Contents
=> 5 Euphemisms
=> 5 Writing Topics
=> Summer News About Our Personnel
=> In the Next Issue

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5 Euphemisms
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More than once while I was in Russia, I made a mistake in what I was doing, or I dropped something, or I broke a tea cup–and then I said, “Shoot!” And a Russian friend said, “Kevin, you’re swearing.”

But really, I wasn’t.

I was just euphemizing.

A euphemism is a nice word you use to replace a not-so-nice word, or a sensitive word. There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying these words. Even children can say them. They’re clean decent English.

1. HECK! (Instead of “hell”) “Ah, heck!” shows displeasure or disappointment.

Also “the heck.” “The heck” can be interjected afte question words for emphasis. (It works like the Russian “??”): “What the heck is that? ” “Who
the heck are you?”

2. SHOOT! You say this when something bad happens. It shows displeasure or disappointment.

3. FUDGE! Another exclamation. It works just like “Shoot!”

4. DARN! (instead of “damn”). Again, an exclamation of displeasure. Usage: “Darn!” “Darn it!” “Darn you!” “Darn that stupid cat!”

“Darn” can also be used as an adjective: “That darn cat!” “Give me the darn money, will you?” (Also pronounced or written as “dern” or “durn.”)

5. GOSH! (originally, a euphemism for God). “Gosh” usually shows that you’re surprised (”Gosh, you scared me!”), or that you’re impressed (”Gosh, you look good tonight!”). “Oh my Gosh!” shows surprise, or wonder.

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5 Writing Topics
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<>TEACHER NOTES: Let students choose from these for a 10- or 15-minute in-class “free-writting.” Or give the topics as homework. Or even, if you like, develop them into discussion activities.

1. If you could create a job, any job, what would it be? Use your imagination. The job title might be Lazy Person, Beer Drinker, Hedgehog-Trainer, etc. Say what you would do every day, why it would be a good job, and why you’d be good at it.

2. Write a “HELP WANTED” AD for an unusual, made-up job (just like in #1). In this Help Wanted ad, you are the employer seeking a skilled worker. Describe the job responsibilities and requirements and the working environment. Use the following as an example:

WANTED
LAZY PERSON
to work in obscure and superfluous government office

* Should enjoy reading magazines, painting nails, napping,
chatting on telephone.
* Experience in avoiding responsibility desirable
* Must have own easy chair or sofa
* No coffee drinkers, please.

Here’s a template you can copy for your students or
write on the board:

WANTED:

__________________

to work in __________________________

* Should __________________________________________

* Experience in __________________________________ desirable

* Must have ______________________________________

No __________________, please.

3. How are Americans and Russians (or people from your country) different? How do Americans dress? How do they look? How do they talk and act? How do they think differently from your countrymen? What are the positive and negative qualities about Americans? (Don’t be afraid to be honest).

4. Who’s the perfect wife or husband for you? What would (or does) s/he look like? What are his/her most important qualities? In what way is he or she totally different than everyone else on earth? Is it possible to never have an argument with this perfect spouse?

5. Have you ever fallen in love at first sight? Describe the situation. What happened? Or do you think love at first sight is absurd, something that can’t really happen. How many times is it possible to fall in love? Is there a
difference between “loving someone” and “being in love with someone”?

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Summer News About Our Personnel
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The Soros-sponsored SPELT program in Russia has come to a close. However, indefatigable program coordinator Yulia Markushina continues to run a variety of EL programs in Samara through the Volga Humanitarian Foundation.

Most of the Americans with the SPELT program will remain in Russia, as English Language Fellows.

Aaron “Volga” Carlson goes downriver, to Saratov. John Harrington, his family, and his cat Baton are Siberia-bound, to Tomsk. Erik Lundell and Joe
Podeszwa will both be operating in the Bashkir city of Ufa.

Kevin McCaughey has just returned to California after a week in Baku, Azerbaijan, where was alleged to be scouting out new regions for adventures in Teacher Training.

I.M. Poosheesty is temporarily in the north of California at a conference on travel writing. He hopes (rather absurdly) that glossy travel magazines will start
paying for his hotel rooms and his mini-bar bills.

“ETs in Russia” will continue to be published from our new base here in California.

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In the Next Issue @August 20, 2002
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Grammar Puzzle Brain Twister
More Writing Topics

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Copyright 2002 Kevin McCaughey & I.M. Poosheesty