Four-Day Trip with Sandra

I had a four-day trip with my sister Sandra from Sep. 26 to 29. Look how excited I was when I found myself in Grand Canyon.

Archichoke

Yesterday, my sister invited me to eat something I'd never tasted before. I told her as long as it was not animals or insects, I would give it a try.

Secrets of Longevity--"全球人瑞15個飲食習慣 長壽秘訣"--from World Journal

Home alone at my sister's place in San Jose, I came across this article on a page of The World Journal on a table. Glad to share.

http://udn.com/news/story/6812/1182881-%E5%85%A8%E7%90%83%E4%BA%BA%E7%91%9E15%E5%80%8B%E9%A3%B2%E9%A3%9F%E7%BF%92%E6%85%A3-%E9%95%B7%E5%A3%BD%E7%A7%98%E8%A8%A3

全球人瑞15個飲食習慣 長壽秘訣

2015-09-13 03:21:24      世界日報 編譯宋凌蘭／綜合11日電

作家布特納（Dan Buettner）十多年來與專家合作，在全世界五個百歲人瑞最多的「藍區」（Blue Zones）進行研究。分析過去一個世紀於藍區進行的150多項調查後，布特納歸納出這些人瑞值得借鏡的15個飲食習慣。

My comments: Blue Zones official website: https://www.bluezones.com/

食物的95%應來自植物：在日本沖繩島、義大利薩丁尼亞島、希臘伊卡里亞島、哥斯大黎加尼科雅半島和加州洛馬林達這五個「藍區」，蔬果、全穀物和豆子是全年主食。最棒的長壽食物是多葉子的蔬菜。

First Language First--"「不要亂用外語跟孩子溝通」 老外：先學好母語吧"

https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E3%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E8%A6%81%E4%BA%82%E7%94%A8%E5%A4%96%E8%AA%9E%E8%B7%9F%E5%AD%A9%E5%AD%90%E6%BA%9D%E9%80%9A%E3%80%8D-%E8%80%81%E5%A4%96%EF%BC%9A%E5%85%88%E5%AD%B8%E5%A5%BD%E6%AF%8D%E8%AA%9E%E5%90%A7-013022815.html

「不要亂用外語跟孩子溝通」 老外：先學好母語吧

20150919

來台發展的義大利籍藝人韋佳德身兼多重角色、還會講七國語言，有語言學專長的他在臉書撰文，呼籲台灣人不要再亂用外語和孩子溝通，這樣反而會阻礙他們認知發展。他這篇文章貼出後，引起許多家長迴響，有數萬人按讚、分享。

台灣家長很重視外語教育，且深信要贏起起跑線上，有些除了將小孩送到補習班、學校學習之外，自己也喜歡用英語和小孩溝通，希望小孩子的英語說得呱呱叫。

San Jose Public Rose Garden

Visit to Facebook

Yesterday evening, Geroge, my sister, and I paid a visit to Facebook, escorted by my son. Guess what I wrote on the facebook wall.

 

Hi from Stanford University

Today, during the daytime George and I visited Stanford University.

The List Producer--a Good Website

The List Producer: using lists to lead your best life. A website I found in the book Listful Thinking this evening.

http://listproducer.com/

Signs in San Jose

I arrived at SFO the day before yesterday to visit my son and sister and have been staying in San Jose. When we were out, one thing that drew my attention is the sign. I like to read the words on the signs I came across because they are authentic materials for language learners and teachers. The following are some examples:

Life Clock--"薛承泰／生命時鐘"--from UDN

http://udn.com/news/story/7340/1169194

薛承泰／生命時鐘

2015-09-06 02:21:28      聯合報 薛承泰

去年智慧型手表上市之後，筆者發現已有人將「生命時鐘」的概念融入，手表除了一般計時與融入手機的功能外，也是一個隨身保健秘書。

My comments: Life clock, an app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mrelte.lifeclock

作為一個商業產品，生命時鐘的設計將使用者基本訊息輸入，包括年齡、身高體重、個人與家族病史，以及生活習慣等，根據這些訊息計算，隨時顯示「剩餘的壽命」，讓使用者了解自己身體健康狀態，提供相關保健與醫療資訊，並拓展出更多的商機。

My comments: So, everyone in their midlife would feel pressed for time?!

