English blog

Happy New Year! Taipei!

2008-01-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

2008

Happy New Year!

I went to the Taipei city hall and saw fireworks at Taipei 101.

There were so many people that many friends told me not to see the firework in the presence, though, I went there to feel the steeming and cheerful atmosphere.

Especailly in such cold whether, it was great to stand in the crowds.

Breathing the freezing air let me know the winter has truely arrived, and people around me made me feel warm.

It was very strange in my mind when I standed at the middle of the road, and countdown with people.

I felt very excited after the fireworks vanished.

I was touched.

My friend and I hugged each other, screaming like crazy.

I used to count down at home, but this time was a really great experience for me.

Christmas Quiz

2007-12-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

1. Why was December 25th chosen as the day to celebrate Christmas?
a. It is when Christmas trees are in season
b. It takes the place of an old pagan celebration.
c. It was the actual day that Jesus Christ was born.
d. It is one of the shortest days of the year.

2. Which country started the tradition of Christmas tree?
a. The United States
b. France
c. Germany
d. Sweden

3. Why do people put a star on top of their Christmas tree?
a. To symbolize the star of Bethlehem
b. To show that trees grow beneath the stars
c. To explain why Christmas is celebrated
d. To keep a pagan tradition alive

4. What country started the tradition of sending Christmas card?
a. Turkey
b. Italy
c. Great Britain
d. Finland

5. What plant do people kiss under during the Christmas season?
a. Pine
b. Holly
c. Poinsettia
d. Mistletoe

6. How many reindeer does Santa Claus have?
a. Three
b. Five
c. Seven
d. Nine

How much do you know about Christmas?

The answers are
B C A C D D

I only get one correct……= =

+Words Definition+

Pagan - heathen 異教徒

Sweden - 瑞典

Finland - 芬蘭

Holly - 冬青

Poinsetta - 聖誕紅

Misrletoe - 檞寄生

ALL+：LifeStraw

2007-12-18T07:55:00.000-08:00

12/17 LifeStraw：A Portable Survival Tool

One product that was named one of the best inventions by Time magazine is called the LifeStraw. For a lot of people, it can be a lifesaver.
About the size of a large pen, the LifeStraw is a water filtration system that is simple,portable, and can be used by anyone to make water drinkable. Similar to a drinking straw, the LifeStraw uses a person’s sucking action to pull water through the filters. The filters contain iodine, which kills the bacteria that cause diseases such as typhoid and cholera, and a single LifeSttaw can filter 700 liters of water.
The size and portability of the LifeStraw make it a great solution for purifying drinking water, especially for poor people living in remote regions where dangerous waterborne bacteria thrive. …… For those who need an immediate, simple solution to get drinking water, the LifeStraw can be the answer.

The first sight of LifeStraw from the picture, it looked like a toy. I doubted whether it is useful. However, after finishing the article and the film, it seemed to utile and in serious need for people living regions where were filled with polluted water. How lucky I am to live in the city, drinking clean and tasty water！ Water is so important that we can’t live without it. You waste water till you know there are still many people worry about drinking water everyday. Next time when you are thirsty, don’t forget to drink gratefully：You need no LifeStraw.

In the paragraph, it mentioned these survival tools were send to regions struck by natural and man-made disasters by some nonprofit organizations, such as Rotary International. This organization is familiar to me because my father is one of the members. They have had branch offices over the world and also done many charities. I think the group is really great for helping people in the world, and I am proud of my father.

I found the film about lifeStraw from YouTube. It gives me a further knowledge about how lifeStraw use in people's life.

ALL+：A Christmas Carol

2007-12-10T04:06:00.000-08:00

12/3~12/5
The stroy is about Christmas. It talks about a mean old man, Ebenezer Scrooge, who had bad temper and treated people grim, was hounted by three spirits：the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet.

He fell asleep, experiencing his awful past, present, and future Christmas. Through these dreams, he saw his loneness, his pathetic, and how much he desire for happiness. Finally, he realise how greedy and miserly he was, and want to change.

Upon waking, he honored Christmas in his heart and vowed to make life better, not only his ,but all the people's around him.

The story insipred me a lot.I think it's a good story to make one ponder. It tells you to be always grateful to everyone you know, or you will be miserable.

The author is Charles Dickens, a famous British eminent writer.

Group Discussion：The Benefits of music

2007-12-10T03:11:00.000-08:00

After our considerated dicussion, we have come up with five benefits of music.

