The wonderful Maryland Renaissance Festival takes place every weekend in the fall. Workers and actors dress like people from the Middle Ages and welcome all visitors. Comedies, talk shows, children's plays and stage dramas are performed throughout the day. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a big production as well. In addition, magic shows, sword fights and more attract audiences in every corner of the "village."
You can spot the king and queen greeting people or pausing for photos. Several sports and games are demonstrated in the arena. We actually tried using the bows and arrows while others participated in the tug of war game. The high point is the jousts. Two teams compete for the highest honor and rewards from the king and queen. The knights ride horses and use spear-like weapons to knock their opponents down. The audience is divided into two groups to cheer for their teams.
The food is traditional and tasty. We loved the big turkey legs and barbecue ribs. No forks or knives are needed.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Genius of Shakespeare
Our lesson today mentions a play without mentioning the playwright who wrote it.
There's no need, because we already know who wrote it: William Shakespeare.
And, Shakespeare is a name that needs no introduction.
He's the greatest English writer ever.
Four hundred years after his death, we're still reading his poetry, staging his plays, and making movies based on his works.
Shakespeare's contribution to the English language was massive.
He introduced over 1700 new vocabulary words into English, many of which we still use today.
From A Midsummer Night's Dream for example, came the words, flowery, rival, and mimic.
And then, there are the many words and phrases and common expressions that Shakespeare coined. From the same drama came the now familiar words and phrases: pale face, swift as a shadow, and fancy-free.
Shakespeare was also good at taking an existing word and creating a new form of it.
An example, which also comes from A Midsummer Night's Dream, is the word "moonbeam."
OK. Shakespeare had a tremendous vocabulary.
He used almost 18,000 different words in his writings, a tenth of which had never been used before.
Now, imagine, if every tenth word you used was an original word.
needs no introduction 不需要介紹，指家喻戶曉、大名鼎鼎的人
本文中提到 A midsummer Night's Dream (仲夏夜之夢)
並沒有說明是誰寫的,
因為它的作者 Shakespeare (莎士比亞)是一位不需要介紹的人
Shakespeare：
1.是歷史上最偉大的英文作家, 直到死後四百年, 世人還在閱讀他寫的詩、演出他寫的戲劇或拍他的劇本改編的電影
2.英文單字中, 有超過1700個字是他創造的,
如：flowery, rival, mimic, fancy-free 都是源自於仲夏夜之夢
Language Lab
comedy n.喜劇；喜劇成分、喜劇性
a play, movie, television program, novel, etc., that is meant to make people laugh
things that are done and said to make an audience laugh : comic entertainment
the funny or amusing part of something : humor
- Renee enjoys romantic comedies.
Renee喜歡看浪漫愛情的喜劇
- When the professor suddenly forgot his points, it provided some good comedy during the dull lecture.
當教授突然忘記他的重點時，這時提供了無趣講座中的一些樂趣
pause v. n.暫停、停頓
a temporary stop : a period of time in which something is stopped before it is started again
a control that you use when you want to stop a recorded song, movie, etc., for a short time
- Vivian paused awhile to calm down before continuing her speech.
Vivian停頓一下，安定情緒之後，繼續她的演講
- Theo had to pause to clear his throat.
Theo必須停下來，清一下喉嚨。
- After a long pause, Richard started to talk again.
經過很長時間的停頓，Richard又開始說話
opponent n.對手、敵手
a person, team, group, etc., that is competing against another in a contest
- The team studied their opponent's strategies before the game.
這支隊伍比賽前研究他們對手的戰略
- Nathan and Tom are business opponents, but they are also very close friends.
Nathan和Tom是生意上的競爭對手，但也是非常要好的朋友
cheer v.喝采、歡呼
to shout with joy, approval, or enthusiasm
- The crowd cheered at the player made a rebound.
當這位球員籃板球得分時，觀眾發出歡呼
- Lawry's family and friends drove all the way from San Francisco to cheer for him.
Lawry的家人朋友特地從舊金山開車來為他加油
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Fall Festivals in Maryland (1)
Fun in the fall
In October, a variety of produce is ripe and ready for people to enjoy. The pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farms and orchards are open to the public. Apples, pumpkins and other vegetables wait! Haystacks are built for children to jump on. This is family fun during the harvest season.
When we arrived at the apple orchard, we saw many people pushing handcarts from the parking lot to the orchard. But we just grabbed two big baskets, which we filled up quickly. After walking around the orchard with two baskets of apples, I knew why people had chosen the handcart!
Our next stop was the pumpkin patch. We could choose pumpkins from piles or pick our own. Many Americans put pumpkins on their front steps at Halloween. Some carve a face in a pumpkin and put a candle in it. They call this decoration a jack-o-lantern. We could 't leave without buying some homemade apple desserts. Fresh hot or cold apple cider is also perfect for the season.
Grammar Gym
"Apples, pumpkins and other vegetables wait!"
wait
1. if you are waiting for something that you expect or hope will happen or arrive, it has not happened or arrived yet:
- I need to wait for the bus.
2. to be ready or available
- When the kids got home, they found dinner waiting on the table.
- The manager has a stack of reports waiting on his desk as well as several phone calls to return.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Compound Words
Today, let's highlight one of the ways English words come into existence through the formation of compound words.
Ok. Compound words are made up of what we call primary words- what we might call the basic building blocks of English.
Primary words are simple nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and pronoun, like the words, sun, run, fun, so, and you.
Now, two or primary words in any combination can produce a compound word.
Compound words come in three forms.
Let's look at each form in the order it appears in today's lesson.
The first is the hyphenated form, like "take-your-own."
In this example, we see three primary words brought together, but separated by hyphens, to form one new word.
The second compound form is the closed form, which are two primary words stuck together back-to-back.
We see a few of these in today's lesson, like "haystack" and "handcart."
The third form is the open form, two primary words separated by a space.
A little further along in the lesson, we see an example, "parking lot."
Ok. Knowing how compound words are created will enable you to create some new English words of your own.
Hey, who says you can't?
compound words複合詞
由兩個或兩個以上的primary words(基本字)組成的，共有三種類型：
1.由hyphen連字組成的
- The pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farms.
2.將兩個基本字合併成一個字，如haystacks, handcart, haircut, greenhouse..etc.
3.兩個分開的基本字，如parking lot,high school, post office..etc.
Language Lab
produce n.農產品
food or other things that have been grown or produced on a farm to be sold
- The produce in the open-air market looks so fresh.
這個露天市場的農產品看起來很新鮮
produce v.製作、生產
to make, write etc something to be bought, used, or enjoyed by people
- The award-winning team produced many blockbusters.
這個得獎的團隊製作過許多電影巨片
grab v.抓取 grabbed-grabbing
to take hold of someone or something with a sudden or violent movement
- The police officer grabbed the thief's arm and arrested him.
警官抓住了小偷的手臂，並且逮捕他
- The boy grabbed a handful of cookies from the jar.
這個男孩從罐子裡抓起滿手的餅乾
decoration n.裝飾、裝飾品；裝潢
something that is added to something else to make it more attractive
- The decorations for the surprise party were hung last night.
這個驚喜派對的裝飾品，昨晚就掛起來了
- The unique style of decoration of the cafe attracts a lot of customers.
這家咖啡店獨特風格的裝潢，吸引了許多顧客
homemade adj.自製的、自家做的
made in the home and not in a factory, store, etc.
- Grandma's homemade jam is famous in the neighborhood.
奶奶自製的果醬在鄰里間非常出名
- Mom always keeps homemade lemonade in our fridge.
媽媽總是會在冰箱裡預備自製的檸檬汁
In October, a variety of produce is ripe and ready for people to enjoy. The pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farms and orchards are open to the public. Apples, pumpkins and other vegetables wait! Haystacks are built for children to jump on. This is family fun during the harvest season.
When we arrived at the apple orchard, we saw many people pushing handcarts from the parking lot to the orchard. But we just grabbed two big baskets, which we filled up quickly. After walking around the orchard with two baskets of apples, I knew why people had chosen the handcart!
Our next stop was the pumpkin patch. We could choose pumpkins from piles or pick our own. Many Americans put pumpkins on their front steps at Halloween. Some carve a face in a pumpkin and put a candle in it. They call this decoration a jack-o-lantern. We could 't leave without buying some homemade apple desserts. Fresh hot or cold apple cider is also perfect for the season.
Grammar Gym
"Apples, pumpkins and other vegetables wait!"
wait
1. if you are waiting for something that you expect or hope will happen or arrive, it has not happened or arrived yet:
- I need to wait for the bus.
2. to be ready or available
- When the kids got home, they found dinner waiting on the table.
- The manager has a stack of reports waiting on his desk as well as several phone calls to return.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Compound Words
Today, let's highlight one of the ways English words come into existence through the formation of compound words.
Ok. Compound words are made up of what we call primary words- what we might call the basic building blocks of English.
Primary words are simple nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and pronoun, like the words, sun, run, fun, so, and you.
Now, two or primary words in any combination can produce a compound word.
Compound words come in three forms.
Let's look at each form in the order it appears in today's lesson.
The first is the hyphenated form, like "take-your-own."
In this example, we see three primary words brought together, but separated by hyphens, to form one new word.
The second compound form is the closed form, which are two primary words stuck together back-to-back.
We see a few of these in today's lesson, like "haystack" and "handcart."
The third form is the open form, two primary words separated by a space.
A little further along in the lesson, we see an example, "parking lot."
Ok. Knowing how compound words are created will enable you to create some new English words of your own.
Hey, who says you can't?
compound words複合詞
由兩個或兩個以上的primary words(基本字)組成的，共有三種類型：
1.由hyphen連字組成的
- The pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farms.
2.將兩個基本字合併成一個字，如haystacks, handcart, haircut, greenhouse..etc.
3.兩個分開的基本字，如parking lot,high school, post office..etc.
Language Lab
produce n.農產品
food or other things that have been grown or produced on a farm to be sold
- The produce in the open-air market looks so fresh.
這個露天市場的農產品看起來很新鮮
produce v.製作、生產
to make, write etc something to be bought, used, or enjoyed by people
- The award-winning team produced many blockbusters.
這個得獎的團隊製作過許多電影巨片
grab v.抓取 grabbed-grabbing
to take hold of someone or something with a sudden or violent movement
- The police officer grabbed the thief's arm and arrested him.
警官抓住了小偷的手臂，並且逮捕他
- The boy grabbed a handful of cookies from the jar.
這個男孩從罐子裡抓起滿手的餅乾
decoration n.裝飾、裝飾品；裝潢
something that is added to something else to make it more attractive
- The decorations for the surprise party were hung last night.
這個驚喜派對的裝飾品，昨晚就掛起來了
- The unique style of decoration of the cafe attracts a lot of customers.
這家咖啡店獨特風格的裝潢，吸引了許多顧客
homemade adj.自製的、自家做的
made in the home and not in a factory, store, etc.
- Grandma's homemade jam is famous in the neighborhood.
奶奶自製的果醬在鄰里間非常出名
- Mom always keeps homemade lemonade in our fridge.
媽媽總是會在冰箱裡預備自製的檸檬汁
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
The Whistlers of Mexico (2)
The Chinantec lifestyle
Over 104,000 Chinantec people live in northern Daxasa, Mexico, mostly in small villages where their traditional languages are spoken. Some temporarily move to Mexico city to work but most return home afterward. Most Chinantecs farm maize and beans. They also produce coffee, timber and chili peppers as well as pottery and baskets. Most of them no longer wear traditional clothing except on special occasions, but they may make and sell it.
The whistled language is mostly used by men, and while women usually can interpret it, they don't "speak" it.
A threatened lifestyle
Chinantec whistling has ancient roots, but can it survive in a changing world? Modern inventions like cellphones are replacing whistling as a form of long-distance communication. And the Chinantec languages themselves may be in danger. As Spanish becomes more and more prevalent, even within Chinantec communities, some fear that traditional languages will disappear. Linguists are studying this unique and fascinating language while they have the chance. Yet they hope that Chinantec whistles will fly over the mountains for years to come.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Quantifiers
Quantifiers are, as the name suggests, words that express the quantity of something.
They're different from numbers in that they don't give a precise amount, they're approximate.
Some of the most common quantifiers are "all," "some," "much," and "most."
And quantifiers normally come before nouns.
In today's lesson, our author writes, "Most Chinantecans farm maize and beans."
"Most" is the quantifier here, and it modifies the noun Chinantecan.
And so, we learn that not all Chinantecans are farmers who raise maize and beans.
Quantifiers can sometimes act as pronouns, though.
Let's look back to the previous sentence for an example.
OK. In it we read, "Some temporarily move to Mexico City to work, but most return home afterward."
Here, the quantifiers, "some" and "most," are acting as pronouns.
OK. Finally, we should know that certain quantifiers only work for certain kinds of nouns.
Right. The quantifier "most," for example, works for both uncountable nouns, like maize, and countable nouns, like beans.
Others, like "a little," work only with uncountable nouns: a little maize.
Well, other quantifiers, like "each," work only with countable nouns: each bean.
Now, the best way to keep quantifiers straight: practice.
quantifier n.數量詞、量詞
1. 代表大約的數量
such as "all", "some", "much", "most", "a little", "each", "any", "a lot of"...etc.
2. 量詞有時可當代名詞
- Some temporarily move to Mexico city to work but most return home afterward.
some, most 都是代名詞
3.a little只可用來修飾不可數名詞
- There is a little time left.
4.each可修飾可數名詞
- My technique improved with each lesson.
Language Lab
temporarily adv.暫時地、短暫地
/ˌtɛmpəˈrerəli/
continuing for a limited amount of time : not permanent
- Sherry is staying with her sister temporarily, and then she will get her own place.
Sherry現在暫時和妹妹住，然後她會找自己的住處
temporary adj.
/ˈtɛmpəˌreri/
- Timothy needs a temporary job to earn money for his tuition.
Timothy需要一份暫時的工作來賺取學費
chili pepper 墨西哥紅蕃椒
a small pepper with a very hot flavor —called also chili pepper
- Daniel loves to put chopped up chili peppers on his pizza.
Daniel喜歡在他的披薩上放切碎的紅番椒
red pepper 紅辣椒
a hot pepper that is red and that is added to food to make it spicy ; also [noncount] : cayenne pepper
- The chef used some red peppers to decorate the dish.
主廚用紅辣椒來裝飾這道菜
prevalent adj.普遍的、盛行的
/ˈprɛvələnt/
- Addiction to computer games is prevalent among teens.
沉迷電腦遊戲在青少年中是常見的
prevalence n.
/ˈprɛvələns/
[noncount] formal — usually + of
- The campaign fights against the prevalence of smoking among young people.
這個宣傳活動就是要遏止年輕人抽菸的普遍問題
fascinating adj.迷人的、極好的
/ˈfæsəˌneɪtɪŋ/
very interesting or appealing
-The plot of the hit movie was so fascinating that a lot of viewers went back to see it a second time.
這部電影的情節太棒了，因此許多觀眾回來看第二次
- The fascinating view of the lake captured our eyes.
這座湖泊的美景吸引我們的視線
fascinate v.
/ˈfæsəˌneɪt/
to cause (someone) to be very interested in something or someone [+ obj]
Over 104,000 Chinantec people live in northern Daxasa, Mexico, mostly in small villages where their traditional languages are spoken. Some temporarily move to Mexico city to work but most return home afterward. Most Chinantecs farm maize and beans. They also produce coffee, timber and chili peppers as well as pottery and baskets. Most of them no longer wear traditional clothing except on special occasions, but they may make and sell it.
The whistled language is mostly used by men, and while women usually can interpret it, they don't "speak" it.
A threatened lifestyle
Chinantec whistling has ancient roots, but can it survive in a changing world? Modern inventions like cellphones are replacing whistling as a form of long-distance communication. And the Chinantec languages themselves may be in danger. As Spanish becomes more and more prevalent, even within Chinantec communities, some fear that traditional languages will disappear. Linguists are studying this unique and fascinating language while they have the chance. Yet they hope that Chinantec whistles will fly over the mountains for years to come.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Quantifiers
Quantifiers are, as the name suggests, words that express the quantity of something.
They're different from numbers in that they don't give a precise amount, they're approximate.
Some of the most common quantifiers are "all," "some," "much," and "most."
And quantifiers normally come before nouns.
In today's lesson, our author writes, "Most Chinantecans farm maize and beans."
"Most" is the quantifier here, and it modifies the noun Chinantecan.
And so, we learn that not all Chinantecans are farmers who raise maize and beans.
Quantifiers can sometimes act as pronouns, though.
Let's look back to the previous sentence for an example.
OK. In it we read, "Some temporarily move to Mexico City to work, but most return home afterward."
Here, the quantifiers, "some" and "most," are acting as pronouns.
OK. Finally, we should know that certain quantifiers only work for certain kinds of nouns.
Right. The quantifier "most," for example, works for both uncountable nouns, like maize, and countable nouns, like beans.
Others, like "a little," work only with uncountable nouns: a little maize.
Well, other quantifiers, like "each," work only with countable nouns: each bean.
Now, the best way to keep quantifiers straight: practice.
quantifier n.數量詞、量詞
1. 代表大約的數量
such as "all", "some", "much", "most", "a little", "each", "any", "a lot of"...etc.
2. 量詞有時可當代名詞
- Some temporarily move to Mexico city to work but most return home afterward.
some, most 都是代名詞
3.a little只可用來修飾不可數名詞
- There is a little time left.
4.each可修飾可數名詞
- My technique improved with each lesson.
Language Lab
temporarily adv.暫時地、短暫地
/ˌtɛmpəˈrerəli/
continuing for a limited amount of time : not permanent
- Sherry is staying with her sister temporarily, and then she will get her own place.
Sherry現在暫時和妹妹住，然後她會找自己的住處
temporary adj.
/ˈtɛmpəˌreri/
- Timothy needs a temporary job to earn money for his tuition.
Timothy需要一份暫時的工作來賺取學費
chili pepper 墨西哥紅蕃椒
a small pepper with a very hot flavor —called also chili pepper
- Daniel loves to put chopped up chili peppers on his pizza.
