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Listening
Nike Run Club Guided Runs

February - May 2019

Justification: I am a passionate runner and I have been using this app for quite a long time. However, I recently discovered a very cool feature - the Guided Runs. 

Basically, these runs are either time or distance based and instructed by professional coaches who inspire and support you the whole time. Well, not exactly the whole time - they go sometimes quiet, so that you can fully appreciate the run. 

There are many runs and coaches to choose, but I personally prefer Chris Bennett. Even though he is from the United States, and I would rather spoke British English than American, I love his accent. I also learned a new phrasal verb, which I absolutely love, because Chris uses it all the time, and it is To zone out, meaning to lose concentration.

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Reflection: I am very grateful that such an app exists. It does not only improves my feat, but it also deepens my language skills, teaches me some basic stuff about biology (such as how human cells work) and provides me with tips how to run in bad conditions, which is very useful not only during running, but while performing other sports as well.

The Great Gatsby

April 2019

The narrator of this story, Nick Carraway, arrives in New York in early 20s of the 20th century and moves right next to a very rich and mysterious man, Jay Gatsby. Nick is a cousin of Daisy, Jay's old love, and here's when the story of love, hate, happiness and tragedy begins. 

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Justification: I always loved this story, so I decided to listen to this audiobook narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal. 

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Reflection: I found it quite challenging because the narrator's tempo was very quick and sometimes I couldn't catch what he was saying. All in all, I understood most of the book without much effort. I also learned some new words and here they are:

  • Scorn

  • Libel

  • Cluster

  • Bootlegger

  • Menagerie

  • Crab about something

  • Ravenously

  • Incessant

Peaky Blinders

September - December 2018

As I already mentioned in section Goals, I started watching a British TV programme called Peaky Blinders. This crime drama follows the path of a gangster family from Birmingham, centering at the boss of this clan, Thomas Shelby. Every season brings new villains (usually another gangster family) and the story graduates dramatically and unexpectedly in the last episode of each season, which always contains a cliffhanger ending.

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Justification: Although I watch this series mainly to get used to and obtain the British accent, my perception of English language significantly improved.

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Reflection: I attempt to watch this show without subtitles but sometimes there are parts where I get lost, simply because the dialogues are too quick. However, I understand the majority of vocabulary used and if not, I write them down and translate them. 

peakyblinders.jpg

November 2018

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

In September this year started to tutor a 10-year-old girl the English language as a part of my teaching practice. We got on very well with each other soon, and I decided that I don’t want the classes to be just about studying and therefore I decided to take her to the cinema to see a movie. Because she loves Harry Potter, the choice was clear - the second part of Fantastic beasts and where to find them. 

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Justification: Even though I have seen the first movie once, I must admit that I forgot the main plot, so I felt the urge to see it again. 

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Reflection: I think it is not surprising that I did not struggle to understand almost everything in this movie, however, there were some new words that I learned, and here they are:

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  • Demeanor (n) - behavior

  • Derelict (adj) - abandoned

  • Aghast (adj) - feeling of absolute horror or shock

  • Surreptitiously (adv) - secretly

  • Incorrigible (adj) - person’s tendencies or properties that cannot be corrected or reformed

  • Dubious (adj) - doubtful 

  • Incredulity (n) - scepticism

  • A derision (n) - mockery

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