Life Lessons from Nature (2)

• Be an encourager
• Take turns
• Set a good example

Be an encourager
Some feel that geese honk in flight to encourage those up front to keep up the speed.

Team members should regularly communicate positively with each other while working toward a common goal.

Take turns
The goose out in front has the hardest job as it breaks up the air currents. When it gets tired, it moves behind, and another goose moves into the lead. By sharing the role, the flock can travel great distances.

Teams can benefit from the same idea. Based on their experiences and skills, people can take turns sharing the leadership role.

Set a good example
When geese are on land, if something scares the leader, it might fly off. The flock will then follow. But if the leader remains calm, the gaggle will do the same. Geese and people tend to imitate their leaders.

When leading, we must remember that our actions and emotions are passed on to our followers.

Like geese, when we work together, our burdens are lighter.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic:Actions Speak Louder Than Words 行動確實勝於空談
Do actions speak louder than words? Absolutely! What we do is more important than what we say. People in leadership positions, politicians, business managers, teachers and parents know this for well.

Yeah, let's face it. No matter who we are, it's very difficult to behave in a way, that's consisted with our words. So to compensate, many of us resort to using the phrase, do as I say, not as I do. Which means don't imitate my behavior but obey my instructions.

Because we pick up our behavior or cues more from watching than we do from listening.

Right, a mother who smokes cigarettes might forbid her child from starting the habit by saying, "do as I say, not as I do".

Often kids don't think about why they do what they do, nor do they think about the consequences of their actions. All they know is they want to behave just like their friends or older siblings.

Sounds like a case of a monkey see monkey do. And, this is a kind of kids saying but it doesn't just apply to kids, adults too. Our guilty of acting like monkeys when they imitate other’s actions without thinking.

Language Lab
honk v.
of a goose : to make a loud sound;
of a horn : to make a loud sound;
- The male goose honked to get the females' attention.
- The bus driver honked to warn the motorcyclist in front of him.
honk n.
the loud sound made by a goose also : a similar loud sound
- The honks of the geese can be heard hundreds of feet away.

current n.
a continuous movement of water or air in the same direction;
a flow of electricity;
- They swam against the current and finally reached the shore.
- The design of the wings can help reduce the impact of the air current.
current adj.
always used before a noun : happening or existing now : belonging to or existing in the present time
- The company's current situation is worse than ever.

gaggle n.
a group of geese : a flock of geese
- The gaggle got so excited when the farmer started feeding them.
- These girls were talking so loud they sounded like a gaggle of geese.
a group of people
- A gaggle of kids passed us by, laughing and jumping.

burden n.
something heavy that is carried : load
someone or something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with
- Most parents don't feel that parenting is a big burden.
- Buying a house is a great financial burden for us now.
burden v.
to make (someone) hold or carry something heavy or accept or deal with something difficult : to put a heavy burden on (someone)
- I don't want to burden you with my marital problems.

Monkey see, monkey do!
有樣學樣!

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Managing Money on the Go

Three financial apps can help you manage your money with your smartphone

Most banks offer smartphone apps that help customers view and manage their accounts. Now there are many financial apps that help users manage accounts in different banks. And they help users make and stick to budgets. Here are three such apps that offer some special features.

Mint
Mint was one of the first financial apps to be offered for free. In Canada and the U.S., the app can grab data from users' online bank accounts. That means users don't need to type in that information themselves.

Spendee
People praise Spendee, one of the newer financial apps, for its great-looking layout. Users can add new expenses to their account with  just a few taps. The app creates attractive charts that show where on'e money is going.

MoneyWiz
This app is one of the few designed for international use. Money Wiz comes in more than 20 translations, and it supports more than 150 currencies as well.

With apps like these, it's easier than ever to know where your money goes.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Typing 還有人在「打字」嗎？
type v. 來自 typewriter 打字機這個字
enter, write
write by hand
touch-type 不用看鍵盤
hunt and peck 用一個手指打字, 速度很慢

Grammar Gym
And they help users make and stick to budgets.
stick to: to follow closely
- Please stick to the rules.
-  Let's just stick to the original plan and not change anything.

Language Lab
app=application
computer software that is designed for a particular use or user:- Taiwanese people love to experiment with new apps.
- You can use this app to measure your heart rate.
- Timothy is developing a new app which can locate the nearest parking space.

feature n.
a part of something that you notice because it seems important, interesting, or typical:
- This toaster oven's features are so unique. You can bake, grill or roast almost anything with it.
- Fashionable restaurants and cafes have long been one of SOHO's features.

layout n.
the way in which writing and pictures are arranged on a page
- The layout of the website looks very complicated, and it's not user friendly.
- The webpage's layout is clear and easy on the eye.

currency n.
the system or type of money that a country uses:
- Besides their own currency, this place only accepts US dollars.
- The Japanese yen has been one of the strongest currencies in the world for many years.

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[Advanced] Blending Work and Play (2)

Taking care of its employees
Through the years, Plantronics in Tijuana has moved far beyond an assembly plant. It now has a 110-person design and engineering center and testing lab that has earned four U.S. patents for its work.

Whether engineers or on the assembly line, all employees are encouraged to suggest ways to improve productivity, winning tickets to sporting events or even better parking spaces for their tips. It’s paid off. The company says it’s saved over $100 million through improvements suggested by employees.

“The company has to make a profit, but we try to make it a gratifying place to work,” said Cesar Lopez, director of government regulations at the plant.

