Using technology to learn English (simplified version)

CALL

1.  Google form for feedback collecting or testing
2.  Blogs:www.wordpress.com
3.  Teaching and learning platform:https://www.edmodo.com/home
4.  Shorten the website address:https://bitly.com/
5.  Glossary:www.wikispaces.com
6.  Cloud storage and organizationwww.evernote.com www.scoop.it www.dropbox.com
7.  The more frequent the words, the bigger they appear.http://www.wordle.net/
8.  Creative Commons: CChttp://creativecommons.tw/about
9.  Working with people of the worldwww.iearn.org (http://taiwaniearn.org/)  www.rockourworld.org www.webquest.org http://www.flatstanley.com/

Entertainment

1.  picture database of cats with funny captionshttp://www.lolcats.com/
2.  commercial writinghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tCtM8UEQv8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ2EKswyTao

ESP: BBC learning Englishhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

Grammar

1.  Movie and grammar exercisehttp://moviesegmentstoassessgrammargoals.blogspot.com/
2.  Grammar exercisehttp://www.usingenglish.com/

Listening

1.    watching MV and lyric-typing at the same timehttp://www.lyricstraining.com/
2.    Listening materials with scripts, videos, slides, notes…http://www.elllo.org/
3.    Youtube: CBS Radio Mystery Theater
4.    Listening exercise for various levels and topicshttp://www.esl-lab.com/
5.    TED talkshttp://www.ted.com/
6.    Youtube: RSA animate
7.    Youtube: the history of Englishhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rexKqvgPVuA

Reading

1.  Simple English Wikipedia:http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
2.  The internet movie script databse (including South Park scripts for role-play)http://www.imsdb.com/
3.  Lit2Go: Literature ready for use with MP3 files, PDF, .txt files and many more ready to use.http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/
4.  Background knowledge and culturehttp://www.openculture.com/

Speaking

1.  Praat: doing phonetics by computerhttp://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/
2.  Alien invader cosplayhttp://digitaldebris.info/
3.  Famous speecheshttp://www.history.com/speeches
4.  Lip sync battlehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4ajQ-foj2Q

Vocabulary

1.  collaborative editing platform for glossaryhttps://ntnuglossary.wikispaces.com/
2.  word games onlinehttp://www.wordreference.com/
3.  online collocation dictionaryhttp://www.ozdic.com/
4.  British National Corpus  ctrl + f to locate target wordshttp://www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/
5.  Candidate for a Pullet Surprise by Mark Eckman and Jerrold H. Zarhttp://grammar.about.com/od/spelling/a/spellcheck.htm
6.  Vocabulary testhttps://www.vocabulary.com/
7.  Answer more questions, donate more rice to the poorwww.freerice.com
8.  Common errors in English usage:http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
9.  Idioms with graphics and explanationshttp://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idiomsmain.html
10.  idiomshttp://www.certifiedchinesetranslation.com/idioms/

Writing

1.  Google doc for simultaneous peer-editing
2.  Add text to create postcards, posters, ads, etc.www.addtext.com
3.  Conversation ballons: superlamehttp://www.superlame.com/
4.  Images with short descriptions and linkshttp://www.thinglink.com/
5.  Interactive multiple-choice questions to address common writing problemshttp://www.tolearnenglish.com/
6.  Tripadvisorhttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/
7.  Grammar & compositionhttp://grammar.about.com/
8.  Postcard exchangehttp://www.postcrossing.com/

Comprehensive materials

1.  VAK survey VAK survey http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/styles/vak.html
2.  Watch videos, listen to texts, fill in blanks, recite texts:  http://www.englishcentral.com/videos#!/index/all/all/easiest
3.  Pocketfilms: “The Desk” (7 mins)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_kIyihNd-A
4.  Stop searching; start learning. Learning website databasehttp://www.mentormob.com/splash
5.  Breaking news English; professionally-tailored worksheetshttp://breakingnewsenglish.com/
6.  Audiobook for reading and listeninghttp://esl-bits.net/index.htm
7.  TESL Journals, jokes, conversation questionshttp://iteslj.org/
8.  Interactive games, esp word-based games (wbg)http://www.manythings.org/
9.  Visual-audio exercises for various topics; practical business writing samples in the right columnhttp://www.teatime-mag.com
10.  handouts and resources for various topics and levelshttp://www.eslflow.com/
11.  comprehensive materials, great for senior highshttp://www.ego4u.com/
12. British Councilhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/
13.  Learn English in view of cultural differenceshttp://corecorner.pixnet.net/blog
14. Grammar, vocabulary, background knowledge, quizzes in the left columnhttp://www.eslcafe.com/

Using apps to learn English

This is an edited reblog from “9 Most Popular iOS and Android Apps to Learn English Language” http://bit.ly/16Ca0WH and “ESL Apps: 15 English Language Learning Apps for iPhone and Android” http://bit.ly/113kyLW written by Anastasia Koltai

1. Intro to Letters takes you through every letter in the English alphabet. Students can tap a letter they want to learn about, and the app will tell them what the letter means, examples of how it is used and what it sounds like in different words. Then you can do exercises, flashcards and puzzles with each letter. To help students write the letters, the app offers a tracing program for practice.

