Moving Forward (2)

Our conversation began normally but headed south when we began discussing my job search. George's pessimism showed immediately. He informed me that he didn't think there were many jobs available in Taipei. I told him I wanted to be a writer. He told me that the competition would be too vicious for me to succeed; everybody wanted to write.

According to George, everything was hopeless. I was doomed. If I were lucky enough to find a job, it wouldn't be the one I wanted. At first my heart sank. But I decided not to listen to his negative predictions. What kind of person says such discouraging things to someone they just met? Obviously, life in Taipei had not been good to George. We parted ways after that and haven't met since in life there are always "Georges" trying to pull us down. Will we believe them and give up? Or will we ignore them and chase our dreams anyway?

I'm pleased to say none of George's predictions came true. I did find the job I was looking for - in Taipei - and I decided to stay.


Info Cloud
heart 
the organ in your chest which pumps blood through your body
除指心臟還有其他含義

1.the heart of city/the heart of the matter   (中心, 核心)
the centre of an area [countable] the middle part of an area furthest from the edge

2.my heart sink/don't lose heart  (bad mood, 灰心, 失望)
somebody's heart sinks used to say that someone suddenly lost hope and began to feel unhappy:
- Her heart sank when she saw the number of books she had to read.

3.take heart  (振作)
encouragement [uncountable] confidence and courage

4.heart-to-heart n. (坦誠的談話, 談心)
an honest, serious, and private conversation

5.have one's heart set on something (嚮往, 渴望, 熱衷於某事)
have your heart set on (something) or set your heart on (something)
- When you have your heart set on something or when you set your heart on something, you want it very much.

Language Lab
head south 出差錯, 下滑, 失敗 [head 出發/south 南方]
to fall; to go down
- The stock market started to head south as the government decided to raise the tax rate.
- Our sales have been heading south since last quarter.

vicious adj.
/ˈvɪʃəs/
very violent and cruel
- The vicious criticism almost made the actor quit acting.
- His vicious temper always gets him in troble.
- The vicious attack agitated the international community.

prediction n. [pre字首-之前]
a statement about what you think is going to happen, or the act of making this statement
- The experts' prediction of a serious recession affected the stock market.
predict v.
to say that something will happen, before it happens
- It's hard to predict how customers will respond to the new product.

pull down [phrasal verb]
to cause (someone) to become sad or depressed
- The coach thinks the wounded pitcher is pulling down the team.
pull somebody down
to make someone less successful, happy, or healthy


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131231_8d3c0.wmv

Moving Forward (1)

Moving Forward I chase my dreams east, to Taipei

My present life in Taipei commenced with a bit of a gamble. After Nepal, I knew I wanted to write, and I wanted to live in East Asia. I searched for jobs throughout the region and found a few promising options in Taipei. I had just enough money saved for a month-long trip. If I couldn't find work, I'd have to return home broke. Then I'd live with my parents awhile until I could save up enough money to try again. So I took the plunge and bought a plane ticket to try my luck in the job market in Taipei.

To save money, I split my time between hostels and Couchsurfing. In doing so, I got to know Taipei's Couchsurfing community. They were a hospitable bunch, and I was relieved to meet so many new friends right away. Everyone was helpful when they heard I was looking for a job, offering advice and suggestions. I always felt encouraged. Only one man had some negative things to say. I'll call him George, and we met on one of the Couchsurfing forums. George was a foreigner like me, and he offered to meet me for coffee.

Info Cloud
few/ a few 只有一個字母差別, 但意思完全不同
二者都是指很少的數目, 但相較之下, few比 a few 更少，
甚至幾乎接近零

另外 a few 有正面的含意,
few 強調很少, 幾乎沒有, 有負面的含意,
本文作者找到台北有 a few promising options 一些前景不錯的工作機會
這是正面帶有肴望的意思

Grammar Gym
"They were a hospitable bunch."
bunch: a lot
- I have a bunch of things to do.
bunch: a group of people
- I couldn't sleep on the train because there were other passengers and they were a noisy bunch.
- The teacher was tired at the end of the day; her students were certainly an energetic bunch to teach.

Language Lab
commence v.
/kəˈmɛns/
to begin
- The meeting is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m.
- We will commence with this project next month.
commencement n.
the time when something begins
- The mayor announced the commencement of the new policy.

take the plunge 
to do something after thinking about it especially for a long time
plunge n.
/ˈplʌnʤ/
a sudden fall or jump usually from a high place
- Renee took the plunge and went to New York to learn acting.
- Eric took the plunge and sold his house and moved to Hawaii.

hospitable adj.
generous and friendly to guests or visitors
- The people of the South are very hospitable.
hospitality n.
generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests : hospitable treatment
- The host's hospitality made every guest feel welcomed.

forum n.
a meeting at which a subject can be discussed;
a place or opportunity for discussing a subject
- The book club serves as a forum where parents can discuss their parenting problems.
- The political forum is quite influential.


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131230_0ca9b.wmv

Life in Nepal: Part 3 (2)

Living at the dorm was uncomfortable. My bed was like a rock and too short for my 165 cm frame - my feet hung over the end. Lentils and rice were served twice a day, but my problems with food poisoning kept me from eating any. We had no shower, so I washed my hair twice a week in a bucket. My roommates made my stay bearable and even fun. They were Nepali sisters who had grown up in Singapore. They bridged the language and cultural gaps I experienced daily.

They came from the developed world but navigated the rough edges of Kathmandu with learned ease. We shared stories, sighed over pop stars and watched Korean dramas into the night together. Without their help and humor, I would have probably cried myself to sleep every night. Now years later, I remember my stay in Nepal as a time of homesickness, I was so relieved to go home. It wasn't until much later that I realized the full value of my experience and all it had taught me.

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Homesick vs. Home Sick


homesick v.想家
homesickness n.鄉愁
- Johnny is home sick with the flu.
Johnny因為感冒，待在家裡養病

Language Lab
frame n.(人或動物的) 骨骼、身軀；架構、骨架、結構
the basic structure and shape of the body of a person or animal
- Her small frame makes her look like a teenager.
她的嬌小的骨架，讓她看起來像個青少年
- Ellen kept a picture of her child in a silver frame.
Ellen把她的小孩的照片，放在一個銀色的相框裡
- The house's frame is quite solid.
這個房子的結構非常穩固

bearable adj.可忍受的、可容忍的
possible to bear : able to be accepted or endured
opposite - unbearable adj.令人無法忍受的
- Her friendship with her classmates made Chloe's life in school bearable.
同學之間的友誼，讓Chloe的學校生活可以忍受
- People find her arrogance unbearable.
人們覺得她驕傲的態度，令人無法忍受

navigate v.航行、橫渡、穿越；駕馭、成功的應付 [nav字根-船]
to find the way to get to a place when you are traveling in a ship, airplane, car, etc.
to sail on, over, or through an area of water [+ obj]
to control the direction of (something, such as a ship or airplane) : steer
- The boat set out to navigate the fjord. 這艘船出發，要開進峽灣了
- With this device you can navigate the Internet at a faster speed.
有了這個裝置，你可以更快速漫遊於網際網路

relieve v.使解脫、使減輕
to reduce or remove (something, such as pain or an unpleasant feeling)
- Isabel decided to hire a helper to relieve her of her housework.
Isabel決定要請一位幫手，來分擔家務事
- Everyone was so relieved when we heard the lost boy had been found.
當聽見這個失蹤的男孩已經找到時，每個人都鬆了一口氣

Life in Nepal: Part 3 (1)

My challenges continued in Kathmandu
I returned to Kathmandu from Dolakha a bit worse for wear. I had planned to stay in the village only one week. But a political strike halted public transportation, which forced my translator and me to stay longer. Then the day the strike ended I got food poisoning, which delayed my return another two days. "Flexibility is key." That advice from the nonprofit's director seemed like ages ago.

