Dragon Boating Conquers the World

 People all over the world enjoy the sport of dragon boating
全球掀起划龍舟熱 - 世界各地的民眾都喜歡划龍舟這項 運動.

Twenty teammates reach forward with paddles, dig them into the water and then pull back in a quick, powerful motion. A drummer keeps time for them from the front of the boat while another person steers from  the back. Together, these 22 people race a boat fitted with the head and tail of a dragon. It's a scene that's been part of the Dragon Boat Festival in China for thousands of years. But over the last 30-plus years, this scene has become common on lakes and rivers around the globe.

The world outside Asia was formally introduced to dragon boating in 1976. That year the Hong Kong Tourism Association had a plan to increase tourism. Their first step was inviting a Japanese team to compete in the first Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races. The media sent pictures around the world, increasing international interest in the sport. Their next step was sending teak dragon boats to cities in North America and Europe. Whether their plan helped tourism or not, it did give rise to dragon boat clubs in many countries. By the time the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) was founded in 1991, dragon boating had truly become an international sport. 

Grammar Gym:
"It's a scene that's been part of the Dragon Boat Festival in China for thousands of years."
"(something) is a scene that's been part of (something else).
Putting up a tree and letting the kids decorate it is a scene that's been part of the Johnson Family Christmas celebration for many generations.
Employees working together to clean out their work spaces is a scene that's been part of the company's annual cleaning contest for many years.

Vocabulary Tips:
keep time - 钟表走的精准。
*My wristwatch keeps excellent time.
keep time - 使合节拍或节奏。
*Susan sometimes has problems keeping time when she's playing the piano.
steer -direct.掌舵，驾驶，操纵。
*Dad steered while mom gave the directions.
*The sailor steered the boat into the harbor.
steer - 引导，操控。
* Samantha steered the conversation away from the sensitive topic.
give rise to -give a main reason for something.引起，导致，造成。
*The low pay give a rise to many employees to complain.
*Poor nutrition gave rise to the disease.营养不足导致疾病。
*Excellent casting and stunning special effects gave rise to the success of the film.造成。。
federation -联邦，联盟，联合会。
*the Russian Federation -俄罗斯联邦。
*the International Tennis Federation.(ITF) 国际网球联合会。
*The USA is a federation of 50 states.美国由50州组成的联邦。
*Spain is one of the members of the European Federation.西班牙是欧盟的成员之一。
paddle - 浆（用木或塑胶制作的)
fitted with the head and tail -笼舟有头有尾，人面向船头排排坐到尾。
30-plus years -(number of plus) more than 30 years.
global - a small model of the world, refer to "around to world".
formally introduced - 被正式介绍。
teak - a kind wood, very hard type of wood. dragon boat made of this kind of wood.
whether or not - no matter what it still going to happen.
* I am going whether you are going with me or not.

Language Tips:
sense -感觉，感官。
five basic senses -五种基本感官。sight视觉, smell嗅觉, taste味觉, touch触觉 and hearing听觉.
sense -感官。
a sense of pain -疼痛感。
a sense of humor -幽默感。
a sense of direction -方向感。
keep time -维持一定的节奏。
a sense of rhythm -节奏感。

Notes taking of "StudioClassroom"

Coffee Houses

Coffee houses then and now
走進咖啡屋 - 咖啡店的今與昔.

Ah, the rich smell of fresh coffee! People who love the aromatic beverage flock to coffee houses to enjoy it. A coffee house may be as simple as a cozy room with big soft chairs, Wi-Fi and dozens of coffee thinks. Or it may be a place where baristas are coffee chefs and the roasting of beans a serious business. However one looks at it, coffee houses have drawn people for centuries like honey draws flies.

The first public coffee house dates back to 1475 in Constantinople. Turkey, today's Istanbul. Coffee was very important to the culture at the time. A woman was allowed to divorce her husband if he did not keep the coffeepot full! Coffee houses arrived in Europe about 1650 and spread to England by 1652. Some believe the word "tips" first entered the English language in an English coffee house. A jar on the counter had a sign that read "To Insure Prompt Service." Customers who put a coin in the jar were served more quickly.

Thanks to Starbucks, coffee houses can now be found all over the world, and the coffee house phenomenon continues to grow. As of July last year, Starbucks boasted 17,651 coffee hoses in countries around the world. While some folks head for the nearest Starbucks when desperate for coffee, other coffee aficionados want something more. They look for coffee places that offer extra special coffee. These shops offer specialty coffee blends or signature coffee drinks.

In Brazil, serious coffee drinkers visit Isabela Raposeirs. The owner of this coffee house named for her is familiar with coffee growing. She is also skilled in roasting and blending. She travels the world to learn every thing she can about coffee. Her shop boasts an amazing espresso blend.

Those in the Philippines head to the nearest Figaro Coffee shop. This shop serves delicious coffee of several different blends. Their flavored beans are made through a special process that puts the flavor right into the bean. This results in a delicious, long-lasting flavor.

Some of the world's coolest coffee houses offer more than just good coffee. At Brother Baba Budan in Melbourne Australia, customers are rewarded with a unique environment as well as great coffee. Wooden chairs hang from the ceiling. The door handle is a silver coffee shovel. Those who prefer to share their coffee with something furry can visit Usagi-to-Cafe in Japan. People there can sip their coffee and pet one of the 21 bunnies for about US $1 per minute.

At Wash & Coffee in Munich, Germany, patrons enjoy a coup of coffee and use the Internet as they do their laundry. This place aims to make people feel at home! At the Big Knit Cafe' in Bangkok, Thailand, customers are served yarn along with their coffee. The cafe' attracts all levels of knitters - experienced staff offer help to the novices. A coffee house may just serve great coffee, or it may offer something extra. Either way, there's nothing like the rich smell of coffee.


Grammar Gym:
"However one looks at it, coffee houses draw people like honey does flies."
like - attracted.
(subject 1 + verb + object 1) like (subject 2) does (object 2).
Samantha loves shoes like a child does candy.
The sheriff hunts down criminals like a cat does mice.

Vocabulary Tips:
aromatic (adj) - smell is really good.有香味的，很香的。。 aroma (n) -good smell.香味，香气。
*These aromatic herbs are good for your health.
*The aromatic beef not only smells good but also looks very tempting.
beverage (n) - drink.饮料
*All beverages served in the business class sector are free.商务舱
*Shirley is a minor so she can only drink non-alcoholic beverages.无酒精的饮料。
divorce - married people decided not to be together anymore. 与配偶离异，离婚。
*The couple divorced only two years after they got married.
*Al and his wife got divorced last winter.
*The nasty divorce not only hurt themselves, it also hurt their children.丑陋方式离婚
prompt - response very quickly, done it in an expecting time or in a very short amount time of waiting. 立即，马上。很快，不耽搁。
*Prompt replies are essential in customer service.
*A prompt reaction is necessary if you work in the ER.
*This tenant is always prompt with his payment. 交房租从不耽延。
cozy - small but very comfortable place, can be a warm chair with a blanket in the winter. cozy room, cozy chair.
dozens - many, a lot.
baristas - someone knows how to prepare or making coffee.
however looks at it - see it from different angles.
flood - a group of people, a group of animal. many , a lot of people.
phenomenon (n) -现象。you can see it grow or develop, something is observable.
*The phenomenon of bullying has already existed for a long time.
phenomena (复数n) -现象
*As a reporter, you should study various social phenomena.各种社会现象。
desperate -can't wait, must have, can't not do without it.渴望的，极度需要的。
*At the audition, you can see many young talents desperate to be on stage.
desperate -绝望的。
*While isolated, patients might feel desperate and lonely.
blend -salad mix with dressing, we call blend, but here means mix things together to come out a new thing, mix liquid together to come out a special liquid or  mix color together to make a unique color. 混合，调配。
*The chef blended the butter with some salt.
*The barista blended 4 different kinds of coffee beans for the coffee shop's house blend.
espresso (n) - a kind of coffee. a bit more just coffee, has very strong taste and flavor.意式咖啡的一种。。
*The customer ordered a double espresso.
cappuccino - blend espresso with a certain amount of milk. 意式咖啡的另一种。。
aficionados - people who know coffee very well, very picky about the making process, smell, brew, flavor and taste.
signature - something is someone's specialty that represents that person. 代表作。
familiar with something - have knowledge of something. Accountant is familiar with Accounting, ( Banker is familiar with Banking...)
reward -pay back,  gain. 奖励，奖赏 （回赠，回报）。。
*The hikers who reached the summit were rewarded with a magnificent view.以壮观的景色为奖赏。
*Nathan was given a great bonus as a reward for his hard work.
furry - hairy, things has fur or long hair. 有毛的， 毛茸茸的。毛的。
*These furry toys might causes allergies.
*Kids love to play with furry puppies.
fur (n) -hair skin.毛皮，软毛。
*The lady was wearing a fox fur around her neck.
patron (n) - customers, people who come often. 旅馆或是餐馆的主顾，顾客。
*Many patrons came for the chef's delicious beef stew.
*These parking spaces are for our patrons only.
patron (n) -赞助者。
*Jeffrey is an enthusiastic patron for local artists.
novice - the beginner, who just learn, not know too much.新手，初学者。 . 'nove" -有‘新’之意。
*I'm a novice driver. I get lost all the time.
novice at - 那方面的新手，初学者用“at”
*As a novice at directing, he still has a lot to learn. 在导演方面。
shovel (n)- scoop, spoon.
aim to do something - purpose for something. goal for something.
yarn - thread made of fur. knitting with yarn.
experience - knew, learn.
there's nothing like something - nothing can compare.

