The Tour
Some idioms
be on pins and needles (p. 221): be nervous, anxious
every once in a while (p. 222): occasionally
in contention (p. 229): competitive (still with a chance to win)
for the time being (p. 229): for now, temporarily
fold (p. 233): give up, stop trying
from here on (p. 235): starting from this point
be on something (p. 242): be taking a drug
take it easy (p. 251): relax, not try so hard
against all odds (p. 257): very unlikely, improbable
Training for the Tour de France
Armstrong trained very hard for the Tour de France. Everything he did was done with that goal in mind.
Can you use anything from Armstrong’s training strategies which might help you to reach your own goals this semester?
a.Having control and knowledge of my scores could help me to pass this semester. You sometimes can know how you are doing in your courses, but like Armstrong we need to react and search for a solution, to fix what we are doing wrong, in order to achieve our goal. (Flavia, 03/03/07)
b. I think that strategies are useful for everything. Of course, after reading this chapter, I got some strategies, for example, never give up even though someone thinks you might not have any chance of winning. In addition, don’t spend all of my energy in the beginning; I should save some energy for the end. (Jennifer, 030407)
c. When we want to be successful, there are a lot of obstacles against achieving our goal. First of all, it is most important to do our best. The next important thing is strategy. I should pass the MEI test in this semester. In the previous conference, I talked about how I have focused on the listening part with my teacher, Nina. My strategy is to compensate for my weak point after finding it. (Dae Gun Kim 05/03/2007)
d. My no. 1 priority which would help to reach to my goal is diligence. I should not only go to NIST but also take classes. To reach my goal, I have to be an early bird and manage my time well.(Jinwoo Kim 03/05/07)
Mister Millimeter
Armstrong paid a lot of attention to small details when he was getting ready for the Tour de France.
Are you a detail-oriented person, or do you tend to look at the “big picture”? Give an example.
a. I am a detail person only with the things that I like to do. In my old job, I always tried to have everything in its place. I like to know where everything is. The best example that I am not really a detail person is my room. It is very beautiful only when I am happy. It can show me how my week is going. Every mess can show me my mood. But if we talk about drawing, it is totally different. It is like entering another world, and I changed. (Flavia, 03/03/07)
b. I think it depends on what I face and where I am. Actually, I prefer be a detail person in everything. That is because a detail-oriented person can make everything in control and on schedule. (Jennifer, 030407)
c. I think that it is impossible to be successful without detail. If we steadily do our work step by step, we can achieve our goal. For example, we study grammar at the beginning of class every day. Last week, Nina showed us students how to use infinitives and gerunds. I’m not sure whether there will be such a problem on our MEIPE test paper. However, I believe that we will pass the test if we study the detail parts hard. (Dae Gun Kim 05/03/2007)
d. I think that a person who is willing to look at the big picture is a goal oriented person. I am a goal-orientied guy. When I worked in Hyundai electronics, I had to accomplish a project which had numerous obstacles such as electrical problems and structural defects . Many fellow workers were doubtful of my success. Many people went so far as to think that it was not possible. However, my supervisor and I ignored their anxiety and we accomplished our goal. In other words, we focused on achievement. If we had nnot been able to see the "mountain", we could not have succeeded in our porject. (Jinwoo Kim 03/05/07)
Competitiveness
Lance Armstrong is an extremely competitive person. When he is racing, what matters to him is beating everyone else.
Are you a competitive person? How do you know? Is competitiveness a positive trait, in your view?
a. I don’t consider myself a competitive person. I can say that my brother is a competitive person. Since that perspective I can say that I can be competitive in something that requires it. Competitiveness is a positive trait that you may need in your life, studies, and career. Everybody has a competitive guy inside, but only a few develop that strongly. (Flavia, 03/03/07)
b. In my view, I am not a competitive person in my life; however, sometimes I am. It depends on what is important for me. (Jennifer, 03/04/07)
c. I’m not competitive. Sometimes, competitiveness is a crucial factor to achieve our goal. However, it makes us unhappy if we just focus on being the winner. (Dae Gun Kim 05/03/2007)
d. I have no idea!!! However, I want to be a competitive person. It is a positive trait to succeed in human life. If someone has no competitiveness, he might be not able to succeed in his life. (Jinwoo Kim 03/05/07)
Technology
Technology has totally changed cycling. Wireless communication, heart monitors, and other devices give trainers and athletes a lot of information they didn’t use to have.
How has technology changed your sport/career/life? (Choose one.)
a. In my career, Civil Engineering, technology has changed a lot. Now you can do all the calculus on the computer. You don’t need to take your pencil, ruler and pencil to start a plan. You go directly to your computer and start drawing. The instruments, the sensors, and the machines with new technology make that each work will be done in a shorter time. In this way as the time changed, the goals change because technology gives you more challenges. (Flavia, 03/03/07)
b. The technology changes my day life in commicating with my friends. I used to like to chat with my friends via phone when the technology was not very popular. Now, I use the MSN messenger or E-mail to keep in touch with my friends. It is more convenient. (Jennifer,030407)
c. When I was a high school student, only a few students had a cell phone, which was a symbol to present his or her property. Now, however, many people have their own cell phone. It makes our lives more comfortable and faster. Another example is a computer; when a civil engineer determines traffic flows, it is difficult to calculate the traffic volume. A computer makes it easier. (Dae Gun Kim 05/03/2007)
d. In my opinion, technology has an influence on my life. Technology provides us with the opportunity to gain an enormous amount of information enhancing our intellect and knowledge. When there was no such thing as the Internet, people had to go to the library to ask someone for information that they needed. (Jinwoo Kim 03/05/07)
Doping
Many people suspected Armstrong of using performance-enhancing drugs, which are a big problem in many sports. Students sometimes use caffeine, nicotine, or other drugs to enhance their academic performance and make themselves to study harder.
What is your opinion of using legal or illegal drugs to enhance performance?
a. I could say that illegal drugs and nicotine are bad, that is what we know. Then I can say that caffeine is good because many people consume it a lot, like a normal thing. However, all drugs are bad. I don’t use caffeine to keep me awake because it makes me sleep. That is funny, but it doesn’t work with me. If you want to reach something, it should be with your own effort, without the help of drugs. In this way you will feel good and proud of yourself because you win without help. (Flavia, 03/03/07)
b. I don’t agree with using illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Illegal drugs are very dangerous and harmful for people. I think it is acceptable if people drink coffee to enhance their energy. (Jennifer, 030407)
c. I think that it is not good. To release tension, people take drugs legally or illegally. However, there are lots of alternative methods to get rid of their stress--shopping, exercise, meeting friends, and so on. (Dae Gun Kim 05/03/2007)
d. I agree that legal or illegal drugs can enhance performance. Sometimes, I rely on caffeine and nicotine to increase my concentration. However, we must get rid of the temptation to use illegal drugs. If someone uses these drugs, they must be on the road to collapse. (Jinwoo Kim 03/05/07)
Your questions:
1.
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