Weekend with TV (The Classics): How I Met Your Mother

Engramme's Weekend with TV #15 (The Classics#2): How I Met Your Mother (Listening B2-C1)

Welcome to our Weekend with TV series, where every weekend, we choose a scene from a TV series that not only is interesting to watch but also has useful language to focus on when it comes to learning English. And today's choice is...

Watch, Listen & Enjoy

How I Met Your Mother is the name of a now classic CBS TV series in which a father recounts to his children, through a series of flashbacks, the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother.

In the following scene (S07E21: Now We're Even), Barney (played by Neil Patrick Harris) tries to entice Ted (played by Josh Radnor) into going out and doing something "legendary" and "memorable" every single night!

Watch the Scene: What activities does Barney propose that he and Ted engage in every night? Which one does Ted refuse?

Let's Learn

In this post, we will be looking at a few whole phrases that can be memorized and used as they are, without much change to their format or structure.

Watch & Listen Again: The challenge is to be able to get down the whole phrase that you hear on paper. Ready? (You may need to listen more than once)

(mouse over the colored words/expressions to see their meaning)

Barney: Guys, I was sitting at home last night, and ___  ___  __  _______, I had a piphany. And my piphany was this… Ted: Actually, it's, uh, it's "epiphany". Barney: No, Ted, this is the piphany. And _____  ___  ___: Make every night legendary. Guys, we've had some pretty legendary nights. But we've also had some nights that weren't so legendary. Lookin' at you, The Night Ted Made Us All Watch Norbit. Ted: Eddie Murphy as a fat lady; what's the problem? Lily: That was Eddie Murphy? Barney: The non-legendary nights are done. From here on in, every single night of our lives will be a night ___’__  ______  _______. Starting tonight. Who's ready for the longest, craziest adventure yet?! Good. The weak have been weeded from our herd. You ready to _____  ____  _____, Ted? Ted: Yeah, I'm going home, too. I'm sensing some costumes coming up here and I'd rather steer clear. Barney: Ted, 20 years from now, when you're ___  ______ and I'm President, you're not gonna remember sitting around your apartment ______  ______. What you will remember is that tonight, this night was The Night We Started a Mariachi Band! Uno, dos, tres, quatro! Ted: Okay, you were right. A memorable night. Barney: That was _______  ________  ___ mañana, amigo. Because mañana is gonna be The Night We Ate Everything on the Menu! Ted: A really memorable night. But tomorrow night… Barney: …is The Night We Brought a Horse into the Bar! Ted: Okay, but tomorrow… Barney: …is The Night We Bungee Jumped off the Statue of Liberty! Ted: Nope!

(Check your answers against the ones in the first comment below)

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Wish You a Great Weekend Ahead! And don't forget to tune in tomorrow for another edition of Engramme's Weekend with Music ;)

Practice the Vocabulary from this lesson HERE

Download a pdf Copy for use in the classroom HERE (teachers' version)

English Daily: The White House

Engramme: Your Daily English Programme #59: The White House (Listening B2-C1)

Think Before You Listen

What do you know about this place (pictures below)? What is special about the people who have lived in it?

On October 12, 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt officially named the presidential residence in Washington D.C. the "White House". Before that, it used to be called the "Executive Mansion".

Watch and Listen

Watch the Video: What does former President Barack Obama have to say about the significance of (living in) the White House? Listen and take a note of the important points he mentions.

Let's Practice

Adjectives are probably the most descriptive words in any language: their selection and use can show how someone feels about what they are describing or explaining, both in the outside world and their world inside.

Listen Again: In this activity, we have gapped all the adjectives that president Obama uses to describe his feelings about the White House. Listen and write down the adjectives that you hear. At the end, try and find out how these adjectives best describe how he feels about the place and his responsibilities in it.

