Family Life (2)

When children grow up
Countries also have different customs concerning when children leave home. In the United States, children usually leave home when they finish high school or college. If young people want to continue living with their parents after that, they’re often expected to pay rent. Young adults in Western countries are also very independent and rarely share personal information with their parents. For example, most American parents don’t know their adult children’s salaries.

In contrast, in several East Asian countries, young people live with their parents until they marry. This is very practical, especially in big cities where housing is expensive.

People in East Asia consider caring for aging parents an important responsibility. That usually means living with their elderly parents to care for them. Americans also care for their parents, but many parents prefer to live on their own. When it becomes necessary, elderly people often choose to move into assisted living facilities and receive care from professionals. Despite differences, everyone agrees that family should be a high priority.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Differences between College and University 教學主題: College 與 University 的差別

Hi, friends! If you are still in high school, have you thought about what you want to do after you graduate? Are you going to go to college or are you going to go to university?

Now, these are two distinct questions. But if you’re in the US, the two questions are actually one and the same.

That’s right. Americans use the terms, college and university to mean the same thing. It’s common to say someone is going off to college, even if they’re actually going to a university,but technically the two terms are different.

That’s right. Colleges are usually small and only offer four year degrees, universities are large, made up of many colleges. For example, Ohio State University has its own college of arts and sciences among others.

Though they’re smaller, some of the top rank schools in the US are colleges. One example, is the Ivy League School, Dartmouth College.

And then there’s community college which offers trade and technical certifications in training. But seldom offers four year degrees.

Okay, which are called bachelor’s degrees. Universities, on the other hand, can offer advanced degrees like master’s degrees and doctoral degrees.

Language Lab
concern v.
to relate to (something or someone) : to be about (something or someone)
- The article concerns the preservation of water resources in Israel.
concerning preposition
relating to (something or someone) : about
- Danny received a letter from the IRS concerning his tax refund.

salary n.
an amount of money that an employee is paid each year
- The weekly salary for the job is about $400.
- Karl has been at this company for just two years, and his salary has already doubled.
wage n.
an amount of money that a worker is paid based on the number of hours, days, etc., that are worked
- The boss only pays us minimum wage.

facility n.
something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a specific purpose
- There's no medical facility in this area.
- The elderly facility is urn by the government.
something that makes an action, operation, or activity easier — usually plural
- There are plenty of recreational facilities in this park.

priority n.
the things that someone cares about and thinks are important
- Being a mom is Jenny's first priority now.
something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first
- You have to get your priorities right first and then deal with the most urgent problem.

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151107baa107a3003308b1cc80f1caeef09e99e9fa6e641834363b63b72d76034e2b596fe.wma

Family Life (1)

A look into households around the world
Which members of your family do you live with? How is your relationship with your relatives? Let’s see how people around the world might answer these questions.

How many kids?
In 2011, the United Nations researched the average number of children that women have in different countries. The highest numbers were in sub-Saharan Africa, with Uganda at 6.1. In North America, it’s around 2.1, but in Europe and East Asia, it is much lower. So kids in Uganda grow up with far more siblings than those in England, for example.

Who’s at home?
Most children around the world live with both their parents. But for various reasons, some live with one parent or neither parents. This is increasingly common in regions including the Americas, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

In North America and Europe, most households include only a nuclear family. However, in the Middle East, Central and South America, and parts of Africa, more relatives live together. Many kids there grow up surrounded by siblings, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: What Are Relatives? 何謂 Relative？

Hello, friends! When you see the word "relative", what other word do you see in there?

That’s right, you should also see the word "relate."

So, a relative is someone who is related to you. This relationship is established either by blood or through marriage.

Now you might ask,“is there a way to differentiate the two?" Well, all your relatives who are related to you by blood migh tbe described as blood relatives or the less common blood kin.

And those relatives who are related to you through marriage can be denoted by the term in-law, your father-in-law, for example, is the father of your spouse. Your sister-in-law is the sister of your spouse. In-laws are not related to you by blood.