Language Tips:
tips - some believe is came from " To Insure Prompt Service".小费（它的由来）
acronym -字头语。20 世纪之后才流行被运用。
tips - acronym of T.I.P.S. of To Insure Prompt Service. 本文中提到是1950上下的年代，还没有acronym 的使用。
some believe...- the most of times are not true. 看见.“some believe.就要注意，真是这样吗？（很多时候不是真的）。.
insure -promise.保险，买保险，投保。
ensure -make sure.确保。
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Starbucks -辛巴克咖啡。
Moby Dick -美国早期的一本著名小说。
Pequod - 在Moby Dick的一艘船的名字。早期辛巴克咖啡的合伙人们要为它们的咖啡shop取名字，有人提议用Pequod 为名，但被其中一个合伙人否决了。
Starbuck -Pequod 船的大副的名字。后来巴克咖啡的合伙人们决定用大副的名字Starbuck 为名。
Starbucks -因为合伙人不是一个，所以在Starbuck 之后，加上“s”. Starbucks 由此而来。
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do their laundry -清洗衣服
laundry （年）- 指未清洗的赃衣服。也指清洗后的干净衣服。
I have to do the laundry - 指未清洗的赃衣服
Can you hang up the laundry? 指清洗后的干净衣服
laundry = the wash (n)
come out in the wash -在洗涤的过程中被除去。即“真相大白，水落石出”。



Leaning notes of "StudioClassroom"

How Not to Use a Smartphone

Technology should help you, not hurt you
智慧不在手機裡 -科技本應助人而非害人.

Today's smartphones can do almost anything instantly, but like all tools, they should be used wisely. So here is a list of problematic habits that smartphone users should avoid.

Ignoring your surroundings
Imagine you're rushing through a crowded subway station, late for an appointment. Suddenly someone is blocking your way, walking very slowly, drifting back and forth, fiddling with their smartphone. You probably feel annoyed, but do you ever do the same thing? For sake of others and for your own safety, put the phone away while walking.

Recording people without permission
It may be tempting to snap a picture or take a video when you see someone who looks different. But recording people's daily lives can be rude and hurtful. If you want a picture ask for permission.
Your friends may not mind you taking pictures of them. But make sure you ask before posting anything that could be embarrassing online. Displaying their mistakes for the world to see is sure to hurt your friendship. And once pictures are posted, they're impossible to remove.

Disconnecting from people
Smartphones are great tools for communication - except when they replace personal interaction. It's not uncommon to see people sitting together not speaking, but staring silently at their smartphones. Real friendships require face-to-face interaction. Facial expressions and body language express far more than words - or emoticons. What you focus on reflects your priorities. Interrupting a conversation to check your phone implies that the person you're with is less important than your messages.

Missing experiences
If you're at a special event, don't let your phone become a distraction. Turn it off, or use the silent mode so everyone can fully enjoy the experience.

Stifling your creativity
With your smartphone always available, you always have something to do. But that may not be a good thing. some say that unused time is necessary for creative thinking. So resist the impulse to spend every spare moment with your phone. Instead, see what great ideas you can think up.

By avoiding these habits, you can be sure your smartphone is helping - not hurting -you.

Vocabulary Tips:
disconnect - 切断，断开，中断。dis -没有。 connect -联结。连结。
*Peter's phone was disconnected because he forgot to pay his bill.
*Mark decided to disconnect from the chain and buy his own store.
imply (v)- not directly say what you intent to but whoever hears get the message.表明，意味，暗示。
*Susan's remoteness implies her resentment toward her parents.冷漠，疏远。。。。愤恨，怨恨。
*Are you implying that I am the one who stole the money?
*His affection toward the girl is not said, only implied.没明说，只用暗示。
stifle -something not make you free to develop or pursue.抑制，扼杀。
*Asking children always to color inside the lines can stifle their creativity.
*The policy is meant to stifle people's freedom of speech.
*Sherry tried to stifle her giggles but failed. 抑制住呵呵笑。
resist -against.忍耐，抵制，抵抗，抗拒。
*I can't resist the temptation to buy mouth-watering chocolates.
*Larry couldn't resist giving advice to his buddy.
problematic (adj) -having trouble, problem or issue is not able to resolve.有问题的，难以处理的。
problem (n) -trouble. 问题。
back and forth - continuing go forward then back up, and go forward.. or going from side to side. When we talk about decision is hard to make. Back and forth, unable to decide what to do. 前后或左右摇摆的。
drifting -漂流，漂积物，驱逐，意图，要旨，观望，倾向。盲目前进。
fiddle - (fiddling) -playing with something for fun, doing something looks very busy but nothing serious.拨弄，玩弄，摆弄。。（如手拿铅笔无意识的摆弄）
for sack of something - for a reason of something.
for sack of others, for sack of time, for sack of heavy rain...............
tempting - make you to think want to do something. temp -
embarrassing (adj) -丢脸的，难堪的。
embarrass -使丢脸的，使难堪的。
embarrassed -感到丢脸的，难堪的。感到尴尬的。
surrounding - anything is around you.
interaction - talk to people have face to face, get response from each other.互动。
impulse (n)- think of something want to do it right away.冲动，冲击，推动力，刺激，冲力，

Language Tips:
emoticon -表情符号。笑脸 :-), colon, hyphen, and right parenthesis.
caret (n)-脱字符号。以注符号加插其中。
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text -文字。
texting -手机传简讯。

A Lesson in Culture

I found a foreign land in my home country

上一門文化課 - 我在家鄉發現了異地

I've had many opportunities to experience living in a foreign culture, but my first experience came in an unexpected place - my own country. When I was 20, I got an internship in New York City. It was my first time to live outside of my home state of Texas.

With my move north came culture shock. I grew up in a big city in Texas. But it was no comparison to the tightly packed Boroughs of New York with their 8 million residents. My new home was in Time Square, a hub constantly filled with traffic, noise, people and lights, I was used to life at a relaxed pace; New York moved fast. The saying is true - this city never sleeps. I had to adjust.

My first reaction was fear. Fear I would fail at my new internship in the 54-story office building. Fear of getting lost on the subway. Fear that the locals wouldn't have patience for my frequent moments of confusion. My anxieties ranged from reasonable to ridiculous. But I faced my fears and kept trying.

