English Recordings

It's a great responsibility to transform a Harry Potter book into a film. Here are some of the people who do the job. Lights, camera, action !
Shooting a film : This scene of the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Magic was shot on a film set at studios in London. The actor is a member of the cast*. Here, Michael Gambon is playing Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the half-blood Prince. Can you see something green in his hand ? Special effects* will be added here later.
Lights*: Reflectors redirect the light towards the scene. The crew* is a group of people who make a film. The crew is divided into different departments: camera, visual effects, sound*, hair and make-up*, wardrobe*. The director* decides how the film will look : the camera angles, lights, scenes. He also chooses the actors and directs them. Sound : Look at the microphone boom*. The boom operator has to position the boom near the actors, but out of the camera's view. Cameras : The camera operator or cameraman shoots* a scene. It's a creative job but it's technical too. A take* is a scene that is filmed without stopping. The director says "cut*" when a scene is finished. The cameras and sound stop. The clapperboard* is shown before a scene is filmed.

This monster is very big with lots of different textures on his body. His arms are covered with short fur, but his legs have scales on them like a fish. He has long black claws on the ends of his fingers and short claws on his toes. His stomach is covered with curly fur. He has small spikes on his shoulders and on the top of his head. He has three big square eyes and a long nose with spots on it. He has a small mouth with black teeth. He has lumps on his chin and neck.

- It was discovered by Scottish scientist Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928. It is a common antibiotic which is used to treat infections.

- It was painted in oil by Leonardo da Vinci in Italy. This painting is a half-length portrait of a woman.

- It is a famous book written by Charles Dickens. It was published in 1859. It is set during the time of the French Revolution.

- The music was composed by Leonard Bernstein.It is a musical based on Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.

- It is the part of the Internet that contains websites and webpages. It was invented in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee in Switzerland.

- It was developed by Ford Motor Company between 1908 and 1915.

- It depicts a view at night but it was painted from memory during the day by Vincent van Gogh

- The story of this opera is based on the Norse mythology. It was written by Richard Wagner .

- It was first published in 1954. It is split in three parts. It was written by J. R. R. Tolkien

- Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the first one. How did people manage to live without it?

- It is regarded as one of the most influential inventions in the second millennium. it was invented by the German printer Gutenberg.

(October 5, ２０１３ ） <English Expression: Blows My Mind> To blow someone's mind basically means to impress or shock them.His music blew her mind.The news blew my dad's mind.Today I want to share a quote from aninspirational speaker named Trent Shelton who has been blowing my mind lately. The quote simply means be yourself and be that perfectly. This was really relevant for me because it was something that I have been thinking about and struggle with. Have a great day and enjoy the gift of being yourself! :)
"THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. Stop competing with everyone around you. You're already completely and perfectly loved by God, and the right people will recognize that. Just because you dress different, just because you look different, just because you are different doesn't make you less important, it makes you more special. Being unique is a GIFT, and wanting to be like others is just WASTING that gift that God created just for you. So I want you to no longer shed tears about your "flaws", and smile daily at the fact that they make you the PERFECT YOU. The only definition you should accept about your life is the one that God gave you, not what others TRY to give you. Who cares if you're less than what a FEW people want you to be. It's not your fault that their eyes can't see THE MORE in which you are. Focus on those that love you, not the few who don't."

- Trent Shelton

Joe: Hannah, tell me about yourself, what do you do for a living?
Hannah: Hi Joe, I'm a hairdresser.

Joe: What is the most enjoyable part of your current job?
Hannah: The most enjoyable part? Hmm... Well, I find it fantastic when someone pops into the salon and asks specially for me to do their hair. When it happens, I understand people deeply trust my abilities as a hairdresser and that makes me really proud of what I've achieved so far!

Joe: I see. What do you think the biggest challenge in a hairdressing career is?
Hannah: There are so many challenges in this job! But to pick the most important one as far as I'm concerned, I'd say you have to be at your best everyday to make sure your client will be satisfied with their new hairstyle. If they're not, then they won't come back and it won't do any good to your salon.

