Assignment #8 BBC Learning English

1. Watch one more online news from BBC learning English. Post the video you watch and comment on the news. (70 words)

This online news review is about Star Wars I  haven't watch any Star Wars Series before or even read a page of the comic book. Not kidding at all. I have heard about Star Wars ten years ago when it was under Lucas Film.

The reason for this Star Wars film become a hot topic because not only it is part of the Disney Franchise but also make it has been ten year it have not release for ten years.

Language tip: "Truly wonderful mind with the child" is to proper English is "The child with truly wonderful mind."

 2. Listen to the 2nd part of the story “Jamaica Inn Part 2” and see if you like it or not. (Please comment on the story. How do you feel like listening to the stories online. (70 words)

Part 2 is called a cold and lonely place. 
Mary's uncle Joshua sounds like a very unkind man who is alcoholic. Sounds like her Aunt has been domestic violence by her uncle.  I can finally understand why the coach driver would say a queer place to go because it is in the moor. (in the middle of no where).  This story has a wonderful sound effects makes me that I am watching the story. I can't wait to watch the next part or the movie instead.

Assignment No.7 Key to success

This week we were learning how to use TED and we watch two videos.

1.http://www.ted.com/playlists/81/ted_in_3_minutes# (Click the video 8 secrets to success) present by Richard St John

2.http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit 

Please comment on Angela’s talk, about the key to success. How do you like her talk? Do agree with what she said about Grit is the key to success?

Angela's key to success is grit. The way she speaks is very clear to me. I could understand word she pronounced she does not have a lot of foreign accent.

She goes to places need a lot of grit such as West Point Academy to observe the cadets, rookie teachers to see they can stay in a tough neighborhood for a whole school year.  She makes a questionnaire to high school juniors and she finds the kids with more grit have more likely to graduate. She said : Grit is living life like its a marathon not a sprint and "We need more gritty about getting our kids gritter " These places are place which need perseverance.

I agree what she said it is very similar to a word called brave

grit :  the courage and determination that makes it possible for somebody to continue doing something difficult or unpleasant

brave :勇氣
the courage and determination that makes it possible for somebody to continue doing something difficult or unpleasant

He has such a big brave to jump in the deep river to save the drowning boy.
他有這麼的勇氣 跳到那個深的河川去救那個快要溺斃男孩。

Assignment #6 My favorite song

This week we are learning how to use song to learn English.  I am going to introduce a song called "Waltzing Matilda" this song is a very famous ballad (song) in Australia. Most Australian think it is the unofficial national anthem. This ballad was written in 1906 by A B Patterson. This song was sang 94 years later in 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony and covered by Slim Dusty. When I was in Australia I asked many of my friend who has best cover of this ballad they say Slim Dusty.  Slim Dusty was a singer in Australia born in 1927 and pass away in 2003. Here is the the cover of Slim Dusty's Waltzing Matilda during 2000 Olympics.

This song has been covered each year after singing Australia national anthem on Australia's national day also on April 6th each year Waltzing Matilda Day in Winton, Queensland.

This song is the first song on the radio that I heard in Australia this is why I love this song so much.


This song is about a man's dairy in the bush. While waiting for a lady to go to "Waltzing Matilda" with him he caught a sheep and wants to share the sheep with him. He got by the bush police while waiting for the lady to come. The got throw in the river for catching wild animals and he (his ghost) wants the officer to come "Waltzing Matilda" with him instead.  

Here is the lyrics of Waltzing Matilda  

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.

....................

Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.

.....................

Up rode the squatter mounted on his thorough-bred
Down came the troopers One Two Three
Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.

Waltzing Matilda Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me
Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.

......................

Up jumped the swagman sprang in to the billabong
You'll never catch me alive said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.

Waltzing Matilda Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.


Vocabulary from the lyrics 
Swagman : A very mustached bushman look for jobs
Tucker bag: a very large bag that contain swag-man's belongings
Glee: Great delight
Matilda : swag man's dream lady
Billabong :  A river's dead end.
Jumbuck : A sheep
Billy: cooking pot
Squatter : A farmer who has not the right to farm on a piece of land
Troopers: Policeman 

Assignment #5 Google Syntax

This week we learn about how to use Google Syntax :

Most of us use Google to search  for assignment, read the news, maybe search the law online, listening to music and use Google Maps  Street View to stoke on the street (haha).

Please try out 5 Google Syntax on the Google Syntax :  you can try semi colon, quotation marks,  domain search, dictionary search and file type search.

