The Benefits of Sports

Seven good reasons to start playing your favorite sport today!

Hitting a tennis ball, throwing a baseball or kicking a soccer ball bring hours of enjoyment. But did you know that participating in sports has lots of benefits, too?

The benefits include:

Greater confidence: Winning helps you feel a sense of accomplishment and feel good about yourself.

Becoming a good sport: 
Winning feels great, but losing teaches you how to deal with disappointments in life while still maintaining a positive attitude.

Improved math skills: 
Players use math skills as they calculate team scores, etc.

New friends: 
Playing on a team gives you the chance to meet people with the same interests.

Disease prevention : 
Playing sports helps prevent cancer, heart disease, depression and other diseases. Playing also helps to build healthy bones.

A healthy lifestyle: 
Kids who play sports are less likely to smoke or take drugs because of the negative effects on their performance.

Reduced stress:
Playing sports helps to reduce stress. Exercise releases a chemical ( endorphin ) in the brain that makes you feel happy and less anxious.

Whether playing competitive sports or just a social game, you should have fun. So get up and get active because there are lots of good reasons to go out and play!

Grammar Gym
"...losing teaches you how to deal with disappointments in life while still maintaining a positive attitude."
[Situation 1]+while still maintaining [Situation 2]
- Robert was able to compete in several tennis tournaments while still maintaining good grades in school.
- Miriam was able to attend classes during the day while still maintaining two jobs.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Sport, the Verb

Now that you know all the benefits of playing sports, there is one more thing we'd like to talk about when it comes to the word "sport".

And that is "sport", the verb. Hey Steve, have you see the funky hat people are sporting these days.

Uhh... hahaha... yeah Ken. It looks really cool. I'd love to sport one of those.

Ok friends, did you catch that? "You can sport a hat."

Now, even though it's basically used as a noun, "sport" can be a verb. To "sport" means to display or show off. So, if you are sporting that funky hat, like Ken is, you're wearing it so that everyone can see it.

Some men like to sport a mustache, goatee, or a beard because they think they look good with it.

Hmm... Maybe I'll grow a goatee and sport it.

I'd like to see that.

Language Lab
good sport
a good sport
[countable usually singular] also good sport old-fashioned a helpful cheerful person who lets you enjoy yourself be a sport (=used when asking someone to help you);
used with good, bad, etc., to say if someone has behaved politely or not after losing a game or contest;
informal + old-fashioned : someone who is kind or generous;
informal + old-fashioned — used as a friendly way to address someone (especially a man)
- No one wants to play with a person who isn't a good sport.
- George is always a good sport while playing basketball.

calculate v.
to find out how much something will cost, how long something will take etc, by using numbers
- We need to calculate the sum of our total costs before giving you our estimate.
calculation n.
/ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃən/
a process or result of calculating something [count]
- We did a rough calculation of the profit we can get from this deal.

prevention n.
when something bad is stopped from happening
- The research team is working on cancer prevention.
prevent v.
to stop (something) from happening or existing
prevent somebody/something (from) doing something
- Exercise can prevent cardiovascular diseases.

competitive adj.
of or relating to a situation in which people or groups are trying to win a contest or be more successful than others : relating to or involving competition
- Claire is a very competitive tennis player.
compete v.
to try to get or win something (such as a prize or reward) that someone else is also trying to win : to try to be better or more successful than someone or something else
- You have to work hard to excel in this competitive environment.

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Customer Troubles (2)

I have another example.

OK.

One of my customers always responds to a price quote by saying, "You'll have to do better than that!"

And you respond by lowering the price?

Right , but I always feel like I've lowered it too much.

That strategy is called "the vise." The best to handle it is to ask how much better you'll have to do. That way, you don't end up in the downward spiral of negotiating against yourself by offering lower prices than necessary.

I see. I also have a customer who always responds to my prices by claiming he doesn't have that much money.

Do you remember the game hot potato?

Sure. You have to pass the hot potato to someone else before time runs out, right?

Right. That's what your customer is trying to do to you. He's trying to manipulate you by passing his problems on you.

How can I prevent that?

Don't become hostile. Just pass one of your problems right back to the customer. Explain that you won't be able to complete the project for the money he's offering or that you need the money for your children's education.

That's great! Thanks, Uncle Bob.

Glad to help, Ben.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Are You Cheap or Frugal?

Cheap people and frugal people have one thing in common. They don't like to spend more money than they have to.

On the surface, these two adjectives appear interchangeable, but digging deeper, we find they're really quite different.

OK. First, we should know that when we describe a person as cheap, it's not really a complement.

No, cheap people are miserly and stingy. The thing they care about most is how much is it. Cheap people haggle, which comes across as being pushy and demanding.

In contrast, frugal people are concerned with price and quality. Frugal people bargain. If they don't get the price they want, they just won't buy the item.

Perhaps the biggest difference between cheap people and frugal people is how their desire to save money affects other people.

That's right. Cheap people usually influence those around them in a negative way. Their cheapness makes friends and family members feel annoyed, resentful, and embarrassed.

In contrast, frugal people put others above saving money. Many frugal people are actually frugal with themselves so that they have more opportunities to be generous with others.

So, what kind of person are you? Cheap or frugal?

cheap adj.
not willing to share or spend money

frugal adj.
/ˈfru:gəl/
careful about spending money or using things when you do not need to : using money or supplies in a very careful way

Grammar Gym
"That way, you don't end up in the downward spiral of negotiating against yourself by offering lower prices than necessary."
that way: Do I go this way or that way?
that way: if you follow what was just mentioned
- Pack your book bag before you sleep; that way, you will have one less thing to worry about in the morning.
- Always keep an extra umbrella at work; that way, you will be prepared in case it suddenly rains.

Language Lab
vice n. or (Brit) vise n.
/ˈvaɪs/
a bad habit
- Pride is one of his vices.
criminal activities that involve sex or drugs
- The police successfully smashed a large vice ring.
a bad or immoral quality in a person, or bad or immoral behaviour
- The reporter revealed the vice and corruption of the politician.
usually vise American English a tool that holds an object very firmly so that you can work on it
- He held my arm like a vise.

downward spiral 
/ˈspaɪrəl/
a process, usually a harmful one, in which something gradually but continuously gets worse or better
a situation in which something continuously increases, decreases, or gets worse — usually singular
- Lack of funds and high interest rates pushed him into a downward financial spiral.

manipulate v.
/məˈnɪpjəˌleɪt/
to make someone think and behave exactly as you want them to, by skilfully deceiving or influencing them
- The movie star is good at manipulating the media to get the attention she wants.
to move or control (something) with your hands or by using a machine
- Pilots go through strict training in order to manipulate the controls on the panel in the cockpit.

hostile adj.
/ˈhɑ:stl̟, ˈhɑ:ˌstajəl/
angry and deliberately unfriendly towards someone and ready to argue with them
- The boy is so hostile because he was physically abused for years.
- The people in that town are pretty hostile to outsiders.


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Customer Troubles (1)

Negotiating skills are an important part of customer service

Hey, Uncle Bob.

Hi, Ben. How's business?

OK, but I'm having trouble with some customers.

What kind?

I feel like they are taking advantage of me. I keep getting pushed into doing more work for less pay.

Give an example.

OK. When I give one of my customers a price quote for a job, he'll agree to the price. But then when we're about to sign the contract, he'll say something like "Technical support is part of this package, right?"

So what do you do?

What can I do? I basically agree to whatever he's asking.

It sounds like you're having trouble with negotiations.

Negotiations.

Yes. Your customer is using a negotiating strategy called "the nibble."

The nibble?

It's called the nibble because each of those little requests is like a little bite. It's effective because you've already made the deal in your mind, and the extra concessions seem small compared to the bigger deal.

What can I do to stop the nibble?

There are many ways to counteract the nibble. The easiest is probably just to show your customer a written price list that lays out the costs of additional features or services.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Question Mark
English punctuation is sometimes likened to the notation on a music score. It instructs us how to read and speak with appropriate rhythms and melodies, showing us when and how to navigate transitions and accents.

