Kristen Stewart: Dining out in London!

Kristen Stewart on Food, Drink, and places in London!

Places

Question: Do you like Traditional pubs or Modern Gastropubs?

Kristen Stewart Answer:  Oh, traditional pubs, definitely.

Question: What’s your favorite London hangout?

Kristen Stewart:  I’ve had some really good roast dinners … the “Swan & Edgar” (name of restaurant) in Marylebone.

Food and Drink

Question: Do you prefer a Sausage sandwich or bacon butty?

Kristen Stewart:  Bacon butty. 

Question: How do you feel about beans on toast?

Kristen Stewart:  I love beans on toast.

Question: What do you like for dinner?

Kristen Stewart:  Chicken or lamb.

Question: What’s your pub drink?

Kristen Stewart:  It’s a pound

Question: How do you take your tea?

Kristen Stewart:  With milk and a little bit of honey

British and American Expressions

A hangout =  a place to relax, talk, eat, drink, to get together with people informally

(British/American Expression)

A bacon butty = bacon on a bun

(British Expression)

Modern Gastropubs = restaurant in a pub

(British/American Expression)

a pound = a drink that costs one pound to purchase in a pub

(British Expression)

 

Practice Idea

Kristen Stewart in London, has changed some of her American tastes to British tastes.  This interview style is short and brief to attain lots of information quickly.  Moreover, the questions are simple and not too ‘deep’ in nature.  This type of information is comfortable for everyone to talk about. Try this out with your friends.  It is a good and fun way to find fun and delicious differences in personal tastes and cultures.  Also, it is a nice way to practice or review questions concerning people’s preferences.

Have fun! And talk, talk, talk!

Speaking Style

Question 1: Do you like Traditional pubs or Modern Gastropubs?

Kristen Stewart Answer 1:  Oh, traditional pubs, definitely.

Question 2: Do you prefer a Sausage sandwich or bacon butty?

Kristen Stewart 2:  Bacon butty.

Question 3: How do you take your tea?

Kristen Stewart 3:  With milk and a little bit of honey.

Question 4: How do you feel about beans on toast?

Kristen Stewart 4:  I love beans on toast.

Question 5: What do you like for dinner?

Kristen Stewart 5:  Chicken or lamb.

Question 6: What’s your favorite London hangout?

Kristen Stewart 6:  I’ve had some really good roast dinners … the Swan & Edgar in Marylebone.

Practice Speaking Style

Question 1: Do you like pubs or nightclubs?

Kristen Stewart Answer 1:  Oh, nightclubs definitely.

Question 2: Do you prefer a burger or pizza?

Kristen Stewart 2:  Pizza.

Question 3: How do you like your coffee?

Kristen Stewart 3:  With a little bit of cream.

Question 4: How do you feel about sushi?

Kristen Stewart 4:  I love sushi.

Question 5: What do you like for breakfast?

Kristen Stewart 5:  Just toast and juice.

Question 6: What’s your favorite California hangout?

Kristen Stewart 6:  I’ve had some really good Italian dinners … Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica.

Twilight - Final Trailer

Snow White and the Huntsman - First Trailer

FEATURED LINK OF THE MONTH!

TEACH ENGLISH IN CHINA!

         http://www.newchinalr.com/

Related Blog:

Robert Pattinson: Secret Guilty Pleasures

Enjoy and see you next week!

Alex

Celebrity English

http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.youtube.com/user/blogalexg

https://twitter.com/CelebEnglish

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Robert Pattinson: Secret Guilty Pleasures

                                                                    Robert Pattinson

Question:  What are your guilty pleasures?

Robert Pattinson Answer:  If I could just cut out beer, that’s one thing. And I’m, like, a compulsive eater.  I’m going to be so fat when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

We all have our bad habits.  Often we are secretive about them except with our friends.  Of course in Robert Pattinson’s case, he is a mega-star and is accustomed to sharing information in an interview situation. 

Guilty pleasure 1: beer

"If I could just cut out beer, that’s one thing."

Robert Pattinson wants to ‘cut out’ or ‘stop drinking’ beer. 

