Stress exercises & Expressing Opinions

A. Links of stress exercises

1. Sentence and phrases stress:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbs5aoqFtVQ&feature=channel

2. Youtube Jennifer

reading exercise for sentence rhythm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhRgU28n8rc&feature=channel

3. The music of English: About.com. Another rhythm exercise:

http://esl.about.com/library/speaking/blpronounce_music_text1.htm

B. Vocabulary

* content words: words that carry some meanings

* functional words: words that make grammatical structure of sentences complete

* be accountable for/ be responsible for

* hard times

* dock a pay

* open expression

* a favorable opinion

* tact

[n]

1.a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

2.a keen sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing; taste; discrimination.

3.touch or the sense of touch

Sentences

* They speak about/out Sth very directly

* They are less direct to say Sth

D. Mistake correction

* an appropriate situation→a suitable situation

Redwood Forest in Northern California

A. Vocabulary

* immense [adj]: extremely large

* toppled [adj]: fallen

* pristine [adj]: original and pure; not spoiled or worn from use

* pilgrim [n]: a person who journeys , esp. a long distance; a traveler or wanderer

* ramble [v]: to walk for pleasure, especially in the countryside

* public access

* station wagon

B. Sentences or phases

* rocket out of sight

* a rude awakening vs. a gentle and beautiful reminder

* Life is shorter than you imagine.

* conduct a survey for Sth

* Sunlight streamed through the trees/

the sound of wind trough the branches

* Mountains may be forever, but redwoods are alive.

* They grow, they live, they die.

* fall on hard times

* skip rocks on the lake

Lend to a friend?

A. Mistakes correction for last week
* That ok to me
> That's ok for/with me.

* The situation is the same with her.
> The situation is the same as hers.
> The situation is the same for her.

* In the classrooms had many different styles.
> The classroom has many different styles.
> There are many different styles in the classroom.

* We also need to consider a second issues.
> issues→ issue.

* Coed school also provide the opportunity to mix with the other sex.
> Coed school also provides the opportunity to mix with the other sex.

* Single sex schools will help them to concentrate more better.
> Single sex schools will help them to concentrate better.

* We must concentrate at this point.
> We must concentrate on this point

[Note from Damond: 1. 注意介系詞 2. He/She/It 說話的時候，動詞要記得加s]

B. Same pronunciation different meaning:
* Complement
* Compliment

C. Usage Problem:
* I can accept that. [Too strong]
> That's ok with me.
> That's fine for me.
> I have no problem with that.

D. Vocabulary
* Strained (adj): behaviour is not relaxed, natural, or friendly [= tense]
e.g. a strained atmosphere

* affirm (v) [formal]: 1. to state publicly that something is true [= confirm]; 2. to strengthen a feeling, belief, or idea

* resent (注意發音) (v): to feel angry or upset about a situation, especially because you think that it is not fair.
e.g. [resent (sb) doing sth] I resented having to work such long hours.

* installment (n) [BrE: instalment]: one of a series of regular payments that you make until you have paid all the money you owe

E. Sentences
* Over and done with [= it's finished]
e.g. Thank God! It's over and done with.

* Same old, same old [= as usual]

* It depends on how close we are.

* I don't know them very well. (do not use familiar...)

The school debate

A. vocabulary

*coed school, single-sex school, all-girl school, all-boy school

*opposite sex

*microcosm

[n]

1. a little world; a world in miniature (opposite to macrocosm)

2. anything that is regarded as a world in miniature

3. human beings, humanity, society, or the like, viewed as an epitome or miniature of the world or universe

B. sentences/ phrases

* Is your hypothesis/argument tight?

*come up with more ideas

*It's hard to be conclusive

*for fear of N

*Hear me out

*on the flip side

*the bottom line is that...

C. Correction

*It's a very long time since we graduated from university

Balancing your facebook

A. vocabulary

* collision [n]: damage that happens when two things hit each other with force

* disconcerting [adj]: making someone feel suddenly uncertain, embarrassed or worried

> e.g. a disconcerting question; it's disconcerting when...

* covert [adj]: hidden or secret

> e.g. a covert spy

B. sentences

* take an all-or-nothing approach

* keep the available details simple.

* you can individually tailor privacy album.

Excuses

A. vocabulary

* distinct [adj]: clearly different or belonging to a different type.

>as distinct from sth: used to make it clear that you are not referring to a particular kind of thing, but to something else. [A movie star, as distinct from an actor]

* flip sb. off (= flip sb the bird) [informal]: to make a rude sign at someone by lifting up your middle finger and keeping your other fingers down

flip [v]:

1. to move something with a quick sudden movement so that it is in a different position

2. to make a flat object such as a coin go upwards and turn over in the air.

3. to move a switch so that a machine or piece of electrical equipment starts (= flick, turn a switch; flip the switch, flip on the radio)

4. to turn the pages of a book or newspaper quickly, especially because you are looking for something (e.g. I flipped through my address book but couldn't find her phone number)

Pronunciation

* [n] apology/apologies

* [v] apologize (BrE: apologise)

Sentences

* What time did you leave?

* I'm always looking for female friends to...

* I'm a strong biker.

* You would still look good in the blue suit.

Note: can refer to the handout for how to start an excuse

1. Typical mistakes for Chinese speakers. 2. Is your Job germy?

A. Mistakes correction
*misucal movie→musical
*all week→whole week
*take time with friend→spend time with friend

B. Vocabulary
*germ
[n]
1. a microorganism, esp. when disease-producing; microbe.
2. a bud, offshoot, or seed.
3. the rudiment of a living organism; an embryo in its early stages.
4. the initial stage in development or evolution, as a germ cell or ancestral form.
5.something that serves as a source or initial stage for subsequent development: the germ of an idea.
[adj]
6.Pathology. of, pertaining to, or caused by disease-producing germs.

*garner
[vt]
1. to gather or deposit in or as if in a granary or other storage place.
2.to get; acquire; earn: He gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert.
3.to gather, collect, or hoard.
[n]
4. a granary or grain bin.
5. a store or supply of anything

Movie review

2009.09.23.

A. Vocabulary
* press screening(s): movies that are not yet in public
>Press [n]: people who write reports for newspapers, radio, or television.

* requisite (重音在最前面)
> [adj, only before noun] [formal]: needed for a particular purpose (= necessary)

* democratized journalism

B. phase
* white water rafting (泛舟)
* spoiler alert
* movie trailer
* office building
* first round, second round (首輪、二輪)

C. Sentences
* This place is good for people-watching.
> this means that it is a good place for you to just sit there and watch people doing things.
* Apart from horror film, I enjoy/like......
* Use you head!
* Don't lose your head!

D. Mistake corrections
* I brought one of my friend to Tainan.
> I took one of my......
* some persons
> some people (better)
* on the weekend/ last weekend