Talking about Art in English - Part 1!

Part I

Vocabularies:

Classical art

Modern art = contemporary art  /kənˈtempəreri/

Fine art /ˌfaɪn ˈɑːrt/ 

Applied art

Visual art    

• ceramics  /səˈræmɪks/

• drawing

• painting

• sculpture

• printmaking

• design:

• web-design

• fashion design

• graphic design

• photography

• video

• film-making

• architecture

Written art

• literature

• novels

• drama

• short story

• biography / autobiography

• poetry

Performing art:

• acrobatics  /ˌækrəˈbæt̬ɪks/

• joggling /ˈdʒɑːɡəlɪŋ/

• dance

• music

• magic

• opera and operetta

• theatre

• film

• martial arts

Artwork  /ˈɑːrtwɝːk/ = piece /piːs/

Artist 

Musician  /mjuːˈzɪʃən/

Singer  /ˈsɪŋɚ/

Dancer

Composer  /kəmˈpoʊzɚ/ 

Writer

Juggler  /ˈdʒʌɡlɚ/

Potter  /ˈpɑːt̬ɚ/

Photographer /fəˈtɑːɡrəfɚ/

Sculptor /ˈskʌlptɚ/

Calligrapher   /kəˈlɪɡrəfɚ/

Illustrator  /ˈɪləstreɪt̬ɚ/

Designer  /dɪˈzaɪnɚ/

The art world 

   Ex. I’m not keen on fine art, that's why sometimes I can’t understand some phrases commonly used in the art world.

Stereotype  /ˈsteriətaɪp/

   Ex. The characters in the book are just stereotypes.

Cliché  /kliːˈʃeɪ/

   Ex. I know it's a cliché, but my wedding day was just the happiest day of my life.

Arty type

Statement jewellery /ˈsteɪtmənt /ˈdʒuːəlri/

To roll someone's eyes

  Ex. I just rolled my eyes as my friend told another one of his stupid jokes.

Overall /ˌoʊvɚˈɑːl/ = in general

   Ex. The overall situation is good, despite a few minor problems.

Art Vocabulary Adjectives:

• Well-known 

• Abstract  /ˈæbstrækt/

• Semi-abstract

• Surreal  /səˈriːəl/

• Symbolic

• Balanced

• Detailed

• Expressive

• Accomplished  /əˈkɑːmplɪʃt/

• Characteristic /ˌkerəktəˈrɪstɪk/

• Aesthetic /esˈθet̬ɪk/

• Creative

• Beautiful

• Artistic /ɑːrˈtɪstɪk/

• Deeply thoughtful   /ˈdiːpli ˈθɑːtfəl/

• Thought-provoking

• Atmospheric /ˌætməsˈferɪk/

• Original

• Inspirational

• Colorful

• Authentic  /ɑːˈθent̬ɪk/

• Mature  /məˈtʊr/

• Boundless /ˈbaʊndləs/

• Timeless

• Avant-garde /ˌævɑ̃ːˈɡɑːrd/

• Brilliant

• Award-winning  /əˈwɔːrdˌwɪnɪŋ/

• Skilled

• Collectable

• Engaging

• Evocative  /ɪˈvɑːkət̬ɪv/

• Remarkable

• Unforgettable

• Daring

• Emotionally charged

• Energetic

• Fresh

• Pure

• Gorgeous

• Graceful

• Touching

• Traditional ## unconventional

• Romantic

• Sensual

• Lifelike

• Realistic

• Mysterious

• Mystical

• Narrative /ˈnerət̬ɪv/

• Lyrical

• Passionate  /ˈpæʃənət/

• Peaceful

• Tasteful

• Unique

• Varied

• Candid

• Controversial /ˌkɑːntrəˈvɝːʃəl/

• Inaccessible /ˌɪnəkˈsesəbəl/

• Pretentious  /prɪˈtenʃəs/

• Outrageous  /ˌaʊtˈreɪdʒəs/  

Answer the questions:

