輕鬆學英語
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
Have you ever felt patronized by others responding to your questions reluctantly or with a That-Really-Turned-Me-Off look? That really hurts your feeling when you really try to strike up a conversation in order to bridge a friendly relationship with others whom you met the first time or more than that. Here comes a puzzle that has been haunting me: It seems unlikely for a person to be level with you in all respects. People might feel safer when hiding something deep within, such as family issues, health condition, individual occupation, or financial status and so on. I can totally understand the feeling of being labeled by others with certain identity from which people can judge you to certain extent and predict what exactly person you are, how you are gonna behavior, or the depth of your conversation riveting at " entertainments" or " philosophy of life". Again, it's quite a challenge for pretty much every single person honest with you or with your questions. We must hide something really private from friends, family, or the significant others. Well, if you have to lie in my face about your preference, that might get me to scratch my head and such interaction could help me deduce that you could be a habitual liar or the deceiver to anyone around whether you are aware of or not. I didn't mean to intensify the whole relationships with others but simply take everyone really seriously thought they don't feel the way as I do. One of my students in class, Lee as a programmer for a backpacking website, has been carrying his "favorite" strawberry doughnut to my class all the time except the days he's absent from those. There's a day I couldn't help but confront him with the question, " Do you have a sweet tooth for strawberry?" " No, that's the last one left on the shelf at the convenience store. I was running later for your class right after my work in Taipei. Just grab one for my growling stomach." "That explains a lot!" But wait, the same excuse has been used nearly twenty times in his carrying strawberry-bread-case which really intrigued our interest afterwards. Some students even accused him of being overly-protective about his addiction to strawberry, for which we are all fine with that and we love the way he is. But did he just confess his great affection for that particular taste for bread? Not At All! I am sorry to fail you in this case but the prejudice of this modern society really prevented males from revealing their feelings for something romantic or colorful that will be instantly connected to girlish attitude and emasculating images you might notice from some movies children had been traumatized simply due to their sexual orientation or hobbies different from general expectations rooted in our culture. If a guy told me that he would like to join some yoga classes, I might appear startled right then because there's no male in my school willing to practice yoga or aerobics for passion. Education can be the only way out helping us get to know more choices from different people who are entitled to equal opportunities for what they like in life. But still the reason that people are being really insincere is because they have been afraid of making mistakes since childhood, especially in Asian countries. Teachers at school don't take " I have a different idea" or " Could it be possible that the textbook knowledge can be false?" for answers. You will soon be regarded as a rebel in class by your professor and the rest of the peer. It didn't take long before you realized you had been marginalized because you were trying to tell a truth only. You might intend to laugh over all these anecdotes after you've grown out of that age then. Apparently, we couldn't avoid dealing with all the things more or less. That shall be a lifelong learning chance for us to evolve into a mature person who could either perceive or relate to others' comments or acts without being too judgmental or hypercritical. Daily Expressions: 1.After learning of the demise of my grandparent, it's too much for me to take. 2.It's widely known that you never prepare too much for the exam. 3.We can notice that fishing for sympathy is rather common among us, considered part of human nature. 4.Why did you draw so many inspirations for your novel? 5.I prefer living in the city rather than the countryside because of its convenient transportations, a wide variety of entertainments, and hustle-and-bustle. 6.It's simmering summer so that we find it really sticky to exercise or go window shopping outdoors. 7.Thank you for your hospitality and your house is really cozy with sweet family and lovely decorations. 8.Let me level with you regarding this plan this month of going picnicking with our co-workers. The incentive trip is a must for all salesperperson. 國際化是什麼?夠把精品店品牌如數家珍?戴起一只價值連城的鑽石?還是優閒地走在路上,手中拿著連鎖咖啡廳的飲品?如果是如此,可能就是盲目罷了!所謂的國際化,也要多注意全球化帶來的商業商品流通和本國自身人口遷徙現象變動,這可不是穿上來自各國品牌服飾或拿起價值數千萬的珠寶可以扛起的概念,是多了"異文化的同理心和尊重"。大家口說常說族群融合和尊重多元發展和價值,但很明顯地,在各地大眾運輸上(Public Transportation),每每聽到操著不同口音(accent)的英文或華語,多半都是竊竊私語(whisper),不然就是小聲地批評(criticize +N/Np./V-ing+ in small volume)。有回從台北車站下課,剛好遇到多年前班上的學生,於是我們用英文分享最近生活小確幸;此時,對面座位的高中生們,使著疑惑又不是很友善(unfriendly)的眼神,用中文說著:「會英文了不起喔!?」但自己手中卻拿著英文單字書,這不是很諷刺(ironic)嗎?語言是打開彼此文化大門,一窺不同風情的生活內涵與不同生活圈的精神,並沒有驕傲或自滿的概念!反倒是,學了一種外語後,我們要利用這樣的能力去獲取新知,增進自己的能力和拓展世界;最最重要,就是幫助我們台灣朋友、亞洲朋友,甚至不熟稔英語的朋友,來解決生活大小事情。因為這也是到世界各地都奉行的簡單想法。語言沒有高低,只有用心觀察和找對方法,存有太多成見,是很難接受其他新的概念和知識的!所以,想把語言真正融入自己的生活、深入體驗,需要更謙卑的心態和開闊的胸襟,讓自己不只是在背誦一個接著一個生硬的字眼,而是想著在怎樣特定的情況,可以表達出自己的想法和需求,最後順利完成溝通這件美妙又快樂的事情。即是老師常提醒各位同學:立足台灣,放眼國際。 你有想過有多少華僑在國外奮鬥嗎?客家電視台的<作客他鄉>節目,不管是在法國南部小鎮生活的台灣媳婦,或是在寮國開拓個人事業的夫妻檔,這些台灣的鄉親都非常努力地在自己的生活上耕耘努力,辛苦的汗水、淚水,也在認識新文化中慢慢地落地生根,近而愛上這塊異國的土地。不僅入境隨俗地(When in Rome, do as Romans do)凌晨五點鐘起來準備零食及米飯給僧侶,也努力學習當地語言,活絡彼此的想法和溝通生活上的大小事情;更甚者,有許多新移民會主動去改善當地教育水準,興建起學堂和定期與跨國際醫療團為當地的孩子就診。每每看到這一幕就會讓我相當的感佩,也會想起在遠渡重洋來到台灣的外籍朋友們,在台灣的新生活用心地在這塊土地貢獻,進而成為我們社會富強的基礎和希望。更重要地,當深入異國文化時,會以更謙卑又寬容的心態去欣賞許多新環境的美好和驚喜。 許多電視節目上都紛紛介紹台灣新移民的生活分享,非常興奮地介紹家鄉的拿手菜,不管是顏色鮮豔可口,抑或是口感酸甜苦辣,彷彿都是這些辛苦又努力融入台灣新生活的寫照。從以前就注意到台灣許多節目紛紛邀請從歐洲、東南亞、大陸地區、香港及澳門地區,以及遠從非洲來到台灣依親,或從工作、相戀,最後以台灣配偶身分成為我們台灣社會的一分子。我國國人跨國(境) 不但與國人共同生活,並兼負家庭照顧及社會服務等重要角色,但由於語言、文化之差異,仍有生活適應等問題,政府必須負起照顧輔導之責任。 很多文化衝擊(Cultural Shock)早在申請移民時就開始了,許多的書面資料審核、曠日廢時的書件往返和面談機制、語言能力標準審核、財力證明與身體健康檢查,甚至還有規定在原國內無犯罪紀錄,到了移入國還會遭遇許多語言上或是社會中的歧見對待。有時不禁讓我們思考:所謂的國際化只是所謂迎合『主流文化』?還是鼓勵歧視(discriminate)與自身不同的人事物呢?這一刻就會了解法國人為什麼捍衛母語和其彌足珍貴的文化內涵,那並不單純是一種自傲神態,更是世代所肩負的使命和責任感。珍惜每個交流的機會和分享彼此價值觀的初衷,會學到很有趣的故事呢!在國外總會被問起:『去台灣可以從事哪些有趣的活動呢?哪裡一定要好好瞧瞧?哪些食物要好好品嘗呢?如果我只有五天可以逛逛這個寶島,搭火車是最好的嗎?』當不認識自己文化時,是最可惜的!要把台灣介紹到世界的舞台,就要從認識台灣開始,不是嗎?希望大家可以讚嘆更多美好的古蹟、歌頌歷久彌堅的傳統、聆聽長輩細數的歷史過往,共享這份洗淨鉛華又刻劃你我生命源頭的回憶,那是心靈歸屬最踏實的部分,就在人們交會中傳遞著、流動著,無形地撐起我們的天地和從未遠離的深深情懷。 其實有印象同學除了很愛誤用save money(節省或財務規劃)當作make deposits存款外,老師也很常聽到學生說:『這個遊戲好fashion喔!』那麼這就是說明在「詞性錯置」和平時口說表達的結構過於鬆散,腦中翻譯句子也忽略了最基本的細節概念。在國外每次只要看到APPETIZER(開胃菜),價錢也不輸主菜,但總怕點到地雷,偏偏一樣的價位,同學拿到大如碗公的沙拉雞絲總匯,送上桌前的只有很像菜鳥廚師做壞的菜(rookie是來自於球隊稱呼對方"菜鳥",!另外,也可以用apprentice描述剛開始學習技巧或進入新團隊的成員,"學徒"的意思;同時也是美國當紅電視實境秀商業大亨川普先生(Mr. Trump)選接班人的挑戰賽The Apprentice"誰是接班人")。遇到朋友要準備出門用餐或是有機會服務客人,就可以親切地用法文" Bon Appetit"(這是有連音的喔!發音近似Bo-Na-Pe-Ti,碰那朋踢),稍微輕柔地念出,下次在餐桌上令人刮目相看(偷偷告訴同學:其實往往選訂餐廳後,老師都會先乖乖在家裡做功課爬討論區看看REVIEW,確認自己要點的菜是人人按讚而且也有其他隱藏菜單,只有行家才會知道的,都會讓這場聚會有不同的驚喜和值回票價,也別忘了給優秀的店家一個肯定的微笑喔!)
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
Today's Special: Brian's Mailbox (Questions regarding life issues) Please try to answers those questions as the following. Question One: Do you consider yourself a confident person?Why or why not? Yes, I do. Because I had failed in things several times from childhood to adulthood. Since then, I have been practicing a lot for almost everything, including my work and some professional techniques over and over again. Therefore,I've improved my relationships with others and embraced my life as well as moments for solitude. I am now leading a confident life. What about you? Question Two: What's the most efficient approaches to making friends with strangers? Under the circumstances of socializing with a bunch of strangers, I might withdraw from the crowds and therefore cringe at the corner for observing people who might be attracted to me or admiring my thoughts. Perhaps I could be acquainted with friends who share a lot in common with me and we should hit it off then. We can strike up a conversation regarding fashion, work, and the campus life. Question Three: Have you identified your passion yet in life? Is it possible to realize your dream at the early stage of your career? Most people are pursuing richer lives full of luxury enjoyments and parties as if they were the centers of the world crowning them as the King or Queen entitled to privileges. In my case, I'd rather do whatever at will; However, I haven't found one for my ideal job or dream by far, but I am firmly convinced that there'll be one in the future. Question Four: Why did you plan on raising children instead of remaining single with more freedom in hand? People born with the ability of loving others and expecting to be loved in return are showering others with great affection, such innate ability ingrained in human nature and solidified in further education. For instance, I've been learning how to be a mother and re-experiencing a brand-new childhood as an adult. It's simply pure and lovely to feel loved and give it at the same time. And all of a sudden, you've found reasons fighting for your life and his/hers. It's a miracle from the above, a grand scheme of things beyond our scopes. Familiarity breeds contempt. Whenever having quarrels with my baby daughter, I felt torn for hurting her feelings. I wish I could protect her as long as humanly possible. Questions Five: What's the longest hours have you waited for someone? What's the occasion? Last month, on my way home around the dusk, I felt really exhausted that day after meeting up my friends at a tea house so that I phoned my family to pick me up at the station. Little did I know why my mother who answered the call and promised to give me a ride didn't show up as scheduled, I had thought she was supposed to be there for me, but there's no soul as I could spot. After having been stood up for half an hour, I gave up the idea of being treated as a fool in public. Yes, I went home on foot and felt terribly betrayed or abandoned like a stray dog unleashed by my owner who never returned to fetch me at the community park. Question Six: What kind of people do you feel repulsive about? Why? I really dislike the smell of cigarettes because the passive smoke can not only be tickle my throat, pollute the whole living environments but also killed people around you, especially your family. Question: Seven: What have I learned from the trip to New Zealand? ( A boy student went on a study tour by himself for the first time traveling abroad) I have learned to travel alone and deal with all problems in the process of taking my flight from Taipei to New Zealand via Wellington. It was my first time with no one familiar to me starting the trip so desperately and nervously. Before I arrived there, I was helped by a great number of strangers and that made feel so eager to learn English well as soon as possible. I did grow more independent on my way home after the whole program. It was truly rewarding but appalling to me. Let's book myself on the next flight to somewhere. I will do much better than the first time. < Being Self-Conscious is Not my Fault but a Downfall!> You might hear the similar things from your beloved ones, coworkers, or family quite repetitively like "How come do I get so vulnerable to get myself stressed out and ride on the roller-coaster of the mood swings in just a day?" "All encounters shall be wonderfully rewarding and positively sweet, but NOT in my case." The truth is that we might consider walking on the street with our chins-up, but somehow the glimpses or unexpected eye-contact can be really offensive as if those pedestrians or bus drivers behind the windows could possibly see through my souls, leaving me totally naked in their brains and studying me like the physicians checking the patients' limbs or doing the knee's reaction test. Being ''paranoid'' is an understatement. You might wonder why I took so many information or ''seemingly existing criticism'' so seriously that I am shackled to it so vulnerably. Let me walk you through the whole thing from the very start. We were all born in a society full of CONTRAST. Which category do you fall into, top performers or underachievers whose criteria mainly depend on subjective observation or collective awareness of an individual? You parents always appeared so dissatisfied with your academic performance at school no matter how much you've progressed. It's another nightmare when all the relatives were gathered together during Chinese New Year in Chinese culture or the Christmas time family members have your neighbors or whoever is able to make it to the celebrations. When a gang of strangers barged into your premise, they started to point their fingers at every single thing in sight, trying all means of degrading your achievements after long-year efforts and putting you into a difficult position when compared with your siblings, cousins, or someone you've never heard of. They just knew how to belittle you in the bone. Perhaps they can put'' Mentally Abuse others'' on the resume which might be a selling point during a job interview. Human nature simply works like that and you just cannot run away from them. Recently, one of my best friends, Emily, was in a total dilemma with her fianc?, a mild-tempered and caring person willing to clean the whole house without any complaint. Everything seemed perfect in the process of dating each other. Something went wrong that she started being invited to his fianc?晹's family reunion every weekend. That's terribly annoying! Any Citizen Digital Certificate IC card holder can apply for「Entry/Exit Dates Certificate」online As long as aged 18 or above and holding a chip-embedded Alien Resident Certificate card issued by MOI, an alien can apply for 「Alien Citizen Digital Certificate」.(hereafter referred to as 「Alien Certificate」) National Immigration Agency, MOI announced that the service of 「Alien Certificate」officially kicks off on Apr. 25 and the applicant can visit any service center of NIA for application. Once obtaining the「Alien Certificate」, the foreigner living in Taiwan can enjoy the e-government services through the internet and appreciate the convenience and friendliness in Taiwan even more. National Immigration Agency was quoted as saying: "For a long time, the foreigners based in Taiwan usually have had to visit government offices in person and could've done the business after their identities having been verified. It was an extremely onerous and time-consuming ordeal for them. However, from now on, thanks to the service of 「Alien Certificate」which can verify the identity of its owner through the internet, the foreigners can cut back a lot of their time going through the procedures and will be entertained with the convenience, swiftness and high security provided by the infrastructure of Taiwan government." It is estimated that NIA's service centers around Taiwan will launch the service of application for「Alien Certificate」since Apr. 25, 2016. Any alien aged 18 or above can apply at any service center of NIA with his/her chip-embedded Alien Resident Certificate card. The holder of 「Alien Certificate」 IC card can utilize the 「Certificate of Entry/ Exit Dates Online Application」service at NIA's website. The application procedures of 「Alien Certificate」are as follow: 1.Apply in person: The applicant must bring his/her Alien Resident Certificate card. 2.Pay online: The applicant must go to the "Alien Customized Page" at MOICA's website and make the payment(IC card fee NTD250 +postage NTD25) with credit card within 15 days of application. 3.Activate IC card: The Alien Citizen Digital Certificate IC card will be mailed to the applicant's address. Once receiving the IC card, the applicant shall go to the "Alien Customized Page" at MOICA's website to activate the IC card online. The validity of「Alien Certificate」is 5 years. The IC card will show the name of its holder and expiration date and can be used as ID on the internet. It will take 10 working days to mail the IC card on Taiwan mainland and take another 2-3 working days to offshore islands.(only domestic mail is available) If an alien acquires citizenship and still needs the Citizen Digital Certificate, he/she must go to Household Registration Office personally to apply for the certificate all over again as Taiwan citizen. For more information, please go to MOICA's website(http://moica.nat.gov.tw) for reference. Customer service hotline: 0800-080-117; business hours: 07:00~23:00. 平日走到街上,感覺地面都在冒煙,真的是有幾分夏天氣息。要是太久沒有補充水分,身體狂sweating(正在流汗的)就很快dehydrated(身體缺水或幾近脫水的狀態),這可是很危險的!Heat這個單字大家都常看到,但同學卻很少學習相關的用法!開頭就要跟大家來好好分享:「HEAT」! 1. It's heating hot out there and you could scorch an egg on the hood. 外頭快熱暈人了,根本就可以在車蓋上把蛋給烤焦了! 2. Turn off the heater, or it might cost you an arm and a leg. 把暖氣關了,不然總費用可是所費不貲。 3. If you cannot stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.(人生劇場警語) 待不下這麼熱烘烘的廚房,就別來這邊工作了!(意指:一個人要是沒有能耐,就提早離開職場吧!)請同學務必背起來這個五星級超好用佳句! A:You never know how my supervisor has been treating me with such heavy workload and demand that no one in the office be allowed to leave earlier if work done. What a world!(我那個上司老是丟給我繁重工作,還命令每個人工作完成也不能先離開辦公室!太扯了!) B:To level with you, it's how the society works. If you cannot stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Talent shouldn't be confined with such humble compensations, right?(平心而論,這個社會不就是這樣嗎?如果你真的受不了這種狀況,就辭職好啦!像妳這樣優秀的人才真是被虧待了,對吧?) 4. Please heat the baguette and the chicken roll for me, thanks.(想加熱剛剛點的法式麵包和雞肉捲,謝謝!) 5. The recent studies indicated that the heat wave in Europe had claimed at least dozens of people in the past years; what's worse, approximately five hundred locals in Pakistan succumbed to(屈服於…) the heat wave this year. 最近研究指出:歐洲過去幾年的熱浪至少奪去二十多人性命;更嚴重地,在巴基斯坦最近有五百多人死於今年的這場熱浪中。 6.The heating debate over the development project in one of Taipei's nature reserve.關於台北自然保育區改建案引起極大的爭議。 &以上同學可以看到HEAT本身有不同的搭配詞語並且也可以用很活潑的語氣用在不同交談場合和時機。 <文法測驗題目>請找出句中不符合文法的句子喔!別急著看答案 1. The modern (A)skyscrapers, though (B)visually pleasing, (C)they have been heating and cooling systems that required closed windows and additional cost of maintenance and (D)consequently waste money. 現今高樓大廈雖然看起來挺壯觀,緊閉窗戶額外定期維修的費用,來配合暖氣及冷氣設備運作,這筆花費會相當的驚人。 2. Most commuters in Europe tend to go to work by undergrounds. 大多在歐洲的通勤族都會搭地鐵上下班。 3. The prestigious university that founded in 1971 with few resources have been advocating equal right for education and liberty. 在1971年創立知名校院起初資源短缺,不遺餘力倡導教育平權及自由平等。 4. This program will offer you with great opportunities of operating multi-media learning materials. 這個課程會提供實際操作多媒體教材機會。 5. Among all candidates, Cathy overshadowed others with her witty talks and exhibition of professional skills. 在眾多面試者中,凱西憑著慧黠言談和專業技能技壓群雄。 6. This typhoon had left many residents to be homeless and desperately starved.這次颱風讓許多居民無家可歸且飢寒交迫。 7. This restaurant has a good reputation for hospitability service and intricate cuisines which my colleagues highly recommended.' 這家餐廳令人感到賓至如歸和提供精緻菜餚,同事大推! 8. You might consider Harvard University as the best school for advanced educations. <文法測驗題目Answers> 1.(C)→have been 2.undergrounds →underground 3. founded →was founded 4. with →X (offer sb. sth.) 5. Among →Of 6. to be →X 7. hospitability →hospitable 8. as →X
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
Monthly Talk﹕
