Lost in Translation Storytime

I work at a high school and last week my students all had their government mandatory PE test. About half the school knows I know Korea, some assume I know some Korean, but a large chunk think I know like 5 words (which tbh is what I would prefer.)

Most of the kids who *know* I know Korean will usually still speak to me in English to practice/because they think it’s fun. This one kid in particular picks up a ton of phrases from movies and tv and he uses them pretty naturally all the time…but immediately after will ask what it actually means (they’re usually insults about other students or chill phrases like “no big d”) ((the kid he insults is also his best friend and that friend is pretty much fluent in English))

Anyways, this one class is just over halfway done and 3 students come over to me with Boy Who Tries in front and Boy Who is Fluent and Different Boy behind him. BWT points to something behind me and said what I thought was “mouse.” I mildly panic and let out a squeaky “paRdON?!” He then repeats and points again “mouse.” I turn and there is nothing behind me.

I look to BWF behind him for help and his just says “He means zip.” And I am still full confusion. “Zip! Zip!”

I turn again and BWT is directly pointing to the iced Americano I had behind me and he says the same thing again but this time I hear what he ACTUALLY said which was “one mouth.”

Now this kid is 18 and flirty af so I come back yet again but stronger with a “PARDON?!” And then I realize BWF probably said “sip” not “zip” and BWT usually translates things literally and in Korean “one bite/sip” is “한입” which literally translates to “one mouth.”

TL;DR I’m old and my hearing is awful. And while my students were supposed to be the ones exercising, I was the one that left with sore abs from laughing at my own dumb hearing.

A list of useful synonyms

• Argument:altercation, squabble
• Chaos: disorder, confusion, pandemonium
• Collect: assemble, cumulate, stock
• Difficult:arduous, strenuous
• Easy: effortless, painless
• Effort: elbow grease, expenditure, labor
• Happiness: contentement, cheerfulness, joy
• Help: assist, aid, succor
• Love: fondness, tenderness, adoration
• Money:capital, finances, currency
• Pain: affliction, agony, suffering
• Power:ability, potential
• Pleasure:delight, satisfaction, fulfilment
• Prejudice:preconception
• Pride:self-esteem, dignity, honour
• Purpose:motive, cause, impetus
• Reason: aim, objective, incentive
• Rich:affluent, moneyed, wealthy
• Strong:powerful, brawny, strapping
• Useful:handy, nifty, convenient
• Understand: comprehend, perceive

Beautiful Scottish Gaelic Words and Their Meanings

• Blate (adj.): Shy or bashful.
• Bogle (n.): Scottish ghost used to describe a number of folkloric creatures.
• Braw (adj.): Excellent, pleasant.
• Bruadarach (n.): Dreamer, visionary.
• Camhanaich (n.): Early morning twilight.
• Coorie (v.): to cuddle or nestle in, especially when it’s cold.
• Dook (v.): To dip in liquid, especially water.
• Faodail (n.): A lucky find.
• Fearthainn (n.):Rain.
• Gallus (adj.): Cheeky or bold.
• Gloaming (n.): Twilight or dusk.
• Loon (n.): Young man.
• Neach-gaoil (n.): Sweetheart, beloved.
• Peely-wally (adj.): looking pale or sick.
• Piece (n.): Sandwich.
• Saorsa (n.): Freedom, liberty.
• Solasta (adj.): Luminous, shining.
• Stravaig (v.): To wander without a purpose.
• Stocious (adj.): To be very drunk.
• Udal Cuain (adj.): To be tossed arround by the ocean.

The English language ready has me unable to can:

fire = a heating element

fi'e = the same, but for the Black SB/COGIC community in the US

hot = attractive

hot water = trouble

on fire = a successful streak

into the fire = in more trouble

flaming = gay

burning = really intense/important…. or on fire… but like… as in suffering… likely by means of fire

Sorry I don’t have a punchline for any of this, it’s just trippy.

“I’ve heard some rumors
About another girl
I heard she’s cute
But she stores nuts like a squirrel
And that’s all cool
I’ll wait right here
‘Til you get bored
And she gets carded for beer.” 