1. Do you like art?

2. What's your favourite kind of art? Why?

3. What kind of art do you dislike? Why?

4. What do you prefer: classical art or modern art? Why?

5. Do you like drawing or painting? If yes, how long?

6. Are you good at dancing?

7. Do you think it’s difficult to write a song?

8. Would you like to be an artist? Why or why not?

9. Do you think that artists earn a lot of money?

10. What do you think about acrobatics: is it a real art or just a kind of sport?

11. Do you believe in magic? Have you ever seen any magical performances?

12. Are ballet and opera popular in Vietnam?

13. Have you ever been to a circus? Do you like clowns and jugglers?

14. Would you like your child to do karate or any other martial arts? Why or why not?

15. Have you ever been to a theatre? If yes, when and where?

16. Do you like watching movies?

17. How often do you watch movies? Where?

18. Do you agree that making movies is a kind of art?

19. Do you like fashion? Do you follow fashion trends?

20. Can you agree with the statement that ‘high fashion is a real art in the raw’?

Talking about Charity

 

Warm up questions:

1. Do you agree with the expression "charity begins at home?"

2. How often do you give money to charity? 

3. Have you ever received charity from others?

4. Do you ever buy used goods from charity shops?

5. Do you think the people you know are very charitable?

6. Do you think we should all donate some of our salary to charity?

Charity  /ˈtʃerət̬i/

   Ex. She does a lot of work for charity.

Charitable organization /ˈtʃerət̬əbəl  ˌɔːrɡənəˈzeɪʃən/

   Ex. She was involved in many charitable organizations.

NGO (Non-Governmental Organization)

   Ex. Co-operation between NGOs and governments is not always easy.

Association /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/

   Ex. The AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons, is a huge organization with millions of members.

Trust (noun)  /trʌst/

   Ex. Housing trusts help to provide houses for people who are not well off.

Public service  /ˌpʌblɪk ˈsɝːvɪs/

   Ex. The Senator has worked in public service all his life.

Health care /ˈhelθ ker/

   Ex. She worked in health care for 15 years.

Fundraising  /ˈfʌndˌreɪzɪŋ/

   Ex. a fundraising campaign/event

Donate (verb)

Donation (noun)

    Ex. An anonymous businesswoman donated one million dollars to the charity.

Blood donor   /ˈblʌd ˌdoʊnɚ/

   Ex. I'm not in a state of health to become a blood donor right now.

To sponsor  /ˈspɑːnsɚ/

   Ex. The event was sponsored by several local businesses.

Philanthropy /fɪˈlænθrəpi/

Selfless (adj) /ˈselfləs/ ##  selfish

Altruistic  (adj)  /ˌæltruˈɪstɪk/ ## egoistic  /ˌiːɡoʊˈɪstɪk/

Altruism (noun)  /ˈæltruɪzəm/

Kindness

   Ex. I wanted to thank them for all their kindness.

Kindhearted (adj)

Benevolence  /bəˈnevələns/

   Ex. His sunny, calm tone suggested a man of deep benevolence.

Beneficence  /bəˈnefɪsəns/

   Ex. They rely heavily on the beneficence of their sponsors.

Awareness /əˈweərnəs/

Tolerance  /ˈtɑːlɚəns/

Humanitarian act  /hjuːˌmænɪˈteriən/

Goodwill gesture  /ɡʊdˈwɪl dʒestʃɚ/

Volunteer

Volunteerism /ˌvɑːlənˈtɪrɪzəm/

Compassion /kəmˈpæʃən/

   Ex. I was hoping she might show a little compassion.

Responsibility  /rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪlət̬i/

   Ex. Fatherhood is a lifelong responsibility.

Property  /ˈprɑːpɚt̬i/

   Ex. He owns a number of properties on the south coast.

Dole  /doʊl/

   Ex. If I can't find any work within a month, I'll have to go on the dole.