Shifting one's career is never an easy task. Considering my observation upon friends around randomly enrolling in some departments in universities or colleges uninteresting or less self-driven to them due to the overall scores they'd earned at the exams, they again landed jobs as most did with monotone shifts boring them to the bones. How many of you have given up the long-held dreams and ambitions during stressful academics, the multitude of studies almost crashing your back all coming to you at once. This year, there's an English writing test guiding students to pen down their thoughts regarding a tough call for a graduate school student to be a waste collector (or in a better term as a "Hygiene Inspector")after earning the diploma. It might seem insane after investing considerable amount time and money into his studies and future supposedly on the path of landing a decent job with high-paying job entailed with greater responsibilities and higher social status. But to me, there's nothing wrong or right about this choice. Every job has its own underlying significance and functions we could hardly grasp. It's easy to judge others without looking at our own issues on the plate. What I felt appalled when people sneezed at this important and challenging task of cleaning the streets and collecting leftovers, wastes from many households was our ungrateful and condescending attitude. You think you are better than any of us﹖ Yes, you may be in possession of abundant wealth which gets some jealous but it doesn't entitle you to despise anyone you've met or are about to encounter. Who disposed of your gross dumps on a daily basis﹖ Who drove the plane when you were laidback watching the great in-flight films﹖ Who educated you to use forks and knives politely in order when dining at the restaurants﹖ Who remained patience with your muddy shoes stained the floor a janitor spent hour-long cleaning, mopping and waxing﹖ Who prepared your take-outs for meals when you are in a rush for grabbing food for meals so as to resume your work for returning home earlier for a good rest﹖ You needn't please them but respect them with conscience and consideration. What you have enjoyed in a day didn't come from nowhere but hands of those sweating so hard to provide those services. No contempt to any occupations which always worth my sincerest salutation and a pat on the shoulder for such amazing jobs they've collaborated with to create tons of miracles for a great society. You are proud in whatever you choose to do and I can fully love the idea to have your back. You might like some others out there always seeking methods of entertaining, pleasing others for the whole life. As a student, you might try all means of scoring high at the tests and win the smiles from your parents, teachers, and admiration from your peer. But while being showered with all the glorious moments, you felt genuinely happy deep within there and so sure of your life﹖ Years after, you'll be stuck in the idea of seeking employment in some successful enterprises or organizations which can reflect the higher social status and handsome salary, measuring up to the picture your family have long expected you to be. Aren't you tired of the game like so﹖ Perhaps you already fell victim to those vicious cycles for long and started to get used to it without any more struggles which might ambush and then catch you off guard at numerous sleep tights you thought to yourself," Is this what my life is all about﹖ Shouldn't I deserve a better life﹖" Don't be hard on yourself, please﹗ Even if you get to the top of the class during schooldays, get accepted by some global firms well-known in your industry, or settle down in the beautiful residence of your neighborhood. Are you currently satisfied with your life and planning to pursue higher goals there﹖ Don't be silly, I was there and then. Having a quick flashback on my life, I sometimes dwell on the past where I took a great fall and how I got on my feet again. The answer was ridiculously simple and almost dropped my jaws. When you want it the most, there's no easy way out, right﹖ You can totally apply this theory to all situations there. Sometimes you might get fatigued about marching on your own and really need some assurance from your pals or some authorities. But here is the thing you need to note that you are the only person responsible for the consequences of those decisions made at the very first place and you cannot expect to live someone's life forever all the time. I always told myself and beloved friends still active and responsive on social networks or in regular contacts, we all have done a whole lot of things in life and sometimes stumbled for foolish acts before getting to know the knack of being a happy individual with peace of mind. Chin up and always take extra interest in things around. You won't regret doing what I've just said. Still glue your face to the screen of the smartphone like a drug addict to this cocaine﹖ Take a stroll at the park and heave your head up for the shimmering moonlight and you'll get really surprised how long you haven't laid eyes on such beautiful wonders surrounding us. 1.貴店最晚幾點關門呢﹖ A. When will your shop be closed﹖ B. How late are you open﹖ 2. 本周我們合約就會到期了。 A. Our contract will expire this month. B. Our contract will finish this month. 3. 我的筆記型電腦當機了。 A. My computer didn't move at all. B. My laptop freezes. 4. 這份薪水不算高。 This is not a good salary. This is not a high salary. 5. 這個工作內容有哪些﹖ A. What does this job entail﹖ B. What does this work include﹖ 6. 我從來沒有來過這裡。 A. I have never been here before. B. I had been to this place before. 7. 恭喜您榮陞。 A. Congratulations on your promotion﹗ B. Congratulations for your promotion﹗ 8. 他的工作獲得全體長官的肯定。 A. His work was highly agreed by all supervisors. B.His work has gained the recognition of all supervisors. 9. Don't get me involved in this case. A. 不要把我拖下水﹗ B. 這真是一件不小的挑戰啊﹗ 10. She was really cross with me yesterday. A .昨天她很真心地祝福我。 B. 昨天她對我真的很火大。 1.貴店最晚幾點關門呢﹖ (B) 正確答案為B.How late are you open﹖最晚會營業到哪個時候呢﹖因為A.When will your shop be closed﹖的CLOSE意思"營業結束或歇業了"﹐這樣可是會引起不小的誤會喔﹗所以仔細用字還是很重要的。 2.本周我們合約就會到期了。(A) 正確答案為﹕A. Our contract will expire this month.大家都答對了嗎﹖各位同學不妨把自己的信用卡或護照拿出來﹐上頭的有效期限和發證日期﹐大家都有認真地看過是怎樣表達嗎﹖其實這是很簡單的。因為在英文裡只要是"核發"相關的商業用字就是ISSUE﹐沒錯就是我們常見到的議題﹐還記得老師苦口婆心提醒大家﹐其實英語世界裡很少直接把PROBLEM掛在嘴上﹐反而用ISSUE來表達目前有件"需要處理的議題"在進行當中。 3.我的筆記型電腦當機了。(B) 正確答案就是B. My laptop freezes.就好像整個螢幕放進冰箱﹐一動也不動﹐是否很生動的形容方法呢﹖而不是大家看到的A. My computer didn't move at all.(我的電腦動彈不得)﹐聽起來真的很搞笑。同學也特別在課堂上會反映﹐老師我的電腦壞掉了﹐如果用My computer is broken可以表達我的意思嗎﹖但其實這句的意思是﹕我的電腦支離破碎。老師更常聽到的是"I want to open the computer."(我要把電腦大卸八塊)﹐聽起來挺像無敵破壞王的行為。 4.這份薪水不算高。(A) 正確答案為A.This is not a good salary.也可以說成"This is a big salary."如果要加強說明這份工作是很高薪的﹐可以完整地用"This is a high-paying job."來表達﹐所以B句也可以如上述這樣來做修改就可以使用了。 5. 這個工作內容有哪些﹖(A) 正確答案就是A.What does this job entail﹖這句可以說是職場英文經典名句喔﹗這可是在工作面談前﹐自己就要先做的功課﹗可別等主管面試當場confront(直接質詢)受試者﹐才在一問三不知就糗大了喔﹗另外﹐在多益聽力第二大題問答題型和第三大題對話也是出現的熱門考點﹐或許聰明的你已經發現本句中的TAIL有'尾巴'的意思﹐通常用來介紹工作職稱的延伸職責內容(比如﹕需要短期出差和不定期加班等要求)。另外﹐大家對於英文單字的字源常接觸後﹐也不難發現英文裡的動詞多有EN-作為字首, 或字綴--EN來做'加強'或'使變為', EX.﹕ strengthEN(使增強"系統能力"), ENhance(讓提升"能力"), frightEN(使"誰"驚嚇)﹐ENdorse(讓"名人"代言商品), eye-widENing(讓眼睛瞪大驚人事情)﹐ ENvision(能夠猜想預想)等等。而B.What does this work include﹖會讓雇主認為是偏向工作福利(benefit package﹕ 員工旅遊incentive trip, 年終獎金annual bonus, 特休annual leave, 紅利分配dividend, a raise, 醫療保障medical coverage)部分去詢問。 6. 我從來沒有來過這裡。(B) 正確答案為B. I had been to this place before.意思為"我之前就來過這裡了"﹐但老師要特別提醒學生在翻譯的時候有文法had been過去完成式的時候﹐必須要配合一個"簡單過去式"來表示過去發生的後續事情﹐不如就來帶大家看看例句﹕Fiona went to Macau after she had paid a visit to Denmark.(費歐娜參訪丹麥後﹐後來又去了澳門。) 7. 恭喜您榮陞。(A) 正確答案為A. Congratulations on your promotion﹗其實在各項英檢選擇題都常會有"挑戰習慣用語"的題型﹐講到"要為一件事情負責任"的時候﹐考生都會直接反應出be responsible for +N/NP(多半為負責固定或某件事務)﹐而碰到be responsible to work under sb(工作在誰的團隊裡)這類的表達﹐就會非常錯愕甚至感覺陌生。其實這都是來自於平時的閱讀量過小﹐面對介係詞的定義太過於模糊。老師再舉個例子給大家練習﹕ The chandelier is ____ the ceiling.(水晶燈掛在天花板下方。)這時候同學都會被中文語意直接影響甚多﹐而忘了其實介係詞"ON"的定義是"在物體的表面之上"﹐所以這題的答案還是ON而不是第一時間反應出來的UNDER。 8. 他的工作獲得全體長官的肯定。(B) 正確答案為B. His work has gained the recognition of all supervisors.說到被某人認同確實是件很辛苦的事情﹐因為起初只有自己努力不懈和堅持前進﹐結果也不見得如期發生﹐但就是要有信心去達成﹐而且也要從自己建立信心﹐進而說服身邊的人﹐才能嚐到甜美的果實呢﹗ &各種『同意』表示﹐程度不同﹐時機也相當固定喔﹗ A.approval﹕(supervisor subordinates)上司對下屬批准動作, approval of personal leaves。同學最近也很常提到﹐「我最近在放假(沒上班)」到底要怎麼表達呢﹖I am on vacation是正在度假中﹐時間上性質上都很廣泛﹐所以不適合。最正式的說法應該為I am taking leaves.可以完整的表達這句話﹗ B. admission﹕獲得進入某場所的資格﹐比如admission ticket入場﹖be admitted to + school入學許可﹔be admitted to the hospital(by a doctor) 正式獲准入院 C.permit﹕ 官方許可證legal authorization fishing/ work/study/hunting + permit(捕漁/工作/就學/打獵許可證) D.permission﹕口頭上許可 Why did you fumble through my stuffs without my permission﹖ (為什麼可以不經過我的允許﹐這樣亂翻我的東西﹖) That's so-called "theft", you know﹖ (這是偷竊你不知道嗎﹖) E. agreement﹕ 兩方協議 (TOEIC Standardized Test) The Fox Engineering and Construction Corp. has some issues with the terms of the contract(契約內容細目) F.consensus﹕ 經過磋商(negotiation)或妥協(reconciliation)後﹐兩造獲得共識reach a consensus 9. Don't get me involved in this case. (A) 正確答案為A.不要把我拖下水﹗ 10. She was really cross with me yesterday. (B) 正確答案為B.昨天她對我真的很火大。這是非常可愛的說法﹐而且是氣到把對方老放在心上﹐好像在折磨自己又一邊想著對方﹗ -
英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
自從韓劇「藍色生死戀」在亞洲爆紅後,男男女女都萌發愛戀的情愫,也渴望有「來自星星的你」的都敏俊教授來搭救,可以擺脫一成不變的生活;同時,也可以擁有「屋塔房上的世子」穿梭時光的永恆承諾,暖男風潮再現,總是想終結單身卻又天人交戰(war with oneself)是否該這麼快把自己交給另一半,"沒關係這是愛情啊!"。從青澀校園時期,許多人都憧憬(fantasize)著浪漫的戀情和甜蜜時光,印象中大家會選擇到山上欣賞夜空星光滿佈(The sky is scattered with stars.);到電影院感動主角的深情不悔;到夕陽絕美的海邊踏著細沙,雙雙緊靠的足跡,好像就會這樣一直走下去。以上的微美場景彷彿撥放著無限回憶,當初的山盟海誓猶然在耳。 每當情人節(Valentine's Day)到,花價突然供不應求(Demand is higher than supply)又水漲船高時,就會讓單身的朋友默默竊喜(smirk),但同時又發現許多餐廳在這特別的節日不提供"單身用餐",於是在人類世界裡就發明出的"太閃了"相關表達,甚至朋友在社群網路貼上情侶照,大家會直接說" 給我墨鏡,閃到看不到路了。" 在歐洲國家,情侶在街上公然擁抱(cuddle)、親吻,都不用太大驚小怪(make a fuss),因為這種"閃給大家看"的態度是從小父母就相當地開明,而且認為"天天說愛"是很重要的事情,如果老公上班出門前沒跟太太說" I love you, babe."回家可能就要跪"漢堡"了(Just kidding!) 1.天啊!你快看,他們也太"閃"了吧! Hey, Take a look at them! They are displaying affection to each other publicly. (沒錯就是用"公開表情感來說",算挺客觀的評論。各位忠實的讀者也知道老師介紹過display有: 1.展示物件:The jewelry is on display on the shelves. (珠寶在架上展示中) ;2. 展示能力:This athlete has displayed incredible strength in freestyle stroke. (這位運動員在自由式項目展現驚人表現。而同學天天盯著3C的螢幕就是display screen!) ※同學在信中提到:老師之前提過看電影要用go " SEE" the movie,可是在自修國外影集的時候,外國人會跟其他用手機的觀眾說"Excuse me, could you turn off the phone, we are trying to WATCH the film here."所以到底要用SEE還是WATCH? <解答>同學說得都是對的,看電影是"前往的動作",故使用"go see the movie",在只要進去電影院觀賞"大銀幕"就等著是"在家裡"觀看的同樣行為,我們就會用"watch the film/movie"。所以如果你要表達:「我這週五去了電影院看電影。」可以這麼說:「I went to see the movie this Friday./ I watched a film at the cinema(=movie theater)。」如果第二句沒有特別說明地點,外國朋友也可能會錯意"是在家裡觀看"的喔!請同學多多注意用法和表達的時機點。 2.我真不敢相信,那對情侶公然"喇舌",這也太"閃了"吧! To my disbelief, that couple was French-kissing there. Please, GET A ROOM! (這邊用到belief的異義字disbelief,甚至妳可以用"Over My Dead Body"『太扯了啦!要是我沒親眼看到我絕對不信) 。而如果你用到了"Get A Room"那可就是只對方在大庭廣眾之下實在親暱到有點有礙觀瞻,讓你非常地不舒服,只好低吼一聲:「可以去旅館開房間嗎?」,這很明顯帶有負面( negative)和挑釁( provocative)的語氣喔!所以,如果你膽敢當著別人前面說這句話,接著就是"腳底抹油",瘋狂揮起手刀逃命吧! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! 』 <生活觀察家&飲食文化=時尚ICON?> 從歐美電視劇中時尚男女身上看到不僅是巴黎時尚伸展台上的新款配件和提包,更是手上那印有鮮明的帶有深綠飄逸長髮的美人魚商標:星巴克咖啡飲品。這樣的印象從好萊塢電影中放送全球,變成人類共通語言,甚至產生共鳴和走到異鄉有著歸屬感的品牌,至今全世界已有九千多家門市。或許您從未想過這波咖啡潮為何只有星巴克獨享市場大餅,難道是單純外國品牌催化下的虛榮心,還是咖啡豆的特殊風味呢?以下就有國外心理學家和行銷團隊為您揭密,這巨大商機背後的消費心理學和消費者為何會一而再地上門消費而不會動搖的品牌忠誠度表現。提示:並不是因為咖啡本身讓星巴克大行其道。 Is Starbucks Coffee of Better Quality?星巴克咖啡較為優質? When Starbucks launched, there were not very many places in the US where you could get espresso-based coffee like Lattes or Cappuccinos. this was a big part of Starbucks' novelty.當星巴克咖啡推出時,在全美提供以濃縮咖啡基底的飲品(像是拿鐵或卡布奇諾)的商店其實並不多,這也是星巴克出奇制勝的一步。 Starbucks takes pride in their own roast, which is darker than most coffee shops - in between normal roast and French (espresso) roast which results of more of the oils coming out of the bean and caramelizing but also slightly more bitter taste. Just recently Starbucks started selling its blond roast, which offers a more traditional flavor.星巴克以自身的烘焙風格為榮,比市面上販售的咖啡更濃郁,介於一般烘焙和法式烘焙(濃縮咖啡),可以逼出更多的油脂和呈現焦糖化狀態,帶有略微苦口感。就在近期販售了黃金烘焙,可以在飲用時享受純粹香氣。 BLONDE ROAST黃金烘焙系列咖啡豆!共有兩種新口味-星巴克閑庭綜合(Veranda)和輕柳綜合(Willow)咖啡豆。 Coffee Experience is more Important than Actual Coffee Quality. 購買咖啡的經驗比咖啡品質重要許多 1.Coffee Buying Experience. Howard Shultz (Starbucks Founder) spent a lot of effort not only in the beverage itself but in the entire coffee buying experience. This is why Starbucks locations around the world consistently have a good atmosphere, indirect lighting, relaxing music in the background, great aromas, and friendly 'baristas'. 1.購買咖啡的經驗:星巴克的創始人霍華‧蕭茲花了許多力氣在飲料部分外,也很注重購買咖啡的過程感受。這就是全世界的星巴克可以持續提供良好環境,舒適照明,和放鬆背景音樂,美好香氣,和友善"咖啡師傅"。 This is also why their coffee has unique names. At Starbucks you don't order a simple black coffee, you order a Pike Place blend venti. Rites, names and processes are important part of customer experience.這也是他們提供的咖啡都有個特殊的名稱。在星巴克你不會用"黑咖啡"來點,而是用大杯派克調和。這樣儀式般的過程、點出咖啡名稱和整體過程都是消費經驗的重要環節。註明:星巴克位於西雅圖的創始店就在Pike Place Market ( 派克市場 ) 內,連圖騰商標都不同於目前所見的! 2. Personal Reward . Psychologists believe a big part of Starbucks' success comes from the desire to reward yourself. Before a long day of work, you deserve to treat yourself to a nice Grande Cappucino. It's a little daily splurge that most people can afford. 2.獎勵自我: 心理學者相信星巴克的成功源自於獎勵自我的慾望。一天辛勞工作前,你是該好好招待自己一份大杯卡布奇諾。這點每日振奮劑算是普羅大眾還能買得起的。 Behavioral psychologist Dan Ariely has proven how our brain tricks us into enjoying things more if we believe they are better. This means that even if the coffee at Starbucks is not actually scientifically better than the average coffee, the combination of the brand, the experience and your belief that it is probably better makes your brain actually taste it as better coffee and enjoy it more than an average coffee. This is why blind tests are important, because your taste buds will go with your brain bias. In other words, perception is reality.行為心理學者丹已經證實我們的大腦會欺騙自己去更享受某些事物,只因為我們相信那是較好的抉擇。這也意味著即使從實質檢驗來看星巴克的咖啡並不超越其他品牌咖啡,但因為品牌、飲用感受,和你認為星巴克就是比較好喝的信念的種種原因結合後,你的大腦就會感受到嚐起來的味道就是比其他咖啡品牌更加美好。這也是盲飲很重要的原因,因為你的味蕾會跟著你的大腦偏見而有所改變。(此份報告指出在盲飲測試感受各牌咖啡飲品後,測試員表示麥當勞和多那滋的咖啡飲品部分評價高出他牌許多。) 3. Familiarity - When you are running to work, and you need your morning Joe, it is hard to think about multiple coffee shops, evaluate them and decide on one. The default answer to 'morning coffee' is 'Starbucks'. This is the power of branding and positioning. 3.熟悉度:當你匆忙趕去上班時,你早晨需要來一杯咖啡。這時候很難去回想好幾家咖啡商店,再一一評估比較選擇最後要去哪裡購買。通常說到"每日咖啡"就會立刻想到"星巴克"。這就是品牌和產品定位的魅力。 When you are in a different city, going to Starbucks is lower risk: you know the coffee is OK (at least, or at least you think that), you know what to expect, you know they probably also have pastries and other items you may be looking for. It is a decision with lower risk than going to an unknown place that may or may not have good coffee.當你在不同城市,走進星巴克可以承擔比較小的風險:因為你知道那裡提供的咖啡是有一定水準的,你也可以預料買到的產品狀況,也不難想像那邊有著哪些餐點或其他選擇項目你可以先行決定。這樣一來,這個低風險的決定就會比去不知名的地方點咖啡來得安全,也不會去輕易踩到地雷。 So no, Starbucks does not have better coffee, but it will taste better for you if you believe it. I drive an extra 5 minutes to get to the best coffee I can find, but I am as susceptible to my brain driving and my emotions driving my buying decisions as anyone else.所以,星巴克的咖啡並非優於其他品牌,這是不用懷疑的。但如果它喝起來比較美味也是因為你如此深信著!當然我也可以多花個五分鐘開去我所知道較好的地方買咖啡,但我的大腦驅使著我的心情,進而也影響了我的購買意願,最後就像其他人一樣又走進了星巴克。
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英文原來這樣說(EnglishIsAPieceofCake)
< Sometimes Things just Don't Go as Planned.> A few weeks ago, I've received a call from one of my family members, the auntie who looked after me for a while during childhood when my parents were too occupied with their work or in some evening when there's no sign of me returning home. There's only one place they would find me and my auntie's place is a corner house at the end of a dark alley but lined with exuberant trees towering high, flowers in full blossom with rainbow-like colors dazzling all the pedestrians happening to make their way into there. With the tone of urgency and great sorrow, I could smell things didn't go well and here came after the demise of my second uncle who was quite distant from our family since he'd been busy climbing the corporate ladder and buying his way up to secure his position at the company. Sorry to defame a deceased individual like so; what's more, he's one of my closest relatives in life in the same neighborhood when I was in primary school. Throughout his life, he had been pursuing a multitude of interests for family and himself, but it ended up going to the drain after he's diagnosed with the lymph cancer at the final stage, the terminal type. Surprisingly, he rejected all plausible treatments to save him some torments or excruciating complications after the chemo. And the days after he was admitted to the hospitalization, things came to pretzel-like twists and his health condition dramatically deteriorated, worse than the physician had previously predicted according to the spread of the malignant tumors into other internals. I have tried to avoid the occasions like this: Funeral is the occasion full of people swarming into the space embellished with floral decorations and long strips of sheets in white printed with honorary languages to glorify a person's achievement in his or her prime time(despite the fact that the person could do very little to the benefits for the society)paying the last respect for the deceased on the cause of courtesy or the traditional value that people given with the same family name shall be gathered together to show their grief to one's family and relatives. But as the member of relatives, you were expected to greet a great number of people strange to you or oddly standing beside you with no idea who the elderly lady kept weeping with tissue papers(by the way, she could be the professional "Funeral Mourner" to moan and sob dramatically walking around the wooden coffin loaded with the body sealed by the nails as the Taoism doctrine stipulated. In brief, it's a chaos and very few understood what to do and how to act when bunches of people looked terribly pale, weary, and almost fainted in the middle of the ritual. I also burst into tears when the well-trained host guided the family members to bow to the people coming all the way to our deceased family members or relatives. It's just like the repetitive scenes in the movie: People arrive at the shrine with the photo glued up there for you to tell whose funeral is, you need to hold the burning incense for seconds with three nods as the way of communicating with his or her spirit in heaven. My elder brother told me to say " Farewell, uncle, this is Brian, I am here to help you settle down for what you've left behind. We'll be watching over you remaining wife, children, and relevant business when you were away in heaven." That crept me over, but I still did it without hesitation. That's what we've been proclaiming " Our family Stick Together Regardless!" When we were born, we came to the world with nothing in hand. Since we've been working so hard to earn our share of benefits, it's widely acknowledged nothing can be taken away when we took the last breath." My heart sank in the whole process of participating in my second uncle's funeral and it served as wake-up call: What I've been doing in my life and whether I've brought joy in my family's life or not?" I couldn't help but ponder over it. Life is short, and how long have we spent dwelling on the past living in someone's life without realization. Things don't always go as the way we've thought about for long, right? Embrace what you are already have, and love people walking past you. You never know what will befall on us until the day God decides to take us back in the great heaven above. Don't be mad if you are not a Christian, I love your belief, and your God in all names. 「可以幫我去銀行跑跑腿嗎?」、「借錢?我都泥菩薩過江-自身難保了。」、「你拋棄式眼鏡不要戴太久! 」、「老是熬夜,難怪妳老是眼睛紅通通喔!」、「這杯咖啡也太燙了,我可是貓舌頭耶!」、「我真不敢相信那個歌手在演唱會對嘴。」、「千萬不要跟黃牛買票,這樣會助長歪風!」,這些標註字彙和片語都是同學已經學會的了嗎? (A)跑跑腿: run an errand for something She ran some errands in the bank during lunch break. (她趁午休時間到銀行處理點事情。) (B) 泥菩薩過江: be caught up in someone's dramas. After getting married, I found it really hard to talk to friends about my concerns because they were all caught up on their own dramas. (結婚後,要找到可以傾吐困擾的朋友少之又少,因為他們自己都有一堆事情要處理,根本自身難保。) (C)拋棄式眼鏡: disposable contact lenses There're a wide variety of disposable contact lenses available in the shops but it's a different story in American, for all consumers need to receive a formal eye-examination before an optometrist hands you the prescribed contacts. (在商店裡都有各式各樣的拋棄式眼鏡可選購,可是在美國你必須接受正式的驗光步驟,才可以拿到有度數的拋棄式隱形眼鏡。) (D) 眼睛紅通通: blood-shot eyes This year drew near to an end and most workers might either take work home or work overtime in their own cubicles till midnight. (今年要進入尾聲,許多上班族不是把工作帶回家繼續忙,不然就是在辦公室隔間裡奮鬥到半夜才回去。) (E) 黃牛:scalper Taiwanese tend to wait in the long line for some tickets, especially for concert tickets. Unfortunately, some scalpers attempted to purchase tickets in bulk and resell them on the internet with exorbitant prices. (台灣人常大排長龍買票,特別是演唱會的票; (F) 做作: pretentious People in Belgium consider French accent in Paris relatively pretentious. (比利時人認為法國人的法文腔調相當做作。)還記得老師在"薯條"的由來提到:比利時其實才是薯條的故鄉,而且也因為以法語為官方語言,才會有後來誤傳的現象呢!(rumor has it that the origin of French fries were rooted in Belgium instead of France. It's a controversial issue for long!) <名人英文開講時間>:一向爭取人權和種族平等權力文明的美國社會,對於同性婚姻和相關法案仍存在相當大的爭議。目前為科技龍頭蘋果公司首席執行長公開出櫃,認為自己身為公眾人有其必要來為真正的平等和正義發聲,在許多人心中投下了震撼彈! Throughout my professional life, I've tried to maintain a basic level of privacy. I come from humble (卑微的) roots, and I don't seek to draw attention to(吸引目光) myself. Apple is already one of the most closely watched companies in the world, and I like keeping the focus on our products and the incredible things our customers achieve with them.(回顧我的專業生涯中,我總對基本隱私相當重視。出身清寒,我也並不尋求太多關注,而蘋果電腦公司早已是世界上前景看好的公司之一,我也很喜歡專注於公司產品和客戶使用後能獲得的絕妙效果。) At the same time, I believe deeply in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who said: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" I often challenge myself with that question, and I've come to realize that my desire for personal privacy has been holding me back from doing something more important. That's what has led me to today.(在同時我也深信馬丁路德‧金恩博士曾說過::「在人生最需持續和努力關注的問題就是"你曾為別人做過些什麼嗎?"」) 我常這麼自省且問著自己這件事情,也同時意識到在渴望更多個人隱私,讓我退怯而不去做更有意義的事情。這也是今天讓我站在這裡的原因。 For years, I've been open with many people about my sexual orientation (性取向). Plenty of colleagues at Apple know I'm gay, and it doesn't seem to make a difference in the way they treat me. Of course, I've had the good fortune to work at a company that loves creativity and innovation (創新) and knows it can only flourish (繁盛) when you embrace (擁抱) people's differences. Not everyone is so lucky. While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven't publicly acknowledged (承認) it either, until now. So let me be clear: I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.(多年來我都和許多人公開我的性向,許多在蘋果公司的同事也知道我是同性戀者,但這並不改變她們對我的態度。當然,我也是非常幸運可以在這個熱愛創意和創新的公司上班,而且在包容彼此間的差異下更加壯大。但並不是每個人都像我這樣幸運。我從不否認我的性向,但我也從未公開承認,直到說話的這個當下。我想說的是:身為同性戀者我相當的驕傲,而且我認為身為同性戀者是上帝給我最棒的禮物之一。) Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority (少數) and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day. It's made me more empathetic (有同理心的), which has led to a richer life. It's been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity (困境) and bigotry (偏執). It's also given me the skin of a rhinoceros (犀牛), which comes in handy when you're the CEO of Apple.(這讓我體察到少數族群的身分也可以讓我多了份挑戰去感受其他少數族群每日所經歷過的掙扎。這讓我變得更有同理心,也導向我更豐富的人生。每每感到人生的艱苦和難過,我也從中拾獲自信,去走出自己的道路,從困挫中學會堅強和些頑固。我常戲稱在擔任蘋果首席執行長時,這一切一切的過去讓我可以像有著犀牛皮般百毒不侵。) The world has changed so much since I was a kid. America is moving toward marriage equality, and the public figures who have bravely come out (出櫃) have helped change perceptions (觀感) and made our culture more tolerant. (從孩提時期開始,這世界變了很多。美國社會也提倡平等婚姻權和許多公眾人物勇敢出櫃改變社會觀點,也讓我們的文化更兼容並蓄。)Still, there are laws on the books in a majority of states that allow employers to fire people based solely on their sexual orientation. There are many places where landlords can evict (驅逐) tenants (房客) for being gay, or where we can be barred from visiting sick partners and sharing in their legacies. Countless people, particularly kids, face fear and abuse every day because of their sexual orientation(性向).(現行律法中有許多州,讓雇主可以僅因性向開除員工;甚至有些房東可以"依法"驅離同性戀房客,甚至也不能探視生病的伴侶或得到任何遺產。無數的人們,尤其是孩子每天都因為自己的性向而活在恐懼和暴力中。)I don't consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I've benefited from the sacrifice (犧牲) of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with (接受) who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it's worth the trade-off with my own privacy. The company I am so fortunate to lead has long advocated (倡導) for human rights (人權) and equality for all. We stood for marriage equality in our home state of California. We'll continue to fight for our values, and I believe that any CEO of this incredible company, regardless of (不顧) race, gender, or sexual orientation, would do the same. And I will personally continue to advocate for equality for all people until my toes point up.(公司可貴地倡導平等,而加州國會也如同我們支持同性婚禮立法及通過任何不受歧視的平等法案。在我們公司中任何的高級主管都會做一樣的事情,不管種族、性別、或性向,全力支持人權和提倡平等,直到盡了最後一份力氣。) 『本專刊內容由王軒老師提供,並與本社編輯部共同策畫製作』