2. Hello-Hello English was built in part by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. It uses a teaching method called Mobile Immersion to create a virtual environment that guides learners visually to develop functional language skills. It comes with 30 conversational lessons based on real-life situations. Animated lessons, games and exercises allow students to practice speaking, writing, reading and listening skills.

3. SpeakingPal English Tutor is an interactive app that uses a mobile phone’s speech recognition capability. It features a series of 5-minute mini-lessons, dialogues, interactive exercises, role-playing and language activities. Using the speech recognition technology, this app provides instant feedback on the students speaking performance and a review mode for later. It is available on iPhone and Android for free.

4. Conversation English features 20 lessons, each with video dialogue, conversation listening and reading, comprehension, vocabulary and sentence completion. The app follows an ongoing storyline about a group of friends and their relationships. By following the story, students learn English idioms, expressions and vocabulary. This is a great app for students who wish to practice more conversational English. Its available for download on iTunes.

5. Supiki English Conversation Speaking Practice app is an iOS app to improve your conversational skills.

6. Busuu is an app featuring comprehensive vocabulary, dialogue and interactive tests, students will learn more than 3,000 words and expressions. It covers 150 topics using day-to-day situations. This app is suitable for both beginning and advanced students. It is available for download on iPhone (including iOS 4, optimized for retina display), iPad, iPod touch and Android. It comes with 20 free learning units, with full content available for purchase.

7. ESL Daily English features a podcast for ESL students for beginning to advanced English learners.  Each podcast episode can be translated to native language and comes with a detailed learning guide. You can socialize and comment with other students to discuss the episodes. Available for Android only!

8. Sentence Builder, an iPad application, is  one of the most popular ESL apps for younger students, according to Edudemic.com. It provides vivid images and videos, then shows various words and phrases you can piece together to form the right English sentence to go with the image.

9. Voxy is suited for both the beginner and advanced learner. It creates personalized lessons which adapt based on the student’s level, interests and goals. It features skill-based lessons based on specific goals. Students can take private lessons with a certified, native English-speaking tutor to improve their speaking skills. Tutors provide detailed feedback on student performance. Tests focus on the words and phrases students are exposed to throughout the course and if they pass, they get an award. It can be downloaded for free on iPhone and Android.

10.  LearnEnglish Audio and Video features English learning podcats and videos, which is a good way to get English immersion.

11. LearnEnglish Grammar helps users improve their grammar skills.

12.  MyWordBook 2 is described as an “interactive vocabulary network” from which users can download word lists.

13.  Wordshake is a game that resembles Boggle; it gives users a grid of letters and a time limit in which to find as many words as possible.

14.  Their vocabulary apps include free and paid apps about phrasal verbs and a series called English Vocabulary in Use for elementary, intermediate, and advanced learners.

15. Cambridge offers grammar in the form of English Grammar in Use, which includes Activities, Tests, and Essentials at several levels.

16. Kids English Vocabulary is an app designed for students just beginning to work in English. This app is a great introduction for beginners just starting to learn vocabulary basics.

17. English Verb Trainer offers education and practice on common English verbs. This app is particularly handy because it can run offline, so students don’t need to have a connection in order to practice. This app can help students learn how to conjugate that pesky ‘be’ verb and many others.

Using technology to learn English

This is the very first article posted  on this blog with a main purpose of facilitating English learning and idea sharing. The following websites are categorized in perspective of language skills or fields of language learning. For instructors and advanced learners, you may go through these websites and find some food for thoughts. For others, please follow this blog because the author will demonstrate how to use technology to improve your language proficiency. Have fun!

Technology

1. Google doc for collaborative writing and editing online; Google form for feedback collecting or testing http://bit.ly/1eYBN6j

2. Blogs: www.wordpress.com

3. Teaching and learning platform: https://www.edmodo.com/home

4. Shorten the website address: https://bitly.com/

5. Glossary: www.wikispaces.com

6. Cloud storage and organization www.evernote.com  www.scoop.it  www.dropbox.com

7. The more frequent the words, the bigger they appear. http://www.wordle.net/

8. Creative Commons: CC http://creativecommons.tw/about

9. Creating classroom games and activities http://www.classtools.net/  http://www.toolsforeducators.com/  https://jeopardylabs.com/  http://www.spellingcity.com/  http://www.listen-and-write.com/ http://www.eslgamesworld.com/

10. Creating cartoons, e-books, and photo stories http://www.toondoo.com/  http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/06/04/the-best-ways-to-make-comic-strips-online/

11. Creating newspapers, magazines, or magazine covers http://www.scoop.it/t/creating-newspapers-in-the-classroom  http://www.themeefy.com/home.html

12. Action Maze and Hot Potatoes http://www.halfbakedsoftware.com/index.php Sample: http://www.halfbakedsoftware.com/quandary/version_2/examples/landlady.htm

13. Teaching ideas http://www.edutopia.org/

14. Creative projects using pictures & photos http://www.picpick.org/en/  http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/10/11/the-best-online-sources-for-images/

15. Creative lessons with the music: a radio show http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/10/15/the-best-online-karaoke-sites-for-english-language-learners/  http://audacity.sourceforge.net/  http://www.winoke.co.uk/

16. Creating a movie http://windows.microsoft.com/zh-TW/windows7/products/features/movie-maker

17. Creating a survey www.surveymonkey.com  http://www.polleverywhere.com/

18. Working with people of the world www.iearn.org (http://taiwaniearn.org/)  www.rockourworld.org  www.webquest.org  http://www.flatstanley.com/

