Tag Archives: English

Relative Pronouns

14 Dec

Relative Pronouns (A lesson for my ESL Students)

There are three (3) “Relative Pronouns” in English–THAT, WHICH, WHO.  Their job is to come after a noun and introduce more information about that object.  Basically, they answer the question “What _____?  I need more information please!”

Especially helpful if you need more information in order to correctly identify that specific object from a group of similar items.  

  1. THAT – is used for things and people.  “Tom is the man that is going to teach you.” (Tom is the man. What man? – more information please.  The man going to teach you.)
  2.  WHICH – is used only for things. “Here is the car which I used to pick you up.” (This is the car. What car? – more information please. The car I used to pick you up.)
  3. WHO – is used only for people. “Mary is the woman who helped me study for the test.” (Mary is the woman. What woman? – more information please.She helped me study for the test.)

EXAMPLE:

We are at the airport, and I say “Go get the car.” But you don’t know my car, you have never seen my car. How do you pick my car from a group of cars?

Well, I could have given you more information about the car using “Relative Pronouns.” 

Since “Car” is a thing, I could use either “that” or “which.”  

  1. “Go get the car that is on the right side of the parking lot.”
  2. “Go get the car which is green and parked close to the building.”

Both of these would give you more information so you can pick the correct car.

Christmas Countdown Begins!

25 Nov

db-trademark

If you’re looking for an English Proofreader (校对) | Copyeditor (复制) feel free to contact me. I have extensive writing and editing experience. I’ll take Chinglish and make it professional, high-quality, grammatically perfect, strong-vocabulary English. Ads, Brochures, Reports, Papers, etc. I’m one of the best!

My Christmas Countdown is beginning! Each week I’ll give you an extra 10¥ per hour discount. 🙂 Usual price is 200¥ (30$) per hour for simple or basic work and 300¥ ($45) per hour for complex, highly technical, or difficult work. So between now and December 3rd I’ll give you a discount of 10¥!! 

Alipay / WeChat / Paypal all accepted.

Contact Me:

Image

English Adjectives are Funny!

9 Oct

14237517_1176801089045845_619436870183778336_n.jpg

New Corporate Governance Vocabulary

23 Sep

I’ve added new terms to the list of Business or Corporate Governance Vocabulary

Don’t forget, the Chinese translations come from the Chinese students rather than professional translators. While I believe they are accurate, you may want to consult professionals before using them for official documents. This is mainly intended to contribute to daily conversation between English speaking Companies and Chinese companies.

Abbreviations:

v. = Verb
n. = Noun
adj. = Adjective
adv. = Adverb

(c) All Rights Reserved. You are welcome to use this material. However, if you do end up using these definitions in your material (educational, informational, or professional), please include either a link to this webpage or the following reference: Blessing, Olivia. “Corporate Governance Vocabulary.” DeceptivelyBlonde.com. This is for two reasons: 1) I’d like to share the resource with others. 2) I created these definitions myself. Thanks!

Appoint (v.) ~

  1. To select a person or group of people for specific work or for an official job . 委任 –Wěi rèn
  2. To select a specific time or date for an event. 任命 – Rèn mìng

 

Assets (n.) ~ Anything valuable or of worth that belongs to the company. Found on the Balance Sheet. 资产 – Zīchǎn

Balance of Power (n.) ~ The issue of whether power or authority is equally shared among the people so that no one person or group is stronger than the others. 均势 – Jūnshì / 权力平衡 – Quánlì Pínghéng

Business Practices (n.) ~ The usual methods, procedures, systems, traditions, and rules used by a company in accomplishing its goals. 商业惯例 – Shāngyè guànlì

Chairman (n.) ~ The Chief Officer of a company, appointed as the head of the Board of Directors. Responsible for developing corporate policy and supervising  the Executives. 董事长 – Dǒng Shì Zhǎng

Contribute (v.) ~ To give something (time, money, goods, effort, thoughts, ideas) as part of helping a group accomplish something. (Example – My contribution to the project was the Powerpoint I did)贡献 – Gòngxiàn