Daniel喜歡在他的披薩上放切碎的紅番椒
red pepper 紅辣椒
a hot pepper that is red and that is added to food to make it spicy ; also [noncount] : cayenne pepper
- The chef used some red peppers to decorate the dish.
主廚用紅辣椒來裝飾這道菜
prevalent adj.普遍的、盛行的
/ˈprɛvələnt/
- Addiction to computer games is prevalent among teens.
沉迷電腦遊戲在青少年中是常見的
prevalence n.
/ˈprɛvələns/
[noncount] formal — usually + of
- The campaign fights against the prevalence of smoking among young people.
這個宣傳活動就是要遏止年輕人抽菸的普遍問題
fascinating adj.迷人的、極好的
/ˈfæsəˌneɪtɪŋ/
very interesting or appealing
-The plot of the hit movie was so fascinating that a lot of viewers went back to see it a second time.
這部電影的情節太棒了，因此許多觀眾回來看第二次
- The fascinating view of the lake captured our eyes.
這座湖泊的美景吸引我們的視線
fascinate v.
/ˈfæsəˌneɪt/
to cause (someone) to be very interested in something or someone [+ obj]
Monday, October 28, 2013
The Whistlers of Mexico (1)
For the Chinantec people, whistling is a language
對奇南特克人而言，吹口哨是一種語言
If you find yourself in Mexico's Sierra Madre del Sol mountains, listen for a whistle floating across the rugged peaks. Then listen for an answer - you may overhear a conversation in a rare and unusual language.
For centuries, the Chinantec people have lived in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. They established villages and planted crops on the steep slopes. But the rough landscape made travel - and communication - difficult.
Shouting over the mountains can strain one's voice, but whistling does not. So some Chinantecs developed a language composed entirely of whistles. It can express almost every word in their spoken language. Some scholars think this form of communication dates back to the time of the first languages. Chinantecs use different styles of whistling at different distances. The shortest is used face to face.
A median-range style can be heard up to 200 meters away. And for long-distance communication, they place their fingers in their mouths and let out a piercing whistle. In some circumstances, it can be heard over a Kilometer away.
Grammar Gym
find yourself: you are
- If you find yourself in Mexico's Sierra Madre del Sol mountains...
- If you find yourself wondering what the tour guide is saying please don't hesitate to ask for clarification.
- After studying chemistry for two years, Dennis found himself feeling bored in his classes.
Info Cloud
Oh, I am so close.
Huh... so close to what, Ken?
Well, I'm trying to make an anagram, using the words "Chinantecan whistlers."
And, what have you got so far?
"When a rich cat listens," but that doesn't make sense.
Plus, I have an extra 'n' I don't know what to do with.
Hmm... keep trying.
Friends, an anagram is a type of word play.
You make one by rearranging the letters in a word or phrase to produce an altogether new word or phrase.
Now the tricky part is each letter from the original word or phrase may only be used once.
And, it needs to make sense.
Anagrams have been around for centuries.
They've been used by scientists and diplomats to create secret messages.
They've been used by psychiatrists to test patients' memories.
But, mostly anagrams have been used for fun.
The best anagrams have in some way a connection with the original work.
For example, "dormitory" can be turned into "dirty road."
See the connection?
Good one, how about the anagrams "two plus eleven" and "one plus twelve?"
Not only do both use the same letters, they give the same mathematical result, thirteen.
anagram n.變位詞(組)
將一個單字裡的字母或片語拆開，重新排列組合成另一個單字或片語
such as： tea --- eat (重新排列成eat)
dormitory 重新排列成 dirty room
Language Lab
overhear v.偶然聽到、無意中聽到、偷聽
to hear (something that was said to another person) by accident [+ obj]
- The patient overheard the doctors discussing his condition.
這位病人無意中聽到醫生們在討論他的病情
- Gina intentionally stood close to the judges to overhear the results of the contest.
Gina故意站著離評審很近，想要偷聽比賽結果
establish v.建立、設立
to begin or create (something that is meant to last for a long time)
- The charitable organization was established by a group of teachers.
這個慈善機構是由一群老師所建立的
establishment n.建立；企業、機構
a place or organization where people live or do business
- The food chain is a well organized establishment.
那個餐廳連鎖企業非常的有組織
be + composed of 由某些事物(人)組成的
- The band is composed of top musicians.
這個樂團是由頂尖的樂手組成的
- Her diet was composed of mainly vegetables and chicken breasts..
她的餐飲主要是由蔬菜和雞胸肉所組成的
circumstance n.情況、環境、境遇
the conditions that affect a situation, action, event etc:
- Under the circumstances, we have to cut our expenses as much as possible.
就目前情況而言，我們必須盡量減少開銷
- Under no circumstances will we agree to sell our store.
在任何情況下，我們都不會賣掉我們的店
對奇南特克人而言，吹口哨是一種語言
If you find yourself in Mexico's Sierra Madre del Sol mountains, listen for a whistle floating across the rugged peaks. Then listen for an answer - you may overhear a conversation in a rare and unusual language.
For centuries, the Chinantec people have lived in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. They established villages and planted crops on the steep slopes. But the rough landscape made travel - and communication - difficult.
Shouting over the mountains can strain one's voice, but whistling does not. So some Chinantecs developed a language composed entirely of whistles. It can express almost every word in their spoken language. Some scholars think this form of communication dates back to the time of the first languages. Chinantecs use different styles of whistling at different distances. The shortest is used face to face.
A median-range style can be heard up to 200 meters away. And for long-distance communication, they place their fingers in their mouths and let out a piercing whistle. In some circumstances, it can be heard over a Kilometer away.
Grammar Gym
find yourself: you are
- If you find yourself in Mexico's Sierra Madre del Sol mountains...
- If you find yourself wondering what the tour guide is saying please don't hesitate to ask for clarification.
- After studying chemistry for two years, Dennis found himself feeling bored in his classes.
Info Cloud
Oh, I am so close.
Huh... so close to what, Ken?
Well, I'm trying to make an anagram, using the words "Chinantecan whistlers."
And, what have you got so far?
"When a rich cat listens," but that doesn't make sense.
Plus, I have an extra 'n' I don't know what to do with.
Hmm... keep trying.
Friends, an anagram is a type of word play.
You make one by rearranging the letters in a word or phrase to produce an altogether new word or phrase.
Now the tricky part is each letter from the original word or phrase may only be used once.
And, it needs to make sense.
Anagrams have been around for centuries.
They've been used by scientists and diplomats to create secret messages.
They've been used by psychiatrists to test patients' memories.
But, mostly anagrams have been used for fun.
The best anagrams have in some way a connection with the original work.
For example, "dormitory" can be turned into "dirty road."
See the connection?
Good one, how about the anagrams "two plus eleven" and "one plus twelve?"
Not only do both use the same letters, they give the same mathematical result, thirteen.
anagram n.變位詞(組)
將一個單字裡的字母或片語拆開，重新排列組合成另一個單字或片語
such as： tea --- eat (重新排列成eat)
dormitory 重新排列成 dirty room
Language Lab
overhear v.偶然聽到、無意中聽到、偷聽
to hear (something that was said to another person) by accident [+ obj]
- The patient overheard the doctors discussing his condition.
這位病人無意中聽到醫生們在討論他的病情
- Gina intentionally stood close to the judges to overhear the results of the contest.
Gina故意站著離評審很近，想要偷聽比賽結果
establish v.建立、設立
to begin or create (something that is meant to last for a long time)
- The charitable organization was established by a group of teachers.
這個慈善機構是由一群老師所建立的
establishment n.建立；企業、機構
a place or organization where people live or do business
- The food chain is a well organized establishment.
那個餐廳連鎖企業非常的有組織
be + composed of 由某些事物(人)組成的
- The band is composed of top musicians.
這個樂團是由頂尖的樂手組成的
- Her diet was composed of mainly vegetables and chicken breasts..
她的餐飲主要是由蔬菜和雞胸肉所組成的
circumstance n.情況、環境、境遇
the conditions that affect a situation, action, event etc:
- Under the circumstances, we have to cut our expenses as much as possible.
就目前情況而言，我們必須盡量減少開銷
- Under no circumstances will we agree to sell our store.
在任何情況下，我們都不會賣掉我們的店
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Making Old Sports New (2)
Bossball
This exciting sport is part volleyball and part soccer. But unlike both of those sports, players jump up and down throughout the game. That's because it's played on an inflatable volleyball court with a trampoline on either side of the net. One player bounces on the trampoline while up to four others stand around it. A team can touch the ball six times before sending it back across the net. Each player may touch the ball once with arms or twice with other body parts.
Cycleball
Another fun game to watch, cycleball is like indoor soccer on wheels. Each player rides a special bike designed for the game. Like soccer, a team must put the ball in a goal. However, there is a catch.
The ball can only be touched with the bike's wheels or the players' heads. This game requires a lot of practice to learn the skills needed. Though these sports may not be common, give them a look or even a try.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Win vs. Beat
This lesson about sports give us good reason to review the difference between the words, "win" and "beat."
Now, some people, even native English speakers, use these two words as if they were synonymous, but they're not.
So, let's try to clear up the confusion.
OK. Use "win" when you want to focus on the competition.
For example, you win a game or you win a race.
Using "beat" on the other hand, puts the focus on the person or the team that loses.
You beat your opponent.
Your opponent beat you or your team beat the other team.
Now, when using "win", you don't need an object because it's understood or unstated.
That's why you can say, "we will win", but you cannot say, "we will win you."
Right! However, when using "beat", you do need that object.
For example, we will beat you.
Unless you are trying to gain a person's affection or support.
Used in this way, a boy might try to win a girl's affection by sending her flowers.
That is the only time "win" is followed by an object.
But again, to summarize, you win a competition, but you beat a person.
win (在競賽、遊戲、選舉中)獲勝
1.著眼於competition
2.不及物動詞，不需要受詞
3.當及物動詞時，表示獲得、贏得something.
- We won the game.
- We will win.(不可說We will win you.)
我們將會獲勝
- I win a girl's heart. 我贏得一個女孩的芳心
beat 打敗、勝過
1.著眼於person
2.及物動詞，需要受詞
- We beat our opponent. 我們打敗了對手
- They beat us. 他們把我們打敗了
- We will beat you. 我們會把你們打敗
Grammar Gym
to give something a look- to look at something with attention
- Though these sports may not be common, give them a look or even a try.
- Jerry saw a strange statue not far from him and he decided to walk over and give it a look.
- The manager handed the report to his secretary and asked her to give it a look.
Language Lab
unlike prep.不像某人
completely different from a particular person or thing
- Unlike most teenagers, Ricky doesn't like playing online games.
與大部分青少年不同Ricky不喜歡玩線上遊戲
- It was so unlike Alex to talk back to his teacher.
Alex居然和老師頂嘴，真的不像他
inflatable adj.可充氣的、可膨脹的 in-進入
inflate v.充氣、使膨脹
to add air or gas to (something, such as a tire or a balloon) and make it larger
- Kids are playing in the inflatable castle.
孩子們在充氣的城堡裡玩
- The inflatable pad is part of our camping equipment.
這個充氣式的墊子是我們的露營裝備之一
- The flight attendant is demonstrating how to inflate a life jacket.
空服員正在示範如何將救生衣充氣
indoor adj.室內的 outdoor 室外的 indoors adv. [compare outdoor]
done, living, located, or used inside a building
- There is an indoor swimming in the school.
- Maggie prefers outdoor exercises than indoor sports.
- The cold weather kept the kids indoors.
冷天讓孩子們都留在室內
- It's great to go outdoors and get some fresh air.
到戶外走走、呼吸新鮮空氣，很舒服
catch n.圈套、陷阱、隱藏的困難
a hidden problem or difficulty
- The job offer is way too good, there must be a catch somewhere.
這個工作條件太好了，一定有問題
- The restaurant provides meals, but the catch is that you'll be too busy to eat.
餐廳會提供餐點，但問題是你會忙到沒時間吃飯
v.抓接住
to get hold of and stop an object such as a ball that is moving through the air
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131026baa5ef15b26a5c8268a04978695832bb221d58b477d9fa767197b613e89954ff12d.wma
This exciting sport is part volleyball and part soccer. But unlike both of those sports, players jump up and down throughout the game. That's because it's played on an inflatable volleyball court with a trampoline on either side of the net. One player bounces on the trampoline while up to four others stand around it. A team can touch the ball six times before sending it back across the net. Each player may touch the ball once with arms or twice with other body parts.
Cycleball
Another fun game to watch, cycleball is like indoor soccer on wheels. Each player rides a special bike designed for the game. Like soccer, a team must put the ball in a goal. However, there is a catch.
The ball can only be touched with the bike's wheels or the players' heads. This game requires a lot of practice to learn the skills needed. Though these sports may not be common, give them a look or even a try.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Win vs. Beat
This lesson about sports give us good reason to review the difference between the words, "win" and "beat."
Now, some people, even native English speakers, use these two words as if they were synonymous, but they're not.
So, let's try to clear up the confusion.
OK. Use "win" when you want to focus on the competition.
For example, you win a game or you win a race.
Using "beat" on the other hand, puts the focus on the person or the team that loses.
You beat your opponent.
Your opponent beat you or your team beat the other team.
Now, when using "win", you don't need an object because it's understood or unstated.
That's why you can say, "we will win", but you cannot say, "we will win you."
Right! However, when using "beat", you do need that object.
For example, we will beat you.
Unless you are trying to gain a person's affection or support.
Used in this way, a boy might try to win a girl's affection by sending her flowers.
That is the only time "win" is followed by an object.
But again, to summarize, you win a competition, but you beat a person.
win (在競賽、遊戲、選舉中)獲勝
1.著眼於competition
2.不及物動詞，不需要受詞
3.當及物動詞時，表示獲得、贏得something.
- We won the game.
- We will win.(不可說We will win you.)
我們將會獲勝
- I win a girl's heart. 我贏得一個女孩的芳心
beat 打敗、勝過
1.著眼於person
2.及物動詞，需要受詞
- We beat our opponent. 我們打敗了對手
- They beat us. 他們把我們打敗了
- We will beat you. 我們會把你們打敗
Grammar Gym
to give something a look- to look at something with attention
- Though these sports may not be common, give them a look or even a try.
- Jerry saw a strange statue not far from him and he decided to walk over and give it a look.
- The manager handed the report to his secretary and asked her to give it a look.
Language Lab
unlike prep.不像某人
completely different from a particular person or thing
- Unlike most teenagers, Ricky doesn't like playing online games.
與大部分青少年不同Ricky不喜歡玩線上遊戲
- It was so unlike Alex to talk back to his teacher.
Alex居然和老師頂嘴，真的不像他
inflatable adj.可充氣的、可膨脹的 in-進入
inflate v.充氣、使膨脹
to add air or gas to (something, such as a tire or a balloon) and make it larger
- Kids are playing in the inflatable castle.
孩子們在充氣的城堡裡玩
- The inflatable pad is part of our camping equipment.
這個充氣式的墊子是我們的露營裝備之一
- The flight attendant is demonstrating how to inflate a life jacket.
空服員正在示範如何將救生衣充氣
indoor adj.室內的 outdoor 室外的 indoors adv. [compare outdoor]
done, living, located, or used inside a building
- There is an indoor swimming in the school.
- Maggie prefers outdoor exercises than indoor sports.
- The cold weather kept the kids indoors.
冷天讓孩子們都留在室內
- It's great to go outdoors and get some fresh air.
到戶外走走、呼吸新鮮空氣，很舒服
catch n.圈套、陷阱、隱藏的困難
a hidden problem or difficulty
- The job offer is way too good, there must be a catch somewhere.
這個工作條件太好了，一定有問題
- The restaurant provides meals, but the catch is that you'll be too busy to eat.
餐廳會提供餐點，但問題是你會忙到沒時間吃飯
v.抓接住
to get hold of and stop an object such as a ball that is moving through the air
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131026baa5ef15b26a5c8268a04978695832bb221d58b477d9fa767197b613e89954ff12d.wma
Friday, October 25, 2013
Making Old Sports New (1)
New ways to play your favorite games
Basketball, baseball and soccer are classic sports that people will always enjoy. And yet we keep changing popular games like these in new ways to keep them fresh.
Underwater hockey
This game is played in swimming pools with two teams of six players. Each player has flippers, a snorkel and a stick used for hitting a puck. Each team earns points by hitting the puck into its underwater goal.
Other team members must be ready to take the puck when a team member goes up for air. That makes underwater hockey a true team sport.
Chessboxing
A sport can also be revised by mixing it with another game. In chessboxing, two players compete on the chess board and in the ring. First, their minds are tested in a game of chess. Then they use their strength in a round of boxing. They repeat this for 11 round. The winner beats the loser in chess, knocks him out while boxing or gets more boxing points.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: How to Cheer on a Team
This month's sports feature gives us a good excuse to discuss how to cheer on a sports team.
Knowing how to cheer a team on to victory in English isn't as easy as it might be in certain other languages.
The reason is the cheer depends on who it is exactly you want to cheer for.
That's right!
You can cheer the whole team on or just the team's offense or just the defense or you can cheer on an individual player.
Or if you and your friends feel like it, you can cheer against the other team.
But again, each cheer would be different, depending on who you're cheering for.
Also, the cheer you use will depend on which sport is being played.
If we use basketball as an example, a good cheer to use at the game would be, "Defense! Defense!"
But that's not something you hear at a baseball game.
OK.
Here is a good all purpose cheer you can use in any sport including under water hockey and chess boxing.
Insert the team's name or player's name between the phrases, "let's go."
The cheer will sound something like this, "Let's go, Ken, let's go! Let's go, Ken, let's go!"
OK.
Got it.
Language Lab
popular adj.受歡迎的、廣受大眾喜愛的
liked by a lot of people
- The Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular sites in Europe.
艾菲爾鐵塔是歐洲最受歡迎的景點之一
unpopular adj.不受歡迎的
not liked by most people
- Such an attitude made him unpopular in the company.
這種態度讓他在公司裡不受歡迎
underwater adj.水中的、水面下的
below the surface of an area of water, or able to be used there:
- The underwater lights make the fountain shine at night.
