Fanny大人不見了…希望不是因為感冒
那天突然發現我竟然不會唸華氏和攝氏的英文耶。。。真是見笑
Celsius攝氏/s?lsiэs/
Fehrenheit華氏/fεrэnha?t/
順便把之前學到的一些單字分享一下，應該都算滿常見的：
Fraternity兄弟會
Sorarity姊妹會
Sovereign民主主權
Dissipated沉迷酒色的、放蕩的
11/14/2004
[破報Pots]台灣政府錯用自己名稱的幾個原因
這篇文章主要在說台灣政府在求快和廉價的情況下，使得台灣對外的英文正式文件品質差，如錯字和拼字錯誤。作者並寫到，如果他向見過的有英美大學研究生文憑，卻無法將兩個連貫性英文句子放在一起的人索取一元的話，他將會是百萬富翁。
Fast and cheap
A couple of reasons the government can't get its own name right
Brian L. Kennedy
HAVING DONE the English editing for a fair number of government documents over the years, a news item recently caught my attention. The Ministry of Education prepared an international educational accord to be signed by Taiwan and the nation of Palau that was full of typos, misspellings, and grammar fouls-ups. The document also made inconsistent reference to the name of this country, calling it "Republic of China, Taiwan", "Republic of China", and also just "Taiwan." As an expert in international law, I can say that it is better to refer to your country the same way throughout a treaty.
Now it was kind of a shock to realize that the Ministry of Education does not know the formal name of this country. But then I should not mock them. I don't know what the "flavor of the month" is either.
But laying aside the alphabet soup which is the Taiwan's-formal-name fiasco and turning to the problem of English language editing, there are several reasons for the screwed-up English in government documents. Number one is the mistaken belief on the part of the government agency that its own bureaucrats can do it themselves. This shows up in a number of ways, such as:
* "We can do it ourselves and save budget" (and along with that tell the world, "Heh, we are backwater hicks who can't function in English").
* "Mr./Ms. X has a masters degree from an American/British university so they can do it" (If I had a dollar for every Taiwanese I have met with a graduate degree from an American or British university who could not put two coherent English sentences together I would be a millionaire. Well, almost).
* And this very mistaken belief, sometimes held by very high level Taiwanese government officials, "My English is very outstanding. I got very high marks in my English classes in school. I will edit the paper myself." (Of course he was being graded by some other local who could not speak/write English either).
Now if the government agency does have the honesty to admit it cannot DIY their English documents, they are to be commended. But that brings us to the second major cause of fouled-up English, which is trying to do it on the cheap.
Most government agencies have a set rate for English editors. They say it is mandated by some "higher authority," which may or may not be true, since I have seen the "official rate" vary quite a bit both in terms of amount and how it's calculated (e.g. per word, per page, per document). Whether it is really set in stone or not, there is one thing that's always true - the pay is low.
Compounding the poor pay problem is what I call the "quickly, quickly problem." The English editor is the last step in what has usually been a foot-dragging process - the guy who wrote the original in Chinese dragged his feet doing it, the translator dragged his feet translating it, the snivel servant responsible for shuffling the draft around dragged his feet too. So by the time the project gets to the editor, the low-level government official responsible usually only has one thing to say: "It must be done today! This minute!" When I hear this, I usually laugh and ask, "Or else what? The world will stop spinning?" My little joke usually goes unappreciated by the government drone.
Now let me ask a business administration question. Does low pay + rush jobs = quality editing? Umm, the correct answer is "no." There is a lesson for the Ministry of Education. No charge, it's on the house.
__________________
Brian L. Kennedy is an attorney in Taiwan, where he writes and teaches on criminal law and human rights.
Fast and cheap
A couple of reasons the government can't get its own name right
Brian L. Kennedy
HAVING DONE the English editing for a fair number of government documents over the years, a news item recently caught my attention. The Ministry of Education prepared an international educational accord to be signed by Taiwan and the nation of Palau that was full of typos, misspellings, and grammar fouls-ups. The document also made inconsistent reference to the name of this country, calling it "Republic of China, Taiwan", "Republic of China", and also just "Taiwan." As an expert in international law, I can say that it is better to refer to your country the same way throughout a treaty.
Now it was kind of a shock to realize that the Ministry of Education does not know the formal name of this country. But then I should not mock them. I don't know what the "flavor of the month" is either.
But laying aside the alphabet soup which is the Taiwan's-formal-name fiasco and turning to the problem of English language editing, there are several reasons for the screwed-up English in government documents. Number one is the mistaken belief on the part of the government agency that its own bureaucrats can do it themselves. This shows up in a number of ways, such as:
* "We can do it ourselves and save budget" (and along with that tell the world, "Heh, we are backwater hicks who can't function in English").
* "Mr./Ms. X has a masters degree from an American/British university so they can do it" (If I had a dollar for every Taiwanese I have met with a graduate degree from an American or British university who could not put two coherent English sentences together I would be a millionaire. Well, almost).
* And this very mistaken belief, sometimes held by very high level Taiwanese government officials, "My English is very outstanding. I got very high marks in my English classes in school. I will edit the paper myself." (Of course he was being graded by some other local who could not speak/write English either).
Now if the government agency does have the honesty to admit it cannot DIY their English documents, they are to be commended. But that brings us to the second major cause of fouled-up English, which is trying to do it on the cheap.
Most government agencies have a set rate for English editors. They say it is mandated by some "higher authority," which may or may not be true, since I have seen the "official rate" vary quite a bit both in terms of amount and how it's calculated (e.g. per word, per page, per document). Whether it is really set in stone or not, there is one thing that's always true - the pay is low.
Compounding the poor pay problem is what I call the "quickly, quickly problem." The English editor is the last step in what has usually been a foot-dragging process - the guy who wrote the original in Chinese dragged his feet doing it, the translator dragged his feet translating it, the snivel servant responsible for shuffling the draft around dragged his feet too. So by the time the project gets to the editor, the low-level government official responsible usually only has one thing to say: "It must be done today! This minute!" When I hear this, I usually laugh and ask, "Or else what? The world will stop spinning?" My little joke usually goes unappreciated by the government drone.
Now let me ask a business administration question. Does low pay + rush jobs = quality editing? Umm, the correct answer is "no." There is a lesson for the Ministry of Education. No charge, it's on the house.
__________________
Brian L. Kennedy is an attorney in Taiwan, where he writes and teaches on criminal law and human rights.
11/12/2004
[The New York Times(education)]Foreign Enrollment Declines at Universities, Surveys Say
美國大學外籍學生人數下降
-----------------------
By SAM DILLON
Published: November 10, 2004
Many of America's top research universities suffered steep declines in foreign student enrollment this fall, according to two new surveys, and alarmed educators blamed delays in processing American visas as well as increased competition from universities overseas.
Educating international students is a $13 billion industry for the nation's 4,000 colleges and universities, and in many science and engineering departments a majority of graduate students are foreign.
The number of Chinese students who applied to attend American graduate schools this fall dropped 45 percent compared with fall 2003, according to a survey of its 450 member institutions by the Council of Graduate Schools. Applications from India fell 28 percent, the survey found. The decline in actual enrollments of students from those countries was less severe, however: 8 percent for Chinese and 4 percent for Indian students, the survey found.
The declines represent a troubling turnaround after three decades in which American colleges and universities experienced a boom in the enrollment of foreign students. The uninterrupted growth ended in the fall of 2003, when the country registered its first decline in foreign enrollment since 1971, 2.4 percent, according to the Institute of International Education.
"This is a serious problem for our country," said Peter D. Spear, the provost at the University of Wisconsin, where foreign enrollment declined by 3.8 percent, to 3,435 this year from 3,571 last year. "We depend on international students to provide a good portion of our science and engineering work force," Dr. Spear said.