Controls (n.) ~ Rules or Restrictions use to limit or regulate something. 管制- Guǎnzhì

Corporate Structure (n.) ~ The system or plan for organizing a corporation’s groups, committees, and people. 公司结构 – Gōngsī Jiégòu

Decide (v.) ~ To make a conclusion or final choice about something. 决定 – Juédìng

Decision (n.) ~ A conclusion or final choice about something. 决议 – Juéyì

Director (n.) ~ Member of the Board of Directors which monitors the Executive Staff, works with the Shareholders, and makes some of the most significant decisions about the company’s purpose, values, ethics, goals, major activities, and future. 董事 – Dǒngshì

Executive (n.) ~ The senior manager or officer in charge of a specific area of the company who is responsible for making and implementing the significant day-to-day decisions. 高管 – Gāo Guǎn

Financial (adj.) ~ Connected to or associated with money or finances. – Cái / 金融 – Jīn róng

Fiscal (adj.) ~ Connected to or associated with money or finances (usually in terms of the cash flow, assets, and liabilities of a company). 财政 – Cái Zhèng

Liabilities (n.) ~ All debts or financial obligations a company owes . Found on the Balance Sheet. 负债 – Fùzhài

Member (n.) ~ Someone who has fulfilled all the requirements and been accepted into the group. (Example – “I am a member of the Wēixìn Group for my class”)  会员 – Huìyuán

Membership (n.) ~ One’s position as part of a group. The fact that someone has fulfilled all the requirements and been accepted into a specific group. (Example – “I have a membership with the gym.”) 会籍 – Huì Jí / 会员资格 – Huìyuán Zīgé

Minimum (n.) ~ The lowest possible amount of something. 最低限度 – Zuìdī Xiàndù

Nomination (n.) ~ The official recommendation or suggestion that someone deserves a specific job. 提名 – Tímíng

Performance (n.) ~ The way someone does their work. When reviewed by others, performance is usually judged by its effectiveness and efficiency. (Example – Your performance was very good; you did the job quickly and correctly). 绩效 – Jīxiào

Relevant (adj.) ~ Directly linked to or important to the issue being considered (Example – Whether or not the product test is successful is relevant to whether we sell it this year or not). 相应 – Xiāng yìng

Remuneration (n.) ~ The payment or reward a person gets for doing their job. 报酬 – Bàochóu

Report (n.) ~ A detailed account or explanation (written or spoken) about the person, group, or company’s activities, work, situation, research, etc汇报 – Huìbào

Report (v.) ~ To give the report to the audience. 报告 – Bàogào

Review (v.) ~ To examine or look over something to make sure it is correct, complete, adequate, or that you understand it. 回顾 – Huígù 

Risk (n.) ~ Something that puts important or valuable items in danger of being destroyed, damaged, or lost. 风险 – Fēngxiǎn

Strategy (n.) ~ A plan or method of accomplishing something. 战略 – Zhànlüè

 

Photo above is not mine. All Rights go to Suzanne Dibble, on who’s website I found the photo.

Life in China ~ Chinglish Travel

5 Aug

Airport = Airplane Station

(Comes from the fact that we have Subway Stations and Train Stations, so naturally it is a Airplane Station 😛 )

Life in China ~ Bring It (Managerial Econ Style)

22 Mar

😛 I am teaching a class of students whose English is particularly bad, but I had them last semester too and we have been moving along. It takes translating every couple of words (money, war, economy, market, cash, coin, card) to communicate, but we were happy with our steady if slow pace 🙂 

Then Today, I had two new students join the class from Int’l Trade 1 (the best students, include one who has excellent English). At the beginning, I asked the students to translate one of the words as usual. Normally it takes us a bit to look it up and figure out a Chinglish version. Now, immediately the new boy spits out verbatim the precise 3 sentence long definition from the textbook by memory. 0_0 It was the funniest thing. The entire class stopped, turned and stared at him. One girl threw up her hands, another started groaning. The entire group almost in unison went “ooooohhhhhh” and one actually WHIMPERED. LOL. He jerked back and looked around. After that he figured out pretty quick the others weren’t at that level. 🙂 Seriously, we’re working at “this is called demand” level and he’s off on QD = a + bP + cT + . . . . level. Boom. . . mic dropped, bar raised.