Now, one of those notations is the question mark. Born in the eighth century, it originally looked like a lightning bolt, striking from right to left.

Eventually, it morphed into what we know it as today, a symbol that looks something like a seahorse.

Right! You're often see question marks in dialogues and narratives. In formal articles, not so much.

Question marks are used to express surprise, skepticism and uncertainty. Mostly though, they're used for direct questions, like "Are you hungry?"

But, beware, they are not needed for indirect questions, as in "She asked if I was hungry."

Right! Question marks are also used when there is missing or unknown information. For example, since we're not really sure when Joan of Arc was born, we might see her date of birth written "January 6, 1412 (?)", then the question mark in parentheses.

That's right! Finally, except for very informal situations, like say texting, avoid using more than one question mark at a time.


Language Lab
push someone into something 
to force (someone) to accept (something)
- Howard felt that he was pushed into taking over his father's business.
- Max got pushed into joining the football team by his friends.

package n.
a group of related things that are sold together for a single price
- The package includes train tickets and a one-night stay at the Hilton.
- I thought medical insurance was included in the package.

concession n.
/kənˈsɛʃən/
something that you allow someone to have in order to end an argument or a disagreement
a special right that a particular person or group of people is allowed to have, for example by the government or an employer, or the act of giving or allowing something as a right
- The company decided to make a concession in order to get the contract signed.
- The president declared that the government would make no concessions to the terrorist.

counteract v.
act against (something) : to cause (something) to have less of an effect or to have no effect at all
counter v.
to do something in defense or in response to something — often + with
- The doctor prescribed some medicine to counteract the side effects of the treatment.
- New measures were taken to counteract bullying at school.


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The History of Pencils (2)

Italian and German changes 

The Italian couple hollowed out a wooden stick and then placed a graphite stick inside it. This created a wooden holder for the graphite. In the late 1500s, someone in Germany glued two wooden halves together around a graphite stick. The concept is still used today.

German improvements
In 1839 Germany's Lothar von Faber devised a way to make graphite sticks all the same width. He also invented a machine to cut the pencil wood.

American production
By the late 1860s in America, pencils were in great demand. American companies began designing machines to mass-produce them. It helped meet the need and cut the cost of pencils by 50 percent.

Japanese ideas 
Several people are said to be responsible for inventing the mechanical pencil. In 1915, however, Japan's Tokuji Hayakawa created a mechanical pencil similar to the one used now.

Today both kinds of pencils are very popular with the wooden pencil being number one. More than 6 billion wooden pencils are manufactured in 50 different countries each year.

Grammar Gym
"It helped meet the need...."
to meet the need: to satisfy the need
- The school encourages students to volunteer and help meet the different needs in the community.
- After a natural disasters strikes, relief organizations will send helpers to met the different needs of the disaster victims.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: To Pencil

Now that we've learned all about pencils, let's take a look at the word "pencil" used as a verb.

Ken, I'll pencil you in for Monday at ten o'clock.

And, I'll do likewise Steve.

Friends, if you want to arrange for something to happen, or for someone to do something, and you know that it may have to be changed later, then you can pencil in the event or person on your calender.

Right! The idea is that when you write with a pencil, you can always erase what you write. It's just a tentative arrangement.

So, you'd have to confirm it later. This is a good phrase to use for people who are busy. Two people may pencil in a date with the understanding that one of them may have to re-book the appointment if something urgent comes up.

Now, you don't have to use an actual pencil when you pencil something in. You can still say "I'll pencil you in" in a figurative sense, even if you are using a computer.

That's right! The point is that it is a tentative arrangement until it has been confirmed. The actual device you use - a pencil, pen, chalk, reminder on your cell phone or computer - is not crucial to the meaning.


Language Lab
hollow v.
curved inward or down
- The tribesman hollowed out a canoe from a log.
hollow adj.
having nothing inside : not solid
- The tree trunk is hollow inside.
- The patient's eyes and cheeks are hollow.

devise v.
/dɪˈvaɪz/
to invent or plan (something that is difficult or complicated)
- Chelsea devised a method to keep herself awake during night shifts.
- The engineers devised a new kind of TV which reacts to human voices.

in demand
needed or wanted by many people
- The demand for organic products has increased in recent years.
- Smartphone chips are still in great demand.

mechanical adj.
of or relating to machinery
- These mechanical clocks need constant maintenance.
mechanic n.
a person who repairs machines (such as car engines) and keeps them running properly
- The mechanic charged me $500 to replace the air conditioner in my car.



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The History of Pencils (1)

A truly international writing instrument

Most of us have so many of them that we take them for granted. But these common writing tools have a long and interesting history.

It started in Rome
The first example of a pencil-type instrument probably came from ancient Rome. There, a thin piece of metal was used to scratch words onto an early form of paper. Long, skinny pieces of lead were also used to make marks on the page.But writers had to wait until the 16th century for a much better writing instrument.

England's find
Around 1564 a huge deposit of graphite was discovered near Cumbria, England. The solid graphite was mistakenly considered to be a type of lead. Locals happily realized it provided a perfect way to mark their sheep. The graphite was also easily sawed into sticks but was very soft. People tried wrapping them in string or other materials to provide a covering. But then a couple from Italy thought of a better idea.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Sheep vs. Goat

It's become something of a tradition here that whenever a lesson mentions an animal, that animal is featured in Info Cloud.

So, let's carry on the tradition today and talk about the sheep.

Now, there are lots of things we can talk about when it comes to the sheep, but why don't we talk about the difference between sheep and goats.

OK. If we look at the words themselves, the biggest difference between sheep and goat is that sheep is uncountable and goat is countable.

And, on the menu there is also a difference. It's not very common to eat goat meat. Usually, we eat lamb, which is the meat of young sheep.

Some people prefer mutton, and that's the meat from an older sheep. It has a much stronger flavor than lamb, but it's not very popular in North of America.

An adult male sheep is called a ram, and a female is called a ewe, e-w-e.

Which are both raised for wool and eating. But goats are usually used for milk. And from goat milk, we get really, really delicious cheese.

And, what are goat adults called?

An adult male goat is called a billy goat, and a female is called a nanny.

Hmm... you learned something new everyday.

Language Lab
take for granted
grant v.
to agree to do, give, or allow (something asked for or hoped for)
take (something) for granted : to believe or assume that (something) is true or probably true without knowing that it is true
- Charles tends to take other people's help or kindness for granted.
take (someone or something) for granted
to fail to properly notice or appreciate (someone or something that is helpful or important to you)
- Susie complains that her husband takes her for granted.

scratch v.
to rub your skin with something sharp (such as your fingernails) especially in order to stop an itch [+ obj]
- The CD was scratehed so badly that I can't play it now.
scratch n.
a line or mark in the surface of something that is caused by something rough or sharp rubbing against it
- The victim of the car accident has a few scratches on his face.

deposit n.
an amount of a substance (such as oil or coal) that exists naturally in the ground
- Some geologists found a large deposit of coal in this area.
an amount of money that is put in a bank account
money that you give someone when you agree to buy something (such as a house or car)
- Janet made a deposit of $500 at this ATM.
- They paid $1,000 as a deposit for the apartment they wanted to rent.

wrap v. [wra[[ed/wrapping]
/ˈræp/
to cover (something) by winding or folding a piece of material around it
- Alison wrapped her gift and decorated it with a ribbon.
to wind or fold (something) around something else
- The man wrapped his arms around his wife.
wrapping n.
a thin piece of paper, plastic, fabric, etc., that covers or surrounds something to protect it
- the boy tore the wrappig off his gift excitedly.

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Answer That Telephone! (2)

When you are finished with a call, you hang up. If you need to interrupt a call for a moment or two, you can ask the other party to hang on or hold on.

Sometimes when the phone rings, someone may demand that you pick up the phone. That's the same thing as answering the phone. After you pick up the phone, the person may ask you a question. If you don't know the answer, you can promise to get back to them with them. That means you will find out the information and call them again.

