每日学英语

jiayi

October,05,2009
I walked into the coffee room and saw that Brad was writing something on a piece of paper. When he saw me come in, he slipped the note out of sight.

Trisha: Hey, what's up?

Brad: Oh, nothing.

Trisha: What were you writing?

Brad: (Laugh) All right. You caught me in the act. I finally worked up the nerve to ask Diana out. I was just writing a note to put on her desk.

Trisha: You mean you're going to ask her out in a note? You big chicken !

Brad: I admit it. I'm a wuss. I just can't do it in person .

Trisha: But, you work with her everyday.

Brad: That's different. When I'm working, I'm in a different frame of mind. But, when I even think about asking her out, I get tongue-tied. At least in a note, I can get the words out without turning beet red.

Trisha: You've dated a lot. What's so different about Diana?

Brad: Well, for one thing, she's gorgeous. She's so upbeat and sweet. Who doesn't like her? Oh, I don't know. All I do know is that I think we have great chemistry together. But, what if I'm wrong. Maybe she's just been nice to me out of courtesy and doesn't think of me that way. Oh forget it. This was a bad idea.

Trisha: Well, I guess you don't want this note, then.

Brad: What note?

Trisha: I was looking for you to deliver this note from Diana. She wants to know if you want to go to the office party with her tomorrow night.

Brad: You're kidding! I can't believe you've been standing this entire time and didn't say anything.

Trisha: Sorry. What can I say? Now, do you want the note or what?

Brad: Yeah, I want the note.

Trisha: Have a great time tomorrow night.

Brad: Thanks. I plan on it.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
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1. he slipped the note out of sight --- slip: put sth very quickly, 偷偷[悄悄]地塞给
2. caught me in the act --- I am doning sth should not do, don’t want others know about this.
3. worked up the nerve --- need some courage to do that
4. wuss --- a weak person, same as chicken( afraid, usually for kids), 懦弱的人，无用的人
5. frame of mind --- your attitude the way that you see things
6. tongue-tied --- you can’t speak very clearly
7. turning beet red --- turn his face as red as beet.
8. gorgeous --- very beautiful  [ˈɡɔ:dʒəs] adj. 极好的, 称心的   非常漂亮的, 华美的

9. upbeat and sweet --- upbeat :to be happy  adj.积极乐观的
10. chemistry --- get alone very well
11. out of courtesy --- to be polite [ˈkə:tisi] n.  谦恭有礼
12. this entire time --- all of this time

jiayi

A lucky man, isn't he?  

jiayi

October 06, 2009

ESLPodcast 109 - Being an Entrepreneur

I had lunch today with my friend Sam. She recently quit her job with a large company to strike out on her own. She has always been an entrepreneur in small ways, but she decided to start her own business. The start- up she launched provided technology consulting services for small- to medium-sized companies.

At first, she considered becoming partners with one or two of her co-workers. She wasn't sure if she could raise the seed money she needed for the start-up costs. But, she was able to raise the capital by taking on a silent partner, her uncle who had a lot of investment capital but didn't want to be involved in the day-to-day operations of a business now that he's retired.

One way that Sam is able to cut down on overhead is to make this a home-based business. She converted her garage into an office where she and her employees could work. Since most of the work would be done on site at her client's office, she didn't need a lot of office space.

I asked Sam if she was nervous about quitting her job to start her own business. She said that it's a big risk but that she was looking forward to the challenge. If she fails, she said, she can always audition for American Idol. Well, I thought, I've heard Sam sing. I really hope her business takes off!

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strike out on her own ---
1. to fail or be unsuccessful:The movie struck out and didn’t win a single Oscar.
2. to start being independent:I knew it was time I struck out on my own

entrepreneur --- a person who makes money by starting or running businesses, especially when this involves taking financial risks

launch --- verb, noun: to start an activity

consulting --- provide some knowledge

raise the seed money --- seed money: money is given to start a company, usually from someone else

capital --- money

investment --- the act of investing money in sth:  to encourage foreign investment

day-to-day operations --- everyday running

cut down on --- reduce

overhead --- the money you have to spend for the business, doesn’t matter what you do

audition --- a short performance given by an actor, a singer, etc., so that sb can decide whether they are suitable to act in a play, sing in a concert, etc.

take off --- be successful

jiayi

ESLPodcast 110 - Hotel Reservations

I just finished a huge project at work and I needed some down time. I decided to take a short vacation. I liked the idea of a long weekend out of town. My friend Sara offered to let me crash at her place in San Francisco, but I decided to stay at a hotel instead. Sara has a couple of roommates and I thought it might be too crowded.