At Arizona State University, which has about 60,000 students, the number from foreign countries fell 7 percent this fall over last. "It's a major issue for us, and it's going to get worse," said Michael M. Crow, the university's president. "We need workers in our scientific and engineering laboratories, and Americans tend to go into business, economics and law, while international students go into science and engineering. So our pool of talent is going down."
The countries contributing the most students to Arizona State's total enrollment are China, Taiwan, India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Dr. Crow said, and for students from all those countries, obtaining an American visa has become frustrating.
"For students from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, it's extremely difficult," he said.
Other causes of the decline in foreign enrollment include increasing competition from universities in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, as well as a large expansion of university capacities in the countries that send the most students to the United States, India and China.
"Both countries are dramatically increasing their capacity to train their own graduate students at home," by expanding existing universities and building new ones, said Peggy Blumenthal, a vice president at the Institute for International Education.
The institute released its annual report on student mobility, financed by the State Department, which surveyed enrollment data for the 2003-4 term. It found that total foreign student enrollment at 2,700 accredited institutions fell by 2.4 percent in the fall 2003 term, the first such drop since 1971.
At the same time, Nafsa: Association of International Educators released a survey, conducted with four other groups, of foreign enrollment this fall at more than 400 institutions. It found that some universities experienced impressive growth, like the University of Southern California, which has the most foreign students in the United States, 6,647, an enrollment that represents a 6 percent jump over fall 2003. But about two-thirds of the 25 universities with the most international students reported declines.
Similarly, in a survey released last week, the Council of Graduate Schools said 7 out of 10 graduate schools reported declines in first-time international graduate student enrollment.
Many universities that responded to all three surveys attributed the declines, at least in part, to visa denials and delays. Since Sept. 11, foreign students applying for visas have faced stringent review at American embassies. But science and technical students must also now be cleared by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency. Educators have been warning that the process keeps thousands of students away, and officials in the Bush administration are trying to fine-tune it, said Vic Johnson, a spokesman for the Association of International Educators.
"But there's a perception in the world now that students can't get a visa to study in the U.S. anymore, and that may take a long time to fix," Mr. Johnson said.
Visa problems are keeping away not only students, but eminent visitors, too, said Larry Faulkner, president of the University of Texas. J. M. Coetzee, a South African author and the 2003 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, who was once a doctoral student at Austin, cited the headaches of applying for a visa in declining to attend a ceremony to honor him there this fall, Dr. Faulkner said. And also citing potential immigration problems, the International Astronomical Union decided to hold its 2009 general assembly in Brazil, rather than Hawaii, said Ken Marvel, a spokesman for the union.
-----------------------
By SAM DILLON
Published: November 10, 2004
Many of America's top research universities suffered steep declines in foreign student enrollment this fall, according to two new surveys, and alarmed educators blamed delays in processing American visas as well as increased competition from universities overseas.
Educating international students is a $13 billion industry for the nation's 4,000 colleges and universities, and in many science and engineering departments a majority of graduate students are foreign.
The number of Chinese students who applied to attend American graduate schools this fall dropped 45 percent compared with fall 2003, according to a survey of its 450 member institutions by the Council of Graduate Schools. Applications from India fell 28 percent, the survey found. The decline in actual enrollments of students from those countries was less severe, however: 8 percent for Chinese and 4 percent for Indian students, the survey found.
The declines represent a troubling turnaround after three decades in which American colleges and universities experienced a boom in the enrollment of foreign students. The uninterrupted growth ended in the fall of 2003, when the country registered its first decline in foreign enrollment since 1971, 2.4 percent, according to the Institute of International Education.
"This is a serious problem for our country," said Peter D. Spear, the provost at the University of Wisconsin, where foreign enrollment declined by 3.8 percent, to 3,435 this year from 3,571 last year. "We depend on international students to provide a good portion of our science and engineering work force," Dr. Spear said.
At Arizona State University, which has about 60,000 students, the number from foreign countries fell 7 percent this fall over last. "It's a major issue for us, and it's going to get worse," said Michael M. Crow, the university's president. "We need workers in our scientific and engineering laboratories, and Americans tend to go into business, economics and law, while international students go into science and engineering. So our pool of talent is going down."
The countries contributing the most students to Arizona State's total enrollment are China, Taiwan, India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Dr. Crow said, and for students from all those countries, obtaining an American visa has become frustrating.
"For students from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, it's extremely difficult," he said.
Other causes of the decline in foreign enrollment include increasing competition from universities in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, as well as a large expansion of university capacities in the countries that send the most students to the United States, India and China.
"Both countries are dramatically increasing their capacity to train their own graduate students at home," by expanding existing universities and building new ones, said Peggy Blumenthal, a vice president at the Institute for International Education.
The institute released its annual report on student mobility, financed by the State Department, which surveyed enrollment data for the 2003-4 term. It found that total foreign student enrollment at 2,700 accredited institutions fell by 2.4 percent in the fall 2003 term, the first such drop since 1971.
At the same time, Nafsa: Association of International Educators released a survey, conducted with four other groups, of foreign enrollment this fall at more than 400 institutions. It found that some universities experienced impressive growth, like the University of Southern California, which has the most foreign students in the United States, 6,647, an enrollment that represents a 6 percent jump over fall 2003. But about two-thirds of the 25 universities with the most international students reported declines.
Similarly, in a survey released last week, the Council of Graduate Schools said 7 out of 10 graduate schools reported declines in first-time international graduate student enrollment.
Many universities that responded to all three surveys attributed the declines, at least in part, to visa denials and delays. Since Sept. 11, foreign students applying for visas have faced stringent review at American embassies. But science and technical students must also now be cleared by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency. Educators have been warning that the process keeps thousands of students away, and officials in the Bush administration are trying to fine-tune it, said Vic Johnson, a spokesman for the Association of International Educators.
"But there's a perception in the world now that students can't get a visa to study in the U.S. anymore, and that may take a long time to fix," Mr. Johnson said.
Visa problems are keeping away not only students, but eminent visitors, too, said Larry Faulkner, president of the University of Texas. J. M. Coetzee, a South African author and the 2003 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, who was once a doctoral student at Austin, cited the headaches of applying for a visa in declining to attend a ceremony to honor him there this fall, Dr. Faulkner said. And also citing potential immigration problems, the International Astronomical Union decided to hold its 2009 general assembly in Brazil, rather than Hawaii, said Ken Marvel, a spokesman for the union.
11/11/2004
Roald Dahl and his "Charlie and the chocolate factory"
I'm glad that Fin told me about her favorite writer "Roald Dahl" and his book "CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY." I, so-called "the searching goddess," failed to find its story on the Internet after checking out some websites. However, I found Roald Dahl's interview by BBC. You can listen to Roald Dahl's remarks on BBC. (I think his picture is kind of ....scary) Furthermore, I found a Hong Kong website which provides good stuff regarding the book. You can listen to the review and chapter 1 and read the book (excerpts).
I realized that I actually had read one of his books, "the witches." I didn't read all of it though. It was a lesson of English reading at college. I don't know the plot of "the witches" completely still since we only read the introduction, the back cover of the book and its table content. The instructor asked us to make up a new story based on the information we had been given. That almost killed me for the lack of my imagination and creation.
