December

The last month of the year is filled with joy and celebration

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." This popular song's title and lyrics reflect the happiness many people feel during the holiday season, which lasts the whole month of December. Stores are filled with lights, decorations - and sales signs. Businesses and families hold parties. The smell of baking cookies and other holiday treats fills homes.

Geneva, Switzerland, holds a chocolate festival called I'Escalade on December 11 to commemorate the defeat of an attacking army. According to one story, a woman poured soup on a soldier's head, hit him with her cauldron and then ran to warn her neighbors. This stopped the attack, so now people smash and eat chocolate cauldrons in her honor.

From December 6 to 14 this year, the Dubai International Film Festival will show fabulous films from around the world. Some important medical issues are remembered this month. December 1 is World AIDS Day, and December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

This month is Oslo, Norway, Nobel Prizes will be awarded to people who have made outstanding contributions to the world. The awards recognize scientific discoveries, profound literature and peace efforts.

The flower associated with December is the narcissus. December's gemstone, the turquoise, symbolizes happiness, success and prosperity. Those are things everyone hopes for during this wonderful time of year.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Acronym vs. Initialism

An abbreviation is any shortened form of a word or phrase.
However, we need to be aware that there're two different types of abbreviations: acronyms and initialisms.

An initialism, as the name suggests, is a group of initial letters used as an abbreviation for a name or expression.
For example, USA is an initialism for the United States of America.
BBC is an initialism for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

An acronym is also made from the first letter or letters of a string of words.
But the difference is that an acronym is pronounced like a word.
For example, the abbreviation for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, N-A-S-A, should be pronounced "NASA," not N-A-S-A.

So, it has to be one or the other.
Nobody pronounces U-S-A, "USA", because it's an initialism.

And we should not pronounce the acronym "AIDS," A-I-D-S.
It should be AIDS.

That's right.
It should be pronounced like a word, AIDS, not spelled out because it's an acronym which, by the way, stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Now, another mistake I often hear is "app," which is not even an abbreviation.

No, it's a clipped word that comes from the word "application" as we mentioned last month.

Therefore, a-p-p should always be pronounced "app."
I just downloaded a new app on my cell phone.


Grammar Gym
recognize
to see something and remembering that you do know what it is.
- I recognize the man's face but I can't remember his name.
to recognize
to officially say or show that somebody did a good job
- The awards recognize scientific discoveries, profound literature and peace efforts.

- Ladies and gentlemen, we want to thank and recognize all of you who put in so much energy and time to help us with this project.

- This certificate recognizes the outstanding achievements of Peter Sanders.

Language Lab
lyric n. — usually plural
[count]  the words of a song
- The lyrics of the song were written by the singer herself.
- I love Paul Simon's lyrics.
- Both the music and the lyrics to the song were written by Mariah Carey.

commemorate v. [memor 字根-記憶]
/kəˈmɛməˌreɪt/
to exist or be done in order to remind people of (an important event or person from the past)
to do something special in order to remember and honor (an important event or person from the past)
- The exhibition was held to commemorate the birth of this great artist.
commemoration n.
something (such as a special ceremony) that is intended to honor an important event or person from the past [count]
- The statue was built in commemoration of a grate general.

fabulous adj.
very good
- The boy's fabulous singing talent amazed his teacher.
- We had a fabulous time on our trip.
- Janet is a fabulous actress.

symbolize v.
to be a symbol of (something)
- The color red symbolizes passion and determination.
- Heart-shaped chocolates symbolize adoration.
symbol n.
picture or shape that has a particular meaning or represents a particular organization or idea
- The ring is a symbol of commitment.


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November

There is a lot to celebrate in November

In the north, cold winds blow. The rich colors of autumn have faded, and winter is not far away. But in the Southern Hemisphere, summer is just heading up! Whatever the weather, there is plenty to celebrate in November.

