2011年11月30日 星期三

我需要 another 叉子!

說法比一比:★★★★學校:Can I get a new one?
   (我能換個新的嗎?)
老外:Can I get another one?
   (可以再給我一副嗎?)






實境對話
A:Excuse me. I dropped my fork. Can I get another one?
 (不好意思,我的叉子掉了。可以再給我一支嗎?)
B:Sure. I'll be right back with one.
 (沒問題,我馬上拿一支來。)






老外還會這麼說
ex:Could you give me another fork?
 (你能再給我一支叉子嗎?)
ex:Can I have another knife, please? 
 (可以麻煩你再拿支刀子來嗎?)
ex:I need a spoon. 
 (我需要一根湯匙。)

這個一百元 is acceptable

技術挑戰指數:★★★生活中很多情況都需要提案,例如:找人投資、購併企業;開發新事業或新產品;跟客戶爭取預算、異業合作、策略聯盟;行銷產品;部門聯誼、班級活動、家庭聚會.....等都需要提案來讓別人了解你的想法。提案的類型可大致分為口頭式提案、文本型式書面提案,可依情況決定使用哪一種。






來聽老美怎麼說?
ex:My proposal is that we double our order, and you provide free shipping.
  (我的提案是,我們訂兩倍的量,而你提供免費運送。)
ex:They are five U.S. dollars each.
 (他們每個五塊美金。)
ex:Two thousand NT per piece is acceptable.
 (每件新台幣兩千元可以接受。)
ex:I regret to say your offer is just a little too high.
 (我很遺憾地說,你提的價格實在有點太高了。)






俚語小解析.proposal    (建議等的)提出
 proposal主要用於”建議”或”計畫”的提出,動詞原形是”propose”。另外,”求婚”也是用
 這個字,propose to(向...求婚)。

2011年11月29日 星期二

You look chic! 你很拉風!

形容一個人穿著時尚.出色.酷,甚至前衛,中文會說此人很""拉風"";但英文絕對不是 You pull the wind 喔! 而是要用 chic ( 時尚 ) 這個字,而且 chic 的發音聽起來就很 chic 呢!
此外,也可說 You look vogue! ( 這裡 vogue 本身就是""時尚""之意 ).另外還可以說 You're fashionable! ( 你很時髦! ). You've got style! ( 你有獨特品味; 你有型 ),都是很好的稱讚語唷!
例句:
A: I got this new outfit for the ceremony today!
    為了今天的典禮,我特地去買了這套衣服!
B: You do look chic, but we're at a funeral!
    你看起來是很拉風啦,可是我們是來參加喪禮耶!

來源:台科大應用外語系助理教授黃玟君


本文轉載自2011/11/28
自由時報A12教育最前線

延續甜蜜的伴手禮

世界各地均有代表的""伴手禮"",貼心的台灣人出國洽公或旅遊總不忘帶回當地名物分享親友或公司夥伴.就像台灣的鳳梨酥 ( pineapple cake )  或茶葉 ( tea ) 深受外國觀光客的喜愛,國外很多賞楓景點,也販售名聞遐邇的楓糖漿 ( maple syrup ),讓遊客瀏覽美麗的楓樹及體驗風土民情之餘增添購物樂趣.
富含礦物質 ( mineral ), 熱量 (calorie )低於蔗糖 ( sucrose ) 或果糖 ( fructose ),甜而不膩的天然聖品楓糖漿,可添加於咖啡.茶或可可等,不論搭配薄煎餅及熱麥片或作為菜餚的調味料都別有風味.
據說每40公升的楓樹汁液才能提鍊出1公升的楓糖漿,讓人倍覺珍貴.全球最大楓糖漿供應區在加拿大魁北克區域 ( Quebec region of Canada ),約佔3/4,遊客只要去到那裡即可看到各種精美楓糖漿產品.不同容器盛裝的楓糖漿都有人青睞,最常見國人帶回的楓糖漿是一種以塑膠壺 ( plastic jug / plastic container )盛裝的經濟實用型,此外還有秀美動人.附把手的玻璃瓶 ( glass bottle with handle / glass container ),像酒瓶一樣的長頸瓶 ( flask )或錫容器 ( tin container ),甚至還有楓葉造型瓶 ( maple leaf shape bottle / leaf container )更誘人.
楓糖漿周邊美味小品尚有楓糖風味棉花糖 ( maple cotton candy ). 棒棒糖 ( maple lollipop ). 小顆粒楓糖 ( granulated maple sugar ). 裹有楓糖漿的杏仁與花生 ( maple coated almonds and peanuts )和楓糖果醬 ( maple jelly ).
此外,楓糖奶油 ( maple cream / maple butter / maple spread ),可塗抹於貝果.瑪芬或土司 ( bagels, muffins or toast )等糕點類.是煮沸的 ( boiled ) 純楓糖漿,冷卻後 ( colled down ) 被攪拌至濃稠質地 ( creamy texture ) 而成.不論你選購的是哪一種,旅程歸來都是""甜蜜""的延續.

