Episodes

  • New Year's Special - The little match girl

    New Year's Special - The little match girl
    Dec 30 2024

    Happy New Year, folks, from Gaetano and Camilla!

    .

    Visit our brand new Ko-Fi profile now!

    Become today one of our backers and actively take part in the making of the of the podcast.

    Follow the link and feel free to give us a tip or buy us a coffee: it'll cost you almost nothing but it would mean the world to us!

    Thanks in advance: https://ko-fi.com/learnenglishwithfairytalespodcast#galleryItemView/

    .

    Howdy, folks, and welcome to the New Year's Special episode of “Learn English with Fairytales''.

    .

    The story will be taking into account for this special episode of the podcast is: "The little match girl", from Hans Christian Handersen.

    . You can find the transcript of this episode here: https://masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/2024/12/30/learn-english-with-fairytales-new-years-special-the-little-match-girl/

    .

    Come find us on our Instagram account: http://tinyurl.com/4kj75cz4

    .

    Here's the list of vocabulary and expressions selected from today's story: - Dreadfully, /ˈdredf(ə)lē/, (adv) extremely

    It was dreadfully cold; it was snowing fast and it was almost dark.

    - Bare-headed, /ˈberˌhedəd/, (adj.) wearing nothing on the head

    In the cold and the darkness, there went along the street a poor little girl, bare-headed and with naked feet.

    - Flaxen, /ˈflaks(ə)n/, (adj.) made out of flax fiber, which resembles blonde hair

    The snowflakes fell on her long flaxen hair, which hung in pretty curls about her throat.

    - (to) cower, /ˈkouər/, (verb) to crouch down in fear

    In a corner formed by two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sat cowering down.

    - Alas, /əˈlas/, (excl.) of grief pity or concern

    And now her little hands were nearly frozen with cold. Alas!

    - Blessedly, /ˈbles.ɪd.li/ , (adv.) in a way that is welcome or feels like a relief

    So blessedly it burned that the little maiden stretched out her feet to warm them also.

    - (to) waddle, /ˈwäd(ə)l/ ,(verb) walk with short steps and a clumsy swaying motion

    The goose jumped from the dish and waddled along the floor straight to the little girl.

    - Lest, /lest/, (conj.) with the intention of preventing, of avoiding the risk of

    And lest her grandmother should disappear, she rubbed the whole bundle of matches against the wall. .

    "Learn English with Fairytales" is an educational project by Gaetano Del Gaiso and Camilla Turco aka Chestnutmane.

    .

    Gaetano Del Gaiso is an Italian musician, composer, producer and sound designer, CELTA certified teacher/tutor, graduated in "Musicology" at Salerno's conservatoire and graduating in "European languages and cultures" at E-Campus University, with over three years of experience in teaching English language as a second and a foreign language in Italy.

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/masteryourenglishwithgaetano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/gaetanodelgaisocomposer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    .

    Camilla Turco, also known as "Chestnutmane" on the net, is an Italian artist and language expert fond of horses, nature and scented candles.

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chestnutmane/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/chestnutmane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Redbubble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.redbubble.com/people/Chestnutmane/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    .

    If you liked this episode, share it everywhere and with everybody. Plus, don't forget to rate the podcast and to give us your feedback writing to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠learnenglishwithfairytales@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠
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    14 mins
  • Episode 10 - Season Finale - Town musicians of Bremen

