The sci-fi, action-packed film Star Trek Into Darkness has just hit American movie screens. The Star Trek franchise is a North American icon that dates back to the original Star Trek TV series created by Gene Roddenberry back in the late 1960’s.
Check out some of the main, original actors (left side) and their latest talented counter-parts (right side) from Star Trek.
Iconic Characters
Captain Kirk
William Shatner and Chris Pine
Mr. Spock
Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto
Dr. McCoy
DeForest Kelley and Karl Urban
Language and Cultural Learning Section
Theme: Iconic Style
With iconic movies comes iconic language. Iconic language or phrases become a recognizable part of a TV series or movie franchise. Quite often, the iconic language is associated with a character. So let’s take a look at Spock in the original Star Trek TV series and one of his iconic words including the same word from Zachary Quinto.
Such a simple and easy word “FASCINATING” that has become iconic in North American language. Now let’s take a look at some recent situations where the Spock character and his language are used to create something new.
Comedy
The Big Bang Theory is a very popular American TV comedy. In this scene, Sheldon Cooper (the TV character's name) talks to the Spock Action Figure. There are lots of Spock ideas and expressions in the conversation but you can hear "fascinating" early on in the conversation. Leonard Nemoy does the voice of Spock.
Advertising
One of the more recent and successful advertising campaigns from Audi implemented Spock to sell their automobile brand. The advertisement titled Zachary Quinto vs. Leonard Nimoy: "The Challenge" uses a lot of Spock related ideas and expressions but, once again, I just want to focus on one simple iconic word:
“Fascinating”.
Both Quinto and Nimoy say it at the end of the commercial.
I always find it “fascinating” to see iconic language at work in culture. It is all around us and always at work in the ever-changing language of English.
Live Long and Prosper,
Alex
Next week we have a fascinating, new author with a great story to tell! Check back soon!
You have read this article Audi /
Big Bang Theory /
Captain Kirk /
Celebrity English /
culture /
Dr McCoy /
Fascinating /
iconic /
Into Darkness /
Language /
Movies /
new /
old /
Original /
series /
Spock /
Star Trek /
TV /
vs
with the title culture. You can bookmark this page URL http://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-iconic-language-of-star-trek.html. Thanks!
In North America the two biggest Celebrity Cultural Icons at Easter are...
The Pope – the serious side of Easter!
A new celebrity has been chosen to represent one of the most enduring, historical institutions: The Catholic Church (1.2 billion worldwide). Pope Frances is the 266th Pope and has begun the traditional religious Easter Celebrations at the Vatican City.
Many Catholics will attend Church for special ceremonies and also watch the Pope this weekend on TV or the Internet.
The Easter Bunny – the fun side of Easter!
Easter creates a holiday time from work for most people or a 3-4 day weekend (Friday to Monday: March 29 - 31). During Easter most families with kids will have an Easter Egg Hunt. The idea is that the Easter Bunny will arrive at night and hide Easter eggs or candies for the children to find on Easter morning. Of course the parents are the Easter Bunnies.
The Easter Egg Hunt
An egg hunt is a game during which decorated eggs, real hard-boiled ones or artificial ones filled with, or made of chocolate candies, of various sizes, are hidden for children to find, both indoors and outdoors. When the hunt is over, prizes may be given for the largest number of eggs collected, or for the largest or the smallest egg. And of course, in the case of chocolate or other candies, the children get to eat what they have found.
Language Learning Section
If you are interested in seeing an easy and common way to create Easter Eggs with children, but not the chocolate kind, then check out this video!
Listen to the video once or twice and then on the third time try to fill in the blanks [Hint: I have removed common words and expressions for explaining how to do something.].
Listening Practice
Transcript with missing words: Coloring Easter Eggs With Kids
_START_
Hi, I'm Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Coloring Easter eggs is a great family tradition to start with your children. This program will show the kid friendly steps for basic Easter egg coloring.
Gather Easter Egg Supplies
______________, ______________ gather all the supplies you will need, such as:
bowls
spoons
coloring kit
paper towels
______________ either covering the table with newspapers or a vinyl tablecloth. I find it is also a good idea to boil the eggs and allow them to cool before I invite the kids to help.
Get the Children Ready
__________, just like any cooking activity, ____________ your kids wash their hands before they begin. I also have my kids wear their cooking aprons to protect their clothes.
Prepare the Egg Dye or Homemade Dye Ingredients
______________ on the coloring kit, or any simple dye recipe. I use 1/2 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and enough food coloring to get the shade I want. ________ the kids stir the bowls to make the colors.
Demonstrate Dipping the Easter Eggs
________ for your child ___________ place the hard boiled egg on a soup spoon and gently lower the egg into the color. The longer the eggs are left in the dye, the darker the color will be. Once the desired color is set, scoop the egg out of the color and pat it dry with a paper towel and let it dry on an egg holder. ________ toilet paper roll cores work well for this if you did not buy a coloring kit.