討論區（中文）：http://140.114.40.22/root2/dis_suy2/list.asp?id=335 (這裡有故事大綱和分析)
English Campus-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (這裡有故事大綱、書評(英文-聽-)、故事第一章(-聽-)、和內容(節選))。Fin 好像給我推荐這個網站過？
BBC-BBC Four-Audio Interviews-Roald Dahl
2005 職場新趨勢 英語差 沒工作
2004-11-08 15:47／今周刊提供
全球化的浪潮，悄悄地進入你我的生活。路上的招牌，英語商標愈來愈多；路標早就有了中、英雙語；孩子從小標榜的，就是雙語教育；跨國企業也愈來愈多……學不好英語，在學校只要重修，但在社會，就是淘汰，是死當，很難再翻身。這是現在職場的趨勢。要保住工作，就得重新面對英文！ 當現代的新知識、先進技術與即時資訊，九○％以上都以英語發布時，你要同步取得，還是等待翻譯？這兩者之間，不只有著時間與金錢的成本差異，更有著個人的財富、企業與國家的競爭力落差。
「英語很重要！」這樣的呼聲，在台灣似乎從沒停止過。然而，今年的呼聲出現了變化。數十位受訪的企業人力資源主管異口同聲的說，「以前是，會英語也不錯（NICE TO HAVE）；現在是，一定要會（MUST）。」而中信金控行政長尚瑞強則更加大分貝的說：「不但是一定要會，而且還要高標準。」然而，早在呼聲「變調」之前，台灣的企業早已有行動了。
◆英語差，工作機會少一半 九月一日，宏?位在北縣汐止的集團總部，正舉行一場全球視訊會議。這場會議最重要的宣布是，明年一月一日起，總經理王振堂正式接替施振榮為集團董事長兼執行長，義大利籍的蔣凡可蘭奇（GIANFRANCO LANCI）則升為總經理。
邁向品牌之路的宏?，隨著蘭奇的到任，王振堂表示，英語將成為集團的官方語言。「以後連徵人啟事都要用英文刊登了！」宏?人力資源處總處長游英基說。
相隔不到十天，中國信託商銀董事長辜仲諒在該行信用卡商品記者會中，擘畫了中信金邁向國際化的策略，而其中一項最重要的做法是，中信金內部簽呈將轉換成英文化，主管會議則在年底前全面英語化。
這兩家在台灣各執科技與金融牛耳的企業集團，如此高規格的應用英語，不只衝擊到兩家企業工作的一萬五千多名員工，同時也影響與兩家企業在同一產業競爭的同行。政治大學科技管理研究所、EMBA教授溫肇東說：「現代企業必須朝知識型組織升級，而英語就是基本條件之一。」 一○四人力銀行品牌總監邱文仁指出，在其資料庫的二十四萬筆工作機會中，五三％的職缺要求英語能力，部分職務甚至要求相當於托福五五○分的英語程度。
所以，不只是宏?和中信金，裕隆汽車、速博等企業，從E-MAIL、文件到會議全採用英語，「只要是高度依賴新知與資訊的企業，都將英語定為公司的官方語言了！」多益（TOEIC）及托福（TOFEL）英語檢定測驗台灣區代表、忠欣公司總經理王星威說。而以台灣逾千家企業、學校採行多益的數量推估，至少有上百家企業是像宏?和中信金全面英語化。
◆高標準，科技新貴也焦慮 從法國崛起的學習機構華爾街美語，其總經理李若鵬也指出，這現象並非台灣獨有，而是各地皆然，即使是對英語頗為排斥的法國，在二○○○年時政府明定，企業若提供員工英語職訓課程或經費，可以享有減稅優惠。
台灣的政府在推廣英語措施上，儘管未像法國般大手筆，但積極程度可從全民英語能力檢定測驗（簡稱全民英檢GEPT）的報考人次可以想見，自二○○○年一月開辦以來，每年只舉行兩次測驗，報考人次已逾六十萬。如此龐大而急迫的英語能力需求，無怪乎讓三年半前進入台灣成人美語市場的華爾街，從一間分校迅速成長到六間之多。
面對台灣企業高規格要求的英語能力，職場上開始出現各種不同的英語焦慮族群。
從業態上觀察，令人意外的，科技新貴是出現英語焦慮的一個重要族群。現年二十四歲、有「竹科英文新貴」之稱的胡家榮，現任台積電、聯電、凌陽、工研院等英文講師和英語口試委員，每天上完交大英語教學所碩二的課，晚上的閒暇時間都趕往園區的高科技公司，幫比他大上十來歲的工程師補英語。
◆英語差，創意總監被淘汰 根據胡家榮的觀察，竹科在近兩年才興起員工英語認證的風潮，起先是大公司定下新規定，小公司看到了，便紛起效法。而他則成為這波風潮的受惠者，每月可有四萬到六萬元的收入，寒暑假期間更高達十萬元。
在科技公司裡，又以行銷業務部門的需求最為殷切，每天要回覆數百封英文E-MAIL，三不五時接到充滿日本腔或印度口音的越洋電話，偶爾再來個國際期刊論文投稿，最要命的是專程飛來台灣的客戶非董即總，不但要有英語簡報及會後Q&A（問答溝通）能力，還要擔任老外遊台灣夜市的「英語指南」。
「主管的英語能力差，是不適任的。」邱文仁挑明現代職場的殘酷事實，也點出有著英語學習焦慮的另一個族群。
一家知名的廣告外商，有一位創意總監，他在專業與管理能力都不錯，就是英語差了些。但因為公司總經理是從總部派任，加上以他的職位必須常與總部聯繫，他只好請一位助理專事翻譯。由於公司有九○％客戶是外商，每次比稿，都要多帶這位翻譯助理去。就連出國到總部開會，也要多訂一張機票、一間旅館房間。
而在會議中，有時因發言者的英語腔調較特別，助理翻譯較慢，當見到國外同事都在頻頻點頭或議論紛紛時，他就會因為聽不懂而焦慮到不自覺地敲桌面。雖然公司曾出錢請家教來加強他的英語能力，但還是無法改善，最後迫於無奈只有黯然離開公司，甚至也淡出廣告圈了。
王星威指出，像這位創意總監須經常出國開會、簡報的主管，多益分數應該要在八百分以上，更高階的主管，甚至要達到九百分以上，也就是英語水準近乎母語（NATIVE SPEAKING）程度。
◆忙上課，宏?主管病倒了 游英基表示，再過兩個月就要直接向老外總經理報告、開會的宏?一級主管，按該公司所採用的線上英語學習課程與認證GLOBAL ENGLISH，約須八百五十分以上的程度。蘭奇經常要審核的財務、法務、人事，乃至資訊系統等部門主管，也都得在兩個月內練好英語。
預計，今年十一月底前，宏?內部網頁將全部改為英文，十二月底前，一百二十位處長級主管，要求以英文發信。在此要求下，宏?就有一位主管，白天上班，晚上去台大語言測驗中心上課，忙到肝臟負荷不了而病倒。
至於在中信金，尚瑞強表示，由於董事長辜仲諒常指定主管參加美國中信銀董事會，因此中階主管的多益分數須在六百到七百分之間，如果沒有達到六百分者，就失去派到國外出差、受訓的機會，升遷管道自然也會因而受限；副總級等高階主管，則須達七百八十五分到九百分的成績。
不過，中信金仍以鼓勵取代壓力，特別規定年資在三年以上的員工，只要提出到國外進修英語，就給三個月留職停薪，每年都可申請一次，任何人申請，主管都必須同意。尚瑞強表示，兩年來，已有一百五十人申請核過。
而尚瑞強自己，雖已是留美碩士，但為了再加強英語能力，還是會不定時到多倫多大學人力資源高階主管班進修專業與語言能力。中信金財務總管理處總處長張明田，原本英語不夠好，公司便派他去哥倫比亞大學接受語文訓練三個月，結訓後他還是覺得不夠，便另外請私人家教。雙管齊下的結果，讓張明田的多益考了個八百三十分，成效絕佳。
