All animals have unique traits
趣味動物小檔案 所有動物都有獨特的特性
Did you know?
Seahorses: With a scientific name that means "horse caterpillars," these fish are believed to mate for life. The male carries and gives birth to the eggs the female deposits in his pouch.
Dogs' noses: No two people have the same set of fingerprints, so they are used to identify people. Not to be outdone by humans, dogs have unique sets of ridges on their noses. No two dogs have the same nose print!
Ants: There are about 1 million ants for every human in the world!
Goats: When you hear the bleating of goats, you may think it all sounds alike, but you would be wrong. As they grow older, goats, like us, develop accents based on who they hang out with!
Puppies: It may not seem like it to you, but male puppies are gentlemen! When playing with a female, a male puppy will usually let its playmate win even though he may have a physical advantage.
Fleas: These insects can jump up to 200 times their height. That's like a man jumping the height of the Empire State Building.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Baby Animal Names 小動物的名稱
dog - puppy
cat - kitten
pig - piglet
duck - duckling
rabbit - bunny
chicken - chick
eel - elver
calf: 小牛, 小象, 小河馬, 小犀牛, 小鯨魚
cub: 小熊, 小獅子, 小鯊魚
Grammar Gym
It may not seem like it to you, but male puppies are gentlemen!
It may not seem like to you, but ...
- It may not seem like it to you, but things will get better.
- It may not seem like it to you, but practicing your English as little as ten minutes every day can make a big difference.
Language Lab
pouch n.
a small leather, cloth, or plastic bag that you can keep things in, and which is sometimes attached to a belt
- Nina put all her money in a pouch and hid it in a jar.
a pocket of skin on the stomach which marsupials such as kangaroos use for carrying their babies leather, cloth, or plastic bag that you can keep things in, and which is sometimes attached to a belt
- Mommy koalas carry their young in their pouches.
outdo v.
past tense outdid, past participle outdone [transitive]
to be better or more successful than someone else at doing something:
- The cellphone company once again outdid their competitors by inventing several new functions.
- Not to be outdone, our team practiced extremely hard before the game.
bleat v.
to make the sound that a sheep or goat makes
- The sheep bleated faintly as they walked down the hill.
to complain in a silly or annoying way:
- Don't come to me bleating about everything that went wrong.
bleating n.
- The bleating of the lambs can be heard miles away.
advantage n.
something that helps you to be more successful than others, or the state of having this
- Fluency in English is one of Paul's advantages.
- A good crowd definitely would be an advantage to the local team.
disadvantage n.
something that causes problems, or that makes someone or something less likely to be successful or effective [≠ advantage]
- One disadvantage of using smartphones is that it takes up too much of our time.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141020baaf37f5a579c6c6aafd90b080fcee2a5a5335cb5e209c08c5197a38e83e479fc1e.wma
Monday, October 20, 2014
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Bridge Day
The one day you should try jumping off a bridge
Once a year in the small West Virginia town of Fayetteville, people fly. No magic is involved, except perhaps the rush of adrenaline during a brief fall followed by a glide down 876 feet. Every October, hundreds of thousands head to the New River Gorge Bridge, the third tallest in the U.S. The majority of the people are spectators, but the event, Bridge Day, sees the world's largest gathering of BASE jumpers. These athletes jump off heights, timing the release of their parachute for both safety and ultimate excitement.
In recent years, jumpers have also been able to enjoy an additional thrill - the human catapult. Jumpers are launched 50 feet beyond the bridge before taking the plunge. But for those without the required 100 jumps of experience or the needed equipment, there are many other attractions. Besides enjoying the scenery from the bridge (open to pedestrians only on Bridge Day), the inexperienced can jump tandem or explore the walkway hanging from the ridge. A high line ride from the walkway to the riverside below is also a lesser-known adventure offered at the festival.
Weather one of the 450 jumpers or the thousands of walkers, you won't be disappointed on Bridge Day.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Parachute Kids 降落傘孩子
指的是父母不在邊的小留學生,
因為小孩像是跳傘的傘兵從飛機上跳下來到一個從來沒有去過的國家,
父母安排小孩在新的國家一個就自己離開回到亞洲賺錢,
這樣的小孩必需學會獨自生活,
但是因為孩子還小還不會分辨是非, 往往步入岐途,
這是父母要注意的
Grammar Gym
No magic is involved, except perhaps the rush of adrenaline during a brief fall followed by a glide down 876 feet.
No [subject]+ [verb], except (perhaps)... followed by...
- No special plans are made for this evening, except for a walk through the park followed by a quick stop at the ice cream shop.
- No visitors came into the store, except for the postman followed by the pizza boy.
Language Lab
adrenaline n.
/əˈdrɛnələn/
a chemical produced by your body when you are afraid, angry, or excited, which makes your heart beat faster:
- The level of adrenaline in your body rises when you're excited or nervous.
- The patient's adrenaline glands are not functioning normally.
If you experience a rush of adrenaline or an adrenaline rush, you feel very excited and full of energy.
- The cheering was like a shot of adrenaline for the players.
ultimate adj.
someone's ultimate aim is their main and most important aim, that they hope to achieve in the future [= final]
- This match is the ultimate challenge for both boxers.
better, bigger, worse etc than all other things or people of the same kind:
- The ultimate luxury hotel in Hong Kong is the Peninsula.
thrill n.
a sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure, or the thing that makes you feel this:
- It's a great thrill for Susie to meet her childhood friend again.
- Nothing competes with the thrill of winning a game.
thrill v.
[transitive] to make someone feel excited and happy
thrill at
- The kids are thrilled at having a party with their friends.
pedestrian n.
someone who is walking, especially along a street or other place used by cars
- A pedestrian stopped and helped the injured driver.
- Many pedestrians have accidents when they walk and text at the same time.
pedestrian adj.
relating to pedestrians or used by pedestrians:
- a pedestrian area
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141018baaa55f7ab60abb0d3feb1cea69a98d6c47f4425610312e54f407d75cc13bb2037c.wma
Language Lab
Once a year in the small West Virginia town of Fayetteville, people fly. No magic is involved, except perhaps the rush of adrenaline during a brief fall followed by a glide down 876 feet. Every October, hundreds of thousands head to the New River Gorge Bridge, the third tallest in the U.S. The majority of the people are spectators, but the event, Bridge Day, sees the world's largest gathering of BASE jumpers. These athletes jump off heights, timing the release of their parachute for both safety and ultimate excitement.
In recent years, jumpers have also been able to enjoy an additional thrill - the human catapult. Jumpers are launched 50 feet beyond the bridge before taking the plunge. But for those without the required 100 jumps of experience or the needed equipment, there are many other attractions. Besides enjoying the scenery from the bridge (open to pedestrians only on Bridge Day), the inexperienced can jump tandem or explore the walkway hanging from the ridge. A high line ride from the walkway to the riverside below is also a lesser-known adventure offered at the festival.
Weather one of the 450 jumpers or the thousands of walkers, you won't be disappointed on Bridge Day.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Parachute Kids 降落傘孩子
指的是父母不在邊的小留學生,
因為小孩像是跳傘的傘兵從飛機上跳下來到一個從來沒有去過的國家,
父母安排小孩在新的國家一個就自己離開回到亞洲賺錢,
這樣的小孩必需學會獨自生活,
但是因為孩子還小還不會分辨是非, 往往步入岐途,
這是父母要注意的
Grammar Gym
No magic is involved, except perhaps the rush of adrenaline during a brief fall followed by a glide down 876 feet.
No [subject]+ [verb], except (perhaps)... followed by...
- No special plans are made for this evening, except for a walk through the park followed by a quick stop at the ice cream shop.
- No visitors came into the store, except for the postman followed by the pizza boy.
Language Lab
adrenaline n.
/əˈdrɛnələn/
a chemical produced by your body when you are afraid, angry, or excited, which makes your heart beat faster:
- The level of adrenaline in your body rises when you're excited or nervous.
- The patient's adrenaline glands are not functioning normally.
If you experience a rush of adrenaline or an adrenaline rush, you feel very excited and full of energy.
- The cheering was like a shot of adrenaline for the players.
ultimate adj.
someone's ultimate aim is their main and most important aim, that they hope to achieve in the future [= final]
- This match is the ultimate challenge for both boxers.
better, bigger, worse etc than all other things or people of the same kind:
- The ultimate luxury hotel in Hong Kong is the Peninsula.
thrill n.
a sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure, or the thing that makes you feel this:
- It's a great thrill for Susie to meet her childhood friend again.
- Nothing competes with the thrill of winning a game.
thrill v.
[transitive] to make someone feel excited and happy
thrill at
- The kids are thrilled at having a party with their friends.
pedestrian n.
someone who is walking, especially along a street or other place used by cars
- A pedestrian stopped and helped the injured driver.
- Many pedestrians have accidents when they walk and text at the same time.
pedestrian adj.
relating to pedestrians or used by pedestrians:
- a pedestrian area
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141018baaa55f7ab60abb0d3feb1cea69a98d6c47f4425610312e54f407d75cc13bb2037c.wma
Language Lab
Friday, October 17, 2014
Virtual Reality (2)
The applications
Potential uses for this kind of virtual reality are both fun and practical. Full-immersion video games would make the player's experience more realistic and exciting.
Virtual reality can also be used in education. Astronomy students, for example, could explore 3-D models of outer space. Medical students could study the human body and even practice surgery using digital models. This would let them improve their skills without endangering real patients.
Doctors might use virtual reality to guide robots to perform surgery. This could make the surgery both faster and safer. Doctors could even perform surgery from a different location.
Ordinary people's ideas may also change because of virtual reality. Participants in one study played a virtual-reality game being represented by an image of a person of a different race. The studies suggested that this experience reduced prejudice. This new technology reminds people that we may look different on the outside, but we are all the same inside.
As virtual-reality technology continues to develop, virtual worlds might just transform life in the real one.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Attend vs. Participate (不同的參加方式)
attend/ participate 都表示參加, 但有很大的差別
attend 指出席, 靜態被動的參加,
例如: attend class 上課, 只有坐在那裡聽課或聽演講
participate 指主動積極的參與,
例如: participate in class 除了出席之外, 還會參與討論發言
participant 參與者
attendee 參與者
attendant 服務員
Grammar Gym
As virtual-reality technology continues to develop, virtual worlds might just transform life in the real one.
Language Lab
application n.
[uncountable and countable] practical purpose for which a machine, idea etc can be used, or a situation when this is used
- This invention will have a great application in the field of biotechnology.
apply v.
[transitive] to use something such as a method, idea, or law in a particular situation, activity, or process
- During their internship, students will apply what they learned in this class in business situations.
endanger v.
to put someone or something in danger of being hurt, damaged, or destroyed:
- The security leak may endanger the safety of the president.
endangered adj.
one that soon may no longer exist
- The panda is an endangered species.
prejudice n.
an unreasonable dislike and distrust of people who are different from you in some way, especially because of their race, sex, religion etc - used to show disapproval:
prejudice against
- Helen has a deep prejudice against males because her father abandoned her.
transform v.
to completely change the appearance, form, or character of something or someone, especially in a way that improves it:
- The make-up artist successfully transformed a common girl into a supermodel.
- The warehouse was transformed into a chic studio.
chic adj.
very fashionable and expensive, and showing good judgement of what is attractive and good style
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141017baad2d02a18bc6e34f4215a83bf2e28a94da4f50121e4aa5a8889036a4cdae98179.wma
Potential uses for this kind of virtual reality are both fun and practical. Full-immersion video games would make the player's experience more realistic and exciting.
Virtual reality can also be used in education. Astronomy students, for example, could explore 3-D models of outer space. Medical students could study the human body and even practice surgery using digital models. This would let them improve their skills without endangering real patients.
Doctors might use virtual reality to guide robots to perform surgery. This could make the surgery both faster and safer. Doctors could even perform surgery from a different location.
Ordinary people's ideas may also change because of virtual reality. Participants in one study played a virtual-reality game being represented by an image of a person of a different race. The studies suggested that this experience reduced prejudice. This new technology reminds people that we may look different on the outside, but we are all the same inside.
As virtual-reality technology continues to develop, virtual worlds might just transform life in the real one.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Attend vs. Participate (不同的參加方式)
attend/ participate 都表示參加, 但有很大的差別
attend 指出席, 靜態被動的參加,
例如: attend class 上課, 只有坐在那裡聽課或聽演講
participate 指主動積極的參與,
例如: participate in class 除了出席之外, 還會參與討論發言
participant 參與者
attendee 參與者
attendant 服務員
Grammar Gym
As virtual-reality technology continues to develop, virtual worlds might just transform life in the real one.
As [something] continues to [verb 1], [something] might just [verb 2].
- As Sarah continues to treat her rude neighbors kindly, her neighbors might just learn to respect her.
- As the church continues to clean the neighborhood every weekend, the rest of the community might just follow along and do the same thing.
Language Lab
application n.
[uncountable and countable] practical purpose for which a machine, idea etc can be used, or a situation when this is used
- This invention will have a great application in the field of biotechnology.
apply v.
[transitive] to use something such as a method, idea, or law in a particular situation, activity, or process
- During their internship, students will apply what they learned in this class in business situations.
endanger v.
to put someone or something in danger of being hurt, damaged, or destroyed:
- The security leak may endanger the safety of the president.
endangered adj.
one that soon may no longer exist
- The panda is an endangered species.
prejudice n.
an unreasonable dislike and distrust of people who are different from you in some way, especially because of their race, sex, religion etc - used to show disapproval:
prejudice against
- Helen has a deep prejudice against males because her father abandoned her.
transform v.
to completely change the appearance, form, or character of something or someone, especially in a way that improves it:
- The make-up artist successfully transformed a common girl into a supermodel.
- The warehouse was transformed into a chic studio.
chic adj.
very fashionable and expensive, and showing good judgement of what is attractive and good style
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141017baad2d02a18bc6e34f4215a83bf2e28a94da4f50121e4aa5a8889036a4cdae98179.wma
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Virtual Reality (1)
Creating new worlds with technology
虛擬實境應用無限寬廣 以科技創造新世界
Technology companies are working around the clock. Their goal: to use computers to create a 3-D environment that people can interact with. Virtual reality is working to let people go deeper and deeper into a world that exists only inside a computer.
The display
For users to be fully immersed in this virtual world, watching it on a screen is not enough. The virtual world must be all they see. To make that happen, companies are developing virtual-reality headsets with two screens, one in front of each eye. The screens display slightly different pictures, which makes objects appear in 3-D.
The input
Companies have developed several systems to let users influence the different virtual worlds they create. Some controllers resemble the ones used for video games. Others called data gloves detect hand motions, letting people interact naturally with the virtual environment.
One company, Motion Analysis, developed a suit with markers that let off light, allowing nearby cameras to track the wearer's motions. The cameras create a computer model of the person, which copies the user's motions in the virtual world.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Around the Clock, 24/7 (日以繼夜)
1. around the clock 日夜不停, 持續不斷的在做
2. 24/7 也指日以繼夜, 但比 around the clock 還要口語
Grammar Gym
For users to be fully immersed in this virtual world, watching it on a screen is not enough. The virtual world must be all they see.
For [someone] to be [involved in a situation], [verb 1-ing] is not enough. [Something else] must be [happening].
- For a student to be accepted by this university, getting good grades is not enough. The student must be involved in a wide variety of activities or clubs.