I learned quickly never to assume a New Yorker speaks English and to be respectful of lifestyles that were new to me. New York is home to people of all walks of life, from all corners of the world. My coworkers were Polish, Colombian, Puerto Rican, Greek and Armenian, to name a few. I ran errands to a shop where all the male employees were Orthodox Jews and wore their hair in traditional curls. I spent hours wandering Canal Street in Chinatown - the closest I'd ever been to an Asian country.

By the end of my internship. I was a little older, a little wiser and sick of big city life. I hated the skyscrapers, tourists and the high price I had to pay for a cheeseburger and fries. But I had grown, too. I was quicker, smarter and more independent. I knew I would miss that feeling of having the world right at my doorstep. But it was good preparation for the life of travel I'd soon begin.

Grammar Gyms:
Fear I would fail at my new internship in the 54-story office building.
Fear of getting lost on the subway.
Fear that the locals wouldn't have patience for my frequent moments of confusion.
Repeat wording because the writer wants people to know how much fear she is facing.
Example:
This past month has been really crazy for Jan and she is tired.
*Tired of all the work she has to do.
*Tired of taking care of the bills at home.
*Tired of being yelled at by everybody.

Vocabulary Tips:
internship -实习的工作，医生的实习阶段。
*Victor completed his internship at the county hospital.
*Joshua got an internship at Microsoft.
intern (n)-实习生，实习医生。
culture shock - 文化冲击。experience something that you are not used to, not very pleasant experience.
culture - 文化，shock -冲击。
*When we first moved to the States, we went through quite a culture shock.
constantly - always, happen often. 不断地，时常地。
*Sherry is constantly checking her cellphone.
constant (adj)-持续的。
*His constant nagging really annoys me.
confusion - not sure, someone tell you this and reality is another. 混乱，困惑
*There was a lot of confusion about who was the head of the project.
foreign - something new you never know or try or outside the country. 外国的，陌生的。
no comparison - can not compare at all, totally different.
tightly packed - very packed, no room between. 拥挤。
hub - crowd, a lot of going on.
moment of something - not always happen,  it happen for a short period of time.
many moments of something-
range - a lot of space between something to another.
respectful (adj)-尊敬的，尊重的。
respect -尊敬。
*You need to be respectful of other people's opinions.
disrespectful -dis + respectful, - not respect. 不尊重的。
errand - common daily work. 差事，
do errands or run errands. 办差事，或是[跑腿做事。
*The boss just sent her secretary out on an errand.
*I have to run some errands for my mother this morning.。。。 我必须为我母亲跑腿办些事。
at one's doorstep - it means that go any where or do anything is very convenience just right in front of your house. 离自己很近。触手可及的地方。
doorstep - the front area of the door.门階。
*When you enter the world of the internet, it feels like all the info you need is right at your doorstep.
preparation (不可数n)-准备
*My experience as a server was good preparation for running a restaurant.
preparation (可数n) -预备工作。
*Mom is really busy with preparations for my sister's wedding.
walk of life - lifestyle and background. (people from all over the world has different living style and background.)
all corners of the world - every area, every parts of the world.
just to name a few - there is a lot, just say or name a few.
curl -curly (adj) -卷曲的，卷的。
sick of - tire of, not want to do it anymore.厌倦。
I hate that - not really enjoy or like it. 讨厌，不喜欢的。
compound words - two word put together to make a word, such as skyscrapers, doorstep, lifestyle, cheeseburger, Chinatown, popcorn......just to name a few.

Language Tips:
urban - 城市。都市
urban families -城市，都市家庭。
suburban (adj) - sub+urban =都市外圈的近郊。
suburbs (n)-都市外圈的近郊。都市外圈有很多的近郊区域，多用复数。。
The suburbs - 整体统称“都市外圈的近郊” 在前面加上定冠词"the"。
rural -乡村，小镇。
rural area -乡村，小镇地区。
megacity - huge, giant city with more than 10 million people live in there.巨型都市，人口至少在1千万人以上。 （全世界只有27个，15个在亚洲）
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assume/ presume : 假设，猜想。
assume - wild guess. 乱枪打鸟，没有任何证据的猜测。
I learned quickly never to assume a New Yorker speaks English. 学会不要随便猜测每一个。。。说英文。
presume -educated guess.依据经验，知识所做的猜测，或是有一定依据才做的假定。例如：看到一位男子无名指上戴有戒子而猜他是已婚的男士。（猜测依据知识及经验，习俗而假设的）

Jug Bands

Homemade instruments can create some great music
克難樂團 自製樂器照樣能奏出絕妙 的音樂

As they say, a good musician plays the music, not the instrument. Never was this truer than in the case of jug bands. Musicians in a jug band use ordinary, homemade instruments (along with some traditional instruments) to make beautiful music. An old-fashioned washboard becomes a rhythm instrument. A pair of ordinary kitchen spoons helps to keep the beat. A washtub with a broomstick handle and a piece of cord becomes a string bass. Of course, a jug band always has an empty jug used as a wind instrument.

Jug bands have long been a part of the world of jazz and blues music. African-American musicians created this style of music around the beginning of the 20th century in Louisville, Kentucky. Later, jug bands became popular in other river towns like Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Traditional instruments like the guitar and the violin, or "fiddle." were already popular in southern music. When musicians discovered they could play musical notes with whiskey jugs, the jug band was born.

So how do you play a jug, anyway? You just hold the jug close to your mouth and blow air through your lips to make them vibrate. The jug helps to make the sound louder. What about the other homemade instruments? Scrape the washboard with a hard object. Hit the spoons together against you leg or against a cooking pan. Hum  into a kazoo made from a comb and wax paper.

Early jug band musicians used whatever they had available to make musical instruments. Some of them even made guitars out of cigar boxes. You really have to hear the sound of a jug band to appreciate this fascinating style of music. Find some video clips online, or if you like, attend a jug band festival. The National Jug Band Jubilee in Louisville, Kentucky, is just one of the festivals devoted to preserving "America's happiest music." Soon you'll be clapping along with all the other fans of this delightful music. Maybe you'll want to make your own instrument and join in the fun.

Grammar Tips:
Never was this truer than in the case of jug bands. (best sample of the case)
never was....than - strong fact. (use the reverse way to bring people more attention.)
There was never a story more depressing than John's story.
= Never was there a story more depressing than John's.
There was never a person in town more helpful than Owen.
= Never was there a person in town more helpful than Owen.

Vocabulary Tips:
rhythm -节奏，韵律。节拍。
*The rhythm of the moving train made me sleepy.
*The conductor tapped the rhythm of the song with his baton. 指挥棒
wind instrument -管乐器。
*Rose not only plays flute, she plays all kinds of wind instruments.
string instruments -絃乐器
percussion instruments -打击乐器。
fiddle -小提琴。
*A musician was playing a fiddle in the park.
fiddle (v)- 拉小提琴。
*He learned how to fiddle from his father.
fiddle (v)- 乱动，乱碰。
*Stop fiddling with my computer. 别乱动，乱碰我的电脑。
vibrate - move very quick, very small.
*The roof of the auditorium vibrated when the band started playing.
*The girl's lips began to vibrate as she started her speech.
vibration (n) -振动，颤抖，抖动。
*The vibration of the earthquake could be felt hundreds of miles away.
scrape - (s-krep) hard touch the surface. 刮，擦。
*The painters scraped the old paint off the wall before applying a new coat. 刮掉。。
*Nina scraped her knee when she fell. 跌倒擦伤。
preserve - to protect away from damage, break or ruin. 保护，保持，维持，保留。。
*The customs of the tribe were well-preserved. 部落的习俗。。。完好的保留着。
*It's everyone's obligation to preserve our natural resource. 人人有责。。天然资源。。
fascinating - amazing, incredible.
jubilee - a large kind of celebration.

