Live and Learn English with Jean Lee

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.   #60. When a Man Loves a Woman (film, 1994)   A school counselor named Alice Green (played by Meg Ryan) is a married mother of two daughters. She struggles with a serious alcohol addiction. Her husband, Michael (played by Andy Garcia) who is an airline pilot, always tries to support her, but over time it becomes obvious that his actions have unintentionally enabled her behavior. After her drinking begins to put their children at risk, Alice chooses to seek help by entering a rehabilitation program. When she returns home, her commitment to sobriety creates tension in her marriage, forcing both Alice and Michael to reflec...

Today's Puzzle is a good two-person Puzzle. I'm going to name two things in the same category. You tell me the only other thing in that category that fits between my two things alphabetically . For example, if I said blue and indigo, you would say green because blue and indigo are colors of the rainbow, and the only other one that fits there alphabetically is green.       1.    Sunday, Tuesday (Category: Date in a Week)        2.    Africa, Asia (Category: Continents in the World)       3.    Blitzen, Cupid (Category: Santa Claus’s Original Flying Reindeer)       4.    Adverb, interjection (Category: Part of Speech)       5.    Ballroom, conservatory (Category: Event Space)       6.    French Open, Wimbledon (Category: Tennis Tournament)       7.    Labor Day, Memorial Day (Catego...

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...