In turn, employee-led teams decide what institutions – such as orphanages, the Red Cross and police and fire departments _ the company should support as part of its practice of improving Tijuana and helping the community. Employees volunteer to take orphans to movies, sports events and on camping trips.

The company has 188 well-being programs for employees and families, touching on fitness, weight loss, study habits, good parenting and community service. Workstations are scattered about the assembly hall floor where workers can peruse job openings and learn how to gain skills for new jobs. “Every employee can see how they can advance in the company,” said Diana Alvarado, head of the plant’s human resources department.

Workstations are scattered about the assembly hall floor where workers can peruse job openings and learn how to gain skills for new jobs.

“Every employee can see how they can advance in the company,” said Diana Alvarado, head of the plant’s human resources department.

A reason to work
Inculcating a sense of mission in employees is part of the company ethic.

Employees grasp that lives rely on the headsets they design and assemble, he said.

“We know our headsets have to be depended on, whether it is someone working at a 911 station dispatching fire, police or emergency medical, or someone from the moon,” Kannappan said, noting that Neil Armstrong used a Plantronics headset when he set foot on the moon in 1969.

The benefits that make for a happy workplace make hiring easy.

“A few months ago, we were asking for 75 people that we needed to hire, and we got over 1,000 people,” said Bustamante, [senior vice president of operations].



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[Advanced] Blending Work and Play (1)

Award-winning Mexican factory offers employees more than just a job

On a recent day off from her assembly plant job [in Tijuanan], Antonia Morena put on her prettiest blouse and returned to her factory, her fiance at her side.

There, the couple took part in a mass wedding.

The factory took care of red tape around the marriage certificate and put on a splashy ceremony for Morena and her fiance, and 30 other couples.

It’s the sort of thing the Plantronics assembly plant does on a routine basis, earning it earlier this year the U.S. State Department’s corporate excellence award, one of three worldwide, and the loyalty of its 2,300-member work force.

A special company
Plantronics, headquartered in Santa Cruz, Calif., designs and assembles headsets for use by air traffic controllers, police and fire dispatchers, and retail clients. It’s had operations in Tijuana for four decades.

Just 400 yards from the U.S. border, its air-conditioned factory floor has natural light filtering in through the louvered roof. Employees, during breaks, congregate around pingpong and foosball tables. A dance troupe, opera singers, a mime and mariachis have also regaled workers.

“It’s really no wonder that the company has been named the best place to work in Mexico three years in a row,” Secretary of State John Kerry said in January at a ceremony honoring the three companies that won the State Department’s corporate excellence award. He was referring to the judgment of the Great Place to Work Institute in San Francisco.

To be sure, hundreds of employees at the plant receive little more than the minimum wage of $400 a month – equivalent to other nearby factories – but promotion possibilities are ample, and morale high. For some, it’s the gymnasium, and help in reaching a high school or college diploma. For others, it’s the on-floor health clinic with two attending physicians.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Ways to get the most out of your working hours
Ever catch yourself dozing off at work? If so, maybe your body - or brain - is trying to tell you it's time for a break. Instead of ignoring such signals, maybe it's time you tried working smarter, not harder.

Take breaks or even naps
Your brain is your most important tool when it comes to work, but it does have limitations. In fact, your brain can only remain focused for about 90 minutes at a time. That's why it's important to take 15-minute breaks every hour and a half to restore your attention span.

Better yet, if your company allows it, take a 20-minute nap once during the work day. Research suggests that napping helps you think more clearly and memorize things better.

Stay mobile and work in blocks
Entrepreneur and author Joel Runyon urges worker to try his "workstation popcorn" method. First, break down your office to-do list into clear tasks. Throughout the workday try moving to a different work area (or coffee shop) for each new task. That way you're staying active and giving your mind a natural break between tasks. With a refreshed sense of focus, you'll be working smarter than ever!

Editor's Summary
What is smarter work as opposed to harder worker?
Well, take for example when you find yourself dozing off at work.
Do you fight it and keep working?
Well, our article suggests that perhaps instead of ignoring that feeling, you need to take a little break.
Our brain does have limitations and can only stay focused for about 90 minutes at a time.
So, what should we do to extend that time?
Well, take a break every hour or every hour and half hour to keep our attention span.
Or even take a short 20-minute nap during the day.
Research shows it helps with memorization and clear thinking.
Joel Runyon has introduced the "workstation popcorn" method.
He says to move around to different place for every new task that you are involved in.
It keeps you active and gives your mind a natural break.
That will help you work smarter than ever.
I think I'd like to try that, especially the suggestion about going out for coffee for one of my tasks.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: On Increasing Your Vocabulary (如何增加字彙？)
許多人認為學英文最難的地方就是背單字,
與其說背單字, 不如說用單字,
因為死背只會增加學習的挫折感,
要增加字彙有以下方法可以參考:
1. reading 閱讀
read, read and read.
2. context 用上下文去了解字意
當閱讀看到生字時, 暫時不要查字典,
可用上下文去推測一個字的意思,
- The animal expert spoke about ducks, geese and ibises.
3. keep a new word notebook 做筆記
記下單子的意思, 並且做一個例句
4. practice 練習
多活用新學習的字

Grammar Gym
Better yet = An even better idea would be...
Better yet, if your company allows it, take a 20-minute nap once during the work day.
- Let's have spaghetti for dinner. Better yet, let's just go to an Italian restaurant and have a nice Italian dinner.
- Let's go for a hike. Better yet, why don't we just go camping?