The first one is encouraging.
When we feel depressed or upset, some songs can give us energy, and cheer us up.

The second one is adventural.
The fast and slow rythems in the music can be exciting and bring us a brand-new experience. When we listen to musics, we can imagine fantastic sceneries in our minds, just like we are traveling in the world.

The third benefit of music is solving problems.
Music can inspire us to overcome difficulties and frustrations. Although we can't find the way to get out of troubles from the music, it clams us so that we can figure out the methods easier.

Next is jauntiness.
Jauntiness means sprightliness and joy. Some melodies are stimulated and light, as the result, listening to these types of music make us happy and wanna move with the pleasant music.

Last but not the least, communicating.
Even you don't know how to speak foreign
language, you'll know others thoughts throughout th music. You don't even say a word. The way to enjoy musics is the same all over the world, no metter where you live or who you are.

Thank you！

Group members：Melissa, Wan-ying, and Esther

HW：The Role of Music in My life

2007-12-06T08:49:00.000-08:00

Music is part of my life. Music can confort my mind when I was sad or upset. Music can release my presures when I was exhauted or tired. I listen to musics anytime anywhere. For example, some people like to study in a completely silence conditon, but for me, I have to study with music or I can't concentrate. Of course I mean those without lyrics. I can't imagine the life without musics. If musics are not exsit, the world will become despair and miserable.

Songs：Bad Day

2007-11-28T04:15:00.000-08:00

"Bad Day" is a pop song written by Canadian singer Daniel Powter. It was released as the first single from his debut album Daniel Powter (2005) and reached number one on the Canadian Singles Chart. Soon it spread all over the world and became popular.

The melody is awesome. When I first heard it, I was totally attracted by the music. And his voice, which is both gentle and powerful, is really fascinating. The lyrics are cheerful and positive. Each time I listen to the song, I feel I can get through every frustrations. Just like the lyrics say “You work at a smile and you go for a ride” Forget those “bad day” and you’ll be better. I love the song because it always brings me the happiness and makes me in a good mood.
By the way, the music video was interesting, too. The interaction between two roles is great and sweet, especially the drawing part.

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime
And I don't need no carryin' on

*Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on
(Repeat)

(Oh.. Holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
(Repeat)

Had a bad day Had a bad day
Had a bad day Had a bad day

YESTERDAY(GP1)

2007-11-21T08:33:00.000-08:00

The Beatles were an English rock group from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music.
The Beatles' "Yesterday" is the most covered song in history, appearing in the Guinness Book of Records with over three thousand recorded versions. It is also the most played song in the history of international radio.

Voice of America (VOA)

2007-11-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

Voice of America (VOA), is the official external radio and television broadcasting service of the United States federal government. Its oversight entity is the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).
VOA broadcasts by satellite and on FM, AM, and shortwave radio frequencies. Its programs are also available through the Internet in both streaming media and downloadable formats at http://www.voanews.com/. VOA has affiliate and contract agreements with many radio and television stations and cable networks worldwide. So we can link to other stations from this website. It’s quite convenient.
It is a bilingual News website, offering Chinese edition to reference. If there’s a word you don’t understand, you can just change the language. But try not doing this too frequent or your English won’t improve. (actually it currently broadcasts in 46 languages in the world. There are many choices.)
We can listen to the latest News online and the reporters have a good pronunciation. The speed of its speaking is quite slow, so we can learn something and improve our listening skill as long as we tune in the broadcast many a time. And the news articles are probably easy for students like us to read except some jargon.
It has a special zone for English learning. We can learn the way how native speakers use in words and idioms. It is a good chance for our English to become more native.
The site also has extra functions. First, it provides pod cast on the site so that we can download news and keep track on the news every day. Second, it has RSS just like blog, we can get the newest information automatically.

This artical was the groupwork few weeks ago. Miss Tsao asked every group to commend a worth visited website to whole class. Unforetunately, we didn't have time to tell everyone what website we chose as a worth visited website in class. As the reslut, I post these artical which we should sare in class to let you know the website we commend to everyone.

