Reading Course: Dying Languages

Q: What happens when the last two people on Earth who speak a language decide they hate each other and won't speak to each other? 

A: You need anthropologists to rush to the scene and attempt to save the language from extinction!

Read the following article in the Guardian and test your reading comprehension by answering the following questions:

1. Which language is about to die out?
2. How are anthropologists attempting to save this language?
3. Where is this language spoken?
4. Why is the language about to die out?
5. Do they live far away from each other?
6. Why won't they talk to each other?
7. a. Are their personalities similar? b. How would you describe their personalities?
8. Which speaker is a homebody?
9. a. Who did Segovia used to speak the language with? b. How long ago? c. Why did he stop speaking the langauge with this person?
10. Was the language commonly spoken in the past?
11. What three (3) factors have contributed to the demise of this language?
12. a. What is The National Indigenous Language Institute attempting to do? b. Based on the facts presented, do they have a good chance of succeeding?
13. What does kolo-golo-nay mean?
14. a. Which other languages are on the verge of extinction? b. Where are they spoken? c. How many people alive currently speak these languages?

Essential Vocabulary I

pun ~ a joke made by a play on words, especially the different meanings of a word 

In-Laws ~ the mother, father, brothers or sisters of one's spouse

tidbits ~ yummy little facts, gossip, or food in bite-sized pieces which is "easily digested" by one's stomach or mind

popping by ~ to visit a family member or close friend either: a. unannounced without a formal invitation, or b. without a specific time in mind or purpose (such as arriving sometime after running errands and not specifically for a meal, party, etc.)

anthropologists  ~ scientists who study humans and their culture

extinction ~ a state of no longer existing 

homebody ~ someone who prefers to stay at home as opposed to going out

Answers to the Wee Little Quiz!

1. Ayapaneco or Nuumte Oote.
2. They are trying to write a dictionary.
3. Mexico, specifically in the village of Ayapa in the the southern state of Tabasco
4. There are only two speakers left and they are elderly: Manuel Segovia, 75 and Isidro Velazquez, 69
5. Not at all! They only live 500 m from each other!
6. No one really knows for sure. It could possibly be an argument or feud of some kind but it is known that they do not like to be in each other's presence.
7. a. Not at all. b. Segovia, is described as being "a little prickly" whereas Velazquez, is described as being a "more stoic."
8. Velazquez is the homebody.
9. a. Segovia used to speak the language with his brother. b. Over ten years ago. c. He died. 
10. No. Suslak describes Ayapaneco as a "linguistic island" because it was surrounded by more commonly spoken indigenous languages.
11. 1. In the mid-twentieth century, Mexican schools prohibited the speaking of indigenous languages. 2) Urbanization. 3) Migration.
12.  a. They are going to attempt to start classes in teaching the language to others. b. No. Everyone in the past loses interest and drops out of the classes and there has been funding problems.
13. To gobble like a turkey.
14. 1. a. Ter Sami, b. Russia, c. two people; 2. a. Kayardild, b. Australia, c. four people; 3. a. Lengilu, b. Indonesia, c. four people; 4. a. Mabire, b. Chad, c. maybe three people; 5. a. Tehuelche, b. Chile, c. four people.

How did you do? I'm sure you did an excellent job! But if not and you got any answers wrong, simply go back to the article and try to re-answer the question without looking at the answer one more time. 

Essential Vocabulary II
  
indigenous ~ a person, plant, or object that originates in a specific place

to gobble ~ the specific sound a turkey makes (listen of you are curious!)

English Language News Course: Nigeria ~ United Kingdom

New! This is a course which will highlight today's news on the English language from around the world.

Nigeria
Nigeria: Mass Failure in English Language
Over 80% of students taking the NECO (National Education Council) candidacy exam to place into higher education failed the English language portion. This is a great problem for Nigeria because passing the English language test is necessary for placement as English is a compulsory subject in school.

United Kingdom
UK tells foreign students: 'Speak English or stay out'
The United Kingdom is battling an explosion of migrant workers who pose as fake international students and also a rise in fake language schools. Therefore, the government is cracking down, by cutting the total amount of International Student visas, requiring all foreign students to have proof of funds in order to study in England, and changing the accreditation requirements of EFL schools.

United Kingdom
David Cameron says that immigrants should learn English
David Cameron says that the immigration wave of 2.2 million newcomers to the United Kingdom since 1997 has created problems as the immigrants are not learning English or adopt English customs, thus creating 'disjointed' neighborhoods across England. 

Essential Vocabulary

compulsory (n) ~ mandatory 

migrant (n) ~ a person who travels from place to place within a country in search of work 

accreditation (n)~ the ability to grant degrees and award credits that can be transferred or counted across national or international boundaries 

disjointed (adj) ~ out of place

American Culture Course: 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War

150 years ago today at 4:30 a.m. in North Carolina, the Confederates fired the first shot at Fort Sumter. The war would last four long years, cost hundreds of thousands of lives, rip families apart, and marked a very bitter chapter of American history in which the slaves were freed as its final outcome.

Officially this country begins commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War and I have read that this will continue through the spring of 2015. However, I can honestly say that I have not heard very much about the festivities planned up here in Chicago. Chicago was considered the heart of the Union at the time of the Civil War as President Lincoln was from Illinois. I really do not know if the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War is being talked about very much in the rest of the country either.

Perhaps it is not talked about up here in a Northern state for two reasons. First, the North won the war, so as victor, it is impolite to speak of the victory. It is better instead to let the country heal. Second, the Northern states are not doing well economically. We are now known of as the 'Rust Belt' (for all of the closed down industrial plants) and everyone it seems is moving to the 'Sun Belt.' The 'Sun Belt' consists of the Sunshine states which encompass the American Southwest and the Southern states. Perhaps the Northern states don't feel very proud at the moment, so even discussion of the North having fought to free the slaves isn't enough to help the 'Northern ego' now.

I will be curious to see what type of conversation this nation will have about this chapter of American history in the coming years because many people think that the United States is at its most divided since the Civil War. Just look at any political poll on any topic and you will see that it is almost evenly split 50-50. Interestingly, the lines drawn in this country between 'Red' (Conservative) and 'Blue' (Liberal) states parallels a lot of the same territory from the Civil War era. Furthermore, as President Obama declared his candidacy for President in 2012 last week, all of this historical reflection is bound to become a hot issue during the Presidential campaign.