19. Taking a virtual tour http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2009/08/11/the-best-resources-for-finding-and-creating-virtual-field-trips/  www.secondlife.com

20. Technology in the classroom http://ilearntechnology.com/  http://www.speechyproject.org/ http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

 Entertainment

1. picture database of cats with funny captions http://www.lolcats.com/

2. commercial writing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tCtM8UEQv8  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ2EKswyTao

ESP

1. BBC learning English http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

 Grammar

1. Movie and grammar exercise http://moviesegmentstoassessgrammargoals.blogspot.com/

2. Grammar exercise http://www.usingenglish.com/

 Listening

1. watching MV and lyric-typing at the same time http://www.lyricstraining.com/

2. Listening materials with scripts, videos, slides, notes… http://www.elllo.org/

3. Youtube: CBS Radio Mystery Theater

4. Listening exercise for various levels and topics http://www.esl-lab.com/

5. TED talks http://www.ted.com/

6. Youtube: RSA animate

7. Youtube: the history of English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rexKqvgPVuA 

Reading

1. Simple English Wikipedia: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

2. The internet movie script databse (including South Park scripts for role-play) http://www.imsdb.com/

3. Lit2Go: Literature ready for use with MP3 files, PDF, .txt files and many more ready to use. http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/

4. Background knowledge and culture http://www.openculture.com/

 Speaking

1. Adrian Underhill’s Interactive Phonemic Chart http://www.onestopenglish.com/upload/public/attachments/37/osephonemicchart.swf

2. Phonetics: The Sounds of American English http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/english/frameset.html

3. Praat: doing phonetics by computer http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/

4. Alien invader cosplay http://digitaldebris.info/

5. Famous speeches http://www.history.com/speeches

6. Lip sync battle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4ajQ-foj2Q

 Vocabulary

1. collaborative editing platform for glossary https://ntnuglossary.wikispaces.com/

2. word games online http://www.wordreference.com/

3. online collocation dictionary http://www.ozdic.com/

4. British National Corpus  ctrl + f to locate target words http://www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/

5. Candidate for a Pullet Surprise by Mark Eckman and Jerrold H. Zar http://grammar.about.com/od/spelling/a/spellcheck.htm

6. Vocabulary test https://www.vocabulary.com/

7. Answer more questions, donate more rice to the poor www.freerice.com

8. Common errors in English usage: http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors

9. Idioms with graphics and explanations http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idiomsmain.html

10. idioms http://www.certifiedchinesetranslation.com/idioms/

 Writing

1. Google doc for simultaneous peer-editing

2. Add text to create postcards, posters, ads, etc. www.addtext.com

3. Conversation ballons: superlame http://www.superlame.com/

4. Images with short descriptions and links http://www.thinglink.com/

5. Interactive multiple-choice questions to address common writing problems http://www.tolearnenglish.com/

6. Tripadvisor http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/

7. Grammar & composition http://grammar.about.com/

8. Postcard exchange http://www.postcrossing.com/

 Comprehensive materials:

1. VAK survey  http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/styles/vak.html

2. Watch videos, listen to texts, fill in blanks, recite texts with a bonus system http://www.englishcentral.com/videos#!/index/all/all/easiest

3. Pocketfilms: “The Desk” (7 mins) Pick a film; transcribe or produce a script; check the script; roleplay and make a film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_kIyihNd-A

4. Stop searching; start learning. Learning website database http://www.mentormob.com/splash

5. Breaking news English; professionally-tailored worksheets http://breakingnewsenglish.com/

6. Audiobook for reading and listening http://esl-bits.net/index.htm

7. TESL Journals, jokes, conversation questions http://iteslj.org/

8. Interactive games, esp word-based games (wbg) http://www.manythings.org/

9. Visual-audio exercises for various topics for both instructors and learners; practical business writing samples in the right column http://www.teatime-mag.com

10. handouts and resources for various topics and levels http://www.eslflow.com/

11. comprehensive materials, great for senior highs http://www.ego4u.com/

12. British Council http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/

13. Learn English in view of cultural differences http://corecorner.pixnet.net/blog

14. BBC Learning English http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

15. Englishpage http://www.englishpage.com/index.html

16. Englishclub http://www.englishclub.com/

17. Grammar, vocabulary, background knowledge, quizzes in the left column http://www.eslcafe.com/

Shoot the Pianist

Shoot the Pianist: LTK Commune Declaration ‘92

射殺鋼琴師：濁水溪公社92 宣言

Once there was a man who ended all oppression and war on this earth by merely killing off ten pianists.

Before the 1990s, children of the affluent in Taiwan were taken from a very young age to learn piano. The kids with some classical foundation were seen as good students by their schoolteachers, as well-behaved by their parents, and were deemed immune from being corrupted by a society in decay. This is how it all began: One day, a piano teacher on his way home died after he was struck in his privates by a flying arrow. The next day, five more piano teachers were murdered in the same manner. Of these, four were teachers at Yamaha Music School; one was from the children’s choir at Chinese Television System (CTS). This was reported as headline news in all national media and newspapers.

