Sunday, September 27, 2009

Activities in the Spare Time

Singgih : What do you usually do in your spare time, Heru?

Heru : In my spare time I usually read books or magazines.

Singgih : What book do you like to read?

Heru : I like to read almost all kinds of books. For me, as long as the books can give benefit and add to my knowledge, I’ll read the books.

Singgih : Yeah, I know you’re really a bookworm!

Heru : We must make reading our habit. Unfortunately, reading habit in Indonesia is still low.

Singgih : By the way, what magazine do you usually read?

Heru : I subscribe to English magazine and computer magazine. I try to improve my English by reading English magazines. As you know, I’m also a computer freak. So, I’m very fond of getting new information or knowledge about computer, especially about new hardware and software. How about you, Singgih? What do you do in your spare time?

Singgih : I like listening to music, especially classical music.

Heru : Oh… that’s great! I like classical music, too.

Singgih : Bethoven and Mozart are my favorite composers. Their music is so great and melodious!

Heru : I agree with you.

Singgih : Well Heru… I think it’s going to rain. So, I have to go home now. Maybe I’ll come here again some day.

Heru : Yeah, I hope we can meet again and continue our talk about classical music.

Singgih : Sure, I promise I’ll come again. See you, Heru!

Heru : See you!


Today's idioms are idioms using animals. There are so many idioms with animals in English. Sometimes they are easy to understand but sometimes they are not. The first one today is to ‘work like a dog’. It means that you work very, very hard.

‘John is just so busy at work. He never has time to have lunch. He works 18 hours a day, seven days a week! John works like a dog.’

Our second idiom today is a little more difficult to understand. Sometimes when somebody drinks a lot we say he or she ‘drinks like a fish’. But we most often use this idiom if someone drinks a lot of alcohol.

‘When my friend James comes to visit I have to buy lots of beer. He drinks like a fish.’

Today's idioms were ‘to work like a dog’, meaning to work very hard. In Bahasa Indonesia that's like ‘bekerja keras’. And ‘to drink like a fish’, which means to drink a lot, especially a lot of alcohol. In Bahasa Indonesia that's ‘suka minum terutama minuman alkohol’. Try and use those as soon as you can. It will help you to remember them.

Higher Education

Monday, September 21, 2009

Higher Education

Vocabulary in Conversation

Fill in all the gaps using the new vocabulary, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.

apprenticeships are funded B.A. B.S. degree facilities majored master's minor Ph.D. stands for terminology transfer

Lars: Tina, I'm trying to fill out this job application, and they want to know about my educational history. It's a little confusing because I don't understand the they are using. I don't really know much about the American educational system.
Tina: In America, all students basically study the same thing until they are around 18. After high school, students have the choice to start working or to go to college.
Lars: What is the difference between a college and a university?
Tina: In the U.S., there isn't a big difference between the two. Colleges tend to be smaller schools, and universities are usually larger schools with more ; however, we often use these words interchangeably.
Lars: Can Americans do to prepare themselves for their future careers? Many people do that kind of job training in my country.
Tina: That's not very common in the United States. Americans usually learn on the job; however, some junior colleges offer shorter, more practical career training programs.
Lars: What are junior colleges?
Tina: Colleges and universities in the United States are extremely expensive. Even schools which by the government can cost thousands of dollars a year. Most states have created junior colleges, which are inexpensive schools where students can complete the first two years of their education. Afterwards, students can to a four-year college or university to complete their bachelor's . And, as I mentioned, they also provide career training and continuing education courses.
Lars: What does mean? Is that the same thing as a bachelor's?
Tina: That Bachelor of Science. You also often hear the abbreviation , which is short for Bachelor of Arts. For example, I in chemistry, so I have a Bachelor of Science; but, my brother studied philosophy, so he has a Bachelor of Arts.
Lars: I thought you studied German literature.
Tina: That was my - my secondary field of study.
Lars: What about after you finish your bachelor's?
Tina: Students can continue studying and receive a , which usually requires an additional two years of study. And of course, the highest degree is called a , which is another word for doctorate.

The Water Festival

The Water Festival

Part 1:

A: Hello, how are you doing today?

B: Great, and what about you?

A: I’m brilliant. Thank you very much.

B: Fantastic to hear that, nice to talk you today.

A: Ok. I’m pleased to meet you, too.

B: Well, what topic do you want to talk about today?

