F2F Class Notes (Nick) [W]

Homework

Do some writing and focus on the grammar you learned in class today.

Write about what you saw in the US, using “in” and “at” to tell me where you were.
e.g. in a city
e.g. at a monument

Vocabulary

Monument – a building to the memory of a famous person
e.g. The Washington Monument is a famous building in Washington D.C. built for George Washington, our first President.

Grammar

We use being instead of to be when we want to talk what something is (a state).
e.g. To be a pharmacologist is a good career (in general). Any time someone chooses that job, it is a good choice.
e.g. Being a pharmacologist was not my initial idea. (You are a pharmacologist right now.)

In vs. at – “in” means a larger time or place; “at” means some point
e.g. I am in the train station (anywhere inside) vs. I am at Exit 1 (a very small area)
e.g. I can learn English in my spare time (anywhere during my daily free time) vs. I will study English at 7:30pm (a very exact time)

By the way vs. While – “by the way” is used to give new information; “while” relates two actions
e.g. (Nick sees Jesse in the hall)
Jesse: G’day (good day)! How are you?
Nick: Doing well! By the way, I wanted to talk to you about Riley’s homework.
e.g. While Riley was in San Diego for a conference, she decided to travel around San Francisco and Las Vegas as well.
(action 1)                                                              (action 2)

(Example from below.) I wanted to be a journalist. I wanted to study English. = I wanted to be a journalist or to study English.
Using “or” means we don’t have to say “I want” again.

Writing exercise

Actually, to be a pharmacologist was not my initial idea. I wanted to be a journalist or choose English as my major when I graduated from high school. My mother told me it is tiring, sometimes dangerous to be a journalist, and you could learn English at your spare time. So I chose pharmacology after careful consideration. To help people using what I learn makes me happy.


Actually, being a pharmacologist was not my initial idea. I wanted to be a journalist or to study English as my major when I graduated from high school. My mother told me it is tiring, and sometimes dangerous, to be a journalist, and you could learn English in your spare time. So I chose pharmacology after careful consideration. To help people using what I know/have learned/create makes me happy.