Chat Room:
born -出生，产生。诞生了。
the jug band was born.
born - bear 的过去式
bear - 负担，生小孩。born-bear 的过去式，borne -bear 的过去分词
bore - 孔，试砖孔，无聊的人，海啸，高潮，口径，枪膛。bear 的过去式（常用被动式）
borne -有成见的，见解狭隘的，气量狭窄的，偏狭的。
born not use "by" . The two children were born. I don't say the two children were born by their mother.
She gave birth to two children or she had two children.
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join /join in:
join - become a part of the group. 及物v.与不及物v.。及物 参加成为组织的一员，或是和某人一起做某事。
He joined a health club. 加入了健身俱乐部。
We're going to a movie on Friday, Will you join us? 你要和我们去（加入）吗？
join in - to take a part and active. （不及物v.）参与某项活动（不及物v.后面要加介系词“ in ”）。
You should join in the discussion. 参与讨论。
Maybe you'll want to make your own instrument and join in the fun.
join in the fun -上场同乐。
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participate/attend : 
participate - not just in the group also take the part in the class, involve activities.参与
attend - show up  at the group. 出席，（静态的，被动的参与）
attend a class -上课。
participate in class - 参与（课堂里的活动）

Queen's Diamond Jubilee


Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 60 years as Queen of Britain
英國女王登基鑽禧 英國女王伊莉莎白二世登基六十週 

England's monarch has a lot to celebrate. She has a daughter, three fine sons, several grandchildren and now a Diamond Jubilee. This week the United Kingdom celebrates her 60 years on the throne. Britain has given everyone a long weekend, June 2 to 5, to honor the Queen.

Celebrations in London include a parade of ships on the Thames River and a concert at Buckingham Palace. Other countries, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, will stage their own the next few months. Diamond Jubilee events. Elizabeth become queen when her father, George VI. passed away on February 6, 1952.

The current queen is the second longest-reigning monarch in British history. Her great great grandmother, Queen Victoria reigned for more than 63 years. Starting in Marsh, the queen, who turned 86 in April, and her husband, Prince Philip, 90, began to travel around Britain. They made numerous stops in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Prince William and his wife will travel in the Asia-Pacific region later this year. Other royals will visit other countries in the 54-nation Commonwealth as part of The Queen's Jubilee celebration.

The commonwealth tour is designed to continue to raise the popularity of the British royals in the eyes of the public.

Vocabulary Tips:

Jubilee - 纪念，庆典，特别是指“某个年分的庆典。

Silver Jubilee -25 年纪念庆典。

Golden Jubilee -50 年纪念庆典。

monarch-refer to king or queen rule and reign the country. president is not considered as monarch.

throne (n) - a kingship.   (v) - rule over, in control, reign. 王位，王权。

reign -in control, on the throne. 统治，掌权。

commonwealth - a group of counties has same government goal.

be..on the throne-在位的。在王位上的。

raise- go higher, or to make something better or stronger.

Chat Room:

pass out- people out of conscious .昏倒。人失去知觉。

pass away - a nice and polite way to say "died". or "pass on", both are refer to "died ". 过世，死亡，

euphernism -委婉的说法。如中国人礼貌上不说‘死了’ 而说‘过世’，‘去世’，‘走了’一样。

Christian say "has gone to meet his maker" or "He is in a better place"  instead of "died" 基督徒通常不会说‘他死了’而会说‘他去见他的创造者，造物者‘或说’他到更好的地方去了‘。

Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit

波特小姐与彼得兔 This story began with a little girl and her rabbit. 故事要从一个小女孩跟她的兔子开始说起。

"Write what you know" is one of the first rules that every writer is given. No matter the setting of the story authors try to stick to this guideline. Famous children's author and illustrator Helen Beatrix Potter made sure to fallow this rule with all of her works. This was quite impressive considering her stories tended to be about talking animals.

Potter had what many would call a lonesome childhood. Instead of attending school, she was taught at home, so other than her brother Bertram, she had few friends; few human friends, that is. Both she and her brother were fond of animals, so much so that they ended up with a number of bizarre pets. Among their collection of critters were frogs, bats and, most importantly, rabbits, including Benjamin and Peter-two characters that Potter would later write about in her books.

It has actually been said that Potter loved Peter so much that she took him everywhere she went. But Potter's passions included more than just animals. Her holidays spent in the Scottish countryside and the Lake District of England ensured her deep admiration for plants as well.

Growing up surrounded by nature and her pets, Potter ended up learning quite a bit about both animals and plant life through sheer observation. During their holidays in the countryside, she and Bertram immersed themselves in the natural world. She put that knowledge to good use. 

Potter used her observations of nature to draw detailed pictures of her muses - animals and plants. Her parents were so impressed with her work that they hired a drawing teacher to give her lessons for a number of years. Even at a young age, Potter did more than just draw with a pencil. She once said, "When I was young I already had the itch to write without having any material to write about." And write she did. She was known to have kept a journal that contained a code only she could decipher. Though she had persisted in developing her talents in both writing and drawing from a young age, it was years before she created her famous Peter Rabbit character, and that happened quite by accident.

Unlike most authors, Potter did not create her best-known character with the thought of publishing. The birth of Peter Rabbit came about when Potter was trying to entertain the child of an old governess. It has been said that the boy.  Noel Moore, was sick and stuck at home. To cheer him up, Potter wrote him letters and included her drawings of animals. One of those letters contained the first drawing of Peter Rabbit. After seeing how much her letters were enjoyed, Potter decided to make a book for Peter Rabbit.

Potter then began writing her classic tale about the mischievous Peter Rabbit and his adventure in Mr. McGregor's garden. At first, every publisher she submitted her story to refused it. Nonetheless, she never gave up and eventually found the right publishers, who would go on to publish many more of her children's books. Generations of children have grown up with her beloved characters- Squirrel Nutkin, Jemime Puddle-Duck, Benjamin Bunny and others. Her books have been translated into numerous languages as well as braille. Potter's whimsical stories will continue to spread joy to all who read them for many years to come.

Grammar Tips:
And write she did.= And she did write.
"she", "write" - "write (verb)" before "she (subject)", that focus on "what is doing" instead of  "subject"
subj. + did + verb =(verb)+subj. +did.
Tiffany was tired of the bad treatment she was getting at her work, so quit she did.
Frank was tired of the mess in his apartment, so clean he did.

Vocabulary Tips:
illustrate -use drawing to explain something.画画，画插画，画图，图表。
*Hank illustrated his points with charts during his presentation.
illustrator-　画插画的人，　插画家
*The book's illustrator's a schoolteacher.
bizarre-something is not common.　奇异的，超乎寻常的。
* The bizarre behaviors of the homeless man intimidated people passing by him.
*The pop singer's bizarre outfit made her the center of attention at the Grammy Awards.
ensure - "en"由为“使如何如何”之意 , "sure" -确保，保证，确认，确定
*A glass of warm milk can ensure you a good night's sleep.
*The trip to New York ensured Peggy's determination to study fashion design.
sheer -only thing she use.纯粹的，全然的，完全的。
*By sheer luck, Timmy won the card at the drawing.
*He got the promotion by sheer hard work.
* Nothing in the world can compete with the sheer joy of helping others.
have the itch to -have an eager heart to do something,  strong desire want to or like to  do something. 很想要去做某事，渴望着想要去从事某事。"itch" -癢，（令人忍不住）
*I always have had the itch to back-pack across Europe.
*Irene still has itch to learn how to play the piano, even though she's over 40.
decipher-解读，诠释，破解。
*These solders are trying to decipher the enemy's codes.
*Only the boy can decipher his friend's sloppy handwriting.
*It's not easy to decipher the motives for his action.
cheer someone up -使某人开心，帮某人打气。 "sheer"-鼓励，鼓舞
*Rita felt really bad because she didn't pass the exam, so we went to her house to cheer her up.
*The basketball team's victory cheered the whole school up.
mischievous-陶气的，玩皮捣蛋，调皮得，恶作剧，doing something not allowed, but only little or no harm or damage to others.
*The mischievous boy broke his father's laptop and was punished.
*He still remembers the mischievous things he did as a boy.
whimsical －异想天开，天马行空的。
*The whimsical set of the play draws children's attention right away.
*The whimsical style of the cartoonist is very recognizable.　可辨识的。

