Lazy Talking - Family
July 6th, 2008
Useful Words: family, family tree, relative, father, mother, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, step brother/sister (继兄弟/姐妹), half brother/sister (同父异母或同母异父的兄弟/姐妹), wedding, fiancée (未婚夫/妻), divorce, ex-husband, ex-wife, single.
Dialogue One: My family
A: Terry, is this a photo of your family? There are so many people.
B: That’s for sure. My family is huge (庞大). My mother’s parents had five children, so I have uncles, aunts, and many cousins. Also my parents have a lot of children too.
A: Yeah. How many brothers and sisters do you have Terry?
B: I have four brothers and three sisters, it’s complicated (复杂) to explain (解释).
A: Ok, well I’m all ears. (I’m listening). Read more… »
Filed under: Lazy Talking
Lazy Talking - Congratulations
July 6th, 2008
Useful Words and Phrases: congratulations, promoted, deserve (you deserve it), good news, cheers, to your health, propose a toast, this calls for a celebration, good for you, happy to learn (happy to hear something), wish you success.
Dialogue One: Congratulations on your new job!
A: Hey there Tom, what’s up? You look so happy. What makes you so happy?
B: Hi Mike. You know what? I just got a new job at the Olympic Games.
A: Wow, awesome! Congratulations. What will you do there?
B: I’m working on the opening ceremony (开幕式). I’m helping make the fireworks.
A: That sounds hard. How can you start so many fireworks?
B: Oh no, we use computers to start all the fireworks. There are too many fireworks for people to start them all themselves. So we use computers to do everything.
A: You studied computers at university right? So will it be hard or easy?
B: Definitely it will be difficult. But I think I can do it. It will be a good new job.
A: Well, congratulations again, and enjoy your new job!
B: Thanks Mike. Hope to see you at the opening ceremony! Read more… »
Filed under: Lazy Talking
Lazy Talking - Good Manners
July 6th, 2008
What is a gentleman?
The dictionary says a gentleman is “a civilized (教化的), educated (受过教育的), sensitive (敏感的), or well mannered man”. Some people say there are two kinds;
1) The Surface (肤浅的) Gentleman
He looks good on the surface, but pretends (假装) to be a gentleman. He dresses well, speaks the right thing and the right time, and even does good things for people. But he is a phony (伪装者). He is self-centered (自我为中心的) and dishonest (不诚实的). He is not sensitive to others, and will speak badly of people ‘behind their backs’(在 背后).
2) The Real Gentleman
How he looks on the outside is not the most important. He understands the rules of life that means cooperation and organization (组织). He does not fight with people, shows respect (尊敬), and helps people. Most importantly he doesn’t hurt people. Read more… »
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Lazy Talking - Hobbies and Interests
July 6th, 2008
Useful Phrases: hobbies, interests, interested in…, play… (play something), favorite, I’m a … fan, pastime, my biggest enjoyment is …, visiting.
Dialogue One: Camping under the stars
Paul: Sara, I’ve been looking forward to our yearly campout for three weeks. It’s going to be a wonderful day for hiking tomorrow. Camping under the stars, this is the life.
Sara: Yeah, but Paul, I’m a little bit worried about the weather though. The weatherman said it was going to rain later tonight.
Paul: Ah, nonsense. Nothing can stop our adventure. Weather reports are never right.
Sara: And it said there was a chance of high winds.
Paul: Ah. Don’t worry. [thunder]
Sara: Paul. Paul. Did you remember to bring our raincoats just in case, like I told you?
[light rain]
Paul: Uh . . . no. I left them on the bed at home. [heavy rain]
Sara: What are we going to do now? Read more… »
Filed under: Lazy Talking
Lazy Talking - Holidays in Australia
July 6th, 2008
What are special about these holidays?
Australian Holidays: Christmas Eve/Day – (December 24th/25th), New Years Eve/Day – (December 31st/January 1st), Fathers Day (1st Sunday of September), Mothers’ Day – (2nd Sunday of May), Australia Day – (January 26th), Anzac Day – (April 25th)
Dialogue One: What day is it today?
A: Hey Simon, aren’t you going to work today, it’s already 8:30!
B: No. Didn’t you know today is Anzac Day?
A: Oh really, no I didn’t know. What’s Anzac Day?
A: Anzac Day is a famous day in Australian and New Zealand history. It marks (标志) the day the Australian New Zealand Army Corps (军团) first went to Gallipoli (加利波利-土耳其地名) in the First World War (第一次世界大战). So it’s a holiday today.
