I
want to congratulate Senator Clinton on a hard-fought victory here in
New Hampshire.
A few weeks ago, no one imagined that we’d
have accomplished what we did here tonight. For most of this
campaign, we were far behind, and we always knew our climb would be
steep.
But in record numbers, you came out and spoke up for
change. And with your voices and your votes, you made it clear that
at this moment – in this election – there is something happening
in America.
There is something happening when men and women in
Des Moines and Davenport; in Lebanon and Concord come out in the
snows of January to wait in lines that stretch block after block
because they believe in what this country can be.
There is
something happening when Americans who are young in age and in spirit
– who have never before participated in politics – turn out in
numbers we’ve never seen because they know in their hearts that
this time must be different.
There is something happening when
people vote not just for the party they belong to but the hopes they
hold in common – that whether we are rich or poor; black or white;
Latino or Asian; whether we hail from Iowa or New Hampshire, Nevada
or South Carolina, we are ready to take this country in a
fundamentally new direction. That is what’s happening in America
right now. Change is what’s happening in America.
You can be
the new majority who can lead this nation out of a long political
darkness – Democrats, Independents and Republicans who are tired of
the division and distraction that has clouded Washington; who know
that we can disagree without being disagreeable; who understand that
if we mobilize our voices to challenge the money and influence that’s
stood in our way and challenge ourselves to reach for something
better, there’s no problem we can’t solve – no destiny we
cannot fulfill.
Our new American majority can end the outrage
of unaffordable, unavailable health care in our time. We can bring
doctors and patients; workers and businesses, Democrats and
Republicans together; and we can tell the drug and insurance industry
that while they’ll get a seat at the table, they don’t get to buy
every chair. Not this time. Not now.
Our new majority can end
the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas and put a
middle-class tax cut into the pockets of the working Americans who
deserve it.
We can stop sending our children to schools with
corridors of shame and start putting them on a pathway to success. We
can stop talking about how great teachers are and start rewarding
them for their greatness. We can do this with our new majority.
We
can harness the ingenuity of farmers and scientists; citizens and
entrepreneurs to free this nation from the tyranny of oil and save
our planet from a point of no return.
And when I am President,
we will end this war in Iraq and bring our troops home; we will
finish the job against al Qaeda in Afghanistan; we will care for our
veterans; we will restore our moral standing in the world; and we
will never use 9/11 as a way to scare up votes, because it is not a
tactic to win an election, it is a challenge that should unite
America and the world against the common threats of the twenty-first
century: terrorism and nuclear weapons; climate change and poverty;
genocide and disease.
All of the candidates in this race share
these goals. All have good ideas. And all are patriots who serve this
country honorably.
But the reason our campaign has always been
different is because it’s not just about what I will do as
President, it’s also about what you, the people who love this
country, can do to change it.
That’s why tonight belongs to
you. It belongs to the organizers and the volunteers and the staff
who believed in our improbable journey and rallied so many others to
join.
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always
remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can
withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.
We
have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only
grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We’ve been
asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against
offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the
unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false
about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we’ve
been told that we’re not ready, or that we shouldn’t try, or that
we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple
creed that sums up the spirit of a people.
Yes we can.
It
was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the
destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by
slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom
through the darkest of nights.
Yes we can.
It was sung
by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who
pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we
can.
It was the call of workers who organized; women who
reached for the ballot; a President who chose the moon as our new
frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the
way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality.
Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this
nation. Yes we can repair this world.
Yes we can.