- For a person to be given a job in this company, just passing one interview is not enough. All candidates must be interviewed three times.
Language Lab
interact v.
if people interact with each other, they talk to each other, work together etc
- The class was designed for students to interact in English in a natural surrounding.
interaction n.
a process by which two or more things affect each other
- The interaction between the actors and the audience was fun.
immerse v.
to put someone or something deep into a liquid so that they are completely covered
- Immerse the cloth in the dye completely for two hours.
- The playwright immersed herself in stories of medieval times when she was writing the script.
input n.
information that is put into a computer
- The computer system can't handle that much input at one time.
- Jackson didn't have much input regarding this project.
output n.
the information produced by a computer
- We'll check the output after running the software to make the necessary improvements.
resemble v.
to look like or be similar to someone or something:
- This piece of art resembles one I saw in Chicago last week.
resemblance n.
if there is a resemblance between two people or things, they are similar, especially in the way they look [similarity]
- There's a striking resemblance between the two sisters.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141016baa26d992b43ac21db5e634118373ec7171dac4d8779b30d5f11ba1096f59f607eb.wma
虛擬實境應用無限寬廣 以科技創造新世界
Technology companies are working around the clock. Their goal: to use computers to create a 3-D environment that people can interact with. Virtual reality is working to let people go deeper and deeper into a world that exists only inside a computer.
The display
For users to be fully immersed in this virtual world, watching it on a screen is not enough. The virtual world must be all they see. To make that happen, companies are developing virtual-reality headsets with two screens, one in front of each eye. The screens display slightly different pictures, which makes objects appear in 3-D.
The input
Companies have developed several systems to let users influence the different virtual worlds they create. Some controllers resemble the ones used for video games. Others called data gloves detect hand motions, letting people interact naturally with the virtual environment.
One company, Motion Analysis, developed a suit with markers that let off light, allowing nearby cameras to track the wearer's motions. The cameras create a computer model of the person, which copies the user's motions in the virtual world.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Around the Clock, 24/7 (日以繼夜)
1. around the clock 日夜不停, 持續不斷的在做
2. 24/7 也指日以繼夜, 但比 around the clock 還要口語
Grammar Gym
For users to be fully immersed in this virtual world, watching it on a screen is not enough. The virtual world must be all they see.
For [someone] to be [involved in a situation], [verb 1-ing] is not enough. [Something else] must be [happening].
- For a student to be accepted by this university, getting good grades is not enough. The student must be involved in a wide variety of activities or clubs.
- For a person to be given a job in this company, just passing one interview is not enough. All candidates must be interviewed three times.
Language Lab
interact v.
if people interact with each other, they talk to each other, work together etc
- The class was designed for students to interact in English in a natural surrounding.
interaction n.
a process by which two or more things affect each other
- The interaction between the actors and the audience was fun.
immerse v.
to put someone or something deep into a liquid so that they are completely covered
- Immerse the cloth in the dye completely for two hours.
- The playwright immersed herself in stories of medieval times when she was writing the script.
input n.
information that is put into a computer
- The computer system can't handle that much input at one time.
- Jackson didn't have much input regarding this project.
output n.
the information produced by a computer
- We'll check the output after running the software to make the necessary improvements.
resemble v.
to look like or be similar to someone or something:
- This piece of art resembles one I saw in Chicago last week.
resemblance n.
if there is a resemblance between two people or things, they are similar, especially in the way they look [similarity]
- There's a striking resemblance between the two sisters.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141016baa26d992b43ac21db5e634118373ec7171dac4d8779b30d5f11ba1096f59f607eb.wma
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Exploring Greece (3)
Enjoy your stay
Experience Greek hospitality for yourself, and skip the big city hotels. Instead, book your stay at a smaller location. Guesthouses and B&Bs are often less expensive and just as nice. You'll get to know the owners and the neighborhood quickly. Places like these will bring you closer to the Greek community. And you'll save a lot of money!
Don't forget to clean your plate! Greek food is full of flavor, and it's healthy! Greece is known for its delicious olives, cheeses and honey, to name only a few.
Order signature dishes like moussaka and spanakopita, with a Greek salad topped with fresh tomatoes and feta. Then try some baklava for dessert. You'll probably want seconds of everything!
Art, history, nature, food - Greece has it all! You'll leave this beautiful and ancient country with lots of good memories. Make sure to send some postcards before you leave. Your friends will want to hear all about your trip!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Ampersand (&的由來)
B&B= bed and breakfast
& = and = ampersand
200年前, 英文有27個字母,
在XYZ之後, 還有~"Et" 這個字是拉丁文, 表示 and,
後來因為當時始用草寫的字體,
大寫的E 彎起來多了一條小尾巴,
漸漸的就演變成 &,
and per se and 這個符號自己的意思是and,
讀快一點最後這個等號就變成 ampersand
Grammar Gym
Greece is known for its delicious olives, cheeses and honey, to name only a few.
[Subject] is known for ..., ... and ..., to name only a few.
- Paris is known for its food, fashion and fine arts, to name only a few.
- This university is known for its football team, beautiful campus and graduate school programs, to name only a few.
Language Lab
hospitality n.
[uncountable] friendly behaviour towards visitors:
- During our stay in the country, people's hospitality really touched us.
hospitable adj.
friendly, welcoming, and generous to visitors
- Our neighbors are very hospitable. They invite us over for dinner quite often.
flavor n.
[countable] the particular taste of a food or drink:
- The sesame oil added a little eastern flavor to our pasta.
- Strawberry is my favorite flavor of ice cream.
flavor v.
to give something a particular taste or more taste
- Mom put some herbs in the soup to flavor it.
signature adj.
closely associated with someone or something : making a person or thing easy to recognize
- The black dress is the designer's signature style of elegance with an edge.
- Prime rib is the restaurant's signature dish. Almost every customer orders it.
seconds n.
[plural] : another serving of food taken after you are finished with the first serving
- I'm totally full. I can't have seconds of anything.
- Grandma's chili was amazing. We all had seconds.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141015baaad3421deeb6df4a26b05b24c80d9e8d43ba7e61510113b183ec82e57115ffb9d.wma
Experience Greek hospitality for yourself, and skip the big city hotels. Instead, book your stay at a smaller location. Guesthouses and B&Bs are often less expensive and just as nice. You'll get to know the owners and the neighborhood quickly. Places like these will bring you closer to the Greek community. And you'll save a lot of money!
Don't forget to clean your plate! Greek food is full of flavor, and it's healthy! Greece is known for its delicious olives, cheeses and honey, to name only a few.
Order signature dishes like moussaka and spanakopita, with a Greek salad topped with fresh tomatoes and feta. Then try some baklava for dessert. You'll probably want seconds of everything!
Art, history, nature, food - Greece has it all! You'll leave this beautiful and ancient country with lots of good memories. Make sure to send some postcards before you leave. Your friends will want to hear all about your trip!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Ampersand (&的由來)
B&B= bed and breakfast
& = and = ampersand
200年前, 英文有27個字母,
在XYZ之後, 還有~"Et" 這個字是拉丁文, 表示 and,
後來因為當時始用草寫的字體,
大寫的E 彎起來多了一條小尾巴,
漸漸的就演變成 &,
and per se and 這個符號自己的意思是and,
讀快一點最後這個等號就變成 ampersand
Grammar Gym
Greece is known for its delicious olives, cheeses and honey, to name only a few.
[Subject] is known for ..., ... and ..., to name only a few.
- Paris is known for its food, fashion and fine arts, to name only a few.
- This university is known for its football team, beautiful campus and graduate school programs, to name only a few.
Language Lab
hospitality n.
[uncountable] friendly behaviour towards visitors:
- During our stay in the country, people's hospitality really touched us.
hospitable adj.
friendly, welcoming, and generous to visitors
- Our neighbors are very hospitable. They invite us over for dinner quite often.
flavor n.
[countable] the particular taste of a food or drink:
- The sesame oil added a little eastern flavor to our pasta.
- Strawberry is my favorite flavor of ice cream.
flavor v.
to give something a particular taste or more taste
- Mom put some herbs in the soup to flavor it.
signature adj.
closely associated with someone or something : making a person or thing easy to recognize
- The black dress is the designer's signature style of elegance with an edge.
- Prime rib is the restaurant's signature dish. Almost every customer orders it.
seconds n.
[plural] : another serving of food taken after you are finished with the first serving
- I'm totally full. I can't have seconds of anything.
- Grandma's chili was amazing. We all had seconds.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141015baaad3421deeb6df4a26b05b24c80d9e8d43ba7e61510113b183ec82e57115ffb9d.wma
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Exploring Greece (2)
More Greece, please!
Greece is not a small country, so it may be hard to decide what to do during your stay. Here are a few suggestions for some fun and popular activities.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Paul Idioms 源自保羅書信的片語
新約聖經有許多卷書是來自保羅的書信,
聖經學者將這些希臘書信翻譯成英文,
但有時候為了完整的表達原文的意思,
聖經學者必需創造出一些單子及片語,
後來這些片語也被一般人廣泛的使用,
例如: labor of love 字面是出於愛心的心勞,
現在是指 心甘情願的去做一件事,
另一個片語 press on towards the goal,
中文翻成努力面前向者標杆直跑,
press on 持續, 堅決的態度
Grammar Gym
Greece is not a small country, so it may be hard to decide what to do during your stay.
[Subject] is not a small..., so it may be hard to...
- The train station is not a small place, so it may be hard to meet someone there without agreeing on an exact spot.
- A full-grown golden retriever is not a small dog, so it may be hard to raise one in a tiny apartment.
Language Lab
suggestion n.
an idea, plan, or possibility that someone mentions, or the act of mentioning it:
- Sean decided to follow his parents' suggestion and join the army.
make suggestion
- Can I make a suggestion?
suggest v.
to tell someone your ideas about what they should do, where they should go etc
- Ted's physician suggested that he take a vacation for health reasons.
Biblical adj.
relating to or written in the Bible:
- The movie was based on the Biblical story of David.
Bible n.
- The speaker ended his speech with a Bible verse.
opposite preposition
if one thing or person is opposite another, they are facing each other:
- Henry sat opposite his wife in the diner.
opposite adj.
the opposite direction, way etc is directly away from someone or something:
- The twins' personalities are totally opposite to each other.
opposite adv.
in a position on the other side of the same area:
- We don't know the man who lives opposite very well.
harvest n.
[uncountable and countable] the time when crops are gathered from the fields, or the act of gathering them
- The farmers in this area had a good corn harvest this year.
- Patrick hired extra hands during the wheat harvest.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141014baaf6f3a4d16c68f466a50acd682625965516c112b606b12324bc65d367938a6bee.wma
Greece is not a small country, so it may be hard to decide what to do during your stay. Here are a few suggestions for some fun and popular activities.
- Follow the path of the Apostle Paul. This important Biblical figure toured Greece about two thousand years ago. He made stops at Thessalonica, Philippi and Corinth, to name a few.
- Go to the beach! Greece has more than 15,000 kilometers of coastline in total. There are plenty of beautiful white sand beaches with clear blue water to choose from.
- Check out a show. Greece is famous for its traditional theater, song and dance. Dora Stratou Dance Theatre is a living museum that sits on the hill opposite the Acropolis. They put on daily performances during the summer in their garden theater.
- Return to nature. If you go at the right time of year, you can help with the olive harvest! Get your hands dirty, and learn about the production of this famous Greek food.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Paul Idioms 源自保羅書信的片語
新約聖經有許多卷書是來自保羅的書信,
聖經學者將這些希臘書信翻譯成英文,
但有時候為了完整的表達原文的意思,
聖經學者必需創造出一些單子及片語,
後來這些片語也被一般人廣泛的使用,
例如: labor of love 字面是出於愛心的心勞,
現在是指 心甘情願的去做一件事,
另一個片語 press on towards the goal,
中文翻成努力面前向者標杆直跑,
press on 持續, 堅決的態度
Grammar Gym
Greece is not a small country, so it may be hard to decide what to do during your stay.
[Subject] is not a small..., so it may be hard to...
- The train station is not a small place, so it may be hard to meet someone there without agreeing on an exact spot.
- A full-grown golden retriever is not a small dog, so it may be hard to raise one in a tiny apartment.
Language Lab
suggestion n.
an idea, plan, or possibility that someone mentions, or the act of mentioning it:
- Sean decided to follow his parents' suggestion and join the army.
make suggestion
- Can I make a suggestion?
suggest v.
to tell someone your ideas about what they should do, where they should go etc
- Ted's physician suggested that he take a vacation for health reasons.
Biblical adj.
relating to or written in the Bible:
- The movie was based on the Biblical story of David.
Bible n.
- The speaker ended his speech with a Bible verse.
opposite preposition
if one thing or person is opposite another, they are facing each other:
- Henry sat opposite his wife in the diner.
opposite adj.
the opposite direction, way etc is directly away from someone or something:
- The twins' personalities are totally opposite to each other.
opposite adv.
in a position on the other side of the same area:
- We don't know the man who lives opposite very well.
harvest n.
[uncountable and countable] the time when crops are gathered from the fields, or the act of gathering them
- The farmers in this area had a good corn harvest this year.
- Patrick hired extra hands during the wheat harvest.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141014baaf6f3a4d16c68f466a50acd682625965516c112b606b12324bc65d367938a6bee.wma
Monday, October 13, 2014
Exploring Greece (1)
Make lots of time to enjoy this sunny Mediterranean country
探索希臘 準備充裕的時間來享受這個陽光普照的地中海國家
Greece is the birthplace of Western civilization. The Olympic Games began in Greece. Democracy and modern medicine got their start in Greece, too. Many of the words you'll read in this article come from the Greek language.
A trip to Greece is a trip into centuries past. You'll have your fill of ancient art, architecture, history and more. But Greece isn't just museums and historic sites. It's a place for fun and great food, too!
Athens
Start your journey in Athens, Greece's capital and largest city. Here you'll see photo-famous sites like the Acropolis and the Theater of Dionysus. You can see more of Greece's preserved history at the National Archaeological Museum. From Athens, you can also go on several fun day trips. Take a tour to Delphi, or spend the day island-hopping on a cruise. And be sure to visit one of Athens' interesting markets such as Athens Central Market or Monastiraki Flea Market.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Alphabet 英文字母的由來
若要了解英文的由來,
在四千年前, Phoenicians (腓尼基人)始用的文字,
腓尼基是古代中東的一個民族,
他起源於現今的犁巴嫩,
後來古希臘人在腓尼基的文字上創造了希臘字母,
在希臘字母的基礎上又形成了羅馬字母,
後來羅馬人建立了歐州地國,
將羅馬文化帶到了統治的帝國,
他的領土包括了現今的英國,
而我們現今所用的英文字母差不多都從希臘字母或拉丁字母演變而來的
Grammar Gym
But Greece isn't just museums and historic sites.
[Subject] isn't just ... and ...
- American food isn't just hamburgers and steaks.
- A job as a model isn't just clothes and fashion shows.
Language Lab
civilization n.
a society that is well organized and developed, used especially about a particular society in a particular place or at a particular time
- The movie successfully recreated the grandeur of Roman civilization.
[uncountable] a place such as a city where you feel comfortable, especially because it is modern [↪ civilized]:
- After months in the desert, it's great to be back in civilization.
architecture n.
[uncountable] the art and practice of planning and designing buildings:
- The professor is an expert in Greek architecture and culture.