To cut something out  = to stop doing something (common/informal 

                                                                                                                       expression)

This response is straight forward.  However, there is an unspoken

idea between the speaker and listener regarding this guilty pleasure:

If I could just cut out beer, _____________. That’s one thing.

                                           (Unspoken idea)    

If I could just cut out beer, I would be healthy. That’s one thing.

The listener can guess the result of ‘cutting out beer’ from the topic/idea of the question: ‘guilty pleasures’. Robert and the interviewer share this common knowledge without saying the idea of 'being healthy'.

Guilty pleasure 2: compulsive eating

"And I’m, like, a compulsive eater." 

Robert’s second guilty pleasure is ‘compulsive eating’.

like,  =  similar to/for example

Robert uses ‘like’ to introduce the 'compulsive eater' idea.   The word ‘like’ gives him time to think of an answer.  There is a pause in voice between ‘like’ and ‘a compulsive eater’.  The use of ‘like’ sounds casual.

 

Conversational Speaking Pattern and Practice

Answer:  If I could just cut out beer, that’s one thing. And I’m, like, a compulsive eater.  I’m going to be so fat when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Ex. 1

If I could just cut out pop, that’s one thing.

And I’m, like, always eating ice cream.  I’m going to be so overweight when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Ex. 2

If I could just cut out candy, that’s one thing.

And I’m, like, a chocoholic.  I’m going to be so chubby when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Ex. 3

If I could just cut out smoking, that’s one thing.

And I’m, like, always playing video games online.  I’m going to be so out of shape when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Ex. 4

If I could just cut out gambling, that’s one thing.

And I’m, like, a compulsive shopper.  I’m going to be so poor when I’m older, it’s ridiculous.

Until next week enjoy the Robert Pattinson's fan sites and new movie trailers!

Robert Pattinson Fan sites:

http://robert-pattinson.net/

http://www.robertpattinsononline.com/

Trailer One Breaking Dawn

 Trailer Two Breaking Dawn

 Trailer Water for Elephants

Related Blog:
Kristen Stewart: Dining out in London!
 

Alex
Celebrity English
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Beyoncé: Clothes and Hairstyles

                                                            Beyoncé

Question 1:  What’s one item of clothing you can’t get enough of?

Beyoncé Answer 1:  T-shirts.  I can never have enough.  My favorite is a simple white T-shirt.

Question 2:  Of all the hairstyles you’ve tried over the years, which one is your favorite?

Beyoncé Answer 2:  My favorite is still a high ponytail.  It’s clean and classic.

 

Talking clothing and hairstyles with American R&B recording artist Beyoncé. 

Speaking Style Answer 1

Beyonce uses a common grammar pattern but puts the Object at the beginning creating two sentence styles.

Common grammar pattern

I can never have enough T-shirts.

(S)               (V)                 (O)

Beyonce’s style

T-shirts.  I can never have enough. 

(O)           (S)             (V)

Beyonce’s answer sounds natural in conversation because all of the elements of the sentence are in the answer.  This speaking style emphasizes T-shirts and then Beyonce follows with a second sentence.  The second sentence, with the use of the word ‘favorite’, also implies an idea of ‘one item only’ and gives more information to the listener. 

Speaking Style Answer 2

Beyonce uses common English to describe her favorite hairstyle.  The word ‘still’ in the answer reflects the idea of ‘over the years’ (asked in Question 2).  She then follows with a second sentence to give more detail or the ‘why’ she likes the high ponytail. 

Clothing and hairstyles are pretty popular topics but here are some more to try out!

Enjoy!

                                             

Example Speaking Styles

Speaking Style Answer 1

Question 1:  What’s one item of clothing you can’t get enough of?

Answer 1:  T-shirts.  I can never have enough.  My favorite is a simple white T-shirt.

Ex.1

Question 1:  What’s one item of jewelry you can’t get enough of?

Answer 1:  Earrings.  I can never have enough.  My favorite is a simple hoop earring.

Ex.2

Question 1:  What’s one kind of food you can’t get enough of?

Answer 1:  Ice cream.  I can never have enough.  My favorite is chocolate.

Speaking Style Answer 2

Question 2:  Of all the hairstyles you’ve tried over the years, which one is your favorite?