These murder cases alarmed the entire nation, especially among piano teachers. There was widespread speculation from all spheres as to which unconscionable, despicable terrorist organization was responsible. Thus on the following day, cops, military police and bounty hunters infiltrated every road and byway in Taipei. Security measures were intensified in locations such as Yamaha Music Centre, X-Zone Music Store and Jamison Music Workshop. Despite these precautions, an unaccompanied pianist performing at the National Concert Hall was killed, and the killer was never apprehended.

Renowned pianists and masters gathered in the dark of the night for a meeting. They understood their responsibility toward classical music and educating children, but teaching or performing at this moment would be a game of Russian Roulette, and being a real cock up. After conferring, one pianist courageously volunteered to record a public service announcement. He wore bullet proof clothing and as accompanied by undercover police, but his dead body was discovered by security personnel the very next morning, with the entire lower body removed. A day later, there were no piano teachers to be found anywhere in Taiwan. The society sank into a state of unrest. Parents with means who loved their children were full of anxiety: worrying that their children would become delinquents. How can the people of this nation go on without piano lessons?

At that very moment, an unheard of pang-ke (punk) keyboard player risked his life for his moment in the limelight, put on his tuxedo and performed at the National Concert Hall. It had been too long since there was a public performance of the piano, and every performance was standing room only. Strangely, he was not killed off. Afterwards, a bunch of pang-ke, paupers and swindlers got on their feet, put on business suits and started giving piano lessons without any retribution.

Since no pianists had been killed for some time, everyone assumed that the danger had passed, and classically trained pianists came out of hiding. Two emerged and both were found with their lower body cruelly dismembered by arrows. No further discussion necessary. This was the year where Taiwan’s world of piano became the playground for pang-ke, rogues, paupers, swindlers, homosexuals and garbage collectors. Days passed and even factory girls and mainland Chinese ladies started to join in the ranks. But if any authentic pianists dared show up to work for a bowl of rice, these others would viciously take care of them.

Since then the image and style of pianists, the appearance and sound of the piano, music theory have all be completely altered. Some played Nanguan opera with it, some converted the outer shell into toilets, some played it tone-deaf but with sensual force, some played it sitting on the can, some converted it into a video game, yet others drove it like a taxi. In any case, there was no uniformity among those who taught piano. They were referred to as pang-ke piano. Piano playing became something fun to do. Children clamoured to have lessons, so schools began employing pang-ke, bitches, and rogues to teach piano. These lessons were out of this world. The kids influenced by pang-kepiano created a new generation. They have different thoughts, different beliefs. When they grew up, they had ostensibly different attitudes toward pang-ke, mainland Chinese women and homosexuals. They elected punks to the National Assembly, homosexual mayors, and mainland Chinese women presidents.

The nation was under the control of a bunch of pang-kei.

Their main topic of concern was filling their stomachs. Congressional debates revolved around how to get the most out of Wellcome Supermarket or Huiyang to make a feast. The highest attendance at City Council occurred when “How to jack cola and cigarettes from 7-Eleven.” As a result, even stray dogs on the roadside were able to enjoy chicken nuggets and martinis. Of course, they were also concerned with issues like housing and entertainment. Soon, even the poorest were able to happily move into the Presidential Palace.

But there was one thing they refused to do, and that was to send their kids to traditional piano lessons. Not on your life. They used their economic and political influence as an independent state to encourage pang-ke in other third world countries to participate in the political sphere, and in doing so triggered a worldwide trend. Hence a new global economic system and philosophical concepts were established. Soon, all over the world, no one went hungry, everyone had a place to live, and no child was ever forced to learn something against their will. There was no hate. No war.

Everyone worked, studied, played mahjong, made punk music, snorted meth, made movies, and discussed metaphysics in perpetual peace. You know what? While you were contemplating the responsibilities of a college student, a heroic world revolution has already happened. It took only ten pianists, not one other person’s genitalia were dismembered, and a global revolution was achieved. But this murderer, or perhaps you would call him a revolutionary, has never been identified or caught. He achieved a near-bloodless revolution, yet no one knows what became of him, what he dabbles in, what his name is… No one knows, but me. I also know that he loves music, is a loyal friend, is incomparably brave, and is the most imaginative person. Currently, he continues to carefully plan and execute this great enterprise. How do I know this?

Because he is a member of our LTK Commune!

https://bit.ly/2jn5rsO

https://bit.ly/2JN7txC

 

The Story of an Hour

Kate Chopin (1894)

Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.

It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. Her husband’s friend Richards was there, too, near her. It was he who had been in the newspaper office when intelligence of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently Mallard’s name leading the list of “killed." He had only taken the time to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram, and had hastened to forestall any less careful, less tender friend in bearing the sad message.

She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.

There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.

She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves.

There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window.

She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams.

She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought.

There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.

Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously. She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will–as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been. When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under hte breath: “free, free, free!" The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.

She did not stop to ask if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held her. A clear and exalted perception enabled her to dismiss the suggestion as trivial. She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.

There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination.

And yet she had loved him–sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!

“Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering.

Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhold, imploring for admission. “Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door–you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? For heaven’s sake open the door."

“Go away. I am not making myself ill." No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window.

Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.

She arose at length and opened the door to her sister’s importunities. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister’s waist, and together they descended the stairs. Richards stood waiting for them at the bottom.

Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephine’s piercing cry; at Richards’ quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.

When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease–of the joy that kills.

