The English Blog

Newsy Video: The Times Turns to Paywalls

Rupert Murdoch has announced he will start charging customers who wish to access online news at some of his British newspapers in June. Read transcript >>

COMMENTS
From a purely selfish point of view, I've got to say that paywalls are a bad idea—especially since this blog uses multiple news sources (just like Newsy). I can imagine paying for one online newspaper, but certainly not more. Still, it's by no means certain that paywalls will succeed—opinions are well and truly divided (see below).

READ MORE
• Rupert Murdoch's pathetic paywall (guardian.co.uk)
• Yes, Rupert Murdoch is taking a risk but don’t write off his paywall (London Evening Standard)
• Q&A: charging for The Times and The Sunday Times websites (TimesOnline + video)

Newsy Video: Teens Charged in Cyberbullying Case

Nine students are charged in a cyberbullying case resulting in a Massachusetts teenager's suicide. Now, state lawmakers are considering tougher laws. Read transcript >>

Words in the News: Branded

The Daily Mail reports that a pet shop owner was fined £1,000 and told to wear an electronic tag ... for selling a goldfish to a boy aged 14. Full story >>

VOCABULARY
If someone is branded as something bad, people generally think they are like that. • Cheryl Cole's cheating husband Ashley Cole has been branded a "treacherous git" by Britain's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan.

WORD ORIGIN
Nowadays, a brand is permanent mark on the skin of an animal, which shows who it belongs to. However, between the 1600s and 1800s, criminals were branded with a hot iron as a form of punishment and identification. For instance, in England, they branded an S on a person's cheek, while in France, they branded a fleur de lis on the shoulder. Read more >>

CNN Student News: Wednesday 31 March

Here is the CNN Student News for Wednesday 31 March. Click on the links to see a transcript.

• Discover why health officials are concerned about a comeback of H1N1
• Hear how bullying that started in school could end up in a courtroom
• Find out why scientists are smashing particles together in Switzerland

Daily Discussion

Essential Apps for English Learners: Grammar

Having previously looked at Dictionary and News apps, I'm now going to cover apps for learning or practising grammar.

As far as free/cheap apps go (the type we prefer!), the choice is disappointing. Or rather, there are plenty of apps, but very few worth the trouble of downloading. Here are a few which are.

• 10 Minute English teaches intermediate-level learners of English using realistic audio dialogues between native speakers of English (British English and American English). The dialogues are structured around grammar points which intermediate learners usually have difficulty with. The grammar used in the dialogues is fully explained in simple and clear terms. The free 'Lite' version has three lessons, while the 'full' version costing $4.99 has ten.

• Grammar Girl Podcast App ($1.99). One of the very best ELL podcasts delivered right to your iPhone along with a weekly bonus audio file that covers an additional grammar or writing topic. Bonus tips are only available through the app. You'll also occasionally receive free book excerpts. Of course, you could subscribe to the podcast on iTunes for free, and transfer it to your iPhone, but $1.99 is a small price to pay to avoid all that hassle and get direct access to over 200 podcasts.

• Mobi Bac Terminale Anglais (free). Excellent grammar reference app for French speakers. Covers all the main grammar points and gives tips on preparing for the Baccalauréat oral and written exams. No exercises, however. 

To get a grammar app with a full range of practice activities and exercises, you're going to have to pay a bit more.

• English Grammar in Use Activities ($9.99) Based on the best-selling grammar book by Raymond Murphy. Designed for intermediate level learners of English. Over 2,800 questions, divided into 16 grammar sections. Features a variety of activity types. Audio recordings of all the exercises. Record and play back function. 

• English Grammar in Use Tests ($4.99) This app preceded the 'Activities' one and has fewer questions (1,700) and no audio. For a more detailed comparison see here.

CONCLUSION
There's definitely a gap in the market for a decent grammar reference app.