Answer 2:  My favorite is still a high ponytail.  It’s clean and classic.

Ex.1

Question 2:  Of all the skin care brands you’ve tried over the years, which one is your favorite?

Answer 2:  My favorite is still L’Oreal.  It’s silky and accelerates skin recovery.

Ex.2

Question 2:  Of all the cars you’ve driven over the years, which one is your favorite?

Answer 2:  My favorite is still a mustang.  It’s cool and fast.

Until next week let's enjoy some popular music from Beyoncé!

Beyoncé performing Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Beyoncé performing Best Thing I Never Had

Alex

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Leonardo Dicaprio: Travel and Scuba diving

                                                                  Leonardo Dicaprio

Question 1:  What’s the best place you’ve visited?

Leonardo Dicaprio Answer 1: Wow… There are quite a few. Thailand is one of the most amazing places that I’ve ever been. I’m a big scuba-diver, too, so I just went to the Galapagos Islands.

Question 2:  Where else do you recommend diving?

Leonardo Dicaprio Answer 2: You can’t beat the Great Barrier Reef for coral reefs.

Travel is a common topic of conversation amongst friends and people you don’t know so well.  This topic is neutral and anyone can participate by asking questions or explaining their travel experience.  Also, people tend to talk about travel because it is exciting!

Conversation Flow

Leo (Leonardo) starts by showing his enthusiasm for the topic with the word ‘Wow’ following with the idea that there are many great places in the world.  However, to keep the conversation interesting, he naturally says a location ‘Thailand’ and one of his favorite activities ‘scuba diving’.  Leo finishes his thought with the last place he went to ‘the Galapagos Islands’.

The person asking questions can easily continue the conversation by asking about the place(s) or activity.  However, the listener selects scuba diving because Leo mentions scuba diving in two locations: Thailand and the Galapagos Islands.

Casual Slang Expressions 

(1)I’m a ‘big’ scuba diver. =

I really like scuba diving/I love scuba diving.

(2)You ‘can’t beat’ the Great Barrier Reef for coral reefs =

The Great Barrier Reef for coral reefs is the best.

This common conversation topic is easy to adapt to your own travels internationally or nationally.  Our favorite activity often is connected to our vacations.  This style is comfortable but exciting for the speaker and listener! Try it out! 

Speaking Pattern Practice

Question 1:  What’s the best place you’ve visited?

Answer 1: Wow… There are quite a few. Thailand is one of the most amazing places that I’ve ever been. I’m a big scuba-diver, too, so I just went to the Galapagos Islands.

Question 2:  Where else do you recommend diving?

Answer 2: You can’t beat the Great Barrier Reef for coral reefs.

Examples

1.

Question 1:  What’s the best place you’ve visited?

Answer 1: Wow… There are quite a few. Costa Rica is one of the most amazing places that I’ve ever been. I’m a big surfer, too, so I just went to Hawaii.

Question 2:  Where else do you recommend surfing?

Answer 2: You can’t beat the Gold Cost of Australia.

2.

Question 1:  What’s the best place you’ve visited?

Answer 1: Wow… There are quite a few. New Zealand is one of the most amazing places that I’ve ever been. I’m a big golfer, too, so I just went to Scotland.

Question 2:  Where else do you recommend golfing?

Answer 2: You can’t beat Pebble Beach in the United States.

 

LEO'S WEBSITE

LINK: http://www.leonardodicaprio.com/

Leo's - Titanic-Theme Song
'My Heart Will Go On ' by Celine Dion

Enjoy! See you next week!

Alex

Celebrity English

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http://www.youtube.com/user/blogalexg

https://twitter.com/CelebEnglish

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Johnny Depp: Questions

                                                               Johnny Depp

Questions and Answers are the ‘nuts and bolts’ of a conversation.  Asking a good question is more difficult than it appears.  Let’s look at a Johnny Depp Interview. Focus on the questions after you have read and enjoyed Johnny’s answers.

INTERVIEW

Question 1: What attracts you to odd hats?

Johnny Depp Answer 1: I don't know, maybe I read too many Dr. Seuss books when I was a kid. I hadn't thought about that, actually, the hat thing.