- The building was designed by a German architect.
journey n.
a time spent travelling from one place to another, especially over a long distance
- The train journey from the East Coast to the West Coast of the U.S. took us two full days.
- Severe weather prolonged our journey home.
preserve v.
to save something or someone from being harmed or destroyed
- The antique furniture is well preserved.
- We are teaching our children to recycle to preserve our environment.
to save something or someone from being harmed or destroyed
- The fishermen smoked the fish to preserve it.
- preserved fruit
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141013baab25ef0c5fcbac96f59aa02dc9fa73bad8f159a3f022b11b9a34a923299175644.wma
探索希臘 準備充裕的時間來享受這個陽光普照的地中海國家
Greece is the birthplace of Western civilization. The Olympic Games began in Greece. Democracy and modern medicine got their start in Greece, too. Many of the words you'll read in this article come from the Greek language.
A trip to Greece is a trip into centuries past. You'll have your fill of ancient art, architecture, history and more. But Greece isn't just museums and historic sites. It's a place for fun and great food, too!
Athens
Start your journey in Athens, Greece's capital and largest city. Here you'll see photo-famous sites like the Acropolis and the Theater of Dionysus. You can see more of Greece's preserved history at the National Archaeological Museum. From Athens, you can also go on several fun day trips. Take a tour to Delphi, or spend the day island-hopping on a cruise. And be sure to visit one of Athens' interesting markets such as Athens Central Market or Monastiraki Flea Market.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Alphabet 英文字母的由來
若要了解英文的由來,
在四千年前, Phoenicians (腓尼基人)始用的文字,
腓尼基是古代中東的一個民族,
他起源於現今的犁巴嫩,
後來古希臘人在腓尼基的文字上創造了希臘字母,
在希臘字母的基礎上又形成了羅馬字母,
後來羅馬人建立了歐州地國,
將羅馬文化帶到了統治的帝國,
他的領土包括了現今的英國,
而我們現今所用的英文字母差不多都從希臘字母或拉丁字母演變而來的
Grammar Gym
But Greece isn't just museums and historic sites.
[Subject] isn't just ... and ...
- American food isn't just hamburgers and steaks.
- A job as a model isn't just clothes and fashion shows.
Language Lab
civilization n.
a society that is well organized and developed, used especially about a particular society in a particular place or at a particular time
- The movie successfully recreated the grandeur of Roman civilization.
[uncountable] a place such as a city where you feel comfortable, especially because it is modern [↪ civilized]:
- After months in the desert, it's great to be back in civilization.
architecture n.
[uncountable] the art and practice of planning and designing buildings:
- The professor is an expert in Greek architecture and culture.
[uncountable] the style and design of a building or buildings
- The church is a great example of Gothic architecture.
architect n.
someone whose job is to design buildings- The building was designed by a German architect.
journey n.
a time spent travelling from one place to another, especially over a long distance
- The train journey from the East Coast to the West Coast of the U.S. took us two full days.
- Severe weather prolonged our journey home.
preserve v.
to save something or someone from being harmed or destroyed
- The antique furniture is well preserved.
- We are teaching our children to recycle to preserve our environment.
to save something or someone from being harmed or destroyed
- The fishermen smoked the fish to preserve it.
- preserved fruit
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141013baab25ef0c5fcbac96f59aa02dc9fa73bad8f159a3f022b11b9a34a923299175644.wma
Friday, October 10, 2014
Architects Design "Jenga Hotel" With Removable Container Rooms, Hong Kong (2)
"They can also travel with you, or you can travel to them. This equation led to many possibilities and creative opportunities," continued Barthelemy.
The architects have also though of how to feature green spaces and garden areas. They explained that under and above each container a service cassette would provide electricity, air conditioning, fresh water and drainage. These cassettes would be filled with soil, allowing gardens and kitchen gardens to be created. They explained: "This allows nature to take back its rights when the containers are not there, with wild flowers and bees thriving in this new ecosystem."
The architects have also seen branding opportunities behind their big idea. The design sketches feature containers sponsored by major brands such as Ferrari and Prada. Brands could certainly be interested in this increased level of exposure, due to the height of the hotel, the containers would be visible to a much wider audience than a standard billboard could offer.
Ouahes stated, "To make it financially attractive for the operator, we find that creating a link between major brands, container fit out and Hive-inn operators could be a winning scenario."
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle 環保的三個Ｒ
減量, 再利用, 回收
Language Lab
equation n.
the set of different facts, ideas, or people that all affect a situation and must be considered together:
[singular] when you consider that two things are similar or connected
[countable] a statement in mathematics that shows that two amounts or totals are equal
drainage n.
the process or system by which water or waste liquid flows away
drain v.
to make the water or liquid in something flow away
billboard n.
a large sign used for advertising [= hoarding British English]
scenario n.
a situation that could possibly happen
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141010baabd3c0a8ab5dc898bac78862eba6714714ecd7a012fa5c482c1c9c4cb952424e8.wma
The architects have also though of how to feature green spaces and garden areas. They explained that under and above each container a service cassette would provide electricity, air conditioning, fresh water and drainage. These cassettes would be filled with soil, allowing gardens and kitchen gardens to be created. They explained: "This allows nature to take back its rights when the containers are not there, with wild flowers and bees thriving in this new ecosystem."
The architects have also seen branding opportunities behind their big idea. The design sketches feature containers sponsored by major brands such as Ferrari and Prada. Brands could certainly be interested in this increased level of exposure, due to the height of the hotel, the containers would be visible to a much wider audience than a standard billboard could offer.
Ouahes stated, "To make it financially attractive for the operator, we find that creating a link between major brands, container fit out and Hive-inn operators could be a winning scenario."
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle 環保的三個Ｒ
減量, 再利用, 回收
Language Lab
equation n.
the set of different facts, ideas, or people that all affect a situation and must be considered together:
[singular] when you consider that two things are similar or connected
[countable] a statement in mathematics that shows that two amounts or totals are equal
drainage n.
the process or system by which water or waste liquid flows away
drain v.
to make the water or liquid in something flow away
billboard n.
a large sign used for advertising [= hoarding British English]
scenario n.
a situation that could possibly happen
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141010baabd3c0a8ab5dc898bac78862eba6714714ecd7a012fa5c482c1c9c4cb952424e8.wma
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Architects Design "Jenga Hotel" With Removable Container Rooms, Hong Kong (1)
Shipping containers become the building blocks of architecture's future
Architects in Hong Kong have designed a Jenga-inspired hotel. The Hive-Inn hotel would be composed of recycled shipping containers which can be inserted and removed, depending on the needs and business of the hotel. The Jenga-like grid structure would allow containers to be slotted in and removed without disturbing the other container rooms.
The creators, Slimane Ouahes and Christophe Barthelemy, of Ova Studio believe that is is not just an innovative hotel design with space for branding. They feel the idea could also be extended as a response for emergency housing or medical-care units.
The duo explained that the design of the hotel lies in the idea of maximum flexibility and mobility. This is a trend that is embodied in our modern way of living.
Barthelemy explained, "Containers came as a natural answer to this vision; the challenge was to keep it technically feasible, mobile and fun. We wanted to keep the true nature of containers alive: containers are mobile, containers travel! It created this interesting paradox in which hotel rooms can come to you, expanding the market to residents."
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Dual, Duel and Duo
duo n. 雙人組
/ˈduːwoʊ/
- The duo will tour several cities.
dual adj. 雙倍, 雙重的
/ˈduːwəl/
- a dual purpose
duel n. 對決
/ˈduːwəl/
- They both decided that the matter be settled by a dual.
Grammar Gym
Containers came as a natural answer to this vision; the challenge was to keep it technically feasible, mobile and fun.
[Subject is a/ the] natural [something]; the challenge [is/was to+verb].
- Wanting to get first place is a natural desire for many people; the challenge is to work hard and to stay disciplined.
- Anger is a natural feeling when someone does something bad to you; the challenge is to do the right thing even when you are feeling angry.
Language Lab
slot v. past tense and past participle slotted, present participle slotting
to go into a slot, or to put something in a slot
- John slotted the card into the device, and the door opened automatically.
- The worker slotted the last tile neatly into place.
slot n.
a long narrow hole in a surface, that you can put something into:
- a slot machine
brand v.
to give a name to a product or group of products so that they can be easily recognized by their name or design
- The company branded their latest app "Dustpan". It cleans out junk mail efficiently.
branding n.
- Good branding and marketing strategies increased the company's sales rapidly.
embody v.
to represent (something) in a clear and obvious way : to be a symbol or example of (something)
- The spirit of women's independence is embodied in this author's works.
- The character embodied the strong will and perseverance of a mother.
paradox n.
a situation that seems strange because it involves two ideas or qualities that are very different:
- Sam is a paradox. He loves being alone yet longs to be understood.
- The paradox is that we fought the war thinking it would bring peace.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141009baa31cea9127016053ba806f49207ef3548be30b1ee2e086c7c1c6843f4d5e54de5.wma
Architects in Hong Kong have designed a Jenga-inspired hotel. The Hive-Inn hotel would be composed of recycled shipping containers which can be inserted and removed, depending on the needs and business of the hotel. The Jenga-like grid structure would allow containers to be slotted in and removed without disturbing the other container rooms.
The creators, Slimane Ouahes and Christophe Barthelemy, of Ova Studio believe that is is not just an innovative hotel design with space for branding. They feel the idea could also be extended as a response for emergency housing or medical-care units.
The duo explained that the design of the hotel lies in the idea of maximum flexibility and mobility. This is a trend that is embodied in our modern way of living.
Barthelemy explained, "Containers came as a natural answer to this vision; the challenge was to keep it technically feasible, mobile and fun. We wanted to keep the true nature of containers alive: containers are mobile, containers travel! It created this interesting paradox in which hotel rooms can come to you, expanding the market to residents."
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Dual, Duel and Duo
duo n. 雙人組
/ˈduːwoʊ/
- The duo will tour several cities.
dual adj. 雙倍, 雙重的
/ˈduːwəl/
- a dual purpose
duel n. 對決
/ˈduːwəl/
- They both decided that the matter be settled by a dual.
Grammar Gym
Containers came as a natural answer to this vision; the challenge was to keep it technically feasible, mobile and fun.
[Subject is a/ the] natural [something]; the challenge [is/was to+verb].
- Wanting to get first place is a natural desire for many people; the challenge is to work hard and to stay disciplined.
- Anger is a natural feeling when someone does something bad to you; the challenge is to do the right thing even when you are feeling angry.
Language Lab
slot v. past tense and past participle slotted, present participle slotting
to go into a slot, or to put something in a slot
- John slotted the card into the device, and the door opened automatically.
- The worker slotted the last tile neatly into place.
slot n.
a long narrow hole in a surface, that you can put something into:
- a slot machine
brand v.
to give a name to a product or group of products so that they can be easily recognized by their name or design
- The company branded their latest app "Dustpan". It cleans out junk mail efficiently.
branding n.
- Good branding and marketing strategies increased the company's sales rapidly.
embody v.
to represent (something) in a clear and obvious way : to be a symbol or example of (something)
- The spirit of women's independence is embodied in this author's works.
- The character embodied the strong will and perseverance of a mother.
paradox n.
a situation that seems strange because it involves two ideas or qualities that are very different:
- Sam is a paradox. He loves being alone yet longs to be understood.
- The paradox is that we fought the war thinking it would bring peace.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141009baa31cea9127016053ba806f49207ef3548be30b1ee2e086c7c1c6843f4d5e54de5.wma
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Kickstarter: Helping Creative Projects Find Support
This website helps common people support their favorite artists
More than 200 years ago, Mozart sought supporters to help pay for the cost of his concerts. Today, both new and famous artists can do the same. They can share their projects on Kickstarter, a website where creators find supporters and raise funds. Since Kickstarter began in 2009, more than 5 million supporters have funded more than 60,000 projects. Projects range from films and video games to music and technology. Creators have complete control over and responsibility for their projects.
Supporters can pledge as little as one dollar or as much as $10,000. In return, creators thank them with special rewards. Offering $20 might lead to copies of a finished book. Offering $10,000 could result in a private concert.
Last year two Kickstarter-funded projects were especially successful. The film Inocente, about a homeless female artist, won an Academy Award. And the ArduSat project launched a satellite into space! When it comes to Kickstarter, it seems the sky really is the limit!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Balanced Sentences 平衡的句子
- Creators have complete control over and responsibility for their projects.
have control over something 掌控
have responsibility for something 對一件事負責
二個片語裡都有一個介系詞 over & for,
這二個介系詞都是不能省略的,
一但省略了, 這個句子就失去了他的平衡,
一個平衡的句字可以平衡的比較二樣東西,
像某一家速食店廣告:
Buy a bucket of chicken and have a barrel of fun!
買一筒雞得一筒樂趣!
Grammar Gym
Supporters can pledge as little as one dollar or as much as $10,000.
[Subject] can [verb] as little as... or as much/many as ...
- The fisherman can catch as little as one fish or as many as twenty.
- Students in the Reading Contest can read as little as one book or as many as they want.
Language Lab
support n.
approval, encouragement, and perhaps help for a person, idea, plan etc:
- Josh's family gave him great support when he was running for mayor.
supporter n.
someone who supports a particular person, group, or plan
- The candidate's supporters all gathered in his election office.
fund v.
to provide money for an activity, organization, event etc:
- Janet's parents agreed to fund her first two years of college.
- The charity campaign was funded by Microsoft.
fund n.
[countable] an amount of money that is collected and kept for a particular purpose:
- The company tried to collect funds to develop new products.
launch v.
to send a weapon or spacecraft into the sky or into space:
- The general pressed the red button to launch the missile.
to start something, usually something big or important:
- The construction of this industrial complex will be launched next year.
the sky is the limit
used to say that there is no limit to what someone can achieve, spend, win etc:
- Because of her looks and talent, the sky is the limit for this young actress.
- Buy anything you like; the sky is the limit.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141008baa0c21766899142add0db247b1654681ffde34f575c9e1245d516370dbbf23f8a5.wma
More than 200 years ago, Mozart sought supporters to help pay for the cost of his concerts. Today, both new and famous artists can do the same. They can share their projects on Kickstarter, a website where creators find supporters and raise funds. Since Kickstarter began in 2009, more than 5 million supporters have funded more than 60,000 projects. Projects range from films and video games to music and technology. Creators have complete control over and responsibility for their projects.
Supporters can pledge as little as one dollar or as much as $10,000. In return, creators thank them with special rewards. Offering $20 might lead to copies of a finished book. Offering $10,000 could result in a private concert.
Last year two Kickstarter-funded projects were especially successful. The film Inocente, about a homeless female artist, won an Academy Award. And the ArduSat project launched a satellite into space! When it comes to Kickstarter, it seems the sky really is the limit!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Balanced Sentences 平衡的句子
- Creators have complete control over and responsibility for their projects.
have control over something 掌控
have responsibility for something 對一件事負責
二個片語裡都有一個介系詞 over & for,
這二個介系詞都是不能省略的,
一但省略了, 這個句子就失去了他的平衡,
一個平衡的句字可以平衡的比較二樣東西,
像某一家速食店廣告:
Buy a bucket of chicken and have a barrel of fun!
買一筒雞得一筒樂趣!
Grammar Gym
Supporters can pledge as little as one dollar or as much as $10,000.
[Subject] can [verb] as little as... or as much/many as ...
