Day 21. 21 is significant because in the US, when you turn 21, you can drink alcohol,
the last restriction on life is lifted. But on day 21 of your 30-Day English Vocabulary Challenge,
you get to learn three new words. Yes. This month, we're learning 105 words from
the academic word list. Words that will help you have sophisticated English conversations,
words you need to know if you're preparing for an exam like IELTS or TOEFL. I’ve been watching
the posts you've been making about this challenge, it's incredible, inspiring. Make up a sentence to
word you learn and post it on social. Don't forget to like and subscribe, and don't forget
to download the study guide that goes with this 30 day challenge. You can do that by clicking
here or the link in the video description. Learn the words, ace the quizzes, you've got this.
Today, we start with the word APPROPRIATE and it has two different pronunciations.
Appropriate. That's an adjective. Appropriate. We also have a verb, appropriate.
So the difference is not in stress, they both have stress on the second syllable.
It's in the pronunciation of the last syllable. Iht-- versus ayt— appropriate.
Appropriate. So the adjective, appropriate, means right, or suited for some purpose or situation.
A movie with a lot of violence is not appropriate for young children. As a verb, appropriate.
It means to get or save, as in money for a specific use or purpose. The town has
appropriated funds to repair the bridge and work should begin this summer. Appropriated funds.
Saved this money, set it aside specifically for this project. It also means to take or use
something illegally or unfairly. Let's see these two pronunciations up close and in slow motion.
And now we'll go to Youglish for five examples.
Instead we plant food bearing native and climate appropriate plants.
Climate appropriate plants. Plants that are appropriate for that specific
climate. Plants that are suited to the rainfall and temperatures of that particular area.
Instead we plant food bearing native and climate appropriate plants.
Here's another example.
However, we do put the money, we do appropriate the dollars they have.
Appropriate the dollars. This is just like in our sample sentence of the verb, to set aside
money for a particular project. That money is to be spent on that project only, not something else.
However, we do put the money we do appropriate the dollars they have.
Here's another example.
So in some cases, it is appropriate that they would add those programs back.
Appropriate. The adjective, right for the situation, in some cases, it's right,
it makes sense to add back programs. He's talking about budget cuts for a city. Due to budget cuts,
they took out programs that were important for childhood education. When they had more money,
they were able to begin those programs again, and that was right for the situation
because those programs truly did make a difference in the education of the children of that city.
They were not wasteful programs with no result, so it was appropriate to restart them. You know,
I wonder if maybe they appropriated funds for these appropriate programs. There, I used the
verb and the adjective in the same sentence. They appropriated funds, they set aside money for these
specific programs, because restarting the programs was the right thing to do, it was appropriate,
now that they've had enough money for them. They appropriated funds for the appropriate programs.
So in some cases, it is appropriate that they would add those programs back.
Another example.
I'm trying to be careful about selecting what he's watching and
making sure that it's sort of age-appropriate.
Age-appropriate.
I have a four-year-old son who's becoming very interested in TV shows and movies, and honestly,
it's hard to find some that are age-appropriate, that are suited for him, that are right for him.
We found that even a lot of kids movies have quite a bit of violence or scary parts.
I'm trying to be careful about selecting what he's watching and
making sure that it's sort of age-appropriate.
Our last example.
Applause is appropriate.
Applause is appropriate. It's okay to clap. You know, when I was in high school,
I saw a friend playing a tennis match, and I cheered “Ah,
go Jenny!” At a time when you're supposed to be quiet, right before the serve. I didn't know
the rules of tennis. I didn't know that that was inappropriate. That noise was not suited
to that environment and I was embarrassed. In this example, applause is appropriate.
Applause is appropriate.
Our next word actually has the word appropriate in the definition. It's RELEVANT.
Relevant. As an adjective, it means relating to a subject in an appropriate way,
a way that makes sense. Do you have any experience that's relevant to the job?
Let's say you're applying for a job as a social media manager, they want to know what experience
you have related to social media, marketing, customer support and experience. They don't
want to know about every job you've ever had, babysitting, driving for Uber, and so on. They
want to know the relevant experience. Let's see that word again up close and in slow motion.
And now, we'll go to Youglish for five examples.
