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Chat with students Ying-Lan from Taiwan, Gloria from Paraguay, Zoli from Hungary, and Chotima from Thailand;
and teachers Michael C, MAD Maggi, and Vance

August 22, 1999

Ying-Lan: @64,64 !It's Ying-Lan

Maggi: Hi Ying

Ying-Lan: ho

Maggi: I have a question for you...

Ying-Lan: me?

Maggi: yes

Ying-Lan: What's it?

Maggi: my student...her name is Bettina

Ying-Lan: HI. Vance

Ying-Lan: Bettina?

Maggi: tried to email you but it cme bqck.

Ying-Lan: Why?

Maggi: back...yes she is going to Tqiwn.

Ying-Lan: ^My email address is yinglan@gcn.net.tw

Maggi: no0t sure

Vance: HI YL. Sorry, I was talking with PopEye, trying to help him get in the Palace.

Ying-Lan: She is coming?

Ying-Lan: ^That's o.k. Never mind.

Ying-Lan: ^But maggi, she is in airplane now, isn't she?

Maggi: anyway...we have a question about how do you know when someone says yes...and it means yes?

Ying-Lan: ^It depends on intonation...

Maggi: SHE IS COMING ON 1 sEPT.

Maggi: oops...sorry...using my laptop

Ying-Lan: ^The 1st of September...

Ying-Lan: Got it.

Maggi: ok...what is the intonation that meaqns yes?

Maggi: this is important for her to know.

Ying-Lan: sorry

Maggi: why sorry?

Ying-Lan: ^down

Ying-Lan: ^I was thirsity... to have a drink.

Maggi: oh..what happened?

Maggi: Oh...you don't mean down as in depressed?

Ying-Lan: ^But up is doubt.

Ying-Lan: Not really???

Maggi: think positive...:-)

Vance: still chatting with PopEye

Ying-Lan: ^It is hard to understand when someone say yes but it means "no"...

Maggi: So, please tll me the best you can what intonation mens yes...

Ying-Lan: ^Sometimes, we figure it out from the context...

Maggi: how?

Ying-Lan: I think "down" means "no"..

Maggi: this is like teaching Germans tobe poliin English...itisverysubtle.

Maggi: ahhhh...I hate this keyboard

Ying-Lan: ^Or I don't think it is right,,, but I have to say "yes"... because another guy is stronger than me.

Maggi: ok..

Maggi: you mean the word down woill be used?

Ying-Lan: ^I say "yes" with the down intonation.

Maggi: AHHH.

Maggi: THE TONES

Maggi: OK....I taught her those

Vance: tones are a little different from intonation aren't they?

Maggi: the tones determine the meaning of a word.

Ying-Lan: ^There are 4 persons in this classroom, why I only see 3..

Maggi: you are righ...where is the other one?

Ying-Lan: I don't know

Vance: PopEye is on ICQ trying to get into the Palace. We're working though all the possibilities.

Maggi: Let Vance look...:-)

Vance: Do you know how to get here via http, YL?

Ying-Lan: ^NO... To be honest, I just tried it thirty minutes ago.

Ying-Lan: ^But I don't how to get here via Java instant...

Vance: How do you see how many people are here?

Ying-Lan: ^But I don't how to get here via Java instant...

Maggi: It saysa it

Maggi: People..3/4

Ying-Lan: ^My nephew just used my computer to play game.. I tried to use my notebook.. but I failed...

Maggi: The rooms show only us...someone is hidden...

Ying-Lan: ^I was in the web site of the palalce but it is hard to know how to go here via Java instant chat room.

Maggi: I used to know

Vance: Where is the command to see how many are here?

Ying-Lan: ^I remembered that I had used to go here via java..

Ying-Lan: But they seem to change the gate.

Vance: I've got 3 people in find user.

Maggi: It shows under the screen for the schoolhouse

Ying-Lan: I knew it... I just checked it before.. so I wonder why?

Ying-Lan: ^So, maggi, Today you came here via Java instant chatting room. didn't you?

Vance: oh, yeah. Maybe Popeye is here. But he's not listed in find users.

Ying-Lan: That's strange...

Ying-Lan: Unbelieve

Maggi: it says people 3/4...and when I check the rooms there are only 3 of us...so whoever it is is hidden.

Ying-Lan: ^hidden?

Vance: Can you hide yourself?

Maggi: sure

Ying-Lan: I don't know how to do...

Vance: how?

Maggi: good question...I was hidden but didn't know how I did it.

Maggi: typical rqzy lady right?

Vance: Maybe popeye has managed to hide himself.

Ying-Lan: ^How do you say "That's my fault." or "I am guilty" in Frebch or Spanish... like "May I co pa"?..

Vance: C'est ma faut

Vance: Je suis coupable

Maggi: sorry...my son ddn't leqrn thwqt in French..