And
so tomorrow, as we take this campaign South and West; as we learn
that the struggles of the textile worker in Spartanburg are not so
different than the plight of the dishwasher in Las Vegas; that the
hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are
the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we
will remember that there is something happening in America; that we
are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people;
we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter
in America’s story with three words that will ring from coast to
coast; from sea to shining sea –
Yes. We. Can.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Obama's 'Yes We Can' Speech
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sacramento Words
- Banana Republic
- Barnes & Noble
- Bass
- Book Warehouse
- Bose
- Brooks Brothers
- Calvin Klein
- Chico's
- Claire's Accessories
- Coach
- Converse
- Dressbarn
- Eddie Bauer
- Guess
- Izod
- Jelly Belly
- Jockey
- Kasper
- Kenneth Cole
- Lane Bryant
- Levi's
- Lancôme
- Macy's
- Marshalls
- Nordstrom
- Motherhood Maternity
- Nautica
- Nike
- PacSun
- Perfumania
- Puma
- Quiksilver
- Saks Fifth Avenue
- Sports Fever
- Styles for Less
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Van Heusen
- Wilsons
- Gymboree
- OshKosh B'gosh
- Stride Rite
- Naturalizer
- Nine West
- Rocky Mountain
- Chocolate Factory
- Samsonite
- Vitamin World
- Wilsons Leather Outlet
- Zales
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Pronunciation Practice Sites
Top Practice Sites
- RachelsEnglish.com
- Sounds of American English
- Englishcentral.com
- Sozoexchange.com
- Phonetics: English Sound Library (University of Iowa)
- PUFS Pronunciation
- American English Pronunciation Practice
- LearningEnglish Pronunciation
- EnglishPronunciation at EnglishClub.com
- English Pronunciation/Listening (OkanaganUniversity, Canada)
- Eva Easton - Pronuciation
- Emily's Pronunciation Class
- Listen & Repeat Machine
- Common Korean Errors
- Ear Training
- Elllo.org
- Breakingnewsenglish.com
- Esl-lab.com
Music related (more fun than pronuciation related) - Lyricstraining.com
- Singsnap.com (online Karaoke)
| Chatbots are automated chat tools that can be pre-programmed say certain things or interact with users. Text to speech chatbots allow you to create a speaking character (or avatar)
|
- TarleSpeech
Samples
- Frequently Mispronounced Words - Wood, Women, Beach , Version
- Confusing Word Pairs - coffee/copy, live/leave, world/word
- Seattle
English
Samples
Vowels: . 'ah' as in 'ai' as in 'buy' 'father' , aa' as in 'bat' , eh' as in 'bed', 'ih' as in 'sit' , 'ee' as in 'she' , 'oo' as in 'boo' , 'ur' as in 'her' , 'aw' as in 'law' , 'uh' as in 'pull' , 'uh' as in 'butter'. 'uh' as in 'supply' , 'ow' as in 'now', 'oh' as in 'no' , 'oy' as in 'toy' , 'ay' as in 'say' , 'ew' as in 'few'
Stress and Intonation Videos
- Word Stress: Reduced vs. Unstressed
- Word Stress: Function Words
- Word Stress: Content Words
- Listening Comprehension: Word Stress in 2-Syllable Words
- Intro to Word Stress in American English
- Jennifer ESL - Stress - 9a 9b 9c
- Jennifer ESL - Intonation - 10a 10b 10c 10d
Monday, April 18, 2011
Sentence Practice
- It's really too late to wait.
- What's the low down on the raw fish law?
- After a week, I think these leeks reek.
- The crew didn't' have a clue.
- If we flee, we'll be free.
- Did Blake break the plate?
- The hail got in my hair.
- The meal was a mere five dollars.
- There were very many berries in the valley.
- The big cap is a simple symbol.
- I only have half of the fee.
- Please sit in the soft seat.
- There was a lot of pressure to measure the major explosion.
- Put the sheet on the seat before you sit on it.
- Most of you must bowl with the red ball.
- She won't want to walk there.
- The frog would leap from one leaf to another .
- There's a ban on putting fans in a van.
- I wish she wasn't a witch.
- Who's got your goat?
- Would she sue the zoo?
- We hissed as we watched the conclusion.
- We ditched the party and washed our car.
Tongue Twisters
More Tongue Twisters at: http://www.repeatafterus.com/author.php?f=&l=Tongue%20Twister and http://www.uebersetzung.at/twister/en.htm
Big black bear : A big black bug bit the big black bear, but the big black bear bit the big black bug back !Download this mp3 1/ mp3 2
clam cream can: How can a clam cram in a clean cream can? Download this mp3
Four furious friends: Four furious friends fought for the phone. Download this mp3
Green glass globes: Green glass globes glow greenly. Download this mp3
Ice cream : I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!. Download this mp3
Sandwich sane witch: There's a sandwich on the sand which was sent by a sane witch. Download this mp3
Spell New York: Knife and a fork, bottle and a cork, that is the way you spell New York. Download this mp3
I saw Susie: I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop. Download this mp3
Medium Tongue Twisters- Try these slightly more difficult tongue twisters
Can you can a can: Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?Download this mp3
Copyright: When you write copy you have the right to copyright the copy you write. Download this mp3
Fuzzy wuzzy: Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair, Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't very fuzzy, was he?Download this mp3
Good cook : How many cookies could a good cook cook If a good cook could cook cookies? A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies. Download this mp3
How many cans ?: How many cans can a cannibal nibble, if a cannibal can nibble cans? As many cans as a cannibal can nibble if a cannibal can nibble cans. Download this mp3
I have got a date: I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate,so don’t be late. Download this mp3
I thought of thinking: I thought, I thought of thinking of thanking you. Download this mp3
one
one :
One-one was a race horse. Two-two was one too.
One-one won one race.