- The fisherman can catch as little as one fish or as many as twenty.
- Students in the Reading Contest can read as little as one book or as many as they want.
Language Lab
support n.
approval, encouragement, and perhaps help for a person, idea, plan etc:
- Josh's family gave him great support when he was running for mayor.
supporter n.
someone who supports a particular person, group, or plan
- The candidate's supporters all gathered in his election office.
fund v.
to provide money for an activity, organization, event etc:
- Janet's parents agreed to fund her first two years of college.
- The charity campaign was funded by Microsoft.
fund n.
[countable] an amount of money that is collected and kept for a particular purpose:
- The company tried to collect funds to develop new products.
launch v.
to send a weapon or spacecraft into the sky or into space:
- The general pressed the red button to launch the missile.
to start something, usually something big or important:
- The construction of this industrial complex will be launched next year.
the sky is the limit
used to say that there is no limit to what someone can achieve, spend, win etc:
- Because of her looks and talent, the sky is the limit for this young actress.
- Buy anything you like; the sky is the limit.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141008baa0c21766899142add0db247b1654681ffde34f575c9e1245d516370dbbf23f8a5.wma
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
A Failure to Communicate (2)
Tyler: I figured if I started screaming too, that would just make everything worse.
Coach: I agree. That kind of emotional release feels good at first, but it usually causes more problems.
Tyler: Exactly. It hurts people's feelings and can give you a reputation for not being able to control your emotions.
Coach: But it's still important to express your opinions. You should respect yourself enough not to let people treat you badly.
Tyler: So what do you think I should have done, Coach?
Coach: First of all, you understand he was right, so it would have shown maturity to admit that. Second...
Tyler: You think I should have apologized when Caleb was the one who was...
Coach: Second of all, you could have calmly said that you didn't appreciate his approach.
Tyler: Do you really think he listens when he blows up like that? I don't think talking to him would have done any good.
Coach: It might get him to think twice before doing it again. And if he doesn't, you're still the bigger man, and your teammates will recognize that. All right?
Tyler: Yeah. Thanks, Coach.
Coach: OK. Now hit the showers.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Enumeration 列舉
first, firstly, 口語一點: first of all, first off, first and foremost,
second, secondly
third, thirdly
fourth, fourthly
finally, last but not least, lastly
Grammar Gym
I don't think talking to him would have done any good.
Language Lab
emotion n.
a strong human feeling such as love, hate, or anger:
- Helen shows her emotions quite easily.
emotional adj.
relating to your feelings or how you control them:
- Brenda used to get very emotional when she was frustrated.
reputation n.
the opinion that people have about someone or something because of what has happened in the past
- The scandal ruined the mayor's reputation.
reputation for
- The company has a reputation for an excellent working environment.
- The singer has a reputation for forgetting his lyrics.
apologize v.
to tell someone that you are sorry that you have done something wrong:
apologize to
- Edward apologized to his girlfriend for being late.
apology n.
something that you say or write to show that you are sorry for doing something wrong
- Nichloas made his apologies to his teacher for his rudeness.
blow up phrasal verb
to become very angry with someone:
- Pam suddenly blew up at her colleagues for no reason.
blowup n.
an angry argument
- The couple had a huge blowup last night.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141007baa8fe72a414db7563815e57400ea6555fd32d66232833840a4d4b9bbe5ff153256.wma
Coach: I agree. That kind of emotional release feels good at first, but it usually causes more problems.
Tyler: Exactly. It hurts people's feelings and can give you a reputation for not being able to control your emotions.
Coach: But it's still important to express your opinions. You should respect yourself enough not to let people treat you badly.
Tyler: So what do you think I should have done, Coach?
Coach: First of all, you understand he was right, so it would have shown maturity to admit that. Second...
Tyler: You think I should have apologized when Caleb was the one who was...
Coach: Second of all, you could have calmly said that you didn't appreciate his approach.
Tyler: Do you really think he listens when he blows up like that? I don't think talking to him would have done any good.
Coach: It might get him to think twice before doing it again. And if he doesn't, you're still the bigger man, and your teammates will recognize that. All right?
Tyler: Yeah. Thanks, Coach.
Coach: OK. Now hit the showers.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Enumeration 列舉
first, firstly, 口語一點: first of all, first off, first and foremost,
second, secondly
third, thirdly
fourth, fourthly
finally, last but not least, lastly
Grammar Gym
I don't think talking to him would have done any good.
done any good
To do any good= To give a desired effect or result
- Complaining about your problem won't do any good because it certainly won't change the situation.
- Would it do any good if I call some friends to come and help?
Language Lab
emotion n.
a strong human feeling such as love, hate, or anger:
- Helen shows her emotions quite easily.
emotional adj.
relating to your feelings or how you control them:
- Brenda used to get very emotional when she was frustrated.
reputation n.
the opinion that people have about someone or something because of what has happened in the past
- The scandal ruined the mayor's reputation.
reputation for
- The company has a reputation for an excellent working environment.
- The singer has a reputation for forgetting his lyrics.
apologize v.
to tell someone that you are sorry that you have done something wrong:
apologize to
- Edward apologized to his girlfriend for being late.
apology n.
something that you say or write to show that you are sorry for doing something wrong
- Nichloas made his apologies to his teacher for his rudeness.
blow up phrasal verb
to become very angry with someone:
- Pam suddenly blew up at her colleagues for no reason.
blowup n.
an angry argument
- The couple had a huge blowup last night.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141007baa8fe72a414db7563815e57400ea6555fd32d66232833840a4d4b9bbe5ff153256.wma
Monday, October 6, 2014
A Failure to Communicate (1)
What's the best way to express your feelings?
Coach Martin is alone in a locker room when Tyler, one of his basketball players, comes in. Earlier Tyler's teammate Caleb yelled at him for playing badly.
Tyler: Coach! You're still here?
Coach: I thought you might need someone to talk to. Are you OK?
Tyler: Not really. What gives Caleb the right to yell at me like that?
Coach: I've talked to Caleb. It's never appropriate to shame another person like that, especially a teammate. An outburst is not a good way to deal with any conflict.
Tyler: Conflict? There was no conflict until he blamed me for losing the game! I admit that I probably didn't pass the ball enough. But he didn't have to act like that!
Coach: You didn't pass the ball enough. But I agree that yelling at you was wrong. And I think you should have told him, that, but you didn't say anything.
Tyler: Coach, I never thought you'd tell me to do something like that. Wouldn't yelling at Caleb just make him more defensive?
Coach: I didn't tell you to yell at him, but I think you could have stood up for yourself. I'd rather have you talk about the problem than just sit there feeling resentful.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: You Shouldn’t Have Written “Of” 為何老外會把should have寫成should of？
should 應該
should have 原本應該做什麼事, 但沒有做, 這是一種假設語氣用法, 表示某種情況與現在事實相反
- You should have told him. 你當初應該告訴他, 但沒有
口語 You should've told him. 聽起來像是 should of, 所以會拼錯成 should of
同樣的 could have, would have, might have, must have 也有同樣的情況
Grammar Gym
What gives Caleb the right to yell at me like that?
Language Lab
appropriate adj.
correct or suitable for a particular time, situation, or purpose [≠ inappropriate]
- His casual outfit is not appropriate for this formal occasion.
- We need to take appropriate measures to solve this problem.
inappropriate adj.
not suitable or right for a particular purpose or in a particular situation
- It's inappropriate to talk loudly in a library.
outburst n.
something you say suddenly that expresses a strong emotion, especially anger;
- Theo's sudden outburst of anger frightened his kids.
- Alex's constant emotional outbursts ruined his marriage.
a sudden short increase in an activity;
Coach Martin is alone in a locker room when Tyler, one of his basketball players, comes in. Earlier Tyler's teammate Caleb yelled at him for playing badly.
Tyler: Coach! You're still here?
Coach: I thought you might need someone to talk to. Are you OK?
Tyler: Not really. What gives Caleb the right to yell at me like that?
Coach: I've talked to Caleb. It's never appropriate to shame another person like that, especially a teammate. An outburst is not a good way to deal with any conflict.
Tyler: Conflict? There was no conflict until he blamed me for losing the game! I admit that I probably didn't pass the ball enough. But he didn't have to act like that!
Coach: You didn't pass the ball enough. But I agree that yelling at you was wrong. And I think you should have told him, that, but you didn't say anything.
Tyler: Coach, I never thought you'd tell me to do something like that. Wouldn't yelling at Caleb just make him more defensive?
Coach: I didn't tell you to yell at him, but I think you could have stood up for yourself. I'd rather have you talk about the problem than just sit there feeling resentful.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: You Shouldn’t Have Written “Of” 為何老外會把should have寫成should of？
should 應該
should have 原本應該做什麼事, 但沒有做, 這是一種假設語氣用法, 表示某種情況與現在事實相反
- You should have told him. 你當初應該告訴他, 但沒有
口語 You should've told him. 聽起來像是 should of, 所以會拼錯成 should of
同樣的 could have, would have, might have, must have 也有同樣的情況
Grammar Gym
What gives Caleb the right to yell at me like that?
What gives [somebody] the right to [verb]?
- What gives the neighbor the right to park his car in front of my house?
- What gives the losing team the right to complain to the judges like that?
Language Lab
appropriate adj.
correct or suitable for a particular time, situation, or purpose [≠ inappropriate]
- His casual outfit is not appropriate for this formal occasion.
- We need to take appropriate measures to solve this problem.
inappropriate adj.
not suitable or right for a particular purpose or in a particular situation
- It's inappropriate to talk loudly in a library.
outburst n.
something you say suddenly that expresses a strong emotion, especially anger;
- Theo's sudden outburst of anger frightened his kids.
- Alex's constant emotional outbursts ruined his marriage.
a sudden short increase in an activity;
- The new working mode contributed to an outburst of creativity by the team.
defensive adj.
used or intended to protect someone or something against attack [≠ offensive]:
- Charles becomes very defensive whenever he is criticized.
offensive adj.
very rude or insulting and likely to upset people [≠ inoffensive]:
- The show host's offensive remarks irritated many viewers.
resentful adj.
feeling angry and upset about something that you think is unfair
- Jack was resentful toward his parents when he was young.
resent v.
to feel angry or upset about a situation or about something that someone has done, especially because you think that it is not fair
- Olivia resents those who flattered her after she got rich.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
The Mix-Up (Part 6 of 6) (2)
First, my name is not Erica. It isn't amusing to keep calling me by my character's name off camera. And secondly, what is your issue?
Be nice to him, Sally. It's not his fault you got into his taxi and not the prop one.
You mean he isn't the actor you hired to be the driver in the movie?
No, but I'm going to offer him a job here.
A job, sir?
Your driving skills really made an impression on me. We need another stunt driver. Would you be interested in working for our company?
You're offering me a job as a driver? Really? Uh... I would love to. I need to talk to my wife first, though.
No problem. Take your time.
Leo walked away to an area where no one could overhear what he was saying. Pulling out his cellphone, he called his wife and explained the situation to her. She was excited. He had been so tired of his job for so long, and this sounded perfect. He could take all the skills he had and use them in a fresh way. Leo grinned. He couldn't think of anything that could possibly be better.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: -ed or -ing? (-ed與 -ing字尾的差別)
-ed 字尾形容詞通常表達一個人的感覺
-ing 字尾形容詞用於表達一個人事物的特徵
Language Lab
amusing adj. [amuse v.]
funny and entertaining :
- It's amusing to see my daughter walking around the house in my heels.
- The movie is both amusing and educational at the same time.
stunt n.
a dangerous action that is done to entertain people, especially in a film;
something that is done to attract people's attention, especially in advertising or politics:
- The stunts in the movie were done by professionals.
stunt man n.
a man who is employed to take the place of an actor when something dangerous has to be done in a film
- The stunt man almost got hurt when he jumped out of the truck.
overhear v.
past tense and past participle overheard
to accidentally hear what other people are saying, when they do not know that you have heard:
- I overheard the couple's private conversation.
- The boy overheard his classmates saying bad things about him.
cellphone n.
cellular phone
- HTC's latest cellphone is quite popular among young people.
- Diana is on her cellphone now.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141004baa356f52d64240ffba9ce1947a8ac2655db109f22031ceb9cd1df129f2f7cf1e31.wma
Be nice to him, Sally. It's not his fault you got into his taxi and not the prop one.
You mean he isn't the actor you hired to be the driver in the movie?
No, but I'm going to offer him a job here.
A job, sir?
Your driving skills really made an impression on me. We need another stunt driver. Would you be interested in working for our company?
You're offering me a job as a driver? Really? Uh... I would love to. I need to talk to my wife first, though.
No problem. Take your time.
Leo walked away to an area where no one could overhear what he was saying. Pulling out his cellphone, he called his wife and explained the situation to her. She was excited. He had been so tired of his job for so long, and this sounded perfect. He could take all the skills he had and use them in a fresh way. Leo grinned. He couldn't think of anything that could possibly be better.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: -ed or -ing? (-ed與 -ing字尾的差別)
-ed 字尾形容詞通常表達一個人的感覺
-ing 字尾形容詞用於表達一個人事物的特徵
Language Lab
amusing adj. [amuse v.]
- It's amusing to see my daughter walking around the house in my heels.
- The movie is both amusing and educational at the same time.
stunt n.
a dangerous action that is done to entertain people, especially in a film;
something that is done to attract people's attention, especially in advertising or politics:
- The stunts in the movie were done by professionals.
stunt man n.
a man who is employed to take the place of an actor when something dangerous has to be done in a film
- The stunt man almost got hurt when he jumped out of the truck.
overhear v.
past tense and past participle overheard
to accidentally hear what other people are saying, when they do not know that you have heard:
- I overheard the couple's private conversation.
- The boy overheard his classmates saying bad things about him.
cellphone n.
cellular phone
- HTC's latest cellphone is quite popular among young people.
- Diana is on her cellphone now.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141004baa356f52d64240ffba9ce1947a8ac2655db109f22031ceb9cd1df129f2f7cf1e31.wma
Friday, October 3, 2014
The Mix-Up (Part 6 of 6) (1)
What was this wild taxi ride really about?
"Cut!" Suddenly Leo was hauled to his feet. He staggered around briefly. When he finally caught his balance again, he realized that the police weren't paying any attention to him. He scrambled out of the way of a man carrying a ladder. Looking around, he noticed that a lot of people were walking around with headsets on. A couple of them were giving him strange glances, but most were just completely ignoring him. Leo nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt Erica tap him on the shoulder.
How did you get away? And why did the police just let me go?
You're funny. I was just coming over to tell you that you did a good job.
Well, thanks. I told you I would help you.
Very funny, but we're not acting anymore. You can lighten up on the personality there.
Wait. What are you talking about?
I'm talking about the movie we've been filming for the last few months!
Where have you been?
Movie? I'm utterly confused. Erica, what does any of this have to do with a movie?
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Watching Movies to Learn English 看電影學英文
看電影可以增進聽力, 發音, 增加英文字彙,
電影是一種情境, 可以學習在什麼時候用什麼字,
另外可以從演員的表情, 手勢等, 來猜測字的意思,
如果聽力還不夠好, 可以先依賴字幕,
等到英文進步許多, 可以拿掉字幕
Grammar Gym
What does any of this have to do with a movie?
have to do:
I have to do some work.
have to do with: relating or connecting to
- What does Egyptian cotton have to do with the American Civil War?
- The boy's behavior has to do with the kind of family environment that he's from.