I called the toll-free reservation number for a major hotel chain. The reservation agent was very helpful, after I got through the long phone tree.

Agent: Dutton Hotels. How may I help you today?

Jeff: I wanted to check rates and availability for your San Francisco location.

Agent: Certainly, I can help you with that. Will that be the downtown or waterfront location?

Jeff: The waterfront location.

Agent: What date do you plan to check in?

Jeff: I'd like to check in on October 12th and check out the 15th.

Agent: Okay, let me see what we have. For how many?

Jeff: One. And, if possible, I'm looking for a non-smoking room.

Agent: Sure, we have a non-smoking queen with an ocean view for $189 or a standard room with a courtyard view for $139 a night.

Jeff: I'd like to book the standard room.

Agent: Okay, your last name?

Jeff: Rama.

Agent: Could you spell that please?

Jeff: Sure, it's R-A-M-A.

Agent: And, your first name?

Jeff: It's Jeff.

Agent: Okay, I have you booked in a standard non-smoking queen, checking in on October 12th and departing the 15th. What major credit card would you like to use to guarantee the reservation?

Jeff: A Visa.

Agent: The number and expiration?

Jeff: It's 7388-2424-3535-1818 and the expiration is 05/08.

Agent: Your confirmation number is PD672. Is there anything else I help you with?

Jeff: No, that's all. Thanks.

Agent: Have a nice day and thanks you for calling Dutton Hotels.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
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down time --- time to relax after you work hard

crash --- stay in someone’s house usually for short vocation

toll- free --- free call

reservation --- an arrangement for a seat on a plane or train, a room in a hotel, etc. to be kept for you:     I’ll call the restaurant and make a reservation

phone tree --- press buttons such as ‘1’ ,’2’  to choose after you call

courtyard --- looks onto other rooms

guarantee --- n.  v. 1.a firm promise that you will do sth or that sth will happen
                2. a written promise given by a company that sth you buy will be replaced or repaired without payment if it goes wrong within a particular period :  We provide a 5-year guarantee against rust. Ç The watch is still under guarantee
        3. money or sth valuable that you give or promise to a bank, for example, to make sure that you will do what you have promised:    We had to offer our house as a guarantee when getting the loan.

jiayi

October 08,2009
ESLPodcast 111 - Last Minute Holiday Shopping
Every year, I tell myself that I won't procrastinate in doing my holiday shopping. And, every year, I end up with a shopping list as long as your arm and about 24 hours to get it all done. Waiting until the last minute means that I have to brave the crowds out doing their last-minute shopping.

First, I have to find a place to park in the parking lot, which is always packed. Then, I have to fight off the bargain hunters who are there for the holiday markdowns. With so many shoppers, the shelves are usually a mess and a lot of items are out of stock. When I've finally picked out what I want to buy, there are usually long lines at the register. Just when I'm about to check out, I always remember that I've forgotten one last thing. It never fails!

When I get home with the presents, I have to wrap them. Hopefully, I haven't forgotten to get gift wrap, ribbons and bows, and holiday cards. By the time I'm finished, I'm exhausted and I feel like Scrooge. Ba humbug!

Why do I do this to myself every year? Next year, I'm starting my holiday shopping in September. Then again, I said that last year.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
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Doing sth at the last minute --- doing sth right before it must be done
Procrastinate --- [prəuˈkræstineit]   vi.   拖延, 耽搁 to wait until the last minute, to put it off.
End up with --- as a result of ,because of
Packed --- full [pækt] adj.异常拥挤的; 挤满人的        有大量…的; …极多的    紧密地压在一起     收拾好行李
Bargain hunter--- Bargain [ˈbɑ:ɡin]: a great deal, low price    vt. & vi. 讨价还价; 商谈提出条件; 要求得到  n. 协议, 交易特价商品
Markdown --- a store reduce the price  n. 减价,标低价
Out of stock --- the store doesn’t have anything left  (商店等中)无现货的
It never fails --- it always happens
Wrap --- to put cover paper around sth vt. 包, 裹; 卷
       