So poetic, it makes me grin. 

Listening to music in a foreign language is a great way to learn vocabulary, here are some of our favorite songs. If you want to share with us your favorite song, tell us it via FacebookandTwitter.

Jeff Bernat— Call You Mine
I call you my own and can I call you my lover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I096TVjU1k

Dido— Life For Rent 
Cos nothing I have is truly mine
But if my life is for rent and I don’t learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eil9Dw2flcE

Dido — No freedom
Wherever I chose to go
no love without freedom 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcE-vtbRdZE

Pink Floyd— Wish You Were Here
How i wish, how i wish you were
We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl year after year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-rnmSQXE9Q

Amy Diamond— Heartbeats
Please don’t let me go
I just wanna stay
Can’t you feel my heartbeats
giving me away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ-VtIbGcys

Adam Lambert— What you Want From Me
Just don’t give up,
I’m working it out.
Please don’t give in,
I won’t let you done
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wQzmIK-GfU

James Blunt— If Time Is All I Have
When you’re older the memories fade but I know I’ll still feel the same for as long as I live. But if time is all I have, I’ll waste it all on you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ho0miljWEI

Lady Antebellum— Just A Kiss
just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
just a touch in the fire burning so bright”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBbElEQY-sg

Kenny Rogers— Lady
Lady,
for so many years
I thought I’d never find you.
You have come into my life
and made me whole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JJTo4foEEI

Passenger— Let Her Go
Only know you’ve been high when you’re feeling low
Only hate the road when you’re missin’ home
Only know you love her when you let her go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ginx7WKq5GE

Kate Havnevik— Think Again
Only you,I wanna be in love with you,
I don’t wanna get over you,
I want you here
Summer is coming to a close,dreaming’s over once again
,It’s still quiet in this town,
I know where thing has to end ,
and I,I’m not to see you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugOo94QtySU

The Script — Hall Of Fame
You could be the greatest,
you can be the best
You can be the King Kong banging on your chest
You could beat the world,
you could beat the war
You could talk to God, go banging on His door
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jukv9Q1eR2g

Onerepublic — If I Lose Myself
I stand up at the sun
Thought of all the people, places and things I’ve loved
I stand up just to see with of all the faces,
you are the one next to me”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckwhAE6pSAc

Lady Gaga — till it happens to you
Till it happens to you
You don’t know how it feels
Till it happens to you
You won’t know
It won’t be real
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7M9TDWRUTQ

Justin Timberlake feat Carey Mulligan — Five Hundred Miles

If you missed the train I’m on you will know that I an gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzauF0VkECQ

Раз уж у нас идет месяц транспорта, давайте поговорим о самолетах. Боитесь ли вы на них летать? Меня лично напрягают аэропорты гораздо больше, чем самолеты - вся эта бюрократия, проверки… нет, не мое. А вот летать бояться не надо, и вот, почему:

Fear of flying is its own category of phobia, and it is a common one. However, the facts dictate that flying remains one of the safest ways to travel. The chance of dying in a transportation-relatedaccident in the US, for example, is one in 6,800. The chance of dying in a plane crash? One in 13 million. That doesn’t stop us from being scared when boarding a plane—and yet not think twice about stepping into our car.

Help (and logic) is at hand

Whileturbulenceis what passengers fear most, planes are now built in such a way that turbulence cannot cause a plane to crash. Most turbulence-related injuries are the result of unfastened seatbelts and falling luggage. According to an article in Slate, the last plane crash due to turbulence alone was back in 1966. So turbulence might make you feel queasy, it’s not going to endanger you.

Keep calm and Candy Crush

There are other ways to psychologically prepare yourself for a smooth flight. 

• Make everything as slow as possible: Going to the airport, checking in, boarding. 
  
• Never forget the real purpose of the flight. Is it for vacation? Spending good times with friends or family? Keep your eye on the goal, as the flight is usually a means to a happy one.
  
