This week in Books ‘n Beer, we read Wit, a serious and surprisingly funny play by Margaret Edson. 🎭 Here is a quick Wit play summary, just as an FYI. 🍺 The play first appeared on stage in 1995, and it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1999. 🏆
Vivian Bearing is a strict, brilliant English professor. 📚 She is an expert on the poems of John Donne, and she loves clever words more than anything. One day, her doctor tells her she has stage four ovarian cancer. 😔 Because she wants to help science, she agrees to try a strong experimental treatment.
Vivian talks directly to the audience throughout the play. 🎤 As a result, we hear her real thoughts, her jokes, and her fears. She stays sharp and proud, even when she feels very sick.
The Big Idea Behind the Wit Play 💡
In the play, “wit” means clever, funny intelligence. 🧠 However, Vivian slowly learns that being smart is not enough. The doctors treat her like a research subject, so she feels alone. Meanwhile, small acts of kindness, like a shared snack or a kind word from a nurse, mean more to her than big ideas. 🍭
Near the end, her old teacher visits and comforts her in a quiet, beautiful scene. 🌙 Therefore, many readers cry, but many also feel hopeful. (Spoiler alert! ⚠️)
Should You Read It? 📖
Honestly, it is a hard read. The play uses old poetry, wordplay, and medical words, and the topic is heavy. For this reason, I would say it is best for advanced readers. 🎧 Still, the 2001 film with Emma Thompson is easier to follow, because you can see the tone and the faces. 🎬 Overall, it is a powerful story that stays with you. 🕊️
Sense and Sensibility: A Jane Austen Masterpiece: again! 🔥
The Sense and Sensibility 2026 movie is a new romantic drama based on Jane Austen’s famous 1811 novel. 📖 It opens in U.S. theaters today October 16, 2026. 🎟️
What Is the Sense and Sensibility 2026 Movie About? 💌
The story follows two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. 👭 After their father dies, the family faces problems with money, love, and home. 💸🏡 Elinor tries to make careful decisions. 🧠 Marianne, however, follows her emotions. ❤️🔥 As a result, the sisters see love and life very differently.
Who Stars in the Sense and Sensibility 2026 Movie?⭐
Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Elinor, and Esmé Creed-Miles plays Marianne. 🎭 Georgia Oakley directed the film. 🎥 Also, this is a fresh version of the story. It is not the famous 1995 film starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. 🏆
“Only in Theaters October 16”: What Does It Mean? 🤔
Learn this phrase for your English practice. 🗣️ The advertisement says, “Only in Theaters October 16.” This means the movie opens exclusively in cinemas on that date. 🍿 It does not mean the film plays for only one day! 😄 In other words, you can watch it in theaters starting October 16, and it stays for several weeks. (Depending on your country of course!)
Why Watch Jane Austen Movies to Learn English? 🇬🇧
First, Austen’s characters use polite, clever language. 🎩 Next, the story gives you a great chance to learn words about money, family, and feelings. 💬 Also, you can compare this new movie with the 1995 version. For example, which sister do you understand better, Elinor or Marianne? 🌹
Here is a simple practice plan. 📝 Watch the trailer first, and write down three new words. Then see the movie (with subtitles!😉), and notice how the sisters talk about money and love. Finally, tell a friend or your teacher which sister you like best, and explain why. 🎬
Why Karaoke Fans Love It: Learn English with “That’s Amore”
You can learn English with “That’s Amore,” one of the most famous songs of the 1950s. 🎶 Dean Martin released it in 1953. 🎩 Harry Warren and Jack Brooks wrote it for the film The Caddy, and it earned an Academy Award nomination. 🏅 Today, it is still Dean Martin’s signature song. ⭐
Why “That’s Amore” Is Famous Worldwide 🌐🗺️
People around the world know it as a classic of the Great American Songbook. 📖 It captures Italian-American romantic charm perfectly. 🇮🇹💕 Decades later, listeners still stream it every year, and it remains a favorite on nostalgia, classic crooner, and wedding playlists everywhere. 💍🥂
Singing Competitions 🏆🎙️