Ribbons --- [ˈribən] n.带, 缎带, 丝带
Bows --- 蝴蝶结;蝴蝶领结   She tied her shoelaces in a bow.
Exhausted --- very tired  筋疲力尽
Scrooge. Ba humbug --- scrooge n.吝啬鬼  humbug: n.vi. vt. 欺骗, 虚伪  骗子

jiayi

Octorber 09,09
ESLPodcast 112 - Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa
The holidays in my family are very diverse . Our custom is to celebrate Christmas every year as a religious observance, complete with Advent wreathes and Midnight Mass. Most of my in-laws observe Christmas purely as a secular holiday, with the focus on exchanging gifts, stockings, a Christmas tree, and other traditional customs. There is a lot of listening to Christmas music‚ My favorites are the carols sung by Nat King Cole ‚and sometimes even some eggnog. My nieces and nephews enjoy the day the most, especially when they get to open the gifts under the tree from Santa Claus .

One of my brother-in-laws is Jewish, and so he celebrates Hanukkah, the festival of lights, when he lights a candle each of the eight nights on the menorah. My niece gets a small gift each night of Hanukkah and of course spins the dreidel. With both celebrations in the same family, we sometimes call it Chrismukkah.

But the holidays are no longer just Christmas and Hanukkah in the United States. More recently, there are some people who celebrate a new holiday, Kwanzaa. This is a mostly African- American event, with parades and other parties to highlight African-American heritage. Started here in Los Angeles, this celebration runs for 1 week after Christmas, and is a mostly secular celebration.

Whatever tradition you celebrate, December is always a festive time of year.
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Diverse --- many different types [daiˈvəs]  不同的, 多种多样的
Religious observance --- observance [əbˈzə:vəns] n. 遵守,惯例,仪式,庆祝
Midnight Mass --- Mass: a religious celebration弥撒
Secular --- not religious adj. 现世的, 俗界的
Carols --- a Christmas song  n. 圣诞颂歌
Eggnog ---  蛋奶酒
Niece ---  侄女, 外甥女
Santa Claus --- [ˌsæntəˈklɔ:z] 圣诞老人
Jewish ---  adj. 犹太人的; 犹太教徒的
Hanukkah --- a Jewish celebration   [ˈhɑ:nəkə]光明节(犹太纪念节日之一)
Menorah --- [məˈnəurə] 多连灯烛台
spins the dreidel --- spin : 使…旋转  dreidel: 陀螺
Kwanzaa ---  a Afric-American celebration
Parade --- [pəˈreid] vt, vi (使)集合接受检阅  游行; 列队行进  展示; 炫耀
Heritage --- [ˈheritidʒ] 遗产, 继承物  传统

jiayi

October 13, 2009

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=827414

ESLPodcast 113 - New Year's Party
I walked into the office and saw Rob with his head down on his desk. I tapped him on the shoulder.

Christy: You look like you had a good New Year's.

Rob: Yeah, too good. I'm trying to catch up on sleep.

Christy: Oh yeah? What did you do?

Rob: I went to a New Year's party at the Key Club on the Sunset Strip with a few buddies of mine. The fireworks at midnight were great. I met this great girl there, too. Champagne was flowing everywhere and I had a great time.

Christy: Sounds like fun. What was the girl's name?

Rob: Uh It was Rosa or Rebecca, or something.

Christy: I see you really got to know her well. But, I thought you and Vince were going to the Rose Bowl Parade.

Rob: Yeah, we did. After we left the Key Club, we changed and took our stuff down to the parade route. We managed to find a place to camp out. There were tons of people there already. We ended up striking up conversations with some out-of-towners from Cleveland, and a couple who knew the grand marshal for this year's parade.

Christy: How was the parade itself?

Rob: It was great, I think. I fell asleep half way through it but the floats I saw were pretty amazing.

Christy: It sounds like you need a few days to recover .

Rob: Yeah, definitely. Wake me up when the boss comes in, will you?

Christy: Yeah, right. Hey, heads up . Here she comes.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
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head down --- sleeping

tap --- touch lightly

catch up on --- didn’t get enough sleep and try to get sleep back, to get further alone

Sunset Strip --- strip: 商业街  vi. 1. 脱光衣服   vt. 1.  脱去2. 剥夺, 3.  拆卸；拆开
n. 1. 脱衣; 脱衣舞表演2. 狭长的一块(材料、土地等)3. (足球队员的)运动服4. 商业街

Buddy --- . 1. 同伴, 伙伴2. (<美俚>家伙，老兄;喂3. 搭档；伙伴 vi.1. 做朋友；陪伴2.  (和…)结交，携手工作

Champagne --- [[ʃæmˈpeɪn]