Maggi: ah...

Maggi: thqt looks right

Ying-Lan: ^Can I find it in English-dictionary?

Maggi: depends n the dictionary

Vance: Can you find French words in an English dictionary?

Vance: Is that your question?

Ying-Lan: ^"Je suis coupable" ? I can find "cafteria" in my English dictionary .

Vance: You'd find culpable there. It's similar to coupable.

Maggi: I have one from Random House and it has 4 languages in the bck.

Ying-Lan: ^no.. only "coup de grace".

Maggi: not the same thing

Maggi: :-)

Vance: try culpable

Ying-Lan: ^Got "culpable".

Vance: There are also good web sites for translations. Altavista is a good one. Have you tried it?

Ying-Lan: ^These days, I listened to "word power" when I was driving on my way to work.

Maggi: being culpable is like being guilty.

Vance: You've been listening to word power? What are some interesting words you've come across?

Ying-Lan: ^It was talking about some words in English but roots or words came from French or another language...

Maggi: I only have to deal with buzzwords for business...tht keeps me busy.

Ying-Lan: ^To be honest,, I do not understand the whole scripts.

Ying-Lan: ^It is a tape without book.

Maggi: we steal from mqany languages Ying.

Maggi: many

Ying-Lan: ^I knew it... but It is hard to pronounce.

Maggi: is there a tpe?

Maggi: tape

Ying-Lan: ^The title is word power published by KAPLAN

Maggi: I know it

Zoli: @64,64 !It's Zoli

Ying-Lan: ^So... I only listen to it to familiar with Entlish intonation... and try to repeat these words.

Zoli: I'm here!!!!

Vance: You do a lot of interesting things to improve your English. Hey, you made it!!!

Zoli: Yeah, the problem was the MEMORY!!!

Ying-Lan: ^Not exactly...

Vance: I thought so. Good work!

Ying-Lan: ^Yes... the problem is memory...

Zoli: Yeah, thanks to you, Vance.

Ying-Lan: ^Hi. Zoli.. Nice to meet you...

Maggi: Hey ... Zoli made it!!

Ying-Lan: ^Were you hidden?

Vance: Zoli was getting "endless loops". It's either a firewall or memory, and he isn't behind a firewall.

Zoli: How many people there are in the class now?

Vance: Look, we're 4 / 4 now.

Ying-Lan: yes

Maggi: yep

Vance: Yeah, Zoli, I think you were actually here earlier but weren't able to download the graphics.

Zoli: Hello Ying. Nice to meet you too.

Ying-Lan: ^maggi. do you know where I can get the script of "Word Power"?

Maggi: I can try to find out Ying...

Zoli: Do you all also get the messages so slowly?

Maggi: I hav a game called Word Power.

Vance: Not really. Messages are coming at normal speed, but with a little lag.

Ying-Lan: ^I tried to find it at amazon.com or kaplan.com , but I failed it.. and bought the wrong book.

Zoli: Yeah, it seems so.

Maggi: on this machine yes Zoli...not onmynewer one.

MichaelC: @64,64 !It's MichaelC

Ying-Lan: hi, Michaelc.

Zoli: Hi Michael!

Maggi: Hi Michael!

MichaelC: Evening'hello folks.

Vance: Hi there MC

MichaelC: New avatars i see.

Zoli: Here it's 14:30.

Ying-Lan: ^How big is the game of "Word Power"?

MichaelC: Where are you Zoli?

Maggi: Not much choicemc

Maggi: He is in Hungary

MichaelC: Thanks Maggi.

Zoli: So now there are 5 people here. How many people usually come here?

MichaelC: About 5!

Vance: This is a crowd.

Ying-Lan: ^Hungray....

Maggi: I have three piles of cards Ying...from asy to advnced.

Zoli: Yeah, I'm from Hungary.

Maggi: easy

MichaelC: Why doesn't Felix come anymore?

Maggi: He is busy mc

MichaelC: Busy with what?

Maggi: lost his job and is trying to stqrt a school.

Ying-Lan: ^I just thought the earthquake of Turkey...

Zoli: Maggi, did you get my authorization request on ICQ?

MichaelC: So he's really doing that.

Maggi: No Zoli I didn't...:-(

Ying-Lan: ^I hope Felx will be sucessful.

Zoli: Yeah, that's a very sad thing. (Turkey)

Maggi: yes...and mc I think it was meant to be.

Zoli: I've already sent it to you twice, Maggi. (ICQ)

Maggi: Felix willmake it.

Ying-Lan: sure

MichaelC: That's good. That is what he wanted after all wasn't it.

Maggi: which number?

Zoli: It's Felix who sends the jokes, right?

MichaelC: That's the man!

Zoli: Good.