本文轉載自2011/11/29
自由時報D10旅遊版
撰文 / Gwen

2011年11月24日 星期四

情境主題》真是的


Lab Burger 科幻小說情節?人造肉上餐桌








這家餐廳 fantastic!

說法比一比:★★★★學校:The dishes are delicious.
   (菜很好吃。)
老外:Everything is really great.
   (每道都棒極了。)







實境對話
A:How are you enjoying your dinner?
 (你的晚餐吃得怎麼樣?)
B:Everything is really great.
 (每道都棒極了。)







老外還會這麼說
ex:I love the chicken.
 (我愛雞肉。)
ex:The fish is fantastic. 
 (魚肉真棒。)

Is that it? 是這個嗎?

技術挑戰指數:★★★跟朋友約好下班後要去看電影,訂好票後,下班時間終於到來!沒想到電腦剛關掉,電話就響起,出差的同事忽然打電話來,說要寄一份文件給他,十萬分火急!真後悔接起這通電話,重新開機後,找到兩個類似的檔案,這時候可以問:你是要最後的完稿檔案嗎? Is that it?







來聽老美怎麼說?
Ken:You wanna play? Is that it?
    肯恩:妳想玩?是不是?
Sophie:I recommend you get to work, Ken. You've got a lot to learn about spreadsheet design.  
    蘇菲:我建議你回去工作,肯恩。關於分析表的設計,你還有很多要學習的。
Ken:You think you can mess with me, Sophie?
    肯恩:你以為妳可以惹得起我,蘇菲?
Sophie:I just did.
    蘇菲:我才剛做了。







俚語小解析.Is that it?  是不是?
當你認為你終於了解為什麼某人會這麼說或這麼做時,便可使用此一句子。先說出你的假設,接著說”Is that it?”。因為是自己認為知道他人的想法或動機,所以語氣上會比較衝!不過,當你在使用此句子時,也要做好他人不同意的準備。

2011年11月22日 星期二

The Collection Agency Is Calling 催款公司找上門

Dialogue AEve, a representative1 from a collection agency2, is calling Jack.催款公司的代表人員,依芙,打電話給債務人傑克。
Eve: Hello. Could I please speak with Jack?
依 芙: 您好。請問傑克在嗎?
Jack: I'm Jack. What do you need?
傑 克: 我就是。請問有什麼事嗎?
Eve: Good afternoon. My name is Eve, and I work for a collection agency.
依 芙: 午安。我叫做依芙,是催款公司的催收人員。
Jack: Oh...OK. What's up?
傑 克: 喔……是。有什麼事嗎?
Eve: Your credit card company hired me since you haven't made a payment in over 15 months.
依 芙: 您的信用卡公司委託我來催收帳款,因為您已經超過十五個月都沒有繳卡費了。
Jack: I did, three months ago!
傑 克: 我有啊,三個月前才繳的!
Eve: Sorry, sir, but our records say otherwise.
依 芙: 很抱歉,先生,但我們這邊的記錄卻不是這麼顯示的。
Jack: Well, I tried to pay the minimum, but it didn't work because there was a problem with my bank account3.
傑 克: 喔,我試過要付最低的應繳金額,但因為我的銀行帳戶出了點問題,所以沒有成功。
Dialogue B
Eve: The important thing now is that you pay it off.
依 芙: 現在最重要的事就是您要還清卡債。
Jack: Tell me something I don't know.
傑 克: 還用妳說。
Eve: Do you have the money to make a large payment right away? Say4, half your total?
依 芙: 您手頭上有錢能立刻支付一大筆款項嗎?嗯,比如說卡債總額的一半?
Jack: That's impossible. I just bought a new computer, so I'm broke.
傑 克: 不可能。我才剛買一台電腦,所以我現在破產了。
Eve: Then we should discuss setting up a payment plan.
依 芙: 那我們就應該來討論一下要如何安排還款計畫。
Jack: What does that mean?
傑 克: 那是什麼意思啊?
Eve: It means you agree to pay a set amount each month for the next five to six months until your debt is cleared.
依 芙: 這就是說,您必須同意在接下來的五到六個月中,每月都支付一筆固定的金額,直到您把錢還清為止。
Jack: That won't work, either.
傑 克: 這也行不通啦。







@Building Your Vocabulary
1. hire vt. 雇用,聘任
The manager hired Kim because she had experience in the field.
經理雇用小金是因為她有這個領域的相關經驗。
2. otherwise adv. 並非如此(置於動詞後)
Thomas said that the bride was very pretty, but Betty thought otherwise.
湯瑪士說那位新娘非常美麗,但貝蒂卻不這麼想。
3. minimum n. 最少量
The pianist practices his craft for a minimum of four hours each day.
那位鋼琴家每天最少都會練四個小時的琴。
4. set a.(數目、時間、種類等)固定不變的
Keep an eye on your progress because the set time limit for this section is 30 minutes.
你要注意你的進度,因為這個部分的固定時間限制為三十分鐘。







