UP THE ANTE

C1 level_Photocopies from 26^th February + ♪ Smiling by Alanis Morissette + ♫ Trevor Noah learning to play tennis (video)

C2 level_photocopies from 27^th February + ♫ Smiling by Alanis Morissette + ♫ Why we take selfies (video) 

SHE WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST

C1 level_Photocopies from 17^th February + ♪ On the Bright Side of the Road by Van Morrison + Texas boy suspended because of his dreadlocks (video)

C1 level_Photocopies from 19^th January + ♪ Why do we text instead of phone (audio) ♪ Smooth Operator by Sade

C2 level_photocopies from 18^th February + ♫ Viva la Vida by Coldplay + Texas boy suspended because of his dreadlocks (video)

C2 level_photocopies from 20^th February + ♫ Cancellation of Mobile World Congress (audio)

THE TICKETS AVAILABLE

Should we say
      a) "the tickets available for matches at Euro 2020"  or
      b) "the available tickets for matches at Euro 2020"  ?

Many adjectives can be used immediately after a noun when they form part of a (reduced) relative clause, e.g.

     Let’s use the time available. (= let's use the time that is available)

     Is he someone capable of making difficult decisions? (= Is he someone who is capable of...)

     I’d like to speak to all the people involved.

    (Adapted from http://www.onestopenglish.com/grammar)

C1 level_Photocopies from 10^th February + ♪ Everybody's Talking by Harry Nilsson

C1 level_Photocopies from 12^th January + ♪ Global News Podcast from 12^th February (audio) ♪ After the Flood by Lone Justice

C2 level_photocopies from 11^th February + ♫ You Can Say What You Want by Texas

C2 level_photocopies from 13^th February + ♫ Global News Podcast from 12^th February (audio)

+ ♫ Video Killed the Radio Star by Bugglesl

CLEFT-CHINNED

cleft a) an opening or crack, especially in a rock or the ground:

Eagles often nest in a cleft in the rocks.

b) a usually V-shaped indented formation; a hollow between ridges or protuberances

the anal cleft of the human body

c) a cleft in someone's chin is a line down the middle of it.

C1 level_Photocopies from 29^th January

C1 level_Photocopies from 3^rd February + ♪ Another Saturday Night by Sam Cooke

C1 level_Photocopies from 5^th January + ♪ Here Comes the Rain Again by Eurythmics

C2 level_photocopies from 4^th February + ♫ Another Saturday Night by Sam Cooke 

C2 level_photocopies from 6^th January + ♫ Radio programme about Kirk Douglas (audio)

+ ♫ I Put a Spell On You by Creedence Clearwater Revival

ON THE SLY

sly  adj having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature; clever at tricking people or at secretly doing unfair or dishonest things

   A sly, manipulative person

on the sly    done secretly, especially because you know you should not be doing it

   I’m supposed to be on a diet, but I still have the odd bar of chocolate on the sly.

♫  BBC News bulletin 21st January ♫

WE'RE EXPECTING DRY SPELLS

What does the word  spell  mean?  As is normally the case, this word has different meanings and can be both a noun and a verb. Let's have a look at some of the meanings:

▪ as a noun

1) spoken words that are thought to have magical power, or (the condition of being under) the influence or control of such words:

   The witch cast a spell on the prince and he turned into a frog.

   A beautiful girl would have to kiss him to break the spell.

   Sleeping Beauty lay under the wicked fairy's spell until the prince woke her with a kiss.

2) a short period of a particular type of weather; a period of time for which an activity or condition lasts continuously:

   a spell of dry weather

   I keep having dizzy spells

▪ as a verb

1) to form a word or words with the letters in the correct order:

   Does she spell her name with a C or with a K?

(Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/)

C1 level_Photocopies from 22^nd January + ♪ Delilah by Tom Jones
C1 level_Photocopies from 27^th January + ♪ Eye in the Sky by Alan Parsons Project
C1 level_Photocopies from 29^th January:  part I  _  part II


C2 level_photocopies from 23^rd January_1 + ♫ Have I told you lately by Van Morrison
C2 level_photocopies from 23^rd January_2 + ♫ BBC lecture about Einstein (audio)
C2 level_photocopies from 28^th January + ♫ Son of a preacher man by Dusty Springfield
C2 level_photocopies from 30^th January + ♫ Why do we text instead of call (audio) + ♫ I drove all night by Cyndi Lauper