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英文原來這樣說(EnglishIsAPieceofCake)
It's a warm beautiful day out there, but why you sighed alone in your study with a notebook written with your wishes and expectations of a great life? Why do we tend to frown on things instead of taking great pleasure in what we are doing and have been engaged into? The answer is quite plain to see.We are insecure about the current life, thus growing anxious about the future days full of variables.The sense of uncertainty almost engulfed our bravery, numbed our sensual feelings, and deprived our power to dream beyond those in hand, the possibilities we dare not to envision. Those fears stemmed from our long-held education as well as the parenting profoundly affected by our traditional values.The saying goes that your being too carried away by great joy will incur the bad luck imposed by the God of Fate giving humans the lesson of feeling content with the present, leading to dire consequences or the contributing factor to one's failure. So, despite all the rewards earned from strenuous work and persistence in achieving great success, we should remain modest and humble ourselves in front of others who could be likely to undermine your plans out of jealousy or discourage you from where you are heading to. Something really awkward is right here:We cannot help but feel or take some comments or judgments too personal though they didn't mean us no harm. In the world of comparison and contrast, it is commonplace the standard of distinguishing one winner from other underachievers helped us get stuck in the train of thoughts ranking ourselves in certain categories or labelling yourselves as the sociopath just because you hate jumping on the bandwagon,like wearing the pairs of socks in the same color, talking nonsense regarding some ridiculous topics in making the presentation which your Prof. dozed off all the term, feeling lifeless with his own syllabus and materials chosen by himself. I am a proclaimed "Narcissist"or "Attention Freak", and never cease to be a spotlight in crowds and act indifferently to careless stares I have been intensively longing for. Who am I lying to?Probably, that explains why I can be traumatized like so only by a grump bus driver scolding me for putting the EasyCard tattoo early before my stop on the sensor machine deducting the fare.What he said made sense but I still felt hurt ,right?Why?I have a hard time swallowing my pride when confronted with dissents.Well, being humble,again, along with understanding others on occasions really got on my nerves.Nothing can tame me but some wake-up calls with links to the matter of life and death really urged me to stay out of the comfort zone and to shift the perspectives where I thought I might be right all the time. 英文電影經典臺詞整理:好上手表達句 1.There's nothing I can do but watching the time tick away.我只能眼睜睜看著時間流逝,對現況愛莫能助。 2.People tend to chew me up and spit me out.(=People just take me for granted.)人們都會把你利用完後,把你踢開。 3.When it comes to dating the opposite sex, it's better not to rush it or act too eagerly for the relationship.That'll make you look too desperate.提及和異性交往,最好別表現太操之過急,或很急迫想跟對方在一起,這樣讓你自己看起來很沒行情。 4. You don't have to hide from me because I am on your side.你不用躲著我,我是站在你這邊的。 5.Tell your mom that she can expect a visit from me this week.轉告妳母親,我這週會去拜訪她的。 6.Stop grilling the innocent child whose family just got murdered.在他們全家經歷了謀殺案後,別在拷問這個不知情的孩子了。 7.We cannot handle the truth so that grabbing some scapegoats might make things easier to process.That's how we got guys behind bars for years without valid excuses.我們不能面對事實時,抓幾個代罪羔羊來結案好像簡單點。這也是為什麼有這麼多人沒有合理實證下,還蹲牢房坐冤獄好幾年。 8.That's exactly what you have to do. Please don't put me in such difficult position.你就得這麼做,不要讓我難為。 9.Why did you look so distraught when running out of the villa that night?Driven by the sense of guilt?那晚你為什麼看起來這麼急躁地離開那棟別墅。因為罪惡感所故? 10.You happened to be in New York on business when the terrorist attacks arose in Paris the night before your flight.That's really close and you literally dodged a bullet在你搭機前晚巴黎剛好經歷恐怖攻擊,剛好你在紐約洽公。 11.Look at me!I am still one piece together after the bungee jumping. It totally gave me the adrenaline rush and so much thrills.如你所見,我在高空彈跳後毫髮無傷。這真的給我腎上腺素激升和超級興奮的感覺。 [ Is it too late to apologize for something we've done before?] Let me get straight with this. If you don't mean it, don't bother showing anyone the gestures which might suggest or denote your generosity or kindess. What's the word for that? Yes, Phony. Jane, a reserved but intelligent girl wearing braces, always impressed others with her bright smiles, closely navie she wasn't consicous of. What's more, it's beautiful for her to fit in different groups of discussion, mingling with strangers or old acquiantance in the same party without any issues bothering her or others. She's the center of life on social occasions, beloved by the crowds. Little did I know that she's never shown the dark side of her human nature until the day someone forwarded the conversation between my friends and she on Line, the group chat for some bunches of besties or close pals from school(definitely not taking the co-workers into consideration regarding private chats.) or some friends' friends there. I couldn't believe my eyes at those filthy languages, among those I was accused of being the black sheep or bossy person when it comes to a new party or some gatherings in our leisure time. That really killed me when I saw those in person and couldn't take it as the truth: The girl always greeting me with " Hey, I miss you so bad. How's everything going?" all the time now backstabbing for a long time. {Hitting on people when wandering in the city is reaching for the stars?} Street experiments are really fun and you can have the first-hand experience with someone walking past you or even ignoring you with something on their minds, darting toward somewhere with vacant stares on their botox-injected faces. Here comes some good news:Greeting others first might be a good way of receiving positive responses in various situations.Complicating things in life is never my forte. Striking a conversation with some irrelevant topics shall be a soft start for the first-time talk. And, please note that your attitude really matters. As usual, I was heading to the language center for my morning sessions in which participants are a group of inquisitive learners either intending to work abroad with American Dream, sorry, no longer existing(hates to tear their picture-perfect plan apart)or attending courses for rumor exchanges, what's worse, killing time during such scorching summer days.(why not?The air-conditioning is available and they are people covering the utility fee on the two words:Bill Shock.Oh, we need to go back to the moment this morning at the station station where passengers scanning their suspicious eyes on all living creatures as the warning of self-defense,(the truth is I have been really paranoid about standing too close to the platform and it's likely for some psychopath shoved you down meanwhile the train was unstoppable and so ready to make a big juice human pizza out of you. Yes, I am a person of crowdphobia and easily intimidated by squeaky noises coming from any direction. Interestingly,a beefy guy carrying his backpack just took his canned drink from the vending machine looked pretty amiable so that anyone near could say hi to him without being taken as a perpetrator or some pedophiles out there.When the moment our eyes locked, he smiled and greeted me with "Ni Hao"(meaning as "how's going" in Chinese)and we shared some cultural insights in terms of our experiences living outside Taiwan. Raised in a diverse upbringings, Edo is currently learning Chinese in Taiwan where his Italian father and Taiwanese mother are spending summer break together. What I am going to say might urge you to engage in the working holiday program.Yes, you nailed it.Edo's parents met in Australia while his father relocated to Perth office for some architecture &property development project while his mother was flying to Australia for the working holiday adventures Believe it or not, they just loved each other at the first sight.Their romantic encounter so melted me away.Did you feel the same way?Who can expect such wonderful talk in only sixteen-minute ride on my way to work?Yeah,it's not like reaching for the stars, and you should treat yourself like one because there's something special about you and something unique about others. Don't let your preoccupation get in your way getting to know others.Check my story, and my hunch never failed me.Go give it a shot in a polite and genuine way. You will have fun as I did. 生活有大小節日,所以常有朋友互相準備禮品,別看西方國家的朋友都很豪邁和熱情,遇到這種情況也會有中式客套出場,比如" You don't have to"(你真是太費心了)," Sorry for causing you so many troubles"(真抱歉給您添麻煩)," You may come all the way to the shop for this special select, right?"(你肯定是跑了老遠去買這個精挑細選的禮品) ," That's exactly what I need."(這就是我最想要的禮物呢!), " I don't know how to describe my gratitude for you."(真不知道怎麼謝謝你)都可以表達你收到禮品的驚喜心情溢於言表,而收到的朋友也相當開心!但英文中常提到的Indian Gift(a gift that the receiver is bound to return to the giver because the latter will, for sure, demand that the gift be returned sometime in the future. Also called Indian present),就是當收到禮物時,必須要回贈等值禮品,而在現在社會帶有"關說送禮或有所求"的概念。有一回,學生突然上課前買了杯飲料放在我桌上,當下挺開心學生這麼懂事了解老師上課的用心付出。下一秒,班上同學立刻表示希望老師可以幫他翻譯學校的作業,後來我戲稱這是"鴻門飲",可讓我收到心驚膽跳啊!下次不知道又有何事相求?其實源頭是印地安人見到歐洲新移民時,主動贈送禮品以表友善,但因為在部落的傳統就是禮尚往來,後來還被這些移民族群誤解"相當陰險的交易手段"。所以同學學習語言,更要去認識其中的文化意涵,才能精準掌握用字和拿捏使用的時機和語調喔! Elbow One's Way 推擠(手肘)出人群 EX.:In China, there're millions of commuters elbowing their ways to board or disembark the trains every morning so that you may get injured and stuck in the huge crowds like that.(在中國地區,每天早上都有好幾百萬的通勤乘客上下車,要不是被推擠到受傷,就是卡在像沙丁魚般的人群中動彈不得。) Get On Sb's nerves(惹怒某人) EX:Angela kept checking me from the head to toe with hostile attitude. Rumor has it that I will get promoted to the managerial position which she has been dying for. No wonder her eyes are green with envy toward everyone all the time. (安潔拉老是用一種敵意的眼神從頭到尾打量我。有謠言指出:因為我即將要升到經理職位是她不擇手段也想要的目標。難怪她看每個人都是一副忌妒到不行的臉。) What's The Rush?(你到底在急什麼啊!) A:Get out of my way and get my car key RIGHT NOW! (別擋住我的路,快去拿車鑰匙!) B: What got into you? And what's the rush,uh?(你在發瘋喔!到底在急著做什麼啊!) A:Are you blind or what? I need to rush my wife to the hospital now because her water broke two minutes. The baby cannot wait to see the world. (你是沒帶眼睛出門還是有事啊?我急著要送我老婆去醫院,她羊水二分鐘前才剛破了。小寶寶迫不及待要看看這個世界了。) Has/Have The Tantrum(鬧脾氣) EX.:During our laid-back afternoon tea time, I really considered Alice's three-year-old daughter a total drag, for she had the tantrum all the time and totally ruined our lovely moments of classmate reunion. (在休閒的午茶時光,愛麗絲的三歲女孩真的是個大拖油瓶,因為她老是哭鬧不停,根本毀了我們的同學聚會美好時光。) Safe And Sound平安健康的(狀態) Recently, there have been so many missing jets en route to various countries and we should cross our fingers, hoping those passengers to return safe and sound in spite of the slim chance. (最近有許多飛往各國卻中途失蹤的客機,我們要為這些乘客祈禱,即使希望渺茫,但希望他們平安歸來。) Carried Away太得意忘形 EX.:Janice, please don't be too carried away for scoring so high in the math test because you just failed the English and Geography tests. (珍妮絲,妳不要數學考高分在那邊囂張,妳的英文和地理考試已經被當掉了!) Don't Push Your Luck別用光你的好運(要求更多更好的事情) Mom:Jennifer, you'd better return home before 10pm. after the count-down party Daughter: No way, the party won't reach the climax until 11pm. and you expect me to leave so early? Have a heart, okay? You were my age before and should totally understand what I'm doing now, right? Mom:Girl, I can relate to you but as a mother, I can't let you out like that without worries. And don't push your luck, your curfew is either 10pm. or 9pm.. You call! 『本專刊內容由王軒老師提供,並與本社編輯部共同策畫製作』
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
每次講到要學到教訓,身邊學生都會大聲疾呼說:「就是當初沒有好好念英文,現在薪水高的、有外派機會的、有升遷職缺的機會,通通都沒有自己的份了。」許多工程師朋友也分享其實在相關領域也有機會可以去找到合理工作時間,而且公司福利相當好,也有機會在多年累積職場經驗躍升到管理階層。但是英文這道門檻就是太晚發現其重要性,本來以為是加分的科目,現在卻變成了職場決一勝負的關鍵。你的臨門一腳就差在英文學習成果了,不是嗎?除了要打開自己的心胸去接受新的語言和自己的母語有所不同。 The Best Lesson I've Learned in Life(人生學到最慘痛的教訓) 1. A decade ago, I had done something I have felt regretful since then. One of my best friends from China told me he's totally money-strapped and desperate for cash after having lost great sum of money in gambling games. What's worse, he was threatened that his life would be at stake if he failed to make the payment he owned the private casino owner.(十年前,我做了一件讓自己後悔莫及的事情。有個從中國來的好朋友告訴我,他因為在賭局裡輸了一堆錢,導致現在阮囊羞澀而且被錢逼到絕境了。屋漏偏逢連夜雨,如果無法付清倩私人賭場的債務,他生命安全就會有顧慮。) 2. By the urgency in his tone, I could tell it should have been quite a critical issue which must have been tackled in a timely manner. Considering the emphasis on the time-sensitive and life-threatening extortions with the interests of the debt rolling bigger and bigger, there's no way I could say no in his face and whoever was in my position would have done the same thing. Yes, I did lend him some money euqalivalent to NT$ 100,000 to rescue him from all the hunting and chasing of the loan shark.(從他說話的急迫性,我可以判斷這一定是緊急到要馬上處理的事情。考慮到這有時效性而且會威脅到他的生命安全又利滾利的債務,我怎麼可以能拒絕他,而且如果你是我,你肯定會做出一樣的決定。是的,我借他台幣十萬塊來償還這些殺人不眨眼的地下錢莊,救他脫離苦海。) 3.Even though we still kept in touch with each other for a couple of months, he suddenly disappeared and afterwards changed his cell number without any earliler notices or hints. I tried to hold my horse and instead got from worries to anxiety because all my friends and family around told me I totally fell for his tricks. Little did I know that human can stoop so low as to lie to your best friend and take advantange of his/her trust after the year-long relationship.(雖然我們還是有保持聯絡好幾個月,但他突然人間蒸發也沒有任何通知,而且還換了手機號碼根本打不通。我試著不要這麼焦急,但我身邊的親友都說我真的被他的伎倆騙了,這才讓我的擔心變成嚴重焦慮了。我根本不相信世界上有這種人會墮落到要欺騙多年的好友和長久以來建立的信任度。) 4. All in all, I've learned from the hard way: Money can spoil any forms of relationships and being innocent will do me no good.(總之,我學了很大的教訓:金錢往來往往讓關係都變質了,傻傻好天真並不是件好事!) *English Phrases and Expressions*就是要你好好說英文<好英文就是要說第二遍!ENGLISH BOOT-CAMP> S:Student T: Teacher 1.我希望理想的男友可以很幽默而且在朋友聚會時都樂於發言。 S:I hope my boyfriend can be really humorous and talk-active in socials. T:The sense of humor and engagement in conversations with friends are the qualities an ideal boyfriend requires. 2.我覺得跟別人相處很挫敗的地方是:通常都會接受到很虛假的回應。 S:I find it frustrating to socialize with others sincerely because they gave me some fake responses. T:It happens. Sometimes the feedback we've received was not as genuine as anticipated. [But what we can do is being more accommodating and forgiving, and that'll make us feel better.但我們能做的就是要多包容多寬恕,這會讓我們自己比較好過。 3.空閒的時候,我都會努力奉獻於教會,藉由當義工或是帶朋友到我們的聚會裡。 S:In my free time, I always contribute a lot to the church by working as a volunteer bringing friends to our gatherings. T:I've been dedicated to church services as a volunteer who welcomes friends with open arms. 4.樓下工程發出的噪音超級惱人的,我快抓狂了啦! S:The nose from the construction down there was so noisy that I almost went crazy. T:The construction noise downstairs was really annoying and it really got on my nerves. 5. 我今天感覺棒極了,因為我暑假不用去上課了! S:I feel good today because I don't have to go to school during summer vacation. T:I feel fabulous because I have no school during summer break. 6.外頭熱得要命,我真想待在家裡不要去上班。 S:It's really hot outside and I would like to stay at home than go to work. T:The heat out there is almost unbearable and I would love to stay put rather than leave for work. 7.從用字來看的話,這個創意寫作十分優秀。 S:This creative writing is very excellent from the words used. T:This creative composition is considered excellent in terms of wording. 8.我不想現在喝咖啡呢! S:I don't feel about drinking a cup of coffee right now. T:I don't feel like drinking coffee right now.=Not in a mood for coffee now. 9.我現在飽到無法再吃下另一塊披薩了,謝囉! S: I am so full that I cannot eat pizza anymore. Thanks. T: I just cannot take another bite of the pizza. Thanks. 10.謝謝你幫我拿回前幾天我在圖書館掉的書。 S:Thanks for taking the book back which I dropped in the library a few days ago. T: I really appreciate your help of bringing me back the book I lost the other days. Recently, some love-struck(為情所困的) friends will come to me for their dwelling on the past romance and suffering which they've seemed quite vulnerable(無能為力的)There's no such rule or regulation to specify that you should stop giving, loving, or cherishing the relationship. Instead, most people simply have the wild goose chase around someone who didn't even bother take a glimpse of (無意間看到)him/her. I am not the love expert or the witch cooking some magic portion in the cauldron turning your fantasy to reality. The truth is that I used to one of you, weeping on the roadside when the person at the other end of the phone breaking up with me in a seemingly dead and indifferent tone as if we were never ever being together. And it's lovely to quote Ms. Taylor Swift's hit single" We will never ever get back together" as the reference of my last relationship with the date now fully carrying out her dream in France in pursuit of(追求追尋) her dream and we both find it awkward to reconnect each other after all the years of zero contact, but affection for each other still lingers there I bet.(or just the thinking on my side) Remember this: It's nothing RIGHT or WRONG to fall in love or have a crush on someone as long as you won't literally jump on the your prey like most vicious and blood-craving(嗜血的) creatures in the concrete jungles. Tip :You're supposed to move out of the apartment as soon as possible if that unit is not in possession of your ownership. It's better to not leave some traces of your garments in the shared closet or the washroom. You know it will kinda make the other's new life get off a rough start,right? Having a heart for your ex could have impressed him/her with your conscience and caring thoughts as you decided to put an end to this relationship. It will definitely be OVER like the way it sounds. Again, clean up and pack your belongings, it's an official closure between you two but between Tyra Bank and those dramatic models in American Next Top Model, not as fierce as it should have been. Crying out his name in the pouring rain is like putting on a good show(自導自演的劇碼) which you are the only person to give the standing ovation while the rest remains numb. Poor you, my dear. You should pull yourself together(振作起來)and don't cling to the horrible emotions which make you a monster you could recognize anymore. Take a look of your reflection in the mirror, you deserve a better life with your glamour shining and dazzling the crowds around. You are never alone in the category of Heart-Broken or it's likely to key in some words like " Why do I end up being a loser since I've been working so hard to be a giver with nothing in return?", " How to train your lover with more appreciation or at least gratitude in the slightest(至少表示一點感激)?", or even worse the " The best way of turning a lost relationship back to your life?" Dear, those messages you might find pathetic because you are making yourself so. Okay, I am fully aware I might sound cruel, but no one should spend months, or years in self-pity while the one you clung to now is leading a new life with new company in a new city. AND THERE'S NO SIGN OF YOUR IMPROVEMENT in mental growth or getting more sophisticated in some challenges.