Passion for Work--"點燃你的熱情魂"--from UDN

http://udn.com/news/story/7046/1172303-%E3%80%90%E9%9D%92%E6%98%A5%E5%90%8D%E4%BA%BA%E5%A0%82%E3%80%91%E9%BB%9E%E7%87%83%E4%BD%A0%E7%9A%84%E7%86%B1%E6%83%85%E9%AD%82

【青春名人堂】點燃你的熱情魂

2015-09-08 09:24:22      聯合報 今日登場鄭俊德

你的工作快樂嗎？

這問題只有極少數的朋友會表示很滿意現在的生活與工作，普遍答案是普普、不甚滿意、還好、騎驢找馬，或是轉移話題。

Today's Sky

(Taken at 5:51pm in Neihu)

Looks like a myriad of pearls or herds of sheep in the sky.

A Get-together with Yu-ting

A gathering with Yu-ting (顏渝庭) in the evening. She is studying in graduate school at Chengchi University, majoring in English literature. She shared with me her experience of a conference in England she attended this past July, in which she presented her paper. And she is going to give another presentation in England again is coming November, talking about Jane Austin's Mansfield Park.  

Visit to Sun Yun-Suan Memorial Museum

(from Chun-zhi)



(from Chun-zhi)

Time: 12:20pm, Sep. 8, 2015

Place: Sun Yun-suan Memorial Museum, No. 10, Lane 6, Chung-ching S. Road, Taipei

The other day, Tang-tang, a junior high schoolmate, suggested we visit Sun Yun-shuan Memorial Museum today. Here we were! Were it not for Tang-tang, though having lived in Taipei for more than 50 years, I would never know this museum.

A Gathering of Us Four

Time: 14:30 & 17:30, Sep. 7, 2015,

Place: Starbucks, a Japanese restaurant, and Mister Donut, at City Link, Nankang

I've known these three boys/men since September, 2004. Wow! That's ten years ago. They were then in their second year of high school and I was their English teacher.  Chao-lung is starting his PhD program this Septemeber at UCLA, majoring in anthropology, Wei-chen is working as a government officer, and Wei-yi is a librarian in Yilan, both of the latter two had to pass a national exam, gaokao, to take the positions.

"Controversial metro cards featuring porn star Yui Hatano sell out in Taiwan"--from CNN

I was surprised to find this news catching the attention of CNN.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/03/travel/taiwan-porn-star-metro-cards/index.html

Controversial metro cards featuring porn star Yui Hatano sell out in Taiwan

By Karla Cripps, CNN

Updated 0551 GMT (1251 HKT) September 3, 2015

(CNN)A cautionary tale for public transport officials around the world who might be considering using adult film stars to spice up their marketing plans.

A set of sexy pre-paid swipe cards featuring Japanese adult video star Yui Hatano has proven to be both popular and controversial in Taipei. 

Time Management & Setting Priorities--"盛治仁／為時間管理設下優先順序"--from UDN

http://udn.com/news/story/7340/1167707-%E7%9B%9B%E6%B2%BB%E4%BB%81%EF%BC%8F%E7%82%BA%E6%99%82%E9%96%93%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86%E8%A8%AD%E4%B8%8B%E5%84%AA%E5%85%88%E9%A0%86%E5%BA%8F

盛治仁／為時間管理設下優先順序

2015-09-05 01:30:20      聯合報 盛治仁（雲朗觀光集團總經理）

最近瓊斯盃籃球賽打得如火如荼，剛好這次球員住宿地點跟我的辦公室接近，進出時，經常看到接待人員忙進忙出張羅著大小事。看到這些年輕臉龐，不由得想起一九八八年大二暑假時，也曾經參與過瓊斯盃籃球賽，擔任美國隊接待員的往事，同時也感慨時間的飛逝。

A Great Afternoon with Two Young People

Time: 2pm, Sep. 4, 2015

Place: Mountin Cafe

Had a great afternoon tea with Hao-tang, a former student who gradauted from NHSH in 2012, and his girlfriend, both of whom are going to their senior year at NTNU this fall, one majoring in physics and the other graphic arts and communications. They shared with me their plan after graduation next year. I encouraged them to pursue what they really love even if they may have to stay in college for one more years.