    Episode 10 - Season Finale - Town musicians of Bremen
    Oct 25 2024
    It's season finale folks! Stay tuned for season 2! . Visit our brand new Ko-Fi profile now! Become today one of our backers and actively take part in the making of the of the podcast. Follow the link and feel free to give us a tip or buy us a coffee: it'll cost you almost nothing but it would mean the world to us! Thanks in advance: https://ko-fi.com/learnenglishwithfairytalespodcast#galleryItemView/ . Howdy, folks, and welcome to the tenth episode of “Learn English with Fairytales''. . The story will be taking into account for season finale is: "Town musicians of Bremen", from brothers Grimm. . You cand find the transcript of this episode here: https://masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/2024/10/20/learn-english-with-fairytales-ep-10-town-musicians-of-bremen/ . Come find us on our brand new Instagram account: http://tinyurl.com/4kj75cz4 . Here's the list of vocabulary and expressions selected from today's story: - Indefatigably, /ˌindəˈfætiɡəbli/, (adv.) in an always determined and energetic way, never willing to admit defeat A certain man had a donkey which had carried the corn-sacks to the mill indefatigably for many a long year. - (to) Take flight, /teɪk flaɪt/, (exp.) to run away or leave a place My master wanted to kill me, so I took flight. - (to) Be worn to the stumps, /wɔːn tə ðə stʌmps/, (exp.) to be very consumed My teeth are worn to the stumps. - (to) Crow, /krəʊ/, (verb) when a cock (= an adult male chicken) crows, it makes a very long and loud sharp cry The cock was sitting upon the gate, crowing with all his might. - (to) Foretell the weather, /fôrˈtel ðə ˈweT͟Hər/, (exp.) to make predictions about how the weather will be in the days to come I have been foretelling fine weather, because it is the day on which Our Lady washes the Christ-child’s little shirts. - Window ledge, /ˈwɪn.dəʊ ˌledʒ/, (noun) a shelf below a window The donkey was to place himself with his fore-feet upon the window ledge. - (to) Bray, /brā/, (verb) to a donkey making a loud, harsh cry The donkey brayed. - Rogue, /rəʊɡ/, (old f. noun) a dishonest or bad man Bring the rogue here to me. . "Learn English with Fairytales" is an educational project by Gaetano Del Gaiso and Camilla Turco aka Chestnutmane. . Gaetano Del Gaiso is an Italian musician, composer, producer and sound designer, CELTA certified teacher/tutor, graduated in "Musicology" at Salerno's conservatoire and graduating in "European languages and cultures" at E-Campus University, with over three years of experience in teaching English language as a second and a foreign language in Italy. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/masteryourenglishwithgaetano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/gaetanodelgaisocomposer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Camilla Turco, also known as "Chestnutmane" on the net, is an Italian artist and language expert fond of horses, nature and scented candles. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chestnutmane/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/chestnutmane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Redbubble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.redbubble.com/people/Chestnutmane/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you liked this episode, share it everywhere and with everybody. Plus, don't forget to rate the podcast and to give us your feedback writing to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠learnenglishwithfairytales@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠
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    17 mins
  • Episode 9 - Little Red Riding Hood (Little Red Cap)