I personally find it interesting timing that not only is the first African-American President sitting in office during this commemoration, but also that this President is also from Illinois, which by the way, is nicknamed 'the Land of Lincoln.' Unfortunately racism has surfaced again with a biracial President. It makes me wonder if racism is ever really gone from America at any given time. Although now in America, racism is something that is thinly veiled and whispered about behind closed doors, or screamed about on chat boards under anonymous names. Americans, especially older ones who remember the Era of Segregation, still have a difficult time having a frank, adult conversation on the topics of race, racism, or slavery.

For example, one issue that many times ends up becoming a hostile conversation with great misunderstanding is that of whether there should be an official American Presidential apology for slavery. Many white Americans are afraid that if the United States President officially apologizes for slavery as a nation, then descendants of the slaves will demand monetary payment for the suffering of their ancestors. (Several Southern states and the Congress have apologized for slavery, but only within the last decade!)

These are all very difficult, painful topics that many Americans refuse to talk about in public. 150 years on from the Civil War, America still has a lot of healing to do.

Essential Reading:
Here are several articles highlighting opinion pieces and travel writing to commemorate the Civil War at the start of its 150th Anniversary.

The Way We Weren't ~ Time Magazine
This article debates the controversy between viewing the Civil War as an issue over States Rights vs. Slavery.

The American Civil War Battles Continue ~ The Guardian
This article from an English newspaper examines the current tension between Northern and Southern views over the Civil War.

Civil War Road Trip ~ Slate Magazine
Enjoy a piece of modern day historical travel writing through the Civil War South.

Essential Vocabulary

bitter (adj) ~ something that is harsh in taste or unpleasant in nature

outcome (n) ~ the end result

to commemorate (v) ~ honor the memory of a historical event; a commemoration can be for a happy occasion or a sad occasion

candidacy (n) ~ the state of running for a political office or official position

reflection  (n) ~ thoughts about a topic

to be bound to ~ to be likely to

to be thinly veiled  (v) ~ to be easily understood and only partially hidden

Era of Segregation ~ the time in America when whites and blacks lived separate, unequal lives



Image Source

Resources Course: Foreign Language Translator Apps

Nǐ hǎo! Let us sing for you...

 The article, Lost in Translation? Comparing Smartphone Apps in USA Today ranks several translator apps for your smartphone. According to the reviewer, Google Translate is the way to go. Considering that Google Translate was the only free app reviewed and it is the best, all I can say is 'Sweet'!

Note: However, I am a wee bit concerned that, according to the article, when translating from Mandarin Chinese to English, "I'd like to order tofu and fish" became "I want entertainment tofu."(!) This makes me wonder if you would be served tofu 1) with singing accompaniment, 2) with fireworks, or 3) with some type of sizzling rice extravaganza that would end up becoming the best meal of your life, ever!

Essential Vocabulary

to rank (v) ~ to take items and put in an order like from best to worst

the way to go (idiom) ~ this is your best choice

Sweet! (excl.) ~ Wonderful! Excellent!

accompaniment (n) ~ something that goes with something else; it can be musical or song in nature

extravaganza (n)~ elaborate entertainment; something very complex and detailed



Image Source

Vocabulary Course: Foreign Origin English Word of the Day: Cooties

Cooties

Origin: Malayan/Tagalog:
kutu: lice

Part of Speech: 
n.

English Meaning:
Cooties is an imaginary disease that young American children give each other on the playground in a game that is similar to tag. Cooties is spread from any accidental contact between the opposite sex for children that are pre-pubescent. For example, cooties could be spread if a boy and girl would accidently touch each others hands by mistake when reaching for the same piece of chalk at the blackboard in their classroom.

In addition, Cooties can also be joked about playfully between adult Americans, such as between lovers or spouses who accidently crash into each other, as a shared memory about American childhood.

I just asked my husband how he pictures 'Girl Cooties' and, he replied, (I quote) "girl germs."* Often times children will just yell 'girl germs' or 'boy germs' after accidently touching each other too. However, when I think of 'Boy Cooties', I do think of some nasty little parasitic bug like lice which is interesting as this is the original meaning of the malayan 'kutu'.

Example I: 

Sally, a six year old child, accidently bumps into Jimmy, her classmate of the same age, on the way out to the playground during the lunch hour.

Jimmy: "Gross! You touched my arm! Oh great. Now you gave me Cooties!'

Sally: (looking horrified and shaking her head defiantly) "No way! I so do not have Cooties!"

Jimmy: (frantically wiping off his arm to get rid of the Cooties) "You do too! So gross!" (turning to his friend Bobby) "Sally has Cooties and gave them to me."

Bobby: (making a face of disgust) "Yuck! Girl Cooties!" (suddenly a genius appears on his face) "Hey Jimmy, just give her the cooties back."

Sally: EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKK! (While running away with Jimmy chasing her in an attempt to touch her arm thus to give her 'Boy Cooties' in revenge.)

Example II:

The song Cooties from the popular American Broadway musical and movie Hairspray, complete with lyrics.



* To which my husband then gave me a big smile and added, "Cooties? as a blog post? Cool!"

English in Action Course: Maya del Sol

This advertisement is for Maya del Sol, a trendy 'Nuevo Latino' restaurant in Chicago specializing in Central and South American fusion. Maya del Sol's tag line is:

(h)eat + chill

A Point by Point Breakdown of the English Wordplay:

Heat

• The food is spicy = hot
• The nightlife is spicy = hot meaning 'sexy' or 'popular'
• Maya del Sol means 'Mayan Sun' = the Mayan sun is hot

(H)eat

• Eat is part of the word heat; this refers to the spicy (hot) food that you will eat at this restaurant

Chill

• To chill out = to relax
• Chill = cool/nice
• Chill = a chilled drink like a margarita, which the Mayan statue is holding

(H)eat + Chill

• Eat spicy, sexy food in a cool atmosphere while you relax
• Spicy food and atmosphere (heat) vs. chilled drink in a laid back atmosphere = yin/yang; the perfect balance for your dining experience

Vocabulary Course: Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Quiz: Do you know how to complete the ancient but still popular nursery rhyme, 'Rain, rain, go away'? 

Answer at the bottom of the post... 

Guess what? It's raining again in Chicago. I sound like a broken record this spring. However, today it is not really raining, but more like something people in London call mizzle, which is somewhere between mist and drizzle. It's the type of rain that you don't really need an umbrella for if you are running from building to building, but beware if you are outside for any extended length of time. One would end up soaked to the bone. Anyways, the weatherman says it is supposed to clear up by mid-afternoon, so maybe I can keep my fingers crossed and by the time I am finished writing, a beautiful rainbow will come out, the birds will sing, the flowers will bloom, and it will be sunny and 70F. I'm not holding my breath, but it is a nice fantasy to have, right?