Chat Room:
countryside -乡下，乡间，农场，乡村地区（不一定是偏远地区，也可是近郊，离城市很近的地方）
the Scottish countryside -苏格兰的田园乡村。
-偏远的地区, a place that is out of city, open to the wild nature, ans far away from city.
He lives out in the sticks.
woods -树林
backwoods -　在树林后面，远离城镇的分明地带，内陆尚未开垦的边垂地带。
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blog -　记录，日誌，实验。"blog" word is came from "web log".
journal - diary 日记，报导文章。
She was known to have kept a journal that contained a code only she could decipher.
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entertain -娱乐something to do with some kind of performance.
The show kept us entertained.。看的很开心
He entertained us with music.用音乐来助兴
entertain -招呼带领，哄弄，引导，引起孩子们的注意力。
The birth of Peter Rabbit came about when Potter was trying to entertain the child of an old governess.
entertain-招待，款待客人
She entertained twenty guests.
entertain -　考虑
I'm entertaining the idea of taking a long vacation.

Dora the Explorer

小小探險家朵拉After nearly 11 years on TV, Dora has more fans than 朵拉在電視上播放將近十一年之後，粉絲數量盛況空前！by Pamela Osment

Hola! Soy Dora! She says the same thing to start every program. And her impact has been felt around the world. Almost two million American kids watch the cartoon character and her friends every Monday through Friday. Millions more children around the world watch Dora too. The TV program is translated into 30 languages. But what makes Dora so popular?

She's unique
Long before Dora appeared in August 2000, her creators had been asked to do something special. The kids' TV network Nickelodeon wanted a positive bilingual cartoon character.

So Dora the Explorer became the very first Latina star of a children's TV series. The hope was that kids would first relate to Dora. Then they could more easily relate to others different from themselves.

She sets a good example
In every show, Dora invites the children who are watching to go on an adventure with her. She teaches them a new word or phrase. Dora's young fans then participate in the adventure and help her solve problems They love the challenge, and parents love the lessons Dora teaches about being brave, kind and curious.

More Information:
Dora the Explorer paved the way for "Ni Hao, Kai-lan," another Nickelodeon multi-cultural children's cartoon that features the character, Kai-lan, a little Chinese-American girl who teaches kids about Chinese culture. Kai-lan also teaches new words and phrases in Mandarin Chinese. Like Dora, Kai-lan has a few animal friends, which include Rintoo the tiger, Tolee the koala, and Hoho the monkey.

Grammar Tips:
...her impact has been felt around the world.
"felt around the world "-
"felt" or "feel" - generally speaking, I love this silk shirt, it feels so smooth. -the understanding or knowledge is getting by touch something.
felt around the world-is experienced by many people from many different countries.
The shock of Michael Jackson's sudden death was felt around the world.
The joy of seeing the Chilean miners rescued was felt around the world.
"felt" / "felt" -share
The suffering of the earthquake victims in Haiti was shared around the world.
The grief of the tsunami victims was shared around the world.

Vocabulary Tips:
impact-影響，作用。
*Theo's football coach had a great and positive impact on his life.
*The tax increase policy had a negative impact on the already weakening economy.
translated- 翻譯 （通常指文字方面的）"trans"- 有“超越，通過“的意思。
interpret - 指“口譯”
translated "into" any language-翻譯成何種語言，用 "into"
*His novel was translated into seven different languages.
bilingual - 雙語的，二种語言，或是“能使用二种語言的”, "bi" -“二”，two "lingua"-語言
*This private elementary school is renowned for its bilingual program.
*Nancy is bilingual; she can speak English and Spanish.
Latina

Chat Room:
recur- 重復，重現，循環 "re" -有“再一次”之意。
recurring character-循環角色，偶爾演出，一般地演員，如果表現好，會有機會再出現演出，不固定的。it's a fiction character show up time to time. recurring role
guest star- 客串明星，名人，本來就是明星，只是造訪演出。

The Green Hornet

青蜂俠This famous Hornet comes out of his nest to party 家喻戶曉的青蜂俠離巢遊玩作樂囉by Audrey Osment

You don't have to be real to have a birthday. The famous superhero The Green Hornet was "born" 75 years ago today. But he didn't come into the world in a hospital. Instead, he came to life on a radio station in Detroit, Mich.

History of The Hornet
The Green Hornet was one of the first superheroes in America. Before either Superman or Batman put on their capes, The Hornet was fighting bad guys. By day, he was newspaper owner Britt Reid. By night, Reid became The Green Hornet and fought crime. he stopped bad guys with help from his Japanese partner, Kato, The two drove a car that buzzed like a hornet.


In 1936. The Green Hornet drama first played on the radio. The show was so popular that it became a comic book series starting in 1940. The Hornet's fame continued years later when he got his own TV series in 1966. And now this month, The Green Hornet stars in his own movie. What better birthday gift could there be?

More Information:
A movie version of The Green Hornet has been in the making for decades. Now finally, after a number of false starts, the Green Hornet's first feature film comes out in theaters this month. Comedian Seth Rogen stars as the superhero.
His partner Kato, who was played by Bruce Lee in the TV series, will be played by singer/actor Jay Zhou.

Grammar Tips:
By day, he was newspaper owner Britt Reid. By night, Reid became The Green Hornet and fought crime.
"By day..., By night" -talk about the situation so different at day time compare to night time.
By day this park is filled with patents and children enjoying the outdoor air. By night, the park becomes a popular meeting place for many couples.
By day, this shopping mall attracts a lot of female shoppers. By night, the shopping mall become a hangout place for teenagers who want to watch movies.
By day, this city is famous for its commercial centers. By night, it becomes a center of musical performances.

Vocabulary Tips:
instead- 取代，代替，替代。反而，卻。。如何如何。。in place of
* I was supposed to visit my parents tonight. Instead, they came to see me.
* Alice went to the conference instead of her sister because Jane was too busy.
buzz-發出“嗡嗡”的聲音。或"匆匆忙忙的走"。
* A fly was buzzing around me, which made it hard for me to concentrate.
*The boss buzzed out of the office to sign a contract.
series- 系列,連續發生的同系列的事物.a set of continuing situation.
* The scientist carried out a series of experiments. 一系列的實驗.
*The famous star was an actor in this hit TV series. 很受歡迎的連續劇.
hornet-腰細細的黃蜂 an insect that stink people, when it fly with a noise busy sound, similar to a Bee.
hornet nest- nest 窩,bird nest鳥巢, a dwelling place, a home or place where to stay.

Chat Room:
wasp(小寫) -大黃蜂 hornet, a bee, skinny body in yellow or orange with black stripes. .
"WASP"- White Anglo-Saxon Protestant 白種按魯沙克遜新教徒.
美國主流族群,不是指所有的白種人,而是指祖先是英國新教徒的白種美國人.
意即" 美國社會中,主流社會衆,勢力強大的白種人"

Break Dancing

霹靂舞An amazing dance style is back 令人嘆為觀止的舞蹈形式又捲土重來了by Chelsea Ewald

Break dancing is a style of dance like no other. The moves are jaw-dropping, and watching dancers performing them will make your head spin. Break dancing takes skill, strength and rhythm. The style combines acrobatics, Kung Fu-like moves and dance to create a totally unique art from. Although its roots are American, today its popularity has spread around the globe.

Break dancing breaks new ground
Unlike many styles of dance, break dancing is fairly new. In fact, its history only dates back a few decades. It all began in 1969 with music superstar James Brown. While singing his hit song "Get on the Good Foot" Brown did a high-energy dance. his "Good Foot" dance caught on and soon this style of dance became known as B-boy. Identified by its quick footwork, B-boy hit the streets of New York City. There, dancers would gather to hold "dance battles." These battles often helped settle disputes between people without using violence.