Aalms = handout

   Ex. In the past, people thought it was their religious duty to give alms to the poor.

Shelter

   Ex. They opened a shelter to provide temporary housing for the city's homeless.

Income

   Ex. More help is needed for people on low incomes.

Orphan /ˈɔːrfən/

   Ex. She's an orphan adopted by a wealthy New York family.

To suffer  

   Ex. She's been suffering from cancer for two years.

To starve  /stɑːrv/

   Ex. We can't stand by while millions of people starve.

Animal welfare

   Ex. That NGO is campaigning for a universal declaration on animal welfare.

Aid /eɪd/ = help

   Ex. A woman in the street saw that he was in trouble and came to his aid.

More and more (countable and uncountable nouns)

  Ex. More and more money is given to charity around the world.

Fewer and fewer (countable nouns only)

  Ex. There are fewer and fewer fundraising events in my city.

Less and less (uncountable nouns only)

  Ex. Less and less research is paid for by the government.

Useful phrases: 

I bet (that)...

   Ex. I bet that he won't donate even a dollar.

I have no doubt (that)...

   Ex. I have no doubt they will agree to adopt that poor stray puppy.

I strongly believe (that)...

   Ex. I strongly believe in personal choice.

It’s often said (that)...

   Ex. It's often said that since we can all travel anywhere, what's the point of travel writing?

It’s generally accepted (that)...

   Ex. It's generally accepted that a modern Western diet includes too much flesh.

To be not well off  ## well off

   Ex. His family is not well off, they don't even have money for food.

Idioms

As cold as charity

   Ex. Tina's as cold as charity — she'll never help us with this problem.

Charity begins at home

   Ex.  She spends hours and hours on volunteer work and neglects the children, forgetting that charity begins at home.

Vermont charity

   Ex. A: "I'm so sorry that you still have so much work left to do." 

       B: "Don't give me Vermont charity—grab a paint brush, and help me out here!" 

Charity mugger /ˈmʌɡɚ/

   Ex. The charity muggers in this town are so horrible, they make you feel like an awful person if you don't contribute something.

Heart of gold

   Ex. Jane is always willing to help people; she has a heart of gold.

Give and take

   Ex. Life is a give and take and you'll do well if you focus on giving.

Bleeding heart

   Ex. Crime can't be blamed on poverty, as the bleeding hearts always insist.

Bread and butter

   Ex. Before Civid-19 tourism was the bread and butter of our coastal city.

Questions:

1. Would you like to work for a charity? Why/ why not?

2. Do you take part in fundraising events for charity?

3. Do you have a favourite charity? Which?

4. Are you satisfied with the work charities do? Why/ why not?

5. Do you think that governments should do more to help charities? Why/ why not?

6. Do you think that charities should only help people and not animals, buildings etc?

7. Do you have a pet?

8. What do you think about pet shops? Is it better to buy a pet or take it from the animal shelter?

9. Have you ever donated money? What was the last cause you donated money to?

10. What is the largest amount of money you have donated?

11. Do you ever worry about where the money you donate to charity goes? 

12. Do you think that one day there will be no need for charities?

13. How much suffering would disappear if each person donated some money to charity?

14. Do you think it is immoral for people to spend lots of money on themselves when people are starving and dying?

15. Are you a tolerant person?

16. Is the society of your county tolerant or not?

17. Do you think it’s necessary to help disabled people and people in need?

18. What do you think of people who stand outside stores or railway stations holding charity donation boxes?

19. Do you think it’s embarrassing to buy second-hand clothes at charity shops?

20. Do you have any volunteering experience?

21. If you apply for a volunteer position, what will it be?

22. Are there any volunteers among your classmates/friends/family members?

23. Is it popular to be a volunteer in your country?

24. Do you think that celebrities should set a good example for others and help the charities?

25. Are there any benefits for idols from donating money to charity organisations or volunteering to help them raise money?