Rose Bowl Parade --- annual celebration on new year’s day, famous

Changed --- change the cloth

striking up conversations --- strike up: begin

marshal --- [ˈmɑrʃəl] 1. 元帅, 最高指挥官2. 典礼官, 司仪3. 执法官, 警察局长; 消防局长 vt.1. 整理, 排列, 集结

jiayi

October 14, 2009

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=807728

ESLPodcast 114 - Writing a Thank You Note
Dear Jake,

I wanted to thank you for all of the help you've given me over the past several weeks. Being laid up with pneumonia really caught me off-guard, but you went above and beyond in taking care of me. Before I got sick, we had only known each other as neighbors and only for a short time. That's why it's so amazing that when I called you, you came running. You pulled out all the stops to help me in every way. You ran my errands, kept me company, and made sure I had everything I needed. Being on my own in L.A., I'm so grateful to have a good friend like you. You're truly one in a million.

Have a wonderful holiday and I'll see you when you get back.

Kate

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
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being laid up --- usually in one’s bad , sick.      lay up:1. 放置不用2. 贮存, 储蓄3. 使(某人)待在床上或室内

pneumonia --- kind of sickness [nju:ˈməunjə] 1. 〈医〉肺炎

catch sb off-guard --- you won’t expect it.  not prepared or vigilant
   vigilant: adj. 1. 警惕的;警戒的;警觉的2. 谨慎

above and beyond --- do more that you had to

come running --- come to help me very quickly, not really running

pull out all the stops --- do everything to help sb

run one’s errands --- any small thing that you have to do as part of  your diary life.
                                  Errand :[ [ˈerənd] n. 1. 差使2. 差事3. 从事某职业的人；职业运动员；职业选手；老手


keep one company --- stay with someone who maybe lonely and you talk with him

on my own --- be alone, by  yourself

jiayi

October 15, 2009

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=788042

ESLPodcast 115 - New Year's Resolution
This is the time of year when people make their New Year's resolutions. At the beginning of a new year, people take stock of their lives and decide to make some changes.

A lot of people want to get into shape. They vow to go to the health club and work out everyday. Many people also decide to go on a diet. After overindulging at holiday meals, people feel the need to cut back and to shed some extra pounds. Many people also promise to quit smoking or drinking to live healthier lives.

Whatever resolution you make, don't forget the most important one: Promise not to have to make the same resolution next year.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

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New Year's resolutions --- resolution: promise to yourself.

take stock --- examine, look back

vow --- serious promise

work out --- do exercises

go on a diet --- lose weight

overindulging --- indulge: enjoy sth.   Enjoy sth too much.

Cut back --- reduce, can use it for food or money

shed some extra pounds --- shed: lose ,  to drop pounds

jiayi

October 16, 2009

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=778199

ESL Podcast 116 - Holiday Travel

It's hard to avoid traveling over the holidays but the experience I had last week really takes the cake.

I flew back to Tucson, Arizona, to be with my wife's family, as we do every Christmas. I got to the airport an hour and a half before my flight, which I thought would be plenty of time. When I got there, though, I saw that the security line was out the door. Because it was the holidays, people were traveling with a lot of extra packages. It took twice as long as it normally would to get to the front of the line. When I finally got to the gate, I found out that my flight had been oversold. The gate agent was looking for people to voluntarily give up their seats for a later flight in exchange for a $100 travel voucher. If she didn't get enough volunteers, she would have to bump people from the flight. Luckily, several people took her up on the offer and the rest of us boarded.

What a hassle! I love the holidays but I don't love holiday travel.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
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takes the cake --- is even worse than other porblems

voucher --- like cupon  n. 1. 证人;保证人2. 凭证, 代金券3. 收据, 凭单4. 证件;证书5. 代币券；票券


bump sb from the flight --- bump:  vt&vi1. 撞倒; 冲撞  颠簸着前进  
n. 1. 碰撞, 猛撞2. 肿块3. 隆起物4. 轻微撞车事故   5.  生日举放仪式（在孩子生日时将其举高后再放在地上的仪式，举放次数与年龄相等）

in exchange for

took sb up on the offer --- agree

hassle --- a great deal of trouble; difficulty; nuisance

jiayi

It's the first time I heard of 'oversold'. For example: the flight have 100 seats, but the agent usually will sell more tickets such as 110 . Because usually somebody will give up the flight at the last moment. But if not, the flight is oversold, sb should give up voluntarily or sb would be bumped from the flight.