@Phrases for Learning
1. What's up (with...)?  (……)怎麼啦?
What's up with Al? He's never been this angry before.
艾爾怎麼啦?他從來都沒有這麼生氣過。
2. pay...off/pay off...  還清∕付清……
Joey paid off his student loan in less than five years.
喬伊不到五年就還清了他的助學貸款。
3. be/go broke  破產
Mr. Lin's company went broke due to the recession.
林先生的公司因為遇到經濟蕭條而破產了。
4. set up...  安排∕架設……
The crew finished setting up the stage in no time.
工作人員很快就把舞台給架設好了。







@Extra Words
1. representative n. 代表
2. collection agency n. 催債公司
3. bank account n. 銀行帳戶
4. say int. 嗯,咦(用於提出詢問、表示驚訝、或突然想到某個主意時)







@Tips In Use
...but our records say otherwise.
(……但我們這邊的記錄卻不是這麼顯示的。)
以下為各位介紹 otherwise 的用法:
1. 意指『並非如此;以另一種樣子』,可等於"another way",常用以表示對稱或相反的情況。本句為此用。
 You were there when it happened, so why did you pretend otherwise?
(事發當時你人就在現場,那為何要假裝你不在?)
2. 作連接性副詞,表『否則』之意,使用時其前需置分號,而其後加不加逗點均可。
 You'd better come back early; otherwise, you will miss dinner.
(你最好早點回家,否則你就會錯過晚餐。)
3. 用於形容詞子句,其前有助動詞 might 或 would,意為『本來應當∕不然可能會……』。
 The lifeguard's quick reaction saved the girl who would have otherwise drowned.
(救生員迅速的反應救了那個原本可能會溺斃的女孩。)
4. 表『除此之外;在其他方面』。
 Janet was slightly bruised but otherwise unhurt.
(珍娜有點瘀青,不過除此之外並沒有什麼大礙。)

How to Study SC

So, your copy of Studio Classroom has just arrived. You've thumbed through it, taken in the pictures, scanned the contents and the translations. Now what? How do you get the most out of your time and magazine? First of all, prepare before each lesson. That will help focus your mind.
好,你剛收到你的「空中英語教室」雜誌。你大略地翻過一遍、好好地看了看其中的圖片、瀏覽過目錄和翻譯。接下來該怎麼辦呢?你如何才能充分利用你的時間和這本雜誌呢?首先,在每一課之前先預習一遍,那樣可幫助你集中思
Read the text and look for main ideas. Think of some questions that the teachers will probably answer. Look at the new words. If they're not listed in Word Bank, guess attheir meanings. During the teaching program, read along silently. Both seeing and hearing words and phrases fixes them in your mind.
讀一遍課文並找出它的主旨,再想出一些老師們可能會回答的問題。看看那些生字,如果它們沒有列在字庫中,就猜猜看它們的意思。在教學節目中,默默地跟著唸。同時去讀和聽那些單字片語,可使其銘記於
But don't use the text as a crutch—you can't use a script to talk to people! Try this: Follow along with the reading. During the discussion, look at the magazine only when new words come up. The rest of the time, just try to listen. This will stretch your listening skills and your memory.
但別把課文當作唯一的依靠——因為你無法像背稿一樣地和人談話!試試看這個方法:先跟著課文唸;討論的時候,只有在單字出現時才看一下雜誌。其餘的時間,試著僅用聽的。這樣可以加強你的聽力及記憶力。
If at all possible, record the program. That way, you can improve your speaking and writing, too. To practice pronunciation, record yourself reading the text, and compare your pronunciation with the teachers'. As you listen to the recording, when the teacher asks a question, push the pause button. Answer the question yourself. Summarize, both orally and in writing, the gist of the lesson.
如果可能的話,可錄下節目。那樣,你也可增進你的說、寫能力。要練習發音,把自己唸的課文錄下來,再把自己的發音和老師的發音比較一下。聽錄音帶時,當老師問了問題之後,按下「暫停」鍵;試著自己來回答問題。用口頭及文字為該課的要點做一個總結。
Practice grammar by changing paragraphs or sentences. You can change the tense, for example, or you can change sentences to questions. These are just a few ways to use Studio Classroom to its fullest potential. Experiment, and find what works best for you.
藉著改變段落或句子來練習文法。舉例來說,你可以改變時態,或是可以把直述句改為問句。以上只是幾個充分使用「空中英語教室」的方法。實驗看看,找出最適合你的方式。
Remember, your objective is not to learn every word or phrase in Studio Classroom. Your goal is to learn English. One last word: Enjoy yourself! Learning anything is work, of course, but pushing yourself too hard is a sure way to become frustrated and discouraged. Look at how far you've already come. After all, you can read
this, can't you?
記住,你的目標不是學會「空中英語教室」裡的每個單字和片語,你的目標是學好英文。最後一句話:好好享受!當然,不論學什麼都要下功夫;但是太勉強自己,一定會讓你感到挫折和沮喪。回頭看看你已經走了多遠了。畢竟,你已會讀這篇文章了,不是嗎?











