celebration. Play is the essence of creativity.
enjoyment only
profound: adj. very important,
We, as adults-- for the sake of our happiness and our souls, should re-discover it.
very meaningful
nurture: v. take care of, help Learn More:
grow
essence: n. central part, most SCA
important part http://www.sca.org
 Effortless English
novelist: n. writer, author Jack Kerouac, King of The Beats
critical success: success with
critics, good opinion from
Publish Date: January 12, 2007
reviews
considered: v. thought to be Jack Kerouac was an American novelist, writer, poet, and artist.
spontaneous: adj. unplanned
confessional: adj. open & hon- While enjoying popularity but little critical success during his own
est about one’s feelings and life lifetime, Kerouac is now considered one of America's most important
works: n. books, art projects authors. His spontaneous, confessional prose style inspired many
roaming: v. moving around, other writers, including Tom Robbins, Lester Bangs, Hunter S.
wandering, traveling around Thompson, and Bob Dylan.
vast: adj. huge, very large and
wide
Kerouac's best known works are On the Road, The Dharma Bums,
landscape: n. land
sought: v. looked for
Big Sur and Visions of Cody.
find his place: find his purpose
rejecting: v. saying “no” to He divided most of his adult life between roaming the vast American
desire: n. wish, something you landscape and living with his mother. Faced with a changing country,
want Kerouac sought to find his place, eventually rejecting the conserva-
structures: rules tive values of the 1950s. His writing often reflects a desire to break
experiment with: v. try free from society's structures and to find meaning in life.
to embark: v. go, leave
credited: v. said to be This search led him to experiment with drugs and to embark on
catalyst: n. start; something trips around the world. His books are often credited as the catalyst
that starts (or encourages) an
for the 1960s counterculture.
action
counterculture: n. sub-culture,
group that rejects the normal Kerouac was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, to a family of French-
culture Canadians.
profoundly: adj. deeply, seri-
ously Jack didn't start to learn English until the age of six, and at home he
marked by: v. affected by and his family spoke French. At an early age, he was profoundly
elder: adj. older marked by the death of his elder brother Gérard, an event that later
prompted him: v. encouraged prompted him to write the book “Visions of Gerard”.
him; made him
athletic: adj. re: sports Kerouac's athletic prowess led him to become a star on his local
prowess: n. skill, ability
football team, and this achievement earned him scholarships to
a star: n. a top performer, top
player
Boston College and Columbia University. At Columbia, he wrote sev-
achievement: n. success eral sports articles for the student newspaper, the Columbia Daily
scholarship: n. money for uni- Spectator.
versity
pan out: v. happen, be suc- His football scholarship did not pan out and he went to live with an
cessful old girlfriend, Edie Parker, in New York. It was in New York that
to journey: v. to travel Kerouac met the people with whom he was to journey around the
novels: n. books (long story world, the subjects of many of his novels: the “Beat Generation”,
books)
seminal: adj. creative; original
including Allen Ginsberg, Neal Cassady, and William S. Burroughs.
published: v. printed He wrote his first novel, The Town and the City, as well as his most
established: v. to introduce; to famous work, the seminal On The Road, while living in New York.
prove
Beat: adj. a free style of writing The Town and the City was published in 1950 under the name "John
influenced by: v. affected by
constantly: adv. all the time; very
Kerouac" and earned him some respect as a writer. Unlike Kerouac's
often later work, which established his Beat style, it is heavily influenced
building upon: v. adding to by Kerouac's reading of Thomas Wolfe.
drafts: n. unfinished books (or
papers or articles or reports) Kerouac wrote constantly but could not find a publisher for his next
tentatively: adv. temporarily; in an
unsure way
novel for six years. Building upon previous drafts tentatively titled
experimental: adj. very different; "The Beat Generation" and "Gone On The Road", Kerouac wrote what
very original, very new is now known as "On the Road" in April, 1951 (ISBN 0-312-20677-1).
sympathetic tone: kind attitude
minorities: n. small groups in Publishers rejected the book due to its experimental writing style and
society (ie. Africa-Americans in the
USA)
its sympathetic tone towards minorities and marginalized social
marginalized social groups: groups of the United States in the 1950s. In 1957, Viking Press pur-
groups with no power in society chased the novel, demanding major revisions.
purchased: v. bought (to buy)
demanding: v. insisting on, saying In 2007, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of On The Road, an
something must be done
revisions: n. changes
uncensored version of On The Road will be released by Viking
to coincide with: v. to be at the Press, containing text that was removed from the 1957 version
same time as because it was deemed too explicit for 1957 readers. It will be
uncensored: adj. not changed by drawn solely from the original manuscript.
the government/authority
released: v. published, printed
containing: v. having
The book was largely autobiographical, describing Kerouac's road-
deemed: v. thought to be trip adventures across the United States and Mexico with Neal
explicit: adj. strong and direct Cassady. Kerouac's novel is often described as the defining work of
(possibly obscene) the post-World War II.
drawn: v. taken from
solely: adv. only
manuscript: n. typed paper/story
In 1954, Kerouac discovered Dwight Goddard's "A Buddhist Bible" at
autobiographical: adj. about the San Jose Library, which marked the beginning of Kerouac's
one’s own life immersion into Buddhism.
road-trip: n. a trip (using a car)
the defining work: n. the most He chronicled parts of this, as well as some of his adventures with
important book
discovered: v. found
San Francisco-area poets, in the book The Dharma Bums, published
immersion into: n. deep study of; in 1958.
powerful experience with
chronicled: v. told; wrote about Kerouac developed a friendship with the Buddhist-Taoist scholar Alan
scholar: n. professor; someone Watts. He also met and had discussions with the famous Japanese
who studies
Siddhartha Gautama: n. The
Zen Buddhist D.T. Suzuki.
Buddha
entitled: n. named In 1955 Kerouac wrote a biography of Siddhartha Gautama, entitled
serialized: v. published in small Wake Up, which was unpublished during his lifetime but eventually
parts serialized in Tricycle magazine, 1993-95.
resulted from: v. caused by He died on October 21, 1969 at St. Anthony's Hospital in St.
Petersburg, Florida. His death, at the age of 47, resulted from an
hemorrhage: n. sudden loss of internal hemorrhage caused by cirrhosis of the liver, the result of a
blood; sudden bleeding
life of heavy drinking. He was living at the time with his third wife
cirrhosis of the liver: n. dying
Stella, and his mother Gabrielle. He is buried in his home town of
of the liver; disease of the liver
Lowell.
buried: v. (dead body) put
under the ground
Learn More:

More About Jack Kerouac

http://www.rooknet.com/beatpage/writers/kerouac.html

The Dharma Bums, Audiobook

http://www.learnoutloud.com/Catalog/Literature/Contemporary-
Literature/The-Dharma-Bums/1920
 Effortless English
Lifestyle Diseases
contributing factor: (partial)
cause
life style: way of living (eat- Publish Date: December 9, 2006
ing, sleeping, etc...)
related: connected; caused All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
by http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
typified by: including; illus-
trated by by Shiori Iwagaki
diabetes: blood sugar dis-
ease The major contributing factor to life style related diseases, typified
obesity: very fat, too much by diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, is often obesity.
fat Therefore, we have to think about losing surplus weight.
surplus: extra; too much
the other day: a few days When I was watching TV the other day, I found a program which
ago tried to introduce a way to cook low-calorie dishes. It showed food
calorie: energy unit from images for a full hour. Then they let 3 overweight guests eat 3 full
food servings of curry-rice (Japanese style curry with rice). The dishes
images: pictures were made with lower calories than normal but that “tasting” totaled
overweight: fat (adj.) 1,800 kcal.
servings: plates of, dishes
of, portion If you have a chance to visit to America, in which many people are
tasting: very small serving struggling to lose excess weight, try watching TV. You will find it is
totaled: was a total of filled with food commercials and medicines that are supposed to
excess: too much, extra help you lose fat.
supposed to: should; proba-
bly will However, the best way to lose weight is not by eating low calorie
reducing: making smaller food, but by reducing the amount of food you eat.
portion: amount you eat,
serving It is really difficult to reduce your meal portion sizes while surrounded
unbelievably: incredibly, by actual food or images of food on TV-- unless you have an unbe-
amazingly lievably strong will. So, it is very important to keep away from this
will: mental strength, mind toxic food environment. But avoiding food advertising images is still
strength not enough. Because if you who want to lose weight, changing your
toxic: poison physical environment is not be enough. What is most important is to
avoiding: staying away from keep your mental environment free of unhealthy food images.
to shift: to change (or move)
mental focus: what you This is important for all of us. We have to find a way to shift our
concentrate on; what you mental focus from food to healthier foci such as sports, reading or
think about music.
foci: plural of “focus” (more
than one focus) Perhaps instead of calling them “life style related diseases” we should
root causes: deep causes, call them “thought related diseases”, for thought and emotion are the
true/original causes true root causes of these diseases.
anxious: nervous
an outlet for: a way to If we are always worried and anxious we may eat as an outlet for
express; a way to get (feel- these feelings. If we constantly think of failure and problems, we
ings) out may eat as a way to distract ourselves from these thoughts.
constantly: always, fre- Therefore, it is our negative thoughts and emotions, and our inappro-
quently priate way of dealing with them, that is the true cause of obesity and
to distract: to break concen- “lifestyle related diseases”.
tration, to suddenly think
about something else So our challenge is to shift our thoughts and emotions-- and to han-
inappropriate: incorrect; not dle the negative ones in a better way. This is the best way to lose
good for the situation weight and gain health. We can enjoy the satisfaction of finishing a
dealing with: using; trying to really fat book. We can enjoy the achievement of passing a difficult
solve (something difficult) exam. We can enjoy the exertion and effort of sports. Of course, we
challenge: difficult task or can enumerate many more positive pursuits. The point is, chang-
problem ing our mental focus is the key.
to handle: use; deal with;
survive/solve a difficult situa- There are many ways to cultivate a healthy mental environment. We
tion don’t even have to wait. Today, or tomorrow, we can start to think in a
gain: increase, get more different way.
achievement: success, vic-
tory Learn More:
exam: test
exertion: hard effort (usually Shiori’s Art and Essays
physical) http://ateliervolonte.gozaru.jp/
enumerate: list; tell one by
one Mindful Eating Article
pursuits: actions, hobbies http://www.womensmedia.com/health-diet-meditation-weight-loss.htm
the point is: the main idea
is
the key: the most important
thing/idea
to cultivate: to care for and
help grow
 Effortless English
The Role of Media 1
Publish Date: March 28, 2007
contemporary: adj. modern,
current by Noam Chomsky
in what sense: in what manner,
in what way or kind The role of the media in contemporary politics forces us to ask what kind of
counter-posing: v. comparing a society we want to live in, and in particular in what sense of democracy
conceptions: n. ideas, theories do we want this to be a democratic society? Let me begin by counter-pos-
has it: v. says ing two different conceptions of democracy.
affairs: n. lives, life issues &
activities One conception of democracy has it that a democratic society is one in
means: n. methods, ways which the public has the means to participate in some meaningful way in the
look up: v. search for and find, management of their own affairs and the means of information are open and
look for and find free. If you look up “democracy” in the dictionary you'll get a definition
alternative: adj. different something like that.
barred from: v. prevented
from, stopped from An alternative conception of democracy is that the public must be barred
narrowly: adv. in a careful and from managing their own affairs and the means of information must be kept
tight way, in a small way narrowly and rigidly controlled. That may sound like an odd conception of
rigidly: adv. without flexibility, democracy, but it's important to understand that it is the prevailing concep-
in a strict & tough way tion.
odd: adj. strange
prevailing: adj. common, In fact, it has long been, not just in operation, but even in theory. There's a
majority long history that goes back to the earliest modern democratic revolutions in
in operation: in reality, in use, seventeenth century England which largely expresses this point of view.
related to how something is I'm just going to keep to the modern period and say a few words about how
done that notion of democracy develops, and why and how the problem of media
in theory: in idea, related to and disinformation enters within that context.
idea
largely: adv. mostly Learn More:
point of view: n. opinion, belief
keep to: v. stay with, stick with Noam Chomsky Site
notion: n. idea http://www.chomsky.info/
disinformation: n. wrong
information, lies, propaganda
context: n. situation, environ-
ment.
 Effortless English
Role of Media 2
propaganda: n. government lies
slogan: n. saying, a repeated
phrase
Publish Date: April 15, 2007
pacifistic: adj. peaceful, anti-war
committed to: adj. dedicated to,
really wanting Early History of Propaganda
commission: n. group, committee
in turning: v. changing by Noam Chomsky
population: n. society
hysterical: adj. crazy, super-emo- Let's begin with the first modern government propaganda. That was by
tional U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's government. Woodrow Wilson was elect-
war-mongering: adj. war-loving, ed President in 1916 on the slogan "Peace Without Victory". That was right
wanting & loving war in the middle of World War I. The population was extremely pacifistic and
tear the Germans limb from saw no reason to become involved in a European war. Wilson's government
limb: idiom. attack & kill them was actually committed to war and had to do something about it.
achievement: n. accomplishment,
success They created a government propaganda commission, named the Creel
to whip up: v. to create or Commission, which succeeded within six months in turning a pacifistic
increase population into a hysterical, war-mongering population... a population
hysterical: adj. emotional that wanted to destroy everything German, tear the Germans limb from
Red: adj. communist limb, go to war, and save the world.
pretty much: idiom. mostly
unions: n. workers’ groups That was a major achievement, and it led to a further achievement. Right at
the media: n. newspapers, (radio, that time and after the war, the same techniques were used to whip up a hys-
TV, etc...) terical Communist (Red) Scare-- which succeeded pretty much in destroy-
establishment: n. most powerful ing unions and eliminating such dangerous problems as freedom of the press
group and freedom of political thought. There was very strong support from the
enthusiastically: adv. happily, media and the business establishment, which in fact organized much of this.
with excitement
In general, it was a great success.
progressive: adj. liberal
circle: n. group
Among those who participated actively and enthusiastically in Wilson's war
took great pride: felt proud
were the progressive intellectuals, a circle that took great pride, as you can
to drive: v. to force, to push
see from their own writings at the time, in having shown that what they
reluctant: adj. hesitant, not really
called the "more intelligent members of society" (themselves) were able to
wanting to do something
eliciting: v. bring out, cause
drive a reluctant population into a war by terrifying them and eliciting
fanaticism: n. crazy & total belief fanaticism.
extensive: adj. thorough, broad
fabrication: n. lying, creating The means used were extensive. For example, there was a lot of fabrication
something that is false of atrocities by the Germans-- Belgian babies with their arms torn off, all
atrocities: n. horrible acts, torture sorts of awful things that you still read in history books. Much of it was
& murder... invented by the British propaganda ministry whose goal was to (as they put
put it: v. say/said, communicated it) "direct the thought of most of the world".
crucially: adv. importantly But most crucially they wanted to control the thought of the more intelligent
disseminate: v. spread, com- members of the United States, who would disseminate the propaganda that
municate to many people they were concocting and convert the pacifistic country to wartime hysteria.
concocting: v. creating (usually
creating something fake) That worked. It worked very well. And it taught a lesson: State propagan-
convert: v. change da, when supported by the educated classes, and when no deviation is per-
hysteria: n. powerful emotion mitted from it, can have a big affect. It was a lesson learned by Hitler and
(powerful upset emotion) many others, and it has been pursued to this day.
State: adj. government
deviation: n. change from, vari-
ation Learn More:

Source Watch Propaganda Article

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=War_propaganda
 Effortless English
diagram: n. a drawing or graph
linked to: v. connected to Mind Maps
radially: adv. in a circular way,
Publish Date: January 22, 2007
like a circle
generate: v. to create, to make
All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
structure: v. organize
classify: v. to put into groups
http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
image-centered: adj. focused on
pictures & images A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other
semantic: adj. related to words items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It
& meaning; meaning is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in
portions: n. pieces, parts study, organization, problem solving, and decision making.
presenting: v. showing
radial: adj. circular, like a circle It is an image-centered diagram that represents semantic or other connec-
non-linear: adj. not in a straight tions between portions of information. By presenting these connections in a
line radial, non-linear graphical manner, it encourages a brainstorming
graphical: adj. with images, approach to any given organizational task.
with pictures
brainstorming: n. method of The elements are arranged intuitively according to the importance of the
creating a lot of ideas in a short concepts and they are organized into groupings, branches, or areas. The
time graphic formulation of the information may aid recall of existing memories
elements: n. parts
intuitively: adv. instinctively, Mind maps have many applications in personal, family, educational, and
naturally business situations, including notetaking, brainstorming, summarizing, revis-
concepts: n. ideas ing and general clarifying of thoughts. For example, one could listen to a
recall: n. memory, remembering lecture and take down notes using mind maps for the most important points
applications: n. uses or keywords. One can also use mind maps as a mnemonic technique or to
revising: n. (gerund) editing
sort out a complicated idea. Mind maps are also promoted as a way to col-
mnemonic: n. something that
laborate.
helps memory
sort out: v. organize, understand
promoted: v. encouraged, Software and technique research have concluded that managers and students
advertised find the techniques of mind mapping to be useful, being better able to retain
collaborate: v. work together information and ideas than by using traditional 'linear' note taking methods.
(two or more people work
together). Mindmaps can be drawn by hand, either as 'rough notes', for example, dur-
concluded: v. decided ing a lecture or meeting, or can be more sophisticated in quality. There are
find: v. think, realize also a number of software packages available for producing mind maps.
retain: v. keep, remember
rough notes: n. quick notes,
unedited notes
sophisticated: adj. complex,
complicated
 Mind map guidelines

Tony Buzan suggests using the following guidelines for Mind Mapping:
guidelines: n. rules, principles
1. Start in the center with an image of the topic, using at least 3 colors.