If you are calling a business, sometimes you can't reach the person you wish to talk to. Then you can say, "I couldn't get through." Or a receptionist may answer the phone and say they will put you through to your party. Or, it the person is not available, you will be put through to voice mail.

By learning these phrases, you will find that answering the phone in English won't be so nerve-wracking. 

Info Cloud

Teaching Topic: Spelling Reform

 

In today's lesson, we read the word "you" almost twenty times. Imagine if it were spelled "y-u".

Well, it sounds crazy, but it nearly happened. At various times in history, people have made attempts to reform English spelling. Why? Well, they simply wanted their word to look the way they were pronounced.

At the top of everyone's list, were words that ended in -gh. The spelling of the word "laugh" was to become the more phonetically correct "l-a-f-f".

And, the spelling of "through" would be simplified to "t-h-r-u".

There were hundreds of other words in the cross hairs, too, including "you" and "philosophy". Now imagine seeing that word spelled "f-i-l-o-s-o-f-y".

The biggest push for spelling reform came in the 1800's. Maybe you'll recognize some of these influential people who've invested considerable time, energy, and money to simplify English spelling.

OK. We have British naturalist Charles Darwin and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.

American president Theodore Roosevelt and industrialist, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who gave huge sums of money to establish the Simplified Spelling Board.

Well, Carnegie's spelling board began to languish around the time of World War I, but spelling reform still is a hot topic. Perhaps someday, we will spell you, "y-u", after all.

Language Lab

party n.

a person who is involved in a legal case or contract 
- Both parties agreed to negotiate on their prices.
- The conclusion of the meeting didn't seem to satisfy either party.

 

demand v.

to say in a forceful way that something must be done or given to you : to say that you have a right to (something);

to require (something);
- The boss demands absolute loyalty from his employees.

to say or ask (something) in a very forceful way;
- The people demanded the government's immediate explanation regarding the incident.
demand n.

a strong need for something
- The market demand is much greater than we expected.

receptionist n.
a person whose job is to deal with the people who call or enter an office, hotel, etc.
- The hotel's receptionists are fluent in many languages.
reception n.
the kind of welcome that someone or something is given — usually singular
- The speaker received a warm and passionate reception from the audience.

 

nerve-wracking adj.
causing a person to feel very nervous
nerve n.
one of the many thin parts that control movement and feeling by carrying messages between the brain and other parts of the body
wrack/racking v.
to cause (someone or something) to suffer pain or damage : rack
- The waiting before the auditions is so nerve-wracking.
- I will never forget the nerve-wracking experience of bungee jumping.

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Answer That Telephone! (1)

How to say what you need to say on the telephone

When the telephone rings and you know you have to answer it in English, do you get nervous? Maybe you do because you have to depend only on your ears to understand. When you talk to someone in person, you can use body language to help interpret the meaning. In reality, though, you don't have to be fluent in English to use the phone. Let's try to calm those nerves by looking at some of the verbs you'll hear - or use.

People use the word call a lot. But by adding different prepositions, you get different meanings. You can call someone or call someone up to reach them by phone. They mean the same thing. When someone is not in, you call them back later. In England, you phone someone rather than call them. Or you phone them up. You can also ring or ring up someone. So call, phone and ring all mean to use the phone to get in touch with someone.


Grammar Gym
"Let's try to calm those nerves by looking at some of the verbs you'll hear..."
to calm nerves: to make someone feel not so nervous
- Before John went to take his test, he listened to some music to calm his nerves.
- Tony brought Mina a glass of water to calm her nerves.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: American and British English

There was a time when the languages of  England and America were spoken and written the same way. Well, not anymore.

For years, linguists have predicted British and American English would one day become mutually unintelligible.

Well, it's happening. So, let's take a quick look and see how these two languages are diverging.

OK. First, pronunciation, no question. Very different. Second, spelling, many differences. For example, "jail" in America is spelled j-a-i-l. In England, it's spelled g-a-o-l.

OK. Next is vocabulary. Crisps in England are chips in America. Well, chips in England are french fries in America. Well, you get the idea. Words are used differently as we see in today's lesson.

Right. You'll never hear an American using phone as a verb. OK. Other smaller, less obvious differences between American and British English involve grammar, verb usage, punctuation, and preposition choice.

So, you can see, these two English languages are slowly diverging. But, right now at least, the differences aren't really that big.

However, they are big enough that, should you ever do some formal English writing, you'll want to choose one version, and stick to it for the sake of consistency.


Language Lab
interpret v.
/ɪnˈtɚprət/
to translate the words that someone is speaking into a different language : to repeat what someone says in a different language than the language originally used
- Victor interpreted for his client during the negotiations.
interpretation n.
the act or result of explaining or interpreting something : the way something is explained or understood [count]
- simultaneous interpretation 同步翻譯

fluent adj.
Language that is fluent is language that is spoken easily and very well.
- Frank, my American coworker, can speak fluent Cantonese.
able to speak a language easily and very well— often + in
- Lawrence is fluent in both French and Italian.
fluency n.
the ability to speak easily and smoothly
- Fluency in English is one of the job requirements.

preposition n.
a word or group of words that is used with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object
- Theo has trouble using the correct preposition in his writing.
- Many phrasal verbs contain a verb and a preposition.

get in touch with 
in a state in which people communicate with each other especially by calling or writing to each other
- I will get in touch with her tomorrow.
- Many people now use Facebook or Twitter to get in touch with each other..


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The Speed of Cities (1)

A city’s pace of life reveals a lot about its size, success and culture

Are you a fast or slow walker? Is your city or town wealthy or poor? Believe it or not, research suggests walking speed and a city's prosperity may be related! Citizens of bigger, affluent cities tend to walk faster, while residents of poorer cities tend to take things a little slower. Why is that? A social psychologist named Robert Levine wanted to know, so he went out into the streets to get answers.

A worldwide experiment

With help from all over the world, Levine conducted an experiment. What's the average speed of a pedestrian over a distance of 18.29 meters?

Volunteers in big cities in 31 countries timed pedestrians as they covered this distance and submitted their results. The fastest pedestrians lived in Ireland, crossing the distance in an average of 11.13 seconds. The slowest walkers hailed from Brazil, where they got from point A to point B at a more leisurely 16.76 seconds.

Levine found that these results were strongly related to economic success. Residents of cities that struggled or were still developing moved at a slower pace, and residents of wealthy cities moved faster. The motto "Time is money" seems to be true!

Info Cloud

Teaching Topic: Speed vs. Pace

The title of our article today is "The Speed of Cities", but if look below the title, you will notice the word "pace." The deck of the article said, "a city's pace of life reveals a lot about its size, success, and culture".

So, you may be wondering, "Are the words speed and pace synonymous? Are they interchangeable?"

Hmm... well, why don't we talk about this as it relates to a car. Would you say your new car has a very good pace? Or a very good speed?

I would choose "speed" because a car is a mechanical object. If we are talking about an animate object, like a man, a dog, or a horse, "pace" would me more appropriate.

That's right. A man or an animal might walk or run at a fast pace. Your car or motorcycle travels at a certain speed.

Also, the word "pace" is usually used in expressions like "the pace of life" or "work at a slow pace". It's more related to human activities.

Right! OK. Let's get more technical. If you're a runner, you can focus on either your pace or your speed. Your pace is the time it takes to cover a certain distance, such as four minutes.  But your speed is indicated by the ratio, kilometers per hour.

So, if I run at a speed of ten kilometers an hour, I would be running at a pace of six minutes per kilometers.

Oh, that sounds like a good workout.

Grammar Gym

"...while residents of poorer cities tend to take things a little slower."

to take things: to handle or respond to situations

- Edward likes to take things one at a time.

- Sam doesn't take things too well whenever he's hungry and tired.

Language Lab

affluent adj.

/ˈæfluwənt/

having a large amount of money and owning many expensive things : rich, wealthy

- Jacky was born and raised in an affluent family.

- Tina lives in an affluent neighborhood in Miami.

pedestrian n.

a person who is walking in a city, along a road, etc.