@WordBank
thumb through something (v phr) 迅速地翻閱
take in (v phr) 仔細地、好好地看過
translation (n) 翻譯
crutch (n) 柺杖,此指協助
pause (v) 暫停
tense (n) 時態
potential (n) 潛力
objective (n) 目的;目標







@The Day's Phrase
Say hello to anything, consumer product testing gets a facelift, and Google wants to "re-friend" you
來看看為什麼網域名稱鬆綁了、消費者產品測試改頭換面,以及谷歌想要把你加入「好友」
Let's open a window and let in some fresh air.
我們打開窗子,讓一些新鮮空氣進來吧。

Thanksgiving brings together family and food that feeds us in many ways
感恩節讓家人團聚,而美食則透過許多不同方式滋養人們

The sky is so clear today. I can see the mountains.
今天天空真是晴朗。我可以看到山。
For your next trip, try a flight that is out of this world
帶你上太空下次旅行,試試飛離地球吧
Take a sweater to work today in case you feel cold.
今天帶件毛衣上班吧,免得你覺得冷。
From enchanting history to stunning wildlife
波弗特有引人入勝的歷史,及令人歎為觀止的野生物
After all that fresh air, we should sleep well tonight!
呼吸了那些新鮮空氣以後,我們今晚應該可以睡得很好。
What's the connection between office infighting and kindergarten?
職場內鬥和幼稚園之間有何關連?
Put your plants in a sunny window so they don't die.
把你種的盆栽放在有陽光照射的窗戶旁,以免它們死掉。
Fall is my favorite time of the year.
秋天是我一年中最喜愛的季節。
Eillen Wu commented on a post you were tagged in.
Eillen Wu回應了一則有提及你的PO文
Hank Chen also commented on 陳秀榮's status.
Hank Chen也回了陳秀榮的近況

2011年11月17日 星期四

讓我們 start 吧!

說法比一比:★★★★學校:Please eat first.
   (請先用。)
老外:Please, go ahead. Don't wait for me.
   (請先用。別等我了。)








實境對話
A:Please, go ahead. Don't wait for me.
 (請先用。別等我了。)
B:Oh, ok. I guess I'd better start while it's still hot.
 (喔,好。我想我最好趁熱開動。)






老外還會這麼說ex:You'd better start before it gets cold.
 (你最好在它變涼以前開動。)
ex:Dig in. 
 (吃吧。)
ex:I'm sorry. I'm starving. I'm going to start first. 
 (抱歉,我餓了,我要先開動了。)

成功打破 deadlock!

技術挑戰指數:★★★兩家公司合作時,雙方可以提供的資源一定不同,這時候雙方公司常會派出代表來談判!結果最好是雙贏,如果談判不成,很有可能造成單贏或雙輸的局面!談判也算是會議的一種,可以運用先前介紹過的會議詞彙及所需的知識與語言技巧,在談判時都能派得上用場!







來聽老美怎麼說?
ex:If you think the price is too high, we could offer a concession.
  (如果你認為價格太高,我們可以做個讓步。)
ex:We seem to be in a deadlock. You really cannot lower the price even a little?
 (我們似乎陷入僵局了。你真的沒辦法把價錢稍微降低一點點嗎?)
ex:Can you offer us a quantity discount?
 (你可以給我打個數量折扣嗎?)
ex:We estimate that our profit will be too low if we have to pay such a high price.
 (我們估計,如果我們得付這麼高的價格,利潤就太低了。)







俚語小解析.concession    讓步
 concession除了”讓步”外,還有”妥協、協調;讓予;特權;許可”的意思,另
 外,”concession stand”是貨攤、商攤的意思。

