Sorry I'm Late!
Imagine me, Soyoung, rushing into a classroom where the students are all sitting politely waiting for me. I am out of breath, flustered, dropping my books and papers all down the corridor. I tumble into the room, dump my books on the desk, grab a whiteboard pen, look up and contemplate the serene faces sitting waiting for me. “Good morning, class, and welcome to the lesson.”
[That was a difficult first paragraph, Soyoung. I know that. Don’t panic. You can do this and it will be a lot of fun for both of us.]
That’s how I feel right now. You arrived on time. You have completed your ‘homework’ and it is sitting on my desk waiting for me. You have prepared your ‘lesson’. I am the one who is late, disorganised and unprepared. Well, that’s not quite true, but I feel a little ashamed that you were already blogging while I was still in Paris having a good time (and spending far too much money).
I am actually very organised, and I am very prepared. And now I’m even here. So “Hi!” and congratulations on winning the BBC Learning English monthly blogging competition. Thank you for posting your first two blogs and for sending such lovely, artistic photographs.
You probably know that I was in Paris to celebrate the New Year. I too made a few New Year resolutions, Soyoung, but I’m afraid I broke most of them before half-past midnight (drink less, eat less, be a nicer person – all broken before the celebrations had ended, I’m afraid). Never mind. I can always try again next year.
Yes, cautious is a good word to use about someone’s character. You could also describe someone as careful, too. So are you someone who never takes risks? It will be interesting for me – and all our readers – to get to know you a little better during this month. Yes, Soyoung, we have readers. Lots and lots and lots of them! They are usually very generous and kind and I think you will soon find that you have an international fan club. Right now, however, you and I need to get to know a little more about each other. I will ask you more about your music and what sort of yoga you do, later. Also, it would be interesting to hear about some of your favourite books (most of our readers are very interested in books).
INTERVIEW ME
You probably read the blogs between me and Federico, from Peru, last month. I told him quite a lot about myself. I could repeat all that, or you could ‘interview’ me to find out exactly what you want to know. Why not post a blog which is a series of (fairly simple) questions you would like me to answer? You could write it like a questionnaire or a list. Then I will try to give simple, direct answers. You can ask me anything you like and I will do my best to answer everything you ask. I’m looking forward to your list.
Meanwhile, I have added some language notes for you, below, and some photos (which I’m afraid are not as good as yours) to make the blog look a little less ‘heavy’.
Take it easy, Soyoung.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best wishes,
STEPHEN
SOME USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
out of breath
If you are out of breath you are breathing quickly and deeply because you have been running or rushing. If you run for a bus, for example, you may be a little out of breath when you get on it.
flustered
feeling a little nervous or confused
tumble
to fall or roll forward
dump
drop or slam down
grab
get hold of (roughly)
contemplate
look at and think about
serene
calm; relaxed
congratulations on winning
Notice the structure with the preposition on and the –ing form of the verb. It is probably easiest to remember this as a fixed expression. Some examples: Congratulations on passing your driving test. Congratulations on becoming a father. Congratulations on scoring the winning goal.
Even if you use a noun instead of a verb, you should remember the preposition on with the word congratulations. More examples: Congratulations on your 18th birthday. Congratulations on your degree. Congratulations on your success.
SOME GRAMMAR TO THINK ABOUT
Read this sentence again and think about the grammar: You were already blogging while I was still in Paris having a good time.
We can make it a little simpler: You were blogging while I was having a good time.Think about: You were blogging…This structure helps us to describe something in the past (were) which was happening [but has finished happening now] at the same time (while) as something else was happening (I was having a good time).
So this is a structure we can use when we want to talk about two things happening at the same time, but which have both finished happening now. Here are some more example sentences:
I was reading the paper while Jane was making breakfast.
They were talking to their teacher while the other students were working in the library.
HOW WE USE ENGLISH – some punctuation
Both the words homework and lesson are printed in single inverted commas [‘…. .’] in my blog to show that I am using them in a special way. Of course, Soyoung, you have not actually done any homework. And this, of course, is not a lesson. But I am using the words homework and lesson to paint a picture, to give an impression. I am comparing our situation with an English lesson and so I am using homework and lesson in a creative way. When you do that, in English, you need to show your reader that you are using the words in a special way, so we use single inverted commas.
…AND DON’T FORGET THE ARTICLE
Read the following list then look again at your excellent blog. You don’t have a problem with the article, but just look again at these examples. Compare your version with items in the list to see where there are some missing articles. [We’ll focus on the article again during the month, so take it easy.]
…the blog competition
…the BBC
…the City Hall
…the New Year bell
The temperature is around 9 degrees.
