Demo Class Notes (Lynn – Tibo)

My name is Lynn and I think maybe I am ok for my written English. / my written English is better than my spoken English / I am more confident in my written English than my spoken English.
For spoken English maybe there are some problems.
I work in the procurement department.

There is a manager from each country and we will have regular meetings with my teammate from Asia pacific and other countries.

we have meetings every 2 weeks / we have biweekly meetings.

Because I am not good at English so I listen to my teammate and procurement policies / I am mostly listening. -> I usually listen more than I speak because I am not confident in my spoken English
If I can improve my English maybe I can share more. / maybe I can participate more

If the speaker is not a native speaker / if English is the speaker’s second language/ If English is not the speaker’s mother tongue  maybe there are difficulties/ I have difficulties with the Indian accent.
The speed is fast / they speak too fast.

I know how to express myself by Chinese -> in Chinese
I worry if I speak like Chinese it is not politely in English -> I worry if I speak like I do in Chinese it may be not polite in English. / it could be rude in English.

Some will use some commercial words. The pronunciation is a problem.

He will give me the chance to be a facilitator  / coordinator
I will (help) organize the meeting.

If they discuss interesting topics I cannot step in because I cannot speak frequently with them. / I find it hard to join the discussion / I find it had to do chit chat with them
I am limited to the agenda / I am limited by my vocabulary. They can speak quite a lot but it is difficult for me to step in.

Maybe they will discuss something outside of work.
They may discuss the news.

Maybe I do not understand the words. / vocabulary.

his grandma passed last year.

His father became the king of the UK.

in China there are many provinces and they are different, in some provinces on January 15, during the lunar new year they will have the same dragon dance / performance.
It is lucky / it is a way to bring luck.
In our SZ office each year we invite a team at the beginning of the lunar year.
It is more traditional in SZ. / it is a tradition in SZ.

it is some different -> there are some differences / it is different  (adj)

When many people gather during the traditional festivals we have lots of fun and it is good to keep these traditions

Most of the citizen in Shenzhen moved from other provinces, in Sh the local language is Shanghainese. / locals speak the SH dialect.
In GZ they speak cantonese because most of the citizens / people / residents are local.

Pronunciation

lunar

Vocabulary

traditional (adj)
We wear a traditional outfit during the celebration

tradition (n)
It is a tradition in Shenzhen

biweekly (adj) every 2 weeks
we have biweekly meetings

dialect (n) local language
Many people speak the Shanghai dialect

chaotic (adj) very messy / very disorganized
Chinese new year is very chaotic for deliveries

chaos (n)
it was chaos in the office

chit chat (n) / small talk / random topics you talk about like in the elevator or when waiting for a meeting to start

paparazzi (n) journalist who take picture of celebrities
The paparazzi follow the celebrities

catastrophic (adj) terrible / very serious
Our system had a catastrophic failure and we lost all the data.

catastrophe (n) a terrible event
What happened was a catastrophe

parade (n) many people doing something together on the street / moving performance
There is a parade in disneyland

to allege (v) imagine / suppose / claim without clear evidence
He alleged that Tom was responsible for the mistake

duke (n) nobleman of high rank

duchess (n) noblewoman of high rank

Grammar

on + date/day
on January 15
on Christmas day.

in + month 
In January