 

Translation    http://bit.ly/2pfWPah

To His Coy Mistress

To His Coy Mistress        Andrew Marvell

致羞怯情人            呂健忠 譯

如果空間時間都夠，    Had we but world enough, and time,

小姐你矜持可接受，    This coyness, Lady, were no crime.

我們可以坐下斟酌         We would sit down and think which way

長愛如何度日消磨。     To walk and pass our long love’s day.

印度恆河畔你去揀         Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side  5

紅寶石，在亨柏溪邊      Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide

我寫詩訴怨。我愛你       Of Humber would complain.I would

從大洪水前十年算起，   Love you ten years before the Flood,

如你高興，拒絕無妨，    And you should, if you please, refuse

直到猶太人改變信仰。    Till the conversion of the Jews.     10

我的癡情生長不斷，        My vegetable love should grow

比帝國遼闊，還更遲緩： Vaster than empires, and more slow;

一百年該用來讚美             An hundred years should go to praise

妳的眼睛，端詳額眉；    Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze;

各乳房傾慕兩百年，       Two hundred to adore each breast,    15

其餘總共平分三萬；       But thirty thousand to the rest;

至少一個時代一部分，   An age at least to every part,

最後一代捧你的心。       And the last age should show your heart.

小姐你值得這規格，       For, Lady, you deserve this state,

我的愛不想更淺薄。       Nor would I love at lower rate.           20

可是背後我總聽見          But at my back I always hear

時間飛車緊逼追趕；      Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near;

何況你我眼前橫陳          And yonder all before us lie

永恆的荒漠一望無垠。   Deserts of vast eternity.

你的美會玉殞香消，      Thy beauty shall no more be found,        25

雲石墓穴將聽不到         Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound

情歌繚繞：蛆將圍剿      My echoing song: then worms shall try

你珍藏已久的貞操，      That long preserved virginity,

冰清玉潔化作浮塵，      And your quaint honour turn to dust,

熊熊情慾徒留灰燼：       And into ashes all my lust:     30

墳墓隱密是沒話說，      The grave’s a fine and private place,

在那擁抱並不適合。       But none, I think, do there embrace.

趁青春色澤還停駐          Now therefore, while the youthful hue

在你的肌膚像朝露，      Sits on thy skin like morning dew,

你的靈魂仍有意願           And while thy willing soul transpires      35

從各毛孔噴發烈焰，       At every pore with instant fires,

讓我們作樂求盡興，      Now let us sport us while we may,

就現在，像猛禽發情，  And now, like amorous birds of prey,

寧可一口吞噬時間         Rather at once our time devour

勝過被光陰細嚼慢嚥。 Than languish in his slow-chapped power.    40

我們用甜蜜來攪拌        Let us roll all our strength and all

所有力氣滾成砲彈，     Our sweetness up into one ball,

生猛一搏攫取歡樂          And tear our pleasures with rough strife

把人生鐵欄杆衝破：       Thorough the iron gates of life:

這樣，雖然無法攔阻       Thus, though we cannot make our sun      45

太陽，卻可逼他跑步。    Stand still, yet we will make him run.

 

Translation & Analysis

http://bit.ly/2HBnlT5

 

Romeo & Juliet (Act1, Scene5, Page5)

Romeo & Juliet

Act1, Scene5, Page5

R: If I profane with my unworthiest hand,

   This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:

   My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

   To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

J: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much

  Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

  For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,

 And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.

R: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers, too?

J: Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

R: O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do!

   They pray. Grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

J: Saints do not move, though grant for prayer’s sake.

R: Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.

   Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.

J: Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

R: Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged!

   Give me my sin again.

J: You kiss by the book.

 

Sparknotes:

http://nfs.sparknotes.com/romeojuliet/page_66.html

 

Movie clip:

https://youtu.be/ErzMCETooDs

2015 USA

Time: 20150701~20150728

Cities: San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia

Expenditure: 100000 NTD 

Itinerary:

 San Francisco

1. 聯合廣場：The Heart紅心, Maiden Lane仕女巷, Powell St. Cable Turntable叮噹車總站
2. 貴族山：Grace Cathedral慈恩堂, Cable Car Museum叮噹車博物館
3. 市政中心：Civic Hall市政廳, SF Public Library舊金山總圖書館, United Nations Plaza聯合國廣場
4. 下城區：Cartoon Art Museum卡通藝術博物館, Yerba Buena Gardens芳草地花園, SFMOMA舊金山現代美術館
5. 漁人碼頭：Alcatraz Island惡魔島, Pier 39海獅碼頭, Musee Mecanique機械博物館, USS Pampanito潛水艇, SS Jeremiah O’Brien戰艦, Ghirardelli Square巧克力廣場
6. 濱海區：Golden Gate Bridge金門大橋(Vista Point/Baker Beach/Lands Ends/Marine Headlands/Fort Point), Legion of Honor榮譽廳, The Walt Disney Family Museum華特迪士尼博物館, Palace of Fine Arts藝術宮
7. 中國城：Chinatown Gate中國牌坊, Old St. Mary’s Cathedral聖瑪麗古教堂, Portsmouth Square花園角廣場, Tien Hou Temple天后宮
8. 金融區：TransAmerica Pyramid環美金字塔, SF Railway Museum舊金山鐵路博物館, Ferry Building渡輪大廈, Justin Herman Plaza赫曼廣場
9. 北灘電報山：Lombard St. 九曲花街, Peter & Paul Catholic Church天主教教堂, Washington Square Park華盛頓廣場, Sentinel Building黑手黨大廈, Coit Tower科伊特塔, Filbert Boulevard費爾伯梯
10. 嬉皮區：Red Victorian Bed, Breakfast & Art紅色維多利亞旅館, Six Sisters六姐妹維多利亞屋, Golden Gate Park金門公園
11. 卡斯楚與教會區：Harvey Milk Plaza Harvey Milk廣場, Harvey’s哈維爾餐廳, Castro Theatre卡斯楚戲院, Twin Peaks Tavern雙峰酒吧, Precita Eyes Mural Arts壁畫藝術(Balmy Alley巴米巷, Clarion Alley克來爾巷, Women’s Building仕女大樓)