Contestants on American Idol, The Voice, and America’s Got Talent often pick it for themed nights, such as “Movie Night,” “1950s Night,” or “Crooner Night.” 🎬🕺 They choose it to show off stage presence and comedic charm, not just a big voice. 😄✨
Why Karaoke Fans Love It 🎤🎉
First, the song needs very little vocal range. 🎵 Singers rely on charisma, rhythm, and fun energy instead. 💃 As a result, the whole room sways and sings along to the famous pizza-pie chorus. 🍕👯
Also, the playful food words and simple rhythm make it a great choice for learners. 🍝📚 Because of this, many non-native speakers choose it for group performances. 🌎👏
“That’s Amore” in Movies and TV 📺🍿
Filmmakers use this song to set a romantic or Italian-themed scene. 🌹🍷 Most famously, it opens the Oscar-winning film Moonstruck (1987). 🌕🏆 It has also appeared in Friends, The Simpsons, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, King of the Hill, and The Garfield Movie. 🎬😂
Learn English with “That’s Amore” 🗣️🇺🇸
So, how can you use this song in your English practice? 🤔 Listen once, then sing along with the words. 🎧🎤 Next, look up any new vocabulary. 📝🔍 By the end of the week, you will know the whole chorus. 💪🎉
CEFR and standardized English test limitations are real, and one of my best students proves it.
Every new student of mine takes the Preply CEFR test. I want a baseline, and a score gives us a starting point. Still, CEFR test limitations are real, and a number never tells the whole story. 📝
A2 on Paper, Excellent in Real Life
One of my best students at comprehension last tested at A2, as far as we know. He does not like tests, and he does not care about them. Yet he understands English very well. Why? He listens to tone, feels the vibe, and reads body language. A test cannot measure those skills, but real conversations use them all the time. 👀This is real English!
Why I Still Use the CEFR Test Despite Its Limitations
I give the CEFR test to every new student. For example, it shows me where to start, and it gives us something to measure later. In other words, the test is a map, not the whole journey. 🗺️
CEFR Test Limitations: When Testing Becomes a Trap
However, I believe that focusing only on tests can limit students. It might even slow down their learning of slang, tone, pace, and everyday culture. Many students tell me they use the same phrases at work every day, so adding new phrases feels hard. When the goal is a score, students often study what the test asks for and skip what real people say. 😬
A Better Way
So, what should students do? Use the test as a starting point, then listen to real English. Watch movies, chat with native speakers, and notice how people sound, not only what they say. Also, keep a list of new phrases and try one each week. 🎧
Final Thought
Levels are useful, but they are not everything. After all, the goal is not a letter and a number. The goal is to understand people and to be understood. 🙌
This week in Books ‘n Beer, we discussed Glengarry Glen Ross, both the play and the 1992 movie. Honestly, it is fantastic! I give it five out of five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and two thumbs up! 👍👍
What Is Glengarry Glen Ross About?
David Mamet wrote Glengarry Glen Ross in 1983. The play follows four real estate salesmen in Chicago who work for a company called Premier Properties. They sell land, and they live on commission. In other words, if they do not sell, they do not get paid. 💸
Next, the company gives them “leads,” which are names and phone numbers of possible buyers. The best leads are called Glengarry leads. However, only the top salesman gets them. 🏆
The Setting and the Story
The story takes place over two days in two locations: a Chinese restaurant 🥡 and the office 🏢. The men are desperate. Because of this, they lie, they cheat, and they plot against each other. 😰
Overall, the play is about competition, betrayal, and what men will do to survive. It is brutal, it is funny, and it is uncomfortable. Above all, it makes you think about what people do when their backs are against the wall. 🔥
Why People Get This Play Wrong
Perhaps the most interesting thing I found was how often people make errors when they summarize and analyze this play and movie. For example, they get confused about what IS in the play and the movie. Also, they get confused about what is NOT in them.