• Beoccupiedinstead ofpreoccupied. Try to do some art therapy, play games or chat with neighbors.
  

accident:авария
to board a plane: сесть в самолет (дословно - зайти на борт)
to step into a car: сесть в машину (дословно - зайти в машину) 
turbulence: турбулентность
unfastened seatbelt: расстегнутый ремень безопасности
queasy:тошнотворный
to check in: зарегистрироваться (на полет)
occupied:занятый
preoccupied:озабоченный

Мы продолжаем неделю транспорта, и я тут наткнулась на интересную статью. О системе машин напрокат, например, всем известно. А велосипедах, допустим, тоже. А как насчет самокатов? Это что-то новенькое! А они, в каком-то смысле, все равно завоевали город. Давайте почитаем:

Bird, a startup run by former Uber executives, launched the scooters in Santa Monica last September. Hundreds weredeposited around the city overnight, the devices soubiquitouspeople literally tripped over them. Since then, they have taken over the town. Download an app, scan a scooter’s barcode and go. You leave the scooter on the pavementfor the next rider.

It aims to solve the “last mile” problem: a distance too far to walk and too short to drive. Marlon Boarnet says scooters canfacilitate these short trips.

The Guardian tried them out last week. The longest journey was three miles. It took 17 minutes and cost $3.55. The experience was positive. Scooters were easy to find with the app’s map pinpointingdevices left by trees, parking meters, benches and doorways. In addition, since both hands are needed to steer it is difficult to text or fiddle with your phone.

Riders are supposed to belicenseddrivers, helmeted and are meant to ride on streets. Still,improperuse abounds.  Few wear helmets in Santa Monica. It is common to see children riding scooters, two people on one scooter, parked scooters cluttering sidewalks etc.

But there’s another concern. Won’t people have even less incentive to walk and exercise? Let’s hope not. With the scooters at least you have to stand.

(Source)

executive:руководитель
scooter:самокат
deposit: (здесь) оставить, откладывать
ubiquitous:встречающийся повсюду
pavement:тротуар
facilitate:способствовать
to try something out: попробовать что-то 
to pinpoint: определить
to steer: направлять, управлять рулем
license:лицензия 
improper:неправильный
to clutter:загромождать

Привет! Тема мая у нас немного нетипичная - транспорт и средства передвижения ;) Обещаем, что будет интересно! Мы не будем писать банальные банальности (”машина”, “автобус”, “самолет”), поэтому смотрите слова ниже:

station:станция
train:поезд
catch/get on: сесть (на поезд, автобус)
get off: сойти
underground: метро
platform: платформа
journey: путешествие
depart / leave: отбывать, уезжать
arrive:прибыть
engine:двигатель
rails:рельсы
aisle:проход
traffic lights:светофор
traffic jam:пробка
port:порт
ship:корабль
embark on a journey: отправиться в путешествие
dock:док, пристань
sail: плыть (о корабле, лодке)
bridge:мост
zebra crossing: зебра (пешеходный переход)

Признавайтесь, как часто в залипаете на картинки и видосы с миленькими животными? Я вот постоянно так делаю. Оказывается, это очень для нас полезно - подтверждено наукой ;) Читайте:

Now new research has revealed that looking at cute images of baby animals doesn’t just make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, but can actually improve your work performanceand help you concentrate.

Through three experiments a team of scientists found that people showed higher levels of concentration being shown pictures of puppies or kittens. The participants who were shown images of puppies and kittens performed their tasks better than those who looked at cats and dogs or sushi and pasta. Performance scores improved by 44%. 

This finding suggests that viewing cute images makes participants behave more deliberatelyand perform tasks with greater time and care,’ said the researchers, according to the published paper. It also improves carefulness, possibly by narrowingthebreadthofattentional focus.’

The study’s authors write that in the future cute objects could be used as a way to triggeremotions ‘toinducecareful behavioral tendencies in specific situations, such as driving and office work.’

Source

fuzzy: буквально - “нечеткий, пушистый”, но в сочетании с warm and fuzzy inside означает что-то близкое к “греть душу”, “теплый и пушистый”, в зависимости от контекста
performance: здесь - результаты, показатели
concentrate:концентрироваться
task: задача
deliberately: cознательно, умышленно
to narrow:сузить
breadth:ширина
attentional focus: внимание
trigger:вызывать
to induce:побудить
tendency: тенденция

Сегодня ваша любимая рубрика с идиомами - на этот раз идиомы о братьях наших меньших :) Какие из этих идиом вы уже знали?

let the cat out of the bag: разболтать, проговориться, рассказать информацию кому-то (обычно случайно)

• Who let the cat out of the bag?! Кто проболтался?
  