And the life of Dr. Hooks is relevant to every young person today.
Relevant to every young person today. The life of Dr. Hooks, something about Dr. Hooks
should matter to every person, relates to the life of every young person today.
And the life of Dr. Hooks is relevant to every young person today.
Here's another example.
You can share any information that you think might be relevant to other parties.
Share information you think might be relevant, might be related to
what other people want to know. Related to the topic they're interested in, relevant.
You can share any information that you think might be relevant to other parties.
Here's another example.
This is very relevant to the debate.
Relevant to the debate. This information matters. It's related to the topic we're debating.
For example, if you and I are debating whether or not to buy a vacation home, and you want to show
me information on the statistics of your favorite soccer team, that's completely irrelevant.
The opposite of relevant. It does not relate at all to whether or not we should buy a vacation
home. But if you bring up research on making money from renting out a vacation home, that's something
that might change my mind on whether or not to buy one. It's relevant, related information.
This is very relevant to the debate.
Another example.
That's a message that is more relevant now than ever.
More relevant now than ever. This message matters to us now because
it's related to how life is now in 2021. The realities we face today in society.
That's a message that is more relevant now than ever.
Our last example.
Portfolios are relevant in every field.
Relevant in every field. In every field, every topic of study, science
architecture, and so on. In every field, portfolios are relevant. A portfolio is
a collection of highlights of your work. For example, if you're hiring a graphic designer,
you might look at her portfolio, examples of past work, to see if you like this style,
the graphics she's designed and come up with. Traditionally,
we think of portfolios as being important in creative fields like the visual arts or music
composition, but here Salicon is arguing that portfolios are relevant in every field.
Having a collection of your work to showcase is important no matter what your area of expertise.
Portfolios are relevant in every field.
Our last word today is FOCUS.
Do make sure you have a little bit of
lip rounding for the second half of that diphthong. Fo-- oh, oh--
We have a change in lip movement because we have a change in sound. Fo—focus.
And that second syllable should be said really quickly. Cus-- cus-- Focus.
Focus.
Focus. It's a noun, it means a subject that's being discussed or studied,
an interest. The study's main focus is adults with sleep disorders. As a verb,
it means to direct your attention or effort at something specific. She has an amazing ability
to focus on her work for hours at a time. Let's see this again up close and in slow motion.
And now we'll go to Youglish for five examples.
Among the many gifts my mother gave me was the ability
to focus on the positive rather than the negative.
Almost every situation in life has positive parts and negative parts.
Which parts do you focus on, do you direct your attention to, give your effort and energy to?
Among the many gifts my mother gave me was the ability
to focus on the positive rather than the negative.
Here's another example.
We have become so short term in our focus.
Short term in focus. To focus on things that are relevant in our near future, not long term. Hey,
I just used relevant. To put our attention only on things that are happening now or will happen soon,
not thinking at all about what we'll need years from now. Short term versus long term.
We have become so short term in our focus.
Here's another example.
We've got to focus on how we can best serve and support the American people.
This is what we have to focus on to give our attention to.
We've got to focus on how we can best serve and support the American people.
Another example.
They have a focus to solve really big problems like hunger.
They have to focus to do this. They can't do this if they're distracted, working on many
things at once. They have to direct their attention and effort specifically at this
problem. It won't get solved by chance or while they're doing something else.
They have a focus to solve really big problems like hunger.
Our last example.
It's been a huge opportunity for me to focus and really pay attention to something
I care a lot about.
To focus and pay attention, to direct his energy and effort on something that's important to him.
It's been a huge opportunity for me to focus and really pay attention
to something I care a lot about.
Seeing all the real-life examples can really help you understand how to use these words, can't it?
I have a challenge for you now. Make up a sentence with one of these words.
Make a short video of your sentence, and post it to social media.
Tag me and use the hashtag #rachelsenglish30daychallenge
Don't be shy. You can do this. I love seeing
what you've posted so far. Our next video comes out tomorrow, at 10 AM
Philadelphia time. Come on back to learn three more vocabulary words. In the meantime,
keep your studies going with this video, and check out my online courses at Rachel's English Academy.
You'll become a more confident English speaker. And please do remember to subscribe.
I love being your English teacher. That's it and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.