Александр Чумаков – Unique English Course Speak real English. Часть 2 (страница 5)
In this lesson we also have another phrase which is “” if only
In the story Amelia says, “If only I had a magic wand, I would be the happiest girl in the world”
Here “if only” is simply another way of saying “I wish”. The difference between these two phrases is very small. You can use them both interchangeably. But if you really want to know the difference I will tell you. We use “if only I had” or “if only I knew”, and so on when we become more emotional and want to show that we would very much like the situation to be different. In other words, “if only” is stronger than “I wish”.
In the story you see that Amelia says first, “I wish I had a magic wand”, but then she becomes more emotional and she says, “If only I had a magic wand, I would be the happiest girl in the world.” I think you get the idea, right?
And, of course, we are going to find out the reason Amelia really wants to have that magic wand. We can see it from the next sentence which is “I would help less fortunate people to be happier”. It is good to wish to be happier. This is what Amelia does by saying that. But she not only wants to be happier than she is now, she also wants to help other people to be less fortunate. She wants people to be happier too. What does “” mean? Less comes from “little” when we compare something to something.” less fortunate people
are the people who are not as lucky or happy as others. Some people can be more fortunate than others by simply having better health or by being born in a wealthy family or by getting into luck. So Amelia wants to help those people who are not that happy, not that lucky, and not as bright as those who are. This is her dream. This is what she would like to change, if she had a magic wand. I think you get the idea, right? Less fortunate people
We move on and we have the expression “to be in bloom”
Usually we say like that when we talk about a plant or a tree that has flowers on it. In the story you can see that the weather is gorgeous. It is probably spring time and the plants have flowers on them. They are in bloom. It is the period when flowers open. For example, the roses (are) in bloom.
Next we see the word “rare”
Here “rare” means not happening very often. So it doesn’t happen very often to see a bird like that. A rare bird is a bird you don’t see very often because it is difficult to find. Amelia sees a little, beautiful and unusual, unique bird, a bird which is difficult to find, a rare bird.
In this lesson we also have the expression “in a flash”
Well, actually, it is an idiom. It means very quickly or immediately. It can also mean suddenly. Suddenly, immediately, very quickly, the bird lands on the ground next to Amelia. In a flash, the bird lands on the ground next to Amelia.
From the story, you know that the rare bird gives Amelia a magic wand as a gift. Amelia is very happy about the gift, but she doesn’t know what to do with it. She decides to go the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
And now let me explain to you what the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry means. is a special school of magic. Witchcraft is the activity of performing magic to harm other people. Witches usually use evil powers to bring bad things to people’s lives. Wizardry is the activity of performing magic to help people. Wizards use good powers to help people to live better. So the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry teaches Amelia how to use the evil and good powers using her magic wand. The School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Our next word-combination is “a diligent student”
A diligent student is a student who works hard with care and effort. So Amelia works very hard with care and effort. Yes, she makes mistake, like any of us, right? But she continues to study hard performing magic. She puts all her time, energy and love into doing it. And she is a success, which actually means she is successful.
And our next expression for today is “to become a master of something”
When someone becomes a master of something, it means that he or she is very skilled in a particular job or activity. So Amelia becomes very skilled at performing magic. She stops making mistakes and she does magic extremely well. She is a master of her magic wand. She knows everything about it. She knows how to use it, how to protect it and how to take care of it. She is a master of her magic wand. And by the way, it is not an easy thing to do. You really have to know and practice a lot. It is like when you practice English. You put all your time, all your energy and all your love into learning English. That is why you become better and better at English and one day, I am sure, you will become a master of English. And when you become a master of English, you will definitely be fulfilled. It means you will be happy and proud of yourself that what you have done, what you have achieved is good not only for you but also for other people.
And on this note, let me finish this fantastic vocabulary lesson. I want you to be fulfilled with what you do. It is one of the most important things to do in life, I believe.
Unit 2. The mini-story lesson
How many things did Amelia love doing?
Two. She loved doing two things.
What were they? What were the two things Amelia loved doing?
Reading and dreaming. Amelia loved reading and dreaming.
Did Amelia love reading and dreaming a little or a lot?
A lot. Very much. She loved reading and dreaming a lot.
What kind of books did Amelia love reading?
Fairy tales. She loved reading fairy tales.
Okay. What was the second thing Amelia loved doing? Was it dancing?
No, it was not dancing.
No? Each girl loves dancing.
Yes, but not Amelia. She didn’t love dancing. What she really loved was dreaming. And she did it a lot.
Do you remember what Amelia learned about from reading fairy tales?
Yes, I do. She learned about a magic wand.
Oh, interesting. A magic wand. It would be great to have one, wouldn’t it?
Yes, it would be great.
What did Amelia begin to do after learning about a magic wand?
She began to dream of having a magic wand. Every day she imagined herself having a magic wand.
What did Amelia imagine herself doing?
She imagined herself having a magic wand.
Did Amelia have a magic wand?
No, she didn’t have it.
Did Amelia want to have a magic wand?
Yes, she wanted to have it very much.
How do you know that?
I know that because Amelia often said that.
What exactly did Amelia say about having a magic wand?”
“I wish I had a magic wand. If only I had a magic wand, I would be the happiest girl in the world. And I would help less fortunate people to be happier.” That’s what she said.
Would her life be happier if she had a magic wand?
Yes, exactly. It would be happier. Amelia’s life would be happier if she had a magic wand.
What would Amelia do, if she had a magic wand?
She would help less fortunate people to be happier.
What kind of people would Amelia help, if only she had a magic wand?
Less fortunate people. She would help less fortunate people, if only she had a magic wand.
Wow! Unbelievable. This is the power of dream at work. That’s how it works. Okay.
What did Amelia see when working in the garden?
She saw a little, beautiful and rare bird when working in the garden.
Did Amelia see a bird like that before?
Well, actually, yes, she did, but not very often. I would say, she saw the bird like that, but it was very rarely.