I finally arrived at Summit Girls Dormitory, my home away from home in Kathmandu. Thirty Nepali girls lived here, all students at a local university. Few of them spoke English, but we still connected right away. When I arrived, a thin girl about 18 years old came up to me, took my arm and said, "I love you!" She then whisked me upstairs to show me the room she shared with three other girls. But our budding friendship was short-lived. That evening the dorm "father" told me I couldn't hang around the other girls anyone. Why? I was too fascinating and would distract them from their studies.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Different Forms of Strike Action

When employees get really upset with their employer, they may decide to stop working, and sometimes the result is a strike action or more commonly known as a strike.

That's right, Ken.
What usually happens is employees just walk out of their work place, and so a strike can also be called a walk out.
But, there is a difference between the two.

Right. Walk out is normally used to refer to a strike in its earliest moments.
A strike that is in its second or third month is not called a walk out because everyone has, well, walked out.

And, then, there are also times when workers choose to do the opposite of walking out.
They refuse to leave their work place until a settlement is reached.
And, that is called a sit down strike.

Which can also be called a sit-in.
But a sit-in usually refers to a type of demonstration in which participants occupy a space by sitting down and refusing to move until certain demands are met.

OK. And then, there are hunger strikes.
That is when people protest by not eating.
Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were two famous people who went on a hunger strike.

And there is one other type of strike.
When moms are fed up with household chores, they may decide to go on strike by not cooking a meal or not doing the laundry.

This is, of course, an informal usage of strike. Moms who go on strike often do so because they don't feel appreciated.

strike = strike action = walkout罷工
sit-down strike霸占罷工 sit-in靜坐
hunger strike絕食抗議
- I'm going on strike! 我要罷工!
(口語用法，如：家庭主婦有一天覺得太累了，不想煮飯做家事時，可以向家人說!)

Grammar Gym
short-lived: doesn't last for a long time.
- But our budding friendship was short-lived.
- Wendy's dream to become a vet was short-lived when she realized she was allergic to dogs and cats.
- Spencer's plan to study abroad was short-lived when his mother became ill and he had to take care of her.


Language Lab
worse for wear (idiom)狼狽地、疲憊地 adj.破舊的、損壞的
Someone or something that is slightly/somewhat/much (etc.) (the) worse for wear looks worse after doing or experiencing something.
- After being lost for two hours, we reached the hotel a bit worse for wear.
經過兩小時的迷路，我們疲憊不堪的到達旅館
- Daddy's armchair is a bit worse for wear.
爸爸的扶手椅已經有點老舊了

translator n.翻譯員、譯者、口譯者(=interpreter) translate v.翻譯
a person who changes words written in one language into a different language
- You need a professional translator to translate this document.
你需要一位專業的翻譯員來翻譯這份文件
- Brendan took his translator to the meeting.
Brendan帶著口譯員，一起來參加會議

whisk v.迅速帶走(送走)、快速經過
to move or take (someone or something) to another place very quickly
- The movie star was whisked away in a van.
一部廂型車快速的把這位電影明星帶走
- The patient was whisked to the OR right away.
這位病人立刻快速的被送進開刀房
- The president whisked through Japan and went back to the US.
總統快速的過境日本後，回到美國了

distract v.使分心、使轉向、使苦惱 [dis-字首-離開]
to take (attention) away from someone or something
- The kids were distracted by the noise from the construction site.
小朋友因為工地的噪音而分心
- Frank would not let anything distract him from his online game.
Frank不會讓任何事物，干擾到他打線上遊戲


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20131101baadeae29740911bb0e8803c69e59705ab38ad98e203df931c8a9ab45acb16b6ef4.wma

draft-----Life in Nepal: Part 2 (2)

Thankfully, the bus made it to Dolakha safely. Our accommodations consisted of a humble farmhouse that was a combination of cement, wood, tin and packed mud. The nonprofit's office occupied the first floor, the kitchen and our bedrooms the second floor. A family of five lived in a loft above. Both the second and third floors were accessible only by wooden ladders.

As an intern, my job was to take photos, conduct interviews and write articles. I would then sent them to the nonprofit's headquarters in New York to be used on their website. But I have a difficult time conveying my experience there. What words could I use to describe something so foreign to me? Village life was slow, simple and mostly disconnected from the rest of the world.

But I have a difficult time conveying my experience there. What words could I use to describe something so foreign to me? Village life was slow, simple and mostly disconnected from the rest of the world.

There were a few electric lights, but no indoor plumbing, no Internet, and cellphone reception was poor. The locals were curious about the foreign girl and stared openly, but they were also friendly.

I was living a world away from everything I was used to. But out on those terraced hillsides, soaking in the sun and sipping tea with my Nepali neighbors, I didn't really mind.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: My Humble Abode
Teaching Topic: My Humble Abode




Language Lab
accommodations n.
/əˌkɑ:məˈdeɪʃən/
a place (such as a room in a hotel) where travelers can sleep and find other services
- Such accommodations usually cost over $500 per night.
- Accommodations were included in the package.

conduct v. [duct-字根-引起]
/kənˈdʌkt/
to plan and do (something, such as an activity)
- The experiments were conducted by professionals.
conduct n.
/ˈkɑ:nˌdʌkt/
the way that a person behaves in a particular place or situation
- His conduct led people to believe he's a cruel person.
他的行為引導人們認為他是個冷酷的人

plumbing n.(水管的)配管
a system of pipes that carries water through a building
- The building's plumbing system needs to be replaced.
這棟建築的水管配管需要更換
- Dad did the plumbing of our house himself.
我們房子的水管工程是爸爸自己做的
plumber n.水電工人
a person whose job is to install or repair sinks, toilets, water pipes, etc.
- The plumber fixed our faucet in five minutes.
水管工人五分鐘內就修好我們的水龍頭

terrace v.把山丘修成梯田
a flat area created on the side of a hill and used especially for growing crops
- The farmers terraced the hillside and planted rice.
農人們把山丘修成梯田後種植稻子
n.露台、台階
a flat outdoor area next to a building or on a roof, where you can sit outside to eat, relax etc
- Each hotel room has a terrace.
旅館的每間房間都有露台


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131019_c4e8e.wmv

Life in Nepal: Part 2 (1)

This South Asian country proved to be a world away

"Look at the view! It's beautiful," my translator encouraged me. Rolling hills and valleys stretched out before us, dotted with trees and tiny huts, but I could barely manage to glance at it. I clutched her arm instead. We were in a bus on an unpaved, single-lane mountain road, mere feet away from the edge of a cliff. I didn't want to watch when we plunged to our deaths.