Britain celebrates Guy Fawkes Day on November 5. They remember the plot to blow up the English Parliament and King James I in 1605. Thankfully, the plot did not succeed. The English remember this day and celebrate it with big fires and fireworks. November 11 is celebrated as Veterans Day or Remembrance Day. This day honors soldiers who have fought for their countries. On November 17, celebrate Electronic Greeting Card Day by sending your Friends ecards!

World Hello Day is November 21. Say hello to 10 people on this day to promote peace. Americas celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. It's a time to be thankful and to have a turkey dinner with family and friends. November's birthstone is the topaz or citrine, and its flower is the beautiful chrysanthemum. Enjoy November - no matter what the weather is like!

Grammar Gym
Whatever the [something] : No matter what [something is]
- Whatever the weather, there is plenty to celebrate in November!
- Whatever happens, we'll meet here tonight.
- Whatever the outcome, the contestant are all glad they have this chance to compete in this tournament.
- Whatever the material, this style of dress is very comfortable.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Hello, Again

hello跟任何人打招呼皆適用
- Nice to meet you. 很高興認識你(只用於第一次見面時)
- It's nice to see you again.
- It's nice to run into you again. 很高興又見到你

Language Lab
fade v.褪色、失去光澤；(聲音)逐漸微弱、(光)逐漸消失、(感情)逐漸變淡
- The color of the curtains started to fade under the direct sunlight.
直接日曬之下，窗簾的顏色開始褪色了
- The sound of the jet faded away into the distance.
噴射機的聲音隨著距離逐漸遠去
- The love between this young couple faded after many quarrels.
經過多次爭吵，這對年輕戀人的感情逐漸變淡了

plot n.陰謀、密謀；(電視、電影、小說中的)情節
- The report of the assassination plot was submitted to the FBI.
這份暗殺計畫的報告，被送進聯邦調查局
- The plot of the movie is similar to the plot of a recent best-selling novel.
這部電影的情節，和最近一本暢銷小說的情節很相似

electronic adj.電子的、用電子操控的 electric adj.電的、電動的
- Al loves to buy fancy electronic gadgets.
Al喜歡買很炫的電子裝置
- The electronic surveillance system is hard to invade.
這個電子監視系統很難侵入
- Mark bought an electric guitar as a gift for his brother.
Mark買了一把電吉他給他的弟弟當作禮物

promote v.促進、促銷
- The president's visit promoted friendship between the two countries.
總統的參訪促進了兩國的友誼
- The campaign promoted the sales of the new product successfully.
這個宣傳活動成功的促銷了新產品


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October

The tenth month of the year has a lot to offer

O - Opal is the traditional birthstone for this month. The Greek meaning is to see a color change. The stone occurs in several colors such as white or black. It can even be transparent with flashes of color.

C - The calendula, or marigold, is this month's flower, which represents sympathy.

T - Top names in theater, music and dance will appear at the Melbourne Festival. It runs from October 11 to 27. If you are headed to Australia, don't miss it!

O - The Old City in Jerusalem will hold the Jerusalem Knights Festival the last four Thursdays this month. Visitors will get a taste of the Middle Ages with entertainment from that time period.

B - Blindness awareness marks this month. World Sight Day occurs October 10 this year. If focuses on educating people about blindness and raising money for blindness prevention programs.

E - Every year, October ends on the same day of the week as February does!

R - The Regent's Park in London hosts the Frieze Art Fair in mid-October. Contemporary art galleries from around will be featured along with a sculpture park.


Grammar Gym
"Blindness awareness marks this month."
marks: to characterize or to make s.t. special or different
- A fireworks display marks the evening.
- The opening ceremony was marked by a special performance from a children's choir.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Acrostics (離合詩)
a poem or piece of writing in which the first or last letter of each line spells a word

In this month's month facts feature, our author presents her information in a very creative way.
She uses the word "October" as an acrostic.

An acrostic is formed when the first letters in a series of lines or verses are arranged in such a way that they spell out a word or phrase.

Over the centuries, acrostics have been used to highlight people's names to conceal a message and to remember information.