Friendly Faces!

8 Sep

I’m teaching at the Kindergarten here at SIAS for over-time, and here are some of my adorable students!

English Boy Names and Their Meanings

19 Jul

English Boy Names and Their Meanings:

Name (English Pronunciation)- Meaning (Origin) – Chinese Translation (Pinyin)

**Capital vowels (AEIOU) are long vowels like “lAke” or “bIke” or “flUte”

### Pronunciation is by English standards, not Pinyin!

+++These names are not all common, but are recognizable to Westerners

 

  1. Ryder(rI der) – One who Rides (English) – 骑士 (Qíshì)
  2. Liam(lEE ahm) – Guardian, Protection (Irish) – 保护者 (Bǎohù zhě); 卫报 (Wèi bào)
  3. Jacob(jA kob) – God Protects (Latin) – 保护神 (Bǎohù shén)
  4. Will(will) – Protection, Guardian (German)- 保护者 (Bǎohù zhě); 卫报 (Wèi bào)
  5. Aaron(Air on) – High Mountain, Exalted (Greek) – 高山 (Gāoshān); 崇高的 (Chónggāo de)
  6. Dane(dAn) – Valley (English)– 谷 (Gǔ)
  7. Matt(mat– Gift of God (Hebrew)– 上帝的礼物 (Shàngdì de lǐwù)
  8. David/Dave(dAv ehd / dAv) – Beloved (Hebrew) – 亲爱的 (Qīn’ài de)
  9. Anthony/Antony/Tony(an thO nEE / an tO nEE / tO nEE) – Priceless (Greek) – 无价 (Wú jià)
  10. Joseph/Joe(jO sehf / jO) – God Increases(Greek) – 神使 (Shén shǐ)
  11. Lucas/Luke/Luc(grAs) – Light-Giving (Greek) – 发出亮光 (Fāchū liàngguāng)
  12. Gabriel/Gabe(gAb rEEl / gAb) – God is my Strength (German) – 上帝是我的力量 (Shàngdì shì wǒ de lìliàng)
  13. Samuel/Sam(sam Ul / sam) – God has Heard (Hebrew) – 上帝听见了 (Shàngdì tīngjiànle)
  14. Levi(lEE vI) – Attached (Hebrew) – 执着  (Zhízhuó)
  15. John(jahn) – God is Gracious (Latin) – 上帝是仁慈的 (Shàngdì shì réncí de)
  16. Isaac(I sac) – He Laughs (Hebrew) – 他笑了 (Tā xiàole)
  17. Ryan(rI an) – Little King (Irish) – 王子 (Wángzǐ)
  18. Nathan/Nate(nA thahn / nAt) – He has Given (Hebrew)– 上帝给了 (Shàngdì gěile)
  19. Hunter(hunt er) – One who hunts (English) – 猎人 (Lièrén)
  20. Henry(hehn rEE) – Home Ruler (German) – 庄园主 (Zhuāngyuán zhǔ)
  21. Owen(O wehn) – Well Born (Irish) -鸿鹄 (Hónggǔ)
  22. Jack(jak) – God is Gracious (English) – 上帝是仁慈的 (Shàngdì shì réncí de)
  23. Eli(EE lI) – Height (Hebrew) – 高度 (Gāodù)
  24. Gavin(ga vehn) – Hawk (Gavin) – 鹰 (Yīng)
  25. Jordan(jOr dan) – Flow down, Descend (Hebrew) – 下方 (Xiàfāng)
  26. Nicholas/Nick(nik Oh lI / nik) – Victory of the People (Greek) – 人民的胜利 (Rénmín de shènglì)
  27. Evan(eh van) – God is Gracious (Irish) – 天堂上帝是仁慈的 (Shàngdì shì réncí de)
  28. Charles(char ls) – Free Man (Latin) – 自由人 (Zìyóu rén)
  29. Connor(con ner) – Lover of Dogs (English) – 我喜欢狗 (Wǒ xǐhuān gǒu)
  30. Adrian(A drEE an) – Water (Latin) – 水 (Shuǐ)
  31. Nicolai(nEE kOh lI) – Victory of the People (Russian) – 人民的胜利 (Rénmín de shènglì)
  32. Thomas/Tom(tom ahs / tom) – Twin (Greek) – 双 (Shuāng)
  33. Robert(ro burt) – Bright Fame (English) – 了名气(Le míngqì)
  34. Tyler(tI ler) – Door Keeper (English) – 门房 (Ménfáng)
  35. Colton(cOhl ton) – Dark Town (English) – 黑暗镇 (Hēi’àn zhèn)
  36. Austin(ah stehn) – Dignified (English) – 自重 (Zìzhòng)
  37. Jason / Jace(jAs on jAs– Healer (Greek) – 医家 (Yījiā)
  38. Dominic/Dom(dom ehn EEk / dom) – Of the Lord (Latin) – 从主 (Cóng zhǔ)
  39. Kevin(keh vin) – Gentle Birth (Irish– 轻松生 (Qīngsōng shēng)
  40. Zachary / Zach(zak ahr EE / zak) – The Lord Remembers (Greek) – 记得神 (Jìdé shén)
  41. Blake(blAk) – Black, Dark (English) – 黑 (Hēi); 深 (Shēn)
  42. Chase(chAs) – To Hunt, To Chase (English) – 狩猎 (Shòuliè)
  43. Ian(EE ahn) – God is Gracious (Scottish) – 上帝是仁慈的 (Shàngdì shì réncí de)
  44. Adam(a dahm) – Man, Of the Earth (Hebrew) – 亚当 (Yàdāng); 男人 (Nánrén)
  45. Justin(juhs tehn) – Just (Latin) – 刚 (Gāng)
  46. Nolan (nOh lahn) – Famous (Irish) – 著名 (Zhùmíng)
  47. Brody(brOh dEE) – Muddy Place (Irish) – 泞地 (Nìng de)
  48. Tristan(tri stahn) – Loud Sword (French) – 长剑 (Zhǎng jiàn)
  49. Damian(dA mEE ahn) – To Tame (Greek) – 降伏 (Xiángfú)
  50. Micah(mI cah) – Like God (Hebrew) – 同神 (Tóng shén)

