Check this out! Some great examples of our students’ progress, and how we at LOS “accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and don’t mess with Mister In-Between” (Bing Crosby). Error correction is obviously an important factor in language teaching, but nothing fires up a student like a well-timed and heartfelt pat on the back.
Jana thinks things are sometimes WAY BIGGER than they appear? She’s streets ahead.
Misa J. describes shopping for ‘milk and bread and I DON’T KNOW WHAT‘. Whatever!
According to Jarda H., most people nowadays have LITTLE MONEY for extras – to coin a phrase.
Lukas is STILL GOING after years at his company. He’s got staying power.
While some businesses talk of getting bigger, Josef talks of EXPANSION. That’s just swell!
Jarda V. reckons some projects are MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, but I bet he’s in cruise control.
NO WAY was Tereza paying over the odds for a taxi. Fare enough!
Jana doesn’t just act out of character sometimes, she has an ALTER EGO. Self-explanatory, really.
Do you find some things really very pleasant, or GORGEOUS like Misa N. does? You beauty!
Jarda knows when the weather is FOGGY, which makes me misty-eyed.
Occasionally, Michal HAS NO IDEA. I don’t know what to think!
Petr sometimes ABSTAINS FROM beer. I give up!
Do you find some things very interesting, or are you FASCINATED by them, like Olga? Charmed, I’m sure!
A team may progress to the next round of a competition, but Jarda H. talks of QUALIFYING. Give him a pass, ok?
Jarda V. calls places with significantly declining populations GHOST TOWNS. That’s the spirit!
You may be a calm and composed person, but Misa J. is PHLEGMATIC. Pretty cool, eh?
Michal doesn’t just eat food from around the world, he enjoys INTERNATIONAL CUISINE. He has no boundaries.
The world is DRAMATICALLY CHANGING according to Tomas. Very theatrical!
Josef doesn’t just have companies providing a similar product, he has COMPETITORS. He’s playing the long game.
Ever feel like you can’t be defeated? Petr feels INVINCIBLE! Beats me.
When you don’t know the function of a room, just call it the SPACE, like Michal. Far out!
When Petr asks ‘What do YOU think?‘, he’s not expecting an answer, but identifying a stupid question. No doubt.
According to Jarda, SELECTED RESTAURANTS in Prague celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. Their choice!
Are you hard-working or DILIGENT like Misa J.? A particular skill.
When Jana READS BETWEEN THE LINES, what are the implications, do you think?
THE MINIMUM WAGE is something that Misa H. thinks should be higher. The politicians should pay attention!
When Michal visited a new village recently, he TOOK IN the local pub. The best phrasal verb bar none!
You and I might find something extremely funny, but Jarda H. will say ‘IT’S A CLASSIC.‘– a novel form of expression!
When a situation gains a momentum all of its own, things SNOWBALL according to Lukas – if you get his drift?
Jarda V. has recently HIT THE RESET BUTTON on his goals – a timely intervention!
Jarda H. makes PREDICTIONS. Who saw that coming?
Michal makes MODIFICATIONS. He’s changed!
Josef doesn’t just go to the airport, he LEAVES HOME to get there! Not permanently, I hope!
You and I may talk of an Empire, but Jarda V. talks of an IMPERIUM. He likes to Caesar the moment.
Lukas likes to talk of SLASHES/between/words. So did Freddie/Krueger. 😱
Some things are DOABLE according to Misa N.. Could you make that work?
Misa J. feels an INTERNAL FIRE about her job. Is she ever put out, do you think?
Standa talks about Wi-Fi COVERAGE, but sometimes it is barely available!
Is your day sometimes messy, or CHAOTIC like Jarda H’s? I’m confused.
For Misa J., some proposals are simply not ON THE TABLE. That floored me!
Is your area BICYCLE-FRIENDLY? Jana’s is. For wheel!
Jarda V. finds certain things UNIMAGINABLE. I can picture that.
Lukas talks about building on BROWNFIELD sites. I’m green with envy.
Michal’s garden is an IRREGULAR SHAPE. He’s no square.
Do you experience a HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE at work like Tomas? Or is that above your pay grade?
Do you have very bad days sometimes or NIGHTMARES like Misa? In your dreams!
One of Standa’s friends recently BAILED OUT of public speaking. Happy landings!
Some people see how land stretches out in front of them; Michal sees TERRAIN. It’s one of his good properties.
You and I might have repetitive chores, but Jarda V. has REGULAR TASKS. Nice job!
Lukas gives a certain amount of AUTONOMY to his staff. Cry freedom!
Josef has HIGH EXPECTATIONS of people. I hope they are up to the job!
Speaking English has OPENED DOORS for Tomas during his career. That’s key!
We might have electricity power cuts, but Petr has OUTAGES. Black to basics!
Jarda H. thinks HUMILITY is important. A modest ambition.
Misa J. arranges ANONYMOUS surveys. Name anyone else who does that!
Majorca is Jarda V’s favourite island CURRENTLY, and Lukas’s FOR NOW. There’s no time like the present!
Online fraud, or attempted SCAM, as Michal would say? Tricky, isn’t it!
Certain things are allowed, or LEGITIMATE as Petr puts it. He’a a law unto himself.
Do you have everything you need, or WANT FOR NOTHING like Tomas? Something to celebrate!
Do you put stuff into a suitcase before going on holiday? Why not just PACK, like Jarda?
Top marks to Tomas for using MARQUE. I love his brand of English.
WELL, well, well. This was how Michal told me his cottage has its own water supply.
What connects an apple on the ground and unexpected money? They are both WINDFALLS, as breezily noted by Tereza.
Do you have a way of approaching life or a PHILOSOPHY, like Jarda? Sounds like a plan.