Las Vegas

1. Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA)百靈宮藝廊
2. Hot Rod City Car Museum 車子博物館
3. Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix 郊區遊樂園
4. Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Wax Museum 蠟像館
5. Stratosphere Tower Observation Deck 觀景台
6. Big Bus Tour 巴士導覽
7. Hotels along the Strip 沿線酒店
8. South Rim of Grand Canyon大峽谷南緣

New York

1. 中城區：Time Square 時代廣場, Empire State Building帝國大廈, The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)紐約現代美術館, The NY Public Library紐約圖書館, Chrysler Building克萊斯勒大樓, Grand Central Terminal中央車站, Patrick’s Cathedral聖派屈克教堂, Rockfeller Center洛克菲勒中心
2. 上西城：Columbus Circle 哥倫布圓環, Trump International Hotel & Tower, Dakota Apartment達科塔公寓, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine聖約翰大教堂, Columbia University哥倫比亞大學
3. 上東城：Church of the Heavenly Rest天堂長眠教堂, The Jewish Museum猶太人博物館, St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral東正教教堂, Temple Emanu-El猶太教堂
4. 中央公園：Central Park中央公園, The Metropolitan Museum of Art大都會博物館, American Museum of Natural History自然歷史博物館
5. 中城區：Carnegie Hall卡內基音樂廳, The UN聯合國, St. Thomas Church聖湯瑪士教堂
6. 西村/格林威治/東村：Stonewall Place石牆廣場, Jefferson Market Library傑佛遜圖書館, Washington Square Park華盛頓廣場, NYU紐約大學, The 8^th第八街, Christopher Park克里斯多福公園, Carrie’s Home凱莉的家
7. 中國城/小義大利：Canal St., Mulberry St., Doyers St.(Bloody Angle), Mott St.
8. 雀爾喜區：Union Square聯合廣場, Strand書店, Flatiron Building熨斗大樓, Madison Square Park麥迪遜廣場公園, The High Line空中鐵道花園
9. 下曼哈頓/金融區：Statue of Liberty自由女神, Battery Park炮台公園, Charging Bull銅牛雕像, Bowling Green滾球草地, Wall St.華爾街, Federal Hall聯邦國家紀念堂, NY Stock Exchange紐約證券交易所, Trinity Church聖三一教堂, Paul’s Chapel聖保羅禮拜堂, 911Memorial & Museum世貿紀念碑, South St. Seaport南街海港, 8 Spruce St.雲杉街八號, City Hall市政廳
10. 布魯克林區：Brooklyn Bridge布魯克林大橋, Brooklyn Height Promenade布魯克林濱海步道, Flea Market@Williamsburgh跳蚤市場
11. 哈林區：125 St. Harlem哈林125街鬧區
12. 歌劇：The Phantome of the Opera @ Majestic Theater歌劇魅影, Les Mesirables @ Imperial Theater悲慘世界

Boston

1. 下城十字區：Public Garden公眾花園, Boston Common波士頓公園, The Holocaust Memorial大屠殺紀念碑, Quincy Market昆西市場, Hay Market乾草市場, Union Oyster House全美最老餐廳
2. 郊區賽林：Salem Heritage Trail賽林歷史步道, Salem Witch Museum女巫博物館, Salem Dungeon Museum女巫地牢博物館, Friendship友誼號帆船, Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie美國最老糖果屋, The House of Seven Gables七尖角閣之屋
3. 後灣區：John Hancock Tower漢考克大樓, Trinity Church聖三一教堂, Boston Public Library波士頓市立圖書館, Prudential Skywalk Observatory普天壽大樓觀景台, Christian Science Plaza基督教科學廣場, Mapporium @ Mary Baker Eddy Library彩繪玻璃地球儀, Fenway Park波士頓紅襪芬威球場
4. 南角區：SoWa Open Market夏日戶外市集
5. 比肯丘區：Acorn St.橡子街
6. 劍橋區：Harvard University哈佛大學, MIT麻州理工學院
7. 觀光步道：Freedom Trail www.thefreedomtrail.org 美國獨立自由步道, Black Heritage Trail www.nps.gov 黑人人權步道
8. 美食表演：Boston Cream Pie@Omni Parker House 波士頓派, Twin Lobster@ Mount Vernon波士頓龍蝦, Blue Man Group @ Charles Playhouse藍人劇團, Summer Festival @ Boston Common夏日慶典

Washington D.C.