MichaelC: That's a great avatat Maggi.

MichaelC: ...avatar!...

Zoli: How can I make avatars like that?

Ying-Lan: ^Are you a member?

Zoli: I think, yes.

Vance: Zoli, to meet the guy we're talking about, visit http://members.tripod.com/vstevens/efi/efwbahia.htm

Maggi: I haven't much choice...this is where my son Stefn parked for time.

Maggi: see...

Zoli: a member of what? (ThePalace)

Ying-Lan: maggi, why did you send me the authorization by icq? I have it already.

Zoli: You should have sent it to me. :-)

Maggi: ecause I can't get on with my computer...

Maggi: I am using n old laptop with modm.

Ying-Lan: I am sorry, I just deleted.. can you send it again?

Zoli: What do you usually do here?

Maggi: and I am getting really sick of this keyboard >>>>

MichaelC: We usually just chat Zoli.

Zoli: Oh, I see.

MichaelC: Though last week we did something different. We took on the role of different chacters.

Vance: If you want to develop your English you can work on your web page. We can help you there.

Zoli: If I know well, only Ying and I are students, right?

Vance: Michael, Maggi and I are lifelong students.

Zoli: Okay, the truth is that I'm building my homepage now.

MichaelC: !!!

Zoli: Yeah, you never stop learning.

Vance: Can we peek, or is it up on the web yet?

Maggi: Mc was a Police investigator...a hard nut to crck...

Vance: You can read the "play" we wrote in our chat logs.

Zoli: My website is under construction now.

Zoli: I'll read it!

Maggi: no one should stop learning...:-)

Ying-Lan: ^But Zoli, you speak good English... very good.

Vance: http://members.tripod.com/vstevens/efi/ch15aug9.htm

Zoli: Thank you, Ying.

MichaelC: Once you start this online business you have to learn at a million miles an hour!

Ying-Lan: It is true.

Ying-Lan: What do you mean, Michaelc?

Maggi: He is good...but like he said...he wants to enrich his vocabulary.

Zoli: Oh, so you've read my message. Cool.

Maggi: zing...there it goes mc!

MichaelC: There's is so much to learn in the online environment.

Maggi: yes...you are good Zoli

MichaelC: There what goes maggi?

Vance: That's why I keep coming back. I keep learning.

Maggi: whatever LOL

MichaelC: Oh... just got it!

Ying-Lan: ^Mc, Maggi and I were talking about how to understand someone says "yes" but it means "no"... Can you tell me How to distinguish it?

Maggi: good thing...you didn't lose it then mc!

Zoli: The Net is a good source for learning.

MichaelC: In what context Ying?

Zoli: intonation?

Ying-Lan: ^Up or down?

Zoli: that's a good question... :)

Maggi: Only the Chinese who grow up knowing how to do this cn help Ying.

Ying-Lan: rally?

Maggi: how should we know if it is up or down?

MichaelC: Zoli is right - intonation can tell you the real meaning. Up or down? Good question? Vance? Any idea?

Vance: How to tell? Didn't we have this conversation with Gloria? I remember how to tell how a girl means yes when she says no.

Maggi: I can tell you about the different levels of politeness in English...and I learned the tones in Chinese.

MichaelC: maybe I should send a Pure Voice message with an example of the intonation......

Ying-Lan: ^Sometimes.. we say "yes" ... but we don't want to do but have to do...

Maggi: this intonation in Chinese is something totqlly different.

Vance: Yeah, YL, send us an example of the difference, like when someone is stronger than you so you have to say yes but you mean no.

Ying-Lan: ^I don't know what it is.

MichaelC: I know in Vietnamese people will sometimes say yes in English because they think it is impolite to say no. For example....

Maggi: yes...and my question was...knowing that...how to you know when it is a real yes...?

Ying-Lan: ^when I told maggi,, it was down.. but I don't think so now.

Ying-Lan: ^Maybe it is up.

Vance: Here, about the time someone says, "no problem," you know there IS a problem.

MichaelC: "Are you coimg to class tomorrow?" They will say yes but theyu have no intention of coming. I find that strange.

Maggi: In many cultures they will sy yes so you are not disappointed or to save face4.

Zoli: But intonation is not enough, I guess. But mimicking is also important.

MichaelC: Here 'no problem' usually means just that Vance!

MichaelC: It means no problem!

MichaelC: It's a very common phrase here.

Vance: Here, it means, they don't know what else to tell you.

MichaelC: OK....

Maggi: the British are worse.

Zoli: Sorry but I must go. I'm starving. I'm really sorry that I couln't come earlier.

MichaelC: No problem Zoli!

Maggi: I am strving too!

Vance: It was a pleasure just getting you here.

Zoli: When will you meet again?

MichaelC: Same time next week.