水中的照明燈讓這個噴水池在夜裡閃閃發亮
- Underwater aerobics is great for expecting moms because it's mild yet burns a lot of calories.
水中有氧舞蹈非常適合孕婦，因為既溫和又可消耗許多卡路里
revise v. 修改、修正；調整
to change something because of new information or ideas;
to change a piece of writing by adding new information, making improvements, or correcting mistakes
- Teresa spent a lot of time revising her English report.
Teresa花了許多時間，修改她的報告。
- After comparing themselves with their competitors, the company revised their prices.
經過與競爭者的比較後，公司決定要調整他們的價格。
compete v.競爭 competition n.
to try to gain something and stop someone else from having it or having as much of it
compete against
- Our team will compete against last year's state champion tonight.
我們的隊伍今天晚上要和去年的州冠軍決勝負
- The fierce competition attracted a large audience.
激烈的競爭，吸引了許多的觀眾
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131025_333db.wmv
Basketball, baseball and soccer are classic sports that people will always enjoy. And yet we keep changing popular games like these in new ways to keep them fresh.
Underwater hockey
This game is played in swimming pools with two teams of six players. Each player has flippers, a snorkel and a stick used for hitting a puck. Each team earns points by hitting the puck into its underwater goal.
Other team members must be ready to take the puck when a team member goes up for air. That makes underwater hockey a true team sport.
Chessboxing
A sport can also be revised by mixing it with another game. In chessboxing, two players compete on the chess board and in the ring. First, their minds are tested in a game of chess. Then they use their strength in a round of boxing. They repeat this for 11 round. The winner beats the loser in chess, knocks him out while boxing or gets more boxing points.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: How to Cheer on a Team
This month's sports feature gives us a good excuse to discuss how to cheer on a sports team.
Knowing how to cheer a team on to victory in English isn't as easy as it might be in certain other languages.
The reason is the cheer depends on who it is exactly you want to cheer for.
That's right!
You can cheer the whole team on or just the team's offense or just the defense or you can cheer on an individual player.
Or if you and your friends feel like it, you can cheer against the other team.
But again, each cheer would be different, depending on who you're cheering for.
Also, the cheer you use will depend on which sport is being played.
If we use basketball as an example, a good cheer to use at the game would be, "Defense! Defense!"
But that's not something you hear at a baseball game.
OK.
Here is a good all purpose cheer you can use in any sport including under water hockey and chess boxing.
Insert the team's name or player's name between the phrases, "let's go."
The cheer will sound something like this, "Let's go, Ken, let's go! Let's go, Ken, let's go!"
OK.
Got it.
Language Lab
popular adj.受歡迎的、廣受大眾喜愛的
liked by a lot of people
- The Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular sites in Europe.
艾菲爾鐵塔是歐洲最受歡迎的景點之一
unpopular adj.不受歡迎的
not liked by most people
- Such an attitude made him unpopular in the company.
這種態度讓他在公司裡不受歡迎
underwater adj.水中的、水面下的
below the surface of an area of water, or able to be used there:
- The underwater lights make the fountain shine at night.
水中的照明燈讓這個噴水池在夜裡閃閃發亮
- Underwater aerobics is great for expecting moms because it's mild yet burns a lot of calories.
水中有氧舞蹈非常適合孕婦，因為既溫和又可消耗許多卡路里
revise v. 修改、修正；調整
to change something because of new information or ideas;
to change a piece of writing by adding new information, making improvements, or correcting mistakes
- Teresa spent a lot of time revising her English report.
Teresa花了許多時間，修改她的報告。
- After comparing themselves with their competitors, the company revised their prices.
經過與競爭者的比較後，公司決定要調整他們的價格。
compete v.競爭 competition n.
to try to gain something and stop someone else from having it or having as much of it
compete against
- Our team will compete against last year's state champion tonight.
我們的隊伍今天晚上要和去年的州冠軍決勝負
- The fierce competition attracted a large audience.
激烈的競爭，吸引了許多的觀眾
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131025_333db.wmv
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
New Ways to Shop for Clothes (1) (2)
Some retailers are creating new in-store experiences
More and more shoppers are buying things online these days, allowing them to avoid aggressive salespeople and long lines at checkout counters. In spite of online convenience, however, there are some items - like clothes - that customers prefer to examine before buying. In light of this, two companies are finding ways to modernize stores and bridge the gap between online and in-store retail.
A software company that also happens to sell designer jeans, Hointer has created a fast and painless shopping experience for its customers. The company is led by Dr. Nadia Shouraboura, a former tech executive at Amazon.
Shoppers walk into a Hointer store and select one of the many pairs of jeans hanging down from bars. Then they point their smartphones of the tag and activate the Hointer app, after which they select the size and press "try on." The app then directs them to a specific dressing room. German-made robots retrieve the desired jeans and deliver them through a chute to the dressing room in about 30 seconds immediately after unwanted pairs of jeans are dropped through another chute, the "outbox," they disappear from the list in the app.
-----
Purchases at Hointer are made with a swipe of a credit card. And interacting with a salesperson is optional! This allows Hointer to hire fewer people and focus on their ultimate goal: developing technology that supports a retail revolution.
Men's clothing retailer Bonobos has come up with a more personalized shopping experience. Although it is -in fact - an online retailer, Bonobos has decided to open a handful of brick-and-mortar stores called Guideshops. Shoppers make an appointment online before arriving at a Guideshop, where they receive one-on-one attention from a fitting guide.
Because these shops have limited inventories, shoppers aren't able to take home the outfits they select. But guides help shoppers make online purchases before they leave, after which the items will be delivered to customers in one or two days. Following the purchase, the Bonobos customer service database keeps a record of each shopper's size, making future online purchases easier.
While Hointer focuses on convenience, Bonobos Guideshops focus on customer service. But both efforts have one thing in common: giving clothing retailers a new look for the 21st century.
Info Cloud (1)
Teaching Topic: The Art of Lining Up
You know, one thing in life that I absolutely hate is waiting in line.
Or as the British would say, "waiting in a queue."
Me too. Either a line or a queue, it's no fun to wait in one.
And what's even worse than waiting in line, seeing someone "cut in line" or as the British would say, "jump the queue."
Line cutting is considered rude and selfish.
If you cut in line, you'll be regarded as having no manners.
We also need to be aware of how people line up.
Sometimes in a bank, post office, pharmacy, or airport, there might be several service points for customers.
But instead of forming a separate line in front of each of the service points, everyone just waits in one single line.
And then, when a service point opens up, the next person in line can leave the line and go to that service point.
That's right. In places like airport immigration or check-in counters, there's often a sign that says, "Please wait here for the next available agent."
And, that's where you should wait.
When a service point opens up, the agent would either call you out, or wave for you to go up to him or her.
Info Cloud (2)
Teaching Topic: Less vs. Fewer
Yesterday, we talked about how people line up in America.
And, one place that you'll often see lines of people is in the supermarket.
Hmm huh...
Now, there is a way to move faster than others in the supermarket checkout lines.
Use the express lane.
Grocery stores often have a sign to identify this lane, and it reads, "Ten items or less."
But, that's just wrong.
At least from a grammatical standpoint.
The sign should say, "Ten items or fewer."
Why is that Steve?
Because items are individual things.
They're countable things.
And when we deal with countable nouns, like apples, frozen chickens, soda bottles, and carrots, we should use the word "fewer", not "less."
And, when we deal with uncountable mass nouns like, water, heat, (and) money, we should use "less."
I have less money than you.
But I have fewer bills in my billfold than you.
So, as you can see friends, the words "fewer" and "less" are commonly confused in English, even to native English speakers.
But we hope you'll be less confused and make fewer mistakes after today's lesson.
Grammar Gym
in light of: considering : because of
- In light of this, two companies are finding ways to modernize stores....
- In light of the investigation, witnesses have been asked not to say anything to the media.
- In light of the recent discoveries in the laboratory, scientists are positive they can find a cure for the rare disease.
Language Lab
modernize 使現代化
to make (something) modern and more suited to present styles or needs
- The bank did a great modernizing its customer service system.
這家銀行在課服系統的現代化上有很好的成效
- The company needs to modernize if it wants to stay competitive.
如果這家公司想要保持競爭力，就必須現代化
bridge the gap (idiom)消除隔閡或分歧
- The policy was designed to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
這個政策是要設計來彌補富人與窮人之間的差異
- The book talks about ways to bridge the generation gap.
這本書討論如何消除代溝
activate v.啟動
to make (something) active or more active: such as a : to cause (a device) to start working
b chemistry : to cause (a chemical reaction or natural process) to begin
- The security system has already been activated.
保全系統已經啟動了
- You need to enter your PIN code in order to activate your credit card.
你必須輸入個人密碼，才能將信用卡開卡
chute n.陡坡道斜槽滑道
/ˈʃu:t/
a narrow tube or passage that things and people go down or through
- There is a chute in the building for the residents to throw away their garbage.
公寓中，有個讓住戶丟垃圾的滑道
- One of the emergency chutes on the air plane was jammed.
飛機的其中一個緊急滑道卡住了
- The laundry chute in the hotel goes directly down to the laundry room.
旅館的衣物滑道直接通到洗衣房
swipe n.刷信用卡的動作
to pass (a credit card, ATM card, etc.) through a machine that reads information from it
- We just one swipe of my credit card, half a month's salary was gone.
我的信用卡輕輕一刷，半個月的薪水就沒了
- Swipe your card for authorization, and then your can enter the office.
刷卡經過認證後，就可以進入辦公室了
brick-and-mortar adj.實體的
used to describe a traditional store or business that is in a building instead of on the Internet
- Some customers still insist on shopping in brick-and-mortar stores.
有些顧客還是堅持在實體的店購物
- The online stores gradually lured customers away from brick-and-mortar retailers.
網路商店逐漸吸引顧客離開實體的零售商
inventory n.存貨、存貨清單
all the goods in a shop [= stock]
- The store has a large inventory of canned food.
這家商店的罐頭食品存貨非常充裕
- The inventory of unsold cars can last at least three months.
未售出車輛的總數，至少可以再賣三個月
a list of all the things in a place;
- The manager asked me to make an inventory of supplies at our office.
經理要我列出我們辦公室補給品清單
database n.資料庫、數據庫
a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer
- The sales department spent weeks building a database of our customers' preferences.
銷售部門花了幾個禮拜時間，建立了我們顧客偏好的資料庫
More and more shoppers are buying things online these days, allowing them to avoid aggressive salespeople and long lines at checkout counters. In spite of online convenience, however, there are some items - like clothes - that customers prefer to examine before buying. In light of this, two companies are finding ways to modernize stores and bridge the gap between online and in-store retail.
A software company that also happens to sell designer jeans, Hointer has created a fast and painless shopping experience for its customers. The company is led by Dr. Nadia Shouraboura, a former tech executive at Amazon.
Shoppers walk into a Hointer store and select one of the many pairs of jeans hanging down from bars. Then they point their smartphones of the tag and activate the Hointer app, after which they select the size and press "try on." The app then directs them to a specific dressing room. German-made robots retrieve the desired jeans and deliver them through a chute to the dressing room in about 30 seconds immediately after unwanted pairs of jeans are dropped through another chute, the "outbox," they disappear from the list in the app.
-----
Purchases at Hointer are made with a swipe of a credit card. And interacting with a salesperson is optional! This allows Hointer to hire fewer people and focus on their ultimate goal: developing technology that supports a retail revolution.
Men's clothing retailer Bonobos has come up with a more personalized shopping experience. Although it is -in fact - an online retailer, Bonobos has decided to open a handful of brick-and-mortar stores called Guideshops. Shoppers make an appointment online before arriving at a Guideshop, where they receive one-on-one attention from a fitting guide.
Because these shops have limited inventories, shoppers aren't able to take home the outfits they select. But guides help shoppers make online purchases before they leave, after which the items will be delivered to customers in one or two days. Following the purchase, the Bonobos customer service database keeps a record of each shopper's size, making future online purchases easier.
While Hointer focuses on convenience, Bonobos Guideshops focus on customer service. But both efforts have one thing in common: giving clothing retailers a new look for the 21st century.
Info Cloud (1)
Teaching Topic: The Art of Lining Up
You know, one thing in life that I absolutely hate is waiting in line.
Or as the British would say, "waiting in a queue."
Me too. Either a line or a queue, it's no fun to wait in one.
And what's even worse than waiting in line, seeing someone "cut in line" or as the British would say, "jump the queue."
Line cutting is considered rude and selfish.
If you cut in line, you'll be regarded as having no manners.
We also need to be aware of how people line up.
Sometimes in a bank, post office, pharmacy, or airport, there might be several service points for customers.
But instead of forming a separate line in front of each of the service points, everyone just waits in one single line.
And then, when a service point opens up, the next person in line can leave the line and go to that service point.
That's right. In places like airport immigration or check-in counters, there's often a sign that says, "Please wait here for the next available agent."
And, that's where you should wait.
When a service point opens up, the agent would either call you out, or wave for you to go up to him or her.
Info Cloud (2)
Teaching Topic: Less vs. Fewer
Yesterday, we talked about how people line up in America.
And, one place that you'll often see lines of people is in the supermarket.
Hmm huh...
Now, there is a way to move faster than others in the supermarket checkout lines.
Use the express lane.
Grocery stores often have a sign to identify this lane, and it reads, "Ten items or less."
But, that's just wrong.
At least from a grammatical standpoint.
The sign should say, "Ten items or fewer."
Why is that Steve?
Because items are individual things.
They're countable things.
And when we deal with countable nouns, like apples, frozen chickens, soda bottles, and carrots, we should use the word "fewer", not "less."
And, when we deal with uncountable mass nouns like, water, heat, (and) money, we should use "less."
I have less money than you.
But I have fewer bills in my billfold than you.
So, as you can see friends, the words "fewer" and "less" are commonly confused in English, even to native English speakers.
But we hope you'll be less confused and make fewer mistakes after today's lesson.
Grammar Gym
in light of: considering : because of
- In light of this, two companies are finding ways to modernize stores....
- In light of the investigation, witnesses have been asked not to say anything to the media.
- In light of the recent discoveries in the laboratory, scientists are positive they can find a cure for the rare disease.
Language Lab
modernize 使現代化
to make (something) modern and more suited to present styles or needs
- The bank did a great modernizing its customer service system.
這家銀行在課服系統的現代化上有很好的成效
- The company needs to modernize if it wants to stay competitive.
如果這家公司想要保持競爭力，就必須現代化
bridge the gap (idiom)消除隔閡或分歧
- The policy was designed to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
這個政策是要設計來彌補富人與窮人之間的差異
- The book talks about ways to bridge the generation gap.
這本書討論如何消除代溝
activate v.啟動
to make (something) active or more active: such as a : to cause (a device) to start working
b chemistry : to cause (a chemical reaction or natural process) to begin
- The security system has already been activated.
保全系統已經啟動了
- You need to enter your PIN code in order to activate your credit card.
你必須輸入個人密碼，才能將信用卡開卡
chute n.陡坡道斜槽滑道
/ˈʃu:t/
a narrow tube or passage that things and people go down or through
- There is a chute in the building for the residents to throw away their garbage.
公寓中，有個讓住戶丟垃圾的滑道
- One of the emergency chutes on the air plane was jammed.
飛機的其中一個緊急滑道卡住了
- The laundry chute in the hotel goes directly down to the laundry room.
旅館的衣物滑道直接通到洗衣房
swipe n.刷信用卡的動作
to pass (a credit card, ATM card, etc.) through a machine that reads information from it
- We just one swipe of my credit card, half a month's salary was gone.
我的信用卡輕輕一刷，半個月的薪水就沒了
- Swipe your card for authorization, and then your can enter the office.
刷卡經過認證後，就可以進入辦公室了
brick-and-mortar adj.實體的
used to describe a traditional store or business that is in a building instead of on the Internet
- Some customers still insist on shopping in brick-and-mortar stores.
有些顧客還是堅持在實體的店購物
- The online stores gradually lured customers away from brick-and-mortar retailers.
網路商店逐漸吸引顧客離開實體的零售商
inventory n.存貨、存貨清單
all the goods in a shop [= stock]
- The store has a large inventory of canned food.
這家商店的罐頭食品存貨非常充裕
- The inventory of unsold cars can last at least three months.
未售出車輛的總數，至少可以再賣三個月
a list of all the things in a place;
- The manager asked me to make an inventory of supplies at our office.
經理要我列出我們辦公室補給品清單
database n.資料庫、數據庫
a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer
- The sales department spent weeks building a database of our customers' preferences.
銷售部門花了幾個禮拜時間，建立了我們顧客偏好的資料庫
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Skipping School (2)
Vi: Well, we don't have a family emergency or anything urgent going on. And I don't think our teachers would appreciate us skipping to study for a test. Besides, the only reason I would ever feel OK about missing school is if I were sick.
Mi: OK, OK. But for me, other things take priority over school attendance.
Vi: Like what?
Mi: Sometimes people want to stay home for a mental health day or because they're dealing with some emotional problem. Maybe they're being bullied and have to get out of the situation. Just because someone skips school doesn't mean they don't think their classes are worthwhile.
Vi: Maybe for some people those are good reasons, but I think it's good to be in class as much as possible. Besides, what if we have a pop quiz in one of the classes we skip? That wouldn't be good.
Mi: Well, that's true. OK, if you really feel uncomfortable missing school, I guess I can stay awhile longer before going home.
Vi: Thanks! We might not agree on whether or not to skip school, but we can always agree to help each other.
Grammar Gym
just because....doesn't mean...
- Just because someone skips school doesn't mean they don't think their classes are worthwhile.
- Just because a person looks tired when you're talking to them doesn't mean he isn't interested in what you're saying.
- Just because your friend forgets your birthday doesn't mean he doesn't care about your friendship.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: What English Really Needs
With all its rich vocabulary and fun quirky slang, there's still one thing that's sorely missing in the English language: a singular, gender-neutral pronoun.