教遍各大高科技公司，令胡家榮感到驚訝的是「主管的英文程度和剛畢業的工程師程度差不多。而且高科技業公司的主管們，還多是各名校畢業的碩博士。」他們來補習的原因很簡單，「用中文回覆國外客戶的E-MAIL，沒人要跟你做生意。」胡家榮說。
除了企業，財團法人也加強要求員工的英語能力。
前一陣子，胡家榮便遇到工研院一位五十多歲的女主管，憂心忡忡來找他，希望用一對一的方式，在三個月內改善英語能力。「因為工研院最近規定員工必須托福六百分，自己只有國中程度，很擔心會因此被迫離開服務了一輩子的工研院。」胡家榮轉述道。
◆國際化，企業很有危機感 不論是科技業界，還是中、高階主管，由於已有危機徵兆，至少還有時間加強英語。
但還有一大族群，則是在一夕間就得開口說英語了，那就是被外商購併的公司主管。像忠欣原本是米其林輪胎在台灣的總代理，但因米其林要自行經營台灣市場，忠欣便將公司賣給米其林，忠欣一百名員工面對突然換上的外籍老闆，幾乎難以適應。「英語的學習是持續的，但應用往往在突然之間。」李若鵬說。
「在台灣，對於英語能力影響競爭力，企業比個人來得有危機意識。」李若鵬和胡家榮都有同感地說。邱文仁在十月十三日接受採訪時，正好是公司掛牌上興櫃，「當公司成長後，對員工要求的英語能力會更高。」台灣大學國際企業學系教授湯明哲指出，本土企業難免有一天要國際化，而國際化的企業遲早會去管理其他國籍的人。若依賴翻譯，則吸收的資訊、管理的效益都會受限。」 對此，寶來期貨董事長賀鳴珩就頗有感觸：「台灣期貨市場為什麼小，發展不起來，其中一大原因就在大家只做國內市場。為什麼不做國外市場，就是受限英語能力很差，所以不如幅員比台灣小的新加坡。」 「為了成長，有企圖的公司勢必要跨向國外。即使是到中國大陸，英語能力還是很重要。」邱文仁說，像前陣子台積電招募工程師、技術人員，雖然工作地點在上海，但仍要求須精通英語，因為接觸的同事、顧問，乃至客戶都有外籍人士，閱讀的資訊也是英文。
由敦煌書局、空中英語教室及效率口語所做的調查發現，六八％的國人想提升英語能力；再根據教育部社教司資料，台灣每年有三百萬人到補習班學英語，花費逾二百億元，還不包括教材市場、個人家教等學習管道。但台灣人學習英語遠不如減肥來得有行動力、有成效。
◆瘋英語，每年市場兩百億 「學英語，自我紀律要強，不然這世上比學英語好玩的事太多了。」陳甫彥說。他建議，上班族不妨在同時處理訂單、接手機、看電腦和打MSN的四個活動中，選一個全部採用英語的情境來加強。
李若鵬也發現，雖然有五三％工作機會要求英語能力，但使用到的機會還是太少。所以，年輕人在找工作時，會先加強一下英語，以增加錄取機會。但被錄用後，就又擱在一旁。現在，在政府和企業大力推動英語認證後，上班族才再度掀起英語學習「瘋」潮。
一○四教育資訊網經理陳漢忠表示，很多上班族在短期惡補後取得英檢認定，但卻連簡單的用英語自我介紹都說不順暢，還是無法與他人競爭。而王星威則擔憂，政府及大學院校未來對公教人員及學生英語能力檢測太偏愛「全民英檢」，寧捨多益及托福等國際級測驗，不是好事。
目前，台灣參加全民英檢雖逾六十萬人次，考多益者不到全民英檢的一半。「但在職場和商場，尤其是國際型企業，多半會選擇國際流通度高的多益。所以，國人在參加英語檢定時，還是要視目的而定。」 現在，在全球化之下，英語能力已成為個人、企業與國家「反淘汰」的避險工具。只是，如此氣氛，易讓人對英語心生恐懼而提早放棄。所以，不如從正面的角度來看待英語。
在擔任新加坡總理任內積極推動雙語教育的李光耀，在其回憶錄中就提到：「國人將以雙筒望遠鏡觀察這個世界，而不是單靠一隻眼睛，以華人的望遠鏡看世界。」要積極走出去的台灣企業，又怎麼能閉著一隻眼，就去和全球各地睜開兩隻眼的企業競爭呢？撰文/劉 萍(本文轉載自今周刊第411期)
全球化的浪潮，悄悄地進入你我的生活。路上的招牌，英語商標愈來愈多；路標早就有了中、英雙語；孩子從小標榜的，就是雙語教育；跨國企業也愈來愈多……學不好英語，在學校只要重修，但在社會，就是淘汰，是死當，很難再翻身。這是現在職場的趨勢。要保住工作，就得重新面對英文！ 當現代的新知識、先進技術與即時資訊，九○％以上都以英語發布時，你要同步取得，還是等待翻譯？這兩者之間，不只有著時間與金錢的成本差異，更有著個人的財富、企業與國家的競爭力落差。
「英語很重要！」這樣的呼聲，在台灣似乎從沒停止過。然而，今年的呼聲出現了變化。數十位受訪的企業人力資源主管異口同聲的說，「以前是，會英語也不錯（NICE TO HAVE）；現在是，一定要會（MUST）。」而中信金控行政長尚瑞強則更加大分貝的說：「不但是一定要會，而且還要高標準。」然而，早在呼聲「變調」之前，台灣的企業早已有行動了。
◆英語差，工作機會少一半 九月一日，宏?位在北縣汐止的集團總部，正舉行一場全球視訊會議。這場會議最重要的宣布是，明年一月一日起，總經理王振堂正式接替施振榮為集團董事長兼執行長，義大利籍的蔣凡可蘭奇（GIANFRANCO LANCI）則升為總經理。
邁向品牌之路的宏?，隨著蘭奇的到任，王振堂表示，英語將成為集團的官方語言。「以後連徵人啟事都要用英文刊登了！」宏?人力資源處總處長游英基說。
相隔不到十天，中國信託商銀董事長辜仲諒在該行信用卡商品記者會中，擘畫了中信金邁向國際化的策略，而其中一項最重要的做法是，中信金內部簽呈將轉換成英文化，主管會議則在年底前全面英語化。
這兩家在台灣各執科技與金融牛耳的企業集團，如此高規格的應用英語，不只衝擊到兩家企業工作的一萬五千多名員工，同時也影響與兩家企業在同一產業競爭的同行。政治大學科技管理研究所、EMBA教授溫肇東說：「現代企業必須朝知識型組織升級，而英語就是基本條件之一。」 一○四人力銀行品牌總監邱文仁指出，在其資料庫的二十四萬筆工作機會中，五三％的職缺要求英語能力，部分職務甚至要求相當於托福五五○分的英語程度。
所以，不只是宏?和中信金，裕隆汽車、速博等企業，從E-MAIL、文件到會議全採用英語，「只要是高度依賴新知與資訊的企業，都將英語定為公司的官方語言了！」多益（TOEIC）及托福（TOFEL）英語檢定測驗台灣區代表、忠欣公司總經理王星威說。而以台灣逾千家企業、學校採行多益的數量推估，至少有上百家企業是像宏?和中信金全面英語化。
◆高標準，科技新貴也焦慮 從法國崛起的學習機構華爾街美語，其總經理李若鵬也指出，這現象並非台灣獨有，而是各地皆然，即使是對英語頗為排斥的法國，在二○○○年時政府明定，企業若提供員工英語職訓課程或經費，可以享有減稅優惠。
台灣的政府在推廣英語措施上，儘管未像法國般大手筆，但積極程度可從全民英語能力檢定測驗（簡稱全民英檢GEPT）的報考人次可以想見，自二○○○年一月開辦以來，每年只舉行兩次測驗，報考人次已逾六十萬。如此龐大而急迫的英語能力需求，無怪乎讓三年半前進入台灣成人美語市場的華爾街，從一間分校迅速成長到六間之多。
面對台灣企業高規格要求的英語能力，職場上開始出現各種不同的英語焦慮族群。
從業態上觀察，令人意外的，科技新貴是出現英語焦慮的一個重要族群。現年二十四歲、有「竹科英文新貴」之稱的胡家榮，現任台積電、聯電、凌陽、工研院等英文講師和英語口試委員，每天上完交大英語教學所碩二的課，晚上的閒暇時間都趕往園區的高科技公司，幫比他大上十來歲的工程師補英語。
