Online Class Notes (Mike)

Write about China’s economy at the moment.

Is it good or bad?
What’s causing it to be good/bad
How to improve/fix it?

underline sentences that you don’t fully understand.
look up the new words and make 2 sentences with each word/phrase.

Boxing has been practised for centuries – it was even one of the sports in the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece. More recently, boxing has become mainstream in the UK, with hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life participating in the sport every week. But why? The answer lies in the physical, mental and even social benefits boxing can bring.

Its physical benefits are clear. Whether it’s practising with a punching bag, sparring with a partner or facing an opponent in the ring, boxing can be an intense form of exercise and give a full-body workout. It can improve muscular strength, and it can also increase anaerobic fitness – allowing someone to work out harder, for longer. These can, in turn, have a positive impact on other aspects of physical well-being, like heart health and weight management.

But the high physical demands of the sport aren’t just good for the body – boxing can also have a positive impact on someone’s mental well-being. Dr Jessica Pinchbeck, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Fitness at the Open University, says that boxing ‘can alleviate some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression’. Exercising regularly is already widely known to be good for mental health, but boxing can also bring a sense of discipline and focus.

And there is a third benefit to putting on the boxing gloves. Practising punches can be done alone, of course, but boxing is not just an individual activity – it also involves working with others to train and stay safe. Dr Gavin Williams, Senior Lecturer in Education at the Open University, says that this cooperation and teamwork can ‘create a sense of identity… and belonging’. So, no matter what the reason that attracts someone to boxing, the interactive elements of the sport, mean it can also have profound social benefits.

Good for body, mind and social interactions? It’s not surprising that more and more people are stepping into the ring.

Vocabulary

personnel changes (n)

reorganize the structure = restructure

examine/check (v)

challenging (adj.)
It is a challenging time.

immersion (n)
immersive environment

immerse (v) to soak in water

circle out collocations

collocation (n) words thats are commonly paired/used together
circle out collocations

spread virus/information/news

eliminate (v)
be eliminated from the game
be eliminated by Italy

eliminate possibility/words/

eliminate (=delete) this phrase from the article

eliminate poverty (n)

On the office
In the office

It is quite struggle
It was a big big challenge/struggle.

It had a severe/serious/really bad/negative impact on our business.

The business is still not good.
Our business has not fully recovered yet.

The impact of the lockdown is long-lasting. 

The workload is quite increased.
My workload increased a lot.

to release the pressure.
to relieve the stress/pressure

in person/face to face
I prefer to have in-person class.

Podcast Recommandation:

The Intelligence by The Economist

Checks and Balance (American Politics) 

The New Yorker: politics and more 

NPR