    Episode 9 - Little Red Riding Hood (Little Red Cap)
    Aug 28 2024
    Visit our brand new Ko-Fi profile now! Become today one of our backers and actively take part in the making of the of the podcast. Follow the link and feel free to give us a tip or buy us a coffee: it'll cost you almost nothing but it would mean the world to us! Thanks in advance: https://ko-fi.com/learnenglishwithfairytalespodcast#galleryItemView/ . Howdy, folks, and welcome to the nineth episode of “Learn English with Fairytales''. . The story will be taking into account for today's episode is: "Little Red Riding Hood (Little Red Cap)", from brothers Grimm. . You cand find the transcript of this episode here: https://masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/2024/08/29/learn-english-with-fairytales-ep-9-little-red-riding-hood/ . Come find us on our brand new Instagram account: http://tinyurl.com/4kj75cz4 . Here's the list of vocabulary and expressions selected from today's story: (to) Suit, /so͞ot/, (verb), to go well with or enhance the features of something Once she gave her a little cap of red velvet, which suited her so well that she would never wear anything else. (to) Set out, /set aʊt/, (verb), to leave for somewhere Set out before it gets hot, and when you are going, walk nicely and quietly. League, /lēɡ/, (noun), an old unit of measurement The grandmother lived out in the woods, half a league from the village. Apron, /ˈāprən/, (noun) a protective or decorative garment worn over the front of one’s clothes and tied at the back “What have you got in your apron?” Craftily, /ˈkrɑːf.təl.i/, (adv.) in a way that is clever, and sometimes also slightly dishonest I must act craftily, so as to catch both. Gravely, /ˈɡreɪv.li/, (adv.) seriously You walk gravely along as if you were going to school. Latch, /lætʃ/, (noun) a device for keeping a door or gate closed, consisting of a metal bar that fits into a hole and is lifted by pushing down on another bar “Lift the latch,” called out the grandmother. (to) Appease, /əˈpiːz/, to get rid of unpleasant feelings or make them less strong When the wolf had appeased his appetite, he lay down again in the bed. (to) Spring out, /sprɪŋ aʊt/, (verb) to jump out The little girl sprang out, crying, “Ah, how frightened I have been!” (to) Entice, /ɪnˈtaɪs/, (verb) to persuade someone to do something by offering them something pleasant Another wolf spoke to her, and tried to entice her from the path. . "Learn English with Fairytales" is an educational project by Gaetano Del Gaiso and Camilla Turco aka Chestnutmane. . Gaetano Del Gaiso is an Italian musician, composer, producer and sound designer, CELTA certified teacher/tutor, graduated in "Musicology" at Salerno's conservatoire and graduating in "European languages and cultures" at E-Campus University, with over three years of experience in teaching English language as a second and a foreign language in Italy. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/masteryourenglishwithgaetano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/gaetanodelgaisocomposer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Camilla Turco, also known as "Chestnutmane" on the net, is an Italian artist and language expert fond of horses, nature and scented candles. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chestnutmane/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/chestnutmane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Redbubble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.redbubble.com/people/Chestnutmane/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you liked this episode, share it everywhere and with everybody. Plus, don't forget to rate the podcast and to give us your feedback writing to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠learnenglishwithfairytales@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠
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    17 mins
  • Episode 8 - Rapunzel

    Episode 8 - Rapunzel
    Jun 20 2024
    Visit our brand new Ko-Fi profile now! Become today one of our backers and actively take part in the making of the of the podcast. Follow the link and feel free to give us a tip or buy us a coffee: it'll cost you almost nothing but it would mean the world to us! Thanks in advance: https://ko-fi.com/learnenglishwithfairytalespodcast#galleryItemView/ . Howdy, folks, and welcome to the eighth episode of “Learn English with Fairytales''. . The story will be taking into account for today's episode is: "Rapunzel", from brothers Grimm. . You cand find the transcript of this episode here: https://masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/2024/06/21/learn-english-with-fairytales-ep-8-rapunzel/ . Come find us on our brand new Instagram account: http://tinyurl.com/4kj75cz4 . Here's the list of vocabulary and expressions selected from today's story: - (to) pine away, /pīn əˈwā/, (verb) missing something or someone This desire increased every day, she quite pined away. - (to) clamber down, /ˈklambər doun/, (verb) climb down He clambered down over the wall into the garden of the enchantress. - hastily, /ˈhāstəlē/, (adv.) with excessive speed of urgency He hastily clutched a handful of rampion. - (to) consent, /kənˈsent/, (verb) give permission for something to happen The man in his terror consented to everything. - tress, /tres/, (noun) a long lock of a woman's hair She unfastened her braided tresses. - willingly, /ˈwiliNGlē/, (adv.) readily, of one’s own free will I will willingly go away with you. - (to) clutch, /kləCH/, (verb), grasp or seize tightly or eagerly In her anger she clutched Rapunzel’s beautiful tresses. - mockingly, /ˈmäkiNGlē/, (adv.) in a way that makes fun of someone or something “Aha!” she cried mockingly. - (to) be beside oneself, (exp) to be in a state of very great, uncontrolled emotion The King’s son was beside himself with pain. - wretchedness, /ˈretʃ.ɪd.nəs/, (noun) the state of being unpleasant or of low quality Rapunzel, with the twins to which she had given birth, a boy and a girl, lived in wretchedness. . "Learn English with Fairytales" is an educational project by Gaetano Del Gaiso and Camilla Turco aka Chestnutmane. . Gaetano Del Gaiso is an Italian musician, composer, producer and sound designer, CELTA qualified teacher/tutor, graduated in "Musicology" at Salerno's conservatoire and graduating in "European languages and cultures" at E-Campus University, with over three years of experience in teaching English language as a second and a foreign language in Italy. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/masteryourenglishwithgaetano/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/gaetanodelgaisocomposer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Camilla Turco, also known as "Chestnutmane" on the net, is an Italian artist and language expert fond of horses, nature and scented candles. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chestnutmane/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/chestnutmane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Redbubble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.redbubble.com/people/Chestnutmane/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you liked this episode, share it everywhere and with everybody. Plus, don't forget to rate the podcast and to give us your feedback writing to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠learnenglishwithfairytales@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠
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    18 mins
  • Episode 7 - The tulip bed