Okay, what if you want to describe people who are not only relatives but ones who are close to you? You can use the term loved ones, a dying person often wishes to see his loved ones or people close to his heart.

Another term that’s commonly used is friends and family, which refers to the people closest to a person. For example, I might say, only friends and family were invited to the millionaire’s private party.

Language Lab
sub-Saharan adj.
- subtropical
- subantarctic

sibling n.
a brother or sister:
- Jennifer has three siblings, one older sister and two younger brothers.
sibling rivalry 
competition between brothers and sisters for their parents' attention or love
- Even though Gina and her sister are grown-ups now, there's still a lot of sibling rivalry between them.

include v.
if one thing includes another, the second thing is part of the first:
- The breakfast was included in the room charge.
- The course is open to all students, including freshmen.
- The coach really wants to include this talented player on his team.

nuclear family n.
a family unit that consists only of a husband, wife and children
- Martin was brought up in a nuclear family.
extended family n.
a family group that consists not only of parents and children but also of grandparents, aunts etc

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Here Comes the Bride (2)

The Cake
Western weddings usually include a large cake beautifully decorated with white frosting. Mexican wedding cakes have their own special recipe that includes nuts and dried fruit.

In Peru, the cake can determine who will be the next to marry. Charms attached to ribbons are placed between the layers of the cake. Each single woman grabs a ribbon and pulls. Whoever pulls out a charm that looks like a ring will be the next bride.

The Traditions
In Lebanon, friends and family begin the wedding outside the groom’s house. They sing, dance and shout before traveling with him to the bride’s home. Traditional weddings in Morocco lasted seven days. The first three days are used for preparation, and the ceremony happened on the fourth. Celebrations continued for the rest of the week.

Every country has its own traditions. But wherever you’re from, a wedding is an event worth celebrating!

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Having and Eating Cake「有」蛋糕與「吃」蛋糕不可兼得
Let’s say you have some money saved up, and you really want to buy a car. But after you buy your car, you’d have no money left.

Sounds familiar? Well that’s often how life works. It has its tradeoffs. If you want a car, you’re probably going to give up some of your savings.

And if you want to keep that money, then you would still be wishing for a new car.

This is an example of the expression, "you can’t have your cake and eat it too." In other words, you can’t have it both ways.

Very often in life, we find that we can’t have it all, so we’re forced to give something up in order to get something else that we think is more desirable.

Now this idiom is quite common and worth knowing, but to many people it’s very confusing.

It is. So, try reversing the idiom's order and see if this helps. You can't eat your cake and still have it. Because once you eat it, it's gone.

Now, that makes perfect sense.

Language Lab
frosting n.
a sweet, creamy mixture that is used to cover cakes
- The chocolate frosting on the cake is so delicious.
icing n.
- She spread peanut-butter icing on the cupcakes.

charm n.
something that is believed to have magic powers and especially to prevent bad luck;
a small object that is worn on a chain or bracelet
- Many baseball players love to keep good luck charms to feel more confident.
- The charms on Laura's bracelet are gifts from her friends.
a quality that causes someone or something to be very likeable : an attractive quality
- The actress has a special charm.

groom n.
a man who has just married or is about to be married
- The bride and the bridegroom were childhood sweethearts.
- The groom was almost late for the ceremony because his car broke down.

preparation n.
the activity or process of making something ready or of becoming ready for something
- The failure of the campaign is due to poor preparation.
preparations [plural] : things that are done to make something ready or to become ready for something
- We need to make preparations for the trip in advance.

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Here Comes the Bride (1)

A look at weddings around the world

Every country has its own traditional ways to celebrate a new marriage.

The Dress 
Unique traditional clothing is a key part of wedding ceremonies in many countries. In most Western nations, brides wear long white dresses. That’s because the color white represents purity. Brides in Japan also wear white and sometimes even paint their faces and bodies white. But in India, brides traditionally wear red, the color of celebration. And brides throughout East Asia often change into several different dresses on their wedding day.

