VIP Class Notes (Nick) [W]

Do a speaking exercise:

Where will you go for the Dragon Boat Festival? Will you row a Dragon Boat? What will you eat for the Festival?

Vocabulary

General – talking about many times, places, people, etc. talking about anything, not one example of something
Specific – talking about one example of something
e.g. In general / generally, I like chocolate ice cream, but this specific chocolate ice cream is not good at all.

Travel (verb) – this usually is not a noun; it is a general verb meaning to go from one place to another, or to go to many places (using “around”); the noun form is “traveling,” and this is a very general word
e.g. I am traveling to Portland, Oregon, in the United States this week.
e.g. This winter I traveled around the South of China (Sichuan, Guangxi, Guangdong).
e.g. I don’t like traveling.
Trip (noun) – this is more specific than “travel”; it is when you travel one time away from home and back again
e.g. My trip around the South of China lasted two weeks.

Idiom – 成语

Trip (verb) – to hit your foot on something and almost fall
Trip and fall – to hit your foot on something and fall to the ground
e.g. While I was walking, a cat ran in front of my feet, and I tripped and almost fell over.

High pressure – a very intense environment, something that moves quickly, is dangerous, or is difficult.
e.g. Being the President of a country is a high-pressure job.

Unhappy – not happy

Stick – something that is long and thin and usually hard 棍子
Chopsticks – small sticks you use to eat

Row – to use a stick with a flat end to pull a boat through the water
Oars / Paddle – these are the flat sticks that you use to pull a boat through the water; “oars” are a pair of these sticks, a “paddle” is just one 桨

Costume – clothes that look like they are a famous person’s style or from a period of history
e.g. Some kids like to wear superhero costumes.

Grammar

This can lead him to earn more money vs. This can lead to earning more money
— In the first sentence, “him” is the object; in the second sentence, “earning more money” is the object
— In the first one, we are talking about what someone will or might do in the future. In the second sentence, we are talking about the action itself of “earning money.” In general, when we talk about an action as a noun, we use the “-ing” form.

How long were you traveling for?
— This is in the past, so we have to respond in the past:
I was traveling for two weeks.
NOT: I will travel for two weeks.

Six days a week – six days this week
— The first is general, all weeks. The second is just this one.

In the ancient of China – In ancient China

996 is a hot topic recently. There are many employees who have to be 996, especially in IT. Spending more time on work can earn more money in general. However, people who work with 996 don’t have enough time to have rest or take a trip. Many young people are willing to accept 996 due to the pressure of life. They want to have high income and get more experience.

996 is a hot topic recently. There are many employees who have to be work 996,** especially in IT. Spending more time on work can lead to earning more money in general. However, people who work with 996*** don’t have enough time to have rest or take a trip / go traveling / take a vacation. Many young people are willing to accept working 996 / the 996 lifestyle due to the pressure of life. They want to have a high income and get more experience (quickly).

** the 996 schedule

*** who have to work nine-to-nine six days a week
— Since the expanded form is ok, we can leave it. 996 is like an adverb that just goes right after the verb “work.”