Question 2: Are you fond, in films, of wearing long hair? Is it something that makes you comfortable, to have your hair long, or does it matter?

Johnny Depp Answer 2: No, I'd always thought, probably very stupidly, I thought that, you know, if your hair is down…you're hiding. So you're invisible, you know? People can't see you.  Now I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter who won't let me cut my hair.

Question Usage Analysis

Analysis 1:

This question is simple and straightforward.  However, the interviewer uses a “What” question.  Most people will use a “Why” question.

Ex: Why do you wear odd hats?

The “what” style question is a bit softer and more original. 

Analysis 2:

The interviewer uses an “Are you… ?” and a choice question: Is it “A” or “B”? (A=long hair is comfortable, B=long hair doesn’t matter to you)

“Are you…?” is a closed question not good for conversation because the answer is “YES/NO”.  However, in this case it is a rhetorical question.  The Interviewer uses the question to emphasize the idea of ‘long hair’. The interviewer doesn’t expect an answer and moves to the next question quickly.  The interviewer’s use of the A or B question format is because he or she wants a short style answer focused in a specific way.  The feeling is: lets find out about Johnny Depp’s beautiful, long hair but not focus too much time on the topic. An A or B question style signals to the answering person what the listener wants to know specifically and in a short answer style.  This style is also a soft way of finding out information from another person.

 Conclusion

There are many question style strategies.  These are two simple ones you can use in your next conversation.  Try to make your question ‘soft’ but ‘unique’ like with Question 1.  Also, try to use a ‘rhetorical question’ plus an “A or B question’ to find out specific information without sounding too demanding as in Question 2.

Pirates of the Caribbean 4

COMING NEXT WEEK- FRAN CAPO 

THE FASTEST TALKING - FEMALE -ENGLISH SPEAKER ON THE PLANET!  http://www.francapo.com/

TAKE CARE AND BE POSITIVE!

Alex

 
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Communicating with the World
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SUPERNATURAL

Jensen Ackles                                                                                                                                     Jared Padalecki

THE SUPERNATURAL!

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE SUPERNATURAL OR THE UNEXPLAINED?

THE LOCH NESS MONSTER, GHOSTS, LEPRECHAUNS, UFO’S, BIGFOOT AND YETI, VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES?……..HOW ABOUT ALIENS?

This is always a fun topic and thematically universal to all cultures!  These days you probably can’t find a newspaper, magazine, TV show, or at least one movie a year that has been affected by this theme!  Harry potter, Supernatural, Twilight, Urban Legends, Sanctuary, True Blood, Horror movies involving the supernatural, the list goes on and on! The supernatural theme is universal but the magic, excitement, intrigue, unknown, and the scariness is in the details!  The details are great conversation topics whether talking about yourself, a movie, or a TV Show! And don’t forget, Halloween is this month in North America!

Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki of 

the TV Show Supernatural  

Question 1: Do you believe in the supernatural?

Jensen Ackles Answer 1: I’m not easily scared and I’m rather rational, but the more I work on the series the more I’m sensitive to strange stories I hear about. I wouldn’t say I believe in ghosts, but I keep an open mind.

Question 2: Do you believe in supernatural or aliens?

Jared Padalecki Answer 2:  Yes. Personally, I’ve never had any paranormal experience or seen aliens, but the universe is big and I can’t believe we’re alone. I’m sure there are a lot of supernatural things that we have no clue about…(have no clue about = we really don’t know about)

Both Jensen and Jared express their viewpoints with casual English.  Jensen is the NO case and Jared is the YES case.  However, the language they use isn’t strong.  They are both open to other ideas.  They start with their personal feelings/thoughts ‘believe or not believe’ and then diplomatically reveal that they are open to other ideas, thoughts, or opinions.  Both emphasize that the world or universe is bigger than they are.  The speaking style has gone from a microcosm to a macrocosm. Quite smooth! Being open to other people’s ideas is a KEY to great communication! 

 

Speaking Style

I have simplified their speaking styles for clarity but the core of their speaking styles remains the same.

NO CASE

Question 1: Do you believe in the supernatural?