- Pedestrians are not commonly seen in Los Angeles.

pedestrian adj.

relating to or designed for people who are walking

- a pedestrian zone

- a pedestrian bridge

hail from [phrasal verb]

hail from (a place) : to have been born or raised in (a place) : to come from (a place)

- The band hailed from Sydney, Australia.

- The girl hails from a wealthy family, but she's very down to earth.

motto n.

/ˈmɑ:toʊ/

a short sentence or phrase that expresses a rule guiding the behavior of a particular person or group

- My father's motto is "Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper."
pauper n.

a very poor person who has no money to pay for food, clothing, etc.

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“Country Roads, Take Me Home” (2)

After leaving Skyline Drive, we visited a well-known cave, Luray Caverns. Found in 1878, this cave is one of the most spectacular caves in the world. We were amazed by the limestone shapes inside. The most famous one is the world's largest musical instrument, the Great "Stalacpipe" Organ. Fortunately, we were able to hear a piece of music.

Other famous formations include Dream Lake, Totem Poles and Saracen's Tent. Dream Lake is a mirror-like surface which reflects the stalactites above the lake.

The Totem Poles are columns of various shapes and colors. Saracen's Tent is considered the best well-formed drapery in the world. Walking around this underground natural wonder is an unforgettable experience. On the way back home, we rolled down the windows and enjoyed the autumn breeze. Suddenly, the winding road looked like the road we had often taken on Yang-Ming Mountain in Taipei. As the song say, these country roads are taking me home - to the place I belong!


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: How We Name Places Part II

Last week, we looked at how some places get named. Let's pick up this theme again today in this month's "Life in America" feature.

We first encounter Skyline Drive. Now, with a name like that, I'm excepting a road high up in the sky.

Right! Normally, the word "skyline" is used to describe the view of a city's buildings and structures against the sky.

In this case, however, it's the view of mountain scenery from a road.

OK. Luray Caverns is simply named after the nearest town - Luray, Virginia.

The next three things mentioned in the lesson are formations, not places, but it's easy to guess how they got their names.

Dream Lake is named for the feeling you get when you see it. When you look at it, you feel like you're dreaming.

Hmm huh... Formations might also be named for the things they resemble, like totem poles, and a tent. Saracen is an ancient word used to describe people who lived in and around the Arabian desert in tent.

And, finally, places are named in honor of other people, like Yan-Ming Shan, which was named in honor of the Chinese Ming dynasty philosopher, Wang Yan-Ming.


Language Lab
amaze v.
to surprise and sometimes confuse (someone) very much : to fill (someone) with wonder [+ obj]
- The little girl's singing talent amazed not only the audience but also the judges.
amazing adj.
causing great surprise or wonder : causing amazement
- The movie's amazing special effects were created by an award-winning team.

formation n.
the act of forming or creating something
- Timmy loves to study the formations of the clouds.
something that is formed or created
- The formation of a child's personality is strongly affected by his family and friends.

column n.
a long post made of steel, stone, etc., that is used as a support in a building
- The marble columns of the building were delicately carved.
a group of printed or written items (such as numbers or words) shown one under the other down a page
- Each page of the brochure has two columns.
an article in a newspaper or magazine that appears regularly and that is written by a particular writer or deals with a particular subject
- This fashion column is quite popular among female readers.

breeze n.
a gentle wind
- You can feel a cool summer breeze blowing in the valley.
to move quickly and confidently
- Alex breezed into our meeting as if he were the one who called the shots.


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“Country Roads, Take Me Home” (1)

Almost Heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River”

Fall is probably the most beautiful season of the year. The cooler temperatures make it perfect for people to enjoy nature. For Asians, Moon Festival makes autumn a unique season. But here, not much attention is given to Moon Festival. Instead, Americans appreciate this season in a different way. As the tree leaves change color, it is time for a fall leaf tour. One of North America's most popular spots is Shenandoah National Park.

John Denver described it in his song "Take Me Home Country Roads." Skyline Drive, which runs through the park, attracts over 2 million visitors every year.They go to admire the fall leaves. Like most leaf peepers, we left early on a Saturday. A long line of cars was already waiting to enter the park. We drove at a leisurely pace and enjoyed the gold, orange and red leaves. Overlooks provided places to take pictures. Around bends, valleys of different shades of colors caught our eye.


Grammar Gym
The Skyline Drive, which runs through the park, attracts over 2 million visitors every year.
to run: how something long and skinny goes through an area
- A river runs through the middle of the jungle.
- The power lines run along the east side of the building.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Rolling Off the Tongue
Leaf peepers are people who travel some distance to look at and take pictures of fall foliage.

And because of the unusual scenic beauty, I would imagine peepers would want to take their time peeping.

Which means the word "peep" isn't exactly the best word choice. Because according to the dictionary, peep means to take a quick look at something. So why was this word ever chosen to be paired with the word "leaf".

One reason could be meaning. Generally, when people peep, they do it because they are curious. And I think curiosity is one reason people spend time and money to go look at colorful leaves.

True. But there is also the issue of sound. When combined with leaf, peep really rolls off the tongue, which means it's easy to say.

Right! Both words have the long 'e' sound. Leaf, peep, if we were to choose better verbs that suggest a leisurely look at something, verbs like "stare" or "gaze", in place of peep, the phrases become more complicated to pronounce.

They may be more accurate in meaning. But, listen. "Leaf starers" and "leaf gazers", these phrases don't quite roll off the tongue like "leaf peeper" does. Do they.


Language Lab
unique adj.
used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else
uni- prefix
one : single
- The jazz singer's unique voice is very charming.
- The region has its own unique dialect and customs.
uniqueness n. [noncount]
- Each student's uniqueness should be recognized and respected.

instead adv.
/ɪnˈstɛd/
— used to say that one thing is done or that one thing or person is chosen when another is not chosen, cannot be done, etc.
- After winning the lottery, Jonah didn't quit his job; instead, he has kept working at the same company.
instead off — often + of
- Margaret got laid off, but instead of feeling down, she went on a vacation.

admire v.
to look at (something or someone) with enjoyment
- We stood in front of the waterfall admiring the view.
to feel respect or approval for (someone or something)
- The general's character and courage is greatly admired by his colleagues.

shade n.
/ˈʃeɪd/
an area of slight darkness that is produced when something blocks the light of the sun
- The designer used different shades of pink on the gown.
- There're over 100 shades of eye color on display.
something that is used to block strong light
- We stood in the shade of the tree.


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The Psychology of To-do Lists (2)

Problem: Most people have a preference for short, easy tasks. But this can lead to the easy jobs getting checked off while long ones remain.

Solution: Divide long assignments into smaller parts. For example, don't write Plan trip to Japan: write Check plane-ticket prices online. This makes long tasks seem easier. You can also use "fun"tasks as rewards when you finish difficult ones.

Problem: Writing the list itself can be a form of procrastination. It gives you a sense of accomplishment - without doing any real work.

Solution: Don't just list tasks; decide when and where to do them. This will help you follow through. Some experts recommend a method called if'/then planning. For example, rather than writing Call Steve, write Monday after lunch, call Steve. Others abandon to-do lists altogether because they prefer scheduling tasks on a calendar.

Remember, to-do lists are tools. They won't solve all your time-management problems. But if used well, they can make you more effective at work and at home.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Altogether vs. All Together

Hi, friends, how do you spell "altogether"? Is it one word or two words?

Well, that will depend on what you want to say. Each spelling brings with it a different meaning.

OK. First, altogether spelled as one word - this is used as an adverb, meaning completely or to the full extent. Here's an example, "That test was altogether too difficult".

In other words, when all is said and done, the test was a difficult one. So, altogether, there is one word.

Now, let's look at all together as two words. The word all indicates a group of something. So the phrase all together means everyone or everything in a group acting together. Can you think of an example, Ken?

Sure, the last time we were all together was in 2001.

So, that's all together, two words. If it's still not clear, try this little trick. If you can rephrase the sentence by breaking up all and together, then you should write all together as two words.

So, instead of saying, "the last time we were all together was in 2001", you might rephrase it and say...

"The last time all of us were together was in 2001".