Ying-Lan: Next Sunday..

Vance: We're here at 11:30 gmt.

Maggi: What are you eating then Zoli?

Vance: till about now

Ying-Lan: you should to eat early....

Maggi: I am Germany...not so fr...:-)

Zoli: Here it's 14:55.

MichaelC: What Maggi?

Ying-Lan: ^When do you have your lunch?

Maggi: same here

Zoli: That's why I'm starving. I usually eat at 13:00.

Maggi: I"m hungry mc

MichaelC: here - 10.25 pm

Ying-Lan: Oh

Maggi: at night...not good time to et...

Ying-Lan: See you Next week. Zoli.

Zoli: See y'all, guys.

Maggi: eat...at least at you age...:-)

Vance: OK, Zoli, nice meeting you. See you in the eclass meantime.

MichaelC: Bye Zoli.

Maggi: BYE

Maggi: I am really hungry now

MichaelC: Is Zoli in your class Vance?

Ying-Lan: ^I don't remember it.

Maggi: so, Ying...does the tone go up or down when they means yes/

Vance: He just joined the group. Didn't you get his email?

Ying-Lan: ^I am not sure...

Ying-Lan: ^Sometimes, it is up

MichaelC: Oh...haven't read my mail yet.

Maggi: THINK AABOUT WHEN SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING TO YOU IN

Ying-Lan: ^but sometimes, it is down.

Maggi: cHINESE...

Maggi: soory

Vance: Look for mail from Zoltan Zmeskal

Maggi: wrong kyagin

MichaelC: Just checking now....

Ying-Lan: ^"May I co pa....", I did not say that..

Maggi: in Chinese Ying...how do you know?

Ying-Lan: ^I forget it when I said "yes", it meant "NO".

Vance: mea culpa?

MichaelC: Zoli is obviously very advanced.

Maggi: how do you let the person know that you mean no?

Vance: Obviously. He does ask questions, like I said, see you in a bit, and he asked what that meant.

Ying-Lan: ^I am honest... My officemate says Ying-Lan's face changed very fast.

Maggi: so you use body language then too...?

MichaelC: Which of course means he is a confident learner.

MichaelC: Like Ying actually.

Maggi: What sort of body language should Bettina look for?

Ying-Lan: ^may be

MichaelC: Sorry - who's Bettina?

Maggi: she knows not to look someone straqight in the eye.

Ying-Lan: ^maggi's office mate.

MichaelC: Oh.

Maggi: a client who is going to Tqiwn for Merck.

Maggi: Taiwan

MichaelC: How come you're not going Maggi?

Ying-Lan: ^what did you mean "she knows not to look someone straqight in the eye."?

Vance: Bettina seems very concerned about knowing what people actually mean in Taiwan

Maggi: I would love to but I am not a qualified financiaql controller..;

gloria: @64,64 !It's gloria

gloria: Hello everybody

MichaelC: Will she meet Ying Lan?

Ying-Lan: ^Sometimes,,, people do not say no to friends .. but they realy do not want to do something..

MichaelC: Hello Gloria.

gloria: I know I`m late

Maggi: she is learning lots from me

Vance: Hi Gloria. I found Gloria out 'wandering the halls.'

Maggi: Hi gloriaq

Ying-Lan: ^Sometimes,,, people do not say no to friends .. but they really do not want to do something..

MichaelC: Took her by the hand did you Vance?!

Vance: Maggi is inventing language on her laptop today.

Maggi: yes...she will meet Ying mc

Maggi: this is the pits

gloria: well Vance is very kind

Maggi: I feel like fool

Ying-Lan: ^It is hard.... there is a new book in Chinese buy the writer is a American.

Vance: Let's see, Maggi has a student Bettina who will trave to Taiwan and meet Ying Lan.

Ying-Lan: ^He is a DJ of icrt.com ( http://www.icrt.com.tw)

Vance: That must be Kay. I Ky.

Maggi: she has gotten a lot off the nET.

9998: hi

gloria: Hi Ying lan

Maggi: hI

Vance: Gloria just arrived too, Kay.

9998: wow nice to meet all of you :)

gloria: you know here is early in the morning just 9:00 am

MichaelC: Hello Kay. Michael from Australia here.

Vance: Is everyone off today except me?

9998: Hi michael I heard about your project.. that's good ideal.. I try to write about my country too\

Maggi: The other question Ying is about the numbr 4, because swhe will have to set up cost centers...do you avoid the use of 4 in ccounting/

Vance: I mean, is anyone else at work?

gloria: me

Vance: Do you work on Sunday?

MichaelC: If you mean off as in not working then I am off!

9998: what time do you guys gonna meet until coz I got to have dinner with my family ?

Ying-Lan: ^hi, KAY AND GLORIA

Maggi: I work aqt home4 Vaqnce.

