LEARN 105 ENGLISH VOCABULARY WORDS | DAY 21

Day 21. 21 is significant because in the  US, when you turn 21, you can drink alcohol,  

the last restriction on life is lifted. But on day  21 of your 30-Day English Vocabulary Challenge,  

you get to learn three new words. Yes.  This month, we're learning 105 words from  

the academic word list. Words that will help  you have sophisticated English conversations,  

words you need to know if you're preparing for  an exam like IELTS or TOEFL. I’ve been watching  

the posts you've been making about this challenge,  it's incredible, inspiring. Make up a sentence to  

word you learn and post it on social. Don't  forget to like and subscribe, and don't forget  

to download the study guide that goes with this  30 day challenge. You can do that by clicking  

here or the link in the video description. Learn  the words, ace the quizzes, you've got this.

Today, we start with the word APPROPRIATE  and it has two different pronunciations.  

Appropriate. That's an adjective. Appropriate.  We also have a verb, appropriate.

So the difference is not in stress,  they both have stress on the second syllable.  

It's in the pronunciation of the last  syllable. Iht-- versus ayt— appropriate.  

Appropriate. So the adjective, appropriate, means  right, or suited for some purpose or situation.  

A movie with a lot of violence is not appropriate  for young children. As a verb, appropriate.  

It means to get or save, as in money for  a specific use or purpose. The town has  

appropriated funds to repair the bridge and work  should begin this summer. Appropriated funds.  

Saved this money, set it aside specifically  for this project. It also means to take or use  

something illegally or unfairly. Let's see these  two pronunciations up close and in slow motion.

And now we'll go to Youglish for five examples.

Instead we plant food bearing native  and climate appropriate plants.

Climate appropriate plants. Plants  that are appropriate for that specific  

climate. Plants that are suited to the rainfall  and temperatures of that particular area.

Instead we plant food bearing native  and climate appropriate plants.

Here's another example.

However, we do put the money, we do  appropriate the dollars they have.

Appropriate the dollars. This is just like in  our sample sentence of the verb, to set aside  

money for a particular project. That money is to  be spent on that project only, not something else.

However, we do put the money we do  appropriate the dollars they have.

Here's another example.

So in some cases, it is appropriate  that they would add those programs back.

Appropriate. The adjective, right for  the situation, in some cases, it's right,  

it makes sense to add back programs. He's talking  about budget cuts for a city. Due to budget cuts,  

they took out programs that were important for  childhood education. When they had more money,  

they were able to begin those programs  again, and that was right for the situation  

because those programs truly did make a difference  in the education of the children of that city.  

They were not wasteful programs with no result,  so it was appropriate to restart them. You know,  

I wonder if maybe they appropriated funds for  these appropriate programs. There, I used the  

verb and the adjective in the same sentence. They  appropriated funds, they set aside money for these  

specific programs, because restarting the programs  was the right thing to do, it was appropriate,  

now that they've had enough money for them. They  appropriated funds for the appropriate programs.

So in some cases, it is appropriate  that they would add those programs back.

Another example.

I'm trying to be careful about  selecting what he's watching and  

making sure that it's sort of age-appropriate.

Age-appropriate.  

I have a four-year-old son who's becoming very  interested in TV shows and movies, and honestly,  

it's hard to find some that are age-appropriate,  that are suited for him, that are right for him.  

We found that even a lot of kids movies  have quite a bit of violence or scary parts.

I'm trying to be careful about  selecting what he's watching and  

making sure that it's sort of age-appropriate.

Our last example.

Applause is appropriate.

Applause is appropriate. It's okay to  clap. You know, when I was in high school,  

I saw a friend playing a tennis  match, and I cheered “Ah,  

go Jenny!” At a time when you're supposed to  be quiet, right before the serve. I didn't know  

the rules of tennis. I didn't know that that  was inappropriate. That noise was not suited  

to that environment and I was embarrassed.  In this example, applause is appropriate.

Applause is appropriate.

Our next word actually has the word  appropriate in the definition. It's RELEVANT.  

Relevant. As an adjective, it means  relating to a subject in an appropriate way,  

a way that makes sense. Do you have any  experience that's relevant to the job?  

Let's say you're applying for a job as a social  media manager, they want to know what experience  

you have related to social media, marketing,  customer support and experience. They don't  

want to know about every job you've ever had,  babysitting, driving for Uber, and so on. They  

want to know the relevant experience. Let's see  that word again up close and in slow motion.

And now, we'll go to Youglish for five examples.