OK. We're reminded of this deficiency again in today's lesson, when the singular "someone" gets paired up with the the two plural words, "they" and "their."
If we were to rewrite this sentence, keeping all the pronouns consistent, it would read, "Just because someone skips school doesn't mean he or she doesn't think his or her classes are worthwhile."
Now, that's solves the problem, but communicating like this is just really awkward.
So, for many years, the solution was to use "he" and "his" as the default gender-neutral pronoun.
The thinking was inaccuracy in gender was less troublesome than inaccuracy in number.
That's why you've heard it said, "When someone helps you, tell him thanks."
But today, this style is considered prejudice.
How can we be so sure the person who helps us in the future will be a male.
Right! We can't.
So, until something better, comes along, we'll continue to make "they", "them", and "their" work double duty.
That's why it's still OK to say, "When someone helps you, tell them thanks."
這裡的文法主詞someone+單數名詞skips，後面應為單數的he/she，跟單數的所有格his/her，才能保有主詞和代名詞一致性。但是本句用複數的they/their，這是因為用he/she太累贅了，如果用he/his則女性會抗議性別歧視，所以，後來口語的講法，就採用複數代名詞they/them/their，雖然不符合文法，但這是一個實用的妥協。
Language Lab
attendance n.出席、參加、出勤
the act of being present at a place
- Attendance at this course is compulsory.
這門課程規定一定要出席
the number of people present at an event, meeting, etc.
- Attendance at the amusement park is dropping.
這個主題公園的進場人數正在下降
emotional adj.情緒的、情緒上的；表達強烈情感的、感情脆弱的
relating to emotions;
showing emotion — used especially to describe someone who is crying because of strong;
causing a person to feel emotion
- The book introduced the emotional development of a child.
這本書介紹小朋友的情緒發展
- Mandy gets really emotional when she is criticized.
當Mandy被批評時，會變得非常情緒化
uncomfortable adj.令人不舒服的、不自在的
not feeling physically comfortable, or not making you feel comfortable
- The sofa looks nice, but it's actually very uncomfortable.
這張沙發看起來很好，但實際上非常不舒服
- Irene felt uncomfortable when she was questioned by her boss.
當Irene被老闆詢問時，她覺得很不自在
awhile adv.一下子、片刻
for a short time
- After resting awhile, the mountaineers continued their climb.
休息片刻後，登山客們又繼續爬山
- Patricia talked awhile to her kids and then rushed back to the office to work.
Patricia和孩子們談了一下，然後匆匆趕回辦公室上班
Mi: OK, OK. But for me, other things take priority over school attendance.
Vi: Like what?
Mi: Sometimes people want to stay home for a mental health day or because they're dealing with some emotional problem. Maybe they're being bullied and have to get out of the situation. Just because someone skips school doesn't mean they don't think their classes are worthwhile.
Vi: Maybe for some people those are good reasons, but I think it's good to be in class as much as possible. Besides, what if we have a pop quiz in one of the classes we skip? That wouldn't be good.
Mi: Well, that's true. OK, if you really feel uncomfortable missing school, I guess I can stay awhile longer before going home.
Vi: Thanks! We might not agree on whether or not to skip school, but we can always agree to help each other.
Grammar Gym
just because....doesn't mean...
- Just because someone skips school doesn't mean they don't think their classes are worthwhile.
- Just because a person looks tired when you're talking to them doesn't mean he isn't interested in what you're saying.
- Just because your friend forgets your birthday doesn't mean he doesn't care about your friendship.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: What English Really Needs
With all its rich vocabulary and fun quirky slang, there's still one thing that's sorely missing in the English language: a singular, gender-neutral pronoun.
OK. We're reminded of this deficiency again in today's lesson, when the singular "someone" gets paired up with the the two plural words, "they" and "their."
If we were to rewrite this sentence, keeping all the pronouns consistent, it would read, "Just because someone skips school doesn't mean he or she doesn't think his or her classes are worthwhile."
Now, that's solves the problem, but communicating like this is just really awkward.
So, for many years, the solution was to use "he" and "his" as the default gender-neutral pronoun.
The thinking was inaccuracy in gender was less troublesome than inaccuracy in number.
That's why you've heard it said, "When someone helps you, tell him thanks."
But today, this style is considered prejudice.
How can we be so sure the person who helps us in the future will be a male.
Right! We can't.
So, until something better, comes along, we'll continue to make "they", "them", and "their" work double duty.
That's why it's still OK to say, "When someone helps you, tell them thanks."
這裡的文法主詞someone+單數名詞skips，後面應為單數的he/she，跟單數的所有格his/her，才能保有主詞和代名詞一致性。但是本句用複數的they/their，這是因為用he/she太累贅了，如果用he/his則女性會抗議性別歧視，所以，後來口語的講法，就採用複數代名詞they/them/their，雖然不符合文法，但這是一個實用的妥協。
Language Lab
attendance n.出席、參加、出勤
the act of being present at a place
- Attendance at this course is compulsory.
這門課程規定一定要出席
the number of people present at an event, meeting, etc.
- Attendance at the amusement park is dropping.
這個主題公園的進場人數正在下降
emotional adj.情緒的、情緒上的；表達強烈情感的、感情脆弱的
relating to emotions;
showing emotion — used especially to describe someone who is crying because of strong;
causing a person to feel emotion
- The book introduced the emotional development of a child.
這本書介紹小朋友的情緒發展
- Mandy gets really emotional when she is criticized.
當Mandy被批評時，會變得非常情緒化
uncomfortable adj.令人不舒服的、不自在的
not feeling physically comfortable, or not making you feel comfortable
- The sofa looks nice, but it's actually very uncomfortable.
這張沙發看起來很好，但實際上非常不舒服
- Irene felt uncomfortable when she was questioned by her boss.
當Irene被老闆詢問時，她覺得很不自在
awhile adv.一下子、片刻
for a short time
- After resting awhile, the mountaineers continued their climb.
休息片刻後，登山客們又繼續爬山
- Patricia talked awhile to her kids and then rushed back to the office to work.
Patricia和孩子們談了一下，然後匆匆趕回辦公室上班
Monday, October 21, 2013
Skipping School (1)
Is it ever OK to skip school?
Miranda is at Violet's home, studying for a test.
Vi: Hey, Miranda, would you please help me with this last problem?
Mi: Sorry, Vi. It's pretty late. I'd better head home.
Vi: But I really need your help. The algebra test is tomorrow at 1:00.
Mi: Here's an idea. Why don't we both skip school until lunch, so we can study more tomorrow?
Vi: Skip school! Where did you get the idea that it's OK to skip?
Mi: Well, we'd be skipping for a good reason. We're going to study for a test, and it's not like we're doing poorly in the other classes. We can miss a class period or two.
Vi: But if we do skip, we might miss a lot of really important information in the other classes.
Mi: We can just get the notes from our study partner, Tessa. You know she takes really thorough notes.
Vi: I know she does, but our absence would be noticeable. I don't want our teachers to get upset.
Mi: They won't get upset. It's not like we skip school all the time. After all, sometimes there are good reasons to skip. What about when someone has a family emergency? I think teachers understand when someone has to miss class.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: It’s not like …
As humans, when we feel like someone is challenging or criticizing us, we tend to want to justify ourselves.
Right! And what better way to do that than to compare ourselves to people we think aren't as good as we are.
And, this is what Miranda does in today's dialog two times.
And, she does it using the phrase, "it's not like."
Miranda feels like Violet is challenging her, so she tries to justify herself by saying "It's not like we skip school all the time."
Here, what she's really saying to Violet is, "If we did skip school all the time, like the bad students do,
then, and only then, would you have reason to challenge my idea."
Now, let's pretend a man is dieting and his wife catches him eating a piece of chocolate cake.
So, she scolds him.
The man, wanting to justify himself, might say, "Well, it's not like I ate the whole cake!"
Similar phrases which are used for the same purpose include "at least" and "it's not as if."
Right! At least I'm not like them. And, it's not as if I did what he did.
又不是說.....
- It's not like we skip school all the time.
又不是我們一天到晚翹課
- Just because someone skips school doesn't mean they don't think their classes are worthwhile.
通常和不如己者比較，因此容易滿足現狀，不付出努力，下場往往就是被淘汰
Language Lab
skip school phrasal verb.逃學、翹課
skip [past tense and past participle skipped, present participle skipping]
to not do something that you usually do or that you should do [= miss]:
- The boy skipped school today and was caught by his parents.
這個男孩今天翹課，被父母逮到
- Skipping school might be a warning sign of a trouble teenager.
翹課可能是一位青少年出狀況的警訊
algebra n.代數、代數學
a branch of mathematics that uses numbers and letters that represent numbers
- Algebra wasn't my favorite subject.
代數並非我最喜愛的科目
- Many of my classmates are having trouble solving these algebra problems.
我的許多同學都沒有辦法解答這些代數問題
thorough adj.詳細的、徹底的
/ˈθɚroʊ/
including every possible part or detail
- The police did a thorough investigation of the incident.
警方對這個事件作了詳細的調查
thoroughly adv. [=completely]
- The lawyer studied the case thoroughly.
這位律師將這個案子詳細地看過
noticeable adj.顯而易見的、明顯的
able to be easily seen or noticed
- There has been a noticeable improvement in Victor's health.
Victor的身體狀況最近有明顯的進步
- The differences between the twins are hardly noticeable.
這兩個雙胞胎的差異非常不明顯
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131021_a62c0.wmv
Miranda is at Violet's home, studying for a test.
Vi: Hey, Miranda, would you please help me with this last problem?
Mi: Sorry, Vi. It's pretty late. I'd better head home.
Vi: But I really need your help. The algebra test is tomorrow at 1:00.
Mi: Here's an idea. Why don't we both skip school until lunch, so we can study more tomorrow?
Vi: Skip school! Where did you get the idea that it's OK to skip?
Mi: Well, we'd be skipping for a good reason. We're going to study for a test, and it's not like we're doing poorly in the other classes. We can miss a class period or two.
Vi: But if we do skip, we might miss a lot of really important information in the other classes.
Mi: We can just get the notes from our study partner, Tessa. You know she takes really thorough notes.
Vi: I know she does, but our absence would be noticeable. I don't want our teachers to get upset.
Mi: They won't get upset. It's not like we skip school all the time. After all, sometimes there are good reasons to skip. What about when someone has a family emergency? I think teachers understand when someone has to miss class.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: It’s not like …
As humans, when we feel like someone is challenging or criticizing us, we tend to want to justify ourselves.
Right! And what better way to do that than to compare ourselves to people we think aren't as good as we are.
And, this is what Miranda does in today's dialog two times.
And, she does it using the phrase, "it's not like."
Miranda feels like Violet is challenging her, so she tries to justify herself by saying "It's not like we skip school all the time."
Here, what she's really saying to Violet is, "If we did skip school all the time, like the bad students do,
then, and only then, would you have reason to challenge my idea."
Now, let's pretend a man is dieting and his wife catches him eating a piece of chocolate cake.
So, she scolds him.
The man, wanting to justify himself, might say, "Well, it's not like I ate the whole cake!"
Similar phrases which are used for the same purpose include "at least" and "it's not as if."
Right! At least I'm not like them. And, it's not as if I did what he did.
又不是說.....
- It's not like we skip school all the time.
又不是我們一天到晚翹課
- Just because someone skips school doesn't mean they don't think their classes are worthwhile.
通常和不如己者比較，因此容易滿足現狀，不付出努力，下場往往就是被淘汰
Language Lab
skip school phrasal verb.逃學、翹課
skip [past tense and past participle skipped, present participle skipping]
to not do something that you usually do or that you should do [= miss]:
- The boy skipped school today and was caught by his parents.
這個男孩今天翹課，被父母逮到
- Skipping school might be a warning sign of a trouble teenager.
翹課可能是一位青少年出狀況的警訊
algebra n.代數、代數學
a branch of mathematics that uses numbers and letters that represent numbers
- Algebra wasn't my favorite subject.
代數並非我最喜愛的科目
- Many of my classmates are having trouble solving these algebra problems.
我的許多同學都沒有辦法解答這些代數問題
thorough adj.詳細的、徹底的
/ˈθɚroʊ/
including every possible part or detail
- The police did a thorough investigation of the incident.
警方對這個事件作了詳細的調查
thoroughly adv. [=completely]
- The lawyer studied the case thoroughly.
這位律師將這個案子詳細地看過
noticeable adj.顯而易見的、明顯的
able to be easily seen or noticed
- There has been a noticeable improvement in Victor's health.
Victor的身體狀況最近有明顯的進步
- The differences between the twins are hardly noticeable.
這兩個雙胞胎的差異非常不明顯
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131021_a62c0.wmv
Saturday, October 19, 2013
draft-----Life in Nepal: Part 2 (2)
Thankfully, the bus made it to Dolakha safely. Our accommodations consisted of a humble farmhouse that was a combination of cement, wood, tin and packed mud. The nonprofit's office occupied the first floor, the kitchen and our bedrooms the second floor. A family of five lived in a loft above. Both the second and third floors were accessible only by wooden ladders.
As an intern, my job was to take photos, conduct interviews and write articles. I would then sent them to the nonprofit's headquarters in New York to be used on their website. But I have a difficult time conveying my experience there. What words could I use to describe something so foreign to me? Village life was slow, simple and mostly disconnected from the rest of the world.
But I have a difficult time conveying my experience there. What words could I use to describe something so foreign to me? Village life was slow, simple and mostly disconnected from the rest of the world.
There were a few electric lights, but no indoor plumbing, no Internet, and cellphone reception was poor. The locals were curious about the foreign girl and stared openly, but they were also friendly.
I was living a world away from everything I was used to. But out on those terraced hillsides, soaking in the sun and sipping tea with my Nepali neighbors, I didn't really mind.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: My Humble Abode
Teaching Topic: My Humble Abode
Language Lab
accommodations n.
/əˌkɑ:məˈdeɪʃən/
a place (such as a room in a hotel) where travelers can sleep and find other services
- Such accommodations usually cost over $500 per night.
- Accommodations were included in the package.
conduct v. [duct-字根-引起]
/kənˈdʌkt/
to plan and do (something, such as an activity)
- The experiments were conducted by professionals.
conduct n.
/ˈkɑ:nˌdʌkt/
the way that a person behaves in a particular place or situation
- His conduct led people to believe he's a cruel person.
他的行為引導人們認為他是個冷酷的人
plumbing n.(水管的)配管
a system of pipes that carries water through a building
- The building's plumbing system needs to be replaced.
這棟建築的水管配管需要更換
- Dad did the plumbing of our house himself.
我們房子的水管工程是爸爸自己做的
plumber n.水電工人
a person whose job is to install or repair sinks, toilets, water pipes, etc.
- The plumber fixed our faucet in five minutes.
水管工人五分鐘內就修好我們的水龍頭
terrace v.把山丘修成梯田
a flat area created on the side of a hill and used especially for growing crops
- The farmers terraced the hillside and planted rice.
農人們把山丘修成梯田後種植稻子
n.露台、台階
a flat outdoor area next to a building or on a roof, where you can sit outside to eat, relax etc
- Each hotel room has a terrace.
旅館的每間房間都有露台
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131019_c4e8e.wmv
As an intern, my job was to take photos, conduct interviews and write articles. I would then sent them to the nonprofit's headquarters in New York to be used on their website. But I have a difficult time conveying my experience there. What words could I use to describe something so foreign to me? Village life was slow, simple and mostly disconnected from the rest of the world.
But I have a difficult time conveying my experience there. What words could I use to describe something so foreign to me? Village life was slow, simple and mostly disconnected from the rest of the world.
There were a few electric lights, but no indoor plumbing, no Internet, and cellphone reception was poor. The locals were curious about the foreign girl and stared openly, but they were also friendly.
I was living a world away from everything I was used to. But out on those terraced hillsides, soaking in the sun and sipping tea with my Nepali neighbors, I didn't really mind.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: My Humble Abode
Teaching Topic: My Humble Abode
Language Lab
accommodations n.
/əˌkɑ:məˈdeɪʃən/
a place (such as a room in a hotel) where travelers can sleep and find other services
- Such accommodations usually cost over $500 per night.
- Accommodations were included in the package.
conduct v. [duct-字根-引起]
/kənˈdʌkt/
to plan and do (something, such as an activity)
- The experiments were conducted by professionals.
conduct n.
/ˈkɑ:nˌdʌkt/
the way that a person behaves in a particular place or situation
- His conduct led people to believe he's a cruel person.
他的行為引導人們認為他是個冷酷的人
plumbing n.(水管的)配管
a system of pipes that carries water through a building
- The building's plumbing system needs to be replaced.
這棟建築的水管配管需要更換
- Dad did the plumbing of our house himself.
我們房子的水管工程是爸爸自己做的
plumber n.水電工人
a person whose job is to install or repair sinks, toilets, water pipes, etc.
- The plumber fixed our faucet in five minutes.
水管工人五分鐘內就修好我們的水龍頭
terrace v.把山丘修成梯田
a flat area created on the side of a hill and used especially for growing crops
- The farmers terraced the hillside and planted rice.
農人們把山丘修成梯田後種植稻子
n.露台、台階
a flat outdoor area next to a building or on a roof, where you can sit outside to eat, relax etc
- Each hotel room has a terrace.
旅館的每間房間都有露台
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131019_c4e8e.wmv
Friday, October 18, 2013
Life in Nepal: Part 2 (1)
This South Asian country proved to be a world away
"Look at the view! It's beautiful," my translator encouraged me. Rolling hills and valleys stretched out before us, dotted with trees and tiny huts, but I could barely manage to glance at it. I clutched her arm instead. We were in a bus on an unpaved, single-lane mountain road, mere feet away from the edge of a cliff. I didn't want to watch when we plunged to our deaths.
We were on our way to Dolakha, a mountain village in Nepal where the nonprofit I was interning with had a field office.
They were teaching local women how to read and write, how to tend to their families' basic needs and how to use and pay back a microloan.
