Bon Voyage!

Haiiiiiiiiiii!!!! khadna el visa. Yala ba'a nitlikhim fee el matar shwyia: ' ME PLANE GO NEW YORK WHERE?...mana 3arfakom...fakreen in kol el donya ha tifham el English el mekasar da beta3na...NOOOO...mish kol el donya tifham gomlah zay ili maktouba dee.
Ghaliban targamat el gomlah dee tekoun haga keda: Can you please tell me which gate number for flight 662 Egypt air to New York (or JFK the airport there)? Or you can say, Where is the departure gate for flight 662 Egyptair to New York?

Catch a Flight: ya3nee eh 'catch a flight'? It's like saying in Arabic 'al'ha tayara....I have to catch a flight (or catch a bus, or catch a train). We use it especially when we are late...(lou inta mit'akhar 3ala ma3ad el tayara, you can say I have a flight to catch or I have to catch a flight.) Mafeesh wala I have to go on the plane, wala sit in the plane, wala get in the plane, wa kol el kalam el haqs beta3na da.

Eh aham gomlah when we are at any airport?

CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE IS.....?(for a place)
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO......? (do something)

Airports are really big wa dayman tayheen ahna gowahom, so we usually need to ask for some directions.
And many times we need to do things and we don't know how, so we ask people to help us.

Try this following exercise to improve your vocabulary: (the answers are at the end...mat ghe shoush!!)

Karin and Ken were going to Atlanta. They called the........ from Karin's house. Because the driver was late, they got a little bit worried. When they finally got to the.......... , Karin ran inside the........... . She and Ken were taking separate .............. Because she had gotten an............ , she didn't need to get a........... . Since she only had a.............. , she didn't need to check any........... . She got through the line at............... , and went directly to................ . She was just in time to catch her................. .

airport baggage boarding pass carry-on bag e-ticket flight flights shuttle terminal the gate the X-ray machine

These are practice links that you can try:
http://http://esl-lab.com/plane1/pln1.htm

http://http://esl-lab.com/plane1/plnfra.htm




ANSWERS:
1. shuttle
2. airport
3. terminal
4. flights
5. e-ticket
6. boarding pass
7. carry-on bag
8. baggage
9. the X-ray machine
10. the gate
11. flight

Other Vocabulary:

hostess (modefa)
Steward (modef)
crew (ta'am el tayara)
departure (waqt telu3 el tayara)
arrival (waqt nezoul el tayara)
destination (I don't know it in Arabic...el balad ili rayeha)
duty free shop or tax free shop (sou' el hora)
customs or tax (gamarek)
Nothing to delcare (mish gayba haga 3aleha gomrok)
runway (el makan el plane titla3 minu...highway lil cars wa runway lil planes)
waiting lounge or waiting area (el makan ili momken nistana fee had gai min el safar or tistana inta abl tayartak...hena we don't have a waiting lounge...3andina waiting shara3!! hasra 3alena!)
Declare (gayba haga 3aleha gomrok)

kefaya keda for today...c u later!!

VIVA la VISA AMERICAN!...PART II

PRACTICE/CONFIDENCE/PRACTICE/CONFIDENCE and more PRACTICE/CONFIDENCE/PRACTICE/CONFIDENCE

El siqa bil nafs wa timaran nafsak 3al interview are two things that will help you to obtain a visa. Hat khosh 3amel zay el far...insa el visa. Hat khos be alata wa manakheerak le fo'a...bardu insa el visa. Just try to look confident. Dress nicely, khaleek mibtisim shwyia (bas mish le daragat te koun ahbal, bas balash taksheera or al'an.)

Make a list of the possible questions, you might be asked. Write down your answers and then practice with a friend...howa ye'sal wa inta terod. And keep on practicing.

In Part I, I wrote some questions. Here are a few more:

Q: How can you assure me that you're coming back? (assure ya3nee guarantee...ya3nee at'akid ezay inak raga3 baladak)
A: Well, first of all I don't have enough money to live there; I'm just a student and still take an allowance from my parents (masrouf). I also want to finish my studies in my home country.
Also, my intention is tourism; I just want to travel and visit a new country. (hadafee).
(fee ray'ee ana, ana shayfa in momken hena el wahid ye'olohom, I like my country, all my family is here and all my friends are here. It's not my intention to leave Egypt. (mish hadafee aseeb Masr.)

(lil nas ili itkharagit, momken ye'adimu warak min el shoghl, bank account, or ownership of property in Egypt. Ama el tilmeez el 3adee ili lesa taht rahmat mom wa dad, ma3andush haga yenfa3 ka daleel inu ha yerga3...gheir kilmitu! bas kilmitak mish kefaya taba3an. So you have to really speak with confidence.
WA MAT NAVIRSH, WA TONFOKH, WA TEBAYAN "IRHAMUNEE BA'A." El sabr halw ya nas!).