Brides in Morocco wear bright colors that vary by region. The bride and her helpers draw patterns on their skin with juice from the henna plant.

The Food
Many cultures celebrate weddings with feasts that include traditional dishes. In Sweden, this meal can last three days! Italian wedding meals often have 12-14 courses. One traditional Italian dish is almonds covered in sugar. It represents the mix of sweet and bitter events in life.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Chinese Dining vs. Western Dining 教學主題: 中西大不同的上菜方式

One of the biggest differences between Chinese and Western dining is the way food is served.

That’s right; food is served sequentially in the West that’s why a Western meal is made up of courses or multiple dishes that arrive at the table in a particular order.

The number of courses depends on how formal or elaborate a meal is.

In its simplest form a western meal has three courses, an appetizer, a main course and a dessert.

In formal dining, a full course dinner can consist of ten, twelve or sixteen courses taking up to three or four hours to complete.

Now, the dishes in some Chinese meals are also served sequentially, but during a traditionally Chinese meal, the dishes are served pretty much all at once. Sometimes two or three dishes arrive simultaneously at the table. So how is it possible to fit all that food on the table?

A Lazy Susan makes it all possible.

Who?

Ha-ha, not who Ken but what. Lazy Susan is the rotating tray placed at the center of a round table that helps to keep the food moving. Thanks to this round tray, diners can all partake in a communal spirit that comes with the Chinese meal.

Language Lab
represent v.
to officially speak or take action for another person or group of people:
- This bouquet represents my deep apology.
- The painting represents the style of this artist at younger age.
representation n.
when you have someone to speak, vote, or make decisions for you:
- The dove is a symbolic  representation of peace.

purity n.
lack of guilt or evil thoughts
- The photo shows the purity and innocence of little kids.
- The Virgin Mary has been a symbol of purity down through the ages.
purity n.
something (such as a picture or symbol) that stands for something else
- The water purity is regularly tested.

vary v.
/ˈveri/
to be different or to become different : change
- The salaries in this company vary according to individual performance.
- Sales taxes vary from state to state.
various adj.
used to refer to several different or many different things, people, etc.
- Various charity organizations received this old lady's donations.

feast n.
a special meal with large amounts of food and drink
- Mom always cooks a feast whenever we go home.
- Smoked salmon is often served at wedding feasts.
a religious festival
- The musical "Cats" is a feast for the ears and the eyes.

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Table Manners (2) 4/7

Watch your arms
Americans may think you look sloppy if you put your elbows on the table while you’re eating. But people from France and Russia consider it rude to place your hands below the table.

How can you make everyone happy?
Rest your wrists on the edge of the table when you’re not using your hands to eat.

Utensils
Even in countries where people use forks and knives as opposed to chopsticks, people use them in different ways. In Thailand, people use forks only to push food onto the spoons they eat with.

Imitate the locals
Europeans hold the knife in their dominant hand and the fork in the other hand throughout the entire meal. But Americans cut off a piece of food, lay down the knife and move the fork to their dominant hand. When they want to cut another piece, they pick the knife up again. Dining etiquette can be confusing, but don’t worry. Next time you travel, do some research beforehand – and imitate the locals. You can make a good impression – and maybe even some new friends.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: When In Rome教學主題: 入境隨俗
Hello, friends! Have you ever been to Rome? If you have, did you do as the Romans do?

Ken, I think we need to explain to our students that what you just said is reference to a common expression.

You’re right, Steve. When in Rome do as the Romans do is a common saying and usually has nothing to do with the Rome or the Romans.

Right, it just means that when you are visiting a new place, could be Rome. You should try to follow with the locals do. I remember when I first visited Beijing and a friend took me a restaurant and ordered some thousands years old eggs. I didn’t quite know what to do, so the friend said to me.

Oh, come on, Steve! Give it a try, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

So I took one up with my chopsticks and put it in my mouth. And it was actually not bad.