ESL Students ~ Don’t Underestimate Their Intelligence

24 Apr

There is a clear problem in the world of ESL teaching (both language and content), and it comes primarily from the side of the ESL teachers. I would almost say it is a unique type of racism that is beginning to show. And it is concerning me on behalf of the students.

The Problem ~ ESL teachers tend to believe that any student who cannot communicate the idea in English cannot understand the idea itself.

While it is certainly true that there are students we teach who are intellectually challenged (primarily because they are 18-20 and really care more about Basketball or Dance right now), it would be well for ESL teachers to remember that they are often teaching some of the most intelligent and educated students in the country. Students in ESL programs are rarely ever stupid ~ different, and perhaps driven to less academic pursuits perhaps ~ but not stupid.

And it is time we stopped planning our lessons around this concept.  

Just look at most ESL websites ~ we are taught to teach students at a very low intellectual level. It’s all fun and games ~ very little actual intellectual-level learning. And they are carrying this pattern over into content-based classes.   Students tasked with learning about deep content (Macroeconomics) are being taught very simple “here’s how business people say ‘hello!'” lessons.  It drives me crazy.

There is a belief among the ESL teachers that Asian students are incapable of doing Critical Thinking. That they are taught only to memorize and can do no more.  0_0 How condescending can you get? 

I have watched my students soar into the world of Critical Thinking, marching through complex questions and speaking for hours about their ideas of applied philosophy to Economics, Art, Culture, Science, and the World.  I was given the class “Business Ethics” and then told by other teachers that the students would never understand the concept ~ it was “above their comprehension level.”  By the end of my class, they all managed a 30 minute conversation where they not only explained complex Ethical theories, but applied them to current problems that they felt were important. I didn’t chose the ideas for them, they took the knowledge and ran with it on their own.  