2. Use images, symbols, and codes throughout your Mind Map.

3. Select key words and print using upper or lower case letters.

4. Each word/image must be alone and sitting on its own line.

5. The lines must be connected, starting from the central image. The central
organic: adj. natural, biological
lines are thicker, organic and flowing, becoming thinner as they radiate out
radiate out: v. come out from a from the center.
center point, come out from
6. Make the lines the same length as the word/image.

7. Use colors – your own code – throughout the Mind Map.

8. Develop your own personal style of Mind Mapping.

emphasis: n. stress, focus 9. Use emphasis and show associations in your Mind Map.

associations: n. connections 10. Keep the Mind Map clear by using radial hierarchy, numerical order
or outlines to organize your branches.
radial hierarchy: n. circular
organization

Learn More:

Mind Map Example

http://www.peterussell.com/mindmaps/mindmap.html

Free Mind Map Software

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
 Effortless English
Cyber: adj. related to computers or Microsoft’s Cyber Censorship
machines; relating to the internet
Amnesty: n. pardon, forgiveness Publish Date: February 2, 2007
authorities: n. government people
controversial: adj. causing argu- All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
ment, at issue
blog: n. web log, internet diary or
http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
journal From Amnesty International
censorship: n. banning (of informa-
tion), preventing information from
being published In December 2005 Microsoft cooperated with Chinese authorities to shut
servers: n. big computers that host down the controversial blog of Zhao Jing (Michael Anti), a Beijing-based
software, accounts, etc. researcher for the New York Times, and an active critic of censorship in
censored: v. banned, deleted China.
globally: adj. world-wide, all over
the world. The blog, which was hosted on servers located in the United States, was
criticism: n. disapproval
implemented: v. used, done
removed and was therefore censored not only in China but globally.
to ensure: v. to promise, to guaran- Reacting to criticism, Microsoft claims to have implemented a new set of
tee standards to ensure that they will only remove blogs when they receive for-
legal: adj. related to the law, mal legal notice from the Chinese government and that access will only be
access: n. entry, admission denied to users in China.
filters: v. separate, screen
politically sensitive terms: n. words Microsoft’s search engine MSN China filters the results of searches for
that make the government angry
displaying: v. showing
politically sensitive terms, displaying a message in Chinese which states
AI: n. Amnesty International ‘Certain content was removed from the results of this search’. Searches
produced: v. created, made undertaken in June 2006 by AI produced this message for the words ‘Falun
Falun Gong: n. a spiritual (reli- Gong’, ‘Tibet Independence’ and ‘June 4’ (the date of the Tiananmen Square
gious) group- that is often attacked massacre).
by the Chinese government
massacre: n. killing (of many inno- Furthermore, Microsoft has admitted that it responds to directions from the
cent, peaceful, or weak people)
admitted: v. confessed, agreed
Chinese government by restricting users of MSN Spaces from using certain
directions: n. orders, commands terms in their account name, space name, space sub-title or in photo cap-
restricting: v. limiting, stopping tions. At the same time the company asserts that MSN Spaces do not filter
terms: n. words (or phrases), names blog content in any way. Amnesty International considers this claim to be at
asserts: v. says, insists odds with the facts.
at odds with: idiom. does not agree
with, goes against When Microsoft launched MSN Spaces in China in June 2005, attempts to
launched: v. started, began
blocked: v. stopped, prevented
create blogs with words including ‘democracy’, ‘human rights’ and ‘freedom
prohibited: v. denied, forbidden, of expression’ were blocked, producing the following error message (in
banned Chinese): ‘You must enter a title for your space. The title must not contain
profanity: n. bad language, obsceni- prohibited language, such as profanity. Please type a different title.’ Tests
ty by AI carried out in 2006 demonstrated continued blocking of certain terms
incident: n. happening, event including ‘Tiananmen incident’ in the title of blogs.

As a result of such actions, Microsoft users in China are denied the ability to
the full range of: n. all of, every
access the full range of information available internationally on human
rights topics, including websites and web pages of Amnesty International and
other human rights organizations.

Learn More:

Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/

Human Rights Watch (Asia)

http://hrw.org/doc/?t=asia
 Effortless English
Neo: adj. new
Bedouins: n. an Arabic Neo-Bedouins
nomadic tribe Publish Date: March 14, 2007
breed: n. kind
flourishing: v. growing and Old Audio Article Archives Available At:
succeeding
roaming: v. moving around
http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com

nomadic: adj. always moving, A new breed of worker, fueled by caffeine and using the tools of modern
frequently moving technology, is flourishing in the coffeehouses of San Francisco. Roaming
wandered: v. travelled, roamed from cafe to cafe and borrowing a name from the nomadic Arabs who wan-
come to be known as: v. start- dered freely in the desert, they've come to be known as "bedouins."
ed to be called
armed with: v. carrying, hav- San Francisco's modern-day bedouins are typically armed with laptops and
ing cell phones, paying for their office space and Internet access by buying cof-
access: n. ability to get & use fee and muffins.
muffins: n. kind of cupcake
the world at large: n. the rest San Francisco's bedouins see themselves changing the nature of the work-
of the world place, if not the world at large. They see large companies like General
laying off: v. firing Motors laying off workers, contributing to insecurity. And at the same
contributing to: adding to time, they see the Internet providing the tools to start companies on the
insecurity: n. safety, stability cheap. In the Bedouin lifestyle, they are free to make their own rules.
on the cheap: adv. cheaply
Palo Alto: n. a town in Silicon "The San Francisco coffeehouse is the new Palo Alto garage," declares
Valley Kevin Burton, 30, who runs his Internet startup “Tailrank” without renting
declares: v. says offices. "It's where all the innovation is happening."
innovation: n. creativity
mobile: adj. able to move The move toward mobile self employment is also part of what author Daniel
infrastructure: n. public goods Pink identified when he wrote "Free Agent Nation" in 2001.
and services (ie. roads, phones.)
emerged: v. come out "A whole infrastructure has emerged to help people work in this way,"
Kinkos: n. a copy & print shop Pink said. "Part of it includes places like Kinkos, Office Depot and Staples."
Wi-Fi: wireless internet It also includes places like Starbucks and independent coffee shops, where
laptops: n. portable computers Wi-Fi -- wireless Internet access for laptops and other devices -- is avail-
revenge: n. hurting or defeat- able.
ing someone after they hurt you
the means of production: n. "The infrastructure makes it possible for people to work where they want,
the tools for making something when they want, how they want," said Pink.
hop: v. jump
Pink calls it "Karl Marx's revenge, where individuals own the means of
production. And they can take the means of production and hop from coffee
shop to coffee shop."
Web worker: n. person who "There is nothing more free than being a Web worker," Om Malik says.
works with the internet "There is no boss. You work for yourself. This is the new Wild West. The
Wild West: n. an area that is individual is more important. That's the American way. It's about doing
very free and open things your own way. Web workers represent that. ... It's the future, my
Ritual Roasters: n. name of a friend."
coffee shop in SF
epicenter: n. the center or Ritual Roasters in San Francisco's Mission District is in many ways the epi-
headquarters of something center of the bedouin movement. Ritual, on Valencia Street near 21st Street,
movement: n. a trend in society is almost always packed with people working on laptops.
packed: v. filled, crammed
buzzed: v. went by (or through) Every bedouin seems to have a Ritual story. There's the time someone
quickly buzzed through the cafe on a Segway scooter. Rubyred Labs, a hip Web
Segway Scooter: n. a one per- design shop in South Park, had its launch party there. Teams from established
son “pedestrian” scooter Web companies such as Google Inc. and Flickr, a photo sharing site that's
hip: adj. cool now owned by Yahoo, meet there. "You'd never know these guys were mil-
locked up in: v. trapped in lionaires," said Ritual co-owner Jeremy Tooker.
Venerable: adj. very old
firm: n. company As for why they're there, Sean Kelly said, "I'm visiting with my friends
clientele: n. group of customers instead of being locked up in a big building in the South Bay."
ensured: v. guaranteed
marine: adj. related to the sea Using a cafe to run a business is nothing particularly new. Venerable insur-
or ocean ance firm Lloyd's of London was actually started in a coffee house, Kennedy
Parisian: adj. related to or from points out. According to the Lloyd's of London Web site, "Edward Lloyd
Paris (France) opened a coffee house in 1688, encouraging a clientele of ships' captains,
North Beach: n. a neighbor- merchants and ship owners -- earning him a reputation for trustworthy ship-
hood in San Francisco ping news. This ensured that Lloyd's coffee house became recognized as the
hangouts: n. place where peo- place for obtaining marine insurance."
ple gather, meet, and chat
joined the ranks: v. joined the Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote some of their best work in
group Parisian cafes. And in San Francisco, writers and poets of the Beat genera-
It would figure: idiom. it tion, such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, wrote in the cafes of North
makes sense, its not surprising Beach.
in action: v. being used
overhead: n. fixed business Caffe Trieste was among the most popular North Beach hangouts. "To have
costs (ex. rent, insurance,..) a cappuccino, you come to North Beach, to Caffe Trieste," says Giovanni
struck out on his own: idiom. "Papa Gianni" Giotta, the founder.
started by himself, went out by
himself, did something inde- Now Caffe Trieste has joined the ranks of Wi-Fi cafes. It would figure that
pendently the one laptop in action on a recent afternoon belonged to an art dealer. "A
cappuccino for overhead isn't bad," said David Salow, 33. He struck out on
his own three months ago, and has yet to open a gallery. "Sixty to 70 percent
of what I do can be done with the standard tools available to everyone -- a
phone, a computer and a laptop connection."