So this expression is basically saying, once you tried to fit in, a simulate or conform to what is socially acceptable when they are  visiting a new place. But Steve, do you think it’s always a good idea?

Not always. Remember, just because everyone else doing something doesn’t always mean it’s right. Or that you have to do it too.

Language Lab
sloppy adj.
not careful or neat : showing a lack of care, attention, or effort
- Your work has been very sloppy lately.

as opposed to 相對於
— used to refer to something that is different from what has just been mentioned

dominant adj.
more important, powerful, or successful than most or all others
- The company is now dominant in its market.

beforehand adv.
in advance : at an earlier or previous time
- We paid for our tickets beforehand.

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Table Manners (1) 4/6

How to act when invited to dinner in a foreign country

As a child growing up in America, I was instructed to avoid making noise while eating. I learned that burping, slurping and chewing loudly are all rude. But a trip to Mongolia taught me that American customs are far from universal.

There, slurping expresses appreciation. It felt strange to do the opposite of what I’d been taught. But my friends and I reminded each other to follow the custom of slurping to be polite.

Many travelers have problems with local table manners and may violate customs by accident. Here are some areas to be aware of.

Finger food?
People in Chile and Brazil eat everything with utensils; whereas, Mexicans eat certain foods with their hands. In India, the Middle East and parts of Africa, eating with your right hand is acceptable. But the left hand is considered dirty and not used. In other countries, such as the United States, many foods are eaten with utensils while some are designated as “finger food.” These include fried chicken, French fries and sandwiches to name a few.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Are French Fries Really French? 薯條的起源
Despite its name the French fry, is not French. But Belgium, as early as the 17th century, people in Belgium were frying small strips of potatoes.

When American soldiers were stationing in Belgium during the world war I, they were introduced to the delicious fried potatoes. Since the official language of the Belgium army was French, American soldiers nicknamed the tasty food French fries.

And the name stuck to this day, Americans are still giving credit to the wrong country.

Not the British though, in the UK they are called chips and adding to the confusion, chips is used in American English to refer to what the British call crisps, which are thin slices of the salty fried potato eaten cold.

Right, I love bowl of potato chips and French fries. Ok, one last point about the French fry, English learners are often confused when they hear American say a small fries, when making a order at a fast food restaurant.

Right, the word fries is plural, shouldn't one order at least twenty French fries instead of just one?

You would think. Actually this is an abbreviated way of saying a small sized fries, just as one can order a large coke or a medium milk shake. One can also order a small fries.


Language Lab
instruct v. [in-字首:進入; struct-字根:建造]
to teach (someone) a subject, skill, etc. — usually + in or on
- His friend instructed him in English.
to give (someone) an order or command
- She instructed us that we were to remain in our seats.

slurp v.
to eat or drink (something) noisily or with a sucking sound
- He always slurps his soup/tea.

utensil n.
a simple and useful device that is used for doing tasks in a person's home and especially in the kitchen
- cooking/kitchen utensils

whereas conjunction
used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different
- Some of these species have flourished, whereas others have struggled.
- He has brown eyes whereas his children have green eyes.

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150406baa8e3a50922e5e3efb35ee8470342c8a0b8c9e085262871fecd271bf1040371c93.wma

Eating Habits (2)

Egypt
Egyptians commonly start the day with a drink, sometimes accompanied by bread. Breakfast can be eaten any time after this but before the day's main meal. In the past, this main meal was served at around 3:00 p.m. But now people work longer hours and eat when they get home at around 6:00 p.m.
Dinner parties are held later, around 9:00 p.m. Most Egyptian meals include bread or rice, cooked vegetables and beans or meat.

The United States
Americans' ancestors came from many countries, so American eating habits vary. Some take time to prepare and eat a hot breakfast. Others grab a bagel while rushing out the door - or just skip breakfast. For lunch, most Americans eat a sandwich or leftovers. Traditionally, families gathered for a large evening meal around 6:00, but now busy schedules force many families to eat in shifts.

