VIP Class Notes (Raph)

Grammar and pronunciation

Grammar

Welfare (n): 1- the general state of health or degree of success of a person, business, country, etc.:
E.g.: Their GDP figures look good, but perhaps at a cost to their overall economic welfare.
E.g.: We are a progressive employer concerned with employee welfare.
E.g.: We were concerned for our parents’ welfare when we heard about the storm in Florida.

Overwork (v/n): 1- to work or cause someone to work too much.
E.g.: He got sick through overwork.
E.g.: You look exhausted – I hope they’re not overworking you.
E.g.: She overworks her staff.
E.g.: Her headaches are likely caused by overwork.

Overworked (adj): 1- having to work too much.
E.g.: He’s an overworked government worker.
E.g.: I’m overworked and underpaid.

Means (n): 1- a method or way of doing something:
E.g.: They had no means of communication.
E.g.: We need to find some other means of transportation.
E.g.: We need to use every means at our disposal.

Stave off (v): 1- to stop something bad from happening, or to keep an unwanted situation or person away, usually temporarily:
E.g.: We were hoping to stave off these difficult decisions until September.

Parents Happier After Their Children Leave Home
(Source: www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1908/190823-having-children.html)

Many of us believe that having children is the key to happiness and a perfect family life. Naturally, this idealistic image is true for some, but researchers say that in reality, children make us happiest when they fly the nest – when they have grown up and left home. Researchers in Germany looked at data from a survey of 55,000 over 50-year-olds living in Europe. The survey respondents were quizzed about their emotional wellbeing. The researchers discovered that most parents were happier with life after their offspring had left home and started making their own way in life. Researchers say this could be because raising children creates financial worry, stress, fatigue and anxiety.

The research was led by Christoph Becker at Heidelberg University. He concluded that a big reason for parents being happiest when their children leave home is that the tables are turned and the children provide more support to their parents. He said parents whose children no longer live with them suffer from fewer symptoms of depression and have a more positive outlook on life. Regarding the role reversal in providing support, Mr Becker said: “Children’s roles as caregivers, providers of financial support or simply as a means of social contact might outweigh the negative aspects of parenthood.” He added that maintaining family relationships may stave off loneliness in ageing parents.

Grammar

He is 50 years old.

He is a 50-year-old man.

There are ten 50-year-olds (= 50-year-old people) studying at SE.

I suppose this week homework is easier, but it’s wrong. – I supposed / thought this week homework would be easier, but I was wrong.

Many years ago I am very familiar with this knowledge. – Many years ago I was very familiar with this concept.

It’s easier to me read Chinese documents. – It’s easier for me to read Chinese documents.

For me to comprehend the document more easier. – For me to comprehend the document more easily.

Sometimes we discuss the homework in the WeChat. Sometimes we discuss the homework on WeChat.

The course is very intense, so we even didn’t have time to discuss with each other. – The course is very intense, so we don’t even have time to discuss with each other.

Pronunciation

Prerequisite: /ˌpriːˈrek.wə.zɪt//pree.RECK.kwez.zit/

Prior: /praɪr//pri.er/

Hypothesis: /haɪˈpɑː.θə.sɪs/

Fatigue:  /fəˈtiːɡ//fa.teeg/

Anxiety: /æŋˈzaɪ.ə.t̬i//an.zai.a.tea/