Did you understand all of the words for rain that I used in the previous paragraph? Being able to describe rain is very important, especially if you are going to visit or live in the northern States, Canada, or of course, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Let's learn all about the wet stuff!

Essential Vocabulary for Rain

Terms for Light Rain: (Using an Umbrella is debatable...)

to spit (v) ~ literally like spitting from your mouth. It means that a few drops of rain will fall, then start, then stop, then start...If you were at a picnic, you would see a few drops of rain fall on the tablecloth or blanket, in which you would then panic and start to cover all the food up. Then you would look up at the sky when it immediately stops. By the time you think to yourself, "Phew, that was close!" you only then realize that once again, it has started to spit more...repeat this process repeatedly until it either a) stops raining for good, or 2) begins to do something 'wetter' (see below)...

sprinkling (ger)/to sprinkle (v) ~  sort of like spitting but ever so slightly heavier. Maybe the drops are a big bigger in diameter or maybe there are more of them. However, the main point is that it is sporadic and falls lightly.

mist (n)/to mist (v) ~ technically a cloud of water right at ground level and the water is literally hanging in the air, almost like 'rainy fog'

fine rain (n) ~ a fine rain is where it is raining but you cannot see the drops nor really feel them it is a very, light rain

mizzle (n)/to mizzle (v) (British English) ~ somewhere between mist and drizzle

drizzle (n)/to drizzle (v) ~ a light rain with little drops

Terms for 'Average' Rain (Using an Umbrella is necessary...)

rain shower (n) ~ a spell of rain for a given length of time which then gives way to the sun once more

showery (adv) ~ a day where it rains off and on; there are multiple rain showers in a given day

scattered showers (n)/intermittent showers (n) ~maybe it is raining on your side of town but not on the other side of town at the same time

rainy (adv) ~ a day where a rain falls for an extended period of time which can last hours or days or weeks. However, it is multiple periods of light rain or 'average' rain.

Terms for Heavy Rain (Using an Umbrella is beyond necessary but it might get destroyed in the process...)

torrential rain (n) ~ very heavy rainfall that falls very quickly

downpour (n) ~ heavy rains

pouring (ger)/to pour (v) ~  rain that falls heavily from the sky almost like pouring water from a cup

cloudburst (n) ~ a sudden violent rainfall

deluge (n) ~ an overwhelming amount of rain

sheets of rain (n)/to rain in sheets (n) ~ rain that actually falls heavily in waves that actually looks like sheets falling from the sky

monsoon (n) ~ a rainy season in Asia; used in American English for any period of heavy rainfall; a time of heavy rains in the summer in the deserts of the American Southwest

flood (n) ~ either heavy rains over a short amount of time or rains over too many days or a combination of the two that ends up being so much water that it will flood river banks, overwhelm small streams, or flood desert canyons; a dangerous situation because people and animals can drown and houses and property can be destroyed

flash flood (n) ~ sudden rain so heavy that it will flood river banks, overwhelm small streams, or flood desert canyons; a dangerous situation because people and animals can be caught off guard and be overwhelmed and drown and houses and property can be destroyed

Idiomatic Rain Terms

It's raining buckets! ~ literally it feels like buckets of rain are falling from the sky

It's raining cats and dogs! ~ The original meaning of this saying is a mystery, so just think of it as it is raining so heavy it feels like almost anything might just fall from the sky.

It's raining/It's pouring/The Old Man is Snorning/He bumped his head and went to bed/And he couldn't get up in the morning! ~  yet another popular children's nursery rhyme to commemorate something tragic. American children like to sing this song as they splash through puddles coming home from school.

Warning!: If you play the following video, you will have this little tune in your head for days and days, whether it is raining or not! Do not flame me that you are mad that you can't stop singing it; you were warned! :) (Now you know why American children sing it over, and over, and over and over, and...)



Essential Vocabulary 

to sound like a broken record (v/idiom) ~ to say something so often a person sounds like a skippping record. Ahem...you know, those old things that used to be played on record players. You know, before CDs. Yes, there was actually a time called B.CD....before CD. Hard to imagine right? Such a loooooong time ago, the Dark Ages so to speak...I believe it was called the early 1980's. OK. Get that smirk off of your face...don't make me feel old...now where was I? Oh yes, I know, we need a better idiom, but sadly this one will have to do for now in English. I am sure it will change when no one alive can remember a record player. (Or maybe not, languages have an interesting way of holding onto the past...)

to keep my fingers crossed (v/saying) ~ to literally cross the index and middle fingers in a gesture for good luck; to wish good luck for yourself or someone

to not be holding one's breath (v) ~ something probably isn't going to happen so one doesn't have much hope that it will ever happen

I'm sad to announce that I have just finished writing this post and it is still mizzling out! Ugh! Sigh. Maybe tomorrow. (Meaning: Maybe tomorrow it will actually be nice out!) 

A: Rain, rain, go away/Come again another day! 

Instead of listening to this nursery rhyme (see, I'm kind, I don't want you singing kiddie songs all day long!), I've linked you to a jazz version in this classic Charlie Brown cartoon instead. 



That is all for me, Yummers. I hope you are having nice weather in your part of the world!

American Culture Course: Mad about Baby Bald Eagles

Mama eagle keeps her eaglets warm.

I like to read Huffington Post because it links to many quirky news stories that tend to be overlooked by giant media outlets like CNN and MSNBC. Yesterday, I learned about the Decorah Eagles, which The Raptor Resource Project is broadcasting from Decorah, Iowa on ustream.tv.

By yesterday evening, news about the Decorah eagles had spread like wildfire! It seemed that everyone I ran into was watching the live feed of the nest. As a matter of fact, over 25 million viewers have visited the 24/7 live web feed!

Why all of the excitement?

The third and final egg in the nest was about to hatch at any moment. As a matter of fact, the final eaglet hatched yesterday in the late afternoon.

Papa eagle feeds his eaglets.

 Americans are enchanted by the American bald eagle. It is the national bird of this country. Media has used video of the soaring bald eagle to symbolize freedom. Also, the bald eagle almost went extinct during the 1970's due to the pesticide DDT so it is an environmental success story that there are more of these birds in the wild. However, the American bald eagle still remains a endangered species and is protected under American law.

Below is the live feed of the nest. Maybe you will luck out and see the mama or papa eagle feeding her/his little eaglets!


