Katarzyna Sawicz English Teacher
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Everyone has a secret

8/30/2018

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​“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.” 
― Socrates

How to talk about secrets and news.

People love gossiping. Either you are a gossip or they gossip about you. Learn a handful of phrases to describe the very act of gossiping.

to confide  - zwierzyć się
- to tell something secret or personal to someone who you trust not to tell anyone else

My friend confided to me that she was pregnant.


to drop a bombshell - oznajmić złą wiadomość
- to announce a sudden and often unpleasant piece of news

My son dropped a bombshell by informing us that he was going abroad.


eavesdrop (on a conversation) - podsłuchać
- to listen to someone's private conversation without them knowing:

He was eavesdropping on our conversation.


to overhear - przypadkowo podsłyszeć
- to hear what other people are saying without intending to and without their knowledge

I accidentally overheard them say they were going to fire you.


to gossip - plotkować
- to talk about other people's private lives

The employees started to gossip about their affair.


a gossip (gossipmonger)  - plotkarz
- someone who enjoys talking about other people and their private lives

My mum is  a terrible gossip.


indiscreet - niedyskretny
- saying things that should be secret

The actor was rather indiscreet about his relationship.


a rumour - pogłoska
- an unofficial interesting story or piece of news that might be true, and quickly spreads from person to person

Rumours are going round about CEO and his assistant.
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to tell in the strictest confidence - w największej tajemnicy
- expecting not to tell it anyone else

I'm telling you this in the strictest confidence.


be the soul of discretion - uosobienie dyskrecji
- a person who keeps a secret

Don't worry, I'm the soul of discretion when it comes to delicate matters.


to breathe a word to somebody - pisnąć słowko
- to reveal the secret

You cannot breathe a word of this to anybody.


don't quote me on this - nie powołuj się na mnie
- do not tell other people I said this

Don't quote me on this, but I saw our neighbour cheat on his wife.


it's very hush-hush - to ściścle tajne
- highly confidential

It's very hush-hush, don't tell anyone!



be under wraps - trzymać w tajemnicy, zamieść pod dywan
- keep as a secret

These incidents have to be kept under wraps, or we will lose our jobs.



hear on the grapevine - uslyszeć pocztą pantoflową
- find out about something unofficially

I heard on the grapevine he is being promoted.




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Decisions, decisions

8/13/2018

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How to talk about decisions

​A pessimist, confronted with two bad choices, chooses both.
Jewish proverb

​​Everyone has to make decisions. Sometimes they are less important, but sometimes they are life-changing ones. Learn new phrases to equip yourself with the language which will help you to talk about your choices and decisions.


TO BE IN TWO MINDS ABOUT STH - whether to do it or not
I'm in two minds about going to Jennifer's party. 


TO BE SHORTLISTED - to be chosen from a large number of applicants for a job
Mary has been shortlisted for the position of marketing manager and now she is preparing for a job interview.


TO BE SPOILT FOR CHOICE - to have a lot of similar things to choose from
The restaurant has a big variety of dishes. I'm spoilt for choice and don't know what to choose.


TO HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART - to change the way you feel about sth
I wasn't going to do that, but I had a change of heart and did it.


TO HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO ... - to have no other choice
If you don't pay, I will have no alternative but to take legal action against you.


TO OPT FOR - to choose to do something
After much deliberation, I opted for the car.


TO REACH / COME TO / ARRIVE AT  A DECISION - to decide 
We have reached a decision concerning changing flats.


TO SIT ON THE FENCE - to delay making a decision when you have to choose between two sided in an argument
She criticized members of the committee for sitting on the fence and failing to make a useful contribution to the debate.


TO BE TORN BETWEEN ST AND STH - to find two things attractive and not be able to decide between them
I don't know which dress to choose. I'm torn between blue and purple. 


Have you decided to start learning English? Maybe I could be of any help? Contact me.
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Fat Cat

8/8/2018

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Are you a FAT CAT?

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e.g.
There is a lot of public anger about corporate fat cats and their huge bonuses.


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How to talk about HOT WEATHER

8/7/2018

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How to talk about hot weather

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Below you will find a typical summer weather forecast, read and listen:

audio - medium speed - British English 
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Holidaymakers have been warned to take care in the blazing sun with the large parts of the Med gripped by a scorching heatwave.
Temperatures are expected to soar to record-breaking levels in parts of Europe with the mercury set to soar into the mid 40s C.
The all-time continental European maximum is 48C, recorded in Athens, Greece, in July 1977.
Areas most at risk include large swathes of Iberia, France and the Mediterranean. Temperatures will lift into the high 30s C in many places and over 40C locally.
Top temperatures are most likely in south-west Spain and Portugal as a period of intense heat sweeps over Europe from Thursday. 
Spain’s current record high is 47.3C and Portugal has previously seen highs of 47.4C.
Even 46C is possible on Thursday at Badajoz on the Portugal and Spain border - just shy of the record 47C recorded at Badajoz in south-west Spain in August 1964.
The Spanish government has issued its first extreme weather warning of the summer.
The state weather agency has put an orange alert in force as a mass of hot air from North Africa hits the country.

source: ​https://weather.com/en-GB/unitedkingdom/weather/news/2018-08-01-uk-weather-holidaymakers-warned-extreme-heat-europe
 Glossary:

blazing sun - very bright/flamming sun 

​be gripped by - caught by 

scorching - very hot

heatwave - period of hot weather

to soar - to go up rapidly

​mercury - element used in thermometers to indicate temperature

​swathes - straps of land

to lift - to go up
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heat sweeps - periods of hot weather

just shy of - just less than 

to issue - to announce

an orange alert - a warning about bad weather
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The article above provides a few expressions used to describe hot weather. Read below to learn a few more.

to be baking / boiling (hot) - to be very hot
It has been boiling hot all week in Poland.

a drought - a long period of time with little or no rain
If the drought continues, water will have to be rationed.

to be muggy - hot, wet and uncomfortable
London is very hot  and muggy this summer.

a scorcher - a very hot day.
Saturday was a real scorcher.

to be sweltering - to be uncomfortably hot
It's sweltering outside. 

What's the weather like in your country/city?
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    Katarzyna Sawicz

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    Key facts:
    - teacher of English
    - interpreter PL-EN, EN-PL
    - B.A in English Linguistics, M.A in Linguistics, Sworn and Business Translations, Financial Analysis and Reporting
    - over 18 years experience teaching and designing materials
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Prime Courses Katarzyna Sawicz
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