Assignment 8: Listen to ESL Podcast 528

ESL Podcast 528 – Negotiating Salary

In this conversation, a man and a woman are negotiating the woman's salary.
The man wants to hire the woman, but they have different thinking about salary.

"I'm happy to hear that." Formally, we use "I'm delighted to hear that."

Salary: Use it for monthly full-time job for the most case.
ex: a monthly salary, a yearly salary

Wage: Use it for hourly paid job, like part time job pays $10 per hour.
ex: an hourly wage, a daily wage

constraint noun
something which controls what you do by keeping you within particular limits
ex: The constraints of politeness wouldn't allow her to say what she really thought about his cooking.

compensation noun
something that makes you feel better when you have suffered something bad
ex: I have to spend three months of the year away from home - but there are compensations like the chance to meet new people.

"I'm looking for..." Formally, we use "I would be looking for..."


Reflection:
After listening to this conversation, I think it's quite useful for me because I'll going to get a job in these months.
First conversation read with a slower speed ,and then explain phrases and expressions. In explanations, teacher explains expressions mean and how to use them.
After that, the conversation read with normal speed.
I think the sequences help us be more concentrate on the conversation because sometimes we listen to a text with normal speed first, we'll have less interesting in the difficult text. In fact, that's not difficult for you but the speed will make you afraid.

In my opinion, ESL's themes are more practical than some materials like Studio Classroom. I think Studio Classroom is helpful to everyone even junior high school students but for university students or members of society, the topic are not helpful enough. I would like to listen to ESL to improve my English.

Assignment 7: Steve Jobs' talk

Expressions：

1. commencement - a ceremony at which students formally receive their degrees

2. deposit - a payment, especially into a bank account
ex: To open an account, you need to make a minimum deposit of $500.

3. entrepreneur- someone who starts their own business, especially when this involves seeing a new opportunity
ex: He was one of the entrepreneurs of the eighties who made their money in property.

4. sedate adjective - avoiding excitement or great activity and usually calm and relaxed
ex: The fight against a chemical storage site has transformed a normally sedate village into a battleground.

5. dogma - a fixed, especially religious, belief or set of beliefs that people are expected to accept without any doubts

6. Polaroid - a camera that takes a picture and prints it after a few seconds, or a photograph taken with this type of camera
ex: Did you take these with a Polaroid?

7. falling - an argument
ex: Rachel and Bill have had a falling-out and they're not speaking to each other.

8. hitchhike - to travel by getting free rides in someone else's vehicle
ex: Women should never hitchhike on their own.



Reflection:

After listening to this speech, I think it's an attractive speech and helpful to every graduate. He provided his three stories in his life and gave graduates some inspirations that most people won't tell them.

I agree with Steve that you should never stop looking for what you love to do, you're going to do it for the rest of your life so you might as well like it at least.

"Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." is a great motto for everyone.
Sometimes we think we're smart enough to do everything, but in fact, we still have lots of things have to learn and we should be more open-minded, even we'are old men.

Assignments 6: Randall's Cyber Listening Lab

Title: Japanese Public Bath
Level: medium
Topic: bathrooms
Type: conversation
Speakers: man - man
Length: 01:38

Expressions:
1. patron (noun): customer or visitor
Ex: Patrons are asked not to eat or drink in the art gallery.
2. rinse (phrasal verb): remove soap or dirt from something using water
Ex: Please rinse off before you get in the swimming pool.
3. belongings (noun): possessions
Ex: Please do not leave your belongings unattended while in the amusement park.
4. the idiom "take a bath" means "lose money."
5. platform (noun): a raised area where you can sit
Ex: The members of the local government were sitting on a platform overlooking the audience.



Title: Thanksgiving and Christmas: Holiday Traditions
Level: medium
Topic: holidays
Type: interview
Speakers: man and interviewees
Length: 01:32

1. sneak (verb): to advance or approach without being seen
Ex: My son often tries to sneak into the kitchen and take a cookie when no one is watching.
2. proch (noun): a part of a house covering the entrance
3. generous (adjective): willing to give or share freely
Ex: People are often very generous around the holiday season and donate.
4. "see eye to eye" means "agree on this, have the same opinion."
5. sledding (noun): the activity of ridding on a sled, usually in snow
Ex: I took the kids sledding yesterday down a real fun hill.

Assignment 5: Listening Diary on Studio Classroom(10/22, 10/23)

Day/Date Nov. 8
Time Begin 16:15
Time ended 16:45
Method Listen to MP3
Program/Station/Title Oct 22 Decorating for the Holidays


Your Notes:

※ Lawn displays Christmas tree or Santa Claus.
※ Colored eggs: Something represents new life.
※ People decorate simple decorations by themselves.
※ Posters: Large pictures can place on the wall or anywhere.
Postures announce the coming events or tell something will happen in
the future.
※ Knickknacks: Small decorations. Ex: something decorates on Christmas tree.
※ In summer people may take a trip to the mountain or beach.
※ On Jul 4, people celebrate independents day by playing games,
watching fireworks and eating food.
※ Holiday seasons start with Halloween, end with New Year or Valentine’s Day.
※ A neighborhood effect: What neighborhood wants to look like by their
decorations.




Day/Date Nov. 10
Time Begin 21:29
Time ended 21:55
Method Listen to MP3
Program/Station/Title Oct 23 Decorating for the Holidays


Your Notes:
※ Halloween: trick or treat. Scary holiday. Decorate some scary decorations
※ “We have way too many boxes of different decorations if you ask me”, in this
case, “if you ask me” means “in my opinion.”
※ In winter, people will sled, have snow ball fight, and bill snow man.
※ Thanksgiving, Eat turkey, watch football games on TV.
※ Christmas, families get together; celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
※ String: Something is long and thin. Ex: pearl.