About the English Corner

It is our class turn to host the English corner this afternoon.

For the first hour Bob gave us word puzzles for us to do. I belong to Group 2 and our group did very well. Thanks to the several ladies I worked with, we were the top one of all groups. They were just so cute and gorgeous. However, I still preferred a lecture by my foreign teachers, since I want to know more about western culture and other background knowledge of America.

Our class would host the English corner for about one hour after the word puzzle.

Our monitor was the hostess to represent us. She announced the commencement of the English corner. We had three programs: the first one is the poet time. We prepared three poems. Ed was asked to read the first one that was about life. We followed him and then we read it by ourselves. Helen read the second one, which was directed to teachers. Our monitor read the third one and we did the same as we did the first one.

The second was an activity which was supposed to be conducted in the following ways: everyone was to be given a piece of paper on which there were twenty-five questions. Each of us was expected to hold the question paper and went everywhere in the lecture to find people to answer the questions one by one. The one that answered the question would be required to sign his or her name on the paper and there was a blank for the signature under each question. The first several students who had got the twenty-five signatures of different people would be announced the winners and would be therefore rewarded. After the announcement of the rules and Bob said “Here we go”, we started to survey anyone nearby. Since we were in a hurry, our answers to the questions were not as adequate as desired. For example, the answer to the question: “What will you have for supper?” is mostly “chicken”.

The third was a game to guess what an expression means. Occasionally I feel conceited that my English is rather good. However the quiz puzzled me and made my stiff neck bent. The expressions were:

1.     It’s out of the question.   Means it is impossible.

2.     Be my guest.   Means help yourselves.

3.     Can I take a rain check?  Means can you invite me to dinner the other day rather than today?

4.     I own you one.     Means that you have done me a favor, therefore I am indebted to you.

5.     Catch me later.      Means that you can come to see me after a moment.

6.     It’s no big deal.    Means that there is nothing serious about it.

7.     Do you often work out?    Means that do you often do exercise?

8.     I am broke.    Means I don’t have even a penny.

9.     Don’t miss the boat.     Means that don’t miss the opportunity.

10. It’s about time.    Means that time is up.

11. For here or to go.    Means that do you eat here or carry it away.

12. It’s up to you.    Means that it is for you to decide.

13. I couldn’t get through.   Means that I can’t get connected to you by telephone.

14. It’s up to date.    Means that it is very fashionable.

15. I mean what I say.   Means that I won’t eat my words.

16. I’ll play it by ear.    Means that I will do it as I please.

17. It’s up in the air.    Means that it is not decided yet.

18. I’ll walk you to the door.   Means that I will escort you to the door and see you off there.

19. Let’s talk over dinner.    Means that let’s talk while we are eating.

    Among these idioms I know only several. I have to work hard. It is right as what the idiom goes “we leave and learn”. This is just what we should do.