Right! By associating something with each of the seven letters of the word "October", the author is helping us remember the seven points she makes about the month of October.

OK. Here's an acrostic that helps us remember the colors of the rainbow, "ROY G. BIV".

Now, this acrostic is made up. "ROY" is the fictitious man's first name, "G" is his middle initial, and "BIV", B-I-V, is his last name.

"ROY G. BIV" helps us remember the colors in order "Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet."

Here's another acrostic to help us remember the planets of our solar system. The sentence, "My Very Excellent Mom Just Served Us Nachos."

Good one, Ken. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Satum, Uranus, and Neptune for Nachos.

Language Lab
flash n.
a bright light that shines for a short time and then stops shining:
- A sudden flash of lightning brightened up the night sky.
a sudden appearance or occurrence of something
- A flash of inspiration came to the director, and he decided to shoot the scene outdoors.

sympathy n. [sym一起/path 感受]
[plural,uncountable] the feeling of being sorry for someone who is in a bad situation
- Nathan has a lot of sympathy for hearing-impaired kids.
sympathetic adj.
- Many people are sympathetic toward the hurricane victims.

educate v.
to teach (someone) especially in a school, college, or university [+ obj]
- Jenny quit her job to educate her kids at home.
education n.
- Higher education in America is quite expensive.
educational adj.
- an educational magazine

contemporary adj.
/kənˈtɛmpəreri/
existing or happening in the same time period : from the same time period
- She wrote a lot of contemporary music for movies.
- The contemporary style of the hotel attracted many customers.


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mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131003_ff549.wmv

September

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Observances in America

Year of Water Conservation 省水節


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

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

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



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August

“If the first week of August be unusually warm, the winter will be snowy and long.”

The dog days of summer remain in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere. As the month progresses, the evenings become cooler in northern regions and mountains. But in the Southern Hemisphere, August means winter's end is fast approaching.

Festivals can be found worldwide this month. One of the more outstanding ones is La Tomatina in Spain. If you like tomatoes, then you'll like this one because people throw them at one another!

Is music more to your taste? Then head to the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago. Although it's primarily a music festival, crafts and comedy get mixed in as well. The world's largest arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland is on, too.

Or perhaps you like horses. Then head to Siena, Italy, where a bareback horserace is held. It only lasts about a minute and a half!

"Evening emeralds." August's birthstone, the peridot, was called this by the Romans because of the way the peridot reflected lamplight.

"Love at first sight!" August's flower, the gladiolus, held this hidden meaning during the Victorian era.

Info Cloud
For thousands of years, we humans have tried to accurately to predict the weather.

Because it is important for us to know the best time to plant and harvest crops, when to take an ocean voyage, or when to go on a picnic.

Over the years, we've accumulated dozens of English sayings, which help us to determine whether tomorrow's weather will be fair or foul. They're not what we call scientific, but many of them are surprisingly accurate.

Perhaps, the most well known saying is, "Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning.  Red skies at night, sailors' delight".

Right, if the sky is red in the morning, then expect rain. If the sky is red at night, expect the next day's weather to be pleasant.

Now, predictions about the weather are not just made by looking at the sky. They're also made by observing the behavior of animals.

Here is an example: "A cow's tail to the west makes the weather the best. A cow's tail to the east makes the weather the least".

Hmm... who needs weatherman when you have a cow. Other age-old weather predictors include "rings around the moon", clogged salt shakers, and aching bones.

Grammar Gym
... winter's end is fast approaching.
fast approaching: coming quickly or happening soon
- We need to hurry to the station; I see our bus is fast approaching.
- James has been very busy with his assignment because the due date is fast approaching.