Language Lab
preference n.
a feeling of liking or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing
prefer v.
to like (someone or something) better than someone or something else
- Greg has shown a strong preference for astronomy since he was a boy.
- In order to serve our customers better, it's important to know their preferences.

procrastination n.
/prəˌkræstəˈneɪʃən/
- Any procrastination in decision-making can cause a loss of millions of dollars.
procrastinate v.
to be slow or late about doing something that should be done : to delay doing something until a later time because you do not want to do it, because you are lazy, etc.
- The buyers intentionally procrastinated when making their house payments.

follow through [phrasal verb]
to complete an activity or process that has been started
- Chloe is good at planning, but really bad at following through.
— often + on or with
- Richard was assigned to follow through on this project.

abandon v.
to stop doing or having (something) : to give up (something) completely
- David was forced to abandon his studies because of his illness.
to leave and never return to (someone who needs protection or help)
- This little baby was abandoned in front of an orphanage.
- The captain decided to abandon ship as it began to sink.


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The Psychology of To-do Lists (1)

Here’s why to-do lists work … or don’t work

As I write this, a long list of tasks sits on the desk beside me, reminding me what to work on. Many people like me use to-do list to organize work and manage time. So what makes this method effective?

Psychologists have observed that people usually focus on tasks that aren't finished. This tendency may sound helpful - but it isn't always. In one study, people who didn't finish a warm-up activity struggled with later tasks. Their minds were still occupied with the warm-up. Planning how to finish the warm-up removed this distraction even if they couldn't complete the task.

Similarly, to-do lists let people plan when to complete tasks not yet finished. That frees their minds to concentrate on the task at hand. But writing a to-do list doesn't guarantee success. This technique has several limitations.

Problem: A long list of tasks that need to be done can be overwhelming. When faced with too many choices, people may find it difficult to do anything.

Solution: Prioritize the items on the list, and start with the most important tasks.


Grammar Gym
That frees their minds to concentrate on the task at hand.
frees: letting go
- After the war, the prisoners were freed from prison.
- Jan decided to quit her second job; this frees her time to be with her kids more.
- Benjamin needs to free his schedule before he can say yes to any new commitments.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Occupied vs. Preoccupied

A person can be either occupied or preoccupied. Now, Ken, what's the difference?

Well, occupied means "filled up" or "in use". If a seat is occupied, someone is sitting there. If a person is occupied, he or she is involved in some kind of activity or work. You can keep yourself occupied  by working on a project.

So, if somebody is occupied, he's busy. Preoccupied, on the other hand, describes a mental condition. If a person is preoccupied, he or she is engrossed or absorbed in thought. If you are planning a wedding, you may get preoccupied with all the details.

And those details occupy your mind.

That's right. So there is a some overlap between the two words, especially if you talk about one's mind being occupied. But generally speaking, occupied is concerned about the physical, preoccupied is concerned about the mental.

---
Their minds were still occupied with the warm-up.
= They were still preoccupied with the warm-up.


Language Lab
psychology n.
/saɪˈkɑ:ləʤi/
the science or study of the mind and behavior
the way a person or group thinks [noncount]
- The detective majored in criminal psychology.
psychological adj.
/ˌsaɪkəˈlɑ:ʤɪkəl/
of or relating to the mind
- psychological analysis

tendency n.
/ˈtɛndənsi/
a quality that makes something likely to happen or that makes someone likely to think or behave in a particular way
- The patient is struggling against suicidal tendencies.
- Tanya has a tendency to avoid conflicts.
- There's a tendency for gold prices to rise when the economy is bad.

concentrate v.
to cause (attention, efforts, strength, etc.) to be used or directed for a single purpose — usually + on
- Rita decided to concentrate on her career.
concentration n.
the ability to give your attention or thought to a single object or activity : the ability to concentrate
- Driving requires constant concentration.

overwhelming adj.
used to describe something that is so confusing, difficult, etc., that you feel unable to do it
overwhelm v.
to cause (someone) to have too many things to deal with
to affect (someone) very strongly
- The overwhelming success almost ruined the teenage star.
- The team celebrated their overwhelming victory with their coach.



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Beautiful Banff and Lake Louise (1) (2) (3)

Enjoy some of the finest nature has to offer in Banff National Park

What can be more beautiful than brilliant blue water or snowy mountains? If that's your idea of beauty, put Banff, Alberta, at the top of your travel list. Banff and beautiful Lake Louise lie in the majestic Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park. The park, Canada's oldest, offers 6,641 square kilometers of wild land to explore. Within the park, you'll find not only mountains but meadows, lakes, hot springs, waterfalls and wild animals.

You can find plenty of outdoor adventure all year round. You can explore the park using a car or bicycle, hiking boots, skis or a canoe. Stop first in the delightful town of Banff, which was designed as a tourist town. The first street was laid out to give visitors a great view of Cascade Mountain. Grab breakfast and coffee at one of the many small cafés before heading out to explore the park. Or finish your day by looking around in the small shops along Banff's main street.

Be sure to ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain. You can see six mountain ranges from the top. take the easy 1 - kilometer walk around the top of the mountain. You can enjoy the view from every direction. Have your camera ready to shoot not only the views but also the animals. Rocky Mountain big horn sheep and other animals frequent the gondola area. But mosquitoes also frequent the area, so keep moving. When you stop, they attack! You can ride the gondola down or hike down the 5.3 kilometer switchback trail.

Another popular trail takes you through Johnston Canyon. Take an easy hike to enjoy the Lower Falls, but don't stop there. The trail will take you past seven waterfalls. You can walk through a wet tunnel and enjoy a close-up look at the Upper Falls. They are more than twice as high as the Lower Falls. Keep your eyes open, and watch for birds, too. Many species live and nest in the canyon.

From Johnston Canyon, drive up the Bow Valley Parkway to lovely Lake Louise, Along the road, you may glimpse deer, elk or even a black bear. When you arrive at lake Louise, you'll notice its unusual color. That color and the snow-covered mountains make it the subject of countless photographs. Lake Louise's water is about 4 degrees Celsius and too cold for swimming but perfect for boating. Rent a canoe and glide peacefully across the water. Or ride around the lake on horseback to enjoy the views!

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise sits regally near the lake. Sine 1890 the grand luxury hotel has welcomed ordinary as well as famous visitors. Don't miss afternoon tea in the dining room. You can enjoy fine tea and little sandwiches and cakes. And, you have a great view of the lake.

You can appreciate the mountain views in many ways. So enjoy all that Banff and Lake Louise have to offer.


Grammar Gym
If that's your idea of beauty, put Banff, Alberta, at the top of your travel list.
one's idea of (something)- one's view or opinion of what something is all about.
- Being out on a beach in the sun was Stanley's idea of fun; unfortunately, it rained the whole time while he was there.
- Going to a baseball game is not Lola's idea of a perfect weekend; she prefers staying indoors.