Learn More:
Web Worker Daily
http://webworkerdaily.com/
 Effortless English
New Year’s Resolutions
resolutions: decisions; Publish Date: January 4, 2007
plans; goals
formal: official; very clear All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
vague: not clear http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
tradition: historical action;
history; something done for a So, have you made your New Year’s resolutions? What are your
long time; ritual goals for the coming year? Do you have formal, written resolutions-
mythical: imaginary; reli- or just a vague plan?
gious
at the head of: at the top of; The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to
at the beginning of 153 BC. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the
ancient: very old head of the calendar.
exchanged: traded; gave to
each other With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to
cultures: countries; societies the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and
solar: sun many Romans asked for forgiveness from their enemies and also
Julius Caesar: a famous exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.
Roman Emperor (leader)
accurately: correctly; closely The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't
reflect: copy; imitate begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for
seasons: changes of climate cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the
and weather: Spring, beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar devel-
Summer,.... oped a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons
guardian: protector than previous calendars had.
depicted: shown
tradition: a habit; a ritual The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god
sacred: holy; religious; spe- of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was
cial always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one
fortune: luck on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same
imprinted: printed; written; time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus look-
engraved ing back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began
commitment: strong deci- a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one
sion to do something another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or
interpreted: understood as coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New
advantageous: good; help- Year's gifts.
ful; beneficial
A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to
a project or a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally inter-
preted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these
go into effect: begin; start commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain
remain: stay; don’t change until the goal has been achieved, although many resolutions go
or leave unachieved and are often broken fairly shortly after they are set.
achieved: reached; done
set: made; created Many New Year resolutions in the Western world involve maintaining
maintaining: keeping peak vitality, physical fitness, or appearance. For example, one per-
peak: top; best son's goal might be to reduce or to eliminate intake of alcohol or
vitality: health; strength tobacco.
to reduce: to lessen; to
make less The most common new year's resolution is weight loss. A student may
intake: input; to bring inside; make a resolution to stay focused in class or to complete all of his
eat or drink assignments. Resolutions to eat sensibly or increase exercise are
focused: concentrated; pay- also quite common.
ing attention to
sensibly: smartly; in an Learn More:
intelligent way
Janus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janus_(mythology)

Solar Calendar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_calendar
 Effortless English
No Belief
remark: n. comment,
very: adj. exact
debate: n. argument, discussion
provoked: v. caused (a reaction) Publish Date: February 6, 2007
incredulity: n. surprise
hangover: n. leftover, effect (usually
the leftover effect from drinking too
Old Audio Article Archives Available At:
much) http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
medieval: adj. time period between 600
A.D. to 1500 A.D. This remark was made, in these very words, by John Gribbin, physics editor
Catholic: adj. The Christian church
ruled by the Pope in Rome
of New Scientist magazine, in a BBC-TV debate with Malcolm Muggeridge,
era: n. time period (in history) and it provoked incredulity on the part of most viewers. It seems to be a
theist: n. religious person hangover of the medieval Catholic era that causes most people, even the
dogmatic: adj. strong believer (usually educated, to think that everybody must "believe" something or other, that if
in a religion)
atheist: n. person who does not believe one is not a theist, one must be a dogmatic atheist, and if one does not
there is a “God” think Capitalism is perfect, one must believe fervently in Socialism, and if
fervently: adv. very strongly one does not have blind faith in X, one must alternatively have blind faith
blind faith: n. total belief in something, in not-X or the reverse of X.
belief without any doubt
alternatively: adv. on the other hand,
reverse: n. opposite, converse My own opinion is that belief is the death of intelligence. As soon as one
doctrine: n. philosophical rules believes a doctrine of any sort, or assumes certitude, one stops thinking
assumes: v. believes, accepts
about that aspect of existence. The more certitude one assumes, the less
certitude: n. having no doubt, totally
sure there is left to think about, and a person sure of everything would never have
aspect: n. part any need to think about anything and might be considered clinically dead
clinically: adv. medically, scientifically under current medical standards, where absence of brain activity is taken
standards: n. rules, guidelines
absence: n. lack of
to mean that life has ended.
taken to mean: idiom. believed to mean
identical to: adj. equal to My attitude is identical to that of Dr. Gribbin and the majority of physicists
Interpretation: n. understanding, theo- today, and is known in physics as "the Copenhagen Interpretation," because
ry, analysis
formulated: v. made, created
it was formulated in Copenhagen by Dr. Niels Bohr and his co-workers
model: n. theory between 1926-28. The Copenhagen Interpretation is sometimes called
agnosticism: n. idea that nothing is def- "model agnosticism" and says that any grid we use to organize our experi-
inite or sure ence of the world is a model of the world and should not be confused with
grid: n. table, model, theory
popularize: v. make popular the world itself. Alfred Korzybski tried to popularize this outside physics
territory: n. land with the slogan, "The map is not the territory." Alan Watts, a talented
restated: v. said again Oriental philosopher, restated it more vividly as "The menu is not the meal."
vividly: adv. clearly, colorfully
dogma: n. strict rules & beliefs
amounts to: equals, is Belief in the traditional sense, or certitude, or dogma, amounts to the
grandiose: adj. theatrical, too showy grandiose delusion, "My current model" -- "contains the whole universe and
delusion: n. illusion, wrong belief will never need to be revised." In terms of the history of science and knowl-
revised: v. changed
edge in general, this appears absurd and arrogant to me, and I am perpetu-
absurd: adj. foolish, crazy
perpetually: adv. constantly, always ally astonished that so many people still manage to live with such a
astonished: adj. surprised medieval attitude.
manage to: v. are able to
plural: adj. more than one, multiple Briefly, the main thing I have learned in my life is that "reality" is always
mutable: adj. changeable, able to be
changed
plural and mutable.

