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short conversations
W: I saw an ad on the Internet about online language studies. M: Me too. I saw an ad for, \Q: What do the man and the woman have in common?
M: You have to be 18 years old to enter some online language classes.
W: Really? I had no idea that there was a minimum age required for some classes. Q: What did the woman NOT know about online language classes before? M: Unlike regular classes, online classes can be taken at your home. W: That's exactly why I decided to begin studying online! Q: Why did the woman decide to study online?
W: I keep on making new friends as I study online.
M: So do I! There are so many people online, and I want to meet them all! Q: What is one benefit of studying online?
M: My online teacher asked the class for suggestions to make the class better. W: That's great! I always like it when a teacher does that. Q: What did the man's teacher want to do?
M: I had no idea that online language learning could be so effective! W: It sure has helped me practice my language skills!
Q: What is it about online language learning that surprised the man? M: My classmates and I help each other solve homework problems online. W: It sounds like you're using the Internet in a useful way. Q: What does the man do online?
M: Online learning is ideal for anyone who doesn't have time to travel to school. W: Yes, but it also has its own challenges.
Q: What does the woman have to say about online learning?
M: Virtual classrooms are changing how students study!
W: They sure are! And I, for one, am very excited about it.
Q: According to the man, what is happening to students because of virtual classrooms? M: What advice did your professor give you?
W: He said that taking an online class would help me learn. Q: What did the woman's professor suggest?
W: How's your new online class, Bill? Is it everything you had hoped for? M: It's everything and more, Susan. You should give it a try! W: Oh, really? What's the best thing about it?
M: In an online class, you talk with others over the Internet. Since they are not right next to you, they don't bother you so much.
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W: That sounds great! I took a class with someone who would make me feel small whenever I made a mistake. He would tell me how stupid I was and intimidate me so that I never wanted to participate. M: Not a problem in the virtual classroom. How would you like to sign up? I think that you could start on the third of next month.
W: I don't know, Bill. You know all those problems about having difficult people in the classroom? M: Yeah?
W: We don't really have them anymore since you left.
The first requirement for my online language class was to meet in an online forum. I entered the forum early and saw students appear on the screen one after another. Strangely enough, when it was time to begin, the teacher still hadn't shown up. However, we began sharing information and talking about the new class. Unlike me, all of the other students were new to the online class. I told them about my experiences and my thoughts. Then I noticed something. There were 27 people in the forum. This was strange because I know there were only 26 people in the class. \
The teacher made herself known at last. She said that she wanted to get our honest opinions about the online class. Also, she wanted to have a little fun with us. \my class,\
Professor Stromwell: I am, personally, very honored to introduce this year's class-elected speaker. After getting off to a quite interesting start here at Harvard, she graduates today with an invitation to join one of Boston's most prestigious law firms. I am sure we are going to see great things from her. Ladies and gentlemen: Elle Woods.
Elle: On our very first day at Harvard, a very wise professor quoted Aristotle, \law is reason free from passion.\to find that passion is a key ingredient to the study and practice of law — and of life. It is with passion, courage of conviction, and strong sense of self that we take our next steps into the world, remembering that first impressions are not always correct. You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself. Congratulations class of 2004 — we did it!
One day, a student was taking a very difficult essay exam. At the end of the test, the professor asked all the students to put their pencils down and hand in their test papers. The young man kept writing furiously. Although he was warned that if he did not stop immediately his paper would be rejected, he ignored the warning, finished the test ten minutes later, and went to hand the test paper to his professor. The professor told him he would not accept the test paper. The student asked, \The professor said, \
The student asked again, \
The professor said, \middle, and then threw the papers in the air. \
M: All right, everyone. Good work. That's all for today's class. Does anyone have any questions? W: Excuse me, Professor. I have a question. I'm worried about my English skills. I get good marks on tests, but I don't feel that I'm learning a lot.
M: Not exactly a question is it, Winnie? But it's a good concern. Many advanced English learners have a large \
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understand many difficult English words when reading or listening, but they don't use most of them when speaking or writing in English. They feel this is a problem. They would like to use all the difficult words that they know. W: Do you think that I use too few words?
M: That's not what I'm saying at all. Actually, I'm saying the opposite thing. W: I'm afraid I don't understand.
M: In your native language, there are also thousands of words that you understand but you don't use. So your active vocabulary in your native language is much smaller than your passive vocabulary. And I guess that you are not worried about that.
W: No, I'm not. But I would like to use the new words that I learn in my English classes. How else am I going to remember them? M: Now that's a very good question.
W: I was hoping that you had an answer to this question. M: Winnie, you don't need to worry about using \few\English words. As your needs for different things grow, you will be able to use your new words more and more. I think you'd be surprised by how much you know.
W: So your advice to me is \
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. Who are likely to worry about their active vocabulary? 2. What is \3. What do many English learners want to do?
4. What does the professor say about vocabulary in one's native language? 5. What does the professor want to tell Winnie?
The biggest problem most people face in learning English is their own fear. They worry that they won't say things correctly so they don't speak English at all. Don't do this. Don't let a little fear stop you from getting what you want.
