February 2021

Tax season is upon us. Most people pay 4 types of taxes that are listed on their paycheck Federal Tax (tax paid to the government) State tax (tax paid to the state you live in) Social Security Tax Medicare Tax Social Security and Medicare are associated with the federal government.   The most important fact is that American’s have to pay federal and state taxes every year. When you get a job, you fill out (complete) a W-4 tax form. It asks you certain questions. Based on the questions, the state and federal governments withhold (hold) money from your paycheck every time you get paid. The withholdings (the money) go to the state and federal government. You are paying taxes from your paycheck each week or biweekly so that you don’t have to pay the government a large amount at the end of the year. If you are self-employed, you have to pay your taxes quarterly (4 times a year).   Federal tax rates are based on income. The federal government has tax brackets; categories of tax percentage based on income. Often, the higher the income, the more tax a person pays. State taxes is typically a certain percentage for all people   In the U.S., American’s must file their taxes by April 15th. For the tax year 2020; January 1, 2020-December 31, 2020, American’s have until April 15, 2021, to file their taxes with the federal government and their state government.   To file your taxes means completing a 1040 form and mail it to the federal government.   American’s often use the verb “do” when they talk about their taxes. For example, I need to do my taxes. That means gathering their W-2 (a statement employers give employees to show home much they were paid and how many…

When we talk about age. We use the verb “to be”. I am 30. He is 19. She is 25. We are 42. They are 51.   Young: Having lived a short time Examples: I am young. He is young. She is young. We are young. They are young.   Old: Having lived many years Examples: I am old. He is old. She is old. We are old. They are old. It is old. Saying that someone is old. Or, calling (telling) someone their old, can be a perceived as rude.   “middle-aged”: A person who is around 50 years old. Could be used for someone 45-55 years old. Examples: He is a middle-aged man. The tour was full of middle-aged people.   If you are talking about the approximate age of a person, people say… A person’s name is in her/his 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, etc. Examples: Mike is in his 20s. She is in her 30s. He looks like he is in his early-40s. They are in their mid-50s. He is in his late-60s.  

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday! The Super Bowl is the annual championship game for the NFL (National Football League). The game is played on the first Sunday in February. The game typically starts around 6:30 pm.   The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched things on TV. People love to watch the football game. Also, people like the halftime show. Many people watch the Super Bowl just for the halftime show. Lastly, people love to watch the commercials (advertisements) that are shown during the Super Bowl. The commercials can be heartful or funny and they are always talked about the next day.   People have Super Bowl parties! People gather at someone’s home where they all watch the Super Bowl. There are typical foods that are often served at Super Bowl parties, they are… buffalo wings chicken wings sandwiches sliders (mini sandwiches) chips and dip nachos pizza, potato skins party sub (a sandwich that could be 3-5 foot long or more)