Language Lab
doze off phrasal verb
to go to sleep, especially when you did not intend to [= drop off, nod off]:
- Travis dozed off during the speech and even snored.
- Dean's boss caught him dozing off in the meeting.
- Rita often dozes off for 15 minutes after lunch to restore her energy.

limitation n.
the act or process of controlling or reducing something
- There are certain limitations to a CEO's powers.
- The organization is working on the limitation of whaling activities in this area.
- Due to space limitations, only VIP customers can park inside our building.

urge v.
to strongly suggest that someone does something
urge somebody to do something
 - Mark urged his dad to get a thorough physical exam because he's been so sick lately.
to try to persuade (someone) in a serious way to do something
- The area's residents urged the council to consider the construction of a hospital nearby.

refresh v.
to make (someone) have more energy and feel less tired or less hot
- A nap will refresh you before the kids get home.
- I need to take a look at my calendar to refresh my memory.


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You've Graduated - Now What? (2)

If new hires weren't used to checking in with professors, they'll need to learn how to do so with their new superiors. Instead of fearing feedback, these employees should seek out opportunities to meet with their managers to discuss projects. Getting frequent feedback is crucial for helping them do work that meets managers' expectations.

Move from solo to team performance
In college, the end-of-semester report card is used to measure an individual's success. But in the working world, individual accomplishment is based on several factors. Sooner or later, new hires will be "graded" on how well they work together with coworkers to achieve goals. If they spend their first months at work in the "report card" mentality, they'll miss out on opportunities to learn from their coworkers!

Avoid eating lunch alone
New hires should view getting to know their coworkers as a worthy investment. And sharing lunch with them is an obvious way to do just that! This gives incoming staff a way to connect with coworkers in a fun setting. And some of those coworkers might become mentors, helping newbies get their careers off to a good start.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Coworker vs. Colleague 
Coworker 與 Colleague的差別
coworker 比較常用在一般會話, 同一個組織或公司的員工, 沒有職位高低的區分, 美式英文也比較常用此字
colleague 用於正式的場合, 同行的專業人士, 英式英文常用


Grammar Gym
Instead of fearing feedback, these employees should seek out opportunities to meet with their managers to discuss projects.
Instead of [verb-ing]..., [subject] should ... to .... 
- Instead of complaining about your neighborhood, you should find ways to be a good neighbor to those living around you.
- Instead of blaming your coworkers for being difficult to work with, you should take time to think about how you can be more responsible with your own work.


Language Lab
crucial adj. 重要的, 關鍵性的
something that is crucial is extremely important, because everything else depends on it
- Developing new products is crucial for this enterprise right now.
- This crucial election can determine the future of the country.
- We need to discuss this thoroughly before making this crucial decision.

solo adj. 單獨, 獨唱, 獨奏的
done alone without anyone else helping you;
relating to a record or piece of music that is performed by a single musician, not a group:
- Rick completed his first solo flight today.
- The lead singer just released his solo album last week.
solo n.
a piece of music for one performer
- Francis is singing the solo in this song.

mentality n. 心理, 心態, 思維方式
/mɛnˈtæləti/
a particular attitude or way of thinking, especially one that you think is wrong or stupid:
- The "good student" mentality sometimes holds us back from taking risks.
- Alex spent years studying the criminal mentality.

mentor n. 良師, 人生導師
/ˈmɛnˌtoɚ/
an experienced person who advises and helps a less experienced person
- My uncle has always been my mentor. He's not only wise but also pushes me to accept challenges.


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You've Graduated - Now What? (1)

You've Graduated - Now What?
Making the transition from college to a first job
畢業了 – 接下來呢？ 讓自己從大學順利轉換到職場的第一個工作

When new graduates enter the working world, they often need to make some radical changes. The strategies that helped them succeed in college often don't apply to a typical full-time office job. With the right mind-set, new graduates can prepare for a rewarding first-job experience. The following tips can help new graduates make the transition from academic life to office life.

Adjust to an office environment
To succeed in a typical office job, new graduates should work on their time management skills. The schedule that many companies follow can seem intimidating at first. Unlike college, where students often have breaks between classes, the typical office job requires sitting behind a desk nearly all day long. Staying alert and productive throughout an entire nine-to-five workday isn't easy at first. But once new hires adjust their sleeping schedules - and leave the all-nighters behind - the routine will become easier.

Learn how to receive feedback
In college, getting good grades doesn't always require that students check in with their professors. That can lead to the bad habit of newbies shielding their work from review until it's completed.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Two Pronunciations of Graduate 
Graduate 的兩種發音
graduate v. [intransitive] 畢業 /ˈgræʤəˌweɪt/
graduate from
- He will graduate from college next year.
graduate n. 畢業生 /ˈgræʤəwət/
someone who has completed a university degree, especially a first degree
graduate of
- He is a graduate of Harvard University.


Grammar Gym
The strategies that helped them succeed in college often don't apply to a typical full-time office job.
[subject] that [was good in a certain situation] don't apply to [another situation].
- The methods we used in our project last month don't apply to this assignment.
- The rules that full-time workers are expected to follow don't apply to part-time workers.


