Improve your ENGLISH !!! (Давайте совершенствовать английский)

[I see you]

У меня, кстати, соседка по даче, англичанка, тоже в Канаде выросла. Уже пятнадцать лет в России, двое детей. Забавно слышать, как они говорят:"Let"s go to dacha!" "Дача и веранда" они на русский не переводят.

Практикуете с соседкой английский?
А у меня сосед по даче - фин.

[Indeed]

Nancy, спасибо огромное!!! Уже в Айфоне! Пошла искать чтобы еще скинуть!

[I see you]

Девочки, раз уж мы так хорошо тут общаемся, в ВКонтакте я тут)): http://vkontakte.ru/id1284870
И посмотрите у меня там группы английского, мне две из них очень нравятся! Онлайн-видео, видео-уроки и т.п.

[Zero]

чтобы практиковать с соседкой английский, надо переступить языковой барьер.

[Indeed]

У меня, кстати, соседка по даче, англичанка, тоже в Канаде выросла. Уже пятнадцать лет в России, двое детей. Забавно слышать, как они говорят:"Let's go to dacha!" "Дача и веранда" они на русский не переводят.

В Англии дача тоже частенько не переводится - с сыном как раз обсуждали это - он мне тонкости употребления рассказывал, помню смутно, нужно уточнить

[I see you]

чтобы практиковать с соседкой английский, надо переступить языковой барьер.

Ой, я бы не упустила такую возможность. Наверно... Думаю, вам надо срочно рушить этот барьер! Такая возможность хорошая.

[Zero]

А BBC подкасты уже скачивали? http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/

[Zero]

Да, как же его разрушить-то. Сижу читаю Кул Инглиш, статья о Шарлиз Терон. Половину вообще не понимаю. На статье метка - Уровнь средний(intermediate). Хотите почитать, она у меня распечана, люблю распечатывать и пометки делать.

In the late 1990s an 18-year-old South African girl shouted at a bank clerk for refusing to cash a cheque in a Los Angeles bank. Hardly a life chang¬ing moment. But for this young woman, this would be the moment when the course of her life changed forever. Watching her outburst was John Crosby, a successful talent manager, who transformed her from an unknown into Charlize Theron, the world famous actress we know today.

HOW'D THAT HAPPEN?!

While she has become one of the high¬est paid actresses in Hollywood, it is easy to look at her simple elegance and beauty and miss what lies beneath. Theron grew up on a sheep farm outside of Johannesburg in South Africa. Her childhood was turbulent as her father's alcoholism brought physical outbursts against Charlize's mother. Tragi¬cally, when aged 15, Charlize witnessed her mother shoot her father dead in self defence. In spite of this trauma, she has gone on to great things, not only in her career, but also in charitable works and personal life.

However, fame didn't just land on her doorstep. As a young girl, Charl¬ize learned ballet and continued this passion through her teenage years, finding success in performances of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker Suite. Un¬fortunately a knee injury brought a premature end to her dancing ca¬reer and she started modelling instead, working in Europe and the USA. The commo¬tion she caused in the bank led her straight to her first big break in the film 'The Devil's Advocate'. She has studied acting and made a special effort to change her voice to remove her natural Afrikaans accent. Nevertheless, she is extremely proud of her South African background and insists she hasn't turned her back on her cul¬ture. However, she now lives permanently in the States.

ON THE SILVER SCREEN

This 32-year-old beauty is perhaps best known for her role as the lesbian serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003). This set her apart from the plethora of Hollywood's stunning blonde starlets as she underwent a frightening transfor¬mation for the role, by gaining nearly 14 kilograms, wearing fake teeth and giving, what one film critic called "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema". Taking on the role of an unat¬tractive, mentally ill serial killer won her an Oscar, a Golden Globe and universal critical acclaim and popularity.
Other films you might want to check out include Sweet November, The Italian Job, North Country, and due for release next year: The Brazilian Job. There is no sign of Charlize slowing down, which may be because of her down-to-earth outlook. In spite of such great success, she claims to place her good looks very low on the list of priorities and said: "Looks alone won't get you that far. It may get you in the door, but there's always somebody younger, somebody prettier. You have to rely on something else." But what about those multi-million dollar modelling contracts she holds with Dior'sJ'adore and Swiss Watch-maker Raymond Weil? Are looks really so unimportant? But we don't hold it against her, because contrary to the glitzy lifestyles of so many celebrities, she doesn't own private jets or yachts, and likes to keep her way of living low-maintenance. This is one leading lady who likes to play it cool. She is reported as having said: "I'm 50-50 on glamour stuff. I'd rather put on a pair of jeans and get on my Harley and act like a guy." Charlize keeps her feet on the ground and this makes her our kinda girl.

