Thursday, 3 February 2011

Message: Happy Chinese New Year 2011!

The English Playground wishes all English players a superb prosperous and fruitful Chinese New Year!

Image from freecomputerdesktopwallpaper.com
Image from thesunsfinancialdiary.com

And don't forget, don't eat shark fins!! It is unlucky!
Image from WWF
PS: I owe you Wednesday's article, will make it up soon!
Posted by at 01:02 3 comments Labels:

Monday, 31 January 2011

Song: You Belong With Me -- Taylor Swift

Didn't realise that I have become a fan of Taylor Swift. Why do I say that? Because I have already recommended 2 songs from her, and here comes the third!

Image from Wikipedia
You Belong With Me is found once again in the album Fearless (So Fearless sounds like a really good album to get since it also comes with Love Story and Jump Then Fall). Wikipedia states that,

"Swift was inspired to write "You Belong with Me" after overhearing a male friend of hers arguing with his girlfriend through a phone call; she continued to develop a story line afterward. The song contains many pop music elements and its lyrics have Swift desiring an out-of-reach love interest."

"Out-of-reach love" is a nice description of this song's main theme, but not good enough to appreciate the plot of story.

The song talks about an unspectacular girl (Taylor Swift) being in love with a boy she is closed to, but he has already got a trendy cheerleader girlfriend. Taylor often makes comparisons with his cheerleader girlfriend, admitting that she is not as attractive but she understands the boy much better than his girlfriend does. Taylor repeatedly expresses her wish that the boy will one day realise she is his Miss Right.


What is really interesting is that the boy's cheerleader girlfriend and the nerdy girl are both acted by Taylor Swift herself!

Hope you like this song!

Lyrics:
You're on the phone with your girlfriend, She's upset
She's going off about something that you said
She doesn't get your humour like I do

I'm in the room, its a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesnt like
And she'll never know your story like I do

But she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me
You belong with me

Walkin the streets with you in your worn out jeans
I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be
Laughing on the park bench thinking to myself
Hey isnt this easy?

And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I haven't seen it in awhile, since she brought you down
You say you find I know you better than that
Hey, Whatcha doing with a girl like that?

She wears high heels, I wear sneakers
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see? 
You belong with me

Standin by waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know that?
You belong with me
You belong with me

Oh I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night
I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're about to cry
I know your favorite songs and you tell me about your dreams
I think I know where you belong. I think I know it's with me.

Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you?
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me

Standing by waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know baby
You belong with me
You belong with me

Have you ever thought just maybe
You belong with me
You belong with me

Vocabulary:
go off -- phrasal verb If a bomb goes off, it explodes. Metaphorical use in this context.
bleachers -- (plural noun) a sloping area of seats at a sports ground which are not covered and are therefore not expensive to sit in
wear out -- phrasal verb [M]
to use something so much that it is damaged and cannot be used any more, or to become damaged in this way
bring sb down -- US phrasal verb [M] 
to cause someone to lose power
sneakers -- (n) [C] US
a type of light comfortable shoe that is suitable for playing sports


Resources:
You Belong with Me @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Belong_with_Me

Song: Jump Then Fall -- Taylor Swift @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/04/song-jump-then-fall-taylor-swift.html

Song: Love Story -- Taylor Swift @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/03/song-love-story-taylor-swift.html

Lyrics @ Lyricsmania
http://www.lyricsmania.com/you_belong_with_me_lyrics_taylor_swift.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/go-off_2#go-off_2__2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/bleachers
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/wear-sth-out#wear-sth-out__2
http://dictionaries.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=bring*10+0&dict=A
Posted by at 15:12 2 comments Labels: , , ,

Thursday, 27 January 2011

Drinks: The New Starbucks Logo -- Siren Out of the Ring


Well, not exactly a today's news but may not be one that people in Hong Kong will have easily noticed. Starbucks is changing logo once more after nearly 20 years with the previous one.  What interests me is the change in the design of the logo over the Starbucks lifespan -- and that is, there isn't really much change! To me, it has only been the siren that is moving closer and closer, or getting bigger and bigger. What will it be like in the future?
Image from signature9.com
Honestly, I'm a fan of the Starbucks Coffee, so no matter how the logo changes, I will still go there for drinks, but with one single colour in the new logo, I do feel that it is a little too plain. 

Image from polkadot.it
Beside from changing the logo, there is something more of course. Starbucks is launching a new 'Trenta' size. In Italian, 'Trenta' means 30 and 'Venti' means 20, but they are really just names, because the former is in fact 31 ounce, so, it should have been 'Trentuno', while the latter is in fact 24-ounce so it should have been 'Ventiquattro'. This might be a big news for the coffee lovers, who have always been wanting more, but do not be happy too soon, Starbucks has no near-term plan of launching this size in Hong Kong yet. However, when they do launch it in Hong Kong, I think it will attract more people, or specifically couples, because this cup is double of the 'Tall' size, will make it just enough for either one.

Two people sharing one cup? Sounds financially beneficial! But definitely too much for just one person.