俏皮英文時間 1.There're millions of people in the washroom and I cannot wait for one more second. 洗手間那裡擠到水洩不通,我根本等不下去了。 2.If it weren't for John's help, my laptop would totally crash now.要不是當時約翰幫忙,我的筆記型電腦或許就報廢了。 3.My children are glued to the TV over the weekends and don't show a sign (有......跡象)of fatigue at all.我的孩子一到周末就整個佔住電視不放,好像精力無窮。 4.Due to the severe snow storm, most vehicles are dead on the road with frozen engines.由於大風雪的緣故,讓許多車輛的引擎故障而在路上拋錨了。 5.It takes you like forever to get ready before going out, what exactly are you doing there?你每次出去前都要弄了老半天,到底在忙什麼啊? 6.The genesis of this whole accident was the physical confrontation.這整件意外的源頭就是肢體衝突。 7.A:Dear, I can totally eat a horse now after three-hour meeting. B:Hey, hold your horse. Didn't you just determine to lose some weight? A:天阿,在這三小時開會後,我現在完全可以大吃一頓。 B:好了,你也別急著大吃。你不是之前說要下定決心減重嗎? 8.The flood of shoppers made the beeline to the department stores in the anniversary sale, which looks as if the hungry crowd rushed to the canteen after class.這波百貨週年慶的人潮鎖定目標往前衝,看起來真像下課後餓很久衝到食堂的學生。 9.OMG! Mom and dad are coming back tonight. They will be so mad seeing all these people trashing our house at the party. God, please don't rain on my parade.真不敢相信!我爸媽今晚要回來了,他們要是看到這些來家裡狂歡作亂的朋友會氣瘋掉。天啊!你不要這樣毀了我的派對呀。 10.Trista reminded me of the imminent job interview next month and told me to level with the interviewer without exaggerating too much about myself.崔斯塔提醒我下個月的工作面談,還告訴我要跟面試官誠實應答,千萬不要誇大其詞。 【精彩文章選讀輕鬆一下】 One day after work, a clown wearing green suspenders and floppy red shoes stopped at a red light on his scooter. While he was waiting for it to turn green, a new Crovette pulled up next to him. The clown had ever seen a Corvette before, so he looked inside, which bothered the driver. When the light turned green, the Crovette burned rubber as he left the intersection. To the driver's surprise, the clown was still right behind him. The driver then shifted into sixth gear and stepped on the gas. When he looked in his rearview mirror, the clown was still right there. Shocked, the driver pulled off the side of the road, " Great job, you won the race," the driver said. " What race?" the clown asked, " I was just trying to get m suspenders of your side-view mirror."你知道台灣的特色小吃有哪些?你知道台灣哪讓外國遊客留下特別印象?台灣髮廊洗頭文化和釣蝦場竟讓波登主廚大吃一驚嗎?In another episode, Bourdain touches down in a familiar spot, the famed Keelung Night Market. There, he experiences some of Taiwan's local foods such as an oyster omelet(蚵仔煎), and also samples some of the port city's other famous seafood." No matter where Bourdain goes, he peppers his conversations with brutally honest remarks (殘酷誠實的評論) about the city and culture he is surrounded by. With Bourdain, the only things that are sugarcoated as the desserts. For those who love food, travel, and truthful comedy, The Layover 2 is just what the doctor ordered. -
英文原來這樣說(EnglishIsAPieceofCake)
上期老師特地整理了多益閱讀考題,讓各位同學習慣出題的模式和抓重點的訣竅,想必大家都如獲至寶吧!要多多複習和接觸不同英文的題材,讓自己對語言更敏銳接受度更高,久了你也會用英文來思考問題和句型結構了。說到這裡很多同學可能都要腦子過熱燒起來了,英文中的My brain is fried就是累到焦頭爛額的狀態,完全虛脫。好的,暑假能不開冷氣的同學就是跟超馬林義傑拼個高下,在家不沖個無限次冷水澡也很難了;而步出家門或公司,就是要口罩(mouth mask)、陽傘(parasol)、袖套(arm sleeve;咖啡杯的杯套是:cup sleeve很可愛吧!)上身,一秒變開喜婆婆的姿態了;請注意,要是帶小朋友到泳池千萬不要忘記擦上防曬乳(sunscreen/sun-proof lotion),燙傷(sunburn)和曬成古銅色(suntan)可是天差地別的,要是leave your children unattended(讓孩子沒人看顧)也是相當危險的事情,在機場如果看到沒人看顧的行李(unattended luggage/possessions)可就是大事了,萬一是爆裂物(explosives)就會釀成一場大混亂(turmoil/chaos)了。 出門就需要來杯涼快的礦泉水才能消暑是嗎?其實除了大家常見的霜淇淋或台灣特產剉冰(shaved ice),也可以多多嘗試台灣好吃又有文化底蘊的小吃。讓你的國外友人也可以好好享受在夏天時期也可以飽餐一頓呢!給我冷氣其餘免談!天氣炎熱而且外國朋友都紛紛到台灣這個美食寶島來大快朵頤了,除了用英文介紹美食來做國民外交也可以讓辛苦的老闆們輕鬆介紹用心美味的商品喔。那麼台灣小吃的英文拼法,大家知道哪幾個呢?讓Brian老師來小小分享一下: 1.仙草冰 Grass Jelly黑糖剉冰Brown Sugar Shaved Ice 2.滷味 Heated Braised Snacks→滷肉飯Braised Pork Rice(braise滷製) 3.大腸蚵仔麵線 Oyster and Pork intestine vermicelli(vermicelli義大利細麵) 4.大腸包小腸 Taiwanese sausage with sticky rice→Chinese sausage臘腸 5.鹽酥雞 Taiwanese Fried Chicken→炸雞排:Fried Chicken Fillet( fillet片;塊) 6.筒仔米糕 Rice tube pudding(沒錯:pudding不見得是甜點而是用口感棉密而得名)→英國餐廳赫赫有名的black pudding=豬血腸,韓國小吃糯米血腸雷同。 7.草仔粿herbal cake with sliced radish(sliced radish蘿蔔絲)→享譽國際挑戰性極高的「豬血糕」:pig blood cake with peanut powder(花生粉) 8.水餃 dumpling(dumpling只要皮包餡的食材都可以這樣稱呼。台灣水餃通常有韭菜"leek"或泡菜"kimchi",外國友人可能會怕怕!要先說明。) 9.蒸餃 steamed dumpling→煎餃Pan-fried sticker(sticker就是包黏起來的食材,可別翻成"貼紙"囉。) 10.肉包 steamed bun with pork(飛機上的小餐包就是bun,注意尾音別閉起嘴說bum,這會變成炸彈啦!英文世界很常開玩笑說別在飛機上跟別人打招呼,特別是名字為傑克的朋友,因為"Hi +Jack=hijack(v.)劫機",這可是有理說不清的窘境。 最近媲美台灣PTT的美國鄉民發表論壇Reddit提出一個很新奇的想法,我們來看看國外朋友的想法吧!問問自己你的抉擇和背後動機是什麼呢? Red pill makes you fluent in every spoken language. Blue pill makes you a master of every musical instrument in the world. Which do you swallow? (如果吃下紅色的藥丸可以讓你流利講出各國語言,而藍色藥丸可以讓你精通這世上每種樂器。你會選擇哪一個呢?) Red pill, travel the world. Listen to music played by people that swallowed the blue pill. It's a win-win situation for me (紅色藥丸,旅行全世界,聽著由那些吞下藍藥丸的演奏家們所表演的音樂。) You take one, have a friend take the other, travel together. (你吃一顆,朋友吃另一顆,一起出發吧!)→真是太聰明了吧! &還記得有明確兩者的文法嗎?one….and the other…… Chinese people can articulate 'l' and 'r' as separate sounds because their language also has these two sounds. You're thinking of Japanese people when you make this joke, as Japanese people have only one sound for both 'l' and 'r' and have trouble differentiating the two. (華人都可以明顯發清楚'l'和'r'的發音因為本身語言中就有這兩個音。但反觀日本人就無法做出區別了。)→強調互通語言後可以了解彼此的幽默笑點。 The language pill, obviously. Imagine all the opportunities. You apply for a job at some place where you know they speak different languages. You claim to speak ALL languages fluently. They took you in for an interview just to test and tease you a little. (當然是語言藥丸,想想這些好機會:你申請的工作地點大家都說著不同語言。但是如果你聲稱你會流利地說"所有"的語言,大概會被找出去面試然後讓他們好好挖苦一翻)→這是反諷美國社會對於種族差異和文化接受度還有很大進步空間。 <閱讀短文時間>:神奇小鎮 請同學仔細閱讀故事並且讀完!請在最後回答這個問題:What do you think that town could be? <相識的緣分> We've never seen Alex for ten years. Alex, Nate, Helen, Jack and I were best friends in high school. Alex was like the leader or the center of us. I mean, he was that kind of guy born to be a CEO, you know. He was too mature to be a high school student like us. His behaviors, his remarks…, everything he did was more like a father. And also, he was mysterious and…weird. He'd never mentioned about himself, his family or his past. He seemed to know nothing about baseball games, TV series, even news. <特殊見解和生活型態> And, he had no cell phone! He said that'd be not convenient. I remember we were all puzzled when hearing that. How could a cell phone be not convenient? Most strange thing was that he never explained to us how he could find those places and how he knew the "rules". Even until now, I still don't know how he could do that. Anyway, he was a nice guy, we respected him and trusted him, without knowing him too much. <舊時探險活動經驗> I doubt if anyone has the same experience as we do. When we were in high school, out of some silly blind bravery, we loved adventures. And Alex was the one who took us to different places for adventures. On a very early Saturday morning, we met up and headed to an unfamiliar direction to a town for, you know, an adventure. Alex said that town was over a tunnel. That reminded me of Silent Hill, a film just released at that time. Less an hour driving in woods, the tunnel was in our sight, Alex asked Jack to stop in front of it. We guessed he was going to tell us the rules. He always told us before really arriving those places. <行前遊戲規則說明> Normally there were just two. But this time, there was one more. Rule no.1: Keep yourself in team. Rule no.2: Don't mess up with those people and anything there. (That means no eye contact, no touching and no answering/talking back, etc.) Rule no.3, which, is the most important one: Don't think of ghosts! NEVER, EVER! This was definitely hard to Nate. We all knew that and Nate, himself, knew that too. He loved ghost stories, but weird thing was, he was actually not that brave. (sorry to say that.) <旅程開始:未知的隧道> As cars driving in the tunnel, I found it was actually shorter than I expected because the end of it was not very far from us. There were already many cars in the tunnel, and they were oddly all still and empty, their taillights were dimmed, like abandoned for a while. Alex opened the door, got out of the car and said, "Don't worry. The town's just outside. Let's walk there." Nate and Helen got out of the car to join us. It only took us about fifteen minutes to walk out. It was cooler and humid. The town was in old style. I mean, the restaurants, the shops, the houses. People there were in that kind of old fashioned clothes like what your granny or grandpa would wear. It was amazing. "So… you took us back to the past? I mean, is all this time travel thing?" Helen asked. "No." Alex answered. Residents there were like those we'd met in other adventures before, they couldn't see us, hear us or feel us. So we had to be really careful anytime, those men, stray dogs or even cars might bump into us. And that would violate rule no.2. <踏入桃花源:時光旅行?> There was a nice house, two children were playing on the front porch, and Jack entered the house successfully without making any noise and we followed him carefully. None of them noticed us. There were a man and a woman chatting happily in the kitchen. I guessed they were the parents of kids outside. Jack went downstairs from second floor and looked bored. When we were in the living room, watching a TV show we'd never seen before, the wife suddenly bumped into Helen. She took few steps backward, intrigued while Helen was stunned with mouth opening. "We need to leave now." Alex said. <衝突與意外的發生> We quickly ran out of the house ,but we didn't learn a lesson from it. Later, Nate led us to a restaurant very close to the tunnel, and we thought that would be fun. At first, we walked around, putting hands in front of people, yelling at them, and doing something foolish. But there was something wrong, again. This time, it was Jack. A waiter bumped into Jack, and the soup was spoiled everywhere. Grumpy as Jack always was, he pushed the waiter hard. "You idiot!" We all grasped, he just violated the rule. Then the waiter became horrible right away. Sneered, his eyes became red with skin peeling. "oh…a boy…" Helen started screaming. All the others in the restaurant turned their heads and stared at her. "Beautiful." The waiter continued. It seemed that Jack and Helen were no longer invisible to them. The restaurant was crowded immediately, those people or whatever they were just suddenly appeared, the couple and their children we'd just seen were there too. They looked horrible, some of their faces or bodies are twisted in an impossible angle, some of them were even bleeding. They were all speechless and motionless. That was the first time I found Alex looked nervous. And that was the last time too. "Go!" he urged us. We ran to the tunnel as fast we could. Thos residents, the way they chased after us was different, they didn't run nor walk, they just popped up and disappeared again. But no matter how fast we ran, every time they appeared, they would be closer to us. We successfully ran into the tunnel and thought we'd be safe, but we were wrong. "Keep running!Don't stop until the other end of the tunnel," Alex yelled. "And stop thinking, just run! You hear me?" I didn't know why he said that, at that time, my mind already went blank. <脫離險境:重回現實> Jack and Nate were trying to find their own cars but there were too many cars and it was a bit dark inside the tunnel. "I said 'keep running!' Drop your cars! Now!" Jack and I gave up and followed after Alex but Nate and Helen didn't. We kept calling them as running. "Here it is!" Then Jack and I heard a laughter echoing. We got goosebumps right away because it was low and so creepy, not from one of us. Terrified, Helen cried out loud, starting running to us, leaving Nate alone. When we finally got close to the end of tunnel, we heard the car and thought Nate might drive out just right after us. We turned around when we got out from tunnel, only to find rows of cars were quickly disappearing from distance. Nate must have seen that too because he was backing his car and screaming. Just in second, his car vanished too. It was hard to take this. We'd never been in this kind of situation before. I was stunned just as Jack, hearing Helen sobbing. Everything was so unreal. Alex cursed and walked toward the tunnel. "You guys just go home. Just go along the road." "No, no, no, what the fuck are you doing?" Jack said. He followed up trying to stop him. "I'm gonna get Nate back." Alex just stepped into the tunnel. That was the last time I saw him."What are we supposed to do now?" Not until Helen asked did we find the sky was a bit dark. Our phones told it was about five. Nate was found unconscious and fortunately, unharmed in school next Monday morning. He didn't remember anything on that weekend. His mom was very angry with us. Despite believing what we explained, she thought we bullied her baby son and tried to make some stupid excuses! There was one thing upsetting us more than being grounded and considered nuts, Alex was gone. I wished I knew more about him so that I could report to polices and they wouldn't think he was just our imaginary friend. 哇!這篇精選短文充滿刺激讓同學都快忘了呼吸吧!今天學習到很多道地又活潑的敘述方法,這是很棒的閱讀過程,還可以了解不同文化觀點,校園故事有趣而且也重疊你我的生活經驗!下回有更多精采內容喔。
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健康議題看英文<HealthIssues>﹕用英文淺談Diabetes糖尿病
現代人缺乏規律運動和健康飲食內容,多半是周末放假整天窩在家裡,除了不想再應付許多複雜的人情事故外,也隱藏許多情緒障礙無法排解的問題,進而演變成社交障礙或與人群疏遠(SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL)的行為模式:身為外食族,要三餐取得蔬果和多纖維、低油、低鈉的飲食內容,但同時低頭看自己的預算(budget)限度後,也很難盡情地大快朵頤(eat to one's heart content),這實在很為難在外打拼的遊子。找天放假時去家裡附近傳統市場走走和水果攤(fruit stall)晃晃,可以買到比較健康物美價廉(inexpensive)的水果,而不是依賴加工過(processed)、調味過(flavored),甚至由缺乏衛生清潔環境所提供的蔬果。傳統印象許多人口中的富貴病-糖尿病,只偏重在奢侈飲食和高油、高脂攝食習慣的人們身上找到;但近年來,從國家富足度而斷定糖尿病的去向,也慢慢有了轉型,反而是從醫藥系統不發達的中低開發國家中,糖尿病反而變成常客,也是發現在基因中有了缺陷(genetic defect),最後就產生了遺傳上的病症移轉,讓人生瞬間成了黑白,也迫使讓自己的生活充滿許多不便(inconvenience)和負擔(burden)了。 接下來我們要用短句的形式讓同學可以藉由英文的表達和相關語句來描述糖尿病有關的病症,也可以再一次教育自己有關糖尿病的基本形成以及後續可能會延伸的併發症,但其實只要維持健康的生活型態就可以和國人常見的慢性病說BYE BYE了!別忘記要大聲念出來,並且確認自己有把重點單字和訊息的語調提高,讓自己可以順利的把句子分解出不同的小單位,然後朗讀中加入重音以及拉長語氣顯示重要性,長期地糾正自己的發音語調以及慢慢摸索出情緒表達的時機,要講好一口流利又有說服力的英文並非難事喔!從短句開始的累積就是將來一整篇演講的基礎,所以老師常提醒同學:就是要盡了全力,才能夠看起來毫不費力,慢工出細活,才有紮實的成就。那麼我們就開始用開放的心態來投入今天的話題Diabetes吧! 1. Diabetes is a chronically disease in which the high amount of sugar glucose can be found in the body and occurred without distinct symptoms. That's why it has been considered " silent " without obvious signs at the early stage. ◆chronical(a.)慢性的→chronical disease慢性病* (acute disease急劇疾病)?Chronicle(n.)年曆 ◆sugar glucose葡萄糖 V.S. gout 痛風V.S. osteoporosis骨質疏鬆 ◆occur(v.)發生→ Conflict can occur without any distinct reasons.(爭執的產生有時候並無明確的原因。) ◆symptom(n.)症狀→The stomach flu can bring forth some symptoms, lurking for the first few days.(潛伏期會在前幾天,腸胃炎可以引發許多症狀。) 糖尿病這種慢性病會在人體內發現較高濃度的葡萄糖,而並沒有特別顯著的徵狀。早期並沒有許多跡象可循,所以許多人們都將糖尿病視為"沉默"的疾病。 2. As diabetes progresses, there are a multitude of issues coming along, such as weight gain, elevated hunger and thirst, foot ulcers, blurred vision, which will give way to high risk of heart disease, stroke, and even eye problems. 當糖尿病開始發威的時候,許許多多的問題都會接踵而至,像是:體重增加,增加的飢餓感和口渴感,腳部潰爛,眼睛視線模糊,這些都會演變成高風險的心臟病、中風,或其他的眼睛疾病。 3. Unfortunately, diabetes is irreversible once onset has occurred.But people can avoid this disease with a healthy lifestyle. 不幸地,一旦有了開端,糖尿病是不可逆的疾病。但是如果有健康的生活方式是可以讓糖尿病不會找上門的喔! 『Daily Reminder: Get + N/Np in writing』每日專欄重要表達 經典好句:" Please get the contract in writing, or your verbal agreement wont' do you any good on court.(合約請白紙黑字地如實寫下,不然口頭協議根本在法庭站不住腳!)保障自己的權益很重要! ※verbal(a.)=spoken口說的 EX.:Our company adopted zero tolerance of verbal fights among co-workers. The hostility will poison the overall workplace morale.我們公司對於同事間的爭吵採取嚴格態度處理,因為這樣的敵對定會打擊整個的士氣。) ※physical(a.)=tend to be the structure of an organism or animal(whose ability to develop some performances)肢體的;生理上的 EX.: Don't make me get physical.= You'd better leave before I get violent. 不要逼我動粗(=在我要動手前你最好快點離開或住口。) EX.: Surprisingly, Taiwanese often feel really uncomfortable with the physical contact in public venues while foreign labors or immigrants from southeastern or western countries can always feel at ease in both spacious or crowded places.(令人驚訝地,在台灣的人們對於在公共場合的肢體接觸感到相當不適;然而,從東南亞或西方國家的外籍勞工或新移民,他們不管在寬敞或擁擠的地方都可以很從容!) ※speechless(a.)=can hardly utter a word under some circumstances out of embarrassment or rage(無言以對的) EX.: Your complaint about the awful attitude of the waitress at the restaurant really made me totally speechless. Why didn't you just inform the restaurant owner or the manager of your upset dining experience there? There's nothing I can do for you. (對於餐廳服務生惡劣的態度,這樣的抱怨讓我很無言以對。為什麼你那個時候不去通知餐廳老闆或是值班經理關於你非常不悅的用餐經驗呢?我愛莫能助!) <布萊恩的英文日記故事>:練習寫出自己的英文日記也可以交換日記增加學習生活英文的樂趣和找出更多的口語英文的延伸用法喔!英英字典是你我的好朋友! Dear Diary, Every day, life fills my days with endless wonders and some unexpected encounters. This evening, it came to me when I let my guard down while commuting on my usual trip home. It's approximately three to ten when lowering my head to check the time slipping by;meanwhile, there's no sign of my bus approaching, but the obnoxiously annoying flies kept harassing me in the stuffy humid weather. 親愛的日記,如同往常每天充滿不同的驚奇和預料不到的體驗;今天傍晚,等著回家的公車也整個人呈現極度鬆散的狀態。大約晚間九點五十七分,我看著手錶上的時間就這麼消逝而去,但我的公車卻一點影子都沒有出現,只有令人髮指討厭極致的蒼蠅在蒸溽氣候中不斷騷擾我。 When my shuttle finally arrived, I leapt upon the stairs leading to my seat where it was always my favorite in the dark corner which made it difficult for the drive to peep through me from the rear mirrors.Me, nibbling the bread, sorry for my enormously good appetite. Cannot help!Show some respect for my privacy, okay? Collapsing in my rough but acceptable seat after the long day draining all my energy, I quickly felt sleepy and yawned for more oxygen as most exhausted brains required.(sometimes a nerve wreck like me could forget breathing while gluing my face to the desktop screen at the office for hours, the stress from work was not the thing everybody might handle well.) 當我的接駁車終於抵達,我就直接跳上公車階梯上往我最喜歡的角落座位殺去,這樣駕駛才不會老是從後照鏡偷看我--偷吃麵包啦!哈,誰叫我的好胃口無上限呢!好啦!尊重一下我的隱私權好嗎?在一天困頓精疲力盡後,整個人就癱在有點硬梆梆勉強可以接受的座位上。整個人非常的睏,而且似乎大腦很需要氧氣而打著哈欠(有時候我因為在上班時候太專注在電腦螢幕上看了好幾個小時,竟然神經質到忘了喘氣,只能說工作上的壓力不是每個人都可以勝任愉快的喔!) In the middle of my evening siesta, my head remained tilted, nodding like listening to some lectures attentively or a fishing pole pulled by a starving fish in the stream; my snoring was identical to the rumbling sound from the working engines in sync with the bumpy ride I consider as the best lullaby ever rocking me to sweet dreams. Not knowing how long it had taken on the ride, I was sobered up by a wave of pungent smell from the two passengers carrying their luggage on the bus. Ironically, the seemingly fragrant but dense perfume they were wearing could turn everything in my stomach sour and gave me a hard time breathing. 在我的傍晚小睡時間,我的頭呈現微傾的狀態,打盹著邊點著頭好像專心地聽課也像是飢腸轆轆的小魚在小溪流裡咬著正在釣魚的魚竿;我的打呼聲竟跟著車子的引擎聲同步和顛簸道路進行,這就像是我聽過最令人能進入甜蜜夢鄉的搖籃曲了!不知道已經搭了多久的車子了,通常有一陣濃到反胃的香水味把我立刻喚醒了,原來是兩個拖著行李正上車的旅客。諷刺地,他們擦著濃到化不開的香水讓我整個胃腸都抗議了,而且我甚至無法好好的呼吸) No exaggeration and unfortunately all the windows were tightly sealed for the sake of passenger's safety. Actually, I was dying here and the so-called lifesaving plan could be likely to jeopardize my life at this very moment. Pinching my nose didn't do any tricks but the only thing I could do was pray for the time jumping out of the bus for some fresh air for my screaming, vulnerable lungs to such exceedingly fashionable, overwhelming pollutant turning my night into a sheer nightmare. 我可沒在誇張喔!更慘的是所有的窗戶都封死了為了"乘客的安全"!事實上我差點就死在車上了,這個所謂的安全方案事實上很有可能就在那一刻真的奪走我寶貴的性命。貼緊鼻子根本起不了任何作用,我唯一想做的事情就是快點跳出公車呼吸新鮮空氣,然後替我非常無辜的肺大叫一場,對於這種太過時尚又驚天動地的汙染味道,果然讓我的夜晚成了最大的夢魘!) 英文單字及表達大觀園 1. let one's guard down放下警戒心 EX.: Whenever traveling abroad by backpacking, you never ever let your guard if fear of being the target of robbers. 2. commute通勤→commuter通勤族(n.) EX.: As a commuter, I go for the shuttle service from my place to the airport. It's relatively safer and more convenient. It's great to catch some Zs on the bus. 3. approximately大約地(adv.) EX.: The train will arrive in approximately in five minutes. 4.time slipped away時間飛逝 EX.: The moment that I received the diploma from the school principal, the time had slipped through my fingers while pursuing my dream all alone by myself. 5.obnoxious令人感到可恨的 6.harass騷擾 7.peep through偷窺 8.yawn打哈欠 9.nerve wreck神經兮兮的人 10.identical與N相似的 11.in sync with 與N同步進行 12.siesta午休(西班牙文) 13.attentive專注的 14.snore打呼 15.pungent令人感到刺鼻的 16.lullaby搖籃曲 17.ironically諷刺地 18.fragrant充滿香氣的 19.dense濃郁的 20.sober sb up使人立刻清醒 21.passenger乘客 22.turn things in stomach sour胃部感到一陣作嘔 23.exaggeration誇飾的說法 24.unfortunately不幸地 25.for the sake of ....為了某種目的 26.jeopardize危害(生命或計畫)