B: I didn’t know that was a holiday in Australia.
A: Yeah. We celebrate it to remember those people who died in the war.
B: What do you usually do to celebrate Anzac Day?
A: Usually there is a dawn service (仪式) where a trumpet (喇叭) plays “The Last Post”, a song for the soldiers (战士). Later in the day, there are marches (列队行进) across the big cities.
B: I hope I can be in Australia at that time!
A: Me too! Welcome to Australia! Read more… »
Filed under: Lazy Talking
Lazy Talking - Holiday to Japan
July 6th, 2008
Useful Words: organize (组织), stressed (有压力), in charge (负责), pulling out (退出), survive (存活), compared (比较), solve (解决), instant noodles (方便面), snowboarding (滑雪), gear (装备), snowboard (滑雪板), goggles (护目镜), hire (租), ski resort (滑雪场).
* It all started with an email from my old friend Tom. “Why don’t you just come to Japan? It will be fun. Six of us in total, and it will be cheap”. At first I didn’t think it would be possible to really go but now I have my plane ticket and all I have to do is organize a few things. So how do you organize a trip? Read more… »
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Lazy Talking - Back From Vacation
July 6th, 2008
Dialogue One: Where Did You Go?
A: Hi Dave, I didn’t see you at school for a long time.
B: Hi Sally. Yeah, I was away for my vacation.
A: Oh, did you have a good time?
B: I sure did, I really didn’t want to come back home.
A: Yeah I know. Holidays are always too short.
B: I wish I could’ve stayed there for longer. I had a really good time.
A: So where did you go?
B: I went to Sichuan to see the Panda’s. One of my friends is working in the Panda Park, so every day I helped to do some work there.
A: That sounds interesting but not really like a holiday.
B: Oh it was a holiday. It was very relaxing and at night we played Majiang. Read more… »
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Lazy Talking - Jobs
July 6th, 2008
Useful Words: Job, work, occupation, employment, work overtime, full time, part time, job interview, resume (简历), CV, advertisement (ad).
Finding a job
Finding the ideal (理想的) job often takes a lot of research (调查) and patience. First of all, one of the first places to start is by talking to family and friends who might work for companies that are looking for more workers. If that doesn’t help, then you might want to look in the local newspaper under the ads (广告) to see if there are any jobs. You can often put a copy of your resume there. Finally, sending an email or visiting some companies and introducing yourself can sometimes work too. Question: What is the best way to find a job in China? Does it help to know people inside companies? What other things can you do to find a job? Read more… »
Filed under: Lazy Talking
Lazy Talking - Offering Compliments
July 6th, 2008
Useful Words: your … looks …, suits you, she/he has taste (has style), stylish (华贵), fashionable (趋新的人, 时兴), beautiful, handsome, look smart.
Usually you can use adjectives (形容词) to give someone a compliment. Such as; you look beautiful today. Your new shirt looks really smart, and so on.
Dialogue One: I like your new hairstyle
A: Excuse me, I’m sorry to bother you, but can I ask you a quick question?
B: Sure, what’s up?
A: Well when you got on the bus I just saw your hairstyle and it looks really nice.
B: Thank you, that’s nice of you to say that. I just had it done this morning. It’s new. I never had my hair cut like this before.
A: Oh, it’s a new hairstyle? It looks so fashionable. Do you mind telling me where you had it done? I’d really like a hairstyle like that too. Read more… »
Filed under: Lazy Talking
Lazy Talking - School
July 6th, 2008
Useful Words: student, teacher, subject, report card (成绩单), exam, test, assignment (任务), degree (学位), graduate degree (大学毕业生), post graduate degree (硕士学位), teacher, tutor (导师), professor (教授), major (专业), online (网上).
Different Subjects: Maths, English, Chinese, Science, Chemistry (化学), Physics (物理), Biology (生物), Art, Music, PE, Geography (地理), History, Politics (政治).
Going to English Class
I attend English classes at a language program in my city because I want to improve my communication (交流) skills. English has become the international language around the world, and I might be able to get better employment and make more friends if I learn to speak fluently (流利). I take four classes a day that are all for language skills such as reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar. I think that some people can pick up (选择) a language and master (掌握) it, but I don’t think I am like that. Learning to speak English well needs work, patience, and practice. Often, students speak English in their classes, but go back to using their language after class. Question: What do you think is the best way to improve your English? Read more… »
Filed under: Lazy Talking