Language Lab
stagger v.
to move or cause (someone) to move unsteadily from side to side
- The drunk man staggered toward his home but fell on the ground.
- Marci had to lean on the wall as she staggered up the stairs.
- The homeless guy staggered down the street in the cold wind.
scramble v.
to move or act quickly to do, find, or get something often before someone else does
- Alex scrambled out of bed when he realized he was late for work.
to move or climb over something quickly especially while also using your hands
- We scrambled to the top of the mountain to see the sunrise.
lighten up v. [phrasal verb]
to become more relaxed and informal : to stop being serious, worried, etc.
- Lighten up! It's just a game.
- Come on, lighten up! I was just kidding.
utterly adv.
complete and total
- The actor utterly captivated the audience's attention.
- Nathan is utterly devoted to his career.
utter adj.
- To my utter surprise, my son bought me a bouquet of flowers for my birthday.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141003baa9168f1c501e9b8414a2e869f9f0974f0d8ecbb5c3a3cc686fe55c33dcd13d5e9.wma
"Cut!" Suddenly Leo was hauled to his feet. He staggered around briefly. When he finally caught his balance again, he realized that the police weren't paying any attention to him. He scrambled out of the way of a man carrying a ladder. Looking around, he noticed that a lot of people were walking around with headsets on. A couple of them were giving him strange glances, but most were just completely ignoring him. Leo nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt Erica tap him on the shoulder.
How did you get away? And why did the police just let me go?
You're funny. I was just coming over to tell you that you did a good job.
Well, thanks. I told you I would help you.
Very funny, but we're not acting anymore. You can lighten up on the personality there.
Wait. What are you talking about?
I'm talking about the movie we've been filming for the last few months!
Where have you been?
Movie? I'm utterly confused. Erica, what does any of this have to do with a movie?
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Watching Movies to Learn English 看電影學英文
看電影可以增進聽力, 發音, 增加英文字彙,
電影是一種情境, 可以學習在什麼時候用什麼字,
另外可以從演員的表情, 手勢等, 來猜測字的意思,
如果聽力還不夠好, 可以先依賴字幕,
等到英文進步許多, 可以拿掉字幕
Grammar Gym
What does any of this have to do with a movie?
have to do:
I have to do some work.
have to do with: relating or connecting to
- What does Egyptian cotton have to do with the American Civil War?
- The boy's behavior has to do with the kind of family environment that he's from.
Language Lab
stagger v.
to move or cause (someone) to move unsteadily from side to side
- The drunk man staggered toward his home but fell on the ground.
- Marci had to lean on the wall as she staggered up the stairs.
- The homeless guy staggered down the street in the cold wind.
scramble v.
to move or act quickly to do, find, or get something often before someone else does
- Alex scrambled out of bed when he realized he was late for work.
to move or climb over something quickly especially while also using your hands
- We scrambled to the top of the mountain to see the sunrise.
lighten up v. [phrasal verb]
to become more relaxed and informal : to stop being serious, worried, etc.
- Lighten up! It's just a game.
- Come on, lighten up! I was just kidding.
utterly adv.
complete and total
- The actor utterly captivated the audience's attention.
- Nathan is utterly devoted to his career.
utter adj.
- To my utter surprise, my son bought me a bouquet of flowers for my birthday.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141003baa9168f1c501e9b8414a2e869f9f0974f0d8ecbb5c3a3cc686fe55c33dcd13d5e9.wma
Thursday, October 2, 2014
A Good Night's Sleep (2)
Your body produces a chemical called melatonin that helps you sleep. Light affects the amount of melatonin your body makes. It produces more in the evening and less in the daytime. So at night turn off your TV and computer. Also, don't read from a backlit device like an iPad. Some scientists think that the light from those devices stops your body from making melatonin. So turn those screens off at least an hour before bedtime.
Maybe you can't sleep or you wake up in the middle of the night. Don't just lie in bed. Get up and do something relaxing elsewhere. Then go back to bed when you feel drowsy. If you worry a lot, make a list of things you need to do the next day. Do that an hour before ed. That way you get your worrying out of the way before you go to bed.
After a good night's sleep, you'll be able to face a new day.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Circadian Rhythm (生理時鐘)
不管是動物或植物, 都有生理時鐘,
人類是日行性動物,
幫助調整生理時鐘可以靠日照陽光和飲食!
Grammar Gym
That way you get your worrying out of the way before you go to bed.
get your worrying out of the way
To get [something] out of the way
- Somebody should get that tree branch out of the way so traffic is not blocked.
- Get your homework out of the way before your favorite TV show starts.
Language Lab
affect v.
to do something that produces an effect or change in something or in someone's situation:
- The change in the personnel policy will only affect a limited number of people.
- His bad temper greatly affects his relationships.
to make someone feel strong emotions: 打擊
- Breaking up with her boyfriend affected Joyce deeply.
backlit adj.
illuminated from behind:
- The backlit window display makes the merchandise more appealing.
- The computer tablet's backlit screen was made in Japan.
elsewhere adv.
in, at, or to another place:
- The couple couldn't find an affordable place in this area to rent, so they have decided to look elsewhere.
- Living expenses in New York City are higher than elsewhere in the country.
drowsy adj.
tired and almost asleep [= sleepy]:
- The cough syrup make me feel really drowsy.
- I felt drowsy after lunch, so I took a short nap.
drowsiness n. [uncountable]
- Cold medicine sometimes causes drowsiness.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141002baa9067e98d8149594cdd43fe886cc666a200aecef299cd7787cbc31abfb889cf98.wma
Maybe you can't sleep or you wake up in the middle of the night. Don't just lie in bed. Get up and do something relaxing elsewhere. Then go back to bed when you feel drowsy. If you worry a lot, make a list of things you need to do the next day. Do that an hour before ed. That way you get your worrying out of the way before you go to bed.
After a good night's sleep, you'll be able to face a new day.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Circadian Rhythm (生理時鐘)
不管是動物或植物, 都有生理時鐘,
人類是日行性動物,
幫助調整生理時鐘可以靠日照陽光和飲食!
Grammar Gym
That way you get your worrying out of the way before you go to bed.
get your worrying out of the way
To get [something] out of the way
- Somebody should get that tree branch out of the way so traffic is not blocked.
- Get your homework out of the way before your favorite TV show starts.
Language Lab
affect v.
to do something that produces an effect or change in something or in someone's situation:
- The change in the personnel policy will only affect a limited number of people.
- His bad temper greatly affects his relationships.
to make someone feel strong emotions: 打擊
- Breaking up with her boyfriend affected Joyce deeply.
backlit adj.
illuminated from behind:
- The backlit window display makes the merchandise more appealing.
- The computer tablet's backlit screen was made in Japan.
elsewhere adv.
in, at, or to another place:
- The couple couldn't find an affordable place in this area to rent, so they have decided to look elsewhere.
- Living expenses in New York City are higher than elsewhere in the country.
drowsy adj.
tired and almost asleep [= sleepy]:
- The cough syrup make me feel really drowsy.
- I felt drowsy after lunch, so I took a short nap.
drowsiness n. [uncountable]
- Cold medicine sometimes causes drowsiness.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141002baa9067e98d8149594cdd43fe886cc666a200aecef299cd7787cbc31abfb889cf98.wma
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
A Good Night's Sleep (1)
Get the sleep you need
When the morning sun looks in through your bedroom window, do you jump out of bed? Or do you roll over and groan? An adequate amount of sleep can make the difference between a great day and a terrible one!
A good night's sleep doesn't just happen. You need to prepare for it. Various experts have given tips to help. First, go to bed at the same time very day, and get up at the same time. If you haven't gotten a good night's sleep, don't oversleep the next morning. Get up at your regular time. Sleeping late for just a couple of days can change your body clock to a different cycle. You don't want that if you have a set daily schedule!
Also, avoid big meals at night. Eating heavy, rich food within two hours of bedtime can keep you awake. Your stomach works hard to digest those fatty foods, and that may keep you up.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Various Functions of the A- Prefix 字首A的功能
sleep/ asleep
asleep 加了字首a 變成副詞, 表示正在睡覺
字首a有不同的意思: 正在, 屬於, 沒有, 加強功能
Language Lab
groan v.
to make a long deep sound because you are in pain, upset, or disappointed, or because something is very enjoyable
[intransitive and transitive] to complain about something [= moan]:
- I'm tired of him moaning and groaning all the time.
various adj.
if there are various things, there are several different types of that thing:
variety n.
a variety of something a lot of things of the same type that are different from each other in some way
awake adj.
not sleeping
wake v.
to stop sleeping, or to make someone stop sleeping
digest v.
to change food that you have just eaten into substances that your body can use;
to understand new information, especially when there is a lot of it or it is difficult to understand
digestion n.
the process of digesting food
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141001baa5e9b69bf176633671d254cc4e9669fe8d00b9742e32d519fef83000b2bb3df80.wma
When the morning sun looks in through your bedroom window, do you jump out of bed? Or do you roll over and groan? An adequate amount of sleep can make the difference between a great day and a terrible one!
A good night's sleep doesn't just happen. You need to prepare for it. Various experts have given tips to help. First, go to bed at the same time very day, and get up at the same time. If you haven't gotten a good night's sleep, don't oversleep the next morning. Get up at your regular time. Sleeping late for just a couple of days can change your body clock to a different cycle. You don't want that if you have a set daily schedule!
Also, avoid big meals at night. Eating heavy, rich food within two hours of bedtime can keep you awake. Your stomach works hard to digest those fatty foods, and that may keep you up.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Various Functions of the A- Prefix 字首A的功能
sleep/ asleep
asleep 加了字首a 變成副詞, 表示正在睡覺
字首a有不同的意思: 正在, 屬於, 沒有, 加強功能
Language Lab
groan v.
to make a long deep sound because you are in pain, upset, or disappointed, or because something is very enjoyable
[intransitive and transitive] to complain about something [= moan]:
- I'm tired of him moaning and groaning all the time.
various adj.
if there are various things, there are several different types of that thing:
variety n.
a variety of something a lot of things of the same type that are different from each other in some way
awake adj.
not sleeping
wake v.
to stop sleeping, or to make someone stop sleeping
digest v.
to change food that you have just eaten into substances that your body can use;
to understand new information, especially when there is a lot of it or it is difficult to understand
digestion n.
the process of digesting food
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141001baa5e9b69bf176633671d254cc4e9669fe8d00b9742e32d519fef83000b2bb3df80.wma
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
First Impressions (2)
Speak up
Speak loudly and clearly enough that people don't have to strain to hear you. If you don't know what to say, ask questions. Most people enjoy talking about themselves.
Listening is just as important as talking. When people are talking, pay attention to what they're saying rather than planning what you'll say next. And if you're not sure what they mean, ask!
Value people
Most importantly, show people you care. Your concern for them will be evident if you smile and listen carefully.
Respect other people's time, too. Don't keep them waiting because you arrive late or keep using your cellphone instead of talking to them.
Everyone you meet, whether they're a businessperson, a receptionist or a bus driver, is important. So make eye contact, smile and greet them. They'll appreciate it - and others may be watching.
And remember, you are important, too. You probably want people to like you, but their opinions don't define who you are. You are unique and have a lot to offer, so don't be afraid to show it.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Cell Phone or Cellphone「手機」是幾個字？
英文不斷的在演化的語言,
有些字 都是簡化的方向
手機之前是cellular phone,
後來又改為 cell phone,
到現在許多人只說 cell,
拚法也從 cell phone 變成 cellphone, (簡化為1個字)
Grammar Gym
Speak loudly and clearly enough that people don't have to strain to hear you.
[Verb 1 phrase] enough that [someone] doesn't have to [verb 2] to [verb 3].
- Straighten the room enough that guests don't have to step cautiously just to walk across the room.
- The screen is high enough that people don't have to move their heads too much to see the video.
Language Lab
strain v.
/ˈstreɪn/
to try very hard to do or get something
- The thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium strained to get a glance of their idols.
to be pulled or stretched in a forceful way
- Stanley strained his muscle during a basketball game.
strain n.[count]
a feeling of stress and worry that you have because you are trying to do too much, are dealing with a difficult problem, etc.
- Chloe performs even better when she's under a lot of strain.
evident adj.
clear to the sight or mind : obvious
- His affection for this girl is evident.
- It's evident that the merger is good for both companies.
evidence n.
[noncount] : something which shows that something else exists or is true
- The detective went to the crime scene to collect evidence.
receptionist n.
a person whose job is to deal with the people who call or enter an office, hotel, etc.
- The receptionist has a very nice smile.
receive v.
to welcome (someone) in usually a formal way
- The patients can only receive visitors from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
reception n.
the kind of welcome that someone or something is given — usually singular
- The hotel is known for offering its guests a warm reception.
unique n.
used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else
- The designer's unique style made his work so recognizable.
- The actor's unique interpretation of the character won him an Academy Award.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140930baaf615a106ba3dee099b5877cb3c0185714c218a1bf3ba1c07da7e841ff45d4107.wma
Speak loudly and clearly enough that people don't have to strain to hear you. If you don't know what to say, ask questions. Most people enjoy talking about themselves.
Listening is just as important as talking. When people are talking, pay attention to what they're saying rather than planning what you'll say next. And if you're not sure what they mean, ask!
Value people
Most importantly, show people you care. Your concern for them will be evident if you smile and listen carefully.
Respect other people's time, too. Don't keep them waiting because you arrive late or keep using your cellphone instead of talking to them.
Everyone you meet, whether they're a businessperson, a receptionist or a bus driver, is important. So make eye contact, smile and greet them. They'll appreciate it - and others may be watching.
And remember, you are important, too. You probably want people to like you, but their opinions don't define who you are. You are unique and have a lot to offer, so don't be afraid to show it.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Cell Phone or Cellphone「手機」是幾個字？
英文不斷的在演化的語言,
有些字 都是簡化的方向
手機之前是cellular phone,
後來又改為 cell phone,
到現在許多人只說 cell,
拚法也從 cell phone 變成 cellphone, (簡化為1個字)
Grammar Gym
Speak loudly and clearly enough that people don't have to strain to hear you.
[Verb 1 phrase] enough that [someone] doesn't have to [verb 2] to [verb 3].
- Straighten the room enough that guests don't have to step cautiously just to walk across the room.
- The screen is high enough that people don't have to move their heads too much to see the video.
Language Lab
strain v.
/ˈstreɪn/
to try very hard to do or get something
- The thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium strained to get a glance of their idols.
to be pulled or stretched in a forceful way
- Stanley strained his muscle during a basketball game.
strain n.[count]
a feeling of stress and worry that you have because you are trying to do too much, are dealing with a difficult problem, etc.
- Chloe performs even better when she's under a lot of strain.
evident adj.
clear to the sight or mind : obvious
- His affection for this girl is evident.
- It's evident that the merger is good for both companies.
evidence n.
[noncount] : something which shows that something else exists or is true
- The detective went to the crime scene to collect evidence.
receptionist n.
a person whose job is to deal with the people who call or enter an office, hotel, etc.
- The receptionist has a very nice smile.
receive v.
to welcome (someone) in usually a formal way
- The patients can only receive visitors from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
reception n.
the kind of welcome that someone or something is given — usually singular
- The hotel is known for offering its guests a warm reception.
unique n.
used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else
- The designer's unique style made his work so recognizable.