I was excited and terrified. The bus ride alone was making me have second thoughts. People crowded into the seats and aisles, and chickens and goats rode on the luggage rack on top. There was no door on the bus, but a man stood in the opening to watch how close we got to the edge of the cliff. The 8-hour journey passed to the sound of old Bollywood love songs that crackled over ancient speakers.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Scenery vs. View
Let's say you're traveling in a foreign land like the author of our lesson today, and you've come to a beautiful place.
How do you describe what you see?
Well, you can say what the translator in our lesson says, "Look at the view. It's very beautiful."
Or you can say, "The scenery is beautiful."
That's right. Both "view" and "scenery" can be used to describe a beautiful place.
However, there's a big difference between the two.
Yes there is. "Scenery" is an uncountable noun, so it cannot be plural.
You can say "the scenery is really beautiful" or "an area has some really beautiful scenery."
"View," on the other hand, is a countable noun.
For example, "The views from the summit are spectacular."
So, don't say, "What a beautiful scenery."
It should be, "What a beautiful view."
Or, "What beautiful scenery."
Another difference is that a "view" is what you see from a particular location.
If you talk about a "restaurant with a view," you're referring to the particular view as seen from that restaurant.
"Scenery," on the other hand, is the whole picture, so to speak.
"I love mountain scenery. Whenever I go to the mountains, I'm struck by how beautiful the mountains are."
Grammar Gym
"We were in a bus on an unpaved, single-lane mountain road, mere feet away from the edge of a cliff. "
mere: how something is so small or is in such small amounts
- Mere seconds after Julia came home without her umbrella, it started raining.
- This cake is a great low-calorie dessert - it only has a mere spoon of sugar in it.
Language Lab
clutch v.緊握、抓住
/ˈklʌtʃ/
to hold onto (someone or something) tightly with your hand;
to try to hold onto someone or something by reaching with your hand — usually + at
- The old lady clutched at the railing while she was climbing the stairs.
這位老太太爬樓梯時，緊緊抓住扶手
- Janet clutched at a log in the river because she couldn't swim.
Janet緊抓住河裡的一塊木頭，因為她不會游泳
plunge v.
/ˈplʌnʤ/
to fall or jump suddenly from a high place
to fall or drop suddenly in amount, value, etc
- The truck plunged down the cliff and exploded.
這台卡車衝下山崖，然後爆炸
plunge in/into [phrasal verb]
plunge (something) in or plunge (something) into (something) : to push (something) into (something) quickly and forcefully
- She plunged the carrots and beans into the boiling water.
她把胡蘿蔔和豆子放入煮沸的水中
microloan n.小額貸款
- The family rebuilt their house through a microloan.
這個家庭用小額貸款重建他們的房子
- The Microloan Program in Africa helped a lot of disadvantaged people to star new lives.
非洲的小額貸款計畫幫助許多貧困的人重獲新生
crackle v.發出細微的爆裂聲
- Under the night sky, the camp fire crackled and gave off sparks.
夜空下，營火劈啪作響並發出火花
n.爆裂聲、劈啪聲
- The crackle of the radio was so annoying.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131018_5e934.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131019_c4e8e.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131021_a62c0.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131022_26a72.wmv
"Look at the view! It's beautiful," my translator encouraged me. Rolling hills and valleys stretched out before us, dotted with trees and tiny huts, but I could barely manage to glance at it. I clutched her arm instead. We were in a bus on an unpaved, single-lane mountain road, mere feet away from the edge of a cliff. I didn't want to watch when we plunged to our deaths.
We were on our way to Dolakha, a mountain village in Nepal where the nonprofit I was interning with had a field office.
They were teaching local women how to read and write, how to tend to their families' basic needs and how to use and pay back a microloan.
I was excited and terrified. The bus ride alone was making me have second thoughts. People crowded into the seats and aisles, and chickens and goats rode on the luggage rack on top. There was no door on the bus, but a man stood in the opening to watch how close we got to the edge of the cliff. The 8-hour journey passed to the sound of old Bollywood love songs that crackled over ancient speakers.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Scenery vs. View
Let's say you're traveling in a foreign land like the author of our lesson today, and you've come to a beautiful place.
How do you describe what you see?
Well, you can say what the translator in our lesson says, "Look at the view. It's very beautiful."
Or you can say, "The scenery is beautiful."
That's right. Both "view" and "scenery" can be used to describe a beautiful place.
However, there's a big difference between the two.
Yes there is. "Scenery" is an uncountable noun, so it cannot be plural.
You can say "the scenery is really beautiful" or "an area has some really beautiful scenery."
"View," on the other hand, is a countable noun.
For example, "The views from the summit are spectacular."
So, don't say, "What a beautiful scenery."
It should be, "What a beautiful view."
Or, "What beautiful scenery."
Another difference is that a "view" is what you see from a particular location.
If you talk about a "restaurant with a view," you're referring to the particular view as seen from that restaurant.
"Scenery," on the other hand, is the whole picture, so to speak.
"I love mountain scenery. Whenever I go to the mountains, I'm struck by how beautiful the mountains are."
Grammar Gym
"We were in a bus on an unpaved, single-lane mountain road, mere feet away from the edge of a cliff. "
mere: how something is so small or is in such small amounts
- Mere seconds after Julia came home without her umbrella, it started raining.
- This cake is a great low-calorie dessert - it only has a mere spoon of sugar in it.
Language Lab
clutch v.緊握、抓住
/ˈklʌtʃ/
to hold onto (someone or something) tightly with your hand;
to try to hold onto someone or something by reaching with your hand — usually + at
- The old lady clutched at the railing while she was climbing the stairs.
這位老太太爬樓梯時，緊緊抓住扶手
- Janet clutched at a log in the river because she couldn't swim.
Janet緊抓住河裡的一塊木頭，因為她不會游泳
plunge v.
/ˈplʌnʤ/
to fall or jump suddenly from a high place
to fall or drop suddenly in amount, value, etc
- The truck plunged down the cliff and exploded.
這台卡車衝下山崖，然後爆炸
plunge in/into [phrasal verb]
plunge (something) in or plunge (something) into (something) : to push (something) into (something) quickly and forcefully
- She plunged the carrots and beans into the boiling water.
她把胡蘿蔔和豆子放入煮沸的水中
microloan n.小額貸款
- The family rebuilt their house through a microloan.
這個家庭用小額貸款重建他們的房子
- The Microloan Program in Africa helped a lot of disadvantaged people to star new lives.
非洲的小額貸款計畫幫助許多貧困的人重獲新生
crackle v.發出細微的爆裂聲
- Under the night sky, the camp fire crackled and gave off sparks.
夜空下，營火劈啪作響並發出火花
n.爆裂聲、劈啪聲
- The crackle of the radio was so annoying.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131018_5e934.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131019_c4e8e.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131021_a62c0.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131022_26a72.wmv
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Computer Programming Skills in Demand
Learn to write code
Everywhere you look these days, it's clear: There's no shortage of people using smartphones and tablets. Of course don't need to know how to write the programs their devices use. In the opinion of nonprofit foundation Code. org however, it's probably time they consider learning. The group claims that a shortage of computer programmers could lead to 1 million programming jobs being left empty in the next decade. Not a good thing for a world that runs on technology.
In the long run, Code. org hopes to increase the number of high schools offering computer programming classes. They want computer programming to become part of the main curriculum. In the short run, students whose schools look such classes can choose from online courses. A good starting place is Codeacademy.com, which offers free courses in programming languages such as Jave Script and Python.
Often, students assume that coding skills are only necessary for computer professionals. But, nearly all professions-from teaching to business-involve some work related to computer and the Internet. Resumes that list programming skills will stand out from ones that don't. So give that resume a boost, and learn to code today!
Grammar Gym
not a good thing: That is not a good thing.
- Not a good thing for a world that runs on technology.
- The only way to get to the restaurant is by walking up a stony path - not a good thing for female guests whose wearing high heels.
- The weather forecast says it will rain this weekend - not a good thing for anyone with out door plans.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Hyperbole
As readers, we need to develop good discernment skills, because sometimes writers will intentionally stretch the truth.
Today's article begins with the phrase "everywhere you look." The word "everywhere" should be a signal to you that our author is using hyperbole.
Now, also know as overstatement or exaggeration, hyperbole is a legitimate and useful language tool.
It evokes strong feelings and emphasizes what is being said, but it is not to be taken literally.
Right! "Everywhere we look?" No, our author deliberately exaggerates to express his surprise over the incredible popularity of smart phones and tablets.
Now, listen everyone, we must have said this "a million times already." Don't overuse exaggeration. Just like alliteration, which we highlighted last month, the more you exaggerate, the less effective it becomes as a stylistic device.
That's right. If you use it too much, people won't pay attention to you when you really do need to emphasize a point.
Here are a few other examples of hyperbole you might hear in everyday speech. Like, "I'm so hungry, I can eat a horse."
"My backpack weighs a ton."
And, "that joke was so funny, he laughed his head off." Hahahaha....
- I told you a million times.
- Everywhere you look these days, it's clear: There's no shortage of people using smartphones and tablets.
exaggerate v.exaggeration =overstatement n.
hyperbole 誇張法，最好適度使用，否則會如放羊的孩子
Language Lab
shortage n.
a situation in which there is not enough of something that people need
- There's an acute shortage of food and medical supplies in the war zone.
戰區內，食物和醫藥都嚴重的短缺
- The long and dry summer led to a serious shortage of water.
既長又乾旱的夏季導致嚴重的缺水問題
in the long run
used when talking about what will happen at a later time or when something is finished:
- Investing in new products might cost money, but in the long run, it will keep the company in the lead.
in the short run
- Cutting prices might increase sales in the short run, but it doesn't bring in profit.
銷價在短期內或許可以增加銷售量，但是不會帶來利潤
curriculum n.
/kəˈrɪkjələm/
the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc.
- Our school's English curriculum is fun and interactive.
我們學校的英文課程既好玩又具互動性
- Susie is in charge of the curriculum develop of the department.
Susie負責這個科系的課程研發
boost n. v.提昇、加強
an increase in amount; help or encouragement
- The government hoped that cutting taxes would give a boost to the economic growth.
政府希望減稅可以提升經濟發展
to increase the force, power, or amount of (something)
- The company's stock price was boosted by its great financial report.
這家公司的股價因良好的財報表現而上漲
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131017baade5d7bfb9ceb776d7697a6bc28ae475382575bd99b15e863eda94e0fffc9762a.wma
Everywhere you look these days, it's clear: There's no shortage of people using smartphones and tablets. Of course don't need to know how to write the programs their devices use. In the opinion of nonprofit foundation Code. org however, it's probably time they consider learning. The group claims that a shortage of computer programmers could lead to 1 million programming jobs being left empty in the next decade. Not a good thing for a world that runs on technology.
In the long run, Code. org hopes to increase the number of high schools offering computer programming classes. They want computer programming to become part of the main curriculum. In the short run, students whose schools look such classes can choose from online courses. A good starting place is Codeacademy.com, which offers free courses in programming languages such as Jave Script and Python.
Often, students assume that coding skills are only necessary for computer professionals. But, nearly all professions-from teaching to business-involve some work related to computer and the Internet. Resumes that list programming skills will stand out from ones that don't. So give that resume a boost, and learn to code today!
Grammar Gym
not a good thing: That is not a good thing.
- Not a good thing for a world that runs on technology.
- The only way to get to the restaurant is by walking up a stony path - not a good thing for female guests whose wearing high heels.
- The weather forecast says it will rain this weekend - not a good thing for anyone with out door plans.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Hyperbole
As readers, we need to develop good discernment skills, because sometimes writers will intentionally stretch the truth.
Today's article begins with the phrase "everywhere you look." The word "everywhere" should be a signal to you that our author is using hyperbole.
Now, also know as overstatement or exaggeration, hyperbole is a legitimate and useful language tool.
It evokes strong feelings and emphasizes what is being said, but it is not to be taken literally.
Right! "Everywhere we look?" No, our author deliberately exaggerates to express his surprise over the incredible popularity of smart phones and tablets.
Now, listen everyone, we must have said this "a million times already." Don't overuse exaggeration. Just like alliteration, which we highlighted last month, the more you exaggerate, the less effective it becomes as a stylistic device.
That's right. If you use it too much, people won't pay attention to you when you really do need to emphasize a point.
Here are a few other examples of hyperbole you might hear in everyday speech. Like, "I'm so hungry, I can eat a horse."
"My backpack weighs a ton."
And, "that joke was so funny, he laughed his head off." Hahahaha....
- I told you a million times.
- Everywhere you look these days, it's clear: There's no shortage of people using smartphones and tablets.
exaggerate v.exaggeration =overstatement n.
hyperbole 誇張法，最好適度使用，否則會如放羊的孩子
Language Lab
shortage n.
a situation in which there is not enough of something that people need
- There's an acute shortage of food and medical supplies in the war zone.
戰區內，食物和醫藥都嚴重的短缺
- The long and dry summer led to a serious shortage of water.
既長又乾旱的夏季導致嚴重的缺水問題
in the long run
used when talking about what will happen at a later time or when something is finished:
- Investing in new products might cost money, but in the long run, it will keep the company in the lead.
in the short run
- Cutting prices might increase sales in the short run, but it doesn't bring in profit.
銷價在短期內或許可以增加銷售量，但是不會帶來利潤
curriculum n.
/kəˈrɪkjələm/
the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc.
- Our school's English curriculum is fun and interactive.
我們學校的英文課程既好玩又具互動性
- Susie is in charge of the curriculum develop of the department.
Susie負責這個科系的課程研發
boost n. v.提昇、加強
an increase in amount; help or encouragement
- The government hoped that cutting taxes would give a boost to the economic growth.
政府希望減稅可以提升經濟發展
to increase the force, power, or amount of (something)
- The company's stock price was boosted by its great financial report.
這家公司的股價因良好的財報表現而上漲
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131017baade5d7bfb9ceb776d7697a6bc28ae475382575bd99b15e863eda94e0fffc9762a.wma
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Kazakhstan – The Land of Wonders (3)
The famous Silk Road passes through Kazakhstan. You can travel parts of it through ancient cities and towns. See what's left of the ancient cities of Otrar and Taraz. Centuries ago they were major trade centers between Europe and China.
In southern Kazakhstan, see the beautiful scenery, animals and birds in the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve. Created in 1926, it's the oldest nature reserve in Central Asia. There you'll find 239 species of birds. More than 50 species of mammals, including the snow leopard, also live in the reserve.
The area is also called the kingdom of Tulips. It is believed that tulips grew here long before they appeared in Holland. Stay in a guest house in the nearby village of Zhabagly. Or you can sleep like a Kazakh in a traditional yurt!
Traveling to Kazakhstan is definitely for those looking for adventure and the road less traveled. But it's well worth the effort to enjoy the wonders of this jewel of Central Asia.
Grammar Gym
[something] is for those [verbing] : how something is appropriate for a certain group of people
- Traveling to Kazakhstan is definitely for those looking for adventure and the road less traveled.
= Traveling to Kazakhstan is definitely for those people who are looking for adventure and the road less traveled.
- The newest comedy show is definitely for those looking for a good laugh.
- The new department store is definitely for those looking for a good bargain.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Road Less Traveled
You may recall that earlier this year, we talked about getting off the beaten path.
And, that means don't go to a place where there are already thousands of tourists.
Visit a place where there aren't so many people around.
We see a similar idea in our lesson today. Our author tells us to "take the road less traveled."
The result of "getting off the beaten path" or "taking the road less traveled" is the same - more excitement and a greater sense of adventure.
Right. Taking the road more often traveled may be more stable and easier to walk on, but it's a little boring.
Hmm huh...
Now, the phrase "the road less traveled" comes from a poem written by American poet, Robert Frost, in 1916, titled "The Road Not Taken."
Many people mistakenly think the title is "The Road Less Traveled", but it's not.
The phrase actually comes from the second to the last line of the poem, "I took the one less traveled by."
Again, the correct title is "The Road Not Taken."
OK. The road that Frost describes is a metaphor for life.
Someone who takes the road less traveled is acting independently, freeing themselves from the conformity of others who choose to take the road more often traveled.
the road less traveled 源自美國詩人Robert Frost的"The Road Not Taken"未走過的路的最後一句 the road less traveled很少人走的路，目前成為慣用語，指冷門的路線或景點 get off the beaten path離開一般人常走的路，指走冷門、不尋常的路線
Language Lab
major adj.主要的、重要的
very important
- There will be a major change in the company's strategy in the near future.
公司的策略最近將有重大的改變
- All major Hollywood studios are dying to work with this award-winning director.
所有好萊塢重量級的製片公司都渴望要和這位得獎的導演合作
reserve n.
an area of land where animals and plants are given special protection
- The proposal is to turn this area into a marine life reserve.
這個提案是要將這個地區變成海洋生物保護區
v.
to make arrangements so that you will be able to use or have (something, such as a room, table, or seat) at a later time
- We'll reserve your appointment for another 30 minutes.
我們可以保留你的預約再三十分鐘
tulip n.
a large, bright flower that is shaped like a cup and that grows in the spring
- Holland is famous for their varieties of tulips.
荷蘭以他們各式各樣的鬱金香聞名
- Mom planted her tulip bulbs before winter.
媽媽在冬天之前就種下她的鬱金香球莖
- Tulips need to be kept in cool temperatures or they will wither quickly.
鬱金香必須保存在涼爽的溫度下，否則很快的就枯萎
jewel n.
a valuable stone (such as a ruby or diamond) that has been cut and polished;
someone or something that is highly valued or admired
- The jewels displayed in the store were all insured.
店裡面擺設的寶石都有保險
- This painting is the jewel of the museum's collection.
這幅畫是這間博物館的館藏之寶
jewelry n.
decorative objects (such as rings, necklaces, and earrings) that people wear on their body
- Sandra loves to wear silver jewelry.
Sandra很喜歡戴銀飾
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131016_bd18f.wmv
In southern Kazakhstan, see the beautiful scenery, animals and birds in the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve. Created in 1926, it's the oldest nature reserve in Central Asia. There you'll find 239 species of birds. More than 50 species of mammals, including the snow leopard, also live in the reserve.