Some people attempt new things, but Michal HAS A GO at them. Nice try!
FRANKLY SPEAKING, Tomas is always very direct. What do you really think?
Petr sometimes eats BRUNCH. A great mix!
Would you like your work performance to be OPTIMAL like Tomas’s? Best of luck!
If super isn’t a big enough adjective for you, go HYPER like Lukas!
Do you like a bit of French flavour to the English language? Jarda thinks that may be a FACADE.
NICELY SAID, a student complimented me recently. Back at you, Tereza!
Olga finds certain things PROBLEMATIC. I have no problem with that.
Do you travel to tourist destinations? Or RESORTS, like Michal?
Is the world due for more trouble? Petr thinks A STORM IS BREWING.
Do you think the current political situation is pulling the market out of shape, or DISTORTING it, like Tereza does? I love it when a verb takes out verbiage.
Irregular verbs can be a pain, but Michal has BUILT a reputation for remembering the most difficult ones.
Petr is BECOMING ACCUSTOMED to lessons with a native speaker. Get used to it!
Isn’t it great using a gerund instead of a basic noun? That’s Olga’s THINKING. What are your thoughts?
Jarda H. takes a ROUND TRIP when he travels between his holiday cottage, the local town and back home again – probably mixing in the best circles.
Jarda V. explained the reality of business through the medium of Abba: “THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL!” Unfortunately he sang it as well!
When Petra doesn’t like something, it’s not her CUP OF TEA. Can you get more English without being the Queen?
Jarda managed to slip PRIMA DONNA into our conversation. OK, I know, that is Italian, strictly speaking, but used by native speakers of English all the time in reference to people with a difficult temperament. As a bonus, when I asked who he was talking about, he went all POLICE DRAMA on me and replied NO COMMENT!
Míša used a linguistic term CHUNK when talking about a phrase or group of words that can be learnt as a unit.
Jarda described the Czech economy as being ADDICTED to Russian gas. Irrespective of the politics, the register of English is very high.
Petra described what she would do in a particular situation as her APPROACH to that situation – metaphorically, and poetically, walking towards it. This sounds so good to the native ear.
When Petra reduced a potentially problematic situation that is under control” (8 words) to NO BIG DEAL (3 words and an idiom to boot), she moved ever closer to native speech as well as making her teacher a very happy man!
When talking about the organisation of a particular set of circumstances, Petra employed the noun SET-UP, which nicely packaged a number of considerations into one word, which could then be re-used in context without re-listing all the individual circumstances.
Petra put most native English speakers to shame when she referred to one of two options as the MORE IMPORTANT rather than the more common, and grammatically incorrect, most important.
Jarda and I were discussing what athletes do when they retire from their chosen sport, when he volunteered that in the Czech Republic we have a lot of SPORTSPEOPLE in politics. This was a very interesting observation expressed in perfect English, even down to the gender neutral term which shortened the sentence to a nicely manageable length.
Petr now regularly uses the following phrase when thinking about what he’s going to say. He used to say things like “Maybe this way” and “Maybe like this” but now uses “HOW SHALL I PUT IT?” which is as English as the Queen!
Do you think the newspapers sometimes exaggerate or, like Jaroslav, do you find them SENTATIONAL? I get that feeling.
Do you think older and younger people have different attitudes, or like Jarda can you see a difference between THE GENERATIONS? Electric!
Misa has GREAT EXPECTATIONS when she visits a new city. What the Dickens can she mean?
Do you take a friend or partner to a party, or a +1 like Michal? PLUS çA CHANGE …
When Lukas gets A WAKE-UP CALL, he knows he needs to take notice. Alarming!
Tomas’s employees are UNDER HIM. Is that a subordinate clause?
Jarda V. likes NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. He’s still finding his way.
When Michal talks about the first written MENTION of somewhere historical, it’s a point of reference.
Jarda was in Monza recently, and referred to CLASSIC Italian driving. Nice gesture!
Lukas describes certain aspects of human behaviour as SPECULATIVE; but maybe he’s just guessing!
For better or worse, Tereza refers to PROS AND CONS. Definitely better!
If a course achieves capacity, Misa calls it a FULL HOUSE. I bet she’s a poker player.
When you are in a hurry, do you read things quickly or, more poetically, SKIM READ like Olga?
The ‘journey is the destination’ for some, but for Michal the TRIP IS THE GOAL. He’s going in the right direction.
Misa J. finds PARODY amusing. You couldn’t make it up!
Does your bus have two levels or is it a DOUBLE-DECKER like Michal’s? That’s some story!
Jarda V. likes to work IN TANDEM with people. Revolutionary!
SOFT SKILLS come in handy for Misa’s J. job! She’s hard-wired that way.
Lukas thinks I might be CARRYING SOME WEIGHT. He doesn’t say that lightly.
Have you witnessed a HEATED ARGUMENT like Standa? I hope he gave them the cold shoulder.
Like Misa N., do you always have a BACK-UP PLAN? There’s no substitute for that.
Michal is a fan of FAST PROGRESS. Moving swiftly on …
STAND-UP is a favourite of Misa J’s, and that’s no lie.
When Jana talks of what FLOATS HER BOAT, she’s being very current.
Tereza observes NUANCES in arguments. She can take a hint.
Things need THE WOW EFFECT to impress Tomas. Unbelievable!
Tereza recognises when someone is hiding behind a FACADE. No kidding!
King Charles 111’s coronation was the MOST-WATCHED event on TV, according to Jarda. See what he means?
Petr does certain things only ONCE IN A WHILE. Try it some time!
When big changes are needed, Josef conducts an OVERHAUL. All part of the service!
Tomas is not concerned with STATUS. It’s not his place.
Be warned! Jarda V. is sensitive to RED FLAGS.