天空

經常被問如何練習英文聽力與口語，與大家分享我個人認為非常有效的方法，我以前在美商當英文老師時也是這樣教工程師，實際照做的工程師後來英文也是突飛猛進。
這也是我本人的練習方法，英文要流暢沒有捷徑，就是: practice, practice, and more practice.
睡前朗讀英文真的很有效，而且一定要唸出聲音來。我到現在都還會有這個習慣，有時候心血來潮還是會朗讀一下。
不過我教過幾個成人家教，他們都不太喜歡我請他們課堂上朗讀。大概覺得浪費上課時間？但我的想法是：你連朗讀都不順暢了，你想要流暢說英文？會不會太高看自己？

Dear H and Z,
Thank you for the conference call earlier today. We appreciate your notification and understand that the schedule will be delayed again and we might not be able to receive a confirmation before 9/21, moreover, there is a chance that the problem might not be solved until later, which no one can be certain yet. We understand that currently CEE is still working with STT.
However, we have been idle since 8/31 and still unable to have a firm production plan up till now. This has become a problem for us because our production department has a difficult time to plan for our other products, which we are facing the risk of penalty due to the delay of the production schedule.
Therefore, we had an internal discussion meeting this morning in regard to this matter. It comes to a conclusion that we MUST insert our own product within the week of Sep 11th to the following week, which means we will not be able to restart for your product until Sep 25th. And we plan not to run the media fill test again due to the only difference between S product and our own product is the needles.
The reason we have to make a decision today is that it would take 2 weeks for our supplier to prepare for the packages of our own product, and considering the coming holiday, we have to notify our supplier by tomorrow.
This would be the most efficient way for us to operate our line 1. We truly hope you could understand our difficulty and continue supporting us in this decision. Please let us know if you have any question.
Best regards,
T
 

有人覺得學音標是多餘的嗎? 我國中開始正式學英文，學校就是從英標開始教，我自認音標學得還不錯，我的發音也還算標準。有些不會唸的單字，查了字典看了音標，多數就能唸出來。
不知道從何時開始，台灣學校就廢除音標，開始興起自然發音法。其實自然發音法也有好處，看到單字就能很快唸出音來，但缺點就是很容易含糊不清，有些特殊發音比較不精準。如果能夠學習自然發音法，加以音標輔助，效果更好。

懶人方法就是看美劇把字幕改成英文字幕，既可練聽力又可練閱讀，還可訓練英文理解力。
美劇一集通常都短短不到一小時，一天看一集剛好！有時間就多看一集～但一定要看英文字幕，看中文字幕是完全無效的～

多益口說與寫作測驗 TOEIC Speaking and Writing Test
口說總分200，最高級8
寫作總分200，最高級9
發音：低、中、高
語調與重音：低、中、高
考試費用：每次3240元(新台幣)
我今年3月第一次去考，口說170，第7級；寫作180，第8級。發音-高；語調與重音-高。
對於這樣的成績雖沒有很滿意但還能接受，來分享一下心得。
口說測驗：
我的考場是在台中逢甲大學，考場就像是大學的電腦教室，一個人一台電腦，桌面有用隔板。我應該算 "幸運"，我的位置在側邊，左右位置都沒有人。
開始考的時候，我有點被嚇到！因為場地太小，幾十個人在同一時間一起回答問題，"音效" 很可怕！比菜市場還吵，我根本聽不到自己說話的聲音，所以不自覺會越說越大聲。雖然導讀請我們以正常音量回答，但在那個情況下，大家都會越說越大聲；而且全部的人在同時間一起回答問題，不僅很吵，也很容易被影響，我比較無法專心思考。
因為是第一次考，實在沒經驗，也不知道會用什麼形式考，只好見招拆招。考試的型式會請我唸文章、描述照片、看文章回答問題...... 每一題會有限制時間，我個人認為還算有足夠的時間思考與回答，但是要記得在時間內說完。我是寧願簡短說完，也不要講到一半被卡掉。
看文章回答問題有點難度，因為我必須要先了解文章的主旨，然後再針對他的問題找出答案，再講出完整的敘述。印象最深的是題目問我爵士舞課是哪位教授上課? 我一時眼殘看不到爵士舞課程就直接回答沒有開課，就在快回答完時突然發現其實有，所以我趕快改口道歉並說出正確答案，也算是千鈞一髮，但有救回來就好。 
其實考口說時我就像平常跟外國人對話一樣，用正常的語氣回答問題，就算有些單字不會，我也用自己會的單字去形容。反正口說考的是流暢度，自然回答就好。170分其實我不是很滿意，但畢竟是第一次考，也能接受。
寫作測驗：
考完口說接著就考寫作，說真的放下耳機後心情輕鬆不少，安靜的環境才能讓我專心思考。
寫作測驗的題型與口說測驗的差不多，有用一個句子形容圖片、短文寫作(回覆信件)、作文。其實我考前並沒有仔細去研究 "教戰手冊"，憑著自己的感覺寫，商業寫作還難不倒我。不過我想我比較弱的是用字比較不精準，還有spelling比較差。
拜現在科技所賜，寫英文文章時都會有自動校正的功能，但也導致我很多英文單字拼法不確定。平常真的要多練習寫作，並注意單字拼法，練習越多越進步。
另外就是，多看一些英文文章，對於很多語句的用法會比較熟練。最好是看比較正式的商英書信，非英語體系國家的英文用法會比英語體系國家的用法稍微怪一點，雖然看得懂但是會有點怪，所以還是多看美國或英國的文章會比較容易學。
網路上很多多益考試的 "教戰手冊"，都滿有參考價值。我純粹是分享心得，想要拿高分，其實「聽、說、讀、寫」都要一起加強，實力扎實了就不怕各種狀況。
(多益官網參考資料：http://www.toeic.com.tw/sw/about_sw.jsp)