Moreover, people LOVE to criticize the famous (movie) scene with Alec Baldwin as Blake (below). Unfortunately, they judge it without context, and their assumptions are way off. This makes me laugh, and sometimes it annoys me. 😄
Final Verdict
Either way, Glengarry Glen Ross is a big winner. Plus, it is a great way to study the deeper meanings and nuances of spoken English. 🗣️ Also, I love anything that is both a serious drama and a comedy, and this story is both! 🎭
Notice that I ran AI analyses on ‘The Play’, ‘The Movie’ and ‘The Differences’ (Differences between the play and the movie.)
The most famous scene in the movie is NOT in the play. It was added to the movie by the playwright himself, David Mamet!:
These common idioms fit the Hunger Games story perfectly. Learn them, and you will sound more natural in English! 🗣️
1. Against all odds 🎲 Meaning: Succeeding when it seems almost impossible. Example: Against all odds, Katniss survived.
2. Beat the odds 🏆 Meaning: Do better than people expect. Example: Nobody thought she would win, but she beat the odds.
3. Fight tooth and nail 🦷 Meaning: Fight very hard, with everything you have. Example: The players fought tooth and nail to stay alive.
4. Dog-eat-dog 🐕 Meaning: A situation where people are very competitive and only care about themselves. Example: The arena is a dog-eat-dog world.
5. Survival of the fittest 💪 Meaning: Only the strongest or smartest people survive. Example: In the Games, it’s survival of the fittest.
6. Lay low 🌲 Meaning: Stay hidden and avoid attention. Example: Sometimes the best plan is to lay low.
7. A page-turner 📖 Meaning: A book so exciting that you keep reading. Example:The Hunger Games is a real page-turner.
8. On the edge of your seat 😱 Meaning: Very excited or nervous about what will happen next. Example: I was on the edge of my seat during the final chapters.
It’s October in the USA so its Halloween season! One of my all time favorite horror books is the 1959 classic, ‘The Haunting of Hill House.’ (The Netflix series is inspired by the book and also quite different) Shirley Jackson’s classic ghost story follows Eleanor, a lonely and shy young woman who joins a paranormal experiment at the strange, creepy Hill House. 🕸️ A doctor invites a few guests to spend the summer there and study its dark reputation. But the house seems to watch them, and it seems to want Eleanor most of all. 😱
🦇 It’s a masterpiece of quiet, creeping horror. Read it with the lights on! 💡🎃 It inspired Stephen King and it’s considered an extremely influential work.
What I love MOST about it is: THIS ‘haunting’ is REAL… Buwahahahaha!
One of my ESL students read it last year and really enjoyed it. CEFR LEVEL: B2/C1. Audio time: about 6 hours.
🍂IT’S READING SEASON! It’s getting to be that time of year! The weather is getting cooler and more crisp. Autumn/Fall is on its way! So, find a comfortable chair and maybe a nice fireplace. Grab your favorite ‘comfort clothing’ (a pullover?) ‘comfort drink’ (Latte or a Coffee?) and a favorite book, The HUNGER GAMES? 🏹😉
Okay, so this week’s story started as a play. Edward Albee wrote it in 1962. It was a big deal on Broadway in the USA. Shocking. Raw. People didn’t know what to do with it. Then in 1966, they made it into a movie. Same story. Same brutality. But now you could see their faces up close. 🎭🎬
The story is simple. George and Martha are married. They hate each other. They love each other. It’s messy. They come home from a party at 2 AM and invite a young couple over. Nick and Honey. They have no idea what they’re walking into.
The whole night is one long fight. Screaming. Insults. Mind games. Drinking. Lots of drinking. It’s brutal. It’s funny too in between all the crazy bullshit. It’s uncomfortable. You can’t look away.
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were married in real life. And their real marriage was rumored to be almost or just as crazy. So when they fight on screen, it doesn’t feel like acting. It feels real. Taylor gained weight and made herself look old. She destroyed her glamorous image. Burton is quiet and scary. He waits. He strikes. They’re both incredible.
The movie is about a lot of things. Lies. Games. The fear of being empty. George and Martha have a secret. An imaginary son. By the end of the night, George kills him. It’s the most loving thing he’s ever done. And the most cruel.
It’s not a happy movie. It’s kinda not a sad movie in some ways. It’s just… honest. And that’s what makes it a masterpiece. 🎬💔 Hard to watch but totally crazy and totally worth the watch!
