2xOnline Class Notes (Mike)

Writing: 

You have recently been on holiday with your family. Write an email about it to a friend. Include the following points:

–  where you went

–  how you got there

–  something interesting you did

–  how you felt when you got home

–  an invitation to your friend to stay with you for the next school holiday.

Reading: 

Picture yourself sitting at home in a quiet reading nook, ignoring the world around you, engrossed in a tale. You read the blurb, instantly became intrigued and now you’re in the middle of an absolute page-turner. But, there’s a hot debate – physical books vs. e-books vs. audiobooks. Does the device you’re using to read affect your reaction to the book?

Generally, reading uses several areas of the brain. There’s attention span, reasoning, reading fluency, memory and language comprehension. Reading is known to strengthen communicative ability, vocabulary and increase emotional intelligence and social perception. So, whichever way you’re reading, there are definitely benefits.

But, let’s look at the pros to reading with your eyes – that’s physical books and e-books. They can help to retain information better. This is because when you can actually see the words, your attention is held more closely. Add to this the fact that with physical books you can go back and find any part you missed, especially if your mind wanders, which it likely will at some point or other.

On the other hand, there’s the audiobook. Headphones in, you’re switched off from life and the story really comes alive, almost like watching a film – in your head. From a scientific perspective, listening to an audiobook is likely to help you develop a greater sense of empathy as you hear the emotion of the narrator. We can more easily understand inflection and intonation. Hearing the story engages different parts of the brain, heightening the intensity and imagery, making you enjoy it more. Yet, going back to attention span, with an audiobook it’s true that it’s much harder to go back and listen again.

All in all, it seems that there are advantages to both physical books and audiobooks. Perhaps, next time you find yourself browsing bookshop shelves, also consider the format. It may just change your whole literary experience.

Do you like 996 or not?

Many companies schedule Nine to Six and Monday to Saturday,called 996.But reasonable schedule is Nine to five and Monday to Friday,called 955.I don’t like 996, After working I don’t have enough free time to do I like.And It’s bad for  health to long unreasonable schedule.Work for better life,health is a crucial element for life. l so we should balance work time and rest time.Resist 996,some companies don’t brainwash you.

Many companies’ work schedule is 9am-9pm, six days a week. This is called “996” in China. But a reasonable/humane schedule is 9am-6pm, 5 days a week. I don’t like 996. After work, I don’t have enough free time to do things I like/what I like. Long working hours/long hours of working is bad for our health. Work for better life, health is a crucial element of life. So we should balance work time and rest/personal time. Resist 996, don’t be brainwashed by some evil/bad companies.

Boxing has been practised for centuries（人们练习拳击已经好几百年了-）– it was even one of the sports in the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece. More recently, boxing has become mainstream in the UK, with hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life participating in the sport every week. But why? The answer lies in the physical, mental and even social benefits boxing can bring.

对于国家拳击已经熟练-曾经是古希腊中最初的奥运会中的运动之一。最近拳击在英国已经成为主流，来自各行各业成百上千的人们每周末练习拳击。但是为什么？这个答案在于能带来在身体，精神甚至社交的好处。

Its physical benefits are clear. Whether it’s practising with a punching bag, sparring with a partner or facing an opponent in the ring, boxing can be an intense form of exercise and give a full-body workout. It can improve muscular strength, and it can also increase anaerobic fitness – allowing someone to work out harder, for longer. These can, in turn, have a positive impact on other aspects of physical well-being, like heart health and weight management.

身体上的好处是清晰的。无论是和沙袋练习，和搭档练习拳击或者在圈里面对一个对手，拳击是激烈的来自运动的全身锻炼。拳击能提供肌肉的强度，也能增强无氧的适应度-允许我们更高强度更长期地健身。这些事情，能够依次给身体健康的其他方面带来积极的影响，像心脏健康和体重管理。

But the high physical demands of the sport aren’t just good for the body – boxing can also have a positive impact on someone’s mental well-being. Dr Jessica Pinchbeck, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Fitness at the Open University, says that boxing ‘can alleviate some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression’. Exercising regularly is already widely known to be good for mental health, but boxing can also bring a sense of discipline and focus.定期/有规律的运动早已被广泛认定为对精神健康有益处，但拳击能带来自律意识和关注度。

但是运动的高身体要求不仅仅对身体有好处-拳击在一个人的精神健康上也有一个积极的影响力。Dr Jessica Pinchbeck 开放大学在运动和健身方面的高级讲师说拳击能减轻焦虑和抑郁的一些症状。定期的运动已被广泛的了解对精神健康有好处，但是拳击也带来一个训练和专注的意识。

And there is a third benefit to putting on the boxing gloves. Practising punches can be done alone, of course, but boxing is not just an individual activity – it also involves working with others to train and stay safe. Dr Gavin Williams, Senior Lecturer in Education at the Open University, says that this cooperation and teamwork can ‘create a sense of identity… and belonging’. So, no matter what the reason that attracts someone to boxing, the interactive elements of the sport, mean it can also have profound social benefits.

戴上拳击手套有第三个好处。能独自练习出拳，当然，但是拳击不仅仅是一个单独的活动-也涉及和其他人训练和保证安全。 Dr Gavin Williams开发大学教育方面的高级讲师说，合作和配合能创造身份认同和归属感。因此不管吸引一个人去拳击的原因是什么，运作的合作的元素，意味着也有巨大的社交好处。

Good for body, mind and social interactions? It’s not surprising that more and more people are stepping into the ring.