We were on our way to Dolakha, a mountain village in Nepal where the nonprofit I was interning with had a field office.

They were teaching local women how to read and write, how to tend to their families' basic needs and how to use and pay back a microloan.

I was excited and terrified. The bus ride alone was making me have second thoughts. People crowded into the seats and aisles, and chickens and goats rode on the luggage rack on top. There was no door on the bus, but a man stood in the opening to watch how close we got to the edge of the cliff. The 8-hour journey passed to the sound of old Bollywood love songs that crackled over ancient speakers.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Scenery vs. View

Let's say you're traveling in a foreign land like the author of our lesson today, and you've come to a beautiful place.
How do you describe what you see?

Well, you can say what the translator in our lesson says, "Look at the view. It's very beautiful."
Or you can say,  "The scenery is beautiful."

That's right. Both "view" and "scenery" can be used to describe a beautiful place.
However, there's a big difference between the two.

Yes there is. "Scenery" is an uncountable noun, so it cannot be plural.
You can say "the scenery is really beautiful" or "an area has some really beautiful scenery."

"View," on the other hand, is a countable noun.
For example, "The views from the summit are spectacular."

So, don't say, "What a beautiful scenery."
It should be, "What a beautiful view."

Or, "What beautiful scenery."

Another difference is that a "view" is what you see from a particular location.
If you talk about a "restaurant with a view," you're referring to the particular view as seen from that restaurant.

"Scenery," on the other hand, is the whole picture, so to speak.
"I love mountain scenery. Whenever I go to the mountains, I'm struck by how beautiful the mountains are."



Grammar Gym
"We were in a bus on an unpaved, single-lane mountain road, mere feet away from the edge of a cliff. "
mere: how something is so small or is in such small amounts

- Mere seconds after Julia came home without her umbrella, it started raining.
- This cake is a great low-calorie dessert - it only has a mere spoon of sugar in it.


Language Lab
clutch v.緊握、抓住
/ˈklʌtʃ/
to hold onto (someone or something) tightly with your hand;
to try to hold onto someone or something by reaching with your hand — usually + at
- The old lady clutched at the railing while she was climbing the stairs.
這位老太太爬樓梯時，緊緊抓住扶手
- Janet clutched at a log in the river because she couldn't swim.
Janet緊抓住河裡的一塊木頭，因為她不會游泳

plunge v.
/ˈplʌnʤ/
to fall or jump suddenly from a high place
to fall or drop suddenly in amount, value, etc
- The truck plunged down the cliff and exploded.
這台卡車衝下山崖，然後爆炸
plunge in/into [phrasal verb]
plunge (something) in or plunge (something) into (something) : to push (something) into (something) quickly and forcefully
- She plunged the carrots and beans into the boiling water.
她把胡蘿蔔和豆子放入煮沸的水中

microloan n.小額貸款
- The family rebuilt their house through a microloan.
這個家庭用小額貸款重建他們的房子
- The Microloan Program in Africa helped a lot of disadvantaged people to star new lives.
非洲的小額貸款計畫幫助許多貧困的人重獲新生

crackle v.發出細微的爆裂聲
- Under the night sky, the camp fire crackled and gave off sparks.
夜空下，營火劈啪作響並發出火花
 n.爆裂聲、劈啪聲
- The crackle of the radio was so annoying.


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131018_5e934.wmv

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131019_c4e8e.wmv


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131021_a62c0.wmv

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20131022_26a72.wmv

Life in Nepal: Part 1 (2)

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

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

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


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Bring and Take

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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



http://203.69.69.81/studio/20130906baaf98b7a07728186d97ca4fecbeeef42813dd7d15ad79d575f3535d50247d51473.wma

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130906_0f48d.wmv

Life in Nepal: Part 1 (1)

I jumped at the opportunity to visit this interesting country

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

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

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

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Demonyms


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


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

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

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

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


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130905baa5ecf5c9b39345d9e653a8203c89bb8118e0cff547aaefaa8d94d118aaa81bad3.wma

Tips for Souvenir Shopping (2)

Get personal. Think of your friends and family. I recently went to India and bought my mom a bracelet made out of seashells. It wasn't expensive, but I had my mom in mind when I bought it. And she loved it! Small, colorful, unique. Perfect. If you're buying a gift for someone, think about who they are and what they like.

Now get impersonal. You need to take something back for your class or office, but you can't buy something special for everyone. Buy a tasty snack or candy form the place you're visiting, and ring it back to share.

Make an exception. I do collect one useless thing: flag patches. I like to buy one for every country I visit. Collecting the same thing from each place you visit is fun, and big collections are impressive. But pick something small and interesting.

The last tip? Enjoy the hunt! Shopping for souvenirs should be an entertaining part of your travel adventure, not a chore!


Info Cloud
Hi friends. What exactly is a chore? If your mom wants you to go to the grocery store to pick up some milk, is that a chore?

I wouldn't call that a chore. Going to the grocery store is an errand, which is a short trip you take to accomplish something. Going to the post office, going to the bank, and buying groceries are all considered errands, not chores.

Okay. A good way to remember the difference is chores are tasks done inside the home, while errands are accomplished outside the home, hence the expression "household chores".

And, that's the narrow definition of chore. But, you know Steve, sometimes a task that is not a chore by that definition is still called a chore.

That's right, Ken. Sometimes a difficult or unpleasant task can be called a chore, even if it's not a kind of housework. For example, I could say, "Solving our company's computer virus problem was quite a chore". Or, "Filing my taxes was a real chore".

Very unpleasant indeed.


Language Lab
bracelet n.
a band or chain that you wear around your wrist or arm as a decoration
- Sam bought a diamond bracelet for his wife as her birthday gift.
necklace
a piece of jewelry that is worn around your neck
pendant
a jewel, stone etc that hangs from a thin chain that you wear around your neck
brooch
a piece of jewelry that is held on clothing by a pin and worn by a woman at or near her neck —called also broach

impersonal adj.
not showing any feelings of sympathy, friendliness etc
personal adj.
belonging or relating to one particular person, rather than to other people or to people in general
- The course can be tailored to your personal needs.
- The boss' comment is totally impersonal and objective.

patch n.
a small area of something that is different from the area around it
- Mom loves to use colorful patches to decorate her bags.
patch n.
a small piece of material that is sewn on something to cover a hole in it
- The boy wore a jacket with patches on the elbows.

entertaining adj.
amusing and interesting:
entertain v.
to amuse or interest people in a way that gives them pleasure
- The movie is educational and also very entertaining.
entertainment n.
things such as films, television, performances etc that are intended to amuse or interest people:
- The multi-talented star is a role model in the entertainment business.