…the UK
…in a library
…to learn the guitar
I’m looking for a music institute…
SOME RE-WRITTEN SENTENCES
Find the original sentences in your first and second blogs and then compare them with the following, corrected versions:
1. I never imagined I could win the blog competition this month.
2. I have been working in this field for almost ten years.
3. I could say that I like this sort of work but that sometimes my workload is too heavy to handle.
4. Do you know anything about freight forwarders?
5. It was nice for me because I haven’t had time (not a time) to think about myself properly.
6. There’s a chilly wind.
7. I have to lose (not loose) weight (not my weight).
By the way, Soyoung, I’m pretty sure from looking at your photo that you don’t need to lose weight! Don’t overdo it.
Comments
Hi Stephen, I'm here again.Happy new year!! I'm so glad to see your pictures. During reading your blog, I learn much more. I told myself that I must try my best to win an BBC Learning English Blog Competitation. At that time, maybe we can talk more directly. Wish you all the best. Hope to see your next interesting blog. Bye for now.
Dear Stephen, it's great you're back. Could you give some examples of the difference between careful and cautious. A situation, perhaps, when you would definitely use one and not the other?(Like: Be careful!) Thanks a lot. Bye.
Hi, Stephen! I am looking forward to reading this month´s blog! I would enjoy it greatly!
Hi, Stephen! I am looking forward to following this month´s blog! I would enjoy it much! I notice that Katya from Moscow ask you about your opinion regarding English writers I want actually also ask for the same. Maybe you can also share with us what your favourite writers are in general, which novel oe maybe poems. I am fond of books, good ones. Recently I have enjoyed some novels by Orwell, Murdoch, Fowels and was so enormously and pleasantly surprised by discovering " The Diary of Adam and Eve" by Mark Twain. As for modern writers I am a bit confused, it is very hard to choose books now or at least I feel like this. From my experience as a reader I noticed that sometimes it is a matter what novel of a certain writer you actually begin reading, it often happened I greatly enjoyed and really was charmed with his novel and was walking under its influence quite long, but other novels of the same writer have no impact on me and only because of stubborness I read them till the end. Thanks a lot!!!
Hi stephen, Happy New Year. You are not late always.You were appearing in the blog before Federico reached in the last month. Now it’s vice versa. We all know that you are committed and dedicated teacher and well organized man. Even for weekend outing how wonderfully you plan are amazing. But we are much eager to see your blog last days in the New Year’s Eve. We are much happy that you are to be a blog teacher in this month also. You made a resolution that taking less drinks from this year. But you were breaking in the first day itself. Congratulations on breaking resolutions. I made like this some times back. I couldn’t stick on that. One stage I wanted to totally stop taking drinks. Is it possible? It is celebration time. You can enjoy which your prefer to do.You will take less drink in the coming days.
Hi,Stephen What a beautiful smile you have got!! I didn't know you have such a good smile.Anyway,it's really nice to see you again.I bet you had a whale of a time in Paris. How are you and Lucy? Has she been a good girl while you were away? I feel really happy to anticipate learning more good English from you and L must say to the BBc to bring you back in this blog.I am really looking forward to your next lessons and a very very happy New Year!!!!
Dear Stephen, First of all I'd like to wish you (and Lucy of course) a very happy New Year!! Was everything all right with her and your house when you came back from France? I love your concern for Lucy's wellness and happiness. I'm very glad that you will continue teaching us the next month. Your lessons are very helpful for me and, I'm sure, lots of other students. You really take your job (or hobby) seriously with a touch of humour. That's the way!! You haven't told us about Paris, please do. I guess it was great to be there. Stephen do you know something about Frederico, I hope he hasn't had an accident or something like that. He was blogging so enthusiatic and abrupt we didn't hear anything. I'm a bit worried, his work and all his travels were in mine opinion not free of risks. Wim
Hello Dear Stephen, I’m happy, I didn’t know that you continue as teacher blogger this month. It’s a pleasure to hear from you again. You are a good and didactic teacher. By for now.
Hi Stephen thanks to BBC for giving us chance to follow to read your interesting blogs with grammar explanation. good luck in 2007!
Hello, Stephen, You're delicated because you didn't miss any correction to improve me much better. Thank you for comments to me that I must be encouraged use in English. I actually planned to write stories abut me and korea. Is it more useful that I would write down as if you're the person who recevie my letter? It's like penpal. Or you'll carefully check and correct my mistakes whenever I made it. You know, I was offended when I read your posts you corrected wrong sentences on my blogs. I realised it after a while that I should encourage to use English and admit mistakes on sentences because I'm leaner. I'd like to instroduce korean culture to everyone to access Learning English on BBC. You asked me about marriage in Korea. First, I don't like to tell my age to others. People in korea, they're always asking abut age becaue it makes up and down with me. Age is very important on korean culture. I'm 33 years old this year and not married woman. Te be over 30 years old without marriage, especailly for old generation is very worried about future. Korean society was based on confucianism that devided woman and man's role. In case of my mother, she sometimes talked to me that you had to marry before 30years old and have children before too late to be pregnanted. Is it rediculous idea? Of course, most young generation don't think like that, the importace is to improve life quality and approach own's purpose. I think you can understand why a friend of mine was rushed by parents. Anyway, I'll post a story about moves today. See you soon.
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