And the life of Dr. Hooks is  relevant to every young person today.

Relevant to every young person today. The  life of Dr. Hooks, something about Dr. Hooks  

should matter to every person, relates  to the life of every young person today.

And the life of Dr. Hooks is  relevant to every young person today.

Here's another example. 

You can share any information that you  think might be relevant to other parties.

Share information you think might  be relevant, might be related to  

what other people want to know. Related to  the topic they're interested in, relevant.

You can share any information that you  think might be relevant to other parties.

Here's another example.

This is very relevant to the debate.

Relevant to the debate. This information matters. It's related to the topic we're debating.  

For example, if you and I are debating whether or  not to buy a vacation home, and you want to show  

me information on the statistics of your favorite  soccer team, that's completely irrelevant.  

The opposite of relevant. It does not relate at  all to whether or not we should buy a vacation  

home. But if you bring up research on making money  from renting out a vacation home, that's something  

that might change my mind on whether or not to  buy one. It's relevant, related information.

This is very relevant to the debate.

Another example.

That's a message that is  more relevant now than ever.

More relevant now than ever. This  message matters to us now because  

it's related to how life is now in 2021.  The realities we face today in society.

That's a message that is  more relevant now than ever.

Our last example.

Portfolios are relevant in every field.

Relevant in every field. In every  field, every topic of study, science  

architecture, and so on. In every field,  portfolios are relevant. A portfolio is  

a collection of highlights of your work. For  example, if you're hiring a graphic designer,  

you might look at her portfolio, examples  of past work, to see if you like this style,  

the graphics she's designed and  come up with. Traditionally,  

we think of portfolios as being important in  creative fields like the visual arts or music  

composition, but here Salicon is arguing  that portfolios are relevant in every field.  

Having a collection of your work to showcase is  important no matter what your area of expertise.

Portfolios are relevant in every field.

Our last word today is FOCUS.

Do make sure you have a little bit of  

lip rounding for the second half  of that diphthong. Fo-- oh, oh--  

We have a change in lip movement because  we have a change in sound. Fo—focus.  

And that second syllable should be  said really quickly. Cus-- cus-- Focus.  

Focus.

Focus. It's a noun, it means a subject  that's being discussed or studied,  

an interest. The study's main focus is  adults with sleep disorders. As a verb,  

it means to direct your attention or effort at  something specific. She has an amazing ability  

to focus on her work for hours at a time. Let's  see this again up close and in slow motion.

And now we'll go to Youglish for five examples.

Among the many gifts my  mother gave me was the ability  

to focus on the positive rather than the negative.

Almost every situation in life has  positive parts and negative parts.  

Which parts do you focus on, do you direct your  attention to, give your effort and energy to?

Among the many gifts my  mother gave me was the ability  

to focus on the positive rather than the negative.

Here's another example.

We have become so short term in our focus.

Short term in focus. To focus on things that are  relevant in our near future, not long term. Hey,  

I just used relevant. To put our attention only on  things that are happening now or will happen soon,  

not thinking at all about what we'll need  years from now. Short term versus long term.

We have become so short term in our focus.

Here's another example.

We've got to focus on how we can best  serve and support the American people.

This is what we have to focus  on to give our attention to.

We've got to focus on how we can best  serve and support the American people.

Another example.

They have a focus to solve  really big problems like hunger.

They have to focus to do this. They can't do  this if they're distracted, working on many  

things at once. They have to direct their  attention and effort specifically at this  

problem. It won't get solved by chance  or while they're doing something else.

They have a focus to solve  really big problems like hunger.

Our last example.

It's been a huge opportunity for me to  focus and really pay attention to something  

I care a lot about.

To focus and pay attention, to direct his energy  and effort on something that's important to him.

It's been a huge opportunity for me  to focus and really pay attention  

to something I care a lot about.

Seeing all the real-life examples can really help  you understand how to use these words, can't it?  

I have a challenge for you now. Make  up a sentence with one of these words.  

Make a short video of your sentence,  and post it to social media.  

Tag me and use the hashtag  #rachelsenglish30daychallenge

Don't be shy. You can do this. I love seeing  

what you've posted so far. Our next  video comes out tomorrow, at 10 AM  

Philadelphia time. Come on back to learn  three more vocabulary words. In the meantime,  

keep your studies going with this video, and check  out my online courses at Rachel's English Academy.  

You'll become a more confident English  speaker. And please do remember to subscribe.  

I love being your English teacher. That's it  and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.