As B-boy spread throughout the 1970s and 1980s, its style changed. It became more athletic. At this time, the general public began to call it break dancing. Since dancers danced when a song took a break from worlds and played only music, the name fit. The focus of the dance grew to include more than just fancy footwork.

Break dancers, also known as b-boys and b-girls, were now doing head-spins, back spins, hand spins and flips.

Break dancing today
Break dancing became less popular from the late 1980s and into the a990s. It was still around but no longer in the spotlight. Today, however, break dancing is back and stronger than ever. The competitions take place all over the world. These modern-day dance battles no longer settle disputes. Instead, they are used to determine the most talented b-boy and b-girls. These dancers' skill and moves are more impressive than ever! People can now be seen breaking into break dancing all over the world.

More Information:
Power moves in Break Dancing.
1. The Windmill: a move where the dancer spins from his back to his chest while twirling his legs in the air.
2. Head-spins: the dancer spins on his head while lifting his hands in the air.
3. Flare: an incredibly difficult move borrowed from men's gymnastics.
4. Jackhammer: when a dancer balances on one hand while spinning and bouncing up and down.

Grammar on the go:
Unlike many styles of dance, break dancing is fairly new. In fact, its history only dates back a few decades.
unlike many styles of dance.
"unlike many"- to bring up something that is very unique from something else.
Unlike most cats, the Turkish Van likes to swim.
Unlike most companies, this company allows its workers to bring their children and pets to work.

Vocabulary Tips:
make one's head spin-暈頭轉向 頭昏眼花, 使人傷腦筋 spin-旋轉
*The roller coaster ride really made our heads spin.
*All of my new work responsibilities really made my head spin.
break new ground- 新天地 新局面 創新ground-地面
*The scientist finally broke new ground in biochemistry after years of hard work 新發現 .
dispute -爭執 爭論 爭吵
*The dispute over the import policy became more and more severe between the two parties.越來越激烈
*The couple's best friend finally helped them resolve their long-lasing dispute.

Chat Room:
hit- 打, 到達, 抵達, 前往, 擊中, 命中目標
B-boy hit the streets of New York City. - "hit" - arrive, appear.
hit the market-在市場上推出 (抵達)
Let's hit the beach-前往海灘
hit the jackpot-中頭獎
a hit- "hit" (n)- 成功而風行一時的事物

Snoopy’s Big Day!

史奴比的大日子！Everyone’s favorite cartoon dog has a birthday today 大家最喜歡的卡通狗今天長尾巴囉！by Bryan Hagerla

Snoopy made his first appearance in the Peanuts comic strip on this day in 1950. At first, Snoopy looked and acted like a normal dog. Two years later, however, Snoopy's creator, Charles Schulz, gave him a unique personality. He gave Snoopy the ability to express his thoughts in speech bubbles. Soon after, the smart beagle became as famous as his master, Charlie Brown.

Snoopy displayed his personality by sleeping on top of his doghouse instead of inside of it. And while awake, he acted out imaginary roles on top of his doghouse. He took orders as a grocery clerk. He typed out stories as a famous novelist. And he battled the dreaded Red Baron as a fighter pilot.

The Peanuts comic strip officially ended in 2000 with the death of Charles Schulz. Since then, Snoopy hasn't appeared in any new comics, but people continue to enjoy the old ones. They are still published in newspapers and books and on greeting cards. Generations after his debut, children and adults worldwide still love Snoopy, the one-of-a-kind cartoon dog.

Grammar Tips:
Generations after his debut, and adults worldwide still love Snoopy, the one-of-a-kind cartoon dog.
"one-of-a-kind"=unique (cartoon dog)
The unique color of the marble makes this sculpture a one-of-a-kind artwork; there is no other like it in the world.
If you're looking for a-one-of-a-kind dress, you might find it in this store.
"one of a kind" -(use it when adjective phrase does not come before a "noun")
Many people think that Michael Jackson's style is one of a kind.
Scott is very different from all of the other students; his personality is really one of a kind.

Vocabulary Tips:
creator-創造者,創作者create- 創造"or"-指"人"
*The creator of the popular online game is now a millionaire.
*This famous doctor is known as the creator of the successful diet and exercise program.
imaginary-幻想的,想象的,虛構的imagine- 幻想,想象
*My little sister used to have an imaginary friend named "George."
*The child withdrew to his imaginary world as a result of the severe trauma of the accident.退到虛幻世界裏....嚴重的傷害
dreaded-令人害怕的 dread-害怕,恐懼
*Jack is dreading his final exam because he missed so many classes.
*The boy hid under his bed and held his breath after reading a scary story about a dreaded villain. 躲到他的床下..屏住呼吸(不敢呼吸)...可怕的坏蛋

Chat Room
Snoopy displayed his personality by....
personality-個性，個人色彩的，個人特色。。也可用在房間，建築或其他方面，
a lot of personality-具有強烈的吸引人的個性及魅力。（很活耀的）
little personality-不具有（沒什麽）強烈的吸引人的個性及魅力。
TV personality-電視名人，名嘴的（性格）
radio personality-廣播名人或電台主持人（特色）。

Betty Boop

就是愛貝蒂Still stealing hearts after 80 years 問世八十年的卡通人物至今仍擄獲人心This 1930s character is still stealing hearts today by Ruth Devlin.

With her bark curly hair and big eyes, Betty Boop "boop-oop-a-dooped" her way into everyone's heart. "Born" On August 8, 1930, Betty actually started "life" as a dog. But soon her dog ears changed into big gold earrings, and she became all girl. By 1932, she was America's first multi - talented animated female star. She could do drama, comedy and musicals. Betty appeared in more than 100 cartoons as well as several films. In addition, she appeared in newspaper comic strips from 1934 to 1937.

Betty last appeared in a film in 1939. Then she disappeared. But she reappeared in the 1980s and gained a new generation of fans. Today, Betty's image is everywhere. She even has a rose and a perfume named for her. Young people buy merchandise with her picture on it, including cell phone covers, clothing, calendars and clocks. Most likely they know very little about her film days but love her sweet face. While her little girl voice is a thing of the past, her image lives on. No one can take her "boop-oop-a-doop" away.


Grammar Tips
With her dark curly hair and big eyes, Betty Boop "hoop-oop-a-dooped" her way into everyone's heart.
boop-oop-a-dooped--- is verbification.
She likes to sing on her way to school.
She likes to " la-la-la "on her way to school. "la-la-la " is verbification instead of " sing"
Let me Google (v) that information and see what I can find. Google(n)-a company's name.
"microwave (adj) oven" (n) -微波爐
microwave(v)-放到微波爐中熱一下.
Bob microwave his lunch.

Vocabulary Tips
multi-talented=多才多藝的
*Will Smith is a multi-talented actor who plays a variety of characters in his movie roles.
multi-colored=多彩的，多姿多彩的
multilingual=多種語言
animated-動畫的，活潑的，活燿的，熱烈的
*"Shrek" is my favorite animated character.
"Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs" is one of Disney's classic animated cartoons.
*We had an animated discussion about our Christmas plans.熱烈的討論
merchandise(n)-商品，貨物。不可數名詞，不加“s” (v)-販賣，推銷。
*The store's merchandise is mostly imported from China.
*The product is merchandised through online websites. 販賣，推銷

Chat Room
name-取名，命名。
name after- 指“人” 以某人的名字來命名。
My sister was named after my grandmother.
name from-以事物“不是人”的名字來命名。
name for-指"東西”以某人的名字來命名。
Betty Boop even has a rose and a perfume named for her.

The Art of Cosplay

角色扮演的藝術Fantasy meets reality with cosplay 世界各地的角色扮演迷往往打扮成自己最喜歡的人物 Around the world, fans dress up like their favorite characters. by Chelsea Ewald.

