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Phrase of the Week: The Last Straw
“This is the last straw! I’ve had it!” The last straw is the straw that broke the camel’s back. A camel can carry a lot, but if you keep adding straw it will eventually become too heavy. The last straw is the difference between a load of straw the camel can just...
TOEIC Practice Question of the Week
I _______ a video game when the power went out, and I lost all my progress! What goes in the blank? A. played B. was playing C. had played D. would play テレビゲームをしている最中に停電になってデータが全部消えてしまった！...
Trivia of the Week: Dewclaws
Many four-legged animals such as cats have a fifth toe on the side of their paws. This is called the dewclaw. It’s like a thumb, but it is not opposable like human thumbs. All cats have dewclaws on their front paws but not their back paws. Some dogs have dewclaws on...
Idiom of the Week: Rome wasn’t built in a day
Philips: Johnson, did you get that database finished yet? Johnson: No, that’s going to take at least a week. Philips: I was hoping it would be ready tomorrow. Johnson: Hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day. A big project takes time to finish. We compare any such project to...
Word of the Week: Hammer
“Mind your manners, Billy! Stop hammering on the table!” A hammer is a tool used to pound in nails. The word can also be used as a verb, meaning to hit something with a hammer, or to repeatedly pound on something. 「ビリー、お行儀悪いよ！テーブルをバンバン叩くのはやめなさい！」...
Picture of the Week: Northumbrian Castle
Northumbrian castles are famous worldwide. They have been used in many films, such as Macbeth, Elizabeth and Harry Potter. Some are now ruined, others are still lived in and some have been converted to hotels. It is possible to book a wedding or a holiday in a...
９月２２日（土）は祝日のため、ブログはお休みです。
９月２２日（土）は祝日のため、ブログはお休みです。
TOEIC Practice Question of the Week
I booked the hotel ___ three nights, so we will have plenty of time to see the city. What goes in the blank? A. for B. with C. at D. in 3泊ホテルの予約を取ったから、たっぷり観光する時間があるよ。 どれくらいの時間の長さかを表す前置詞なので、使い方は「I sang karaoke for three hours」（3時間カラオケで歌った）と同じです。よって正解はA「for」です。 Do more...
Happy Valley 1 DVD trailer ハッピーバレー１ ＤＶＤ 試聴できます！
Happy Valley 1 is an ESL series for children aged 2 to 6. The DVD can be used at home or in the classroom, with or without the book. Kids have fun singing, dancing, following the stories and learning English with Kinka and Pinka, Billy, Betty and friends. Sing, dance,...
Trivia of the Week: Egg-laying Mammals
The echidna and platypus are the only two mammals that lay eggs. They both live in Australia. They are called monotremes. The echidna is also called the spiny anteater. The platypus has webbed feet and its mouth looks like a duck’s beak. That’s why it is sometimes...
