Work-life balance
Post categories: Teacher blog
| 14:17 UK time, Monday, 9 August 2010
This is in reply to Marina's third and fourth posts
Dear Marina
Gosh - you have been busy this weekend, haven't you? Thanks very much for both of your posts. It was certainly interesting to read about the different religions that co-exist in Kazakhstan (a nice word to use by the way - although you don't need to add 'together' too).
Thanks for putting up the photos of the various places of worship - the Orthodox temple is beautiful. I had never heard about the 'temple of all religions' - the Pyramid of Peace. I just looked online and have seen that it was designed by the UK architect Norman Foster, and that it has an opera house underground - have you ever been inside?
In Taunton where I live there are a number of churches - but not many other places for non-Christians to worship. Here is a photo of the church which is near our house - though I have only been inside it once:
If you go to bigger cities or towns in the UK you will find, as in Kazahkstan, places of worship for many different religions. Some people who live in this part of the country need to travel to Bristol, our nearest big city, where there are mosques, a Buddhist centre, a Hindu temple, a synagogue and a Greek Orthodox church among others.
You might find this 蜜芽传媒 podcast interesting - it is about faith in Britain, and the first broadcast is about people 'mixing and matching' beliefs from different religions.
/podcasts/series/faith
Thanks also for your second post, and your thoughts about working long hours to be able to buy material goods. We have an expression 'money rich, time poor' to describe the people that you are talking about - people who have a large disposable income but little time to enjoy it, or the things that money can't buy. The expression 'time poverty' is also used for this phenomenon. Many people are now thinking more about their work-life balance, and some people are downsizing - that is, working less, earning less money, and moving to smaller homes and leading simpler lifestyles. It sounds like you have done something similar. But as we know there are many people around the world who don't have a lot of choice - who have to work long hours, but at the end of it don't have a lot of money either. We are in a lucky position if we can choose to work less.
You mention that you used to work long hours, and now work an eight hour day (I agree that that is enough!). What do you do? You say that you used to work in an office. Do you still work in one?
I was also working longer hours, but happily now work less, and have a lot more time to spend with family - and on my allotment growing our fruit and veg! It feels like such a privilege to be able to spend some time outdoors each day instead of at a computer. And now I don't even mind when it rains because it means I don't have to do the watering!
Anyway, let's look at the language you have used in your last two posts. As usual, your posts are well-written and easy to read and understand - and you use some expressions really naturally, for example 'for goodness sake' and 'our nearest and dearest'.
There are some mistakes in your posts, and I thought that today perhaps you could correct them if I highlight them. So...here is your first task today. The following phrases have mistakes. Can you correct them?
There is an only Krishna's temple in Central Asia as I know
It might be sounds odd
There is one Almaty legend that connected with that time
Later they were founded
Every three years the leaders of word confessions (about 200) will be gather in this palace
Those "twenty-something" probably should have enjoy their lives
Now here's the second task. The sentences below all have problems with articles. Can you correct them too?
Some of them are the Buddhists and others are the Christians
The fact is that Islam and Christianity have majority of followers
Moreover we have "temple of all religions" in capital city Astana
People call it "pyramid"
In my opinion majority of people in Kazakhstan
The leader will gather in this palace to take a part in Forum
instead they are trying to earn all money on the Earth
There is kind of "showing-off-competition" among them
But what the price they pay working all those long hours
I'm sure we should catch every moment and live it for ourselves not for "job",
There are plenty of things that we just can't buy - the light of the day :), smile of our nearest and dearest
we live ones and the life is too short (note the spelling of 'once'!)
Well, that's it for now. I look forward to hearing more about your life - and seeing more great photos. And I am wondering what the story is behind the latest photo of you that you have put up? Where are you? Why are you surrounded by stuffed animals?!
Best wishes,
Kim
Vocabulary
Gosh! = an exclamation you can use to express surprise
co-exist = live or exist together in the same place and at the same time
place of worship = a place where there are religious ceremonies, or where people can go to show respect to a god
architect = a person who designs buildings
mix and match = take elements of different things
disposable income = money you can spend how you like and not on things that you have to buy (taxes, food, bills, rent etc)
material goods = things you can buy
work-life balance = the amount of time you spend doing your job compared with the amount of time spend doing enjoyable things outside work
allotment = a piece of ground people can rent to grow fruit, vegetables or flowers
veg = an abbreviation for 'vegetables'
privilege = chance to do something special or enjoyable
for goodness sake! = an expression people might say when they are a little angry or impatient
our nearest and dearest = our family and close friends
stuffed animal = animal that is preserved
Comment number 1.