American restaurant portions tend to be huge. But you don't have to finish them; taking leftovers home is common.

As you travel, try out some local eating habits - and savor the experience!

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Chinese Sea Turtles 海「龜」
在美的中國城會越來越少, 因為很多中國人回「龜」大陸

Language Lab
commonly adv. 通常, 一般
usually or by most people
- Malnutrition is commonly found among the poor in this country.
malnutrition 營養不良
when someone becomes ill or weak because they have not eaten enough good food:
- Underage driving is commonly seen in the countryside.
common adj. 通常的
happening often and to many people or in many places [≠ rare]:
- Earthquakes are quite common in Japan.

ancestor n. 祖先, 祖宗
a member of your family who lived a long time ago
The natives of this island worship their ancestors as gods.
- This humongous, heavy portable phone is the ancestor of cellphones.
humongous 巨大的
very big [= enormous]:

shift n. 輪班, 當班時間
if workers in a factory, hospital etc work shifts, they work for a particular period of time during the day or night, and are then replaced by others, so that there are always people working
- The pay for the night shift in this fast-food place is higher than others.
- Rita went to have dinner with her colleagues when she finished her afternoon shift.

savor v. 品嘗, 品味, 盡情享受
to fully enjoy the taste or smell of something;
to fully enjoy a time or experience;
- We sat on a bench and savored the cake and coffee, and every single moment we had together.
- Tom and his family savored the seafood.

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150324baa782c7b78f01c3d4f89b92df655019d69c04475eb26fd8960debc717ab8dd200a.wma

Eating Habits (1)

A look at how people eat around the world

Food is a major part of every culture. After all, everyone needs to eat! But each country has its own traditions regarding what people eat and when.

France
France is known for its fine cuisine, and its people take food seriously. Most eat three meals a day at fixed times and never snack between meals. Breakfast is a light meal of bread and coffee. They eat lunch at around 1 p.m. and a dinner with multiple courses after 8 p.m.

The French consider eating a social activity. Eating alone is rare, and eating while doing something else is unheard-of. The French take time to enjoy their meals - and visitors should do the same.

Brazil
Like the French, Brazilians typically eat a light breakfast. Lunch, the largest meal of the day, usually consists of some combination of meat, rice, potatoes, beans and vegetables.

Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., people enjoy a smaller meal with their families. Brazilians don't mind snacking and sometimes buy food from street carts. But they always finish eating before walking away.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Language Police教學主題: 語言有必要維護嗎？
1635年 The French Academy 規範法語的正確運用
18世紀時發行了一本字典裡面有5000個單字用新的拼法
人民必需按照上面用法
1980年代如果亂用法文會被開罰單
目地是為了維護語言純正

Closer Look
Eating alone is rare, and eating while doing something else is unheard-of.
[Subject] is [description 1], and [subject] while [verb-ing] is [description 2].
- Studying for a master's degree is not easy, and studying for a master's degree while having a full-time job is very challenging.
- Driving on this mountain road is very tricky, and driving on this mountain road while talking on your cellphone is suicidal.

Language Lab
regarding prep.
a word used especially in letters or speeches to introduce the subject you are writing or talking about [= concerning, with regard to]:
- Regrading our trip to London, I think we might need to delay the departure date.
- We received many compliments regarding our speedy response to customers' requests.

multiple adj.
many, or involving many things, people, events etc:
- The patient suffers from multiple injuries caused by the car accident.
- Irene did well on the multiple-choice questions on the test.
- The computer can run multiple systems at the same time.

unheard adj.
not heard or listened to:
- The students' protest against the skyrocketing tuition went unheard.
unheard-of adj.
something that is unheard of is so unusual that it has not happened or been known before:
- The disease spread at an unheard-of speed.

consist v.
consist of something phrasal verb
to be formed from two or more things or people:
- The company now consists of four departments: R&D, marketing, sales and customer service.
- The meal consists of an appetizer, two main courses and a dessert.

