BBC Message Board

My question

Dear teachers,
I would like to know if we can use this word to describe a person. Also, is this word widely used in daily conversation? Or there is another word we will use instead using this difficult word?

Answer
1) Yes, you can use this word to describe a person who is suffering from 'hypochondriasis'.
2) The word is not widely used in daily conversation simply because it is a relatively rare condition and it is not necessary for the rank-and-file to use it.
3) There is no other word that can be used which would not be pejorative in nature, i.e. slang.
Your feeling that it is a difficult word is subjective.
 
My comment
I leard the teacher used this word to describe a person who tends to worry about something easily so I want to know if this word can be used to describe a person who tends to worry things easily but the person is not suffering from hypochondriasis. I appreciate the teachers for responding so quickly. Also, I think the teacher answered the question clearly. Because we are online at the same time, it just like I am having a discussion with the teachers.
I think this message board do helps for self-learning because the teachers can provide correct answers immediately to learner's every instant question.The point is that there should be a crew to operate and manage. Or it would be just like Englsih forum which I used before. They responded your questions quickly in the beginning, but nobody operated and managed the website. Gradually,  less and less people visit the website.

Relfection on Steve Job's Talk

I like to listen to the inspiring talks! Every time after I listen to the talks, I am inspired and rethink what I have again. The inspiring talks motivate me to look things toward bright sides and give me the courage to try new things actively. When I listen to the talks, I am used to jotting down the mottos or the useful sentences. Those sentences are quite helpful when I meet difficulty or feel frustrated.


I have watched The Last Lecture before and I love the professor so much. Compared to Steve job’s talk, Randy Pausch delivered the speech in a humorous way. However, what Steve said really inspired me especially now I am going to find a job. He said, “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma-- which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.” Now I am finding a job, no matter what kinds of jobs I choose, many people around me start to give me their opinions like, “Don’t you think the salary is too low?”, “The job is not good and not unstable!”, “Why don’t you be the teacher or public workers?” All of them try to make decisions for me. I have already been nervous and unsure to face the totally different environment from school and have been learning to think and make decisions by myself. Why are these people trying to teach me what is right? At this moment, I think of what Steve said.

I cannot help thinking of Steve’s words these days. Through reading his every sentence, I have the courage to face the new challenge and discover the answer to every question along my journey. Just like what Steve said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.”

The listening note on ESL Podcast 572

ESL Podcast 572 – Blowing the Whistle at Work

This is a conversation between Becky and Saeed in the company. I choose this one because I'm interested in the topic. When I first saw it, i thought does it  mean really blow the whistle ? or it has fiurative meaning. I learned some new words here.

1. to blow the whistle: to tell someone about something that is wrong in your company or organization, especially tell your boss about other colleague's wrong behavior.

2. ramification: consequences or implications after you do something

3.no two ways about it: no doubt that this can happen only in one way

4. on the line: something in danger, at risks

5. get out: secret information become public

6. protect interests: make sure you don't get hurt

7. be in knee-deep: be very much involved in it, usuallt in bad things.

In this conversation, most of the new words are idioms or words that have figurative meanings. I like this episode because the new phrases are interesting and meaningful. Except listening once in the class, even the second time, I still find it is good to listen to because the speed is quite slow and clear.

The Use of "large" and "big"

large: We usually use large to describe greater than average size, quantity or amount; something is significant . For instance, we would say had a "large" role in the conference.



big: Big is ususally used to imply to all types of things which are measuring by a size. For instance, we would say big effort and big project
Sometimes big can also mean
Mature or grown-up: big enough to take the bus by herself.
Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling: My big brother is leaving for college next week.



reference: http://llrc.eng.ntnu.edu.tw/English/search/default.htm

Introductoin

     Hello, everyone. My name is Kirsty Lin.Hsilo is my hometown. In my free time, I like watching Korean Drama, reading novels and blogging(not this one). I love traveling! I think journeys enrich my life. My hobby is imitating everyone with Karen in my daily life. Now I live with Karen, Tiffany, and Ruby in Yohe City.

     I have a part-time job in Yohe. After class, I am an teaching assistant at Yo Ping Sesame Street English School. My duty is doing telephone teaching and making up classes for students. Most of the time I like children very much except they did not behave well in the class.

    I am going to graduate in two months. The only wish is to find a job that I am really interested in. I hope I will remeber to update my blog often though I don't like the user interface very much.


See you next time!