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
「The heat is almost unbearable.」雖然比起東南亞國家將近快把人融化的氣溫來說,台灣還是涼爽許多,但對於長年在加拿大生活的老師實在有點"凍未著",冬天雖然是冷,但只要是室內環境都會有暖氣,但夏天來說只能靠冷氣,這時候就覺得台灣朋友很幸福,到處都有水上樂園和許多清涼的冰品可以購買。加拿大通常只有冰淇淋車會不定期出現,而台灣的便利商店也隨時有提供冷飲選購,有各國茶飲和汽泡飲品任君挑選,實在好生羨慕呀!因為目前的住處比較接近農村地區,晚上的時候其實雖然有微風,但因為還是太過於貼近隔壁大樓所以自然通風部份並沒很完善。「It's really essential to keep your room well-ventilated.」是的,房間保持通風良好是很重要的,有時候聽聞在台灣因為天氣寒冷有人緊閉窗戶,洗澡的時候熱水器放在室內而導致二氧化碳中毒,真的是令我倒抽好幾口涼氣。不過這幾天對於老師來說,真的就是一句非常動感的英文可以給大家分享和使用:「I want to jump out of my skin.」看這個句子就知道,想"JUMP"(跳出)自己的"SKIN"(皮膚),當你對於某些狀況無法忍受,像是考試的壓力快讓你喘不過氣的時候或是你真的快抓狂,熱到全身都發癢的時候,就可以大喊「I want to jump out of my skin.」是不是非常的貼切你目前的心情呢? 夏日炎炎,大家腦海中肯定浮現出許多清涼消暑的好去處。但每當出遊的日子,傳統華人家庭都會習慣先參照家裡的農民曆,甚至考慮到曾經去廟宇裡抽過的籤語是否有特別註明要注意水上活動的禁忌、出國時間是否吉利、開土入厝是否驚擾神明、生產時辰是否母子均安,這些都顯示了我們從過去老祖先智慧中擷取出的生活方式和有所遵循的模式安身立命,更重要地是建立了共同的價值觀來讓整體社區運作更有秩序也更加安定。另外在許多場合也有行為上的規範和傳統信仰上需要奉行的儀式,雖然並沒有許多的科學數據提供證實,但放眼世界各地,宗教信仰在人們心中已經有相當的份量以及不可動搖的重要性。比如長輩非常反對小孩進行夜遊的相關活動,認為晚上視線不良而且容易精神不濟發生意外機率提高,另外也在農曆七月時候有所謂的"好兄弟"會搗蛋,聽起來頗像和歐美節慶萬聖節有異曲同工之妙。對於西方國家和信仰基督或天主的朋友們就沒有這樣的疑慮了,所以來到台灣或亞洲區旅遊或探訪的時候就會意外地踩到地雷,也對於視線所及盡是初一十五擺滿供品、口中念念有詞的民眾、焚香裊裊的廟宇確實是丈二金剛摸不著頭,但其實這些都是安定人心且尋找到心靈平靜的民間心靈療癒之旅,進入這個虔誠的文化氛圍中,也不禁地慢下腳步,內心迴盪著許多反省和找到重回現實繼續努力的心靈力量。 【民俗統傳相關單字表達】: A.superstition (n.)迷信B.traditional belief傳統信仰 C. ritual(n.)宗教儀式(生活習慣必定要從事的常規,比如早起運動或是一天一杯咖啡不然會渾身不對勁也可以用ritual來強調!)D. ingrained (a.)根深蒂固的 E. generation (n.)世代(代溝就是generation gap)F.significance(n.)重要意義(a rewarding and significant journey獲益良多且對生命有重大影響的旅程)G. harmony(n.)和諧 H. liberal(a.)寬容的I taboo(n.)禁忌& Tattoo刺青 J denote(v.)隱含某種涵義K. practice(n.)習俗(原先是當作動詞的練習但是在文化中長期維持下所進行的動作,也成了習俗的一部分進而變成生活習慣和廣為接受的認知事實) L worshiper(n.)信徒 M. pilgrimage (n.)朝聖之旅 N. long-held長期奉行的(v.s. long-haul flight長途旅程) O preoccupation(n.)已有的成見 P. piercing(n.)穿洞(在身上穿環穿洞都算) Dear all, welcome to our column again: English is a piece of cake, from which we all derived great pleasure and drew inspirations. As you've noticed, summer is coming around and the heat has been building up in time gone by. But there're some traditional beliefs ingrained in our culture probably giving you some creeps (有點毛毛的感覺)and chilling you down here. Don't scream your head off before we head to today's extraordinary discovery regarding(有關) Taiwanese long-held superstitions from one generation to another. The term superstition didn't denote any negative(負面的)meaning but simply indicated something greater than human scopes. The prefix "super" stands for "something above" or the "supreme power" over our control while the root word" stitu-" represents " stand " or " exist" for some period of time in history or has appeared through a long time as recorded. The following superstitions may not be applied to all cultures in every region in Taiwan, let alone Asian regions, but it does serve as a symbol with underlying(有背後的涵義) significance there. Don't frown(皺眉) before you read through them and be open-minded before our journey of Taiwanese customs officially embarks. Brace yourself, and it's interesting to learn of some cultures different from your preoccupation or getting to know more about your own traditions in Taiwan. Did you happen to notice some superstitions quite puzzling you to the certain extent? And when walking on the street or past the alleys, you were totally suffocated(窒息的) by those burning incenses(焚燒的) oozing out from each family with their offerings(供品) on the table staked in front of their houses, lowering their heads while whispering something scared or making wishes in their mouths. And it's not a surprise to witness those rituals recurring regardless of the dates or occasions those worshipers could hardly describe why they did all these for God or spirits wandering in our world. And why preparing all these and making a scene(把某事弄得很張揚) when they were even unconvinced whether their efforts will pay off(努力有回報) or not? It's for the sense of security and peace in life which drive them to do all and also can assure them the future encounters (未來的際遇)will be smoother and positive since then. A. Refrain from pointing your fingers to the moon!(避免把手指向月亮) Believe it or not! One of my best friends, Fiona, as a Chinese-American mother residing in Seattle with her mother-in-law's family since married at the age of 25, shared with me regarding her remorse doing something against the taboos during pregnancy. One day, she felt like trimming some split ends of her long hair to the shoulder length, which made her mother-in-law super ticked-off(十分的火大) , for she has been upholding(強烈擁護) very conservative and doctrines values in her bone. It's widely understood in Taiwan that a woman carrying a baby should stay away from any sharp objects which will do harm to the unborn baby in the womb. To most westerners, the idea of holding scissors when a bun in the oven(懷孕) will do some magic tricks to baby seems rather incredibly ridiculous, with no concrete scientific evidence.Totally unaware of her reprimand, Fiona kept doing the nail-clipping or cutting some cloth for making some handicrafts or hand-made bags to kill time. When her boy baby was brought to her on the table after the very first cry, she was totally speechless spotting a unknown scar on his forehead, for which she has been suffering from the guilty sentence. Also, from then on, she dare not to tease her mother-in-law groundless sayings or talks. The stake was way too high for her to accept. Plus, in Taiwanese society, we do think two pregnant women who stand belly-to-belly against each other will "switch the genders" (性別互換)of their babies. I couldn't help but giggle over that but my family cannot overemphasize(強調) the importance of tons of rules imposed on pregnant women so as to ensure everything will be smooth and peaceful. B. Have you got any piercings? That's a big No-No!(身上有打洞你知道有什麼韓義嗎?)Alright,everyone! Please keep your hair down and put your hands up for such fun statement! I am happy with all piercings which make us shine and glow in public venues, but there're in general some superstitions going on in our community. Whenever wandering around the shopping malls in Canada, I always saw some little pretty girls sitting on the stool waited for their first ear-piercings like the symbol of maturity or some market-style "Ritual of Passage". According to the social etiquette in Europe, ladies should wear ear-rings when attending social occasions and their accessories do showcase individual charisma and professionalism. But one of the most popular religions, Buddhism, did significantly impacted many families in Taiwan and affected the way of our daily routines or religious activities, even to the dieting habits from the meal featuring richness in meat protein to more consumption of greens/veggies. If a person received the piercing, in Buddhism, it will mark you as the girl in the next life of reincarnation(輪迴). That means you will be re-born as a girl after you pass away this life and the cycle will never end until you've made some generous contributions to the impoverished(窮困的人們) or people in need of help desperately or helplessly. Even a random act of kindness will make a tremendous change in your life or the next life. In Huaren culture(華人文化), the bride after the meticulously-arranged(精心安排的) grooming tend to wear many kinds of luxury gems and more jewelry than ordinary family to boast their wealth and represent a blissful life in the coming years of marriage. C. Swimming during July of Lunar Calendar? It's more than pulling your legs.(在農曆期七月的時候游泳嗎?這可不鬧著玩的喔!) Ghost month, during July of Lunar Calendar ( the traditional approaches to calculating the dates or seasonal changes of farming or festivals( according to the shapes of the moon), has long been the period of time people would be alert of not doing this or not doing that when their parents become extra unnerving because all the spirits from the underworld(陰間) will be freely released and wandering (遊蕩)on the streets for visiting their family or meeting someone they missed most. And some earthbound spirits in water have lingered(徘徊不離開) in the darkness waiting for someone to replace his/her place by trapping you in water or getting you killed in a car accident. Even though during summer, most children will frolic near beaches or nearby rivers for cooling down from the heat. But in Taiwan, even in the public swimming pool, parents won't let children join in any water activities in an encouraging tone.Why? Be all ears(仔細聆聽) about what I am going to tell you, and you don't have to panic(不要驚慌). It's probably the way the elderly warned their future generations of the danger beneath water. D. Nail-Clipping at night is a big deal? Oh, YES!(晚上的時候剪指甲可是犯了大忌喔!)In Japanese society, it's the concept has been widespread and rumor has it that if you clip the nails at night, you will make it to past the last respect of your parents dying or in such critical moments before demise. This principle can be applied to Taiwanese society, despite the fact that it might make sense to you or my students in class, but you can also deduce the saying to the time of scarcity people in agricultural society lacked resources and thus getting very little for daily commodities. The part I can level with was chances are you might hurt yourself in dim light when clipping your fingernails, right?That's considered a reminder and genuine advice from your elderly. In a nutshell, as not to offend our wise and caring parents, grandparents, or your nosy neighbors, you can simply abide by all the regulations inscribed in family lessons, deterring yourself from all hassles. E. Avoid using " Four" or saying "Si" in Taiwan!(在台灣不要使用四或相關的發音)When we are in the market for(準備要購買) new houses, Taiwanese tend to skip the 4th floor for their condo or even for business office. Why? The word "4" is pronounced(發音近似) like " Death" in Taiwanese(or Chinese) and will bring bad luck to many in Asia, also seen in Japanese customs. That explains why most hospitals will refrain from admitting(允准某人住院) patients to the 4th floor, or the in-patients might feel really awkward staying on the "Floor of Death" and you in this way would never show any sign of recovery or improvement in your health condition. And walking along the bustling street with all vehicles swooping by, the driving plates could sometimes include the number 4 which indicated the driver's life would be doomed to some dire consequences. It does talk a lot in the abovementioned situations. Here is also a reminder for all the foreign friends ready to buy your Taiwanese friends some presents. Cross out " Alarm Clock," " Shoes,"" Watch, "Umbrella" on your shopping list, they all came along with negative meanings" Departure"(分離或散開) for people in Taiwan. *專欄更正部分 1. in public venues在公共場合中 2. hostility敵意 (VS Hospitality Management餐旅管理)
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
大家在閱讀英文專欄時,也不斷地複習許多從前生活中學習的隻字片語,也慢慢組織起來成為實用句型,進而有機會去落實在生活場景和戰勝各種英檢考試挑戰。不過聰明的你,有想過自己的用語程度夠道地嗎?比如:我們會說「這個博物館裡有好多的古董陳列出來」,大家第一時間會想There are many antiques shown in the museum,卻鮮少同學會立刻說出: The museum is home to a great number of antiques on display.這種有層次的表達句(be home to....為....的發源地);亦或是在表達不情願時後除了使用I am unwilling to do it,也可說(I feel terribly reluctant.),可以提高表達英文的深度和國際演說魅力。參照各國元首和總統候選人在競選時所發表的講話來學習用字遣詞,豐富自身文化深度觸角,增加許多在聽演講、脫口秀時了解笑點好入門捷徑。 前幾天,如同許多通勤族(Commuter)在公車站牌旁等著回家;有位非洲裔美國人很焦急地拿著紙條詢問路人(inquire the pedestrians/passers-by),並且不斷重複著"Will the bus go straight down the street?"相信其實周邊很多人都聽得懂他的意思,卻不知道怎麼引導他(Show him the directions)或是回復他的需求。老師就直接走過去問"What's your destination?"他表示要去一家運動館,不過不確定是否這邊的公車是否有直行到他去的地方。了解以後,我也詢問身邊的路人們,確認他要去的地方及方位,我們就幫助了他上公車,並且交待司機他要下車的該站。這就是國民外交的開始,也是讓國人有機會發揮自己英文實力的機會。不管是在公共場合(public benues)或是私下朋友聚會,我們都可以伸出援手幫忙他人去解決問題,這樣我們學習語言才更有意義,也更彰顯學習成果和國際觀的培養成果。也要提醒各位認真的讀者們,如果想要表達對方已經坐過站或是該在下一站下車,公車搭乘的用語應該使用bus stop 而非 bus station, 因為bus station多有公車總站的涵義。那麼老師就來讓同學複習一下相關的表達語,可以當個出色的外交小尖兵喔! 1.你已經坐過站了。你應該要在下一站下車,走回去大概五分鐘而已。 You have missed the stop. You should get off at the next one and it only takes you five minutes to walk back to the previous stop. 2.這班公車並非前往故宮博物館,下班車是三分鐘後。 This bus is not heading/headed for National Palace Museum. And the next bus will arrive in three minutes. 3.請告知公車司機你要去哪個機場航廈,並且可以選擇使用悠遊卡或現金支付車費。 Please inform the bus driver of the terminal you'll get off at. Cash or EasyCard is acceptable for paying the fare. 4.希望你在台灣旅程愉快。 I wish you a pleasant journey in Taiwan.=Hope you enjoy your stay in Taiwan. 5. 你車子來了!不要忘記下車前要先按鈴。 Here comes your bus and pleased don't forget to ring the bell before the bus approaches the stop. 現在讓各位同學動動腦一下,請問世界上最長的車子是什麼呢?可不是高級禮賓車或總統座車,答案是:塞車(Traffic Congestion)。老師可不是鬧著大家玩的,外國友人每次到台灣人都會被水洩不通的車輛壅塞情況嚇到瞠目結舌(Speechless),也大呼說"The traffic is going to kill me!"(這種車況讓我小命不保)是有些誇張沒錯!但說到人潮卡卡,老師就想到自己在另一次伸出援手幫忙國外訪客的經驗,發生在一年一度台灣燈會(Taiwan Lantern Festival)的現場,因為已經接近慶典的倒數的日子,許多來自四面八方的旅客和前往機場的旅客通通擠成一團,水洩不通的景象真是令老師不敢恭維。眼看到有兩位歐美背包客在人群中像無頭蒼蠅般尋找協助,面對機場巴士和路人都無法理解他們的英文表達,他們也感受到很難過和無奈。剛好老師經過他們,聽到其中一位男性背包客說"We're going to miss our flights and no bus can take us there right now!"高鐵人員有表達他們愛莫能助,老師幫忙緩頰解釋" We feel sorry for what you've just experienced. But as you've noticed that the traffic doesn't even move in such overcrowded places. Perhaps you could phone the airline to reschedule the flight to the next one if you can make it there"(我們對於您的處境也很遺憾,但如您所見的現場的交通確實動彈不得。或許可以先致電航空公司替您另行安排下一班接近的班機,然後趕緊趕上班機。),因為現場狀況就是連叫計程車,都沒辦法讓她們趕上當天的班機。這讓她們非常無奈(vulnerable),也很焦急於接下來安排的旅程和其他事項進行。所以這個時候就只能安慰對方,而對方也感受到我們的誠意和極力幫忙的心情。 雖然美中不足,但每次在不同時間點不同際遇中,去檢視自己學習的英文和體驗到面對不同場景的需求,這樣對自己的英文表達進步是很明顯也是有效率的!畢竟,口說能力就是要從反應現場問題和快速組織表達內容而增加熟悉度的能力,而不是要求自己說出嚴謹的文法或是高級的單字,重點為是否有把訊息順利的傳達給對方和用對方可以理解程度的說法,這才是學習實用英文過程中,訓練出來的專業而且貼心的表現。那麼還有哪些相關的場景用字可以跟大家分享呢?請用把以下的句子放在腦海中並努力在各種場合表達出來: 1. 夜市的人潮真多,我都要硬擠才可以逃出去。【foot traffic人潮:此為國際旅遊雜誌與國家探索頻道御用五星級表達法,不可不記!】There's a lot of foot traffic at the night market and I have to elbow my way out of the crowd. 2. 如果周末要跟家人出遊一定要避開尖峰時刻。You shall avoid the peak hours if you plan to hang out with family on weekends 3. 如果可以先預購電影票可以省下很多排隊排到天荒地老。Advance order for your movie tickets can save you a lot of time stuck in the queue showing no end. (★動筆時間)指考高分直通車:英檢實力檢測加油站 1. Why did you quite your previous job?(Choose the appropriate answer) A. After years of efforts at the sales department, I failed to get the promotion, B. I anticipate for taking on more responsibilities. 2. By the time Susan decided to marry John, we all can totally ___ their relationship. A. assure B. ensure C. invalidate D. guarantee 3.Before our relatives drop by our place, you children should have better ____ the stuffs scattered all over the floor before you get to embarrass yourself. A. put up with B. put off C. put away D. put aside 4. The chef devised a unique taste of ramen noodles ___ to may existing diners as well as prospective customers once he settled the root in New Year where he draw great inspiration from. A. flavorful B. favorite C. fantastic D. favorable <終極指考加油站>五星級單字TERM的各種場合及說法 1.Term (n.)學期(=semester) EX.: The final report should be submitted no later than the end of this term, or you will definitely fail this course. ▲no later than= prior to=before=ahead of 前於…熟記相關表達,幫助理解完整文意! 在學期結束前應該要繳交期末報考,不然會被當掉。 2.Term(n.)(合約)協議內容;條款(=clause/condition/provision) EX.: Make sure that you would review the terms of the lease contract thoroughly before signing on it, or you might regret omitting some details that would jeopardize your benefits. 請務必在簽下租賃契約前把相關的條約仔細看過,否然你會很後悔因為忽略一些細節而去損害自身權益了! Come to terms with+ N/ Np /V-ing=compromise(對某事物而妥協) (Compromise on reality對現實妥協/ Compromise on your profits對於自身利益妥協) EX.:Sometimes we have no choice but to come to terms with the reality, it's really unlikely for you to stick to the principles all the time in such an ever-changing society, 有時候我們沒有其他選擇餘地而向現實妥協,在這種瞬息萬變的社會中很難老是去堅守自己的原則。 3.Term期間(=the duration of some time) EX.:Learning how to swim at the beginning wasn't that fun, but you'll require such essential skills on some occasions in the long run.剛開始學習游泳並沒這麼有趣,但終究在某些場合你會需要這項技能的! 4.In terms of =from some respect of.....藉由(某情況或條件)來看的話 EX.: He's considered dynamic, committed, and conscientious worker who will be a future success in terms of his diligent attitude despite his limited experience in this field.雖然他這個領域資歷很淺,但是以他勤勉的態度一定會成大器,而且他被認為是相當有衝勁,奉獻的,而且相當負責認真的員工。 EX.: In terms of interpersonal relationships, it's better to remain patient and observant when getting to know more about an individual before deciding whether it's worthwhile to dedicate yourself to this friendship or future partnership.(由人際關係來看,要決定是否跟一個人深入交往或建立商業夥伴關係,最好保持有耐心且學著要察言觀色!) 5. Terminal(n.)電腦終端機;(機場)航廈 EX.: Passengers who disembark the plane shall proceed to the shuttle bus for the Terminal 2. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. 乘客下機後請搭乘機場接駁車到第二航廈,有不便之處請多多見諒。 6.Terminal(a.)末班的(班車);末期的(疾病) EX.: It's literally a wake-up call for my entire family that my uncle died of the terminal stage of the lung cancer due to year-long habit of smoking cigarettes. 我的叔叔因為長期吸菸而肺炎末期過世了。這對我的家族是當頭棒喝的事情。 7. Terminate(v.)=put something into closure終結(或對某事情做了結) EX.: The infringement of the contract terms is considered such tremendous loss to our company or suppliers. It is indeed the contributing factor terminating the lease contract, jeopardizing the future partnership. 違反合約規定部分對本公司和其他供應商而言是相當大的損失。這的確是讓我們之間的租賃契約終結的導因,也阻礙了未來的合作關係。 (★解答時間)指考高分直通車:解答時間 1. Why did you quite your previous job?(Choose the appropriate answer) B. I anticipate for taking on more responsibilities.(我想承擔更多重任) 2. By the time Susan decided to marry John, we all can totally ___ their relationship. C. invalidate (確認關係) 3.Before our relatives drop by our place, you children should have better ____ the stuffs scattered all over the floor before you get to embarrass yourself. C. put away(放回原位) 4. The chef devised a unique taste of ramen noodles ___ to may existing diners as well as prospective customers once he settled the root in New Year where he draw great inspiration from.D. favorable(為人所歡迎的)