It's happened in American. But I am not sure if it's same in Canada. I just know it's different in China.

zhangyl

In Canada several seats will not be sold at all. They save some seats for Emergency.

lamjin

It's the first time I heard of 'oversold'. For example: the flight have 100 seats, but the agent usually will sell more tickets such as 110 . Because usually somebody will give up the flight at the la ...
jiayi 发表于 2009-10-16 23:18

                               
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这是营销的一种策略，特别实在航空业。

月明

It's the first time I heard of 'oversold'. For example: the flight have 100 seats, but the agent usually will sell more tickets such as 110 . Because usually somebody will give up the flight at the la ...
jiayi 发表于 2009-10-16 23:18

                               
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i also know it for the first time.

jiayi

In Canada several seats will not be sold at all. They save some seats for Emergency.
zhangyl 发表于 2009-10-16 23:23

                               
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It sounds good. We don't need to worry about being bump from the flight.

jiayi

这是营销的一种策略，特别实在航空业。
lamjin 发表于 2009-10-17 00:18

                               
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Hehe, welcome you for coming here. Thank you for your suggestion about the internet agency. It's good.

jiayi

i also know it for the first time.
月亮河 发表于 2009-10-17 09:06

                               
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Listening to the podcast is a good idea. Do you think so? Will you join us. Now I memory the article with lotusleaf every night.

jiayi

October 19, 2009

I forgot to take my mp3 again.  I would like to talk something about the public library today.

I go to the library at night these days after I finished my supper. As you know, you can’t study any thing if a little kid is around you. The environment of the library is good. You can study there without the disturbance.

Even in evening, many people are there, from children to old men. There are different parts for the readers in the library.

One part is for the reading learners. Some long table is separated into several parts and each part has a light and a chair. People can sit there studying and they can find the books which they want easily.

Another part is for the people who want to go to internet. The computer seats which with internet service are always full. And the other computers can apply the library information for you.

The third part is for the people who want to use their own notebook. There are several tables with the electric outlet. You can use the wireless route service in library easily after you accept the rules of the library, without any password.

And I noticed that there was a printer in the corner. People can print or copy their documents or data which they searched in the library .

There is a separate part for children too which is on the first floor. Children can sit there reading the books or listening to the stories.

I like the library. Some times my husband and my daughter go to there with me. My husband tells the stories to the little girl on the ground floor and I study on the second floor. And later we take some children books home.

月明

Listening to the podcast is a good idea. Do you think so? Will you join us. Now I memory the article with lotusleaf every night.
jiayi 发表于 2009-10-20 02:15

                               
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choose the way you like. keep on.

jiayi

October 20, 2009

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=758513

ESL Podcast 117 - Impressions of LA
I was talking to my new friend Nicole about the differences between New York City and Los Angeles. Nicole just relocated from New York, where she lived all her life, and I'm a native of L.A.

Dan: So, is L.A. all it's cracked up to be?

Nicole: Well, the stereotype in the movies is that L.A. is a frivolous town with a lot of flaky people. I guess, in the back of my mind, that's what I expected.

Dan: And, is it what you found?

Nicole: Well, it is and it's not. The city of L.A. is much bigger and more diverse than I had expected. There are people here from all over the country and all over world, like New York. I've heard people say that in L.A., everyone is from somewhere else. That's partly true. So, I've met all kinds of people here. What I'm realizing is that the picture of L.A. that's in movies only represents a small segment of the city.

Dan: You're right. Life isn't always like the movies.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

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1. cracked up to be --- as good as people say it is      crack: break 开裂, 破裂砸碎；打碎劈叭声, 爆裂声

2. stereotype --- a common idea that people have, that is often false
              [ˈstiəriətaip] n. 1. 老套, 模式化的见解, 有老一套固定想法的人  vt. 1. 把…模式化, 使成陈规


3.  frivolous --- not serious   [ˈfrɪvələs ]adj. 1. 不重要的,不必要的;轻浮愚蠢的2. 无聊的；不严肃的   n. 1. 不重要,不必要

4. flaky --- unreliable [ˈfleiki] adj. 1. 薄片的,成片的,薄而易剥落的,〈美俚〉极古怪的,与常人不同的

5. diverse --- having variety adj.1. 不同的, 多种多样的，相异的，形形色色的

6. segment --- small part n. 1. 部分, 份, 片, 段2. 瓣3. 弓形；圆缺        vt. 1. 分割；划分

in the back of my mind                   The picture of LA.