    Episode 7 - The tulip bed
    May 2 2024
    Visit our brand new Ko-Fi profile now! Become today one of our backers and actively take part in the making of the of the podcast. Follow the link and feel free to give us a tip or buy us a coffee: it'll cost you almost nothing but it would mean the world to us! Thanks in advance: https://ko-fi.com/learnenglishwithfairytalespodcast#galleryItemView/ . Howdy, folks, and welcome to the seventh episode of “Learn English with Fairytales''. . The story will be taking into account for today's episode is: "The strange musician", from brothers Grimm. . You cand find the transcript of this episode here: https://masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/2024/05/02/learn-english-with-fairytales-ep-7-the-tulip-bed/ . Come find us on our brand new Instagram account: http://tinyurl.com/4kj75cz4 . Here's the list of vocabulary and expressions selected from today's story: NEIGHBOURHOOD, /ˈnābərˌ(h)o͝od/, (noun) referring to a district forming a community in a town or a city In this neighbourhood there was once a woman who possessed a cottage. PIXIE, /ˈpiksē/, (noun) referring to magical creatures from children’s stories The pixies were so delighted in this spot. LULLABY, /ˈlələˌbī/, (noun) a gentle song sung to send a child to sleep Often, at the dead hour of the night, a sweet lullaby was heard. RETAIN, /rəˈtān/, (verb) to continue to have something The tulips retained their beauty much longer than any other flowers. (TO) BE PLUCKED, /tuː biː plʌkt/, (exp.) meaning to be removed She never suffered a single tulip to be plucked from its stem. AT LENGTH, /æt lɛŋθ/, (exp.) meaning after a long time At length, however, she died. (TO) WITHER, /ˈwiT͟Hər/, (verb) become dry and or shrivelled The pixies caused the parsley bed to wither away. (TO) RESENT AN INJURY, /rɪˈzɛnt ən ˈɪnʤᵊri/, (exp.) to feel anger about something bad happened to you These sprites, though eager in resenting an injury, were, like most warm spirits. UNWORTHY, /ˌənˈwərT͟Hē/, (adj.) not deserving attention or respect He was unworthy of trust. SOLICITUDE, /səˈlisəˌto͞od/, (noun) care for someone They tended the bed with affectionate solicitude. MOURNFUL, /ˈmôrnf(ə)l/, (adj.) feeling, expressing or inducing sadness Nor did they neglect to pay this mournful tribute to her memory every night. SOD, /säd/, (noun) the surface of the ground with the grass growing on it The sod was ever green. . "Learn English with Fairytales" is an educational project by Gaetano Del Gaiso and Camilla Turco aka Chestnutmane. . Gaetano Del Gaiso is an Italian musician, composer, producer and sound designer, CELTA qualified teacher/tutor, graduated in "Musicology" at Salerno's conservatoire and graduating in "European languages and cultures" at E-Campus University, with over three years of experience in teaching English language as a second and a foreign language in Italy. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/masteryourenglishwithgaetano/⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/gaetanodelgaisocomposer⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Camilla Turco, also known as "Chestnutmane" on the net, is an Italian artist and language expert fond of horses, nature and scented candles. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chestnutmane/⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/chestnutmane⁠⁠⁠⁠Redbubble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.redbubble.com/people/Chestnutmane/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you liked this episode, share it everywhere and with everybody. Plus, don't forget to rate the podcast and to give us your feedback writing to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠learnenglishwithfairytales@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠
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    10 mins
  • Episode 6 - The strange musician