Q: Who is going to sponsor your visit?
A: My parents. (oult ana el so'al da abl keda, but this is another way they might ask it. Lazem ta3raf kilmit sponsor or sponsorship. (Ya3nee meen ili hay dabis fee daf3 el rehla!!:) Baba taba3an!)

Q: Where will you be residing? (ha ta3od fein henak..ya3nee where will you be staying).
A: At my (uncle's, aunt's, cousin's....) house. He lives in..... (hena lazem tidee meen areebak da, saken in which State wa 3anwanu).
If you're not staying at relatives then you must state where...a hotel? a student hostel? (sakan tolab)...

Q: Why are you travelling alone? Why aren't your parents going with you?
A: It would be too expensive for all of us to travel.

Q: When do you plan to travel and how long are you planning to stay?
A: I hope to travel shortly after receiving my visa; during my summer holiday. And I'll be staying a month. University starts in September, so I have to be back in time to get ready for the next semester. (heta keda, ta'keed lil regou3).

Of course, these are just some questions that could be asked. Bas momken tit'si'il eya so'al fee el donya....inshala...eh rayak fee Bin Laden? or eh ray'ak fee el Americans? or even eh ray'ak fee el gaw el yomein dol?

It's an interview, so expect anything!

El qanoun beta3hom be oul:

Section 214(b) is part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It states:
Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status...

el kalam da ma3nitu in kol wahid gharib (alien, usdohom mish American) be ya3tarb mohager (immigrant) gheir lou aqna3 el consular officer in min ha'u (el mesafer) ya khod nonimmigrant visa.

If you are denied a visa (itrafad el visa) lek el haq tis'alhom leh. Wa leek el haq (You have the right) te'adim (to apply) again. But it will be more difficult than the first time. But if that happens, shouf itrafat leh wa hawel tisalah ba3d keda your language and your answers.

NOTE PLEASE:: THE ANSWERS I PUT ARE ONLY SUGGESTED ANSWERS!! MOGARAD IQTIRAHAT!! Maybe you have better answers than mine.

So, good luck! and don't forget to BE CONFIDENT AND PRACTICE!!

VIVA la VISA AMERICAN!...PART I

Summer time is visa time! eya 7ad 3andu forsa ye safer, hai safer. AKHHHHHH...dakhlna keda fee el visa interview. Taba3an since 9/11 (september 11) fee mashakel gamda inak takhod visa to the States. Wa gheir keda, delwaty be da'a'u 3al language. No English No Visa ya shater. So you really have to improve your English as much as possible abl el interview.

* Some Tips (nasayeh) for obtaining (getting) a visa:
1. Establish a motive and reason to show that you're coming back to Egypt. Awil sabab le rafd el visa in el gada3 el american ili 3al shobak da, hasis in ili udamu mish nawee yerga3 baladu.

2. Be specific and concise. El interview da mish film hindee...kol el hekaya is just a few minutes. Ya3nee inta 3andak just a few minutes inak tiqna3 el gada3 el american yedeek el visa. Mat tawilsh fee el kalam kiteer...ya3nee geeb min el akher.

3. Language. Surprise!! el interview mish hay koun bil 3arabee...takhayal? It's in English ya nas!!

4. Be honest. el nas dee mesahsaseen fa don't even THINK of saying something not true. They will see through your lie.

BASIC QUESTION AND SUGGESTED ANSWERS:

Q: Hi, how are you?
A: I'm fine, thank you.

Q: What do you do?
A: I'm a student at Cairo University. I'm in my third year and I'm majoring in Economics. (masalan ya3nee. Please note that 'what do you do' ma3nitha be tishtaghal eh. Malhash ma3na tanya gheir keda.)

Q: And why do you want to go to the States?
A: Tourism. I have relatives there and I'd like to visit them. (NOTE: khodo balkom in fee nas be oulu in ye koun ahsan mat oulish in 3andak arayeb henak wa fee nas betoul in ahsan te oul. De tirga3 lil no'ata el awalaneya inak lazem te waree inak nawee tirga3 le masr.) (of course fee nas tala business or for medical reasons...hasab inta wa awra'ak).

Q: How will you support yourself there?
A: My parents are paying for this trip.

Q: What do they work?
A: My father is the manager of an IT company. (masalan) ( te'oul el laqab wa fein). And my mother is a housewife. (sit beit).

Q: Do you have any siblings?
A: Yes, I have a brother and a sister. (siblings ya3nee ikhwat wa hat laee el kilma dee in application forms wa fee el kalam).

Q Are you travelling with a spouse?
A: No sir, I'm not married. (kilmit spouse ya3nee a wife or husband. Maktouba fee el application aktar min tit'al...but you must learn these two words, siblings and spouse.)
Lou inta fa3lan married and your spouse (ur wife) mish mesafra ma3ak, they will ask you how is she going to support herself while you're away. Lou has inak hat safer 3ashan tishtaghal wa tiba3tlaha money...insa el visa! You'll be denied the visa.

