F2F Class Notes 11 June (Peter)

Corrections

Nevermind – No problem/that’s fine (Nevermind = 算了)

You can help me to solve two questions – You can help me solve two questions

I am an optimism – I’m an optimistic person

The first time I lose it – The first time I lost it

When I attended the exam – When I took the exam

I heard this information from the internet* – I saw online that

*Note: the original sentence is not grammatically incorrect, but it sounds a little unnatural

You are enjoy it very much – you enjoyed it very much

I always makes grammar mistakes – I always make grammar mistakes

I can’t say my meaning very well – I can’t explain myself very well

I choiced China Eastern – I chose China Eastern

It’s too tired – It’s too tiring

United American – USA/the States/America

My father buy a house – My father bought a house

I’m very like Shanghai – I really like Shanghai

Vocabulary

Versatile – able to be used in more than one way, flexible

Applicable – able to be applied

High-Speed Train/High-speed Rail – 高铁

Melbourne – 墨尔本

Grammar

You can help me to* solve two questions – You can help me solve two questions

            *Note: when we use the verb “help,” we don’t need to add a “to” verb after it.

Ex. Can you help me find the restroom? Not Can you help me to find the restroom?

The adverb “very” is generally used to describe adjectives, not verbs. We don’t say “I very like that,” we say “I really like that.”

Ex. Very fat, very rich, very pretty.

Pronunciation

Passion (PAA-shin, “A” as in “apple”)

Melbourne (MELL-burn)

Interview Questions

*Note: these answers are drafts that are meant to be spoken, sentences generally should not be this long.

How do you overcome a major obstacle in your studies?

It truly depends on the obstacle I’m facing. China is a very competitive academic environment, so it’s often easy to feel as though you’re drowning among all your peers. I find that the best way to overcome this competitive attitude is to recognize my own achievements and to appreciate how much I better myself on a daily basis. In terms of an academic obstacle, I have no difficulty admitting when I need help, so I seek out the advice of my teachers and those who are doing better than me. Not only does that help me overcome any difficult material in class, but it also helps me to build the connections that can ensure a valuable network in the future.

What makes you feel sad in your life?

In China, the opinions of your parents is a very important factor to consider when making decisions. That being said, sometimes my parents’ opinions clash with my goals, and oftentimes I find that this can be saddening. When I pursue a goal, it’s safe to say that I have thought about it well, considered the pros and cons, and have decided to pursue it to completion, so if I don’t have the support of my parents, I can foresee a strain on the relationship. Although I value their opinions, I also trust my own ability to make decisions successfully, so I value my own opinion as well.