- The actor's unique interpretation of the character won him an Academy Award.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140930baaf615a106ba3dee099b5877cb3c0185714c218a1bf3ba1c07da7e841ff45d4107.wma
Monday, September 29, 2014
First Impressions (1)
Little things you can do to change how people perceive you
Does meeting new people make you nervous? If so, you're not alone. But making a good first impression isn't as hard as you might think. It just involves a few simple choices.
Look your best
Obviously your appearance influences people's impressions of you. But you don't need to look like a model to make a good impression. You just need to take care of yourself.
Make sure your clothing is clean, not wrinkled and appropriate for the situation. One survey said blue or black are best for job interviews.
In professional situations, women should avoid flashy jewelry and thick makeup, which can be a distraction.
Don't forget little things like brushing your teeth, washing your hair and trimming your nail. They change how people see you.
Stand tall
The way you stand, sit and move tells others a lot about you. Standing up straight makes you look - and feel - confident. When you approach someone, make eye contact and smile to show you're friendly and interested. Then greet them with a firm handshake.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Art of Handshake (握手的藝術)
shake hands 傳統上男性會先讓女性先伸出手,
如果女生不主動抻手, 男性就會用言語表達友善,
但現在二性平等都是階級取代性別,
長輩或階級較高的人先伸出手,
但若你給了機會讓對方伸手,
但對方沒有伸出手,
你就可以主動先伸手,
因為研究顯示第一次見面握手可以加深好感!
Grammar Gym
But you don't need to look like a model to make a good impression.
You don't need to [verb 1] like a [somebody] to [verb 2].
- You don't need to cook like a chef to prepare a good meal.
- You don't need to play basketball like an NBA star to join the basketball club.
Language Lab
impression n.
the opinion or feeling you have about someone or something because of the way they seem
impression on
- Kirk went to have a haircut. He wanted to leave a good first impression on his future parents-in-law.
impress v.
to make someone feel admiration and respect:
- The boy impressed all the judges with his incredible singing talent.
perceive v.
to understand or think of something or someone in a particular way
- On-line games are perceived as harmless entertainment.
to notice, see, or recognize something
- Nicky was the first who perceived our computer system's defects.
perception n.
the way you think about something and your idea of what it is like
- He tried to change the public's perception of him by doing charity work.
trim v.
past tense and past participle trimmed, present participle trimming [transitive]
to make something look neater by cutting small pieces off it:
- The gardener trimmed the bushes with large clippers.
- The boy went to a barber shop to get his hair trimmed.
trimming n.
- The girl's bangs need trimming.
eye contact n.
when you look directly at someone at the same time as they are looking at you:
- Direct eye contact is considered disrespectable in some cultures.
make eye contact
- The boy is very shy, and it's difficult for him to make eye contact.
flashy adj.
big, bright, or expensive, and intended to be impressive - used to show disapproval
- large flashy cars
someone who is flashy wears expensive clothes, jewellery etc in a way that is intended to be impressive - used to show disapproval:
- a flashy dresser
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140929baa0ee46ff2672810f8e0eba9014e5c4cadf223088b2a382f6b1adab84f2d1034ea.wma
Does meeting new people make you nervous? If so, you're not alone. But making a good first impression isn't as hard as you might think. It just involves a few simple choices.
Look your best
Obviously your appearance influences people's impressions of you. But you don't need to look like a model to make a good impression. You just need to take care of yourself.
Make sure your clothing is clean, not wrinkled and appropriate for the situation. One survey said blue or black are best for job interviews.
In professional situations, women should avoid flashy jewelry and thick makeup, which can be a distraction.
Don't forget little things like brushing your teeth, washing your hair and trimming your nail. They change how people see you.
Stand tall
The way you stand, sit and move tells others a lot about you. Standing up straight makes you look - and feel - confident. When you approach someone, make eye contact and smile to show you're friendly and interested. Then greet them with a firm handshake.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Art of Handshake (握手的藝術)
shake hands 傳統上男性會先讓女性先伸出手,
如果女生不主動抻手, 男性就會用言語表達友善,
但現在二性平等都是階級取代性別,
長輩或階級較高的人先伸出手,
但若你給了機會讓對方伸手,
但對方沒有伸出手,
你就可以主動先伸手,
因為研究顯示第一次見面握手可以加深好感!
Grammar Gym
But you don't need to look like a model to make a good impression.
You don't need to [verb 1] like a [somebody] to [verb 2].
- You don't need to cook like a chef to prepare a good meal.
- You don't need to play basketball like an NBA star to join the basketball club.
Language Lab
impression n.
the opinion or feeling you have about someone or something because of the way they seem
impression on
- Kirk went to have a haircut. He wanted to leave a good first impression on his future parents-in-law.
impress v.
to make someone feel admiration and respect:
- The boy impressed all the judges with his incredible singing talent.
perceive v.
to understand or think of something or someone in a particular way
- On-line games are perceived as harmless entertainment.
to notice, see, or recognize something
- Nicky was the first who perceived our computer system's defects.
perception n.
the way you think about something and your idea of what it is like
- He tried to change the public's perception of him by doing charity work.
trim v.
past tense and past participle trimmed, present participle trimming [transitive]
to make something look neater by cutting small pieces off it:
- The gardener trimmed the bushes with large clippers.
- The boy went to a barber shop to get his hair trimmed.
trimming n.
- The girl's bangs need trimming.
eye contact n.
when you look directly at someone at the same time as they are looking at you:
- Direct eye contact is considered disrespectable in some cultures.
make eye contact
- The boy is very shy, and it's difficult for him to make eye contact.
flashy adj.
big, bright, or expensive, and intended to be impressive - used to show disapproval
- large flashy cars
someone who is flashy wears expensive clothes, jewellery etc in a way that is intended to be impressive - used to show disapproval:
- a flashy dresser
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140929baa0ee46ff2672810f8e0eba9014e5c4cadf223088b2a382f6b1adab84f2d1034ea.wma
Saturday, September 27, 2014
What's In A Lie? (2)
Telling my parents a different name doesn't seem like a white lie to me.
That just sounds like a lie.
Well, maybe Linda could accompany us.
Then we wouldn't be lying.
It's just a little adjustment of the truth.
That still sounds pretty dishonest.
If my parents found out that I betrayed their trust, I don't know what I would do.
How would they find out?
Besides, it's not a big deal.
It's just one movie.
But it would be a big deal to my parents.
They've always taught me that honesty is the best policy.
But people lie all the time about all sorts of things.
It's practically part of being human.
Perhaps, but I don't think I want to lie to my parents.
They would be really hurt and wouldn't trust me anymore.
And I probably wouldn't be allowed to date until I'm 30.
That sounds like a slight exaggeration!
And I'm sure your parents would still trust you.
You're a very responsible person.
And that's exactly why I can't go.
Sorry, Jack!
Maybe we can study in the library together instead.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic:Letter Dropping.消失的字母
有時候外國人不見得照著英文拼法發音,
telling 常常省略最後的g的音
library r省略 /ˈlaɪˌbreri/
probably 3個音節變2個
Grammar Gym
But people lie all the time about all sorts of things. It's practically part of being human.
part of being human
- The desire to be loved and accepted by other people is part of being human.
- Making mistakes and learning from them is part of being human.
Language Lab
accompany v.
to go somewhere with someone:
- My brother will accompany me to New York.
- Mandy, accompanied by her parents, flew to L.A. to seek help from a famous doctor.
company n.
when you are with other people and not alone:
- Grandma really enjoyed our company.
betray v.
to be disloyal to someone who trusts you so that they are harmed or upset:
- Richard got his position by betraying his old boss.
- Lisa was betrayed by her colleagues.
betrayal n.
when you betray your country, friends, or someone who trusts you
- Susan felt a deep sense of betrayal when her boyfriend left her for another girl.
no biggie n.
said when something is not important or when you are not upset or angry about something:
- Oh, I'm sorry.' 'No biggie.'
practically adv.
almost or nearly
- Even though Dave isn't formally the CEO yet, he practically makes all the decisions in the company.
- The auditorium was practically empty. No one seemed to be interested in the game.
exaggeration n. non count
to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is
- It's no exaggeration that taking care of a baby is extremely exhausting.
exaggerate v.
to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is
- You might think that I'm exaggerating, but I'm telling the truth.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140927baa327d68e1a5eb13873206103ecf61716e1c31af57516cf2321f6235567384d346.wma
That just sounds like a lie.
Well, maybe Linda could accompany us.
Then we wouldn't be lying.
It's just a little adjustment of the truth.
That still sounds pretty dishonest.
If my parents found out that I betrayed their trust, I don't know what I would do.
How would they find out?
Besides, it's not a big deal.
It's just one movie.
But it would be a big deal to my parents.
They've always taught me that honesty is the best policy.
But people lie all the time about all sorts of things.
It's practically part of being human.
Perhaps, but I don't think I want to lie to my parents.
They would be really hurt and wouldn't trust me anymore.
And I probably wouldn't be allowed to date until I'm 30.
That sounds like a slight exaggeration!
And I'm sure your parents would still trust you.
You're a very responsible person.
And that's exactly why I can't go.
Sorry, Jack!
Maybe we can study in the library together instead.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic:Letter Dropping.消失的字母
有時候外國人不見得照著英文拼法發音,
telling 常常省略最後的g的音
library r省略 /ˈlaɪˌbreri/
probably 3個音節變2個
Grammar Gym
But people lie all the time about all sorts of things. It's practically part of being human.
part of being human
- The desire to be loved and accepted by other people is part of being human.
- Making mistakes and learning from them is part of being human.
Language Lab
accompany v.
to go somewhere with someone:
- My brother will accompany me to New York.
- Mandy, accompanied by her parents, flew to L.A. to seek help from a famous doctor.
company n.
when you are with other people and not alone:
- Grandma really enjoyed our company.
betray v.
to be disloyal to someone who trusts you so that they are harmed or upset:
- Richard got his position by betraying his old boss.
- Lisa was betrayed by her colleagues.
betrayal n.
when you betray your country, friends, or someone who trusts you
- Susan felt a deep sense of betrayal when her boyfriend left her for another girl.
no biggie n.
said when something is not important or when you are not upset or angry about something:
- Oh, I'm sorry.' 'No biggie.'
practically adv.
almost or nearly
- Even though Dave isn't formally the CEO yet, he practically makes all the decisions in the company.
- The auditorium was practically empty. No one seemed to be interested in the game.
exaggeration n. non count
to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is
- It's no exaggeration that taking care of a baby is extremely exhausting.
exaggerate v.
to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is
- You might think that I'm exaggerating, but I'm telling the truth.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140927baa327d68e1a5eb13873206103ecf61716e1c31af57516cf2321f6235567384d346.wma
Friday, September 26, 2014
[Advanced] Your Brain on File (1)
Researchers aim to build a database of brain health
Your online test results aren't pass-fail. You aren't graded. But your scores give valuable snapshots of your mental flexibility and memory, contributing to what UC San Francisco researchers hope will some day be a vast archive of information about brain health -- and the first neuroscience project to use the Internet on such a scale to advance research.
By volunteering -- repeatedly over time -- participants join a pool of research subjects in the new Brain Health Registry, opened Tuesday, for studies on brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other neurological ailments.
You won't learn your own scores; that disclosure could influence your future performance or trigger unwarranted "freak outs," said UCSF's Dr. Michael Weiner, founder of the registry and lead investigator of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, the world's largest observational study of the disease.
Rather, you will help speed up research by helping cut the time and cost of conducting clinical trials.
The trouble with trials
One-third of the cost of running trial studies is patient recruitment -- and many trials fail, or are delayed, due to problems getting enough of the right volunteers. The traditional approach to finding participants is low-tech, such as posting notices on bulletin boards or buying ads in newspapers. And it's time-consuming to determine if someone is even eligible to volunteer, then document their family and personal medical history. Think clipboards, pens and paper.
Frustrated by how much effort would be required to launch a giant Bay Area-based study in Alzheimer's prevention, "a light bulb went off in my mind," said Weiner.
Why not use the Internet as a way to enroll in trials," he said, "where volunteers take a few minutes to take some online neuropsychological test to measure brain performance?"
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140926ada2b3b68c00ab3c9572dde2d16cc87e77cec48375598b1a131252e938d3566db9f.wma
Your online test results aren't pass-fail. You aren't graded. But your scores give valuable snapshots of your mental flexibility and memory, contributing to what UC San Francisco researchers hope will some day be a vast archive of information about brain health -- and the first neuroscience project to use the Internet on such a scale to advance research.
By volunteering -- repeatedly over time -- participants join a pool of research subjects in the new Brain Health Registry, opened Tuesday, for studies on brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other neurological ailments.
You won't learn your own scores; that disclosure could influence your future performance or trigger unwarranted "freak outs," said UCSF's Dr. Michael Weiner, founder of the registry and lead investigator of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, the world's largest observational study of the disease.
Rather, you will help speed up research by helping cut the time and cost of conducting clinical trials.
The trouble with trials
One-third of the cost of running trial studies is patient recruitment -- and many trials fail, or are delayed, due to problems getting enough of the right volunteers. The traditional approach to finding participants is low-tech, such as posting notices on bulletin boards or buying ads in newspapers. And it's time-consuming to determine if someone is even eligible to volunteer, then document their family and personal medical history. Think clipboards, pens and paper.
Frustrated by how much effort would be required to launch a giant Bay Area-based study in Alzheimer's prevention, "a light bulb went off in my mind," said Weiner.
Why not use the Internet as a way to enroll in trials," he said, "where volunteers take a few minutes to take some online neuropsychological test to measure brain performance?"
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140926ada2b3b68c00ab3c9572dde2d16cc87e77cec48375598b1a131252e938d3566db9f.wma
What's In A Lie? (1)
Is there such a thing as a “little” lie?
Jack and Sasha are chatting between classes at school.
Hey, Sasha.
I want to ask you something.
Sure, Jack.
What's on your mind?
Well, I was wondering... would you like to see a movie with me this weekend?
You mean... like a date?
Um, yeah.
I think you're really nice and pretty, well, would you go on a date with me?
That's very sweet, Jack, but I don't think so.
Why? Don't you like me?
You're a very thoughtful guy.
But my parents don't want me to date yet.
Really?
But we're in high school now.
That's when a lot of people start dating.
I know.
I wish I could go to the movies with you, but my parents want me to concentrate on my studies.
And I want to get into a good university.
I don't think one date is going to affect your studies.
Maybe you could tell your parents that you're going to the movies with your friend Linda.
Then they wouldn't know that you went with me.
I don't know. That seems so misleading.
It would just be a little white lie.
The only difference is the name of the person.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Hope and Wish (Hope和Wish的差別)
hope 實現機會大
wish 實現機會小; 假設和過去相反的事實
- I wish I had studied harder in school.
- I wish I had gone to bed earlier last night.
Grammar Gym
Well, I was wondering... would you like to see a movie with me this weekend?
I was wondering.
- I have a small problem, and I was wondering if you could help me.
- I was wondering if I could borrow your car for two hours.
Language Lab
on one's mind 有心事, 有煩惱
- It seems like Lydia has something on her mind. She didn't speak a word all day.
have someone on one's mind 想念某人
- You'll always be on my mind even though we have to be apart.
thoughtful adj.
always thinking of the things you can do to make people happy or comfortable
- You're so thoughtful to prepare hot coffee for the guests.
