F2F Class Notes (Nicholas) [W]

Homework

Suggestions for writing: use the vocabulary you can discuss: what’s more important ā€” street smarts or book smarts in China?

Vocabulary

to fast / fasting / to not eat food for a certain period of time

e.g. Nick is fat he wants to lose weigh he wants to start a fast.

e.g. Nick will fast for the next 7 days.

e.g. Why isn’t Nick eating? It’s because he is fasting.

intermittent fasting / ꖭꖭē»­ē»­ēš„ / you choose to fast at irregular times

take things to the extreme / I can never do something just a little bit, I do it a crazy amount

e.g. Don’t go to the gym with Nick because he takes things to the extreme.

e.g. OMG Carina is always exaggerating and taking what I say to the extreme.

“there’s a lot of truth to what you’re saying” / I agree with a lot of what you’re saying

e.g. Saying this sentence acknowledges other people’s points and let’s you introduce a different idea while being very polite.

book smarts vs. street smarts

e.g. Sheldon has book smarts, and not street smarts. He is book smart.

bullshitter / person who speaks bullshit or nonsenseĀ 

e.g. I could see through my friend’s bullshit so quickly. I could see through it.

to see through something / is to see the real reason why someone is doing something

e.g. I can see through your lies – you can’t feel me.

nature versus nurture / this refers to the debate of what is more important in a child’s development: their biological nature or the nurturing of their parents and environment

“whatĀ came first theĀ chicken or the egg?” / “it’s a chicken and egg type of thing / scenario”

impulsive /Ā you make rash quick decisions without thinking it through

e.g. Carina’s husband makes impulse-buys or impulse-purchase. He is impulsive like me!

e.g. It’s difficult sometimes to control your impulses.

Grammar

I think I’m pretty healthĀ healthy

then the child will be mental mentallyĀ healthĀ healthy

she sticks on me/ she sticksĀ toĀ me /Ā she’s alway stuck on me

Writing exercise

Consumption Habits

It is said that people from different era have different consumption habits. For instance, my grandma usually put her money in bank just for savings, while my mother prefer buy some financial products, however I am a totally moonlight clan. What leads to the differences? In my opinion, that results from different living experiences.

My grandma told me, when she was young, she experienced wars and most people lived in poverty. Thatā€™s why she cherishes what she has now, and tends to seek stable.
As to my parents, I remember when they were in their thirties, they didnā€™t earn a lot. Most of their money was spent to support daily cost. Besides, they did some investment. For example they put some money in the stock market, which was quite profitable. During their forties, they bought two apartments of their own. They believe besides work, investment is a good way to make money and they usually spend money under a plan.
As for me, I live in an era filled with abundant goods. I didnā€™t experience any kinds of insufficient. As a result, I like spending money on my interests and buying things whatever I want if I can. For example, I like travelling during holidays; I spend a lot of money on beautiful clothes and handbags. Sometimes my parents think I am wasteful. However, we have different living experiences and we hold different attitudes towards money.

Consumption Habits

It is said that people from different eras have different consumption habits. For instance, my grandma usually puts her money in theĀ bank just for savings, while my mother prefers to buy some financial products, however I am a total moonlight clan / total spendthrift. What leads to this difference? In my opinion, that results from different life experiences.

My grandma told me, when she was young, she experienced wars and most people lived in poverty. Thatā€™s why she cherishes what she has now, and tends to seek stability.
As for my parents, I remember when they were in their thirties, they didnā€™t earn a lot. Most of their money was spentĀ supportingĀ daily costs / expenses. Besides this, they also invested some.Ā For example they put some money in the stock market, which was quite profitable. During their forties, they bought two apartments of their own. They believe thatĀ besides work,Ā investments are / investing is a good way to make money and they usually spend money under a plan /Ā [budget].

As for me, I live in an era filled with abundant goods. I didnā€™t experience any kinds of hardship / lack. As a result, I like spending money on my interests and buying things whenever I want if I can. For example, I like travelling during holidays; I spend a lot of money on beautiful clothes and handbags. Sometimes my parents think I am wasteful. However, we have different life experiences and we hold different attitudes towards / aboutĀ money.