Post on 26-Dec-2015
1. Answers to the pretest2. On-line dictionaries3. Listening practice4. Reading: chapter 15. Homework
Week Two
Outline
Answers to PretestListening practice: VOA Special English
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/ http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/
On-line dictionariesChapter 1 “English as a Universal Language”
Listen and take notes. Group discussion: what the reasons to support that
English is NOT a universal language? What the reasons to support that English is a universal language?
Go through the texts (vocabulary and sentence structure).
Exercise Q&A
Homework Recitation Practice (Group 1): English as a Universal
Language (p.6-9) Reading:
On-line Dictionaries
http://memo.cgu.edu.tw/yu-yen/dictionaries.htm
1. Merriam-Webster (also included Thesaurus) http://www.m-w.com/
10. One Look Dictionary http://www.onelook.com/
12. Thesaurus Com ttp:::t s urus:r r n :: omh he a efe e cec
http://www.wordnik.com/
Follow suit
to play a card of the same suit as the card led to follow an example set Examples:
Maybe we ought to follow suit and bring in some nice music and stick flowers in every room, and get rid of these white walls and computers.
Life also resembles whist in this, that we are obliged to follow suit in a general way to those who happen to have the lead.
Release (v.)
The hostages have been released.The lion was released from its cage.I released my son’s hand, and he ran out onto
the playground.The factory faced serious fines for releasing
dangerous chemicals into the river.During exercise, the body releases chemicals
in the brain that make you feel better.Exercise is a good way to release stress.
Release (n.)
The prisoner is eligible for early release.The prisoner was given an early release.the release of heat into the atmosphereExercise triggers the release of chemicals in the
brain that make you feel better.an accidental release of pollutants into the riverThey've filed a request for release from the contract.They're requesting a release from their contractual
obligations.The release of the book is scheduled for next month.
Hurdles
Synonyms: balk, bar, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, encumbrance, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel
Primary concern/ be primarily concerned with
The economy was the primary focus of the debate.
The family is the primary social unit of human life.
The primary function of our schools is to educate our young people.
We just started our primary flight training.The book is based mainly on primary sources
rather than secondary sources.
Keywords and Main Ideas
Nucleic acid How is it discovered The structure (with a comparison with amino):
polymer, its subunits Two varieties How does it form the genetic code…
Listening practice:
VOA Special English http://www.voanews.com/english/news/ http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/
English as a Universal Language
: Listen and take notes.: Group discussion:
(1) What the reasons to support that English is NOT a universal language?
(2) What the reasons to support that English is a universal language?
p.6A—Chinese versus Englishp.6A—Chinese versus English
Although there may be as many people speaking the various dialects of Chinese as there are English speakers, English is certainly more widespread geographically, more genuinely universal than Chinese.
state-run (adj.)=
to be managed by the nation or the state.
the state apparatusAirwavesIn-service trainingthe ecumenical language
P.7 C Media and Transportation
: English prevailsprevails in transportation and the media. The travel and communication language of the international airwavesairwaves is English.
: Pilots and air traffic controllers speak English at all international airports.
: Maritime traffic uses flag and light signals, but “if vessels vessels needed to communicate verbally, they would find a common language, which would probably be English,” says the U.S. Coast Guard’s Werner Siems.
Airwaves and airwayAirwaves and airway
airwaves: the medium of radio and television transmission —not used technically.
Airway: a passage for a current of air; a designated route along which airplanes fly from airport to airport; especially : such a route equipped with navigational aids
P.7D
Five of the largest broadcasters—CBS,NBC, ABC, the BBC, and the CBC—reach a potential audience of about 300 million people through English broadcast. It is also the most popular language of satellite TV.
P.7EFG The Information Age
: The language of the information age is English.
: More than 80 percent of all the information stored in the more than 100 million computers around the world is in English.
: Eighty-five percent of international telephone conversations are conducted in English, as are three-fourths of the world’s mail, telexes , and cables. Computer program instructions and the software itself are often supplied only in English.
telex:
a communication service involving teletypewriters connected by wire through automatic exchanges; also : a teletypewriter used in telex
P.8H
German was once the language of science. Today more than 80 percent of all scientific papers are published first in English. Over half the world’s technical and scientific periodicals are in English, which is also the language of medicine, electronics, and space technology.
p.8 IJ International Business
English is the language of international business.
When a Japanese businessman strikes a deal anywhere in Europe, the chances are overwhelming that the negotiations were conducted in English.
P.8K
: Manufactured goods indicate their country of origin in English: “Made in Germany,” not Fabriziert in Deutschland. It is the language of choice in multinational corporations.
: Datsun and Nissan write international memorandums in English. As early as 1985, 80 percent of the Japanese Mitsui and Company’s employees could speak, read and write English.
: Toyota provides in-service English courses. English classes are held in Saudi Arabia for the ARAMCO workers and on three continents for Chase Manhattan Bank staff.
In-service
going on or continuing while one is fully employed <in–service teacher education workshops>
P.8L Diplomacy
English is replacing the dominant European languages of centuries past. English has replaced French as the language of diplomacy; it is one of the official languages of international aid organizations such as Oxfam and Save the Children as well as of UNESCO, NATO, and the UN.
p.8M Lingua Franca
: English serves as a common tongue in countries where people speak many different languages. In India, nearly 200 different languages are spoken; only 30 percent speak the official language, Hindi. When Rajiv Gandhi addressed the nation after his mother’s assassination, he spoke in English. The European Free Trade Association works only in English even though it is a foreign tongue for all six member countries.
: any of various languages used as common or commercial tongues among peoples of diverse speech
:
P.8 N Official Language
English is the official or semiofficial language of 20 African countries, including Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and South Africa. Students are instructed in English at Makerere University in Uganda, the University of Nairobi in Kenya, and the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
P.9-O
: English is the ecumenical language of the World Council of Churches, and one of the official languages of the Olympics and the Miss Universe competition.
: : worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application; of, relating to, or representing the whole of a body of churches ; promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation
P.9 P Youth Culture
English is the language of international youth culture. Young people worldwide listen to and sing popular songs in English often without fully understanding the lyrics. ”Break dance,” ”rap music,” “bodybuilding,” “windsurfing,” and “computer hacking” are invading the slang of German youth.