2011年11月15日 星期二

Known Universe 3 浩瀚宇宙

 Scientists already have a wealth of information about the universe. They believe a powerful explosion1 created the universe nearly 14 billion years ago. They know that nothing moves faster than the speed of light, which is around 300,000 kilometers per second. They have also discovered that our Milky Way galaxy2 is just one of hundreds of billions of others in the entire universe. However, all of this knowledge barely scratches the surface.
科學家已經掌握了大量有關宇宙的資訊。他們認為宇宙誕生於一場將近一百四十億年前發生的大爆炸。他們也知道沒有任何事物能移動得比每秒約三十萬公里的光速還要快。科學家還發現,我們的銀河系只是全宇宙數千億星系中的其中一個而已。然而,以上的所有知識都只有搔到皮毛。
  Space is extremely vast, and scientists are out to explore every corner of it. They are looking into how the vacuum3 of space and its near zero pressure can kill a person within seconds. Once this is understood, there might be a possibility of people surviving in outer space4. In the meantime, experts are also hunting for treasure in space. Asteroids5 have been found to contain more precious metals6 than Earth. In addition, planets like Neptune may have huge quantities of diamonds and possibly even water. This month, the science and engineering7 behind space exploration8 is presented on National Geographic Channel. Catch "Known Universe 3" to discover what is new.
太空廣闊無垠,因此科學家正致力於探索它的每一個角落。他們正在研究太空裡的真空狀態以及近乎無壓力的環境是如何在短短數秒內置人於死。一旦知道箇中原因,人類在外太空生存就不無可能。同一時間,專家們也在太空中尋寶。他們發現小行星所蘊含的貴金屬比地球還多。此外,像海王星這類的行星也可能蘊藏著大量的鑽石甚或是水份。本月份,國家地理頻道將要呈現太空探測背後所涉及的科學與工程學。敬請收看《浩瀚宇宙3》來發現新知識。







@Building Your Vocabulary
1. vast a. 廣闊的;(量)很大的
The government plans on putting vast amounts of money into the country's education system.
該國政府計畫投入大量資金在其教育體系中。
2. precious a. 珍貴的
Sandra's precious necklace caught everyone's eye at the party.
珊卓身上那條珍貴的項鍊在派對上吸引了眾人的目光。
3. quantity n. 量,數量
It is quality not quantity that really matters.
真正重要的是品質,而不是數量。
4. present vt. 呈現,展現
Tom used a chart to present the figures more clearly.
湯姆用圖表來更清楚地呈現那些數據。
 
 
 
 
 
 
@Phrases for Learning
1. a wealth of...  豐富的……
Taiwan has a wealth of natural beauty, which attracts many travelers.
台灣豐富的自然美景能夠吸引眾多觀光客。
2. scratch the surface  僅觸及事物表面
With only one week in New York City, they merely scratched the surface of all it has to offer.
他們僅在紐約市停留一個星期,因此很難瞭解這座城市的全貌。
3. be out to + 原形動詞  試圖∕力圖(做)……
The mayor is out to lower the city's unemployment rate.
那位市長正力圖降低該市的失業率。
4. in the meantime  在此期間
Julie is preparing dinner. In the meantime, her son is watching TV in the living room.
茱莉在準備晚餐。在此同時,她的兒子正在客廳看電視。
 
 
 
 
 
 
@Extra Words
1. explosion n. 爆炸
2. galaxy n. 星系
3. vacuum n. 真空
4. outer space n. 外太空
5. asteroid n. 小行星
6. precious metal n. 貴金屬
7. engineering n. 工程學
8. exploration n. 探測;探險
 
 
 
 
 
 
@More to Know
More about the Space
  外太空充滿許多未知數,浩瀚無邊的宇宙總是令人格外著迷,因此,科學家們正極力探索其中的奧秘,以下就告訴各位更多相關的太空科學資訊:
太空中由於沒有大氣層的保護,氣溫變化劇烈,還存在著危險的宇宙軸射,以及隨時可能遭到隕石的撞擊,所以太空中的維生系統就極其重要。維生系統是太空船裡的一種特殊裝置,它可以供應與地球空氣類似的混合氣體,並且維持正常的海平面氣壓,還可維持空氣的清新和調節濕度,為太空人提供舒適的環境。
俄國科學發現距離地球五十光年的人馬座中存在著一顆巨大的鑽石,不但會發光,而且光線非常和諧。科學家認為這塊鑽石是一顆曾經像太陽一樣璀璨的死亡恆星的內核,並將它命名為『露西』。
英國天文學界近期發現了一顆巨無霸星體,它是目前已知最大的星球,這顆巨無霸星星被命名為R136a1,位在我們所處的銀河系,距離地球大約十六萬五千光年,質量比太陽還要大兩百六十五倍,表面溫度高達攝氏四萬度,亮度整整是太陽的一千萬倍。
科學家發現預測太陽黑子的新方法,也就是在太陽表面上方約六公里處進行聆聽並監測聲波,如此就有可能在兩天前預測太陽黑子的出現,進而改善太空天氣預測的準確度,使得太空人的探測活動能更為順利地進行。