The area is also called the kingdom of Tulips. It is believed that tulips grew here long before they appeared in Holland. Stay in a guest house in the nearby village of Zhabagly. Or you can sleep like a Kazakh in a traditional yurt!
Traveling to Kazakhstan is definitely for those looking for adventure and the road less traveled. But it's well worth the effort to enjoy the wonders of this jewel of Central Asia.
Grammar Gym
[something] is for those [verbing] : how something is appropriate for a certain group of people
- Traveling to Kazakhstan is definitely for those looking for adventure and the road less traveled.
= Traveling to Kazakhstan is definitely for those people who are looking for adventure and the road less traveled.
- The newest comedy show is definitely for those looking for a good laugh.
- The new department store is definitely for those looking for a good bargain.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Road Less Traveled
You may recall that earlier this year, we talked about getting off the beaten path.
And, that means don't go to a place where there are already thousands of tourists.
Visit a place where there aren't so many people around.
We see a similar idea in our lesson today. Our author tells us to "take the road less traveled."
The result of "getting off the beaten path" or "taking the road less traveled" is the same - more excitement and a greater sense of adventure.
Right. Taking the road more often traveled may be more stable and easier to walk on, but it's a little boring.
Hmm huh...
Now, the phrase "the road less traveled" comes from a poem written by American poet, Robert Frost, in 1916, titled "The Road Not Taken."
Many people mistakenly think the title is "The Road Less Traveled", but it's not.
The phrase actually comes from the second to the last line of the poem, "I took the one less traveled by."
Again, the correct title is "The Road Not Taken."
OK. The road that Frost describes is a metaphor for life.
Someone who takes the road less traveled is acting independently, freeing themselves from the conformity of others who choose to take the road more often traveled.
the road less traveled 源自美國詩人Robert Frost的"The Road Not Taken"未走過的路的最後一句 the road less traveled很少人走的路，目前成為慣用語，指冷門的路線或景點 get off the beaten path離開一般人常走的路，指走冷門、不尋常的路線
Language Lab
major adj.主要的、重要的
very important
- There will be a major change in the company's strategy in the near future.
公司的策略最近將有重大的改變
- All major Hollywood studios are dying to work with this award-winning director.
所有好萊塢重量級的製片公司都渴望要和這位得獎的導演合作
reserve n.
an area of land where animals and plants are given special protection
- The proposal is to turn this area into a marine life reserve.
這個提案是要將這個地區變成海洋生物保護區
v.
to make arrangements so that you will be able to use or have (something, such as a room, table, or seat) at a later time
- We'll reserve your appointment for another 30 minutes.
我們可以保留你的預約再三十分鐘
tulip n.
a large, bright flower that is shaped like a cup and that grows in the spring
- Holland is famous for their varieties of tulips.
荷蘭以他們各式各樣的鬱金香聞名
- Mom planted her tulip bulbs before winter.
媽媽在冬天之前就種下她的鬱金香球莖
- Tulips need to be kept in cool temperatures or they will wither quickly.
鬱金香必須保存在涼爽的溫度下，否則很快的就枯萎
jewel n.
a valuable stone (such as a ruby or diamond) that has been cut and polished;
someone or something that is highly valued or admired
- The jewels displayed in the store were all insured.
店裡面擺設的寶石都有保險
- This painting is the jewel of the museum's collection.
這幅畫是這間博物館的館藏之寶
jewelry n.
decorative objects (such as rings, necklaces, and earrings) that people wear on their body
- Sandra loves to wear silver jewelry.
Sandra很喜歡戴銀飾
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131016_bd18f.wmv
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
draft--Kazakhstan – The Land of Wonders (2)
Six miles south of Almaty in the foothills of the Alatau Mountains sits the Sunkar Raptor Sanctuary. Here you can discover Kazakhstan's ancient hunting tradition - falconry. The sanctuary has hundreds of raptors, including the golden eagle that Kazakhs favor for hunting. During the daily falconry show, watch these magnificent birds fly high above you. Continue watching as they swoop down to the ground. These eagles can spot a target from 3.22 kilometers up in the air. And then they dive down upon it at over 190 kilometers per hour!
Next, experience the natural beauty that Kazakhstan is famous for - on horseback. Many believe that this area was where people first rode horses thousands of years ago. Ride through the remote area of the Central Tien Shan. You'll see forests and cross rivers and mountain passes. You'll also spot flocks of sheep, horses and the nomads who care for them. It's an unforgettable experience.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Irregular Plurals
Teaching Topic: Irregular Plurals
Language Lab
raptor sanctuary n.
raptor
/ˈræptɚ/
a bird (such as an eagle or hawk) that kills and eats other animals for food : bird of prey
sanctuary
/ˈsæŋktʃəˌweri/
the protection that is provided by a safe place
- wildlife sanctuary
- The cathedral became a sanctuary for the refugees during the war.
swoop v.
/ˈswu:p/
to fly down through the air suddenly — usually + down
- The jet fighters are circling around ready to swoop and attack.
- The hawk swooped down, caught a rabbit and then soared away.
remote adj.偏遠的、相隔甚遠的；久遠的
- The air force base is located at a remote site.
這座空軍基地位於偏遠的地點
- The incident happened in the remote past, and no one seems to remember it now.
這個事件發生在久遠的過去，現在似乎沒有人記得了。
flock n.獸群、鳥群、群眾
- Flocks of sheep are grazing on the hill.
一群群的山羊正在山丘上吃草
- Flocks of fans were waiting outside the arena to see their favorite stars.
成群的球迷在球場外，等著看他們喜愛的運動明星。
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131015_401c6.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131016_bd18f.wmv
Next, experience the natural beauty that Kazakhstan is famous for - on horseback. Many believe that this area was where people first rode horses thousands of years ago. Ride through the remote area of the Central Tien Shan. You'll see forests and cross rivers and mountain passes. You'll also spot flocks of sheep, horses and the nomads who care for them. It's an unforgettable experience.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Irregular Plurals
Teaching Topic: Irregular Plurals
Language Lab
raptor sanctuary n.
raptor
/ˈræptɚ/
a bird (such as an eagle or hawk) that kills and eats other animals for food : bird of prey
sanctuary
/ˈsæŋktʃəˌweri/
the protection that is provided by a safe place
- wildlife sanctuary
- The cathedral became a sanctuary for the refugees during the war.
swoop v.
/ˈswu:p/
to fly down through the air suddenly — usually + down
- The jet fighters are circling around ready to swoop and attack.
- The hawk swooped down, caught a rabbit and then soared away.
remote adj.偏遠的、相隔甚遠的；久遠的
- The air force base is located at a remote site.
這座空軍基地位於偏遠的地點
- The incident happened in the remote past, and no one seems to remember it now.
這個事件發生在久遠的過去，現在似乎沒有人記得了。
flock n.獸群、鳥群、群眾
- Flocks of sheep are grazing on the hill.
一群群的山羊正在山丘上吃草
- Flocks of fans were waiting outside the arena to see their favorite stars.
成群的球迷在球場外，等著看他們喜愛的運動明星。
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131015_401c6.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131016_bd18f.wmv
Monday, October 14, 2013
draft--Kazakhstan – The Land of Wonders (1)
Adventure is waiting for you in this central Asian country
Kazakhstan, the world's largest land-locked country, may seem like an out-of-the-way destination for tourists. It is. But those who travel to this Central Asian nation are rewarded with great natural beauty. Kazakhstan's snowy peaks, wide deserts, grassy plains and beautiful lakes beg to be explored.
Start your adventure in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, a city with wide, tree-lined streets and numerous parks. Panfilov Park is home to Holy Ascension Cathedral. Although it doesn't look like it, the entire cathedral is made of wood!
Built between 1904 and 1907, it is one of the largest wooden churches in the world. At the east end of the park stands the Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments. There, you can see and hear a nice collection of traditional Kazakh instruments.
Near the park you'll find the Green Bazaar. Visit it for a real taste of Kazakhstan. Try kazy, a special kind of horse-meat sausage. Horse meat is considered a delicacy in Kazakhstan.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: “Made of” vs. “Made from”
Teaching Topic: “Made of” vs. “Made from”
Language Lab
land-locked adj.
surrounded by land
- The mountainous land-locked region remained untouched by civilization.
- The cabin was built beside a land-locked lake.
out-of-the-way adj.
located far from other places that are well-known
- The fugitive hid in an out-of-the-way village.
- It's almost impossible to contact the outside world in this our-of-the-way area.
musical adj.
of or relating to music
- Many musical talents came to participate in the contest.
- The pianist's musical performance is touching and powerful.
having music and songs as a main feature : telling a story with songs
- Cats is my favorite musical.
bazaar n.
a type of market found especially in Middle Eastern countries that has rows of small shops which sell many different kinds of things
- You can find lots of fresh local produce in the bazaar.
- We tried to make our way through the open-air bazaar crammed with people.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131014_777ab.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131015_401c6.wmv
Kazakhstan, the world's largest land-locked country, may seem like an out-of-the-way destination for tourists. It is. But those who travel to this Central Asian nation are rewarded with great natural beauty. Kazakhstan's snowy peaks, wide deserts, grassy plains and beautiful lakes beg to be explored.
Start your adventure in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, a city with wide, tree-lined streets and numerous parks. Panfilov Park is home to Holy Ascension Cathedral. Although it doesn't look like it, the entire cathedral is made of wood!
Built between 1904 and 1907, it is one of the largest wooden churches in the world. At the east end of the park stands the Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments. There, you can see and hear a nice collection of traditional Kazakh instruments.
Near the park you'll find the Green Bazaar. Visit it for a real taste of Kazakhstan. Try kazy, a special kind of horse-meat sausage. Horse meat is considered a delicacy in Kazakhstan.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: “Made of” vs. “Made from”
Teaching Topic: “Made of” vs. “Made from”
Language Lab
land-locked adj.
surrounded by land
- The mountainous land-locked region remained untouched by civilization.
- The cabin was built beside a land-locked lake.
out-of-the-way adj.
located far from other places that are well-known
- The fugitive hid in an out-of-the-way village.
- It's almost impossible to contact the outside world in this our-of-the-way area.
musical adj.
of or relating to music
- Many musical talents came to participate in the contest.
- The pianist's musical performance is touching and powerful.
having music and songs as a main feature : telling a story with songs
- Cats is my favorite musical.
bazaar n.
a type of market found especially in Middle Eastern countries that has rows of small shops which sell many different kinds of things
- You can find lots of fresh local produce in the bazaar.
- We tried to make our way through the open-air bazaar crammed with people.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131014_777ab.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131015_401c6.wmv
Saturday, October 12, 2013
draft------Five Funny Inventions (We Don't Really Need) (2)
The Telephone Dumbbell
The battle between doing work and working out continues. You are gaining weight, but you work in an office all day! Who can spend valuable time exercising? Meet the telephone dumbbell. This telephone is attached to a weight. You can answer the phone and exercise your arms!
The DVD Rewinder
Years ago, people had to rewind a videotape after watching a movie. What a pain! But it's the modern age of DVDs now. And with a new era comes new technology. The DVD rewinder is a great time-saver. After you finish your movie, just pop the DVD into the rewinder! It will rewind back to the beginning in no time!
The Sweetheart Sweatshirt
How close are you to your girlfriend or boyfriend? Whatever your answer is, it's not close enough. You need a 2-person sweatshirt. This sweatshirt has four arms and an extra-big hood. Show your loved one how much you care. Invite them to join you in your two-person sweatshirt.
These inventions are intended to be "useful." But sometimes it's easier to do things the old-fashioned way!
Grammar Gym
"Meet the telephone dumbbell."
Meet
- I'm so glad to meet you!
- I would like you to meet our special guest.
-----
- Ladies and gentlemen, meet the latest tablet computer!
- Friends, meet the fastest rollercoaster ride in the history of this city!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Tongue-in-Cheek
Teaching Topic: Tongue-in-Cheek
Language Lab
valuable adj.
important because there is only a limited amount available:
- I learned many valuable lessons from my English professor. He's my mentor.
[more valuable; most valuable] 1 : worth a lot of money
- Don't forget to take your valuables when you get off.
pop into
pops; popped; pop·ping
to quickly put something somewhere, usually for a short time
- The chef popped the cake into the oven.
- We popped into a fast-food restaurant and bought some fries.
sweatshirt n.
a piece of clothing for the upper part of your body that is made from a thick, soft material
- Tina showed up at the party in jeans and a sweatshirt.
- William bought a sweatshirt with the school's logo at the campus bookstore.
hood n.
a part of a coat, jacket etc that you can pull up to cover your head:
- Larry bought a jacket with a detachable hood.
- The boy loves to hide his face in the hood of his coat.
- The mechanic raised the hood of the car to check the engine.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131012_e59f6.wmv
The battle between doing work and working out continues. You are gaining weight, but you work in an office all day! Who can spend valuable time exercising? Meet the telephone dumbbell. This telephone is attached to a weight. You can answer the phone and exercise your arms!
The DVD Rewinder
Years ago, people had to rewind a videotape after watching a movie. What a pain! But it's the modern age of DVDs now. And with a new era comes new technology. The DVD rewinder is a great time-saver. After you finish your movie, just pop the DVD into the rewinder! It will rewind back to the beginning in no time!
The Sweetheart Sweatshirt
How close are you to your girlfriend or boyfriend? Whatever your answer is, it's not close enough. You need a 2-person sweatshirt. This sweatshirt has four arms and an extra-big hood. Show your loved one how much you care. Invite them to join you in your two-person sweatshirt.
These inventions are intended to be "useful." But sometimes it's easier to do things the old-fashioned way!
Grammar Gym
"Meet the telephone dumbbell."
Meet
- I'm so glad to meet you!
- I would like you to meet our special guest.
-----
- Ladies and gentlemen, meet the latest tablet computer!
- Friends, meet the fastest rollercoaster ride in the history of this city!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Tongue-in-Cheek
Teaching Topic: Tongue-in-Cheek
Language Lab
valuable adj.
important because there is only a limited amount available:
- I learned many valuable lessons from my English professor. He's my mentor.
[more valuable; most valuable] 1 : worth a lot of money
- Don't forget to take your valuables when you get off.
pop into
pops; popped; pop·ping
to quickly put something somewhere, usually for a short time
- The chef popped the cake into the oven.
- We popped into a fast-food restaurant and bought some fries.
sweatshirt n.
a piece of clothing for the upper part of your body that is made from a thick, soft material
- Tina showed up at the party in jeans and a sweatshirt.
- William bought a sweatshirt with the school's logo at the campus bookstore.
hood n.
a part of a coat, jacket etc that you can pull up to cover your head:
- Larry bought a jacket with a detachable hood.
- The boy loves to hide his face in the hood of his coat.
- The mechanic raised the hood of the car to check the engine.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131012_e59f6.wmv
Friday, October 11, 2013
Five Funny Inventions (We Don't Really Need) (1)
Not all inventions are very useful
People say "Necessity is the mother of invention." Humans are always looking for ways to make life easier for themselves. Some inventions like light bulbs, cars and computers are terrific. But many inventions are just, well, silly!
The Noodle Fan
A bowl of hot noodles is delicious. But sometimes you're too hungry to wait for them to cool. So when you eat them, you burn your mouth! The noodle fan solves that problem. Just attach the tiny fan to your chopsticks. It will blow on your noodles while you eat.
The Portable Chin Rest
People lead busy lives these days, and lots of them don't get enough sleep. Wouldn't it be nice if you could sleep standing up? Now you can! The portable chin rest looks a little like a coat rack. It has the perfect soft space for your chin. Take it with you. On your way to work, rest your head on it, and take a quick nap!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Conversation Killers
We're all familiar with which topics to avoid when meeting foreigners for the first time, right?
How old are you?
How much money do you make?
Are you married?
Not the best questions to start a conversation.
Now, besides questions, there are also comments that we might make that while said with good intentions, can kill a conversation.
OK.
For example, let's pretend you're on the subway and you see someone using a portable chin rest.
It's pretty obvious that that person is tired right?
That's right.
So, there's really no need to say, "You look tired."
Now, again we know it's said out of kindness and concern, but if the person is tired, they already know it.
What's worse is saying, you look tired to someone who is actually feeling pretty energetic.
Now, you might as well say, "you look terrible", and no one wants to be told that.
So, it's probably best not to say it, unless your relationship with the person you're speaking to is pretty close.
You'll want to keep away from comments like "you look tired", "what are all those red marks on your face", and "you've gained weight".
They're conversation killers.
Language Lab
invention n.
something invented: such as a [count] : a useful new device or process
- The invention of cellphones really changed the history of telecommunications.
- The compass was a Chinese invention.
invent v.
to create or produce (something useful) for the first time
- The professor invented a new treatment to cure the disease.
necessity n.
/nɪˈsɛsəti/
[noncount] formal : the quality of being necessary — usually + of or for
- There's an rugent necessity for new elections.
[count] : something that you must have or do : something that is necessary
- We prepared some necessities for our stay in the cabin.
portable adj.
able to be carried or moved easily:
- Bob put a portable TV in his RV.
- The portable heater works pretty well even in severe weather conditions.
coat rack n.
a board or pole with hooks on it that you hang coats on
- Mark made a child-sized wooden coat rack for his son.
- Peter always hangs his jacket on the coat rack as soon as he comes home.
cloakroom n.
a small room where you can leave your coat [= coatroom American English]
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131011_95db8.wmv
People say "Necessity is the mother of invention." Humans are always looking for ways to make life easier for themselves. Some inventions like light bulbs, cars and computers are terrific. But many inventions are just, well, silly!
The Noodle Fan
A bowl of hot noodles is delicious. But sometimes you're too hungry to wait for them to cool. So when you eat them, you burn your mouth! The noodle fan solves that problem. Just attach the tiny fan to your chopsticks. It will blow on your noodles while you eat.
The Portable Chin Rest
People lead busy lives these days, and lots of them don't get enough sleep. Wouldn't it be nice if you could sleep standing up? Now you can! The portable chin rest looks a little like a coat rack. It has the perfect soft space for your chin. Take it with you. On your way to work, rest your head on it, and take a quick nap!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Conversation Killers
We're all familiar with which topics to avoid when meeting foreigners for the first time, right?