9998: hi ying lan :)

Vance: Yeah, MC. Wouldn't you say that in Oz?

gloria: sometimes I work on sundays

MichaelC: Great Kay. I look forward to your writing.

MichaelC: say what vance?

Vance: Where do you work? (I think I forget)

gloria: me?

Vance: MC, I mean, say you're "off" meaning 'not at work'

MichaelC: Oh .... yes we would say that. I'm off also = I'm going now.

Maggi: party pooper...:-)

gloria: where are you from, Kay?

Maggi: didn't tell Vance where you work mc..

MichaelC: I didn't mean I was going now....I was just explaining another meaning of 'I'm off"!

Vance: True, MC. Gloria, I just looked at your web page and don't see where you work, so I'm wondering where you work on Sunday.

Maggi: nosey bugger isn't h? :-)

gloria: I work for a telecommunications company

Vance: Sorry, conversing with many people is confusing, isn't it?

Maggi: not for me..

Maggi: LOL

MichaelC: But you're so smart Maggi!

Vance: Maggi practices conversing with many people when she's alone.

MichaelC: LOL

Maggi: you need to come here Gloria and help Telekom!

gloria: I was a little lazy those days that's why I didnīt write

Maggi: not wso wmaqrt mc

Ying-Lan: Are you all right?

Vance: So do you have to work on Sunday, or do you go there because you have responsibilities?

Maggi: sheesh

gloria: I have to

MichaelC: Obviously Maggie. (great spelling)

Maggi: not so smrt mc...can just jump trqcks fqst...:-0

Maggi: I hate this keyboard!!!!!!!!!!

gloria: not doing big things, just staying here

Vance: What kind of job is it?

MichaelC: So you're at work now Gloria?

Maggi: so you can phone peopl for free?

gloria: yes, Iīm at work

Vance: Obvioulsy a job where you can hang out on the Internet !!!

Maggi: HMMM

gloria: I can call people for free right

Ying-Lan: hang out?

MichaelC: What if the company knew this is what you were doing?!

Vance: Hang out means to just be somewhere, maybe waiting for something to happen.

Maggi: hang out means hanging around.

gloria: I have internet for free too

Maggi: she is leaqrning English mc...

gloria: I donīt do many phone calls

Maggi: :-( I wish I did...

gloria: Iīm not very talkative :)

Ying-Lan: ^free for internet.. that's great!

Maggi: maybe bettr I don't...

Ying-Lan: Chotima... nice to meet you.

Vance: That's really neat. My Dad used to work nights (at a phone company) because it was quiet then.

chotima: hi again ka

Maggi: hey...chotima...hi

MichaelC: Hi Chotima.

chotima: hi maggi

Vance: Hi again. Did you eat already?

chotima: yes, I do .. I a bit hurry coz I wanna chat with you guys :)

MichaelC: That's nice Chotima!

Maggi: Ying...what about the number 4 in accounting?

Ying-Lan: ^What time is it in Thailand?

chotima: vance ... I read from the mail that there are some person wanna have people look around their student page right

Ying-Lan: ^4... it is six now

chotima: The time is 8.15 pm ka. ying -lan..

chotima: are you chinese ka yinglan

chotima: I'm too..

Vance: What do you mean people want to look around their student page?

Ying-Lan: ^ARe you a Chinese? Chotima..

gloria: Vance, this is a kind of costumer's service and a telex exchange central. I act like an operator

Maggi: I thought you should a oid the use of 4 because it is the word for deth.

Maggi: death

Ying-Lan: ^maggi,,, it is

chotima: jNo I mean some teacher send the mail forwarding that she has some project that similar to us and want people to join so I kind of interesting so ... I wanna ask you ka

Ying-Lan: ^Peole do not the number 4... there is no 4 floor in hospital.

Maggi: so...do they not use the number 4 in accounting then?

Ying-Lan: ^Peole do not like the number 4... there is no 4 floor in hospital.

Vance: Yeah, I sent that out. Felix is interested too. OK, I'll have a look at the web site and see what we have to do.

MichaelC: Wow. that's amazing YL!!

chotima: Oh... I hope it 's not bother you too much vance

Vance: No, Chotima, no problem. I'll look now.

Ying-Lan: ^but we use 4 on accounting..

Maggi: a company made the mistake of pkging golf balls in 4's nd they didn't sell.

chotima: and YL what's about number 13 ?

Ying-Lan: ^we say " 1, 2, 3,4, 5... " like you.

Maggi: ok...she needed to know about numbering the cost centers.

Ying-Lan: ^But some people do not lik to live in the no 4 .xxx road ..

Maggi: avoid odd numbers...even is better...8 is lucky

MichaelC: How about Fourth St Ying?