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130817_09cbe.wmv

Tips for Souvenir Shopping (1)

Avoid collecting vacation junk with these helpful tips

One of the fun parts of traveling is shopping for souvenirs. But I go to a lot of different places, and how many T-shirts, mugs and keychains from everywhere do I want? Plus, those things aren't usually cool or unique to me. With a bit of effort, I can find something better that will really awe my friends back home.

Here's what I do:
Pick and choose. Think: Do I really want this? I don't need a ton of things to help me remember my vacation.
I buy myself two or three small things that I really like. They won't weigh me down on my trip, and they won't clutter up my room when I get home.

Use it. I get so many compliments on clothes and jewelry I bring back from trips. I love saying, "Oh, I bought this at a little market in Thailand!" For you it might be wall art, bags or maybe music. Buy things you'll use; don't spend money on something that will just collect dust!


Info Cloud
As we ponder souvenir shopping, we need to beware of tourist traps.

As the name suggests, the tourist trap is not a place you want to visit.  While it's a place that is designed to attract tourists and help them spend their money, the products and souvenirs sold at tourist traps are generally more expensive than those sold at other places.

That's why it's considered a trap for tourists.  You might end up spending more money on things then you need to.  You could probably find it cheaper somewhere else.

So, how do you avoid tourist traps? Here is a tip - talk to the locals and go where they go. This may involve some extra walking, but the idea is to get away from the touristy places.

Right. Touristy places are ones that are designed to attract tourists, especially in an inauthentic way.

Now, I usually avoid touristy places when I visit a city. Instead, I like to discover the real deal. You know, the places that only the locals go to.

Yup, I am with you there.

Grammar Gym
They won't weigh me down on my trip ....
To weigh [someone] down:
to feel the trouble of carrying or dealing with something
- Janet is carrying a lot of shopping bags and they are weighing her down.
- The stress from having three jobs and going to school every night is weighing Scott down.

Language Lab
souvenir n.
an object that you buy or keep to remind yourself of a special occasion or a place you have visited [= memento]
- Many shops near the Eiffel Tower sell all kinds of souvenirs.
- Sandra kept a handmade bookmark as a souvenir of her summer vacation.

awe v.
/ˈɑ:/
if you are awed by someone or something, you feel great respect and liking for them, and are often slightly afraid of them
- Everyone present was awed by the courage of the firefighters.
- The little kids were awed by the lions in the zoo.
awe n.
a strong feeling of fear or respect and also wonder
- You can't help but stand in awe of this rock legend.

clutter v.
to cover or fill a space or room with too many things, so that it looks very untidy:
- Tommy's desk was cluttered with newspapers and soft drink cans.
clutter n.
a large number of things that are scattered somewhere in an untidy way [= junk]
- Nancy is organized, so her home is tidy and free of clutter.

compliment n.
an action that expresses admiration or approval
- About what you said before, I take it as a compliment.
- Mark loves to pay his wife many compliments, which made her very happy.


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130816_47f5e.wmv

Back to School (1)

Summer vacation is coming to an end

Despite warm days and laughter from the poolside, summer vacation is ending. And everyone knows it. The review packet for summer - still not opened -suddenly appears. Sale signs at the malls, supermarkets and bookstores remind students and parents. Notebooks, folders, pencils and something special called binders are piled up in stores. In American schools, students must keep their book bags in their lockers.

So, most carry binders between classrooms. A 3-hole binder holds handouts, homework and a pencil pouch.

Students also must complete the student-service learning (SSL) requirement in summer. Most schools in Maryland require students to complete at least 75 hours of community volunteer work. They must do this before graduating from high school. Students devote their time to libraries, school clubs, summer camps and community organizations. My daughter Irene has been working at a library to earn her SSL hours.

She helps check out books, make posters and clean up the environment. This experience is helping her not only contribute to society but also enhance her communication skills.


Info Cloud
Hello, friends, have you ever wondered what it's like to attend an American high school? How is it different from attending a high school in Asia?

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two is that in the US students go from classroom to classroom instead staying in one classroom throughout the day.

So, you must be wondering then, "Where do I leave my stuff?" Well, the answer is in your locker. That's where you keep all your books and personal affects.

You might also be wondering, "Isn't there a classroom where I belong?" And, the answer is homeroom, which is a very short period. This is a time when teachers take attendance and make announcements.

In some schools, students are permitted to socialize, to do group activities, or watch television news during homeroom. I have some fond memories of homeroom.

So do I. And, there is one final difference. In the US, there tends to be longer, but fewer periods, in a day. And school ends earlier here than it does in Asia.

But, that doesn't mean everyone just goes home at three o'clock. There are lots of after-school activities involving music, sports, drama, student government, and other various clubs.

Grammar Gym
Students devote their time to libraries, school clubs, summer camps and community organizations.
to devote [one's] time to...
to use most of one's own time to do something
- Dennis really cares a lot about animals and devotes his time at the animal shelter.
- Paula dreams of becoming a skater and devotes her time to training at the ice rink.

Language Lab
packet n.
a container made of paper, plastic, or cardboard that something is sold in
- Vivian ate a whole packet of cookies during lunch break.
- Every student will receive a training packet when they register.

binder n.
/ˈbaɪndɚ/
a cover for holding together sheets of paper
bind v.
to tie or wrap (something) with rope, string, etc.
3-hold binder = 3-ring binder
binder n.
to combine with (something) by chemical forces
- The accessories are attached to the fabric with a special binder.

volunteer adj.
of, relating to, or done by volunteers
- William is a volunteer firefighter.
volunteer n.
someone who does something without being forced to do it: such as a : a person who chooses to join the military
- All the food was distributed by the volunteers.
volunteer v.
to offer to do something without expecting any reward, often something that other people do not want to do
- Josh volunteered to take out the trash.

enhance v.
to increase or improve (something)
- A warm and happy environment can enhance children's learning.
- The company's reputation was enhanced by this charity campaign.


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130812_ad241.wmv

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130812baacbdae66d4f9390abf7928ce15dae1f4acd9b206b6a90b8cda1966383a93cbe58.wma

Exploring South Korea (1)

Getting to know South Korea – with a little help from my friends
Culture shock hit me hard during my first few months in South Korea. My job was new and different, I didn't know anyone, and the language baffler frightened me. My therapy was to sit alone in my apartment and watch TV every night after work. I lived this way from February until May. But as the weather warmed, I began to venture out more and explore.

An accessible Korea
Over that summer I learned that Korea has a lot to offer. There are miles of beautiful mountains and ocean beaches, centuries of rich history and unique culture experiences everyone should try.
But outside of Seoul, these are sometimes hard for foreigners to access. Only a few possibilities lay in the pamphlets at the train station and my old copy of Lonely Planet South Korea. The key to my adventures was networking.
A friend of a friend knew how to book a hiking trip. Somebody was dating a GI who knew where to go deep-sea fishing. I learned that the longer someone lived in Korea, the better they knew how to plug into the fun activities. In a few months, I was plugged in, too.