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"Can I Get a Discount" (2)

Bargaining etiquette
Although bargaining customs vary, a few rules of etiquette apply in most cultures. First, avoid wasting people's time. If you don't intend to make a purchase, don't initiate bargaining. While bargaining, it is OK to walk away. But once you agree to a price, you must buy the item.

Stay polite. Don't get indignant if the first prices are too high. Remember, salespeople expect to bargain. Similarly, don't criticize items the shop's owners made themselves. And know when to stop trying to drive the price lower. Sellers in Third-World countries probably need the money more than you do.

Other options
Even in countries that don't allow bargaining, you may find abundant opportunities to save money. Many stores sell old items on clearance or hold huge sales at the end of a season. Others offer discount cards to regular customers. Some of these can function as credit cards within the store, and a few can even be used elsewhere.

Wherever you go,understanding local customs can help you find good prices - and great goods.

Language Lab
etiquette n. 禮儀, 禮節, 不成文規定
- There is some email etiquette one must follow. For example, you should write clear subject lines.
- As a diplomat, you need to know diplomatic etiquette thoroughly.

indignant adj. 憤怒的
- The residents were indignant when they found out they were being forced to move out of the building in six months.
- Martha was indignant at the way her colleagues treated her.

abundant adj. 豐富的
- There's an abundant water supply in this agricultural area.
- Wildlife is abundant in this national park.
abundance n. 大量, 充裕
- Food and drinks are in abundance on the cruise ship.

clearance n. 清除, 解除
- Brenda bought many linens and towels during the department store's clearance sale.
- A special team was sent to help the clearance of the mines.

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"Can I Get a Discount" (1)

Bargaining customs around the world
Imagine shopping in another country and spotting a beautiful scarf. The salesperson tells you the price, but it's more than you want to pay. What do you do?

Where to bargain 
The answer depends largely on what part of the world you're in. Are you visiting Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America or Africa? In these places, and several others, prices often are not set in stone. In fact, customers are expected to bargain before agreeing to a price. Salespeople often ask for a high price first because they plan to decrease it.

On the other hand, in North America, Europe and Australia, bargaining is rare and often frowned upon. The price listed on a price tag cannot be changed. But expectations vary from store to store as well as from country to country. Large stores and malls usually don't allow bargaining, even in countries where it would normally be acceptable. On the other hand, outdoor stalls and flea markets, even in Western countries, usually allow bargaining. When in doubt, consult a guidebook - or better yet, a local friend.

Info Cloud 
Teaching Topic: Language Weirdness Index 教學主題: 怪異語言指數
有個組織研究 2500多種語言,
研究詞的順序, 聲音的種類, 否定句的結構等等....
最後做了一個怪異語言指數 (language weirdness index),
結果國語排名21, 英文排名33,
世界上排名第一的是墨西哥南部的語言叫做 Chalcatongo

Closer Look
When in doubt, consult a guidebook -- or better yet, a local friend.
When in doubt, ... -- or better yet, ... 
- When in doubt, go see school nurse -- or better yet, a doctor.
- When in doubt, wait an hour to see if you're still interested -- or better yet, a day.

Language Lab
bargain v. 議價, 討價還價;
to discuss an agreement or price in order to make it more appealing
- Darren bargained with the clerk for hours for this mountain bike.
n. 便宜貨, 廉價品
something that is bought or sold for a price which is lower than the actual value : something bought or sold at a good price
- The computer was a great bargain. I only spent US$700.

not set in stone 可調整的
set in stone 不可更改的
permanent or not able to be changed
- My travel plans aren't set in stone yet. I might change my date of departure.
- The contract isn't set in stone because some details need to be discussed.

frown v. 皺眉
to make a frown in anger, concentration, etc.
frown upon something 表示不滿
to disapprove of (something)
- Smoking is frowned upon in many countries.
- My boss frowned upon my proposal because it costs a lot of money.

consult v. 商討, 請教, 翻閱, 查閱
to go to (someone, such as a doctor or lawyer) for advice : to ask for the professional opinion of (someone)
- If you experience any serious side effects, consult your doctor immediately.
- Consulting too many reference books sometimes makes parenting more confusing.