Experiment With Easter Egg Decorating
______ they get good at one color, _____________ dipping one end of an egg in one color, and the other end into another color. This ________ their fingers a bit messy, ______ it is a fun result for the kids.
Alternate Easter Egg Decorations
Using washable tempura paints in squeeze brushes is ________________ eggs. This ______ is great for younger kids who are not always keen to sit and wait for eggs to sit in the dye.
________________ decorating ideas that kids can try such as coloring the eggs with a crayon before dipping them into the dye, or putting stickers or other decorations on the colored egg.
Benefits of Easter Egg Decorating
Easter is a great time to engage in family activities. Decorating Easter eggs is ________ a creative outlet, ________ an activity that will build your child's fine motor skills and maybe even start a tradition that will last a lifetime.
_FINISH_
Answers
Full Transcript: Coloring Easter Eggs With Kids
Hi, I'm Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Coloring Easter eggs is a great family tradition to start with your children. This program will show the kid friendly steps for basic Easter egg coloring.
Gather Easter Egg Supplies
Before you begin, be sure to gather all the supplies you will need, such as:
bowls
spoons
coloring kit
paper towels
I would also suggest either covering the table with newspapers or a vinyl tablecloth. I find it is also a good idea to boil the eggs and allow them to cool before I invite the kids to help.
Get the Children Ready
Then, just like any cooking activity, make sure your kids wash their hands before they begin. I also have my kids wear their cooking aprons to protect their clothes.
Prepare the Egg Dye or Homemade Dye Ingredients
Follow the directions on the coloring kit, or any simple dye recipe. I use 1/2 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and enough food coloring to get the shade I want. Let the kids stir the bowls to make the colors.
Demonstrate Dipping the Easter Eggs
Demonstrate for your child how to place the hard boiled egg on a soup spoon and gently lower the egg into the color. The longer the eggs are left in the dye, the darker the color will be. Once the desired color is set, scoop the egg out of the color and pat it dry with a paper towel and let it dry on an egg holder. Cut up toilet paper roll cores work well for this if you did not buy a coloring kit.
Experiment With Easter Egg Decorating
Once they get good at one color, let them try dipping one end of an egg in one color, and the other end into another color. This may get their fingers a bit messy, but it is a fun result for the kids.
Alternate Easter Egg Decorations
Using washable tempera paints in squeeze brushes is another quick and easy way to decorate eggs. This method is great for younger kids who are not always keen to sit and wait for eggs to sit in the dye.
There are also lots of other decorating ideas that kids can try such as coloring the eggs with a crayon before dipping them into the dye, or putting stickers or other decorations on the colored egg.
Benefits of Easter Egg Decorating
Easter is a great time to engage in family activities. Decorating Easter eggs is not only a creative outlet, but also an activity that will build your child's fine motor skills and maybe even start a tradition that will last a lifetime.
Always happy to meet new people! See you next week!
You have read this article Bunny /
Celebrity /
color /
create /
culture /
decorate /
Easter /
Egg /
English /
holiday /
how to /
Hunt /
Language /
Learn /
listen /
make /
Pope /
Practice /
superstars /
tradition
with the title culture. You can bookmark this page URL http://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2013/03/easter-superstars.html. Thanks!
Interviewer’s Question: I’m sure people ask you all the time if you were influenced by Madonna, but what kind of music did you listen to when you were younger?
Katy Perry”s Answer:My mom would let me listen to, like, Billie Holiday and Etta James and really classic stuff like that. My mom speaks fluent French, so she was also really into Édith Piaf, which she turned me on to—although, I guess she didn’t really look into the lyrics. [laughs]. But as I started to hear different kinds of music, my world got bigger. I got a record by Queen, which was so influential for me. I got all the Beatles’ records, like the “white” album [1968], which was really important to me along with Pet Sounds [1966] by the Beach Boys. Those two records were the only things I listened to for probably two years straight. Then I discovered Patty Griffin, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jonatha Brooke—a little bit of the Lilith Fair–esque stuff. And then I got into more electronic music. But I’m just open to everything these days.
Katy Perry’s Speaking Style
As you can see from above, like many of the celebrity interviews, Katy uses casual, natural English to connect with the Listener. Katy gives the listener a glimpse from her early years to present day. Her speaking style is ‘rich’ with examples and very clear. There are examples of musicians, albums, and styles throughout her answer. Moreover, at first, she describes her mother’s influence on her music ‘tastes’. Next as the young woman named Katy Perry develops into young adulthood, her musical world expands.
And like the musical juggernaut she is, her musical influences expanded exponentially.
Present day, we see a professional woman of music that is well versed in various musical styles and genres.