A Life-Changing Experience

2007-11-14T01:08:00.000-08:00

The one of most significant experiences in my life was my closed friend has migrated to England few years ago. Her parents wanted her to study in England, not only for improving her English, but also wish her became independent.
When I learned that, I was sad about her leaving, but at the same time, I was happy for her, too. I knew that it was very lucky to have such a great chance to go abroad studying. If I had chance to live in other countries, I would take the opportunity, and joined my adventures. Living in a place you never been before might be not easy to get use of it, but it can make your life wider and become more mature. Since then, Though we couldn’t see each other frequently, we could still kept in touch.
After she left, I knew I have to catch up with her. Some day I will go to visit her.

Grammar Exchange

2007-11-14T00:29:00.000-08:00

Write a list of suggestions for what someone can do to enjoy life more.
Use remember, forget, and stop.

Remember to smile all the time.
Remember to keep in positive attitude.
Stop working so hard.
Stop thinking of the failure you made.

Songs：These Foolish Things

2007-11-13T18:39:00.000-08:00

I take a liking to Jazz very much.

Jazz is an original American musical art form which originated around the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States out of a confluence of African and European music traditions.

The groove is soft and lazy, and the melody seems has magic to relax all my stress. When I listen to Jazz, it just feels like a light breeze blowing on my face, gently. I enjoy this comfortable feeling.

One of my favorite songs is These foolish things, from Rod Steward. For all I know, Rod Steward was not the first singer who sang this song. There were varies versions for the song, nevertheless, I am fond of his version most.

This song makes you feel like you're falling in love, missing someone. The smooth melody and sweat lyrics are great.

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=aooi6f65mEs

These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)

Lyrics by Holt Marvell
Music by Jack Strachey and Harry Link

A cigarette that bears a lipstick's traces
An airline ticket to romantic places
And still my heart has wings
These foolish things remind me of you

A tinkling piano in the next apartment
Those stumblin' words that told you what my heart meant
A fairground's painted swings
These foolish things remind me of you

You came, you saw, you conquered me
When you did that to me
I knew somehow this had to be

The winds of March that make my heart a dancer
A telephone that rings but who's to answer?
Oh, how the ghost of you clings
These foolish things remind me of you

The scent of smouldering leaves the wail of steamers
Two lovers on the street who walk like dreamers
Oh how the ghost of you clings
These foolish things remind me of you

How strange, how sweet, to find you still
These things are dear to me
They seem to bring you so near to me

The sigh of midnight trains in empty stations
Silk stockings thrown aside dance invitations
Oh how the ghost of you clings
These foolish things Remind me of you

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007-11-08T04:35:00.000-08:00

" Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was published on October 20 in Taiwan, and it was the last book of the series of Harry Potter. One of my room-mates bought it as soon as the bookstore began to sell. Beyond all doubt, she is a huge fun of J.K.Rowling, and she loves the series of Harry Potter. She finished the book in a short time, perhaps in only two or three days, and she told us the ending of the story was great. She said she wanted to read all seven books of Harry Potter again, from book 1 to the last one.

I read Harry Potter, too, but I’m not crazy about it. I stopped reading Harry Potter from book 4. I didn’t keep on reading because Sirius Black, my favorite character in the book who was Harry Potter’s god father, died in book 5. When I learned that I was so upset that I refused to face the music. In another reason was that many friends who had finished book 5 told me it was not worth to read. Therefore, I didn’t read book 5, 6 and 7.

These days, another room-mate of mine begins to read “Harry Potter and the Deathly hallows”. She is completely fell into the magic world of Hogwards. She says those spells all the times, as if she is a member of them. She tells me that the story is real cliffhanger, and I will be remorseful if I don’t read it. Accordingly, now I want to read Harry Potter again, beginning from book 5 “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”.

The Yoga Lesson

2007-11-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday morning I attended a Yoga class with my mom. I usually won't wake up till afternoon every Sunday, but Last Sunday was an exception. The reason why I decided to get up so early and joined the class was that I gained too much weight these days.
Let me explain it. I didn’t live with my family; instead, I rent a room with a few of closed friends near the college. The point is, girls like to eat snacks. We bought many chips, candies and cookies, which are all high calories food. Since I moved to here, my weight has been higher and higher. Yoga lesson might help me loss some weight, I think.
The yoga class was free, because it was held by Tzu Chi Foundation. There was a Tzu Chi Hospital near my house.
Teacher taught us a few of poses; each pose has to freeze for a while, and that was not easy as I thought. I had to stretch out my limbs, waist, and back as possible as I can. Though the teacher played soft music to less our pain, I just couldn’t release my hurt.
After the class, I assumed that I would feel nothing but pain. Somehow, I felt extremely well. All my pressures disappeared and I felt so relax that I had never felt before. It was amazing and absolutely fabulous！
The most important is that I did become thinner.