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Tipping Tips (2)

Europe 
Tipping customs in Europe vary from country to country. In France, waiters rarely receive tips. The cost of service is included in the bill. Many English restaurants also include a service charge. But those that don't expect customers to tip 10 to 15 percent. In Germany, there is no service charge, so a 10 to 15 percent tip is appropriate. Make sure you tip in cash, though, so the money gets to your waiter. In most of Europe, porters, guides and housekeepers also expect tips.

Asia 
In Southeast Asia, tips are not usually required. But people will appreciate them if you choose to give them. However, that's not true everywhere in Asia. If you give waiters tips in Japan or China, they might be offended! Restaurant and hotel staff work hard to make your trip more enjoyable. So make sure you thank them - in the way that fits their culture.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Linguistic Diversity 語言多樣性
亞洲有2300多種語言
非洲有2100種
歐洲最少只有不到300種
山和河流會造成語言的多少

Language Lab
vary v. 改變, 有差異
if several things of the same type vary, they are all different from each other
- The effect of the treatment varies from individual to individual.
- The teacher varies her teaching strategies to meet the needs of her students.
various adj. 各種的
if there are various things, there are several different types of that thing:
- The dancer has mastered various dancing styles.

service charge n. 服務費
an amount of money that is added to a bill in a restaurant as an extra charge for the service of the waiters
- In Japan, the service charge is included in the bill.
- A minimum 10% service charge is common in this country.

offend v. 冒犯, 得罪
- The pop singer's rude comments offended everyone present.
- If you refuse to eat the food, you would offend the host.
offensive adj. 冒犯人的, 無禮的
- He needs to apologize for his offensive behavior.

enjoyable adj. 令人愉快的, 快樂的
- We will try our best to make sure you have an enjoyable stay in our hotel.
- The party is much more enjoyable than I expected.


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Tipping Tips (1)

Tipping customs in different parts of the world

You're taking a trip around the world!

You've got money for food, transportation and hotels. But in some countries, you'll need extra cash to tip people who help you. How much should you give?

North America
In the U.S. and Canada, failing to tip is extremely rude. Waiters and waitresses often earn low wages, so they rely on tips. Give them at least 15 percent of the cost of your meal before tax. If the service is really good, tip 20 percent.

It's common to give porters in hotels $1 or $2 for each bag they carry. You should also tip hotel housekeepers, tour guides and taxi drivers.

Africa
In most African countries, tip waiters 10 percent of the bill. But in South Africa, give them 15 percent. In hotels, the concierge may offer services such as booking show tickets. For theses services, give the concierge a tip in advance. And don't forget to tip porters and taxi drivers.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: How to Increase a Tip (多得小費的小撇步)
盤子上放糖果, 拍肩,畫笑臉, 但服務生要是女生

Closer Look
In the U.S. and Canada, failing to tip is extremely rude.
In [location], failing to [verb] is [description].
- In many parts of Asia, failing to take off your shoes when you go into someone's home is not polite.
- In Mary's company, failing to attend the end-of-the year party is not a good idea.

Language Lab
transportation n.
- The hotel provides free transportation from the hotel to the airport.
- The public transportation in this city is quite convenient and economical.

extremely adv.
very
- The job is extremely demanding, but interesting.
extreme adj.
- The police decided to use extreme measures to capture the cold-blooded killers.

porter n.
a person whose job is to carry bags or luggage at a hotel, airport, etc.
- We tipped the porters at the airport $2.00 for each piece of luggage.
- The porter at the hotel brought my bags to my room.

concierge n.
/ˌkɑːnsiˈeɚʒ/
an employee at a hotel whose job is to provide help and information to the people staying at the hotel
- Please ask the concierge to arrange our transportation downtown.
- The concierge here is professionally trained and provides excellent service.

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