Info Cloud
英文月份名稱和古羅馬有密切關係：
January 源自拉丁文Janus
(古羅馬年神，他有兩張方向相反的臉孔，象徵著回顧過去眺望未來)
February 來自拉丁文Februra (古羅馬的淨化節)
March 是以戰神Mars命名的
April 來自拉丁文Aperire (打開)，也可能來自Aphrodite (希臘愛神)
May 來自掌管春天和生命的女神Maia
June 來自Juno (羅馬神話中眾神的女王)

Language Lab
therapy n.治療、療法
the treatment of physical or mental illnesses
physical therapy復健
language therapy語言治療
- The best therapy for stress is spending time with your loved ones.
紓解壓力最佳方法，是花時間和心愛的人在一起

venture v. n.冒險、大膽行事
v. to go somewhere that is unknown, dangerous, etc.
n. a new activity, project, business, etc., that typically involves risk
- We left our hotel and ventured into a nearby village.
我們離開旅館，到附近一個村落去探險
- Ray recently ventured into the fashion industry.
Ray近來大膽嘗試，向時尚業進軍
- The director's last venture of making a sci-fi film proved a great success.
這位導演最近拍攝科幻片的大膽嘗試，證明是成功的出擊

pamphlet n.(宣傳用的)小冊子 [brochure n.廣告冊子]
/ˈpæmflət/
a small, thin book with no cover or only a paper cover that has information about a particular subject
- About a hundred students were distributing pamphlets during the protest.
示威遊行時，有大約一百位學生在發宣傳冊子。
- The brochure introduces features of this new product. 這本冊子介紹這項新產品的特色

plug into 把插頭插入插座、插電；加入、參與
- Frank plugged his new keyboard into his PC.
Frank把新的鍵盤接到他的電腦上
- Henry is a very quiet kid, he isn't plugged into many school activities.
Henry是一位非常安靜的男孩，他沒有參加許多學校的活動

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130702_ba71d.wmv

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130702baa97dc4f1a8811dae86fdb62160d8341e1fbe047a8eee89b3ed8c629ecd57f009a.wma

How I Learned to Read and Write Korean (2)

The first word I learned to read in Korean was bibimbap (food cook in the stone bow), a famous Korean dish. My Irish coworker taught it to me at a restaurant. "It's easy to find on a menu," she said. "It has so many 'b' sounds in the name. " She wrote out the whole Korean alphabet and described how to put letters together. I learned that the letters go together to form "blocks," or syllables. Blocks go together to form words.

From then on, I learned written Korean quickly. Every day held dozens of opportunities to practice. I sounded out words I read on subway ads. I sounded out items on menus. I even sounded out movie titles that appeared on TV. It became a fun game! My students loved it when I wrote Korean and helped me learn even more.

Learning to read and write Korean didn't equal fluency. Most of what I read I didn't understand. But mastering this small skill was a big step in adjusting to my new life in Korean.

Info Cloud

If you live in a large city, chances are your city has a mass rapid transit system. In Taipei, we call it the MRT for short. But depending on the city, such a system may go by different names.

In today’s lesson, we see the word subway. That’s a very common name for a rapid transit system. The New York City Subway is one of the most famous subways in the world.

But the word “subway” literally means a path that’s underground. In fact, in British usage, subway refers to an underground crossing for pedestrians. So if you’re referring to a rapid transit system that is built above ground, then it wouldn't really qualify as a subway.

And that’s probably why in Chicago, it’s called the L, which is short for elevated. A big part of the L system is above ground, elevated over the roads.

Another common name is metro. The rapid transit systems in Washington D.C., Paris and Moscow are all referred to as the Metro.

And finally, there’s the London Underground. But most locals call it the Tube.

subway n.
1. [英]地下道、地道
2. [美]地下鐵、地下鐵火車
1 chiefly US : a system of underground trains in a city
2 Brit : a road or passage for walking under a road, set of railroad tracks, etc.

the New York City Subway 紐約地鐵
the L (elevated) 在芝加哥，行走在街道上方的高架地鐵
the Underground = the Tube 倫敦地鐵
the Metro華府、巴黎、莫斯科的地鐵

Grammar Gym
equal
1. to talk about math problem
- One plus two equals three.
2. to be as good as
- Learning to read and write Korean didn't equal fluency.
- Having a higher job position equals greater responsibility.
- Poor time management at work equals less productivity.
- Having the latest technological gadget does not equal being cool.
- Being rich does not equal being happy.

Hello, friends. Welcome to the Grammar Gym. My name is Liz. We find this sentence in today’s article: Learning to read and write Korean didn't equal fluency. That’s our Grammar Tip sentence. And today we’re looking at the word “equal.”

Normally we use “equal” to talk about math problems like: One plus two equals three. But in today’s sentence, the writer is not talking about math. Instead, she uses “equal” to mean to be as good as.

So today’s sentence just means: Just because the writer learned to read and write Korean didn't mean she was as good as being fluent.

We use “equal” like this when we want to talk about how something naturally means or leads to something else.

For example: Having a higher job position equals greater responsibility.
Or:
Poor time management at work equals less productivity.

And when we want to talk about how something does not lead to something else, then we use “not equal.”

For example:
Having the latest technological gadget does not equal being cool.
Or:
Being rich does not equal being happy.

If you have a copy of this month’s magazine with you, do please check out today’s Grammar Tip section for more example sentences. That’s it for today. This is Liz from the Grammar Gym. See you next time.

Language Lab
coworker = colleague n.同事 [co字首- 一起]
a person who works at the place where you work : someone you work with
- Marian used to be my coworker at IBM.
Marian以前是我在IBM的同事
- George and his colleagues are throwing a "welcome-back" party for their boss.
George和他的同事們要為復職的上司舉辦歡迎的派對

syllable n.音節
/ˈsɪləbəl/
any one of the parts into which a word is naturally divided when it is pronounced  
- The word "attack" has two syllables.
Attack這個字有兩個音節
- The stress of the word "computer" is on the second syllable.
Computer這個字的重音在第二個音節
- When you say the word "debut" accent the last syllable.
當你說debut，重音要放在最後一個音節

sound out [phrasal verb]  說出來、發音
- It's hard for some people to sound out the "r" sound.
某些人很難發"r"的音
- Chelsea tried to sound out the complicated word.
Chelsea試著要發出這個發音很複雜的字

fluency n. [uncountable]流利、流暢
the ability to speak easily and smoothly;
the ability to do something in a way that seems very easy
- William's fluency in English helps him excel in his job.
William流利的英文幫助他在工作中表現傑出
fluent adj.流利的、流暢的
able to speak a language very well
- Frank is fluent in three languages.
Frank能夠流利的使用三種語言


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130618_06c64.wmv

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130618baa4607b9a1c85029561dff4a34d6f24eecda7f506382b3de90b64c8b2a7821726a.wma

How I Learned to Read and Write Korean (1)

My adventures in South Korea began with an important language lesson

After university, I decided to move to Daegu, South Korea, to teach English for a year. All my research told me it wasn't necessary to learn Korean. I thought I would need to study it, but every website, blog and forum  said no. So when I left for Korea, the only Korean word in my vocabulary was kimchi. 

When I arrived in Seoul, I felt baffled by the unusual Korean writing. Lines and circles were everywhere I looked; only some were translated into English.