Language Lab
in full swing 
if an event or process is in full swing, it has reached its highest level of activity
- The cherry blossom season was in full swing in March in Kyoto.
- The discussion was in full swing, and nobody wanted to stop for lunch.

outstanding adj.
extremely good
- The actor's outstanding performance won him an Oscar.
- George is outstanding at analyzing data.
outstanding adj.
not yet done, solved, or paid
- We still have some outstanding issue to discuss.

primarily adv.
/praɪˈmerəli/
mainly— used to indicate the main purpose of something, reason for something, etc
- The film's failure was primarily due to poor casting. 選角錯誤
- The discussion focused primarily on the company's financial status.
primary adj.
most important : main
- The primary goal of our trip is to find new clients.

reflect v.
if a person or a thing is reflected in a mirror, glass, or water, you can see an image of the person or thing on the surface of the mirror, glass, or water
- This fabric reflects sunlihgt better than those fabrics.
reflect v.
show or be a sign of a particular situation or feeling
- The conflict reflected the tension between races.


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130810_f9cb9.wmv

July is Hot, Hot, Hot!

Start this month with some hot July facts

Welcome to one of the hottest months on Earth – at least in the Northern Hemisphere. On July 10, 1913, the temperature in Death Valley, California, reached 56.7 degrees Celsius. That’s approaching the heat you need to fry an egg! Indeed, you can try doing that on July 4 – Sidewalk Egg Frying Day.

Of course, you may want to beat the heat by eating ice cream. Ronald Reagan, America’s 40th president, would have supported that idea! In 1984, he declared July to be National Ice cream Month. Take your cold treat and go for a walk.

In some places you might spot a larkspur, July’s flower. White ones convey a happy nature while purple ones represent first love. July’s gemstone is the red ruby. This “king of gems” represents courage, among other virtues. According to some, soldiers used to implant rubies under their skin in hopes of gaining courage in battle.

International Joke Day is July 1 – today! And who doesn't like to laugh? Take some time to tell a joke or post something funny online. After all, laughter is the best medicine.

Info Cloud
Hi, friends. If you order eggs in a restaurant, the server will likely ask you: How do you like your eggs?

And the answer is not “Well done.” That’s an answer to the question: How do you like your steak?

That’s right. And since our lesson today mentions frying eggs, let’s learn the options we have for ordering eggs.

OK. First, there is sunny-side up. That’s when the egg is cooked on one side only, and the yolk is still runny.

Next, my personal favorite – over easy. That’s what the egg is cooked mostly on one side and a little on the other side. And the yolk is still runny.

And then there’s over hard. The egg, in this case, is cooked on both sides until the yolk inside is hard.

If you don’t mind peeling the shell, you can order an egg either soft-boiled or hard-boiled. The egg in both cases is boiled in the shell. The yolk is still liquid in a soft-boiled egg, and is solid in a hard-boiled egg.

Then there’s poached. That’s when the egg is boiled out of the shell.

Finally, there’s scrambled, which needs no explanation.

sunny-side up 太陽蛋 - 只煎一面半生的荷包蛋
over easy 兩面都煎，蛋黃不要熟的荷包蛋
over hard 兩面都煎，蛋黃全熟的荷包蛋
hard-boiled egg 熟蛋黃的水煮蛋
soft-boiled egg 軟蛋黃的水煮蛋
poached egg 水波蛋 - 水煮的荷包蛋
scrambled eggs 炒蛋

Grammar Gym
Hello, friends. Welcome to the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz.

In today’s article we read: This “king of gems” represents courage. among other virtues. That’s our Grammar Tip sentence. Our focus today is on the phrase “among other.” It’s a fancy way of saying one of many.

So today’s sentence just means this king of gems represents many virtues, and one of them is courage. Use this phrase when there’s a list of qualities or examples and you want to just mention one of them.

For example:
Amy visited museums, among other activities, while she was studying in Paris.
Or: A platypus is unlike other mammals; it lays eggs, among other unique characteristics.

So give this phrase a try. Think of something that has lots of qualities or examples and talk about it.
That’s it for today. Thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym. This is Liz. I’ll see you again next time. Bye-bye.