    Episode 6 - The strange musician
    Feb 29 2024
    Visit our brand new Ko-Fi profile now! Become today one of our backers and actively take part in the making of the of the podcast. Follow the link and feel free to give us a tip or buy us a coffee: it'll cost you almost nothing but it would mean the world to us! Thanks in advance: https://ko-fi.com/learnenglishwithfairytalespodcast#galleryItemView/ . Howdy, folks, and welcome to the sixth episode of “Learn English with Fairytales''. . The story will be taking into account for today's episode is: "The strange musician", from brothers Grimm. . You cand find the transcript of this episode here: https://masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/learn-english-with-fairytales-ep-6-the-strange-musician/ . Come find us on our brand new Instagram account: http://tinyurl.com/4kj75cz4 . Here's the list of vocabulary and expressions selected from today's story: - BORING , /ˈbôriNG/, (adjective) meaning not interesting: It’s boring here in the woods. - TUNE, /to͞on/, (noun) referring to a melody typical of a piece of music: He played a tune that sounded through the trees. - DESIRE, /dəˈzī(ə)r/, (noun) referring to a strong feeling of wanting to have something I have no desire for his company. - PUPIL, /ˈpjuː·pəl/, (noun) referring to a person who is being taught I will obey you like a pupil obeys his teacher. - FOREPAW, /ˈfôrpô/, (noun) referring to either the front paws of an animal Put your forepaws into this crack. - (TO) WEDGE, /wej/, (verb) meaning to fi x or becoming fi xed With one blow he wedged his two paws firmly into the crack. - FOOTPATH, /ˈfo͝otˌpaTH/, (noun) referring to a path for people in the countryside They came to a footpath with tall saplings on both sides. - (TO) TIE, /tī/, (verb) meaning to attach or fasten The musician tied his paw to the left stem. - (TO) JERK, /jərk/, (verb) to move or cause to move with a sudden movement The musician jerked the little fox upward. - FIDDLE, /ˈfi d(ə)l/, (noun) referring to a violin usd to play folk music He took his fiddle, and music sounded through the woods. - CLEARING, /ˈkliriNG/, (noun) referring to an open space in a forest They came to an aspen tree in a clearing in the woods. - (TO) WAIL, /wāl/, (verb) meaning to give a cry of pain, grief or anger He began to wail, crying out with all his might. - (TO) enrapture, /inˈrapCHər/, (verb) meaning to give intense pleasure The poor man stood there enraptured. . "Learn English with Fairytales" is an educational project by Gaetano Del Gaiso and Camilla Turco aka Chestnutmane. . Gaetano Del Gaiso is an Italian musician, composer, producer and sound designer, graduated in "Musicology" at Salerno's conservatoire and graduating in "European languages and cultures" at E-Campus University, with over three years of experience in teaching English language as a second and a foreign language in Italy. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/masteryourenglishwithgaetano/⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/gaetanodelgaisocomposer⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/⁠⁠⁠ . Camilla Turco, also known as "Chestnutmane" on the net, is an Italian artist and language expert fond of horses, nature and scented candles. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chestnutmane/⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/chestnutmane⁠⁠⁠Redbubble: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.redbubble.com/people/Chestnutmane/shop⁠⁠⁠ . If you liked this episode, share it everywhere and with everybody. Plus, don't forget to rate the podcast and to give us your feedback writing to us at: ⁠⁠⁠learnenglishwithfairytales@gmail.com⁠⁠
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    15 mins
  • Episode 5 - The fir tree

