Learning English - Lesson Fifty (Samuel Johnson)

July 20th, 2009 | by admin |

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]

  1. 25 Responses to “Learning English - Lesson Fifty (Samuel Johnson)”

  2. By pitentino on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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

  3. By Jorgeoleas on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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.

  4. By newcemsal on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

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

  5. By iyusyustian on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

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

  6. By jgoolala on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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!

  7. By gnamp on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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…

  8. By magicayro on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

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

  9. By andreigurgel on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

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

  10. By fahdegypt0000 on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

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

  11. By 19986272 on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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 ….

  12. By melonshop1969 on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    Thanks a lot mister …
    Thanks a lot mister Duncan.

  13. By gatsby31 on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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.

  14. By charliedary on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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!

  15. By jalisimo on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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

  16. By overseas404 on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

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

  17. By raubergaucho on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

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

  18. By gatsby31 on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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?

  19. By 73VK on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    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

  20. By victoriasense on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    Dear Duncan, It’s …
    Dear Duncan, It’s great lesson. I always appreciate your generous devotion. I love your lessons. I’m still poor in English but I will keep studying with your video. Thanks again. From Australia, Korean migrant

  21. By eajd2009 on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    Hi Mr Duncan, I’m …
    Hi Mr Duncan, I’m from Chile and I like too much your lessons they are very useful and funny. I’m watching the lesson 29, I’m grateful. Well I’ll continue watching the lesson.

    I love english. Bye bye for no

  22. By juliaochepo on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    go ! misterduncan ! …
    go ! misterduncan !
    regards from Chile !!!

  23. By samiaibr on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    so even it is not …
    so even it is not in septmber and the exactly month actually pased we use present.
    also present for the next year.
    only past if it was last year.

  24. By raphaelsaopaulofc on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    Hi Misterduncan,
    …
    Hi Misterduncan,

    Much more than just help us to learn English, your videos give to all of us the opportunity to learn and know about the United Kingdom’s history .

    Your attention, your quality, your interest in make it usefull and good worked is not mensurable. I have no words to thank you about all of your contribuition to many people around the world.

    I really appreciate your job and I want you to know that you have a large fan in Sao Paulo - Brazil

    You’re a great person. Thanks

  25. By duncaninchina on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    There is no need to …
    There is no need to always say exactly when an anniversary occurs. The 300th anniversary of his birth happens in 2009. Just as I could say that my 44th birthday will occur this year, without saying exactly when. Most of us only have one birthday per year. Technically it will be his birthday in September, even though he will not be here to celebrate it. Although I do not think there will be a birthday cake. How would we fit 300 candles on it?
    (Misterduncan)

  26. By samiaibr on Jul 20, 2009 | Reply

    isn’t should be it …
    isn’t should be it is 300 years passed for his birthday he is dead actually and u didn’t specify the day in this year so may be it was in january and we are in june so how could it be happens in present

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