Proverb Part five

Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Don’t refuse something good that is being offered. You should not question the value of a gift. You should be thankful when you receive a gift, and not wish for something better.

Birds of a feather flock together.

People are attracted to others who are like themselves. People who are a lot alike tend to gather together and become friends. However, don't forget people are alike in both good ways and bad ways.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

When too many people work together on a project, the result is often inferior or not done well.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

You cannot use some item and at the same time try to save the same item. Or you want one thing very much, but you are not willing to give up other things in order to have it.

A barking dog never bites.

Many people talk without any action. Some people have grandiose ideas but never get around doing anything. This is especially true for politicians of our time.

Proverb Part four

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.

You can show people the way to do things, but you can’t force them to act. Or you can give someone the opportunity to learn or to do something, but you can never force him to accept that opportunity.

All that glitters is not gold.

Things that appear on the surface to be of great value may be quite worthless. Or something which seems valuable at first may turn out to be worthless.

A stitch in time saves nine.

A little preventive maintenance can eliminate the need for major repairs later. You use this proverb to say that it is better to spend a little time to deal with problems or act right now than wait. If you wait until late, things will get worse, and it will take much longer to deal with them.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Foolish people do not know how to hold on to their money. Moreover, people who aren't careful with their money spend it quickly. That to say, a wise man has money because he's careful.

A watched pot never boils.

Something we wait for with impatient attention seems to take forever. Or you wait anxiously for something to happen, it seems to take a very long time.

A Canadian English teacher died after colliding head-on

That's why I don't drive a motor scooter! Accidents happen all the time. So watch out and wear a helmet if you think it's save to use a motor scooter!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008
CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A Canadian English teacher living in Chiayi City, in southern Taiwan, died yesterday morning in the hospital after colliding head-on with a local teenage couple in a motorcycle accident early last week.

Matt Stever, 27, late of Quinte, Ontario, Canada, had lived and taught in Chiayi City for over four years.

Stever and the Taiwanese teens suffered serious injuries Jan. 14, when their motorcycles collided near St. Martins Hospital. Stever suffered head and neck injuries and went into cardiac arrest, but was revived upon arrival at the hospital. The teenage couple, who were not wearing helmets, suffered multiple injuries. The young woman passed away Saturday, while the male driver remains in critical condition.

Following emergency,life-saving treatment at St.Martins Hospital, Stever was transferred to Tainan County's Chi-mai Hospital and placed under the care of renowned surgeon Dr. Tsai Yin-tzu Stever remained in a coma but his condition stabilized long enough for his parents to arrive in Taiwan on an emergency flight from Canada.

Speaking from the hospital,Roger Stever,Matt's father, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the "compassionate and very caring" doctors and nurses, whom he described as "God's Angels sent to Matt and to us," and to Matt's wide circle of friends for their unstinting support.

Proverb Part Three

Here are the next five proverbs!

Grass doesn't grow on a racetrack.

The grass on a racetrack can’t grow because it doesn’t get the chance. It is continuously trampled down. If you are always pushed down, dominated by parents, teachers, or your boss, you won’t have the chance to grow and show your full potential.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Do something immediately while you have a good chance of achieving success. Take action immediately in order to have a better chance of success.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

This means that we shouldn't spend or waste money, but try to save it. Money not spent is money that is in one’s pocket. The phrase "A penny saved is a penny earned" is actually a quote by Benjamin Franklin who was one of the most important and influential Founding Fathers of the United States of America.

Beggars shouldn't be choosers.

Don't complain about free gifts. If you receive a gift or a handout, take with pleasure and be happy with it. Always remember it’s a gift, not something you paid for or earned.

Like father like son.

Sons often imitate and learn their fathers. Therefore, fathers should be careful how they behave especially in frond of their children. Children learn from their parents especially things parents don’t want their children to learn.

Proverb Part Two

Here are the next five proverbs!

He who hesitates is lost

To hesitate means to pause in indecision or being reluctant to do something.

Delay or hesitation may have unfortunate consequences. Therefore, if you react too slowly to situations, especially urgent ones, you may die, get hit, lose a good opportunity, or fail to make the grade.

Look before you leap

To leap means to jump free from or as if from the ground.

We should know what we are getting into before we commit ourselves.

You should think carefully about the possible results or consequences before doing something.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

It is better to have something that is certain than take a risk to get more, where you might lose everything.