(mouse over the colored words to see their meaning)

Former President Obama: Well, the White House is the people's house. Michelle and I and the girls, we understand that we're here for a ________ time, and we're here because we have this ________ privilege of serving the American people and looking after them and what they are ________ about. I think everybody, the first night they spend in the White House, are a little ________. You know, the White House is such an icon in American life and around the globe, and the notion that you'd be sleeping in a bed inside of it, is a little bit ________. And, at least when you've got a couple kids, you pretty much get into a routine because you know that you're going to have to figure out how to wake them up, and make sure they get to school on that first day. So, the transition was ________, but that first night you kind of wake up with a start a little bit and say to yourself, "My goodness, what am I doing here?" Everyday -- although you consider it the place you live -- I think you're very ________ that this is a place of history; that this is a place that belongs to the people and to the country. As much as you want to feel ________ in that place, you also want to feel a little bit of reverence for the fact that down these halls Lincoln has walked, and in these rooms FDR has made decisions that had impacts around the world. While you're here, you're maybe part of the first family, but once your term's up you're going to be a citizen once again. And that, I think, it both ________, but extremely ________ because it reminds us that this is a democracy, and those who come into this office are here temporarily and someday soon there's going to be somebody else who takes up that mantle and you just make sure that during the time that you're here you're doing the best you can to serve the people who've sent you.

(Turn on the video subtitles to check your answers)

Over to You

Is there a similar residence in your country? What is it like? What is special about it and about the people who have lived in it? (let us know in the comments below)

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Congratulations! You're at the end of another lesson post on Engramme: Your Daily English Programme. We hope our daily lessons and topics help you gain more confidence and proficiency in understanding and expression in English.

Practice the Vocabulary from this lesson HERE

Download a pdf Copy (teachers' version) to use in the classroom HERE

English Daily: Age of Success

Engramme: Your Daily English Programme #58: Age and Success (Caption Reading A2-B1)

Think Before You Read

Look at This List of Activities and Events: At what (average) age do you think you would be best at each? Why?

(mouse over the underlined words to see their meaning)

Characteristics & Skills	Possible Age (Range)
You are best at learning a new language.	……….
Your brain works the fastest.	……….
Women are most attractive to men.	……….
You have the highest satisfaction with life.	……….
Your muscles are strongest.	……….
You are best at playing chess.	……….
Women make their highest salary.	……….
Men make their highest salary.	……….
Your math skills are at their highest.	……….
You feel most comfortable with your body.	……….
Your psychological well-being is at its highest.	……….

Watch and Read

Watch & Read: Compare your answers with the ones given in this video from Tech Insider:

Do you agree with the ages they suggest for each skill/event? Discuss your answers (let us know what you think in the comments below)

Let's Practice

In this post, we are going to practice using superlative forms of adjectives: i.e. (the) adjective+est or (the) most+adjective, as well as some of their common noun/verb collocations.

Look at These Sentences from the Video: Do you remember which superlative forms go in the blanks below?

You are ______ at learning a new language.

You are ______ likely to die.

Your brain works the _______.

Women are _____ attractive to men.

You have the _______ satisfaction with life.

Your muscles are ________.

You are _____ at playing chess.

Women make their ______ salary.

Men make their ______ salary.

Your math skills are at their _______.

You feel _____ comfortable with your body.

Your psychological well-being is at its _______.

(Watch the video or see the table further above to check your answers)

Over to You

Let's Turn This Around: In the table below some age ranges are given. What do you think people may be best or worst at in these periods in their life? (You can type your answers in the comments' section)

between 1 and 2 years of age
between 3 and 6 years of age
between 7 and 12 years of age
between 13 and 17 years of age
between 18 and 25 years of age
between 26 and 33 years of age
between 34 and 49 years of age
between 50 and 65 years of age
between 66 and 78 years of age
between 79 and 85+ years of age

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Well Done! You've successfully completed another lesson on Engramme: Your Daily English Programme.

To Review the Vocabulary from this lesson, please click here.

Teachers who would like to use this content in their class can Download a Print-Friendly Copy at this link.