Language Lab
transition n. 轉換, 過渡, 變遷
when something changes from one form or state to another
- The transition from staying at home to working full-time is not easy for Natalie.
- Before we move into our new home, we're renting an apartment during the transition period.

radical adj. 重大的, 徹底的
a radical change or difference is very big and important:
- The company is undergoing some radical changes, so everyone needs to get adjusted to the new policies.
- Moving to the East Coast is a radical change for my whole family.
rad adj. US slang
very appealing or good [=awesome, cool]

intimidate v. 恐嚇, 威脅
to frighten or threaten someone into making them do what you want;
o make someone feel worried and not confident:
- The robbers tried to intimidate the bank manager into telling them the combination to the safe. intimidating adj. 嚇人的, 令人害怕的
making you feel worried and not confident:
- The coach might look intimidating on the outside, but he is actually very warm and caring.

shield v. 保護, 掩護
to protect someone or something from being harmed or damaged:
shield somebody/something from somebody/something
- The accountant suggested various ways for the boss to shield his money from market risk.
- We shield our proposal from our competitors.


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Too Close for Comfort? (2)

What about start-ups? 
Many start-ups have a preference for the open office concept. Take Chartbeat for example. The company's 50-plus employees get to choose their desk and chair styles, and everyone shares an open space with the CEO sitting in the middle. The office space is a mixture of single workstations and casual meeting areas where workers can lounge on sofas. While this design may be ideal for workers in start-ups, it may not suit workers who need a higher level of privacy.

Current fears 
In 2011 Matthew Davis, an organizational psychologist, reviewed over a hundred studies regarding office environments. He found that employees in open offices experienced more distractions and higher stress levels than those working in traditional offices. What's worse, a study in Denmark found that workers in open offices took more sick days than those working in traditional offices.

No going back? 
Even though open office plans present potential problems in terms of worker health and privacy, businesses probably won't return to traditional offices. Modern office workers tend to need both times to focus and times to collaborate with others. So designing offices that account for both needs may be the best way forward.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Ergonomics 人體工學
- John is studying ergonomics.
ergonomic adj. 合乎人體工學
good ergonomic design
the sickle 廉刀就是一種人體工學的設計


Grammar Gym
While this design may be ideal for workers in start-ups, it may not suit workers who need a higher level of privacy.
While [something] may be ..., it may not suit ... 
- While this jacket may be comfortable for travelers to wear, it may not suit those who prefer something fancier.
- While this backpack may be great for students to carry to school, it may not suit backpackers who want to go hiking in the mountains.


Language Lab
start-up n. 新興公司
a new small company or business, especially one whose work involves computers or the Internet:
- This small Internet start-up became a national corporation after about two years.
- This biotech start-up is already making a large profit.

start up phrasal verb 開始

if you start up a business, company etc, or it starts up, it begins to exist:

preference n. 喜好, 偏好
if you have a preference for something, you like it more than another thing and will choose it if you can
- The hotel records its customers' preferences in its computer system.
preference for
- Helen shows a preference for comfortable clothes rather than stylish ones.
prefer v. 更喜歡, 傾向

distraction n. 分心, 注意力分散
[uncountable and countable] something that stops you paying attention to what you are doing:
- Maneuvering this large vehicle requires that there be no distractions.
令人分心的事物(可數)
- I find the radio a distraction when I really need to concentrate.

collaborate v. 合作
to work together with a person or group in order to achieve something, especially in science or art
- Our company collaborated with a Japanese firm on developing this new product.
collaboration n. 合作
when you work together with another person or group to achieve something, especially in science or art:
- Our two departments work in close collaboration.


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Too Close for Comfort? (1)

A look at the modern open office

Visit a medium- or large-sized company these days, and you're likely to find the staff members sharing a large, open space. Instead of having private offices with doors and walls, most workers sit in cubicles that are only partially enclosed. Whenever workers talk on the phone, their colleagues nearby can't simply shut their doors. In fact, sometimes they can't help but overhear everything that's said. At times, the best way to focus in this type of office is to reach for one's headphones and listen to music.

How did we get here?
The open office concept is not new; it was created by a team of consultants from Hamburg, Germany, in the 1950s. Called the office landscape plan, the concept was created with a good intention - to facilitate communication and the transfer of ideas. The design also encouraged managers and their teams to work near each other, making it easier for managers to supervise projects. Now, the open office concept is often used as a excuse for companies to save money on construction costs, regardless of the effect on productivity.


Grammar Gym
In fact, sometimes they can't help but overhear everything that's said.
can't help but [verb] : someone has no way to avoid something
- Danny says he's busy, but I can't help but think he just doesn't want to go out with us.
- With the store having such a huge sale, Evelyn can't help but go in and buy stuff.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Personal Space
1. public zone
2. social zone
3. friend zone
4. intimate zone


Language Lab
cubicle n. 方形的小隔間
a small part of a room that is separated from the rest of the room:
- Nathan put a small fish tank in his cubicle to make it homier.
- The little girl accidentally locked herself in a cubicle in the restroom.

colleague n. 同事, 同領域及階級, 階層的
someone you work with, used especially by professional people:
- Claire was my colleague for two years when I was in Texas.
coworker n. 共事的人, 領域及職位可能不同
a person who works at the place where you work : someone you work with

facilitate v. 增長, 促進, 幫助
to make it easier for a process or activity to happen:
- A structured routine can facilitate learning, even for very young children.
- The new tax policy hopefully will facilitate economic growth.

productivity n. 生產力
the rate at which goods are produced, and the amount produced, especially in relation to the work, time, and money needed to produce them
- The productivity of this business sector improved by 3 percent last quarter.
produce v. 生產
to cause a particular result or effect
- The field produces corn and cauliflower.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140605baa8658164df4b305f0192861d1efa1f30925c492f68ded10bf540b1fe4c860b83f.wma

The Meaning of Work (2)

Second, there are career-oriented people who see their job as a place to find achievement and gain a sense of identity. These are the people who don't mind working overtime. In fact, some people love their job so much that they become workaholics! They are more comfortable in the office than at home. According to the study, being close to a career-oriented father while growing up means there's a good chance you'll share his perspective. Oddly, having a mother with this viewpoint seems to have little influence.