When the cat's away the mice will play

When a person in authority is away, those under the person’s rule will enjoy their freedom. Without supervision, people will do as they please, especially in disregarding or breaking rules.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

This proverb now has two meanings: people pay a price for being always on the move, in that they have no roots in a specific place (the original meaning); or people who keep moving avoid picking up responsibilities and cares.

People say this to mean that that a go-getter type person is more successful than a person not doing any thing.

Proverb Part One

Some of my students asked me to post some proverbs. So I will try to add as often as I find time five proverbs each time.

Well, what is a proverb? A proverb is a short, generally known sentence of the common people which contains wisdom, truth, morals, and traditional views in a metaphorical.

Proverbs are often used in daily language but also found on standardized test, so it a good idea to get to know the meaning of them. I will use the internet as my resource. You may do the same.

“Don’t cry over spilt milk,” means that a problem is over and that you should move on. Once you have done something don’t dwell (think about something for considerable length) on it. It’s already the past. So look to the future!

“It never rains but it pours” means that bad things sometimes can get worse. One bad thing happens and a lot of other bad things also happen, making a situation even worse. For example, first I missed the bus, then I lost my wallet and at last the kitchen caught fire.

“Don't count your chickens until they're hatched” means that you should not celebrate success until you see the results for yourself on paper. Just because a chicken lays four eggs doesn't mean that four will hatch.

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating” means you should not judge the value of something until you have tried it.

“He who laughs last - laughs best” means you may laugh now, thinking you have won, but you may not succeed in the end.

Cristmas Card from Jean and Sandy

Dear Peter:

Thanks for your teaching these years. You are a really kind person. Your humor always make[s] us laugh. Today is Christmas Eve; this card includes all my wishes!

Merry Christmas!

Sandy

12.24.07


Dear Peter: You are the best teacher I’ve ever seen. Thank you for your teaching. I wish I can remember all your teacher[ing]. I wish I can be your student for a long [,] long time.

Merry Christmas

Cute teacher

Peter

By Jean 96.12.24

[P.S. edited some for clarity]

Greetings from Angela

This Christmas I got some very nice Christmas-cards.

"Dear Peter.."
Christmas is coming soon.
I just want to say thank you to you. Thank you very much for teaching me English. I [was] afraid of English before, but now I have you [...] English teacher[s]. I'm very glad.
So, I really want to wish you [...]

Merry X'mas!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
happi[ness] all the time!
Get many, many, many
Presents & cards!
have a special New Year!
By you student
Angela Wong 2007.12.24"

[P.S. edited some for clarity]

More about 'Small Talk'

Lots of students wanted to know more about “Small talks”.

First of all I am glad you read my blog. Moreover, I am always happy if you comment or e-mail me with questions and problems.

Well, we started with greeting some one. Then we asked ‘What are you up to?’ without expecting an elaborate answer about the day.

If you want to say some more you could use the phrase:

‘What are you doing round here?’

This nice informal and conversational question you may ask when you see someone somewhere you weren’t expecting to see. An answer to such question could be:

‘I’m on my way to school!’ or ‘Just hanging out!’

Well, hanging out means that you have no specific plans. You are just there. Maybe you just want to pass some time away from home or you hope to run into some one you know because you feel bored.

Another easy way to make small talk is to talk about the weather.

‘It’s quite cold today, right?’ or ‘Man, it’s hot today! How can you stand it?’ ‘What awful weather we’re having!’

Well, there are many other subjects you can talk about. However, it’s important that you are not expected to go into any length or detail. Remember it’s ‘Small Talk!’

Any more question or comments, I am glad to help.

Small talk!

Small talk is a common way people communicate with each other when they meet each other in various places such as on the street, at school, at the grocery store etc. These conversations are very informal and often short. For example:

'I haven't seen you for ages'

This phase means ‘I haven’t seen you for a very long time!’

A possible response could be:

‘It’s been a long time!’ or ‘I can’t believe it’s been so long!’

Next one could ask:
'What've you been up to? ‘Or ‘Hey, what’s up?’ or 'How have you been?'

This phase means ‘what have you been doing?’ Or ‘How are you?’

Now here you are not expected to tell full details of everything you have been doing lately, but it’s a friendly way of making conversation.

You may just respond with

‘What are you up to?’ or ‘What’s up?’ or 'How have you been?'

‘Good thanks, and you?’ or “Not bad! And you?’ or

‘Nothing much! What about you?’ or ‘This and that, you know!’

Remember in a small talk people often don’t make complete sentences but use short phrases. Also these phrases might be grammatical strange to you. So just try to use them from time to time and have fun with them.

You will find many more informal phrases when listening to native English speakers.