Spring ESL Class - May 2, 2018

A. Highlights of Your Week

B. Short Story
Under the Sun
It was a deserted spot; Emily had chosen this time deliberately to get some peace. With her eyes closed, she let herself be soothed by the sound of waves breaking on the beach, in ceaseless motion. The sun warmed her skin and she stretched out and relaxed, drawing two little circles in the warm sand with the tips of her fingers.

She had waited so long for this summer, after months of slaving away at work. Getting away, spending time with Pierre, lazing around in the sun, with the smells of sea salt and coconut-scented sun cream. She had with care her little red and white striped two piece swimsuit. It fit her like a glove; she was a stunning in it and Pierre was going to LOVE it!

But things had all changed when her boss had brought up the subject of the summer holidays again. Now that Sophie, her coworker, had left, her boss had gone back on his word and had not agreed to her holiday request. Emily was the newest employee and had no children, so no constraints. While everyone else was on holiday, she would have to work the entire summer. 

She had nearly walked out and slammed the door. Then the memory of 15 months looking for a job had come back to her. Emily had given in. She would go in October without Pierre, because he could not change his holiday dates at the drop of a hat. She was dragged from her daydream by the voices of children. She opened her eyes and brusquely pulled out the earphones playing recorded beach sounds.

“You’re taking all the room up, we can’t play!” the little girl complained. She must have been about six and was staring at Emily with incredulity, holding her little brother by one hand and her bucket by the other. Emily leapt up, tied her beach towel around her hips and got out of the sandbox. She had her revenge planned: one hour in the sandbox in the playground at the end of the street, every day at lunch-time. She would have a better tan than her boss when he came back on August 15th! She smiled at the thought as she made her way back to the office.

C. Idioms Quiz
 Idioms Quiz: Structures
This quiz tests you on idioms based on structures.

1. a ballpark figure | a ballpark estimate

She gave us a ballpark figure for the cost because she
a. didn't know the exact amount
b. knew how much a ballpark cost
c. wanted to tell us the exact amount

2. a night on the town

I had a night on the town with Lee and we
a. worked until dawn
b. watched TV at my place
c. left the last club at 2 a.m.

3. a roller coaster

Ben says his life was a roller-coaster ride while
a. he was living in an amusement park
b. he was staying in a cottage in the countryside
c. he was getting divorced and changing his job

4. burn your bridges

You'll be burning your bridges if you
a. save your money while working in a bank
b. steal a customer's money while working in a bank
c. borrow some money while working in a bank

5. cross that bridge when we come to it

We can say "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it" if someone asks about
a. how to get over a river
b. a future problem
c. a failed business

6. light at the end of the tunnel

Gillian's business has been losing money for years, but there's light at the end of the tunnel now because
a. she's closing down her business
b. she's starting to get more orders
c. the tunnel has been completed

7. paint the town red

We're heading out to paint the town red tonight, so don't forget to
a. bring plenty of cash
b. bring your paint brushes
c. bring your laptop

8. the new kid on the block

Dwayne is the new kid on the block. He
a. has just started working here
b. is going to get a promotion
c. is about to lose his job

9. under lock and key

The medicines are kept under lock and key so that
a. they can't be used
b. we can get them quickly
c. the children can't get them

10. water under the bridge | water over the dam

Sam says some things are water under the bridge and he doesn't want to talk about them, such as
a. what happened in his childhood
b. what he's doing these days
c. his plans for the future

D. Bible Story
John 3:1 - 21
1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked. 10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”