A: All right, I want to talk about Water Festival today, because it’s coming up soon.

B: Oh, really? Do we have public holiday?

A: Yeah, exactly! We have four days off including independent Day.

B: Excellent, sound fantastic. So what are you doing on these days?

A: Well, I’m going to see boat racing along the Mekong River and concert.

Part 2:

B: What will happen on the 11^th, the 12^th, 13^th of November this year?

.

A: It is the Water Festival.

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B: Do you have any plans to do anything in this occasion?

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A: Yes, I do. I’m going to see the boat race because I like this programme very much.

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B: How many racing boats will take part in this year?

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A: Oh! I don’t know. It’s not my affair. You should ask the City Hall.

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B: If I invite you to participate in sharing condoms, dare you joint?

A:

Part 3:

A: When and why do our Cambodian people celebrate the Water Festival every year?

B: This question is quite difficult to reply, but I must try it. The Water Festival is celebrated in November every year to honor the victory of the Cambodian Naval Forces in the reign of King Jayvarman 7, during Angkor period of 12^th century.

A: But I don’t think like that. The Water Festival is celebrated to pray to God for the happiness of the people and sufficient rain for cultivation.

B: Yes, I haven’t finished my answer yet. But you interrupted me and I think that you pretend not to know, so it’s time to ask you back now.

A: Sure. I’m ready to answer your questions.

B: Do we celebrate another ceremony during the Water Festival?

A: Yes, we do, absolutely. Besides the Water Festival, there are three more ceremonies such as Illuminated Floats, Moon Salutation and Ok Ambok.

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A: Well, it’s time to say good bye now. And I would like to wish you good luck, especially on Water Festival occasion this year.

B: Thank you very much, same to you.

A: Wow! Your English is very well. How can you improve it?

B: Thanks for your admiration. But I think that my English is very poor.

A: Thank you for your time and thanks for your good answer to my questions.

B: You’re welcome.

How to make opening address

How to make opening address

A: Do you know how to make opening address?

B: Yes, I do.

A: For instance, if you were the Prime Minister of Cambodia, then you have to make opening address at a meeting. First of all, what should you say?

B: In the name of the Prime Minister of Cambodia, I have to greet members of the meeting by saying that:

-Excellencies, distinguished representative.

-Excellencies, members of the Royal Government.

-Excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen.

It is a great honor and pleasure for me to meet all of you here again. I wish to take this opportunity to extend our warm welcome to your Excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen at this important meeting.

A: After finishing of welcome president and members of the meeting, what would you do?

B: We should make short report on the activities of the RGC.

A: What sectors should we mention at session?

B: We should raise some main points as the following: security and social order, strengthen of democracy, rule of law, reforms and international relations, social and economic development, poverty alleviation and conclusion.

A: I find out that you are protocol.

B: Thank you for your compliment, why do you think like this?

A: Because you have clear answers and it’s easy to understand.

B: Ok, don’t flatter me. This is a little bit idea comes from my overview and general knowledge.

A: Thanks for your time! Bye

Bonn Pchum Ben

Bonn Pchum Ben

Prachum Benda, Bonn Pchum Ben, Pchum Ben or Ancestors’ Day in Khmer society is the most important spiritual and religious event held by Cambodians around the 15th day of October every year. Exact date may vary depending on the lunar cycle. Pchum Ben can be roughly translated to “gathering and offering". Pchum means “gather” or “meeting” and Ben means “offering”. Pre- Pchum Ben events simply called Ben are sequentially held each day for 14 days before the main event - Pchum Ben, as Ben 1, Ben 2, Ben 3, etc. People take turn to sponsor or host each Ben until when everybody comes to celebrate Pchum Ben on the 15th day. Your action of sponsoring or hosting a Ben is called Kann Ben. Kann means “hosting” or “holding”. So Kann Ben means you host or sponsoring offering or serving activities. In Khmer ancient time, Pchum Ben festival lasted three months, ending on the fifteenth day of October each year.

Unlike Khmer New Year which is a traditional, cultural event and a national holiday in Cambodia, Pchum Ben is not only a traditional, cultural and national holiday, it is also religious and spiritual. Cambodians would do all they can to prepare for Pchum Ben several weeks before the event. They dress up with the best traditional clothing and jewelry they can afford. Families prepare to cook foods they think their passed away loved ones would like to eat. Though there are varieties of foods and cake, Nom Ansom – a long sticky rice cake with pork or banana inside wrapped with banana leave is the traditional cake of Pchum Ben. Every home would have Nom Ansom during Pchum Ben which signifies the festival tradition.

