Juane Odendaal: Slang and Cultural Expressions

Approx. time Expression Explanation
0:31 a lot on the ball many abilities (here, a double meaning because she is also a player who uses soccer balls)
0:46 GPA grade point average (calculated from 0-4, where grades have the following values: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, E=0)
0:53 consecutive D-II championship Division II championship in a row
1:27 nationals national championships
1:30 mingle mix with other people
1:33 surreal seeming bizarre, strange, dreamlike
1:54 behind the scenes not seen, going on away from public view
2:19 on the road traveling, not playing home games
2:22 proctored officially monitored to insure fairness
2:43 therapeutic recreation sports or other physical activities that are designed to increase physical and mental alertness and sense of belonging in the active community
3:06 spinal cord injury... damage to the nerves along the backbone
3:08 ...special needs a general expression referring to people with mental or physical conditions that could include Down Syndrome, spina bifida, polio, cerebral palsy, emotional handicaps, etc.
3:30 on top of that in addition to that
4:04 London, ONT http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London,_Ontario
4:49 Afrikaans language of white South Africans that derives from Dutch
6:10 haughty arrogant, acting superior
6:35 igloos ice houses built by native tribes in northern Canada
7:10 vow for speak for, pledge for
7:52 camaraderie friendship, spending time together
8:17 in the same boat in the same situation
9:48 spa treatment relaxing self-care (which might include massages, hot tubs, etc.)
10:06 secluded isolated, separated from other people or activity
10:22 have a say be allowed to give input, offer suggestions
11:09 take a step back pause to reflect and examine
11:27 hands down without a doubt, no question

Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.