In classes, I sometimes use accents to help students practice listening to different people from around the world. I do it with respect, NOT to make fun of people! It is good learning and also fun. I have several accents that I have learned over the years: British, Spanish, German, Italian, Indian, Russian, French, and a few others. And, of course, many American accents: Southern/Texas, Midwestern/Ohio, Northeast/Boston/New York, and California/West Coast.
One accent I struggle with is Brazilian. I don’t know why. I have three Brazilian students right now and have taught Brazilians over the years. So, I’m asking one of my Brazilian students to help me develop it. 🙂 At first, I thought this was kind of unfair. I mean, after all, HE is paying ME to teach him English. But my student pointed out that working on it together is actually helpful to him too. It helps him because he’s learning what NOT to say — and it makes him pay closer attention to what he’s actually saying.
In the end, I think it will be a win-win: I get a little closer to nailing a tricky accent, and he gets a sharper ear for his own English! 🇧🇷🗣️✨
A student and I are watching and analyzing the English and cultural references in, ‘Treehouse of Horror VII’!
It’s almost October and Halloween is just around the corner in the USA! A student and I are watching a famous Simpson’s episode. Halloween season means one thing in the Simpsons universe: it’s time for “Treehouse of Horror”! (Simpsons Halloween episodes are called, ‘Treehouse of Horror) And Episode 7 (from 1996) is one of the wildest, weirdest entries in the whole series. 👽 It is a personal favorite!
The episode kicks off with a hilarious framing device — Bart and Lisa are fighting over who gets to open the treehouse door and start the show, so we actually get TWO competing openings before the real fun begins! 😂🚪
Then comes three spooky, silly segments: 🍬
🐣 “The Thing and I” — Homer and Marge have a secret: Bart has an evil twin hidden in the attic! It’s part creepy, part hilarious family chaos. 🏚️
🌍 “The Genesis Tub” — Lisa accidentally creates an entire tiny civilization in a soda bottle using tooth decay and static electricity (classic Simpsons science! 🧪✨). The tiny people even build a Lisa-worshipping society — until Bart gets involved and things go hilariously wrong. 👑🔬
🗳️ “Citizen Kang” — Probably the most famous segment of the whole franchise! Aliens Kang and Kodos kidnap and impersonate the two U.S. presidential candidates, running for office in disguise. It’s a sharp, funny jab at politics that still gets quoted every election season. 👽🎤🇺🇸
This episode is peak Halloween Simpsons: weird, funny, a little dark, and packed with quotable moments. Perfect spooky season binge material! 🍂🦴🧡 Check it out for laughs and uh, yeah: for learning some ENGLISH!
A lost and great old song by Sheldon Allman. ‘Big Brother Is Watching You. Just a cool tune that is more important now than EVER.
This song is a reference to the book 1984 from the lyrics “big brother is watching you” to “unless you can double think” and “remember they work both ways” in reference to the T.V. It’s a song about the government keeping constant tabs on the people, like in the book. At the time of release of this song in 1960, because the album was called “Folk Songs for the 21st Century” he could have been trying to predict the future.
Be careful of what you say Be careful in every way Be careful of what you do Big brother is watching you
Be circumspect and discrete Stay light on your mental feet One slip and you know you’re through
Big brother is watching you Conform with all directives Remember obedience pays And when you watch that TV screen Remember it works both ways You’ll disappear in a wink Unless you can double think You’ll vanish into the blue
Big brother is watching you
Big brother is watching you
Big brother is watching you
Conform with all directives Remember obedience pays And when you watch that TV screen Remember it works both ways You’ll disappear in a wink Unless you can double think You’ll vanish into the blue Big brother is watching you
Big brother is watching you Big brother is watching you Big brother is watching you
A reading and racing comparison: ‘Ford Vs. Ferrari’ 2019 🎬
How fast should you go when reading something? THAT is a good question. The answer is, you should read as fast as you can while still understanding what you are reading. So, how do you know exactly how fast is best for YOU? 🤔
Let’s take a look at a clip from the 2019 movie, ‘Ford Vs. Ferrari.’ 🏁 In this clip, racer Ken Miles is teaching his son Peter how to drive a ‘perfect lap’. That means going fast. But! : Ken explains that you don’t want to go SO fast that you wear the car out, blow the engine or fly off the track! 💥 You want to drive ‘perfectly,’ but also, “You have to be kind to the car.” ❤️🏎️
Now let’s take a closer look at the racing in Ford Vs Ferrari scene. Let’s do the analogy:
The CAR🏎️ = YOUR brain. 🧠
The race track🛣️ = the book you are reading. 📖
One time around the race track 🔄 = one chapter in your book.