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
「寶寶會說英文,但寶寶不想說。」請不要看到這句就【翻白眼Roll one's eyes】,有關這位網路紅人寶寶的流行語和聊天室貼圖(即表情貼圖EMOTICON STICKER,甚至還有相關的語音貼圖和英文對白不斷地上載中)現在可是大量下載中,有一種Make a fortune賺大錢的氣勢繼續在網路發酵。不過我們可是要回歸現實處理正事!在需要英文交談的重要時刻可不能裝蒜play deaf,這可不管用的!這在網路傳到傳輸線都燒焦的寶寶名言,差點讓大家轉台了,但許多的影音影片都瘋狂轉傳要怎麼說呢?難道是The video goes crazy?還是The film is really hot?其實大家的中文造詣都很高,只是英文句子中的用詞比較簡潔有力,而且【短片】因為經過剪輯和修改等等的手續,很像剪報的動作,選擇需要的內容整理起來,所以要用【clip=video clip】;很流行的影片在台灣用語叫"超夯",大陸用語稱"火紅",但既不是Super Popular也不是Burning Red,英文最時下的說法為"像病毒般(傳播)",所以叫做【viral】,帶有病毒Virus+螺旋狀Spiral傳送出去的概念。所以瘋狂轉傳的熱門影片就是用The clip is getting viral now.那麼就來練習怎麼使用吧!希望你的好英文也可以立刻派上用場,利用生活對話不求人! Brian和好友Sarah討論最近背著蟑螂殼在馬路上等綠燈在慢慢爬行過去的影音檔,竟然引起班上一陣討論熱潮,看看他們怎麼用英文表達自己對這個現象的意見!精彩有趣的對話你可以立刻上手,一起來運用剛剛學習內容吧! 【英文小劇場】A: Brian B: Sarah A: Have you checked on the video clip about the man crawling across the street when the traffic light turns green? That's insane.(最近你看到那個趁交通號誌轉綠燈時用爬行的方式過街的男人的影音嗎?這太瘋狂了啦!) B: Tell me about it. Everyone in my class totally fell for that freak carrying a roach shell and really a TRAFFIC STOPPER.(這還要你說!我班上都陷下去這股熱潮,竟然還是個背蟑螂殼的怪胎。他還真的是很「卡到路」) A: Yes, it has gone really viral for people of ages. Who can dislike the like that, I even felt like trying something like that. Perhaps you are one of my flash mobs some day.(一點都沒錯,不管幾歲的人都愛!不會有人會討厭這種事吧,連我自己都想玩看看了!哪天說不定我們一起來當個快閃族如何!) B: Over my dead body, please COUT ME OUT!(除非我死了,別在我身上打主意。) 所以各位優秀的讀者可以更感受到:小單字也有大用處。從一個中文的概念【超流行】事物,竟然背後有這麼多故事,甚至在對話裡面還可以延伸出這麼多的內容,是不是很有趣味、很有成就感呢?Trust me , you can make it!從原有學習經驗與知識去勾勒出更大範圍的實用內容,可以更印象深刻,更常從記憶資料庫活用豐富英文理解內容喔!其實網路上許多有趣又實用的資源中,不乏都是「生活化」、「實用化」、「簡單化」,以及「趣味化」,這在網路的YOUTUBE或VOICETUBE都有不同題材口音,以及不同專業背景知識的內容。 短時間增進聽力和延伸文化觸角的好窗口;如果對於國際議題感到興趣,希望盡一份世界公民的本份和關心,那好入門的CNN STUDENT NEWS就是你的敲門磚來立刻體會世界媒體最重視的關鍵要學語言並不是一張機票就可以等於進入學習領域。如果有這種速成班,歡迎大家介紹給老師體驗一下,我也很好奇如何從零基礎能夠一週內不了解其文化(甚至用母語說自身文化也有困難者),瞬間好像電影命運搖控器的男主角一秒轉化語言,結果卻也是人生要重頭踏實再來一遍。與其零碎又三分鐘熱度的學習,不如把握每次的學習經驗,好好努力學習當下的知識,用心感受並活用。學習並非難事,用心是不二法門。很多同學誤會,好像參加個遊學團或是背包周遊列國探訪不同大都會或古蹟(historic sites)名勝(tourist attractions),就可以瞬間深化內涵講出一口完美的英文,真的是這樣嗎?旅行其實並非只有玩樂,或是跟著旅遊書去參訪各大名勝而已!更重要的是細心觀察當地人文風俗以及從與當地人交談中,能夠理解多樣的生活價值觀;更重要的拓寬自己的文化見解和從許多國際社會的話題中能有連結也對相關事件有所呼應與反省成長。這也是為什麼每當出國遇到歐洲朋友們都很有話聊,因為他們不管對於亞洲環境發展或是經濟政治動盪都可以侃侃而談,更對於許多國家的自由多元化背後那條充滿荊棘之路肅然起敬,也因此更珍惜自己的文化歷史,也更堅定自身種族傳統,一代一代傳承下去,永遠都會和開疆闢土的先人與全球社會跨時空同步呼吸著,進而萌發出無可取代的寶貴的自我認同感與使命感。 【生活精選句】: It happens!(這種事發生總是難免的) 生活不如意十之八九,有時候樂極也會生悲,以為很絕望也有一道曙光落下。所以人生沒有絕對的悲傷,只有相對的努力和比較後的快樂成就罷了!法國人對於這種生老病死的來到,總是十分淡定看待,不認為是天垮下來了般的無助難過,反而會拍拍你說:『快嚐剛剛烤出來酸麵糰麵包,大好時光可別浪費在嘆氣,人生好壞都是順其自然,這就是人生C'est la vie。』聰明的同學看到It happens!認為老師要在動詞happen加上ED代表發生事情。你是否也有一樣的疑問嗎?其實你的文法觀念沒錯,但It happens就是代表經常發生的事情,而不是偶遇或是太過於重大的事情產生,才會如此的運用在生活中,若還有疑問,一起來看看生活用句怎麼說吧! 1. Since retirement from the army, my father has gained some weight and turned chubbier. It happens. It should be the lack of exercise and less pressure from life. (自從我爸爸從軍隊退休後就開始體重增加,也變得比較福態。這常有的事情,因為他都缺乏運動,也少了很多來自生活的壓力。) 2. Last week, my uncle, Joe, died of the heart-attack after learning that he hit the jackpot in the lottery. That's totally shocking to all in the entire family. Well, It happens.(上週在得知自己中了樂透頭獎後,我的叔叔喬死於心臟病。對整個家族來說真是太震撼了。嗯,總是多少有這種事情吧!) 3. Despite the fact that Lyn kept rehearsing before the Christmas play, she still forgot some lines on the stage and burst into tears. It happens but still a good lesson for her to learn how to take the fall.(雖然琳在聖誕節舞台劇前不斷的排演練習,但真正上台後還是忘詞,還當場痛哭。陽光下沒有新奇之事,但對她也是不錯的學習機會。) 4. Sometimes we felt really defeated when failing the exams with all-out effort. It happens but we've got nothing to lose but gain more from this fruitful experience.(有時候用盡全力準備考試但卻考砸了,或許我們會感到很挫敗。但這是發生很多人身上的事情,但我們也沒缺少損失了什麼,而是學習很寶貴的經驗。) 5. No matter how strict the law is in the city, there are still some people intended to commit some crimes without considering the dire consequences. It happens.(不管這城市的嚴刑厲法有多嚴苛,總還是會有些人沒考慮到嚴重後果而犯下罪行。這也非我們能掌控的。) 6.Helen starved herself by skipping the meals and ate like a bird months before her wedding day. However, she couldn't help but binge on some cakes three days before the big day. Guess what? She still couldn't fit in the wedding gown she wanted to put on. It happens, right?(在大婚之日前,海倫好幾餐都不吃,讓自己餓得要死,也只有吃那麼一點點。然而,大喜之日前三天,她還是忍不住跑去大吃蛋糕。結果你猜看看怎麼著?她還是擠不進去當初想穿的那件結婚禮服。這也是第一次聽到了,不是嘛?) Let The Teens Sleep In Reference: ALL+ Interactive English Is it painful to get out of bed every morning? If you feel like you can't catch up on your sleep, you aren't alone. One sleep-deprived (睡眠不足)high school student in Missouri named Jill had this problem, and she took action. Armed with research supporting her online petition(請願書), Jill successfully pushed her school's start time to 9a.m. 每天早上起床是不是很痛苦呢?如果覺得無法多睡一會,你並不孤單。在密蘇里州,一位睡眠不足的高中生吉兒斯就有這樣的困擾,於是她採取了行動。有研究資料支持她的網路請願書,成功讓學校把上課時間延到早上九點。 It turns out that teens aren't night owls by choice and may have a serious excuse for sleeping in. Around bedtime, the brain releases melatonin, a chemical which makes you sleepy. Before adolescence, children's internal clocks naturally direct them to fall asleep between 8 and 9 p.m.原來青少年並非出於選擇而成為夜貓族,他們是很有理由晚睡些。接近就寢時,大腦會釋放出褪黑激素,這是一種會讓你想睡的化學物質。青少年時期以前,孩童生理時鐘自然而然地引導他們在晚上八、九點間入睡。 After being unable to fall asleep until midnight and then getting up at 6a.m. for school, teens may find it hard not to want to sleep during class. Lack of sleep impairs memory, creativity and the ability to concentrate Without enough sleep, teen lose the ability to take in new information, and stress, depression, bad eating habits, and mood swings become worse. 午夜才能入睡,早上六點起床上學後,青少年不在課堂上昏昏欲睡是很難的。睡眠不足會損害記憶力、創造力和專注力。沒有足夠的睡眠,青少年會喪失吸收新知的能力,壓力、憂鬱、不良飲食習慣和情緒波動也會惡化。
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
【究竟學習怎樣的英文才是有用的!?】這是許多語文學習者的共同心聲。除了設定短期目標:報名英檢測驗,了解目前學習是否有需要加強文法概念或對於文化背景認知較薄弱?或單字的背誦過程需更系統化進行;中期進度更是需要藉由參加社團是出國旅遊實際體驗,修正自己口音或表達內容準確性和完整度;長期計畫是能從國際媒體中得知第一手消息,並在母語背景知識下,一併提升外語完整理解力和細節詮釋能力,讓學習語言從被動接受書面資料,變成主動搜尋各領域的場景和用字,再行深化認知和內化的艱辛但充滿驚喜與無比成就感的旅程。想必這樣各位同學在老師專欄都可以感受每一次的用心和多元主題帶來的幫助。認識語言全貌是很花功夫,但也更顯可貴。成功的路上從不擁擠,因為堅持的人不多。想必親愛讀者們有心想認識英文,才願意動動你的fingers,看看這個老師怎麼化你的英文能力為神奇。沒有任何捷徑,但持之以恆(Persistence),已經是學好語言的成功要件,你已經辦到了!所以不要只是Flip through翻翻而已,更要 Go through仔細看看內容,不要輕易說My English is through.(我的英文這科完蛋了!)哈哈,開開玩笑,也從簡單閱讀學到不少片語,AGAIN,你們都很棒喔! You are all on the right track, and please bear in mind that there's no shortcut learning English. 有一次BRIAN老師在早餐店(Breakfast Station)看到有讀者看著專欄哈哈大笑,當下其實職業病很重的我,很想請他大聲朗讀(Recite)喜歡的內容,希望藉由口說的記憶可以把喜歡的句子記起來,脫口而出就是好英文了!當時他桌上有帶著微脆口感的蛋餅(Omelet Roll)、濃郁料多快滿出來的廣東粥(Congee with Assorted Seafood and Veggies),還有一杯清甜的豆漿(Soy Bean Milk)在桌上,真是快活耶,也希望他知道這些如何英文要怎麼表達出來,謝謝我每個可愛的讀者,老師隨時會用可愛的微笑看著你讀英文喔!好像有點恐怖?好啦!娛樂大家之餘也要好好介紹英文的"NO MORE BABY ENGLISH"單元:不要老用小朋友的英文說話。在日常生活中,許多人都習慣用HAPPY來當做情緒固定用字,但在正式場合來有點掉漆,應該用Glad to meet you!遇到老闆想確認等等的會議內容,卻立刻說出" SCHEDULE"這個單字,讓長管以為你要問他私人行程,不僅很突兀也代表你對英文用字掌控與使用時機很不穩定,應該要說AGENDA,那才是讓主管一聽就懂的關鍵字!可別一廂情願又一頭熱去老闆說些不得體的BABY ENGLISH喔!所以來加強實力,邁向成熟說法,開口就加分的好機會盡在今天精彩專欄中!
: Wording Boot camp! 1.亨利在學校的田徑賽跑中弄傷了腳踝。 (動詞上的轉換,準確用字) (原句)Henry hurt his ankles in the school race contest. (修正)Henry injured his ankles in the school race contest. 2.父母有時會在公共場合大聲斥責不守規矩的小孩(動詞片語的活用和細膩度,可以達到不錯的寫作和口說效果,讓閱聽者能有畫面感受情緒張力) (原句)Parents might yell at their children who acted inapproriately in public venues. (修正) Parents might lash out on their children who acted inapproriately in public venues. 3.在現今的社會中,我們通常在處理人際關係上都會特別留意。(利用慣用語來當做點出主題關鑑字PEOPLE ISSUES,富有成熟英文底子的同學可以學習的!) (原句) In the modern society, we tend to be more careful in dealing with people issues. (修正) In the modern society, we tend to be more tactful when it comes to people issues. →When it comes to the peer pressure,……/ Speaking of a marrage,……/ As for the disposal of the stray animals…….都可以多加練習運用! 4.(超夯時事題:社會案件篇) 由於最近層出不窮的縱慾型殺人案,父母不禁對孩子的安危感到相當憂心。 (原句)Because of the recent spree killing cases, parents couldn't help but get anxious about safety of their children. (修正) Because of the recent spree killing cases ,children's safety has significantly concerned parents. Significant (a.) impact/ change in someone or something重大改變或意義 Wow, your hairstyle change is extremely significant. The meeting with the board seems significant due to recent economic recession. Requesting for a raise means a world to me and my family. But this act will significantly take a toll on my career. I gave them a good excuse to downsize the department and gave me a boot. 5.亞洲學生被迫要面對學業壓力。 (原句) Students in Asia are forced to face the academic pressure. (修正) Asian students appear vulnerable to great stress from the countless exams. 6. 喬治和莎莉之間的鬧劇是其來有自的! (原句)The unexpected divorce between George and Sally didn't happen at the snap of fingers. (修正)The unexpected divorce between George and Sally stemmed from some causes ( stem cell幹細胞) →We've been expecting your arrival我們都很期待你的到來! →We've heard a lot about you!我們久仰大名! 7.壓倒我們關係的最後一根稻草(在推特上封鎖他的原因)是即使我已經釋出善意,對方還是充滿敵意。show the gracious/ friendly gesture(釋出善意) (原句)The final reason for me to unfriend him on Twitter was his hostiltiy against everything I did though I had showed him nice gestures. (修正)The last straw for me to unfriend him on Twitter was his hostiltiy against everything I did though I had showed him nice gestures. 8. 不要只因為別人做錯一件事,就讓對方變成萬古罪人的機會。 (原句)Don't label a person just because he or she made a mistake. We all deserve a second chance.( label帶有刻板印象而對某人事物有的定論) (修正)Don't stigmatize a person only by his or her one-time wrongdoing. single out a person刻意孤立某人( stigma本為"污點"的涵意) marginalized people被邊緣化的人 :組合組語實力秒增時間 現在老師要示範是一般在做英文筆記時,最常見也最有用的方法,那就是把相關用語整理起來:運動類、飲食類、情緒表達、衣著鞋服,機場過境時等常見的場景用語。隨時可以活用,輕鬆愉快還能隨時補充新學習到的內容,或是分享筆記和讀書會的朋友定期討論自己的學習內容有哪裡要訂正和加強的,進步肯定十分神速也多了和朋友的話題,何樂而不為呢? 1. 延伸課程→Extensive Course EX.: After exposing myself to(接觸) the basic level of French lessons, I found it really intriguing(有趣的) and profound(深奧的) in not only its culture but also the elegant languages. And my advisor suggested that I take some extensive courses, such as speaking training sessions, and cultural understanding classes available at the center. I cannot wait to learn and see more about this beautiful, unique culture. 2. 密集課程→Intensive Course EX.: It's really common for Asian students to swarm into the cram schools for the big exams for College Entrance and they will receive intensive course for several subjects and be tested repeatedly, which will familiarize themselves with some key points the test places a great emphasis on. &臨時抱佛腳:cram for + N/ NP. 3. 速成課程班→Crash Course EX.: When it comes to crash course, it seemed quite stressful(充滿壓力的) and unlikely to achieve. Very few people(極少數人) would take crash course out of no reason: Some diplomats are required to take Spanish or other foreign language courses for future negotiations or talk on social occasions in order to show our concern and manners as guests, others could feel urged to(感到急迫性的) learn how to cook for family before moving to a new place or living under the same roof with their " Hard-to-pleased" parents-in-law after the marriage , and still others would spend only two weeks in a row during the summer break to learn some skills which normally take nearly half a year. Signing up for crash courses sounds quite time-saving.(省時的)→fuel-efficient省能源的 4. 主要菜餚→Main Dish EX.: As a well-educated diner, you are supposed to inquire if there's any particular dish the waiter might serve in season to cater to your need instead of giving him a hard time by being fussy during the whole meal. 5. 順其自然→Nature will take its own course. EX.: When Susan failed to reach her son for the whole night, her worries grew to be anxiety and she had kept walking back and forth in the door and looking over the window to check whether his park was on the driveway it should have been. " Nature will take its own course," said I as one of her best friends. There sometimes are things you cannot rush, right? He's a grown-up, and you should stop getting so panicked as a helicopter parent. You are smothering him with love.(妳的愛會讓他窒息!) <布萊恩老師人生座右銘時間Life Motto>: 每當聽到盪氣迴腸(MIND-BLOWING)交響樂作品,偶然讀到牽動思緒的鄉愁詩,或在閒聊時光時深入人心的話語,讓聽者能有心靈舒緩和精神得到久違的支持感!這時後可不能只是用老掉牙的NO PAIN, NO GAIN打發對方。最近很多學生剛好需要參加英文朗讀及即席演講相關的比賽,這時後肯定有"平時"不努力,"上台"獨傷悲了。所以平時累積的筆記和口說實力就見真章,英文學習努力的程度就立刻現形無所遁形。好好利用BRIAN老師整理的實用生活感觸且發人深省的好句子,寫在專用的英文筆記本上,記在你的長期記憶資料庫,這樣隨時就可以脫口而出好英文,不求人好英文就從現在開始囉! 1.Look on the bright side because the shadow is behind when we face the sunlight. 朝著人生的光明面看吧!因為面對陽光時,陰影即被甩在背後。 2.The cost of growing up is going through pains which make us realize how fortunate we are to have so much in hand. Never take things for granted. 成長的代價充滿苦痛的,藉此也了解我們慶幸能擁有許多珍貴人事物!千萬不要當做是理所當然! 3.I am fully convinced that they came to us for some causes. 我深信這些(生命中)發生的事情冥冥之中都有安排! 4. Persistence is the only quality leading on to success. 要成功就一定具備堅持不懈這項特質。 5.There's no excuses for procrastination and the only thing you earned from stealing some minutes is a trademark of " Not Trustworthy"! 凡事延宕拖延是無法合理化的!以為賺了那幾分鐘的空閒,但事實上給自己倒是多了一個"大無賴"的名號! 6. If you happen to be stuck in the Writer's Block, I need to say something to you" Living in self-pity is not enough, and you need to work HARDER." 如果你剛好有寫作上的瓶頸,我有點想法跟你說:「自怨自艾是不夠的,你得埋頭苦幹一番才是。」 7. Go easy on others, and your life will be easier. 放過別人就是放過自己。(原意:對他人寬容點,生活會比較好過些!) -
Kimmy and Kuku_A Kinmen Story Chapter I
Dear Community of Kinmen, We are a collective of Fulbright English Teaching Assistants inspired by this island. Our group includes Rebecca Lim (林芮), Andrea Hale (夏嘉蔚), Sam Jeong (鄭大鉉), Brett Burk (白瑞琪) and Ross Busch (比儒實).To share our experiences with you, we have decided to create a story series, "Kimmy and Kuku: A Kinmen Story," reflecting everything around us. We hope that you can enjoy these pieces with your friends and family and that through our imagination, we can share with you our perspectives about life on Kinmen. Sincerely, The Kinmen Collective ______________________________________________ Kimmy and Kuku: A Kinmen Story, Chapter I Kimmy was playing in the yard. She heard a little voice in the grass. Kimmy walked to the big tree. Kimmy was surprised! She found a baby bird under the tree! "What are you doing?" Kimmy asked the baby bird. "I'm learning how to fly and fell down," cried the baby bird." "Where are your parents?" Kimmy asked. "They went to the forest to find a new home." Kimmy was sad. Kimmy did not want the bird family to leave the big tree in her yard. "Why are they finding a new home?" "Because a man will cut down this big tree soon!" the baby bird cried.Kimmywanted to help the baby bird, but she didn't know what she could do. "I can talk to the man," said Kimmy. "Baby bird, can you tell me where he lives?』The baby bird flapped her wings. "I can't fly, but if you carry me up the tree, I can show you where the man lives!" Kimmy gently put the baby bird in her pocket and began to climb the tree. Up, up, up they went! When she reached the top of the tree, Kimmy put the bird back in her nest. "Thank you, Kimmy!" said the baby bird. "My name is Kuku! Look, you can see the whole town from up here!" Kimmy looked down. All the houses looked very small. She could see the mountains and the rivers, too."The house where the man lives has a red roof, a blue door, and green windows. Can you see it?" said Kuku as she flapped her wings. "A red roof, a blue door, and green windows…oh no!" Kimmy said. "That's MY house!" As Kimmy looked out over the houses below she felt sad."What can I do?" She asked Kuku. "My parents think I'm just a little girl, they don't know I can talk to animals!"Kuku looked up at Kimmy. "Just tell them about me," she chirped. "If they see that I am living here theywon't want to cut downmy home!" Kimmy looked back toward the town below her. She knew what she would have to do. Kimmy turned to Kuku and explained her plan. "When I return home later this evening, you can sing for them!Your melody will surely convince them that this tree is worth saving!" Kuku nodded as she yawned, "I hope so." Kuku's eyes closed as she fell asleep. The sun was setting and it was time for Kimmy to hurry home for dinner. "I'm home, mom! I'm home, dad!" Kimmy said as she opened the door. "Something smellsvery good," said Kuku, waking up. "Oh, it's my mom's pumpkin pie. It's sweet and very yummy," said Kimmy. "Who are you talking to, Kimmy?" Kimmy's mom asked from the kitchen. "What? Oh, no one," Kimmy said quickly. "Where's dad?" "Your father is in the living room," Kimmy's mom said."Go tell him you're home."Kimmy went into the living room. Kimmy's dad was sitting on the sofa. Next to him was a big axe. Kuku gasped. "That's the axe I saw the man with!" cried Kuku, looking scared and sad. Kimmy did not like seeing her friend scared and sad. Kimmy was angry. "Hello, dad," Kimmy said, standing in front of her dad. Kimmy's dad looked up. "Oh, hi Kimmy! How are you? How was your…" "No time for chit-chat. We have to talk." Kimmy reached into her pocket, took Kuku out, and held him in her hands. Kimmy's dad stared. "Hello!" chirped Kuku. Before Kimmy could talk, Kuku started singing a song that told the story of the one thousand year old tree where his family lived.The wind carried Kuku's song through the living room, the kitchen and out the window. Then, Kimmy's mom and dad started to sing. They walked into the rain and began to sing and dance in the street. As Kuku's song traveled, all the moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas came out of their houses and started to sing and dance to the same beautiful song. When the song ended, everyone was happy and went home to sleep. The townspeople who heard the song would wake up in morning with the song in their hearts and be happy. From that day on, no one could cut down the big trees where birds like Kuku lived and Kuku's home would be safe forever.
