実践ビジネス英語 Wednesday, January 21
1) Lyons describes how he and his family used to take many books and magazines with them on vacation when he was a child. But now he and his wife and children use digital devices. He says his reading has become fragmentary and superficial that he reads a little bit and dashes onto something else.
Breakstone agrees, saying she often doesn't concentrate fully on what she is reading online and doesn't finish the entire text.
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Reading in the Digital Age (1)
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2) go on vacation
Depart on a vacation, on a holiday. We also say just "on vacation" to refer to state of being engaged in a vacation. Things like, "I have to check my e-mail even when I am 'on vacation.'" Or "Come on! Have some ice cream. You are 'on vacation.'"
3) e-reader
The prefix "e" is used to mean electronic or involving the Internet. E-commerce, e-mail, and you'd also hear about e-business and e-tailors.
4) reading regime
"Regimen" would also work here. Both mean a systematic plan or course of action that's meant to bring some benefit or serve a purpose. "She has added yoga to her 'exercise regime,' for example. Or "He is under a strict 'study regimen' for his test."
5) Yes, "regime" can also refer to a government or type of government. But in this case, it's almost always negative. It's a government that oppresses its people, that abuses them.
6) blink of an eye
To "blink our eyes" takes just a moment, just an instant. So "in the blink of an eye" means instantly, instantaneously. We also have the expressions "not bat an eye" and "without batting an eye," which means not show any shock or distress. For example, "He didn't 'bat an eye' when the client moved up the deadline." Or "She answered all the clients' questions 'without batting an eye.'"
7) scamper off
To 'scamper' is to run or go quickly and lightly. It's often used about children. You could say, "We sat and talked while the kids 'scampered' around the park."
8) I'm with you.
I agree with you. I'm on your side. For example, "'I'm with Susan' on the new computers, I also think they are too expensive." You can also use "be with" to refer to where someone works. If someone asked me, I could say, "'I'm with' the Japan News in Tokyo."
9) scan and skim
"Scan" can have two opposite meanings. It can mean read or examine something very carefully, or read or examine it quickly. So you could say, "I 'scanned' the text slowly looking for typos." Or "I got to work 10 minutes early. So I 'scanned' the paper over coffee." "Skim" on the other hand, is always looking quickly, lightly over something. "I 'skimmed' the paper over coffee and a roll."
10) devote one's full attention to
In this case, "devote" means direct all one's time, money or energy to some activity. "She devotes two hours a day to reading and writing emails," for example. Or "He is 'devoted' his life to public service."
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実践ビジネス英語 Thursday, January 22
1) Umemura says the bad reading habits he has acquired online are affecting his reading of printed matter as well that he often rereads sections because he didn't take in the meaning the first time. Breakstone and Lyons describe how it can be difficult to adjust reading older books written
in more sedate eras, though Breakstone says she does appreciate being able to do keyword searches on an e-reader.
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Reading in the Digital Age (2)
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2) be impressed
In this case, "impress" means gain someone's admiration or interest. And we often say just "I'm impressed." Things like, "She started her own company at the age of 22? 'I'm impressed.'" Or "He saved two million yen in one year. 'I'm impressed.'"
3) take in
"Take in" has a lot of meanings, but here, it's receive into the mind, register in the mind. For example, "Helen hasn't 'taken in' how serious the situation is." We also use it when observing something, such as, "We stood there for half an hour, 'taking in' the beautiful view."
4) read the passage
"Passage" here is a particular section of some text, speech or music. For example, "That's my favorite 'passage' of poetry. I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Or "Oh, listen, listen. This is my favorite 'passage' in the symphony."
5) shift mental gears
To "shift gears" is to change what you are doing. Imagine a meeting. You've been talking about last year's sales figures. Then someone says, "OK, let's 'shift gears' and look at our upcoming
Product launch.” We also say "get in gear" meaning start to work with energy and effectively. Things like, "I've got to 'get in gear' this week and finish the project by Friday."
6) pretentious
A "pretentious" person arrogantly acts superior to others. Not always, but often the person doesn't deserve to act so superior. They are not really superior. You might say, "He is so 'pretentious,'
bragging about his university all the time." We also say that someone has "pretensions," meaning they claim some quality or achievement that they don't deserve. Things like, "He has 'pretensions' of being a great writer, but he is just so-so."
7) slog
Here "slog” is a noun. It means something difficult or boring that takes a long time. Think of moving slowly against some difficulty. Things like, "That report was a real 'slog,' way too many technical terms." Or "It was a long 'slog' to the station in heavy rain."
8) well worth the effort
There's ample reward for the effort expended. And you can use "well worth" with a lot of other terms. Things like, "That hotel is expensive, but it's 'well worth' the money -- great location, excellent service." Or "I really recommend that seminar. It's 'well worth' your time."
9) keep track of
Stay informed, monitor what’s happening with something or someone. For example, "I met so many people at the convention. I couldn't 'keep track of' their names."
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実践ビジネス英語 Friday, January 23
1) McMillan says some people are advocating slow reading to encourage deeper understanding and appreciation of complex texts. Breakstone says that while some people blame young people's declining reading abilities on the Internet, others think the Internet has created a new type of reading that shouldn't just be dismissed. McMillan says he prefers printed books, and Umemura says they are best for developing concentration and contemplation.
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Reading in the Digital Age (3)
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2) tall order
A goal that's difficult to fulfill, to achieve. For example, "The client wants us to finish next week? That's a 'tall order.'" Or "Cutting costs by 25 percent is a 'tall order.'"
3) crux of a debate
"Crux" refers to the most important point, the central point of something. For example, "The 'crux of the problem' is insufficient staff. We just can’t get everything done." Or "Too much work, not enough pay. That's the 'crux of his argument.'"
4) school of thought
A certain philosophy, a certain way of thinking. One "school of thought" might recommend large government subsidies during a recession while another school of thought would recommend austerity measures.
5) dismiss
Reject someone or something as unworthy of consideration or regard as if we were sending it away. So you could say, "Many great ideas were originally 'dismissed' as unrealistic." Or "Our boss 'dismissed' John's concerns about a possible recall."
6) hidebound traditionalist
Someone "hidebound" is inflexible, unwilling to change their ideas or actions. So, a "hidebound traditionalist" keeps stubbornly to traditional values and activities. Apparently this comes from animals with dry skin that sticks closely to their flesh, though not always, but it often has a negative connotation, referring to rigidly unchanging people. So, a "hidebound" xenophobe is someone rigidly suspicious and hostile towards foreigners.
7) stick with
Continue to do or use something, not change it. Things like, "Should we 'stick with' our regular venue or look for other options?" Or "He 'stuck with' the same brand of suits for 20 years."
8) good old-fashioned
McMillan means something that has been experienced in the past and been good, been effective. You can also use this in a joking way about bad things to mean something that’s been around for a long time, something many people will recognize. For example "My daughter had a good old-fashioned temper tantrum last week, threw her toys all over the room."
9) flit from one text to another
"Flit" means move quickly or suddenly from one thing to another. For example, "He's got to stop 'flitting from job to job'." Or "Her conversation 'flits from one topic to another' in the blink of an eye."
【原稿チェック： Sei Shimura, Hiromi, Cecile, Hiroko】
【ディクテーション： Sanae】
