新年新展望，生活沒指望！ In 2009, what plans have you got for self-improvement? Study harder for a better achievement, lose 10 kilograms by spring, give up smoking by May, cut down on alcohol intake week by week, work less, stay at home more often, and what have you. No matter what your plan is, forget about it or them. Believe it or not, making plans for self-improvement is bad for your health...... Except money, what else do you want?  最新消息 ◎　視聽教育館資料室恢復資料借閱～ 視聽館將於寒假所進行之空調整修工程已於2月15日完成，並於2月16日（一）重新開放，歡迎各位台大人到館借閱。 ◎　短期寫作課程公告～ 視聽館寫作工作室即將在2月份開設新的短期寫作課程，目前預計開設進階初級寫作以及中級寫作課程，詳細開課內容，請點選網頁說明，未來也將陸續開設其他更多應用文寫作的課程，敬請期待喔！每班名額有限，請在報名日開始時，儘早報名！ ◎　第二十八期自學包裹上線啦！ 2009自學包裹第一期，同學們快來作作最新的練習內容，讓大家在放寒假的時候，一樣學得好、學得妙、更要學得呱呱叫喔!!!快來做新版自學包裹吧！ 另外，由於author plus系統更新的關係，各位同學請麻煩到這邊把flash player的版本更新喔！ ↑top  E-Freeway主題介紹 BBC 1 Scott Mills Daily 想要了解什麼是英式幽默嗎？那同學一定不能錯過BBC radio 1 的Scott Mills Daily。這個節目不斷推陳出新，常有脫序無厘頭的演出，像是亂打電話(making prank calls)，或是邀請南方公園捧紅的華裔阿嬤Wing在節目演唱，還有一個叫做"Oh, what's occurring?"的單元，出一堆莫名其妙的題目來讓助理主持們來比賽。想訓練聽力，也像讓生活多點樂趣的同學，就一定要來聽聽看啊！   LiveABC: CNN 新聞英語 透過新聞來學英語是最好的方式之一。不僅是增強進一步的聽力訓練，由於新聞的內容包羅萬象，涵蓋了生活的各個層面，你想的到的、你想要說的、你需要知道的，新聞裡都有。新聞的時效性也可以確保你的英文字彙以及表達方式跟得上時代的潮流，而台大特別採購了LiveABC的新聞英語課程，目前到最新的是2005年的內容，近期之內也將加入2006與2007的最新內容。這麼「好康」的資源，不使用多可惜啊！   線上文學書房 「線上文學書房」內容包括十本大家耳熟能詳的世界名著；不論是小時候的標準讀物《愛莉絲夢遊仙境》、《格列佛遊記》，或是數度被改編成電影的《傲慢與偏見》，到大家就算沒看過也聽過的《簡愛》，「線上文學書房」都提供各位讀者從內容賞析與英語學習的角度來接觸這些文學作品。每本書都由周樹華教授邀請外文系各教授講解內容與特色，讓讀者不用到課堂體會其中的文學成就與奧妙。 ↑top  館藏介紹 DUNKIRK 1940年5月，曾是日不落國的大英帝國經歷了在二次大戰中最慘烈的一役。此場戰役的勝敗與否，決定了英國在二次世界大戰中的命運。但這場戰役事實上，並沒有轟轟烈烈的兩軍廝殺、對陣壁壘，有的只是納粹德國對英軍的屠殺、逃亡英軍對生存的絕望。這場戰役史稱"敦克爾克大撤退"。此次大撤退的成功只有奇蹟出現，才能在十天之內，將近40萬的部隊，從二戰歐陸戰場撤退到英倫群島整裝待發，同時逃離納粹德國的冷酷殲滅。那...奇蹟究竟是怎麼發生的？! ↑top  英語宅急便 許下新年新希望，只會更覺得沒希望！！！ Don't make plans for self-improvement. It's not good !!!!! It's the first school day after the New Year Holiday. While on the way to the next lecture, Adam and Lynn are talking about their plan for this New Year. Adam: You know, I still can't make up my mind which courses to take. It's darn difficult to make the right decision. Lynn: Why? What's up? Adam: In the run-up to every New Year, I always promise the earth to start something, quit something or otherwise change something in the new year. And last year, the promises that I made to myself was to start exercising, and to achieve Distinction in all the subjects. But I guess I was too focused on working up a sweat, so after the mid-term exam, three of my teachers told me that the assignments I handed in and the results of my exam were not up to scratch, so chances were that I could have been expelled if I hadn't really got stuck into the work in the last two months. So, by the end of the year, I only got Pass in the three subjects, and during that two months, I gave up exercising and so did the waistline increase again. So you know, I did everything in vain. Lynn: Well, you know, five years ago, I made the greatest New Year's resolution in my whole life. And so far, I haven't broken it. Adam: Really! What's that? Lynn: The resolution was to stop making New Year's resolutions because it's a vicious circle to make New Year's resolutions. Adam: What are you saying? Is that a tongue twister? Lynn: No, a tongue twister is like this one: One smart fellow, he felt smart. Two smart fellows, they felt smart. Three smart fellows, they felt smart. And they all felt smart together. Try it. It's an easy one. Adam: That's funny. Alright... One smart fellow, he felt smart. Two smart fellows, they smelt fart. Three fart fellows, they felt fart.... It's confusing! I didn't mean to say "fart"! Lynn: Yeah, just like we normally don't mean to break wind in front of other fellows. Adam: Alright, you got me. Come on, you haven't told me why it's a vicious circle to make New Year's resolution? Lynn: Making resolution is another turn of the screw when I am already struggling with feelings of failure and inadequacy. And if I fail the resolution, the negative feeling can be even worse, and lead me to feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem. And with feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem, I definitely will lose confidence when making any plans. So, that's why making resolution is vicious circle, and instead of making resolutions, the best alternative is to take each day as it comes. Adam: That's it? Lynn: Yeah, or what else? Adam: No wonder you never worry about anything. Lynn: Why should I? Just take the courses I'm interested, eat the food I love, and do exercises when I want to. Carpe diem, that is! Adam: Ok, carpe diem. Do you know today is last day to add and withdraw from courses? Lynn: Oh, really! I've not yet been to any lectures, except the one we just went! My goodness! I'm gonna be in trouble. Adam: Yeah, you're already in trouble, but carpe diem, my friend!   Wordbank： darn (adj): "damn"比較文雅的說法 tongue twister (n): 繞口令 Distinction (n): 卓著，澳洲大學成績分級的一個等級 inadequacy (n): 不足 expel (v): 退學 self-esteem (n): 自尊心 New Year's resolution (n): 新年新展(希)望 withdraw (n): 退選(課程) Phrases： in the run-up to = before promise the earth: 再三的保證 work up a sweat: 從事很消耗體力還會弄得滿身大汗的運動、活動 up to scratch = up to the standard: 達到標準 get stuck into: 完全的投入去作... chances are = it's likely in vain = useless a vicious circle: 惡性循環 break wind = fart turn of the screw / turn the screw: 火上加油；雪上加霜 take each day as it comes: 隨遇而安；逆來順受 carpe diem: 及時行樂   相關連結： (BBC News) Resolutions 'bad for your health' (BBC News) Made a resolution? Here's how to stick to it ↑top
			編輯：滕 偉
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