Third, there are calling-oriented workers - folks who view their job as a way to make a positive impact upon the world. They are more concerned with improving the world around them than earning a large salary.

In the study, those who expressed a strong calling orientation came from homes where both parents were calling-oriented. This suggests that adolescents need the support of both parents in order to have the confidence to put personal ideals first and career success second.

The good news is - we still have choices. Whether we share our parents' views of work or not, we can still find a career that suits us.


Grammar Gym
- According to the study, being close to a career-oriented father while growing up means there's a good chance you'll share his perspective.
[Doing something] while [doing something else] means there's a good chance you'll...
- Having an internship position while finishing school means there's a good chance you'll gain some valuable working experience before you start your first job after graduation.
- Doing my laundry while finishing up my homework means there's a good chance I'll have free time later.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: First Known Usage
workaholic 這個字是在1968年形成的,
原先有alcoholic這個字,
1970年代又有golfaholic/ chocoholic,
80年代又出現新字: shopaholic,
我們可以認識這些字是因為語言學者記錄下來
first known usage首次的始用是什麼時候,
我們可以從這些字的時間,
了解當時社會風氣和文化

Language Lab
identity n.
someone's identity is their name or who they are
- Teenagers are looking for a way to develop their sense of identity.
- The true identity of the suspect has not yet been established.
identify v.
to recognize and correctly name someone or something:
- We need more test results to identify where the problem is.

perspective n. [spect字根-看]
a way of thinking about something, especially one which is influenced by the type of person you are or by your experiences [↪ viewpoint]
- The director used a woman's perspective in the film.
perspective on
- The book looks at several different perspectives on democracy movements.

calling n.
a strong desire to spend your life doing a certain kind of work
- James finally realized that helping people in need is his calling.
- Oscar devotes himself to his calling as a physician.

adolescent n. / adj.
a young person, usually between the ages of 12 and 18, who is developing into an adult
- Young adolescents are looking for interesting things to do.
- Kevin had a short period of adolescent rebellion when he was 16.


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LET’S TAKE A POLL

Raise your hand if you believe that polls really reveal public opinion

Governments, businesses and journalists often look to polls to gain insight into public opinion. Not all polls are created equal, though. Only polls in which respondents are selected in a random sample can be considered scientific and, therefore, trustworthy. Meeting that standard allows a poll of 1,000 people to potentially represent the opinions of millions of citizens! Any poll in which respondents volunteer should be considered entertainment - not an accurate representation of public opinion.

Last June, major polling groups Gallup, Pew/Washington Post and CBS News asked the American public their opinion regarding the NSA's collection of phone calls and email messages. The results seemed to contradict each other a great deal. The Pew/Washington Post poll showed 56 percent approving of the NSA's action, while the GAllup poll showed 53 percent disapproving of that action. As journalist David Moore pointed out, one poll mentioned terrorism while another mentioned privacy concerns. Such variation in poll questions can affect respondents' thinking and lead to wildly different results. So remember, the public opinion revealed in polls may not always represent the masses!

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: What’s Your Proximity to English?
詢問民意時...
- Raise your hands if...
- Can I have a show of hands?


Grammar Gym
look to: to turn to or go to something with an expectation
- Governments, businesses and journalists often look to polls to gain insight into public opinion.
- Wendy looks to her grandmother for advice.
- John looked to his friends for support.
look at
- I am looking at my mother, and I see she is wearing a dress.


Language Lab
insight n.
a sudden clear understanding of something or part of something, especially a complicated situation or idea
insight into
- The article provides insight into the impact of media on teens.
- Traveling allows you to gain many cultural insights.

trustworthy adj.
someone who is trustworthy can be trusted and depended on [= dependable]
- Victor is a trustworthy guy. He always keeps his promises.
- The company's service has been trustworthy and reliable.

contradict v. [contra字首- 反對]
if one statement, story etc contradicts another, the facts in it are different so that both statements cannot be true:
- The witness's statement contradict the suspect's.
- Tom's actions often contradict his beliefs.
to disagree with something, especially by saying that the opposite is true:
- Lisa would never dare to contradict her parents.

terrorism n. [uncountable]
the use of violence such as bombing, shooting, or kidnapping to obtain political demands such as making a government do something:
- The country will take all kinds of actions to fight terrorism.
terrorist n. [countable]
someone who uses violence such as bombing, shooting etc to obtain political demands:
- Several terrorist were arrested by the police this morning.

A NEW VIEW OF LEADERS (2)

Leaders deserve the credit for their team's success.
When a company achieves great success, its CEO is usually the person who receives media attention. But without the hard work of teammates behind the scenes, that success wouldn't have happened. The best leaders recognize people that deserve praise and share the spotlight with them.

