#9 edX

edX

The class I've watched.

Class: Community Engagement: Collaborating for Change

School: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Class: Working in Teams: A Practical Guide

School: THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

Class: Conversational English Skills

School: Tsinghua University

My Experience/Feelings

It's really a good resource for those who want to learn more things by themselves. I think there are some advantages to edX. First,  it can rewind if you miss anything important. Second, if the speaker told too fast to understand, you could see the caption on the right side. Moreover, there are a variety of classes we can choose.

However, there are some disadvantages to me. I can't interact with teachers. Besides, the content of the class isn't flexible enough so that it let me lack of interest during the lesson.

It just a good way to learn what you want. If you have the strong interest and have self-control. You may learn well.

#8 Online Comics

Pepper&Carrot

I've read episode 1 to 12.

My Experience

I have read the English version comics before. I think to learn English from reading comics is really interesting. First, the comics have a lot of pictures can let us to image what it means if you don't understand the word's meaning. Moreover, it makes learning English more fun. You'll want to know the development of  the story so that you'll have a kind of motion to search what you want. Also, the role's dialog is often a complete sentence. It is good for improve your grammar.

I love pictures more than words. Thus, comics are a good tool to learn English for me.

#7 A story

The Greatest Treasure

The video link: https://www.bookbox.com/products/greatest-treasure

Three words/phrases: 

spectacle noun,[C]

an unusual or unexpected event or situation that attracts attention, interest, or disapproval: 

It was a strange spectacle to see the two former enemies shaking hands and slapping each other on the back.

gallop verb.
(of a horse) to run fast so that all four feet come off the ground together in each act of forward movement, or (of a person) to ride a horse that is running in this way:
We galloped through the woods.

cozy adj.
giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation:
The flickering lamp gave the room a cozy lived-in air.

Description of the story:

One day, Peter discovered a treasure map, then he started an adventure to find the treasure. During the adventure, he encountered the lion in the forest, the eagle in the mountain, the sheep in the valley, the camel in the desert, and the turtle in the sea. The animals all agreed to help Peter, and in the process, they gave a hand each other. Finally, they bumped into an owl. Not until the owl told them what the treasure is, they knew the treasure is their friendship.

#5 English Song

Brighter - Against The Current (click the link)

Lyrics:

(1)

It's a brand new day, it's never too late to start

Can't live this life with an empty heart

(2)

Sometimes we gotta risk all to chase a dream

If we dive in head first, all nothing kind of  thing

(1)(2)

Every single time that we lay it on the line

It's a roller coaster ride for one

When we Know it's do or die and you're running out of time

We've gotta give it all we've got, all we've got!

Chorus:

I want something more, a life worth fighting for

I don't need a reason, to set the world on dire

And burn a little bit brighter now

There's something beautiful hiding in the shadows

So set the world on fire

Let's burn a little bit brighter now!

(x2)

I'm front line and won't run for cover

Can't stand by and wait like the others

Head held high cause I'm burning brighter

Yeah I'm burning brighter

The song introduction:

Brighter sang by Against The Current who is an American pop rock band based in Poughkeepsie, New York, formed in 2011. The band consists of the lead vocalist Chrissy Costanza, guitarist Dan Gow, and drummer Will Ferri. In the early years, they almost cover other songs and post them on Youtube. Nowadays, they have released more than ten original songs.

Three words/phrases:

set sth./sb. on fire phrase

to cause something or someone to start burning:

A peace activist had set herself on fire in protest over the government's involvement in the war.

head held high → held your head high phrase

to be very confident and proud:

If you know that you did your best, you can hold your head high.

lay sth. on the line phrase

to risk harm to something:

I'd be laying my career/life on the line by giving you that information.

The reason why I love this song.

I love this song is not only because of the band but also the meaning of the lyrics. This song is filled with positive lyrics that tell about people to hold their time and try something new. It also wishes people don't afraid to attempt, you should believe yourself and keep on going. When I hear these, I'll cheer up and have more confidence to do everything. Even, my mood will get better.

As for the band, the vocalist, Chrissy, has a special personality when she sang a song. Her unique voice matches with the inspiring lyrics are a wonderful combination, and that is also why this is one of my favorite songs so far.

#4 TED Talk

TED Talk

Topic: Embrace the near win
Speaker's name: Sarah Lewis
Duration: 10:05
Link: https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_lewis_embrace_the_near_win#t-685498

3 words/phrases I learn:

mastery noun
complete control or power over someone or something:
→mastery of/over
Humankind's mastery over the environment.

tenacity noun
the quality of not giving up something easily:
They competed with skill and tenacity.

entrepreneur noun
someone who starts their own business, especially when this involves seeing a new opportunity:
He was one of the entrepreneurs of the 80s who made their money in property.

My video review:

    "Mastery is in the reaching, not the arriving." How to embrace the near win is to know the mastery. I think it is the most important thing in this lecture. Also, she points the key, success is a moment in time, but the mastery is eternal. If you just win it once and others all failed, that win can't represent anything. Maybe it is just a luck, not your actual strength. Thus, the real win is the process of win.
    As for  the speaker, she used lots of examples to explain the incomprehensible concept. It is really good to listeners. Though her speech speed is quit fast, she will emphasize the important part so that we can know what is the key.
    This is a really good speech. The speaker let me understand what is crucial. So called success is not the surface meaning, it is about what you do to get win. 

#2 Dictionary

The article Apple needed a kick in the pants. Samsung just delivered it from CNN news (2/23/2019).
a kick in the pants phrase
an unwelcome surprise that prompts fresh effort:
The competition will be healthy, we need a kick in the pants.

gadget noun
a small device or machine with a particular purpose:
It's a clever little gadget which you can use to cut vegetables into attractive shapes.

morph verb
to develop a new appearance or change into something else, or to make something do this:
→morph into
The river flooded its banks and morphed into a giant sea that swamped the town.

embed verb
to fix something firmly into a substance:
A piece of  glass was embedded in her hand.

penchant noun
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do somethin:
→a/somebody's penchant for something
He has a penchant for adopting stray dogs.

#1 About me

Hello, my name is Shelly. I'm a freshman majored in Public Finance of Taxation. My hometown is Hsinchu.

Observing the surroundings and recording the quotable quotes which inspire me are my interests. Among the quotable quotes, my favorite is “Whatever kind of difficulty you face, you shall not wipe the smile off your face,” which reminds me that I should keep positive all the time.

Moreover, sometimes I watch figure skating during my leisure time. Their graceful physical performances really fascinate me.

Last but not least, I love English, and I’m also learning Japanese by myself now. Why I learn the language is all because of a Japanese band, ONE OK ROCK, which writes a lot of Japanese and English songs. This band pushes me ahead when I am down. They have encouraged me so much that I have determined to learn the language perfectly and dream of attending their live performance in Japan someday.

If you know anything that I say, welcome to common it so that I can know you guys and share something with each other.