How old are you?
How much money do you make?
Are you married?
Not the best questions to start a conversation.
Now, besides questions, there are also comments that we might make that while said with good intentions, can kill a conversation.
OK.
For example, let's pretend you're on the subway and you see someone using a portable chin rest.
It's pretty obvious that that person is tired right?
That's right.
So, there's really no need to say, "You look tired."
Now, again we know it's said out of kindness and concern, but if the person is tired, they already know it.
What's worse is saying, you look tired to someone who is actually feeling pretty energetic.
Now, you might as well say, "you look terrible", and no one wants to be told that.
So, it's probably best not to say it, unless your relationship with the person you're speaking to is pretty close.
You'll want to keep away from comments like "you look tired", "what are all those red marks on your face", and "you've gained weight".
They're conversation killers.
Language Lab
invention n.
something invented: such as a [count] : a useful new device or process
- The invention of cellphones really changed the history of telecommunications.
- The compass was a Chinese invention.
invent v.
to create or produce (something useful) for the first time
- The professor invented a new treatment to cure the disease.
necessity n.
/nɪˈsɛsəti/
[noncount] formal : the quality of being necessary — usually + of or for
- There's an rugent necessity for new elections.
[count] : something that you must have or do : something that is necessary
- We prepared some necessities for our stay in the cabin.
portable adj.
able to be carried or moved easily:
- Bob put a portable TV in his RV.
- The portable heater works pretty well even in severe weather conditions.
coat rack n.
a board or pole with hooks on it that you hang coats on
- Mark made a child-sized wooden coat rack for his son.
- Peter always hangs his jacket on the coat rack as soon as he comes home.
cloakroom n.
a small room where you can leave your coat [= coatroom American English]
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131011_95db8.wmv
Thursday, October 10, 2013
[Advanced] The War on Sugar
Are sweet snacks and drinks destroying our health?
Walt Disney announce that its going to stop advertising junk foods to kids on its TV channels, radio station and website by 2015.
-Have you ever been in a state of hand-wringing over something? Explain.
-What do you think: Has sugar been “unfairly demonized” or is it “toxic” in excess? Explain.
-Do you worry about your sugar intake? Why or why not?
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131010ada7973db68ffabb95b7ca64fcd0f47eaae7d6cbce344ec02c42a89dc09db9f82b9.wma
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131011adaf368f21eefdc32a4fba9b5ad44b2668ea86983c44c7291203d0ef5f797b14ecb.wma
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131012adac0a37a38cbf0ae08115629153eff7ef937b8b0c241049403dbf41a3eaaa0ffe1.wma
Walt Disney announce that its going to stop advertising junk foods to kids on its TV channels, radio station and website by 2015.
-Have you ever been in a state of hand-wringing over something? Explain.
-What do you think: Has sugar been “unfairly demonized” or is it “toxic” in excess? Explain.
-Do you worry about your sugar intake? Why or why not?
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131010ada7973db68ffabb95b7ca64fcd0f47eaae7d6cbce344ec02c42a89dc09db9f82b9.wma
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131011adaf368f21eefdc32a4fba9b5ad44b2668ea86983c44c7291203d0ef5f797b14ecb.wma
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131012adac0a37a38cbf0ae08115629153eff7ef937b8b0c241049403dbf41a3eaaa0ffe1.wma
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
[Advanced] Capitalism With a Conscience (3)
Nordstrom, too, has an eye on helping others with a Manhattan retail store, Treasure&Bond, whose profits -- and sometimes, a portion of its sales receipts -- go to charity.
Pete Nordstrom, president of merchandising and great-grandson of the Nordstrom chain's founder, says he got the idea a few years ago when visited a store in Paris, whose proceeds all went to charity. "Companies have to do more than make money," he says.
But kindness doesn't always come easy -- or cheap. The store has been running in the red since it opened, concedes Nordstrom. On top of that, it may have to change locations -- or even close -- after the lease expires in about six months.
"We will keep doing this as long as we can make it work," he says. "We have to balance making money and fulfilling our mission."
But if the motivation for doing good is just about selling more stuff or making more money, it's doomed to fail, warns Whole Foods' Mackey, who recently co-authored a best-selling book on the topic, Conscious Capitalism. His natural foods grocery chain runs a foundation that grants loans to aid people in poverty in 55 countries trying to start small businesses.
Starbucks has been at it for years.
The coffee kingpin has operated a "community" store in New York's Harlem district that's been donating a fat chunk of its profits to local charities for more than seven years. More recently, it's opened similar stores in Los Angeles and Houston. By 2018, it expects to operate 50 of these community stores.
CEO Howard Schultz says, "This can't be done through a lens of marketing and PR, but through a lens of guiding principles." Government simply can't do everything, he says, "so it's incumbent upon business leaders to do more than our share."
Just the image of kindness can be an effective sales tool.
It's no accident that one of Coca-Cola's Super Bowl spots displayed a series of kind acts -- such as dropped wallets being returned -- as captured by security camera footage from around the globe. Fostering kind acts will become a bigger part of Coke's marketing going forward, says Cristina Bondolowski, vice president of global brands. Extensive research shows that performing kind acts -- the act of giving -- makes people feel happier.
"This is not just telling people to be happy," says Bondolowski, "but inspiring happiness."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131009adae05509146c7068d35db42021e7c0948bbc38ae21260a28c0c4293febbf74214b.wma
Pete Nordstrom, president of merchandising and great-grandson of the Nordstrom chain's founder, says he got the idea a few years ago when visited a store in Paris, whose proceeds all went to charity. "Companies have to do more than make money," he says.
But kindness doesn't always come easy -- or cheap. The store has been running in the red since it opened, concedes Nordstrom. On top of that, it may have to change locations -- or even close -- after the lease expires in about six months.
"We will keep doing this as long as we can make it work," he says. "We have to balance making money and fulfilling our mission."
But if the motivation for doing good is just about selling more stuff or making more money, it's doomed to fail, warns Whole Foods' Mackey, who recently co-authored a best-selling book on the topic, Conscious Capitalism. His natural foods grocery chain runs a foundation that grants loans to aid people in poverty in 55 countries trying to start small businesses.
Starbucks has been at it for years.
The coffee kingpin has operated a "community" store in New York's Harlem district that's been donating a fat chunk of its profits to local charities for more than seven years. More recently, it's opened similar stores in Los Angeles and Houston. By 2018, it expects to operate 50 of these community stores.
CEO Howard Schultz says, "This can't be done through a lens of marketing and PR, but through a lens of guiding principles." Government simply can't do everything, he says, "so it's incumbent upon business leaders to do more than our share."
Just the image of kindness can be an effective sales tool.
It's no accident that one of Coca-Cola's Super Bowl spots displayed a series of kind acts -- such as dropped wallets being returned -- as captured by security camera footage from around the globe. Fostering kind acts will become a bigger part of Coke's marketing going forward, says Cristina Bondolowski, vice president of global brands. Extensive research shows that performing kind acts -- the act of giving -- makes people feel happier.
"This is not just telling people to be happy," says Bondolowski, "but inspiring happiness."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131009adae05509146c7068d35db42021e7c0948bbc38ae21260a28c0c4293febbf74214b.wma
Too Much Money? (1)
What should a business do with all its profits?
Hi, Uncle Bob.
Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Sandy and I have been really busy.
That's OK, Ben. I figured that meant things were going well.
As a matter of fact, business is booming. And be honest, I'm starting to get a little worried that I might become a victim of my own success.
What do you mean?
Well, the company is flush with money right now. I know that is't important to keep your money actively working for you, but I can't figure out what to do with it fast enough.
What are your options?
To be honest, I don't know. I know the big companies often use extra money to pay dividends.
That's true.
Sometimes they'll even buy back some of their own stock.
But your're not a big company, and you don't have any shareholders.
Exactly. That's why I'm at a loss about what to do.
There are lots of ways that smaller companies handle extra cash.
Give me some examples.
Well, one option is to pay down debt.
We don't really have any. We used our savings to start the company, and we've already recouped our expenses.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Too Much of A Good Thing
Hi friends, have you ever had the problem that Ben and Sandy are having?
They are making so much money that they don't know what to do with it.
Well, I'm not sure I would call that a problem, Ken.
Having too much money? Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with that.
But this situation reminded me of an expression "too much of a good thing".
Ahh, yes. Too much of a good thing.
That means something pleasant becomes unpleasant because you have too much of it.
This phrase was actually coined by Shakespeare in the seventeenth century when he wrote the play "As You Like It".
Of course we can apply this expression to anything that might be bad for you when you have too much of it.
For example, we all love chocolate, right?
But too much chocolate can actually make you sick.
Perfect example.
So, moderation is key when we have too much of a good thing.
But Steve, I've always thought too much of a good thing is wonderful.
You're not the only one Ken.
"Too much of a good things is wonderful" is a purposefully humorous or irreverent variation of the traditional saying.
So the conventional message is reversed.
That's right.
The original saying is an appeal to moderation.
While the modified saying suggests people should enjoy themselves more and worry less.
Well, maybe on your birthday, you can allow yourself to be spoiled and pampered with whatever you want no matter how much of it there is.
Right, because too much of a good thing can sometimes be wonderful.
Grammar Gym
That's why I'm at a loss about what to do.
at a loss: uncertain
- Tony has never had to deal with such a problem - now he is really at a loss.
- When the patient wasn't getting any better after all the treatments, her doctors were at a loss.
Language Lab
boom v.
if business, trade, or a particular area is booming, it is increasing and being very successful:
- Korea's entertainment business has boomed in the last decade.
- Sales of the new product are booming in Asia.
boom n.
a rapid increase in growth or economic success
- The region is experiencing a boom in tourism.
flush adj.
abundant or plentiful, as money.
flush with
- The oil companies are flush with money due to the increase in oil prices.
if two surfaces are flush, they are at exactly the same level, so that the place where they meet is flat
- The cupboards aren't flush against each other.
flush v.
to become red in the face, for example when you are angry or embarrassed [= blush]
dividend n.
a part of a company's profit that is divided among the people with shares in the company
divide v.
groupings
- The company will pay a dividend of $1.00 for each share.
- This quarter's dividends will increase by 3 percent.
stock n.
[uncountable] the total value of all of a company's shares
- The boss owns 51 percent of the company's stock.
[countable] especially American English a share in a company:
- The company's stocks have fallen continuously for the last three days.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131009_1dd48.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131009baa3ce3ca31ace586f2e95e860a3c52c066500df094be2939e1782c8f612673897a.wma
Hi, Uncle Bob.
Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Sandy and I have been really busy.
That's OK, Ben. I figured that meant things were going well.
As a matter of fact, business is booming. And be honest, I'm starting to get a little worried that I might become a victim of my own success.
What do you mean?
Well, the company is flush with money right now. I know that is't important to keep your money actively working for you, but I can't figure out what to do with it fast enough.
What are your options?
To be honest, I don't know. I know the big companies often use extra money to pay dividends.
That's true.
Sometimes they'll even buy back some of their own stock.
But your're not a big company, and you don't have any shareholders.
Exactly. That's why I'm at a loss about what to do.
There are lots of ways that smaller companies handle extra cash.
Give me some examples.
Well, one option is to pay down debt.
We don't really have any. We used our savings to start the company, and we've already recouped our expenses.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Too Much of A Good Thing
Hi friends, have you ever had the problem that Ben and Sandy are having?
They are making so much money that they don't know what to do with it.
Well, I'm not sure I would call that a problem, Ken.
Having too much money? Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with that.
But this situation reminded me of an expression "too much of a good thing".
Ahh, yes. Too much of a good thing.
That means something pleasant becomes unpleasant because you have too much of it.
This phrase was actually coined by Shakespeare in the seventeenth century when he wrote the play "As You Like It".
Of course we can apply this expression to anything that might be bad for you when you have too much of it.
For example, we all love chocolate, right?
But too much chocolate can actually make you sick.
Perfect example.
So, moderation is key when we have too much of a good thing.
But Steve, I've always thought too much of a good thing is wonderful.
You're not the only one Ken.
"Too much of a good things is wonderful" is a purposefully humorous or irreverent variation of the traditional saying.
So the conventional message is reversed.
That's right.
The original saying is an appeal to moderation.
While the modified saying suggests people should enjoy themselves more and worry less.
Well, maybe on your birthday, you can allow yourself to be spoiled and pampered with whatever you want no matter how much of it there is.
Right, because too much of a good thing can sometimes be wonderful.
Grammar Gym
That's why I'm at a loss about what to do.
at a loss: uncertain
- Tony has never had to deal with such a problem - now he is really at a loss.
- When the patient wasn't getting any better after all the treatments, her doctors were at a loss.
Language Lab
boom v.
if business, trade, or a particular area is booming, it is increasing and being very successful:
- Korea's entertainment business has boomed in the last decade.
- Sales of the new product are booming in Asia.
boom n.
a rapid increase in growth or economic success
- The region is experiencing a boom in tourism.
flush adj.
abundant or plentiful, as money.
flush with
- The oil companies are flush with money due to the increase in oil prices.
if two surfaces are flush, they are at exactly the same level, so that the place where they meet is flat
- The cupboards aren't flush against each other.
flush v.
to become red in the face, for example when you are angry or embarrassed [= blush]
dividend n.
a part of a company's profit that is divided among the people with shares in the company
divide v.
groupings
- The company will pay a dividend of $1.00 for each share.
- This quarter's dividends will increase by 3 percent.
stock n.
[uncountable] the total value of all of a company's shares
- The boss owns 51 percent of the company's stock.
[countable] especially American English a share in a company:
- The company's stocks have fallen continuously for the last three days.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131009_1dd48.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131009baa3ce3ca31ace586f2e95e860a3c52c066500df094be2939e1782c8f612673897a.wma
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Reaching for Records (2)
Pursuit of Records
Breaking a world record requires extraordinary skill. But why spend time developing extraordinary skill at crushing eggs with one's toes or balancing a ladder on one's chin?
Fame: According to two-time world-record breaker Larry Olmsted, "Everyone wants to be famous." Breaking a record is a way to gain some recognition even if you don't become a household name.
Fortune: Alastair Galpin has made a career of breaking records. He gives school presentations about his experiences and offers companies publicity for sponsoring his record-breaking attempts.
Accomplishment: Grete Eliassen broke a record for ski jumping over a 31-foot platform called a hip. Her hip jump was the world's highest. She wanted to show her skill, proving that women could ski as well as men.
A compelling message: Jon Pritkin uses feats of strength during anti-bullying presentations in schools. He's even strong enough to roll a frying pan up like a wrap! Pritikin broke a record for rolling two together tighter than anyone before, hoping this would gain him more speaking opportunities.
Whatever their motivations, people have done some crazy things in pursuit of world records.
Grammar Gym
"But why spend time developing extraordinary skill at crushing eggs with one's toes or balancing a ladder on one's chin? "
why spend time: why should one spend time
- But why should one spend time developing extraordinary skill at crushing eggs with one's toes or balancing a ladder on one's chin?
- Why spend time sitting in your car in traffic jam when you can save time and money riding public transportation?
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Suprafixed Verbs
Many of us are familiar with heteronyms, words with the same spelling but different pronunciations and different meanings. But are you familiar with suprafixed heteronyms?
Superfixing simply describes the process of verbs morphing or becoming nouns. And as they do, their stress shifts from the second syllable to the first.
Right. Let's look an example we find through out today's lesson. The noun "record", it comes from the verb "record."
Hmm... Using both noun and the verb in a sentence, we might say, "The official arrived to record the man's attempt at breaking the record."
There are dozens of these kinds of heteronynms names English including present and present, permit and permit, produce and produce, which is a vocabulary word we'll encounter later this month.
OK. So again, If it's the noun, put the stress on the first syllable. If it's the verb, place the stress on the second syllable.
Now, suprafixing doesn't just happen to verbs morphing iinto nouns. micro just more into nouns. It happens more into adjective.
That's right. As an example, we could say, it took the man several years to effect his novel. Finally, last month, he decided it was perfect.
Language Lab
pursuit n.
/pɚˈsu:t/
the act of pursuing someone or something: such as a : the act of following or chasing someone or something
an attempt to find, achieve, or get something — + of
- Her pursuit of fame and wealth ended in tragedy.
- The workers went on strike in pursuit of a 5 percent increase in wages.
pursue v.
to follow and try to catch or capture (someone or something) for usually a long distance or time
- Sam wants to pursue a career in acting.
publicity n.
/pəˈblɪsəti/
something that attracts the attention of the public
- This publicity campaign successfully promoted the sales of the album.
- The publicity budget was cut by the committee.
compelling adj.
very interesting or exciting, so that you have to pay attention:
- The compelling evidence proved the suspect's innocence.
- The model's compelling looks attracted everyone's attention.
anti-bullying adj.
- The anti-bullying campaign made a great impact on campuses.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131008_e5972.wmv
Breaking a world record requires extraordinary skill. But why spend time developing extraordinary skill at crushing eggs with one's toes or balancing a ladder on one's chin?
Fame: According to two-time world-record breaker Larry Olmsted, "Everyone wants to be famous." Breaking a record is a way to gain some recognition even if you don't become a household name.
Fortune: Alastair Galpin has made a career of breaking records. He gives school presentations about his experiences and offers companies publicity for sponsoring his record-breaking attempts.
Accomplishment: Grete Eliassen broke a record for ski jumping over a 31-foot platform called a hip. Her hip jump was the world's highest. She wanted to show her skill, proving that women could ski as well as men.
A compelling message: Jon Pritkin uses feats of strength during anti-bullying presentations in schools. He's even strong enough to roll a frying pan up like a wrap! Pritikin broke a record for rolling two together tighter than anyone before, hoping this would gain him more speaking opportunities.
Whatever their motivations, people have done some crazy things in pursuit of world records.
Grammar Gym
"But why spend time developing extraordinary skill at crushing eggs with one's toes or balancing a ladder on one's chin? "
why spend time: why should one spend time
- But why should one spend time developing extraordinary skill at crushing eggs with one's toes or balancing a ladder on one's chin?