◆英語差，創意總監被淘汰 根據胡家榮的觀察，竹科在近兩年才興起員工英語認證的風潮，起先是大公司定下新規定，小公司看到了，便紛起效法。而他則成為這波風潮的受惠者，每月可有四萬到六萬元的收入，寒暑假期間更高達十萬元。
在科技公司裡，又以行銷業務部門的需求最為殷切，每天要回覆數百封英文E-MAIL，三不五時接到充滿日本腔或印度口音的越洋電話，偶爾再來個國際期刊論文投稿，最要命的是專程飛來台灣的客戶非董即總，不但要有英語簡報及會後Q&A（問答溝通）能力，還要擔任老外遊台灣夜市的「英語指南」。
「主管的英語能力差，是不適任的。」邱文仁挑明現代職場的殘酷事實，也點出有著英語學習焦慮的另一個族群。
一家知名的廣告外商，有一位創意總監，他在專業與管理能力都不錯，就是英語差了些。但因為公司總經理是從總部派任，加上以他的職位必須常與總部聯繫，他只好請一位助理專事翻譯。由於公司有九○％客戶是外商，每次比稿，都要多帶這位翻譯助理去。就連出國到總部開會，也要多訂一張機票、一間旅館房間。
而在會議中，有時因發言者的英語腔調較特別，助理翻譯較慢，當見到國外同事都在頻頻點頭或議論紛紛時，他就會因為聽不懂而焦慮到不自覺地敲桌面。雖然公司曾出錢請家教來加強他的英語能力，但還是無法改善，最後迫於無奈只有黯然離開公司，甚至也淡出廣告圈了。
王星威指出，像這位創意總監須經常出國開會、簡報的主管，多益分數應該要在八百分以上，更高階的主管，甚至要達到九百分以上，也就是英語水準近乎母語（NATIVE SPEAKING）程度。
◆忙上課，宏?主管病倒了 游英基表示，再過兩個月就要直接向老外總經理報告、開會的宏?一級主管，按該公司所採用的線上英語學習課程與認證GLOBAL ENGLISH，約須八百五十分以上的程度。蘭奇經常要審核的財務、法務、人事，乃至資訊系統等部門主管，也都得在兩個月內練好英語。
預計，今年十一月底前，宏?內部網頁將全部改為英文，十二月底前，一百二十位處長級主管，要求以英文發信。在此要求下，宏?就有一位主管，白天上班，晚上去台大語言測驗中心上課，忙到肝臟負荷不了而病倒。
至於在中信金，尚瑞強表示，由於董事長辜仲諒常指定主管參加美國中信銀董事會，因此中階主管的多益分數須在六百到七百分之間，如果沒有達到六百分者，就失去派到國外出差、受訓的機會，升遷管道自然也會因而受限；副總級等高階主管，則須達七百八十五分到九百分的成績。
不過，中信金仍以鼓勵取代壓力，特別規定年資在三年以上的員工，只要提出到國外進修英語，就給三個月留職停薪，每年都可申請一次，任何人申請，主管都必須同意。尚瑞強表示，兩年來，已有一百五十人申請核過。
而尚瑞強自己，雖已是留美碩士，但為了再加強英語能力，還是會不定時到多倫多大學人力資源高階主管班進修專業與語言能力。中信金財務總管理處總處長張明田，原本英語不夠好，公司便派他去哥倫比亞大學接受語文訓練三個月，結訓後他還是覺得不夠，便另外請私人家教。雙管齊下的結果，讓張明田的多益考了個八百三十分，成效絕佳。
教遍各大高科技公司，令胡家榮感到驚訝的是「主管的英文程度和剛畢業的工程師程度差不多。而且高科技業公司的主管們，還多是各名校畢業的碩博士。」他們來補習的原因很簡單，「用中文回覆國外客戶的E-MAIL，沒人要跟你做生意。」胡家榮說。
除了企業，財團法人也加強要求員工的英語能力。
前一陣子，胡家榮便遇到工研院一位五十多歲的女主管，憂心忡忡來找他，希望用一對一的方式，在三個月內改善英語能力。「因為工研院最近規定員工必須托福六百分，自己只有國中程度，很擔心會因此被迫離開服務了一輩子的工研院。」胡家榮轉述道。
◆國際化，企業很有危機感 不論是科技業界，還是中、高階主管，由於已有危機徵兆，至少還有時間加強英語。
但還有一大族群，則是在一夕間就得開口說英語了，那就是被外商購併的公司主管。像忠欣原本是米其林輪胎在台灣的總代理，但因米其林要自行經營台灣市場，忠欣便將公司賣給米其林，忠欣一百名員工面對突然換上的外籍老闆，幾乎難以適應。「英語的學習是持續的，但應用往往在突然之間。」李若鵬說。
「在台灣，對於英語能力影響競爭力，企業比個人來得有危機意識。」李若鵬和胡家榮都有同感地說。邱文仁在十月十三日接受採訪時，正好是公司掛牌上興櫃，「當公司成長後，對員工要求的英語能力會更高。」台灣大學國際企業學系教授湯明哲指出，本土企業難免有一天要國際化，而國際化的企業遲早會去管理其他國籍的人。若依賴翻譯，則吸收的資訊、管理的效益都會受限。」 對此，寶來期貨董事長賀鳴珩就頗有感觸：「台灣期貨市場為什麼小，發展不起來，其中一大原因就在大家只做國內市場。為什麼不做國外市場，就是受限英語能力很差，所以不如幅員比台灣小的新加坡。」 「為了成長，有企圖的公司勢必要跨向國外。即使是到中國大陸，英語能力還是很重要。」邱文仁說，像前陣子台積電招募工程師、技術人員，雖然工作地點在上海，但仍要求須精通英語，因為接觸的同事、顧問，乃至客戶都有外籍人士，閱讀的資訊也是英文。
由敦煌書局、空中英語教室及效率口語所做的調查發現，六八％的國人想提升英語能力；再根據教育部社教司資料，台灣每年有三百萬人到補習班學英語，花費逾二百億元，還不包括教材市場、個人家教等學習管道。但台灣人學習英語遠不如減肥來得有行動力、有成效。
◆瘋英語，每年市場兩百億 「學英語，自我紀律要強，不然這世上比學英語好玩的事太多了。」陳甫彥說。他建議，上班族不妨在同時處理訂單、接手機、看電腦和打MSN的四個活動中，選一個全部採用英語的情境來加強。
李若鵬也發現，雖然有五三％工作機會要求英語能力，但使用到的機會還是太少。所以，年輕人在找工作時，會先加強一下英語，以增加錄取機會。但被錄用後，就又擱在一旁。現在，在政府和企業大力推動英語認證後，上班族才再度掀起英語學習「瘋」潮。
一○四教育資訊網經理陳漢忠表示，很多上班族在短期惡補後取得英檢認定，但卻連簡單的用英語自我介紹都說不順暢，還是無法與他人競爭。而王星威則擔憂，政府及大學院校未來對公教人員及學生英語能力檢測太偏愛「全民英檢」，寧捨多益及托福等國際級測驗，不是好事。
目前，台灣參加全民英檢雖逾六十萬人次，考多益者不到全民英檢的一半。「但在職場和商場，尤其是國際型企業，多半會選擇國際流通度高的多益。所以，國人在參加英語檢定時，還是要視目的而定。」 現在，在全球化之下，英語能力已成為個人、企業與國家「反淘汰」的避險工具。只是，如此氣氛，易讓人對英語心生恐懼而提早放棄。所以，不如從正面的角度來看待英語。
在擔任新加坡總理任內積極推動雙語教育的李光耀，在其回憶錄中就提到：「國人將以雙筒望遠鏡觀察這個世界，而不是單靠一隻眼睛，以華人的望遠鏡看世界。」要積極走出去的台灣企業，又怎麼能閉著一隻眼，就去和全球各地睜開兩隻眼的企業競爭呢？撰文/劉 萍(本文轉載自今周刊第411期)
11/10/2004
on top of that
on top of that : 除此之外
首次聽到這個詞是從CNN雜誌來的，它的單字字卡裡也收了這個片語，以下是它給的例句。
The unemployment rate is rising, and on top of that, factory orders are also down.
