VIP Class Notes (Nick)

Try to use the vocabulary from today to write a story, or at least some sentences to check if you have the right idea of the meaning. See if you can tie it into your own life.

Vocabulary

Intrinsic Motivation – when someone is motivated by their own desire to do something, know something, etc.
e.g. I read this book because I am interested in the topic (intrinsic motivation)
Extrinsic Motivation – when someone is motivated by what they get from doing something
e.g. I worked as a mover in the summer to make money for college (extrinsic motivation)

Mover – someone who helps other people to move everything in their living space to a new living space

Love for Learning – intrinsic motivation in one’s studies; when you find the process of learning enjoyable itself
e.g. I want to help my son develop a real love for learning. This will not only help him to become successful, but to be satisfied with his path in life.

Work Ethic – a person who works hard and values hard work
e.g. In the Midwest, the people are known for having

Persevere – to work hard against difficulties over a long period of time
Persistence – this can be an action, or simply a state which lasts for a long time, especially against difficulties
e.g. School in China can develop a strong sense of persistence in the students who make it to the top.

Fall / Lag / Left Behind – falling/lagging behind is to be too slow to keep up with the learning (or running) speed of others; to be left behind is to be so far behind that you will never be able to catch up, or that the people who have gone ahead have forgotten about you
e.g. In public schools, the kids who are falling behind have to get special help so that they are not left behind.
e.g. It’s sad, but if a wolf is injured and can’t keep up, he will be left behind.

Rat’s tail – something of no value; usually used in a phrase
e.g. I don’t give a rat’s tail what he thinks.

Rat – sort of like a big dirty mouse with no hair on its tail

If you’re looking for slang terms, and you can’t find it elsewhere, try this dictionary:
(Warning: adult content)
https://www.urbandictionary.com/

Blunt – to say what you mean without worrying about making it sound nice
Straightforward – a little less than blunt, but not avoiding difficult topics
e.g. Sometimes he makes people mad because he is too blunt. You have to get used to hearing exactly what he thinks right as he thinks of it.
e.g. He was polite, but firm and straightforward about why they couldn’t sign the contract.
Bold – not having fear of doing something a little bit intensely than normal
e.g. She is so bold, she just walked across the bar and began to talk to him.

专业 – Professional vs. Specialized – “professional” is related to specific set of skills, usually for business or a position; “specialized” is something that goes into detail about one topic
e.g. To be a doctor, you must take a professional exam.
e.g. That professional exam tests you on very specialized types of knowledge.

Trends – a large pattern
e.g. The trends that will define this year are related to corruption investigations in the US.

Driving Forces – the main things that define the course of history, or any general trend
e.g. The driving forces for the next century will include gene research and AI.

Grammar

at weekends – on the weekend
— This phrase is for what you generally do
In, on, at
— In is for very large time periods, and for parts of the day
e.g. Millennia, centuries, decades, year, month, season
e.g. I eat lunch in the afternoon.
— On is for days (and dates) and weekends
e.g. on Tuesday, on the weekend
— At is for very specific times, and nighttime
e.g. at 7:01, at 6 o’clock, at night
— For WEEK you don’t use any preposition at all
e.g. this week, next week
– If you need to be clear that it happens between the beginning and end of the week for some time, use “during”

I am so relaxed – I am so relieved
— Relief is the feeling of having some stressful or unpleasant thing go away (a change)
— Relax is to take a break, not be working (a state)