F2F Class Notes (Nemo)

I think Chinese is one of the hardest languages for foreigners, especially for those who are not familiar with the tones. When I started to study Chinese, I thought that the hardest part will be writing and memorizing all of those complicated characters. I was wrong. After trying to start to communicate with people, my thought has totally changed – now I can say, speaking Chinese can be harder than writing. This week in the Chinese class we spoke about our most embarrassing moments by speaking Chinese.
Everyone makes mistakes by learning a foreign language. I think this is part of the learning process. Some errors can be funny, but others can be quite embarrassing.
The typical mistake that the most foreigners do is by ordering dumplings ( in Chinese “shuǐjiǎo”). It was also my case. I went to the dumpling place and said: “ Wo yao shui jiao”, but nobody couldn’t understand me at all. I was standing there and watching at the dumplings on every table, and they couldn’t understand my pronunciation (with my own feeling that I am 100% sure I was saying shuìjiào). So now I already know, that if I go to buy some dumplings, I will not tell them that I want to sleep.

I think Chinese is one of the hardest languages for foreigners, especially for those who are not familiar with the tones. When I started to study Chinese, I thought that the hardest part will be writing and memorizing all of those complicated characters. I was wrong. After trying to start to communicate with people, my opinion has totally changed – now I can say, speaking Chinese can be harder than writing. This week in the Chinese class we spoke about our most embarrassing moments using/in Chinese.
Everyone makes mistakes while learning a foreign language. I think this is part of the learning process. Some errors can be funny, but others can be quite embarrassing.
The typical mistake that the most foreigners do is while ordering dumplings ( in Chinese “shuǐjiǎo”). It was also my case. I went to the dumpling place and said: “ Wo yao shui jiao”, but nobody could understand me at all. I was standing there and watching at the dumplings on every table, and they couldn’t understand my pronunciation (with my own feeling that I am 100% sure I was saying shuìjiào). So now I already know, that if I go to buy some dumplings, I will not tell them that I want to sleep.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1709/170917-zero.html

Scientists from Oxford University in England have discovered that the written use of the zero is 500 years older than previously thought. The scientists used carbon dating to trace the symbol’s origins to a famous ancient Indian scroll called the Bakhshali Manuscript. Scientists found the scroll dates back to the third century, which makes it the oldest script using the symbol. Before the carbon dating of the scroll, scientists believed the manuscript was created in the eighth century. It was found in the village of Bakhshali in 1881. The zero symbol that we use today evolved from a round dot frequently used in India. This symbol can be seen several times on the manuscript.
Marcus Du Santoy, a mathematics professor at Oxford University, explained the significance of the zero in our lives. He told Britain’s ‘Guardian’ newspaper that: “Today, we take it for granted that the concept of zero is used across the globe and is a key building block of the digital world. But the creation of zero as a number in its own right, which evolved from the placeholder dot symbol found in the Bakhshali manuscript, was one of the greatest breakthroughs in the history of mathematics.” Zero has many names in English, including nought, nil (in football) and love (in tennis). It is often said as “oh” in the context of telephone numbers. Informal or slang terms for zero include nowt, nada, zilch and zip.

Vocabulary

manuscript (n): 1-the original copy of a book or article before it is printed: 2-an old document or book written by hand in the times before printing was invented:
E.g.1: He sent the 400-page manuscript to his publisher.
E.g.2: It is thought that the manuscript is the work of a monk and dates from the twelfth century.

circumstance (n): 1-a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is:
E.g.: I think she coped very well under the circumstances.
E.g.: Obviously we can’t deal with the problem until we know all the circumstances.

ancient (adj): 1-of or from a long time ago, having lasted for a very long time:
E.g.: ancient civilizations/rights/laws
E.g.: ancient monuments/ruins/woodlands
E.g.: People have lived in this valley since ancient times.

breakthrough (n): 1-an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem:
E.g.: Scientists are hoping for a breakthrough in the search for a cure for cancer.
E.g.: A major breakthrough in negotiations has been achieved.

sic (adv): 1-a word written in brackets after a word that you have copied to show that you know it has been spelled or used wrongly:
E.g.: The notice outside the office said “Closed on Wedensday” (sic).

Grammar

OUGHT TO
We use ought in three main ways:

1. to express the view that something is the right thing to do, because it’s morally correct, polite, or someone’s duty:

You ought to admit that you made a mistake.
They ought not to be allowed to damage property without paying compensation.

2. to predict that something is fairly likely or expected, based on normal circumstances or logic:

Our long-delayed mail is on the way from France and ought to arrive today.
The weather oughtn’t to be cold in May.

3.  to offer or ask for advice or recommendations:

If you haven’t read the book then you ought to see the movie.
What ought to be done to improve things?