E-Concussion

Dear all,



Time to speck English!!!


7:30-8:00 a news and some jokes
8:00-8:20 Vocab Competing--from the words we learned today

Break

8:30-8:50 Group Game
8:50-9:20 Free Talk
suggested topic 1: what are you expecting for our present government?
suggested topic 2: What is the most prettiest picture in your heart?

9:20-9:30 Group sharing, Club Matters as Autum Trip



Joyce and Shavia

Dear all,

Although there are only 6 of us yesterday, we still had a good time.
Econcussioners are talktive, even though there are only few people.

Yesterday, we talked about how we can hold the gathering, here are some suggestions from some of us:
Joyce-
1. Change the place
2. Set topics, hold competition, such as sentences, vocabs, etc.
3. Shorten the time to 9:00pm
4. Enforce our police: only speak in English

Carey & Sharon-
If we don't have any ideas of the hosting everytime, we can take a break (stop gathering) for few weeks.
So everyone can spend some time to think about what he/she can do in the future gathering.

Peggy-
Maybe we can just get together at a restaurant or a place, having dinner and chatting together, if we really don't have any ideas to host.

Conclusion-
Since everyone is busy working and sometimes is too tired to prepare the hosting things, we don't want eveyone to be so stressed. We become Econcussion because we want to improve our English in many ways (speaking, listening, reading, or writing). Sometimes we can just be relaxed and talk to each other in English, that is also a way to practice. So don't feel so pressured if we don't have any ideas, just come and share your life or everything with us.

If others have any other ideas, please share with us on the blog or in the gathering. Thank you~

The information from statues.

A statue in a park with a soldier on a horse with its 2 feet in the air means the soldier died in combat. If the horse has only 1 foot in the air, the soldier died of injuries from combat. If the horse has all 4 feet on the ground, the soldier died of natural causes.

The origin of the word "kangaroo".

When the English settlers landed in Australia, they noticed a strange animal that jumped extremely high and far. They asked the aboriginal people using body language and signs trying to ask them about this animal. They responded with "Kan Ghu Ru", the English then adopted the word kangaroo. What the aboriginal people were really trying to say was "we don't understand you", "Kan Ghu Ru".

The origin of expression "O.K.".

During historic civil wars, when troops returned without any casualties, a writing was put up so all can see which read "0 killed". From here we get the expression "O.K." which means all is good.

The origin of the word "fuck".

In ancient England, people could not have sex without consent from the King. When people wanted to have a child, they had to solicit a permission to the monarchy, in turn they would supply a plaque to hand on their door when they had sexual relations. The plaque read..."Fornication Under Consent of the King." (F.U.C.K.). This is the origin of the word.

Vocabularies:

combat (n.): fighting in a war 戰鬥

settler (n.): someone who goes to live in a country where not many people like them have lived before

                   殖民者, 開拓者

aboriginal (a.;n.): relating to the people who have existed in a place long time ago 原住民的; 原住民

troop (n.): soldiers in an organized group 軍隊

casualties (pl. n.): someone who is hurt or killed in a war 死傷

consent (n.): permission 准許, 同意

solicit to (v.): ask for 請求

the monarchy (n.): the king or queen of a country 國王, 女王

plaque (n.): a piece of flat metal, wood or stone 板

fornication (n.): having sex with someone you are not married 通姦

The followings are some interesting information (cold knowledge) that we didn't do last night, sharing them here with you:

The body's strongest muscle is our tongue. l Statistically, people are more afraid of spiders than they are of dying.

The muscles in your heart have the strength to shoot your blood 10 meters in the air.

It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

Humans and dolphins are the only animals that have sex for pleasure.

All polar bears are left handed.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

A cockroach can live 9 days without its head. It only dies because it cannot eat.

Starfish have no brains.

Mosquitoes have teeth.