失業率增加了，除此之外，工廠的訂單也減少了。
在「小笨霖英語筆記本八十三（文章來源）」第三句裡，也出現了這個片語。
3. I ate salad, soup, steak and pudding. On top of that, I drank two cups of coffee.
我吃了沙拉, 湯, 牛排和布丁, 除此之外, 我還喝了兩杯咖啡.
講到除了什麼什麼之外, 以前老師教我們的都是 besides, in addition to (包含的除外), 不然就是 except (不包含的除外, 詳見註1) 所以這個例句一般人的講法會是, "Besides/In addition to salad, soup steak and pudding, I drank two cups of coffee." 但除了 besides/in addition to 之外, 老美也很喜歡用 on top of that 這個片語. 而且當他們在講 on top of that 都還會特別強調加強語氣. 通常能表現出一種誇大的語氣來吸引聽者的注意. 比方說吧!. 「她的未婚夫不但有五棟房子和二部豪華轎車, 銀行?還有十億元的存款」在這?重點是最後的十億元存款, 所以句子這麼造, "Her fiance has five houses and two luxury cars. On top of that, he has 1 billion dollars in the bank."
小笨霖講得沒錯，我之所以憶起這個片語，是因為我從某處又見到它。可見它出現的機率不小呢！所以別光用"besides, in addition to"，試試"on top of that"吧。
首次聽到這個詞是從CNN雜誌來的，它的單字字卡裡也收了這個片語，以下是它給的例句。
The unemployment rate is rising, and on top of that, factory orders are also down.
失業率增加了，除此之外，工廠的訂單也減少了。
在「小笨霖英語筆記本八十三（文章來源）」第三句裡，也出現了這個片語。
3. I ate salad, soup, steak and pudding. On top of that, I drank two cups of coffee.
我吃了沙拉, 湯, 牛排和布丁, 除此之外, 我還喝了兩杯咖啡.
講到除了什麼什麼之外, 以前老師教我們的都是 besides, in addition to (包含的除外), 不然就是 except (不包含的除外, 詳見註1) 所以這個例句一般人的講法會是, "Besides/In addition to salad, soup steak and pudding, I drank two cups of coffee." 但除了 besides/in addition to 之外, 老美也很喜歡用 on top of that 這個片語. 而且當他們在講 on top of that 都還會特別強調加強語氣. 通常能表現出一種誇大的語氣來吸引聽者的注意. 比方說吧!. 「她的未婚夫不但有五棟房子和二部豪華轎車, 銀行?還有十億元的存款」在這?重點是最後的十億元存款, 所以句子這麼造, "Her fiance has five houses and two luxury cars. On top of that, he has 1 billion dollars in the bank."
小笨霖講得沒錯，我之所以憶起這個片語，是因為我從某處又見到它。可見它出現的機率不小呢！所以別光用"besides, in addition to"，試試"on top of that"吧。
11/09/2004
Vocabulary
這篇網誌按照分類，記錄了許多單字，我將一部分貼上來，其餘的有興趣可以自行看看囉。英文單字不背不行，背了又忘，煩啊！
=== 學校生活 ===
# acronym: 字首縮寫
# inclination: 傾斜, 彎曲, 傾度, 傾向, 愛好
# miss out, omit, ignore: 遺漏,省略
# exhausted, drained, knocked out
# boss someone around: 對某人頤指氣使. She is very bossing.
# antique: 古董(的)
# get on sb, stir up sb, stir sb up, bother sb, get sb, annoy sb, irritate sb, upset sb, provoke sb: 惹惱某人
# bump into, run into, come into, chance upon, encounter 遇到某人
# down jacket: 絨毛外套
# donwer 使某人鎮定下來的藥物；down-and-out: 窮困潦倒
# hardly, rarely, barely, almost not, once in a blue moon
# usher: 引座員,接待員
# cancel, cancellation 取消
# intermission: 中場休息
# make up exam: 補考
# almanac: 年鑑
# go into effect, carry out, acomplish, implement, bring about: 生效,實施
# controversy: 論戰
# conscientious, industrious: 用功的,有良心的
# college bulletin: 學生手冊(簡介學校)
# finalize: confirm, conclude 使完結
# fall behind: in arrears, behind schedule, behindhand, overdue 落後
# enforce: impose, make obligatory, implement 強制執行
# cabin fever: 室內恐懼症
# let up: respite, relief 減弱
# pull ... of: victory, 成�# snagged: 毛線露出來
# watery: wet, soggy, waterlogged
# itch: irritation, tickle, prickling 癢
# allergy: hypersensitivity 過敏
# might as well 索性
# in light of: in view of, with regards to 有鑑於
# leeway: margin, breathing space, flexibility 餘地
# locker room: room with places to store books, change clothes, etc. 置物間
# administration building: place where school offices are located 行政大樓
# expedition: trip for research purpose
# good thing: fortunately
# not due until: doesn't have to be done until 直到...才到期
# now's as good a time as any: now is a good time 現在正是時候
# checking the papers: looking in the newspapers 看報紙
# tedious: boring 煩人的
# go through money: spend money 花費
# like water: spends money very quickly 花錢如流水
# have nothing to show for it: have no results for effort
# I'll pass: no thank you 不,謝了
# soundproofing: something to keep out noise 隔音的
# light up: light a cigarette 點煙
# down pour: heavy rain 傾盆大雨
# badge: something worn to show one's identity 名牌
# orientation: meeting to give newcomers necessary information 新生訓練
# photo contest: photography competition 攝影比賽
# sit around: do nothing 無所事事
# house-sitting: watching someone's house while they are away 幫人看房子
# student employment office: office that helps students find jobs 學生就業輔導室
# references: letters confirming past performance on a job 推薦信
# throw party: hold party
# make a fuss: cause trouble
# set something up: arrange something 安排
# spare: give, contribute, spend 給
#transcripts: records of academic performance 成績單
# measures taken: methods done 方法
# extinct: no longer existing 絕跡
# taken to heart: take seriously
# rare :
#* not common; very unusual. Ex.: This is a very rare bird in Taiwan.
#* not cooked, raw. Ex.: Waiter!! My beef is rare!
#* Syn.: Unusal: exceptional, extraordinary, uncommon, unimaginable, unique, strange, weird, unordinary.
# subtle: not loud, bright, noticeable or obviously in any way; achieved in q quite way which does not attract attention which is therefore good or clever.
#* Ex.: The room was painted a subtle shade of pink.
#* Syn.: slight, blurry, imperceptible, inconspicuous, fuzzy, indistinct, indiscernible, vague
# extensive: convering a large area: having a great range; great number.
#* Ex.: Her knowledge of music is extensive.
#* Syn.: large scale, wide ranging, comprehensive, blanket, appreciable, hefty (big in number), large, broad, wide.
