文/Lily有一句好的英文口頭禪（pet phrase），對你的溝通幫助，可能會超乎你的想像。“口頭禪”原本禪宗用語，指未經心靈證悟就把一些現成的經言和公案掛在嘴邊，裝得一付得道的樣子。演變到現在，口頭禪成了個人習慣用語的代名詞，無意識脫口而出。因為無意識，才真正看到後面深藏的潛意識。
“你知道吧”是北京人的口頭禪。廣東人是“有沒有搞錯”。臺灣人是“不好意思”、“拜託”則折射出內在的某種“不安”與“優雅”交錯的矛盾心境……美國總統歐巴馬最常用的一句話是”let me be clear ”。他每一次演講內容，一定有這句話，有時甚至不只用一次。於是，大家開始解析，這個口頭禪究竟有什麼特殊意思？我們來看看口頭禪背後有哪些可能的隱涵的意義：
1. To be honest, to tell you the truth, certainly, definitely etc.
“說真的，老實說，的確，不騙你”
People who speak these phrases very often usually worry that others might misunderstand what they say. They are impetuous.
2. Be supposed to, should, must, ought to etc.
“應該、必須、必定會”
These people are very confident about themselves, reasonable and sober. They believe that they can persuade others. BTW, those leaders prefer to say these words.
3. It is said that, people say that, they say that, be told that etc.
“聽說、據說、聽人說”
These guys are well informed but hesitant. Also, these sophisticated people usually say these words.
4. Perhaps, Maybe, Probably etc.
“可能是吧、或許是吧、大概是吧”
These guys are very defensive. They seldom tell others what they are thinking. They are calm. The politicians say these words frequently.
5. But, However, Nevertheless etc.
“但是，不過”
They use "However" to protect themselves. To some extent, it reflects that these guys are mild.
6. Uh, Ah…..
“啊、呀、這個、這個、嗯、嗯”
These guys are usually lack of words when talking with others. They are dull too.
熟到老外都覺得你英文好，現在就加入量身訂做的1on1 program。
請”按此”訂閱電子報。 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(8,827)
假如你講英文總是見骨不見肉，只夠表達出你心裡想法的梗概，不豐富、不精確，當然也說不上優雅精緻。我們來談談怎麼讓你的語言表達從A到A＋，英文表達裡出現Advanced Structure。
說英文的時候，我們的大腦運作其實和搜尋引擎很像，要表達一個訊息時，它會用最短的時間，去"match"一個或一群最接近的元素。例如：He understood immediately. (他立刻就懂了)。句子這麼講也沒錯，但反反覆覆都是這類表達，I'll be there immediately. We'll finish it soon. 句子單調到不行，怎麼可能優雅豐富呢？
現在如果你把它改成→ He understood the very first time. 意思一樣，但表達的多樣性就出現了。英文從A到A＋，大部份都不是處理「對不對」，而是「好不好」。也因此"Paraphrase"(改寫、重寫)的練習是少不了的。現在看看怎麼paraphrase吧！
試著用比較advanced的句型造句，造句的時候一定要唸出來，覺得好像錯了，就再唸一遍，全部做完再對答案，答案於本文最末。
1. I haven't seen her for ages.
The _____ was 10 years ago.
A. last time we saw
B. latest time I saw her
C. last time I saw her
2. You must never take your helmet off while you are riding a bicycle.
Helmets must be worn _____ when riding a motorcycle.
A. all times
B. all the times
C. at all times
3. I thought parking was allowed here.
I _____ that parking was allowed here.
A. under the impression
B. was under the impression
C. am under the impression
4. His daughter continued to cry until he could not be seen any longer.
She continued to cry until he ____.
A. was in sight
B. was out of sight
C. went out sight
5. I'm afraid that computer is just too expensive.
That computer is _____.
A. out of means
B. beyond my means
C. out of means to do
6. Can I accompany you to the party?
Do you _____ to the party?
