F2F Class Notes (Raph)[S][R]

Vocabulary

As well as: 1- in addition; and also. (A, B, and C = A, B, as well as C)
E.g.: We have a responsibility to our community as well as to our families.

Planetary (adj): 1- of or relating to planets
E.g.: He’s been working in planetary research for many years.
E.g.: He’s studying planetary movements and their consequences.

Significance (n): 1-  importance:
E.g.: The discovery of the new drug is of great significance for/to people suffering from heart problems.
E.g.: His work is of great significance to historians.
E.g.: We should not overestimate the significance of his influence.

Diplomacy (n): 1- the management of relationships between countries. 2- approving skill in dealing with people without offending or upsetting them. 3- 外交
E.g.: Diplomacy has so far failed to bring an end to the fighting.
E.g.: It took all her tact and diplomacy to persuade him not to resign.

Multilateral (adj): 1- involving more than two groups or countries.
E.g.: Seven countries are taking part in the multilateral talks.

Jupiter (n): 1- 木星

Bacteria (n): 菌

Reading

New NASA job – to protect Earth from aliens
(Source: breakingnewsenglish.com/1708/170804-alien-attack.html)

America’s space agency NASA has an exciting new job opening to protect Earth from aliens. The position is for a Planetary Protection Officer (PPO). The successful applicant will be responsible for making sure no life forms from outer space come to Earth. The PPO makes sure astronauts and space equipment do not come back from space with any alien bacteria. The position was posted on the usajobs.gov website. According to the post, the new PPO will get a yearly salary of up to $187,000. The job contract is for three years, but could be extended for an additional two years. It is one of the most unique job positions in the world. NASA only employs two PPOs. The job is only open to U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals.

People who want to apply for the job must be well qualified. Candidates must have “broad engineering expertise” and have a degree in physical science, engineering or mathematics. The candidate must also show they have experience in “planning, executing, or overseeing elements of space programs of national significance”. A final requirement is that the candidate has “skills in diplomacy that resulted in win-win solutions during extremely difficult and complex multilateral discussions”. The new PPO will be responsible for planning several future NASA missions. One of these will be a trip to one of Jupiter’s icy moons, Europa. The mission will search for signs of alien life on the moon.

Speaking exercise

Original:

My daughter’s name is Amy and she’s six years old. She’s very like prince and princesses stories, She always thinks that she’s a princess. I think she is a bit sensitive, because she if she can’t get a praise but another child get one, she will cry and if she lose again she will cry.

On Sundays she has a dance class and on Tuesdays and Fridays she has a English class. This summer vacation she has to study math and pinyin and recognization Chinese word for her primary school. She is going to primary school in September. I’m worried about her because I don’t know wether she can get used to the primary school.

Edited: 

My daughter’s name is Amy and she’s six years old. She really likes stories about princes and princesses, and she always thinks that she’s a princess. I think she is a bit sensitive, because if she can’t get a praise but another child gets one, or if she loses a game she will cry.

On Sundays she has a dance class and on Tuesdays and Fridays she has an English class. This summer vacation she has to study math and pinyin, as well as recognizing Chinese words. These classes are for her to prepare for primary school, which she will start in September. I’m worried about her because I don’t know wether she can get used to it.

Grammar

Alien: /ˈeɪ.li.ən/

Mathematics: ˌmæθˈmæt̬.ɪks/

Significance: /sɪɡˈnɪf.ə.kəns/

Multilateral: /ˌmʌl.tiˈlæt̬.ɚ.əl/