Ying-Lan: ^maggi, it is normal when we use math... like you.

gloria: what if you were born the fourth day of the month YL?

Maggi: oh der

Maggi: deqr

Ying-Lan: ^we do not avoid to use "4" in math or accounting.

Maggi: dear

gloria: that means you will be unlucky?

Maggi: then in the year of the drgon.

Maggi: dragon

Maggi: is 13 unlucky for the rest of you?

Ying-Lan: ^Because 4 pronounce "death" in Chinese, some people do not like the number "4". it does not mean we do use "4" in accounting.

Ying-Lan: ^Because 4 pronounce "death" in Chinese, some people do not like the number "4". it does not mean we do not use "4" in accounting.

gloria: I donīt believe on unlucky numbers

Ying-Lan: ^I speak it too much?

Maggi: ok Ying...that will help

Vance: For Chotima, this is the url: http://www.homestead.com/esl_efl/files/links.htm

MichaelC: Well it was nice to chat with you all. Nice to meet you here Chotima. It's time for me to go......

Ying-Lan: ^13 is unlucky in Western Culture.. but we are infulenced it now...

Vance: You're off, MC?

MichaelC: So I'm off! ( = I'm going)

Maggi: Last Friday was the 13th...it was a great day for me...:)

MichaelC: Have a good week. Bye.

Ying-Lan: ^ONLY Young generation complained something not so good.. they would say it was probably 13.

Vance: Bye MC

Maggi: sweet dreams mc!

gloria: the number 13 looks pretty good

Maggi: Hey Vance...you are surrounded by women!

Maggi: they do not have a 13th floor in the US.

gloria: He is not listening

Maggi: he fell out of his chaqir :-)

Vance: I'm listening!

Maggi: chair

Ying-Lan: ^OH... chotima,, are you a lady?

Vance: I just put Chotima's web page up. Here's the url. Her picture is there ...

Maggi: smart man

Ying-Lan: ^Chotima,, she is gone.

Maggi: maybe got kicked..

Vance: http://members.tripod.com/vstevens/efi/chotima.htm

Maggi: I should get some work done too...

Vance: I was about to write webheads with the news.

Ying-Lan: got it.

Ying-Lan: ^she is pretty and lovely.

Vance: Yeah, nice to have pics up at the web pages.

Vance: Would anyone else like to participate in that collaboration project with the class in Mexico?

Vance: It looks like Felix and Chotima are interested.

gloria: Can you explain it further?

Maggi: good for them...

Vance: You can have a look at http://www.homestead.com/esl_efl/index.html

gloria: ok

Ying-Lan: I am interested in it but I have no time to do it.

Maggi: me either

Vance: The students are putting up web pages with an autobiography to start and finishing with persuasive writing.

Ying-Lan: ^Because of the new job and the professional test. .. I have to read a lot of materials in Chinese about law and accounting.

Vance: But we already have web pages, so if you wanted to join, you could expand your autobiography.

Vance: I'll email the teacher and see what she says and send a message to the class about it.

Maggi: My father told me when I was about 13 or so thaqt I could talk the communists out of communism.

gloria: I was thinking about increase information on my web page

Vance: I think that's how people can learn in this class. Write, and we will correct it.

Ying-Lan: Now, I am 35..how?

gloria: so Vance you will get news from me soon

Maggi: just write Ying...

Ying-Lan: ^My email is corrected by you.. how I can correct another one?

Vance: Great. I look forward to it.

Vance: YL, 35 is a great age.

gloria: Maybe I should go now

Vance: Got some phone calls to make? Just kidding ...

Maggi: time yourself every day...write for 5 min about anything...don't worry about grammar or spelling...

Vance: Nice that you could join us.

gloria: I need to read something

Ying-Lan: nice to talk to you.

Ying-Lan: chotima...

Vance: Hi, it's Kay again.

gloria: I got some books to read :)

Vance: That sounds like a great job. Books for work, or for pleasure?

gloria: Very kind of you all, you are good people :)

Maggi: reading is good too.

Ying-Lan: nice... I bought a lot books but i did not read it at all...

Ying-Lan: I am bad...

gloria: for work to increase knowledge

Maggi: thank you Gloria...:-)

Vance: I've got 4 or 5 books around my bed, all open at different places.

Ying-Lan: good one

gloria: I donīt think so YL

Maggi: I read like thqt too Vance,

Ying-Lan: me , too.

gloria: Bye, Bye

Vance: Yeah, our minds are totally scattered.

Vance: Bye

Vance: What a nice class!

Ying-Lan: I left mess in my bed room.. there are a lot books surrendeing my bed.

Vance: Kay's stuck in the auditorium

Ying-Lan: ^I did not buy clothes every month.. but I bought books every week.

