Hell's Kitchen

Hell's Kitchen is on the island of Manhattan. It is between Thirty-Fourth and Fifty-Ninth Streets west of Eighth Avenue all the way to the Hudson River. Dutch immigrants settled in the area in the late sixteen hundreds. Back then, it had green fields and small rivers. The Dutch called the area Vale of Flowers. How did the area get the name Hell's Kitchen? There are several possible answers. Some people say it was the traditional name of a building in the area. The building was in bad condition and the people who lived there were very poor. By the eighteen hundreds the area had become a dangerous place to live. Many poor Irish immigrants lived there. Fights and other crimes were common. People lived in dirty, crowded buildings that the owners did not take care of. The area had many factories, including slaughterhouses, where animals were killed and sold at food markets.? In the eighteen sixties there were riots in Hell's Kitchen to protest the government's order forcing people to serve in the military during the Civil War. White people attacked black people, whom they blamed for the war. Many people were killed during the riots. Some people think the area was named Hell's Kitchen around that time. It could have come from Americans who knew of a poor and dangerous neighborhood in London, England called Hell's Kitchen. There is also the story of a police officer named Fred who worked the area in the eighteen seventies. Fred and his partner were watching a fight among people in the neighborhood. The partner said, "The place is hell itself." Fred answered, "Hell's a mild climate. This is Hell's kitchen." In the nineteen thirties, the Great Depression made the poverty in Hell's Kitchen even worse. Many factories in the area dismissed employees. Port companies and slaughterhouses closed. Many people were forced to live on the streets because they could not pay for housing. Many others left the area. But new immigrant groups continued to arrive in New York, seeking a better life. Many Puerto Rican immigrants settled in Hell's Kitchen. The nineteen fifty-nine Broadway musical "West Side Story" was set in the area. It told about two young lovers torn by ethnic conflict between their Puerto Rican and white groups. The area has experienced a renewal over the years. It has many art galleries and restaurants. And it is close to Broadway Theaters. Hell's Kitchen has in fact been home to many young actors. There are also several broadcasting operations for television and radio in the area. There have been efforts to change the neighborhood's name to Clinton, after a former New York governor. But efforts to keep the name Hell's Kitchen are equal in strength.

American English Tips!

Introduction: Standard American English TipsSpeaking English is not only about using proper grammar. To use English effectively, you need to understand the culture in which it is spoken. Here are a number of important tips to remember when speaking English in the United States.

General Points to Remember

1. Most Americans only speak English: While it is true that more and more Americans speak Spanish, most Americans only speak English. Don't expect them to understand your native language.
2. Americans have difficulties understanding foreign accents: Many Americans are not used to foreign accents. This requires patience from both of you!

Conversation Tips

1. Speak about location: Americans love to talk about location. When speaking to a stranger, ask them where they are from and then make a connection with that place. For example: "Oh, I have a friend who studied in Los Angeles. He says it's a beautiful place to live." Most Americans will then willingly talk about their experiences living or visiting that particular city or area.
2. Talk about work: Americans commonly ask "What do you do?". It's not considered impolite (as in some countries) and is a popular topic of discussion between strangers.
3. Talk about sports: Americans love sports! However, they love American sports. When speaking about football, most Americans understand "American Football", not soccer.
4. Be careful when expressing ideas about race, religion or other sensitive topics: The United States is a multi-cultural society. Especially in the last few years, Americans are trying very hard to be sensitive to other cultures and ideas. Talking about sensitive topics like religion or beliefs, is often avoided in order to be sure not to offend someone of a different belief system. This is often referred to as being "politically correct".

Addressing People

1. Use last names with people you do not know: Address people using their title (Mr, Ms, Dr) and their last names.
2. Always use "Ms" when addressing women: It is important to use "Ms" when addressing a woman. Only use "Mrs" when the woman has asked you to do so!
3. Many Americans prefer first names: Americans often prefer using first names, even when dealing with people in very different positions. Americans will generally say, "Call me Tom." and then expect you to remain on a first name basis.
4. Americans prefer informal: In general, Americans prefer informal greetings and using first names or nicknames when speaking with colleagues and acquaintances.

Public Behavior

1. Always shake hands: Americans shake hands when greeting each other. This is true for both men and women. Other forms of greeting such as kissing on the cheeks, etc., is generally not appreciated.
2. Look your partner in the eye: Americans look each other in the eyes when they are speaking as a way of showing that they are sincere.
3. Don't hold hands: Same sex friends do not usually hold hands or put their arms around each other in public in the United States.
4. Smoking is Out!!: Smoking, even in public places, is strongly disapproved of by most Americans in the modern United States.

