Unit 2
Section 1
Episode 1
Audio
Scripts:
WH=Wang Hao; T=Tom; YF= Yi Fei; A=Alice
WH: So, I think we all agree that Alice’s idea for an online language exchange platform is cool. T: Yeah, I think it’s perfect for the college competition.
WH: Right. Something that supports learning should please the judges, too.
YF: And it’s also about intercultural exchange.
WH: Yeah, they’ll like that, too.
YF: It’s perfect, Alice! Can you run us through the idea again to make sure we’re all on the same page?
A: Sure! Well, basically it’s a platform where people register and enter the languages they want to learn, and the languages they can teach. The app would then match up the “students” and the “teachers”, and they can arrange online meet-ups to teach each other their languages.
T: A bit like a dating app then!
A: Kind of, but for learning, Tom!
WH: Right! I just want to check I’ve got it right. So, I could register and teach Chinese to someone in exchange for them teaching me, say, Flemish.
A: That’s right, but do you really want to learn Flemish?
WH: Maybe. It was just an idea. I’d like to visit Belgium.
T: What about people who can’t find a direct exchange?
YF: We could have a credit system where you collect points for teaching and you can then “buy” lessons with these points.
A: Yeah, that could work … But shall we leave that for phase two? Let’s keep it simple at this point.
T: Yeah, you’re right. We don’t want to overcomplicate things.
WH: But having ideas for future developments might look good for the competition.
A: True.
YF: So, what do we need to do next?
A: We need to fill in these fields about ourselves and our ideas. It’s quite straightforward, but we need a name for our business. Any ideas?
miss a feiYF: We should focus on the core concept: language … sharing … or exchange?
T: How about LanguageX? “X” for exchange.
WH: That’s cool!
A: Or, Lingua-X.
YF: I like that one!
WH: Me too!
T: Now, let’s start thrashing out the details of the business plan …
Episode 1
Answers:
③
B
④
1. intercultural exchange
2. a credit system
3. exchange
Language in focus
Words and expressions
①
1. devising
2. commercially
3. transparency
4. supplement
5. guaranteed
6. embraces
②
1.The company produces and sells many different products, but one of its core products is
smartphones.
2.I’m just not sure what we need to do. Could you run me through the process quickly?
3.I really like working with him, because we always seem to be on the same page (about what
we’re doing).
4.This problem is not going to go away on its own. Let’s just call a meeting and thrash out a
solution / thrash it out until we find a solution.
Collocations
③
1. We are working to increase transparency in our purchasing processes.
When the landlord raised the rent, the restaurant had to increase the prices of their dishes. Our factory aims to increase efficiency by 10 percent over the next year.
2. My ambition is to start my own technology company in the future.
It was so cold that it took 10 minutes for him to start his car in the morning.
Once I have established my career, I plan to start a family.
3. Let’s try to arrange another meet-up next month.
The photography club arranges trips to beautiful scenic spots every month.
Please talk to my assistant to arrange an appointment.
Translation
④
1. To guarantee that a project goes smoothly and finally achieves success, team members need to
be on the same page about the project goal, etc.
2. Being able to deal with setbacks and failures is critical to success. Set your sights on long-term goals, and you will not lose confidence in your ability.
3. Universities and recruitment websites in China held hundreds of online job fairs together, inviting companies to participate and matching up graduates and employers.
4. Inspired by the mass entrepreneurship and innovation initiative, many university students choose t
o return to the countryside after graduation and help local farmers sell agricultural produce through online platforms.
Episode 2
Video
Scripts:
YF=Yi Fei; I1=Interviewee 1; I2=Interviewee 2; I3=Interviewee 3; I4=Interviewee 4;
I5=Interviewee 5
YF: So now you understand the basic concept about our business idea, I’d like some feedback on whether it’s something you’d be interested in.
I1: Well, it sounds brilliant to me. I really want to practice my English but have no money for a tutor.
I2: It’s a good idea, but I’m not sure it’d always be a fair exchange.
YF: What do you mean?
I2: It could be unbalanced if one puts in more work than the other … prepares more, that kind of thing.
I3: Or if the student doesn’t prepare for the class, that can make the tutor’s job harder.
I1: But I guess if it didn’t work out, you could stop the exchange and find someone else, right?
I4: Yeah, if the app had reviews, that would encourage people to take it more seriously.
I5: That’s a good point.
YF: So, apart from you, which of you would use Lingua-X?
I5: I would give it a go.
I4: Me too!
I3: I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ve got time for the teaching part.
I2: I’m going to Thailand in the summer, so I could learn some useful phrases before I go, without having to dedicate myself to a whole course.
YF: Great! Now the big question: Would any of you be willing to pay a small fee to register?
I5: I don’t know about it. It is supposed to be an exchange, right?
I1: Yeah, I would definitely have to think twice if there was a fee.
I2: Unless you could guarantee the quality. But it’s an exchange between users, so I don’t see how you could …
I3: Same, I’d give it a miss, myself.
YF: So, how would you feel about adverts on the app?
I4: As long as there weren’t too many adverts, I could bear it, especially if it meant the app would be free.
I3: I feel the same, so long as the adverts don’t appear during the actual meet-up sessions. YF: OK. So, you mentioned learning Thai. Are there any other languages that any of the rest of
you would like to learn?
I1: As I said, English. I need to get a good grade this semester. I5: Spanish might be popular. It is spoken in a lot of places. I4: I’ve always wanted to learn Japanese.
YF: Wow!
Episode 2
Answers:
①
1. T
2. NG
3. F
4. F
5. T
6. NG
7. F
8. T
②
1) people’s behaviors or opinions
2) interviews
3) large groups
4) low
5) follow-up questions
6) time-consuming
7) people’s feelings or perceptions
8) the target population.
9) a professional moderator
10) commercial market research
11) the quality of discussion
Language in focus
Words and expressions
①
1) perceive
2) clarification(s)
3) time-consuming
4) lend themselves to
5) participants
②
1. give it a miss
2. feedback
3. brilliant
4. had dedicated
5. put in
Collocations
③
1. carefully
2. easily
3. directly
4. honestly
5. seriously
Structure
④
1. without having to wear earphones
2. without having to carry cash / use multiple cards
3. without having to leave the house
4. without having to ask their teachers for help
Section 2
Text A
Answers:
①
1. B
2. B
3. C
4. A
5. A
Language in focus
Words and expressions
①
1. autonomy
2. shifts
3. implications
4. disrupted
5. predict
6. favor
②
1. Not having enough workers for the construction leaves us worse off.
2. Online shopping, with the convenience it brings to customers, will likely continue to be here to stay.
3. We have a pool of applicants who want to take on the job.
4. Moving to another city really helped me break free of my normal routine and experience a new way of life.
5. In the next 10 years, a new breed of young people with fresh and original ideas will be entering the
technology business.
6. Long-term employment today is by no means guaranteed, with short-term contracts becoming more common.
Collocations
③
1. became obvious