333. "TALK A BLUE STREAK"

The expression “Talk a blue streak”, means to talk a lot.

In Spanish, people say “Hablar por los codos”. 
Of course you don´t say “Talk by the elbows”

This is the best way to improve your English. Talk a blue streak.

So, to talk a blue streak one needs to read, listen and speak a lot in English.

If you know an average of 2000 words, then it´s possible.

In fact, that isn´t very much.

Simply talk about anything in an English conversation group.

It is very important to read novels in English to build up your vocabulary.

You should write down vocabulary words in your special little notebook, when you are reading a book, an English study book,  a newspaper, or even watching a film in English.

You can also watch videos in English.
It is also a good way to learn a lot of common and popular expressions.

Use the new words in a speaking conversation group. It´s fun.

Nowadays, it is very important to speak English if you are looking for a job.

English is the number one language in the business world.

Speaking English  also comes in handy when you are traveling to different countries, or you want to study a course abroad in English.

A B2 level (upper-intermediate level) is now required.

English is an easy language to learn.

All you need to know are only five important verb tenses:

-Present simple

-Present continuous

-Past continuous

-Past simple

-Future simple and Going to (futuro planeado)

-So, first it´s important to learn the most common irregular and regular verbs in the present and in the past.

-It´s  important to learn vocabulary words and some expressions.

-It´s also important to understand some basic grammar rules.

Here´s an easy English conversation:

A.Hi Lola. What are you doing?

B. Good morning Peter. I´m painting the kitchen.

A. Do you want me to help you?

B. That is very nice of you Peter.

A. I will finish my breakfast, and arrive in twenty minutes.

B. Great. Later when we finish, I will invite you for lunch

A. Do you want me to bring anything?

B. By the way. Do you have any brushes?

A. Of course. I painted houses when I was a student.

B. Really! I didn´t know that.

A. Yes, It was a good way to pay for my books.

B. Yes, I know. Medical books are very expensive.

A. Lola, I will be at your house in twenty minutes.

B. Ok, Peter. I´ll make some cold lemonade.

A. By the way, Lola. I´m going to have a party.
Do you want to come?
B. Yes of course. Ok. See you later  

Vocabulary

Talk a blue streak = hablar por los codos

Best = mejor

Improve = mejorar

Means = significa

A lot = mucho

Of course = por supuesto
So = así que

Know = sabes

In fact = de hecho

Build up = incrementar

Should write down = deberias apuntar

Even = incluso

Fun = divertido

Nowadays = hoy en dia

Looking for = buscando

Comes in handy = practico

Abroad = extranjero

Very nice of you = muy amable por tu parte

Great = fantastico

By the way = a propósito

Of course = por supuesto
Brushes = brochas

Really! = de verdad!

Good way = buena manera

See you later = hasta luego

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vwJDwiXmr4

Here is a video in English to practice your listening

Listen to Bruno Mars sing, "Talking to the moon"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x94m407UJSI

332. "SMOG"

"SMOG"

Smog is a new word coined in the the early 1900s.

Two words are used: Smoke + fog = Smog (Humo mas niebla).

So, when there is a lot of pollution, you can see a thick brown fog called smog.

 Smog in Madrid

When you are on top of a high mountain or coming into the city from the countryside, then you will see the smog that looks like brown smoke when there is a fire.

As you can see from the photo above, living and breathing this smog can have serious consequences for people´s health.

In the past, smoke was caused by burning coal and industrial areas.

Today, most of the smog is called photochemical smog.

This smog is produced when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and one vollatile organic compound in the atmosphere.

Nitrogen oxides come from car exhaust and factory imissions.

The big problem is that there are a lot of cars in the city and people arebreathing toxic fumes.

There are studies which say that the diesel exhaust from cars can cause severe lung problems, and evenlung cancer. 

Therefore, smog is unhealthy to humans and animals.

Smog contains a health-harming pollutant called ozone.

High levels of ozone can cause difficulty in breathing because ozone can have negative effects in the lungs.

If you breathe deeply, you will feel a little irritation in the upper part of the chest.

If a person suffers from asthma, high levels of bad ozone can trigger asthma attacks.

Climate change also increases the amount of ozone. Temperatures have risen 2 degrees in the past century.

The planet Earth will be a dangerous place to live in many countries if mankind doesn´t do anything to clean the atmosphere..... and use alternative energies instead of using petrol.

Our planet is getting too hot, the Arctic is melting and 

people will die if we don´t make the planet Earth clean 

again.

So remember, somtimes if there is a lot of smog pollution in the air, it´s a good idea to wear a surgical mask when walking in the street, riding a bicycle or a motorcycle.

 

Vocabulary 

Coined = inventaron

Early = principios 

A lot of = mucho

Thick = denso

Fog = niebla

Top = cima

Countryside = el campo

Looks like = se parece

Most = la mayoria

Coal = carbon

Breathing = respirando

Fumes = humos

Even = incluso

Therefore = por tanto

Unhealthy =  dañino

Health-harming = dañino para la salud

Lungs = pulmones

Deeply = profundamente

Upper part = parte superior

Chest = pecho

Trigger = desencadenar

Risen = subido

Mankind = humanidad

Wear = llevar

Instead = en lugar

So = así que 

Listen to the Platters sing with the lyrics, "Smoke gets in your eyes" = El humo entra en tus ojos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfBboBz3yoc