If you visit Tokyo's famous Harajuku district, you'll notice a distinct part of Japanese culture coming to life on its street. That's because anime and manga fans literally bring their favorite characters to life through cosplay. Combining the words costume and play, cosplay is becoming an increasingly popular form of performance art.

What exactly is cosplay?
First, it involves cosplayers- people who participate in the art. Consplayers buy or make an elaborate costume of their favorite animated or fantasy character and then dress up in it. But the fun doesn't stop there. In addition to looking like a character, cosplayers must also learn to imitate a character's personality, facial expressions and behaviors. This accounts for the " play" in cosplay. Once cosplayers have perfected their character, they take their talents to the streets. On weekends in Japan, cosplayers can be found outdoors posing for pictures and checking out others' costumes. The goal is to win the approval of fellow cosplayers. If approval is won, a cosplayer may consider entering a costume contest.

From science-fiction origins.
Although the term cosplay originated in Japan, the idea for it seems to have been born in the United States. In 1939, Forrest J. Ackerman attended the 1st World Science Fiction Convention in New York wearing a space suit. Forty-five years later. Japanese native Nov Takahashi attended a similar convention in Los Angles. Impressed by the many costumes at the convention, Takahashi returned home and coined the term cosplay. Soon after, he began writing about it in Japanese sci-fi magazines. Word about cosplay quickly spread throughout Japan, and the rest is history.

Costplay today
Today, people all around the world are taking part in cosplay's fantasy fun. While anime and manga are deeply rooted in Japanese cosplay, the art often looks different in the West. There, films like Star War, Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings have inspired a new generation of cosplay fans.
The goal of cosplay is to dress up, have fun and bring fantasy to life. Whether a person in a novice cosplayer or an experienced pro, cosplay is fun for everyone!

Grammar
....you'll notice a distinct part of Japanese culture coming to life on its streets.
coming to life-
Computer generated special effects have made extinct animals come to life on movie screens.
to come to life-
Henry doesn't come to life until he has had two cups of coffee.
After sleeping for ten hours, Sarah is finally coming to life.

Vocabulary Tips
distinct-明顯的，清晰的，清楚的。
*There's a distinct parking area reserved for the VIP customers.
*The distinct smell of the flower repels insects.
*The two writer's styles are quite distinct from each other.
imitate-模仿。copy, acting like someone.
*Patrick loves to imitate his big brother Frank. He talks and acts just like Frank does.
*The actress perfectly imitated a French accent in the movie.完美的模仿了。。
check out- 了解一下，試試看。check something out- take look at it, examine it.
*I heard the new restaurant is great. Do you want to check it out with me tonight?
*Did you check out my new bike?
originate (v)- 源自于，發源于。origin (n)-起源，或由來
*The custom originated among the natives of the island. 原住民。
*The technology originated in Germany, but it developed in the States.
the rest is history (idiom)- 剩下來的都是眾所皆知的。tell the interested detail, the rest, people can figure it out by itself.
*The famous soccer player and the pop star met at a party, it was love at first sight,-and the rest is history.足球員。。流行歌曲名星。。。他們一見鍾情。
novice-新收，a beginner, a learner. inexperienced person.
*For a novice graphic designer, this project is way too difficult.
*I've never played golf before. I'm a complete novice.
Sci-Fi-- Science Fiction.
convention- large gathering for professional event.
coined- created.
inspire-give people an idea and help them to creative thinking.
take part with it-participated

Chat Room
dress-服裝，dress code-服裝規定。
dress up-穿著打扮，化妝，或是穿著正式的服裝（去面試或參加宴會，舞會。。。）
dress up in costumes 以特別的服裝來打扮自己.
dress down-wear more casual than normal. 便裝打扮。
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fantasy- 幻想小説，夢幻小説，發生在奇幻世界中的，主角都有一個"quest" or "mission" must over the quest or mission. 追尋並征服某樣東西。such as "Lord of the Rings."魔戒
science fiction- 科幻小説，發生在未來得及世界，牽涉到科學，通常與太空或別的星球有關(space travel and life and fun in the planet)，such as "Star Trek"星際大戰（爭霸戰）, "Alien", and "Avatar"

Texting and Teens

What is keeping teens up at night?青少年為什麼夜未眠？Do you send as many text messages as these teens do?你也和這些青少年一樣發送那麼多簡訊嗎？by Lisa Holl Chang.

When Greg Hardesty saw his December 2008 telephone bill, he was shocked. The 440-page bill listed 14,528 text messages from his daughter Reina’s cell phone. If Hardesty hadn’t had an unlimited texting plan, the bill would have cost almost $3,000. Hardesty's situation is not unique. Families all over America are waking up to the large number of text messages teens send. A 2009 study reported that the average teen sends 2,899 texts a month. They send text messages during class, while driving and in the middle of the night. Parents, teachers and doctors are becoming very concerned.

Teens and sleep
Only 20 percent of teens get the eight hours of sleep recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. Fifteen percent get as little as three to five hours a night. Experts believe technology-related distractions are causing teens to get less sleep than they should. One big distraction is texting - especially when teens wake up late at night to text.


The cost of staying connected
Teens send and receive thousands of messages to stay in constant contact with their friends. Texting makes them feel like they're in the loop. That need to stay connected often prevents teens from getting adequate sleep. Mikaela Espinoza, 17, used to sleep with her cell phone beside her bed. Eventually, her sleep became affected, especially on nights when she received texts at 3 a.m.

Soon she was having painful headaches during the day. Espinoza is not the only teen with sleep-related problems. Besides headaches, these teens also experience difficulty concentrating, bad moods and weak immune systems. Many teens fall asleep in class, and some even confess to falling asleep while driving.


Turning off the phone
After seeing their phone bill, Reina Hardesty's parents restricted Reina's use of her cell phone. Parents also set " texting curfews," a time after which no more texting is allowed. Many teens are discovering for themselves the benefits of turning off their phone at night. It's a good first step toward a good night's sleep.

Grammar
Hardesty's situation is not unique.
unique=very special.
Van Gogh's style is very unique.
subject + is not unique (talk about the situation is very common)
*Janet is a single mother of two and has to work three jobs in order to pay the bills, her situation is not unique.
*At age 9, Maggie was diagnosed with childhood diabetes, her problem is not unique in America.

Vocabulary
wake up- 清醒过来,醒过来.
wake up to something- 指意识到某种状况,事实 或重要事情.
*It's time for us to wake up to the fact that we need to solve the problem of global warming.
*She should wake up to the fact that her health condition is failing.
text (n)-text message .简讯,留言. message-信息.
*I got a text message from my brother saying he'll visit me next week.
text (v)- sending message through phone.传简讯
* My thumb is sore because I texted too much. 简讯传的太多,使我的大拇指肿痛.
distraction-使分心的事. distract-使分心
*Many can listen to music while working, but I find it a great distraction.
*Ellen decided to go to the library where she is free from distraction.
(be) in the loop-stay connection 参入其内或知情.. loop-圈圈 .
*Even though Janet is currently out on a business trip, she is in the loop on all our big decisions.
out of the loop- 是 in the loop 反义词,指不知情的,局外人的.
*I've been out of the loop on what has been happening in town since I moved.
adequate-足够的,适合的,合宜的,适当的
*Adequate lighting is crucial for students' learning. 足够适宜的光线(灯光)...是很重要的
*We have to make sure we have adequate food for our camping trip.足够的食物...
confess-承认或坦承(通常是指做了比较负面或不好的事)
confess to something-坦承..做了某事
*George confessed to sneaking out during work. 偷溜出去.
*Nick confessed to his parents that he stole money from them.
restriction - to limited the movement or acting for someone.
restrict - set a rule to limited someone to do something.