2011年11月11日 星期五

飲酒會


Praise & Compliments

Studies show that praise and compliments help to build self-esteem.
Sometimes people are hesitant to give and receive compliments.
They fear that praise will lead to pride. But giving appropriate
compliments makes people feel good about themselves. Moreover, it
motivates them to continue doing their best. Exchanging compliments is an
important social skill. It’s not hard to do if you follow a few simple rules.
研究顯示,讚美和稱讚有助
於建立自尊心。有時候人們遲疑去給予或
接受讚美。他們擔心讚美會引致驕傲,但
是給予適當的稱許,只會使人更肯定自
己。除此之外,它也會激發人們繼續全力
以赴。彼此稱讚是一項重要的社交技巧,
如果你能遵循一些簡單的原則去做,就一
點都不難了。
First,be sincere. It’s better just to smile than to say something you don’t
mean. Next, don't overdo it. One simple statement says far more than
going on and on. Also, be specific. Rather than saying “You’re wonderful!”
try “You have a wonderful way with children. They really listen to you.”
Here are some basic phrases to start with:
--Well done!
--Good for you!
--I like the way you . . .
--We appreciate . . .
--What a fine . . .
--We are so impressed with . . .
首先,要誠懇。與其說一些違心之論,還
不如單單微笑就好了;再者,不要表現得一句簡單明瞭的話勝過不停地講
述;還有,要具體。與其說「你真棒
耶!」,不如試著說「你對小孩子真有一
套,他們還真聽你的話呢!」
--這裡有一些基本的片語來幫你起頭:
--做得好!
--你真不賴!
--我很喜歡你?的方式
--我們很欣賞?
--多棒的?
--令我們印象深刻
Dad: This looks great, Kyle! I can tell you’ve worked hard to clean your
room.
Kyle: Thanks, Dad! Really, it wasn’t hard once I got started.
Dad: I see you’ve lined up all your model cars on the shelf. Nice job!
Now, I have some tools in the garage that need to be put in order . . .
Kyle: Dad, you’re kidding, right?
Dad: Right! You’ve earned your free time. Go and play!
會話一
爸爸: 真好耶,凱爾!我看得出來你很賣
力在清理你的房間。
凱爾: 謝謝,爸!真的耶,我一旦起頭就
不難了。
爸爸: 你已經把所有的模型車都整齊地排
在架上了,排得真好!好,現在我
車庫裡有一些工具需要整理一下?
凱爾:爸,你在開玩笑吧,是不是?
爸爸:對啦!你可以輕鬆一下了,去玩
吧!
Receiving praise and compliments sometimes makes people feel
uncomfortable. Often they don’t know how to respond. It is perfectly OK
just to say, “Thank you.” You may want to try changing the focus away
from yourself to the thing being praised. The next step is to return the
compliment by mentioning something positive about the other person.
受到讚美和稱許有時候會使人覺得不
舒服,人們通常不知道該如何反應。其實
只要直接說「謝謝你」就很好了。或者你
可以試著將焦點從自己的身上,轉移到被
稱讚的事上。下一步則可以提出對方的優
點,反過來稱讚他們一番。
Receiving praise and compliments sometimes makes people feel
uncomfortable. Often they don’t know how to respond. It is perfectly OK
just to say, “Thank you.” You may want to try changing the focus away
from yourself to the thing being praised. The next step is to return the
compliment by mentioning something positive about the other person.
受到讚美和稱許有時候會使人覺得不
舒服,人們通常不知道該如何反應。其實
只要直接說「謝謝你」就很好了。或者你
可以試著將焦點從自己的身上,轉移到被
稱讚的事上。下一步則可以提出對方的優
點,反過來稱讚他們一番。
Hazel: That outfit looks so good on you. Blue is really your color!
Marie: Thank you. Actually, I got this on sale. I really feel lucky to
have found it. You know, I’ve always admired the way you
dress, too. Your clothes always fit you so beautifully!
Hazel: Oh, you always say the nicest things! By the way, did you
know Sophia’s Department Store is having a sale right now?
Marie: Oh, that’s right! Thanks for reminding me! I’m so glad we
bumped into each other!
海柔: 那套衣裳穿在你身上真是好看。藍
色真是適合你!
瑪麗: 謝謝你。事實上,我是特價的時候
買到這件衣服的。能發現它真是很
幸運。你知道,我也一直都很欣賞
你穿衣服的格調,你的衣服總是那
麼適合你!
海柔: 喔,你說話就是這麼好聽!對了,
你知不知道蘇菲雅百貨公司正在大
減價耶?
瑪麗: 喔,對啊!謝謝你提醒我!遇到你
我真是高興!
Mark: Congratulations on a job well done, John. Your speech had
everyone on the edge of their seats.
John: Thanks, Mark. I’ll have to tell Bob as soon as we get back to
the office. He helped with the important last section. What’s
more, you designed a great product.
Mark: Don’t mention it. I had lots of help. By the way, we’ve already
got a bunch of orders in. They’ve got to be sent out immediately.
John: Let ’s get back to the office and tell the production department
to get moving!
Spread some cheer! Practice giving praise and compliments. You will soon
find kind words coming your way, too.
馬可: 恭禧,你說得真棒,約翰。你的演
講真是吸引了所有人的注意力。
約翰: 謝謝你,馬可。等我們一回到辦公
室,我一定要馬上告訴鮑伯。他在
結尾那個重要的部份幫了大忙,而
更重要的是,你設計了很棒的產
品。
馬可: 不要這樣說,好多人幫我忙。對
了,我們已經接到一大疊的訂單
了,東西得馬上寄出去。
約翰: 我們回辦公室去,請生產部趕快行
動吧!
多多練習如何讚美和稱許來散播一些
歡樂吧!,你很快就會發現別人也在稱讚
你呢!