Image from huffpost.com
Fun Fact: -- Siren
The Siren, by John William
Waterhouse (circa 1900),
depicted as a fish-chimera.
Image from Wikipedia
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were three dangerous bird-women, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island.


Vocabulary:
lifespan -- (n) [C]
the length of time for which a person, animal or thing exists
near-term -- (adj) Of, for, or involving a short period of time in the near future
seductress -- (n) [C]
a female seducer who persuades someone to have sex with you, often someone younger than you, who has little experience of sex
lure -- (vb)  [T]
to persuade someone to do something or go somewhere by offering them something exciting
enchanting -- (adj) very pleasant
shipwreck -- (n)  [C or U] (also wreck)
an accident in which a ship is destroyed or sunk at sea, especially by hitting rocks, or a ship which has been destroyed or sunk in such an accident


Resources:
Drinks: Coffee Mania @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/09/health-and-fitness-coffee.html


Starbucks logo change: No name. More mermaid. Will it sell more coffee?
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/new-economy/2011/0106/Starbucks-logo-change-No-name.-More-mermaid.-Will-it-sell-more-coffee

Move over 'Venti,' Starbucks now has 'Trenta' size
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/01/19/11/move-over-venti-starbucks-now-has-trenta-size

Why Starbucks' Move to Brand Minimalism Is Part of Bigger Trend
http://adage.com/smallagency/post?article_id=148060

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lifespan
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/near-term
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/seductress
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/seduce_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lure_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/enchanting
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/shipwreck_1
Posted by at 12:00 0 comments Labels: ,

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Song: Imagine -- John Lennon

Image from joe-ferraro.com
You may not know John Lennon well, but you must have heard of his solo song, Imagine, one of my all-time favourite songs.
Image from bagism.com
His Imagine album earns the 76th place from the Rolling Stone magazine's greatest album in history in 2003[1]. The song Imagine itself is placed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Rolling Stone ranked "Imagine" the third greatest song of all time in their editorial The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[2]

Image from cdn.babble.com
In this song, you won't get to learn difficult words, but you can feel how deep the meaning of this song runs. It has the melody that never dies, never fades with time, never gets obsolete. It is a simple song, with simple lyrics, melody, but simple is beautiful. It is a belief, a hope, that one day there will be no conflict, just equality, joy and love, that the world will become "one" some day. It is a symbol of "peace".

Strawberry Fields in NY City's Central Park
Image from new-york-gallery

Image from museumca.org
I used this song in the previous entry Documentary: The Cove, hoping that these tuna, shark, sea turtle, dolphin and whale fishermen will hear this song some day, and be reminded that every animal has the right to live in peace on this planet. Human being's killing and consuming them, will eventually lead to the death of human beings. (Why? Cos these sea animals absorb the heavy metal Mercury we pollute the sea with, and we put these heavy metal back into our body by eating them. Can human beings be any more stupid than this?)




Lyrics:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Vocabulary:
dreamer -- (n) [C]
a person who spends a lot of time thinking about or planning enjoyable events that are not likely to happen
possession -- (n) [U] when you have or own something
greed -- (n)  [U]
a very strong wish to continuously get more of something, especially food or money
brotherhood -- (n)  [C + singular or plural verb]
(the members of) a particular organization or (more generally) 
obsolete -- (adj) not in use any more, having been replaced by something newer and better or more fashionable


Resources:
[1] Imagine (album) @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine_(album)


[2] Imagine (song) @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine_(song)


Documentary: The Cove @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/01/documentary-cove.html


Strawberry Fields @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Fields_(memorial)

Imagine by John Lennon @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgYAHHkPFs&feature=player_embedded

Imagine: John Lennon @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine:_John_Lennon

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/dreamer
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/possession
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/greed
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/brotherhood
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/obsolete

Posted by at 01:19 0 comments Labels: ,

Monday, 24 January 2011

Documentary: The Cove

Image from flickfreakdiaries
When I wrote Movie: Documentary -- The Cove, I haven't yet watched this movie, The Cove, and I thought dolphin therapy is a nice thing to do because dolphins can cure human beings, and if more people like dolphins, then no one would want to hurt them. In fact, I was wrong, and so was Richard O'Barry, the world's top dolphin trainer who captured and trained the world-famous dolphin Kathy, who acted in the TV series called Flipper.
Richard (Ric) O'Barry
Image from wikimedia

At the beginning of the 1960s, Richard O'Barry captured 5 dolphins himself and trained them such that the dolphins could perform for the TV series Flipper. At the beginning, it all seemed very happy as he would show the TV series Flipper to one of the dolphins named Kathy, said O'Barry,

"and she could tell the difference between herself and Suzy, who was another Flipper dolphin that was used. I knew then they were self-aware, and when you become conscious of this nonhuman intelligence, you realize after a while they don't really belong in captivity. But I didn't do anything about it. 
One day, it all ended."[1]

According to O'Barry, Kathy committed suicide in his arms.