Info Cloud
(1) Teaching Topic: Rhetorical Questions 修辭疑問句
rhetorical adj.
/rɪˈtorɪkəl/
of a question : asked in order to make a statement rather than to get an answer

(2) Teaching Topic: How We Name Places Part I 
***

(3) Teaching Topic: Alliteration 頭韻和繞口令
****
alliteration n.
/əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən/
the use of words that begin with the same sound near one another (as in wild and woolly or a babbling brook)

Language Lab
brilliant adj.
very bright : flashing with light
- The photo captured the brilliant colors of the butterfly.
very impressive or successful
- The actor's brilliant performance conquered the whole audience.

meadow n.
/ˈmɛdoʊ/
a usually flat area of land that is covered with tall grass
- Many lovely wild flowers and birds can be found in the meadow.
- The meadow on the campus was just mowed this morning.
- You can see cattle grazing in the green meadow.
graze v.
/ˈgreɪz/
of an animal : to eat grass or other plants that are growing in a field, pasture, etc. [no obj]

delightful adj.
very pleasant : giving or causing delight
- We dined at a delightful Italian restaurant downtown.
delight n. a strong feeling of happiness : great pleasure or satisfaction
- Susan takes delight in playing the piano.

lay out / laid out [phrasal verb] to arrange (something) in a particular pattern or design
- The office was laid out so the staff would have a comfortable environment.
 to place (something) on a surface in a carefully arranged way
- The waiters laid out knives and forks on the tables.

range n.
a series of mountains or hills in a line
a group or collection of different things or people that are usually similar in some way — usually singular — usually + of
- The store provides a wide range of colors and patterns of fabrics for customers to chose from.

frequent v.
to visit or go to (a place) often
- The students in our school frequent this sandwich place.
- Our boss frequents this golf club to meet his friends.

canyon n.
a deep valley with steep rock sides and often a stream or river flowing through it
- The Grand Canyon is famous for its beautiful scenery.
- The observation tower overlooks a majestic red-rock canyon.

close-up n.
a photograph or movie picture taken very close to an object or person [count]
- The satellite took several close-up pictures of this planet.
- It's kind of odd to see a close-up of yourself on TV.

countless adj.
too many to be counted : very many
- He has written countless [=numerous] magazine and newspaper articles.
- There are countless reasons why that would not be a good idea.

peacefully adv.
quiet and calm : without noise, excitement, etc.
- The protest ended peacefully.
- The baby rested in her mother's arms peacefully.
peaceful adj.
not involving violence or force.
- The couple had a peaceful breakup.

regally adv.
- The crowned princess waved her hand regally.
- The palace sits regally in the center of the capital.
regal adj.
/ˈri:gəl/
of, relating to, or suitable for a king or queen
- The restaurant's regal decorations attract many customers.

luxury adj.
something that is expensive and not necessary
- Mark collects luxury watches.
- One night in this luxury hotel costs over US.$500.
luxury n.
- The family lives in luxury, and they always travel first class.




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Cellphones in School (2)

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Look Up

You know Steve, I think it's great being an English teacher here in Asia.

Why do you say that, Ken?

Because students look up to me. They respect me.

That's true. I agree. Friends, let's take a look at that simple phrase "look up to someone." When you look up to someone, you respect or admire that person. I hope you all look up to your teachers.

OK. Let's now change that a little. "Look someone up" has a different meaning.

Very different. When my friends from the U.S. plan on visiting Asia, I always tell them be sure to look me up. If you look someone up, then you go visit that person when you are in the area they live in.

OK. Now let's replace a person with a word, "look up a word." When you come across an unfamiliar word, you can look it up.

When you look up a word, you search for information on that word. You find out what it means, and how it is used. When I ask Ken, what a certain word means, he usually tells me, "Look it up." Look it up where? Look it up in the dictionary, the encyclopedia, or on the internet.

look up 
1. Search for in a book or other source, as in I told her to look up the word in the dictionary. 
2. Call on or visit, as in I'm going to look up my friend in Chicago.
3. Become better, improve, as in Business is finally looking up. 
4. look up to. Admire, respect, as in The students really looked up to Mr. Jones. 

Language Lab
ban v.
bans; banned; banning
to forbid people from using (something) : to say that something cannot be used or done
- The protester's writings were all banned by the government years ago.
- The banning of imported beef will begin next week.

occasionally adv.
sometimes but not often
- Shirley visits her grandparents in Texas occasionally.
occasional adj.
happening or done sometimes but not often : not happening or done in a regular or frequent way
- George made occasional business trips to mainland China last year.

bully v.
/ˈbʊli/
to frighten, hurt, or threaten (a smaller or weaker person) : to act like a bully toward (someone)
bullies; bul·lied; bul·ly·ing
- The senior was caught bullying a freshman in the gym.
bully n.
someone who frightens, hurts, or threatens smaller or weaker people
- The bullies were expelled from school.

enforce v.
en-使如何如何/ force 力量
to make (a law, rule, etc.) active or effective : to make sure that people do what is required by (a law, rule, etc.)
- Several new tax polices will be enforced in certain regions.
- The speed limit is strictly enforced in this country.


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Cellphones in School (1)

Does having access to cellphones at school help or hurt students?

Mrs. Lee's son Jake is in high school. His teacher Mr. Brown caught Jake taking his cellphone out during class and took it away. Now Mrs. Lee is at the school to get her son't phone.

Thank you for coming, Mrs. Lee. Here's Jake's cellphone.

Thank you. What was Jake doing with it in class?

I don't know, but as you know, our school has a zero tolerance policy for cellphones. If I see one during school hours, I'm supposed to take it away and ask a parent to pick it up.

That seems a little extreme. Why do you have such a strict rule?

Well, one reason is that cellphones make it hard for students to pay attention.

Because students are tempted to play with them and not pay attention?

That's part of it.

Also, if a phone makes noise during a lesson, it distracts the whole class.

But students can just put their phones on silent mode. As a parent, I feel better knowing my children have cellphones with them. It allows them to contact me if they need something. Or I can call or text them if there's an emergency at home.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Contact, the Noun and the Verb


Language Lab
access n.
1 a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone — often + to
2 a way of being able to use or get something
- Her access to the files was denied because they are confidential.
- The hotel offers easy access to the train station by shuttle bus.

zero tolerance n. [noncount]
a policy of giving the most severe punishment possible to every person who commits a crime or breaks a rule
- The company has a zero tolerance policy for defective products.
- The company's zero tolerance policy regarding discrimination in the workplace has received high praise.

tempt v.
to cause (someone) to do or want to do something even though it may be wrong, bad, or unwise
- The elaborate window displays tempted shoppers to go inside the store.
- I was so tempted to buy the latest platform computer, but they're too expensive.

mode n.
the state in which a machine does a particular function
- James set the machine in automatic mode.
- The camera was set in manual mode.
a particular way of doing something
- Emails are an efficient mode of communication.


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September

“By all these lovely tokens September days are here With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer.” Helen Hunt Jackson

What does September mean to you? For students, it means the start of school. For others, It means fall is in the air, if not immediately, then soon. September 19 this year will be a time to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival. people will celebrate with delectable moon cakes - both traditional and unusual!

September 8 was the official day to celebrate grandparents this year, in 1989, U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation, urging "each citizen.... to reflect on the influence his grandparents have had in shaping his own destiny."

Do you like cookies? Fortune cookies? Well, eat them to your heart's content on the 13th to celebrate Fortune Cookie Day! If you prefer animals, then Elephant Appreciation Day on the 22nd may be more to your liking.

On the 28th show your teachers how much you appreciate their hard work. And speaking of teachers, U.S. teachers in the 1980s wanted to encourage students to ask more questions, so they created "Ask A Stupid Question Day." So go ahead - ask that question.

Popular since the Middle Ages, the sapphire is September's birthstone. Folklore Says it keeps you and your loved ones from harm. Symbolizing valor, the aster, this mouth's flower, is named for the Greek word for star which refers to the shape of the flower.

Grammar Gym
"...elephant appreciation day on the 22nd may be more to your liking."
to be more to one's liking - to be more like how someone likes something to be.
- Tom and Tara are so different; Tom likes to eat at fast food restaurants while fancy Italian restaurants are more to Tara's liking.
- Chloe hates camping; vacationing at a five-star resort is more to her liking.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Observances in America

Year of Water Conservation 省水節


Language Lab 
delectable adj.
/dɪˈlɛktəbəl/ very pleasant to taste or smell : delicious
- These delectable chocolates are irresistible. 無法抗拒
- The delectable menu created by the chef is very pricy.
proclamation n.
/ˌprɑ:kləˈmeɪʃən/
the act of saying something in a public, official, or definite way : the act of proclaiming something [count]
- The government issued a cease-fire proclamation.
政府發出了停戰的聲明
proclaim v.
to say or state (something) in a public, official, or definite way : to declare or announce (something)
/proʊˈkleɪm/
- The company proclaimed that all their products were subject to strict quality control.

folklore n.
/ˈfoʊkˌloɚ/
[noncount] traditional customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings
folk n.
people in general
- The tribes folklore says that their ancestors were actually ravens.
- As a child, Henry was fascinated by folklore and fairy tales.

valor n.
/ˈvælɚ/
courage or bravery
- The general used effective tactics and showed great valor on the battlefield.
- The soldiers were awarded for their valor during the war.