Answer 1: I am not __________ and I’m rather __________.  I wouldn’t say I believe in __________, but I keep an open mind.

Examples Answers:

1. I am not frightened easily and I’m rather logical. I wouldn’t say I believe in Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster, but I keep an open mind.

2. I am not really a believer and I am rather skeptical.  I wouldn’t say I believe in Aliens, but I keep an open mind.

YES CASE

Question 2: Do you believe in the supernatural?

Answer 2: Yes. Personally, I have never had __________, but the __________ big.  I’m sure there are a  __________ we have no clue about…

Examples Answers:

3. Yes. Personally, I have never had any ghost encounters, but the world is big.  I’m sure there are a lot of things we have no clue about…

4. Yes. Personally, I have never had a Bigfoot or Yeti encounter, but the Rocky Mountains and Himalayas are big. I am sure there are creatures we have no clue about…

SUPERNATURAL TV SHOW WEBSITES

SUPERNATURAL TV 

LINK:http://www.supernatural.tv/

SUPERNATURAL CWTV

LINK:http://www.cwtv.com/shows/supernatural


SUPERNATURAL JAPAN - TV and ANIME
LINK:http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/supernatural/index.html

SUPERNATURAL TV Trailer Season One

SUPERNATURAL ANIME (Animation ) Trailer

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!                              

Alex
Celebrity English
Communicating with the World
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Will Smith: a father’s influence

                                                                                  Will Smith

Question: Who was a big influence in your life?

Will Smith: My father. When my father got out of the Air Force, he started his own refrigeration business. I might have been 12 and my brother 9 when one day he decided he wanted a new front wall at his shop. He tore the old one down -- it was probably 16 feet high and 40 feet long. And he told us that this was going to be our gig over the summer. We were standing there thinking, there will never, ever, be a wall here again. We went brick by brick for the entire summer and into winter and then back into spring. One day there was a wall there again. I know my dad had been planning this for a long time. He said, "Now, don't you all ever tell me there's something you can't do." And he walked into the shop. The thing I connect to is: I do not have to build a perfect wall today. I just have to lay a perfect brick. Just lay one brick, dude.

Conversational Speaking Styles-Talking about an influential person in our life
Often we talk about the past with friends.  As we get closer to people, we often tell them about who influenced us in life.  Of course it can be a father, mother, aunt, uncle, manager, teacher, event in your life.  However, people quite often tell you about one of their parents. 

Will Smith, was originally a singer/rapper that created humorous songs.  He is very good at talking to people.  People love to listen to him talk.  His style is casual and he sounds very ‘down-to-earth’ (= sensible, realistic, not vain, not snooty).  Even though he is being interviewed he comes up with very ‘rich’ (=a lot of) information about himself in a short period of time.

Now how can we use this in our own lives? How can we transfer Will’s style to our own?

Speaking Style- Over View
You probably noticed that Will Smith uses past simple and past continuous verb tenses throughout his story.  There is only one perfect verb tense usage  “might have been”!  On TOEIC and TOEFL tests the past perfect is important.  Also, in school, this grammar idea is emphasized a lot. But don’t worry if you have spent hours and hours on difficult grammatical points.  Your hours of study can easily be used with British Native Speakers.  British Native Speakers use the perfect tenses more often than American Native Speakers in English Conversation. 

So when you create a story about who influenced you in life, try to use past simple and past continuous.  If your listener is British then feel free to use more of the perfect verb tenses. 



Speaking Tip!
Most people are not as good at talking as Will Smith.  So, it is a good idea to write your ideas down first.  Just like in a diary.  All you have to do is write down some key words and phrases.  Don't make the story too long or it will bore your listener.  About 6-8 sentences is enough. Will's story is a bit longer but he is a pro! Then like an actor practice telling your story. You don't have to memorize it but be comfortable with the key words and phrases!

Have a good week! And Enjoy using English at your next party or friendship encounter!
 
Will Smith in an early Music Video
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Will Smith)

  

Until next week! Take care!

Alex
Celebrity English
Communicating with the World
http://celebrityenglish-alex.blogspot.com/
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https://twitter.com/CelebEnglish

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