singular: adj. only one "Reality" is a word in the English language which is (a) a noun and (b) sin-
subliminally: adv. unconsciously, sub- gular. Thinking in the English language (and in many Indo-European lan-
consciously guages) therefore subliminally programs us to imagine "reality" as one
programs: v. teaches, trains
entity: n. thing
entity, sort of like a huge New York skyscraper, in which every part is just
linguistic: adj. related to language, another "room" within the same building. This linguistic program is so per-
re: languages vasive that most people cannot "think" outside it at all, and when one tries to
pervasive: adj. extensive, universal, offer a different perspective they imagine one is talking gibberish.
happening everywhere
gibberish: n. nonsense, babble, words
with no meaning
The notion that "reality" is a noun, a solid thing like a brick or a baseball
notion: n. idea bat, derives from the biological fact that our nervous systems normally
derives from: v. comes from organize the dance of energy into such block-like "things," probably as
biological: adj. related to biology, re: instant survival cues. Such "things," however, dissolve back into energy
the body dances -- processes or verbs -- when the nervous system is joined with cer-
block-like: adj. physical
instant: adj. immediate
tain drugs or transmuted by spiritual exercises or aided by scientific instru-
cues: n. messages, programs, ments. In both mysticism and physics, there is general agreement that
dissolve: v. melt into "things" are constructed by our nervous systems and that "realities" (plural)
processes: n. actions, happenings are better described as systems or bundles of energy functions.
transmuted: v. changed (a lot)
aided: helped
instruments: n. tools, machines
So much for "reality" as a noun. The notion that "reality" is singular, like a
mysticism: n. direct religion (medita- sealed jar, does not jibe with current scientific findings which, in this centu-
tion, yoga, etc.) ry, suggest that "reality" may better be considered as flowing and meander-
constructed: v. made ing, like a river, or interacting, like a dance or evolving, like life itself.
systems: n. wholes, combinations
bundles: n. groupings, groups, pack-
ages
Most philosophers have known, at least since around 500 B.C., that the
So much for: idiom. enough of, world perceived by our senses is not "the real world" but a construct we
sealed: v. closed (permanently) create -- our own private work of art. Modern science beginning with
does not jibe with: idiom. does not Galileo's demonstration that color is not "in" objects but "in" the interaction
agree with of our senses with object, understands that “reality” is created by our own
be considered as: v. be thought of as,
appears
brains.
flowing: v. moving like water
meandering: v. wandering, roaming,
moving without a destination
evolving: v. changing over time
perceived by: v. directly experienced
by
senses: n. sight, hearing, taste, etc. Learn More:
construct: n. creation, something we
make, something built Robert Anton Wilson’s Homepage
interaction: n. joining, working http://hostgator.rawilson.com/main.shtml
together
 Effortless English
Storytelling
Publish Date: December 17, 2006
proficiency: ability, skill
readily: quickly and easily All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
visualize: to picture, to http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
imagine
vulgar: rude; crude TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling)
comic: funny
mnemonic: something that "Suppose you want to remember a list of words... you will more readi-
helps memory ly remember the words if you make a sentence or sentences con-
elaborate: complex, compli- necting the words in the form of a short story. You would remember it
cated even better if the story was easy to visualize and best of all if you
build up: create; make could picture a story that was dramatic, or vulgar, or comic, or in
aural: sound (re: hearing) some way involved your emotions.
sensory: touch/feel
associations: connections; A story is in fact a good mnemonic, and the more elaborate the
related thoughts or feelings story the better. A story links words to be remembered and it causes
research-proven: based on you to build up scenes that have visual, aural, and sensory associ-
scientific study ations for you." (Collin Rose, 1985)
emphasis: point or idea;
stress While Effortless English is simple, it is also, in fact, designed accord-
thoroughly: completely ing to research-proven methods. The major emphasis of the
at first glance: initially, in Effortless English approach is to help students acquire English thor-
the beginning oughly and effectively.
silly: not serious; foolish,
stupid One way to do this is with mini-stories. At first glance, the mini-sto-
retell: tell again, say again ries may seem silly. They are usually kind of foolish and are quite
redundant: unnecessarily simple. Another thing that may seem strange is that I ask a lot of
repeated; repeated too much questions as I retell the story. These questions can seem
ridiculously easy: much too redundant, ridiculously easy, or pointless. But they have a pur-
easy pose.
pointless: having no pur-
pose The mini-stories are structured to help you more deeply remember
exaggerated: not realistic; the new vocabulary. I use silly or exaggerated stories because they
too strong or strange in are easier to visualize; and visualization aids memory. I use short and
some way fairly simple stories because they are also easier to remember and
aids: helps picture. They are also easier for the learner to repeat and retell.

The questions, likewise, have a purpose. First, the questions provide

more repetition of the target vocabulary. Repetition is important.
 Various research shows that we need to hear and see a new word
about 30+ times, in a meaningful and understandable context, to
context: situation remember it and be able to use it. The questions increase your expo-
exposure to: contact with sure to these new words-- getting you closer to the needed 30+ repe-
titions.
participate in: join with; Another purpose of the questions is to force your brain to participate
actively join in the story. As you listen, you should try to immediately answer the
trigger: activate; turn on questions as I ask them. This will trigger your memory more quickly
passively: not actively; with- than if you just passively listen.
out energy or action
By working through all of the Effortless English system you will learn
scan: to look over something new words, phrases, and grammar forms more thoroughly. Read the
quickly; to look at quickly articles and scan the word list. Listen to the articles several times.
several: many Listen to the vocabulary lesson a couple of times. Listen to the mini-
out loud: not quietly; to story several times- and quickly answer the questions as I ask them.
speak with a (fairly) loud After completing the mini-story, stop your iPod and try to retell the
voice story out loud, in your own words- trying to use the new vocabulary
as much as possible.
at a surface level: not By following all the steps, you will learn the new material thoroughly
deeply; not completely; not and completely-- not just at a surface level.
seriously
You will then find it much easier to actually use what you have
learned.

Good luck!

Learn More:

TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling

http://www.blaineraytprs.com/

TPR (Total Physical Response)

http://www.tpr-world.com/

Interactive Stories
http://e-poche.net/conversations/?page_id=7
 Effortless English
Thriving On Chaos
revert: v. go back to
challenging: adj. difficult Publish Date: January 27, 2007
motion: n. movement
having a hard time: idiom. expe- All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
riencing a difficult situation http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
relieve: v. cure, make better
chaos: n. constant & unpre- "It is easy to understand why many teachers revert to textbooks or work-
dictable change sheets when things around them are in constant, challenging motion, but
trend: n. something many people they must learn to be in motion, too. The students are being loud; they are
are doing, something that is popu-
having a hard time paying attention to each other; they are having a hard
lar
microphones: n. device that
time paying attention to the teacher. We all know that telling students to turn
increases sound volume to page 37 and answer the questions can relieve chaos and make the room
personalized: individualized, quieter for a time. I've recently heard of a new trend of teachers using wire-
made for each person less microphones in an effort to keep students' attention and be heard above
tough: adj. difficult the other noise in the classroom. Education is not about who can speak the
entitled: v. named loudest. It's about the students and teacher wanting to listen to each other. A
thriving: v. growing successfully, truly personalized, small school allows that to happen.
living and growing in a healthy
way Another reason I look to my friend Tom Peters for ideas on how to deal with
to land on: idiom. to decide to the tough moments is because he entitled one of his books "Thriving on
use, to choose (after considering
Chaos". Tom told me it took him a long time to land on that word "thriv-
many choices)
sticking to: v. staying with, con-
ing". But he was looking for a way of saying you must be ready for and
tinuing to do or use enjoy the process of change. Our schools must be thriving environments,
evolving: v. changing with the thriving on the chaos and on the beauty. We all need to re-examine our situ-
environment, changing to survive ations from time to time and make sure we are not sticking to old patterns in
or thrive new situations."
rapidly: adv. quickly, fast
overwhelming: adj. too much to --Dennis Littky
handle (too much emotion, too
much information. etc.) I like the phrase "Thriving on Chaos". As we all know, the world is con-
pace: n. speed, rate stantly changing and its changing quickly. Science, education, travel, tech-
depressed: adj. very sad
nology, and human relationships are evolving rapidly. Sometimes it can
dig in: idiom. to resist change, to
fight against change
feel overwhelming.
conservative: adj. doesn’t like
change or differences In fact, many people do become overwhelmed by the pace of change. They
bitter: adj. very angry and frus- may become depressed. They may dig in and become very conservative in
trated for a long time (ie. months an effort to stop.... or at least slow the change. Some people even become
and years) quite bitter about it. Others try to keep up, but can't.
to keep up: v. to stay equal with,
to not fall behind Without a doubt, human societies have changed. Its no longer possible to
 thrive by doing things the way they have always been done. "We've always
done it that way" is no longer a reasonable explanation. In fact, it's an
reasonable: adj. intelligent, good excuse that is a recipe for failure.
a recipe for failure: idiom. some-
thing that will cause failure
to enhance: v. to improve So how can we thrive on chaos? How do we not only survive these rapid
changes, but learn to enjoy them? How do we use change to enhance our
antithetical: adj. opposite, para- lives?
doxical
principles: n. very general values It may seem antithetical, but one of the key ways to thrive on change is to
or guidelines to live by have a set of unchanging principles. A principle is not a rule. Rules are
inflexible: adj. not easy to change inflexible. They are limiting. They slow us down and make it hard for us to
limiting: adj. prevent change, adapt quickly when circumstances change. Principles, on the other hand,
action, or growth are highly adaptable. A principle is a general value -- a commitment to
adapt: v. change with the situa-
tion, change to survive and thrive something that is deep and meaningful. "I must always shake hands when I
circumstances: n. situations meet a new person" is a rule. If you meet a Japanese person and you have
commitment: n. a strong decision this rule, you may become confused. "I will try always be kind and respect-
to do something, a strong loyalty
respectful: adj. showing polite- ful" is a principle.
ness and courtesy
Principles are easily adaptable to new circumstances because principles are
adaptable: adj. changeable, able generally not concerned with specific actions or details. There are many
to survive new situations ways to show respect, for example. In the past, schools, companies, and
society: n. all people in a country individuals often focused on rules. The problem is, students, employees,
or culture society, and individuals have changed. The old rules don't work anymore.
tumultuous: adj. quickly chang-
ing, chaotic What we need to thrive in this tumultuous age are deep principles-- and the
age: n. time period, period in his- flexibility to change the way we follow them.
tory
reflection: n. thought, deep think-
ing about the past or present Another vital skill for this age of chaos is reflection. Reflection means
theoretical: adj. concerned with thinking deeply about something-- usually yourself, your life, and your
ideas actions. Many people have been taught to first think, then act. But I think
abstract: adj. with ideas only,
not real or concrete, thought only its better to do the opposite-- first act, then think. If you think first, it's easy
debate: n. discussion, argument to get lost in a theoretical world of abstract ideas. The education field is
full of these kinds of people. They think, talk, write, and debate-- but its all
theory-- all in their head. These people actually have no idea what is hap-
concrete: adj. real, solid, in the pening in the world and what would happen if they tried something new.
real world (can be seen, touched,
etc.) If you act first, however, you then have something concrete to think about.
grounded in: idiom. connected to
caught up in: idiom. obsessed Your thinking is grounded in the real world. When you act first, its harder
with, thinking too much about to become caught up in speculation. Another tremendous advantage to
speculation: n. theory, guessing acting first is that actions often have surprising consequences. When we
tremendous: adj. big
advantage: n. something that is think, we often believe we have thought of every possibility. But then, to our
helpful, something that helps surprise, we discover that lots of unexpected things happen when we actually
consequences: n. results, effects try something new.
discover: v. find, realize
innovation: n. creative change,
change and improvement These surprises are the seeds of innovation and creativity. Unimaginative
label: v. name, call people often label the surprises as "failures"-- simply because the results
so-called: idiom. called, named
(by adding “so”, you suggest that were not as expected. But in the words of Tony Robbins, there are no fail-
you don’t agree with the name) ures-- there are only results. In fact, so-called failures are often more valu-
 able than what most consider success. Failure gives you new ideas and new
reinforces: v. strengthens, makes input. "Success" often just reinforces your old ideas.
stronger
discard: v. to throw away, get rid And so, to truly thrive on chaos, we must act first and then think. We must
of also discard labels such as "failure" and "success" and instead think in terms
of "interesting results", "possibilities", and "opportunities".
rigid: adj. not soft and flexible,
hard to bend, hard to change The time for rigid, rule-centered thinking was 100 years ago. In the churn-
churning: v. mixing ing, hyper speed digital age-- the only way to thrive is to stick to your prin-
hyper speed: adj. VERY fast ciples, act without fear, and embrace interesting failures. Those who thrive
to stick to: v. stay with, stay loyal on chaos are those who learn to enjoy the ride.
to
embrace: v. hug, accept happily
to enjoy the ride: idiom. to enjoy Learn More:
the process, to enjoy the whole
experience (not just the end result).
Tom Peters Business Blog
http://www.tompeters.com