- It's very thoughtful of you to bring us lunch.
misleading adj.
likely to make someone believe something that is not true:
- These misleading news stories on the Internet have caused much confusion.
- There is some misleading information in this report.
white lie n.
a lie that you tell someone in order to protect them or avoid hurting their feelings
- Mother always tells us: "White lies are still lies."
- Husbands sometimes tell white lies to keep their wives happy.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140926baa59c26e5131bde5b8c37b5c0443818428a135975176966cdc26898268302ceb33.wma
Jack and Sasha are chatting between classes at school.
Hey, Sasha.
I want to ask you something.
Sure, Jack.
What's on your mind?
Well, I was wondering... would you like to see a movie with me this weekend?
You mean... like a date?
Um, yeah.
I think you're really nice and pretty, well, would you go on a date with me?
That's very sweet, Jack, but I don't think so.
Why? Don't you like me?
You're a very thoughtful guy.
But my parents don't want me to date yet.
Really?
But we're in high school now.
That's when a lot of people start dating.
I know.
I wish I could go to the movies with you, but my parents want me to concentrate on my studies.
And I want to get into a good university.
I don't think one date is going to affect your studies.
Maybe you could tell your parents that you're going to the movies with your friend Linda.
Then they wouldn't know that you went with me.
I don't know. That seems so misleading.
It would just be a little white lie.
The only difference is the name of the person.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Hope and Wish (Hope和Wish的差別)
hope 實現機會大
wish 實現機會小; 假設和過去相反的事實
- I wish I had studied harder in school.
- I wish I had gone to bed earlier last night.
Grammar Gym
Well, I was wondering... would you like to see a movie with me this weekend?
I was wondering.
- I have a small problem, and I was wondering if you could help me.
- I was wondering if I could borrow your car for two hours.
Language Lab
on one's mind 有心事, 有煩惱
- It seems like Lydia has something on her mind. She didn't speak a word all day.
have someone on one's mind 想念某人
- You'll always be on my mind even though we have to be apart.
thoughtful adj.
always thinking of the things you can do to make people happy or comfortable
- You're so thoughtful to prepare hot coffee for the guests.
- It's very thoughtful of you to bring us lunch.
misleading adj.
likely to make someone believe something that is not true:
- These misleading news stories on the Internet have caused much confusion.
- There is some misleading information in this report.
white lie n.
a lie that you tell someone in order to protect them or avoid hurting their feelings
- Mother always tells us: "White lies are still lies."
- Husbands sometimes tell white lies to keep their wives happy.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140926baa59c26e5131bde5b8c37b5c0443818428a135975176966cdc26898268302ceb33.wma
Thursday, September 25, 2014
[Advanced] Colin Firth on Stardom (2)
The perks and perils of acting
For Firth, who has starred in musicals (Mamma Mia!), romantic romps (Bridget Jones's Diary) and shadowy capers (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), it comes down to what feels right in the moment. Sometimes, he's up for a lark. Other times, he craves something more serious.
"I find the criteria change every time. This one, heavily weighing in the scales was the importance of the story and why the hell wasn't it told," says Firth. And for Irvine, a World War II buff, it came down to the importance of telling this particular story. "It's also a movie about the very best in people."
In the spotlight
Firth, dapper and debonair as he is, is someone who lives his life behind closed doors, by choice. He's married to Italian environmental activist Livia Giuggioli, and has three sons.
"It's not my life plan to be private but I've never intended otherwise. I've never had an instinct to do it any other way. When I was Jeremy's age, I never imagined my work would put me in front of a camera. I liked doing plays. I didn't bargain for any level of recognition, really," says Firth.
For Irvine, it's still a learning process when he's recognized. "When someone catches you off-guard, when you're out shopping, I often think I'm more nervous than them," he says.
On dealing with inappropriate questions: Firth says his mantra is, deflect with grace whenever possible. "People will want to see if they can create copy by getting a rise out of you. It's pretty rare. Hands up. I'm not that affable. I'm here and I'm on my best behavior because I'm doing an interview," says Firth. "This is my best behavior and I also have my worst. I just try not to take it out into public life."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140925ada8ee8fb29f4fb058597530a8f31e66288d5fd3532ead201a542f5f74168644862.wma
For Firth, who has starred in musicals (Mamma Mia!), romantic romps (Bridget Jones's Diary) and shadowy capers (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), it comes down to what feels right in the moment. Sometimes, he's up for a lark. Other times, he craves something more serious.
"I find the criteria change every time. This one, heavily weighing in the scales was the importance of the story and why the hell wasn't it told," says Firth. And for Irvine, a World War II buff, it came down to the importance of telling this particular story. "It's also a movie about the very best in people."
In the spotlight
Firth, dapper and debonair as he is, is someone who lives his life behind closed doors, by choice. He's married to Italian environmental activist Livia Giuggioli, and has three sons.
"It's not my life plan to be private but I've never intended otherwise. I've never had an instinct to do it any other way. When I was Jeremy's age, I never imagined my work would put me in front of a camera. I liked doing plays. I didn't bargain for any level of recognition, really," says Firth.
For Irvine, it's still a learning process when he's recognized. "When someone catches you off-guard, when you're out shopping, I often think I'm more nervous than them," he says.
On dealing with inappropriate questions: Firth says his mantra is, deflect with grace whenever possible. "People will want to see if they can create copy by getting a rise out of you. It's pretty rare. Hands up. I'm not that affable. I'm here and I'm on my best behavior because I'm doing an interview," says Firth. "This is my best behavior and I also have my worst. I just try not to take it out into public life."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140925ada8ee8fb29f4fb058597530a8f31e66288d5fd3532ead201a542f5f74168644862.wma
What' New for Fall Fashion? (2)
A break from heels
Believe it or not, it's time to give your feet a break. Sneakers are taking the place of high heels. So wear sneakers to make a fashion statement. It's even acceptable to wear them with a skirt or dress.
Large turtlenecks
For those who are always cold, the turtleneck is back! This year, it looks like a large sock that covers your whole head.
Elegant becomes casual
Do you think a shiny dress is only for a special dinner? This fall, material that sparkles can be found everywhere. Wear shiny pants and a white shirt or a fancy dress for casual events.
Matching doesn't matter
Layers of clothes, fur and crazy patterns of brown and orange are being worn over dresses. This style is for someone who likes wearing different patterns at the same time. The fun doesn't end when summer does.
Keep the fun going with these new autumn fashions.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Believe It or Not 信不信由你
1. it 一定要讀出來
2. 這句話是要說驚人的事績
- Believe it or not, I used to be a champion swimmer back in high school.
3. 帶著諷刺的語氣開玩笑
- Believe it or not, I do know how to drive you know.
Grammar Gym
So wear sneakers to make a fashion statement.
to make a statement = to communicate an idea or create a certain impression without using words
- One can see the artist is making a political statement through this piece of artwork.
- One can make a social statement by driving around in a luxury car.
Language Lab
heel n.
the raised part on the bottom of a shoe that makes the shoe higher at the back:
- I'm not used to wearing high heels. I can't walk properly while wearing them.
- The heel of the shoe got stuck, so I had to pull it out.
the curved back part of your foot
- I got sore heels after walking all day.
acceptable adj. [accept v.]
good enough to be used for a particular purpose or to be considered satisfactory
- Talking back to parents has never been acceptable in my family.
- The lawyers are working on a new contract that's acceptable for both companies.
casual n.
not formal or not for a formal situation
- Sam loves to wear casual clothes. He doesn't have any suits.
- Mark wears casual shoes to work every day.
without any serious interest or attention:
- He seems to have a casual attitude towards money.
layer n.
an amount or piece of a material or substance that covers a surface or that is between two other things
- There's a thick layer of dust on the shelves.
- Cindy arranged her linens in layers in the closet.
layer v.
- The baker is layering different kinds of fruit in the mold.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140924baaa5549c80d8d0c1027bf47abc280311bad5483691d6442dca1d97b8a0329970b7.wma
Believe it or not, it's time to give your feet a break. Sneakers are taking the place of high heels. So wear sneakers to make a fashion statement. It's even acceptable to wear them with a skirt or dress.
Large turtlenecks
For those who are always cold, the turtleneck is back! This year, it looks like a large sock that covers your whole head.
Elegant becomes casual
Do you think a shiny dress is only for a special dinner? This fall, material that sparkles can be found everywhere. Wear shiny pants and a white shirt or a fancy dress for casual events.
Matching doesn't matter
Layers of clothes, fur and crazy patterns of brown and orange are being worn over dresses. This style is for someone who likes wearing different patterns at the same time. The fun doesn't end when summer does.
Keep the fun going with these new autumn fashions.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Believe It or Not 信不信由你
1. it 一定要讀出來
2. 這句話是要說驚人的事績
- Believe it or not, I used to be a champion swimmer back in high school.
3. 帶著諷刺的語氣開玩笑
- Believe it or not, I do know how to drive you know.
Grammar Gym
So wear sneakers to make a fashion statement.
to make a statement = to communicate an idea or create a certain impression without using words
- One can see the artist is making a political statement through this piece of artwork.
- One can make a social statement by driving around in a luxury car.
Language Lab
heel n.
the raised part on the bottom of a shoe that makes the shoe higher at the back:
- I'm not used to wearing high heels. I can't walk properly while wearing them.
- The heel of the shoe got stuck, so I had to pull it out.
the curved back part of your foot
- I got sore heels after walking all day.
acceptable adj. [accept v.]
good enough to be used for a particular purpose or to be considered satisfactory
- Talking back to parents has never been acceptable in my family.
- The lawyers are working on a new contract that's acceptable for both companies.
casual n.
not formal or not for a formal situation
- Sam loves to wear casual clothes. He doesn't have any suits.
- Mark wears casual shoes to work every day.
without any serious interest or attention:
- He seems to have a casual attitude towards money.
layer n.
an amount or piece of a material or substance that covers a surface or that is between two other things
- There's a thick layer of dust on the shelves.
- Cindy arranged her linens in layers in the closet.
layer v.
- The baker is layering different kinds of fruit in the mold.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140924baaa5549c80d8d0c1027bf47abc280311bad5483691d6442dca1d97b8a0329970b7.wma
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
[Advanced] Colin Firth on Stardom (1)
An interview with Colin Firth and Jeremy Irvine as they discuss their chosen career
When it comes to mentors, you could do a lot worse than eloquent, elegant and cinematically agile Colin Firth. Yet he's the last person who'll bombard anyone with bombastic bits of wisdom.
But what's the most sage bit of advice the British Oscar winner can share with Jeremy Irvine, 24, who plays the younger version of the actor in The Railway Man?
"I can't think of anything," demurs Firth, 53. "" But wait, interjects Irvine, "'You did the other day. You said, 'Treat it like a romp.'''
Firth nods. He recalls something a friend once shared with him years back about never taking himself all that seriously. And given his mastery of self-deprecation, it's a lesson Firth took to heart.
"All we do is what we like. We put on costumes and pretend, which is very similar to what I was doing when I was 5." says Firth.
'Treat your work with respect'
And yet, says Firth, treat your work, and those who do it with you, with respect. "Every so often, you get brought up short that you had a brush with something important. This story is important and you're entrusted with that," he says of his and Irvine's film, about a tortured World War II prisoner who forgives his tormentors.
Firth and Irvine have a pretty solid connection.
Firth still makes ladies swoon for his portrayal of dreamy Mr. Darcy in the 1995 British TV adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and won a best-actor Oscar for playing a stuttering monarch in 2010's The King's Speech. And Irvine carried Steven Spielberg's 2011 epic War Horse before being hand-picked by Firth to play the youthful version of train engineer turned POW Eric Lomax in The Railway Man.
Vocabulary Focus
eloquent adj.
able to express your ideas and opinions well, especially in a way that influences people:
bombard v.
to do something too often or too much, for example criticizing or questioning someone, or giving too much information:
- They bombarded him with questions.
bombastic adj.
using long and difficult words, usually to make people think you know more than you do
romp n.
a funny and energetic situation
demur v.
to express disagreement or refusal to do something
self-deprecation n.
the act of making yourself, your abilities or your achievements seem less important
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140924ada3b1e4310205206419d432110932a4c9cc2fb7d37ed8d6c027ee4e39fd8efd564.wma
When it comes to mentors, you could do a lot worse than eloquent, elegant and cinematically agile Colin Firth. Yet he's the last person who'll bombard anyone with bombastic bits of wisdom.
But what's the most sage bit of advice the British Oscar winner can share with Jeremy Irvine, 24, who plays the younger version of the actor in The Railway Man?
"I can't think of anything," demurs Firth, 53. "" But wait, interjects Irvine, "'You did the other day. You said, 'Treat it like a romp.'''
Firth nods. He recalls something a friend once shared with him years back about never taking himself all that seriously. And given his mastery of self-deprecation, it's a lesson Firth took to heart.
"All we do is what we like. We put on costumes and pretend, which is very similar to what I was doing when I was 5." says Firth.
'Treat your work with respect'
And yet, says Firth, treat your work, and those who do it with you, with respect. "Every so often, you get brought up short that you had a brush with something important. This story is important and you're entrusted with that," he says of his and Irvine's film, about a tortured World War II prisoner who forgives his tormentors.
Firth and Irvine have a pretty solid connection.
Firth still makes ladies swoon for his portrayal of dreamy Mr. Darcy in the 1995 British TV adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and won a best-actor Oscar for playing a stuttering monarch in 2010's The King's Speech. And Irvine carried Steven Spielberg's 2011 epic War Horse before being hand-picked by Firth to play the youthful version of train engineer turned POW Eric Lomax in The Railway Man.
Vocabulary Focus
eloquent adj.
able to express your ideas and opinions well, especially in a way that influences people:
bombard v.
to do something too often or too much, for example criticizing or questioning someone, or giving too much information:
- They bombarded him with questions.
bombastic adj.
using long and difficult words, usually to make people think you know more than you do
romp n.
a funny and energetic situation
demur v.
to express disagreement or refusal to do something
self-deprecation n.
the act of making yourself, your abilities or your achievements seem less important
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140924ada3b1e4310205206419d432110932a4c9cc2fb7d37ed8d6c027ee4e39fd8efd564.wma
Leatherby's Family Creamery - Elk Grove (Sacramento Area)
I went to Leatherby's with my friend for dinner last weekend. This is primarily an ice cream parlour, but they also make quality hamburgers, sandwiches, salads - traditional American meals.
This time, I was facing the counter where the ice cream, sundaes, shakes, and other sweets were prepared and awaiting to be served. Each dessert was a masterpiece!
Anyway, I already decided that next time I will order a root beer float with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream as depicted in the picture above.
This time I ordered a liverwurst sandwich meal from the specials menu. The meal comes with a sandwich, side, dessert, and drink (if you don't choose the shake). What a great deal! I liked the liverwurst sandwich; it has liver's flavor and is soft and fatty- very delicious!
I chose a garden salad with honey mustard dressing on the side!
My friend ordered a french dip sandwich with a side of coleslaw; however, the beef was overly salty and dry.
Here's all the food!
Finally, I chose a milk shake as my dessert. You can choose any flavor of ice cream they have, and they will make it into a milkshake. I insisted on my favorite flavor: cookies 'n cream!
What' New for Fall Fashion? (1)
The fall season is here with its new styles
Autumn is finally here! The hot summer weather is finally a little bit cooler. It's time to put away your summer clothes and bring out the fall fashions. What is popular this fall?