On the bus ride to Daegu, Korean was on every sign we passed. It bothered me that I couldn't read anything. I looked at the bus ticket in my hands - more lines and circles My eyes settled on one symbol - it looked like a phone hanging on a wall. I decided to play a game of I Spy with myself. I searched the passing scenery for this same symbol. Later I would discover this symbol, "(대구/Korean: [tɛɡu])" is the first in the name "Daegu", my new home.

Info Cloud
Hi, friends. If you’re 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?

These are two distinct questions. But if you’re in the U.S., 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 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-ranked schools in the U.S. are colleges. One example is the Ivy League school Dartmouth College.

And that’s quite different from a community college, which offers trade and technical certifications and training, but seldom offers four-year degrees.

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

Language Lab
forum n. 針對某個議題的論壇或討論會/ 針對哪個議題用on
a meeting at which a subject can be discussed
- Representatives from many countries attended the forum on global warming.
forum 
an organization, meeting, TV programme etc where people have a chance to publicly discuss an important subject
- The website is a forum on political issues.

baffle v. 使困惑, 難住
/ˈbæfəl/
if something baffles you, you cannot understand or explain it at all
- The software's complicated installment procedure really baffled me.
baffling adj. 令人困惑的, 難對付的; 難解的
- There seems to be no reason for her baffling symptoms.

settle on [phrasal verb]  目光落在某處 [settle 定居]
- The director's eyes settled on Melody, a brilliant and magnetic performer.

scenery n. 風景, 風光，景色，周遭的環境
the natural features of a particular part of a country that you can see, such as mountains, forests, deserts etc
- The photo can't capture the beautiful scenery of the valley.
scenery 舞台布景
the painted background, furniture etc used on a theatre stage
- The musical's scenery was designed and built by the seniors.

Review Skit
Here I am, in Korea!
I decided to move here to teach English.
Ah, English, English.
I wanted to study Korean before I came, but no!
All my research said it wasn't necessary.
Every website, blog and forum said no.
No. No.
So here I am in Korea, and the only Korean word in my vocabulary is kimchi.
Ah, kimchi.
Yeah. Korean writing baffles me.
I see lines and circles everywhere I look.
Even on my bus ticket, it has lines and circles.
Lines and circles.
Yeah.
On my bus ride to Daegu, I saw Korean writing on every sign.
Only some were translated, so I couldn’t read anything – just lines and circles.
Lines and circles.
That bothers me.
So I’m playing a game with myself.
I’m trying to find this symbol, the one that looks like a phone hanging on a wall.
Yeah, a phone! Hello. Hello…
Yeah. I wonder what this symbol means.
Daegu. Daegu… Here, here.
Really! So this symbol is the first name of my new home.
Home. Daegu. Welcome.
Oh. Thank you. Uh…
Uh, you want some kimchi? You look hungry.
Let’s go eat.
You speak English!
Of course.

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130617_b7b6e.wmv

mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130617baa8b83cccf118203d4ce71de5578555e0c1e5f731323f2899732f68f87dfdbb4be.wma

Cash, Check or Credit Card? (2)

I always carried a credit card, my ATM card and cash wherever I went. The reason for this was safety. My credit card had a high limit which was great for emergency use. Using the ATM card was safer than carrying a lump of cash in my wallet. A small amount of cash was perfect for food and souvenirs. I never had trouble with thieves, but two of my friends weren't so lucky. In Nice, France, my friend Chiyo had her backpack stolen while we were eating lunch at McDonald's. Someone walked right by and snatched it - we didn't notice until we got up to leave.

In Rome, another friend's wallet was stolen from her backpack. The next day, she caught a pickpocket reaching into her bag and stopped him, But of course there was nothing left for him to steal. I learned from their experiences and now try to be especially cautious when I'm in unfamiliar places. Careful planning and wise decisions help me worry less about keeping my money safe and more about having fun!

Info Cloud
When in Rome (do as the Romans do) 入境隨俗, 融入當地文化的意思
a phrase meaning that when you are in a different place you should behave like the people who live there 
口語只要說 When in Rome... 意思就很清楚了
- I didn't eat any Western food while I was in Japan. When in Rome, you know.
我在日本的時候, 都沒有吃西餐, 你知道的, 入境隨俗呀!

Rome wasn't built in a day
a phrase meaning that it takes time to achieve something important, and you should not expect to succeed immediately

Language Lab
lump n. 團, 塊; 一大堆; 大量
/ˈlʌmp/
a small piece of something solid, without a particular shape
- Mom stirred the sauce constantly to make sure there weren't any lumps.
媽媽不停的攪拌醬汁以確保裡面沒有結塊
- A local artist turned the lump of wood into a beautiful sculpture.
一位本地的藝術家把這塊木頭雕刻成美麗的雕像

snatch v. grab 搶奪
/ˈsnætʃ/
to take something away from someone with a quick, often violent, movement
- The little girl's baby doll was snatched out of her arms by her naughty brother.
這個小女孩懷裡的娃娃被她淘氣的哥哥搶走了
抓住機會做某件事 to take (something) quickly or eagerly
- I snatched a few hours to do some chores around the house.
我抓住幾個小時的空檔做一些家事
in snatch n. 一陣子, 一小段
for short periods of time
- I slept in snatches throughout the night because I was worried about the storm.
因為擔心整個暴風雨, 整個晚上我都睡的片片段段的

pickpocket n. 拿別人口袋東西裡的人= 扒手 [pick 拿/ pocket 口袋]
a thief who steals money and other things from people's pockets and purses
- The pickpocket was caught in the act by a police officer.
這名扒手在行竊的時候當場被警察逮到
- Brenda's wallet was stolen by a pickpocket in the plaza.
Brenda 的皮包在廣場時被扒手偷走了

cautious adj.十分小心的, 謹慎的
/ˈkɑ:ʃəs/
careful about avoiding danger or risk  
- Be cautious while operating this machine.
操作這台機器的時候要小心
- Henry is very cautious about investments.
Henry 對投資非常小心謹慎
caution n. 小心, 謹慎
/ˈkɑ:ʃən/ 
the quality of being very careful to avoid danger or risks- The ambassador responded to the question with caution.
大使很謹慎的回答這個問題

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130507_392bc.wmv


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130507baad54a3b1292dbe4df77243613cc7f173c.wma

Cash, Check or Credit Card? (1)

A backpacker’s advice on carrying money in Europe
During my semester abroad in Europe, I had many opportunities to travel around Germany and neighboring countries. Nearly every country I visited used the Euro, so exchanging currencies wasn't a problem. The adventures came when deciding how to pay.

I began my semester with American Express traveler's checks. I'd never traveled abroad, and traveler's checks were my safest bet. They were insured, which meant that American Express would replace them for free if they were lost or stolen.

I cashed them into Euros at a bank in Freiburg and happily lived off those funds during my first month. Later I opened a bank account. I used the bank's ATM to withdraw cash throughout the rest of the semester.

