Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language each week. Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created by Robert L. May in 1939 for the retail store Montgomery Ward. The retailer had been buying and giving away booklets for Christmas every year, and it was decided that creating their own book would save money. The story follows Rudolph, a young reindeer that is a little different, so he is bullied at school and not allowed to play the reindeer games, but when it is too foggy to see on Christmas Eve, Santa asks Rudolph to save Christmas by lighting the way in the night sky. Santa is able to deliver the presents, and Rudolph becomes a hero.
May’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, adapted the story of Rudolph into a song. Gene Autry’s recording of the song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart the week of Christmas 1949.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the beloved television program of the same name. Taking the story from the song, Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass expanded the story. This re-telling chronicles Rudolph’s social rejection among his peers and his decision to run away from home. Rudolph is accompanied by a similarly outcast elf named Hermey, who skipped elf practice to become a dentist, along with a loud, boisterous, eager prospector named Yukon Cornelius, who was in search of wealth.
Listening Tip
Language Level – B1
Sing along with the song while watching scenes from the classic television program.
Grammar Tip
Language Level – B2/C1
Learning English as a Second Language (ESL) involves more than just understanding vocabulary and basic grammar rules. To become truly proficient, one must grasp the intricacies and subtleties that native speakers use daily without even thinking about them. Among these are the concepts of ellipsis and substitution, two vital elements of cohesive and coherent communication.
Ellipsis, in grammar, refers to the omission of a word or words that are understood in the context but not necessary for clarity. It is used in both spoken and written English to avoid repetition and make sentences shorter and more efficient.
Example: “She can play the piano, and he can [play the piano], too.”
The phrase “play the piano” is understood without being repeated because it was mentioned earlier in the sentence.
Three types
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Nominal Ellipsis: Omitting a noun that has already been mentioned.
- Example: “Do you have any apples?” “Yes, I have some [apples].” The word “apples” is omitted in the response because it is clear from the context what is being referred to.
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Verbal Ellipsis: Omitting verbs that are understood from the previous context.
- Example: “I will go to the market, and she will [go to the market], too.” Here, “go to the market” is understood and thus omitted in the second clause.
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Clausal Ellipsis: A whole clause is omitted, and the meaning is clear from the context.
- Example: “Will you come to the party?” “I might [come to the party].” The entire clause is understood and thus omitted in the response.
Substitution involves replacing a word or group of words with another word to avoid repetition and make sentences smoother.
- Example: “I need a pen. Do you have one [pen]?” Here, “one” substitutes for “pen,” making the communication clearer and more concise.
Let’s Practice!
Write sentences using ellipsis and substitution for understanding.
Example: When do you and your mother have dinner (too)
My mother has dinner at 7:00 pm and I do too.
- What eats grass? (too)
- What do you and your best friend have in common? (too)
- What have you and your coworker never experienced? (neither)
- What do a cat and dog hate? (so)
- What do a lazy worker and a careless one never do? (either)
Vocabulary Tip
Language Level – B2
We continue to add to our vocabulary words from the Oxford 3000.
A list of 3000 words someone should know if they are taking the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) language tests.
- Extent (v)
- External (adj)
- Extraordinary (adj)
- Extreme (n)
- Facility (n)
- Failure (n)
- Faith (n)
- Fault (n)
- Favor (v)
- Feather (n)
Use this quizlet to study this vocabulary (it’s free!)
Each week new words are added to the same quizlet, so all of the B2 level words will be in one list for practice.
Writing Tip
Language Level – B1/B2
Write your own Christmas story inspired by your childhood memories.
Reading Tip
Language Level – B2/C1
Read about the author of the story, Robert L. May and the challenges he faced, which inspired the storyline and the character of Rudolph.
https://time.com/5479322/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-history-origins/
Weekly Challenge
Language Level – B2/C1
Find the 10 errors I created in the famous Christmas poem below:
‘Twas the night before Christmas
By Clement C. Moore
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the horse Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings was hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums dancing in their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn their arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to sea what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tored open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects bellow,
When, what to my wondering eyes do appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quickly,
I knew in the moment it must be St. Nick.
Finishing reading the poem here: https://www.twasthenightbeforechristmas.com/the-poem/
Questions?