Video streaming by Ustream  Essential Vocabulary

to be mad about ~ to be crazy about; to be hugely popular to the point of obsession

quirky ~ odd in a pleasant or amusing way

to tend to be ~ likely to be; something so common it can be predicted

to overlook ~ to not notice; to pass over

raptor ~ a large bird of prey such as eagles, hawks, and falcons

to spread like wildfire ~ to move very quickly such as news, gossip, or disease

24/7 ~ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; non-stop

to hatch ~ to be born by coming out of an egg

eaglet ~ a young eagle

to soar ~ to glide in the air

pesticide ~ poisonous chemicals to kill pests like cockroaches or mice 

endangered species ~ an animal that is limited in numbers and may be close to extinction

to luck out ~ to have good timing; to get your way by chance

Vocabulary Course: What's Your Story?

The word story seems like a simple vocabulary word until you ask four native English speakers in a room what story means. To your shock, you realize that you heard four different answers. The English language is rich in vocabulary, and one word can have many different but similar meanings.

Let's look at four main definitions of story in English:

Story
1. a report/article found in a newspaper/magazine
2. chronological events that make up a book, movie, or an individual's life
3. an alibi
4. a fabricated description of events

Examples:

1. I just read an excellent story in Time magazine entitled, "Amid Tweeted Frustration, Japan May Take Control of TEPCO", which is about how the Japanese government might have to take control over the Fukushima nuclear power plant from the company TEPCO.

2. Have you seen the film Black Swan? It's such a dark story!

3. Last week President Obama took to the airwaves and addressed the American people on the No-Fly-Zone over Libya. The president insisted that he is not going to put boots on the ground. Many people are not convinced that he is telling the truth, but so far he is sticking to his story.

4. If President Obama suddenly puts ground troops in Libya, then we can say that he was telling us all a story when he explained on television that the conflict in Libya would only be a limited air campaign and would not expand in scope.

Essential Vocabulary

alibi (n) ~ an excuse that may or may not be the truth

to fabricate (v) ~ to make up

took to the airwaves ~ to go on television, the radio, or the internet to deliver a message

No-Fly-Zone (n) ~ a place where planes are not allowed to fly, for purposes like: 1) special events, such as a Presidential Inauguration, Royal Wedding, Olympic Games etc., or 2) wars or to stop clashes from becoming a full blown war.

to put boots on the ground  (v) ~ a military term which means to put ground troops in a battle

to stick to (v) ~ to not waver in the course of action or in what has been said

Vocabulary Course: Foreign Origin English Word of the Day: Pell Mell

Pell Mell

Origin: French: pêle-mêle

Part of Speech: Adv.

English Meaning: in a topsy-turvy manner; chaotic; disorderly

Example 1: 
I actually used this wonderful vocabulary gem today in spoken English, so I felt that I had to share it with all of you! Here is what I said mid-afternoon in a conversation with a colleague:

(Suddenly looking out the window) "Wow! I just saw a policeman run all pell mell out of the F building*! I wonder what is going on?"**

Example 2: 

A painting by Howard Pyle entitled: They Scrambled Up the Parapet and Went over the Top, Pell Mell, Upon the British, C.1897 

The title of this painting describes the soldiers in blue, who are the American Revolutionary soldiers. The soldiers in red are the British soldiers. In my opinion, the poor British soldier at the bottom of the painting also fits the criteria of today's vocabulary word. I could say something like:

"The British soldier was falling pell mell."

Pell mell is not to be confused with:

A street in London, nor....

A brand of cigarettes!

~ Try to use pell mell in English today! ~

* This is the name of a building on a college campus in Chicago.
** Note: I never did figure out why the policeman was running pell mell!

English for Japanese Speakers Course: Mako Makes Learning English Fun

Yesterday I went to one of my favorite haunts in Chicagoland, the Mitsuwa Marketplace. Mitsuwa Marketplace is a Japanese market which includes a grocery store, a food court, a travel agent, a video rental shop, a ceramics shop, and of course, my favorite, the Sanseido Bookstore. I could spend hours and hours looking at all of the Japanese magazines and  books.

One section that I really love to browse through is the EFL section for Japanese speakers. I discovered a publisher called ALC Co., which prints many EFL books for Japanese speakers and also many books on learning Japanese for English speakers. I made note of their web address and when I returned home I went to their site. I discovered an e-learning book so utterly brilliant that I wanted to share it with you.

There is an EFL book for the iPad in which a cute little Japanese cat named Mako will teach you English. I must admit, I do not read Japanese (yet) but after looking at images from the book and blog, downloading Mako's iTunes app, and watching the corresponding videos at YouTube, I think this is a delightful way to learn some English.

In this lesson from the book, Mako teaches you how to use the verb 'to look like.'

Mako has five lessons available at YouTube. This is Lesson 1: Mako's Home.

This is a screen capture of the iPhone app that is available for free download:

 

Lastly, Mako has a blog (a very talented cat!), which translates into English: Look strange cat named Mako.

Here is what Mako's blog looks like in its original Japanese:

 

If you are Japanese and have learned some English with Mako's help, please add a comment and let us know if you enjoyed learning English with Mako!

Essential Vocabulary

a haunt (n) ~ a place that one loves to visit again and again. It is like how a ghost haunts a particular location.

ceramics (n) ~ made of porcelain. Vases, bowls, and tea cups can be ceramics.

to make note of ~ to keep in memory for a later time; to write down for reference for a later time

Slang Course: The Great Flyover and a Small Geography Lesson

Term: The Great Flyover

Meaning: This term refers to any part of America between New York City and Los Angeles, but mainly in reference to the American Midwest (see below). Essentially what this term means is that the Midwest of the country is sooooooo utterly boring with no tourist attractions, that it is land one simply flies over from NY to LA or LA to NY.

You probably are wondering if this term is considered rude. It all depends on the context. If a person from New York were to use this term in a nasty way with someone from Nebraska then of course, it would become an insult. But used in a playful way to tease, especially between two people from 'the Great Flyover' it is quite harmless. Midwesterners use this term themselves to describe where they live or where they are from. 

Usage Recommendations: Be safe: Don't use it, know it.

Term in Use: 

• "Some people might think that I live in the Great Flyover, but I don't consider the Great Lakes region as part of the Great Flyover because it is a very scenic part of America."