    Episode 5 - The fir tree
    Jan 11 2024
    Howdy, folks, and welcome to the fifth episode of “Learn English with Fairytales''. . Today’s episode is going to be about a story which we're sure is going to conjur the appropriate mood for kicking this year off in the most propulsive and efficient way: "The fir tree", by Hans Christian Andersen. . You cand find the transcript of this episode here: https://masteryourenglishwithgaetano.wordpress.com/2024/01/11/learn-english-with-fairytales-ep-5-the-fir-tree/ . Come find us on our brand new Instagram account: http://tinyurl.com/4kj75cz4 . Here's the list of vocabulary and expressions selected from today's story: -(to) FlUtter, /ˈflʌt.ər/, fly unsteadily or hover by flapping the wings quickly and lightly: The soft air fluttered its leaves. - (to) Prattle, /ˈpræt.əl/, (verb) talk at length in a foolish way: The little peasant children passed by, prattling merrily. - (to) Heed, /hēd/, (verb) to pay attention to: The fir tree heeded them not. - (to) Spring, /spriNG/, (verb) to move or jump suddenly or rapidly: A hare would come springing along. - (to) Shudder, /ˈSHədər/, (verb) to tremble convulsively, as a result of fear or revulsion. The young fir tree shuddered as the noble trees fell to the earth with a crash. - (to be) Lopped off, /lopt/, (exp.) to cut off a branch from the main body of a tree: After the branches were lopped off, the trunks looked so slender and bare. - Mast, /mast/, (noun) a tall upright post, spar, or other structure on a ship or boat: They had fine masts that smelled like fir. - Wax tapers, /waks ˈtāpər/, (noun) a long wick coated with wax, tallow, or the like, as for use in lighting candles or gas: A thousand wax tapers lit the church in her honour. - (to be) Decked out, /dekt out/, (ph. verb) to be decorated with something, or dressed in something special: The bar was decked out with red and yellow flags. - Weary, /ˈwirē/, (adj.) feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep: I am weary with longing. - Pith, /piTH/, (noun) the essence of something: The axe cut through the stem, dividing the pith. - Baize, /bāz/, (noun) a coarse, typically green woollen material resembling felt: Green baize hung all around it. - Sweetmeat, /ˈswētˌmēt/, (noun) an item of confectionery or sweet food: Each bag was filled with sweetmeats. - Tinsel, /ˈtins(ə)l/, (noun) a form of decoration consisting of thin strips of shiny metal foil: At the very top was fastened a glittering star, made of tinsel. - (to) Peep, /pēp/ , (verb) to look at something for a short time, often when you do not want other people to see you: I wonder if the sparrows will peep in at the windows as they fly? - (to) Dazzle, /ˈdaz(ə)l/, (verb) blind (a person) temporarily. Their brilliance dazzled him. - (to) Plunder, /ˈpləndər/, (verb) steal goods from (a place or person), The children received permission to plunder the tree. - Garret, /ˈɡerət/, (noun) a top-floor or attic room: They dragged him out of the room and upstairs to the garret. - Tallow, /ˈtalō/, (noun) a hard fatty substance made from rendered animal fat, used in making candles and soap: One can run about on tallow candles there. - (to) Relate, /rəˈlāt/, (verb) to feel sympathy with or to give an account of a sequence of events: One can run about on tallow candles there - (to) Look about, /lo͝ok əˈbout/, (ph. verb) to look around It could only look about, there was so much to be seen. - Palings, /ˈpāliNG/, (noun) a fence made from pointed wooden or metal stakes. Fresh and fragrant roses hung over the little palings. - Alas, /əˈlas/, (excl.) of grief, pity, or concern: Alas, it didn’t go as smoothly as I thought it would. - Withered, /ˈwiT͟Hərd/, (adj.) dry and shrivelled: They were all withered and yellow. - Heap, /ˈwiT͟Hərd/, (noun) a disorderly collection of objects placed on top of each other: A large bundle lay in a heap on the ground. . "Learn English with Fairytales" is an educational project curated by Gaetano Del Gaiso and Camilla Turco.
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    32 mins
  • Episode 4 - The holy night