Newsy Video: Bomb Attacks Leave Moscow Reeling

Bomb attacks in Moscow lead to a discrepancy in media reports regarding who's to blame. Read transcript >>

READ MORE
• ‘Black Widows’ suspected of Moscow Metro bombings that killed 38 (TimesOnline)
• Attacks Reawaken Worry of Guerrilla War in Caucasus (NY Times)
• Will the Moscow Attacks Help Putin? (NY Times)

Words in the News: Elderly

The Daily Telegraph leads with claims of a Government u-turn over its plans to create a National Care Service for the elderly. Full story >>

VOCABULARY
The elderly are people who are old. • Benefits for the elderly including winter fuel payments and bus passes will be protected under a Conservative government, David Cameron has promised.

CNN Student News: Tuesday 30 March

Here is the CNN Student News for Tuesday 30 March. Click on the links to see a transcript.

• Discover which group is suspected of planning a subway attack in Moscow
• Observe where public opinion stands on the president's health care reform law
• Get to know an accomplished woman who has a lot in common with Sally Ride

Daily Discussion

Newsy Video: iPad Sells Out Before Big Debut

Apple’s iPad is set to hit stores April 3rd, but will there be any available? Read transcript >>

READ MORE
• iPad round-up: Launch day stock sold out (Guardian)

Cartoon: Labour's Election Pledges

 

Today's cartoon by Morten Morland in The Times parodies a Labour election poster from their official site. The cartoonist has changed the wording of the pledges to reflect Labour's perceived lack of concrete policies for dealing with Britain's huge budget deficit (among other things). In addition, the slogan 'A Future Fair For All' has been changed to 'A Future Vague For All'. Morland has also added a picture of Labour leader Gordon Brown walking away from us. Could he be walking into the sunset (i.e., leaving the political scene)? The Independent's Dave Brown bases his cartoon on the same poster.

VOCABULARY
A pledge is a solemn promise or guarantee to do or provide something, especially one that is made by a government, politician, etc. • The Liberal Democrats said on Saturday their election campaign would include a pledge to cut rail fares.

Newsy Video: Pope Benedict Implicated in Sex Abuse Cover-Up

Pope Benedict is facing allegations that he was aware of a priest molesting young boys at a deaf school - forcing some to call for his immediate resignation. Read transcript >>

READ MORE
• Scandal Tests Catholics’ Trust in Leadership (New York Times)
• Pope faces fresh wave of child abuse scandals in Italy (Guardian)
• Pope mass hints at fightback against abuse critics (BBC News)

Words in the News: Pill-Popper

Britain has become a nation of pill-poppers who turn to tablets to cure every ill, latest figures from the Department of Health show, according to the Daily Mail. Full story >>

VOCABULARY
A pill-popper is a person who develops a certain dependance on medicine in pill form. • I don't like being a pill popper, but I've had this disorder for 7 years now, and am grateful for the relief.

CNN Student News: Monday 29 March

Here's the CNN Student News for Monday 29 March. Click on the links to see a transcript.

• Start off in Afghanistan, where President Obama made a surprise visit on Sunday
• Travel around the globe, as some famous landmarks went dark over the weekend
• Arrive in New York, where inner-city teens are getting expert financial lessons

Daily Discussion

Newsy Video: U.S. and Russia Sign Landmark Arms Agreement

President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announce a new nuclear arms pact between both nations. Read transcript >>

READ MORE
• New US-Russia deal marks new start (BBC News)
• U.S. Signs New Arms Control Treaty With Russia (NPR + audio)
• A worthy U.S.-Russia arms control treaty (Washington Post editorial)

Words in the News: Filth

Children as young as five are watching horrific post-watershed TV scenes of sex and violence at the click of a button, the Sunday Express reports. Full story >>

VOCABULARY
People refer to words or pictures, usually ones relating to sex, as filth when they think they are disgusting and rude. • The school wrote to parents telling them that the cartoon was "filth of a most unsavoury nature" and should not be watched by younger children.