Now is a great time to teach you some other official geographical terms for the middle of the States. Please keep in mind that these terms are flexible. Where do the Great Plains start and where does the Midwest begin? It all depends on the person's geographical reference point. The definitions are only a guide for your understanding.

the Midwest ~ the north-central part of the United States. States that come to mind that would fit this definition are Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa.

the Heartland ~ the center of a country. In the case of the United States, it is another term for the Midwest.

the Breadbasket ~ technically also referring to the center of the United States which produces a vast amount of wheat. Do you know the top wheat producing States in America? Go to this fun quiz and test your knowledge!

the Great Plains ~ the area of the country that is grassland and prairie and is located running from north to south from Canada to Mexicao between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River. Here is the link to the wiki page on the Great Plains.

the Great Lakes ~ yea! The Great Lakes is where I am from. The Great Lakes region includes any American States or Canadian Provinces that border these lakes. Trust me, the Great Lakes are huge. No joke. Everyone I've ever met from overseas who sees these 'lakes' (try small oceans!) for the first time is utterly speechless. Here is the link to the wiki page on the Great Lakes region.

Proverbs Course: April Showers and English Settlers

(A cool picture of it raining in Chicago will be here by the end of the day, Okie-dokie? Come back and lookie real soon!)

Hello dear Yumers, and how is life treating you on this fine Friday, the first of April? As we say here in the States: TGIF!

As I write this and look out over my front room window, I watch the rain fall* on a very grey, dreary day. Sigh. Spring can be such a cruel time when you want to bask in the now warming sun's rays and you are instead forced to gaze at with a steel grey sky.  

Such is life. Unfortunately (for those of us who aren't farmers of course), rain is quite normal for this time of year. Considering it is the first of April, it is very fitting for me to share with you a popular American proverb that came to my mind as I watched the rain fall:

Proverb:  
April showers bring May flowers

Origin: This is early American poetry written by Thomas Tusser in 1557 in A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry, April Husbandry.

"Sweet April showers
Do spring May flowers"

Meaning: In North America, the snow gives way to rain in April. April tends to be a rainy month, but the good news is that it causes all of the flowers to bloom in the month of May. The proverb can also be read this way:

Yes, your life might be gloomy now and something bad has happened to you but cheer up! Your misfortune will bring forth (aka 'bloom' - wordplay, get it?) wonderful things in the very near future for you.

This proverb has also created a joke in the States that school children love to tell:

Child 1: April showers bring May flowers, and what do May flowers bring?
Child 2: Um...I don't know, sunshine? Tell me, what do May flowers bring?
Child 1: (grinning triumphantly that her little friend is stumped) Pilgrims!

Explanation of the Joke
The Mayflower was a very famous ship that sailed from Plymouth England and brought people to the New World who would be known as Pilgrims. Thus, little kids like to tell this joke to everyone to show that they known some American history and also about their knowledge of English as they are now able to do wordplay. They show people that they understand that May flowers are flowers that bloom in the month of May and also put together as one word (Mayflower) they show that they know this word refers to a very famous Colonial American ship.

Essential Vocabulary
TGIF (expression) ~ Thank God It's Friday!

to bask in (v) ~ to enjoy the pleasure of something

such is life (expression) ~ sometime's we don't get our way but this is just how life works. Maybe if we are patient we eventually will get what we desire.

to spring (v) ~ in this example, to bloom. There is always a lot of wordplay this time of year with the word 'spring' because you can write advertising jingles like 'Spring forth into our Springtime sale.' (If you are a marketing person, don't write and tell me that this is lame. I know it is. That is why I am an English instructor and not a cool advert rep in Cali.)

misfortune ~ an unhappy event in life

triumphantly (adv) ~ in victory of having won

to be stumped ~ to be puzzled in frustration; to not be able to come up with an answer that should be easily known

*Note: In this case I'm saying I am watching the action of the raindrops fall from the sky. I could also have written 'I'm watching the rainfall.' In this case then I am saying that I am watching the little drops themselves. A slight but distinct difference. But that is why you are reading this because you want to learn super cool advanced English, right? :)

Any-whoo, I hope you enjoyed today's lesson. I'm going to put on my wellies (British English: Refers to Wellington boots) and go jump in some puddles! Oh, and take that picture of the rain of course!

Phonetics Course: Do Ya Wanna Sound 'merican?

My accent is a bit of a muddle. I was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee accent is quite distinct. I'm not quite sure how to describe it but it is rather sing-song-y in nature and sounds a bit nasal. It reminds me of a Minnesotan accent but not as strong. The city of Milwaukee was settled primarily by German immigrants so that might explain some of its distinct pronunciation patterns. Some say that the accent sounds a bit Canadian. When I visited Toronto, all of the Canadians I met were convinced that I was 'one of them'. They were quite 'horrified' to learn that I was actually a 'Statesider'.  I jest and so did the bartender who said that I was too cool to be an American! ;)

However, my accent has changed through the years because I have lived in many other places including London, Hamburg, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Bozeman. (Bozeman? Where's that you say? It is today's homework assignment to find out where in the heck Bozeman is located. But do that after this lesson of course. That is why it's called homework!)

As a matter of fact, my accent has changed so much that it is now accentless American English. I was speaking with a Liguistics professor about five years ago and right in the middle of our conversation he suddenly said, "Oh, I've got it! You are from Wisconsin originally aren't you?" It had taken him over 15 minutes to place where I was from. He was utterly impressed and said that I was the exception to his 'placing game'  as usually he could place someone within a minute or so of speaking. (Or so he said...)

While it is a bit sad that I have lost some of the accent of my youth, the benefit is that I am able to instruct in a 'Broadcast English' accent for my students. After studying with me, my students don't leave my classroom sounding like they have lived in any particular area of the States. I think this is great because I think English language learners should use their own native language accent and put their own spin on their English pronunciation.

If you desire an American sounding accent or are just curious as to how an American Accent is produced (You geeky linguist you!) check out this wonderful flash animation from the University of Iowa that shows you how to sound 'merican.

For example in this screen capture from my computer, you can see the instructions for the formation of the American English sound /p/. You have the option of watching the animation with sound or playing it with step-by-step instructions for the formation of the sound. Also, to the right you can watch a video of a real person making the sound and you can listen to the pronunciation of specific words.

Note: The University of Iowa also has similar flash animations for the phonetics of Spanish and German languages.

Final Note: Let me say at this point I am not a proponent of accent reducation courses. I think it is beautiful how each English language learner adds their own personal native language accent to their spoken English. Yes, it is essential to master pronunciation so that you can be understood clearly. However, someone from China should sound like someone from China and someone from Kenya should sound like someone from Kenya. English is simply a tool to global understanding and communication and I think that it should reflect the personal speaker's culture and heritage. Your accent is who you are and you should be very proud of it!

Resources Course: So Many New Words, So Little Time...

When you read native-level English, it is very common for EFL learners to feel overwhelmed with so many new vocabulary words in one passage of text. Learners are always frustrated to determine which words you should look up in your dictionary and which you shouldn't.

