F2F Class Notes (Nicholas) [S + W]

Let’s work more and more on reading news articles from Yahoo and practicing different speaking stlyes/cadences (avoiding monotone). Practice, Practice Practice. Here we can also highlight trouble pronuciation words.

Teachers Note:

OK so today we are going to work on eliminating monotone (one pitch, one tone) style of speaking — makes your speaking more engaging. Let’s practice 2 tips:

1. Choose only 2-3 words per sentence to emphasize/change pitch/pause.
2. Practicing changing pitch — perhaps going deeper.
3. Practicing pausing before certain words to break up the “flow”.

We’ll do some recordings for before/after.

But by the age of 12 to 15, things will change because they will become more sensitive. Perhaps it won’t be easy for them to control their emotions. Maybe this is an appropriate age to have their first boyfriend —  but everything should be controlled by the parents.

Original recording: 0:15

New recording: 1:12

But by the age of 12 to 15, things will change because they will become more sensitive, and perhaps it won’t be easy for them to control their emotions. Maybe this is an appropriate age to have their first boyfriend, but everything should be controlled by the parents.

Original (Writing Homework)

I don’t know what age is appropriate to have the first boyfriend for my daughter.

On human being nature perspective, at 4/5 age, she begins to be attracted by opposite sex. So, as parents we should accept whenever she gets a boyfriend. Actually, she doesn’t know the mean of boyfriend, she just knows I like playing with a boy, maybe more than one boy.

But at the age of from12 to 15, things will be changed, because they will become more sensitive and don’t want to tell dad or mom their feeling. They feel shame but excited and not easily to control their emotion. Maybe this age is the appropriate age to have their first boyfriend, but everything should be in control of parents.

Firstly, this period is the transition age from childhood to adulthood, they want to do something Independently and don’t want to always follow parents’ orders. So, we can give them their own space, let them do the same things as adult, but also we need to tell them what is the bottom line.

Second hand, most kids of this age feel boring with their parents, so the relationship is not good. But parents’ understanding and supportive can improve the relationship.

Finally, the feeling in adolescence is complicated, they need a channel to release this kind of feeling to make them healthy for both body and soul.

Correction

I don’t know what age is appropriate for my daughter to have her first boyfriend. to have the first boyfriend for my daughter.

On human being nature perspectiveFrom a human perspective [a biological perspective], at around age 4-5, she will begin to be attracted to the opposite sex. So, as parents we should accept whenever she gets a boyfriend; But actually, she doesn’t know the real meaning of a boyfriend [But actually, she doesn’t really know what it means to have a boyfriend], she just knows “I like playing with boys”… maybe even more than one boy.

But by the age of from12 to 15, things will be change because they will become more sensitive, and perhaps it won’t be easy for them to control their emotions. Maybe this is an appropriate age to have their first boyfriend, but everything should be controlled by the parents.

Firstly, this period is a transition age from childhood to adulthood. They want to do things independently and don’t want to always follow their parents’ orders. So, we can give them their own space, let them do the same things as adults, but also we need to tell them what is the bottom line [a clear boundary line].

Secondly, most kids at this age feel bored with their parents, so the relationship is not good. But parents’ understanding and support can improve the relationship.

Finally, the feelings in adolescence are complicated. They need a channel to release this kind of feeling to make them healthy for both body and soul.

Vocabulary

bragging — being proud of something, being boastful, talking about it to your friends in a rude manner. Maybe what you did was good and an achievement, but they way you talk about it is arrogant.

e.g. Nick was bragging about his high grades in high school. We all know he’s smart, but he shouldn’t brag about it. It’s not humble.

patriotic / patriot — this is a person who loves his/her country.

e.g. Amy is a patriotic Chinese citizen. She is a true Chinese patriot.

Pronunciation

pumpkin pie

When I was a small child, I like the Spring Festival holiday bc on that day we would put on new clothes but when I grow up I find I dont want to / dont like this holday because that means I grow up. That means older than the previous year. But for children, all of them like this holiday. They can gain candies, put on new clothes, and they can also go with parents to go to their friend’s home and enjoy the delicious foods. For me I think I prefer the Chinese International Day.

Amy Meeting Recording

Grammar

the next quesiton about IS low cost/low savings..in our product portfolio our products are in the better to best price positioning [range] and low cost lo…

We still think about it but carefully no decision about it…[We are still thinking about it/this…but we have not made a decision yet.]

So what do you think Rita?

Rita — what are your thoughts on this?

OK Rita — what are you thinking?

(1) When a speaker finishes speaking — thank them.

A) “OK Nick, thank you for that.” +

B) “…David, do you have any additional thoughts you want to add?”/

B) Easier: “David, is there anything you would like to add?”…

C) “Sally, is there anything we missed?”

D) “OK great, let’s move to our next item.”

Yes for homework! Go on Yahoo.com or The Atlantic or Washington Post, choose one article, and summarize it in 1 paragraph in your own words. Don’t forget to provide the website link!