Live and Learn English with Jean Lee

The Buzz Words from the latest Headlines (May 9 th ~ May 15 th , 2026)       1.    flagrant : adjective. conspicuously and outrageously bad or noticeable E.g., San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama was ejected from a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after an uncharacteristic flagrant foul. Early in the second quarter, Wembanyama hit Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the throat with his elbow, an obvious foul that referees upgraded to flagrant 2 for “unnecessary and excessive contact above the neck.”       2.    punitive: adjective. inflicting punishment E.g., The American Academy of Pediatrics has revised its guidance on school recess, stating that it is too important to be withheld for academic or punitive purposes.       3.    rogue: adjective. unusually dangerous or unpredictable E.g., An Indian billionaire has offered to adopt and relocate at least eighty of Colombia’s rogue ...

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.   #59. The Gift of Not Belonging: How Outsiders Thrive in a World of Joiners (authored by Rami Kaminski, M.D.) This book is the first to examine the unique personality type known as the “otrovert” — a person who does not naturally feel connected to groups or driven by the need to belong, regardless of who the group consists of. It highlights the strengths of otroverts and explores the valuable ways they contribute to society. Dr. Rami Kaminski defined the word “otrovert” as follows: <noun, adjective> An “otrovert” embodies the personality trait of non-belonging: remaining an eternal outsider in a communal world. Unl...

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.   #58. Places in the Heart (film, 1985) Although this film was produced and released over 40 years ago, I believe it continues to resonate deeply with audiences today.  Set in rural Texas during 1935 – the Great Depression era -, the story follows Edna Spaulding (played by Sally Field), a newly widowed mother struggling to care for her two young children while managing a failing farm with limited financial resources. As she faces hardships such as devastating tornadoes and the growing threat of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), Edna receives support from several unexpected allies: her outspoken beautician sister Margaret, a wise b...

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.   #57. Black Cake (authored by Charmaine Wilkerson) This novel follows two siblings (Byron and Benny) who have grown apart and are forced to confront their shared past after the death of their mother. As they uncover long-buried secrets, their search for the truth takes them from the Caribbean to London and California, ultimately leading them to a treasured family dessert known as black cake. This traditional Caribbean black cake prepared from an old family recipe and a recorded message. Through the recording, Eleanor recounts the dramatic story of a determined young swimmer who fled her island home while under suspicion of...

  What countries contain each of the following four-letter words hidden in their names? Ex. CHIN (5) --> CHINA     1. PAIN (5) 2. NADA (6) 3. RUNE (6) 4. WAND (6) 5. RAIN (7) 6. DIVE (8) 7. HAIL (8) 8. LAYS (8) 9. DONE (9) 10. GENT (9) 11. GLAD (10) 12. PINE (11)   ANSWER KEYS 1.   SPAIN 2.   CANADA 3.   BRUNEI 4.   RWANDA 5.   BAHRAIN or UKRAINE 6.   MALDIVES 7.   THAILAND 8.   MALAYSIA 9.   INDONESIA 10.              ARGENTINA 11.              BANGLADESH 12.              PHILIPPINES

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.   #56. The Moon and Sixpence The Moon and Sixpence is a well-known classic novel by William Somerset Maughm. The background setting of this novel takes us back to the time period of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The story is told by a writer who is remembering events from his past. At the beginning, he describes his early adult life in London, where he spends time with writers and people interested in literature. Through a friend, he gets to know Mrs. Strickland and later meets her husband, Charles Strickland, a stockbroker who becomes the main character of the novel. At first, the narrator sees Strickland as a boring and...