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
【從電影學英文】:Danish Girl(丹麥女孩)-I am entirely myself.(我是個完整的人了) 今天我們要從這個重要的跨時代跨性別的議題來一起學習英文。雖然是很深刻的議題也充滿的爭議性,但學著用英文去和朋友分享所學所聞,也是增進英文能力很重要的方法喔!學著用自己的母語去反省深思身邊的議題,不僅僅可以提升語文實力,更能幫助自己在思考英文的時候有不同的角度和感動呢!丹麥女孩(Danish Girl)-禁錮在軀體的靈魂,何時有機會尋回被認同的自我?震撼整個影壇的跨性別議題,雖然並非首次被搬上國際社會媒體討論,但這麼寫實地記錄一個傑出畫家Einar Wegener(Eddie Redmayne)從男性的角色中,喚醒內心早已經壓抑已久的女性靈魂。在面對社會現實的異樣眼光與未啟蒙的大時代環境下,加上已婚和大眾人物種種身分枷鎖,已經讓主角莉莉Lili Elbe(決定做回女性的本我的稱呼,偶然在友人探訪而以手中百合來命名)自我壓抑到極限,看似藉由變裝找回一點自己的本我,但卻也是另一種的束縛,因為這樣的身體並不是她所喜歡認同的。這部電影並非完全著眼在討論跨性別變性手術或是這一切是否由先天基因決定性取向或是後天環境觸發了某些內在的想法。更是個人對於人生有了全新體悟而走上的不同抉擇。 過程中,主角莉莉並非自私單純追尋自己的幸福生活,而斷然放棄自己現有的婚姻關係與伴侶。她也非常疑惑自己的抉擇是否正確?所以接受了妻子許多的放射性治療或身心科的諮詢等等,最後都被當作是精神病症來做治療,而非深入理解她的內心和過往的情感歷程,去當作一個重要的個案來處理與理解。許多的醫生都直搖頭,認為妻子應該把自己的衣櫃上鎖,不該縱容莉莉去惡化病情。甚至有一次莉莉隻身前往某權威身心科醫師診間,竟然發現在病歷上大大的寫著SCHIZOPHRENIC(精神分裂狀態),隨之而來就是大批的病院看護前來打算把她關起來,當作一般的病患對待,讓莉莉落荒而逃。這不單單是對所謂的科學世界極大的諷刺,也是對於人類世界對於未知的事物急於上標籤或排擠異己常有的陋習,打了一記耳光。 其實,即使現在科學或生物科技僅從基因排列或染色體樣態去做大批數據排列統計,而精神科權威多從現有理論去套用案例,很難有全面性而且不受質疑的推論。簡單來說,這一切都大眾來說都還是未知的謎題!但我們可以給的是更多的尊重和包容,能更多的討論以及結合更多專業領域去深入探討,可以消弭更多歧視,增加更多理性對話的空間,擁抱不同選擇的多元文化。 台中一中(男變女)曾愷芯老師選擇自己「想」過的生活,而不是「應該」過的生活,並在媒體公開訪問時,這不是一件好事嗎?是的,有時候個人的選擇不應該被汙名化,如果你看過這部電影,你會了解當初莉莉經歷了許多心理、生理的掙扎和非常人能忍受的苦痛,也要讓自己女性的角色得到完整的身分和自在的作回屬於自己的模樣。莉莉在童年時期早已因為怕被排擠和異樣眼光,無法理解為什麼自己會有想當女生的衝動,又在初次和男生有了親密接觸時,讓父親震怒不已,也沒有任何人可以談及內心的混亂,更找不到情感上的出口,交織矛盾與自我否認而無法找到生命的出路,只能不斷在畫作中勾勒出童年家鄉的樹林與清澈的湖泊,因為深怕自己真的被傳統價值觀淹沒了真我,走上了一條不屬於自己的道路。影片隨著那纏繞莉莉美麗身影的絲巾,被一陣強風颳走而飄盪在山谷間,好似在無限高歌生命也像在低聲泣訴充滿折磨的人生。是阿!最後生命會自己找到出口,莉莉的靈魂也在最後找到自由,在這輩子最重要的兩個人陪伴中辭世。I am entirely myself這句話花了她大半輩子去追尋,即使要失去生命也在所不惜,或許你我可以捫心自問,要有多強的動機才能夠去承受這些極大的疼痛和割捨甚至失去原本的生活?或許對於這樣的抉擇就不會只是謾罵或是指責了!倘若大眾能有更多的理解和尊重溝通,莉莉的生命旅程將會更有意義,也可以對於先天被賦予的性別身分有不同想法的朋友,能有機會在更專業與更多人性關懷的環境下,創造屬於自己的幸福人生。 《必學重點單字表達》 1. transgender surgery變性手術 " Lili Elbe is not only an inspiration for bravery but also an pioneer for transgender movements."(莉莉不僅僅賦與人們更多勇氣,更是跨性別運動重要的先驅者。) 2. trap(v.)掉入陷阱(n.)圈套→tricky(a.)狡詐的,用在生活中可能很難解的議題或是考試中出現很令人水深火熱的題目,都可以說:That's tricky! EX.: Through excruciating struggles with the reality, Lili Elbe came to realize that her soul was trapped in a male body. That's not her and it's really put her in self-denial for long.(與現實的碰撞和苦痛的掙扎,莉莉驚覺自己的身體被困在男性的軀體中。這並不是真正的她,因此也讓她活在自我否定的世界中。) 3. sexual discrimination 性別歧視V.S. sexual orientation性別取向 EX.: Human society is no stranger to sexual discrimination, especially in male-oriented communities or tribes. The glass ceiling at workplace treated women unfairly and offered them fewer chances for high-end positions with some concerns that they might switch their focus from the career to the family life instead.(特別在以男性為主社會或部落中,性別歧視隨處可見。在職場的女性升遷侷限讓女性工作者沒有得到合理的對待,也因為雇主擔心之後她們將重心從職場放回家庭生活,而提供較少的高階工作職缺給她們。) *請同學特別注意: orientation,這個單字的源頭是orient以…為導向。而在進入新環境時,學生往往需要orientation,有資深的學長姐或校方導覽人員進行『新生座談』;而在職場裡,許多菜鳥也需要orientation,快速熟悉作業流程或是公司各單位處室所在位置和相關守則規範,所以這類的『職前座談』也是很常見的。 另外常提到這個人很沒方向感就可以說:She is completely disoriented when heading to a new place(前往新的地點時,她老搞不清楚東西南北。= She has a poor sense of direction.(她方向感極差無比) 4. puzzle(n.)謎題;拼圖(v.)使…迷惑不解→piece together the fact拼湊真相 EX.: Whether transgender surgery has been officially authorized, it is apparently costly and risky to receive such an invasive operation, leading to hemorrhage and some complications afterwards.(不論變性手術是否被官方單位所認同,這很明顯地是所費不貲而且去進行這樣侵入性的手術是相當危險的,很有可能會大量出血或是引發不同併發症。) 5. schizophrenia (n.)精神分裂 EX.: Based on medical documents, schizophrenia tends to run in the family and it could attack you without early signs of warning. It's full of variables and unpredictability for many. Patients who are inflicted with such disease might suffer from delusive hearing or some hallucinations to a different extent.(在醫學文獻中,精神分裂在家族遺傳中常見,而且有時候並沒有明顯的早期徵兆。對大多數人來說,這是充滿許多變數和不確定性的病症。長期受苦於此的病患總被不同程度的幻聽或幻覺糾纏不已。)*補充:bipolar personality躁鬱性人格→depression憂鬱症 【英檢高分通關:慣用語單元整理】 Collocation Challenge: Please fill in the blanks with correct "Verbs" 超重要五顆星: 各種關於"更改"的說法及表達語 1. ____ the appointment due to the delayed flight of our clients 因為客戶班機延遲的緣故,將取消原訂事宜。 2. ____ the meeting until the president made it to the conference 會議將會延宕到董事長趕到才會開始 3. ____ the lease contract when the tenant failed to comply with the terms both agree upon.當房客未盡履約責任時,(房東)可以依合約內容向對方解約。 4. ____ your perspectives might lead to a different surprise and spark more innovative ideas.改變想法可以有不同的驚喜和激起創意的火花 5. With all numerous details there, the training sessions were therefore ____.因為細節繁多,因而延長訓練課程 6. Owing to the unexpected storm, the opening day of Four Season Hotel in Denmark will be _____ then.意外的暴風雨,丹麥的四季飯店將會延後正式開幕大會。 Answer Keys: Correct Verbs on different occasions 1. cancel the appointment due to the delayed flight of our clients 2. postpone the meeting until the president made it to the conference 3. invalidate the lease contract when the tenant failed to comply with 4. shift your perspectives might lead to a different surprise and spark more innovative ideas. 5. With all numerous details there, the training sessions were therefore prolonged 6. Owing to the unexpected storm, the opening day of Four Season Hotel in Denmark will be rescheduled then. &特別注意文法點: 通常使用[arrange a meeting] for someone,來表達替某人安排一場會議;然而我們很容易用中文母語的思維說出[arrange a person]來表達安排某些人員從事什麼事情,但 arrange是不能接"人"的特殊動詞。所以可以用"安排一場親職座談餐會" ARRANGE a banquet for the teacher-parent association. 【翻譯練習時間】Daily Sentences中文解釋下期揭曉喔 A. You shouldn't take her sacrifices for granted. B. It is high time that she were about to return home before too late. C. Memories of the past flooded into my brain. D. Persistence is the only quality leading one to success. E. Your attitude, not aptitude, determines your altitude. F. Reading some books can generate more inspirations and guide you to different choices. G. You are advised to see a doctor because you've been coughing so bad. H. ( At the clinic)What seems to be the problem today, Ms. Chen? I. Yes, I am all ears. Just fire away and don't hang me in suspense!J. You should walk the walk and talk the talk. K. Hope is always there and the only thing you should do is chin up and perk up.
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
大家最近學習英文進度如何呢?相信大家不分陰晴都是努力學習,突然很想高歌"Because when the sun shines, we'll shine together. Told you I'll be here foreverSaid I'll always be your friend. Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end."是雨傘天后蕾哈娜的名曲之一Umbrella。把英文歌曲朗朗上口,也可以讓你的外國友人讓你產生更多連結,對於許多話題也省略許多解釋,短時間內可以拉近彼此的距離,才不會用來跑來告訴老師,怎麼我們都不知道聊什麼!從國外音樂、電視影集,或是國際時事相關話題都可以拿出來用英文分享自己的想法,抓住關鍵字,不用擔心自己的文法是否完全正確,畢竟即使是母語人士都不見得會用完美的文法,重點在觀念的溝通和想法的交換為主,而且從傾聽對方的回答,自己也可以學習更道地的說法,把自己原本繁複的觀念用更簡潔有力的方法說出來!平時在觀看收聽電視談話廣播節目或是看電影影集中,可以準備屬於自己的英文學習小本子,記錄不錯的英文佳句,如同上期的丹麥女孩內容班延伸;重要用字用樹狀圖的概念,把大範圍的觀念整理起來,比如: 交通工具"Transportation"→Public Transportation"公共運輸工具"→Vehicles(各式車輛)→exhaust from vehicles車輛排放的廢氣→(句子)Most commuters prefer taking public transportations to and back from work.(大多通勤族偏好搭乘公共輸運工具上下班。) 而且對於英文也是在充電準備中,在關鍵的時候可以表現出自己的國際競爭力吧!工作面試或是交際溝通的場合,口說英文一直都是最重要也常被亞洲學生當作頭號敵人的項目。因為並非自己的母語,變成每每要說出口都要先在腦裡中進行翻譯,然後最後再想想文法合不合理(Make sense),才敢真正說出口。坦白說,對方可能早就跑遠了,你還在想到底要不要加ING或是ED呢!Familiarity really matters. 如同Brian老師提醒大家,學習英文一定要從句子的概念開始,光背一個單字對於聽力閱讀或是口說寫作幫助實在有限,而且顯得非常的零碎。大家都很喜歡在大眾交通工具上看英文單字書,公車上晃阿晃或是火車上搖阿搖,老師都忍不住想過去告訴她(他)說:"你都不張開嘴巴念,要是有機會說英文,到時候真的說得出口嗎?"沒錯!從例句下手就沒錯,即使是最簡單的Please hold the door for me!(請不要關電梯門;幫我撐一下大門);或是There's no shortcut learning English(學習英文是沒有捷徑的!)都是積少成多。上一期提到What seems to be the problems?是醫生看診常用句』你哪裡感覺不舒服呢?』如果直譯,反而會讓人家感覺很奇怪,或是根本不知道想表達的情形。因為problem在英文中是指"嚴重的狀況或錯誤",所以受過良好教育的母語人士會避免直接使用這個字眼,而是用issue這個成熟的中性字,表達目前有些狀況: 1. delicate issue敏感的議題→delicate cuisines精緻的菜餚 2. get issues with someone和某人有紛爭→at odds with與某人有過節 3. issue the credit card發行信用卡→issuer發行公司→card holder持卡人 4. issue the currency發行貨幣→currency exchange兌換貨幣→exchange rate匯差 5. the new issue(of publications)新一季(出版品)→Big Issue大誌(來自英國政府輔助遊民的德政,藉由向政府購滿雜誌,販賣賺差價來換取工作機會,也因此能夠來幫助失業者重新有自食其力的機會) 而且跟自己生活圈越有關係的用語,記憶才會長久,才會更感到實用和增加說英文的自信心!Taiwanese tend to be shy of speaking English.(台灣人通常比較羞於說英文),所以要多多練習朗讀或是自我對話,可以把自己的心情說出來,或是在咖啡廳把周邊的環境試著用英文表達出來,可以提醒自己的單字和片語相關用語不足之處,好好充實,才可以讓英文突飛猛進,Make Great Progress! 又到了每一次同學們最期待的整理測驗單元,可以快速檢測同學的英文體質是否有均衡飲食,快速針對大家關心的英文專業檢定和生活實用英文來著手,一定可以讓大家在短時間內,不花太多力氣,卻有滿滿的收穫和相關的知識學習喔。 《各種『弄壞』的說法》你都知道了嗎?測驗開始! 1. ___the facilities at the amusement park破壞遊樂園的公物 2. ___our plan going camping this weekend讓周末露營的計畫泡湯 3. ___the building to the ground把大樓整個拆除掉 4. ___the relationship between Henry and his girlfriend介入亨利和女友間的關係 5. ___ Sally's life by spreading the rumors at the workplace藉由在職場散播謠言來揮了莎莉的人生 6. ___the movie plot before others go watch the film別人去看電影前就去透露劇情 7. ___ the reputation of Happy Fruit Company毀了快樂水果工廠的名聲 8. ___ the current project we've worked for long since 2011從中破壞我們從2011年就開始投入的計畫案 (Answer Keys) 1. vandalize the facilities at the amusement park(vandalism n.破壞公物) 2. dampen our plan going camping this weekend(damp v.使朝詩) 3. demolish/ tear the building to the ground 4. intervene the relationship between Henry and his girlfriend 5. ruin Sally's life by spreading the rumors at the workplace 6. spoil the movie plot before others go watch the film 7. tarnish the reputation of Happy Fruit Company 8. undermine/sabotage the current project we」ve worked for long since 2011 每次檢視完,不要太執著在自己錯了幾次,重點是要把相關的內容都複習熟練,這樣才有達到學習的效果喔!以後再翻閱其他的書刊或是相關表達的資料時,就會更有共鳴,學習才可以得到更多樂趣和自我肯定呢!Feeling defeated in learning something happened in different stages of life. 【翻譯練習時間解答】Daily Sentences中文解釋下期揭曉喔 A. You shouldn't take her sacrifices for granted.你不該把她的付出當作理所當然。take…for granted把…視為理所當然;有不知感恩的意思 B. It is high time that she were about to return home before too late.現在正是她回家的時候了,不然可真是太晚了。文法點:It is (high/very/right) time that S + 過去式動詞(如were) C. Memories of the past flooded into my brain.記憶突然湧現心頭。flood(n.)洪水(v.)湧入→the flood of tourists如潮水般的觀光客 D. Persistence is the only quality leading one to success.quality品質;(人)特質→Quality outweighs quantity.重質不重量要成功的唯一特質就是要堅持不懈。 E. Your attitude, not aptitude, determines your altitude.你的態度決定你的高度,而不是天資。 F. Reading some books can generate more inspirations and guide you to different choices.閱讀書籍可以產生許多靈感而且帶領你走向更多選擇性。 G. You are advised to see a doctor because you've been coughing so bad.強調用語:The child wants the toy so bad!這孩子非常想到那個玩具!I miss you so bad!我真的好想你喔!你這陣子咳得很嚴重,我建議你去看看醫生。 H. ( At the clinic)What seems to be the problem today, Ms. Chen?(在診間)陳小姐,今天哪裡有不舒服嗎?*超重要實用句 I. Yes, I am all ears. Just fire away and don't hang me in suspense!是!我洗耳恭聽。你就直接說吧,別在那邊賣關子了! J. You should walk the walk and talk the talk. 你應該要言必行,信必果。 walk(v.)行走(n.)舉止=behavior/conduct/demeanor;talk(v.)談話(n.)words言談 K. Hope is always there and the only thing you should do is chin up and perk up.總是會有希望的,你現在所需要的就是抬頭挺胸和振作起來! perk(v.)鼓舞(n.)獎勵獎金V.S. dividend紅利(從數學中的divide『除開』的概念來記憶)→員工旅遊incentive trip 最近許多同學都非常喜歡觀看VoiceTube上的短片,短則兩分鐘,長則15到20分鐘都有,話題趣味多元而且有各國口音來讓觀賞者可以熟悉不同腔調,這樣能夠幫助許多跨國企業擔任業務朋友,讓準備國際多益考試或留學考試托福雅思朋友有更多機會不用出國就能聆聽各種素材。學習英文非難事,但要持之以恆,而且要有習慣使用的資訊來源,電腦或手機首頁轉成國際英文網或是學習APP的內容記錄,都可以有效率地讓英文成為一部分。這樣可以讓學習英文變得相當有趣呼吸間都是英文,隨著時間久了,就不會感受到學習英文是件苦差事,而是真正落實在生活像吃飯喝水般自然了! Passport Check【護照查驗檯】Travel In English旅遊實用句一點通 1. Do you carry any perishables?你有攜帶任何的易腐品(蔬菜水果肉品等)嗎? 2. What's the purpose of your visit?您來訪的目的為何? 3. Where are you going to stay in London?你會在倫敦哪裡落腳? 4. Are there any friends or relatives in the states?在美國你有任何親友嗎? 5. How much cash do you have for the trip?|這次旅程有帶多少現金呢? 6. When's your departure date?離境的時間為何? 7. Please present me the return ticket and the passport!請出示回程票券和護照 8. You look intoxicated now. It's not proper for you to board the plane now. We」ll make another arrangement for the flight you can catch later.你看起來有酒醉的樣子,現在你的狀態不適合登機喔!我們會為你安排下一班最近的班機! 9. Please don't leave your luggage unattended.請不要把行李丟著無人看管! 10. Your passport is not valid for us.你的護照失效了! 11. We have to confiscate your liquors which exceed the volume allowance.我們必須要沒收你的超量的酒類飲品。 12. Inadequate-Packaging items is not attributable to the airline.未能包裝完整的托運行李公司一概不負責。 13. The Baggage Claim is on your right hand.行李提領處在你的右手處。 14. Please take off your cap and remove the sunglasses.請脫帽和把太陽眼鏡拿下來。 15. Are you aware that the budget airlines reserve the right to cancel or reschedule the flights for which passengers should not file lawsuits against?你自己注意到廉價航空有權力取消或重新安排班機,而乘客不能因此提出法律訴訟對抗之? 16. Taiwanese passport holders can travel in most countries in Europe without travel visas.台灣護照持有者在歐洲多數國家免旅遊簽證。
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Holidays in Kinmen(II)
Are You Coming Home by Rebecca Lim "Are you coming home for the holidays?" Each time I answered "no"-to a relative, an old friend, a curious acquaintance-it became more and more real that I would not be with my family for Christmas, and I felt increasingly sad about spending the holidays away from home. Christmas is more than just a day-it's a feeling. I love the toasty smell of firewood in the cold night air, the sight of neighborhoods draped in strings of lights and candles glowing from within cookie scented homes. For me, Christmas is about quality time with loved ones, who look forward to coming together from all parts of the world to be together to celebrate and make memories. It's about appreciating the past year and reflecting on both the blessings and the hardships. And it's about Jesus Christ, the original reason for the season. This year, even as I knew that December 25th was approaching, I struggled to feel the joy and anticipation that I usually do during the holidays. Though I had mentally prepared myself for the inevitable change of scenery in Kinmen, I still underestimated how much I would miss the traditions I had taken for granted my whole life. In order to try and create a the sense of Christmas I longed for in Kinmen, I listened to Christmas music, decorated my apartment with a little tree, watched a Christmas movie, and even participated in a gift exchange. I spent several classes teaching my students about Christmas, making Christmas crafts, singing Christmas songs, and playing Christmas games. On Christmas Eve, a couple friends and I performed three songs at the National Quemoy University Christmas show, which was my first time singing publicly anywhere. We sat under a beautiful Christmas tree, dozens of dazzling lights, and the gaze of a very gracious audience. I felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity, and was reminded of the immense number of experiences I have only had because I am living here in Kinmen. That night, I reflected on Christmas and all the different ways I celebrated it this year. I realized that in trying to explain what Christmas means to me to my students in Kinmen, I had actually done more Christmas activities and shared the Christmas spirit with more people than I had ever done in any given year before coming to Taiwan. To be sure, Christmas in Kinmen does not feel exactly the same as Christmas in Virginia. But in many ways, it is better. Next year, I will miss cutting paper snowflakes and constructing gingerbread houses with my adorable and talented students, decorating cookies and exchanging gifts with my fellow ETAs, and learning more about Christmas by seeing it through others' eyes. As 2016 approaches, I'm excited to share my New Year's traditions with my students, and am even more excited to learn about how they celebrate. Looking back on the past year, and even just the past few months, I'm in awe of how much I've learned and how far I've come. There are so many reasons to be joyful, thankful, and hopeful. Happy Holidays, everyone! Christmas in Kinmen by Ross Busch On December 25th, I celebrated Christmas without my family for the first time. I felt a little uncomfortable, and a little homesick. Never before in my life had I been asked to work during the holidays, and I wasn't quite sure how I was going to manage my responsibility to plan Christmas events for my students as well as my responsibility to celebrate with my family. I was expecting to work through a week of stressful Christmas plans and performances, while never actually having the opportunity to relax and appreciate one of my favorite holidays. Thankfully, the week of December 25th was filled with Christmas cheer and storybook surprises. I will share one of those surprises with you below… On Wednesday the 23rd, Jhuohuan Elementary School held its annual Christmas party. That day also happened to be the last day of service for one of our great tidayis, Yuming. In preparation for the party I dressed up as Santa Claus to add to the Christmas atmosphere of our party. As a surprise, our school also gifted Yuming a Santa outfit for his "retirement from service" celebration. After Yuming reluctantly put on the overly large red pants, the goofy red hat, and plastic belt, we were ready to celebrate. Instead, our fellow teachers and tidayis demanded that we go to 7-11 and film ourselves buying a few things. They figured it would be funny, and we figured the same! While walking along the quiet roads of Small Kinmen we encountered a few fellow teachers, and some local bulls. It was only after our picture that we realized wearing red in front of a bull was not the smartest decision... Then, Donglin, the largest village on Small Kinmen, erupted with the sound of our Zhuren's voice on the public loudspeaker. She explained, "there are two Santa Clauses walking to 7-11! All kids and parents should meet them there for candy!" It was only a matter of time before the streets were filled with our students, their parents, and grandparents. Bike wheels were screeching, cars were stopping, and kids were yelling! By the time we arrived, 7-11 was packed with people and a crowd had gathered in front of the building. Yuming and I bought a bunch of candy with the help of a few other teachers and we threw the chocolate and lollipops into the crowd. Together, we took pictures with babies and adults alike. When we ran out of candy we simply broke into song (Jingle Bells) until more candy arrived. We continued to toss candy into the crowd until there was simply none left to give. Yuming and I wished everyone a merry Christmas and laughed all the way back to Jhuohuan. My family has always stressed the importance of "giving" on Christmas. We "give" our time to each other, we "give" gifts, and we "give" as volunteers. For us, Christmas was never about the gifts we received, but always about who could "give" the most. While celebrating Christmas on Small Kinmen I was able to experience the pure joy that comes from "giving." Although I was not able to celebrate Christmas with my family, I was able to give help make Christmas come alive for so many of my students and their families. To have had this opportunity to give so much to others means more to me than any gift I have ever received. I am thankful for the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in Kinmen and I will always remember the first time I played Santa Claus on Small Kinmen. I will be telling this story for a long time. My Holiday Season by Sam Jeong Growing up in Korea, exchanging presents on Christmas Day was never much of a family tradition for me. One Christmas morning in second grade, I remember waking up to find a pair of gloves by my feet and being supremely disappointed that Santa, out of all other gifts, had to pick gloves for me. I think I voluntarily stopped believing in Santa after that Christmas. Something that my family did do as a tradition nearing the New Year was sharing prayer requests for the following year. I always scribbled down my requests on a fresh sheet of white paper with a pencil. One year, I remember praying for a puppy, a trip to Africa, and for my grandmother to live until 500 years old. Maybe my prayer requests acted as Christmas lists, but I still remember what it is like to sit around my living room sipping hot milk, listening to each of my family members list off their prayer requests. It was fun, it was intimate, and it was where I first felt what being a family means. It was odd spending December in Kinmen. No biting cold, no glittering lights everywhere, no giant Christmas sale posters; no conventional preparations for a Western holiday season. But I asked my students what two things they liked most about the holiday season, and the resounding answers were: eating candy and spending time with family. I probably would have said the same thing. On Christmas, the entire school danced. From my little first graders to goofy sixth graders, it was wonderful to witness the entire 古城國小 student body come together, and even more wonderful to see the proud smiles from the parents and grandparents who came to see their 小朋友 perform. This Christmas season, I have been mulling over the idea of home and family. Since moving to the States in middle school, I have seldom gone back home to Korea for Christmas, and the five of us being together in one place has become a rarity. But once the end of the year approaches, I find myself looking for a white sheet of printer paper and a pencil and writing down my prayer requests for the next year. This year, I am praying for a puppy, a trip to Afr… no, no. I am asking for my grandmother's health, for my mom's health, for a nephew or a niece, a peace of mind as I search for jobs, and the ability for me to really love my students at 古城國小and be the best teacher I can be until the end of my time here. Perhaps you do not necessarily need to be physically at home to be home. Perhaps all you need is a paper, a pencil, a cup of hot milk, and sounds of memories from long ago. And speaking of family, my fellow Fulbright ETAs has served that role for me this year. It is hard to believe that we met as complete strangers in August, and are now greeting the New Year together as great friends. We tease each other, get mad, laugh, play games, eat inordinate amounts of food, give each other rides, and are there for each other, as siblings would be. Sure, some may argue that we are just friends, but I argue that living in Kinmen and the amount of dependability that our relationship necessitates allows you to find "siblinghood" in a friendship-Friendblings! This week, I am headed to Taipei for the New Year's Eve firework show at Taipei 101. I will be welcoming the New Year with some friendblings. I cannot wait to see what next year brings. A Happy New Year to all! (本文由學術交流基金會外師群撰寫)