Words we didn't know:

喘氣, 上氣不接下氣 (v.): to gasp

旁白 (n.): an aside (in the theater); a voice-over (in a TV program, TV comerical)

地球儀 (n.): a globe; a tellruion

南半球 (n.): the Southern Hemisphere

北半球 (n.): the Northern Hemisphere

鐵齒, 頑固的 (a.): obstinate, stubborn, fixed, pigheaded

Dear all,

The hostesses of this week are Peggy & Sharon, and the schedule is as following:

7:30-7:45  Reading--Some interesting information

7:45-8:00  Word Guessing Game

                  (please review the article: 8/20 Running as a Way of Life-->http://econcussion.pixnet.net/blog/post/21525019)

8:00-8:15  Sentense passing Game

8:15-8:30  Dialogues--Role Play

8:30-8:35  Take a break

8:35-9:20  Free talk (2 options)

                  1. If you see a ghost, what will you do or react?

                  2. Please share some scary stories of yours or that you heard before.

9:20-9:40  Discussion:

                  1. The future of Econcussion--please give some advices that we can improve our way of gathering

                  2. Autumn Trip

See you guys,

Peggy & Sharon

*Vocab during Freetalk
prospective 預期的
gusty rain 陣雨
a humpback; a hunchback 駝背


*Confusing words

1. REALIZE and UNDERSTAND
Realize means to be aware of something that you did not know before. Understand means to completely know the meaning of something or how it works.
Ex. When she got to work, she realized she'd left her umbrella on the bus.
Maggie finally understands these chemistry problems.
•When did you ____________ you wanted to be an opera singer?
•She ___________ everything she needs to do in order to finish the project.
2. CURE and HEAL
Cure means to make someone better when they are sick. Usually medical treatment is involved. Heal means to become healthy again.
Ex. Tom used to suffer from cancer, but now he's completely cured.
Do you think these cuts will heal quickly?
•Her leg was completely ________ in five weeks.
•Do you think this medicine can _________ my cold?

*Typhoon! Some people get all the luck.

Some people get all the luck.　有些人比較幸運(不幸)。
這句話有兩種意思，一種是字面上的意思，有些人似乎是財神爺附身，昨天才剛加薪今天又重了樂透；另外一種則是帶有嘲弄的意思：有些人「屋漏偏逢連夜雨」，昨天才剛被搶劫，今天家裡又失火，這兩種人你都可以用這句話形容：Some people get all the luck!
A: Jackie won a car yesterday
傑奇昨天贏到一台車！
B: And the boss gave him a raise! Some people get all the luck.
老闆又幫他加薪！就是有些人會這麼好運。
…will have to wait　要等一下
當你說某件事情will have to wait，表示那件事根本不重要，有比它更要緊的事情等著排隊，或可以直接略過。通常媽媽在敷衍小朋友的要求時都會說：That will have to wait.
A: Don't be so rude! Please ask me nicely.
你不要那麼粗魯！好好的問我。
B: Sorry, manners will have to wait. We are in a big rush.
對不起，禮貌現在不是重點。我們現在很趕時間
My money`s on…　我打賭
打賭的時候一定需要賭注，也就是money啦。但這裡的My money’s on…並不是真的從口袋裡掏出一大把鈔票下注，只是一種非常肯定的語氣覺得：「我的預感準沒錯！」。
A: Who will win the World Series next year?
誰將會贏得明年的職棒總冠軍賽呢？
B: My money`s on the Yankees…again.
我賭洋基隊……再度獲勝。
A: Where was Lisa today?
莉莎今天到底去哪裡啦？
B: I`m not sure, but my money says she`s stayed at home.
我不清楚，我但我敢打賭她一定窩在家裡。
Don`t count your chickens yet.　先別急著高興
這句話的完整句子是：Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.雞蛋都還沒孵出來，你就已經在數到底會有多少隻小雞，豈不是得意的太早？當朋友都還沒中彩券，已經開始計畫要先買房子還是先買車，或者環遊世界，你可以用一副識途老馬的語氣告訴他 Don't count your chickens yet.
A: When my Shanghai stocks go up, I'll be rich!
等我上海的股票漲了，我就是有錢人啦
B: Don't count your chickens yet; the Shanghai Index could collapse.
先別急著數你的鈔票，上海股票指數可能會下跌。
Drum roll, please.　仔細聽囉。
在的綜藝節目或頒獎典禮上，當揭曉得獎人時，舞台後方的樂隊都會傳來緊湊的「鼓聲」drum roll，因此有些主持人在宣布重要得獎人之前，總是會俏皮地來上一句Drum roll please.
We`ll now announce the Grand Prize winner! Drum roll, please.
我們即將要揭曉大獎得主！請來點鼓聲。