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Popcorn Time!

Fall is the season for popcorn-centered activities and festivals

If popcorn tops your list of favorite snacks, then you're in luck because September and October have lots of popcorn festivals to enjoy.

Valparaiso, Indiana
Today the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival celebrates its 35th year by kicking off the festivities with their Popcorn Panic five-mile run. Games, handicraft booths and more provide lots of family fun.

The highlight of this festival is its Popcorn Parade, featuring floats decorated with painted kernels and popped corn.

Marion, Ohio
Marion, Ohio's Popcorn Festival, which occurs the first weekend after Labor Day, is the largest popcorn festival in the world and typically draws over 250,000 people.

Festival-goers can watch the annual parade with over 300 floats and performers, enjoy free entertainment on four different stages or choose from over 250 food and game exhibits.

Clay County, Indiana
The Popcorn Festival of Clay County honors its native son Orville Redenbacher with an annual popcorn festival held in October.

Redenbacher became famous for developing a corn hybrid considered superior to other varieties of its time.

Festival events include the Orville Redenbacher Look-Alike Contest, judged by Redenbacher's family members, tours of the Redenbacher Family Memory Lane Museum and popcorn-eating contests. If October ends and you still haven't gotten your fill of popcorn activities, you'll be happy to know that National Popcorn Day explodes on the scene January 19.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Spicing up Your Writing with Metaphors 
隱喻─文章的調味料

Hi, friends! Did you catch the metaphor in the last sentence of our lesson today? National popcorn day explodes on the scene January 19th.

OK. What's a metaphors, you ask? It's a literary device in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something important in common.

So, what are we comparing? National popcorn day and popcorn. The comparison is established with the verb "explode".

Normally, we might say someone comes or arrives on the scene. But in the lesson, our writer picks the word "explode", thus setting up a nice little metaphor.

Right! We know that explode is what popcorn does when you heat up the corn kernels. But, Ken, there are other options besides explode, like pop.

Pop, right! That's what you do when you want some popcorn. You pop it in the microwave.

And, the popcorn explodes. So, either way, a metaphors is established to give the writing a bit of flavor.

Just like popcorn after you add some salt to it.

Grammar Gym
"If October ends and you still haven't gotten your fill of popcorn activities...."
to get one's fill of [something] 
to get enough of what someone needs
- After being in the art museum all day, Molly has gotten her fill of paintings and wants to go home.
- Before her 12-hour flight was even over, Amy felt she has gotten her fill of movies.


Language Lab
handicraft n.
an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands;
an object made by skillful use of your hands — usually plural
- The people in this town are excellent at preserving their traditional handicraft techniques.
- These aboriginal handicrafts are both creative and delicate.

kernel n.
 /ˈkɚnl̟/
the small, somewhat soft part inside a seed or nut;
a whole seed ; especially : one of the yellow seeds that cover an ear of corn
- Tina loves to use kernels of nuts in her salads.
the origin or basis of something
- The kernel of the conflict between the couple is a lack of communication.

native son n. 土身土長的人(通常指男性)
a person born in a particular place
- As a native son of Seattle, the famous quarterback always praises his hometown during interviews.

hybrid n.
an animal or plant that is produced from two animals or plants of different kinds;
something that is formed by combining two or more things
- This particular tomato is a juicy hybrid.
— hybrid adjective always used before a noun 混合的
a hybrid vehicle 使用混合然料的汽車
- The hybrid vehicle uses both petrol and electricity.


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Life in Nepal: Part 1 (2)

The director of the nonprofit in Nepal was named Colleen. By phone and email she interviewed me and helped prepare me for the experience of an 11-week stay in Nepal. She warned me that it would be difficult and that I'd have moments of pure frustration. She advised me that being flexible would be the key. Nepal is a developing country in South Asia - little to nothing there is similar to life in the U.S. Things are unorganized I couldn't let it bother me.

My professor gave me advice, too. She had never been to Nepal but had experience living in Southeast Asia. Take lots of stomach medicine and some antibiotics. Get vaccines before you go. Watch out for mosquitoes and dirty water. But I think the most valuable advice she gave me was this - take a jar of peanut butter. It's a familiar taste when the homesickness gets bad.

With their words in mind, I packed my backpack, took a deep breath and boarded the plane to Nepal.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Bring and Take

The words "bring" and "take" have almost identical meanings, but they are different. Which word you use will depend on your point of reference.

Right! If I'm the point of reference, I might say, please bring me a cup of coffee. Using bring shows movement towards the speaker.

Take, in contrast, shows movement away from the speaker's position. That's why I cannot say, "please take me a cup of coffee". However, I could say, please take this coffee to the boss.

Put another way - you bring things here, you take things there.

Ok. Now, this can get tricky when the movement has nothing to do with you. For example, does the waitress bring or take coffee to a customer?

Again, who's the point of reference? If it's the waitress, it's take. If it's the customer, then it's bring.

Good, now, one more thing to consider. The speaker isn't always the point of reference. For example, I might ask the host of an upcoming party, "what can I bring to the party"? Here, I'm using bring, instead of take, because I've made the host the point of reference as a way of being polite.


Language Lab
flexible adj.
capable of bending or being bent
flex v.
to bend (a body part)
- The company's flexible working hours attract many college graduates.
- Our prices are very flexible.
flexibility n.
capable of bending or being bent
- Online learning offers great flexibility for people with busy schedules.

unorganized adj.
not arranged in an orderly way
un-  prefix: not
- The unorganized protests turned into terrible riots.
riot n. 爆動
/ˈrajət/
a situation in which a large group of people behave in a violent and uncontrolled way
organized adj.
arranged into a formal group with leaders and with rules for doing or planning things
- Patricia is an organized and highly efficient secretary.

antibiotic n.
a drug that is used to kill harmful bacteria and to cure infections
anti- prefix
opposite to something;
against someone or something
bio- 
relating to life or living things
- After finishing a full course of antibiotics, the patient was released from the hospital.
- Billy is on antibiotics for pneumonia. 肺炎

homesickness n.
sad because you are away from your family and home
- Teresa was overcome by homesickness and decided to cut her journey short.
homesick adj.
- Melissa got homesick when she became ill on her trip.



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Life in Nepal: Part 1 (1)

I jumped at the opportunity to visit this interesting country

The first time I remember hearing about Nepal was in 2007. I was browsing through odd Internet news. One of Nepal Airlines' jets was having technical problems. So the airline sacrificed two goats in front of the jet to satisfy the Hindu god of sky protection. I admit I thought that was strange. But the news also made me curious. What was life like in this foreign country? What was the country like? What were the people like? I never completely forgot that incident or my desire to learn more about the place.

A few years later I was in my second year of graduate school. I needed an internship overseas to graduate. I wasn't having much luck finding a good position even though any country but the U.S. would do. My professor mentioned a possibility she knew about. She had a friend who was a director at a nonprofit organization in Nepal. Nepal! That place where they sacrifice goats at the airport! I remembered. I couldn't miss this chance, I had to go.

Grammar Gym
"I wasn't having much luck finding a good position even though any country but the U.S. would do."(something) would do - something is good enough or sufficient.
- May I have a cup please? Any cup would do, thank you.
- You need sugar to make this kind of candy - but not just any kind of sugar would do; you must use brown sugar.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Demonyms


demonym - 一个国家居民的名称。Angelenos - 居住在洛杉矶的居民的名称。Floridians -居住在弗罗里达州的居民的名称Italians - 意大利人Asians - 亚洲人。Earthlings - 地球人。French (n), (adj) - 法国人，法国的。Chinese (n) (adj) - 中国人，中国的Nepal (n) 尼泊尔, Nepali (adj)- 尼泊尔的 , Nepalese (n) -尼泊尔人。Mexico - 墨西哥的 (move last letter 'o' add 'an' ) to be Mexican - 墨西哥人.