Popular styles
This fall, the plaid print has gone wild. After a season of bright colors, designers are bringing back plaid in plain colors. Plaid suits, skirts and sweaters are appearing in gray and black.
Perhaps you like to wear sweaters. This fall, the tight-knit sweater covers more than just your upper body.
Pants and dresses are also appearing in sweater knits. Why not dress in style and wrap yourself in a large sweater?
Or maybe you like to wear your clothes one size too big. Loose-fitting pants, sweaters and coats have also hit the runway. Styles like the miniskirt with knee-high boots are also showing up.
Some popular colors to watch for include dark red, yellow and blue. Lighter shades of pink and peach will also appear.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Clothes vs. Clothing (Clothes與Clothing的區分)
1. clothes 可數名詞
- How many clothes should I bring?
但要注意 clothes 只有複數沒有單數,
所以前面不可以加數字,
可以說 - I'm wearing a lot of clothes.
2. clothing 不可數名詞
- How much clothing should I bring?
若要數clothing, 可用item 或 article
- I'm wearing three items of clothing.
Grammar Gym
Or maybe you like to wear your clothes one size too big.
one size too big
one [something] too [adjective]
- Ruby didn't get the modeling job because the agency thought she's an inch too short.
- Stella is not happy with the paint job because she thinks her walls are a shade too dark.
Language Lab
plaid adj.
a pattern of crossed lines and squares, used especially on cloth
- The black-and-white plaid shirt Ray is wearing was his birthday present.
- All the gentlemen wore Scottish plaid skirts to the party.
plaid n.
- An uneven plaid pattern is the trademark for this brand.
designer n.
someone whose job is to make plans or patterns for clothes, furniture, equipment etc:
- Karl Lagerfeld is the chief designer for Chanel.
- Fashion designers from around the globe have all come for this fashion event.
- The interior designer is famous for his eco-friendly designs.
wrap v.
past tense and past participle wrapped, present participle wrapping [transitive]
wrap up to put paper or cloth over something to cover it
- The baby was wrapped in blankets.
- Hannah is wrapping the birthday present for her sister with a beautiful ribbon.
runway n.
a long narrow part of a stage that stretches out into the area where the audience sits
- At the end of the show, all the models walked down the runway again with the designer.
hit the runway
- This 16-year-old model hit the runway in Milan last week.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140924baaa5549c80d8d0c1027bf47abc280311bad5483691d6442dca1d97b8a0329970b7.wma
Autumn is finally here! The hot summer weather is finally a little bit cooler. It's time to put away your summer clothes and bring out the fall fashions. What is popular this fall?
Popular styles
This fall, the plaid print has gone wild. After a season of bright colors, designers are bringing back plaid in plain colors. Plaid suits, skirts and sweaters are appearing in gray and black.
Perhaps you like to wear sweaters. This fall, the tight-knit sweater covers more than just your upper body.
Pants and dresses are also appearing in sweater knits. Why not dress in style and wrap yourself in a large sweater?
Or maybe you like to wear your clothes one size too big. Loose-fitting pants, sweaters and coats have also hit the runway. Styles like the miniskirt with knee-high boots are also showing up.
Some popular colors to watch for include dark red, yellow and blue. Lighter shades of pink and peach will also appear.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Clothes vs. Clothing (Clothes與Clothing的區分)
1. clothes 可數名詞
- How many clothes should I bring?
但要注意 clothes 只有複數沒有單數,
所以前面不可以加數字,
可以說 - I'm wearing a lot of clothes.
2. clothing 不可數名詞
- How much clothing should I bring?
若要數clothing, 可用item 或 article
- I'm wearing three items of clothing.
Grammar Gym
Or maybe you like to wear your clothes one size too big.
one size too big
one [something] too [adjective]
- Ruby didn't get the modeling job because the agency thought she's an inch too short.
- Stella is not happy with the paint job because she thinks her walls are a shade too dark.
Language Lab
plaid adj.
a pattern of crossed lines and squares, used especially on cloth
- The black-and-white plaid shirt Ray is wearing was his birthday present.
- All the gentlemen wore Scottish plaid skirts to the party.
plaid n.
- An uneven plaid pattern is the trademark for this brand.
designer n.
someone whose job is to make plans or patterns for clothes, furniture, equipment etc:
- Karl Lagerfeld is the chief designer for Chanel.
- Fashion designers from around the globe have all come for this fashion event.
- The interior designer is famous for his eco-friendly designs.
wrap v.
past tense and past participle wrapped, present participle wrapping [transitive]
wrap up to put paper or cloth over something to cover it
- The baby was wrapped in blankets.
- Hannah is wrapping the birthday present for her sister with a beautiful ribbon.
runway n.
a long narrow part of a stage that stretches out into the area where the audience sits
- At the end of the show, all the models walked down the runway again with the designer.
hit the runway
- This 16-year-old model hit the runway in Milan last week.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140924baaa5549c80d8d0c1027bf47abc280311bad5483691d6442dca1d97b8a0329970b7.wma
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Nintendo – Past, Present and Future (2)
Nintendo's most popular ventures
Amidst the video-game popularity of the 70s, Nintendo introduced their first arcade game in 1975, EVR Race. Nintendo's next two games, Donkey Kong in 1981 and Super Mario Brothers in 1985, became legendary. Super Mario Brothers used the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), a home video-game system of which nearly 62 million units were sold worldwide. Success struck again in 1989 with another Yokoi creation, Game Boy, which still ranks as the all-time best-selling portable game system.
Nintendo 64 (N64) was released in 1996, selling nearly 33 million units, and receiving Time magazine's 1996 Machine of the Year award.
In 2006, the company launched its Wii console, which became another huge success. Nintendo successfully targeted a new market: children and people who had never played video games before. Wii's interactive games, including animated games for kids and sports for the older crowd, offered an entirely new way to play.
What's ahead?
Over the years, the company has faced growing competition, prompting skeptical remarks from some about Nintendo's future. But in January, the company announced plans to begin developing a mystery device that will be launched in 2016. Nintendo is still looking toward the future, making everyone wonder what amazing devices the company will create in the next 125 years.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Sensational Spelling (感官拼字)
Wii 是因為要創造we的斜音的字,
二個ii是看起來像二個人在一起玩,
有些公司會故意將產品的英文名字拼錯,
為了是讓消費者留下印象,
這種手法叫做 sensational spelling,
例如: Krispy Kreme, Froot Loops
Grammar Gym
Amidst the video-game popularity of the 70s, Nintendo introduced their first arcade game in 1975...
Amidst [a situation at a certain time], [someone did something].
- Amidst the excitement and partying in the dormitory, Duncan tried his best to study for his exams.
- Amidst the sea of customer complaints, the company was glad to receive one positive report.
Language Lab
venture n.
a new business activity that involves taking risks
- The director's latest film venture proved very successful.
- Jonathan's business venture turned out to be a disaster.
venture v.
to go somewhere that could be dangerous:
- We ventured into the woods shortly after we arrived at the cabin.
arcade n.
a large building or part of a building where there are many shops;
an amusement arcade;
- Timmy spent most of his pocket money on the machines at the amusement arcade.
- The shopping arcade was packed with people during the year-end sale.
interactive adj.
an interactive computer program, television system etc allows you to communicate directly with it, and does things in reaction to your actions:
- The teacher's interactive teaching made learning much more fun.
interact v.
if people interact with each other, they talk to each other, work together etc
- The course encourages the students to interact as much as they can.
skeptical adj.
tending to disagree with what other people tell you
- Theo's skeptical look really irritated me.
sceptical about/of
- After giving the speech, I'm really skeptical about how much the audience understands.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140923baa2f1ee54021d382a94a36c600bb6b3f4773b87606b70e8a5244772b2ec4095b2a.wma
Amidst the video-game popularity of the 70s, Nintendo introduced their first arcade game in 1975, EVR Race. Nintendo's next two games, Donkey Kong in 1981 and Super Mario Brothers in 1985, became legendary. Super Mario Brothers used the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), a home video-game system of which nearly 62 million units were sold worldwide. Success struck again in 1989 with another Yokoi creation, Game Boy, which still ranks as the all-time best-selling portable game system.
Nintendo 64 (N64) was released in 1996, selling nearly 33 million units, and receiving Time magazine's 1996 Machine of the Year award.
In 2006, the company launched its Wii console, which became another huge success. Nintendo successfully targeted a new market: children and people who had never played video games before. Wii's interactive games, including animated games for kids and sports for the older crowd, offered an entirely new way to play.
What's ahead?
Over the years, the company has faced growing competition, prompting skeptical remarks from some about Nintendo's future. But in January, the company announced plans to begin developing a mystery device that will be launched in 2016. Nintendo is still looking toward the future, making everyone wonder what amazing devices the company will create in the next 125 years.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Sensational Spelling (感官拼字)
Wii 是因為要創造we的斜音的字,
二個ii是看起來像二個人在一起玩,
有些公司會故意將產品的英文名字拼錯,
為了是讓消費者留下印象,
這種手法叫做 sensational spelling,
例如: Krispy Kreme, Froot Loops
Grammar Gym
Amidst the video-game popularity of the 70s, Nintendo introduced their first arcade game in 1975...
Amidst [a situation at a certain time], [someone did something].
- Amidst the excitement and partying in the dormitory, Duncan tried his best to study for his exams.
- Amidst the sea of customer complaints, the company was glad to receive one positive report.
Language Lab
venture n.
a new business activity that involves taking risks
- The director's latest film venture proved very successful.
- Jonathan's business venture turned out to be a disaster.
venture v.
to go somewhere that could be dangerous:
- We ventured into the woods shortly after we arrived at the cabin.
arcade n.
a large building or part of a building where there are many shops;
an amusement arcade;
- Timmy spent most of his pocket money on the machines at the amusement arcade.
- The shopping arcade was packed with people during the year-end sale.
interactive adj.
an interactive computer program, television system etc allows you to communicate directly with it, and does things in reaction to your actions:
- The teacher's interactive teaching made learning much more fun.
interact v.
if people interact with each other, they talk to each other, work together etc
- The course encourages the students to interact as much as they can.
skeptical adj.
tending to disagree with what other people tell you
- Theo's skeptical look really irritated me.
sceptical about/of
- After giving the speech, I'm really skeptical about how much the audience understands.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140923baa2f1ee54021d382a94a36c600bb6b3f4773b87606b70e8a5244772b2ec4095b2a.wma
Monday, September 22, 2014
Nintendo – Past, Present and Future (1)
A look back at one of the world’s most influential video game companies
Many people think the Nintendo Company originated around 1983, the same year the Mario Brothers made their debut and began fighting New York sewer creatures. But actually, the Japanese company started in 1889. Back then, computers and computer games were a long way off; nonetheless, the company's first product, handmade playing cards, was very popular.
Nintendo soon cornered the market in playing cards after beginning to produce plastic cards in 1953. But a 1956 trip to the U.S. convinced the CEO there wasn't much room for growth in that market, so he began experimenting with other projects, including toy-making.
Sure enough, the card market began its decline around 1962, and the company fought to stay in business.
A profitable change
A wise decision in 1965 to hire an assembly-line maintenance worker who enjoyed inventing mechanical toys helped turn things around for Nintendo. After the company produced and marketed Gunpei Yokoi's extending toy hand, Ultra Hand, they sold over one million units within the first year. Yokoi went on to create many profitable electronic toys that helped the company eliminate its debt and commence making money again.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Japanese English (日文英語化)
日文有許多字是外來語,
25年前有人統計過約有二萬個字是外來語,
到了現在已經沒有人去計算了,
因為數字已經太大了,
很多西方的思想跟觀念沒有辦法用日文來表達,
所以就直接用英文表達,
另外一個原因就是比較時尚, 所以直接用英文
Grammar Gym
A wise decision in 1965 to hire an assembly-line maintenance worker who enjoyed inventing mechanical toys helped turn things around for Nintendo.
A wise decision to ... helped...
- A wise decision to organize the workers into teams helped create a better working environment for everybody.
- A wise decision to put screens on all windows helped stop the problem with flies in the building.
Language Lab
debut n.
the first public appearance of an entertainer, sports player etc or of something new and important
- The debut for this singer was back in 1975.
make one's debut
- The band made their debut in San Francisco.
corner the market
to gain control of the whole supply of a particular kind of goods:
- The company is trying to corner the market by launching new products each season.
- These heartless businessmen stored up food to corner the market.
decline v.
to decrease in quantity or importance:
- The sales figures started to decline last year.
- Gina's health declined rapidly after she was diagnosed with cancer.
to say no politely when someone invites you somewhere, offers you something, or wants you to do something:
- Elizabeth declined Larry's proposal night.
commence v.
to begin or to start something:
- The meeting is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m. today.
- He commenced preparing for this competition early last year.
commencement n.
the beginning of something
- July 1st marks the commencement of the financial year.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140922baa12881c702bb5605c79bd2f1db0286206aec800fa4123f5082132f5eea1e1748f.wma
Many people think the Nintendo Company originated around 1983, the same year the Mario Brothers made their debut and began fighting New York sewer creatures. But actually, the Japanese company started in 1889. Back then, computers and computer games were a long way off; nonetheless, the company's first product, handmade playing cards, was very popular.
Nintendo soon cornered the market in playing cards after beginning to produce plastic cards in 1953. But a 1956 trip to the U.S. convinced the CEO there wasn't much room for growth in that market, so he began experimenting with other projects, including toy-making.
Sure enough, the card market began its decline around 1962, and the company fought to stay in business.
A profitable change
A wise decision in 1965 to hire an assembly-line maintenance worker who enjoyed inventing mechanical toys helped turn things around for Nintendo. After the company produced and marketed Gunpei Yokoi's extending toy hand, Ultra Hand, they sold over one million units within the first year. Yokoi went on to create many profitable electronic toys that helped the company eliminate its debt and commence making money again.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Japanese English (日文英語化)
日文有許多字是外來語,
25年前有人統計過約有二萬個字是外來語,
到了現在已經沒有人去計算了,
因為數字已經太大了,
很多西方的思想跟觀念沒有辦法用日文來表達,
所以就直接用英文表達,
另外一個原因就是比較時尚, 所以直接用英文
Grammar Gym
A wise decision in 1965 to hire an assembly-line maintenance worker who enjoyed inventing mechanical toys helped turn things around for Nintendo.
A wise decision to ... helped...
- A wise decision to organize the workers into teams helped create a better working environment for everybody.
- A wise decision to put screens on all windows helped stop the problem with flies in the building.
Language Lab
debut n.
the first public appearance of an entertainer, sports player etc or of something new and important
- The debut for this singer was back in 1975.
make one's debut
- The band made their debut in San Francisco.
corner the market
to gain control of the whole supply of a particular kind of goods:
- The company is trying to corner the market by launching new products each season.
- These heartless businessmen stored up food to corner the market.
decline v.
to decrease in quantity or importance:
- The sales figures started to decline last year.
- Gina's health declined rapidly after she was diagnosed with cancer.
to say no politely when someone invites you somewhere, offers you something, or wants you to do something:
- Elizabeth declined Larry's proposal night.
commence v.
to begin or to start something:
- The meeting is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m. today.
- He commenced preparing for this competition early last year.
commencement n.
the beginning of something
- July 1st marks the commencement of the financial year.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140922baa12881c702bb5605c79bd2f1db0286206aec800fa4123f5082132f5eea1e1748f.wma
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