THIS IS US
Vocabulary: Feelings and Emotions
Petrified: To be terrified or scared out of one's wits.
Despondent: Feeling somewhat down in the dumps; miserable or low in spirits, often associated with seasonal changes (e.g., winter).
Ballistic / Apoplectic: To go into a state of extreme rage; to go ballistic or go apoplectic with rage when provoked (e.g., by a no-return policy).
Elated / Chuffed to bits: To be extremely happy, pleased, or proud of an achievement.
Besotted: To be head over heels in love; being absolutely infatuated with someone to the point of indulging their every whim.
Grossed out: To feel completely repulsed or disgusted by something (e.g., white foods like milk or mayonnaise).
Flabbergasted / Dumbfounded: To be utterly shocked or surprised; frequently used when expected outcomes do not occur (e.g., not making a scholarship shortlist).
Engrossed: To be completely absorbed or occupied by something; being literally "glued" to a device or activity (e.g., a mobile phone during a recital).
Vocabulary: Adjectives and Nouns with "Self"
Self-Adjectives
Self-deprecating: Characterized by an endless string of jokes revolving around one's own perceived failings; modest in a humorous way.
Self-indulgent: Prone to indulging one's own desires, often excessively (e.g., lounging by a pool rather than working).
Self-made: Having achieved success (often financial) through one's own efforts rather than being born into it (e.g., a self-made billionaire).
Self-possessed: Characterized by calm confidence and maintaining one's temper and voice in difficult situations.
Self-respecting: Having pride and standing (e.g., "No self-respecting cook would serve instant potatoes").
Self-sacrificing: Showing tireless devotion to others, often those less fortunate, at the expense of one's own interests.
Self-satisfied: Gloating or showing an irritating smile after a success; being overly pleased with oneself.
Self-Nouns
Self-preservation: The instinct or act of protecting oneself from harm.
Self-pity: Dwelling on one's own sorrows or misfortunes ("wallowing in self-pity").
Self-delusion / Self-deception: The act of fooling oneself or rationalizing bad behavior to avoid the truth.
Self-esteem / Self-worth: One’s sense of personal value or confidence in one's own abilities.
Self-interest: Focusing on what is advantageous for oneself.
Self-aggrandisement: The act of making oneself appear greater or more important than one actually is.
Self-assurance: Confidence in one's own abilities or character.
Etymology and Trends
The word "selfie" was declared the Oxford Word of the Year in 2012, following a usage spike of .
Other Oxford Words of the Year include:
2022: Goblin mode
2021: Vax
2019: Climate emergency
2018: Toxic
2016: Post-truth
Idioms: Personality and Traits
Creature of habit: Someone who prefers a strict routine and does not like doing new or different things.
Nasty piece of work: An unpleasant, unkind person who likely causes trouble and lies to people.
By the book: To follow instructions or rules rigorously and strictly.
Come out of one's shell: To become friendlier, more talkative, and more confident after being shy.
Lives and breathes it: To be extremely enthusiastic and dedicated to a specific interest (e.g., chess).
Full of himself: Having an inflated sense of one's own importance; being very special and clever in one's own eyes.
Chip on one's shoulder: Being resentful about a past perceived unfair treatment; taking offence easily.
People person: Someone who is gregarious, outgoing, and enjoys meeting and talking to others.
Wet blanket / Party pooper: Someone who ruins others' fun or refuses to participate in activities.
Go-getter / High flyer: An energetic, determined person who is highly likely to succeed and handles difficult situations with ease.
People pleaser: Someone who focuses on making others happy, often at their own expense.
Grammar Focus: The Present Tense
Present Simple vs. Present Continuous
Characteristic behavior: The Present Continuous is used with "always" to show a characteristic trait (e.g., "She is always looking for ways to improve").
Directness and Politeness: The Present Simple (e.g., "I hope") is more direct, while the Present Continuous (e.g., "I am hoping") can sound less direct and more polite in requests.
Changing situations: The Present Continuous emphasizes a state of change (e.g., "Monitoring content is only getting harder").
Temporary vs. Habitual: The Present Simple is for habits (e.g., "spends July"), whereas the Present Continuous is for temporary actions (e.g., "is spending July").