When my students ask me, I tend to tell them to focus on the nouns and verbs that repeat within a text, but it really isn't a very precise answer. How can you know what is a frequently appearing word unless you read the entire text? Sure, you can look up words upon a second reading, but this technique really doesn't help for a first reading.

However, if you have electronic text or if you can scan in your text, there is a product online that can give you a very precise answer.

VocabGrabber is a thesaurus that allows you to copy and paste in text you are reading and it will show you which words are the key words from the text.

Example
For this blog post, I copied and pasted the entire book Daisy Miller by the American author Henry James into VocabGrabber. Here are what the results look like:

Do you know the meaning of the words parasol, Colosseum, or coquette? According to VocabGrabber, you just might need to know these words if you read Daisy Miller!

Exercise
Take text from an English book/article you are currently reading and see what VocabGrabber recommends as your necessary vocabulary for comprehension.

Note: Daisy Miller is a brilliant tale of a young, naive American who gets up to mischief in Rome during the mid-nineteenth century. If you haven't read it but you are trying to break into native English language literature, this might be a great tale to start with.

Second Note: I won't leave you hanging with the vocabulary words I mentioned above in Daisy Miller. Here are their definitions:

Essential Vocabulary
parasol ~ a sun umbrella for women which was very popular in the nineteenth century and earlier.

Colosseum ~ this is the famous stadium from the Roman era in Rome.

coquette ~ a polite term for a female who is a flirt. Originating from French.

After Dinner Mints Course: Tech Savvy Egyptian Cobra

Update: As of 4/1/11 our little friend was found safe in the reptile house. She(!) is in good health and is back in her home sweet home, so our tale has a happy ending!

OK. This is wickedly and delightfully funny and a lovely break from all of the sad and distressing news coming out of Japan and the Middle East the last few weeks.

I am not sure if you have been following the news out of the Bronx Zoo in New York, but unfortunately their baby Egyptian cobra has gone missing.

I suppose I should mention at this point that I do not find this bit of the story wickedly delightfully funny. The cobra is absolutely venomous so I worry about the safety of anyone who might tangle with our little slithery friend.  

On the other hand, I also worry about the little baby cobra because the northern half of the States has been having a very cold spring (currently 39F/4C at 2:43p.m. in Chicago as I type!) and I am worried that he might get a really bad 'head cold' and be under the weather. Note: I'm being polite. Actually what I'm delicately trying to say is that I'm worried that the little guy might just get sick and kick the bucket.

Yes, of course, I too hope that our little friend is found safe and sound quickly and gets back to his enclosure.

So what I do find so wickedly and delightfully funny about our poor missing baby cobra is that for such a young age he is one sharp, tech savvy cobra as it seems that he has set up a twitter account.

I can read your mind "Oh, that's nice, his keeper is twittering to try to see if anyone in New York has seen his cobra."

Nope. That is not what I mean.

I mean that the baby Egyptian cobra is twittering himself!

(Dramatic pause in writing while I let this sink in for a moment...)

"Um...What exactly does a baby cobra twitter about?" you might ask. Great question!

It seems that our little reptilian friend is chatting about his adventures in the Big Apple. In one of his posts, he tweeted about visiting the Egyptology exhibit at the Met. (No duh. Of course he would head over to see the exhibit from his homeland.)

If you would like to follow the adventure of the baby cobra, head on over to twitter and follow #SnakeOnTheTown.

Required Reading
The Elusive Bronx Zoo Cobra Emerges — On Twitter ~ Time Magazine
Lost Cobra May Hide for Weeks, Zoo Says ~ New York Times

Essential Vocabulary
distressing ~ causing great stress or worry

wickedly ~ from wicked. Slang. Used in the States and UK. Meaning: So evil/bad it is brilliant. Black humor

venomous (adj) ~ something secreting venom. poisonous

bit ~ part

tangle with ~ to encounter

slithery ~ something that slithers

on the other hand (transition phrase) ~ to look at the other side of an issue

to be under the weather (v) ~ to be mildly ill or slightly sick

to kick the bucket (v) ~ to die

to be found safe and sound (v) ~ to be found in a dangerous situation healthy and alive

enclosure ~ a pen or holding area usually for an animal. In this case it refers to the cobra's home at the Bronx Zoo.

sharp (adj) ~ intelligent

savvy (adj) ~ practical/worldly knowledge

to let this sink in for a moment ~ a pause in which something very complicated or unbelievable is reflected upon

the Big Apple ~ New Yorkers pet name for New York City

No duh (slang)  ~ meaning 'it is obvious'. Something that should be understood by everyone without mentioning it. Usually said deadpan or sarcastically then proceeded with laughter by the speaker

Vocacabulary Course: Jasmine Revolution

Vocabulary Term: 
Jasmine Revolution

Meaning:
Jasmine Revolution is a term coined for the Tunisian Revolution that occurred in the beginning of January 2011.

Most interesting, this term seems to be quickly evolving as I have seen it used to describe all of the democratic movements that are sweeping the Middle East. Note: I use 'democratic' in the sense meaning 'freedom and power to the people', not democratic in the sense of a specific form of governance such as 'Western'-styled democracy.

Interestingly, this term is now coming into parlance in China as well by an online protest movement that the government is increasingly wary over. According to a New York Times article, Chinese censors have even attempted to block the word 'jasmine' from social networking sites and search engines.

Example:
The Egyptian people were quite moved by the Jasmine Revolution and started to protest in their own country for better living conditions and freedom of expression.

Note: I will continue to modify this post as this term evolves.

Vocabulary Course: New Oxford English Dictionary Entries March 2011 Edition

Languages are fluid like water. The popularity of words ebb and flow like the tides themselves. If you don't believe me, check out this comparison chart of Old and Middle English.

EEEK! Painful to read, isn't it? It doesn't look anything like modern English, right?

When I had to read even a 'translated' version of Beowulf (written sometime between the 8-12 century) for high school, I thought my head would pop off. Instant headache. (Although I must admit, it is a very cool tale indeed.)

However, I digress. This post isn't about archaic forms of English. (I think I actually heard you breathe a sigh  of relief at this piece of information!) I will leave that topic for another day. (I promise I will make it interesting.)

My point is that English is constantly evolving. Personally, I think it is changing even faster nowadays due to the Internet, but I digress again.

(Um, I really, really hope that you bothered to look up digress in your dictionary. How'ya gonna learn advanced English if you don't look up the verbose words I use occasionally in your posts? See, there is a method to my madness. Yup. You do need to look up verbose too.)

