F2F Class Notes May 5th (Ben)

Vocabulary

vigil = awake at night, careful (old English)

vigilant = very cautious of a danger, wary, careful

Grammar

the first time + clause (主语+动词)

The first time I came to China, I was very surprised.

I don’t know him, it’s the first time I see him.

my first time to do –> the first time I do 

bore = make something or someone bored or boring

The teacher bores me, his class is boring, I’m bored.

melt / melted / melted (=molten)

My ice-cream has melted, now it’s all molten.

Lava is molten rock.

chore = 家务 housework, or something that bores you but that you need to do

I think cooking is a chore, that’s why I always eat outside.

aperitif = appetizer = something you eat or drink before a meal (small food or alcohol)

stumble = hit your foot while walking and almost fall

self-pity = time that you spend pitying yourself and all the problems you have without actually trying to solve them

I have already stumbled in pools of self-pity.

refrain from = not to do something you would like to

We are in a plane. Please refrain from smoking.

a refrain = the chorus of a song that you hear many times

Every time I ask my boss for a raise, I hear the same refrain about financial difficulties.

meet with = come across, 遇到

I asked for a raise but met with a refusal.

secular = not connected to a particular religion

Most European governments are secular: they allow people to follow their religion but only in private life.