Language Lab
Celsius adj.攝氏的  [Fahrenheit adj.華氏的 ]
relating to or having a scale for measuring temperature on which the boiling point of water is at 100 degrees and the freezing point of water is at 0 degrees
- The temperature dropped to 5 degrees Celsius last night.
昨晚溫度降到攝氏五度
- The temperature now is 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
現在的溫度是華氏十度

indeed adv.真正地、確實地
without any question — used to stress the truth of a statement 
- Molly is indeed the most unselfish person I've ever met.
Molly真的是我所遇過最不自私的人
- The opportunity to interview such a celebrity is rare indeed.
訪問到這一位名人的機會，確實是很難的

convey v.表達、傳達
/kənˈveɪ/
to communicate or express something, with or without using words
- Each of his poems conveys a sense of hope.
他的每一首詩都表達出盼望
- Sherry conveyed her gratitude to her teacher with a lovely card.
Sherry用可愛的卡片，對她的老師表達出感謝
convey v.運送
to take or carry something from one place to another
- The furniture was conveyed by sea.
這些傢俱用海運運來的

virtue n.美德、德行
/ˈvɚtʃu/
morally good behavior or character  
- One of Jack's greatest virtues is his kindness.
Jack最優秀的美德之一就是宅心仁厚
virtuous adj.道德高尚的、正直的
/ˈvɚtʃəwəs/
behaving in a very honest and moral way
- Sean is a responsible, hard-working and virtuous family man.
Sean是一位認真、負責、正直又顧家的男人


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The Merry Month of May

Celebrate more than Mother’s Day this month
May 1 is International Workers' Day, a significant day for workers. Prior to the 1800s, workers put in nearly 16 hours each day. Over time, labor unions in many countries fought for shorter workdays. "Eight hours labor, eight hours recreation, and eight hours rest" became a popular saying. If you wish to party for a whole week, join the nurses! May 6 begins National Nurses' Week, which ends on May 12, International Nurses' Day. That day, Florence Nightingale's birthday, celebrates the profession and her contribution to modern nursing.

Or perhaps you feel like celebrating food. Make some chocolate chip cookies on May 15, National Chocolate Chip Day! You could couple cookies with something made of emerald for a loved one. May's brilliant green gemstone represents wisdom, patience and growth - all necessary for a love that lasts. Happiness, sweetness and a pure heart are represented through May's flower, the Lily of the Valley.

Info Cloud
the Merry Month of May 
美國歌詞
appropriation
appropriate v. 佔有, 佔為己有
Killing Them Softly

Grammar Gym
couple n. A married couple
couple v. to put together with
You could couple cookies with something made of emerald for a loved one.
- Our dinner banquet on the beach was coupled with a free boat ride.
- The presentation was basically a speech from the dean coupled with a video clip.

Language Lab
significant adj.
/sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt/
large enough to be noticed or have an effect;
very important

contribution
n. 貢獻 [uncountable] when you give money, time, help etc
- Nancy's contribution to the team is always ignored.
n. 捐獻 [countable] an amount of money that you give in order to help pay for something
- Each year, the company makes charitable contributions to many organizations.

recreation n. [uncountable and countable]

an activity that you do for pleasure or amusement

- Every Saturday afternoon is the only recreation time Sean and his family have.
recreational adj.
- The resort is equipped with many recreational facilities.

represent 
- The success of the experiment represents a big breakthrough in the field of biochemistry.
代表某個對象
- Representing his company, Richard attended the conference.

second-hand smoke
- Second-hand smoke contributes to lung cancer.
second-hand textbook
second-hand cars

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130504_135dc.wmv

APRIL

April showers bring May flowers
During April in the northern hemisphere, flowers bloom, and the world comes back to life after a long winter. Some think this month's name comes from the Latin word aperire, meaning to open, referring to the opening of flowers. And April's name says much more as well.

A- Arbor Day, a holiday that celebrates and encourages planting trees, falls on April 26 this year. J. Sterling Morton, a pioneer on America's frontier, was passionate about nature and proposed this holiday. It was first held in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, and has since spread throughout the U.S.