Joe: What is your present boss like?
Hannah: In our job, once you are not an apprentice anymore, your boss trust you one hundred percent! It means you become a colleague and an employee at the same time. My boss respects me for my creativity, and always encourages me to take initiatives. He is a very perfectionist hairdresser and expects the same qualities from me.

Joe: What made you apply for this job?
Hannah: When I was younger I would always do my sister's hair and ask my mum to buy me the hairdresser outfit so I could train. I don't know, deep within, I guess I knew I would become a hairdresser.

Joe: What is your biggest weakness as a hairdresser?
Hannah: The only thing my boss ever reproached me is that I work very slowly. Even though I am not very fast, I think what matters is that the client is happy with their haircut and recommends me to their family or friends. Until now, I have only had positive feedbacks and I'm determined to make this last as long as I work.

Joe: I think I know what you mean: your biggest weakness is also your greatest strength as a hairdresser. Well, thank you Hannah for your time and good luck with your job!
Hannah: Thank you, bye!

The entry below was written by one of my kind friends, who wrote it based on my Chinese entry. Maybe some friends already know that my English is not good enough to write in English freely, so I just wrote in Chinese to avoid writing in English when tired. I didn't write in English in my entry last Saturday, either; I just wrote in Chinese. However, one of my kind friends translated my chinese entry into English for me;I am really pleased about that. I appreciate it!  -----(September 29, 2013)----------------------
Today I attended to my friend's daughter wedding. Their whole family are devoted Christians. Therefore celebrating their Catholic wedding ceremony. The mother of the bride is my good friend from university, also the bride is a childhood friend of my son, so to celebrate this special occasion, my son and I went out together to give our best wishes for the future to the bride and groom . I have a feeling that modern wedding ceremonies are heading towards an entertaining, luxurious, and extravagant style. Therefore, I sometimes get a little confused in wedding ceremonies, or sometimes I admire the feeling of rich people. Anyway, today at the wedding venue, their wedding gave me a warm cozy feeling, and the smiles of the bride and the groom made us very happy. The parents of these two families made personal sacrifices necessary to raise their children, and now they're all grown up. Finally, the young married couple are now a new family. It may look simple, but it's not an easy matter. Dear friend, Congratulations! All your hard work has paid-off ff! Today I used my mobile phone to take a few photographs. But I don't know the reason why the image quality of the camera on my phone has changed. As a result, the photos are not clear. I guess you could say I made the best of the unexpected situation.

Like the confluence of cultures that created it, New Orleans' French Quarter's aesthetic is a vibrant collage of textures: cobblestone corridors, lush courtyard gardens, storied wrought-iron balcony railings. The city's rich history and musical heritage are inextricably linked; jazz, blues, classic rock 'n roll, and electronic dance music all reverberate from the quarter's doors. A spirit of resilient jubilance pervades the French Quarter, making it an American icon you must experience.
Insider Tip: Get a great view of the French Quarter for free by riding the Canal Street Ferry to Historic Algiers—it leaves the terminal, just across from Harrah's Casino, every 30 minutes.

Yes, there’s a whole world out there to explore, but think of all the amazing places in our own, huge country you’ve never seen. These are the iconic images ingrained in every American’s mind, the places, signs, and monuments that represent the best of what America is all about. They’re the beacons of democracy in D.C. and Philadelphia, the emblems of excess in New York City and Vegas, the wonders of nature in our many stunning national parks. They’re the cultural fabric of the country, and these 20 classic spots all deserve a spot on your list of places to see before you die.

kind1 I’m kind to my kind of people.
kind2 A new kind of insect is discovered every day.
kind3 He is truly one of a kind.
kind4 You guys are two of a kind.
kind5 She was very kind to him.

A．She broke off our engagement.　　　　
B．What? Why? 　　　　
A．I have no idea. I didn't see it coming.