學生問到一個字點裡找不到的字，“umami”是個由日文 借過來的外來語，A loanword from the Japanese (うま味), umami can be translated as "pleasant savory taste". 相當於中文的 “鮮味”，與甜(sweet)、酸(sour)、苦(bitter)和鹹(salty) 形成五種基本味道- 10月 07 週二 201410:55
5 tastes 五味雜陳
學生問到一個字點裡找不到的字，“umami”是個由日文 借過來的外來語，A loanword from the Japanese (うま味), umami can be translated as "pleasant savory taste". 相當於中文的 “鮮味”，與甜(sweet)、酸(sour)、苦(bitter)和鹹(salty) 形成五種基本味道- 10月 07 週二 201410:04
where the rubber meets the road 事物真相揭曉的時刻
今天來講個有趣的俚語: where the rubber meets the road 想想看: 車胎(橡膠rubber在此之意)一碰到地面, 行不行/管不管用馬上就知道! 簡單的說就是"事物真相揭曉的時刻" ( the moment of truth of something) 舉例而言: An athlete can train all day, but the race is where the rubber meets the road and they'll know how good they really are. 運動員成天都在訓練，但比賽成效優劣才見分曉。
- 9月 13 週五 201311:23
cherry picking (採櫻桃謬誤)
- 5月 21 週一 201208:53
What is "muggle" (麻瓜)??? (by Andy Lee)
What is "muggle" (麻瓜)??? (by Andy Lee)
昨天我媽看電視問我甚麼是麻瓜 (muggle), 字典裡面可能找不到這個字 首先 它是個俚語 (slang) 指的是一個大麻作的香煙 (a marijuana cigarette), 在來就是沒有特殊技能或無知的俗人 Harry Potter 電影囉 作者 J.K. 就用mugger來講那些不具神力的平凡人. My mom asked me what is "mugger" while watching the TV yesterday. Well, first of all, you probably can't find it in your dictionary. It's an old slang (back in 1920s) which means "a marijuana cigarette". And it is also referred to people who are ignorant, people without special skills or power. J.K. Rowing used this word in Harry Potter to indicate people without magic power.
What is "muggle" (麻瓜)??? (by Andy Lee)
- 5月 21 週一 201208:50
Top World Taboos 《culture》世界著名禁忌《文化篇》 (by Andy LEE)
Top World Taboos 《culture》世界著名禁忌《文化篇》 (by Andy LEE)
下週我們要講 Top World Taboos 《culture》世界著名禁忌《文化篇》 應該是個挺有趣的話題 基礎板班及個別班的學生可有要求選修此課
1. Chopsticks (筷子: 中國 日本)---There are many stories about chopsticks. In Japan, whatever any reason, you can’t stick chopsticks into the rice bowl and then leave away, because it’s an omen of unlucky and it makes Japanese associate as gravestones. By the way, using one end which you put into your month to pick up food into your bowl is though as a rude behavior, you should use the other end. In China and other countries, it’s impolite to point to other people with chopsticks.
2. Visiting Mosques (清真寺) ---All the people, whatever Muslim or not, need to take off shoes before walking into mosques. You travelers should obey Moslemic clothing style. Men should wear long pants and shirts, and women should cover all the revealed skin. For this rule, though different country has different restrict. The ladies should take the kerchief. If you don’t have, you can borrow one at the most mosque entrance.
3. Taking Flowers as a Gift 以花為禮---In Ukraine, if you plan to take flowers as a gift, be sure the flowers are odd number, because flowers in even number are used for funeral. If you plan to send flowers to the hostess, or to celebrate someone’s birthday or some special date, remember don’t take yellow flowers or Easter lily (used for funeral too)
4. Kiss 親吻---In Cheshire of UK, train passengers are not allowed to overstay, intimately talk or kiss at railway platform (月台). If you really have a lot of words to talk or want to kiss, you can move to kiss area.
5. Salt 鹽---Although Egyptians are very hospitable (好客的) , their cooking is light. When you travel to Egypt, don’t add salt in your bowl, because that would be regarded as an insult for chef. Fortunately, Egyptians always use garlic, onion and other spices, so Egyptian food are delicious.
