Electronic Dance Music Quickly Gaining Popularity

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. genre (n.) – category of something artistic (type of literature, music, etc.)

Example: Pop, rock and jazz are well-known genres of music.

2. disc jockey(n.) – someone who plays recorded music on the radio or at a party

Example: The disc jockey wore a headset to hear the music clearly.

3. transform (v.) – to change the form or appearance of something

Example: Technology transforms traditional types of music to make new ones. 

4. VIP (n.) –Very Important Person; someone who is given special care or attention

Example: The VIP room is exclusive to celebrities. 

5. fan base (n.) – the number of fans that support something or someone

Example: The new musician has already gathered a large fan base.

Article
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Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is a genre of music that has become popular in recent years. EDM is dance music made with electronic or digital instruments. According to Deniz Koyu, a disc jockey (DJ) and EDM composer, music has been transformed by technology. He said the laptop can be considered the new guitar. To make electronic songs, a person just needs a computer and software. Before, EDM could only be heard in nightclubs, but the music is now often played on the radio and at music festivals and concerts. Echostage, one of the biggest concert venues in Washington, hosts EDM events. Antonis Karagounis, owner of the venue, said Echostage is not a VIP night club or a lounge but a place where people can enjoy EDM. EDM’s growing fan base means that concert venues can charge as much as $60 per person when famous DJs are visiting. DJ Armin van Buuren, a world-famous DJ, has been to more than 100 countries playing EDM. He said that EDM has gathered much interest because it offers people a unique music experience, especially when mixed with colorful lights and dancing. Buuren added that because of EDM’s acceptance as a music genre, people now see disc jockeying as a kind of art, and DJs are being given respect as artists. EDM is also becoming recognized in the traditional music industry.  Earlier this year, EDM musician DJ Skrillex won three awards at the Grammys, one of the biggest music events in the US.  Additionally, EDM has been included as a category in this November’s American Music Awards.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Do you think that Electronic Dance Music will continue to be popular in the future? Why or why not?

·         How can the success of digitally made music affect other more traditional music genres?

Discussion B

·         What is the importance of music in human life?

·         In what ways has technology changed the way we enjoy music?

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Man Films One Second Every Day to Remember His Life

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. compile (v.) – to put many things together in one work or area

Example: The journalist interviewed several people and compiled their stories in one book. 

2. clip (n.) – a short piece taken from a film or a longer video recording

Example:  Clips from the film show a part of its fantastic special effects.

3. reflect (v.) – to think about something very seriously

Example: On New Year’s Eve, many people reflect on what they have done in the past year.

4. regret (n.) – the feeling of being sorry, disappointed or sad about something that happened

Example: His biggest regret was not paying more attention in school.

5. whoops (expr.) – an expression said after one makes a mistake

Example: Whoops, I spilled coffee on his shirt.

Article
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A year and a half ago, a man named Cesar Kuriyama left his advertising job and decided to start a personal project. The project involved recording videos of his life every day for a year, and compiling one second from each of the daily recordings into a short film. The completed video, which can be seen online, presents Kuriyama’s life as a 30-year-old. It contains short scenes of Kuriyama doing ordinary activities like checking Facebook or watching TV. The video also shows his travels and even sad moments such as when his sister was sick at a hospital. Although Kuriyama’s project started as a simple way of recording his one-year vacation, it soon became something much more important to him. Kuriyama realized the one-second clips were helping him remember what happened in his life. He said that by reflecting on these moments, he was able to learn from past mistakes. Kuriyama says one of his regrets in the past year was not being able to film for two days. In the completed video, the words, “Whoops, I forgot” replaces the two seconds which would have represented two days of his life. Last March, Kuriyama was invited to speak at a TED conference, where he talked about his project and showed his film titled “1 Second Every Day.”  Kuriyama says he plans to continue the project for the rest of his life. He is now working on a mobile app that will help other people create similar videos.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Would you be interested in doing a project similar to what Kuriyama did? Why or why not?

·         If you had a video of one second of your life so far this year, what activities do you think the video would show you doing?

Discussion B

·         Are there events in your life that you remember very clearly? Describe one event that you cannot forget.

·         What have you learned from that event or how has your life changed after the event?

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Smartphones Becoming a Solution to Boredom

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. boredom (n.) [bawr-duhm, bohr-] – the state of being tired and unhappy from doing nothing or doing uninteresting activity

Example: He watches TV to kill boredom during the weekends.

2. buster (n.) [buhs-ter] – someone or something that breaks up or destroys something

Example: The fire busters arrived immediately after the burning house was reported.

3. dull (adj.) [duhl] – not active or busy

Example: She goes to the mall to shop during dull days.

4. constantly (adv.) [kon-stuhnt-ly] – continually happening or often happening

Example: The athlete practiced constantly before the competition.

5. productive (adj.) [pruh-duhk-tiv] – creating good results by doing an activity

Example: She took a part-time job to be productive during summer break.