Speaking Strategies for English Learners

Speaking Strategies for English Learners

Many English students complain that they understand English, but don't feel confident enough to join a conversation. There are a number of reasons for this including:

1. Students are trying to translate from their native language into English.
2. Production "blocking" is occurring due to nervousness, lack of confidence, etc.
3. The speaker is looking for a specific word, rather than using simple language to describe what is meant.
4. There aren't enough conversation opportunities in or outside of class.
5. Students aren't able to speak to peers (for example: mixed classes of adults and teenagers).
6. Exam preparation focuses on grammar, vocabulary, etc. and leaves little time for active use.

Here are a number of resources, lesson plans, suggestion pages and more which will help you and your students improve English speaking skills in and outside of class.
Speaking Strategies
The first rule of improving speaking skills is to speak, converse, talk, gab, etc. as much as you can! However, these strategies can help you - or your students - make the most out of your efforts.
Understanding how Americans use English and what they expect to hear can help improve conversations between native and non-native speakers.

Bài Học Anh Ngữ: Grammar Review- Pronouns

Pronouns: There are five forms of pronouns in English: Subject pronouns, Object pronouns, Possessive Pronouns, Reflexive pronouns, and Relative pronouns. Possessive adjective will also be included in this lesson, though they are not pronouns.

Note:

It is important to know the five forms of pronouns and the possessive adjective that are often confused with them. Errors may include the use of one type or form of pronouns in place of another.

SUBJECT PRONOUNS:

I / YOU / WE / THEY / SHE / HE / IT

The Usage:

1.When it is the subject of a verb: They live south of the equator.

2. when the subject of two clauses are compared: They are more protected against the cold than we(are)

3. After the verb to be: It is he with the egg.

4. After as and than : She is not as tired as he (is)

OBJECT PRONOUNS:

me / you / us / them / her / him / it

The Usage:

1. when it is the direct object: She gives him the egg.

2. Afetr prepositions: when she returns, she takes over the egg from him.
Note:

But when the preposition introduces a new clause, the subject pronoun must be used because
the pronouns is now the subject of the new clause: He leaves after she returns.

3. when the object of two clauses are compared: It is easier for them than us.

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE:

my / your / our / their / her / his / its

The Usage:

1. To modify a noun and show ownership: They lay their egg about fifty miles from the coast.

2. To refer to parts of the body: The male penguin rolls the egg on on the top of his feet.

3. To modify a gerund: We are surprised by their nesting in such harsh conditions.

REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS:

myself / yourself / yourselves / ourselves / themselves / herself / himself / itself

The Usage:

1. To emphasize the subject noun or pronoun it refers to and to emphasize the fact that the subject did the action alone: He takes care of the egg himself. Or He himself takes care of the egg.

2. As the subject of verb when the subject and object are the same: They stand together to protect themselves from the cold.

3. As the subject of the preposition by when the subject did the action alone: The penguine chick is unable to get food by itself.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS:

who / whom / whose / which / that

The Usage:

who: refers to people and househhold animals.

whom: refers to people and household animals. It is used in the object position in formal

written English or with who plus a preposition in spoken English.

Whose: refers to people, animals, and things. It shows possession.

Which: refers to things, collective nouns, and animals.

That: refers to people, animals, and things.

Above are the Grammar review for Pronouns in English.

Bài Học Anh Ngữ: Elementary Level

Read the following passage and Answer the questions:

DAILY ROUTINE

Sam Taylor lives in London. He is married and has two small children. He teaches in a secondary school. He gets up early and has breakfast at 7 o'clock. He starts work at 8 o'clock and leaves work at 4 o'clock. He likes his job because he likes teaching children. But he doesn't teach every day. On Tuesday and Thursday he stays at home with his children.

Andrea Taylor is Sam's sister. She doesn't have children. She's only 23. And she doesn't live in Britain. She lives in Italy. She works in a travel agency in Rome. She doesn't get up early. She starts work at 10 o'clock. She doesn't have breakfast. She has a sandwich for lunch at 12 o'clock. She likes her job because it is very interesting. At weekends she visits her boyfriend, Roberto. He lives in Florence.

Practice:

A. Complete these sentences about Same and Andrea:
1. Sam.........in London.
2. He............in a secondary school.
3. He ........... two small children.
4. He............. up early.
5. He ............breakfast at 7 o'clock.
6. He ............work at 4 o'clock.
7. Andrea ........... ............ in Britain.
8. She ................. ........... children.
9. She ................ ............ up early.
10. She ................ ........... breakfast.
11. She ................ ............ work at 4 o'clock.

B. Make Questions about Sam and Adrea(both Yes-No and WH - question)

C. Talk about your Daily Routine.

Note: Simple Present tense:
- affirmative form
- negative form
- Question form(yes-no & WH-question)