• Tell him I’m sorry for letting the cat out of the bag: Скажи ему, что мне жаль, что я проболтался. 

the elephant in the room: что всем очевидно, но на что не обращают внимание, что не обсуждается (очень актуально в каких-то политических беседах)

• I think it’s time we discuss the elephant in the room: Думаю, сейчас самое время поговорить об очевидном. 

like a fish out of water: дословно - рыба без воды, то есть человек вне своего привычного окружения или занятий. 

• I hate working here. I feel like a fish out of water: Ненавижу здесь работать. Чувствую себя, как рыба без воды. 
  
• At some point in your life, you will feel like a fish out of water. It’s normal. В какой-то момент, ты почувствуешь себя, как рыба без воды. Это нормально. 
  

red herring: ложный след, отвлекающий маневр.

• This game really makes you think. Some of their clues are actually a red herring. Эта игра заставит тебя по-настоящему задуматься. Некоторые из их “подсказок”, на самом деле - отвлекающий маневр. 
  

wouldn’t hurt a fly: аналог русского “и мухи не обидит”, то есть добродушный, кроткий человек. 

• Victor couldn’t kill anyone! He wouldn’t hurt a fly: Виктор никого не мог убить! Они и мухи не обидит.  

the world is your oyster: перед тобой открыты все двери, все в твоих руках. 

• Just remember, the world is your oyster: Просто помни, что все в твоих руках

pet peeve: больная мозоль, причина особого раздражения

• Dirty dishes are my pet peeve: Я особенно ненавижу грязную посуду
  
• This has long been one of my pet peeves: Это уже давно было причиной моего особого раздражения
  

Мы нашли для вас статью, которая расскажет, как сказать на английском “олененок”, “утенок” и “гусенок”. Расскажите, знали ли вы эти слова раньше?

BABY BIRDS

Youngeagles(орел) areeaglets,owls(сова) are owlets. Ornithologists often call young birds chicks, nestlings or fledglings, but swans(лебедь),geese(гусь) and ducks(утка), have a specific word —cygnets,goslingsandducklings, respectively.

MAMMALS AND MARSUPIALS

‘fawn,’ the word for deer(олень) young, comes from the Old English word for ‘glad’. 

MARINE ANIMALS

Why are baby fish(рыба) called fry? That’s not a great word for the future of those fish, is it? Brian Sidlauskas, associate professor at Oregon State University says it’s an Old Norse word, “frío, freó, fraé meaning seed or offspring.” At one time it was used to refer to young of all kinds, including humans and bees as well as fishes.

Source

Привет! На нашем тамблере начинается новая апрельская тема - животные! Для сегодняшнего списка слов я специально старалась подобрать необычные слова, ведь мы все знаем, как сказать “кошка” и “собака”, да? Посмотрите на вот эти: 

Части тела животных:

claws:когти
fins:плавники
paws:лапы
horns:рога
wings:крылья
a beak: клюв

Виды животных:

farm animals: домашний скот
jungle animals: животные джунглей
savannah animals: животные саванны
marine animals/sea animals: морские животные
mammal: млекопитающие
reptiles: рептилии
insect: насекомые
house pets: домашние животные

…Просто названия нескольких животных на английском, которые вы можете не знать:
hedgehog:еж
worm: червяк
moth:моль
parrot:попугай
sloth:ленивец
ladybug:божья коровка
dragonfly:стрекоза
jellyfish:медуза

…и немного прилагательных, которые используются для описания животных:
nocturnal:ночной образ жизни
domestic:домашний
extinct:вымерший
omnivore:всеядный
carnivore:плотоядный
herbivore:травоядный
predator:хищник
prey:жертва, добыча

https://quizlet.com/284125690/animals-tumblr-april-flash-cards/?new