We play cover versions of classic rock and roll songs from the 50s to the noughties, and we also write some original material. Richard McNeff in particular has written quite a few of his own tracks (Richard is also a published novelist – check out his website here).

We practise once a week either in the school or in a local rehearsal studio in Shepherds Bush, and we perform concerts to our staff and students regularly during the year. The concerts are usually great parties in which everyone has a good time grooving to the music or just observing the incredible display of musicianship and entertainment on stage! Our gigs often end with the crowd shouting “Encore encore!”.

Being in the band is great fun, especially during gigs, but we also work very hard at learning the songs. Hopefully the hard work pays off when we get in front of the audience and start our set. We aim to entertain, and always hope that everyone enjoys themselves.

If you come to LSE or you are a student here now, watch out for up-coming social events involving Banned Practice. We are also on Facebook, so check us out!

Definitions:

is made up of - consists of

over the years – during the long time since it started

the less said about that the better – don’t talk about it

cover versions – songs which were written and recorded by someone else

the noughties – the informal expression for the decade 2000-2009 (e.g. 80-89 = the eighties, 90-99 = the nineties – 2000 – 2009 = the noughties). The word ‘noughties’ is a kind of pun on the words ‘naughty’ which means ‘badly behaved’, and the word ‘nought’ which means ‘zero’ or 0)

original material – songs written by the band (not cover versions)

tracks - songs

rehearsal studio – a place in which a band practises

grooving - dancing

musicianship – the ability to play a musical instrument

gigs – live concerts

to be in a band – to be a member of a musical group

the hard work pays off – hard work is rewarded in the end

a set – the whole list of songs which a band plays in one concert

Luke.

They dated each other for six months, then, he got bored and left her high and dry for a member of the Royal Family.  She felt a bit sad and rather silly and went to talk to her best friend Adam about it.  He told her that he was glad that she wasn’t seeing Mark anymore because he wanted to tell her how he felt about her.  He told that he had loved her since he was 12 years old and that he would stay with her through thick and thin.  She told him that she had changed and she didn’t deserve his love but he told her that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet and that, for him, it was better to give than to receive.  She then realised that he was right and they got married and are still together 40 years later!

Eat, drink and be merry is from the Bible, Ecclesiastes VIII 15.  The meaning is clear.

All that glitters is not gold has many references; the most common is from Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice (1596).  It means that, just because something looks good, it may not be.

Wear your heart on your sleeve may be from the middle ages.  Knights used to wear the colours or ribbons on their arms of the lady that they were trying to impress or support.  It is also more famously in Shakespeare’s Othello (1604).

Hobson’s choice means that there is not choice at all.  It is believed to come from Thomas Hobson (1545-1631) who rented horses to people; however, they could not choose the horse so they had to have the horse he gave you or no horse.

High and dry is from ships and sailing.  If a boat is high and dry it is out of the water and has been for sometime, the situation is not good.  It usually means that there is no hope of recovery or of things getting better.

Through thick and thin is a very old English expression.  It refers back to a time hundreds of years ago, when England was mainly trees and woodland, there weren’t many roads therefore travelling was difficult.  Through thick and thin meant how many trees and bushes there were (a lot or a few).  It now means whatever problems or obstacles there are.  It is usually used to express determination.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet is from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (1594).  It means that it doesn’t matter what we call something but what it is that is important.

It’s better to give than to receive is from the Bible, Acts 20:35.  The meaning is clear.

Heather.

• Can you name the most commonly used words in the English language?
• Can you name the common US equivalents?
• Can you name the most commonly used adjectives?
• Can you name the three letter body parts?
• Can you name the Corporate Logos?

Image from www.freedigitalphotos.net

Glossary

putting the world to rights - solving all the problems in the worlda brighter tomorrow - a better futureto be hooked on - to be addicted toto power up - to switch a machine, such as a computer, onto retreat into your own little world - to become so interested in something to the point where you ignore everyone elseto drive somebody mad - to frustrate, irritate or annoy somebodycyber related - to computers and the internetjunkie - informal expression for an addictto get (so far) under your skin - to be unable to stop thinking about or do anything elseto absolve yourself of all blame - to make it public that you are not responsible for somethingmentally stimulating diversions - activities or games that require the use of your brain

Andy.

For more information click here.

Some people are not being affected so seriously; particularly the wise individuals who have saved up their money in secure savings accounts. When they need to, they can just dip into their savings in order to pay for an unexpected household repair or a much needed holiday. But for many of us, we just have to get by every month on our monthly salaries. It's not easy though, particularly in London when everything is so expensive. We try to pay off our loans and mortgages while trying to avoid taking too much cash out of the many cash machines which are available to us all over the city.

The energy companies in particular seem to be ripping everyone off with the price of oil and electricity. It's almost as though they're using global warming as an excuse for charging us extortionate amounts for our energy, even though wholesale market prices have dropped in recent months.

Big companies and banks seem to get protection from the state, while the average tax payer has to pick up the pieces by working harder, cutting back on our spending, moving into more modest accommodation, or accepting badly paid work because we have no choice. Perhaps it has to be that way - the big companies have to be protected in order to support the economy. It just seems a little unfair that's all, and I'm sure there are some CEOs and directors who are still doing very well while the rest of us struggle to get by.

Still, it's not all bad. The lower interest rates on bank loans and mortgages mean we don't have to pay back so much money each month, and there is now so much freely available entertainment on the internet that it's quite easy to have a good time without reaching too deep into our pockets. So, take advantage of free internet content like this, and use it to help you improve your English wherever you are in the world.

Did you find the phrasal verbs? Here they are:

1. to cut back on spending - this means to spend less than before. To try and reduce your spending. E.g. "I'm going to have to cut back on my spending in order to save up some money"
2. to go up - this means to increase
3. to go down - this means to decrease
4. to bail someone out - this means to save someone by giving them money. It's usually used when the government gives money to a company or bank in order to save them from insolvency. E.g. "The government bailed out the banks by giving them £5billion of tax payers' money"
5. to splash out - this means to spend quite a lot of money in a care-free way when you go shopping. E.g. "I was feeling a bit depressed, so I went to the shopping centre and just splashed out on some new clothes"
6. to save up - this means to save money. E.g. "I'm saving up for a holiday in Italy next year"
7. to dip into savings - this means to go into your savings account, and take a bit of money out. E.g. "I can't afford to pay my electricity and telephone bills this month. I'm going to have to dip into my savings"
8. to get by - this means to survive, usually on a small amount of money. E.g. "Students in London find it difficult to get by on money they earn from part-time work"
9. to pay something off - this means to completely pay a loan or debt. E.g. "YEAH!!! I've finally paid off my student loan!"
10. to take some cash out - this means to withdraw money from a bank or cash machine
11. to rip someone off - to charge too much money for something. To give a bad price. E.g. "You always get completely ripped off in Harrods. You can by the same stuff in other shops for much less money. The prices are just high because it's Harrods."
12. to pay something back - to give money back. When you have borrowed money, you have to pay it back each month.

Luke.

Today we have 25 training rooms at Holland Park Gardens as well as two study centres where students can access digital training materials.  All training rooms have large flat screen monitors so trainers and course participants can make the most of up to date technologies to keep training fresh and relevant.

15 Holland Park Gardens is a beautiful traditional building that has grown with us over the past forty years as we have continued to develop and modernise our facilities and training.  We look forward to celebrating our centenary here in 2012.

Look out for our new ‘BULATS Writing Practice’ course which is due out soon.

If you are interested in offering online courses to your clients and would like to find out more email onlinecourses@londonschool.com

For more information on our Practical English courses click here.

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