Dennis Littky’s Schools

http://www.bigpicture.org/aboutus/philosophy.htm
 Effortless English
dropping like flies: idiom.
quitting in large numbers and TPR & Listen First
very quickly Publish Date: February 13, 2007
dropout: n. quitting, leaving
less than satisfactory: not Old Audio Article Archives Available At:
good, below average, low quali-
ty
http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com

proficiency: n. skill, ability Foreign language study has not been as successful as it should be. In fact,
standardized: adj. uniform, students are dropping like flies from foreign language programs. J.H.
fixed Lawson reports that the dropout rate in foreign language programs for
proficient: adj. skilled, good at American high school students is as high as 85% by the third year and 95%
(doing something) by the fourth year.
experience: v. be affected by
That is: in fact, actually Another study by John B. Carroll found that students who had studied for
at all costs: idiom. totally, com- two years had a less than satisfactory proficiency as measured by stan-
pletely, no matter what happens dardized tests, which means that the first two years did not allow the student
audio-lingual: n. a teaching to become proficient enough to hold a conversation in the language. L.A.
method that uses mostly “repeat Jakobovits also found that most students who study foreign languages will
after me” and substitution drills probably never become fluent. Not only will most students have low profi-
grammar analysis: n. a teach- ciency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening-- they will actually expe-
ing method that focuses mostly rience negative learning. That is, they will learn to avoid the foreign lan-
on memorizing grammar rules guage and culture at all costs. This is because of the many frustrations and
approaches: n. methods failures they experience during their foreign language study.
wide use: n. used a lot, a lot of
use Perhaps the major reason for the lack of success of foreign language pro-
engaging in: v. doing grams is the method used. The audio-lingual and grammar-analysis meth-
pattern practice drills: n. ods are popular approaches that came into wide use after World War II.
repeating the same sentence These methods consist of memorizing grammar rules and dialogues and
patterns again and again engaging in pattern practice drills. These methods do not produce com-
theoretically: adv. in idea only, municative skill because language is "creative" and therefore theoretically
abstractly infinite. Consequently, it is logical to conclude that since language has infi-
infinite: adj. without limit, hav- nite possibilities, the methods of language instruction should teach the stu-
ing no end dent to communicate creatively. A number of powerful methods have been
TPR: n. Total Physical effective doing just that. These include TPR, TPRS, Focal Skills, ALG,
Response- a teaching method The Natural Approach, and The Effortless Way.
TPRS: n. Teaching Proficiency
through Reading and The first of these, TPR, was created by Dr. James Asher. TPR stands for
Storytelling "Total Physical Response". Learning a language through TPR approxi-
approximates: v. gets close to, mates the acquisition of your native language. This acquisition follows the
imitates order of listening first, and then speaking. Finally, the learner learns to read
acquisition: n. getting, learning and write. In the receptive listening stage, the child hears different "sounds"
receptive: adj. open, receiving
respond: v. answer, react such as "Pick up your truck", or "Drink your water". As the child hears these
far in advance of: adj. much "sounds", they physically respond. After a period of perhaps 12 to 18
higher than, much better than months, the child begins to speak. At this point, understanding is far in
developed: v. learned, advance of speaking and it will remain that way for many, many years. In
improved, grown the acquisition of the first language, therefore, listening is the first skill to be
approximate: v. get close to , developed followed by speaking. It seems reasonable, obviously, that for-
imitate, copy eign language learning should approximate first language learning.
delayed: v. stopped, inhibited
extensively: adv. thoroughly, In TPR speech and writing are delayed until comprehension has been exten-
totally sively internalized. Research by Valerian Potovosky supports the theory
internalized: v. learned subcon- that delaying speech is beneficial. The results of his research show that
sciously, learned instinctively overall proficiency in Russian was significantly better when oral practice
beneficial: adj. helpful, good was delayed at the beginning of language instruction until comprehension of
oral: adj. related to the mouth, spoken Russian was extensively internalized. This learning method is often
related to speaking, speaking called a "listen first" approach. It has also been used successfully by the
comprehension: n. understand- Thai language program at the American Alumni University school in
ing Bangkok, Thailand.

In sum, research and educational experience show that traditional grammar-

In Sum: prep. in conclusion, analysis methods fail up to 95% of the students who are taught using them.
finally Natural methods, especially those that use a "listen first" approach, are much
more powerful and effective.

focus: v. concentrate on Therefore, when learning English or any other foreign language, focus most
supplement: n. addition, extra of your energy on listening until you can quite easily understand native
thing speakers using the language. Only after that should you change your focus
major: adj. important to speaking or writing. As for reading, it is an ideal supplement to listen-
ing activity as long as listening remains the major focus.

go back to square one: idiom. If you are an intermediate or advance learner, but feel that your listening
go back to the beginning, return skills are weak-- its best to go back to square one and focus on listening for
to the first step 6 months or more-- until you can understand native speakers well. Then you
extensive: adj. a lot of, a large can return to extensive reading, writing, and speaking.
quantity of

Learn More:

TPR
http://ww.tpr-world.com

Listen First (ALG)

http://www.algworld.com
 Effortless English
Our Universal Journey
Publish Date: December 23, 2006