元智新生營 7天補救「菜英文」

http://udn.com/news/story/6928/1162671

元智新生營 7天補救「菜英文」

2015-09-03 07:20:08      聯合報 記者馮靖惠／台北報導

元智大學為引導大一新生順利銜接大學英語教育，昨起舉辦為期一周的新生英語營，新生必須使用英語學習、對話，提早適應校內雙語環境。

元智大學國際語言文化中心主任柯宜中表示，連續7天的英語營，讓新生像集訓一樣，接受全英語上課及生活訓練。英語研習營可以啟發新生主動學習英語的動力，並加以活用。配合趣味遊戲及與外籍生互動，達到英語能力提升和文化交流的目的，對於日後的英語學習有暖身效果。

My comments: What matters most is that students use the language.

Flipped Classroom--"學生討論老師聽 國小生變愛上課"--from UDN

http://udn.com/news/story/6901/1162664-學生討論老師聽-國小生變愛上課

學生討論老師聽 國小生變愛上課

2015-09-03 07:38:03      聯合報 記者沈育如／台北報導

「廣大興事件，為何造成台灣與菲律賓的衝突？」台南市永康國小的社會課，老師姜宏尚丟出問題，台下學生每4人分小組，七嘴八舌熱烈討論，再派代表上台回答問題。這種打破傳統「老師講，學生聽」的教學方式，讓學生成為課堂主人，學習更主動。

Flipping the Teacher--"翻轉教學 難在師長改變觀念"--from UDN

http://udn.com/news/story/6901/1162666

翻轉教學 難在師長改變觀念

2015-09-03 07:44:58      聯合報 記者沈育如／台北報導

由日本教授佐藤學推動的學習共同體，打破傳統「老師台上講課，學生台下聽講」的教學模式。台南市去年12月開始試辦，台南市教育產業工會理事長、賢北國小老師侯俊良表示，推動最大困難，在於老師與家長的觀念改變，不過學生「上課有事做」，對學習興趣大為提高，成績也有明顯進步。

My comments: I believe teachers can decide the learning environment in the classroom. The teacher is the soul of education.

Flowers Blooming Only at Night

This photo and the following two were taken last night around 9:30 when I was taking a walk at Pihu. The flowers are called Small-leaved Barringtonia (穗花棋盤腳). They reminded me of a sentence I texted a student who felt down because she was only on the waiting list for admission to National Central University: "All flowers bloom, but not at the same time, in the same way." The words did lift her spirits, as she said. What's better, she got admitted eventually.

5 Icebreakers for English Interaction

http://blog.tesol.org/5-icebreakers-for-english-interaction/

5 Icebreakers for English Interaction

Posted on 24 August 2015 by Kristen Lindahl

In the United States, it’s that time of year again, when students and teachers excitedly (reluctantly?) return to the classroom after summer vacation. First and foremost, you’ll want to get your students talking to you and to each other!

"Taiwan's ETC system wins 2015 ITS World Congress Industry Award"

This morning, when reading the newspaper, I was attracted by the heading "十年磨一劍 交部：最難的是堅持."

(See http://udn.com/news/story/7314/1158364-ETC%E3%80%8C%E9%A9%9A%E8%B1%94%E5%85%A8%E7%90%83%E3%80%8D-%E5%9C%8B%E9%9A%9B%E7%8D%B2%E7%8D%8E )

On the same page was the good news about Taiwan's ETC got recogition from IBTTA and won an award. For people in Taiwan, this is a national pride.

(See http://udn.com/news/story/7314/1158328-台灣之光-ETC獲收費公路奧斯卡)

The following is the same news story reported in English.

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201508190037.aspx

Taiwan's ETC system wins 2015 ITS World Congress Industry Award