1. 中國城與賓恩區：Spy Museum間諜博物館, Chinatown中國城
2. 阿靈頓區：Arlington National Cemetery阿靈頓國家公園, Arlington House李將軍宅邸, Kennedy Graveyard甘迺迪墓園, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier無名烈士墓, Iwo Jima Memorial硫磺島紀念碑
3. 國家大草坪區：Washington Monument華盛頓紀念碑, WWII Veterans Memorial二戰紀念廣場, Lincoln Memorial林肯紀念堂, Reflection Pool鏡池, Korean War Veterans Memorial韓戰紀念碑, Vietnam Veterans Memorial越戰紀念碑, Thomas Jefferson Memorial傑佛遜紀念堂, Bureau of Engraving & Printing印鈔廠, White House白宮
4. 國會山莊區：Union Station聯合車站, Capitol Hill國會山莊, Supreme Court最高法院, Library of Congress國會圖書館, National Archives 國家檔案館
5. 聯邦三角：Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI聯邦調查局, Ford’s Theater& Peterson House福特戲院
6. Smithsonian Institution史密斯森尼城堡館: Smithsonian Air & Space Museum國立航太博物館, National Museum of Natural History國立自然歷史博物館, Holocaust Memorial Museum猶太大屠殺紀念館

Philadelphia

1. 舊市區：Liberty Bell Center自由鐘, Independence Hall獨立廳, Elfreth Alley艾爾佛雷斯古巷, City Hall & Tower市政廳, The US Mints鑄幣廠, Reading Terminal Market瑞丁車站市集, LOVE Park愛公園, Benjamin Franklin’s court and post office 富蘭克林故地, Betsy Ross House 羅斯故居, Penn’s Landing賓恩登陸處, Benjamin Franklin Bridge富蘭克林大橋
2. 市區：The Mutter Museum馬特博物館, Edgar Allan Poe’s Cellar愛倫坡故居
3. 郊區：Amish Culture @ Lancaster County蘭卡斯特郡阿米許文化

I. Alien Invasion (TCGS)

From March 25th to May 20th, it was a privilege to teach 40 intelligent students at National Taichung Girls’ Senior High School (TCGS). Ben seized this opportunity to arrange a series of activities which may add some spice to their routine schedule. Specifically, four activities were involved—-alien invasion, lip sync, MV shooting, and singing.

I. Alien invasion:

This activity comes from “Digital Debris,” which embodies language teaching, locative media, games and technology in ELT. The activity is actually named “INVADER” with an aim to infiltrate  a human community, and collect anthoropological reconnaissance data for the imminent full-scale invasion. Well goes the warning: “Do not, at any cost, alert the humans to your actions.”

Practically, teachers may apply this GPS-based game to your speaking-training course. If you are not familiar with locative media or have problem dealing with technology, just skip the GPS mapping task, get your students find a place to shoot a film. They will find a way out by themselves.

This game works wonders for students to practice describing objects or scenes. In this case, teachers may teach them a set of adjectives before the game so as to boost their performance. Somehow, this game arouses students’ creativity and intrinsic motivation, which goes a long way toward successful language learning.

Website of INVADER with a sample video.

http://digitaldebris.info/invader/

Step-by-step instruction

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1105743/IED%206%20April%202013.pdf

Alien Invasion I (瓊儀/榆方/佳家/婉琳/絜茵/珮彣@TCGS)

Alien Invasion II. (育慈/幸檥/芳瑀/潔儀/彥淇/妤婷@TCGS)

 

II. Lip Sync (TCGS)

From March 25th to May 20th, it was a privilege to teach 40 intelligent students at National Taichung Girls’ Senior High School (TCGS). Ben seized this opportunity to arrange a series of activities which may add some spice to their routine schedule. Specifically, four activities were involved—-alien invasion, lip sync, MV shooting, and singing.

II. Lip sync:

By definition, lip-sync is to move the lips silently in synchronization with a pre-recorded soundtrack. Practically speaking, it can be adapted into a creative speaking activity. In this way, learners may not only memorize the lyrics pretty well but also get themselves fully involved in the scenario created by the song itself.

1. Play the lip-sync sample video to motivate students and explain how lip-sync works.

2. Group students in twos and ask them to choose a song of their own.

3. Video the performance and upload it to a teaching platform.

4. Vote for the most entertaining videos and ask the winners to perform in person.

If students are too shy to do lip-sync, teachers may ask them either to pick an easier/slower song or focus on doing lip-sync and facial expressions. Students can grade one another in terms of lip-sync correctness, facial expressions, body languages, creativity, popularity, etc. In this case, low-achievers may have an incredible performance that makes teachers’ chins hit the floor. Hopefully, low-achievers’ motivation is highly-enhanced as a result. For advanced levels, English teachers can work with IT teachers to engage students in collaborative teaching and learning.

Sample lip-sync videos:

https://benology0317.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/lip-sync/

Lip sync–Mix (依霖/潔/思瑩/雅文/語庭/依廷@TCGS)

 

Lip sync–2012popdanthology (宜蓁/翊儒/亭誼/子函/子耘/季佳@TCGS)

 

III. MV Shooting (TCGS)

From March 25th to May 20th, it was a privilege to teach 40 intelligent students at National Taichung Girls’ Senior High School (TCGS). Ben seized this opportunity to arrange a series of activities which may add some spice to their routine schedule. Specifically, four activities were involved—-alien invasion, lip sync, MV shooting, and singing.