At 11th Aug 2010, Ashish wrote:Hi Kim,
I think Marina has made this 蜜芽传媒LE blog livelier. The topics she choices are quite interesting and provide an opportunity to us to think about these, bargain on and write as well. These are encouraging all in providing opinion and personal views. I鈥檓 also delighted to read your blog and to go through the task as it focuses on her writing. The fact is that it makes me interested in having a request to you. I think it鈥檇 be a good idea to make the task on each blog differently, which will help us to follow it effectively. Would you please try to do it, if you can arrange time?
Anyway, I know that I鈥檓 quite at preliminary stage of learning English. However, I鈥檓 trying on the task. Here鈥檚 the answer. Look forward to your feedback.
First Task
1. There is an only Krishna's temple in Central Asia as I know
There is only one Krishna's temple in Central Asia, as I know
2. It might be sounds odd
It might sound odd
3. There is one Almaty legend that connected with that time
Then there was an Almaty legend
Or
There was an Almaty legend connected with that time
4. Later they were founded
Later they were found
5. Every three years the leaders of word confessions (about 200) will be gather in this palace
Every three years leaders of word confessions (about 200) gather in this palace
6. Those "twenty-something" probably should have enjoy their lives
Those "twenty-somethings" should enjoy their lives
Second Task
1. Some of them are the Buddhists and others are the Christians
Some of them are Buddhists and others are Christians
2. The fact is that Islam and Christianity have majority of followers
The fact is that Islam and Christian have majority of the followers
3. Moreover we have "temple of all religions" in capital city Astana
Moreover we have "temple of all religions" in the capital city Astana
4. People call it "pyramid"
People call it the "pyramid"
5. In my opinion majority of people in Kazakhstan
In my opinion majority of the people in Kazakhstan
6. The leader will gather in this palace to take a part in Forum
The leader will gather in this palace to take part in a Forum
7. instead they are trying to earn all money on the Earth
instead they are trying to earn all the money on the Earth
8. There is kind of "showing-off-competition" among them
There is a kind of "showing-off-competition" among them
9. But what the price they pay working all those long hours
But what price they pay working all those long hours
10. I'm sure we should catch every moment and live it for ourselves not for "job",
I'm sure we should catch every moment and live it for ourselves not for the "job",
11. There are plenty of things that we just can't buy - the light of the day :), smile of our nearest and dearest
There are plenty of things that we just can't buy - light of the day :), smile of our nearest and dearest
12. we live ones and the life is too short (note the spelling of 'once'!)
we live once and life is too short
Thanks.
Ashish, Bangladesh.
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Comment number 2.
At 11th Aug 2010, Marina wrote:Hi Kim! Thank you for commenting my last posts and for sharing the 蜜芽传媒 podcast link (it was really interesting to hear)! The church on your photo looks fantastic! It's just amazing to know that you have the allotment where you grow fruit and veg! You see my mum does the same! And she loves rain for the same reason :)
Well, as I could see Ashish have done the task too! That is great! And thanks for your words about my blog dear Ashish!
OK then, here are my answers:
1. There is an only Krishna temple in Central Asia as I know
2. It may sound odd (OR It may be sound odd) - honestly, am not sure :)
3. There is one Almaty legend connected to that time
4. Later they had been founded
5. Every three years the leader of world confessions (about 200) gather in this palace (in case of "schedule meaning", OR "will gather")
6. Those "twenty-something" probably should enjoy their lives
And second task:
1. Some of them are Buddhists and others are Christians
2. The fact is that Islam and Christianity have the majority of followers
3. Moreover we have a "temple of all religions" in the capital city Astana
4. People call it a "pyramid"
5. In my opinion the majority of people in Kazakhstan
6. The leader will gather in this palace to take a part in a Forum
7. instead they are trying to earn all the money on the Earth
8. There is a kind of "showing-off-competition" among them
9. But what price they pay working all those long hours
10. I'm sure we should catch every moment and live it for ourselves not for the "job"
11. There are plenty of things that we just can't buy - light of the day :), smile of our nearest and dearest
12. we live once and life is too short
P.S. Actually, I'm in a souvenir shop on that photo :) will tell that story in my next post as well as about my job :)
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Comment number 3.
At 11th Aug 2010, Marina wrote:oops)) I've just done a mistake in "it was really interesting to hear". I should have said "it was really interesting to listen to" :)
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Comment number 4.
At 11th Aug 2010, Marina wrote:is there any difference between "do a mistake" or "make a mistake"? I guess I've made a mistake again :)))
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Comment number 5.
