English vocabulary

KET GUIDE T C O: PO EVERYDAY ENGLISH IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH DAY BY DAY FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB guide to Everyday English CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 TECHNOLOGY 4 SHOPPING 11 PLAYING SPORTS 17 EATING OUT 23 AN ORDINARY DAY 28 DON’T STOP HERE! 35 ABOUT EF ENGLISHLIVE 37 THIS GUIDE IS INTERACTIVE The house icon in the top left corner allows you to navigate back to this page from anywhere within the guide. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 2 guide to Everyday English INTRODUCTION Have you noticed that the ability to speak and understand English is no longer a luxury, but a necessity? Take a look around you; English is everywhere. From your mobile phone and laptop to things you’ll find out shopping, we are surrounded by the English language. Not only can a good grasp of English improve your job prospects, it will also help you to better understand what’s going on around you. In this guide, we will show you that English is a part of your life – even if you don’t realise it. And we’ll highlight some common words to look out for. All bold words are in English. Let’s see how many of them you can find! FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 3 PART 1 TECHNOLOGY FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 4 guide to Everyday English TECHNOLOGY If you use technology, chances are you use English words every day. For example, to read this guide you used your mouse to click on the link that brought you here. If you are surfing the internet right now you’re probably using one of these browsers: Chrome, Explorer or Firefox. Are we right? And once you are finished here, you can go back to our homepage if you want to explore our site. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 5 guide to Everyday English TECHNOLOGY Do you ever use your PC and webcam to speak face-to-face with friends and family in other countries? If you are chatting, make sure you don’t have the caps lock on (caps as in capitals); otherwise your friend might think you’re shouting! To use capitals only on the first letter, use shift (to change the command on the key you are pressing). If you would rather not chat live, send an e-mail instead. Even if your friend is offline, they will get your message later. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 6 guide to Everyday English TECHNOLOGY Another great function of technology is sharing your photos. If you’re using your mobile phone, you can use Bluetooth. If you want to share an old printed picture, you can scan it. And, with the right software, you can turn a sequence of images into a movie – then just press play, turn up the volume on your speakers and enjoy! Images can also be shared on social networks and generate lots of comments, like LOL (laughing out loud) or OMG (Oh my God!). And if you like games, English is even more essential. To play, start or realise the game is over, you definitely need to understand the language. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 7 guide to Everyday English TECHNOLOGY PHRASEBOOK Are you online? Are you online? Check your inbox Check your inbox Please log in Please log in Please sign up Please sign up Shut down/turn off your laptop Shut down/turn off your laptop Put on your headphones Put on your headphones Could you print this for me? Could you print this for me? FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 8 guide to Everyday English TECHNOLOGY GLOSSARY Downloading Downloading Uploading Uploading Gamer Gamer Gadget Gadget Workstation Workstation Speakers Speakers Printer Printer Headphones Headphones Backup Backup FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 9 guide to Everyday English TECHNOLOGY IDIOMS Don’t push my buttons! Don’t annoy or upset me A Kodak moment The perfect photo opportunity / a moment to remember We are on the same wave length We think alike To get your wires crossed To misunderstand someone To be in tune with someone To get along or connect with someone FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 10 PART 2 SHOPPING FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 11 guide to Everyday English SHOPPING When you go shopping, look out for another English name: the mall. There you will find jeans (stretch or skinny), shorts or tennis shoes. Women might go to the supermarket while the men browse the latest gadgets. Maybe you are going to a black tie party, or perhaps you want to look for a trendy outfit. It might be easier to find a cheap jacket at an outlet – a shopping centre that is permanently on sale. With a little bit of luck you might even find an 80% off deal. Almost free! FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 12 guide to Everyday English SHOPPING Megastores are huge department stores that sell a large range of products and brands, while some specialise in a particular product. A lot of these stores have loyalty programmes, so their die-hard fans have more advantages. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 13 guide to Everyday English SHOPPING PHRASEBOOK How much does this cost? How much does this cost? Do you have any special offers? Do you have any special offers? Do you have a loyalty programme? Do you have a loyalty programme? Is there a shopping centre nearby? Is there a shopping centre nearby? Do you sell..? Do you sell..? Have you got anything cheaper? Have you got anything cheaper? That’s not what I’m looking for That’s not what I’m looking for What times are you open? What times are you open? I’m only looking I’m only looking FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 14 guide to Everyday English SHOPPING GLOSSARY Discount Discount Guarantee Guarantee Cheap Cheap Expensive Expensive Sale Sale Mall Mall % Off % Off Free Free Loyalty Programme Loyalty Programme FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 15 guide to Everyday English SHOPPING IDIOMS To bag a bargain To buy something at a good price To pay through the nose To pay too much for something The drinks are on me Say this if you want to pay for everyone’s drinks To be like a bull in a china shop To be very clumsy FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 16 PART 3 PLAYING SPORTS FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 17 guide to Everyday English PLAYING SPORTS No matter where the game is played, the language of sport is English. Every traditional sport ending with ball comes from the English language: basketball, football, handball, volleyball, baseball and any other ball-centered game you can think of. Even if your favourite sport doesn’t involve balls it’s highly likely that English is somehow part of it, particularly if you like extreme sport. When you go surfing you can stand out from the crowd by doing aerial or carving manoeuvres. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 18 guide to Everyday English PLAYING SPORTS If you prefer skateboarding, then maybe an Ollie or a kickflip is the way to go, whether you prefer street skating or riding a half-pipe. For motocross, you might go freestyle and do a few backflips. Now, that’s extreme. If you like the outdoors, how exploring on a mountain bike? Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, snowboarding or kite surfing could be fun. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 19 guide to Everyday English PLAYING SPORTS PHRASEBOOK Who’s winning? Who’s winning? Who’s playing? Who’s playing? What’s the score? What’s the score? I want to see the match I want to see the match Are you showing the match here? Are you showing the match here? FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 20 guide to Everyday English PLAYING SPORTS GLOSSARY Score Score Half-time Half-time Medal Medal Tournament Tournament Trophy Trophy Race Race Match Match FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 21 guide to Everyday English PLAYING SPORTS IDIOMS Neck and neck A close competition Long shot Something very difficult to achieve Front runner The competitor most likely to win Skate on thin ice To do something risky Take a rain check To change the date A hit below the belt An unfair move FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 22 PART 4 EATING OUT FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 23 guide to Everyday English EATING OUT If you have a hunger for learning, then check out some of the menus in food courts or fast food restaurants. Hot dogs, bacon, cookies, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, sundaes and banana splits are just some of the treats on offer. Take your pick! For the health-conscious, there are diet and light dishes. And for convenience, try a drive-through or delivery (there’s no need to leave your car - or even your house!). For those on a budget, there are also self-service restaurants. Countless food choices in English for everyone! FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 24 guide to Everyday English EATING OUT PHRASEBOOK Do you have any free tables? Do you have any free tables? I’d like to make a reservation, please. I’d like to make a reservation, please. What do you recommend? What do you recommend? Do you have any specials? Do you have any specials? I’m allergic to… I’m allergic to… Could I see the menu, please? Could I see the menu, please? This is not what I ordered This is not what I ordered Can we pay separately? Can we pay separately? I’ll get this I’ll get this FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 25 guide to Everyday English EATING OUT GLOSSARY Drive-through Drive-through Delivery Delivery Self-Service Self-Service Diet Diet Light Light Allergic Allergic Fast Food Fast Food FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 26 guide to Everyday English EATING OUT IDIOMS A bad egg Someone who’s always in trouble My bread and butter Something essential Cheesy Silly Cream of the crop The best Hot potato A difficult or controversial topic To spice things up To make things more interesting Piece of cake Very easy FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 27 PART 5 AN ORDINARY DAY FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 28 guide to Everyday English AN ORDINARY DAY Do you still need to be convinced that the world around you is immersed in English? OK, let’s take a look at your day-to-day life. Think about what you do in your spare time. Perhaps you enjoy chatting to the bartender during happy hour at your local pub. Maybe you like to sit on your sofa watching a reality show, or listening to rock or pop music on the radio whilst flicking through a fashion magazine featuring top models. It may take a little longer to notice these hidden foreign words when you’re busy at work. After all, there’s so much feedback and pressure to create new slogans. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 29 guide to Everyday English AN ORDINARY DAY Then, you still have to try to get home during rush hour. On the other hand, who knows? Maybe you’ve worked from your home office for a few days. That could ease your stress and might even mean you won’t need a babysitter - a benefit most freelancers can enjoy. When you’re on holiday, even in your own country, you’ll probably need diesel if you’re going on a road trip. And, as soon as you get to your hotel, you will be required to check-in. If you decide to go on a city tour, check out any VIP or premium offers that might make it more enjoyable. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 30 guide to Everyday English AN ORDINARY DAY We’re sure you must be familiar with a few English words by now, especially those that are used in everyday conversation. But if you know someone who can’t think of a single word in English, then maybe they’re suffering a blackout and might need a checkup. Get your emergency kit! FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 31 guide to Everyday English AN ORDINARY DAY PHRASEBOOK Let’s get the ball rolling Let’s get the ball rolling Let’s call it a day Let’s call it a day You can call the shots You can call the shots That company is in the red That company is in the red FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 32 guide to Everyday English AN ORDINARY DAY GLOSSARY Feedback Feedback Home Office Home Office Freelancer Freelancer Check-in Check-in Cash Cow Cash Cow FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 33 guide to Everyday English AN ORDINARY DAY IDIOMS To be a happy camper To be satisfied/happy To learn the ropes To learn the basics To pitch in To help, cooperate To pull an all-nighter To spend all night doing something To set the record straight To clarify something FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 34 guide to Everyday English DON’T STOP HERE! As you can now see, English is very much ingrained in your life. That’s a great start. But if you really want to speak English well you need the right language school to help you. How about a school that, like the English language, can always be present in your life? That is what EF Englishlive offers you: Live Private and Group Classes Practise your English with our Group Classes and make even more progress with our Private Classes. Learn from our native or bilingual English professors. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 35 guide to Everyday English DON’T STOP HERE! Access 24/7 from your PC or Tablet Take the school with you wherever you go and learn whenever you want. You can also preload your lessons so you can keep learning, even without an internet connection. Global Community With over 20 million members around the globe, we have the largest student community in the world. Practise your English with students from all over the world, only on EF Englishlive. No books. No homework. No schedules. We change the way you learn English. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 36 guide to Everyday English ABOUT EF ENGLISHLIVE EF Englishlive is a division of EF Education First, the world’s leading private international education company. Our mission is to use technology to create a fundamentally better way for our students to learn English. EF Englishlive offers hundreds of hours of interactive online learning tools, plus live teacherled classes every hour of every day. Our expert English teachers are always on hand to help you practice new language and build your speaking confidence, whatever your English level. Today, we deliver more than one million hours of lessons per month, and have helped in excess of 20 million people improve their English. FIND US ON: ENGLISHLIVE.EF.COM/EN-GB 37 guide to Everyday English ABOUT EF ENGLISHLIVE Discover how we can help take your English to the next level VISIT: CALL: englishlive.ef.com/en-gb +44(0)2033182529 Copyright © 2016 EF Language Learning Solutions Ltd. All rights reserved. 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