Did You Notice? If you move your mouse over the underlined words in the post, you can see their meaning and much more ;)

English Daily: An Awkward Amount of Time

Engramme: Your Daily English Programme #57: An Awkward Amount of Time (Listening B1-B2)

Think Before You Listen

It happens to all of us: we get off work or school earlier than usual, we need to be somewhere else or meet someone, but we have a few hours left and do not know what to do with it. We can't go home because it is too far away or the time is just not enough to stay home for a while and rest. In other words, as College Humor puts it, we have "an awkward amount of time"!

What do you usually do when you have "an awkward amount of time"? What is the best thing to do?

Watch and Listen

Watch the Video: How do they solve the problem of having an awkward amount of time? Is this a good solution? Why (not)?

Let's Practice

We have had e-mail requests from our readers for a lesson that would focus on "street language": informal words or expressions that people use in casual conversation. You can find a few of these in the following transcript of the video.

Listen Again to the Conversations: Fill in the blanks with informal words/expressions that you hear (if you move your mouse over them, you can see a note about their meaning/use too;)

Man: No, you don't ____ it! If I go home, I'll just have to turn right back around when I get there. I just…I don't have enough time to do anything. Woman: ______  ____ someone has an awkward amount of time? Man: Whoa! Honey, I’ll _____ you back. Woman: Get in here! We understand that in the real world time is a commodity, and you don't always have enough of it. That's why we offer everything you could ever need when you just have, like, an awkward amount of time ___ your hands. Man: Do you have phone …? …chargers? Yeah, we got iPhone, iPad, Android, MacBook; we got you _______. Man: Whoa! Woman: We also know you may not wanna eat a whole meal but you probably wanna eat like a little something. We have light snacks like chips or cookies, all the way up to heavier snacks like _______. But again, no full meals, none here. But there's no pressure to order anything. I mean we’re not a café; we're the Awkward Amount of Time Station. Man: Hey, I am just a little hungry. Do you have…? Woman: …______  ____ bathrooms with stalls that reach all the way to the floor so that you can sh*t in peace? Yeah! Man: Nice! What more could I ask for? Woman: How about a movie theater that only plays 45-minute long movies? _____ ____ everyone. Don't do anything I wouldn’t do! Need to take a phone call with your headphones on while pacing in a small area? We got you covered. [Would you] ______ just sit in your car? That's fine too. We have a designated parking lot: you'll never have to explain that you're not actually leaving your parking spot, and that you're definitely not a ______! It's just understood here. Man: [I] Think I'm gonna like it here for another 30 or 45 minutes. Woman: Awkward Amount of Time Station: because what else are you gonna do? 2nd Man: Hey, is it possible for me to ____ a room for the night? Woman: Okay! Get the f*** out! 2nd Man: I'm sorry! Man: They don't do that.

(compare your answers with the ones in the first comment below)

Over to You

Have you ever heard of "power nap stations"? Or "capsule hotels"? Do you think these are good ideas to help people use the time they may otherwise waste between tasks? (let us know in the comments below)

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Congratulations! You've reached the end of another lesson on Engramme: Your Daily English Programme. We hope our series of daily lessons has helped you practice and improve your English proficiency over time.

Would you like to Practice the Vocabulary from this post? Click here, please.

You're a teacher wishing to use this content in your classroom? Click HERE to Download a pdf Copy.

English Daily: The Phantom of the Opera

Engramme: Your Daily English Programme #56: The Phantom of the Opera (Listening B1-B2)

Welcome to Week 15 on Engramme, where we'll be kicking off the week's series of lessons with a closer look at the hugely successful musical drama "The Phantom of the Opera".

Think Before You Listen

Have you heard of "The Phantom of the Opera" before? Do you know the story? If you've never heard of it before, take a look at these pictures: What do you guess the story is about?

Based on the French novel Le Phantome de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe wrote the musical "Phantom of the Opera" in 1986, which received its first performance at Her Majesty's Theater in London's West End on October 9, 1986.

The story is about a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, loved by a mysterious figure, the Phantom of the Opera, who lives in the dungeons of the Paris Opera House and whose face is partially masked. At one point in time, while the Phantom is playing music at his organ, Christine slips behind him and lifts his mask only to see a monstrous face. Christine runs away in fear...

