Coldplay Newsflash- Read, listen and learn a little English!

May 31, 2012

Are you a Coldplay fan?

coldplay (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Coldplay are paying the price for their flashing wristbands. The gadgets, which are given out to everyone in the audience on their latest tour are costing them a fortune.

The idea was originally suggested by a fan. They are radio controlled and light up in synchronised patterns creating an amazing light show. Chris Martin and his band are trying to figure out a way to keep up this crucial part of their concert without going broke. One idea was to ask their fans to hand them back at the end of the gig. However, the band’s lawyers have advised against this as it could lead to legal problems if someone picks up a contagious condition like Herpes. There were 40,000 people at the London show, so their profits were slashed.

Nevertheless, the band say the wristbands are going to stay.

Listen below

Read by Crissy Faita, Learning English Matters (Canadian accent)

Study the words

wristbands– bracelets

given out- distributed

light up– become bright

amazing– incredible

figure out– understand/think of

keep up– continue

going broke– losing all their money

hand back– return

gig– concert

picks up– catches

slashed– dramatically reduced

nevertheless– in any case

Listen on audioboo (and subscribe to i-tunes podcast) http://audioboo.fm/boos/825775-coldplay-newsflash

Download the takeaway test: Coldplay TinyTexts Takeaway

Coldplay’s Chris Martin “Most Of The Money We’re Earning On The Tour Is Put Into Wristbands” (kroq.radio.com)

Posted by Annette Porte in entertainment, news Tags: article, Chris Martin, Coldplay, english, learn english, news, short, tefl

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Lunch Beat- Read, listen and learn a little English!

May 25, 2012

What do you do in your lunch hour?

Do you like the idea in the text?

The latest lunch-time trend in Sweden is not what you might imagine. It’s not a picnic in the park or jogging down by the river. Many Swedes are spending their lunch hours moving their bodies to the beat on the dance floor.

The craze was launched when 14 people turned up for a lunchtime party in a garage in Stockholm. It has since spread across Europe with ‘lunch beat’ venues popping up in many cities.

Also surprising is that, so far, the trend has not been about making money. The entry fee covers the rent of the venue and enough sandwiches for the participants. Alcohol is banned from these events and the main focus is dancing. It’s hot, loud and crowded but perhaps this is part of the appeal: there is no way you can discuss anything related to work.

Listen

Study the words

Latest– most recent                   Craze– fashion/ mania

Launched– started                  Turned up– arrived

Spread– extended/ grown        Popping up– suddenly appearing

So far– until now Banned– prohibited

Crowded– full of people            Appeal– the reason people like it