Leaders should maintain a flawless public image. 
Leaders can be good at giving the impression that they're perfect. In today's business environment, however, there's pressure for authenticity among leaders. They need to be genuine and admit their mistakes. This allows them to build trust more easily with staff members. While leaders should avoid disclosing overly personal details, they should also set an example in terms of being real.

Leaders should be confident and never express doubt.
Ask any leader who's been in the trenches, and he or shoe will tell you about missed deadlines, failed products and customer complaints. So when a plan gets made, it's better to ask, "Can we do this?" before boldly promising, "We can do it!" Leaders who raise questions may be more helpful than those who insist on acting confident.

Anyone who wants to be a leader should consider seeing the role in a new light!


Grammar Gym
But without [something]..., ... [a situation] wouldn't have happened.
- But without the hard work of teammates behind the scenes, that success wouldn't have happened.
- But without the watchful care of the hospital staff, Sara's recovery wouldn't have happened so quickly.
- But without the diligence and dedication of everyone on our team, winning first place wouldn't have happened.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: DE-creasing Your Vocabulary?
有些口頭禪會損壞我們的形象,
例如:
um... 這個語助詞會讓人覺得你無法準確的用字;
另外, 少講 I can't. 聽起來是像在拒絕= I won't.
還有不要說buzzwords,
像innovative 創新, 其實一點也不創新


Language Lab
spotlight n.
public attention or notice
- Tina loves to be in the spotlight. She craves attention.
- The governor is in the spotlight because of the scandal.

authenticity n.[noncount]
/ˌɑ:ˌθɛnˈtɪsəti/
true and accurate
- The authenticity of the painting is questionable.
authentic adj.
/əˈθɛntɪk/
real or genuine
- The manuscripts are authentic.

confident adj.
having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something : having confidence
- The model is confident and radiant on stage.
- We are confident in your ability to solve this problem.
- Alex feels quite confident about sharing his feeling with his wife.

trench n.
a long, narrow hole that is dug in the ground
- The sides of the trench suddenly collapsed, and many workers were injured.
- The soldiers hid in the trench to avoid the gunfire.
- The trench warfare lasted for hours.
the trenches : a place or situation in which people do very difficult work

A NEW VIEW OF LEADERS (1)

Becoming a better leader in business and in life

Many people have assumptions of what business leaders should be like. They might picture good leaders as being tough and confident people who can make quick decisions. While it may be true that leadership requires taking charge, other important leadership qualities aren't so obvious. The following are some assumptions about leaders and their behavior that could use some adjustment.

What leaders have to say is important
Well, yes, that is clearly true. However, if leaders dominate every discussion and never listen to their teammates, they shouldn't expect their colleagues to say motivated for long.

Good leaders have the ability to listen closely, regardless of teammates' positions in the company.

Leaders' goals should come first.
Without a doubt, leaders have personal goals such as building a professional identity or gaining status within an industry. But when leaders narrow-mindedly pursue such goals, they fail to encourage the success of their teammates. If real leadership is about making other people better, then leaders should spend as much energy supporting teammates as much energy supporting teammates as they do pursuing their own personal goals.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Do We Need More Letters in the Alphabet?
古時候的英文, 根本就沒有 Q & U
quick 早期在英格蘭是拼 cwic, 後來在西元1066年, 才將法國的qu引進英格蘭,
qu組合取代了原本的cw

其實英文有許多不規則的發音, 但是沒有字母可以面確表達,
像手錶watch 字尾的ch就是一個例子


Language Lab
assumption n.
something that is believed to be true or probably true but that is not known to be true : something that is assumed
- The prediction is based on the assumption that oil prices will continue to rise.
- People's assumptions are that movie stars are always glamorous and wealthy.

take charge 
- Greg was assigned to take charge of the marketing department.
be verb + in charge of something
- Sandra is in charge of this case.

regardless adv.
in spite of difficulty, trouble, etc. : without being stopped by difficulty, trouble, etc.
regard n.
care or concern for someone or something — often + for or to
regardless of : without being stopped or affected by (something)
- The rule applies to everyone regardless of their age, race or gender.
- Regardless of the community's opposition, the expressway was built.

narrow-mindedly adv.
- The company narrow-mindedly closed their Asian branch.
narrow-minded adj.
not willing to accept opinions, beliefs, or behaviors that are unusual or different from your own
- This narrow-minded manager is not open to other people's opinions.

[Advanced] Using the Cloud, Safely (2)

Those companies weren't alone. Of nearly 500 information-technology professionals Intel recently surveyed, 46 percent said their firms had suffered a security breach -- meaning their data was lost or accessed by unauthorized means. And most of the victims said they were experiencing more breaches than when they had kept the data on their own networks.

Claiming responsibility
Some information placed in the cloud can get into the wrong hands because of equipment mishaps or employee foul-ups. "But hackers are among the biggest concerns, and many businesses mistakenly assume their cloud providers will keep the crooks at bay, said JD Sherry of the security firm Trend Micro. While offering some protections, he said, the providers often leave security largely to their customers."That burden of responsibility typically falls upon the customer and that often can be a huge challenge for a lot of folks," he said.

Amazon provides a wide array of security measures for its cloud services, according to a company statement. But it said a customer of those services "assumes responsibility and management of the guest operating system (including updates and security patches), other associated application software, as well as the configuration of the (Amazon)-provided security group firewall."

Planning for the inevitable
[According to] Eve Maler, a Forrester Research principal analyst, said even a social media site break-in can cause havoc.