Two-two won one too. Download
this mp3
Peter piper: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?Download this mp3
Seven slick snails: Seven slick slimy snails, slowly sliding southward. Download this mp3
Spell chicago: Chicken in the car and the car can go, that is the way you spell Chicago. Download this mp3
Thirty three thieves: The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday. Download this mp3
Two witches, two watches: If two witches would watch two watches, which witch would watch which watch?Download this mp3
Understand: If you understand, say ""understand"". If you don't understand, say ""don't understand"". But if you understand and say ""don't understand"". how do I understand that you understand?Download this mp3
Whether
the weather: Whether
the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not.
Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot.
We'll weather the weather whether we like it or not. Download
this mp3
Difficult English Tongue Twisters
Betty
butter: Betty
bought some butter, but the butter Betty bought was bitter,
so Betty bought some better butter, and the better butter Betty bought
was better than the bitter butter Betty bought before!Download
this mp3
Biscuit mixer: I bought a bit of baking powder and baked a batch of biscuits. I brought a big basket of biscuits back to the bakery and baked a basket of big biscuits. Then I took the big basket of biscuits and the basket of big biscuits and mixed the big biscuits with the basket of biscuits that was next to the big basket and put a bunch of biscuits from the basket into a biscuit mixer and brought the basket of biscuits and the box of mixed biscuits and the biscuit mixer to the bakery and opened a tin of sardines. Download this mp3
Doctor doctoring: When a doctor doctors a doctor, does the doctor doing the doctoring doctor as the doctor being doctored wants to be doctored or does the doctor doing the doctoring doctor as he wants to doctor? Download this mp3
Mary Mac: Mary Mac's mother's making Mary Mac marry me. My mother's making me marry Mary Mac. Will I always be so Merry when Mary's taking care of me? Will I always be so merry when I marry Mary Mac? Download this mp3
Nature
watcher: Out
in the pasture the nature watcher watches the catcher. While
the catcher watches the pitcher who pitches the balls.
Whether the temperature's up or whether the temperature's down, the
nature watcher, the catcher and the pitcher are always around.
The pitcher pitches, the catcher catches and the watcher
watches. So whether the temperature's rises or whether the
temperature falls the nature watcher just watches the catcher who's
watching the pitcher who's watching the balls. Download
this mp3
by Sharon
Johnson
Wish to wish: I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish. Download this mp3
Dotsub Sources of Pronunciation Practice
- Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity
- Jill Bolte Taylor's powerful stroke of insight
- Julian Assange: Why the world needs WikiLeaks
- Patrick Chappatte: The power of cartoons
- President Barack Obama's Complete Inaugural Speech
- Sheryl Sandberg: Why we have too few women leaders
- Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile
- Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds
- Steven Pinker on language and thought
- Alison Jackson looks at celebrity
- Karen Armstrong: Let's revive the Golden rule
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Pronunciation Practice Videos
(to download video, RIGHT click the titles/save link as)
Grandma is here! Grandma! Grandma is here!
What's my mother here?
- Look, you're not coping, ok?
Len's worried, I'm worried, your mother offered to help.
You invited her here?
- Darling.
Hello, mother.
- Look at you! Are you eating?
Is this all of it?
- Don't be ridiculous! That's just my make-up.
Oh, you're as handsome as Hell, Jack.
- Lindsey, honey, are you going to say hello?
The child hates me.
So, What will it be, Jack?
Actually, I'm not drinking these days.Ah, that's your problem in a nutshel
Away We Go
GLORIA: Okay, we have news.
It's big.
What is it?
We're leaving in June.
We're finally doing it.
You're leaving in June?
GLORIA: Mmm-hmm.
The baby's due in July.
Right. To Antwerp. City of light.
Well, that's not...
No, you're not.
Yeah, we are. It's gonna be superb.
No. And don't say that word.
We thought you'd be proud of us.
We've been talking about this for 15 years.
And now we can finally do it.
You're leaving a month before the baby's born?
You're moving 3,000 miles away from your grandchild.
I think it's more than 3,000, isn't it, Jerry?
I think so.
Friends - I'm Engaged
Ross: Hey, what’s going on?
Chandler: Hey.
Ross: I found a note on my door, "Come to Monica’s quick, bring champagne and a Three Musketeers bar."
Joey: (grabbing the candy bar) Yeah I’ll take that.
Ross: What’s up?
Chandler: Monica and I are engaged.
Ross: Oh my God. (Hugs Chandler.) Congratulations.
Chandler: Thanks.
Ross: Where is she?
Monica: (yelling at the top of her lungs) I’m engaged!!!!!! I’m engaged!!!!
Joey: Yeah, she’s been out there for twenty minutes, I’m surprised you didn’t hear her on the way over.
Ross: Oh, I thought it was just a kid yelling, "I’m gay! I’m gay!"
Rachel: Yeah, no that guy moved.
Ross: Can I bring her in?
Phoebe: Oh no, let her stay out there. It’s sweet.
