Farewell
Dear All,
Well, the vioins are playing sadly in the background, and it's time to say goodbye. First, though, I'd like to say well done to James one more time - you rose to my challenge very impressively, and wrote a final blog with almost perfect singular and plural forms.
Have you guys ever watched the Oscars? If so, you've probably seen tearful film stars making long, emotional acceptance speeches, in which they say 'thank you' to God, to their parents, to their wives/husbands, to their managers, their producers, their directors, their hairdressers, their piano teachers, their piano teachers' wives/husbands, their hairdressers' parents, etc etc etc, until everyone gets completely bored and stops listening.
In exactly the same way, I'd like to say thanks to a long list of people. Please imagine me as a film star at the Oscars (you can imagine that I look like Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp, only balder and therefore more handsome). I'd like to say thanks first of all to James and Ana Paula, for working so hard and writing such useful and entertaining blogs, and for having the courage to make mistakes in public. I'd also like to thank Paul for giving me the job of teacher blogger in the first place, and Carrie who has the thankless task of editing these pages. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I'd like to thank Ana, Anna, Jameel, Maria (I hope you enjoyed the book), Leila, Adriana, Ha_na, Alexey, Romana, Hyoshil and her unruly son, Antonio, Adek (well done for spotting that mistake), Jill Huang, Mellisa, Marianna, Wisarut, the Mystery Student, and all the others who have read these blogs and taken the time to comment on them. It's been great fun reading your comments - sorry I couldn't respond to all of them!
I think I'll leave the last word to Friday the Cat, if I can persuade her to come over here and type a final message to all her fans around the world. Friday says:
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That says it all, doesn't it?
All the best,
Alex
Vocabulary
If someone challenges you to do something, and you actually manage to do this thing (especially if it's difficult), we can say that you rise to the challenge.
The Oscars are famous awards for the best films, actors, etc. They are handed out once a year, in America, and the ceremony (also called 'The Oscars') is often shown on TV.
If someone is tearful, they are crying, or they have tears in their eyes.
Acceptance is, obviously, the noun form to the verb 'to accept'. When film stars win awards at the Oscars, they normally come up on the stage and make 'acceptance speeches'.
Courage is an abstract, uncountable noun, which means the same as 'bravery'. If someone is brave, we can say that that person has courage.
If you do a job but normally nobody says 'thank you', we can call this job a thankless task.
If someone or something is unruly, this means that their behaviour is difficult or impossible to control.
Comments
I would like to contribute to you a song "To Sir With love" by LuLu. Good luck and so long!
Alex, your blogs have been REALLY entertaining and I have had great fun reading them. Thanks a lot!
Hello Alex! Oh Dear! It´s indeed your last blog! While you are saying your emotional speech( I imagine you just like you are. Uh-huh, yes, I imagine you as our strikingly handsome teacher. Ok, ok, with a little touch of George Clooney charm [:-)] ). Anyway, what am I saying? Ah! The orchestra are playing Limelight, from the film Limelight, which is so beautiful, and although sometimes the song seems to be a bit sad, it also has a deep sense of joy. Of course, I´m a bit sad because you´re leaving us ( Oh! What a drama!), however, I´m also happy for being your student, and I´m really proud to have had a great teacher like you. I wish you all the best, and I hope that in a near future you come back. This would be awesome!( The orchestra now starts to play Limelight louder). Best wishes, Ana Paula.
dear Alex,thanks for your blogs . The first thing I did in the past two months was opening the "http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/communicate" and read your blogs . Then I would copy your newest blog and paste it to my doucment .And in the intervals of work , I would write the Vocabulary on my little note . I recited these words and examples in the subway everyday (I have to go to work by tube everyday). I was keeping in slient for all the days , but I Do recieved many help from you .. I don't know how to express my appreciation to you , just hope you,,,,,,,, have a big and beautful house some day :)
Hi Alex, thank you so much for sharing so many interesting things with us in the past two months. How time flies! I couldn't believe that it's Jun 1st now. Wish you a great future. And I do hope you will come here again if you have time. I will miss you. We will miss you! Thanks again and good luck! Jill.
Hi Alex! Don`t forget go swimming! In my mind I always see you sitting at small, round, white, rococo-style table (which suit to such place) on the South Bank of London. Simply beautiful! Weird? Would you prefer more austere style, wouldn`t you? And that wonderful (the Oscar) voice, you should simply come and sing here! See you!!
Hi, Alex :) I've been with you for the two month. I've been improving my English first, by reading your and the students blogs and comments, second, by writing my own comments. Thanks so much.
Hi Alex, I’d like to take this one last opportunity to recommend you perhaps the best Polish writer – Witold Gombrowicz, just for at least two reasons: irony and special talent for word coinage. He’s extremely difficult to translate but still appreciated by foreigners, especially French. So have a good read and many thanks for these two exciting months. All the best,
How it going ? The last message ,the perpetual relationship ,appear to be fantastic words for saying this way. Fortunately, I weep with joy while I am continuously reading all words ,all expressions from here. It is time to go, isn't it? OKEY ! The party has done. But in my exceptional memories , frantic comments,are still forever .Frankly ,all intriguing blogs that you publish make me happy so much and enhance ability in English . I would like to bid you farewell . I hope you are good healthy and achievable in your favourite jobs. With warm good wishes . < Wisarut S >
Hello Alex and all others, It was really great to read you and I agree with Ana when she employs the word "irony" even if it's linked to a great writer (I've read Ferdyduck): easy to pick out your irony from your blogs. You get the sense of detachment. Good luck.
hi alex , The last two monts i ws been with you in your class as a silent student in the midst of active ana paula and james like students....We will really miss you a lot...I wish to have you as our teacher once again.As am unaware of english culture and english countries, i ws always eager to pick it up frm your blogs.Convey my regards to friday...
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