MMIVSpringWeekFour

MMIVSpringWeekFour (2004.3.1)

Classroom Content

When We Have Confidence	When We Lack Confidence
Giving Speeches	Giving English Speeches
In Competitions: Sports, Language, English Writing	Performing In Public
Singing Alone	Asking Someone For A Date
Speaking With Foreigners	Speaking With Peter (!)
Winning Miss Universe	Doing Housework
Playing Basketball, Football, Ping Pong	Telling Lies
Skating, Swimming, Biking	Meeting Strangers
Going To New Places, Alone	Starting A New Job
In A Big Group Of Friends	Interviewing For A Job
The 1st Day Of School	The 1st Day Of School
When People Vote For Us	Talking With Someone Of The Opposite Sex
Taking Math Exams	Taking Math Exams
Singing KTV With Friends	Going To Parties Full Of Talented People
Playing Computer Games With Friends And Winning	The 1st Time Doing Anything: Skydiving
Giving Impromptu Performances	Meeting Peers Who Are More Accomplished
Showing Off New Cell Phone To Friends	Any Time We Fail

Phrases And Sentence Patterns

• a | no match for ...
  • He found that despite his considerable experience in debate, his opponent was proving more than a match for him.
  • Do you really think you're a match for a real NBA player?
  • Your voice is too powerful; I'm no match for you!
  • My cooking in general is no match for yours, but I'll admit that I can serve up a mean steak!

• accept | refuse a job offer

• bump | run into ...
  • We bumped into each other on the street unexpectedly, and decided to catch up over a cup of coffee at [Starbucks].
  • I kept thinking that I would bump into her sooner or later, but it just never happened.
  • You'll never guess that he ran into three of his mates from school when he visited New York!
  • He had been purposely avoiding her, but when he ran into her on the subway, he found that all his old resentment did not come flooding back as he had expected.

• gang up on ...

• have/stand a chance against ...
  • Bino doesn't stand a chance against Mike Tyson in the ring!

• I once | I have always ... (Common Mistake: "I had ever ...")

• no matter what ...
  • I'm going to the beach, no matter what! (But it's raining!)
  • No matter what they say, I'm not going to give out any more control of the company!
  • He was my first boyfriend, and no matter what, he'll always have a place in my heart.
  • We've got to finish our homework on time, no matter what!
  • "No matter what you say or do to me, I am still a worthwhile person!" [Mantra endorsed by Bob Gross, Dean of [Swarthmore College], where I went to school. See ["Being Christian At Swat"], an opinion article in the Swarthmore Phoenix written by one of my classmates. You can see a reference to this mantra by searching for the word "worthwhile". The Phoenix is our student newspaper, concurrently published online.]

• one ... after another
  • He smoked one cigarette after another.

• Tell me a little bit about yourself. (Common Mistake: "Give me a short introduction.")

• Who do you think you are?

Pronunciation

• couple vs. cup
• gang vs. game
• lack vs. like
• lake vs. lack
• like vs. lake
• polite vs. plight

Usage

• afford vs. pay for
  • Can you afford such a luxurious house?
  • No, I can't afford it, but you are looking at the wrong page. [Flips page to something more affordable]
  • I'm sorry, that's more than I can afford right now.
  • I already paid for your ticket.
  • Don't forget, we still have to pay for the things your parents want to buy.
  • Did you pay for the gum yet? (WordNet:chewing+gum)

• go vs. come (Common Mistake: [At home] "You went home so late last night!")
  • [At home] Come back before midnight!
  • [At home] He went to work early today, but got caught in traffic with all the other early birds. (WordNet:early+bird)
  • [At school] How can you come to class without your homework?
  • [At school] He felt sick, and had to go home early.
  • [At work] I came to tell you that I quit!
  • [At work] We're going to the gym after work today, do you want to come with us?

Vocabulary

• apologize (v); apology (n)

• assertive (adj)
  • You have to be more assertive to get what you want.
  • He's only assertive when people try to limit the amount of time he spends playing computer games!
  • I'm not very assertive, and would rather just let others have their way.

• baggy (adj)
  • Behind his baggy pants, he's actually very skinny.

• bossy (adj)
  • Mom, stop being so bossy!
  • I hate bossy people, but I have to admit that I'm pretty bossy sometimes!
  • She told me not to be so bossy, but I was just stating my preferences.
  • My sister used to boss me around, and I sometimes I still let her. It brings us closer.

• bully (n, v)

• [cargo pants] (n)

• casual (adj) (See formal)
  • wear, conversation, clothing

• comfort (n); comfortable (adj)

• confidence (n); confident (adj)
  • We're full of confidence that we'll pass the exam with flying colors!
  • Whenever I'm feeling low, a conversation with my good friends can always boost my confidence.
  • She was quite depressed after losing the English speech competition, but speaking to some of the foreigners at her university allowed he to regain some confidence.
  • I have a lot of confidence in myself, but I try not to let it get to my head.
  • They lacked confidence in their qualifications, but decided to apply for the job anyway.
  • Although you may not be able to tell just by talking with her, my mother is actually a rather confident person.
  • He seems remarkably confident in view of his inexperience.

• chain smoke (v); chain smoker (n)
  • My boss is a chain smoker, and I can't stand having to stay in his filthy office for any amount of time.

• customer (n)

• dress pants (n)

• emotional (adj) == 激动
  • He became very emotional when he saw her asleep in the hospital bed.
  • We're a deeply emotional couple, so if one of us cries, the other is bound to too.
  • The plot wasn't very deep, but the movie left me feeling extremely emotional.
  • Don't get emotional about it; I'm just stating my own opinion!

• exactly (adv); exact (adj) (See precisely)

• firm (adj)
  • I've made a firm decision, and I'll stand by it.
  • She's firm on this.
  • He gave a firm order; I'm not about to disobey!

• formal (adj) (See casual)
  • dining, debate, conversation, wear, clothing, attire, remarks

• hole (n) == 洞
  • Can the cat fit into the mousehole? Of course not.

• instructions (n); instruct (v)

• list (n, v) == 列表

• Miss China; [Miss Universe]; [Miss World] (n)
  • I would be confident if I won the Miss World competition!
  • (You're a man; you can't be Miss World!)

• precisely (adv); precise (adj) (See exactly)

• purpose (n) == 目的

• raise (n) == 工资增加
  • I've worked hard all year, and I think I deserve a raise. (More than my manager deserves one, at least!)
  • She asked for a raise, but her boss refused to give her one.

• regain (v)
  • She was miserable after failing her math exam, but she regained some confidence when she learned of her high marks in other subjects.

• setting (n)
  • Can you describe the setting of the movie? (The movie was set in England in the 1800's, and was very dark, with a premonition of evil.)

• size (n)
  • I'm so happy with these pants; they are the perfect size!
  • The shopkeeper urged me to try more shoes, but I was so sick of them all being the wrong size that I declined.
  • She finally found the right size after checking four different stores.
  • This hat is one size fits all, so it will make a perfect gift!

• skirt (n)

• stubborn (adj)

• submissive (adj) == 服从的
  • She lowered her head submissively and agreed to fulfill all of his demands.

• sucks (adj)
  • This movie sucks! We just wasted two hours of our lives!

• suit (n)

• [tank top] (n)

• tone (n)
  • Don't use that tone of voice with me, young man!