In Buddhism, Cambodians believe there are three different worlds of life – heaven (above), human (middle) and hell (below). For those who had done enough good deeds during their life time as a human being would either reincarnated in heaven or the human world depending how much good karma they did and those who had done bad things would be taken to hell to be punished until the individual spirit has served enough time and released. Since our loved ones were human, they could have done something bad either intentionally or un-intentionally when they were alive. So after they passed away, we don’t know where they are though we always hope they are in heaven or a peaceful and happy place. They can have been trapped in hell or became a Priad because of bad karma.

Depending on the degree of bad karma, some spirits became Priads. Priads are the most miserable of all spirits. They were depicted in pictures decorated at temples as the ugliest creatures. Some of them have a mouth as small as the hole of a sewing needle and some don’t even have a mouth to eat, as they can only receive sufferings. All Priads fear daylight and they can only wander around in the dark. That is the reason why on a Kann Ben day, people would wake up early in the morning around 4:00 am to toss small pieces of rice or foods in dark areas where Priads possibly are at a Buddhist temple, hoping those Priads can get their foods to eat before sunrise. This is called Boss Bay Ben – Offering by Tossing Rice.

All trapped spirits will be released on the Pchum Ben day to seek for their living loved ones and foods. To make it easy to understand, let’s say one of the trapped spirits is your father. He would go to the first Buddhist temple (Wat) the family used to go when he was alive to search for you, other living loved ones and foods. If he cannot find you at the first temple, he would then continue to find at other 6 different temples. If the spirit of your father still can’t find you and the offered foods, he will feel miserable, sad and hungry while other spirits are happy seeing their loved ones and having delicious foods. Your father would wait until dawn for you or other loved ones to offer him foods. He then has to be taken back to hell without foods for another year. In this case, the spirit is said to be very upset and angry.

In addition to the above, Cambodians believe those who have passed away regardless of where they are now will benefit from good deeds and offerings of their living loved ones. For example, the ritual results of your offering foods to Buddhist monks can be conveyed to help your father who is trapped in hell. It can either cut down the time he has to serve or even he can be released from hell. If your loved one is in heaven or a favorable place already, the results of your good deeds and offerings can extend his stay there. Also your offerings will spiritually benefit you and build your good karma when you pass away. Giving and offerings must be pure from your heart.

Personal Question

Personal Question

(To be Continued)

A: When you finish your study, do you want to work for yourself or the others?

B: I want to work for the others, because I want to get experience and money.

A: Do you want to work in factory, a company or an organization?

B: I’m not sure about this. It depends on real circumstance.

A: How much salary do you want when you get a job?

B: I can’t define my salary. It’s up to my ability and work.

A: When you have enough experience and money, do you want to run your own business?

B: Yes, I do. I want to run a clothes and shoes shop.

A: When are you going to get married?

B: I’m going to get married when I have high knowledge, high responsibility, specific job and enough money.

A: Oh, I think you are a well-considered person. Now according to the limited time, I would like to ask you one more question. What kind of girls do you want to choose to be your future partner?

B: The girl I want to choose to be my future partner is graceful, clever, and slim; especially she has proper manner, proper education, red check, straight hair and clear skin. Moreover, she knows what is wrong what is right.

Greeting Someone

Greeting Someone

The following words are the ways to greet someone.

1. Hi!
2. Hi there!
3. Hello!
4. Good morning! Or Morning!
5. Good afternoon!
6. Good evening! Or Evening!

When we are introduced to someone or when we meet someone for the time, we say:

1. How do you do?
2. (It’s) please to meet you.
3. (It’s) nice to meet you.
4. (I’m) glad to meet you.
5. (I’m) delighted to meet you.
6. (I’m) cheerful to meet you.

When we are introduced to someone or when we meet someone for the second time, the third time, the fourth time, or ….etc, we say:

1. (I’m) nice to see you.
2. (I’m) please to see you.
3. (I’m) glad to see you
4. (I’m) delighted to see you.
5. (I’m) cheerful to see you.

For example:

SON : Hi. Mum! I’m home. This is my mother. This is my friend, Andy.

ANDY: It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Susan.

MUM : I’m glad to meet you, too, Andy.