Watch This Simple English Version of the Story: How did Christine end up in the Paris Opera House? Does the story have a happy ending? Why (not)?

Let's Practice

Many students of English complain about the use of English "prepositions". The use of prepositions in English may vary according to the verb/ noun/ adjective that precedes or follows the preposition. However, if you notice and learn these associations between verbs/ nouns/ adjectives and their related prepositions, you'll be more at ease with using them in your own speech and writing.

Listen Again: Write down, on a piece of paper, the prepositions that you hear at each blank (their related adjectives/ nouns/ verbs have been highlighted)

Since she was a child, Christine Daaé, a beautiful girl _____ blond hair and blue eyes, traveled around Europe _____ her father who was a great Musician. Christine loved to sing. Her father used to tell her many stories _____ the angel of music, the personification of musical inspiration. Christine loved her father's stories which inspired her to continue to practice her singing. She truly sang beautifully. When they arrived _____ Paris, Christine met a young boy called Raoul. Since they both loved music, they became great friends. Christine liked Ronald very much and Raoul felt the very same way _____ Christine. But her father had to continue his travels _____ Europe so Christine had to say goodbye _____ her dear friend Raoul and resume her journey. After many years had passed, Christine came back _____ Paris. She had grown into a beautiful woman _____ a lovely voice, and she was given a position in the chorus _____ the Paris Opera House which is called the Palais Garnier. She immediately made an impact with the company because of her stunning looks and heavenly voice. Very soon afterward, she began to hear a hauntingly handsome voice that would give her advice _____ her singing. “Are you the angel of music?” Christine asked. “I am,” the voice replied, “and I will teach you a little bit of heavens music”. The voice belonged not _____ an angel but to Eric, a strange musical genius who had forever been living in the Opera and was also called The Phantom of the Opera _____ the Opera patrons. The days passed and Christine became more and more enchanted _____ the mysterious voice that so knowingly taught her to sing better and better. One special night, Christine made her debut _____ the opera stage. Christine triumphed at the gala and garnered tremendous applause _____ the audience. Her old childhood friend Raoul was also there _____ the audience at the Opera and recalled his love for her. Raoul went to meet Christine afterward and they talked for a long time. They were still very fond _____ each other. Hidden and watching everything was Eric. Sometime after the gala, the Paris opera performed Faust. But against Eric's will, the lead was to be played _____ the prima donna, Carlotta, and not by Christine. Angry _____ the managers’ decision, the Phantom haunted Carlotta who got scared and lost her voice. He then cut the rope of the grand chandelier which plummeted into the audience. _____ the middle of the confusion, a masked Eric kidnapped Christine and brought her to the cellars beneath the upper stage where he lived, and there he revealed his true identity _____ her. The voice of the man behind the mask was charming and Christine began to find herself attracted _____ her abductor. Curious, Christine gently approached Eric and unmasked him. But to her horror his face was the face of a monster. Seeing how scared Christine was of him, Eric ran from her _____ pain and sadness. The following night during another production of Faust, suddenly a big cloud of smoke appeared and the lights went out. Eric jumped onto the stage and again took Christine _____ him. “You shall marry me Christine”, Eric said, “or I will destroy the entire Opera House and bring it down in ruin”. Christine _____ first refused but when she remembered Raul was also in the audience she agreed to marry Eric. As Eric lifted his mask to kiss her _____ her forehead, he was surprised to receive a kiss from Christine _____ return. “I have never received a kiss”, he told her, “not even _____ my own mother”. Overcome by emotion he told Christine, “go my angel and marry Raoul. I know you love him”. Christine ran away to her beloved Raul whom she married a short time after. She thought _____ the Phantom many times _____ the years but he was never to be seen again although some people say he still wanders the halls of the Paris Opera House.

(see this link to check your answers)

Over to You

What did you like about the story? What didn't you like about it? (let us know in the comments below)

You also have a chance to listen to the fantastic theme song (from the movie version of the musical). Click here to listen to the song.

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To Review the Vocabulary from this lesson, please click here.

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Did You Notice? If you move your mouse over the underlined words in the post, you can see their meanings and much more ;)