Autumn

[Alan]

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Hi,

This is going to be a sort of innovation. You could treat it like a listening comprehension test. I shall just do the talking and there will be no printed words:


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English as a Second Language
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[Yuri Yurinov]

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Hi Alan,

I like Autumn too:
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[Our Tort System]

Hi Alan,

I understood almost everything of what you said on my first listening! Nice test, it's more challenging that way - when you don't have a printed text and have to rely on your hearing only.

Now back to your question:

Of the four seasons I like Spring and Autumn best and here's my rationale:
In Winter it's freezing cold, in Summer it's sweltering and I can't stand long spells of heat or cold. I prefer mild temperature.
This Summer I even sprang for a portable air conditioner because I couldn't put up with the heat any longer. I paid through the nose for it, granted, but on the whole it was money well spent because it did a marvellous job of cooling down the air in my house.
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[Alan]

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Thanks OTS. I'm glad you took up the 'challenge'. Do you think there might be use in developing this style of 'test'? It would have to be a bit more sophisticated of course as this was just an experiment.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Xiaomuou]

Hello Alan,

Well, I have been attempting to post a voice message but Java keeps crashing and giving me errors, so I think I will have to investigate the reason behind it. So, for now, I'll just have to give my fingers a good stretch and type my response.

I enjoyed your story. When you were talking about going to New England to see the beautiful change in colors, I was going to ask why you didn't look in your own backyard. It seems you discovered that after you returned from your trip. I haven't been to England but I have friends there and I've seen beautiful pictures of the scenery. I imagine strolling down many streets or into parks would make for some colorful sights especially in the Fall. (Yes, I'm an American, though personally I think "autumn" sounds nicer than "fall" to express the season, thankfully I can use both!)

As to your question, my favorite season would have to be winter. There is something to be said for every season but my personal preference is wintertime where ever there is snow to be found. Even at the age of 34, I still love to go outside and play in the snow. As a child I loved to go sledding, build snowmen and igloos, and have snowball fights with friends. I love to see the landscape covered in all that white fluffy powder. Even as the snow would begin to melt and turn to slush, I still found it fun. We would try ice skating in our shoes on the icy patches of half melted and then refrozen snow. We would also make balls of ice from the slush and try to stuff it down the backs of each others shirts; which provided a jolt to the system as the icy sludge began to melt inside your otherwise warm cocoon.

It also brings back fond memories of playing outside until I was half frozen. Once I began to lose the sensation in my extremities I would go inside, sit in front of the kitchen heater and give my fingers and toes a good toasting. Then I would enjoy eating tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich to warm up.

I think this idea is a good one for students who would like to further their listening and speaking skills. Having the text along with the voice recording is great for students who are learning how to listen and speak, but I think this kind of exercise is wonderful for students who want to practice without the assistance of text. It's great for their listening and speaking skills so that they can further improve their English abilities. Even I will have fun participating in these (when I fix my Java issue).

I look forward to seeing your developments with this idea!

Take care!
Megan
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[Our Tort System]

[Yuri Yurinov]

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Hi Alan,

In previous voice message I sent you two questions. The first one was about the expression Indian Summer. The second about "light rains" and "dark rains", which I heard in your message. I guess that the quality of the recording was bad and you didn't hear my questions.

I understood your message pretty well but I have never heard about "dark rains" earlier.

Regards,
Yuri
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[Our Tort System]

[Yuri Yurinov]

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Hi OTS,

I have already relistened to Alan's words. Thank you very much. It is so simple! "light greens" and "dark greens", of course.

I had to be more attentive! :)
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Everything is Anything.

Please NO Youtube on "My first steps in English" thread... Yuri Zverev

[Amy85]

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Hello Alan,

I was excited this new attempt and think it's lovely.

Personally, I prefer summer. But I just change my mind after returning to Japan this year. Just because its beautiful red leaves this season "Autumn", and as the days become shorter, I feel the moon gets more beautiful.

Cheers,
Amy

[Cristina.ro]

Hello,

Will someone tell me what it is that Alan says at about 1.02? I believe I understood everything except for this bit which I am going to type in Italics: ''It's amazing really how rain can actually get through to the ground in New York because of those huge gray buildings. Anyhow...''

Thanks!
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[Alan]

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Hi Amy,

What a sweet message. It's nice to be appreciated.

Alan
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[Alan]

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Hi Cristina,

It's my slapdash enunciation - apologies. What I actually said was 'huge great buildings'

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Prepositions

[Cristina.ro]

Hi Alan,

Thank you for your answer and of course there is no need to apologize for your enunciation. I think it is best for us learners that you keep your natural pronunciation and not force yourself to pronounce every word very clearly so that we can understand; not many native speakers would do that for us in real life (and if they did I personally would not feel very good about it, to say the least). Also, I think it is best for us learners to listen to a normal paced speech and not an artificially slow paced speech which is not typical of ordinary conversation.

Thanks again!
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[Kati Svaby]

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Hello Alan,

Today we were in the country.
Here is the autumn, here is again, it is beautiful than always to me,only God knows why I like it, but I really like.
"Its oranges, reds, browns, light greens, dark greens. It's amazing"-you said.
I felt same that's why I've taken only two or three pictures because I should have recharged my battery but I forgot.

Regards:
Kati Svaby



oranges,reds,browns,light greens,dark greens



little foggy


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