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Vocabulary: Richmond-upon-Thames Saturday 22nd February 2014

26/2/2014

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Dear all
It was the first time that we've had all Spanish people on a walk! I thoroughly enjoyed being with you ... You all provided such thorough history research and spoke English very well.

I look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Best Wishes
Gail

Vocabulary: Richmond upon Thames: River Views and Royal Connections 22nd February 2014

A caravan (noun): a large vehicle that is pulled by a car or a horse. You can eat, sleep, etc in a caravan when you travel or are on holiday.

A camper van (noun): a motor vehicle in which you can sleep, cook etc when you are on holiday.

An open-top car (noun): a car that can remove the roof. E.g. an open-top car drove past us when we were discussing them!

To stray (verb): to go away from the place where you should be. E.g. The sheep strayed onto the road.

To rid (yourself of something) (verb): We usually say ‘to get rid of something/somebody’. To make yourself free from somebody or something that is unpleasant or not wanted. E.g. I got rid of that old carpet. E.g. He took English lessons for fifty years but he couldn’t get rid of his Spanish accent! E.g. She paid someone to get rid of her husband (have him killed)!

A bench (noun): a long wooden or metal seat for two or more people. Often outdoors in a park (i.e. a park bench)

To flow (verb): to move in a smooth and continuous way (like water). E.g. On Saturday the Thames in Richmond was flowing very fast.

To go with the flow (expression): to do what other people are doing. Or to agree with other people because it is the easiest thing to do. E.g. Relax … just go with the flow! E.g. I wasn’t happy with the decision, but it was easier to go with the flow.

To go against the flow (expression): to do or say the opposite of what most other people are doing or saying. E.g. The Prime Minister went against the flow and declared that the population could have a 50% increase in their salaries!

A cottage (noun): a small house very often found in the countryside (rural areas). We saw some cottages just after we left Richmond Palace and walked toward the river.

A bungalow (noun): a low house that usually only has one floor.

Blossom (noun): a flower, or mass of flowers, particularly on a fruit tree. Note: We say that the trees are in blossom.

Free-range eggs (adjective + noun): the eggs from chickens where the chickens can move around freely.

Battery eggs (adjective + noun): the eggs from chickens which are kept in very small cages.

Batter (noun): a mixture of flour, eggs and milk used to cover food such as fish and vegetables before frying them. Also used for making pancakes, Yorkshire Puddings etc.

To batter (verb): to hit somebody/something hard, many times. E.g. the wind battered the windows. E.g. He battered the door down.

Battered women = women who have been hit badly and regularly by their husbands or partners.

A shoal (noun): a large group of fish that feed and swim together.

A vineyard (noun): a piece of land where grapes are grown in order to produce wine.

A vine (noun): the climbing plant that grapes grow on.

Street musicians: musicians who play outside, either on the street, under railway arches etc. E.g. We saw some street musicians on the embankment, under the bridge.

A greenhouse (noun): a small building made of glass in which plants are grown.

A fishmonger (noun): a person whose job is to sell fish.

A fishmonger’s (noun): a shop that sells fish.

Actually (adverb):

a) really, in fact

E.g. You don’t actually believe her, do you?

E.g. I can’t believe that I’m actually going to Spain.

b) although it may seem strange

E.g. He actually expected me to cook his meal for him!

c) Actually is often used in conversation to get somebody’s attention or to correct somebody politely.

E.g. Actually, I wanted to show you something. Have you got a minute?

E.g. We aren’t married, actually.

E.g. I don’t agree about the book. I think it’s pretty awful, actually.

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Vocabulary: Brixton Wednesday 12th February 2014

18/2/2014

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Hello to you
Here is the vocabulary that we went through at the end of the Brixton English Conversation walk. I thoroughly enjoyed spending the time with you ... your level of English is very good indeed!

I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Best Wishes
Gail

Vocabulary:
To drop out (of something)
(phrasal verb): to leave or stop doing something before you have finished. E.g. His injury forced him to drop out of the competition. E.g. More boys than girls drop out of school when they reach sixteen.  E.g. The drop-out rate of boys leaving school early has increased since 2009.

To be paid peanuts (informal): A very small amount of money. E.g. A lot of people who come to London and find work, get paid peanuts.

In my teens: in my twenties; in my thirties etc: When we tell a story about our past, we do not have to be exact about age. E.g. When I was in my teens, I hated school. E.g. She was in her twenties when she got married the first time.

Ear muffs (noun): A pair of soft fabric coverings which are connected by a band across the top of the head. They are worn over the ears to protect them from cold or noise.

To gentrify (verb): To renovate and improve (an area or a house) so that it conforms to the middle-classes.

Gentrification (adjective): We often say ‘the gentrification of’ a place. E.g. When we walked through Brixton Village Market, we saw how the gentrification of Brixton has changed the area.

An atheist (noun): a person who doesn’t believe that there is a god.  

Atheism (noun): The belief that there is no god.  

A landlady / landlord (noun): A person who rents a house or room to people for money. E.g. I pay my rent to the Landlady on the first of every month.

A tenant (noun): a person who pays rent to the owner of a room, building or land so that they can live in it or use it.

Church of England (noun): Abbrev. C of E. The Protestant Church which is the official church in England, whose leader is the Queen or King.

A bay window (noun): A window built to project outwards from the outside wall. E.g. We looked at the houses near Brixton Windmill and decided that we like the bay windows and the style of those houses!

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