Difficulty: Beginner
United Kingdom
This ballad, performed by the band Coldplay is set at Christmastime, with all its colorful lights, but is actually a sad break-up song and contrasts bleak inner sentiments with the bright lights outside. But all those lights can bring hope.
Difficulty: Newbie
USA
The consonant "Q" is a special letter. We almost never find it without a "U" following it. Sigrid gives us plenty of examples of how it's used.
Difficulty: Intermediate
United Kingdom
Katie Melua lends her characteristic style to this gentle rendition of a well-known and loved Christmas song "O Holy Night". Melua accompanies herself on an acoustic guitar, and background vocals are provided by a choir.
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
The boys chant a version of the US Army cadence as they march, and Piggy's eyeglass lenses give Ralph a bright idea on how to start a fire. But once the fire starts...
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
Sigrid talks about some of the important aspects of the Christmas season: light, scents, food, and good company.
Difficulty: Intermediate
United Kingdom
The band Bastille performs their version of the popular Christmas carol "O Holy Night." They have modified and modernized the lyrics, especially in the second verse, to be more earthly, rather than heavenly, and more pessimistic than optimistic. Dan Smith is the lead vocalist of the UK band. His birthday is on July 14th, Bastille Day, hence the name of the band.
Difficulty: Newbie
USA
Bon Jovi surprises the crowd at Sydney Entertainment Centre by ending the concert with a John Lennon classic.
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
Charlie Brown and Linus have been instructed by Lucy to find a Christmas tree for a play they are going to put on, so they go searching for one.
Difficulty: Beginner
United Kingdom, USA
This is a public service announcement of the Obama administration on ending sexual assault. President Obama is joined by Vice President Biden, Daniel Craig, Benicio Del Toro, Dulé Hill, Seth Meyers and Steve Carell.
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
"Malibu" is a love song to the Los Angeles-area beach city and to Miley Cyrus's boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth, her co-star in the movie The Last Song.
Difficulty: Newbie
USA
Most of the time "P" is simply pronounced like a "P," but there are a few cases in which "P" is silent. Sigrid gives us plenty of examples of handy words with "P."
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
Captain Benson, the pilot of the ill-fated flight, is in dire shape, and the boys decide who their leader should be. They also start arguing about getting rescued.
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
"Frosty the Snowman" is a popular seasonal song, written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson, about a snowman who comes to life and plays with the kids who built him. He knows very well he won't stay alive for long.
Difficulty: Intermediate
United Kingdom
Harry Edward Styles is a young English singer, songwriter, and actor. He rose to stardom as a member of the boy band "One Direction." "Kiwi" is a particularly personal and explicit song, possibly about an ex-girlfriend, who might have been from New Zealand, since "Kiwi" is slang for "New Zealander."
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
Annette explains three more colloquial contractions people use in everyday conversation: gotta [got to], gotcha [got you], and dunno [don't know]. She also gives us examples in context.
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