In Freiburg I found credit cards unhelpful; most of my purchases were small and from small stores. Cash was easiest. And because Freiburg is a small, quiet city, I didn't feel any danger when I was carrying cash. This was not always the case in other countries where I traveled.

Grammar Gym
safest bet: smartest option
... and traveler's checks were my safest bet.
- Taking the metro to the airport is your safest bet if you don't want to be stuck in traffic.
- It's very hard to find drinking water in the mountains; your safest bet would be to get it from your hotel.

Info Cloud
Cash or charge?
在美國買東西, 店員常會問: Cash or charge?
這是尋問客人付款的方式, 完整的講法是:
Would you like to pay in cash or charge the purchase? 您想付現或刷卡
cash 現金/ charge 用信用卡付帳
刷卡的另一個口語說法:
pay with the plastic 用塑膠付款 (信用卡的卡片是塑膠做的)
plastic money 信用卡, 金融卡, 現金卡

Language Lab
currency n. 貨幣
/ˈkɚrənsi/
1 a : the money that a country uses : a specific kind of money [count]  
1 b [noncount] : something that is used as money
2 [noncount] : the quality or state of being used or accepted by many people
3 [noncount] : the quality or state of being current
- Western currencies are not usable in this remote place.
西方的貨幣在這個偏遠的地方是不能使用的
- The currency exchange desk is packed with tourists.
兌換外幣的櫃台擠滿了觀光客
- Banks buy and sell foreign currencies to make a profit.
銀行買賣外幣來賺取利潤

insure v. 保證,確保,投保 [in 字首-使如何如何... / sure 確定]
1 a : to buy insurance for (something, such as property or health)
1 b : to provide insurance for (something, such as property or health)
2 US : to make (something) sure, certain, or safe

- All the passengers on the bus were insured.

巴士上所有的乘客都保險了
insure against [phrasal verb]  保什麼樣的險
1 insure against (something) : to make (something bad) less likely to happen usually by planning and preparing
2 insure (someone) against (something) : to protect (someone) from (something bad)
- The house is insured against fire, theft and floods.
這個房子保了火險, 竊盜險, 和水災險

ATM n.自動櫃員機, 自動提款機 [automatic teller machine]
a machine that people use to get money from their bank accounts by using a special card
- Tommy used an ATM near his home to deposit his salary.
Tommy 去他家附近的提款機存入他的薪資

purchase n. 購買
1 : an act of buying something [count]
- Mary's purchases were all done on-line, because she was too busy to go to the store.
Mary 所有的購物都是透過網路完成的, 因為他沒有時間去店裡面買
2 [count] : something that is bought  購買的物品
- All the purchases are refundable within seven days.
所有購買的商品七天內都可以退貨
3 : a firm hold or grip that makes movement possible [singular]
- The ice made it impossible for the car's wheels to gain/get a purchase on the road.

mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130506_2ed43.wmv

A Taste for Travel (2)

Drink clean water. In many places, tap water isn't safe to drink. In these places, avoid ordering drinks made with water or served with ice. Drink bottled water or soda instead.

Skip the fresh fruit. It might look and taste delicious. But if it's been washed in dirty water, it may make you sick. You can't tell by looking at it, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

Choose meat that has been cooked recently and well. Meat and seafood that have been left out for a long time are dangerous to eat. If it doesn't look or smell OK, move on.

Watch the locals. They will avoid a food cart that has made them sick before.

Be prepared. Take medicines that can ease your symptoms. These won't cure whatever bug you've picked up. But they will help the pain when there's no place to rest and recover.

With these tips in mind, you're ready to dig in! Street food is part of the travel adventure; don't be afraid to try something different. You never know - you might discover a new favorite dish!


Info Cloud
better...than...
提供二個選擇, 二個都不理想, 但其中一個是比較好的
像本文建議我們在外地不要食用新鮮水果,
因為  It's better to be safe than sorry. 小心總比後悔好
better late than never 晚一點總比不做好
Lincoln: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.
林肯: 最好保持成沉默, 讓他人己以為你不懂, 也不要張開嘴讓人看清楚你是傻瓜

Language Lab
tap water 自來水 [tap水龍頭]
water that comes through pipes from the public water system
- The tap water in Colorado tastes as good as mineral water.
科羅拉多的自來水喝起來跟礦泉水一樣好喝
drinking water 飲用水
distilled water 蒸餾水

tap water

skip 跳過, 略過
- Sean skipped dessert because he's watching his weight.
Sean 省略到甜點是因為他在控制體重
- Mike skipped school today.

bug n. 病菌
a usually mild illness (such as a cold) that can be passed from one person to another
pick up a bug 染上了某種疾病
- Larry picked up a flu bug and got really sick.
Larry 染上了流感病毒而且病的很嚴重
bug 電腦裡面的故障或錯誤
a problem that prevents a computer program or system from working properly
- The engineer caught a bug in their newly developed software.
這位工程師在他們最新發展的軟體中找到了故障

dig in [phrasal verb]   大吃, 盡情的吃 [dig-dug-digging]
to begin eating
- Mom prepared a feast, and everyone dug in.
媽媽準備了大餐, 每個人都盡情的吃


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130417_16009.wmv

A Taste for Travel (1)

You can watch your health and still eat like a local!

I love street food. Wherever I go, I'm always looking for chances to eat like a local. In many places, some of the best ethnic food is served from a cart! From fish and chips in Edinburgh to pad thai in Bangkok, I've tried some delicious stuff! But there's a dark side to all this good food - food poisoning. I once had a bad case of it in Nepal.

I was in bed for two days and unable to eat much for weeks after. I was in a rural area, so I had no access to clean water or food. I couldn't help getting sick. Most travelers have a horror story or two about food poisoning. It's a risk we all take when we eat strange foods. But there are ways to enjoy good local food and avoid an upset stomach. A few precautions might save you a lot pain. The following tips will help keep you safe and healthy.

Info Cloud
英文中許多人名或地名的發音，並不能照拼法來讀。
有以下例子:
Edinburgh :city in Scotland 愛丁堡
/ˈɛdnˌbɚrə/
Postwick
Magdalene 劍橋大學的一個學院
/ˈmægdələn/
Auchinleck
Mackay 馬偕醫院

Grammar Gym
"Most travelers have a horror story or two about food poisoning."
story or two: some stories
one or tow: a small but indefinite amount of something
- Although Martha is not a nurse, she does know a thing or two about taking care of sick people.
- Eric likes to read a book or two when he has free time.