All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:

incurable: cannot be cured
http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
tenuous: uncertain; easy to
change
fragile: easy to break, breakable A cat with an "incurable" kind of cancer. A job that is always tenu-
unpredictable: cannot know the ous. Human relationships that are fragile, unpredictable, and
future; unable to know (future) sometimes tumultuous. My own body, seemingly healthy- but still
tumultuous: quickly changing; full
subject to disease, fatigue, and aging.
of conflict, change, and/or emotion
subject to: possible to be affected
by; susceptible to Life is unpredictable. However much we think we have a handle on
fatigue: tiredness (longterm) it, the truth is we never really know what's to come. Everything can
have a handle on it: control it; are change in an instant. This is a tough truth to accept, for though we
successful with it
know intellectually that all things in life are impermanent, we often
tough: difficult
intellectually: mentally; with ideas don't feel it instinctively. We persist in our attempts to control life-
impermanent: not permanent, we imagine that we can predict and manipulate future events. We
always changing imagine that we control, or at least have a strong influence on,
instinctively: deeply; emotionally; external events.
biologically
persist: continue; don’t quit
manipulate: control; influence But this is not really the case. In fact, all that worry, manipulation,
have a strong influence on: can and attempted control is mostly wasted energy. We are not the mas-
affect; can change somewhat ters of the external world. We cannot predict the future. Our best
the case: the situation laid plans are always subject to catastrophic failure.
manipulation: attempt to control
best laid plans: best thought
plans for the future; best plans There is no security to be found in the outside world. There is no
catastrophic: disastrous, terrible secure job, or relationship, or situation of any kind. Everything
security: safety; changelessness; changes. We can, conceivably, lose them all in the blink of an eye.
safe and without change Where then is true security to be found? Certainly not in the external
conceivably: in theory; possibly
world, but rather, internally.
in the blink of an eye: suddenly;
instantly
appropriately: correctly "Trust yourself to react appropriately when catastrophe happens.
catastrophe: disaster; total failure Failure of nerve is really failure to trust yourself." -- Alan Watts
failure of nerve: fear; worry; fail-
ure of courage
This is the only true security- the security of trusting yourself, the
adaptability: ability to change with
the environment security of flexibility and adaptability, the security of spiritual and
self-reliance: ability to depend on emotional self-reliance. Rather than obsess over external events,
yourself; ability to help yourself we better serve ourselves by obsessing over our inner resources.
obsess over: think only about Our security and happiness come from our inner peace-- our ability to
accept any situation, adapt to it, use it, learn from it, and (perhaps)
overcome: beat, defeat; solve (a overcome it.
problem)
confident: strong (mentally); feel-
ing good about oneself
The more we do this, the more confident we grow and, in time, we
sense: feeling develop a true sense of security in our lives... one that is completely
circumstances: situations independent of external circumstances. Practically, this implies that
implies: suggests our task is to seek out new experiences and build our capacity to
task: job adapt to them. This is the reason I think of travel as a potentially
to seek out: to look for; to try to
find
spiritual practice. Travel-- especially long, challenging journeys--
capacity: ability; potential expands our ability to accept and adapt to the unexpected and the
potentially: possibly unknown. This kind of travel is a concentrated training exercise in
challenging: difficult impermanence and change.
expands: grows; makes bigger
concentrated: intensive; powerful
mythologist: person who studies
Joseph Campbell, the famed mythologist, identified the common
mythology (spiritual stories) thread running through the mythological journeys found in most cul-
the common thread: the common tures. He noted that while these stories are always presented as
idea, the same idea external journeys, they are in fact symbolic of the inner journey we
mythological journeys: spiritual must all make.
travels
symbolic: representative of
face: encounter, meet In the end, we must all leave home (the safe and comfortable), we
challenges: problems, difficulties must all face life-changing challenges, we must all face loss, and we
wisdom: deep knowledge, deep must all arrive at our own understanding of impermanence, and our
understanding own wisdom. This is the universal journey.
universal: for all people; in all
places
Learn More:

The Joseph Campbell Foundation

http://www.jcf.org/index2.php

The Hero With A Thousand Faces (Wiki)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces

Alan Watts
http://www.alanwatts.com/
 Effortless English
Validation
Publish Date: December 16, 2006

All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:

http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com

stacked: piled, on top of each I'm sitting at the table in my apartment, looking out the window. I turn back
other to the papers stacked in front of me. "Interesting", I say, "very interesting".
glance over: look at quickly
scores: results, numbers
pre-test: a test given before a I glance over the test scores again-- the pre-test numbers, the post-test
class (or other experience) numbers, and the amount each student improved.
post-test: a test given after a
class (or other experience) "Good, good", I say as I notice that all of the students improved over the
the course of: the time of; the course of the semester. All the post-test scores are higher than the pre-test
length of scores. Most students improved by a couple of points... but my eyes are
drawn to: attracted to drawn to two sets of numbers.. two names: Kyoung and Jin. These two
dramatically more: much more students improved dramatically more than all of the others. Their post-test
a big jump: a large improvement
scores show a big jump.

"What did they do differently?", I ask myself.

traditional: usual; normal; old At the final class, I ask them. Since all of the students had the same in-
class experience, I focus on what they did outside of class. Most students
approach: way of doing some- followed traditional study methods. They studied textbooks. They used
thing vocabulary books. They went to traditional English (ESL) classes.
harangued: tried to convince; tried
to persuade; repeatedly talked But Kyoung and Jin followed a different approach. In fact, they actually fol-
about something
took my advice: did what I sug-
lowed the method I continually harangued the class about. They focused
gested on repeated listening and reading for fun. Both students said they took my
The Linguist: www.thelinguist.com advice seriously and therefore listened to English podcasts and audio arti-
faithfully: with belief and confi- cles 1-2 hours every day. Kyoung joined The Linguist and faithfully uses
dence their system. Both students also read for fun-- mostly "easy" materials such
adolescent novels: books for chil-
dren aged 12-14
as "National Geographic For Kids", adolescent novels, etc.

jargon: special vocabulary for a In TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) jargon,
specific job or field these two exceptional students followed an "input-based approach". The
exceptional: amazing, great bulk of their study time was spent reading and listening to understandable
input: information that comes in
(ie. reading and listening)
and interesting English materials.
the bulk of: most of
analysis: carefully looking at the Most students and schools follow an "analysis-based approach". The bulk
details of something of their time is spent analyzing the language, breaking it apart, memorizing
analyzing: studying the pieces of grammar "rules", and doing drills.
the language.
drills: repeated practice actions
 Plenty of research shows that input-based methods are faster and more
research: formal investigation, for- effective than analysis-based methods. I knew this- which is why I always
mal study, academic study nag and cajole my students to focus on comprehensible input. But it was
nag: to ask someone to do some- still thrilling to see this knowledge illustrated quantitatively, in such dra-
thing many many times
matic fashion, by my own students.
cajole: to beg or try to persuade
comprehensible: understandable;
can be understood The truly interesting part is that the pre and post-test I gave them (The
thrilling: exciting Michigan Test) measures listening, vocabulary, and grammar. I'm not sur-
illustrated: shown prised that Kyoung and Jin improved their listening skill. But that section
quantitatively: with numbers was only 20% of the test. The remaining 80% tested both vocabulary and
in dramatic fashion: in a powerful grammar. In other words, their vocabulary improved dramatically faster than
way; in a noticeable way the students who specifically studied vocabulary books and lists. Their
section: part grammar improved dramatically faster than the students who specifically
remaining: the rest studied grammar textbooks.
specifically studied: focused on
(studying) one subject
an isolated incident: an experi-
This is not an isolated incident. Many research studies replicate these
ence that is not (usually) repeated; findings (see www.sdkrashen.com for the most thorough summary of
a special experience/happening these). In study after study, input-based approaches beat analysis-based
replicate: repeat, copy approaches- as measured by general English tests, such as the TOEFL,
findings: results; conclusions TOEIC, or Michigan Test. These tests measure vocabulary, grammar, listen-
ing, and in some cases, speaking and writing.

phenomenon: happening; experi- Though I'm aware of this research, I've never seen this phenomenon so
ence starkly illustrated in person in a quantitative way-- mostly because I've
starkly: in a strong and obvious
never had the opportunity to pre and post-test my students.
way
in person: experienced directly
and personally These results are a small but powerful validation of my own teaching
quantitative: numeric, with num- approach- and the methods I continually exhort my students to follow.
bers
validation: proof or evidence (that I will now carry this plea to you: Do not analyze English. Do not use analy-
something is right) sis-based methods. Do not rely on textbooks. Do not focus on grammar
exhort: try to persuade; try to rules.
convince; plea for
plea: request Use an input-based method. Listen to understandable English. Listen
rely on: depend on
repeatedly. Listen one hour every day and listen every day. And read.
Read a lot. But don't read textbooks. Read easy materials that are fun and
interesting to you.

Many students, for some reason, don’t follow my advice. But those that do,
such as Kyoung and Jin, improve much more quickly than those who don’t

Follow this method, and you too will improve faster, just like Kyoung and Jin.