OFF SCREEN

Unlike many big name stars, Charl¬ize has mostly avoided the spotlight in her romantic life. She lives with her long term boyfriend in their shared home, but has used her fame to make a political point about marriage and homosexuality. She has taken the extreme stance that she will not get married herself until the US laws are changed, so that all people are allowed to get married, regardless of their sexual orientation.

A GOOD HEART

Charlize has channelled the painful experiences from her childhood into positive associations with charities that campaign for women's rights and provide aid to women and children who suffer as a result of domestic violence. She currently lives in Los Angeles but still holds South Africa close to her heart and she has started her own charity to help those with HIV and AIDS in her home nation. Upset by their plight she hopes to be able to give them the chance to build better lives. Find out more about her cause on the website: www.charlizeafricaoutreach.org

WATCH THIS SPACE

We will see this lovely lady appear in many more big box office films and international lists of 'beautiful people', 'sexiest woman alive' etc. But we feel she has much more to offer. Where can you see her next? As a UN ambassador for human rights? Running for president? Well hello Mrs President! Wouldn't she sex up politics?! Who knows where she will stop, but one thing's for sure; for Charlize Theron, the world really is her oyster.

[Zero]

вот словарик, вам всё понятно??? я тоже в танке

bank clerk n the person who serves you in a bank

outburst a sudden release, eruption or disturbance

what lies beneath exp more about a person than physical appearance, e.g.: personality and characteristics

turbulent adj a state of disturbance or agitation

to witness vb to be present to watch and/or hear something happen

self defence n the act of protecting oneself

trauma n a deeply painful experience that has negative consequences

land on her doorstep exp to appear without any effort or expectation

passion n a powerful emotion, such as love or hate

premature adj something that happens too early

commotion n a disturbance or upheaval

big break n the event or situation that made the major difference to your life

Afrikaans n the official language of South Africa, originating from old Dutch

to insist vb to demand or speak extremely strongly about

turned her back on exp to move on from something without ever thinking about it again

plethora n many of something, an excess

mentally ill ad a way to describe someone with psychological problems

critical acclaim exp overwhelming success, a very positive report

due for release exp describing when something will become available to the public

down-to-earth exp normal and unpretentious in spite of exp although, regardless of

to claim vb to state as a fact

hold it against exp to judge someone in light of a particular behaviour, quality, or incident
contrary adj the opposite of something else '

glitzy adj glamorous in a loud or showy way

low-maintenance exp easy-going and economical, not requiring huge effort

leading lady n the female who plays the main part

keeps her feet on the ground exp stays very normal in her behaviour ; and attitude, not strongly influenced by the wealth and glamour of the surroundings

ourkinda girl exp 'she is the sort of person we like', a masculine version can be used to express the same sentiment about a male, as in 'He's our kinda guy'

to avoid vb to keep away from

make a (political) point exp to express a particular view (in this case, a view to do with politics)

stance n a position or opinion on something

to channel vb to direct or send a particular way

women's rights n the inexplicably controversial battle for protection against abuse -and fair treatment of women everywhere

domestic violence exp physical abuse, usually at home

close to her heart exp very meaningful to a person

plight n negative circumstances

causer
event or thing that makes some¬thing happen

ambassador
a diplomatic official of the highest rank

to sex up vb
to make something more appeal¬ing or exciting

one thing's for sure exp it is certain

the world really is her oyster exp all opportunities are available to her

[I see you]

Да, как же его разрушить-то. Сижу читаю Кул Инглиш, статья о Шарлиз Терон. Половину вообще не понимаю. На статье метка - Уровнь средний(intermediate). Хотите почитать, она у меня распечана, люблю распечатывать и пометки делать.

Не, ну по большей части понятно.) А все досконально понимать от вас ведь никто и не требует. Где-то по смыслу понимаете, где-то в словарь подсмотрели и запомнили слово. Так и нарабатывается словарный запас и запоминаются грамматические связки.
Я сейчас читаю Завтрак у Тиффани. Такая же ситуация. У меня еще и текст не адаптированный.
Так что, читайте и читайте.)