"The bad guys might see direct messages containing personal information meant for the company, or could send out messages that harm the company's brand or business," she said.

Breaches of corporate financial data and trade secrets could be far more serious, and cloud-based companies will have to become quicker at responding to cyber attacks, said Art Gilliland, general manger of enterprise security products at Hewlett-Packard. Even so, he predicted more companies will be victimized as they shift their data into the ether.

"It's going to happen," he said. "It's inevitable."


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[Advanced] Using the Cloud, Safely (1)

As cloud usage expands, so do security risks

Holding everything from highly personal medical and social media material to confidential financial and corporate documents, Internet-based cloud services are gathering an enormous trove of information -- already a quarter of the world's business data -- that is proving a powerful lure for hackers.

[In light of ] recent breaches at Web Marketer Epsilon, LinkedIn and Twitter -- along with surveys showing such attacks alarmingly common among businesses -- many experts say too little is being done to prevent cyber crooks from pilfering credit card numbers, trade secrets and other sensitive data on the cloud.

"It's scary," said Eric Chiu, co-founder and president of security company HyTrust. If a hacker gets access to that information, he said, "they've got the keys to your kingdom. They can make copies of everything you have and they can potentially destroy your data center."

How does work?
Although definitions of cloud computing vary, it usually involves a shared service that lets customers access their data using Internet-based software or servers. Cloud storage can cut a company's costs, and make it easy to retrieve information from nearly anywhere via the Internet.

The cloud is used to send email, print from mobile devices, exchange medical information, share on social networks and much more. Just among cloud document-storage services, such as Dropbox and Google (GOOG) Drive, the number of subscribers will double from 625 million this year to 1.3 billion in 2017, according to market researcher IHS.

A risky choice?
Corporations have been among the biggest adopters. Research firm Gartner has predicted that the worldwide revenue from public clouds will soar from $91.4 billion in 2011 to $206.6 billion in 2016.

Yet the trend poses risks. Symantec in January reported that 43 percent of the 3,236 businesses it queried had "lost data in the cloud," although it didn't ask how much was due to cyber attacks.



Vocabulary Focus
lure n.
/ˈluɚ/
to cause or persuade (a person or an animal) to go somewhere or to do something by offering some pleasure or gain

breach n.
/ˈbri:tʃ/
an act of breaking a rule, law, custom or practice

pilfer v.
/ˈpɪlfɚ/
to steal things of little value or in small amounts

queried v.
/'kwɪrɪ/
to ask questions, often expressing doubt about something or looking for information


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[Advanced] Is Hiring Your Mom Risky Business? (3)

Williams' initial assumption that things would just work out is fairly common in this situation, says family business consultant Rivers.

Often, a child has so much confidence in a mom, they don't treat her like a new employee. "With family, there is that bond of trust," Rivers says. "You may not have a job description for Mom, or you may not make Mom's boundaries really clear."

The key to making this arrangement work is to have frank discussions about goals, compensation, work hours and even if a mother should be called "Mom" or by her first name in the office, say family business experts.

It can feel uncomfortable discussing expectations and consequences, "because you're talking about a role reversal," says Andrew Keyt, executive director of Loyola University Chicago's Family Business Center. But a game plan can help save a personal relationship if the business relationship falters, he says.

While there can be inherent stress in these mom/child working situations, the benefits can also be big, says Keyt. "Hiring your mother can be something that brings you closer," he says. "You're interacting as adults and (get) closer and deeper on an emotional level."

Construction company owner Williams says that by working with his mom, they were also able to form a stronger bond.

In spending more time together, he learned about his mom's personal life, her siblings and her past professional growth.

"I realized after hiring her that I really didn't know much about my mom," he says. "I learned to value her as a person and not just as my mom."

"Something else happened — she got to learn about me," he adds. "She was a great mom, but she really didn't know what I did or a lot about me personally. Since then, my mom and I have been more friends as opposed to just mother and son."


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[Advanced] Is Hiring Your Mom Risky Business? (2)

There's also the chance that a parent will bristle at being told what to do. "Mom and Dad aren't always so good at taking instruction or orders from their children." says Rivers.

In addition, the salary situation often becomes a sticky subject. Some moms want to work for free while a child wants to pay them. In other cases, a mother may want a raise, but her child might not have the funds to give her that salary boost.

For the child, it can sometimes be awkward to manage the person who raised them.

Faith Amon, founder of Orlando graphics design firm Frecklefoot Creative, has worked with mom Linda for about six years — but says she still feels guilty when she criticizes her for such actions as being "a little heavy handed" in e-mails to clients who owe money.

For her part, Linda works to keep her maternal urges in check. "I try not to be a mom," she says. "I try to be a colleague. But every once in a while, that mom comes out."

For instance, she says she responds professionally to those delinquent clients, but when someone doesn't pay a bill, it bothers her. "It's almost like an insult," she says. "It's like, 'How do you dare do that to my daughter?' "

Mom needs training too

Williams, owner of MattBeth Construction in Sunrise, Fla., made a surprising discovery after hiring his mom to manage his company while he was overseas: She was fallible.

"I thought my mom was superwoman and that she would take care of everything," he says. "But the first week I had her in the business, we lost tons of money."

His mom, Rose, is intelligent and had professional experience in the construction industry, so he figured "that she would just come in and take the reins and not need any instruction."

He quickly realized that she needed guidance.