P- Practical jokes are common on April 1- April Fool's Day. People play tricks on each other, and some companies even join in. The BBC once reported a story about farmers harvesting spaghetti from trees, and Burger King advertised a left-handed hamburger.

R- Rain is common in many places during April, a fact that gave rise to the old saying, "April showers bring May flowers."

I- International Guitar Month falls in April along with National Humor Month and National Stress Awareness Month.

L- Loyalty, love, and innocence are represented by the daisy, April's flower. And April's gemstone, the diamond, represents everlasting love.


Info Cloud
Arbor Day 植樹節
holiday 假日
national holiday 國定假日(美語用法)
bank holiday (英國用法)
holiday 渡假(英)
- I want to go on holiday. 我想去渡假
vacation 渡假(美)
- I want to go on vacation. 我想去渡假

Grammar Gym
Rain is common in many places during April, a fact that gave rise to the old saying, "April showers bring May flowers."
to give rise to


Language Lab
bloom v. 開花
- Cherry blossoms bloomed all over the hillside.
櫻花開滿了整片山丘
大量出現, 繁榮興盛
- The country's economy has bloomed in the past decade.
這個國家的經濟在過去十年蓬勃發展
 n. 花朵
- The tree was covered with white blooms.
這顆樹開滿了白色的花朵
1 [uncountable and countable] a flower or flowers
2 in (full) bloom with the flowers fully open
3 [singular,uncountable] the healthy happy appearance that someone has, especially when they are young

back to life
to make someone or some living creature come back to life.

frontier n. 邊境, 邊界 (front 前面)
the border of a country
- The frontier between the countries is heavily guarded by troops.
這二國的邊境有嚴密的部隊防守
- There're just a few stations on the northwestern frontier.
西化的邊境只有幾個邊防站

practical joke n.
a trick that is intended to give someone a surprise or shock, or to make them look stupid

awareness n.  [noncount]
knowledge or understanding of a particular subject or situation;
the ability to notice something using your senses
- Recently, there has been an increasing awareness of teenage on-line game addiction.
aware adj.
if you are aware that a situation exists, you realize or know that it exists
- I'm quite aware of the risks I'm taking.

innocence n.天真, 純真
the fact of being not guilty of a crime;
lack of experience of life or knowledge of the bad things in the world
- You can still see a child's innocence in his eyes even though he may be over 30.
innocent
- The lawyer successfully proved that his clients is innocent.


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130401_06bef.wmv

March

"March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb"

Happy World Book Day! In the United Kingdom and Ireland, students again celebrate the first Thursday of March as World Book Day. On this day, students receive special coupons for free or discounted books from some bookstores. The United States celebrated the National Education Associations' Read Across America Day on March 1 this year - the day before Dr. Seuss' birthday.

March is not just a month that celebrates the joy of reading, however. In the U.S., March is celebrated as Women's History Month and American Red Cross Month. In addition, on the first Wednesday of March, mathematics - World Maths Day - is celebrated. For math enthusiasts, the mathematical constant Pi, 3.14159, also has a special day on March 14.

March's gemstone, aquamarine, reminds people to stay calm while its flower, the daffodil, symbolizes friendship and happy homes.

For these living in the northern hemisphere, March can have very dynamic weather changes. This is due to the shift between seasons. "Lion" weather often begins the month with cold temperatures and wind. By the end, "lamb" - or mild - spring weather has arrived. This is the time that animals begin to wake up from their winter slumber and look for food.

Info Cloud
day/date
What day is it today? Thursday. 今天星期幾
What is the date today? Today is March 7th. 今天幾月幾號
ordinal numbers 日期要用序數報, first, second, third, fourth...
像是今天是3/7 the seventh of March 三月的第七天
可用縮寫: first 1st / second 2nd / third 3rd /其餘的都是在數字後面加 th

Grammar Gym
For those + verb-ing
For these living in the northern hemisphere, March can have very dynamic weather changes.
For those living... = For the people who are living...
For those waiting to get back on the plane, the delay seemed like an eternity.
For those choosing to walk instead of riding the cable car, the trail is a great way to experience nature.