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Holidays in Kinmen(I)
Christmas in July by Andrea Hale Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus, Snowmen, the Gingerbread Man and The Grinch. I sat at my desk in Jinsha Elementary School trying to think of different symbols of Christmas. The after the Director of Academic Affairs had approached me hoping that I could help the school put on a Christmas event. Most of the kids at school had heard of Christmas and already knew many traditional songs from previous years of schooling and foreign teachers. For the last couple of weeks, my English classes have taken on a different sort of character: instead of memorizing vocabulary and sentence structures, students have been using English to sing songs and explore different cultural traditions through stories. I prepared lessons on, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," or "The Gingerbread Man." I had barely known these stories or their details beforehand and found myself relearning a Christmas tradition that I had not fully understand nor had I fully explored myself growing up in the United States. On December 24th, all the kids at school dressed up and filed into the gym, watching performances and preparing themselves for their own. After a morning of dancing, singing and candy, the students went back to classes. I thought to myself afterwards that perhaps I should be an elementary school dance teacher, if such a job existed. I had a lot of fun helping the kids learn to sing and dance. Through preparation for the Christmas event, I was able to bond with many students through artistic forms of personal expression that are not always used or practical in a typical classroom setting. The Christmas time preparations have made me question traditional styles of teaching and how different methods of teaching can be creatively introduced in teaching. Out of the many Christmas songs, my main teaching objective emerged renewed and refortified: to inspire students' curiosity of the learning process so that they can find motivation in the face of anything new and different. While I set forth relatively simple images of what holidays in the United States are like in Elementary school, I also confront the question: "What do the holidays mean to me?" I find that the ways in which people celebrate the holidays are diverse and varied. For example, in the United States some of the most popular holidays are Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Years. To answer this question I turned to some family and friends and asked them what the holidays mean to them. Here are some of their responses: #1: "We celebrate Christmas and Christmas Eve for the birth of Jesus. To remember that the Kings brought Jesus presents-that's why we give our kids presents. It means family union." #2: "A way to relive older traditions. So that the kids don't lose this excitement and it's not lost to business interests and consumerism. So that they can have a feeling of something that they have learned from their parents." #3: "The holidays are a hypocrisy. I feel like it's a space that the system has made where people can get together but they don't stop being consumerist events. Maybe they began as heartfelt events but they have turned into stress and worrying about expenses. There are beautiful moments but there isn't the feeling of excitement like there was when I was younger. The holidays have lost a lot of feeling." #4: "The holiday season means that, it's a family get together. That's the important thing for me. It's a family gathering to celebrate occasions, an opportunity for the family to get together to share stories and to relax. It's important because family is the most important factor in life. I have certain expectations that my family will get together to be with each other. You can't expect other friends and relatives to be with you all the time where as you can expect your family to come together. If I could wish for something it would be that everyone will come back home and be together during Christmas and New Year's Eve." These responses reflect different cultural backgrounds and practices and the complexity of where human imagination meets human reality. But perhaps my favorite response was my mother's when we talked about Christmas and presents. I told her, "I didn't know if I should send anything." She said, "Of course not. We did not send you anything. We will celebrate Christmas in July. We will keep your presents wrapped here." I look forward to bringing my family lots of presents from Kinmen and celebrating Christmas in July. It will be a first. Can Santa Claus Read Chinese? by Brett Burk I was five years old when I found Christmas presents under the stairs labeled "To: Brett// From: Santa Claus." Instead of confronting my grandparents about my discovery, I chose to remain silent. I feared that if I told them I knew Santa wasn't real, they wouldn't let me have the Christmas presents. As a result, at home, I pretended to believe in Santa Claus. However, school was a different story. "Santa's not real," I told anyone who would listen. Some kids reacted with curiosity, but for the most part they reacted with anger and disbelief. Many of my students have approached me to both ask and confirm Santa Claus's existence. I never quite know how to respond to their questions. "Can Santa Claus read Chinese?" a student asked as she was writing her Christmas wish list in English. "I think he probably can," I replied. Another instance with three first graders at lunch left me speechless as they all agreed, with certainty, that Santa lives in Finland and doesn't come to Kinmen because it's too far away. While I can no longer confirm or deny Santa's existence here or anywhere else on Earth, Santa's presupposed existence undoubtedly sparks imaginations around the globe. The question "What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?" leaves room for unbounded possibilities while "What do you want your parents to buy you for Christmas?" doesn't seem nearly as fantastic. Santa's scope of gift giving isn't limited by a price range or practicality like that of parents. Santa has the latent ability to bring nice kids around the world ponies, monster trucks, and millions of dollars while most parents can at most manage a puppy, a toy car, and some spending money. My younger students easily came up with ideas for a wish list to Santa. But with older students, I had to change the prompt from "What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?" to "If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?" a rather daunting question. However, when you add "Santa", the question seems less daunting and more exciting. Santa has the perceived power to bring tangible objects like toys and candy but not good grades and future career goals. The fun part of Christmas is the creativity involved in giving and receiving thoughtful tangible gifts that in turn bring about higher order gifts like love and friendship. Santa Claus is merely the means of establishing the meaningful giving and receiving dynamic that brings brings friends, families, and complete strangers together for the holiday season. This Christmas, I participated in a Secret Santa gift exchange where I was assigned a friend for whom to buy a present, and somebody else involved in the game received my name. While I did not know exactly what the person who's name I was assigned wanted, I spent a lot of time thinking about the person and shopping for potential Christmas presents, imagining the person's excitement as they opened each prospective gift. I felt much closer to this person after spending so much time thinking about the perfect gift to give them. After I figured out that Santa Claus wasn't real, I thought more about what I was writing on my wish lists. I wanted to write down gifts that I knew my family members could afford and resultantly the imagination I channeled into my wishlist disappeared. For children, the fun of Christmas lies in dreaming up the most fantastic gifts and believing in the fun tales surrounding Santa Claus. But for adults, the creativity lies in the process of thinking up the perfect gift. So even though the fat magical man living in the North Pole may not be real (for all of us), he is the means to facilitate a creative, meaningful gift-giving holiday season.
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英文原來這樣說(English Is A Piece of Cake)
1.今天你筆記了嗎?Take Notes of Your Encounters 【Make it a Routine to Pen Down Feelings小筆記大收穫】許多成功的企業家 (Entrepreneur,還記得知名電影"救救菜英文"的印度婦女在語言學校讓老師鼓勵 自己,做小甜點也是可以當生意人,是值得被肯定的!)隨身帶著口袋筆記冊 子,可以把重要內容快速瀏覽,並把可貴靈感立刻記錄下來→這就是Scan & Skim的基本閱讀技巧,快速閱覽內容並找到重點;這也是著名奇幻小說〈哈利 波特〉系列作品作者羅琳習慣汲取點子的方法,隨時有個自己的小本子jot down下來不錯的心得或學習的反饋內容,不僅僅可以檢視自己生活細節和發 現過去沒查覺的感動,也注意到自己遣詞用字。更用心的讀者們還可以順便把 支出消費(expenses)放上去,就是本簡易手帳和學習心得本,可是一舉數得呢 ! 【Recount What You've Absorbed回憶所學點滴】老師自己也很習慣在看完一本 書或是讀完一本雜誌,會回想剛剛看到了什麼印象深刻的內容,訓練腦部組織 知識的能力並篩選出重點記憶,記錄下來。凡遇機會分享或是遇到類似的話題 都可以侃侃而談。這樣印象更深刻,與腦中既存內容有更強烈的連結!現在許 多學生們紛紛都報名升學寫作班,對很多歐美國家學者或教師來說是很不可置 信的!生活的靈感不僅僅是從課堂上獲得,更是從資料中,自己發現與往常不 同的見解而有如獲至寶的喜悅;或是從體驗活動中發現自己在團體中有著獨立 作業、壓力調適、領導能力或是觀察他人互動的能力培養。這些都是在過程中 一點一滴去讓自己成長,而不是用填鴨式的方法來讓小孩背誦佳文,甚至還有 張冠李戴之嫌,最後落個拾人牙慧,反而寫出的文章只是個剪貼簿。 2.怎麼從零碎的筆記增進英文呢?Recollect Information from scratch 一趟旅程或是一場電影能帶給我們不同的感動,要怎麼做記錄呢? ★電視頻道中主角間對話,甚至英文新聞的標題,都能成為不錯的素材。然後 提醒自己要註明時間、節目名稱(流行類和社會檔案分開)、中英文解釋都可以 寫上去,等有空閒的時候可以查相關用法或是有無其他延伸意義,都可以記錄 下來。以下是老師的舉例,大家可以自己發想出更多有趣的記錄方法! Date: April 1st , 2020(2020年四月一號) Material: Fashion Stylist(流行造型師) A. That's really a big statement.這件衣服太誇張了! B. That's outlandish.這真的很特別!(破天荒的嘗試) C. Beautiful venues, stunning, it's a great willing show.這裡的場地好美,這場走秀 真的棒極了! D. The color almost eats the model. 這款顏色強烈到都照片失焦了(模特兒不需直譯出來) E. I could tell how much your audience loved it!妳的粉絲真的愛死你的設計 &不用太擔心是否是完整的文法,對話的內容以重點字為主! &相關的說法,同學可以自己補充在筆記小冊的旁邊或下方: statement除了有宣示某種態度,在生活場景也有"銀行明細表"的意思,或是某 個人的說法,所以想合理化自己的說法:She tried to justify her statements. ★運動時可以做英文筆記?Jot Down Your Thoughts While doing exercises? 其實很多同學看到這個開頭,大概都會想:「真的不會從跑步機上摔下來嗎? 」、「天啊!該不是邊游蝶式還要邊說話吧,這可不喝了一肚子水?」其實, 在用著全身肌肉神經和各關節的協調時候,腦子是很放鬆也很自由的,所以思 考上也更加能集中也更深刻地從腦中ARCHIVE調出已往的檔案內容了。以下 就是老師所示範在跑步機上快累的要死的瞬間,在心裡寫下的內容,並鼓舞了 自己身邊很多的朋友們; How often do you bring duffels to hit the gym and greet those familiar faces at the fitness center near your place? Perhaps the memory of you getting some sweat became really vague but it's really vital for me to refresh and look vibrant after all the training.平均多久一次你會提著圓筒包去住家附近的健身中心,和那些熟面孔 話家常呢?或許上次你運動到滿頭大汗的記憶已經很模糊了,但對於我來說, 在這些訓練課程之後,真的感受整個人煥然一新又活力充沛呢! As usual, I carried out my exercise routines in the afternoon when some work got accomplished and it's my way of catching some breath in a packed schedule. The process of jogging on the treadmill shall be thrilling and stimulating but somewhat froze the time like you left high and dry there. It's a battle against your will. 一如往常,在忙完手邊的一些工作後,我會開始運動的例行內容,藉此可以在 繁忙的行程中有了一絲喘息的空間。在跑步機上的時間本應非常令人亢奮又充 滿動力的!但也會有一種莫名的寂寞感,好像時間就此停住了,好像被無助感 吞沒一樣。這是一場和意志力的搏鬥! Suddenly, I was caught off guard by the sense of fatigue and there's some voice coming across my mind, " Why don't you just take a rest for a while? You've been working out so hard and people won't notice you pause a while for some water," and I thought to myself whether to withdraw from the painful training.突然間,有種無力 感襲來,傳來一些聲音說著:「為什麼不休息一下呢?反正妳都這麼努力運動 了,沒有人會發現你停下來喝口水啦!」我暗自這麼想是否要先暫停這難受的 訓練活動。 "That's why you get nowhere," screamed from within. I shocked myself with such message I've been telling myself when I made all attempts to pace myself while the heartbeat is pounding against my chest. How many of you will stop the machine and walk away to just steal some moments for relaxation?「這就是你為什麼都沒有長 進」那是從心裡吶喊出的想法。連我自己都感到極度的震驚,這不就是每當我 使盡全力要讓那奮力跳動的心臟和身體能夠達到平衡時,我一直告訴自己的話 ?有多少的你我,會這樣按下停止鈕,從機器下來,只想給自己一些休息的機 會。 Most might slack off and justify their statements by saying" I am not here for being a supermodel but getting some workout and having fun only, don't bother panting like someone chasing after me." I took a different path and felt completely inspired by my laziness.很多人或許會選擇這樣偷懶,而且面不改色的說:「我又不是要當超 級名模,我只是來動動筋骨,好玩就行了!不用把自己弄得要死要活,好像被 人在大馬路上追趕一樣。」而這次不同以往,我用了不同的心態面對,這次是 我的懶惰激勵了我! Therefore, stop drowning in your self-pity and point your fingers at others with curvy figure or muscular profiles walking past on the street or in some public venues.You were defeated by laziness and that's how you never saw improvement and became really proud of yourself. Again, I cast away my doubt and became inspired by my laziness.因此,不要再活在自艾自憐中,在大街上或公開場合中也不要老是對 著那些身材苗條或有著結實肌肉的人評頭論足。你是被懶惰擊潰的輸家,所以 你一直看不到自己努力的成效,更不用說對自己感到驕傲了!在此重申一次, 這次把自己的種種懷疑都丟開,讓我以往感到羞恥的懶惰鼓舞了現在的我。 ★從電影院出來後,感性地擦眼淚或是大笑一場,其實幾個小動作就可以讓妳 的英文實力大增,不用怕跟朋友聊天乾瞪眼,還是突然變神奇壁花囉!(這是 外來語WallFlower又稱做壁上觀,每次老師看到同學團體討論發呆,就會 說"Don't be a wallflower there, join the discussion!"): (A) IMDB:國際影評網是英文學習不可不知的好網站,不僅僅可以搜尋到最新 電影的評分,也可以大致了解在歐美市場中某些電視影集TV SERIES的評價和 重要訊息。只要打入喜歡的電影名稱(中文電影的別稱也可以),立刻就有該電 影的Summary,讓影迷可以知道大概的情節。所以想要讓口說和寫作變得非常 有梗,就是要上網去看看Summary,這樣你就可以簡單的跟朋友用英文敘述這 部電影的大概。要學好英文當然就要Storytelling囉!以下就是最近榮獲國際各 項大獎的經典影片 神鬼獵人 的IMDB劇情大要,也可以試著用同學你自己的版 本來對照一下喔!(A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.) (B) Quotes:看完 愛在日落巴黎時 當然就要來兩句朗朗上口的劇中對話;每次 提到侏儸紀公園(JURRASIC PARK)就要會說" Life will find a way"(生命會自己找 到出路);看了傻呼呼卻又堅持到令人動容的〈阿甘正傳〉,說到自己的母親 曾告訴過他:「Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you're going to get.」(人生好像一盒巧克力糖,你永遠都不知道下次會嚐到什麼滋味。);穿著 PRADA的惡魔中的愛蜜莉笑著說:「My diet really works. I am just one stomach flu away from the goal weight.」可見在時尚圈裡的壓力和對於身材要求相當嚴峻 呢! (C) Impressive Characters:從電影網站的連結你可以找到最喜愛的角色,和她( 他)演過相關的經典影片,好好的回味一番,了解一個演員要經歷多少磨練才 能走到這樣的地位,讓充滿掌聲的舞台喝采成就,讓鎂光燈簇擁著,但也可能 隨即失去焦點,而成為影壇的曇花一現。 (D)Movie Review:不僅僅可以看到影片的精彩內容簡介,還有其他犀利網友把 這部電影的精髓或是容易遺落的重點,再重新詮釋一遍。就像台灣之光李安導 演的少年Pi,如果網路專業影評的介紹,可能要了解這部影片背後的意涵,確 實有些困難呢!
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Coming to Kinmen (Ⅱ)
It is strange to think that I have been in Kinmen for four months. Time has truly passed by incredibly quickly. Each time I feel that I have begun to understand a little more about life on Kinmen, a new experience shows me that I still have a long way to go - and that's the best part! A year and a half ago I had no clue where I was going to be placed as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. In fact, I really had no idea whether or not I was even going to be lucky enough to have the opportunity to come to Taiwan! Thankfully, Fulbright Taiwan (a non-profit institution dedicated to promoting cultural and educational exchange between the United States and Taiwan) decided to give me a chance. I have grown to love Kinmen, and I cherish my moments here. When I began the Fulbright application process as a third year university student I was not sure where in Taiwan I was interested in applying to. I read about Yilan, Taitung, Taichung, and different grantee's experiences while teaching. I thought "wow, what an opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture!" To me, there is nothing more exciting than being dropped in the middle of a new culture, a new place, and a new environment. I couldn't wait to begin writing my application! ?Surfing the internet I came across a few blogs which referenced a relatively new location in Taiwan which was sponsoring Fulbright grantees, Kinmen, and I knew that I had to apply.The rich historical and cultural factors which make Kinmen so special drew me in. Thinking back to those first searches on the internet is strange. Kinmen was a small picture, a paragraph on a blog post, a location on YouTube, a tiny island on a map, and now I am here. I am living, I am teaching here - writing an English language submission for the local newspaper, and enjoying every moment. I remember when I discovered that my application had been accepted. As I read the congratulatory email I slowly smiled and laughed. I didn’t stop smiling until I fell asleep later that evening. Lives work in mysterious ways. As a kid I would have never guessed that I would be living in Taiwan after college. In fact, nothing that I could have dreamed of would have been better than coming to live and teach in Kinmen. I am precisely where I was meant to be, and where I need to be. In that way, I am glad that we often don't know what our future holds for us, because such incredible surprises are worth more than any carefully laid plans. Scooters, People, Home by Sam Jeong When I found out I was coming to Taiwan for the year, two things excited me: stinky tofu and scooters. Call me crazy, but stinky tofu is one of the best things to have hit my tongue (and my nose). I could go on, but I will save it for another article. Scooters, though… I experienced my first scooter ride in Yunnan, China, and will never forget how the wind whipped through my hair and how the lush greenery rushed past me. I could not wait to get my own scooter. In August, when time came for me to take the scooter exam, I walked in confidently to the exam room, took the written exam, and failed. Then failed again. Then failed again. I failed the scooter written exam three times. The first time, I got 68 points (85 is the passing score), then 78 points, then 84 points. Embarrassed, I bitterly vowed to myself that if I did not pass on the fourth try, I would remain forever scooter-less. For the next two weeks, I studied hard. Demerits for speeding?One.CPR ratio?15 compressions to 2 breaths. How to deal with an acid burn? Neutralize it with a strong base. No matter how odd the questions, I committed them to memory. I was determined to pass. On the day of the exam, a sweltering Friday afternoon in September, I walked into the testing center for what was hopefully the final time. I had called earlier to ask for a delayed exam in order to accommodate my teaching schedule, and I was the last person to take the exam. The examiner, Wen Hong, warmly greeted me, took my papers, and personally escorted me down to the exam room. Wen Hong had been the examiner for all of the Fulbright 外師 this year, and was known for his kindness. I was glad to have him as my examiner. For the exam, I agonized over each question and triple-checked my answers. My heart 辟里啪啦ed as I shakily clicked the review button, and when a green Congratulations! appeared on the screen, I threw up my hands up in the air and bellowed, “YES!” Wen Hong, who had been nervously waiting for me, put his face into his hands when he heard me scream, then after realizing it was a scream of victory, did a torso-twist of some sort that I had never seen before. He was genuinely excited for me—maybe even more so than me. For the driving test, Wen Hong let me practice three or four times on the actual course. He walked me through each step, gave me pointers, and shouted words of encouragement. When I passed, he grinned as he signed my papers, and proudly handed it over to me. Perhaps it is interactions like these that make me truly appreciate living on Kinmen. People actually care and are invested in what I do. I lived in Shanghai all of last year, and felt like a mere one in 24 million. Here on Kinmen, though, with the support of my 21 wonderful fellow Fulbright teachers, two fantastic coordinators, and the local Kinmenese, like Wen Hong, I do not feel alone. I am reminded of that fact every time a stranger nods and smiles at me and every time I strike up a conversation with a restaurant owner. It may not matter much to them, but it means a lot for me. Funnily enough, I decided to not get a scooter until the end of the marathon in order to keep active. If you see me, a Korean American male sweating heavily on a yellow bike, please stop and chat with me! I may ask you directions to your favorite stinky tofu joint. I am learning to call Kinmen home, and am so glad to be doing so.