Monica: I’m getting married!!!! I’m gonna be a bride!!!! (Someone else yells at her.) No, I will not shut up because I’m engaged! (He yells again.) Ohh, big talk! Huh, why don’t you come over here and say that to me?! Huh, buddy?! Yeah, my fiancee will kick your ass! (Chandler starts to look worried.) Come on, apartment 20! Apartment 20!
Chandler: (To Ross) Okay, you get her in here. (To Joey) You bolt the door. I’ll be in the closet.
Kim Yun Jin on the View
I had a great time, but I felt like a nerd. Do you know what I mean, because I didn't know when to start talkingI didn't know, I didn't want to be rude and start interrupting you guys and I kept going uh, uh, uhand you where so sweet, you actually turned to me and said, YunJin would you like to say something and I was like 'Thank You!”
I was born in Korea. Came over, my whole family came over when
I was ten, and my teacher said, 'You know what? Just concentrate on
being a great actress and people will learn your name.
Like you guys did... sort of.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Connected Speech Practice
- Mad Men (Women)
- Mad_Men_(Men)
- New_Moon
- Big Love
- People Change
- He's Just Not That Into You
- More Imitation Exercises at: http://rachelsenglish.com/imitation_exercises
Download Video
Transcript:
- Did you have to park so close?
- Just shut up and drive before one of these nerds asks me another question
-
I don't know. I just hope your not gonna go to some strip
club when
you're up there.
- It's not gonna be like that . - Why don't you just let that one go to voice mail
-
Where are you guys?
- We are at the spa at the hotel
- Cool. We're just getting some sun. Is Doug around? -
How about you big man. Come on up here
The Simpsons
Download Video
Transcript:
-
Just tell me what you want. You should know what I want. I want you to act the same way two days in a row. Uuughh! I'm not going to let you hurt me anymore.
-
Nikki, thanks for saving my life.
- Look can we just pretend that never happened. I don't' want everyone at the school to go around thinking I like you.
- I don't get you. You're hot, you're cold. What's your deal?
- Oh Bart, you've got a few things to learn about women.
The Real World
Download Video
-
I kind of think what's kept me from putting one together is that I don't really have anything good to put on there other than that I served chicken fried steak for the past two years
-
Well, I think that the best way to proceed is to just give you something - and maybe you love it , do a great job and we're lucky to have you and maybe you hate it and we part ways. So it's as much an interview for you as it is for me. Let me give you a call later in the week with an assignment
- That's Awesome
- OK
- I'm very excited
- Good
Chris Rock
Download Video
Transcript:
-
you don't need no gun control, you know what you need – we need some bullet control, we need to <man> control the bullets,. That's right. I think all bullets should cost 5000 dollars. 5000 dollars for a bullet. You know why? Because if a bullet cost 5000 dollars there won't be no more innocent bystanders.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Ending Consonants
| A | B | |
| 1 | bell | belt |
| 2 | car | cart |
| 3 | fell | felt |
| 4 | her | hurt |
| 5 | tore | torn |
| 6 | knees | needs |
| 7 | mill | milk |
| 8 | can | can't |
| 9 | ben | bent |
| 10 | Hun | hunt |
I think we (can/can't) do it today.
More Vowels - Minimal Pairs
Sounds of American English
| A | B | |
| 1 | and | end |
| 2 | bland | blend |
| 3 | ham | hem |
| 4 | tamper | temper |
| 5 | land | lend |
| 6 | gassed | guest |
| 7 | pan | pen |
| 8 | spanned | spend |
| 9 | band | bend |
| 10 | tamp | temp |
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sentence Practice
- It's really too late to wait.
- What's the low down on the raw fish law?
- After a week, I think these leeks reek.
- The crew didn't' have a clue.
- If we flee, we'll be free.
- Did Blake break the plate?
- The hail got in my hair.
- The meal was a mere five dollars.
- There were very many berries in the valley.
- The big cap is a simple symbol.
- I only have half of the fee.
- Please sit in the soft seat.
- There was a lot of pressure to measure the major explosion.
- Put the sheet on the seat before you sit on it.
- Most of you must bowl with the red ball.
- She won't want to walk there.
- The frog would leap from one leaf to another .
- There's a ban on putting fans in a van.
- I wish she wasn't a witch.
- Who's got your goat?
- Would she sue the zoo?
- We hissed as we watched the conclusion.
- We ditched the party and washed our car.
Minimal Pairs
Rachel's Videos: The L Sound The R Sound The W Sound Listen & Repeat Exercises
U of Iowa's Sounds of American English
| A | B | C | |
| 1 | lice | rice | |
| 2 | late | rate | wait |
| 3 | low | row | woe |
| 4 | law | raw | |
| 5 | lay | ray | way |
| 6 | late | rate | wait |
| 7 | lane | rain | wain |
| 8 | led | red | wed |
| 9 | lie | rye | why |
| 10 | leek | reek | week |