Revise My Comprehensive English Enhancement Plan (CEEP1.1)

2007-10-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

1. I think I'm in the level B1. Maybe it's more proper to say I'm between B1 and B2. It's hard to state clear where I should be. It would be no problem for me to read news report or listen to it. Daily dialogues are also easy for me. My only problem is that my vocabulary is poor. I think if I know more words, my English skills will improve a lot.

2. Revise my + Specific goal +
a. I want to be able to speak English fluently. I wish I can go aboard on my own instead go with interpreters someday. I don't want to change this goal. I plan to go to England visiting my friend next summer vacation.
b. I wish I can pass the mid-high level of GEPT first.

3. Revise my + Specific Actions to achieve goals +
a. I have subscribed to two magazines: All+ interactive English and Newsweek.
My ideal plan is to read these two everyday. I know I don't have such times to finish all since I have to prepare other subjects. Therefore, I decide to read “All+” everyday, because it's easier to read. Newsweek may be boring to me, but I have to read at least three articles a week. The action “a” will start on December, because the magazines begin from December.
b. I will concentrate on the English class every Friday. I will preview the lesson before the class and do homework every week.
c. I will talk in English during the English class, furthermore, I will speak English with friends and family when I have chance.
d. I will make a vocab note. Put down words which I don't understand or I've never seen before, and then take the note with me to enhance my vocabulary.

4.LINKS
VOA (Voice of America Homepage) http://www.voanews.com/english/portal.cfm
SUMMIT http://www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/summit/
ICRT http://www.icrt.com.tw/

Halloween

2007-10-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

Halloween is coming.

I learned it from the ICRT earlier this afternoon when I was listening to the radio.The DJ said that there would be many parties for halloween.

The parties he mentioned were too many so that I can't remember all of them, but I did hear one of them which is called "Hollywood Halloween". It's a party that people have to costume as a hollywood star. It sounds really interesting to me.

You can try to say it three times as quick as you can.
Ha!
It is too hard to say it fast. You will get your tongue tiwsted.

It's not important, anyway. XD

All I know about Halloween are the pumpkins, witches, and many ghosts. Oh, of course, there's a tradition that kids can costume as any kinds of ghosts, and then go door by door to get candies. They will say "trick-or-treat" when people come to the door. It's kind of fun.

Although this festival came from the occident, like Christmas, Halloween has become one of the important holidays in Taiwan.

My Comprehensive English Enhancement Plan for 2007-2008 School Year

2007-10-18T00:32:00.000-07:00

+ Specific goal +

1.I want to be able to speak English fluently. I want to talk with forigners without fear and my pronunciation is great as those who live in the US. I wish I can go aboard on my own instead go with interpreters.

2.I wish I can write my blog totally in English. Now I can't write very well, but I hope that It will become easy to me in the near future.

+ Specific Actions that you think will be effective to achieve that goal +

1.To increase my vocabulary,I will read one or two essays per week. Wide reading not only enhance my vocab, but also let me know what words should I use when I'm talking. I have to memrize more words so that I can talk to people with proper words.

2.I will listen to the ICRT at least four days every week.

3.I will talk in English during the English class, furthermore, I will speak English with friends and family when I have chance.

High School Musical 歌舞青春

2007-10-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

Let me recommend you a great TV program.

"歌舞青春 High School Musical"

It's Disney Channel Original Movie.

去年播出第一集。今年出了第二集。

當初會知道是因為住美國的表妹來台灣玩，在台灣的電視上看到了預告片，便告訴我這個電影非常好看，在美國大受好評，推薦我ㄧ定要看，我因此才注意到這部電影。

也許劇情普通，但音樂和舞蹈很値得ㄧ看。

隨著劇情，穿插許多歌舞表演，音樂舞蹈歌劇是最吸引我的地方！

"What Time Is It?" *with lyrics*

This is the first song in "High School Musical2", one of my favorite songs in the movie.

There are planty of musicals in the movie.

Awesome musics, great characters, you can't miss this wonderful movie.

其實Disney Channel 不是只有小孩子的卡通，也有適合青少年的的電影，推薦大家去看！

Want to know more about Disney Movies？

You can go http://home.disney.go.com/tv/index

Just on Disney Channel！