    Episode 4 - The holy night
    Dec 21 2023
    Howdy, folks, and welcome to the forth episode of “Learn English with Fairytales''. . Today’s episode is going to be about a story which I'm sure you'll point out as one of the most beautiful Christmas stories out there: "The holy night", by Selma Lagerlöf. . You cand find the transcript of this episode here: http://tinyurl.com/e4r8dk7u . Come find us on our brand new Instagram account: http://tinyurl.com/4kj75cz4 . Here's the list of vocabulary and expressions selected from today's story: - Sorrow, /ˈsôrō,ˈsärō/, (noun) referring to a feeling of great distress caused by loss, disappointment or misfortune When I was five years old I had such great sorrow. - (to) Recollect, /ˌrekəˈlek(t)/, (verb) meaning to remember It isn't much that I recollect about my grandmother. - (to) Stoop, /sto͞op/, (verb) meaning to bend you head or body forward and downward She stooped when she walked. - Refrain, /rəˈfrān/, (noun) meaning a repeated line or number of lines in a poem or a song One of the songs had this refrain. - Loneliness, /ˈlōnlēnəs/, (noun) referring to a sadness caused by the lack of friends or company All that I can recall is the great loneliness when she was gone. - Homestead, /ˈhōmˌsted/, (noun) referring to a house, especially a farmhouse, and outbuildings I remember how the stories and songs were driven from the homestead. - (to) Feel impelled, (expr.) pushed by someone or something to do something I feel impelled to tell it once again. - (to) Kindle, /ˈkindəl/, (verb) meaning to light or set on fire There was a man who went out in the dark night to borrow live coals to kindle a fire. - A long way off, /ā lôNG wā ôf/, (expr.) referring to a great distance , both in time and space At last, he saw the gleam of a fire a long way off. - (to) Dash, /daSH/, (verb) meaning to run or travel somewhere in a great hurry They dashed toward him. - Surly, /ˈsərlē/, (adj.) meaning bad-tempered and/or unfriendly He was a surly old man. - (to) Tend a flock, /tend ə fläk/, (expr.) meaning taking care of a group of animals He seized the long, spiked staff, which he always held in his hand when he tended his flock. - (to) Whizz, /(h)wiz/, (verb) meaning to move quickly through the air with a whistling or whooshing sound It turned off to one side and whizzed past him. - (to) Ponder, /ˈpändər/, (verb) to think about something very carefully He pondered that the dogs couldn't hurt the man. - Coal, /kōl/, (noun) referring to a combustible black or brown rock, mainly consisting of carbonised parts from a plant There were no logs or branches left, only a big heap of live coals. - Mantle, /ˈman(t)əl/, (noun) referring to a sleeveless cloak He laid the coals in his mantle. - Hardhearted, /ˌhärdˈhärdəd/, (adj.) meaning being incapable of being moved to pity or tenderness The shepherd was such a cruel and hardhearted man. - Compassion, /kəmˈpaSH(ə)n/, (noun) referring to a sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others And how does it happen that all things show you compassion? - Portend, /pôrˈtend/, (verb) meaning to be a sign of warning that something is likely to happen But the shepherd did not wish to lose sight of the man before he had found out what all this might portend. - (to) Dwell, /dwel/, (verb) meaning to inhabit or occupy and habitation The shepherd saw the man didn't have so much as a hut to dwell in. - Knapsack, /ˈnapˌsak/, (noun) referring to a bag with shoulder straps, carried on the back and typically made of canvas He loosened the knapsack from his shoulder. - (to) Redeem, /rəˈdēm/, (verb) compensate for the faults or bad aspects of something The Saviour was born who should redeem the world from its sins. - (to) Cast a glance at (something), /kast a ɡlans at /(expr.) meaning to take a brief look at something They cast a glance at the child. . "Learn English with Fairytales" is an educational project curated by Gaetano Del Gaiso and Camilla Turco.
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    24 mins