6. Visiting Churches (教堂)---If you plan to Italian churches at warm weather, be sure not only take short pants or sleeveless clothing (not allowed, be sure to take proper clothing). There are guardsmen or believers checking visitors clothing at the gate, so make sure taking one long sleeves shirt or pullover (套頭衣).
7. V Gesture (手勢) Stands for Success----In British, when you making gestures like V, be sure not make your centre of the palm face to you, because this gesture is regarded as insult or provocation (挑釁). It is said that the gesture of V is derived from Anglo-French War. France threatened that they would cut off the fingers of British shooters. The result was that British won in the war, and then they made this gesture to show their fingers were intact without injury.
8. Insult (侮辱) the King---Thais regard their king Bhumibol Adulyadej as God and take his portrait as a talisman (護身符) to keep them lucky. So insulting or injury the King can lead to dire consequences or even be sent to jail about 15 years. ( 來想想動詞: “判決” 的英文要怎麼講? 判完了以後真正“被關/監禁”呢? )
9. Cheers (乾杯)---Hungarians don’t cheers when they toasted with others, because Austrians once killed 13 Hungarians and then cheers up for this. For the following 150 years, no one Hungarian cheers when they are toasting. Although the tragic (悲劇) passed a long time, this tradition is kept so far.
10. Eat up All the Food on the Plate吃完盤中食---In Cambodia, eating up all the food on the plate means the host doesn’t treat you well and don’t give you enough food.
Questions:
(1) In India, 你該把盤中食物吃完嗎?在柬埔寨呢?
(2) How do you say “乾杯” in English? How about 只是“舉杯祝酒”呢?
(3) “澳大利亞” “奧地利” 的英文是甚麼 respectively? Austr----- Austr---
(4) 你覺得在 UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand 作手掌向內的 V sign 表示甚麼呢?
(5) stab chopsticks in the rice remind Asian people of “燒香”, 那“燒香” 的英文怎麼講?
(6) 你學會了 “之後的”叫 f 那 “之前的” 怎麼講? P
(7) “悲劇”叫作 tragedy 那”喜劇”呢? c
(8) Some people like to paint “portraits”, while others like to paint “land ”
”
``````大家拭目以待囉 :-)))
Top World Taboos 《culture》世界著名禁忌《文化篇》 (by Andy LEE)
- 5月 12 週六 201209:11
Car rental 租車 (by Andy LEE)
Car rental租車 (by Andy LEE)
下裡拜上租車 (car rental) 基礎班及個別班的同學有興趣可以要求聽講此課程 這對於你未來的國際旅遊很有幫助喔
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你租過車嗎? Have you rented a car before? 租車有太多的陷阱及注意事項 too many tips & pitfalls to watch out when it comes to renting a car....!!!下次就來聊一聊租車這個話題吧...Let's talk about Car Rental next time.....see you guys soon....:-)))
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當你go on a vacation 的時後, 你必須能夠 get around , 所以你可能會選擇to rent a car. 首先你必須要 contact 一個 car rental agency 問他說你們有那些 types of vehicles available. 舉例來說 (For example), 你最後租了一台 SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) 你希望可以開它去作一些 sightseeing. 結果你以weekly rate of $40 a day 的價位租到手, 但這個價位是 not including tax; 好佳在(台語) …這台 SUV 可以讓你開 unlimited miles, 所以當你開長途時你不須要擔心 pay extra… 當然囉, 你要自己付gas費用, 想想看:
Question 1: 你覺得跟租車公司買 gasoline 是個 good idea 嗎? 是Full Out; Full In 還是 Full Out; Empty In 比較好呢? (Andy’s bad experience with “Prepaid Gas Option” in Hawaii)
rental agency 可能會recommend 你買 insurance, 於是你就開始hesitate 了…..???!!!
Question 2: 當別人推薦你買insurance 時, 你應該accept 或是decline呢? 甚麼時後可以不要purchase insurance呢? 甚麼是 waiver 呢? 各國有些特殊的 law 限制嗎?
Question 3: 如果你決定要買insurance 基本上有那幾種 choices呢? 你知道其中那一種的是最為廣泛強制被required的嗎 (including Taiwan)?
Insurance 最主要有兩種:
(I) comprehensive /full coverage)
(II) liability ( 3rd party)
其它additional car protection plans還有如： (a) collision (b) medical payments (c) property damage ,它們分別於car accident發生時 cover甚麼呢? 小心: 不要 get your car over insured…!!!
接下來你就要作一個完整的 visual inspection 了, 仔細的看一看有沒有 dents 或是 scratches 或甚至是cigarette burns…etc. 看完後將每項問題記在inspection form 上面 這麼一來你才不會 be liable for previous damages啊….very important…!!!
Finally, 一切都妥當了,你就可以 sign the rental agreement 並且開始你的 vacation囉.
假期結束前就要把 SUV開回來return 給這家car rental agency, 要延期 (extend) 怎麼辦?
Question 4: 除了going on vacation 之外, what are some other reasons you would rent a car? Have you ever rented a car before? 如果有的話, 談談你的experience(s) 吧…
Question 5: 有那些常見的sizes of car 可以去 choose 呢？除了 sedan 外, 還那些常見的 types of car 可以去 choose 呢？
Question 6: 省錢 省錢 省錢 !!! How to save money…??? (package, online, weekend, re-check, off airport) 預約租車須要deposit 嗎?
其它常用字彙: reservation, last name/first name, pick up & return, upgrade, special offer/deal, full gas tank, additional drivers (25+), contract, parking space (#), parking lot, local map, manual –or- automatic, driver’s license, late charge, rental extension 我會在課堂上一一解釋說明
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- 4月 24 週二 201215:06
transport/transit/MRT 有關大眾捷運系統交通相關問題 (by Andy Lee)
transport/transit/MRT 有關大眾捷運系統交通相關問題 (by Andy Lee)
questions regarding transport/transit/MRT 這裡拜上有關大眾捷運系統交通, 在此對於同學所提的一些相關問題統一作回答;
- 4月 21 週六 201217:04
the Earth Day 世界地球日 (by Andy Lee)
the Earth Day 世界地球日 (by Andy Lee)
明天就是世界地球日了 節能減碳作了沒呢 注意一下我們留下的碳足跡喔 (Carbon Footprint)....還記得環保三R是甚麼嗎? 大家跟我一起來想想英文怎麼講吧....:-)))
- 3月 14 週三 201217:23
器官食譜：12大部位最愛的食物 Organ Recipe: 12 favorite foods for your organs & body parts (English translattion: by Andy Lee)
器官食譜：12大部位最愛的食物
Organ Recipe:12favoritefoods for your organs & body parts
translated by Andy Lee(English part)
- 2月 09 週四 201222:19
about "sync" 有關"sync" ~ by Andy Lee
about "sync" 有關"sync" ~ by Andy Lee
有 同學問到 sync 這個字, 當然大家都會先聯想到 NSYNC 這個紅及一時的少年團體 (那只是一個名字縮寫的巧思), Microsoft 不是也有跟 Ford 車廠合作出了 SYNC system, 那是一種原廠設計並裝置於車內的聲控系統, 兼具有通訊及娛樂的功能. 其實, sync 是 synchronization 的縮寫, 是 "協同一致" 的意思, sync oil 就是車子保養時加的合成機油 (比一般機油穩定 也比較貴), 以前在發燒玩音樂的時後, 曾在忠孝東路一家知名樂器行搶購一台日本進口台灣的合成樂器 KORG M1 (給我訂到全國第二台) 合成樂器就叫作 synthesizer ,而使協同一致的動詞片語就是 get in sync, 例如說 I tried so hard to get the sound and the picture in sync, but it didn't work. 我很努力使聲音與畫面同不, 但是沒搞定......so, 記住囉 get in syn"c 使協同一致" "使同步"的意思.
about "sync" 有關"sync" ~ by Andy Lee