Chat Room
What is keeping teens up at night?
teens - young kids age from thirteen to nineteen. teenager-青少年
preteen- before teen age. age 9 to age 12.
tween- between preteen to teen. age 8 to age 12.
adolescent- young boys and girls, young kids, not limited age 13-19. 轻少年. 范围包括的最广.
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curfew- set a time for person to go home.宵禁.
I have an eleven o'clock curfew. 规定11点前必须回到家.
get grounded-被禁足,待在家不许出门.
you are grounded.

Transumerism - A New Consumer Experience

過渡型消費主義── 全新的消費經驗Consumers become transumers to reduce the hassle of ownership 如果可以租的話，何必要買呢？Why buy something when you can just rent it? by Pamela Osment

Purchasing and possessing things used to be the consumer’s way of life. People looked for quality and durability in what they bought. But hurried, more mobile lives and a lagging global economy have helped usher in a new brand of consumers with different attitudes toward spending.

“Less about treasure and more about pleasure”
“Transumers,” a term coined by business consulting agency Fitch in 2003, refers to consumers who are motivated by experiencing something rather than owning it. They would rather use things for a short while and then move on to something new, and not deal with maintenance and repairs.

Leasing rather than owing
These days anything from designer handbags, clothes and jewelry to planes and luxury cars can be leased. The benefits include leasing items for a special event and then returing them without paying full price.

Selling and buying at auctions
Auction sites like eBay have made purchasing used belongings popular. Nowadays, before buying anything new, transumers consider how much they will get for an item when they're through with it.

Sharing rather than hoarding
Over 6 million people worldwide have discovered Freecycle, the online site where people offer and receive items for free! This lets transumers feel good about helping the environment and recycling. For transumers, their way of life means less clutter in the home and more cash in the pocket!

More Information
If you need it but don't want to buy it, don't worry-you can rent it! Today, you can lease almost anything. For example, "Wear Today, Gone Tomorrow," is a designer clothing shop which rents a $495 Vera Wang dress for $49 a week. The latest in cell phones can be leased from "Rentable". Even pets can be rented for a day. Resort guests in Aspen, Colorado need simply contact the people at "Rent-a-pet".

Grammar
.....transumers consider how much they will get for an item when they're through with it.
through=going in and then out of something
*The train went through the tunnel.
through=finished (usually use this word in informal or conversation situation)
*Are you through with the book?= Are you finish reading the book yet?
*I'm through with this job!=I got it enough, I am quiting.

Vocabulary
usher in- 印进，引入 usher-引导，引领
*The factory's new owner wants to usher in the most advanced machines引进最新近的。。.
*This scientist's findings ushered in a new era of biochemistry.发现引入（开始，进入）了生化科学的新纪元。
lease / rent-租用，租賃lease is for long period of time, rent is regardless the long or short of time, usually refer to a short of time.
*We decided to lease a car rather than buying one because it's more economical.
*Nick rented a tuxedo for this evening's banquet.
hoard-隐藏, 屯积
*In the classic novel经典小说 A Christmas Carol小气大财神, Mr. Scrooge hoards his wealth all to himself.屯积财物.
*The merchants were sued for hoarding food after the flooding.被起诉.

Chat Room
coin-硬幣,钱幣
to coin -制造钱幣, 延伸出的意思是制造出某东西
coined a word / coined a phrase 造出新的字或片语,或是表示双关语如:
Twenty local musicians have banded together to from a band.
two sides of the same coin (idiom)-同一个铜板的两面而价值未变,指角读不同,看法有異, 也指一体的两面use different way to deal with the same situation.

Choosing World's Top Dog

狗狗選秀大賽Dogs from around the world compete this week in the Westminster Dog Show 來自世界各地的頂尖狗兒在威斯敏思特狗展中齊聚一堂The Westminster Dog Show brings together the world’s top dogs by Pamela Osment

Dogs take center stage this week at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City. Millions of people will view the competition in person, on television and online. The show includes over 2,500 dogs. Over its 134-year history, a total of 296,451 dogs have been judged. Sometimes called the “Super Bowl of dog shows,” Westminster is considered America’s top dog competition.

Each year, the show invites the top five dogs in each breed. The remaining openings fill up very quickly – sometimes within the first hour of registration. Selected dogs are grouped according to their breed. Then the 173 breeds are divided into seven groups. Today and tomorrow, one winner per breed will be chosen and named the "Best of Breed." Those winners will then compete against other winners in their group for the "Best of Group." chosen and named the "Best of Group." The seven winners will then face off for the "Best in show". Using American Kennel Club standards, judges will select the dog they feel best represents its breed.

Doggie extra
While the show itself involves long, stress-filled hours, the hotel stay can be just the opposite. Certain hotels in the area of the show offer little extras for the dogs. Though not free, special services include treadmills, pet paintings, hair salons and more. At $450 for a cut and $800 for a portrait, the extras can get expensive. Many Westminster dog owners admit to spending &100,000 yearly on their dogs.

Winning opportunities
The show's winner gets opportunities to bring happiness to others. Some dogs in the past have visited sick children, injured soldiers and other patients. But appearances can be fun too. Uno, 2008's Westminster winner, went to luncheons, ballgames and the White House!
Last year, Stump, a Sussex Spaniel, amazed the crowd when he won the "Best in Show. "At the age of 10, Stump was the oldest dog to ever win the competition. Tonight, he will step aside and turn his title over to America's next top dog!

More information
There are dozens of English idioms that include the word dog. Some of the more famous include: raining cast and dogs, teach an old dog new tricks, and in the doghouse. Now, if something goes to the dogs, it means it is getting worse, either morally or physically. If you're dogging it-you're avoiding your responsibilities. Let sleeping dogs lie meants not seeking change for fear of causing even greater problems.

Grammar
...judges will select the dog they feel best represents its breed.

subject + verb + object + subject + feel best represents something else.

This phrase is useful for show how things are choose or will choose to fit someone's understanding and what the standard will be.

*The women's charitable foundation is looking for a celebrity spokeswoman whom they feel would lest represent what a working mother should look like.
*The company will choose the T-shirt design that they feel best represents the company's interest in environmental protection.

Vocabulary
take center stage (idiom)- 占重要地位或是成为瞩目的焦点.center stage-舞台中央
* The new designer's winter collection took center stage at New York's Fashion Week.
*The foreign policies of the two candidates took center stage at the presidential election.外交政策，
in person-physical person actually there.
breed (n)-品种。type, kind, a type (kind) of animal.
*This breed of cat is very rare.
*My favorite dog breed is the Golden Retriever.黄金猎犬
breed (v)- 繁殖，饲养 Henry breeds racing horses in England.
remaining opening-available space
face off-two team or two compete each other. 对抗。
*The two hockey teams will face off tomorrow night at the semi-final.对决
face-off (n)-胜出。
*It's difficult to predict which team will win the upcoming face-off in March.
opposite(adj)相反的.此当(n)相反的人或事物perfect or totally different from something or someone.
*Brandon is very outgoing, but his wife Anna is just the opposite.非常外向
*Life here in the country is the exact opposite of city life.生活
injured-受伤的（injure使受伤）的过去分词, injury (n)
*The injured passengers were taken to the emergency room.
*Her injured leg will take several months to heal.
Step aside (idiom)-from the center stage to aside.退位，退开，让出位子
*I decided to step aside and let the young people express themselves.让出位子
*Step aside! Let me talk to my son.站到一边去，都让开。

Chat Room
dog-
work like a dog-工作像狗一样，是说工作很辛苦，很卖力。
top dog (idiom)-指头头，领导人，老板，最重要的人物。
*He is the top dog in the company. 他是公司的老板。
dog tire (idiom)-很疲累，很累，累坏了。I'm dog tired.
fight like cats and dogs (idiom)-彼此激烈的争吵。
a dog-eat-dog world (idiom)-弱肉强食的社会。
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title-可以是一本书的书名或是电影片名，此指“头衔”
job title-职称
defend his title-竞赛获争夺冠军，前届的冠军为卫冕成功而战。
lose his title-卫冕失败
entitled-给与权利，使有资格He is entitled to a pension