[Veronica goes to visit her neighbor, Adrian.]
Adrian:　Darling, have you heard the news?
Veronica:　Yes, it sounds like a typhoon is on the way.
Adrian:　No wonder the sunrise today was so spectacular.
Veronica:　[Laughs] Was it? I was working overtime.
Adrian:　It was simply gorgeous. Prettier than a Vera Wang evening gown.
Veronica:　It seems like the typhoon season just ended.
Adrian:　Yet here we are again!
[The next morning, Veronica comes back from the supermarket.]
Veronica:　I'm afraid I didn't have much luck!
Adrian:　You only got instant noodles? What about the vegetables? The bread?
Veronica:　The bread was sold out, and so were most of the vegetables. The ones left weren't worth buying.
Adrian:　Oh, I see you got candles. Good thinking. What's this tape for?
Veronica:　It's for your windows. Safety first!
Adrian:　But it's so unsightly. It makes my place look like a tenement house.
Veronica:　Well, your sense of chic will have to wait.
Adrian:　Sweetheart, my chic waits for no man…or typhoon!
[Veronica is at Adrian's place.]
Veronica:　Wait! Flip back to that last channel.
Adrian:　This? What are those idiots doing?
Veronica:　They're down on the coast by Hualian watching the waves.
Adrian:　They must be mad!
Veronica:　Come on, doesn't it look fun to you? Look at that news reporter. Oh! She's going to get blown away!
Adrian:　Her hair will be an absolute mess. I hope she used conditioner.
Veronica:　Look! It says two fishermen were washed away!
Adrian:　Change the channel! I can't bear to watch this anymore!
[An hour later, the wind and rain have picked up. Veronica and Adrian are still watching the news.]
Veronica:　It's finally made landfall, just north of Hualian.
Adrian:　Look at that satellite image. It's huge.
Veronica:　And they're predicting it will turn to the north. My money's on work getting cancelled tomorrow.
We'll be able to sleep in.
Adrian:　I hope so, but let's not count our chickens quite yet.
Veronica:　My car is parked in the street outside. I wonder if I should move it to the bridge.
Adrian:　Too late for that. You'd be crazy to go outside now.
Veronica:　You're right. I'm sure it'll be fine.
[Later that night.]
Veronica:　Great news! This channel says school and work are cancelled tomorrow in Taipei County and City!
Adrian:　Hallelujah! I'll get the champagne!
Veronica:　Uh oh...wait, this channel says the opposite.
Adrian:　No! How can they toy with us like this?
Veronica:　OK, they changed it. Drum roll, please! [Reading] The City government has made the final
decision.
Adrian:　[Reading] No work or school for Taipei County, but business as usual for Taipei City.
Veronica:　That makes no sense whatsoever. So many of us live in Taipei County, but go to work in the city.
Where's the logic?
Adrian:　[Depressed] We're just worker ants, dear, we must support the colony.

*Face-to-Face with President Ma

After winning the Nation’s Top Office, His toughest Race is Just Beginning
From: CNN Interactive English-- Sep. 2008-- p.22
Anjali Rao, TalkAsia
In the colorful yet noisy world of Taiwan politics, new president Ma Ying-jeou is seen not only as a voice of calm, but also this island’s best hope in eight years for a friendly relationship with China. I’m Anjali Rao, this is TalkAsia
President Ma, it’s good to have you back on TalkAsia. When we last met, you were Chairman Ma, now you’re President Ma. Other than the title, what’s changed for you?
Ma Ying-jeou
A lot of things have changed. My election victory signifies a change of course for Taiwan’s policy toward the world, particularly towards the Chinese mainland, and on the personal level, there are changes as well. For instance, my wife, my sister, my brother-in-law have to either resign or retire to avoid potential conflict of interest. We strictly enforce the law; so that we want to make sure that our family will have little to worry about during the course of my administration So this is quite a change for my family and for my family members.
Anjali
And yesterday we caught up with you. It was a Sunday. It was also your birthday, which you had to give up to conduct various official duties. Do you feel like you’ve had to sacrifice a lot to have power?



Ma
Well, we don’t call that sacrifice. We call that…we perceive that as a necessary step to make my discharge of duty successful and efficient. And, for instance, we only have some free time on weekends, so we use that to go outside of Taipei City to meet more people, to hear their problems and to come up with solutions.
Anjali
Is there not such a thing as a day off for you anymore?
Ma
Not in the last almost 10 years.
Anjali
Has the presidency been what you thought that it would be?
Ma
Well, I think it’s one of the…the, I would say, the greatest responsibility that I’ve ever shouldered, and it’s also the greatest honor I’ve ever received. So, I take it very seriously, and I try to do my best, my utmost, to help people and to enforce the policies that I have already promised our people. Believe me, it’s an interesting job, but also it’s very challenging.
A
What have been the most unexpected aspects?
M
Well, the sudden change of the world economy, the skyrocketing oil prices, plus the rising food prices, both have contributed to imported inflation in Taiwan and other stagnation of the economy. And we knew that the future wouldn’t be a very smooth road, but we didn’t expect the change to such an extent, particularly the price of oil. Suddenly you will see that as people’s complaints grow, they also affect your opinion poll rating.
All this happened in the last two months. So, I can’t say that I didn’t expect that, but I know this is something we have to shoulder. I have to take. After all, I’m the president of the country.
CNN Anchor
We’ve got live pictures of a Chinese plane landing in Taiwan. It’s a historic move brokered by Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou, who has promised to strengthen economic ties with China.



A
What did that day mean to you and to Taiwan?
M
The most important thing is that it shows our determination to pursue peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait. That’s a very important and strong message to the rest of the world.
You said that it made headlines. Of course it would make headlines. The two sides were enemies for over 60 years. Now suddenly, they talk about tourism. They talk about exchange of students and trade. This is something very important and very historic.
A
Did you, though, feel a sense of personal achievement on the day of that first flight?
M
Yes, but it’s not just my credit only. Many people worked for that, and this is just the beginning. We have a long way to go, but in addition to those economic issues, we do have the issue of international space—for instance, our meaningful participation in the World Health Organization, for instance, and of course, security issues. There are more than 1,000 short-ranged missiles on the mainland coast targeted against Taiwan.
So, what should we do about those when we are developing trade and other relationships? So, all those issues are very complicated and are interconnected with each other. So we have to be very careful to steer a course that would really bring peace and prosperity to people across the Taiwan Strait.
A
Have you any plans to bring up the presence of all those missiles with China’s leadership?
M
Well, we have repeatedly requested that the missiles be removed if we are going to negotiate a peace agreement. The offer was made last November by Mr. Hu Jintao. We actually believe that this is a good move, a positive move, but certainly we don’t want to negotiate a peace agreement under the threat of missile attack.



A
So if Hu Jintao rang you up today and said, “Hey, let’s talk,” you’d still say no?
M
Oh, we are talking, but not by ourselves, by our…what we call “white gloves.” We are already shaking hands, but with white gloves on our hands.

A
That is political speak if ever I heard it.
Granted, your presidency has really only just started, but if you cast your mind forward to the day when Ma Ying-jeou is no longer in power, how do you want people to remember your time at the top?
M
Oh, I hope we will lay the foundation for Taiwan’s future development. We understand that in the last eight to 10 years, there are a lot of things that we should have done, but were not done, and now we have to make up the lost eight years.
But we have also to set the foundations for future peace and prosperity, and so our relationship with part of that. If we can take care of that, I think Taiwan will have a very bright future.
A
President Ma, thank you very much indeed for sparing the time to speak to us today. I look forward to the next time.
M
Thank you so much for the interview.
A[
And that’s gonna do it for this edition of TalkAsia. Thanks for being with me, Anjali Rao, and my guest today, the president of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou. I’ll see you on the next edition. Bye-bye.


*Quiz

Don’t worry~ you can make it.

1. In the _____________of her duties, Wendy is cheerful and efficient.
a. missile b. discharge c. credit d. title
2. The agent _____________ a contract between the young pitcher and a Major League baseball team.
a. conducted b. granted c. brokered
3. The economy is suffering from _____________ due to inflation and rising energy costs.
a. stagnation b. credit c. edition d.. prosperity

--Fill in one word in one blank to complete the sentence.
The answers are from the vocabulary in the box.




4. ____________ oil prices have helped to slow the global economy.
5. Carey does her _____________to help her friends.
6. The company _____________ a course that took few business risks.
7. The star made _____________ by dating several prominent fashion models.
8. James often _____________ his mind forward to imagine where she will be in 10 years.
9. With subtle acts of kindness, Leo laid the _____________ for his courtship of Joyce.
10. _____________, Peggy is right, but shy may find it hard to persuade others.
11. The director has been in _____________ for several decades.
12. Vince _____________ time each week to join E-concussion Club.
13. Paul _____________ responsibility for the new product.
14. Gab _____________ business on the insurance course.
15. Sharon _____________ her career to spend more time with her family.

Answers: Please check with Joyce or any present e-concussioner.