Learn More:

Effortless English
http://www.effortlessenglish.com

The Linguist
http://www.thelinguist.com
 Effortless English
stabbing: v. to push a knife into
something Vipassana
kidneys: n. part of body that
Publish Date: Jan 17, 2007
cleans the blood
unavoidable: adj. can’t get away
from, can’t avoid All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
scanned: v. to look at quickly http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
searing: v. burning
flesh: n. skin (& muscle) It felt like two hot knives were stabbing me in the back-- right into my kid-
numb: adj. without feeling, can- neys. It was a burning pain-- unavoidable.
not feel pain
ache: n. a “dull” pain As my mind scanned this area of my back, it imagined two white-hot spots
panic: n. strong fear and confu- searing through my flesh. My knees also burned. My ankles burned. My
sion feet were numb with a dull ache. But my back was the worst.
butterflies in my stomach:
idiom. nervous, worried I felt a wave of panic-- butterflies in my stomach and a tremendous urge
gulped: v. swallowed to get up and run away. I gulped, refocused my mind on the sensations in
sensations: n. (physical) feelings
my body, and remained still. I tried to follow the advisors instructions--
advisors: n. teachers
don't flee from the pain, go deeply into it. My mind concentrated on the
flee: v. run away from, run from,
burning kidneys. I tried to observe the pain dispassionately. What was it
avoid
dispassionately: adv. without exactly? What is pain? How, exactly, did it feel? How large was the painful
emotion area? How deep?
delved into: v. go (deeply) into
drained away: v. went away, left As I delved into the pain, an amazing thing happened-- the panic and fear
slowly drained away. My body heaved suddenly with a long, slow, very deep
heaved: v. moved suddenly breath. As I exhaled, I felt a deep sense of calm wash through me.
exhaled: v. breathed out
wash through: v. idiom. go A natural, unforced smile crept onto my face. My mind remained focused
(completely through) and suddenly the intense pain didn't seem "painful". I noticed that the pain
crept: v. came slowly (present was, in fact, an area of more intense vibration--- but I was no longer experi-
tense- to creep) encing it as something to escape or avoid.
intense: adj. strong, powerful
vibration: n. shaking That was the moment I broke through-- at the end of the 8th day of a 10
escape: v. get away from day Vipassana meditation course.
broke through: v. made a big
improvement (or change) Vipassana is a form of meditation, sometimes translated to English as
Vipassana meditation: n. a kind
of mental training "Insight Meditation". It consists of a deep and systematic observation of
insight: n. understanding one's mind and body. Vipassana has many variants and is taught by many
consists of: includes different meditation schools, teachers, and groups.
systematic observation: n. care-
ful & organized looking
variants: n. variations, kinds
methods: n. ways of doing something The course I took followed the methods of S.N. Goenka. Goenka learned
transformations: n. big changes, Vipassana in Burma and was so amazed by the transformations it caused in
deep and longterm changes
intense: adj. powerful
his life, he wanted to teach others. After some time, Goenka developed a 10
participants: n. people who join, day course. The course is very intense. Participants do not speak during
people who participate the course and they meditate from 4 AM to 9 PM, with only short breaks.
theory: n. (research) ideas
philosophy: n. ideas about how to The focus of the course is on the direct experience and practice of meditation
live, life values
unique aspect: special part, special
rather than theory or philosophy. Another unique aspect of the course is
feature that it is free. At the end of the course, participants may give a donation if
donation: n. money given to help they wish to help others do the course-- but this is voluntary and there is no
someone, money give to a charity coercion.
voluntary: adj. by choice
coercion: n. force, persuasion
sense: n. feeling
When I finished the course I felt a powerful sense of calm. I felt centered.
centered: adj. balanced, calm My mind was clearer than it had ever been. The course was one of the most
initially: adv. at first powerful experiences I've ever had in my life-- and one of the most positive.
meditate: v. to focus the mind
got out of the practice: v. stopped Unfortunately, that was almost 3 and a half years ago. Initially I continued
practicing, stopped doing
as a result: therefore
to meditate after the course. But slowly I got out of the practice. Its been
volatile: adj. changing a lot and quite a while now.
changing quickly, chaotic
unstable: adj. not firm, not the same, As a result, I feel my mind and emotions have grown volatile and unstable
not consistent again. Which, lately, has gotten me thinking about Vipassana.
gotten: v. idiomatic. “got”, made
me...
There are Vipassana courses and centers all over the world, so it would be
easy to find one.

To learn more, go to www.dhamma.org

Learn More:

10 Day Vipassana Courses

http://www.dhamma.org

Vipassana Article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipassana
 Effortless English
trapped: stuck; cannot escape; Worthy Goals
cannot leave
staring: looking at something a Podcast Date: November 25, 2006
long time
at a glacial pace: very very slow All Sound Files Available At:
screen: monitor
http://www.effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
mind numbing: very boring
routine: an action you do many There I was, trapped in a tiny office, staring at the clock. Time
times; a habit seemed to go at a glacial pace. I turned back to the computer, put
miserable: very unhappy; very my hands on the keyboard, and stared at the screen. I sat like that
painful and terrible
for hours- doing no work. But if someone walked by my office, it
inspiring: makes you feel excited;
makes you want to be better looked like I was working on the computer.
autonomy: self-reliance; personal
freedom and power Day after day, I did the same mind numbing routine. It was the
degrading: makes you feel weak most miserable job I ever had-- working for IBM.
comedy: a funny movie
captured: caught; showed
sterility: without beauty, life, or Is it possible to make a living in an honest, inspiring, interesting
emotion way? Is it possible to have freedom and autonomy in one's work
numbness: no feeling; cannot feel life? Does work have to be boring and degrading?
pointlessness: without a purpose
degradation: weak and powerless
Last night I watched the movie "Office Space", a comedy about office
feeling
crushed: destroyed; broken into workers. It was very funny because it was so true. As I watched, I
many tiny pieces; pressed until remembered my experiences working for IBM- many years ago. The
broken movie captured the sterility, the numbness, and the pointlessness
heartless: having no kindness or perfectly.
emotion
oppressive: controlling; something
that controls you and makes you Sadly, most jobs are like this. Most jobs, in my opinion, are factories
weak of degradation. The workers' spirit and soul are crushed. Over time,
face (verb): encounter; meet people who work in such jobs become empty- depressed, heartless,
misery: pain, sadness, suffering and boring. Hakim Bey once wrote that "work is the most oppressive
insincerity: without honesty; dis-
force we face, the greatest source of misery in our lives." This has
honesty
drab: ugly; without color certainly been true for me. I hated my job at IBM. I hated the sterility.
humiliation: embarrassment I hated the insincerity. I hated the drab offices. I hated the bore-
quest: a search for something dom and humiliation.
livelihood: way of making money;
way of working
Since then, I've been on a quest for a better livelihood. I've been
searching for: looking for; trying
to find searching and searching for a good job- for something I love to do. I
inspire: create feelings of excite- found that in teaching English. I love doing it. I love working with the
ment; make someone want to be a students. They excite and inspire me. I love my time in the class-
better person. room.
right livelihood: an honest and Being an English teacher is much better than working for IBM, but its
good job (or business) still not what I consider a "Right Livelihood". As an employee, I
employee: worker (for someone
else)
must still follow administrator's rules . I must still use their text-
administrators: managers; books, even when i think they are terrible. As an employee, there is
bureaucrats always an element of humiliation, always a whiff of command and
element of: kind of; piece of control.
a whiff of: a little
command: tell other people what
to do
After many years of searching and thinking, I now believe that self-
self-employment: working for employment is the only way to have a right livelihood. You simply
yourself (no boss) must be your own boss or you will never be able to live according to
principles: rules for living your own principles. Truthfully, this is the major reason I launched
launched: started; began (some- Effortless English. I was sick of teaching the way other people want-
thing new)
sick of: tired of; don’t like anymore
ed me to teach, sick of using useless textbooks, and sick of expen-
useless: without purpose; not use- sive schools that failed their students.
ful; not helpful or effective
risk: chance; (possible to fail or I suddenly realized that I had to take the risk and follow my heart. I
succeed) had to have the freedom to do what I loved.
follow my heart: do what I really
want to do; follow my feelings
to pursue: to follow, to try to get Its a little scary when you start to pursue your dream. There are no
guarantees: promises of certain guarantees. People tell you that you are crazy. The spectre of fail-
success ure always hangs over you. For the first time in your life you and
spectre: ghost only you are responsible-- completely responsible.
hangs over you: follows you; is
always there
worthy: good enough; noble; great I once read that a worthy and powerful goal should both terrify and
goal: a specific thing you plan to inspire you. If you don't feel both excited and scared, its probably not
do; something you want to accom- a worthy goal. I agree. Perhaps you also have big dreams. Maybe
plish you also dream of starting your own business.. or writing a book.. or
terrify: scare (a lot)
adventure: an exciting experience
going on a great adventure.. or asking out a girl or guy... or studying
asking out: ask for a date abroad. Perhaps you've hesitated to try because actually pursuing
abroad: outside your country; in the dream terrifies you. Or maybe the fear of failure scares you.
another country
hesitated: waited; paused If so, you should realize that this is good. The fear is good. Your ter-
ror is a good sign, it means you have chosen a worthy goal.
accept: don’t fight against;
acknowledge My best advice to you is the accept that fear. Accept it, but don't let it
give up: quit stop you. Whatever your dream, be terrified, but don't give up. Be
terrified, and then do it.
antidote: cure; medicine (for poi-
son)
Because the best antidote to fear- is action.

Learn More:

Working For The Man

http://www.workingfortheman.com/

Why Work?
http://www.whywork.org/