At 13th Aug 2010, Kim wrote:Dear Marina (and Ashish!)
Thanks for doing the error correction tasks. Let鈥檚 just have a look at those first:
Task one:
There is an only Krishna's temple in Central Asia as I know
There is only one Krishna temple in Central Asia as far as I know(you are right that it is Krishna temple)
It might be sounds odd
It might sound odd (you can also say 鈥業t may sound odd鈥, they mean the same thing)
There is one Almaty legend that connected with that time
There is one Almaty legend that is connected with that time (this is fine in the present tense as the legend still exists鈥) OR There is one Almaty legend connected with that time
Later they were founded
Later they were found
Every three years the leaders of word confessions (about 200) will be gather in this palace
Every three years the leaders of (word confessions?) will gather in this palace (By the way I am not sure what you mean by 鈥榳ord confessions鈥欌) 鈥 You are right that you can also say 鈥榞ather鈥 instead of 鈥榳ill gather鈥
Those "twenty-something" probably should have enjoy their lives
Those twenty-somethings probably should enjoy their lives (by the way, you don鈥檛 need to put speech marks around 鈥榯wenty-somethings鈥 but note that you need the plural)
Task two:
Some of them are the Buddhists and others are the Christians
Some of them are Buddhists and others are Christians
The fact is that Islam and Christianity have majority of followers
The fact is that Islam and Christianity have a majority of followers OR
The fact is that Islam and Christianity have the majority of followers
Moreover we have "temple of all religions" in capital city Astana
Moreoever we have the 鈥渢emple of all religions鈥 in the capital city, Astana (you could use 鈥榓鈥 here instead of 鈥榯he鈥 as you have done Marina. But if there is only one, then we would probably use 鈥榯he鈥)
People call it "pyramid"
People call it 鈥淭he Pyramid鈥 (you would probably use a capital letter here, and also probably 鈥榯he鈥 rather than 鈥榓鈥 because there is only one building, it鈥檚 the name of this building)
In my opinion majority of people in Kazakhstan
In my opinion the majority of people in Kazakhstan
The leader will gather in this palace to take a part in Forum
The leaders will gather in this palace to take part in a forum (Or the Forum if there is only one, or a well-known one that has been referred to 鈥 note the plural for 鈥榣eaders鈥)
instead they are trying to earn all money on the Earth
Instead that are trying to earn all (of) the money on (the) Earth
There is kind of "showing-off-competition" among them
There is a kind of 鈥渟howing-off competition鈥 among them
But what the price they pay working all those long hours
But what a price they pay for working all those long hours
I'm sure we should catch every moment and live it for ourselves not for "job",
I鈥檓 sure we should catch every moment and live it for ourselves not for a 鈥渏ob鈥(I understand what you mean by 鈥榗atch every moment鈥 but it鈥檚 not really an expression we would use in English. A better phrase might be 鈥榤ake the most of every moment鈥欌)
There are plenty of things that we just can't buy - the light of the day :), smile of our nearest and dearest
There are plenty of things that we just can鈥檛 buy 鈥 the light of the day, the smile of our nearest and dearest
we live ones and the life is too short (note the spelling of 'once'!)
We live once and life is too short
Ashish 鈥 I think you are quite right about Marina. She has written some lively and interesting blogs so far this month, and I feel like I am getting to know something about Kazakhstan, a country that I have never been to. And don鈥檛 worry, I will be creating different tasks in response to Marina鈥檚 posts.
Marina 鈥 glad that you liked the link, listening to podcasts is a great way to practise listening to English, and to learn new words. Also good to read about your job and the souvenir shop! I will respond to your post later.
We always say 鈥榤ake a mistake鈥 and never 鈥榙o a mistake鈥, they just go together! This is called a collocation, more about that in my next post.
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Comment number 6.
At 13th Aug 2010, Ashish wrote:Thanks a lot, Kim.
It's been very effective for me as I frequently make mistakes especially with the use of Article.
Ashish
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Comment number 7.
At 13th Aug 2010, Marina wrote:Hi Kim!
Well I join to Ashish's words (again:)). Thank you! If you don't mind I'll write some comments about my mistakes:
1. "There is an only Krishna temple" - I used "an only" like in phrase "an only child" :)
2. I really have a problem with third form of the verb "find" and always add '-ed' to "found"
3. "World confessions" - I should have use "world religions"
And it's also great you've mentioned a new phrase (at least for me it's new :) 鈥榤ake the most of every moment鈥.
I'm looking forward to your next post about collocation!
Marina
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