A. mind my coming
B. mind if I can
C. mind I can
7. You should feel horrible! Why did you say that to Jane?
_____ you! Why did you say that to Jane?
A. Shame on
B. Shame of
C. Shame for
8. The authorities said she wasn't responsible for the accident.
The accident _____.
A. wasn't her fault.
B. fault wasn't of her
C. was her fault.
1.C, 2.C, 3.B, 4.B, 5.B, 6.A, 7.A, 8.A
熟到老外都覺得你英文好，現在就加入量身訂做的1on1 program。
請”按此”訂閱電子報。
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快去翻閱今天(一)工商時報"華爾街日報"精選，
今天導讀文章是"iPad fans face new dilemma with tough-to-tote gadget"
酷酷iPad何處安放?
iPad說大不大說小不小的尺寸讓蘋果迷面臨帶與不帶的兩難，不過腦筋動得快的生意人還是搭上了順風車，創造不少方便攜帶的方式。在這個網路時代，人人有機會，即使沒有超人一等的技術，只要別具巧思，掌握住一個靈感應用於當前的新潮產品，就可以創造出獨具特色的熱賣商品！
蘋果迷千萬別錯過精彩內容，同時學習好用的關鍵英語喔！
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本週六(6/12)工商時報<世界公民weekly>精彩預告：Debt-ridden Americans stressed out因為債務累累而困擾的美國人
每個禮拜六工商時報<世界公民weekly>專欄裡的東西方觀點及英語主題，由世界公民文化中心提供，歡迎您定期閱讀！ 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(25)
經濟危機催生的新職業：轉職顧問 transition specialist 文/Lily彭電影《型男飛行日誌》的英文片名是”Up in the air”。這個片名有好幾個層次的意思，第一是整天在空中飛了飛去；主角在航空公司擔任轉職顧問，必須像空中飛人般四處裁員。第二是懸而未決，” up in the air”，望文生義，還懸在空中，沒法解決。劇情中，主角喬治克隆尼的情感關係、片中被裁員工的生計，都是up in the air。如果你看過本片，回味一下它的英文，還沒看過也很好，看一看紙上電影，可以學到很多實用的句子。
劇情：剛從Cornell商學院畢業的女孩娜塔莉新加入航空公司，她開發了一套遠端裁員系統，讓裁員變得輕鬆省事，但原來負責面對面裁員的萊恩的工作顯得毫無必要。公司老闆克瑞格支持娜塔莉的嘗試，召回所有員工，讓娜塔莉對新系統進行了現場演示，可是萊恩並不服氣……精彩對白（對白寫得很有意思，不妨唸出聲來） Craig: Welcome home, boys. I know there's been a lot of whispering about why we're here, so let me jump right in. Retailers are down 20%. Auto industry is in the dump. Housing market doesn't have a heartbeat. It is one of the worst times on record for America. This is our moment. Now, last summer, we received a dynamite young woman here from Cornell, and she had some pretty big ideas that she challenged me with. And my first reaction was, "Who does this kid think that she is?" But after I gave it a listen, she really knocked me out. So, with a peek into our future, Natalie Keener.
Natalie: If there's one word I want to leave you with today, it's this.
Colleague: "Glocal"?
Natalie: Glocal. Our global must become local. This company keeps 23 people on the road at least 250 days a year. It's expensive, and it's inefficient. When I came to Craig three months ago with this, he told me, and quite astutely, it's only a problem if you have a solution. Well, today I stand before you with just that. You all know Ned in reception. Today I'm gonna fire Ned. Sorry, Ned. I'm sure HR will hire you back this afternoon.
Craig: We'll see about that.
Natalie: Now Ned could be any employee in any one of our clients' locations worldwide. Strategy packets will be shipped in advance. Ned would be given a seat and find one of our transition specialists waiting for him. Mr. Laskin, the reason we're having this conversation is your position is no longer available.
Ned: I don't understand. I'm fired?
Natalie: Hearing the words "you've been let go" is never easy. Change is always scary, but consider the following. Anybody who ever built an empire or changed the world sat where you are now. And it's because they sat there that they were able to do it.