Key Phrases for Talking about Music
My mom would let me listen to, like (like = for example), Billie Holiday and Etta James and really classic stuff like that. I started to hear different kinds of music, my world got bigger.
I got a record by Queen, which was so influential for me. I got all the Beatles’ records, like the “white” album [1968], which was really important to me along with Pet Sounds [1966] by the Beach Boys.
Then I discovered Patty Griffin, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jonatha Brooke—a little bit of the Lilith Fair–'esque' stuff. And then I got into more electronic music. But I’m just open to everything these days.
Vocabulary note
'esque' = suffix forming adjectives, meaning: indicating a specified character, manner, style, or resemblance, like, similar to.
Example Style 1
My dad would let me listen to, like (like = for example), Al Jolson and Perry Como and really classic stuff like that. I started to hear different kinds of music, my world got bigger.
I got a record by Aerosmith, which was so influential for me. I got all the Supertramp records, like the “Breakfast in America” album [1979], which was really important to me along with Close to You [1970] by the Carpenters.
Then I discovered Nora Jones, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie—a little bit of the Latin–esque stuff. And then I got into more electronic music. But I’m just open to everything these days.
You have read this article Alex /
Celebrity English /
CELTA /
culture /
ESL /
esque /
influence /
Interview /
Katy Perry /
Language /
Learn /
mom /
Music /
pop /
speaking /
style /
Talking /
TEFL /
TESL /
The One That Got Away
with the title culture. You can bookmark this page URL http://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2012/04/katy-perrys-musical-influences.html. Thanks!
A NATURAL, UNEDITED LOOK INSIDE A SUCCESSFUL WORKING MODEL’S CAREER. OLIVIA PRICE HAS BEEN FEATURED IN MAGAZINES AND ASKED TO DO 'PLAYBOY' PHOTO SHOOTS (SHE DECLINED). IF YOU ARE AN 'NFL' FAN, YOU MAY BE SEEING HER GORGEOUS PROFILE SOON!
THE BEGINNING
Question 1: Where did you grow up?
Olivia Price: I grew up about 30 minutes outside of Los Angeles.
Question 2: When did you know you wanted to be a model?
Olivia Price: I was a loner in high school, but around age 16 a friend took an interest in photography and borrowed me for a subject from time to time. Getting back the photos was always exhilarating, and I have sought the spotlight since childhood. I began incorporating my desire for fame and creative edge into photographs earlier this year, and I love it.
HOW to STAY FIT and BEAUTIFUL
Question 3: How do you stay fit? What are your beauty secrets?
Olivia: I got lucky when it comes to genetics! I'm naturally thin and have a high metabolism from being a competitive gymnast for so many years, but I've been doing a lot of yoga and dance recently. The beauty rule I live by is never sleeping with makeup on, it ages your skin drastically. And always wear sunscreen!
DOWN TIME
Question 4: What do you like to do in your free time?
Olivia: My schedule is hectic, so I cherish every opportunity to be a vegetable. In between shoots I like preparing my own wardrobe from unique finds at the thrift store down the road from my house. I like altering certain pieces on my sewing machine to make concept costumes. I also paint and dabbled in photography.
Question 5: What kind of music are you into?
Olivia: Dubstep and tehcno are what I'm into right now- Deadmau5, Afrojack and DJ's like that. I'm big into remixes!
AN INSIDE PERSPECTIVE ON MODELING
Question 6: For my readers aspiring to be models, how did you get started and how did you gain the confidence to pursue a modeling career? I mean, it is very competitive and a tough industry to be in….
Olivia: This is such a tough question! I think Adriana Lima is the hottest woman on the planet, but as far as creating outstandingly beautiful and unique images, I'd have to go with Tyra Banks. She's an expert at inventing concepts and delivering theme.
MEN
Question 8: For my male readers, what do men do wrong when trying to date the fairer sex?
Olivia: I've found that a lot of men get too comfortable too quickly. That playful level of tension and feeling the need to almost act in a new romance makes it fun. I like a man with sharp wit who can keep me intellectually on my toes. Chivalry is very key!
FUTURE
Question 9: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Olivia: In five years I hope to be acting in films. My end-all goal though is to put fame and fortune to use in various philanthropic projects, primarily in disaster relief.
Olivia Price is natural, successful, refined, and accessible. She is down-to-earth but seriously professional! Olivia is truly a talented model creating an image of "outstanding beauty and uniqueness" in the modeling world.
You have read this article California /
career /
Celebrity /
Celebrity English /
culture /
English Conversation /
English Tips /
insider's look /
job /
LA /
model /
modeling /
Olivia Price /
Olivia Price Interview /
Tyra Banks /
work
with the title culture. You can bookmark this page URL http://celebrityunitedking.blogspot.com/2011/08/olivia-price-outstandingly-beautiful.html. Thanks!