The best way to learn English is to surround yourself with it. The more English material you have around you, the faster you will learn and the more likely you will begin thinking in English. Music can be a very effective tool to learning English. The best way is to use the lyrics and try to read them as the artist sings. This way you can practice your listening and reading at the same time.
Watching English movies is not only fun but also very effective. By watching English movies, you can expand your vocabulary and learn the natural flows of speech from actors.
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the passage you have just heard. 1. What is the biggest problem that many English learners have? 2. Why do some English learners NOT speak English at all?
3. What is the best way to learn English according to the speaker? 4. What is the best way to learn English through music? 5. How can you benefit from watching English movies?
The College Board says its Advanced Placement program will add four new languages for American high school students. Mandarin Chinese along with Italian will be added within three years. Japanese and Russian will be offered later. This means the best high school students will be able to take college-level courses in these four new languages.
The Chinese government and the Italian government have each agreed to pay part of the cost of
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developing the Advanced Placement programs. Chinese officials say they will also help create the program in Chinese language and culture.
College Board officials say the study of a world language, such as Chinese, is an important part of a student's high school education. More than one million students at more than 14,000 American high schools took at least one Advanced Placement test this year after taking an AP class. The AP program is increasingly important among high school classes for the best students. Colleges often give high school students credit for an AP class if the students do well on the test. Colleges require a set number of credits before a student may graduate. Credit for AP classes may help some students graduate from college earlier.
The Advanced Placement program in American high schools has expanded over the years. There are now 34 classes and tests in 19 subject areas. They include history, mathematics and English. But, until now, the languages included only Spanish, French, and German. These are the most popular languages in American high schools.
The American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages says Spanish is the most commonly taught language in American high schools. About four million high school students study Spanish. It is followed by French, German, Italian, Russian, and Japanese.
The College Board notes that most high school students in China study English. However, only about 50,000 American high school students study Chinese. This may change because of the new AP language program. The Chinese ambassador to the United States spoke about the new AP program. Yang Jiechi said, \bridge of understanding and friendship cannot be built without language.\U2
short conversations
W: How about spending the evening chilling out with the folks? M: Come on, Mom. I'd really like to get out with my friends. Q: What does the young man want to do?
W: Honestly, I don't know what to say about our son's music.
M: Leave him alone about it. After all, your mother didn't like your music either. Q: What should the woman do according to the man?
W: I'm surprised to see you out and about so early in the morning. M: You know my mom. She doesn't like me sleeping in, even on weekends. Q: Why is the man out and about so early in the morning?
M: A little teenage rebellion is normal. Your son will get over it.
W: I know. I'm just worried about him doing something that will ruin his life. Q: Why is the woman worried about her son?
W: Get a piercing in my nose? No way! My parents would be angry!
M: You're not giving them enough credit. I don't think they'd be upset at all. Q: Why wouldn't the woman get a piercing in her nose?
W: What bugs you most about your daughter's eating habits? M: I can't stand the way she eats so quickly.
Q: Why does the man have a problem with the way his daughter eats?
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M: What's wrong with our kids? They think they're entitled to everything we have! W: Well, I feel it's my fault for giving them too much. Q: What does the woman think about their kids' problems? W: Dad, I've got a date tonight with Mike. I'll be back late. M: Him again? I wish you wouldn't date a guy with a tattoo! Q: What does the father wish for his daughter?
W: My mother wants me to go into banking, but I like writing. M: You can't let your mother choose your career for you.
Q: According to the man, what should the woman's mother NOT do? W: Dad, I'm a grown woman, and you can't make choices for me.
M: Ha! If you were a grown woman, you wouldn't watch cartoons all day! Q: Why does the girl's father NOT believe that she is a grown woman?
M: You should get a sense of humor, Mom.
W: I'm sorry, but I just don't think that breaking shop windows is funny.
M: If it isn't funny, then I don't know what is. These shop windows only show things out of date and out of fashion. They're misleading. Anyway, it's fun to break old stuff.
W: And that's what I'm saying. You don't know what's funny. When I was a teenager, I enjoyed movies and going out with my friends, not causing trouble or breaking things. M: This is just the big difference between your generation and mine.
W: No, it isn't! I know teenagers of your age, and they don't have your bad attitude! And they certainly never break shop windows! M: Whatever, Mom. I've got to go now. W: Huh? Where do you think you're going?
M: I don't know. Maybe I'll go out and break stuff.
\work. I personally think that even though parents teach their children many things, they should not act like teachers all the time. After my \I spent some quality one-on-one time with my daughter with NO lecturing about her behavior. For example, we went out for ice cream. While we sat and ate, we spent a long time watching other people and talking about the things around us. Then we went to a bookstore where she looked for a book to buy. It took her a long time, but I was patient. We finally bought her a book and finished our outing together. At the end, we decided to have similar outings once a month, because it really was fun. My main goal was to let her know that I love her.
Woodruff: Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce this year's valedictorian, Jack Charles Powell.
Eric: Yo, Jack, go get 'em.
Jack Powell: I got it, Eric. I'm cool... my speech. I don't have very much time these days, so I'll make it quick — like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our life, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying
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