State vs. Dynamic Verbs
Appear:
State: To seem (e.g., "Referrals appear to work").
Dynamic: To perform (e.g., "Actors are appearing on stage").
Attract:
State: An inherent quality (e.g., "What attracts me is her wit").
Dynamic: A current process (e.g., "The palace is attracting visitors").
Conclude:
State: To believe based on evidence (e.g., "Authors conclude that…").
Dynamic: To finalize an arrangement (e.g., "Negotiators are concluding the agreement").
Consider:
State: To hold an opinion (e.g., "The court considers it necessary").
Dynamic: To think about a decision (e.g., "We're considering holiday options").
Reading and Use of English Part 6: Super-recognisers
Case Study: Yenny Seo
As a child, she could identify strangers she had seen weeks prior or "extras" in movies.
She kept this "superpower" quiet in adulthood to avoid being perceived as "creepy."
In 2017, she took an online screening tool designed by Dr. David White at the Face Research Lab (University of New South Wales - UNSW).
Despite over people being tested, Seo remains in the top 50 globally.
Scientific Context
Facial recognition ability: Lies on a bell curve, similar to IQ.
Super-recognisers: The top of the population who can memorize a face from a brief glimpse and store it for years.
Cortical thickness: The number of neurons in the brain region supporting face recognition is a predictor of this ability.
Genetics: Plays a significant role, as identical twins show similar performance patterns.
Prosopagnosia: A rare condition (often from brain injury) where individuals cannot recognize faces, though they can recognize other objects.
Eye-tracking data: Super-recognisers spread their gaze more around the face to paint a more elaborate mental picture.
Practical Applications
Law Enforcement: Agencies like London's Metropolitan Police and Queensland Police recruit super-recognisers to examine grainy CCTV footage.
Identification tasks: Important for matching travelers to passports or suspects to mugshots.
Listening and Use of English Part 1 & 2
Job Title Inflation
Definition: The practice of "levelling up" a job title (e.g., adding "Senior") without increasing responsibilities or salary.
Purpose of titles: To clarify status within an organization and serve as a marker of self-identity externally.
Risks: Can breed resentment among peers, create confusion, and defeat the purpose of identifying a person's actual role.
Prepositions in Context
Overflowing with joy.
Discriminating against individuals.
Withdraw from a competition.
Committed themselves to a diet.
Fraternisation between managers and workers.
Poke fun at politicians.
Refrained from comment.
Confronted with reality.
Writing Skills: Articles and Anecdotes
Telling Anecdotes
Identify the purpose (joke, lesson, point).
Skip long introductions; jump into the action.
Use relevant details without overwhelming the story.
Use present tenses to make the action feel immediate.
Finish with a strong ending or "bang."
Writing Techniques for C2 Proficiency
Semicolons: Connect two separate but related sentences that contribute to one point.
Metaphors/Similes: Express ideas vividly (e.g., "globalisation as a juggernaut").
Parallelism: Using similar grammatical structures for clarity and dramatic effect (e.g., "new ways of organising… new ways of developing").
Sentence Variety: Following a long, complex sentence with a short, snappy one.
Coherence: Referring back to the introduction in the conclusion to provide a sense of closure.
Case Study: Manga and Me
Topic: Influence of global trends on identity.
Example: The manga Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo (serialized in Young Magazine from 1982 to 1990).
Argument: Local culture and global interests can coexist; global subcultures (like manga) allow for new ways to define identity without erasing regional roots (e.g., traditional Italian festivities and delicacies).
Speaking Part 3: Long Turn
Signposting Phrases
Introducing first point: First and foremost… / To start off with…
Transitioning: Moving on… / Now, turning to…
Providing examples: A case in point is… / For instance…
Summarising: In summary… / To recap…
Consonant Clusters with /s/
Specific words featuring /s/ combinations:
Stray: To deviate or wander into jargon.
Splurge: To spend money freely on clothing brands.
Consists: What history is made of (stories).
Streak: A winning streak of 10 games.
Stroll: A stroll down memory lane.
Risks: Inherent risks of space exploration.
Scrapped: Plans that were cancelled entirely.
Boasts: To talk proudly about achievements.
Springboard: A scholarship as a springboard to success.