Vance: YL, you are a consumate learning. You impress me.

Ying-Lan: ^The problem.. I did not read it from one page to the last page.

Vance: a consumate learner, I mean.

Maggi: maybe yours is scattered...but I know where the pieces are...well...usually or at least Iknow the general qarea...

Ying-Lan: ^Sometimes, I just think I waste my money.

Maggi: area

chotima: maggi ..^^ where are you from ka :) ?

Ying-Lan: ^Vance, I only buy books, not read books.

chotima: YL .. what kind of book do you like to read ?

Vance: If you are interested in books, you will read enough eventually.

Maggi: I am Americaqn...but have lived in Europe longer.

Maggi: I read everything.

chotima: wow ... that's good place to live...so you can continue speaking English :)

Ying-Lan: ^everthing,, if I am interested in it.

Maggi: I would rather buy a book than food if given the choice.

chotima: okey ka... in the past I usually like to read novel..so I just wanna know whether you like to read novel or not?

Ying-Lan: ^maggi, you enrich yourself by books not by food.

Vance: I like to read about history, and about computers

Maggi: I teach bussiness English in companies here in Germany.

Ying-Lan: ^I like it very much...

Maggi: too many sssss

Vance: I used to read a lot of novels, but not so much anymore.

chotima: wow. I think every books are precious to read..

Maggi: I still suck up everything...:-)

chotima: now I read only email ...

Ying-Lan: ^But I do not buy novel so much... I am scare to put them in my room because I will spend all day to read it..

Maggi: that can be good too...depending on where it comes from...

Ying-Lan: ^Do you read novel in Chinese?

chotima: icic ... stay in the room all day might be disconnect from the world...

chotima: not ka.. my father like to but I couldn't read chinese even though I am chinese..

Ying-Lan: That's too bad... there are some wonderful novel in Chinese...

chotima: vance... what do you see in felix web ka ?

Maggi: Yes...Ying I did read a novel in Chinese...The Painted Lady...

chotima: I think so too ka.. so now I studying chinese at my university..

Ying-Lan: ^"The painted Lady"...

Maggi: yes...

Ying-Lan: ^I am sorry.. I do know what is.

Maggi: it was a beautiful story...

Ying-Lan: ^I am sorry.. I do not know what is.

Ying-Lan: ^Maybe I only know the title in Chinese.

Vance: "I do not know what that is"

chotima: me too

Vance: "me neither" (teacher talk)

Ying-Lan: Thanks, Vance.

Maggi: probably because it was for learners...it only had about 2000 vocabulary.

Ying-Lan: ^You are watching us...

chotima: anyway,, maggi .. now I 'm working for the world wide brush company it's a international company then,I got to speak English and so how can I improve my business English ka ?

Maggi: Vance is always watching...

Maggi: ...but he is not your worst nightmare...just the opposite.

chotima: I think vance has a beautiful eye watching us ...

Ying-Lan: good question. chotima

Vance: (watch watch watch ...)

Maggi: he does have nice eyes...:-)

chotima: yes, .

Vance: (listen listen ...)

Maggi: fluff those feathers...

chotima: nice eye .. do you have any recommend of the grammar improving ?

Vance: (fluff fluff ...)

chotima: what is fluff ?

chotima: fluff fluff

Maggi: eyes...we usually have more than one :-0

Vance: Fluff is the soft part of a bird's feather

Maggi: mmm

chotima: mmm

Maggi: fluff fluff

Vance: When a bird lifts its wings it is fluffing its feathers

Ying-Lan: maggi, it seems hard to answer it.

chotima: eye eye

Ying-Lan: Poem?

Maggi: could be

Vance: Some birds do that to show how beautiful their feathers are.

Maggi: equtiful...;-0we know you are b

chotima: vow ... if I wanna show how beautiful I am I have to fluff too... ?

Vance: So if a person is showing off, he (or she, in the case of Maggi) is fluffing his (or her) feathers

Maggi: arggrrr.

Maggi: we know that you are beautiful...

chotima: vow.. i think you guys too :)

Maggi: and thqat is not whaqt I meant..

chotima: me too

Ying-Lan: NO...

Maggi: see

Ying-Lan: It is time to go...

Ying-Lan: Nice to talk to you .

chotima: OH ... ying lan if you have time please visit my web site na

Vance: To answer your question about grammar, try http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/4631/grammar.htm

Ying-Lan: I am there.

chotima: bye YL

Vance: Did you get my message in your guest book?

chotima: \thanks vance

Vance: Bye YL

Maggi: I meant when you say something nice to someone it fluffs thier feathers...makes them feel good.

Maggi: bye Ying

chotima: I hope you are fluff maggi and vance...

Vance: There's that connotation too, Maggi.

Maggi: Bettina will contact you.