多益英語測驗 TOEIC (聽力與閱讀測驗)
聽力滿分495；閱讀滿分495；總分990
證書顏色：
金色860~990
藍色730~855
綠色470~725
棕色220~465
橘色10~215
考試費用：每次1600元(新台幣)
我今年7月考第二次，聽力485，閱讀400，總分885，金色證書。
提供一下心得：
我不反對補習，因為每人程度不同，如果覺得補習有幫助的就去補習。但是最重要的一點，就是一定要多做練習題，而且在練習的過程中最好是設定時間，多做幾次，熟悉題型，並且熟悉看英文長篇文章，這樣在後面的閱讀測驗才不會看到想吐血直接宣布放棄。
另外，聽力的部分，一樣，買個參考題庫回家練習。多聽幾次，習慣英文對話，並且練習在時間內作答，練習聚精會神，這樣到考場時才不會覺得頭昏腦脹，直接放棄......
我的英文程度中上，平常英文對話寫作沒有問題，今年3/11多益改版，我想說去考考看，只做過ㄧ次練習題而且很隨便寫，直接就很自大的上戰場。考完真的是頭昏眼花，最痛的是後面的長篇閱讀測驗，因為練習不夠，所以時間掌握很差，剩下30分鐘時我居然還有20題沒寫，整個人就慌掉，然後開始亂了步調，反而越找不到答案。第一次的成績865分雖然有拿到黃金證書，但是覺得很不滿意...
7/29再去考了第二次，仍然忙到沒有時間練習，但是有了第一次的經驗比較知道答題題技巧，所以第二次885分，總分進步了20分。顯然答題技巧真的很重要，有練有差，寫越多越有幫助。
另外，平常養成看英文短文的習慣，對閱讀測驗也有幫助。FB很多英文短文，很多人寫的ㄧ些心得、故事，用字遣詞不深而且生活化，很容易看下去，這不是在訓練英文能力，這是在訓練你習慣看英文文章，看越多就越習慣，頭腦就不會排斥，滿有效的。
聽力的部分，除了聽CD，還可以看英文影片，但是切記把字幕轉成英文字幕，邊聽對話邊看字幕，既可練聽力又可練閱讀，一舉數得。
以上，個人經驗供參考。

Dear James:
Thank you for being interested in our MST 265. We truly appreciate your offer; however, the price you requested was actually way too low, which can not cover our cost. As you may know, currently the cost of raw materials has been high, and we barely make a little profit on selling. But since your company has been very supportive and we both have good business relationship with each other, we are willing to work this out. We will reduce the price to US$8.82/kg from US$9.09/kg (15 MT in 40' FCL). We believe the price we are offering is very competitive. 
Please know that we are not making any profit on above price. This is our best offer just to open up and develop the new market. We hope you could understand our difficulty and continue giving us your support. We will do our best to ensure your satisfaction.
Sincerely yours,
K. Lin

Dear Mrs. Lee,
 
Thank you for sharing the feedback from the customers. The current market prices and information you provided are very helpful to us. We understand your company is trying very hard to maintain the market share, and we know your situation is difficult especially with the AFTA rule. Please know that we would like to keep the business going as much as you do. In fact, we are in a difficult position as well. The cost of raw materials has been raised, and we were forced to adjust our price to cover the cost. However, in order to hold the market share and keep the sustainable development of business, we will make our best effort. We believe the prices we are offering below are very competitive:
 
JCHP @ USD 1.56/kg
MOPP @ USD 1.89/kg 
MGH @ USD 2.48/kg
 
Please notice that the MOPP is a special specification made for south-east Asia market. The product quality is in second level, which is generally good enough for this market. 
 
Regarding to your question of the difference in terms of product quality, here are features of our products:
1.  Our products are PL certified which is authorized by Japan Hygienic Olefin And Styrene Plastics Association.
2.  Our products do not contain any heavy metal material.
3.  Our products are heat resistant, transparent and non-toxic.
4.  Our quality is highly stable, which can enhance the production efficiency.
5.  We hold the top spot in this market.
 
Please know that we are not making any profit on above price. This is our best offer to work with the current market situation. We hope you could understand our difficulty and continue giving us your support. We will do our best to ensure your satisfaction.
 
Also, we would like to provide you some sample of MOPP and MGH for your test. Please let me know where I should ship to.
 
Sincerely yours,
Jimmy

Dear Ben,
 
Thank you for being interested in our products. Unfortunately, we are very sorry to tell you that we no longer have this product of  PHM. Due to lack of customer orders and less profit on this product, our board of trustee decided to cancel this product.
 
We wish you good luck finding another supplier. Have a wonderful day.

Dear Mr. SM Lim,
Good morning, We are sorry but we are not able to lower the price to USD 6.28/KG for 14MT of CHT2300. The reason is that the raw and auxiliary materials were purchased in the 1th & 2nd quarter, and the cost was very high. However, since you have been very supportive to us, we can maintain the same price of USD 7.69/KG in order to show our appreciation.
Please understand this is the best we can do for current situation. If you wish to have lower price, we suggest you to hold on to this order, and wait for new quotation after June 2017. The cost of raw material may be drop then and we may be able to provide you a better price.
We hope you can understand our difficulty and continue giving us your support.
Yours,
Leo