Language Lab
coupon n.
1 a usually small piece of printed paper that lets you get a service or product for free or at a lower price
2 a section of an advertisement that you can cut out and mail to a company in order to request information or to order a product or service
I clipped a coupon from a magazine for two dollars off on baby formula.
我從雜誌上剪下一張嬰兒配方奶折價二塊錢的折價卷
The coupon expired last week.
這張優惠卷上週已經過期了
This coupon gives a three-dollar discount off the price of the lunch special.
午餐特餐使用這張折價卷可以抵用三塊錢

enthusiast n. a person who enjoys something very much
The convention is the most important event for sci-fi movie enthusiasts.
這個特展對科換片熱愛者是重要的盛事
enthusiastic adj. feeling or showing strong excitement about something
/ɪnˌθu:ziˈæstɪk/ 重音在後面
We're all enthusiastic about the idea.
我們對這個點子都很興致勃勃

dynamic adj.
1 always active or changing 不斷變化的 (引申為變化多端的)
The relationship between a couple is a dynamic process.
夫妻間的關係是不斷變化的過程
2  having or showing a lot of energy 動力的, 充滿活力的
The company needs new blood - people who are creative and dynamic.
公司需要有創力和動力的人來做為新血

slumber n. sleep
The boy fell into a deep slumber after the football game.
這個男足球比賽後就陷入熟睡
We hope that the new policy will bring the economy out of its slumber.
這個新的政策希望可以讓經濟託離停滯的狀態

due to because of (something)

shift v.
1 to move or to cause (something or someone) to move to a different place, position, etc. [+ obj]
2 to change or to cause (something) to change to a different opinion, belief, etc. [no obj]
3 to go or to cause (something) to go from one person or thing to another [+ obj]
4 to change the gear you are using in a vehicle [no obj]

mathematical constant 數學常數

About Dr. Seuss: http://www.seussville.com/#/author

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130307_3841a.wmv

February

February: The shortest month of the year has a lot to offer
二月的節日: 一年當中最短的月份有許多節日活動

In the West, February brings Valentine's Day to mind. Indeed, Americans alone exchange over 150 million Valentine's cards annually. In addition, over 58 million pounds of chocolate candy are sold around this celebration of love. Maybe that is why February is National Chocolate Lover's Month in the U.S.!

In the East, people think of Lunar New Year, which often occurs in February. Most return home to celebrate this important holiday with their families.

While Groundhog Day, February 2, would not count as an important holiday, people enjoy the fun. A groundhog or other furry creature predicts the coming of spring on this day. If it sees its shadow, people can expect six more weeks of winter! If it doesn't see its shadow, an early spring will come.

February's flower is the violet, which represents faithfulness and humility. The amethyst, February's birthstone, represents sincerity. Every four years there is a February 29, but February still remains the shortest month.

School children learn this through an English rhyme:
30 days hath September, April, June and November;
all the rest have 31 excepting February alone,
which has 28 days clear and 29 in each Leap Year.

Grammar Gym
* brings to mind: "makes people think of"
"... February brings Valentine's Day to mind."
=> February makes people think of Valentine's Day.
* To many Americans, talking about Chinese food brings fortune cookies to mind.
* The mentioning of Paris brings the Elffel Tower to mind.

