Learning English - Lesson Fifty (Samuel Johnson)

August 142009

Posted in lesson |

In this special lesson we visit the City of Lichfield to take a look at its magnificent Cathedral and discuss the life of Samuel Johnson, the creator of the first definitive English Dictionary, who was born there 300 years ago.

Word definitions…

Valour - Courage….Bravery.

Tangible - Vivid / Realistic / Touchable

Definitive- Clearly explained and presented.

Disenchanted- Put off / Disillusioned

Usher- Teaching istant (No longer used).

Unified- Joined together.

Laborious- Slow work.

Lexicon- Dictionary/Word Reference.

Raconteur- A good-skilful storyteller.

Duration : 0:29:14


[youtube QmQAZZizxho]

25 Responses

  1. josealse Says:

    Dear Mr Duncan, …
    Dear Mr Duncan, methinks that these lesson is fantastic, like you, thanks from Gijón

  2. kql121 Says:

    Mr. Duncan, you are …
    Mr. Duncan, you are a perfect teacher!!
    i believe that you are the best English teacher in the world.

  3. TheWobdgyod Says:

    Great!!!
    Great!!!

  4. duncaninchina Says:

    Thank you for your …
    Thank you for your comment. All music beds used in my videos are licence free and are paid for by myself. I do give full acknowledgement at the end of this video for permission to film at the museum. If any third party is involved in the production of my video, they will be mentioned where and when necessary. This includes copyright issues.
    (Misterduncan)

  5. esutoks Says:

    Dear Mr. Duncan, …
    Dear Mr. Duncan, from a legal point of view I think you should mention the authors and performers of the background music in your videos. Your videos end with (C) mark, so you hope that others will respect your copyrights, but the others expect the same.

    Best wishes from Lithuania.

  6. madeforyour Says:

    grazie MIille…. …
    grazie MIille…. FOR YOUR LESSON

  7. vikapavl Says:

    That’s right, …
    That’s right, elevators make our life much easier. Thanks for the green grass! you can never observe such green grass in Italy, for example.

  8. pitentino Says:

    I love your videos …
    I love your videos very much, and now also Samuel Johnson ! But I’d like to see other videos of such great guys of England ! For example Shakespeare, or Chaucer, or Hogart the painter, or otherbodies I don’t know yet !
    From Italy,
    Pitentino

  9. Jorgeoleas Says:

    Im really happy for …
    Im really happy for I had seen this video. Id like to say that Mr Duncan has many skills for making videos as well as documentaries, congratulations from COLOMBIA. I know my english is not so good yet, but I hope, with your lessons, I will be better in the future, tanx for the lesson and for the gift you have given us on this one. FROM PROG METAL BAND: DARKEMPIRE.

  10. newcemsal Says:

    Congratulation MD! …
    Congratulation MD! Your videos are getting better and better! Great!

  11. iyusyustian Says:

    Bravo Mr. Duncan!! …
    Bravo Mr. Duncan!!
    Expect for more english lessons from you.
    Saying o from INDONESIA

  12. jgoolala Says:

    magnificent ! the …
    magnificent ! the film,the background of the music,and your introductions are flawless. could you please tell me the artist of the music? i am gonna get one. thanks for your teaching! a great teacher!

  13. gnamp Says:

    the central spire …
    the central spire is 77 meters tall. And it is flanked by two spires that are 58 meters- yet appear to be considerably taller than the central one. Perspective I guess…

  14. magicayro Says:

    You are AWESOME …
    You are AWESOME Misterduncan!!! By your new magician studant from Brazil and living in Miami. Thanks a lot!

  15. andreigurgel Says:

    Hei Misterducancan! …
    Hei Misterducancan! Do you have a Twitter account? Thank you very much!

  16. fahdegypt0000 Says:

    you helped us a lot …
    you helped us a lot mr duncan thanks from egypt

  17. 19986272 Says:

    Dear Mr. Duncan

    Dear Mr. Duncan
    there are so many similarities between you and Samuel Johnson … I am sure you can feel it too !!!

    Very good work and thank you as always ….

  18. melonshop1969 Says:

    Thanks a lot mister …
    Thanks a lot mister Duncan.

  19. gatsby31 Says:

    How do you do Mr …
    How do you do Mr Duncan? Please, answer my question. It’s important for my career and for my knowledge. I do not want to have arguements with you, just a little discussion. B.R. Me.

  20. charliedary Says:

    Good English …
    Good English History lesson Mr.Duncan!
    And with an anniversary you and your lessons! Lesson FIFTY!!!! Great job!!
    What do you do next ? Fifty one ? Yes?
    And maybe one hundred ? I hope so !
    And who knows, perchance once will reach to thousand! God Bless this dream!
    What can I say yet? With an anniversary!

  21. jalisimo Says:

    I’m realy thrilled …
    I’m realy thrilled and happy to watch all of your lessons. This episode shows me, that you have a great amount of talent and a huge respect for those who made things happens in times of sadness, depression and difficulties.
    Watching this documentation, is like gaining strength. Nothing is impossible!

    Thank you Misterduncan

  22. overseas404 Says:

    A lesson full of …
    A lesson full of culture, history, architecture…our old european continent is so surprising…thanks again yours faithfully GiosifromRome MMIX

  23. raubergaucho Says:

    AMAZING!!!
    I’m …

    AMAZING!!!
    I’m overwhelmed.
    Simply the best.

  24. gatsby31 Says:

    Good evening! Yes, …
    Good evening! Yes, great job! Didn’t know he was so special. In my Gimson’s Pronunciation of English, Samuel Johnson is named only once and between two others who also made dictionaries. In fact, the author says there were other dictionaries in the 17th century. I know they were not like Johnson’s. But why Arnold Edition does not give that importance to that man as it shoul be? Do you think it’s perhaps there were no important changes in Phonetics?

  25. 73VK Says:

    Dear Mr Duncan

    Dear Mr Duncan
    thank you for your wishes. I’ve just had the speaking part of the CPE exam here in Zurich and I am simply relieved at the moment. Hopefully it will be enough for a pass but if not I won’t give up and will try to improve my English and do the exam again in December.

    Thanks again for your videos, I’ve seen almost all of them.

    Looking forward to seeing your next lesson

    Best wishes

    Vlada

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