Online Class Notes (Jesse)

This year is the Chinese year of OX, in Chinese ,the pronunciation of OX is niu, the same as”new” in English, in China we have 12 animal for every year as a return.
What sign are you? I am an Aries. Do you believe different star sign means different personality.
She was plagued with all kinds of disease during her childhood. But now she recover at all.(How to reade “plagued”)
USD100.1234  The figure of USD should be accurate to four decimal places（= shows four figures after the decimal point)
Last week I saw a doctor for my painful ears. My doctor reminded me that I can’ t use handset any more or else that would hurt my ears.

How to small talk with a person you meet at the first time?

This year is the (Chinese) year of the Ox. In Chinese, the pronunciation of OX is niu, which is the same as ”new” in English. In China we have 12 animals, one for every year and they go in sequence / in order from Rat to Pig.
What star sign are you? I am an Aries / I’m Aries / mine is Aries. Do you believe different star signs means different personalities / each star sign means a different personality?
She was plagued with all kinds of diseases during her childhood but now she has totally recovered.(How to pronounce “plagued”)
USD100.1234  The figure of USD should be accurate to four decimal places（= shows four figures after the decimal point). May I suggest that in future we change it to be just 2 decimal places instead?
Last week I saw a doctor for / about my painful ears and she reminded me that I can’ t use headsets any more or else they would hurt my ears.

How to small talk with a person you meet at the first time?

Vocabulary

bracket – ( )

ox (1) / oxen (2+)

at all = 0
totally / completely = very very

I have a question – too formal for class, just ask the question!

this is the year of the dragon 

my grandma always puts the bedding out in the sunshine on days like this!

sunbathe – lie / sit in the sun

apartment complex / compound / community 

calcium – “kal see yum”
eg. they love to sit at the gate in the sunshine to get more calcium

vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium

wow the traffic was horrible today! wow how about this horrible traffic today? 

the metro was so crowded today!

so what happened today? was the traffic really bad or something?
did you have some trouble getting here?

traffic – cars, buses, bikes on the road
public transport – metro, buses

I ordered / booked / got a car on didi
eg. I couldn’t get a car on didi so I had to flag / wave one down on the street

the driver got lost on the way / went the wrong way, so she was 1 hour late 

I’m on the way to the office by car / I’m driving on the way to the office / I’m taking a taxi on the way to the office

Grammar

I’m exhausted at all – I’m totally exhausted 

i enrolled in a course

I am pressed for time
I am pressed / pressured / pushed by my boss to complete the project

small talk = ask a question or make a statement, listen to their reply, then decide related followup

Talking about the weather

• Beautiful day, isn’t it?
• Can you believe all of this rain we’ve been having?
• It looks like it’s going to snow.
• It sure would be nice to be in Hawaii right about now.
• I hear they’re calling for thunderstorms all weekend.
• We couldn’t ask for a nicer day, could we?
• How about this weather? / How about this rainy season huh?
• Did you order this sunshine?

Talking about current events

• Did you catch the news today?
• Did you hear about that fire on Fourth St?
• What do you think about this transit strike?
• I read in the paper today that the Sears Mall is closing.
• I heard on the radio today that they are finally going to start building the new bridge.
• How about those Reds? Do you think they’re going to win tonight?

At the office

• Looking forward to the weekend?
• Have you worked here long?
• I can’t believe how busy/quiet we are today, can you?
• Has it been a long week?
• You look like you could use a cup of coffee.
• What do you think of the new computers?

At a social event

• So, how do you know Justin?
• Have you tried the cabbage rolls that Sandy made?
• Are you enjoying yourself?
• It looks like you could use another drink.
• Pretty nice place, huh?
• I love your dress. Can I ask where you got it?

Out for a walk

• How old’s your baby?
• What’s your puppy’s name?
• The tulips are sure beautiful at this time of year, aren’t they.
• How do you like the new park?
• Nice day to be outside, isn’t it?

Waiting somewhere

• I didn’t think it would be so busy today.
• You look like you’ve got your hands full (with children or goods).
• The bus must be running late today.
• It looks like we are going to be here a while, huh?
• I’ll have to remember not to come here on Mondays.
• How long have you been waiting?