Info Cloud
chocoholic 巧克力愛好者

* Maybe that is why February is National Chocolate Lover's Month in the U.S.!
chocolate lover 也可以用 chocoholic 巧克力愛好者
這個字來自 alcoholic 酗酒者, 自從這個字成為英文單字後,
就有許多不同的字採用這個字的字尾 -aholic 來表示有某種癖好
像是 workaholic 工作狂, shopaholic 購物狂
但 chocoholic 並沒有 alcoholic 這麼嚴肅, 通常用於詼諧的場合

Language Lab
annually adv. 每年底, 一年一次地
ann 字根有年的意思
* Job performance is evaluated annually in this company.
這家公司每一年底都會評估員工的工作表現
annual adj. 年度的, 每年一次的
* annual budget 每度預算
* annual income 年收入

in addition adv. phrase 除此之外, 況且, 另外
addition  增加
通常前面的句字會有個敘述, 後面的句字是用來補充前面的句子
* Peter is the head of three companies. In addition, he's also the chairman of many charity organizations.
Peter 是三家公司的老闆, 除此之外, 他還是慈善機構的主席

predict v. 預測, 預料
pre 這個字首有提早的意思
* It's hard to predict which team will win the game.
很難預測這場比賽哪個隊伍會贏
prediction
* The woman made a prediction about the date of the end of the world.
這個女性對世界末日的日期做了預言

humility 不可數n. 謙虛, 謙遜
* The movie star's humility made his fans love him even more.
這位電影名星的謙虛, 讓他的影迷更加愛護他
humiliate v. 侮辱, 或使丟臉
* The boy was beaten and humiliated by the bully for years.
這個男孩每年都被這個惡霸歐打並且侮辱


Link:
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130214_cbcb6.wmv

January

Shakespeare wrote in The Winter's Tale "that blasts of January would blow you through and through"
J - Japanese New Year, Shogatsu, is celebrated from January 1 to 3. During Japan's most important holiday, business close and families gather together.
A - American National Pie Day is celebrated on January 23! Around since the ancient Egyptians, pies evolved over the centuries into the dessert Americans eat today. In fact, pies have become so American that the expression "as American as apple pie" can be widely heard.
N - The northern hemisphere experiences its coldest time of year. Ice and snow cover the land in many places, and blizzards turn the air white. Many animals sleep day and night, hibernating until spring. In contrast, the southern hemisphere experiences its warmest time.
U - The undying love of a mother is symbolized by the pink carnation. Also known as dianthus and pinks, carnations of all colors claim the honor of being January's flower.
A - Australia Day on January 26 marks the British First Fleet's landing at Sydney Cove in 1788.
R - Roman ruler Pompilius added January and February to the calendar in about 700 B.C., making it 12 months long.
Y - Yellow and red are just two colors of the garnet - January's birth gemstone!
The word "garnet" comes from pomegranate in Latin because scientists said the crystals resembled pomegranate seeds.
And there you have it - JANUARY in a nutshell!

Info Cloud
As American as apple pie.
如同蘋果派那麼的美國
指apple pie是美國文化的一部分
As American as baseball and hot dogs.
如同棒球和熱狗那麼的美國
* He drove a Corvette Chevrolet.
他開著一部雪佛蘭超級跑車
Corvette Chevrolet是經典的美國精神象徵，
所以說As American as the Chevrolet Corvette.

Grammar Gym
And there you have it.
=> That's it.
=> That all you can say about something.
* And there you have it - JANUARY in a nutshell!
* And there you have it - the five reasons why we should protect the environment.
* And there you have it - why everyone should own this new product.

Language Tips
hemisphere n.(地球的)半球、半球體；大腦半球
* What is the largest city in the southern hemisphere?
南半球上，哪個城市最大?
* His cerebral hemisphere had been operated on.
 他的大腦半球動了手術
hibernate v.冬眠
hibernation n.
* Brown bears hibernate in winter.
棕熊會在冬天冬眠
* Squirrels and hamsters go into hibernation in winter.
松鼠和倉鼠冬天會進入冬眠
symbolize v.象徵、用符號表示
* The friendship between my best friend and me is symbolized by this pendant.
這個墜子象徵我和我最好的朋友之間的友誼
in a nutshell(idiom)概括來說、一言以蔽之
* To put it in a nutshell, we lost the game.
一言以蔽之，我們輸了這場比賽。
* Well, in a nutshell, the couple broke up.
總而言之，這對情侶分手了。