PE 11/22 Emir Kamenica - Shepherd University Commencement Speech

You can decide to cultivate a habit of transforming the seemingly mundane into the realistically fantastical that it is: as light hits those leaves right there, little tiny bursts of energy give the tree momentary strength to gobble up the carbon from the CO2 around it.

* cultivate: to acquire, improve, or develop something; grow plants or crops

ex> Fig trees are cultivated for their tasty fruit.

* mundane [mʌn|deɪn]: dull; ordinary; related to day-to-day life

ex> Listening to music makes mundane tasks more enjoyable.

* gobble (something) up: to consume quickly

ex> Robin must have liked the stew, because he gobbled it up.

The stolen carbon is then incorporated into the tree. Trees, as it turns out, grow out of the air, not out of the ground! That is a beautiful thing to contemplate. And getting the special glasses that allow me to look at the world this way, well for me, that is a really good reason that I went to college. Perhaps it can be for you as well. But also remember that you can always change that.

* incorporate: to include something in something else

ex> This building incorporates a wide range of styles.

* as it turns out: according to evidence; contrary to expectation or belief

ex> As it turns out, we won’t have enough chairs for everyone after all.

ex> Some types of exercise could actually be bad for the heart, as it turns out.

* contemplate: to think deeply about something; consider

ex> William contemplated a degree in criminology, but became a doctor instead.

@ Little tiny bursts of energy give the tree momentary strength.  미세한 에너지가 뿜어져 나와 나무에게 찰나의 힘을 준다.

Teeny little ~ /Itsy-bitsy ~ /Pint-sized ~

GRADUATION SPEECH TRANSCRIPT by Emir Kamenica

PE 11/21 Helping Dad Enjoy Concerts Again

She’s right. It’s just too hard to get around since I had my surgery. It doesn’t help that we tend to hit the sack at nine o’clock these days.

* get around: to be mobile; move from place to place

ex> My mom is using one of those electric scooters to get around.

ex> If you live within the city, public transit is the best way to get around.

* hit the sack: to go to bed

ex> We make our kids hit the sack by 9 o’clock.

* in person: while physically present (not by electronic means)

ex> There are some things I prefer to discuss in person, not via text.

That’s nice of you, but I can never get all this newfangled online stuff to work.

It’s not rocket science, dad. I can make it as easy as turning on your TV.

* newfangled: modern and complicated

ex> There are too many buttons on this newfangled microwave!

* rocket science: something that is difficult to learn or understand

ex> It’s not rocket science: it’s just a navigation app.

Easy for you, maybe. Remember how that new shaver you got me threw me for a loop? You’re dealing with the technically impaired here, I’m afraid.

* throw one for a loop: to surprise or confuse one

ex> There’s a question on my tax return that’s throwing me for a loop.

ex> It threw me for a loop when they said they’d need my birth certificate.

@ Mom says you’ve been bummed about not being able to go to concerts.  올해는 연주회에 못 가셔서 많이 섭섭해 하신다면서요.

gloomy ~ /despondent ~ /down in the dumps ~

PE 11/18 Bob Goes to Yoga

You’re home! So, how was your first yoga class? Did you ace it?

* ace something: to win or succeed at something flawlessly and easily

ex> Our daughter aced her driving test.

It took every ounce of concentration I had just to keep up with the rest of the class.

* take every ounce of something: to require all of one’s strength, ability, concentration, etc.

ex> It took every ounce of patience not to complain to our noisy neighbor.

* keep up with: to stay at or near the desired level or position

ex> I was barely able to keep up with the other swimmers.

Did you have to run around with that round thing under your arm? That'd be tricky.

* tricky: requiring skill or caution; challenging

ex> It was very tricky to get everything back into the drawer.

Did the instructor go easy on you? You did tell her it was your first class, didn’t you?

* go easy on one: to be merciful or tolerant towards one

ex> I was speeding, but the policeman went easy on me.

ex> Even if this is your first time at a boot camp, we won’t go easy on you.

Don’t be discouraged, dear. Once you dig in your heels and learn the poses, you’ll enjoy it much more.

* dig in one’s heels: to ignore pressure to give in; be determined

ex> It started to rain, but we dug in our heels and finished the stone wall.

@ Hardly.  전혀

Not at all. /Scarcely. /By no means.

PE 11/17 A Magical Birthday Surprise

Okay. Because it’s your birthday, I’m going to have to blindfold you now for a special surprise.

What? In the midst of all this beautiful scenery? This had better be worth it!

* in the midst of: in the middle of; within; during

ex> I can see one black flamingo in the midst of all the white ones.

I hope so, too. There we go. Okay, driver, now we can go past those signs. Just pull over at that entrance. Perfect. We’ll get out here.

* There we go. : The action has been completed successfully.

ex> There we go. That’s the last screw, so the table is finished.

So, now may I take this blindfold off? What?!? Hobbiton?!? Really:!? I’m speechless! This is incredible! How did you…?