Ryan: That's my fucking line.
Ned: But what happens now?
Natalie: This is the first step of a process that will end with you in a new job that fulfills you.
Ned: Yeah. But how does it work?
Natalie: I want you to take the packet in front of you. Review it. All the answers you're looking for are inside. Start filling out the necessary information, and before you know it, you'll be on your way to new opportunities. Now, Ned, I need you to go back to your desk and start putting together your things. As a favor to me, I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread the news just yet. Panic doesn't help anyone.
Ned: I understand.
Natalie: Give it up for Ned. You can start the morning in Boston, stop in Dallas over lunch, and finish the day in San Francisco, all for the price of a T1 line. Our inflated travel budget is eviscerated by 85%. And more importantly to you guys on the road, no more Christmases in a hotel in Tulsa, no more hours lost to weather delays. You get to come home. 活學活用的道地英語 jump right in: jump in用來指“匆忙行事，急於行動”，在此對話中的意思是“那我就開門見山了。”此外，jump in還可以表示“打斷談話、插話”，例如：If you have any questions, jump right in．（如果有什麼問題，就直接說。）
don't have a heartbeat：沒有心跳，在這裡指汽車工業“完全潰敗，一蹶不振”。
knock out: 在拳擊中一拳把人打倒叫knock out。在這裡指有共鳴、打動人。Knock out的意思很多，我們看一下幾個例句：
*The film just knocked me out it's the best thing I've ever seen.
這電影好得不得了－－是我看過的最好的一部。
*Don't drink too much of this. It'll knock you out!
這種酒別喝太多--喝多了就醉了！
*She's knocking herself out with all that work.
工作把她搞得筋疲力竭。Knock out合起來可以當名字，如果你聽人說She is a knock-out, isn't she? 意思是她讓人驚豔，像一拳打到那樣。很傳神吧！
glocal:全球在地化，global和local的合成詞。這種進程也稱為glocalization。
transition specialist：職業轉換專家，也就是“裁員專家”美化的說法。
not…just yet 先不要：I wouldn't want to do it, not just yet anyway. 我不想做件事，至少現在不想。
as a favor to me: 算幫我個忙。“幫我個忙”還可以用do me a favor來表示。
eviscerate：除去精華，除去主要部分。娜塔莉在這裡的意思是“我們昂貴的出差預算能削減85%”。 ***
【Window 1001】是世界公民文化中心針對上班族的英語聽力，結構思維能力，以及現有、將有的英語環境整合而成的學習計畫。華人學英文的必經陷阱：過去式、完成式、子句、片語動詞…每ㄧ個關卡的跳躍都是學習的驚豔，夢想的起飛！三個月內，保證你在英文裡曾經有過的挫折和威脅都會變成優勢、機會。免費試聽及報名請上網www.window1001.com登記。 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(1,533)
文/Lily
「我昨天和老闆談話談了很久」。這句話你怎麼說成英文？我問世界公民文化中心的學生，很多人的答案都是：I talked with my boss very long yesterday.