The point of this post is to teach you some really cool slang that is currently being used in the States which has now made it to the latest version of the Oxford English Dictionary.

So let's have a little fun, shall we? I am going to list several of the new entries and give you a wee little multiple choice test. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the answers. Good luck!

Let's begin...

1. muffin top
a. the flabby around ones hips that 'pops up' over ones waistline when one wears too tight of trousers
b. the yummy crumbly bit of extra dough that is stuck to a bake pan
c. any strange rock formation that is created from volcanic flow

2. five second rule
a. what you yell right before you pass gas
b. what you yell when you quickly put in your mouth any dropped food upon the floor that you still really want to eat
c. what you yell in a nightclub when you see an attractive person lock eyes with you across the dance floor. This means that they are obligated to come over and talk to you.

3. OMG
a. texting slang for 'oh my god!'
b. texting slang for 'oh the man's gorgeous!'
c. texting slang for 'only my guess!'

4. La-La Land
a. the name of a pretend place where no one gets old or is poor
b. a polite term for saying you have to go to the toilet
c. a term for Los Angeles that equates the city to being a fantasy place

Can't get enough of the latest in English vocabulary? Follow this link to the Oxford English Dictionary and learn all of the newest words in the English language. Then at cocktail parties, go up to native English speakers and quiz them! Watch their reaction as they realize that you know more about their language than they do. hee-hee! (Just be a good sport about teasing them, OK? OK.)

And now, drum roll please...

Quiz Answers
1. a; 2. b; 3. a; 4. c

Resources Course: Excellent Sites for English News Media

Here is a list of sites that I think will be quite helpful for you to use to learn English via reading or watching news media. If I overlooked a site that you find particularly useful, let me know and I may add it to the list. 

Online English News: Video Format

Al Jazerra English
Source: Qatar

Deutsche Welle
Source: Germany

France 24
Source: France

NHK World
Source: Japan
Hint: The video is on the right side of the page.

Online English News: Print Format

Al Jazerra English
Source: Qatar

BBC
Source: United Kingdom

Deutsche Welle
Source: Germany
France 24
Source: France

Kyodo News
Source: Japan

Keep checking this page for future updates!

Reading Course: Making Reading or Watching English News Media Easier

The world seems to be changing at break neck speed at the moment. Keeping up with the news in your L1 (first language) is extremely important in our interconnected world. I cannot stress to you enough that you should read or watch the news in your L1 every day to make sure that you are an informed citizen of the world no matter the corner of the world that you may call home.

Now that I have talked you into following contemporary events (maybe?), let all of your hard work at following the daily news pay off by propelling you further along in your study of English. How to do this? If you have patience and are willing to push yourself, you can quickly become more proficient in advanced English by watching and or read contemporary events in English alongside your L1.

I know that diving right into an English language news site can be down right scary as there are so many advanced vocabulary words, obscure technical jargon terms, and complex sentence structure patterns in native English language media. However, with a little warm up and practice, you can make this process a little easier on yourself. (Honestly, you can. You have to start somewhere.)

Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Become Proficient at Following the News in English

1. Go to your favorite L1 newspaper or online news source and read or watch one story that:
• Really interests you
• You already have some knowledge of
• Is a main story. Do not pick something known only to your culture/country
2. Now go to another news source in your L1 and read/watch the exact same story. Pay attention to how the exact same topic is expressed with perhaps new vocabulary and sentence structures.
3. How are the stories similar? How are they different?T ake a few moments and either:
• Recite outloud the main points of the news story or
• Write down a short bullet point list of the main points of the story
• Don't go crazy trying to remember everything. Just mentally note the main ideas.
4. Repeat number 2. You now have read or watched a news story on the same topic from three different sources in your native language. Do you feel like you can almost recite the story by heart? Good!
5. Now go to a similar news source but in the English language and find the exact same news story. If you need ideas for great English media outlets, click here.
6. Read or watch the article/video. Try to:
• Understand as much as you can in English. Maybe you are just looking for vocabulary words that you are familiar with if you are an intermediate level student. If you are a more advanced student, try to identify the main points of the topic. 
• Relax! If you feel anxious about trying to understand English media, or you have tried to follow the news before in English and feel that you had failed miserably, simply take a deep breath. This is not a contest and there is no grade. Just see what you can understand and be honest with your abilities.
• Use your dictionary for no more than a total of 5 minutes. Do not get bogged down looking up every word! You are not translating for the UN so any error you make isn't the difference between peace and war. Remember your goal. You are simply trying to comprehend an English article! (Breathe, keep breathing. I know this is scary.)
7. Repeat number 6 but now try to push yourself a little more. Can you understand more vocabulary words? Can you find the thesis statement or topic sentences? Again, stay loose and focused but not stressed out. Learning does not take place when tense!
8. Repeat number 6 but now try to compare how the news story is similar or different to what you read in your L1. What you are focusing on now is cultural language differences. Maybe the main points of what you read or watched in your L1 was expressed far more discreetly or politely than what you have observed in English. This is very advanced English practice because now you are trying to understand the finer points of how English is used based upon a particular culture. 
9. Finally find the exact same article but from a brand new English language source. Maybe your first site was from the UK and now you want to use an Australian source. Maybe you want to find a different political perspective. Play the video or read the article as many times as you need. When you feel that you have learned all that you can, compare and contrast the two English stories/videos. How are they the same? How are they different? How is culture playing a role? Even if they seem the same, look for the tiny differences. You are looking for the nuances in the varieties of the different forms of the English language. How Californians use English is not the same as now a New Yorker uses English is not the same as how someone in Mumbai or Vancouver uses English. (Really, it is true!)
10. Write down the most important vocabulary words in your vocabulary journal from the story that you had either not previously known or might have forgotten from your past studies. How do you know what is important? Write down only the words that appeared over and over again in the article.
11. Take a break and set the project aside. Smile. You did a lot of hard work. I can guarantee you learned something. Even if you only learned one vocabulary word, it is one more word than what you knew when you sat down for the activity. Baby steps people. Baby steps. They are worth celebrating.
12. Later that day or the next day, re-read the article or re-play the video. Check in with yourself as you read or watch. Does anything jump out at you that you wonder why you didn't catch it the first time you read or watched? (Good! But if not, no worries! Someday!)

I recommend that you try to do this at least once a week. The goal of course is that eventually, you will not need to read or watch a story in your L1 before you read or watch it in English. (Applaud loudly when this day arrives and let me know and I will clap for you too!)