 
 

 

 

 








@Word Bank
self-esteem (n)
自尊心
motivate (v)
激發
overdo (v)
過分表示
kid (v)
開玩笑;逗
respond (v)
回應;反應
focus (n)
焦點;中心點
mention (v)
提及
respond (v)
回應;反應
focus (n)
焦點;中心點
mention (v)
提及
outfit (n)
整套服飾裝扮
cheer (n)
喜悅;歡樂






@The Day's Phrase
Bringing happiness to others
把幸福帶給他人
You'll have to watch your language at our house. My mom doesn't like to hear bad words.
你在我們家說話要小心,我媽媽可不喜歡聽到不當的字眼。
Reconnecting children to their culture, their traditions and their loved ones
讓孩子與其文化、傳統和親人重新連結
Wow, Wilma, you look tired. Have you been burning the midnight oil again?
噢,威瑪,妳看起來很疲倦。最近妳又在挑燈夜戰了嗎?
Facebook is making it harder for criminals to cover their tracks
Facebook 讓歹徒更加難掩行蹤
Even though Yvonne and Zachary are great friends, they fight like cats and dogs.
雖然以芳和撒迦利是很好的朋友,他們還是常常吵得雞犬不寧。
Amy is a great maid. She'll bend over backwards to make sure your room looks good.
愛咪是個好女傭。她會竭盡所能讓你的房間看起來乾淨整齊。
When do you need to see the doctor?
甚麼時候該去看醫生?
It's always fun to go to Beatrice's house. She welcomes everyone with open arms.
去碧翠絲的家一向很好玩。她總是展開雙臂歡迎每一個人。
Amazing natural arches set this high desert apart
令人歎為觀止的自然拱石使這片高地沙漠與眾不同
Why won't you answer my question? Has the cat got your tongue?
你為何不回答我的問題?你成了啞巴了嗎?
We'd better ask Mom when she's in a good frame of mind.
我們最好在媽媽心情好的時候問她。

2011年11月10日 星期四

Tattoo Toilets 馬桶刺上青 炫麗秀創意












你 need 自己準備晚餐!

說法比一比:★★★★學校:That smells good.
   (那聞起來不錯。)
老外:That looks good.
   (那看起來不錯。)





實境對話
A:Here's your steak.
 (您的牛排來了。)
B:That looks good.
 (那看起來不錯。)




老外還會這麼說
ex:That smells wonderful.
 (那聞起來很棒。)
ex:I'm going to need help finishing this. 
 (我得找人幫忙才吃得完這道。)

OK, fine. 我再確認一次!

技術挑戰指數:★★★星期五下午要開會,這次擔任主講人,要分析新產品的優缺點、優劣勢,事前準備了一堆資料,就怕當場腦袋當機!整理好後,事先把資料寄給相關人員,但忽然被老闆叫進辦公室,要求再確認一次報表數據,心想自己已經確認過三次了,怎麼可能會錯呢?這時候就可以說”OK, fine.我再確認一次! ”




來聽老美怎麼說?
Ken:Nancy, I need you to redo the Bitmex sales projections report.
    肯恩:南希,我需要你重做一遍比特公司的預測銷售量報告。
Nancy:Why? What's wrong with it?   
    南希:為什麼?那一份有什麼不對。
Ken:The figures don't add up. Just double-check it, OK?
    肯恩:那些數字加起來不對。再檢查一次,好嗎?
Nancy:OK, fine. I'll take a look. But I doubt the mistake is mine.
    南希:好吧,沒關係。我會再檢查一次,但我不認為是我的錯。








俚語小解析.OK, fine.  好,沒關係。
當有人說”OK, fine.”時,多半是完全相反的意思。說話者用這句話表示生氣地對某一點作讓步,或是表達在必須接受某些他並不願意接受的東西時的惱怒。它不是指事情還好,而是指:「好吧,我會這麼做,但是我並不同意。」