So, let’s say you are reading a book with 27 chapters like, ‘The Hunger Games’. 🏹 That means your brain (race car🏎️) has to get around the race track (book) 27 times! 🔁 That means: -You have to drive around the track/chapter fast, but not so fast that you fly off the track (lose your understanding). 🚧 -You have to drive around the track/chapter fast, but don’t blow your engine/brain by working too hard and getting too tired. Then you lose motivation and don’t finish. You burn out and blow your engine! 🤯🧠🔧
So what’s the finish line here? 🏁 It’s not about setting a lap record on chapter one and collapsing by chapter five. It’s about finding YOUR perfect racing speed — fast enough to stay engaged and make progress, slow enough that your engine (brain 🧠) is understanding, and still running strong 27 laps later. Some readers are built for speed. Some need a steadier pace to keep control on every turn. Both can cross the finish line. 🏆
Like Ken told his son: you have to be kind to the car. Be kind to your brain, too. Find your pace, trust it, and drive all the way to the last page. 🏎️📚💨
“You have to be kind to the car. (🏎️😉🧠) If you’re going to push a piece of machinery to the limit, and expect it to hold together, you have to have some sense of where that limit is.” — Ken Miles (Ford Vs Ferrari)
THEN: Once you know YOUR correct speed that allows YOU to UNDERSTAND what you are reading and won’t make you burn out, you do THIS!:
The Hunger Games is rated B2 on the CEFR scale. This means it is suitable for upper-intermediate English learners. Here is why.
1. 📚 VOCABULARY
The book uses everyday language for most of the story. Words like “hunger,” “survive,” “district,” and “tribute” are repeated often, which helps learners remember them.
However, the book also uses some difficult words that are not common in daily conversation:
tesserae – extra food for extra name entries
cornucopia – a giant golden horn
muttation – a genetically altered animal
sustenance – food and nourishment
apothecary – a person who makes medicine
These words appear often enough that learners can understand them from context, but they still need a dictionary sometimes. This mix of easy and difficult words is typical of B2.
2. 📝 SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Most sentences are short and direct. Suzanne Collins writes in a clear, fast style. For example:
“I volunteer!” I gasp. “I volunteer as tribute!”
This is easy to understand. But sometimes the sentences become longer and more complex, especially when Katniss describes her feelings or memories:
“The moment I hear Prim’s name, everything inside me freezes. The world stops. I cannot move. I cannot breathe. Then something breaks inside me, and I am running, pushing through the crowd, shouting her name.”
These longer sentences require B2-level reading skills.
3. 🧠 THEMES AND IDEAS
The book deals with serious and complex themes:
Poverty and inequality – the Districts starve while the Capitol is rich
Violence and death – children killing children
Rebellion and resistance – the mockingjay, the three-finger salute
Performance and image – Katniss must pretend to be in love to survive
Trust and betrayal – can Katniss trust Peeta?
These themes require critical thinking and emotional maturity. A B1 reader might understand the plot but miss the deeper meanings. A B2 reader can understand both the story and the ideas behind it.
4. 📖 LENGTH AND PACE
The book is 374 pages long. It has 27 chapters and is divided into three parts. The plot moves quickly, with short chapters and cliffhangers at the end of many chapters. This keeps readers motivated.
But the length means learners must have stamina to finish. A B1 reader might get tired. A B2 reader can handle longer texts.
5. 🎭 NARRATIVE STYLE
The book is told in first person by Katniss. This means the reader sees everything through her eyes. Her voice is direct, honest, and emotional. She does not explain everything—she assumes the reader understands.