I once had a student that other teachers warned me about because they were “slow” and “just couldn’t understand.” Admittedly they made poor grades at first (I wasn’t grading those assignments, another teacher was). But then they came to me in tears about why they were graded so low when they had spent “5 days without leaving the dorm just to do this.” After looking over the paper, I was blown away. They were using resources, quoting law books, bringing in the national Constitution. They were using appropriately huge words like “Deconstruction” and “Rehabilitation.” They could explain their paper to me, and it was way beyond even many US student’s levels. The only problem? A small issue of not knowing how to use the small connecting words of “for, an, to. . . ”  That’s all. Together we sat down, and I explained those words to them. Their next paper, they got a 100 and were applauded by the senior teacher. It had never been a lack of comprehension ~ merely a difficulty in explaining it to others that was the problem.

And this has happened over and over in schools all across Asia.  

There is an instinctive racism that happens to westerners when they confront people who don’t speak native English. It’s like if a person can’t speak English, they must be stupider or less competent than us.  We do it without thinking, without realizing. High-level communication is difficult so we think they must not be able to comprehend the ideas themselves. But this is fundamentally flawed.  

Stop treating the students like idiots and teach to their level.  If they don’t understand you the first time, try again.  And Again, and again. Because they are fully capable of understanding the ideas. It is simply your communication of the ideas that leaves something to be desired.  

The students are smart ~ be respectful and remember your own college language days. How good are you at that college French still?  

English Names for Girls ~ 英文名女孩 (Yīngwén míng nǚhái)

25 Feb

Here is a good resource for ESL students looking for their English name.  

English Names for Girls

英文名女孩 (Yīngwén míng nǚhái) 

Name (English Pronunciation)- Meaning (Origin) – Chinese Translation (Pinyin)
**Capital vowels (AEIOU) are long vowels like “lAke” or “bIke” or “flUte”
### Pronunciation is by English standards, not Pinyin!
+++These names are not all common, but are recognizable to Westerners

