VIP Class Notes (Ally)

Edit your speaking exercise. Correct grammar + add more info.

Q: What do you think of marriage? Is it a must? Why do you think parents pressure their children to get married? Why are young people reluctant (don’t want to) to get married? Do you want to get married?

A: Marriage is a significant part of people’s lives. When think about marriage, usually we have a picture of happiness, duty, and … For many young people in China, they’re pushed to get married by their parents, but more and more young people don’t want to get married. That brings up a lot of talks or concerns. In China, marriage is the basic organization of the society. With marriage, people will have their own small families and with small families, the society will become more safety and organised. As parents concerned, they would feel relaxed after their children get married. For young people nowadays, they choose not to get married early because most young people enjoy to stay alone and spend time with their friends. Marriage may mean happiness but also takes freedom away.

Vocabulary

uneventful: nothing happened, not interesting, boring

melatonin: tui hei su

fingers crossed: (we hope this comes true)
ie. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. = I will give you my blessing/wish you good luck.
ie. If you get a promotion – fingers crossed- you will be rich.

morose: 忧郁的; 闷闷不乐的; 阴郁的; 脾气不好的

genetic: 遗传的; 基因的; 遗传学的

tilted: (使)倾斜，倾侧; 使倾向于; 使向…倾斜; 偏向
ie. The screen is tilted.

in-laws: family from your husband/wife’s side.
ie. You have to form a good relationship with your in-laws.

average: ordinary
ie. For average families/ordinary families…

nanny: ayi

subsidy: 补贴; 补助金; 津贴;
ie. living subsidy… the government gives out subsidies to farmers.. etc.

make do: compromise, settle
ie. Everybody has to make do with what they have.

Q: What are some holidays that you have in China? Which one is your favorite?
A: We have CNY Festival, Dragon Boat festival, Mid-autumn festival… also we have Chinese traditional Valentine’s Day. The mid-autumn festival is my favorite because I can get back to home with my family and have delicious cake of this festival. On mid-autumn festival, we will have special activity at night. Children will go out and sneak to the neighbour’s and take some cakes or candies that the neighbours put in the yard. That’s quite interesting and exciting because if you got caught by your neighbour, you couldn’t take the cake away. Even if you take the cakes out of the others’ home, they won’t blame you for that. That’s the traditional way we celebrate the mid-autumn festival in my hometown.

A: We have CNY Festival, Dragon Boat festival, Mid-autumn festival… also we have Chinese traditional Valentine’s Day. Among all these holidays/Of all these holidays, the mid-autumn festival is my favorite because I can go back home with my family and have delicious mooncake together. On mid-autumn festival, we would celebrate it in a special way/would do something very special in my hometown. Children would sneak out to the neighbour’s and take some cakes or candies that the neighbours put in the yard. That’s quite interesting and exciting because if they got caught by their neighbours, they wouldn’t get the sweets./wouldn’t be able to take the ….  Even if they take the sweets out of the others’ home, they wouldn’t be blamed. That’s the traditional way we celebrate the mid-autumn festival in my hometown.

Q: What do you think of marriage? Is it a must? Why do you think parents pressure their children to get married? Why are young people reluctant (don’t want to) to get married? Do you want to get married?

A: Marriage is a significant part of people’s lives. When think about marriage, usually we have a picture of happiness, duty, and … For many young people in China, they’re pushed to get married by their parents, but more and more young people don’t want to get married. That brings up a lot of talks or concerns. In China, marriage is the basic organization of the society. With marriage, people will have their own small families and with small families, the society will become more safety and organised. As parents concerned, they would feel relaxed after their children get married. For young people nowadays, they choose not to get married early because most young people enjoy to stay alone and spend time with their friends. Marriage may mean happiness but also takes freedom away.

I remember. (something from the past)
I thought of something. (something from my brain)

She is the tallest of the class.
It’s the tallest building of …

I can’t remember the things that happened last week.

It’s not attracted to me.
I’m not into wine.
I’m not interested in wine.
It’s not for me.
It’s not my cup of tea.

I am seeking help from a doctor. = you are already talking to a doctor
I want to/plan to seek help from a doctor. =you haven’t spoken to a doctor yet.

I feel a lack of energy.
I feel that I lack energy.

In the evening, I can’t fall asleep.

When I wanted to get help from drinking …
When I drink …
When I tried to solve this problem by drinking…

Everyday at this time, I feel exhausted.
Everyday at this time, I feel the most exhausted.
This is the most exhausting time of my day.
This is when I feel the most exhausted.

I was thinking about to go out for some drink
I was thinking about going out for drinks

I have two thoughts of the ending of my life. One is that I die of drinking too much. The other dead way is … cu si.. someday I will die at my work suddenly. Neither of this is my favorite.

I have two thoughts about the ending of my life.
I have two predictions to how I die. One is that I die from drinking too much./alcohol poisoning./over-drinking.

The other way how I might die is a sudden death at work.. someday I will die at my work suddenly./I might die from exhaustion.(n)

Neither of them/these is what I want./my preferred way to go.

Pronunciation

these – th+ee+s, not “zees”

blame – blay-m

usually – you-shol-lee