Language Lab
browse v.
to look at many things in a store, in a newspaper, etc., to see if there is something interesting or worth buying [no obj] ▪ Several customers were browsing in the bookstore. — often + through
- Samuel browsed through all his textbooks before the semester started.
- I'm not looking for any particular items; I'm just browsing. 隨意看看

sacrifice v.
to kill (a person or animal) in a religious ceremony as an offering to please a god
- The elder of the tribe sacrificed a goat to worship their god.
o give up (something that you want to keep) especially in order to get or do something else or to help someone [+ obj]
- Louise sacrificed her career to take care of her family.
sacrifice n.
the act of giving up something that you want to keep especially in order to get or do something else or to help someone [count]
- Many parents are willing to make sacrifices for their kids.

professor n. [pro-大眾, 公開/ fess-說話]
a teacher especially of the highest rank at a college or university
profess v.
to say or declare (something) openly
- Alex is now an assistant professor at Harvard University.
profession n.
a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill
-He's a lawyer by profession.

nonprofit adj.
not existing or done for the purpose of making a profit
non- prefix: not
- This nonprofit agency is famous for helping AIDS babies.
- This nonprofit program helps homeless kids stay in school.
for-profit adj.
existing or done for the purpose of making a profit


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The Tale of Tolkien (3)

The Hobbit enjoyed instant success, and the publishing company asked for a sequel. So Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings, a longer, more complex tale. Rayner Unwin, now an adult, helped publish The Lord of the Rings. It was so long that it came out in three parts in 1954 and 1955.

Tolkien's Legacy 
Tolkien died 40 years ago this month. He was a committed father to his four children. He received an honorary degree from Oxford for his studies. But his greatest legacy is his stories. Tolkien wrote many tales besides The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. They tell about good and evil, the importance of friendship and making right decisions.

Tolkien's life shaped his stories. The peaceful, beautiful Shire resembles the English countryside where Tolkien grew up. Some think the evil land of Mordor came from Tolkien's war experiences. His relationship with his wife inspired the love stories he wrote. Through his work, Tolkien has brought joy, hope and encouragement to millions.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Million vs. Millions

Today, let's take a look at the word "million". Steve, can we add an "s" at the end of million?

Well, if we look at today's text, we see that yes we can. Tolkien's work has brought joy, hope, and encouragement to millions.

So, that will be millions of people. What about "three millions"? Can I say, "I hear you have three millions in your bank account"?

Well, I wish you could say that Ken, but sadly, you can't.

Now, first of all, when there's a number in front of the words dozen, hundred, thousand, and million, we cannot add an "s" to them.

Second of all, there is a lot less than three million in my bank account.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Now, if we don't have an exact number like "two million", and we just want to say a large amount of something, we could use millions like sentence in our lesson.

That't right! And, the same thing can be said for the other words, dozens of cars were stolen, hundreds of people attended the meeting, thousands of flowers were in bloom. But they're all estimates - not exact numbers.


Language Lab
sequel n.
sequ- it follows
a book, movie, etc., that continues a story begun in another book, movie, etc.;
- The sequels to "Iron Man" are now on DVD.
something that happens after and usually as a result of a previous event
- The conflicts on the city streets were sequels to the riot at last night's soccer game.

complex adj.
not easy to understand or explain : not simple
- The complex situation between the couple is beyond my understanding.
having parts that connect or go together in complicated ways
- Billy's factory is located in an industrial complex in Chicago.

resemble v.
/rɪˈzɛmbəl/
to look or be like (someone or something)
- Sunny really resembles her grandmother.
- The city resembled a war zone after the earthquake.

inspire v.
to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create
- The movie was actually inspired by a headline news report.
inspiration n.
something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone
- The writer finds her inspiration in her friends and family.


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The Tale of Tolkien (2)

But soon Tolkien faced his darkest trial - fighting in World War I, Life as a soldier was difficult, painful and dangerous. Tolkien became sick and had to return to England. Others were not so lucky. "by 1918, all but one of my close friends were dead." Tolkien later wrote.

Back in England, Tolkien became a scholar. He taught literature classes at Oxford University, did research and wrote-several influential papers. He continued to love languages, studying Greek, Anglo Saxon, Finnish and more. But Tolkien didn't just study languages; he invented his own! They added to the rich setting of the fantasy stories he had been writing for years.

The Hobbit
One day while grading tests, Tolkien found a blank page. He wrote the sentence, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." This began his children's story The Hobbit. When it was finished, a friend gave it to publisher Stanley Unwin. Unwin's 10-year-old, Rayner, loved the book, so Unwin published it in 1937.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Two Meanings of “All But”

So, Ken, have you finished all the books I lent you?

All but one, I'm still in the middle of "The Spy Catcher".

OK. Friends, did you catch that exchange? So then, let me ask, did Ken finish one book or does he have one book to finish?

And the answer is the latter. The phrase "all but one" means all except one.

Steve lent me five book in total. I've read four so far. I finished all but one book.

You could replace the word "but" with the word "except". All except one. Now the phrase "all but" can have another meaning - almost or very nearly.

Right! Here is an example. In some places, bus service has all but disappeared.

And that means bus sevice has almost disappeared.

You might see just one or two buses a day in those places.

Or we might talk about a dying language that's all but forgotten.

Hardly anyone speaks it anymore.

Hmm, what a shame.


Language Lab
scholar n.
a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it : an intelligent and well-educated person who knows a particular subject very well
- Many scholars participated in this conference.
- Dr. Williams is a well-respected scholar who specializes in Mayan culture.
scholarship n.
an amount of money that is given by a school, an organization, etc., to a student to help pay for the student's education
- Wesley got a scholarship to Princeton.

influential adj.
/ˌɪnfluˈɛnʃəl/
having the power to cause changes : having influence
- Eric is an influential biochemist.
influence v.
/ˈɪnˌflu:wəns/
the power to change or affect someone or something : the power to cause changes without directly forcing them to happen [noncount]
- Brenda is always influenced by other people's comments.

fantasy n.
something that is produced by the imagination : an idea about doing something that is far removed from normal reality
- The little girl lives in a fantasy world.
- The book is full of fantasies and exotic stories.
fantasize v.
/ˈfæntəˌsaɪz/
to imagine doing things that you are very unlikely to do : to have fantasies [no obj] — often + about
- Dave fantasized about becoming the world's greatest baseball batter.

publish v.
to prepare and produce (a book, magazine, etc.) for sale;
to make (something) known to many people : to make a public announcement of (something)
- The writer's first poetry was published in 1983.
publisher n.
a person or company that produces books, magazines, etc.
- Random House is a famous international publisher.


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[Advanced] Is Your Boss Tracking You?

Monitoring employees helps businesses increase efficiency—but at what cost?
by Alana Semuels / © 2013, Los Angeles Times. Distributed by MCT Information Services.

Phil Richards used to like his job driving a forklift in a produce and meat warehouse. He took pride in steering a case of beef with precision.Now, he says, he has to speed through the warehouse to meet quotas, tracked by bosses each step of the way. Through a headset, a voice tells him what to do and how much time he has to do it.

It makes the Unified Grocers warehouse in California operate smoothly with fewer employees, but it also makes Richards’ work stressful.“We’re just like human machines,” said Richards, 52. “But with machines, they don’t care whether you feel good, or if you’re having a bad day.”

Keeping an eye on employees
Technology has eliminated many onerous work tasks, but it’s now one of the factors contributing to a harsher work environment.Employers are using technology to read emails and monitor keystrokes, measure which employees spend the most time on social-networking websites and track their movements inside and outside the office. They can see who works fastest and who talks the most on the phone. They can monitor how much time people spend talking to co-workers—and how much time they spend in the bathroom.

It’s all part of an effort to drive down costs and squeeze as much production as possible out of each employee.“In the kind of economic environment we’re in now, companies become very risk-averse. Managers at every level are saying, ‘I need to know what everyone is doing,’” said Peter Cheese, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a global association of human resource professionals. “But there is concern that this technology is being used in some Big Brother way to check in on employees.”


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