Live and Learn English with Jean Lee

Let us solve the NPR On-air challenge aired this weekend. It is created by Will Shortz. For each one of the following words, change one letter to two new letters to name a country.  ( https://www.npr.org/2020/07/26/895362935/puzzle-around-the-world-jumble )   Example. Belle --> Belize   1. Fence 2. Grace 3. Brawl 4. No Say 5. Polar 6. Debark 7. Malaria 8. Panda (three different answers)   Answer Keys 1. France 2. Greece 3. Brazil 4. Norway 5. Poland 6. Denmark 7. Malasia 8. Panama or Uganda or Rewanda

What would help you get distracted from the bothering heat of a long hot Summer night? Here’s some horror stories that could lead you to another world that gives you a sudden chill or thrill. Ready to get spooked? (source from https://mashable.com/article/scary-stories-halloween/ ) The 1 st Story ( only 2 sentences) At a lunatic doctor’s lab: I finally found my wife the kidney she needed. It took forever to track down everyone she’d donated organs to after the crash. The 2 nd Story (Just like our current situation of being quarantined with cabin fever and losing track of time) The plane ride that never ends I’ve Been Flying for almost Thirty Hours and The Flight Attendants Won’t Stop Crying. Thirty hours ago, I hopped on a late-night flight from New York heading to Los Angeles. After boarding I saw that I had an entire row to myself. Take off passed without incident, and soon I was stretched out for a nap across the row. I slept for...

Are you the type of person who can say “No” or express your “dislikes” when asked to do something you don’t like? Let’s learn about various ways to express that you don’t like it .        1.    Would you like some ice cream? ………. I’ll pass.    2.    How about signing up for a flying yoga class?.........Sorry, but I’ m not interested .    3.    Will you take part in the local road race coming Fall?..........Nope, I’ m not a big fan of running.    4.    Are you going to subscribe to their cooking channel? …….. I don’t think so. Cooking is not my cup of tea.    5.   How about wearing this dress to the party? …………… Are you serious? That’s not for me.    6.    Why don’t we go see a movie in that Drive-In Theatre? ……….. Sorry, but I’ m not fond of seeing a movie.    7.    Let’s watch the president’s official...

Are you interested in creating artwork on your plain fingernails? Time to jazz up your boring nails? I believe that most of you love neat, tidy, and sometimes wild or colorful set of fingernails. Quite a lot of ESL students might want to learn about nail shop expressions/ terms in English to get their beautiful ideas about nail artwork across. Let us explore and nail the expressions to be used in nail shops. 😊  1.    What is the official name for a nail expert who will take care of your fingernails/ toenails at nail salons? …………… manicurist/ pedicurist/nail technicians or nail art designers        2.    What do you say at a nail salon (or book an appointment) if your fingernails or toenails need some attention? ……….. “I’d like to get my nails done .” or “I’d like to get my toenails done ./ I’d like spa manicure/pedicure / feet massage .” “I’d like to get my nails cut short .” “I’d just like get nail polish ...

Challenge yourself with this last weekend word puzzle from NPR, created by Will Shortz! 😊 (This show is just a click away! https://www.npr.org/2020/07/05/887263368/sunday-puzzle-try-t-h-is ) Every answer today is a word or phrase in which the only consonants are H and T — repeated as often as necessary. All the other letters are vowels. Example: Eighth letter of the Greek alphabet --> THETA (picture source:  https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/alphabet-letter-combination-th-t-h-with-grunge-vector-23791856 )  1. Canine or molar 2. Give a share of one's income to the church 3. Lake straddling the California/Nevada border 4. Country sharing a border with the Dominican Republic 5. Island paradise in the South Pacific 6. Giggle sound 7. Tract of land with low-growing shrubs 8. Kind of yoga 9. Really good-looking person, in slang 10. Part of a drum kit with two cymbals and a pedal 11. If you can't stand thi...