III. MV shooting:

For most students, reading is a boring task because all they need to do is just “read.” Therefore, efficient teachers often mix the reading task into interactive activities. In my case, MV shooting is a way out.

To make an impressive music video, students have to fully understand the lyrics and the context of the song. Therefore, not only do they “read” carefully but also “think” logically because they have to arrange the events of their MV. Apart from the verbal part, they also learn non-verbally from facial expressions, body languages like postures or gestures, and so on. The best part of theMV shooting is the FUN.

For students of different levels, the target song can be as easy as a birthday song or as challenging as a piece of rap music. Leave it to your students. Have faith in them.

By the way, movie trailer shooting can be another choice. It works the same as MV shooting.

Self-made MV–Bad day (羽莛/滌華/維妮/昀頡/培瑜/礎安@TCGS)

 

Self-made MV–The man who can’t be moved (悅芳/珉/佳樺/佩柔/宛儒/郁儒@TCGS)

IV. Singing (TCGS)

From March 25th to May 20th, it was a privilege to teach 40 intelligent students at National Taichung Girls’ Senior High School (TCGS). Ben seized this opportunity to arrange a series of activities which may add some spice to their routine schedule. Specifically, four activities were involved—-alien invasion, lip sync, MV shooting, and singing.

IV. Singing:

Few people hate singing. Even the worst singers can sing a song because singing itself is fun.

Practically, students may have a hard time memorizing reading texts of a book, but they find it much easier to recite lyrics of songs. Therefore, incorporating singing into language learning is an effective strategy, particularly for underachievers. Specifically, teachers can start from easier songs to build their confidence until they are ready for the challenging ones. For advanced students, personally I would love to encourage them to sing faster songs, songs with extensive vocabularies, or even a piece of rap music.

Through singing, students not only learn some new words and repeated grammatical patterns, but also imitate the singer’s way of singing and speaking, which may help themselves to sound more native. Besides, as students listen to the songs, they do listening training unconsciously, too. Most importantly, they have fun because singing is interesting and the learning process is painless.

In my class, I often introduce two songs to advanced students.

1. The Mom Song

https://benology0317.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/the-mom-song-william-tell-momism/

2. It wasn’t me (Be careful when introducing this song because of its “mature” lyrics, though the song is great for practicing diverse accents.)

https://benology0317.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/it-wasnt-me/

Singing–Where is the love (凱琳/曼欣/沛儀/怡君/芝羽/采倪@TCGS)

 

Singing–Just a dream (玟瑾/昕儒/之綺/可微/語晴/函@TCGS)

Asia’s animal zodiac: 1. Introduction

Asia’s Animal Zodiac (The Asia Magazine; January 31, 1982)

Written by Robin Dannhorn; edited by Ben

The Asian zodiac, based on the lunar calendar and a cycle of twelve years, rather than the Western system of twelve monthly signs within each fixed calendar year, presents a rich combination of astrology, folklore, legend, and Oriental mysticism.

No one seems to know how, where or when the Asian zodiac system, using six wild and six domesticated animals, originated. Ancient Chinese ritual carvings of the Shang Period (商朝, 18-12th century B.C.) grouped some of the animals together but the custom of associating the years with specific animals certainly was well established in China by the Tang Dynasty (唐朝, 7-10th century A.D.).

The Chinese always have been fascinated by the relationship between numbers and the secrets of the universe, from the fundamental yin and yang, representing the positive and negative forces in everything. They believe in the four seasons and four directions of the universe; the five elements and five cycles of twelve years which make up the sixty years considered as a man’s normal life span.

The Chinese calendar depends on the moon, rather than the Roman system based on the sun. Under the Chinese system, the sixty-year cycle is created by the interrelationship of the Ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earthly Branches (十天干與十二地支), producing in a complete revolution, the Cycle of Cathay (甲子). Within the complexity of a Chinese horoscope, all these elements must be considered, but the most important single factor is the animal sign of the individual for this lands him, or her, with certain basic characteristics, advantages (and faults) of personality which are taken very seriously indeed in such questions as choosing a marriage or business, partner.

Legend has it that as he lay dying, the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to bid them farewell and to leave them final gifts. Twelve animals turned up. In order of arrival at this side, these were the rat, ox (or buffalo), tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The Buddha gave them all immortality by naming a year after each of them in the order in which they had arrived. Legend also tells us why certain other animals are not included in the cycle. The cat, for instance, was believed to be too independent, according to one story, preferring to sleep rather than go to the Buddha. However, there are some Asian zodiacs, as in Vietnam, for instance, where the cat is used as a sign in place of the rabbit.

Whatever the origins of the whole arrangement, it is studied with great care and seriousness throughout Asia, but particularly by the Chinese who are, perhaps, more concerned by horoscopes, fortune-telling and the like, than any other people in the world. Any Asian knows the sign for his birth year, its characteristics and the ways in which his main personality features are likely to fit in with the other animal signs. Westerners might scoff at the system, but it is amazing how accurate these traits of character can be for the individual.

The good and bad features of every animal sign can be modified by such factors as the five different elements (五行) under which they were born—metal, wood, water, fire, earth. An earth tiger will, for instance, be quite different to a water tiger, but there are certain basic characteristics which may be identified within each of the twelve signs.

Note that as the lunar calendar usually starts between January 20 and February 29, one has to know the exact date of Chinese New Year for one’s particular birth sign.