講了之後，大家都覺這句話怎麼聽都怪。怪在哪裡，也不知個所以然。英文的概念轉成中文，或中文轉英文，有時候要經過一個「詞性轉換」。
可以把名詞當動詞用，像table a discussion, schedule an appointment，或number, total, amount, rank, range 原來我們習慣當名詞的，用作動詞，就會讓英文句子有動的感覺。而把動詞當名詞用，也會讓人有耳目一新的感覺。
「我昨天和老闆談話談了很久」，講成了 I had a long conversation with my boss yesterday. 就順暢得多。
再舉個一例子吧！中文說「這個停車場僅供員工使用」。中文對照過來容易說成：Only employees can use this parking lot. 這說法不好，因為這裡的「使用」，並不是一種動作，員工並沒有「正在使用」，只是一種「狀態」。講成This parking lot is for the use of employees only. 是不是好多了？
以下提供七組動詞轉名詞的例子，讓你的表達中也出現這類說法吧！
1. for the use of 供…使用的
This parking lot is for the use of employees only. 這個停車場只供員工使用。
This system is for the use of authorized users only. 本系統僅提供經授權之使用者使用。
2. in support of 為了支持…，為了擁護…
He spoke at the meeting in support of my idea. 他在會議上講話支持我的想法。
They decided to stay in support of the new leadership. 他們決定留下來支持新的領導人。
3. in search of 為了尋找…，為了尋求…
He went to the south in search of better prospects. 他為了尋找更好的前途到南方去。
She immigrated to New Zealand in search of a quiet life. 她為了過上平靜的生活移民到紐西蘭。
4. for someone's benefit/for the benefit of 為了…的利益為了幫助…
It is not his fault. He did it for your benefit. 這不是他的過錯。他是為了你的利益才這樣做的。
All the donations are for the benefit of the disabled children. 所有的捐款都是為了幫助殘障兒童。
5. for fear of 以免，以防
Put on a coat for fear of catching a cold.穿上外套以免感冒。
They did not mention it for fear of offending him. 他們沒有提那件事以免觸犯了他。
6. as a result 結果是
As a result, the unemployment rate began to fall. 結果，失業率開始下降。
He judged his leaders unrestrainedly, and as a result wasn't given an important position. 他恣肆評價高層，這是他在工作中不被重用的原因。
7. in favor of 為了支持…，贊同…的
He spoke at the meeting in favor of the plan. 他在會上發言支持這個計畫。
If you work following the regulations, the odds are 100 to 1 in your favor. 如果你按照規定辦事，出事故的可能性極小。
***
別再說中式英文！如果你覺得英文怎麼聽都不夠道地，該加入1on1program了!
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1. Got you! (騙、嚇...)到你了吧
A: My mother just now called and said she's moving in with us.我媽剛剛打電話來，說她要搬進來跟我們一塊兒住。
B: What? 什麼！
A: Got you! 上當了吧！
"Get you" 有捉弄人的意思，看吧被我嚇到了，那種意味。有時候美國口語中常作“Gotcha” ，也有“明白了”“抓住你了”的意思。看在什麼情境下使用，就會有不同意思。
2. no-brainer 不必花腦筋的事物
A: How do you use this program? It looks quite complicated.你怎樣用這個程式呢?看起來蠻複雜的。
B: No. Looks can be deceiving. This thing is actually a no-brainer. Let me show you. 不會！外表有時是會騙人的。這個東西其實很簡單(不必花腦筋的)。我操作給你看！3. work one's butt off 很努力地(做一件事)
A: I can't believe all my work is gone just like this. I've worked my butt off on this all day.我不敢相信做好的東西又不見了，我今天整天辛辛苦苦都在搞這個！
B: What happened? Computer crashed? B:怎麼啦？電腦當了嗎？
4. push around 驅使(某人)
A. Ken, do you think you can rewrite this paper. I don't really like the topic. 你可以重寫這個報告嗎？我並不是很喜歡那個主題。
B: Hey, I'm only trying to help you out. You shouldn't be pushing me around like this.
