Live and Learn English with Jean Lee

Quite a lot of joggers and runners in the street might have faced awkward moments from time to time when some random pedestrians (who happen to be around the same spot) shouted at them “You’ll have arthritis soon!”, “Watch out for Sciatica !”, or “You’ll need a box of donuts to go on!”  Welp, have those rude meddlers been asked to barge into the runners’ life in such an abrupt way?  Are those snoopers the ones that can hardly ever resist the urge to poke their noses into others’ businesses? Otherwise….are they simply jealous?!!! In the world filled with social networks and instant messaging or texting, people are snowed under by cascade of personal thoughts and opinions at any time on a daily basis. Indigestible amount. Insurmountable suggestions. Indefatigable pull of plausible “alternative facts”. Runners in the street are not the only ones that are frequently roasted by nosy people who keep firing shots and napalm of insult disguised in true care and concerns on a...

What comes to your mind when you think of Summer? I personally like Summer because I was born with the sign of Leo in July when the strong sun rays help me unlock power and bounce to get up and go. However, quite a lot of people complain Summer is the season that would gaslight them by making their normal abdomen look like ugly beer belly.  They go on to say that it is hot, muggy, scorching, sultry, and even suffocating outside around this time of year. I wonder what kind of feeling summer time brings you out there. This week, let us go over some idiomatic expressions that have words from this riveting or grueling season of the year! (*source from https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/summer-sun-shine-and-summer-idioms ) Clues: 1.    to think the sun shines out of someone's backside (very casual/not polite) : to love someone so much that you think they are perfect. This has a negative image as we usually use it when someone loves another person too much...

Some senior citizens or even mid-aged people might believe or feel that their bodies have been overused, maltreated, and have no bright future in store for them. In a nutshell, they are stuck in their own belief that fete is over for them. Would you agree on their gloomy mindset? Well, I beg to differ. With the incredibly advanced developments in the field of medicine and pharmaceutical Sciences, we can predict and prevent the potential disorder or illnesses that would be likely to occur in our bodies. According to Dr. Joohan Kim (from Seoul National University in South Korea), Biomedical and Health Informatics (BMHI) makes it possible for your body to be meticulously analyzed in advance, which reveals strengths and weaknesses of your DNA. This remarkable approach in the medical field is more about the quality of life rather than lengthening life span. In other words, this advanced medical strategy and tactic would help us – who could have somewhat dreary picture of our own he...

We all go through unexpected bumps or hills at some point in our lives, through which a lot of lessons are inculcated inside of us and growing occurs thereafter. In a sense, everyone holds life on a precarious tenure . Then what do we argue for in this world of uncertainty? Why would we try to hide the unalloyed feelings when there’s no guarantee of tomorrow? As we read through Romain Rolland’s bildungsroman titled Jean-Christophe, there comes a moment of realization that all the hardships and sufferings , if well endured, would eventually add up to the culmination of a great human being. The predicament  in Jean-Christophe (such as exploitative father, destitution, or loss of love) does not just end up being confounding situations that destroy the milk of human kindness, but rather helps complete a man as an exquisite artist. Of all the amazing virtues, respectability, and interesting characteristics of Jean-Christophe, I personally wish to have his genuine enthusiasm in...

In my ESL tutoring class, one of the most important things I found out was that my student wanted to improve his Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills (BICS), because he needed to face every single day at work filled with lots of meetings and conferences full of American coworkers and higher-ups using common English expressions, many of which he doesn’t get their meanings. This week, I will share some of the useful and common English expressions for ESL/ EFL buddies. 1.    to issue a call for …. : to make an official/ public request or invitation for something e.g., The organizer of the Act Green conference at the McCormick center has issued a call for participations from fertilizer manufacturers. 2.    (It’s) my way or (the) high way. : The attitude of believing that one is always right, and that anyone who doesn't agree has no business dealing with you. No choice other than the way I have described to you. e.g., My manager said “Before you find a pin...

Waiting for the Rain By Jean Lee For all the lands that are parched to the root, A gentle touch of sweet drops would perfectly suit. To all the souls that are broken apart, A quiet sound of savory drizzle would heal the heart. I believe there will be a hint of blessing tomorrow. So that withered petals of our hopes find their light even in sorrow. Seeing through the blank look of your loved one someday, You may shout inside ‘Are you with me?’ like you pray. With the looming gap of miles and miles between each other’s mind, The ailing soul is reaching out to you in silence so unkind. It is your story, their stories ,…. and mine. You don’t need to keep it a secret, and I’m fine. Only if there’ll come a day we have the long lost rain, All our tears won’t have been shed in vain. Whisper three words into his or her ears in no time Albeit it looks like they don’t even care a dime. Could be this very moment   That would last in our hearts, be...