# supplant: to replace.
#* Ex.: In most offices, the typewriter has now been supplanted by the computer.
#* Syn.: displaced, exchange, take over, supersede (take someone's place), force out, eject, expel, outst.
# relay on: depend on
#* Ex.: I rely on you for good advice, and love, whenever I feel down.
#* Syn.: entrust, trust in, count on, put faith in, confide, hinge (鉸鏈) on, rest on , rest upon
# incriminated: to make someone seenm guilty, especially of a crime. Blame.
#* Ex.: A secret report incriminating Nixon wad leaked during the Watergate issue.
#* Syn.: blamed, accused, arraigned, charged with, inculpate (源自拉丁 culpa,有罪), indict.
# strive: to try very hard to do something or to make something happen. especially for a long time or against difficulties.
#* Ex.: All of you must now strive to improve your reading skills for the TOEFL.
#* Syn.: try, attempt, struggle, endeavor, pursue.
# ingredients
#* a food that is used with other foods in the preparation of particular disk 食材
#* Ex.: The list of ingredients included 250g of garlic.
#* One of the parts of something successfule 成功的部份原因
#* Trust and love are the secret ingredients of a successful marriage.
# recipe: 食譜; receipt:收據
# take time out for: 暫停...以便做(另一件事)
# straighten up: 整理
# it surely wouldn't hurt: 應該會有幫助
# I can take it or leave it. 對某事不是很在乎
# frantic: 忙亂的
# rave about: 極度地讚美
# do a lot of digging: 研究的很深入
# relevant: 適當的
# virtually: almost 幾乎
# check out: sign out 借出
# resident adviser: 舍監
# on edge: 敏感的. sentitive, inconfortable, nervous. My stomach's a little on edge.
# get sb going: 刺激某人. I figured you'd need a cup of coffee to get you going after a day like yesterday.
# soaked: completely wet. I'm soaked! It started to pour the minute I got off the bus.
# frantic: hectic, very busy
# rave (about) : 胡說,稱讚
# internship: 實習
# intriguing: 有趣, sound interesting
# substantal: 數量大的,可觀的
# subtle, blurry, imperceptible, inconspicuous, indistinct, indiscernible, vague
# conspicuous: 顯而易見的
=== 學校生活 ===
# acronym: 字首縮寫
# inclination: 傾斜, 彎曲, 傾度, 傾向, 愛好
# miss out, omit, ignore: 遺漏,省略
# exhausted, drained, knocked out
# boss someone around: 對某人頤指氣使. She is very bossing.
# antique: 古董(的)
# get on sb, stir up sb, stir sb up, bother sb, get sb, annoy sb, irritate sb, upset sb, provoke sb: 惹惱某人
# bump into, run into, come into, chance upon, encounter 遇到某人
# down jacket: 絨毛外套
# donwer 使某人鎮定下來的藥物；down-and-out: 窮困潦倒
# hardly, rarely, barely, almost not, once in a blue moon
# usher: 引座員,接待員
# cancel, cancellation 取消
# intermission: 中場休息
# make up exam: 補考
# almanac: 年鑑
# go into effect, carry out, acomplish, implement, bring about: 生效,實施
# controversy: 論戰
# conscientious, industrious: 用功的,有良心的
# college bulletin: 學生手冊(簡介學校)
# finalize: confirm, conclude 使完結
# fall behind: in arrears, behind schedule, behindhand, overdue 落後
# enforce: impose, make obligatory, implement 強制執行
# cabin fever: 室內恐懼症
# let up: respite, relief 減弱
# pull ... of: victory, 成�# snagged: 毛線露出來
# watery: wet, soggy, waterlogged
# itch: irritation, tickle, prickling 癢
# allergy: hypersensitivity 過敏
# might as well 索性
# in light of: in view of, with regards to 有鑑於
# leeway: margin, breathing space, flexibility 餘地
# locker room: room with places to store books, change clothes, etc. 置物間
# administration building: place where school offices are located 行政大樓
# expedition: trip for research purpose
# good thing: fortunately
# not due until: doesn't have to be done until 直到...才到期
# now's as good a time as any: now is a good time 現在正是時候
# checking the papers: looking in the newspapers 看報紙
# tedious: boring 煩人的
# go through money: spend money 花費
# like water: spends money very quickly 花錢如流水
# have nothing to show for it: have no results for effort
# I'll pass: no thank you 不,謝了
# soundproofing: something to keep out noise 隔音的
# light up: light a cigarette 點煙
# down pour: heavy rain 傾盆大雨
# badge: something worn to show one's identity 名牌
# orientation: meeting to give newcomers necessary information 新生訓練
# photo contest: photography competition 攝影比賽
# sit around: do nothing 無所事事
# house-sitting: watching someone's house while they are away 幫人看房子
# student employment office: office that helps students find jobs 學生就業輔導室
# references: letters confirming past performance on a job 推薦信
# throw party: hold party
# make a fuss: cause trouble
# set something up: arrange something 安排
# spare: give, contribute, spend 給
#transcripts: records of academic performance 成績單
# measures taken: methods done 方法
# extinct: no longer existing 絕跡
# taken to heart: take seriously
# rare :
#* not common; very unusual. Ex.: This is a very rare bird in Taiwan.
#* not cooked, raw. Ex.: Waiter!! My beef is rare!
#* Syn.: Unusal: exceptional, extraordinary, uncommon, unimaginable, unique, strange, weird, unordinary.
# subtle: not loud, bright, noticeable or obviously in any way; achieved in q quite way which does not attract attention which is therefore good or clever.
#* Ex.: The room was painted a subtle shade of pink.
#* Syn.: slight, blurry, imperceptible, inconspicuous, fuzzy, indistinct, indiscernible, vague
# extensive: convering a large area: having a great range; great number.
#* Ex.: Her knowledge of music is extensive.
#* Syn.: large scale, wide ranging, comprehensive, blanket, appreciable, hefty (big in number), large, broad, wide.
# supplant: to replace.
#* Ex.: In most offices, the typewriter has now been supplanted by the computer.
#* Syn.: displaced, exchange, take over, supersede (take someone's place), force out, eject, expel, outst.
# relay on: depend on
#* Ex.: I rely on you for good advice, and love, whenever I feel down.
#* Syn.: entrust, trust in, count on, put faith in, confide, hinge (鉸鏈) on, rest on , rest upon
# incriminated: to make someone seenm guilty, especially of a crime. Blame.
#* Ex.: A secret report incriminating Nixon wad leaked during the Watergate issue.
#* Syn.: blamed, accused, arraigned, charged with, inculpate (源自拉丁 culpa,有罪), indict.
# strive: to try very hard to do something or to make something happen. especially for a long time or against difficulties.
#* Ex.: All of you must now strive to improve your reading skills for the TOEFL.
#* Syn.: try, attempt, struggle, endeavor, pursue.
# ingredients
#* a food that is used with other foods in the preparation of particular disk 食材
#* Ex.: The list of ingredients included 250g of garlic.
#* One of the parts of something successfule 成功的部份原因
#* Trust and love are the secret ingredients of a successful marriage.