- Why spend time sitting in your car in traffic jam when you can save time and money riding public transportation?
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Suprafixed Verbs
Many of us are familiar with heteronyms, words with the same spelling but different pronunciations and different meanings. But are you familiar with suprafixed heteronyms?
Superfixing simply describes the process of verbs morphing or becoming nouns. And as they do, their stress shifts from the second syllable to the first.
Right. Let's look an example we find through out today's lesson. The noun "record", it comes from the verb "record."
Hmm... Using both noun and the verb in a sentence, we might say, "The official arrived to record the man's attempt at breaking the record."
There are dozens of these kinds of heteronynms names English including present and present, permit and permit, produce and produce, which is a vocabulary word we'll encounter later this month.
OK. So again, If it's the noun, put the stress on the first syllable. If it's the verb, place the stress on the second syllable.
Now, suprafixing doesn't just happen to verbs morphing iinto nouns. micro just more into nouns. It happens more into adjective.
That's right. As an example, we could say, it took the man several years to effect his novel. Finally, last month, he decided it was perfect.
Language Lab
pursuit n.
/pɚˈsu:t/
the act of pursuing someone or something: such as a : the act of following or chasing someone or something
an attempt to find, achieve, or get something — + of
- Her pursuit of fame and wealth ended in tragedy.
- The workers went on strike in pursuit of a 5 percent increase in wages.
pursue v.
to follow and try to catch or capture (someone or something) for usually a long distance or time
- Sam wants to pursue a career in acting.
publicity n.
/pəˈblɪsəti/
something that attracts the attention of the public
- This publicity campaign successfully promoted the sales of the album.
- The publicity budget was cut by the committee.
compelling adj.
very interesting or exciting, so that you have to pay attention:
- The compelling evidence proved the suspect's innocence.
- The model's compelling looks attracted everyone's attention.
anti-bullying adj.
- The anti-bullying campaign made a great impact on campuses.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131008_e5972.wmv
[Advanced] Capitalism With a Conscience (2)
Others are talking the talk but not walking the walk. Several large retailers, for example, embrace the image of kindness by asking customers at check-out to donate to charitable causes. That's, arguably, a far cry from a sustained and deep-seated effort from within. Even then, this national epidemic of corporate kindness is grounded in one rationale: It works.
Some 47% of consumers say they buy, every month, at least one brand that supports a good cause, according to a 2012 global survey by public relations firm Edelman. That's a 47% increase from 2010. What's more, some 72% of consumers say they would recommend a brand that supports a good cause -- a 38% increase in two years.
Just as compelling, consumers say they're more likely to discuss the good deeds a company does than they are to discuss a company's financial performance, according to a 2012 Weber Shandwick survey.
Doing good is becoming less an option and more a requirement. But it's tricky. It's not just about writing checks anymore, and most Millennials have a seemingly innate ability to smell out manufactured kindness. Corporate kindness must be grounded in an holistic sense of good that can't feel, smell or taste like it's been painted on by the corporate spin-meisters. It has to come from within.
"You can't hire someone to give you values," says Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread, which in the past 18 months has opened a handful of Panera Cares restaurants in urban areas that ask customers to pay only what they can afford -- even if it's just volunteering for an hour. "Kindness can't be a corporate tactic that's buried in the marketing department."
At the five Panera Cares restaurants, some customers don't pay at all – but that's OK, because others willingly some pay extra. The profits are primarily used to job-train at-risk kids.
Panera Cares is now making that difference in five cities, with plans to expand to more.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131008ada2dd86a90073e761acf98d8a15ca501cfba35650a9a15fcc6f558c920266af660.wma
Some 47% of consumers say they buy, every month, at least one brand that supports a good cause, according to a 2012 global survey by public relations firm Edelman. That's a 47% increase from 2010. What's more, some 72% of consumers say they would recommend a brand that supports a good cause -- a 38% increase in two years.
Just as compelling, consumers say they're more likely to discuss the good deeds a company does than they are to discuss a company's financial performance, according to a 2012 Weber Shandwick survey.
Doing good is becoming less an option and more a requirement. But it's tricky. It's not just about writing checks anymore, and most Millennials have a seemingly innate ability to smell out manufactured kindness. Corporate kindness must be grounded in an holistic sense of good that can't feel, smell or taste like it's been painted on by the corporate spin-meisters. It has to come from within.
"You can't hire someone to give you values," says Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread, which in the past 18 months has opened a handful of Panera Cares restaurants in urban areas that ask customers to pay only what they can afford -- even if it's just volunteering for an hour. "Kindness can't be a corporate tactic that's buried in the marketing department."
At the five Panera Cares restaurants, some customers don't pay at all – but that's OK, because others willingly some pay extra. The profits are primarily used to job-train at-risk kids.
Panera Cares is now making that difference in five cities, with plans to expand to more.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131008ada2dd86a90073e761acf98d8a15ca501cfba35650a9a15fcc6f558c920266af660.wma
Monday, October 7, 2013
Reaching for Records (1)
What drives people to set and break world records?
At the Pyrmids fo Giza in 2005, visitors may have seen a strange sight. A man named Ashrita Furman walked 11.33 kilometers balancing a pool cue on his finger. That day he set a world record, which he later broke by walking 14.40 kilometers with the pool cue.
Furman has set over 450 records in his lifetime according to the Guinness World Records book. He currently holds more than 150, including one for holding the most records.
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records began with a question. While hunting, Sir Hugh Beaver, then chairman of the Guinness Brewery, wondered what the fastest game bird in Europe was. Beaver couldn't find a book that answered his question, so he decided to create one.
In 1954 Beaver asked two sports journalists to help him collect records. And in 1955 The Guinness Book of Records, as it was then called, was published. That very year, it became a bestseller. Later editions have sold over 130 million copies and have been translated into more than 25 languages.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Yes Sir!
In medieval England, men were knighted by a king or queen in recognition for special service to their country, especially outstanding military service.
It was a great honor. Knights were given all the rights and privileges of nobility and a good measure of military authority. Knights were allowed to put the honorable title "sir" before their names.
Then, beginning in about the late 1500's, kings and queens began knighting civilians as a way of honoring their contributions to society.
The man in today's lesson, Sir Hugh Beaver, was knighted in 1943 for his service to the British government.
Today, people from all over the world are being knighted by the British monarchy for achievements in science, entertainment, politics, and other fields.
However, only knighted citizens of British Commonwealth countries may place the title "sir" before their name. Knighted non-Brits, like Americans Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates, have to settle with placing the letters KBE, signifying "Knight of the British Empire" after their names.
By the way, women can also be knighted. They can receive the honors of knighthood, too. However, instead of "sir", their title is "dame". Judi Dench, the famous British actress for example, is a dame.
Language Lab
pyramid n.
a large stone building with four triangular (=three-sided) walls that slope in to a point at the top, especially in Egypt and Central America
- The novel's setting is an ancient Egyptian pyramid.
an object shaped like a pyramid
- The kids made a pyramid of stones in the backyard.
currently adv.
at the present time
current adj.
happening or existing now
- The current situation at the border is quite dangerous.
- The proposal is currently in the discussion stage.
- Tom is currently the head of the department.
chairman n.
someone, especially a man, who is in charge of a meeting or directs the work of a committee or an organization
- The chairman of the committee decided to change the agenda of the meeting.
chairperson n.
someone who is in charge of a meeting or directs the work of a committee or organization
- Chelsea was nominated as the chairperson of next year's parent advisory committee.
journalist n.
someone who writes news reports for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio
journal n.
- The journalist revealed the scandal the governor was involved in.
journalism n.
the job or activity of writing news reports for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio
- Eric started his career in journalism right after graduation.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131007_d109e.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131007baadf2aa4f49585534d3e6b90cb9e480a77bec6a4f2bef21b2d4b2751ea7d8bfbb3.wma
At the Pyrmids fo Giza in 2005, visitors may have seen a strange sight. A man named Ashrita Furman walked 11.33 kilometers balancing a pool cue on his finger. That day he set a world record, which he later broke by walking 14.40 kilometers with the pool cue.
Furman has set over 450 records in his lifetime according to the Guinness World Records book. He currently holds more than 150, including one for holding the most records.
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records began with a question. While hunting, Sir Hugh Beaver, then chairman of the Guinness Brewery, wondered what the fastest game bird in Europe was. Beaver couldn't find a book that answered his question, so he decided to create one.
In 1954 Beaver asked two sports journalists to help him collect records. And in 1955 The Guinness Book of Records, as it was then called, was published. That very year, it became a bestseller. Later editions have sold over 130 million copies and have been translated into more than 25 languages.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Yes Sir!
In medieval England, men were knighted by a king or queen in recognition for special service to their country, especially outstanding military service.
It was a great honor. Knights were given all the rights and privileges of nobility and a good measure of military authority. Knights were allowed to put the honorable title "sir" before their names.
Then, beginning in about the late 1500's, kings and queens began knighting civilians as a way of honoring their contributions to society.
The man in today's lesson, Sir Hugh Beaver, was knighted in 1943 for his service to the British government.
Today, people from all over the world are being knighted by the British monarchy for achievements in science, entertainment, politics, and other fields.
However, only knighted citizens of British Commonwealth countries may place the title "sir" before their name. Knighted non-Brits, like Americans Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates, have to settle with placing the letters KBE, signifying "Knight of the British Empire" after their names.
By the way, women can also be knighted. They can receive the honors of knighthood, too. However, instead of "sir", their title is "dame". Judi Dench, the famous British actress for example, is a dame.
Language Lab
pyramid n.
a large stone building with four triangular (=three-sided) walls that slope in to a point at the top, especially in Egypt and Central America
- The novel's setting is an ancient Egyptian pyramid.
an object shaped like a pyramid
- The kids made a pyramid of stones in the backyard.
currently adv.
at the present time
current adj.
happening or existing now
- The current situation at the border is quite dangerous.
- The proposal is currently in the discussion stage.
- Tom is currently the head of the department.
chairman n.
someone, especially a man, who is in charge of a meeting or directs the work of a committee or an organization
- The chairman of the committee decided to change the agenda of the meeting.
chairperson n.
someone who is in charge of a meeting or directs the work of a committee or organization
- Chelsea was nominated as the chairperson of next year's parent advisory committee.
journalist n.
someone who writes news reports for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio
journal n.
- The journalist revealed the scandal the governor was involved in.
journalism n.
the job or activity of writing news reports for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio
- Eric started his career in journalism right after graduation.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131007_d109e.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131007baadf2aa4f49585534d3e6b90cb9e480a77bec6a4f2bef21b2d4b2751ea7d8bfbb3.wma
[Advanced] Capitalism With a Conscience (1)
Trend-setting Millennials encourage retailers to embrace kindness and do more good
by Bruce Horovitz / © 2013, USA Today. Distributed by McClatchy Information Services.
At a handful of Panera locations, down-and-out folks pay only what they can afford. Nordstrom recently opened a test store where all profits go to charity. Starbucks has three coffee shops where a big chunk of the money made helps the needy. This isn't capitalism gone wacko. It’s capitalism with a conscience.
No longer the exception
For decades, this kind of corporate kindness was the exception, but in the past few years, dozens of America’s biggest brands have embraced socially kind deeds as an effective way to sell themselves to consumers, employees, even stockholders. Some are listening to their hearts—while others are listening to social-media chatter and creating consumable spin.
In either case, there is one audience that’s watching closely: Millennials. This trend-setting, if not free-spending group of 95 million Americans, born between 1982 and 2004, live and breathe social media and are convinced that doing the right thing isn’t just vogue, but mandatory.With nearly a third of the population driving this trend, kindness is becoming the nation’s newest currency.
“Companies can’t hide any more,” says Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s. Because everything they do becomes social-media fodder, he says, “forward-looking companies are starting to do less bad—and more good.”
Moving in the right direction
But it’s no longer just outliers such as Ben & Jerry’s and Whole Foods doing the right thing. More likely sooner than later, corporate kindness that doesn’t have its origins in the public relations or human resources department may become as common as coupons. Even in a dicey economy, kindness sells.“Millennials who got burned by the recession feel a resentment to consumerism, but have few alternatives,” says Robbie Blinkoff, a consumer anthropologist. “They had to create one: Love one another.”
Not love in the ’60s, hippie sense, but love in the show-me-what-you’re-doing-for-others sense.Some are doing it at ground level. Some are making genuine, company-wide efforts.
capitalism n.
an economic and political system in which businesses belong mostly to private owners, not to the government
wacko n.
/ˈwækoʊ/
a person who is crazy or very strange and unusual
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131007ada94c5213ed3cfb6223224e0c71e4b2c944ffaa81e4c9f9d2bbf2b8fcf714c5a15.wma
by Bruce Horovitz / © 2013, USA Today. Distributed by McClatchy Information Services.
At a handful of Panera locations, down-and-out folks pay only what they can afford. Nordstrom recently opened a test store where all profits go to charity. Starbucks has three coffee shops where a big chunk of the money made helps the needy. This isn't capitalism gone wacko. It’s capitalism with a conscience.
No longer the exception
For decades, this kind of corporate kindness was the exception, but in the past few years, dozens of America’s biggest brands have embraced socially kind deeds as an effective way to sell themselves to consumers, employees, even stockholders. Some are listening to their hearts—while others are listening to social-media chatter and creating consumable spin.
In either case, there is one audience that’s watching closely: Millennials. This trend-setting, if not free-spending group of 95 million Americans, born between 1982 and 2004, live and breathe social media and are convinced that doing the right thing isn’t just vogue, but mandatory.With nearly a third of the population driving this trend, kindness is becoming the nation’s newest currency.
“Companies can’t hide any more,” says Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s. Because everything they do becomes social-media fodder, he says, “forward-looking companies are starting to do less bad—and more good.”
Moving in the right direction
But it’s no longer just outliers such as Ben & Jerry’s and Whole Foods doing the right thing. More likely sooner than later, corporate kindness that doesn’t have its origins in the public relations or human resources department may become as common as coupons. Even in a dicey economy, kindness sells.“Millennials who got burned by the recession feel a resentment to consumerism, but have few alternatives,” says Robbie Blinkoff, a consumer anthropologist. “They had to create one: Love one another.”
Not love in the ’60s, hippie sense, but love in the show-me-what-you’re-doing-for-others sense.Some are doing it at ground level. Some are making genuine, company-wide efforts.
capitalism n.
an economic and political system in which businesses belong mostly to private owners, not to the government
wacko n.
/ˈwækoʊ/
a person who is crazy or very strange and unusual
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131007ada94c5213ed3cfb6223224e0c71e4b2c944ffaa81e4c9f9d2bbf2b8fcf714c5a15.wma
Sunday, October 6, 2013
[Advanced] Readers Go Their Own Way (2013/09/30)
Despite a world dominated by digital products, print books still maintain appeal
Kathy Miscioscio and Julie Meier share a passion for books but go their own ways in how they read.
Miscioscio, 60, a marketing consultant in Pearl River, N.Y., says she's addicted to her Sony e-reader. The only time she buys or borrows a print book is when it's not available digitally.
Meier, 43, a marketing director in Pa., says she's "Kindle-less and Nook-less and happily so." She prefers her books on paper, not screens.
Both have lots of company. Statistics released in May show e-book sales grew 43% last year, but that's a slowdown compared with the increases in recent years. E-books remain the fastest-growing part of the book market but account for only about 20% of all sales.
Miscioscio says most of her friends have also switched to e-books for the convenience and lower prices. Last winter, she vacationed in Costa Rica and says "at least 75% of those reading were reading electronically.
On the other hand, Meier, who's sticking with physical books, doesn't consider herself any kind of digital "resister."
"I'm comfortable with all forms of technology," she says. "However, when it comes to books, I suppose I'm a traditionalist. My personal preference will always be the real thing."
To her, part of the joy of reading is the book itself: "pulling it from the shelf, inspecting the cover, letting it fall open to a random page."
Miscioscio and Meier are at opposite ends of a book business in transition. Even as e-books sales have grown more than 4,000% since 2008, it's unlikely that physical books will disappear the way records did in the music industry.
Michael Pietsch, CEO of the Hachette Book Group, which includes Little, Brown and Grand Central, says he loves "the immediacy and portability of e-books." But he also cites a survey from last year that found that half of all readers had no interest in buying e-books and that the vast majority of people who buy e-books continue to buy print books as well.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130930ada67c8d1292250226a96ed367a5225c822e863573e27344f5c5aef8a5036ca9843.wma
Kathy Miscioscio and Julie Meier share a passion for books but go their own ways in how they read.
Miscioscio, 60, a marketing consultant in Pearl River, N.Y., says she's addicted to her Sony e-reader. The only time she buys or borrows a print book is when it's not available digitally.
Meier, 43, a marketing director in Pa., says she's "Kindle-less and Nook-less and happily so." She prefers her books on paper, not screens.
Both have lots of company. Statistics released in May show e-book sales grew 43% last year, but that's a slowdown compared with the increases in recent years. E-books remain the fastest-growing part of the book market but account for only about 20% of all sales.
Miscioscio says most of her friends have also switched to e-books for the convenience and lower prices. Last winter, she vacationed in Costa Rica and says "at least 75% of those reading were reading electronically.
On the other hand, Meier, who's sticking with physical books, doesn't consider herself any kind of digital "resister."
"I'm comfortable with all forms of technology," she says. "However, when it comes to books, I suppose I'm a traditionalist. My personal preference will always be the real thing."
To her, part of the joy of reading is the book itself: "pulling it from the shelf, inspecting the cover, letting it fall open to a random page."
Miscioscio and Meier are at opposite ends of a book business in transition. Even as e-books sales have grown more than 4,000% since 2008, it's unlikely that physical books will disappear the way records did in the music industry.
Michael Pietsch, CEO of the Hachette Book Group, which includes Little, Brown and Grand Central, says he loves "the immediacy and portability of e-books." But he also cites a survey from last year that found that half of all readers had no interest in buying e-books and that the vast majority of people who buy e-books continue to buy print books as well.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130930ada67c8d1292250226a96ed367a5225c822e863573e27344f5c5aef8a5036ca9843.wma
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