English is Fun!: January 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Groundhog Day

On February 2nd, Americans celebrate the Groundhog Day. A groundhog is a small animal covered with brown fur. It lives in a hole in the ground. During the winter time, it stays underground. The "official groundhog" lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. His name is Punxsutawney Phil. According to an old story, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, the spring will arrive soon.
Watch the videos and have fun!!!

My Shadow
by Robert Louis Stevenson

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow.
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes goes so little that there's none of him at all.
He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close behind me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!
One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Tom Jobim

If Tom Jobim were alive, he would celebrate his 84th birthday today. But, do you know who he was?

Tom Jobim was born in Rio de Janeiro on January 25th, 1927. He was a songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, pianist and guitarist. He wrote many beautiful songs like "Ela é Carioca" (She is Carioca), "Garota de Ipanema" (The Girl from Ipanema), "Águas de Março" (Waters of March), and "Vou te contar" (Wave). Also, he played and sang with very famous people like João Gilberto, Vinicius de Moraes and Frank Sinatra. Unfortunately, he died on December 8th, 1994 when he was 67.

I chose these videos to show you how beautiful his songs were.