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[Advanced] Is Hiring Your Mom Risky Business? (1)

When it comes to hiring a new employee, many entrepreneurs are turning to the person they trust most—Mom!
by Laura Petrecca

As controller, Nikki Simon has significant responsibilities at Scottsdale, Arizona, commercial real estate firm S/I. She handles financial matters, helps with human resources and works on real estate deals. In addition, she has one more vital company role: She gave birth to the founder. Shortly after launching his firm in 2010, Joshua Simon hired his mom as a full-time employee. “There is no bond stronger than a mother to their child, so I have the best person at the helm where the money is,” said Joshua. “I know she’s always looking out for my best interests.” Whether it’s bringing on a bookkeeper, board member or top manager, many entrepreneurs have turned to a very familiar resource: their mothers. Book publisher Jay Nadeau hired her mother, Marie, as an editor. Construction company owner Matthias Williams employed his mother, Rose, as manager. And graphics design firm owner Faith Amon has mom Linda handle bookkeeping and promotional products sales.

Benefits and risks 
In hiring their moms, founders often gain much more than an able-bodied worker, said Wayne Rivers, president of consulting firm The Family Business Institute. They also reap loyalty, honest feedback and an often-mature perspective—as well as an employee they can trust with office keys, bank account passwords and company secrets. Yet working with any close relative can be treacherous territory, say family business experts. When in a professional relationship with a parent, sibling, cousin or other kin, problems can easily permeate off-duty family time. Childhood insecurities can arise during business meetings.
And when a mother is an employee of her son or daughter, that presents unique challenges.
“Children stop being children at some point, but parents never stop being parents,” said Rivers. ...

Language Lab
controller n.
someone who is in charge of a particular system, organization, or part of an organization

bring on [phrasal verb]
1 bring on (something) or bring (something) on : to cause (something) to appear or occur
- The crisis was brought on by many factors.

2 bring (something) on (someone) : to cause (something bad) to happen to (someone)
- You've brought nothing but shame on your family since the day you were born!

- I can't help thinking you've brought some of this trouble on yourself.

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[Advanced] Yahoo! Gets a New CEO (2)

As an early Google employee, Mayer was also something of a celebrity in Silicon Valley.

Still, the move to Yahoo is an opportunity for Mayer to claim a bigger stage.

Questions remain whether Mayer can make a difference at Yahoo. Some openly wonder if Mayer's appointment will make a dent. And whether Yahoo might besmirch her stellar reputation if things don't work out.

"She's not at Google anymore, and if she's going to try and out-Google Google, that would be a terrible mistake," analyst Yarmis says. "Clearly, she saw that her path to the top at Google wasn't going well, and revenge can be a powerful, and dangerous, motive."

Mayer's appointment brings a person with cachet and connections to Yahoo, analysts say. But Yahoo has defined itself as a media company working to attract advertising dollars, an agenda echoed by former interim CEO Levinsohn. Mayer's Google tenure and engineering background could signal an about-face for Yahoo.

"She's an engineering type, which in some ways is good news. Ross Levinsohn had said they would focus as a media company, and that was not necessarily good news," says IDC analyst Karsten Weide.

Yahoo's advertising sales business needs to change to shore up its shortcomings, he says.

The situation isn't entirely dire. The portal attracts about 700 million visitors a month, which helped it generate nearly $1 billion in ad sales last quarter.

But that business is under siege from Google, Facebook and an armada of start-ups vying for eyeballs and revenue. Yahoo's slice of the nearly $40 billion U.S. online ad market — 16% in 2009 — was 9.5% in 2011 and could slide to 7.4% this year, according to eMarketer.

Whether the new CEO and a new board are the fix remains an open question.

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[Advanced] Yahoo! Gets a New CEO (1)

Yahoo nabs Google’s Marissa Mayer with hopes of returning to the top of the tech heap
Well-respected Google exec Marissa Mayer jumps ship

Longtime Google executive Marissa Mayer— one of Silicon Valley's best-known personalities — now as Yahoo CEO, becoming one of the most prominent female leaders in business.

The struggling Internet giant announced it is turning to Mayer, 37 — its fifth CEO in five years — to spearhead a massive turnaround effort that has gained little traction the past few years.

Mayer succeeds interim CEO Ross Levinsohn.

At Google, Mayer earned kudos for her management of several key technologies and a reputation as a demanding perfectionist. She molded the look and feel of some of the company's best known, and used, products — services such as Google's search, Gmail and Google News.

The appointment of Mayer, could perk up spirits among Yahoo employees and investors. Jonathan Yarmis called it a PR master stroke for Yahoo, which has struggled mightily to attract, and keep, top-flight talent in its competitive battle with Google and Facebook.

"I'm surprised and impressed," says Yarmis, an analyst at HfS Research. "Yahoo has been able to attract someone of the highest caliber here, someone who understands the business. This is really the first thing out of Yahoo in a decade that you can't snicker at. She's the kind of person you didn't think Yahoo could get."

"I am honored and delighted to lead Yahoo, one of the Internet's premier destinations for more than 700 million users," Mayer said in a statement.

During her 13 years at Google, Mayer was responsible for shaping Google's most popular products — ranging from its search home page to Gmail and Google Images. Recently, she oversaw the company's location and local services, including Google Maps, encompassing more than 1,000 product managers.

Mayer also sat on Google's operating committee that advised Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

Google CEO Page, in a statement, called Mayer "a tireless champion of our users."

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-07-16/marissa-mayer-yahoo-ceo/56256682/1

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