# recipe: 食譜; receipt:收據
# take time out for: 暫停...以便做(另一件事)
# straighten up: 整理
# it surely wouldn't hurt: 應該會有幫助
# I can take it or leave it. 對某事不是很在乎
# frantic: 忙亂的
# rave about: 極度地讚美
# do a lot of digging: 研究的很深入
# relevant: 適當的
# virtually: almost 幾乎
# check out: sign out 借出
# resident adviser: 舍監
# on edge: 敏感的. sentitive, inconfortable, nervous. My stomach's a little on edge.
# get sb going: 刺激某人. I figured you'd need a cup of coffee to get you going after a day like yesterday.
# soaked: completely wet. I'm soaked! It started to pour the minute I got off the bus.
# frantic: hectic, very busy
# rave (about) : 胡說,稱讚
# internship: 實習
# intriguing: 有趣, sound interesting
# substantal: 數量大的,可觀的
# subtle, blurry, imperceptible, inconspicuous, indistinct, indiscernible, vague
# conspicuous: 顯而易見的
11/08/2004
Paying For Your Own Nag
在談到這篇文章之前，先說說這個blog。這個blog叫做"Gothamist"，文章刊登關於New York的新聞、吃、喝、玩、樂和大事小事。"Gotham"是New York的意思，後面加個"ist"就代表「人」，如著名的「經濟學人」，就是"economist"。因為該blog點閱人數愈來愈多，所做的規模也愈來愈廣範。現在不只有New York區，也有許多大城市的報導。"Gothamist"的編輯，是亞裔女子，我猜是韓裔。
此篇報導是引用某人張貼在網上的求人廣告，真是無奇不有呢！
http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2004/11/05/paying_for_your_own_nag.php
Proving once again that there's a market for everything, one craiglist user posts this intriguing job offer, titled, "Watch Me to Make Sure That I Study For Law School":
I'm a first year law student but I've been having terrible concentration problems. I need someone to sit with me while I study and make sure that I'm studying. Otherwise I'll waste hours surfing the internet or just thinking about random things. You can be reading the newspaper or doing your own work while you do this, you just need to be sitting at a starbucks table or other location with me. You DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LAW SCHOOL to do this job. I'll pay more for people that can tutor me in Civil Procedure, Contracts, or Torts.
此篇報導是引用某人張貼在網上的求人廣告，真是無奇不有呢！
http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2004/11/05/paying_for_your_own_nag.php
Proving once again that there's a market for everything, one craiglist user posts this intriguing job offer, titled, "Watch Me to Make Sure That I Study For Law School":
I'm a first year law student but I've been having terrible concentration problems. I need someone to sit with me while I study and make sure that I'm studying. Otherwise I'll waste hours surfing the internet or just thinking about random things. You can be reading the newspaper or doing your own work while you do this, you just need to be sitting at a starbucks table or other location with me. You DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LAW SCHOOL to do this job. I'll pay more for people that can tutor me in Civil Procedure, Contracts, or Torts.
11/07/2004
Pronunciation發音
在大四上了某位老師的口語訓練後，發音開始令我非常頭痛。常常一個音，唸了好久都唸不好，愈唸愈不對勁，愈唸嘴快抽筋。在我連結裡有一個「學術與專業英文學習網」，裡面有個「Internet Resources」，點選進去，有數以百計的連結，其中有個「發音相關網站」的連結。若有空可以去挖寶，若沒有，就先來我剛剛看過的兩個網看一下吧。
字母發音之修正 ---強力推荐 ***** 省音和連音那裡，超實用。 另外的「母音與子音」內的字母類裡，有一欄「錯誤」和一欄「矯正」，也十分棒。如 Z的字母發音，我國中就聽到同學發「ㄖ一」的音，這是不對的，因此還跟他爭辯。Z字母矯正欄裡有正確發音。
Sounds of English --這是個英文網站，教你如何發音。
::::「我在學英文」相關文章：發音網站／軟體:KK音標
字母發音之修正 ---強力推荐 ***** 省音和連音那裡，超實用。 另外的「母音與子音」內的字母類裡，有一欄「錯誤」和一欄「矯正」，也十分棒。如 Z的字母發音，我國中就聽到同學發「ㄖ一」的音，這是不對的，因此還跟他爭辯。Z字母矯正欄裡有正確發音。
Sounds of English --這是個英文網站，教你如何發音。
::::「我在學英文」相關文章：發音網站／軟體:KK音標
11/04/2004
turnout , electorate
turnout:
奇摩字典:
【人】 投票人數 There was a good turnout at the polls. 有很多人參加投票.
high turnout
biggest turnout of voters since 1968
-------
electorate:
選舉人
奇摩字典:
【人】 投票人數 There was a good turnout at the polls. 有很多人參加投票.
high turnout
biggest turnout of voters since 1968
-------
electorate:
選舉人
俚語~heads-up
這是上禮拜englishbaby網站的俚語，雅虎奇摩字典和韋氏網上字典都只有「形容詞」的解釋。
這裡有名詞解釋。(這個網站有許多有趣的文章，有興趣可以看看。)
以下是貼自englishbaby。
定義definition:
when you give someone heads-up about something, you let them know about something that might affect them later
用法use:
This is an expression that is often used in the workplace. We give our co-workers heads-up about issues that might affect them.
When we give someone heads-up, we don't expect them to react right away. We only want them to have the information.
When Matt Fine gave his employer heads-up that he was leaving, he gave them notice instead of just leaving.
例句examples:
“Hey! Just wanted to give you heads-up. There is a leak in that bathroom stall. You might want to use the other one.”
“I gave my teacher heads-up that I was going to be gone. I can't believe he called me at home when I wasn’t there.”
“It's really great when people give you heads up about sales at the mall because we don't all have time to go there and look.”
這裡有名詞解釋。(這個網站有許多有趣的文章，有興趣可以看看。)
以下是貼自englishbaby。
定義definition:
when you give someone heads-up about something, you let them know about something that might affect them later
用法use:
This is an expression that is often used in the workplace. We give our co-workers heads-up about issues that might affect them.
When we give someone heads-up, we don't expect them to react right away. We only want them to have the information.
When Matt Fine gave his employer heads-up that he was leaving, he gave them notice instead of just leaving.
例句examples:
“Hey! Just wanted to give you heads-up. There is a leak in that bathroom stall. You might want to use the other one.”
“I gave my teacher heads-up that I was going to be gone. I can't believe he called me at home when I wasn’t there.”
“It's really great when people give you heads up about sales at the mall because we don't all have time to go there and look.”
[MSNBC News]Victorious Bush vows to reach out to Kerry voters (excerpts)
既然閱讀對語文增進是必要的，咱們就來每天讀一篇英文吧。我覺得這篇文字結構不難，若想讀全篇，就點「文章來源」。
NBC, MSNBC and news services
Updated: 8:19 p.m. ET Nov. 3, 2004W
Democrat concedes after nail-biting night that focused on Ohio
“America has spoken,” President Bush said Wednesday as he claimed a second term and appealed to voters — even those who opposed him — to back his agenda.
“I'm humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens,” Bush told hundreds of Republican supporters who gathered two blocks from the White House after a long night of poll watching and uncertainty. “With that trust comes a duty to serve all Americans. And I will do my best to fulfill that duty every day as your president.”
Bush tried to reach out to the 55 million voters who chose Democratic Sen. John Kerry instead of him. Many of those voters said they were not so much enthusiastic backers of Kerry as rather strong opponents of the president's policies, including the invasion of Iraq.
“Today, I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent,” Bush said. “To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.”
“A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation,” he added. “We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America.”
NBC, MSNBC and news services
Updated: 8:19 p.m. ET Nov. 3, 2004W
Democrat concedes after nail-biting night that focused on Ohio
“America has spoken,” President Bush said Wednesday as he claimed a second term and appealed to voters — even those who opposed him — to back his agenda.
“I'm humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens,” Bush told hundreds of Republican supporters who gathered two blocks from the White House after a long night of poll watching and uncertainty. “With that trust comes a duty to serve all Americans. And I will do my best to fulfill that duty every day as your president.”
Bush tried to reach out to the 55 million voters who chose Democratic Sen. John Kerry instead of him. Many of those voters said they were not so much enthusiastic backers of Kerry as rather strong opponents of the president's policies, including the invasion of Iraq.
“Today, I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent,” Bush said. “To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.”
“A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation,” he added. “We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America.”
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