Ying-Lan: ^You are beautiful. chotima.

chotima: gonnen tak

chotima: fluff fluff fluff...

Vance: Chotima learned a new word!

chotima: you are very beautiful maggi ..

Maggi: fluff is also some sticky marshmellow stuff you can get in the US.

chotima: fluff fluff fluff

Vance: Now Maggi can fluff her feathers too.

Maggi: thqank you...

Ying-Lan: ^Vance, who is the webmaster of http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/4631/grammar.htm ?

Vance: I am

Maggi: then we would aqll have sticky fethers...:-)

chotima: you have sticky features ?

Ying-Lan: oh... I am sorry to ask this stipuid question.

Maggi: all have sticky featheers

chotima: nice question..

Vance: Well, you'd have to go all the way to the bottom of the page to find the answer.

chotima: what is sticky feature

Maggi: sticky feathers

chotima: yes,,

Ying-Lan: ^there are so many urls... do you recomand the best one?

chotima: yes, beautiful eye...

Vance: I like Grammar Safari. The aitech ones are good too, if you like exercises.

Ying-Lan: What

chotima: exercise more is good.

Maggi: practice makes perfect...:-)

chotima: icic... today I got many new things.ka

Vance: for exercises: http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/quizzes/

Maggi: :-)

chotima: thanks fluffy girl... :)

Maggi: you are funny Chotima..:-)

chotima: you too madmusel...

Vance: Madmusel, I like that one. Does it mean anything?

chotima: I just wanna say the lady in france but Ijust forget how to pronounce it :)

Vance: Mademoisel

Maggi: it't great just like that...ROTFL...

chotima: okey.. i got it. sir :p

Vance: Madamoiselle ??

Vance: (sp)

Ying-Lan: bye-bye

chotima: bye... have a nice day

Ying-Lan: See you next time.

Vance: Bye YL, see you around.

Maggi: BYE yING

Ying-Lan: Have a nice dream...

chotima: roftl

Vance: nice dreams

chotima: ... so vance do you see any information of felix ?

Vance: Wait, it's morning there, isn't it?

Maggi: the last spelling looked close

chotima: close up

Vance: Close = near to being correct

chotima: icic

chotima: am I close?

Maggi: LOL...I looked close up...maybe I need glasses...:-)

Vance: I feel a craving for beer on my balcony coming on.

chotima: icic may be you need contact lense :p

chotima: wow do you need some snacks ?

Maggi: or a beer on Vance's balcony...

Vance: I have pistachios and pringles, and hot salsa

chotima: .....

Maggi: that's it?

Vance: For snacks, yes. What do you recommend?

chotima: not enough for three...

Maggi: pringles are junk

chotima: need some salad

chotima: with apple chip

Maggi: and some petit fours

chotima: yes yes...

chotima: such a great idea maggi...

Vance: Hmm, why don't you guys come over and bring along some snacks.

Maggi: little pumpernickle with salmon

chotima: are you fluffy...

Vance: ooh, that sounds scrumptuous ...

Maggi: I can get fluffy :-)

Vance: But I don't want to spoil my dinner.

chotima: what is pumpernickle and scrumptous...?

Maggi: what's for dinner then/

chotima: you are not .. believe me... not..

Maggi: LOL

chotima: for whom ka?

Vance: Pumpernickel is a kind of hard, brown German bread. And scrumptuous is delicious.

chotima: wow look scrumptous...

chotima: I like toast bread...

Vance: I have piles of leftover spaghetti. That will be dinner all this week.

Maggi: Chotima makes a greqt salad I BET.

Vance: So, I'm going to go. I want to be there for sundown. If you hurry you can just make it.

Maggi: tHIS WILL ONLZ GET YOUR APPETITE GOING.

chotima: sure, I am... I made a fluffy salad... :)

Maggi: this will only get your appetit going.

Vance: a scrumptuous salad ..

chotima: okey,, then,..

Maggi: ok...bye..

chotima: some day I will send salad to you vance and maggi...:)

Maggi: drive carefully...

chotima: bye vance .. really nice to see you again my dear teacher...

Maggi: :-)

chotima: I mean nice to see you today :)

Vance: OK, bye

Vance: (before I go, I always capture the logs)

chotima: okey... so I have to go too right ?

Maggi: I will come and visit you to taste it...

chotima: sure I might grow my salad at my webpage.. so please visit me. :)

Maggi: well...once everyon is gone it does get lonely...

chotima: yes, yes,.... ::::

chotima: cry....

chotima: or happy...

chotima: to see you again maggi

chotima: and vance

chotima: so when is the next class.?

Maggi: we will be here again next week...:-)

Vance: Next Sunday, 11:30 gmt

chotima: okey,, ka..

Vance: bye, see you then ...

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Last updated: August 22, 1999