Article
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With a lot of fun and entertaining apps, smartphones today are used not only for communication but also to kill boredom. According to a survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 42% of mobile phone users in the US use their phones when experiencing boredom. Researchers agree that people have developed a habit of using smartphones when bored. Christopher Lynn, an anthropology professor from the University of Alabama, compares the use of smartphones to other usual boredom busters such as smoking cigarettes or chewing a gum. Lynn says whenever there is dull time, such as when waiting for a friend or when sitting in a bus, people feel they should be doing something. They then use their phones to take away the worried feeling. But some researchers say people who constantly use their smartphones during their free time miss opportunities for personal or creative thinking. Canadian blogger Jeremie Williams says that before, he would think and write down ideas during dull time. Lately, however, he prefers playing games on his phone. Many people, on the other hand, believe using smartphones during dull time can be productive. Joel Marx, a 25-year old research assistant says he relies on his smartphone for news updates and for managing his schedule. Alexandra Reed, a self-employed mother, has the same opinion. She says that during free time, instead of watching TV, she learns about many things from reading social networking sites through her phone.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         In your opinion, is using smartphones to avoid boredom a good thing or a bad thing? What makes you say so?

·         Aside from using smartphones, what other activities can people do to avoid boredom?

Discussion B

·         Why do you think people have become so dependent on their mobile phones?

·         Do you think people can still live normally without the devices? Please explain your answer.

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Pakistani Chef Finds Success in New York

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. chef (n.) [shef] – a person who prepares food and plans menus in a restaurant

Example: The chef gave careful instructions to the waiters and cooks.

2. culinary (adj.) [kyoo-luh-ner-ee, kuhl-uh-] – related to food or cooking

Example: Iron Chef was a very popular culinary show on TV.

3. potential (n.) [puh-ten-shuh l] – talent, skill, or ability that needs to be developed some more

Example: Teachers must help children realize their potential.

4. validation (n.) [val-i-dey-shuh n] – something that shows someone is correct or doing the right thing

Example: The large number of customers is a validation of the restaurant’s excellent food and service.

5. make a difference (idiom) [meyk] [a] [dif-er-uh ns, dif-ruh ns] – to leave a good result or impact on someone or something

Example: She became a doctor to make a difference in the lives of people.

Article
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New York is definitely a difficult place for female chefs to find success in; but one woman, Fatima Ali, has managed to do well in the city. What makes Ali even more extraordinary is the fact that in all of New York’s 70 top restaurants, she may be the only non-American female chef. Ali is from Pakistan. She graduated from the United States’ famous culinary school, the Culinary Institute of America, and now works as a sous chef, or assistant chef, in Manhattan’s Café Centro. The executive chef at Café Centro, John Hoffman, describes Ali as someone with great potential. Hoffman says, in two or three years, Ali will surely become a master chef. Just recently, Ali competed against other chefs in a TV show called “Chopped.” She won and took home the $10,000 grand prize. Ali says the experience was a validation of her efforts and her parents’ sacrifices. She hopes that her achievement will inspire other Pakistani girls to follow their dreams. As a young girl, Ali participated in festivals hosted by her mother’s charity organization. Ali helped raise money for poor children by selling food that she cooked by herself. It was then that Ali felt how much cooking could make a difference in other people’s lives. In the future, Ali would like to return to Pakistan to teach young Pakistanis how to cook, and to help set up meal centers that would offer cheap organic meals to poor families.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Why is it a great achievement for a Pakistani chef to be successful in New York?

·         In your opinion, what does it take to be a great chef?

Discussion B

·         How would you describe a successful person? What should a person have in order to be considered successful?

·         In your own way, how can you make a difference in the lives of people around you?

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White House’s Original Beer Recipes Revealed

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. insistent (adj.) [in-sis-tuh nt] –asking strongly and repetitively for something

Example: The insistent employees continued to demand for higher salary. 

2. blog (n.) [blawg, blog] – an online journal or diary where entries about personal experiences or hobbies are posted

Example: He started a blog about the food from international restaurants.

3. kit (n.) [kit] – a group of tools or items used for a specific purpose

Example: His first aid kit includes alcohol, bandages and different types of medicine.

4. concoct (v.) [kon-kokt, kuh n-] – to prepare something by mixing all ingredients

Example: His mother concocted her own coffee recipe.

5. sarcastically (adv.) [sahr-kas-tik] – said in a nice a way but with a different, usually, negative meaning or purpose

Example: The critic sarcastically praised the painter’s artwork.

Article
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Due to insistent public demand, the White House finally revealed last August the recipes for their originally brewed beer. The White House officials published the recipes for Honey Brown Ale and Honey Porter on a blog article entitled “Ale to the Chief.” During President Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, he dropped by the Iowa State Fair and treated everyone to free beer. At that time, he mentioned he has his own recipe for beer. Since then, many people have been asking the White House to reveal the recipes. President Obama got the idea to brew his own beer after meeting several home brewers across the United States. He bought a home brewing kit and assigned the kitchen team in White House to brew an original flavor. All the original beers used honey harvested from the beehive in Michelle Obama’s special garden at the White House. This was the first time that the White House staff brewed an alcoholic beverage in the White House premises. Former presidents such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson concocted their original drinks in their own property. However, other people have negative responses towards the White House brewing their own beers since, for some people, beer is not considered a healthy food. Critics all over the internet also reacted to White House showcasing how they make beers instead of dealing with more important national issues. One Tweeter user sarcastically posted a tweet, asking if there is any solution for the economic crisis that is brewing in the White House.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Why do you think President Obama told people about the brewing activities in the White House?

·         Should they continue this activity? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         Is it important to keep doing traditional ways of making food or beverage? Please explain your answer.

·         What popular food or drink in your country would you like to make by yourself? Why do you choose this food or drink?

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