2011年11月8日 星期二

Helping Hands 伸出『猿』手,助人一生

 Guide dogs help the visually impaired1 get around. Cats and dogs help hospital patients relax. Now, another kind of animal is making the news. These are specially trained capuchin monkeys2 that help people with spinal cord3 injuries and those who have trouble moving. They respond to a wide range of instructions, from the simple like opening and fetching things to the more complicated like operating electronics4 or calling 911. With training, there is no end to what the monkeys can do.
導盲犬幫助視障朋友四處行走。貓咪和狗狗協助醫院病患放鬆心情。現在又有另一種動物上新聞了。這些受過特別訓練的捲尾猴能向脊髓傷患和行動不便者伸出『猿』手。牠們聽得懂各式各樣的指令,像是開東西和拿東西這類簡單的動作、一直到操作電子產品或打九一一等較為複雜的命令都能聽從(編按:美國的緊急電話號碼為九一一)。只要透過訓練,猴子能辦到的事簡直不可限量。
  Monkeys have small, human-like hands, so it is not a problem for them to complete common, everyday tasks or those that require more specialized training. What's more, these animals make great companions5 since monkeys generally show a lot of emotion to their masters. There are strong connections between them, and some monkeys even show their love by kindly scratching their owners' heads.
猴子有一雙和人類很像的小手,所以要完成日常生活中的一般差事或是那些需要進一步特訓才能辦到的動作對牠們來說都不成問題。此外,由於猴子一般都會對主人表達豐沛的情感,因此牠們能成為很棒的夥伴。牠們與主人之間有很密切的關係,有些猴子甚至會體貼地搔抓主人的腦袋來表達牠們的愛。
  The US organization that trains these capuchin monkeys is proud of its success. Although it is expensive to raise and train these monkey helpers, giving disabled6 people back their independence as well as a reason for living is well worth it.
訓練這些捲尾猴的美國組織對自身的成就感到相當驕傲。儘管飼養和訓練這些猿猴小幫手所費不貲,但是還給身障朋友獨立自主的能力以及一個活下去的理由絕對是值得的。
1. What are the monkey helpers NOT able to do?
(A) Pick a cellphone up off the ground.
(B) Operate the remote control7 for a TV.
(C) Put food into a refrigerator.
(D) Guide visually impaired people.
1. 猿猴小幫手無法做到下列哪件事?
(A) 從地上撿起一隻手機。
(B) 操作電視遙控器。
(C) 把食物放進冰箱裡。
(D) 引導視障朋友行走。
2. What is the article mainly about?
(A) Introducing a kind of animal that can help disabled people.
(B) Giving disabled people advice on how to keep a pet monkey.
(C) The process of training capuchin monkeys for a show.
(D) How people get spinal cord injuries.
2. 本文主旨為何?
(A) 介紹一種能幫助身障朋友的動物。
(B) 建議身障朋友如何飼養猴子作為寵物。
(C) 訓練捲尾猴進行表演的這段過程。
(D) 人們的脊髓是如何受傷的。
答案:1. (D) 2. (A)






@Building Your Vocabulary
1. instruction n. 指示,命令(常用複數)
Before filling out this form, read the instructions on the attached sheet.
在填寫這張表格之前,請先閱讀附件上的指示說明。
2. fetch vt. 取來,拿來
Melissa couldn't stop coughing, so I fetched her a glass of water.
瑪莉莎咳個不停,所以我幫她拿了一杯水來。
3. operate vt. 操作(機器)& vi. 經營,運作
The illegal casino is operating in a residential area.
那間違法的賭場開在某個住宅區內。
4. specialized a. 專門的
Doctors are experts with highly specialized skills and knowledge.
醫生是具有高度專業技術和學問的專家。
5. scratch vt. 搔,輕抓
Jack kept scratching the mosquito bite on his neck.
傑克不停地抓他脖子上被蚊子咬的地方。






@Phrases for Learning
1. get around  四處走動
My grandfather gets around with the help of a cane.
我爺爺得杵著柺杖來行走。
2. make the news  上新聞,被報導
After our efforts made the news, donations started pouring into the charity.
在我們努力的成果上新聞後,許多善款就開始湧入那間慈善機構。
3. respond to...  對……作回應∕回覆
Anita responded to my compliment with a smile.
安妮塔對我的讚美報以一個微笑。






@Extra Words
1. visually impaired a. 視力受損的
 impaired a. 受損的
2. capuchin monkey n. 捲尾猴
3. spinal cord n. 脊髓(本文中作形容詞用)
4. electronics n. 電子產品(恆用複數)
5. companion n. 同伴,夥伴
6. disabled a. 殘疾的
7. remote control n. 遙控器






@Tips In Use
...help the visually impaired get around.(……幫助視障朋友四處行走。)
  某些形容詞前置定冠詞 the 時,可將其視為複數名詞,用來泛指某一類的人事物。如本文的"the visually impaired"即為"visually impaired people"(視力受損的人);"the simple"和"the more complicated"則分別表示"simple things"(簡單的事情)以及"more complicated things"(較為困難的事情)。以下為各位列舉其他常見的用法:
the rich = rich people 富人
the poor = poor people 窮人
the sick = sick people 病人
the elderly = elderly people 老年人

Robin Hood is a legendary figure that robs the rich and gives to the poor.
(羅賓漢是一位劫富濟貧的傳奇人物。)