  1. Sophia(sOh fEE ah) – Wisdom (Greek) – 智 (zhì)
  2. Emma (ehm mah) – Complete or Whole (German) – 普(pǔ)
  3. Mia (mEE ah) – Long desired or wished-for (Latin)– 遂愿  (suì yuàn)
  4. Lily(Li lEE) – Type of Flower that represents purity (Greek)- 百合 (bǎi hé); 淳 (chún)
  5. Phoebe (fEE bEE) – Bright, Clear, Radient (Greek) -亮(liàng); 爽 (shuǎng)
  6. Sabrina (sah brEEn ah) – Goddess of the River – 河的女神 (Hé de nǚshén)
  7. Emily (ehm i lEE) – Eager; Excelling (Latin)– 殷切(yīn qiè); 要强(yào qiáng)
  8. Kiley(kai lEE) – Graceful, Beautiful (Irish) – 雍容 (yōng róng); 轻盈 (qīng yíng)
  9. Laura (laur ah) – Short for the Laurel Tree which represents Victory and Immortality (Latin) – (guì guān);  (shèng); (bù xiǔ)
  10. Ella (ehl lah) – Light (German) – 轻快(qīng kuài)
  11. Grace (grAs) – Beauty, joy, elegant, classy (Latin) – 风韵(fēng yùn)
  12. Helen (hehl ehn) – Light, Sun (Greek) – (yún)
  13. Anna(an nah) – Gracious (Hebrew) – 亲切 (qīn qiè)
  14. Julia (jU lEE ah) – Youthful (Latin) – 年青 (nián qīng)
  15. Jasmine (ja smehn) – Type of Flower that represents modesty (Persian) – 谦逊(qiān xùn); 茉莉花 (mò li huā)
  16. Clara (klah rah) – Clear, Bright (Greek) – 亮(liàng); 爽 (shuǎng)
  17. Charity (chA ri tEE) – giving help to the needy (English) – 仁爱(rén ài); 周济 (zhōu jì)
  18. Daisy (day zEE) – Gentleness, Innocence, Loyal Love (English)– 沉静(chén jìng); 童心 (tóng xīn); 忠诚 (zhōng chéng)
  19. Selene (sehl EEn) – Moon (Greek) -望(wàng)
  20. Heather (heh ther) – Type of flower that represents Perseverance in the middle of difficulty (English) – 毅力(yì lì); 滴水穿石 (dī shuǐ chuān shí)
  21. Iris (I rehs) – Faith, Wisdom (Greek) -信赖(xìn lài); 智 (zhì)
  22. Ivy (I vEE) – Fertility – 生殖力(shēng zhí lì)
  23. Rose(rOz) – Love, Grace, Desire (Germanic) – 玫 (méi); 爱 (ài); 恋 (liàn)
  24. Alyssa(ah lehs sah) – Worth beyond Beauty (Greek) – 无价 (wú jià)
  25. Violet (vI O let) – Modesty, Simplicity (French) – 简易(jiǎn yì); 谦逊 (qiān xùn)
  26. Carol (kAr Ol) – Song of praise or joy (French) – 颂歌(sòng gē)
  27. Eden (E dehn) – Paradise, Place of Pleasure (Hebrew) – 天堂(tiān táng)
  28. Holly (hahl lEE) – To BringGoodwill (English) – 善意 (shàn yì)
  29. Ariana(Ar EE ahn ah) – Holy (Latin) – 圣 (shèng)
  30. Faith (fAth) – To Trust (English) – 信赖(xìn lài)
  31. Dawn(dahwn) – Sunrise (English) – 晨 (chén)
  32. Vanessa (van ehss ah) – Butterfly (Greek) – 蝶(dié)
  33. Harmony(hahr mOn EE) – When music notes are played at the same time to form a beautiful sound; in agreement (Greek) – 和 (hé); 均衡 (jūn héng)
  34. Joy (jO EE) – Happiness (French) – 乐趣(lè qù)
  35. Mercy(mehr sEE) – To show compassion or forgiveness (Latin) – 留情 (liú qíng)
  36. Hope (hOp) – Faith or belief that something will happen (English) – 期望(qī wàng)
  37. Katrina( kat rEE nah– Pure, Clear (Swedish) – 白 (bái)
  38. Ariel (Ar EE ahl) – Lion of God [basically it means warrior who represents heaven when fighting evil] (Hebrew) – 上帝的狮子 (Shàngdì de shīzi) [maybe a bad translation]
  39. Brenda (brehn dah) – Flaming sword (Norse– 火焰的剑 (Huǒyàn de jiàn) [maybe a bad translation]
  40. Veronica(vehr on E kah) – Honest image; True Image (Latin) – 廉洁相(Liánjié xiàng)
  41. Abby(ab bEE) – Short for Abigail, means Father’s joy (Hebrew) – 父亲的喜悦 (Fùqīn de xǐyuè)
  42. Caitlyn orKaitlyn (kAt lehn) – Pure (French) – 白 (bái)
  43. Cassandra (kass ahn drah) – Prophetess from Greek Stories (Greek) – 预言家(yù yán jiā)
  44. Bianca(bEE ahn kah) – White, Shining (French) – 崭亮 (zhǎn liàng); 白 (bái)
  45. Alicia (ah lEE shah) – Nobility (Latin) – 贵族(guì zú)
  46. Miranda(mEEr an dah) – Worthy of Admiration, Wonderful (Latin) – 令人钦佩 (Lìng rén qīnpèi); 美妙 (měi miào)
  47. Diana (dai an ah) – Heavenly, Divine, Goddess of the Forest (Latin) – 仙(xiān); 森林女神 (Sēnlín nǚshén)
  48. Irene (ai rEEn) – Peace (Greek) – 安乐(ān lè)
  49. Scarlett(scahr leht) – Red, a color that symbolizes Passion (English) – 激情 (jī qíng)
  50. Stacy(stei cEE) – Fruitful (Greek) – 产量多 (chǎn liàng duō)

 

%d bloggers like this: