英文 讀書會 Royal English Club.

I have read an article about this and I would like to share it with you. Please feel free to comment after.^^

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_79.htm

How Good Is Your Decision-Making?

You won't always have all the data you'd like.
© iStockphoto/Maica
Decision-making is a key skill in the workplace, and is particularly important if you want to be an effective leader.
Whether you're deciding which person to hire, which supplier to use, or which strategy to pursue, the ability to make a good decision with available information is vital. It would be easy if there were one formula you could use in any situation, but there isn't. Each decision presents its own challenges, and we all have different ways of approaching problems.
So, how do you avoid making bad decisions – or leaving decisions to chance? You need a systematic approach to decision-making so that, no matter what type of decision you have to make, you can take decisions with confidence.
No one can afford to make poor decisions. That's why we've developed a short quiz to help you assess your current decision-making skills. We'll examine how well you structure your decision-making process, and then we'll point you to specific tools and resources you can use to develop and improve this important competency.
How Good Are Your Decision-Making Skills?
Instructions:
For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the 'wrong direction'. When you are finished, please click the 'Calculate My Total' button at the bottom of the test.
Statement Not
at all Rarely Some
times Often Very
Often
1
I evaluate the risks associated with each alternative before making a decision.
2
After I make a decision, it's final – because I know my process is strong.
3
I try to determine the real issue before starting a decision-making process.
4
I rely on my own experience to find potential solutions to a problem.
5
I tend to have a strong "gut instinct" about problems, and I rely on it in decision-making.
6
I am sometimes surprised by the actual consequences of my decisions.
7
I use a well-defined process to structure my decisions.
8
I think that involving many stakeholders to generate solutions can make the process more complicated than it needs to be.
9
If I have doubts about my decision, I go back and recheck my assumptions and my process.
10
I take the time needed to choose the best decision-making tool for each specific decision.
11
I consider a variety of potential solutions before I make my decision.
12
Before I communicate my decision, I create an implementation plan.
13
In a group decision-making process, I tend to support my friends' proposals and try to find ways to make them work.
14
When communicating my decision, I include my rationale and justification.
15
Some of the options I've chosen have been much more difficult to implement than I had expected.
16
I prefer to make decisions on my own, and then let other people know what I've decided.
17
I determine the factors most important to the decision, and then use those factors to evaluate my choices.
18
I emphasize how confident I am in my decision as a way to gain support for my plans.
Total =
0
Score Interpretation
Score Comment
18-42 Your decision-making hasn't fully matured. You aren't objective enough, and you rely too much on luck, instinct or timing to make reliable decisions. Start to improve your decision-making skills by focusing more on the process that leads to the decision, rather than on the decision itself. With a solid process, you can face any decision with confidence. We'll show you how. (Read below to start.)
43-66 Your decision-making process is OK. You have a good understanding of the basics, but now you need to improve your process and be more proactive. Concentrate on finding lots of options and discovering as many risks and consequences as you can. The better your analysis, the better your decision will be in the long term. Focus specifically on the areas where you lost points, and develop a system that will work for you across a wide variety of situations. (Read below to start.)
67-90 You have an excellent approach to decision-making! You know how to set up the process and generate lots of potential solutions. From there, you analyze the options carefully, and you make the best decisions possible based on what you know. As you gain more and more experience, use that information to evaluate your decisions, and continue to build on your decision-making success. Think about the areas where you lost points, and decide how you can include those areas in your process. (Read below to start.)
As you answered the questions, did you see some common themes? We based our quiz on six essential steps in the decision-making process:
Establishing a positive decision-making environment.
Generating potential solutions.
Evaluating the solutions.
Deciding.
Checking the decision.
Communicating and implementing.
If you're aware of these six basic elements and improve the way you structure them, this will help you develop a better overall decision-making system. Let's look at the six elements individually.
Establishing a Positive Decision-Making Environment
(Statements 3, 7, 13, 16)
If you've ever been in a meeting where people seem to be discussing different issues, then you've seen what happens when the decision-making environment hasn't been established. It's so important for everyone to understand the issue before preparing to make a decision. This includes agreeing on an objective, making sure the right issue is being discussed, and agreeing on a process to move the decision forward.
You also must address key interpersonal considerations at the very beginning. Have you included all the stakeholders? And do the people involved in the decision agree to respect one another and engage in an open and honest discussion? After all, if only the strongest opinions are heard, you risk not considering some of the best solutions available. Click here to learn more about creating a constructive decision-making environment.
Generating Potential Solutions
(Statements 4, 8, 11)
Another important part of a good decision process is generating as many good alternatives as sensibly possible to consider. If you simply adopt the first solution you encounter, then you're probably missing a great many even better alternatives. Click here to learn about some powerful tools for generating good alternatives, expanding the number of ideas, and considering different perspectives.
Evaluating Alternatives
(Statements 1, 6, 15)
The stage of exploring alternatives is often the most time-consuming part of the decision-making process. This stage sometimes takes so long that a decision is never made! To make this step efficient, be clear about the factors you want to include in your analysis. There are three key factors to consider:
Risk – Most decisions involve some risk. However, you need to uncover and understand the risks to make the best choice possible.
Consequences – You can't predict the implications of a decision with 100% accuracy. But you can be careful and systematic in the way that you identify and evaluate possible consequences.
Feasibility – Is the choice realistic and implementable? This factor is often ignored. You usually have to consider certain constraints when making a decision. As part of this evaluation stage, ensure that the alternative you've selected is significantly better than the status quo.
Click here to see a list of tools that you can use to improve the way you evaluate alternatives.
Deciding
(Statements 5, 10, 17)
Making the decision itself can be exciting and stressful. To help you deal with these emotions as objectively as possible, use a structured approached to the decision. This means taking a look at what's most important in a good decision.
Take the time to think ahead and determine exactly what will make the decision “right.” This will significantly improve your decision accuracy. Click here to learn about the different tools that you can use to make a good decision.
Checking the Decision
(Statements 2, 9)
Remember that some things about a decision are not objective. The decision has to make sense on an intuitive, instinctive level as well. The entire process we have discussed so far has been based on the perspectives and experiences of all the people involved. Now it's time to check the alternative you've chosen for validity and "making sense."
If the decision is a significant one, it's also worth auditing it to make sure that your assumptions are correct, and that the logical structure you've used to make the decision is sound.
Click here to learn more about tools that you can use to do this.
Communicating and Implementing (Statements 12, 14, 18)
The last stage in the decision-making process involves communicating your choice and preparing to implement it. You can try to force your decision on others by demanding their acceptance. Or you can gain their acceptance by explaining how and why you reached your decision. For most decisions – particularly those that need participant buy-in before implementation – it's more effective to gather support by explaining your decision.
Have a plan for implementing your decision. People usually respond positively to a clear plan – one that tells them what to expect and what they need to do. For more information on developing these types of plans, read our articles about project management and change management.

Key Points
Decision-making is a skill – and skills can usually be improved. As you gain more experience making decisions, and as you become more familiar with the tools and structures needed for effective decision-making, you'll improve your confidence. Use this opportunity to think about how you can improve your decision-making and take your skills to the next level. Ultimately, improving your decision-making skills will benefit you and your organization.



*****To this, I hope to know yours. Having a good skill in making decisions truly is important. We definitely don't want to regret our actions and decisions. But then again a thought entered my mind, for every decisions we make, not all of it are certain. We should have the will and be able to take risks, but it won't hurt if you'll try to use your gut feelings, too! Just remember, in any decisions you will make, there is always an output and reaction. Be responsible and good luck!

*Questions that were included here are also from the link.

http://www.taiwanfun.com/north/taipei/d ... ebleTW.htm

http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/dr-lyndon/ar ... 15997&sc=1

活動日期: 2/11 (Saturday)
地點: Le Ble’ Or 金色三麥 京站店 : 台北市大同區承德路一段一號 (京站4樓)
入座時間:pm 7:00~7:30 (7點左右就可以開始點餐了...)

想要用英文點餐練英文的人也可以拿出guts來，不過要確定那位服務生很閒喔! caroline 在這裡貼心提醒。

決定要去的直接在這裡或是我的FB上報名都可以喔!

祝大家~新年快樂，一躍龍門便飛龍在天

Hello there fellow Royal English members!

I'm Princes and I'd say, it feels good to be part of your website.
I'm a Filipina and I can speak English.
I love English literature, and I love to cook!
I would like to share my thoughts and whatever things like maybe topics in English...could be like editorials and others here.
I would really appreciate it if you'll share your opinions and post your replies after my every blog or entry here.

I hope to be one of your friends here, so add me up and maybe, I could help in making this website fun and informative.
Thanks~~~

I'll post some topics for us to share.^_^
Make your opinions/thoughts be heard.

2/2 (Thurs) How to complain effectively (Host: Yoshiko)

TOPIC ONE
How to complain effectively

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/fe ... -procedure

From arming yourself with information to clarifying your aims, Anna Tims offers a checklist of tips and tricks for successful complaining

Most large companies are inundated with complaints, some fanciful, some serious.
No matter how important your complaint is to you, it will just be added to a miserable tally overseen by a stressed out customer services worker,
so to be sure it makes the maximum impact you must know how to air your grievances effectively.

Follow the steps below and you are more likely to get your problems sorted.

1.Make sure your complaint is valid

If early termination charges prevent you from defecting to a cheaper mobile service provider, tough. You should have read the small print and realised you are committed to a specific contract. If, however, you have received poor or non-existent service you are justified in requesting early release.

2.Work out what you want to achieve

Do you want a refund, replacement, compensation or simply an apology. If it is the first you have to act quickly or you will lose your entitlement.
If you complain by telephone keep a note of whom you spoke to and when, and follow up the call with a letter reiterating your complaint and the telephone response.
Do the same if your complaint is sent by a company's own webmail so you have a record of it.
Consumer Direct publishes template letters covering various categories of complaint.

3.Always address a letter to a specific person

It is best to start with the customer services manager. (If you aim too high – for example, the chief executive –
you will suffer a delay while your letter is passed back down the ranks.) Find out the manager's name
and use their full title – Dr, Mr, Mrs, Ms etc.

4.Include your details

Remember to include your full name, address and any account, order or reference numbers, preferably near the top of the letter.
If a company cannot easily find you on their systems they may leave you in limbo.

5.Do your homework

Mug up on consumer law and quote the relevant regulation so you can show you know your rights. If a faulty cooker breaches the Sale of Goods Act 1979 say so.

6.Keep copies

Photocopy all relevant documents – such as receipts, bank statements, order forms and advertisements – and attach them to back up your complaint. If you are seeking redress for a leaking boiler or a new but soiled sofa, include a photo of the damage.

7.Check your spelling

Poorly written letters suggest you are as sloppy as the company you are complaining about.

8.Be polite and reasonable

Whether you are writing or telephoning, stay calm. Intemperate outpourings will give companies an excuse to refuse to deal with you.

9.Name names

If you mention the unhelpful attitude of, for example, a shop manager or customer services operative, try to include their names.

10.Don't apologise

Embarrassing as it may be for we British to complain, don't apologise.
The grievance is all yours and the company should be grateful to you for pointing it out.

11.Set a deadline

Give the company a deadline for sending a useful response – 14 days is fair.
Make a note of the date so you can increase the pressure if it is missed. If, after a reasonable deadline,
you have made no progress consult Consumer Direct on your rights and options.

12.Make sure your complaint arrives

Send all letters by recorded or special delivery so the firm cannot deny receiving them, and keep a log of whom you wrote or spoke to and when.

Suggested questions
1. What was the worst customer service you've ever got?
2. What was the best customer service you've ever got?
3. If you find a few cockroaches' legs in a dish, how would you complain?

Topic II
How to Handle Customer Complaints
http://www.customerservicepoint.com/han ... aints.html

When you are talking to a complaining customer, you could apply the LEARN-principle.

You may think that the customer is calling upon you to have his troubles resolved, but this is not the customers prime drive.
First and formost, disgruntled customers want to be heard. Applying the LEARN principle makes sure they are.

L.E.A.R.N. is an acronym, with 5 easy steps to follow:

LISTEN - Listen carefully to your customer. Don't interrupt or tell the customer to calm down, this will only ignite the anger.

EMPATHIZE - Feel the pain of the customer, and tell her that you can understand how they feel.

APOLOGIZE - Apologize to the customer, even if you feel that you have no part in the problem. Do not blame the customer,
but there is no need to take the blame yourself!

REACT - Decide what you will do to resolve the problem, and tell this to the customer.

NOW! - Do not delay. Take immediate action! The longer you wait, the harder it is to produce outstanding customer service. - WILLIAM H. DAVIDOW

Handle customer complaints with L E A R N, and your customers will feel appreciated!

Suggested questions
1. Do you think above " L E A R N" methood would work with angry customers? Any suggestions on what to do with complaints ?
2.Suppose you're a owner of a restaurant and a customer finds a few cockroaches' legs in a dish and complains,
how would you handle it?

Agenda
7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers

The new meeting place of Thursday:
摩斯漢堡明曜店 (地下室)
捷運資訊： 近台北捷運 - 板南線 - 忠孝敦化站 (步行約5分鐘)
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318/

To Royal English Club Members:

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

We will hold a Year Open Party(春酒) on 2/11. Please kindly read below information. Thanks.

Date: 2/11(六)
Time: 17:30
Place: Le Ble’ Or 金色三麥 京站店 : 台北市大同區承德路一段一號 (京站4樓)

Party purpose: Wish our club will have a wonderful year in 2012 and thanks for our last officers.

Please contact with Caroline or me if you would like to attend this Party. Please contact with us before 2/4, we need to know how many people will attend and make reserve from restaurant.

My e-mail: Lijie357@gmail.com

因為還是有人會跑到舊的地方去，到最後再打電話來說聚會找不到地點。這個message 會永遠至頂:

也請大家不要把外面的飲料帶到聚會地點，店長雖沒說什麼，但是我覺得還是盡量避免。

每週四台北市聚會地點:

摩斯漢堡MOS BURGER(明曜店)
台北市大安區仁愛路四段151巷37號B1
捷運忠孝敦化站(步行約5分鐘)

http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318
低消$30
time: PM 7:00-9:30

每週六台北市聚會地點
阿密麗多
(Mister Donut隔壁) 的地下一樓板橋市文化路一段 407 號 b1(MRT 新埔站 1 號出口)
低消80
time: PM 7:00-9:30

Let us welcome Lily Chang become Royal official member!!

And pls refer to the update of Member list as following

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Member%20List_2012.xls

For your information :

The meeting of Jan. 28 will be cancelled for Chinese Lunar New Year Holidays.


Orioles' Chen expects big things in upcoming MLB season, January 17, 2012, By Joseph Yeh, The China Post

Taiwanese left-hander Chen Wei-yin (陳偉殷) expressed confidence for the upcoming challenges in the next Major League Baseball (MLB) season in the United States during a press conference to announce his official signing with the Baltimore Orioles yesterday in Taipei. Chen, who was the first Taiwanese player to play for Japanese professional baseball before signing with a U.S. Major League team, spoke at the press conference wearing the Orioles No. 16 uniform and cap, and accompanied by his agent and the MLB team's representative Ray Poitevint. “I am very happy to be given the opportunity to take on the challenges in the MLB, which has been my longtime dream since my high school days,” Chen said during a press conference in Taipei. Chen noted that the reason he chose No. 16 was because it was his old number back in high school. Another reason for making the choice was that the number was also worn by Asian baseball legend Hideo Nomo, the first Japanese major leaguer to make a big impact in the world's highest level baseball league, he added. Nomo's successful debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 is widely seen as having helped pave the way for the subsequent “wave” of Japanese and Asian players entering the MLB. Looking forward to the upcoming season, the 26-year-old lefty said he is ready, but also admitted that he will need to make some adjustments, as he needs to familiarize himself with the new rhythm of pitching every five days in the MLB, instead of every six or seven days in Japan. Orioles Eager for Chen's 'special traits'

Poitevint, executive director of Orioles' International Baseball, told yesterday's press conference that his team decided to sign Chen not only because of his great delivery and strong arm. Chen has some unique qualities such as “mental toughness” and “emotional control,” as well as a “drive and desire to overcome any adversity “ — traits that are bound to make him a great hurler. Poitevint said he hopes Chen will be able to join the Orioles' starting rotation as one of the five starters soon. Aside from being a great pitcher, he also expected that “the handsome and well-built” Chen, who seems like a movie star to him, could further boost the box-office of his team by attracting more Asian and Taiwanese fans. Chen and the Orioles last week agreed to a three-year contract worth US$11,338,000. The local southpaw gets a US$250,000 signing bonus and salaries of US$3.072 million this year, US$3.572 million in 2013 and US$4.072 million in 2014. The Orioles have a US$4.75 million option for 2015 with a $372,000 buyout. Chen has played for several years under the banner of the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) since his debut in 2005. During his time with the NPB, Chen went 36-30 with a 2.59 ERA in 650 2/3 innings for the Dragons, striking out 520 batters while walking only 159.

Box fresh , By Catherine Shu / Staff Reporter, TAIPEI TIMES

Taiwanese companies are creating increasingly elaborate and creative packaging for the gift sets traditionally given during major holidays.
This Lunar New Year, many boxes filled with tea leaves, pastries and other gourmet food items will exchange hands. But the gift givers don’t just want to please their recipients’ palates. They also want to make a statement. Gift sets are traditionally given during major holidays. While most come in simple red cardboard boxes, consumers have become increasingly demanding about packaging and designers are working hard to give them more options. Selecting a gift is now viewed as “a form of personal expression,” says James Chen (陳進東), the head of Magic Creative (麥傑創意團隊), which was one of 10 Taiwanese companies to win Red Dot Design Awards last year for food packaging designs, twice as many as in 2010.Consumers can chose from boxes that can be turned into festive paper lanterns, unfolded into jewelry boxes or converted into snack trays. Many gift sets are decorated with motifs and colors inspired by Chinese and Taiwanese culture. “When people select a gift set, they want to represent their own taste,” says Chen, who founded Magic Creative in 1993. “Even if they are giving something small, like cakes and candy, they still pay attention to the packaging. ”Green in Hand (掌生穀粒) founder Cheng Yun-yi (程昀儀) says package design is a “very important form of communication.” “From the beginning, we focused on how it can represent our culture and encourage consumers to embrace something different,” says Cheng, who worked in advertising before starting Green in Hand in 2006.Green in Hand’s specialty is rice grown in Taiwan using sustainable farming methods and selected for the quality of its shape, texture and taste. The staple food is not usually given as a gift, however, and the company had to figure out how to compete with specialty food items. “Our plan was to turn Taiwanese farmers’ products into Taiwanese farmers’ works of art,” says Cheng.

The company’s first packaging featured sheets printed with Chinese calligraphy wrapped around bags made from brown kraft paper. Other packages have been made from lushly patterned Taiwan floral cloth or gleaming satin brocade with dragons woven in gold metallic thread. Its focus on packaging has helped the company thrive: last year it sold about 8.2 tonnes of rice (most of Green in Hand’s packages contain 300g to 1.5kg of the grain.)Like Green in Hand, Orientea (茶籽堂) also relies on packaging to market a traditional product. The company, which has sold dish soap and laundry detergent made with tea since 1992, recently launched a line of tea seed oils. Pressed from the seeds of camellia oleifera (苦茶) flowers, tea seed oil was once frequently used in Taiwan for cooking and skin care, but is now considered old-fashioned. Orientea hopes to convince younger customers to buy the oil for personal use or gift giving. “A lot of younger people don’t even know what tea seed oil is and how it can be used,” says Orientea head Wood Chua (趙文豪). “It’s important to emphasize a cultural connection. We want shoppers to remember ‘my mother or grandmother used this oil’ and be curious about its benefits. ”The oil’s packaging is meant to convey a sense of warmth and hominess. Bottles are wrapped in paper printed with sketches of farmers who grow the company’s supply of camellias. “Our customers want to see their own ideals reflected in the packaging,” says Chao. “They purchase our oil because they want to know more about Taiwanese culture or get to know the farmers who produced it and where the tea seeds were grown. ”Magic Creative’s gift boxes for Jiu Zhen Nan (舊振南), a 120-year-old Kaohsiung-based traditional pastry maker, also emphasize a strong cultural connection.

Curio boxes collected by Chinese emperors inspired the company’s award-winning design, which was created for the 2010 Mid-Autumn Festival. It unfolds to reveal eight compartments in rich colors and can be reused as storage for small items like jewelry. “Every year there are always a lot of moon cake boxes discarded,” said Chen. “Our boxes can be used over and over again, which emphasizes the value of the brand. ”Like Jiu Zhen Nan’s gift boxes, Bonho’s (寶號) packaging for its Taiwan Centennial Blessing Tea (百年賜喜茶禮) set was also designed to have multiple uses. The four boxes included in the gift set are covered with different laser-cut designs based on traditional Chinese wooden window screens and turn into paper lanterns when small lights are switched on. Bags of tea leaves and square ceramic cups with auspicious Chinese characters molded onto their bottom surfaces are nestled in each box. When they are filled with tea, the condensation that collects on each cup leaves an impression on table surfaces like a seal dipped in red ink. Bonho’s gift set has placed in seven design competitions, including the Red Dot Design Awards, Good Design Award and iF Packaging Design Award. The company plans to expand its offerings to pastries and coffee beans grown in Taiwan. “Our goal is to offer consumers a very clear visual concept,” says Bonho managing director Kristy Wen Ho (何文).“Everything is very carefully planned,” Ho adds. “We want our products to represent the best of Taiwan.”

Let us welcome Andrew Wang become Royal official member!!

And pls refer to the update of Member list

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Member%20List_2012.xls

hi, guys, the articles i posted are excerpts, for your reference only. just let you know you are welcome to discuss whatever you want if it's in English, in case you are not interested in it.


10 types of men you should never date

Kate Moss supposedly put together a lust list of potential new guys to date. But is it time to say goodbye to bad boys?
Shane Watson

In case you missed it, Kate Moss has broken up with Jamie Hince, the guitarist in the Kills. This wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy were it not for a couple of significant details. One, Kate has been spotted crying (Kate doesn’t do public tears, so this suggests that she might actually want a relationship that lasts more than a fashion season). Two, she is alleged to have put together a "lust list" of potential new partners. I think you know what’s coming: the list reads like every music promoter’s dream and every mother’s nightmare. All of the names featured could be described as very bad boys (the most suitable is newly divorced Jackass star Johnny Knoxville), and every one of them would rather die than be caught smiling in a photograph.
We sympathise. Which of us hasn’t been carried away by the charms of a moody, thrill-seeking narcissist? But there comes a time when a woman has to put aside teenage habits, look around and think . . . Can I really do another Glastonbury, arm in arm with a spotty youth wearing three kinds of scarf and clutching a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, or could I do better? Fortunately, there is a formula for addressing the bad-boy rut. So, Kate, if you want to find the right man, just say no to the following..

source:
From The Sunday Times UK


questions:

1. there are hundreds of thousands of tips we can find on the internet, or some rumours from email, whatever it is relavent to. do you believe the tips from the internet? why or why not? if yes, how do you verify if it's true, useful or not?

2. do you have(or have ever read) any tip that you think is really useful? please share with us.

3. ok, let's get back to this article, do you have any clue about which kind of men/ women people should never date, because you have a gut feeling that the relationship with them would never work out?



80% of public support right to die with doctor's help
Rosemary Bennett, Social Affairs Correspondent

A majority of the public want the law changed to allow doctors to help terminally ill patients to die if they wish, according to a survey.
Four out of five people now support voluntary euthanasia, which would allow hundreds of thousands of patients with incurable and painful illnesses to die at a time of their choosing, the 2007 British Social Attitudes survey found.
It is illegal for a doctor actively to assist anyone who wants to die. Only in exceptional circumstances can a court rule that feeding should cease..

source:
From The Sunday Times UK


questions:

1. what's your opinion about euthanasia? do you agree everyone has the right to deside when they want to end their life or how to die? why?

2. some said the hardest thing is not to make the decision for ourselves but for our beloved ones', when it comes to the aforementioned questions. actually, there is a person said that he would help his beloved releave regardless of legal ramifications. how about you?

3. since it's just the start of a new year, do you have any expectation of the year(or that of Royal)?



Agenda

7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers

The meeting place of Thursday:

摩斯漢堡明曜店
捷運資訊： 近台北捷運 - 板南線 - 忠孝敦化站 (步行約5分鐘)
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318/ 低消 $30

可以先來觀摩三次，觀摩者亦須參與討論，終生會員費$500

For those of who can't locate the Thur's article, here is the link:

http://www.royalclub.idv.tw/bbs3/viewtopic.php?t=3060

I create a facebook for our royal member:
please type '' Roline Shih '' on FB searching engine
or just mail me: amily70@yahoo.com.tw
ps.~I don't use FB account as my e-mail, so two accounts are different

If everybody have the question or any suggest about holding actives of months
, but i 'm not online. Please leave the message on my drawing wall. On the other hand, if i have important message about royal club, i'll leave the message on FB .All of the member can discuss with each other.I'll establish the royal association on FB in the future.Welcome all of royal friends~

Wasabi - get a healthy boost from the fiery root , January 3rd, 2012

Wasabi lovers may want to add more than a small pinch to their soy sauce the next time they go to their local sushi bar. The green paste, made from a fiery root called Wasabia Japonica, it is not only the perfect accompaniment to raw fish - it has also been found to possess numerous health benefits. Mentions of the now internationally popular condiment have been found in Japanese manuscripts dating as far back as the 8th century, when it was used more as a medical herb than a complement to food. According to wasabi expert Naohide Kinae, recent studies have shown that the root has characteristics suppressing a bacterium responsible for many stomach related diseases, such as gastric inflammation and possibly even stomach cancer. Some have promoted it as a means to prevent food poisoning, one of the reasons why it is often served alongside raw fish. The best wasabi experience a person could hope for is by getting the actual root and grating it themselves. When it is freshly grated, it tends to pack a much stronger flavor, which it only maintains for about 15 minutes after preparation. It also retains more of the healthy elements than manufactured wasabi. But beware, wasabi fans; there isn’t only one type. When you come across it in the supermarket, you may find numerous different types of wasabi paste, but only a few of them actually include the Wasabia Japonica, referred to by the Japanese as "real" wasabi. Most wasabi manufacturers use a root called "western wasabi," more commonly known as horseradish. It provides the same sort of burning sensation as the Japanese variety, but not the same color and flavor. For retail sale, the horseradish is colored green, and the packaging should state if the wasabi used is "real" or not. Confusingly enough, even wasabi labeled as "real" sometimes includes a certain amount of horseradish mixed with the Japonica variety. This western influx is nothing new. Horseradish was first introduced to Japan after the country emerged from a long isolation in the 1860s. It grows faster, bigger, and cheaper than the "real" wasabi, so it is only natural that businesses went for the more profitable kind. Purists will say that it lacks the taste that makes Wasabia Japonica pair with raw fish so well, but does it mean the western variety is inferior to the "real" kind? Kinae says that no wasabi is better than the other. In fact, their health attributes are almost identical. "One wasabi best accompanies fish, while another maybe better compliments steaks," Kinae said. "This choice is probably influenced by history, by experience accumulated over the years, but there actually is one way to appreciate 'real' wasabi and another to appreciate 'western wasabi. ' "So, next time you're in search of wasabi, you've got two tasks ahead if you: figuring out if it's Wasabia Japonica (or not), and deciding which food to pair it with. You just might get a whole new kick out of your meal.

What happens to your Facebook when you die? Digital assets oft forgotten,
Taiwan News, Newspaper,2012-01-05,By By Claudia Buck, McClatchy Newspapers ,SACRAMENTO, Calif.

When most people think about bequeathing their belongings, it’s the obvious: the house, the car, bank accounts, the sentimental family mementos. But what about our online “stuff”? With so many of us emailing, blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, eBaying and otherwise living online, it’s clear that a huge portion of ourselves resides on the Web. “Go through a day and think about how many things you do on the Internet. … What happens to that virtual life when real life ends?” said Amy Halloran, a Sacramento estate planning attorney. It’s a question that’s becoming increasingly relevant in a digital age. The average person often has a handful of websites or email addresses to their name, not to mention PayPal, LinkedIn, Flickr and other online accounts. When it comes to writing a will or a living trust, these so-called “digital assets” often get overlooked. Yet dealing with them can be just as crucial as deciding who gets the family silver or the Toyota truck in Dad’s driveway. “We’re seeing these issues with increasing frequency,” said Sacramento estate planning attorney Mark Drobny. “If something were to happen to you tomorrow, who would you want to access your accounts?” The solution can be as simple as writing out a list of your online accounts (with user names, passwords and the designated person to handle them), or as formal as inserting your online wishes into a legal document, such as a will, a living trust or a power of attorney form.

It’s not just a matter of deciding who gets the leftover balance in your PayPal account or the use of your business domain name. Designating someone to handle your online life after death can avoid heartache, too. Drobny recalls a case several years ago in which a Sacramento County business owner died unexpectedly in a shooting accident. Unbeknown to his grieving widow, a disgruntled employee with access to the husband’s business accounts was sending out “venomous” emails, accusing the wife of causing her husband’s death. Once the libelous messages were discovered, “It took us forever to shut down that email account while this person was spraying these false statements,” said Drobny. All of the family’s emotional suffering could have been avoided, noted the attorney, if the business owner had left his wife, a trusted friend or family member with a simple list of email user names and passwords. And instructions on who should — or should not — have access. Then there’s also the emotional wallop to friends and work colleagues when a deceased person’s name continues popping up on LinkedIn or Facebook messages. Unless those companies get officially notified of a death, the deceased person can continue to “live” online. In the past few years, a new crop of businesses has sprung up to help people avoid those scenarios. Companies like San Francisco-based Legacy Locker and Entrustet in Madison, Wis., let you designate a “digital executor,” someone who gets access to everything from your Facebook page to the 6,300 travel photos you’ve stashed on photo-sharing websites. They’re given authority to execute your wishes on what accounts stay open, get transferred to someone else or get deleted forever.

Nathan Lustig, a 26-year-old entrepreneur who co-founded Entrustet with a college friend in 2008, said he and his partner got inspired after reading about a young U.S. Marine killed in Iraq whose parents had to go to court to gain access to their son’s Yahoo email account. “We were pretty moved by that story and thought it was crazy there were no solutions,” said Lustig, whose company now claims 10,000 users in 23 countries. In another case, a college student acquaintance died of a drug overdose and people began posting on his Facebook wall “a lot of inappropriate stuff that you wouldn’t want your girlfriend or parents to see,” Lustig said. The hurtful comments stayed up for weeks until the Facebook account was able to be closed. “If you’re a young person with a thousand friends,” Lustig said, it’s worth sparing your family that kind of pain by designating someone to delete your Facebook page “so no one can see it or … to nominate a friend or family member to have access to it.” The concept of designating an online executor appears to be getting more mainstream. “When we first started, we got a lot of blank stares from people not getting it or not being able to relate to what we were doing. But there’s clearly been a change in the last three years,” said Lustig. These types of sites let you create a free, secured online list of accounts, beneficiaries and a designated “digital executor.” Fees for advanced services, such as Legacy Locker’s “farewell notes” delivered to loved ones after you’re gone, cost $30 a year.

Most online accounts, such as Facebook and Gmail, have stated policies on how to close a deceased person’s account. But they all differ. For instance, photo-sharing site Flickr, which is owned by Yahoo, says company policy is to ensure customers’ privacy, even after death. “While we deeply sympathize with any grieving family, protecting the privacy of our users remains our priority,” company spokeswoman Claudia Collins said in an email. Users who want their photos to stay “accessible to their legal heirs should work with their attorneys … as part of their estate-planning process.” There is a simpler solution, Drobny noted. “Write down your passwords and put them in a sealed envelope. Stick it in a book on your bookshelf. Then tell a trusted friend where it’s located.” Or keep a copy with your will or trust documents. In any case, it should include your instructions to a trusted friend or family member: for example, delete Facebook, shut down eBay, transfer a domain name, give online photo files to a sibling, etc. For those concerned about keeping that information secure, Halloran sometimes recommends that parents give a sealed list of user names to one adult child and a separate list of passwords to another child.

This topic just following the trend of news .We don't talk about politics in here ...

Topic One
Is worthwhile to create the international watchdog group?
http://www.taiwanelections.org/2011/12/ ... tablished/

An international watchdog group was established Thursday to observe the Jan. 14 Taiwanese presidential and legislative elections, with the goal of ensuring a fair and peaceful process.
The International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan, a private group, has brought together 88 leading parliamentarians, academics and civic society representatives from Europe, Japan, the United States and other countries to closely monitor Taiwan's first combined legislative and presidential elections.

The group will watch out for the possibility that the party in power might abuse its administrative resources to gain an advantage, Peng said. adding that he believes there would be strong reactions in Taiwan and abroad if any foreign country was found to have a hand in the election proceedings.
Stephane Corcuff, a professor of political science at the University of Lyon in France, said on behalf of the international members of the committee that Taiwan's political credibility on the international stage depends heavily on the fairness of its elections.

"Only by being selected through truly fair elections can Taiwan's government have a legitimate voice abroad and be persuasive in the international arena," he added. The committee's launch ceremony featured a video in which a number of US congressmen spoke of the necessity of ensuring that Taiwan's elections are fair and free.

The committee will organize a program of election observation activities Jan. 11-16 that will invite international observers to visit presidential campaign offices and attend election rallies held by the three political parties in the elections — the ruling Kuomintang, the DPP and the People First Party.


Suggested Questions

1.Have the international watchdog group been created would improve taiwan well-known and benefit between international? How would be improved?
2.What do you think the foreign guy's opinions about taiwan's election culture? How difference are between foreign and taiwan's election culture?
3.Is possible to keep the taiwan's election fair after create the internationl watchdog group? If you had power to decide policy,would you have much better idea to keep election fair?


Topic Two
About election campaign
http://taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_conte ... id=1746563

Keeping voters informed during election campaigns

During an election campaign, broadcasters play an important role in informing Canadins about the issues, political parties and candidates involved. The CRTC ensures that broadcasters serve the Canadian public during elections, so that citizens can make informed choices on election day.

Equitable on-air time during a campaign

Broadcasters in Canada are required to cover elections, and they must give all candidates, parties and issues equitable treatment. Equitable doesn’t mean equal – it means that all candidates and parties get some air time to share their ideas on issues with the public. Equitable treatment applies to the following types of election coverage:

Paid campaign advertising time

If a broadcaster sells advertising time to one candidate or party, other candidates and parties must also be given the opportunity to buy commercial airtime from that same broadcaster.
But what if the demand for advertising time exceeds the airtime available? Broadcasters must divide up the available advertising time on an equitable basis.

Free campaign advertising time

A broadcaster can offer free time – which is programming time that’s free of charge – to a political party or candidate during an election campaign. The message that goes on the air is under the editorial control of the party or candidate.
If a broadcaster offers free time to a party or candidate, it must then offer equitable time to other parties and candidates.

Political debates during election campaigns

Debate programs don't have to include all parties or candidates. However, broadcasters need to ensure that, in general, they're informing their audiences on the positions of candidates and parties on the main issues in a reasonable manner.

Prime time advertising airtime during federal elections

Broadcasters must make 6.5 hours of prime programming time available for purchase by all parties. This gives most voters the chance to learn about the issues, parties and candidates. These hours must fall within the time period between the date the writ was dropped and the second day before the election date.

On-air personalities as candidates

On-air personalities are people who are seen or heard on radio, TV or community programming channels. Even if the person's voice is only heard as a commercial announcer, that person is still considered to be an on-air personality.
If an on-air personality becomes a candidate in a political election, his/her on-air duties must stop:
as soon as his/her candidacy is announced
OR
once the election is officially called, whichever is later

In these cases, on-air personalities who become candidates must go off the air. On-air personalities enjoy unique public exposure, and broadcasters aren't able to offer other candidates similar on-air opportunities.


Suggested Questions

1.Election campaign is properious in taiwan recently. And what are your opinions about taiwan's election campaign?
2.If you were one of the cadidates in the upcoming election, how would you run(競選) for yourself?
3.Is necessary to have election campaign during election or you just repel it? Why?


Agenda

7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers

The new meeting place of Thursday:
摩斯漢堡明曜店
捷運資訊： 近台北捷運 - 板南線 - 忠孝敦化站 (步行約5分鐘)
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318/ 低消 $30
可以先來觀摩三次，觀摩者亦須參與討論，終生會員費$500

There are very few information about taste coffee. I found one article which is information , and may improve your coffee tasting knowledge. Please share it with me.


Cupping is a method coffee tasters use to evaluate a coffee's characteristics. If you really want to learn more about the traits of different coffees, this is a great way to do it.
Just the fact that you would be willing to try this means you’re well on your way to becoming a true coffee snob! So let’s get started.
First, you will need the following:
• A few kinds of fresh, whole bean coffee (if you want to compare)
• Grinder(preferably a burr grinder)
• Tea kettle for near boiling water
• Tablespoon
• Porcelain cups (8 oz.) for each coffee
• Silver spoon
• A cup (for spitting the coffee out)
Aroma is a major component of taste, try to do this where there are no strong, perfume-like smells in the air.
Here are the procedures for cupping:
1. Grind each coffee to a medium-course ground similar to course sand or raw sugar. Do not grind coffee too fine or it will become over-extracted and taste bitter.
2. Fill cup with 2 heaping tablespoons of the ground coffee.
3. Add 6 oz. of nearly boiling water (about 200 degrees)
4. Steep for 2-3 minutes. The coffee should form a crust or “cap” on top of the water. While steeping, check the coffee for any sour smells. Sour smells are bad and could indicate old or rancid coffee.
5. Gently break the crust with your spoon by pushing the grounds back exposing the water. You should notice a fine-celled foam. If there is no foam, the coffee may not be fresh. Again smell the coffee because much of the fragrance is trapped under this crust. Pay extra attention to the fragrance because it is so important to the taste. As you continue to break the crust, the grounds will sink to the bottom of the cup.
6. Fill your spoon with the brewed coffee avoiding the floating grounds.
7. Slurp the coffee into your mouth with some force. This will mix air with the coffee and disperse it evenly throughout your mouth.
8. Swirl the coffee around your mouth to get a good feel for the overall flavor.
9. Spit the coffee out and rinse mouth with water before tasting another.
While you are tasting the coffee, here are the major characteristics you should be paying attention to:
Acidity - The sensation of dryness in the back and under the edges of your mouth. This is a desirable quality and not to be confused with sour (which is considered a bad quality of coffee). Acidity creates a lively, bright taste which without it, the coffee would taste flat.
Aroma – Without aroma, we could only taste sweet, sour, bitter and salty. This is where we get the subtle differences such as floral, nutty or fruity.
Body – The way the coffee feels in your mouth, its viscosity or heaviness. The best way to describe it is the comparison to how whole milk feels in your mouth compared to water. If you are unsure as to the level of body in the different coffees, add an equal amount of milk to each one and the one with the heavier body will retain more of its flavor when diluted.
Flavor – This is the overall perception of the three characteristics above. Flavor can be rich (full bodied), complex (multi-flavored), or balanced (no one characteristic over powers the other.
Here are some terms used to describe DESIRABLE flavor qualities:
Bright or dry – highly acidic leaving a dry aftertaste
Caramelly – caramel like or syrupy
Chocolaty – aftertaste similar to unsweetened chocolate or vanilla
Earthy – a soily-like quality (sometimes unfavorable)
Fragrant – an aroma ranging from floral to nutty to spicy, etc.
Fruity – having a citrus or berry scent
Mellow – a smooth taste lacking acidity but not flat
Nutty – similar to roasted nuts
Spicy – an exotic aroma of various spices
Sweet – a lack of harshness
Wild – a gamey flavor rarely, but sometimes considered favorable
Winy – aftertaste resembling a mature wine
Here are some terms used to describe UNDESIRABLE flavor qualities:
Bitter – aftertaste perceived on the back of the tongue
Bland – neutral in flavor
Carbony – burnt charcoal flavors
Earthy – a musty, soily-like quality
Flat – lacking aroma, acidity, and aftertaste
Grassy – aroma and taste of grass
Harsh – a caustic, raspy quality
Muddy – thick and flat
Musty – slightly stuffy smell (sometimes desirable in aged coffees)
Rubbery – a smell of burnt rubber
Sour – a tart flavor such as unripe fruit
Turpeny – a flavor resembling turpentine
Watery – a lack of body
Wild – a gamey flavor
Tasting the Roasts
As coffee is roasted, it goes from a sharper, more acidic taste, to a smoother more full bodied taste, and finally to a full bodied, almost charred taste. Here is a breakdown of the typical roasts followed by the flavor characteristics.
• Cinnamon or Light Roast (Light brown and dry surface): a bright, acidic, toasted grain taste.
• Medium High or Regular Roast (Milk chocolate brown with a dry surface): acidic and bright but lacks the grain taste.
• Full City or High Roast (Darker brown with a satin appearance): Slight bittersweet tang with less acidity.
• French, Italian, or Espresso Roast (Dark chocolate with patches of oil): Very little acidity and noticeably bittersweet.
• Dark French or Heavy (Almost black and very oily): Almost no acidity and very bittersweet.

please link to my Facebook for all the pictures, Totally 17 pictures

Special thanks to Jack & 志恆 , their hospitality really impressed us...Many Thanks
Jack bring one bottle of whisky, we didn't finish it, but every one have their signature on it, as a very good memmorial.


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 560&type=3

2012 Royal English member's list

Note...If you are member and had paid membership fee before, but not on list, or you want to modify the information, please forward your message to the officer. or leave your message here.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Member%20List_2012.xls

Today we vote Caroline as our Royal New President and Jason as Royal New Vice President for 2012.

Dear President and vice president,

Although you can't receive the high pay as Singapore officer(casue being Royal officer is no pay), you have all of our support. And it is believed that you can learn a lot from this experience. Gogogo.....

Hi @Rock. Thanks for your warm welcome. Yes, I'll definitely share and start doing it any time soon.

@Jack: Yes, I did change and I'm now using a new account. Thank you for reaching out and for trying your best to make it easy for me to share things here!!

I wish nothing but good vibes and a lot of sharing here! More Power to Royal English Club.

hahaha~The topic 1's behavior seems like a honest spy who need a deliberately strategic project coping with the consumer service. As soon as you play strategy , the consumer service make sure game over. If be cruelly ,you will make him fired and I'll feel sorrow for the consumer service.

lily 寫:To Royal English Club Members:

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

We will hold a Year Open Party(春酒) on 2/11. Please kindly read below information. Thanks.

Date: 2/11(六)
Time: 17:30
Place: Le Ble’ Or 金色三麥 京站店(京站4樓)
Party purpose: Wish our club will have a wonderful year in 2012 and thanks for our last officers.

Please contact with Caroline or me if you would like to attend this Party. Please contact with us before 2/4, we need to know how many people will attend and make reserve from restaurant.

My e-mail: Lijie357@gmail.com

Hi, Lily, I'd like to discuss about the grammar if you don't mind.
1) Please kindly read below information. >>>
I think it should be "Please kindly read the following information" or "Please kindly read the information below".
2) Wish our club will have a wonderful year >>> "Wish our club a wonderful year". Just like the song "We wish you a merry Christmas".
3) Please contact with us >>> "Please contact us".
4) make reserve from restaurant >>>> make a reservation for the restaurant. You may want to check: http://www.multimedia-english.com/contenido/ficha/making-a-reservation-for-the-restaurant/2240

I know your English is good and it's quite possible that you've already known all the suggestions above. Please just take them as part of the discussion in this English forum. And, if you find any mistakes of mine, please kindly let me know. Thanks.

Another interesting website: http://www.engvid.com/english-vocabulary-wish-hope/

2

Please find the following for the updated of Club financial account.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Account%20balance_2012.xls

Rock 寫:

joseph 寫:含淚投票...可是我想含曼陀珠和可樂

Dear Joseph,

Your reply is really funny. I heard that the combination will explode. Maybe give it a try next time in our meeting?

hahah.

Dear Lily,

It's true that Kate is a super model and a stunner. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the page about her tips of choosing the right guy. Besides, Kate's unhealthy habit of preferring bad asses could offend William. Of course you know I'm just joking.
See you in the gathering.

Congratulations!!! You have our full support, just like Joseph said.

annatpe 寫:Hello

I am planning to join the club, please kindly tell me if you will have group discussion on 21st (since I will not be able to join you on 14th)
or I need to join after CNY?

Thank you. :)

Anna

we will update this status on a later day.

因為每週ㄧ 四要上課，沒辦法擔任主持人了，請新任的Officers 代為主持吧。

Thank you... :)

See u next wee then

最自由的全英文會話聚會,前三次不用交會費, 帶著開放與熱情來學英文
Royal 終旨 : 創造全英文會話環境, 開口用英文

每週四台北市聚會地點
摩斯漢堡MOS BURGER(明曜店)
台北市大安區仁愛路四段151巷37號B1
捷運忠孝敦化站(步行約5分鐘)

http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318
低消$30


每週六台北市聚會地點
板橋市丹堤咖啡館
address: 捷運 新埔站第一出口 旁
time: PM 7:00-9:30


請帶文章來一起討論,歡迎自我介紹
加入會員終生會費NT$500.
有問題歡迎留言royalenglishclub@yahoo.com.tw

參加本club,三個月即可自由用英文交談,四個月即可用英文發表感想,一年可發表長篇大論

This topic just following the trend of news .We don't talk about politics in here ...

Topic One
Is worthwhile to create the international watchdog group?
http://www.taiwanelections.org/2011/12/ ... tablished/

An international watchdog group was established Thursday to observe the Jan. 14 Taiwanese presidential and legislative elections, with the goal of ensuring a fair and peaceful process.
The International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan, a private group, has brought together 88 leading parliamentarians, academics and civic society representatives from Europe, Japan, the United States and other countries to closely monitor Taiwan's first combined legislative and presidential elections.

The group will watch out for the possibility that the party in power might abuse its administrative resources to gain an advantage, Peng said. adding that he believes there would be strong reactions in Taiwan and abroad if any foreign country was found to have a hand in the election proceedings.
Stephane Corcuff, a professor of political science at the University of Lyon in France, said on behalf of the international members of the committee that Taiwan's political credibility on the international stage depends heavily on the fairness of its elections.

"Only by being selected through truly fair elections can Taiwan's government have a legitimate voice abroad and be persuasive in the international arena," he added. The committee's launch ceremony featured a video in which a number of US congressmen spoke of the necessity of ensuring that Taiwan's elections are fair and free.

The committee will organize a program of election observation activities Jan. 11-16 that will invite international observers to visit presidential campaign offices and attend election rallies held by the three political parties in the elections — the ruling Kuomintang, the DPP and the People First Party.


Suggested Questions

1.Have the international watchdog group been created would improve taiwan well-known and benefit between international? How would be improved?
2.What do you think the foreign guy's opinions about taiwan's election culture? How difference are between foreign and taiwan's election culture?
3.Is possible to keep the taiwan's election fair after create the internationl watchdog group? If you had power to decide policy,would you have much better idea to keep election fair?


Topic Two
About election campaign
http://taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_conte ... id=1746563

Keeping voters informed during election campaigns

During an election campaign, broadcasters play an important role in informing Canadins about the issues, political parties and candidates involved. The CRTC ensures that broadcasters serve the Canadian public during elections, so that citizens can make informed choices on election day.

Equitable on-air time during a campaign

Broadcasters in Canada are required to cover elections, and they must give all candidates, parties and issues equitable treatment. Equitable doesn’t mean equal – it means that all candidates and parties get some air time to share their ideas on issues with the public. Equitable treatment applies to the following types of election coverage:

Paid campaign advertising time

If a broadcaster sells advertising time to one candidate or party, other candidates and parties must also be given the opportunity to buy commercial airtime from that same broadcaster.
But what if the demand for advertising time exceeds the airtime available? Broadcasters must divide up the available advertising time on an equitable basis.

Free campaign advertising time

A broadcaster can offer free time – which is programming time that’s free of charge – to a political party or candidate during an election campaign. The message that goes on the air is under the editorial control of the party or candidate.
If a broadcaster offers free time to a party or candidate, it must then offer equitable time to other parties and candidates.

Political debates during election campaigns

Debate programs don't have to include all parties or candidates. However, broadcasters need to ensure that, in general, they're informing their audiences on the positions of candidates and parties on the main issues in a reasonable manner.

Prime time advertising airtime during federal elections

Broadcasters must make 6.5 hours of prime programming time available for purchase by all parties. This gives most voters the chance to learn about the issues, parties and candidates. These hours must fall within the time period between the date the writ was dropped and the second day before the election date.

On-air personalities as candidates

On-air personalities are people who are seen or heard on radio, TV or community programming channels. Even if the person's voice is only heard as a commercial announcer, that person is still considered to be an on-air personality.
If an on-air personality becomes a candidate in a political election, his/her on-air duties must stop:
as soon as his/her candidacy is announced
OR
once the election is officially called, whichever is later

In these cases, on-air personalities who become candidates must go off the air. On-air personalities enjoy unique public exposure, and broadcasters aren't able to offer other candidates similar on-air opportunities.


Suggested Questions

1.Election campaign is properious in taiwan recently. And what are your opinions about taiwan's election campaign?
2.If you were one of the cadidates in the upcoming election, how would you run(競選) for yourself?
3.Is necessary to have election campaign during election or you just repel it? Why?


Agenda

7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers

The new meeting place of Thursday:
摩斯漢堡明曜店
捷運資訊： 近台北捷運 - 板南線 - 忠孝敦化站 (步行約5分鐘)
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318/ 低消 $30
可以先來觀摩三次，觀摩者亦須參與討論，終生會員費$500

hi, guys, the articles i posted are excerpts, for your reference only. just let you know you are welcome to discuss whatever you want if it's in English, in case you are not interested in it.


10 types of men you should never date

Kate Moss supposedly put together a lust list of potential new guys to date. But is it time to say goodbye to bad boys?
Shane Watson

In case you missed it, Kate Moss has broken up with Jamie Hince, the guitarist in the Kills. This wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy were it not for a couple of significant details. One, Kate has been spotted crying (Kate doesn’t do public tears, so this suggests that she might actually want a relationship that lasts more than a fashion season). Two, she is alleged to have put together a "lust list" of potential new partners. I think you know what’s coming: the list reads like every music promoter’s dream and every mother’s nightmare. All of the names featured could be described as very bad boys (the most suitable is newly divorced Jackass star Johnny Knoxville), and every one of them would rather die than be caught smiling in a photograph.
We sympathise. Which of us hasn’t been carried away by the charms of a moody, thrill-seeking narcissist? But there comes a time when a woman has to put aside teenage habits, look around and think . . . Can I really do another Glastonbury, arm in arm with a spotty youth wearing three kinds of scarf and clutching a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, or could I do better? Fortunately, there is a formula for addressing the bad-boy rut. So, Kate, if you want to find the right man, just say no to the following..

source:
From The Sunday Times UK


questions:

1. there are hundreds of thousands of tips we can find on the internet, or some rumours from email, whatever it is relavent to. do you believe the tips from the internet? why or why not? if yes, how do you verify if it's true, useful or not?

2. do you have(or have ever read) any tip that you think is really useful? please share with us.

3. ok, let's get back to this article, do you have any clue about which kind of men/ women people should never date, because you have a gut feeling that the relationship with them would never work out?



80% of public support right to die with doctor's help
Rosemary Bennett, Social Affairs Correspondent

A majority of the public want the law changed to allow doctors to help terminally ill patients to die if they wish, according to a survey.
Four out of five people now support voluntary euthanasia, which would allow hundreds of thousands of patients with incurable and painful illnesses to die at a time of their choosing, the 2007 British Social Attitudes survey found.
It is illegal for a doctor actively to assist anyone who wants to die. Only in exceptional circumstances can a court rule that feeding should cease..

source:
From The Sunday Times UK


questions:

1. what's your opinion about euthanasia? do you agree everyone has the right to deside when they want to end their life or how to die? why?

2. some said the hardest thing is not to make the decision for ourselves but for our beloved ones', when it comes to the aforementioned questions. actually, there is a person said that he would help his beloved releave regardless of legal ramifications. how about you?

3. since it's just the start of a new year, do you have any expectation of the year(or that of Royal)?



Agenda

7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers

The meeting place of Thursday:

摩斯漢堡明曜店
捷運資訊： 近台北捷運 - 板南線 - 忠孝敦化站 (步行約5分鐘)
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318/ 低消 $30

可以先來觀摩三次，觀摩者亦須參與討論，終生會員費$500

This is a recycled article from Joanna.

Topic One
Is Grad School Worth It?
http://www.wisegeek.com/is-grad-school-worth-it.htm

Graduate school, or grad school, refers to any college degree that goes above a bachelor's degree. This includes a Master's degree, PhD, or Masters of Business Administration (MBA). A graduate degree can be a great way to get into a competitive, high-paying field. However, there are many reasons why grad school may not be worth the cost.

The first way to consider the worth of grad school is to consider the actual cost of the degree program. This can vary from school to school. A state school can be much cheaper to attend than an Ivy League school, and the education may be about the same. However, the more expensive education can lead to a better position based on the name and prestige of the college. In this situation, students are paying for the name and not the better education.

While considering the cost of grad school, students should also consider the time they are spending away from the workforce. In many fields, a student with a bachelor's degree can earn $40,000 United States Dollars (USD) out of college. The average Master's degree program lasts two years. Figuring $30,000 USD in college costs, plus the $80,000 total lost income, a two year degree may cost $110,000 USD. This can be made up over the course of a career, but is still a huge price tag on a two-year education.

There are several careers that can gain a lot from a graduate degree. Doctors, lawyers, and other similar professionals need the higher degree to practice in their fields. Some professions, though, do not benefit from the extra education. Graduate degrees for social service careers or liberal arts careers may not be advantageous. The number of positions in these fields that require a graduate degree is considerably less than the graduates looking for work, so many end up taking jobs that they could have gotten after graduating with their Bachelor's degree. In fact, many graduates may have a harder time getting a career, due to being overqualified.

Attending grad school seems like a great way to assure job security. The truth is that, especially in times of economic downturn, people with graduate degrees are just as likely to be laid off as other employees. They are also more likely to have their pay reduced to save on spending. Having a higher degree does not mean that someone will not lose their job. Also, many colleges with graduate degree programs are having difficulty finding job placements for their graduates, making it harder to get into higher paying jobs to begin with.

After all of these considerations, it may seem like graduate school is a waste of time and money. Not so, as long as you enjoy getting an education and have a plan for paying back student loans after you graduate. A graduate degree can open a lot of doors. Grad school is worth it if your career will benefit from it, or if you are committed to your education and enjoy learning.

Suggested Questions
1. Is grad school worth it?
2. Why are some companies paying more money for an employee with higher education? Is it reasonable?
3. Why do many people in Taiwan want to pursuit a Master, or even a Ph.D degree? Do you want to do it yourself?


Topic Two
What is Continuing Education?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-continu ... cation.htm

Continuing education refers to any type of post-secondary education, used to either obtain additional certifications, or as credits required to maintain a license. Almost anybody can take continuing education credits for personal or professional enrichment; fitness trainers, nurses, and safety instructors are examples of professionals who fall into the second category. Continuing education is aimed exclusively to adults who already possess a college or university degree.

Continuing education can take the form of workshops, seminars, home-study or online courses, conferences, or hands-on training. There is no specific format or length for a continuing education program: some may take a weekend, while others can span weeks or even months. In the case of continuing education for personal advancement only, students usually don't receive college credits, as the courses are not considered part of the standard educational system. A common characteristic to all continuing education programs is a registration process. Attending a conference or cultural event that is open to the general public does not give attendants any type of education credits, and cannot be considered formal training.

Mandatory continuing education is common in certain careers, such as dental and health professions. By law, certain individuals are required to keep up with modern developments, thus guaranteeing the best possible course of treatment for patients. Because of the highly competitive market, professionals who do not need require continuing education often decide to undertake it anyway as a means of improving their resume and their chances for advancement. Critics of continuing education programs argue that obtaining credit is becoming easier and easier, which means many professionals are attending workshops but not necessarily absorbing new information from them.

More and more companies are now paying for continuing education for their workers. These include both standard and on-site programs. While the first choice takes away from the free time of the worker, the second one allows employees to earn continuing education credits during work hours. People interested in enrolling on a continuing education program should first contact their university to see if special programs are available to graduates. Besides being a more convenient way to get started, a potential student can guarantee that the topics covered are in tune with their careers and interests.

Suggested Questions
1. Do you prefer to learn by yourself or join a program? Why?
2. Have you ever joined a continuing education program? What is the best program you’ve ever had?
3. Does your company offer any opportunities of continuing education? Do you need to pay for them? Are they productive or just a waste of time?

Agenda:

7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk among members and guests /taking individual orders/getting newcomers' information
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers/ announcements

Meeting place is at 摩斯漢堡明曜店

Hi, everyone, I am a new user here and really want to improve my speaking ability.
I am stuck in TOEFL test now, really need to overcome this difficulty.
But I am not sure about how to enter the discussion.

Do I have to fill additional applications in order to inform anyone? Or I can go to the club without informing anyone?
Does this club not welcome a member who want to prepare for TOEFL test?
THX ^^

The meeting of Jan. 7 , 2012 will be cancelled.

Outing program : Go to Keelung to eat fish
Date : Jan.7, 2012
Time : Take train from Panicho or Taipei Train Station to Keelung( See the below timetalbe). Then walk to the restaurant (around 15 min.)
to enjoy the dinner. While on the train, try to go to the carriage 1 or 2 to find each other.
Fee : Each table costs NT$ 2,500. The fee of each person depends on the numbers of each table.

If you intend to join us, please send your mail to amyshihlu@hotmail.com or phone William (# 0919319636) in advance. ( No reservation , no seats )

日期
Jan. 7, 2012 目的地 : 基隆 , 火車班車車次 : 新竹到基隆區間車 車次1214 , a) 板橋車站上車時間 : 14: 05 p.m. b) 台北車站上車,時間 : 14: 16 p.m. 到達基隆時間 14:49 p.m.

Today we vote Caroline as our Royal New President and Jason as Royal New Vice President for 2012.

Dear President and vice president,

Although you can't receive the high pay as Singapore officer(casue being Royal officer is no pay), you have all of our support. And it is believed that you can learn a lot from this experience. Gogogo.....

不論你新人還是老手，如果您有興趣當下任英文社社長或幹部，請call or email me:

joseph520520@msn.com

0912657275

當社長或幹部好處多多，增長人脈，訓練Leadership等等。也可以為社團帶領到一個新的視野，像是打倒X球村美日語，巨X美語等等。

Club Financial Report 2011

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Account%20balance_2012.xls

please link to my Facebook for all the pictures, Totally 17 pictures

Special thanks to Jack & 志恆 , their hospitality really impressed us...Many Thanks
Jack bring one bottle of whisky, we didn't finish it, but every one have their signature on it, as a very good memmorial.


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 560&type=3

To Royal English Club Members:

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

We will hold a Year Open Party(春酒) on 2/11. Please kindly read below information. Thanks.

Date: 2/11(六)
Time: 17:30
Place: Le Ble’ Or 金色三麥 京站店 : 台北市大同區承德路一段一號 (京站4樓)

Party purpose: Wish our club will have a wonderful year in 2012 and thanks for our last officers.

Please contact with Caroline or me if you would like to attend this Party. Please contact with us before 2/4, we need to know how many people will attend and make reserve from restaurant.

My e-mail: Lijie357@gmail.com

For those of who can't locate the Thur's article, here is the link:

http://www.royalclub.idv.tw/bbs3/viewtopic.php?t=3060

I create a facebook for our royal member:
please type '' Roline Shih '' on FB searching engine
or just mail me: amily70@yahoo.com.tw
ps.~I don't use FB account as my e-mail, so two accounts are different

If everybody have the question or any suggest about holding actives of months
, but i 'm not online. Please leave the message on my drawing wall. On the other hand, if i have important message about royal club, i'll leave the message on FB .All of the member can discuss with each other.I'll establish the royal association on FB in the future.Welcome all of royal friends~

要怎麼訓練自己不怕冷:

I collect some information from internet....

Please share those information with me.


我很怕冷~一點小冷就受不了~~~
怎樣可以訓練自己不怕冷??????????

有人建議Recommendation



Strategy 1 “我自己是習慣裸睡

讓自己習慣溫度

我不管天氣都讓自己裸睡包含在房間活動

我房間溫度最低會到16度

我自己是這樣訓練出來的 “
Strategy 2: 你可以試著做做看有氧舞蹈喔~它會讓身體出汗,讓你全身暖和喔~至於動作部分也別擔心,你可以自己在家裡客廳,手臂甩一甩,全身垂直跳動,或者是踏踏步,手臂呈打拳的姿勢,盡量讓手腳一起用,會更有效果喔~~建議你每天花個15~20分鐘做,動作隨你創造,無限制!保證可以讓身體不怕冷喔

Strategy 3: 一年四季都洗冷水澡

保證你以後都不怕冷 我家隔壁的王伯伯就如此

昨天那種天氣他還穿一件T恤而已


Strategy 4 :
常看到外國人天氣很冷照樣穿短袖的衣服 可是台灣人有時候才15.6度 連大衣

或是羽毛外套阿 衛生褲都穿出來了 有點誇張!! 不過想知道 外國人是天生就這樣不怕冷嗎 還是也有怕冷的外國人阿 還有他們是怎麼訓練自己的呢??

(這裡講的外國人不包括住在赤道附近國家的人)
可以...

在下雪的地方住慣了,我現在回台灣,在寒流來的天也是一件短袖而已

偶爾應觀眾要求穿上長袖,就會一直冒汗

而同樣也是在下雪的地方住慣了的我的朋友,回台灣長住兩年後,現在的冬天就一定要穿上厚厚的外套了,他說:'已經習慣了啊'
你可以試試看



Which one can work well?

Wasabi - get a healthy boost from the fiery root , January 3rd, 2012

Wasabi lovers may want to add more than a small pinch to their soy sauce the next time they go to their local sushi bar. The green paste, made from a fiery root called Wasabia Japonica, it is not only the perfect accompaniment to raw fish - it has also been found to possess numerous health benefits. Mentions of the now internationally popular condiment have been found in Japanese manuscripts dating as far back as the 8th century, when it was used more as a medical herb than a complement to food. According to wasabi expert Naohide Kinae, recent studies have shown that the root has characteristics suppressing a bacterium responsible for many stomach related diseases, such as gastric inflammation and possibly even stomach cancer. Some have promoted it as a means to prevent food poisoning, one of the reasons why it is often served alongside raw fish. The best wasabi experience a person could hope for is by getting the actual root and grating it themselves. When it is freshly grated, it tends to pack a much stronger flavor, which it only maintains for about 15 minutes after preparation. It also retains more of the healthy elements than manufactured wasabi. But beware, wasabi fans; there isn’t only one type. When you come across it in the supermarket, you may find numerous different types of wasabi paste, but only a few of them actually include the Wasabia Japonica, referred to by the Japanese as "real" wasabi. Most wasabi manufacturers use a root called "western wasabi," more commonly known as horseradish. It provides the same sort of burning sensation as the Japanese variety, but not the same color and flavor. For retail sale, the horseradish is colored green, and the packaging should state if the wasabi used is "real" or not. Confusingly enough, even wasabi labeled as "real" sometimes includes a certain amount of horseradish mixed with the Japonica variety. This western influx is nothing new. Horseradish was first introduced to Japan after the country emerged from a long isolation in the 1860s. It grows faster, bigger, and cheaper than the "real" wasabi, so it is only natural that businesses went for the more profitable kind. Purists will say that it lacks the taste that makes Wasabia Japonica pair with raw fish so well, but does it mean the western variety is inferior to the "real" kind? Kinae says that no wasabi is better than the other. In fact, their health attributes are almost identical. "One wasabi best accompanies fish, while another maybe better compliments steaks," Kinae said. "This choice is probably influenced by history, by experience accumulated over the years, but there actually is one way to appreciate 'real' wasabi and another to appreciate 'western wasabi. ' "So, next time you're in search of wasabi, you've got two tasks ahead if you: figuring out if it's Wasabia Japonica (or not), and deciding which food to pair it with. You just might get a whole new kick out of your meal.

What happens to your Facebook when you die? Digital assets oft forgotten,
Taiwan News, Newspaper,2012-01-05,By By Claudia Buck, McClatchy Newspapers ,SACRAMENTO, Calif.

When most people think about bequeathing their belongings, it’s the obvious: the house, the car, bank accounts, the sentimental family mementos. But what about our online “stuff”? With so many of us emailing, blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, eBaying and otherwise living online, it’s clear that a huge portion of ourselves resides on the Web. “Go through a day and think about how many things you do on the Internet. … What happens to that virtual life when real life ends?” said Amy Halloran, a Sacramento estate planning attorney. It’s a question that’s becoming increasingly relevant in a digital age. The average person often has a handful of websites or email addresses to their name, not to mention PayPal, LinkedIn, Flickr and other online accounts. When it comes to writing a will or a living trust, these so-called “digital assets” often get overlooked. Yet dealing with them can be just as crucial as deciding who gets the family silver or the Toyota truck in Dad’s driveway. “We’re seeing these issues with increasing frequency,” said Sacramento estate planning attorney Mark Drobny. “If something were to happen to you tomorrow, who would you want to access your accounts?” The solution can be as simple as writing out a list of your online accounts (with user names, passwords and the designated person to handle them), or as formal as inserting your online wishes into a legal document, such as a will, a living trust or a power of attorney form.

It’s not just a matter of deciding who gets the leftover balance in your PayPal account or the use of your business domain name. Designating someone to handle your online life after death can avoid heartache, too. Drobny recalls a case several years ago in which a Sacramento County business owner died unexpectedly in a shooting accident. Unbeknown to his grieving widow, a disgruntled employee with access to the husband’s business accounts was sending out “venomous” emails, accusing the wife of causing her husband’s death. Once the libelous messages were discovered, “It took us forever to shut down that email account while this person was spraying these false statements,” said Drobny. All of the family’s emotional suffering could have been avoided, noted the attorney, if the business owner had left his wife, a trusted friend or family member with a simple list of email user names and passwords. And instructions on who should — or should not — have access. Then there’s also the emotional wallop to friends and work colleagues when a deceased person’s name continues popping up on LinkedIn or Facebook messages. Unless those companies get officially notified of a death, the deceased person can continue to “live” online. In the past few years, a new crop of businesses has sprung up to help people avoid those scenarios. Companies like San Francisco-based Legacy Locker and Entrustet in Madison, Wis., let you designate a “digital executor,” someone who gets access to everything from your Facebook page to the 6,300 travel photos you’ve stashed on photo-sharing websites. They’re given authority to execute your wishes on what accounts stay open, get transferred to someone else or get deleted forever.

Nathan Lustig, a 26-year-old entrepreneur who co-founded Entrustet with a college friend in 2008, said he and his partner got inspired after reading about a young U.S. Marine killed in Iraq whose parents had to go to court to gain access to their son’s Yahoo email account. “We were pretty moved by that story and thought it was crazy there were no solutions,” said Lustig, whose company now claims 10,000 users in 23 countries. In another case, a college student acquaintance died of a drug overdose and people began posting on his Facebook wall “a lot of inappropriate stuff that you wouldn’t want your girlfriend or parents to see,” Lustig said. The hurtful comments stayed up for weeks until the Facebook account was able to be closed. “If you’re a young person with a thousand friends,” Lustig said, it’s worth sparing your family that kind of pain by designating someone to delete your Facebook page “so no one can see it or … to nominate a friend or family member to have access to it.” The concept of designating an online executor appears to be getting more mainstream. “When we first started, we got a lot of blank stares from people not getting it or not being able to relate to what we were doing. But there’s clearly been a change in the last three years,” said Lustig. These types of sites let you create a free, secured online list of accounts, beneficiaries and a designated “digital executor.” Fees for advanced services, such as Legacy Locker’s “farewell notes” delivered to loved ones after you’re gone, cost $30 a year.

Most online accounts, such as Facebook and Gmail, have stated policies on how to close a deceased person’s account. But they all differ. For instance, photo-sharing site Flickr, which is owned by Yahoo, says company policy is to ensure customers’ privacy, even after death. “While we deeply sympathize with any grieving family, protecting the privacy of our users remains our priority,” company spokeswoman Claudia Collins said in an email. Users who want their photos to stay “accessible to their legal heirs should work with their attorneys … as part of their estate-planning process.” There is a simpler solution, Drobny noted. “Write down your passwords and put them in a sealed envelope. Stick it in a book on your bookshelf. Then tell a trusted friend where it’s located.” Or keep a copy with your will or trust documents. In any case, it should include your instructions to a trusted friend or family member: for example, delete Facebook, shut down eBay, transfer a domain name, give online photo files to a sibling, etc. For those concerned about keeping that information secure, Halloran sometimes recommends that parents give a sealed list of user names to one adult child and a separate list of passwords to another child.

2/2 (Thurs) How to complain effectively (Host: Yoshiko)

TOPIC ONE
How to complain effectively

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/fe ... -procedure

From arming yourself with information to clarifying your aims, Anna Tims offers a checklist of tips and tricks for successful complaining

Most large companies are inundated with complaints, some fanciful, some serious.
No matter how important your complaint is to you, it will just be added to a miserable tally overseen by a stressed out customer services worker,
so to be sure it makes the maximum impact you must know how to air your grievances effectively.

Follow the steps below and you are more likely to get your problems sorted.

1.Make sure your complaint is valid

If early termination charges prevent you from defecting to a cheaper mobile service provider, tough. You should have read the small print and realised you are committed to a specific contract. If, however, you have received poor or non-existent service you are justified in requesting early release.

2.Work out what you want to achieve

Do you want a refund, replacement, compensation or simply an apology. If it is the first you have to act quickly or you will lose your entitlement.
If you complain by telephone keep a note of whom you spoke to and when, and follow up the call with a letter reiterating your complaint and the telephone response.
Do the same if your complaint is sent by a company's own webmail so you have a record of it.
Consumer Direct publishes template letters covering various categories of complaint.

3.Always address a letter to a specific person

It is best to start with the customer services manager. (If you aim too high – for example, the chief executive –
you will suffer a delay while your letter is passed back down the ranks.) Find out the manager's name
and use their full title – Dr, Mr, Mrs, Ms etc.

4.Include your details

Remember to include your full name, address and any account, order or reference numbers, preferably near the top of the letter.
If a company cannot easily find you on their systems they may leave you in limbo.

5.Do your homework

Mug up on consumer law and quote the relevant regulation so you can show you know your rights. If a faulty cooker breaches the Sale of Goods Act 1979 say so.

6.Keep copies

Photocopy all relevant documents – such as receipts, bank statements, order forms and advertisements – and attach them to back up your complaint. If you are seeking redress for a leaking boiler or a new but soiled sofa, include a photo of the damage.

7.Check your spelling

Poorly written letters suggest you are as sloppy as the company you are complaining about.

8.Be polite and reasonable

Whether you are writing or telephoning, stay calm. Intemperate outpourings will give companies an excuse to refuse to deal with you.

9.Name names

If you mention the unhelpful attitude of, for example, a shop manager or customer services operative, try to include their names.

10.Don't apologise

Embarrassing as it may be for we British to complain, don't apologise.
The grievance is all yours and the company should be grateful to you for pointing it out.

11.Set a deadline

Give the company a deadline for sending a useful response – 14 days is fair.
Make a note of the date so you can increase the pressure if it is missed. If, after a reasonable deadline,
you have made no progress consult Consumer Direct on your rights and options.

12.Make sure your complaint arrives

Send all letters by recorded or special delivery so the firm cannot deny receiving them, and keep a log of whom you wrote or spoke to and when.

Suggested questions
1. What was the worst customer service you've ever got?
2. What was the best customer service you've ever got?
3. If you find a few cockroaches' legs in a dish, how would you complain?

Topic II
How to Handle Customer Complaints
http://www.customerservicepoint.com/han ... aints.html

When you are talking to a complaining customer, you could apply the LEARN-principle.

You may think that the customer is calling upon you to have his troubles resolved, but this is not the customers prime drive.
First and formost, disgruntled customers want to be heard. Applying the LEARN principle makes sure they are.

L.E.A.R.N. is an acronym, with 5 easy steps to follow:

LISTEN - Listen carefully to your customer. Don't interrupt or tell the customer to calm down, this will only ignite the anger.

EMPATHIZE - Feel the pain of the customer, and tell her that you can understand how they feel.

APOLOGIZE - Apologize to the customer, even if you feel that you have no part in the problem. Do not blame the customer,
but there is no need to take the blame yourself!

REACT - Decide what you will do to resolve the problem, and tell this to the customer.

NOW! - Do not delay. Take immediate action! The longer you wait, the harder it is to produce outstanding customer service. - WILLIAM H. DAVIDOW

Handle customer complaints with L E A R N, and your customers will feel appreciated!

Suggested questions
1. Do you think above " L E A R N" methood would work with angry customers? Any suggestions on what to do with complaints ?
2.Suppose you're a owner of a restaurant and a customer finds a few cockroaches' legs in a dish and complains,
how would you handle it?

Agenda
7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers

The new meeting place of Thursday:
摩斯漢堡明曜店 (地下室)
捷運資訊： 近台北捷運 - 板南線 - 忠孝敦化站 (步行約5分鐘)
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318/

2012 Royal English member's list

Note...If you are member and had paid membership fee before, but not on list, or you want to modify the information, please forward your message to the officer. or leave your message here.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Member%20List_2012.xls

Hello there fellow Royal English members!

I'm Princes and I'd say, it feels good to be part of your website.
I'm a Filipina and I can speak English.
I love English literature, and I love to cook!
I would like to share my thoughts and whatever things like maybe topics in English...could be like editorials and others here.
I would really appreciate it if you'll share your opinions and post your replies after my every blog or entry here.

I hope to be one of your friends here, so add me up and maybe, I could help in making this website fun and informative.
Thanks~~~

I'll post some topics for us to share.^_^
Make your opinions/thoughts be heard.

最自由的全英文會話聚會,前三次不用交會費, 帶著開放與熱情來學英文
Royal 終旨 : 創造全英文會話環境, 開口用英文

每週四台北市聚會地點
摩斯漢堡MOS BURGER(明曜店)
台北市大安區仁愛路四段151巷37號B1
捷運忠孝敦化站(步行約5分鐘)

http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318
低消$30


每週六台北市聚會地點
板橋市丹堤咖啡館
address: 捷運 新埔站第一出口 旁
time: PM 7:00-9:30


請帶文章來一起討論,歡迎自我介紹
加入會員終生會費NT$500.
有問題歡迎留言royalenglishclub@yahoo.com.tw

參加本club,三個月即可自由用英文交談,四個月即可用英文發表感想,一年可發表長篇大論

hi, guys, the articles i posted are excerpts, for your reference only. just let you know you are welcome to discuss whatever you want if it's in English, in case you are not interested in it.


10 types of men you should never date

Kate Moss supposedly put together a lust list of potential new guys to date. But is it time to say goodbye to bad boys?
Shane Watson

In case you missed it, Kate Moss has broken up with Jamie Hince, the guitarist in the Kills. This wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy were it not for a couple of significant details. One, Kate has been spotted crying (Kate doesn’t do public tears, so this suggests that she might actually want a relationship that lasts more than a fashion season). Two, she is alleged to have put together a "lust list" of potential new partners. I think you know what’s coming: the list reads like every music promoter’s dream and every mother’s nightmare. All of the names featured could be described as very bad boys (the most suitable is newly divorced Jackass star Johnny Knoxville), and every one of them would rather die than be caught smiling in a photograph.
We sympathise. Which of us hasn’t been carried away by the charms of a moody, thrill-seeking narcissist? But there comes a time when a woman has to put aside teenage habits, look around and think . . . Can I really do another Glastonbury, arm in arm with a spotty youth wearing three kinds of scarf and clutching a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, or could I do better? Fortunately, there is a formula for addressing the bad-boy rut. So, Kate, if you want to find the right man, just say no to the following..

source:
From The Sunday Times UK


questions:

1. there are hundreds of thousands of tips we can find on the internet, or some rumours from email, whatever it is relavent to. do you believe the tips from the internet? why or why not? if yes, how do you verify if it's true, useful or not?

2. do you have(or have ever read) any tip that you think is really useful? please share with us.

3. ok, let's get back to this article, do you have any clue about which kind of men/ women people should never date, because you have a gut feeling that the relationship with them would never work out?



80% of public support right to die with doctor's help
Rosemary Bennett, Social Affairs Correspondent

A majority of the public want the law changed to allow doctors to help terminally ill patients to die if they wish, according to a survey.
Four out of five people now support voluntary euthanasia, which would allow hundreds of thousands of patients with incurable and painful illnesses to die at a time of their choosing, the 2007 British Social Attitudes survey found.
It is illegal for a doctor actively to assist anyone who wants to die. Only in exceptional circumstances can a court rule that feeding should cease..

source:
From The Sunday Times UK


questions:

1. what's your opinion about euthanasia? do you agree everyone has the right to deside when they want to end their life or how to die? why?

2. some said the hardest thing is not to make the decision for ourselves but for our beloved ones', when it comes to the aforementioned questions. actually, there is a person said that he would help his beloved releave regardless of legal ramifications. how about you?

3. since it's just the start of a new year, do you have any expectation of the year(or that of Royal)?



Agenda

7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers

The meeting place of Thursday:

摩斯漢堡明曜店
捷運資訊： 近台北捷運 - 板南線 - 忠孝敦化站 (步行約5分鐘)
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318/ 低消 $30

可以先來觀摩三次，觀摩者亦須參與討論，終生會員費$500

The meeting of Jan. 7 , 2012 will be cancelled.

Outing program : Go to Keelung to eat fish
Date : Jan.7, 2012
Time : Take train from Panicho or Taipei Train Station to Keelung( See the below timetalbe). Then walk to the restaurant (around 15 min.)
to enjoy the dinner. While on the train, try to go to the carriage 1 or 2 to find each other.
Fee : Each table costs NT$ 2,500. The fee of each person depends on the numbers of each table.

If you intend to join us, please send your mail to amyshihlu@hotmail.com or phone William (# 0919319636) in advance. ( No reservation , no seats )

日期
Jan. 7, 2012 目的地 : 基隆 , 火車班車車次 : 新竹到基隆區間車 車次1214 , a) 板橋車站上車時間 : 14: 05 p.m. b) 台北車站上車,時間 : 14: 16 p.m. 到達基隆時間 14:49 p.m.

Club Financial Report 2011

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Account%20balance_2012.xls

Hi, everyone, I am a new user here and really want to improve my speaking ability.
I am stuck in TOEFL test now, really need to overcome this difficulty.
But I am not sure about how to enter the discussion.

Do I have to fill additional applications in order to inform anyone? Or I can go to the club without informing anyone?
Does this club not welcome a member who want to prepare for TOEFL test?
THX ^^

To Royal English Club Members:

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

We will hold a Year Open Party(春酒) on 2/11. Please kindly read below information. Thanks.

Date: 2/11(六)
Time: 17:30
Place: Le Ble’ Or 金色三麥 京站店 : 台北市大同區承德路一段一號 (京站4樓)

Party purpose: Wish our club will have a wonderful year in 2012 and thanks for our last officers.

Please contact with Caroline or me if you would like to attend this Party. Please contact with us before 2/4, we need to know how many people will attend and make reserve from restaurant.

My e-mail: Lijie357@gmail.com

This topic just following the trend of news .We don't talk about politics in here ...

Topic One
Is worthwhile to create the international watchdog group?
http://www.taiwanelections.org/2011/12/ ... tablished/

An international watchdog group was established Thursday to observe the Jan. 14 Taiwanese presidential and legislative elections, with the goal of ensuring a fair and peaceful process.
The International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan, a private group, has brought together 88 leading parliamentarians, academics and civic society representatives from Europe, Japan, the United States and other countries to closely monitor Taiwan's first combined legislative and presidential elections.

The group will watch out for the possibility that the party in power might abuse its administrative resources to gain an advantage, Peng said. adding that he believes there would be strong reactions in Taiwan and abroad if any foreign country was found to have a hand in the election proceedings.
Stephane Corcuff, a professor of political science at the University of Lyon in France, said on behalf of the international members of the committee that Taiwan's political credibility on the international stage depends heavily on the fairness of its elections.

"Only by being selected through truly fair elections can Taiwan's government have a legitimate voice abroad and be persuasive in the international arena," he added. The committee's launch ceremony featured a video in which a number of US congressmen spoke of the necessity of ensuring that Taiwan's elections are fair and free.

The committee will organize a program of election observation activities Jan. 11-16 that will invite international observers to visit presidential campaign offices and attend election rallies held by the three political parties in the elections — the ruling Kuomintang, the DPP and the People First Party.


Suggested Questions

1.Have the international watchdog group been created would improve taiwan well-known and benefit between international? How would be improved?
2.What do you think the foreign guy's opinions about taiwan's election culture? How difference are between foreign and taiwan's election culture?
3.Is possible to keep the taiwan's election fair after create the internationl watchdog group? If you had power to decide policy,would you have much better idea to keep election fair?


Topic Two
About election campaign
http://taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_conte ... id=1746563

Keeping voters informed during election campaigns

During an election campaign, broadcasters play an important role in informing Canadins about the issues, political parties and candidates involved. The CRTC ensures that broadcasters serve the Canadian public during elections, so that citizens can make informed choices on election day.

Equitable on-air time during a campaign

Broadcasters in Canada are required to cover elections, and they must give all candidates, parties and issues equitable treatment. Equitable doesn’t mean equal – it means that all candidates and parties get some air time to share their ideas on issues with the public. Equitable treatment applies to the following types of election coverage:

Paid campaign advertising time

If a broadcaster sells advertising time to one candidate or party, other candidates and parties must also be given the opportunity to buy commercial airtime from that same broadcaster.
But what if the demand for advertising time exceeds the airtime available? Broadcasters must divide up the available advertising time on an equitable basis.

Free campaign advertising time

A broadcaster can offer free time – which is programming time that’s free of charge – to a political party or candidate during an election campaign. The message that goes on the air is under the editorial control of the party or candidate.
If a broadcaster offers free time to a party or candidate, it must then offer equitable time to other parties and candidates.

Political debates during election campaigns

Debate programs don't have to include all parties or candidates. However, broadcasters need to ensure that, in general, they're informing their audiences on the positions of candidates and parties on the main issues in a reasonable manner.

Prime time advertising airtime during federal elections

Broadcasters must make 6.5 hours of prime programming time available for purchase by all parties. This gives most voters the chance to learn about the issues, parties and candidates. These hours must fall within the time period between the date the writ was dropped and the second day before the election date.

On-air personalities as candidates

On-air personalities are people who are seen or heard on radio, TV or community programming channels. Even if the person's voice is only heard as a commercial announcer, that person is still considered to be an on-air personality.
If an on-air personality becomes a candidate in a political election, his/her on-air duties must stop:
as soon as his/her candidacy is announced
OR
once the election is officially called, whichever is later

In these cases, on-air personalities who become candidates must go off the air. On-air personalities enjoy unique public exposure, and broadcasters aren't able to offer other candidates similar on-air opportunities.


Suggested Questions

1.Election campaign is properious in taiwan recently. And what are your opinions about taiwan's election campaign?
2.If you were one of the cadidates in the upcoming election, how would you run(競選) for yourself?
3.Is necessary to have election campaign during election or you just repel it? Why?


Agenda

7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers

The new meeting place of Thursday:
摩斯漢堡明曜店
捷運資訊： 近台北捷運 - 板南線 - 忠孝敦化站 (步行約5分鐘)
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318/ 低消 $30
可以先來觀摩三次，觀摩者亦須參與討論，終生會員費$500

Today we vote Caroline as our Royal New President and Jason as Royal New Vice President for 2012.

Dear President and vice president,

Although you can't receive the high pay as Singapore officer(casue being Royal officer is no pay), you have all of our support. And it is believed that you can learn a lot from this experience. Gogogo.....

Hello there fellow Royal English members!

I'm Princes and I'd say, it feels good to be part of your website.
I'm a Filipina and I can speak English.
I love English literature, and I love to cook!
I would like to share my thoughts and whatever things like maybe topics in English...could be like editorials and others here.
I would really appreciate it if you'll share your opinions and post your replies after my every blog or entry here.

I hope to be one of your friends here, so add me up and maybe, I could help in making this website fun and informative.
Thanks~~~

I'll post some topics for us to share.^_^
Make your opinions/thoughts be heard.

不論你新人還是老手，如果您有興趣當下任英文社社長或幹部，請call or email me:

joseph520520@msn.com

0912657275

當社長或幹部好處多多，增長人脈，訓練Leadership等等。也可以為社團帶領到一個新的視野，像是打倒X球村美日語，巨X美語等等。

This is a recycled article from Joanna.

Topic One
Is Grad School Worth It?
http://www.wisegeek.com/is-grad-school-worth-it.htm

Graduate school, or grad school, refers to any college degree that goes above a bachelor's degree. This includes a Master's degree, PhD, or Masters of Business Administration (MBA). A graduate degree can be a great way to get into a competitive, high-paying field. However, there are many reasons why grad school may not be worth the cost.

The first way to consider the worth of grad school is to consider the actual cost of the degree program. This can vary from school to school. A state school can be much cheaper to attend than an Ivy League school, and the education may be about the same. However, the more expensive education can lead to a better position based on the name and prestige of the college. In this situation, students are paying for the name and not the better education.

While considering the cost of grad school, students should also consider the time they are spending away from the workforce. In many fields, a student with a bachelor's degree can earn $40,000 United States Dollars (USD) out of college. The average Master's degree program lasts two years. Figuring $30,000 USD in college costs, plus the $80,000 total lost income, a two year degree may cost $110,000 USD. This can be made up over the course of a career, but is still a huge price tag on a two-year education.

There are several careers that can gain a lot from a graduate degree. Doctors, lawyers, and other similar professionals need the higher degree to practice in their fields. Some professions, though, do not benefit from the extra education. Graduate degrees for social service careers or liberal arts careers may not be advantageous. The number of positions in these fields that require a graduate degree is considerably less than the graduates looking for work, so many end up taking jobs that they could have gotten after graduating with their Bachelor's degree. In fact, many graduates may have a harder time getting a career, due to being overqualified.

Attending grad school seems like a great way to assure job security. The truth is that, especially in times of economic downturn, people with graduate degrees are just as likely to be laid off as other employees. They are also more likely to have their pay reduced to save on spending. Having a higher degree does not mean that someone will not lose their job. Also, many colleges with graduate degree programs are having difficulty finding job placements for their graduates, making it harder to get into higher paying jobs to begin with.

After all of these considerations, it may seem like graduate school is a waste of time and money. Not so, as long as you enjoy getting an education and have a plan for paying back student loans after you graduate. A graduate degree can open a lot of doors. Grad school is worth it if your career will benefit from it, or if you are committed to your education and enjoy learning.

Suggested Questions
1. Is grad school worth it?
2. Why are some companies paying more money for an employee with higher education? Is it reasonable?
3. Why do many people in Taiwan want to pursuit a Master, or even a Ph.D degree? Do you want to do it yourself?


Topic Two
What is Continuing Education?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-continu ... cation.htm

Continuing education refers to any type of post-secondary education, used to either obtain additional certifications, or as credits required to maintain a license. Almost anybody can take continuing education credits for personal or professional enrichment; fitness trainers, nurses, and safety instructors are examples of professionals who fall into the second category. Continuing education is aimed exclusively to adults who already possess a college or university degree.

Continuing education can take the form of workshops, seminars, home-study or online courses, conferences, or hands-on training. There is no specific format or length for a continuing education program: some may take a weekend, while others can span weeks or even months. In the case of continuing education for personal advancement only, students usually don't receive college credits, as the courses are not considered part of the standard educational system. A common characteristic to all continuing education programs is a registration process. Attending a conference or cultural event that is open to the general public does not give attendants any type of education credits, and cannot be considered formal training.

Mandatory continuing education is common in certain careers, such as dental and health professions. By law, certain individuals are required to keep up with modern developments, thus guaranteeing the best possible course of treatment for patients. Because of the highly competitive market, professionals who do not need require continuing education often decide to undertake it anyway as a means of improving their resume and their chances for advancement. Critics of continuing education programs argue that obtaining credit is becoming easier and easier, which means many professionals are attending workshops but not necessarily absorbing new information from them.

More and more companies are now paying for continuing education for their workers. These include both standard and on-site programs. While the first choice takes away from the free time of the worker, the second one allows employees to earn continuing education credits during work hours. People interested in enrolling on a continuing education program should first contact their university to see if special programs are available to graduates. Besides being a more convenient way to get started, a potential student can guarantee that the topics covered are in tune with their careers and interests.

Suggested Questions
1. Do you prefer to learn by yourself or join a program? Why?
2. Have you ever joined a continuing education program? What is the best program you’ve ever had?
3. Does your company offer any opportunities of continuing education? Do you need to pay for them? Are they productive or just a waste of time?

Agenda:

7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk among members and guests /taking individual orders/getting newcomers' information
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers/ announcements

Meeting place is at 摩斯漢堡明曜店

2/2 (Thurs) How to complain effectively (Host: Yoshiko)

TOPIC ONE
How to complain effectively

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/fe ... -procedure

From arming yourself with information to clarifying your aims, Anna Tims offers a checklist of tips and tricks for successful complaining

Most large companies are inundated with complaints, some fanciful, some serious.
No matter how important your complaint is to you, it will just be added to a miserable tally overseen by a stressed out customer services worker,
so to be sure it makes the maximum impact you must know how to air your grievances effectively.

Follow the steps below and you are more likely to get your problems sorted.

1.Make sure your complaint is valid

If early termination charges prevent you from defecting to a cheaper mobile service provider, tough. You should have read the small print and realised you are committed to a specific contract. If, however, you have received poor or non-existent service you are justified in requesting early release.

2.Work out what you want to achieve

Do you want a refund, replacement, compensation or simply an apology. If it is the first you have to act quickly or you will lose your entitlement.
If you complain by telephone keep a note of whom you spoke to and when, and follow up the call with a letter reiterating your complaint and the telephone response.
Do the same if your complaint is sent by a company's own webmail so you have a record of it.
Consumer Direct publishes template letters covering various categories of complaint.

3.Always address a letter to a specific person

It is best to start with the customer services manager. (If you aim too high – for example, the chief executive –
you will suffer a delay while your letter is passed back down the ranks.) Find out the manager's name
and use their full title – Dr, Mr, Mrs, Ms etc.

4.Include your details

Remember to include your full name, address and any account, order or reference numbers, preferably near the top of the letter.
If a company cannot easily find you on their systems they may leave you in limbo.

5.Do your homework

Mug up on consumer law and quote the relevant regulation so you can show you know your rights. If a faulty cooker breaches the Sale of Goods Act 1979 say so.

6.Keep copies

Photocopy all relevant documents – such as receipts, bank statements, order forms and advertisements – and attach them to back up your complaint. If you are seeking redress for a leaking boiler or a new but soiled sofa, include a photo of the damage.

7.Check your spelling

Poorly written letters suggest you are as sloppy as the company you are complaining about.

8.Be polite and reasonable

Whether you are writing or telephoning, stay calm. Intemperate outpourings will give companies an excuse to refuse to deal with you.

9.Name names

If you mention the unhelpful attitude of, for example, a shop manager or customer services operative, try to include their names.

10.Don't apologise

Embarrassing as it may be for we British to complain, don't apologise.
The grievance is all yours and the company should be grateful to you for pointing it out.

11.Set a deadline

Give the company a deadline for sending a useful response – 14 days is fair.
Make a note of the date so you can increase the pressure if it is missed. If, after a reasonable deadline,
you have made no progress consult Consumer Direct on your rights and options.

12.Make sure your complaint arrives

Send all letters by recorded or special delivery so the firm cannot deny receiving them, and keep a log of whom you wrote or spoke to and when.

Suggested questions
1. What was the worst customer service you've ever got?
2. What was the best customer service you've ever got?
3. If you find a few cockroaches' legs in a dish, how would you complain?

Topic II
How to Handle Customer Complaints
http://www.customerservicepoint.com/han ... aints.html

When you are talking to a complaining customer, you could apply the LEARN-principle.

You may think that the customer is calling upon you to have his troubles resolved, but this is not the customers prime drive.
First and formost, disgruntled customers want to be heard. Applying the LEARN principle makes sure they are.

L.E.A.R.N. is an acronym, with 5 easy steps to follow:

LISTEN - Listen carefully to your customer. Don't interrupt or tell the customer to calm down, this will only ignite the anger.

EMPATHIZE - Feel the pain of the customer, and tell her that you can understand how they feel.

APOLOGIZE - Apologize to the customer, even if you feel that you have no part in the problem. Do not blame the customer,
but there is no need to take the blame yourself!

REACT - Decide what you will do to resolve the problem, and tell this to the customer.

NOW! - Do not delay. Take immediate action! The longer you wait, the harder it is to produce outstanding customer service. - WILLIAM H. DAVIDOW

Handle customer complaints with L E A R N, and your customers will feel appreciated!

Suggested questions
1. Do you think above " L E A R N" methood would work with angry customers? Any suggestions on what to do with complaints ?
2.Suppose you're a owner of a restaurant and a customer finds a few cockroaches' legs in a dish and complains,
how would you handle it?

Agenda
7:00-7:25 Greetings and free talk
7:25-7:30 Opening remarks/ Newcomers self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:30 ~ 8:05pm discussion session (35 mins)
8:05 ~ 8:20pm summarization (15 mins)
8:20 ~ 8:25pm Regrouping & instruction giving
(Session II)
8:25 ~ 8:35pm Taking a 10 minutes break (Intermission)
8:35 ~ 9:10pm discussion session (35 mins)
9:10 ~9:25pm summarization (15 mins)
9:25 ~ 9:30pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers

The new meeting place of Thursday:
摩斯漢堡明曜店 (地下室)
捷運資訊： 近台北捷運 - 板南線 - 忠孝敦化站 (步行約5分鐘)
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318/

因為還是有人會跑到舊的地方去，到最後再打電話來說聚會找不到地點。這個message 會永遠至頂:

也請大家不要把外面的飲料帶到聚會地點，店長雖沒說什麼，但是我覺得還是盡量避免。

每週四台北市聚會地點:

摩斯漢堡MOS BURGER(明曜店)
台北市大安區仁愛路四段151巷37號B1
捷運忠孝敦化站(步行約5分鐘)

http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/32318
低消$30
time: PM 7:00-9:30

每週六台北市聚會地點
阿密麗多
(Mister Donut隔壁) 的地下一樓板橋市文化路一段 407 號 b1(MRT 新埔站 1 號出口)
低消80
time: PM 7:00-9:30

Let us welcome Lily Chang become Royal official member!!

And pls refer to the update of Member list as following

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Member%20List_2012.xls

For your information :

The meeting of Jan. 28 will be cancelled for Chinese Lunar New Year Holidays.


Orioles' Chen expects big things in upcoming MLB season, January 17, 2012, By Joseph Yeh, The China Post

Taiwanese left-hander Chen Wei-yin (陳偉殷) expressed confidence for the upcoming challenges in the next Major League Baseball (MLB) season in the United States during a press conference to announce his official signing with the Baltimore Orioles yesterday in Taipei. Chen, who was the first Taiwanese player to play for Japanese professional baseball before signing with a U.S. Major League team, spoke at the press conference wearing the Orioles No. 16 uniform and cap, and accompanied by his agent and the MLB team's representative Ray Poitevint. “I am very happy to be given the opportunity to take on the challenges in the MLB, which has been my longtime dream since my high school days,” Chen said during a press conference in Taipei. Chen noted that the reason he chose No. 16 was because it was his old number back in high school. Another reason for making the choice was that the number was also worn by Asian baseball legend Hideo Nomo, the first Japanese major leaguer to make a big impact in the world's highest level baseball league, he added. Nomo's successful debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 is widely seen as having helped pave the way for the subsequent “wave” of Japanese and Asian players entering the MLB. Looking forward to the upcoming season, the 26-year-old lefty said he is ready, but also admitted that he will need to make some adjustments, as he needs to familiarize himself with the new rhythm of pitching every five days in the MLB, instead of every six or seven days in Japan. Orioles Eager for Chen's 'special traits'

Poitevint, executive director of Orioles' International Baseball, told yesterday's press conference that his team decided to sign Chen not only because of his great delivery and strong arm. Chen has some unique qualities such as “mental toughness” and “emotional control,” as well as a “drive and desire to overcome any adversity “ — traits that are bound to make him a great hurler. Poitevint said he hopes Chen will be able to join the Orioles' starting rotation as one of the five starters soon. Aside from being a great pitcher, he also expected that “the handsome and well-built” Chen, who seems like a movie star to him, could further boost the box-office of his team by attracting more Asian and Taiwanese fans. Chen and the Orioles last week agreed to a three-year contract worth US$11,338,000. The local southpaw gets a US$250,000 signing bonus and salaries of US$3.072 million this year, US$3.572 million in 2013 and US$4.072 million in 2014. The Orioles have a US$4.75 million option for 2015 with a $372,000 buyout. Chen has played for several years under the banner of the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) since his debut in 2005. During his time with the NPB, Chen went 36-30 with a 2.59 ERA in 650 2/3 innings for the Dragons, striking out 520 batters while walking only 159.

Box fresh , By Catherine Shu / Staff Reporter, TAIPEI TIMES

Taiwanese companies are creating increasingly elaborate and creative packaging for the gift sets traditionally given during major holidays.
This Lunar New Year, many boxes filled with tea leaves, pastries and other gourmet food items will exchange hands. But the gift givers don’t just want to please their recipients’ palates. They also want to make a statement. Gift sets are traditionally given during major holidays. While most come in simple red cardboard boxes, consumers have become increasingly demanding about packaging and designers are working hard to give them more options. Selecting a gift is now viewed as “a form of personal expression,” says James Chen (陳進東), the head of Magic Creative (麥傑創意團隊), which was one of 10 Taiwanese companies to win Red Dot Design Awards last year for food packaging designs, twice as many as in 2010.Consumers can chose from boxes that can be turned into festive paper lanterns, unfolded into jewelry boxes or converted into snack trays. Many gift sets are decorated with motifs and colors inspired by Chinese and Taiwanese culture. “When people select a gift set, they want to represent their own taste,” says Chen, who founded Magic Creative in 1993. “Even if they are giving something small, like cakes and candy, they still pay attention to the packaging. ”Green in Hand (掌生穀粒) founder Cheng Yun-yi (程昀儀) says package design is a “very important form of communication.” “From the beginning, we focused on how it can represent our culture and encourage consumers to embrace something different,” says Cheng, who worked in advertising before starting Green in Hand in 2006.Green in Hand’s specialty is rice grown in Taiwan using sustainable farming methods and selected for the quality of its shape, texture and taste. The staple food is not usually given as a gift, however, and the company had to figure out how to compete with specialty food items. “Our plan was to turn Taiwanese farmers’ products into Taiwanese farmers’ works of art,” says Cheng.

The company’s first packaging featured sheets printed with Chinese calligraphy wrapped around bags made from brown kraft paper. Other packages have been made from lushly patterned Taiwan floral cloth or gleaming satin brocade with dragons woven in gold metallic thread. Its focus on packaging has helped the company thrive: last year it sold about 8.2 tonnes of rice (most of Green in Hand’s packages contain 300g to 1.5kg of the grain.)Like Green in Hand, Orientea (茶籽堂) also relies on packaging to market a traditional product. The company, which has sold dish soap and laundry detergent made with tea since 1992, recently launched a line of tea seed oils. Pressed from the seeds of camellia oleifera (苦茶) flowers, tea seed oil was once frequently used in Taiwan for cooking and skin care, but is now considered old-fashioned. Orientea hopes to convince younger customers to buy the oil for personal use or gift giving. “A lot of younger people don’t even know what tea seed oil is and how it can be used,” says Orientea head Wood Chua (趙文豪). “It’s important to emphasize a cultural connection. We want shoppers to remember ‘my mother or grandmother used this oil’ and be curious about its benefits. ”The oil’s packaging is meant to convey a sense of warmth and hominess. Bottles are wrapped in paper printed with sketches of farmers who grow the company’s supply of camellias. “Our customers want to see their own ideals reflected in the packaging,” says Chao. “They purchase our oil because they want to know more about Taiwanese culture or get to know the farmers who produced it and where the tea seeds were grown. ”Magic Creative’s gift boxes for Jiu Zhen Nan (舊振南), a 120-year-old Kaohsiung-based traditional pastry maker, also emphasize a strong cultural connection.

Curio boxes collected by Chinese emperors inspired the company’s award-winning design, which was created for the 2010 Mid-Autumn Festival. It unfolds to reveal eight compartments in rich colors and can be reused as storage for small items like jewelry. “Every year there are always a lot of moon cake boxes discarded,” said Chen. “Our boxes can be used over and over again, which emphasizes the value of the brand. ”Like Jiu Zhen Nan’s gift boxes, Bonho’s (寶號) packaging for its Taiwan Centennial Blessing Tea (百年賜喜茶禮) set was also designed to have multiple uses. The four boxes included in the gift set are covered with different laser-cut designs based on traditional Chinese wooden window screens and turn into paper lanterns when small lights are switched on. Bags of tea leaves and square ceramic cups with auspicious Chinese characters molded onto their bottom surfaces are nestled in each box. When they are filled with tea, the condensation that collects on each cup leaves an impression on table surfaces like a seal dipped in red ink. Bonho’s gift set has placed in seven design competitions, including the Red Dot Design Awards, Good Design Award and iF Packaging Design Award. The company plans to expand its offerings to pastries and coffee beans grown in Taiwan. “Our goal is to offer consumers a very clear visual concept,” says Bonho managing director Kristy Wen Ho (何文).“Everything is very carefully planned,” Ho adds. “We want our products to represent the best of Taiwan.”

Let us welcome Andrew Wang become Royal official member!!

And pls refer to the update of Member list

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Member%20List_2012.xls

要怎麼訓練自己不怕冷:

I collect some information from internet....

Please share those information with me.


我很怕冷~一點小冷就受不了~~~
怎樣可以訓練自己不怕冷??????????

有人建議Recommendation



Strategy 1 “我自己是習慣裸睡

讓自己習慣溫度

我不管天氣都讓自己裸睡包含在房間活動

我房間溫度最低會到16度

我自己是這樣訓練出來的 “
Strategy 2: 你可以試著做做看有氧舞蹈喔~它會讓身體出汗,讓你全身暖和喔~至於動作部分也別擔心,你可以自己在家裡客廳,手臂甩一甩,全身垂直跳動,或者是踏踏步,手臂呈打拳的姿勢,盡量讓手腳一起用,會更有效果喔~~建議你每天花個15~20分鐘做,動作隨你創造,無限制!保證可以讓身體不怕冷喔

Strategy 3: 一年四季都洗冷水澡

保證你以後都不怕冷 我家隔壁的王伯伯就如此

昨天那種天氣他還穿一件T恤而已


Strategy 4 :
常看到外國人天氣很冷照樣穿短袖的衣服 可是台灣人有時候才15.6度 連大衣

或是羽毛外套阿 衛生褲都穿出來了 有點誇張!! 不過想知道 外國人是天生就這樣不怕冷嗎 還是也有怕冷的外國人阿 還有他們是怎麼訓練自己的呢??

(這裡講的外國人不包括住在赤道附近國家的人)
可以...

在下雪的地方住慣了,我現在回台灣,在寒流來的天也是一件短袖而已

偶爾應觀眾要求穿上長袖,就會一直冒汗

而同樣也是在下雪的地方住慣了的我的朋友,回台灣長住兩年後,現在的冬天就一定要穿上厚厚的外套了,他說:'已經習慣了啊'
你可以試試看



Which one can work well?

2012 Royal English member's list

Note...If you are member and had paid membership fee before, but not on list, or you want to modify the information, please forward your message to the officer. or leave your message here.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42117853/Member%20List_2012.xls