Language Lab
ethnic adj. 民族的, 人種的
of or relating to races or large groups of people who have the same customs, religion, origin, etc.
- All the ethnic outfits on display were handmade.
所有展示的民族服裝都是手工製的
- The government is trying to ease the conflicts among the country's ethnic groups.
政府試著要安撫國家間各各種族的衝突
associated with or belonging to a particular race or group of people who have a culture that is different from the main culture of a country
- Jason loves to listen to ethnic music.
Jason 喜歡聽民族音樂

food poisoning n.食物中毒
sickness caused by bacteria or chemicals in food
- The patient with food poisoning was given an IV a pain-reliever.
這個食物中毒的病患已經吊點滴和使用藥物了
- There are over a hundred cases of food poisoning in this junior high school.
這個國中有超過100個食物中毒的案例

rural adj.
/ˈrɚrəl/
of or relating to the country and the people who live there instead of the city

horror n. 恐怖
a very strong feeling of fear, dread, and shock
- I felt numb with horror when I saw the robber beating the old lady.
當我看到那個搶匪動手打那個老太太, 我覺得很恐怖
horrify 使感到恐怖
to cause (someone) to feel horror or shock : to greatly upset and shock (someone)
- Theo was horrified by the terrible scene caused by the fire.
Theo 被火場的恐怖景象給嚇壞了

upset adj.不舒服,
If you have an upset stomach, you have an unpleasant feeling in your stomach because of illness or because of something you have eaten.  
Irene has an upset stomach.
angry or unhappy  生氣的, 不高興的
v. 使生氣
to make (someone) unhappy, worried, etc.
What she said really upset me.
他說的話真的讓我很火大


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130416_22698.wmv

Difficulties in German (2)

I had enrolled in four classes - literature, grammar, reading and writing, and history. All were in German and difficult, but the history lecture was the worst. The professor spoke fast; almost everything he said flew right over my head. I sat in the front, took notes and even recorded the lectures, but nothing helped. I had no idea what the class was about.

At the end of the semester, I summoned all of my courage and asked my history professor for a form saying I'd attended the class. He said yes and told all the foreign students who wanted this form to meet at his office at a certain time. I'd like to say I got the form and took it back to my university for class credit... but I didn't.

I was too afraid to be in his office and reveal how little I could really understand. I was sure I was the only one in the class at such a low level. So I flaked and skipped the meeting. Years have passed, but I still remember how it felt to struggle so hard at learning another language. I think my failures that semester taught me just as much as my successes.

Info Cloud
How we can improve our English. Practice, practice, practice!
Practice makes perfect.
reading, speaking, writing
本課作者分享學德文的挫折, 其實很多人學英文也有類似的經驗,
到底要如何才能把英文學好, 閱讀是很重要的!
但不要以為學英文只能用英文教科書, 其實學英文可以閱讀任何有興趣的書籍,
每一天讀一點, 比一個星期讀很多還好,
讀的時候如有果有看不懂的單子, 可以去查單字, 但不要背單子, 要活用單字!

Language Lab
over (one's) head 
beyond your understanding or ability  超過自己的頭, 引申為超過自己的理解範圍能力
- What the science teacher taught today went over our heads.
今天科學老師教的東西對我們來說太難了
- The philosophy lecture this morning was too hard. It went right over my head.
早上的哲學講座太深奧了, 我根本就聽不懂

summon v.
to order someone to come to a place 召喚
- After hiking, I couldn't even summon up the strength to take a shower. I fall asleep on the couch.
爬山之後, 我連洗澡的力量都沒有, 就在沙發上睡覺了
to try very hard to have enough of something such as courage, energy, or strength, because you need it 請求
- George summoned up all his courage and proposed to his girlfriend.
George 鼓起所有的勇氣跟女朋友求婚

reveal v.
to make known something that was previously secret or unknown [≠ conceal];
to show something that was previously hidden [≠ conceal]

flake / flake out [phrasal verb] 臨時取消約會, 臨陣脫逃
to do something strange, or to not do what you said you would do
to cancel previously agreed upon plans last minute, or simply not show up
- Wesley promised to host the banquet, but he flaked and didn't even show up.
Wesley 答應會主持宴會, 但他臨時爽約, 也沒出席
flake n. 碎片, 薄片
corn flakes 玉米片
flakes of paint 剝落的油漆碎片

skip v. to not do something that you usually do or that you should do [= miss] 略過 
past tense and past participle skipped, present participle skipping
- Charlie skipped school and went to a movie today.
Charlie 今天沒去上課跑去看電影
- Molly skipped breakfast because she got up too late.
Molly 因為她太晚起床沒吃早餐


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130314_f97f0.wmv

Difficulties in German (1)

My successes – and failures – at studying German abroad

I will be the first admit that my German skills are quite poor. As a university student I decided to minor in German. For some reason, I really liked the language, but I was not particularly good at learning it. The grammar and word order confused me. Prepositions made no sense. All the nouns had genders, and I rarely remembered which noun was which. My only talent was spelling - I got an A+ on every vocabulary test I took.

After two years of studies, I resigned myself to communicating in broken German, and signed up to study in Germany to complete my degree. it was the hardest semester I would ever have.Once in Germany, I felt like I was starting from scratch.

The German I'd learned in university wasn't practical for everyday conversation. My book knowledge fell by the wayside as I figured out the basics of getting around, reading menus and chatting with my classmates. I was constantly on edge at school, worried about whether the professors would call on me in class and whether I'd understand their questions. I only relaxed a little around my eight roommates, who were willing to speak German slowly to me and didn't seem to mind my mistakes.

Grammar Gym
to be the first to + verb = when someone is admitting what they are responsible for something that is not so good
I will be the first to admit that my German skills are quite poor.
Although Tom comes from a family of accountants, he'll be the first to admit his math in very poor.
Dr. Nelson is a long-time expert in this field, but he'll be the first to admit he has no idea how we should handle this case.

Info Cloud
talent n. a natural ability to do something well天分
* He has a talent for music.
他有音樂天分
gift n.禮物；天分、才能
* He has a gift for music.
他有音樂天分
* He has a gift for languages.
他有語言天分
knack n. a natural skill or ability技巧、竅門
* Steve has a knack for teaching English.
Steve懂得教英文的技巧
genius n.
a very high level of intelligence, mental skill, or ability, which only a few people have
天才、技能、天賦
* He has a genius for music.
他有音樂天分

Language Lab
minor n.
the second main subject that you study at university for your degree [≠ major]


gender n.(語言中字詞的)陰陽性、(男女的)性別
In French, the word for "moon" takes a feminine gender.
在法文中，月亮這個字是陰性
The book talks about the differences between genders.
這本書探討兩性間的差異

resign v.
to officially announce that you have decided to leave your job or an organization
辭職；
to make yourself accept something that is bad but cannot be changed
屈從、使聽從、使順從
resign oneself to something只能如何如何
Because I have to work during the championship game, I resigned myself to watching the rerun.
因為我在冠亞軍比賽時要上班，我只好接受看重播

by the wayside
into a state of no longer being considered, used, etc.

start from scratch (idiom)
to start from the very beginning; to start from nothing. 從頭開始、白手起家
After the model for our science project was ruined, we had to start from scratch.
自從科學計畫的模型被毀了之後，我們一切得從頭開始
After closing his restaurant, Dan decided to start from scratch and open a clothing store.
結束餐廳營業後，Dan決定從頭開始，開一家服飾店

on edge (idiom) feeling nervous : not calm or relaxed  緊張不安、焦慮
Martha was on edge while waiting for the results of her interview.
Martha在等面試結果時很緊張
Sandra was feeling tense and on edge before the audition.
Sandra在試鏡之前，感覺緊張焦慮


mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130313_80e32.wmv