1. Site: www.cnn.com "MA Yin Jiou And Xi Jin Pin"this give me 89 300 results this gives me all the reports about their meeting in Singapore today (11/7) or background information about them from CNN.

2. "edu:Japanese" this gives me 19 000 results with domain that is end with edu around the world. either from Texas, Australia or Japan.

3."us: Steve Jobs" this gives me 14 000 results that the source from United States about Steve Jobs.

4. "dead street Chinese" that gives me 2 results about the definition.

5. pdf : Taipei 101 facts that gives me 72 000  pdf files about  Taipei 101 facts.

Q. Have you use Google Syntax before? 
A : No I have not use Google Syntax before. This thing "Google Syntax" really broaden my horizon when Sally introduce this to the class

Q. Do you think it is helpful ? 
A: Yes it is very helpful it help me narrow down my search and it can save a lot of time while searching for my assignment like before I have to search from million of results to find what I need, now I don't to have to do so. 

Q. How do like it ?   
A : I like it so much thanks for introducing this information to me. I rate it ten out of ten which means perfect no shortcomings. I would recommend  this to all my friends and family it is a perfect thing.

Assignment #4 My notes on episode 1150

Hello, blog readers sorry for late postings I supposed to post it last night but I didn't feel well.

This week we are listening to a conversation between two close friends having a conversation . A man named George, a woman named Lilia talking about the topics we should avoid in a conversation.

In this conversation Lilia keep asking George about his relationship status which he is not really happy to talk about.  In the conversation he tried many many times let Lilia to switch the conversation by using the word change the subject, moving on, and now for something completely different and  anyway.

Now, to summarize the conversation unless you and the person you talk with are a very very  close friend it is always a taboo (should avoid) in the conversation. Love life, marriage status, people's weight. 

Vocabulary from the conversation  :

My sentiments exactly   : used for emphasizing  that you agree with someone

Shedding those pounds  : losing weight 

Assignment #3 My thoughts and new findings on ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Q.1 What did you learn from this week's class?

I learn how to pronounce reduce sound and vowel reduction.

Q.2 Did you find the website (ESL Cyber Listening Lab accent reduction and linking) helpful to you? Be as specific as possible.

I find this website very helpful. The following are the linking and the reduction examples

An example of linking : I go to school either by bus or taking MRT train.
                                        I go-to school either by bus-or taking MRT train.

An example of accent reduction:
Steven can run 100 meters in 18 seconds and I have to beat him or I will be teased.
Steven cən run 100 meters in 18 seconds and I haftə beat him ər I will be teased.

Q.3 Are you going to use ESL Cyber Listening Lab to improve your English in the future why or not ?
I would use ESL Cyber Listening Lab to improve my English listening skill in the future because they include the recording of native speakers and the speed as well.  I personally think it very suitable for TOIEC, this is the speed of conversation of TOIEC. If I listen to this very often I won't be afraid of TOIEC conversation section.

Assignment #2

This week's assignment is do so hme dictionary work from Oxford Advance Learner Dictionary from a conversation between two men doing a haircut in "Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab" a conversation called "Just A Hair Cut Please !"

1.beautician (noun)

 a person, usually a woman, whose job is to give beauty treatments to the face and body
The beautician mess up the customer's hair in the conversation of "Just A Hair Cut Please".

2.butchered (verb)

To cut without care 

I  tried to cut my fringe with scissors and without looking at a mirror, and I really butchered it badly and it looks like a dog bites it.

3.in good hands ( idiom )

in competent or safe care
I know the children are in good hands when they are under my care. 

4.lean back (verb)

to move the body backwards and down,
When the barber wants to cut the hair that grows on the top of the neck they will ask the customer to lean back.

5. voila  (exclamation)

an expression to indicate satisfied completion
When I say to my girlfriend "voila! here is your new hair style" she hit me in the shoulder. I wonder why she did that for.

Greating

Hi,everyone as you may know my name is Kevin. My Chinese name is 蔡明峰. Welcome to my very first blog in Google blogger.

 I was born in Taipei City where I live for nine years then I spent ten years in Gold Coast,Australia then I come back for University until now.

My family members.I have five people in my family there are mom, dad an elder and an elder sister. I am a Christian, I go to church every Sunday Morning.

I hope in this semester I could use  this blog to improve my English macro skills  What are English Macro skills? There are listening, speaking,reading and writing.

Hope you can enjoy my blog entries that I am going to write every week, and stay tuned every week to see new blog entry.