* speechless: unable to speak due to surprise, anger, etc.

ex> Lorne was speechless when he saw what was in the envelope.

I know how swept up you were in the Lord of the Rings series, so I found a guide who was also a dyed-in-the-wool fan to take us on a private tour through the Shire. I have to admit it’s been pretty hard not to let the cat out of the bag. So - was the blindfold worth it?

* swept up: to become fully involved beyond one’s control

ex> The young couple was soon swept up in the music and began to dance.

* dyed-in-the-wool: unlikely to change; deeply ingrained

ex> Zach has been a dyed-in-the-wool Dodgers fan his whole life.

ex> Are you a dyed-in-the-wool political party follower, or do you decide case.

* let the cat out of the bag: to reveal a secret

ex> Don’t let the cat out of the bag: I want this gift to be a surprise.

@ This is off the charts, Derek!  비교도 안 되게 끝내줘, 대박!

~ exceptional /~ extraordinary /~ mind-blowing

PE 11/16 Carpooling with the Boss

Did you see who took the last slot in our carpool? The CFO, of all people.

* of all people: used to emphasize that the person named is surprising or unexpected; more than anyone else

ex> Then my long-lost brother walked through the door, of all people!

Really? I guess he wants to set a good example for the rest of the staff.

* set a good example: to do something that inspires others to behave similarly

ex> It’s better to set a good example than to offer advice.

I’d better keep my car as neat as a pin. Have you seen his desk?

* neat as a pin: very tidy and clean

ex> Erin must want something - her room is as neat as a pin.

Well, I guess we’re going to have to start minding our p’s and q’s during the commute.

* mind one’s p’s and q’s: to behave politely, especially in the presence of an elder or superior

ex> Our new supervisor is strict, so we have to mind our p’s and q’s.

Aw, he’s probably a down-to-earth guy just like us. Maybe he’ll welcome the chance to let his hair down a bit.

* down-to-earth: practical; sensible; realistic; unpretentious

ex> The boss is very down-to-earth, so you can be honest with him.

* let one’s hair down: to behave in a relaxed, free, and uninhibited way

ex> My coworkers and I let our hair down after work on Fridays.

@ His desk is always immaculate.  그의 책상은 항상 티 하나 없이 깨끗하다.

spotless. /impeccable. /spick-and-span.

[ɪ|mӕkjələt]

PE 11/15 Sarah Heidt - Kenyon College Commencement Speech

Since you’ve chosen to attend this weekend’s ceremonies in the flesh, try turning your whole mind to them, as well. Let your attention be here.

* in the flesh: in person; while physically present

ex> I won’t believe back in this country until I see him in the flesh.

I’m making this request, in part, because the division of our attention, the fragmentation of our awareness of any given moment in our lives and experience, has become such a cultural and personal commonplace.

* in part: partially; somewhat; for one of several reasons

ex> He wanted his own place, in part to give him more peace and quiet.

* commonplace (noun or adjective)

ex> Minor traffic accidents caused by mobile phone use are now a commonplace.

Distractions are, of course, nothing new. But our tools of distraction are becoming ever more plentiful and portable, and we stand to miss so much if we simply give in to their omnipresence.

* distraction: something that interferes with attention; something that is entertaining

ex> These distractions are preventing me from getting my work done.

* stand to: to be likely to; be in a position to

ex> Tanner stands to take over his brother’s room when he goes to college.

ex> The company stands to lose a lot of money due to the recall.

* filled to the brim: completely full (especially of liquids, uncountables, abstract ideas)

ex> Julia was filled to the brim with joy on her wedding day.

ex> Be careful not to spill you juice: the glass is filled to the brim.

@ Every moment we live is filled with incipient meaning.  우리가 사는 모든 순간은 막 시작되는 의미로 가득 차 있습니다.

nascent /embryonic /fundamental

PE 11/14 The Cost of Light

I was just jotting down the wattages of all our old light bulbs. I’m going to replace them all with energy-efficient ones.

* jot down: to write information or ideas quickly by hand

ex> Let’s jot down a list of the groceries we need.

Have you run the numbers to see if it’s really a good idea to go whole hog and replace them all at once? That could get kind of spendy.

* run the numbers: to analyze financial data before taking action

* go whole hog: to do something as completely as possible; be extravagant

* spendy: expensive

ex> When we ran the numbers, we saw that the car was a poor investment.

ex> The couple went whole hog and booked a luxurious wedding hall.

ex> The shoes in this store are kind of spendy.

I’ve read that some of the new bulbs haven’t lived up to expectations, and don’t last as long as they should.

* live up to something: to attain; fulfill

ex> Family pressure made it hard for Benjamin to live up to his potential.

* one by one: individually; in sequence

@ Why is the ladder smack-dab in the middle of the hallway? 왜 복도 한가운데 사다리가 있지?

right /plump /squarely