对身体的好处，大脑和社交相互作业？对越来越多人踏进圈内一点也不令人惊奇。

When you ask more people about the benefits of apps on their smartphone, they say they use them to play games, surf the net, keep in touch with people and organise social events. But Jenny Harlow, a scientist from London, has got an app that does something much more important: it warns her when she is in danger. The app is called Tips and it gives users real-time earthquake and tsunami warnings. The Japan Tourist Agency had the idea for the app after the 2011 earthquake in Japan, when many foreign tourists in the country were confused about what was happening and what they should do. Jenny was on a business trip to Japan when the earthquake struck. ‘Although there are a lot of earthquakes in Japan, it was the first time I experienced one. All the warnings and information on the internet, radio and TV were in Japanese, and I couldn’t understand. It was really confusing and I didn’t know what to do.’ She had to rely on Japanese colleagues to help her.

但你询问更多人关于在智能手机上应用的好处，它们说他们用来玩游戏，网上冲浪，和人们保持联系并且组织社交活动。但是enny Harlow来自伦敦的一个科学家得到了一个做某事更重要的应用：在她危险时警告他。这个应用叫安全提示，给用户实时地震和海啸预警。在2011年日本地震后日本游客服务机构对这个应用有一个想法，当在这个国家中许多外国游客对于已经发生了什么和他们应该做什么是迷惑的时候。当地震来袭Jenny 已在去日本的一个商业旅行中。尽管在日本有许多地震，那是我第一次经历。，我不清楚日本所有的预警和信息在网上，收音机和电视上。真的难以理解我不知道应该去做什么。她必须依赖日本同事帮助她。

The Safety Tips app sends an alert to users when a major earthquake happens, and also tells them if a tsunami is likely to arrive at the coast. The app gives lots of tips about what to do, where to go and how to stay safe, as well as a list of useful Japanese phrases such as ‘Is this an earthquake?’ and ‘Is it safe here?’ Importantly, all the information is in English, and there are plans to add other languages. The Japan Tourist Agency plans to advertise the app at airports and tourist information centres in Japan. In order to get the app, people visit a website and download it. ‘I’m coming to Japan again next year and I will definitely watch out for alerts from the app,’ says Jenny.

当严重的地震发生时，安全提示应用发生应该警报给用户，如果海啸可能达到岸边也告诉他们如果。这个应用对于去做什么给许多提示，去哪儿和如何保证安全看，一个有用的日本短语清单如是一个地震吗？这儿安全吗？重要的是所有信息是用英语表达，有计划添加其他语言。在日本的机场和游客信息中心日本游客服务机构计划为这个应用做广告。为了获取这个应用，人们访问网站并且下载它。明年我再来日本并且我将从这个应用提放警报。

Vocabulary

work-life balance (n)
When I worked for Huawei/Apple, I did not have work-life balance.

It is unhealthy to eat too much junk food.
吃垃圾食品对健康有坏处。

human (n)
humane (adj.) 有人性的 – inhumane (adj.)
This kind of working condition is inhumane.  这种工作条件是反人性的

work (v/n)

century (n) 世纪，一百年

form (v/n) 形式，组成，构成
My favorite art form is painting.

拳击是一种强度很大的锻炼形式，能给全身带来健身/锻炼。

work-out (n) 健身，锻炼
work out (v) 健身
I work out on Monday and Thursday.

cooperate (v) 合作 – cooperative
teamwork (n) 团队合作

raise (v) 举起，抱起，提起，抬起，筹款
raise money
I raised 500 yuan for my school.
(n) 涨薪
I got a 2,000 kuai raise last year.
After working for the company for two years, I asked for a raise.
After work, I want to go to a bar.
You Raise Me Up

rise (v) 上升，上涨 – rose – risen
Sea level rise
The price rose by 5%.
The price rose to 8000. 涨到8000
The price rose by 1000. 涨了1000

complain (v) 抱怨，投诉
My colleague always complain to me about her boss.
complainer (n) 投诉人，老是发牢骚的人
complaint (n) 抱怨

date (v/n)
I have been dating her for 5 months. 我们已经在一起5个月了。
go out for a date 出去单独约会

direct (v) 指挥，指导，指引

push-up (n) 俯卧撑
sit-up (n) 仰卧起坐
I can only do 10 push-ups.

mend(v) 修补
on the mend 正在好转，在变好
-How is your fever, Mike?
-It is on the mend.

fix-repair (v) （大的）修理

peel (v) 脱皮，削皮
Let me peel the apple for you.

ring (n)
The Lord of the Rings 指环王

landlord (n) 地主

argue (v)争论，辩论 – argument (n) 论点/论据
What is your argument for saying this? 你这么说的论据是什么？

heater (n)  取暖器，加热器

furious (adj.) 暴怒的，狂怒的，气愤极了

promise (v/n) 承诺，许诺
I promised to send him some money tonight. 我承诺今晚会给他打钱
break one’s promise
keep one’s promise 遵守承诺
I never break any promises.
If you break your promise, your child won’t trust you.

Grammar

现在完成进行时

has/have been Ving 从过去开始，一直持续到现在（都还在进行）
I have been learning English at SE since 2019. 自2019年起，
I have been studying English from Mike for one year. 已经有一年了
How long have you been waiting?

since:
I have been playing the piano since I was 5.
Chen has been in SH since 2019.
Mike has been living in this place since last August. 去年八月
We have been living in Covid since January 20, 2020.
Chen has been working for this company since December, 2019.

for:
I have been playing the piano for 22 years.
Chen has been in SH for over 3 years. 超过
Chen has been working for this company for nearly/almost 3 years. 快3年

has/have Vpp
I have eaten.
It has been done.