VIP Class Notes (Nicholas)[S]

Pronunciation

citizen’s defense / citizen’s arrest

thesis defense

Vocabulary

arrest 逮捕

e.g. If you break the law in China, you will be arrested by the police.

dream job – this is the perfect job that you hope to have one day

e.g. When I was a boy my dream job was to play basketball in the NBA.

lively – 活泼 – to look “alive” and full of energy (能源).

e.g. The girl was so lively during her performance – she was smiling happy and excited.

focus – 重点

e.g. Children usually have a hard time focusing on their lessons.

e.g. Oh you went to school for your Masters? What was your focus? Oh I studied finance.

e.g. During our class, we are very focused on learning English.

collapse – 倒塌

e.g. I didn’t drink enough water today and I forgot to eat my breakfast, and then I was in the heat, and I felt dizzy and then I collapsed.

e.g. The building wasn’t strong and after the earthquake the building collapsed, and killed many people.

virtuoso 演奏家

e.g. The little girl sat down at the piano and I was so amazed at her talent – she was a true virtuoso!

child prodigy – 儿童神童

e.g. Tiger Woods was a gifted child prodigy in golf.

connections – these are all of my friends and colleagues

e.g. You have more connections than me because you have lived in China longer than me!

network – these are the people that I know and that I am connected to

e.g. I have worked in SH for 3 years, my professional network isn’t very big.

Grammar

they ask me – they asked me

Using the word “didn’t” use the present tense verb for the second verb.

e.g. they don’t told me – they didn’t tell me

I defended my thesis today

When I 18 years old – when I was 18 years old

because I buy anything by myself / because I buy everything by myself

Chinese children are study very hard/ Chinese children study very hard

Original

Children have the easiest life because they don’t need to make money and they don’t need to work – they just study – don’t need to think about other things, and they learn many special lessons after class – piano, painting, English, writing. I have learn piano, writing, painting.

Corrected

Children have the easiest life because they don’t need to make money and they don’t need to work – they just study – they don’t need to think about other things, and they have many special lessons after class – including piano, painting, English, and writing. I learned piano, writing, and painting when I was a child.

Original

When I’m younger I think I will become a teacher because I like to learn. Sometimes it is difficult when my student was active and lively – they can’t sit down for a long time / [focus on their lesson]. So I need to think about some ways to catch their attention, but I think it’s difficult. I look for the students and I go to their home to teach piano. I found someone who has student resources /[connections] / [network[ – they know who needs piano teacher. They pay me each lesson, one of them cost 240 RMB. My lesson spend 45 minutes.

Corrected

When  I was younger I thought I would become a teacher because I liked to learn / like learning. Sometimes it is difficult when my student is active and lively – they can’t sit down for a long time / [focus on their lesson]. So I need to think about some ways to [capture] their attention, but I think it’s difficult. I look for the students and I go to their home to teach piano. I found someone who has student [connections] / [network] – they know who needs a piano teacher. They pay me each lesson, one lesson /each lesson costs 240 RMB. My lesson lasts 45 minutes.