B: 嘿！我是在幫你忙！你不應該這樣指使我喔！
「把一個人推來推去」應該和「指使」很容易聯想吧！
5. all set 都準備妥當
A. Is my card ready yet? 我的卡好了嗎？
B: Yes! We just need to get this paper work done and you'll be all set.是的！我們只要把這份文件完成，你就一切都準備妥當了！
6. dirty work 卑鄙的工作；討厭的工作
A: All right. You go ahead and sign this paper and I'll do the dirty work. 好吧！你就把這份文件簽了， 剩下來的「扮黑臉的工作」就交給我了。
B: (It) Sounds good to me. 聽起來不錯！
"dirty work" 在此指的是一些沒人要做的扮黑臉的事。
***
一對一，沒有別人，只有你和一個遠從美國、加拿大、英國或澳洲而來，商業經驗豐富的外籍顧問。他負責打開你的英語思維開關，讓你從結巴、語無倫次，到看見一個嶄新的世界。而你呢，你負責停止優柔寡斷，終結一個每年喃喃自語：今年一定要把英文學好的無聊人。1on1 program甄選中，現在就立即加入！ 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(2,169)
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以下連結是華爾街日報網站內，該篇文章原文：http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703775504575135952519129266.html以下是中文導讀：Landed a big win日本漁業奏捷，近日成功說服其他海洋國家取消黑鮪魚貿易禁令。（The Japanese fishing industry landed a big win last week when it persuaded other maritime nations to nix a trading ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna. ）然而以食魚為主的日本飲食文化，卻面臨更嚴重的威脅。年輕的日本世代不愛吃魚，本周文章探討了日本這條經濟食物鏈，從國際漁產行動、國內魚類產業、進口替代食材、消費者變化趨勢及政府的鼓勵消費，儼然從總體經濟面連結至個體經濟面，值得讀者一探究竟。
”Land a big win” 意思是打了一場漂亮的仗，land原來有把魚從水裡撈上來的意思，例如I landed a big trout.（我釣了一條大鱒魚。）也引申為口語上的「撈到一筆好處」。像：He was lucky to land a good job.（他很幸運,找到一份好工作。）
Catch重新讓魚回到日本人的食桌就成了日本人的一項使命。於是漁業官員派人到學校指導，開了一門叫“魚有刺”的課程，廣告詞是：在吃魚之前，先用解剖圖學習魚的骨架構造。(The catch: Before eating, they have to learn the bone structure of the fish using an anatomy chart.)。現場老魚販切生魚片示範，一位女學生硬把鼻子湊近聞，想看看老師說的是不是真的：新鮮的魚沒有腥味。
Catch原來是捕魚，這裡指的是catch phrase或catch line，意思是廣告或新聞中用以引人注意的字，措辭或短句。Catch有很多意思，美劇中常出現的一句對話是＂What’s the catch?＂意思是有什麼陷阱。例如：It sounds like a great idea, but what's the catch? (聽起來很好，別有什麼圈套吧？)
It’s a shame參加課程學生來自不同領域：有上班族，家庭主婦，超市的買家，但都有志一同：要傳播魚的知識。有一名任職廣告公司的成員說：我們生在一個天賜良魚的國度，假如還不會充份享用，真是太可惜了（'It's a shame not to enjoy it.）。他自從研究海鮮食譜以後，就對魚上了癮。”It’s a shame”是老外很常用的一句口語，這是一句很常用的口語，表示一種遺憾或同情。雖然有個shame在裡面，不過沒有「羞恥」的意思。例如：It is a shame that you weren't here to see it. 真可惜你不能來這裡親眼看看。還有一種說法是 what a shame! 它的意思和 "It is a shame" 很相似，也有 "It is too bad" 的意思。
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用英語說不清楚了怎麼辦？不知道你有沒有遇過想表達一件事情用英語說出來聽的人一頭霧水的情況，有時候我們說英語用詞不對或者說法不地道，造成誤解或者不解。解決的辦法有三：
Dave: "English is a very easy language to learn."
Susan: "What do you mean?"
Dave: "Well, what I meant to say was that it is easy if you practice every day."
Susan: "Oh, right."
以下是幾種在日常英語中能把問題解釋清楚的地道說法：
1.重組語句換一種說法
"What I meant to say was…"
"Let me rephrase that…"
"Let me put this another way…"
"Perhaps I'm not making myself clear…"
2.從頭再說一次
"If we go back to the beginning…"
"The basic idea is …"
"One way of looking at it is…"
"Another way of looking at it is…"
3.如果一下子腦子打結，想不起來用英語怎麼說
"I can't find the word I'm looking for…"
"I'm not sure that this is the right word, but…"
"What I want to say is…"
不要害怕重複你的話，如果每次解釋的話都有一點的差別，讓人可以猜測到你要說什麼。*****
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