"That's a very strong word, suicide. But you have to understand dolphins and other whales are not automatic air breathers, like we are. Every breath they take is a conscious effort. And so they can end their life whenever life becomes too unbearable by not taking the next breath.

Image from Divine Light Within
And it's in that context I use the word suicide. She did that. She swam into my arms and looked me right in the eye and... took a breath... and didn't take another one. I just let her go, and she sank straight down on her belly to the bottom of the tank. 


The next day, I was in the Bimini jail for trying to free a dolphin at the Lerner Marine Laboratory. That's how I reacted to it. I was going to free every captive dolphin I could.
  
I spent ten years building that industry up. And I spent the last 35 years trying to tear it down.
  
When I started out, there were only three dolphinariums. Today it's become a multi-billion-dollar industry. In all of these captures, we helped create the largest slaughter of dolphins on the planet."[1]


And this is what this movie is all about. Trying to free captivated dolphins and stop the world's killing of dolphins.
Image from sfgate.com
I would love to tell more details of this movie, but you are highly recommended to watch this documentary and judge the killing of dolphins by yourself, even though it is a very bloody one. I strongly believe that despite the horror you will see, it is crucial for the world to know what happen and how it happen, such that everyone in this world can understand the danger and stress faced by this highly intelligent "smiling" animal of the sea and join hands to protect them. I love dolphins and I don't hurt them, but I am too small and weak to make a difference in this matter. What I can do is educate the people around me and hopefully you can educate the people around you. Say if the entire Facebook population supports the protection of dolphins, whales, sharks and tunas, then the world will too smile!

Image from malibumag
I have included the entire The Cove movie here and in the English Playground's YouTube channel, and I have also added extra video clips to add onto the learning and conservation under Save the Dolphin NOW!!! playlist. However, please buy the DVD if you like the movie. 



And there are many more things you can do the help save the dolphins:
You can:

  1. volunteer to help in educating friends and families.
  2. join The Cove on Twitter and Facebook
  3. learn more from The Cove Blog
  4. donate to Save Japan Dolphins -- Save Japan Dolphins/Earth Island Institute is a top rated 4-star charity with Charity Navigator Rating service. 
  5. donate to Oceanic Preservation Society 
  6. join Twitter and follow Richard O'Barry to show support by messaging him words of encouragement.
  7. take the pledge not to buy a ticket to a dolphin show
  8. tell zoos and aquariums to stop aiding the dolphin killing
  9. sign the petition and letter to world leaders to end the slaughter (Facebook signature)
  10. tell a friend about this pledge campaign 
Lastly, a song for you all to listen to, the best song of the century. I hope some day, human can coexist with all sea animals. 

イルカを殺さないでください！Please STOP killing Dolphins!


Vocabulary:
unbearable -- (adj) too painful or unpleasant for you to continue to experience
slaughter -- (n) [S or U] the killing of many people cruelly and unfairly, especially in a war, [U] the killing of animals for meat


Resources:
Movie: Documentary -- The Cove @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/06/movie-documentary-cove.html


The Cove @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cove_(film)

The Cove @ IMDb
Imagine by John Lennon @ YouTube
Posted by at 16:13 0 comments Labels: , , , ,

Friday, 21 January 2011

Academic Research: The Use of Comic Strip in Writing in Hong Kong Adult ESL Learners


Title: 
Author: 

Descriptors: 


Publication Date: 
Pages: 
Last Updated:		The Use of Comic Strip in Writing in Hong Kong Adult ESL Learners
Law, Locky

Adult Education, Adult Learning, Comics, Comic Strips, Learning Theories, Writing, Learning Experience

2011-01-21

27

2012-07-11
Abstract:Comics and comic strips have long been used as media of teaching, but in the context of ESL, studies have focused on speaking and reading and not writing. Researches on the use of comic strips in adult ESL writing lessons are scarce, if not non‐existed. This paper presents the findings of a case study on the use of comic strips in two adult ESL writing lessons in Hong Kong. Data analysis shows that the use of comic strips in such context is feasible and would receive popularity if certain criteria are met. Learners showed appreciation for the mnemonic property of comic strips in assisting them learn new words.

Key findings revealed
  1. a direct relation between the level of enjoyment and the level of inspiration of a comic,
  2. learners' ability to use personification is directly related to their view of suitability of using comic in writing,
  3. lower level English learners do not find peer writing or group discussion useful,
  4. lower level English learners have difficulties relating the acquired knowledge in the activity back to their daily life,
  5. lower level English learners are less adventurous in experimenting new ideas or/and new sentence structures,
  6. grammar‐translation method still has big impact on HK adult ESL learners,
  7. grammar acts as an opposing force to creativity for lower level English learners

Opinions:
For those of you who would like to read academic papers written by me. Hope this will be useful for those of you researching in related areas as well.

Resources:
The Use of Comic Strip in Writing in Hong Kong Adult ESL Learners @ Locky's English Playground

Posted by at 13:02 0 comments Labels: ,
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