Q: Have you ever travelled before?
A: Yes. I've travelled to (place) in (year).

I'll try to give you more tips and advice...bas mish fadyalkom delwaty!:)

Soccer Frenzy, Soccer Mania, 'Genoun el kora'!!

Helloooooo....yes, yes..I'm a big football fan...I like the game and I'm following the World Cup games...fa mish fadyalkom!! Bas ma yimna3sh nidee shwayit vocab 3al football and some sports in general.

Ne shouf la3bit el kora 3obar 3an eh?

Well, first you have to have players that make up a team. (la3eba yakawinu ferka).
They play on a field (mal3ab). On the field there are two goals or goal posts and the goals consist of three bars (3awameed) and a net (shabaka). And the field is in the middle of the stadium (el stad).

Taba3an ma yinfa3sh teams min gheir fans (meshaga3een)...mal meen ha yishtim (curse) el referre (el hakem) wa el players??
Bas mish kol el fans lesanhom taweela. Fe fans hadyeen wa halween yeshaga3u ( cheer or root) el team beta3hom. (opa eh! opa ah! inshaAllah ha niksab...(eya kalam!! bas ma3 3alina).

I'm cheering for England....who are you cheering for?

Each team has 11 players including el marmar (goal keeper). Some teams are known for (ma3roufeen le...) their offense (hegoum) like Brazil. Other teams are more known for their defense (defa3) like Italy. (3ala a al kanu keda zaman).

The object of the game (el hadaf..mish hadaf be ma3na goal) is to score a goal (tigeeb goal). But you're not allowed to use your hands. You can only kick the ball (teshoot) or use your head. A goal with the head is called a header.

At the end of the match the referee blows his whistle (sofara). And the winner of the World Cup receives a trophy (el kas...we don't say receives a cup...mish fingal shay hena!)

The match has begun now...so I have to go...but you can get more vocabulary on these links:
Practice link:

http://http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/soccervoc.html

http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/soccer.html

I have 'Little' students in my class...kol wahid hawalee 6 cm!

Hi to all my 'little' students.....

Most students know that 'many' is for countable nouns...many students, many chairs, many tables, etc... and that 'much' is for non-countable nouns...much money, much water, much noise, etc....

Bas sometimes, they get confused with other quantative adjectives ba3d many and much.

Lou ana oult 'There are little students in the class' ma3nit'ha in hagmohom (their size) is actually small or little. 3ashan 'little' is used for non-countable nouns, mish countable nouns.

So, what do you say if you want to say that you don't have many students in the class? You would say: 'I have few students in the class' (ya3nee 3adad el nas olayela). Because 'few' is used for countable nouns.

Now, you have to know inhee kalimat lil countable wa inhee lil non-countable wa inhee li both, so you don't make a mistake like 'little students' ili te3tabar ghalta kibeeeeeeera!

Countable Nouns: many, few, a few, several (kaza), a number of

Non-Countable Nouns: much, little, a little, a great deal of

Both: some, lots of, a lot of, plenty of, (kiteer min), any, hardly any, enough, (kafee)

Note: Many and much are usually used for NEGATIVE sentences and/or questions:
Were there many people at the party?
I don't have much money. (3adatan man'oulsh...I have much money...ben'oul...I have a lot of money).

Practice link:

http://http://gocsm.net/sevas/esl/gramcheck/5-10.html

YEA! It's weekend slang time...my favorite part of the week! Let's break the routine with this pic first. What are you thinking while looking at this picture? Bas badal mat fakar..OUL...and make some comments on the picture, such as:

- We need this sign on every street in Cairo!
- That's heavy traffic??? Let them take a picture of downtown Cairo at 3:00 in the afternoon!
- Here in Cairo, we always NEVER get to work on time!
(note: always never is totaly incorrect grammatically..but this is weekend slang day!)

Yala...nideha shwyiat expressions?

1. He made his point crystal clear.
2. My neighbor does unusual things. I think he's really weird.
3. I'm really tired. It's time for me to hit the sack.
4. Hany's nickname is 'Honey'.
5. My wife always has the last word when we argue.
6. Wow! That girl is a real knockout!
7. Lots of girls think Brad Pitt is a real hunk!
8. Lots of people refer to Michael Jackson as 'Jacko Wacko".
9. Let's grab a bite before we go home.
10. She was swept off her feet by his strong personality and good looks.

ANSWERS

1. obvious or understood very well (zay wadih zay el shams)

2. strange; odd (7ad or 7aga ghareeba)

3. to go to sleep

4. ism el dala3

5. usually means the final decison

6. a very beautiful woman (saroukh ya3nee)

7. a very handsome man

8. crazy (ma...ma...ma...magnoun!)

9. get something to eat (grab = take wa bite= atmah)

10. to be very impressed nearly to the extent of falling in love (ithabalit 3aleh masalan)