Grammar Appetizer Course: Use To vs. Used To

Bite-sized Grammar: Used To vs. Use To
Don't feel shy about mixing up 'use to' vs. 'used to'. If you listen carefully to native English speakers, you will hear them very often mix up the correct form too! This little grammar bug-a-boo mistake isn't just for non-native speakers, so don't feel bad if you have a tough time keeping these two straight.

However, I'm about to clarify this confusing construction once and for all, so let's master this together, shall we? Cool!

Used To
Meaning: 'Used to' means something you habitually did in the past.

Usage: As a verb

Example: I used to live in Hamburg, Germany.

Notes: Yes, yours truly did indeed live in Hamburg. I lived there to teach Business English to hip professionals. After about a year and a half, I moved back to the States. Currently, I live in Chicago, where I teach English. So am I still in Hamburg? Nope. I need to indicate this by using the past and one way I can do this by using 'used to'.

One simple trick for keeping straight whether to use 'used to' or 'use to' is to remember that verbs which end in '-ed' indicate the simple past, so 'used to' has an 'ed' indicates the past.

Use To
Meaning: 'Use to' indicates accustomed to.

Usage: As an adjective

Example: The first few months I lived in Hamburg, I was not use to such cold, damp, and gray weather.

Notes: Popular formations of this construction include 'to be + use to' and 'to become + use to'.

The Final Dish: Putting It All Together
Can we create a sentence that uses both forms in one sentence? Let's try!

When I used to live in Hamburg, after a few months I gradually became use to the gloomy weather in the fall months.

Vocabulary Course: Foreign Origin English Word of the Day: Tsunami

Tsunami
Origin: Japanese; Meaning: 津(harbor) 波(wave)
English Meaning: Gigantic wave originating from a volcano or oceanic earthquake. (Incorrectly translated as 'tidal wave'.)

According to scientists, tsunamis have everything to do with plates and nothing to do with tides. English speakers used to use the term 'tidal wave' for such waves but tsunami is now used instead as it properly describes the geologic event English speakers were trying to describe. This term came into popular daily spoken and written English after the tsunami in 2004 in Indonesia.

This illustrates how languages are living breathing cultural entities. Languages will adapt and incorporate terms from other languages if the new term can describe something more precisely than what was used in the original language. (Thus tsunami replaced 'tidal wave'.)

Now that people can watch a tsunami live on television no matter where they are in the world, whether in a desert or in a rainforest or in a tundra, this word in here to stay as part of this eras modern English language vocabulary.

Vocabulary Course: Japanese Nuclear Crisis

Sadly the Japanese disaster of March 11, 2011 came in threes: 1. an earthquake, 2. a tsunami, and 3. a nuclear crisis. We are one connected world. Radiation does not stop at a nation's border. Do care about the people of Japan and also care about yourself in the world you live in by learning these terms so you can follow the news in English and make educated decisions about this monumental disaster.

IAEA (acronym)
Definition: The United Nations' nuclear watchdog is the International Atomic Energy Agency. This organization follows all things relating to nuclear science.
Example: The IAEA has been prodding the Japanese government for more information about the crippled nuclear reactors.

nuclear fission (n)
Definition: The process by which the nuclear reaction takes place in a nuclear power plant.Example: In nuclear fission, the atoms sub divide and form products such as gamma rays.

nuclear fusion (n)
Definition: The process by which the sun generates its energy.
Example: In nuclear fision, the atoms come together and fuse.

radioactivity (n)
Definition: When a nuclei is unstable, it emits particles or rays which can be dangerous for human health.
Example: Radioactivity has been detected in the tap water in the Tokyo area.

radioactive (n)

Definition: That which gives off radioactivity.
Example: Uranium is a radioactive substance.

radiation (n)
Definition: The transmission radiant energy.
Example: The different types of radiation are alpha, beta, and gamma.

to irradiate (v) 
Definition: To be exposed to radiation.
Example: Unfortunately three workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant were irradiated when they stepped in radioactive water and received beta burns on their feet.

uranium (n)

Definition: Number 92 of the periodic table, a naturally occurring element that emits radiation.
Example: Uranium can be found in mines and is used in nuclear fuel rods.

plutonium (n)
Definition: Number 94 of the periodic table, the most toxic element on earth.
Example: Fukushima Daiichi reactor #3 runs on a combination of uranium and plutonium.

nuclear reactor (n)
Definition: The piece of equipment in which nuclear fission takes place in order to generate electricity or power. Within the nuclear reactor is the reactor core.
Example: Fukushima Daiichi #1 nuclear power plant has a total of six nuclear reactors on site.

nuclear reactor core (n)
Definition: Within a nuclear reactor is the reactor core which contains the nuclear fuel rods.
Example: Japanese officials are worried that the reactor core of reactor #3 is damaged and leaking radiation.

nuclear fuel rod (n)
Definition: The nuclear fuel rods are contained in the reactor core. Each fuel rod is made up of pellets of uranium.
Example: A nuclear fuel rod is enclosed in a zirconium casing in order to keep the radioactivity form leaking out.

zirconium casing (n)

Definition: The outer cover of a nuclear fuel rod.
Example: A nuclear fuel rod is enclosed in a zirconium casing in order to keep the radioactivity form leaking out.

containment vessel (n)
Definition: The steel shell that surrounds a nuclear reactor.
Example: If a containment vessel of a nuclear reactor is cracked, radioactivity will be emitted into the environment.

spent fuel rod (n)
Definition: When a nuclear fuel rod has run out of energy it is used up or spent.
Example: There is fear that the spent fuel pools at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are damaged and leaking water, causing the spent fuel rods to be exposed to oxygen and heat up.

spent fuel pool (n)
Definition: A large container of water where the spent fuel rods of a nuclear power plant are kept.
Example: There is fear that the spent fuel pools at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are damaged and leaking water, causing the spent fuel rods to be exposed to oxygen and heat up.

recriticality (n)

Definition: When previously spent fuel rods overheat and form a nuclear chain reaction creating fission once more.
Example: There is great fear that the spent fuel pools at the Fukushima nuclear power plant will reach recriticality. 

meltdown (n)

Definition: When a nuclear core overheats or if a spent fuel pool is damaged, the nuclear fuel rods can melt. This is a problem because radiation can be emitted.
Example: There is fear that at least three reactors are in the process of meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

sievert (n)
Definition: A measuring system for biological changes from radiation.
Example: Two workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant were exposed to 2-6 sievert of radiation when they stepped into radioactive water.

cold storage (n)
Definition: A term for when a nuclear reactor or rod is in cold water and is no longer producing fission.
Example: Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are scrambling to get the nuclear reactors and spent fuel rods in cold storage.