For example, she says:
“I take tesserae. It’s not something I’m proud of.”
She does not explain what tesserae is. She assumes you understand from context. This is a B2 skill: reading between the lines.
6. 🌍 CULTURAL REFERENCES
The book includes references to:
Ancient Rome – the Capitol, the Games, “Panem et Circenses”
Reality television – the Games are filmed and watched
Greek mythology – the story of Theseus and the Minotaur
These references add depth. A B1 reader might miss them. A B2 reader can recognize and understand them.
7. ✍️ WHY NOT B1?
The book is not B1 because:
The vocabulary is too rich
The themes are too complex
The sentences are sometimes too long
The cultural references are too specific
The emotional depth requires maturity
A B1 reader could read the book with help (a dictionary, a teacher, a study guide). But a B2 reader can read it independently and understand most of it.
8. ✍️ WHY NOT C1?
The book is not C1 because:
The language is mostly conversational, not academic
The vocabulary is not highly specialized
The sentences are not extremely complex
The ideas are accessible to most adult readers
C1 books are usually literary fiction or academic texts with dense language and abstract ideas. The Hunger Games is popular fiction—it is designed to be read quickly and enjoyed.
📊 SUMMARY TABLE
Feature
Why It Is B2
Vocabulary
Mix of easy words and some difficult words
Sentences
Mostly short, sometimes long and complex
Themes
Serious and complex (poverty, violence, rebellion)
Length
374 pages—requires stamina
Narrative
First person, assumes reader understands context
References
Roman history, Greek myth, reality TV
Why Not B1
Too rich, too deep, too long for B1
Why Not C1
Too conversational, too accessible for C1
🎯 CONCLUSION
The Hunger Games is B2 because it challenges learners without overwhelming them. It uses everyday language but also introduces new words. It tells a fast, exciting story but also explores serious ideas. It is the perfect book for a learner who is ready to move from simple stories to real literature.
We read and watched an old school play this week, ‘A Long Days Journey Into Night. I absolutely loved it! It is extremely rare for me, but I knew this one was a 5/5 star when I was only half finished! It is an amazing one day journey into human relationships, behavior and emotions. And, when you throw substance addictions in there, its fascinating to consider the influences on the four family members.
The very latest version of the story opened up on September 25, 2026 and stars Jessica Lange and Ed Harris! (See Trailer below.)
Long Day’s Journey into Night is a play by Eugene O’Neill. It was written in 1941 but published in 1956. It is set in a summer home in Connecticut USA in August 1912. The play follows one long, painful day with the Tyrone family. James, the father, is a famous but stingy actor who gave up his artistic dreams for money. Mary, the mother, is addicted to morphine and cannot face the truth about her son’s illness. Jamie, the older son, is a cynical alcoholic who loves his brother but also wants to hurt him. And finally there is Edmund, the younger son. He is sick with tuberculosis and is the most sensitive member of the family.
Over the course of this single day, the family argues, confesses secrets, and reveals how much they love and hate each other, showing how the past never really goes away. The play is famous for being honest, sad, and autobiographical—O’Neill based it on his own family and did not allow it to be published until 25 years after his death.
🎭 Long Day’s Journey Into Night — Very Brief Facts
Writer: Eugene O’Neill
Written: 1941–42; published after his death in 1956.
Setting: Connecticut, during one day in August 1912.
Story: The Tyrone family struggles with addiction, illness, alcoholism, regret and family conflict.
Autobiographical: The family is closely based on O’Neill’s own family.
Award: Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
🎬 NEW FILM — JUST OPENED
U.S. opening: September 25, 2026 — limited theatrical release.
Jessica Lange: Mary Tyrone
Ed Harris: James Tyrone
Ben Foster: Jamie
Colin Morgan: Edmund
Director: Jonathan Kent
Lange previously won a Tony Award for playing Mary on Broadway in 2016.
Where to see it now: Select U.S. movie theaters. In Los Angeles, it is currently playing at the Lumiere Cinema.
Streaming: No U.S. streaming release has been announced yet.
There are SO many versions of this amazing play over the decades. My favorite is the Katharine Hepburn movie, 1962.
