Hi everyone,

Thank you for your responses. Good that today we have two responses. That makes the explanation richer and more meaningful.

Before going to the correction and explanation, let me address an English issue.

Brother Phan Anh Tai , an admin of VNBIZ, has just posted on VNBIZ a recent news article (below) about Intel’s job tests in Vietnam last year. Basically, Intel had 2,000 candidates, “the best and brightest from five of Vietnam’s top universities.” And only 40 made the final cut in English.

40 out of 2,000 of the best and the brightest! We have a national problem, brothers and sisters.

Now, you know why I spend time so much time on English on Dot Chuoi Non. With this Daily English Challenge program, I am working my way slowly to identify the weaknesses in our English education and performance, and find ways to strengthen them.

So, when you work on these daily challenges here, you not only refine your own English but also work with me in figuring out problems in, and solutions for, our current English-teaching system and methodology. Thanks a million for walking with me on this road, guys and gals.

Here is the first part of the Intel news article:

Vietnam: Foreign companies struggle to find skilled professionals
May 17, 2009

By John Ruwitch

Hanoi – About a year ago, 2 000 of the best and brightest from five of Vietnam’s top universities were invited to take a lengthy multiple-choice exam for a shot at a job at Intel.

The giant computer chip maker had broken ground on its biggest factory in Vietnam’s commercial hub, Ho Chi Minh City, and the $1 billion (R8.5bn at current exchange rate) assembly and test facility, which expected to start operations this year, needed good engineers.

It was more than just another big project. The Intel investment would put Vietnam on the global technology map and help a rising star in the manufacturing world advance up the value chain.

But the results from Intel’s test cast a spotlight on one of Vietnam’s biggest barriers to achieving that dream: its inadequate and inflexible higher education system.

A fraction of the students passed the written exam, covering physics, electrical engineering, maths and other topics. Then they were given an English test, and just 40 made the final cut.

.

Now, let’s go to Loan’s writing.

Coming to DakLak province , BMT city. We have many to visit, there are beauiful and famous waterfall such as: Draysap,Trinh nu, Gia long, Thuy Tien,..
There are many old pagoda,emple, and communal house…
And now, let we go to visit khai doan pagoda first.
Khai Doan pagoda(Khai Doan tu) is in the heart of BMT city an area of 3500 square meters
The name of the pagoda was formed by both the first two words of Emperor Khai Dinh name’s and Doan Huy sultana’s
It was built in 1951 and the sanctum was built 1953, the lady whose great merit of developing the pagoda was Doan Huy sultana.
It was built by clever constructors of Hue ancient capital, so its achitecture consisted of Hue garden house style.
The main gate is on Quang Trung street, especially, there cupris statue of Shikia Mouni in the heart and the cupris bell is put on the left of the sanctum.
Khai Doan pagoda is an attracted tourist place along side a historical , cultural vestige of Dak Lak province generally and BMT particularly.
I hope that, this place will be interesting and ideal destination of yours.
Looking forwards to seeing your soon!

.

Here is my edited version.

Welcome to Daklak Province, Buon Ma Thuot City. We have many places to visit. There are famous beautiful waterfalls, such as Draysap, Trinh Nu, and Thuy Tien. There are many old pagoda, temples and communal houses.

Anh now, let’s go to visit Khai Doan Pagoda first. Khai Doan Pagoda (Khải Đoan Tự) is in the heart of BMT, in an area of 3,500 square meters. The name of the pagoda was formed by the first two words in the names of Emperor Khai Dinh and his wife, Queen Doan Huy. It was built in 1951 and the sanctum was built in 1953. The lady whose great service brought the pagoda to life was Queen Doan Huy. Skillful artisans from the ancient capital of Hue did the construction, so its architecture has the Hue garden house style.

The main gate is on Quang Trung street. In the sanctum, the black-copper statue of Sakya Muni stands in the middle and a black-copper bell is on the left.

Khai Doan Pagoda is a great tourist attraction, among other historical and cultural landmarks of Daklak generally and BMT particularly.

I hope that this place would be an interesting and ideal destination for you.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

.

Let’s cover a number of points.

1. Be careful with your commas and periods. Each independent clause should be ended with a period (to become a full sentence itself). Do not connect two independent clauses by a comma. If you want to connect two (or more) independent clauses use “and” or similar words.

2. There is too much use of passive voice here. Try to stay away from passive voice as much as you can.

3. “Sultana” is a female member of a sultan family. A sultan is a Muslim leader. The wife of a king is a queen (even if in Vietnamese we say Hoang Thai Hau Doan Huy).

4. Daklak Province, Buon Ma Thuot City, Khai Doan Pagoda: Province, City and Pagoda must be capitalized, because they are part of the names when written this way. And we don’t put the word “the” before a name.

But, we write: the province of Daklak, the city of Buon Ma Thuot, the padoga of Khai Doan.

5. No one in the world, except perhaps a handful of metallurgists, knows what “cupric” is. Just use “black copper.”

6. “Sakya Muni” (or Shakya Muni) is the current word for Thích Ca Mâu Ni.

.

Now, let’s go to Đức Minh’s writing. My first impression is that this is a very good piece of writing–clear and easy to understand. Superb! It has too few errors to talk about. Only a couple of very minor mistakes. No fun to talk about a good piece of writing. 😦

Here is my edited version. The corrected parts are in boldface and there are only a couple of little ones, so it is hard to see!
.

Now, we’re on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai – one of the main streets of the downtown area. It’s long and covered with many trees.

Look! Do you see the place on the right which has a lot of big trees? It’s Tao Dan Park. My friends and I sometimes go for a walk around this park to enjoy the nature. Tao Dan Park is a good shelter for many kinds of birds and insects. In the morning, many people often come here to do exercises. But in the evening, it becomes an interesting and romantic place for loving couples.

Well, going ahead, you will see the small and quiet street on the right. It’s called Huyen Tran Cong Chua. Huyen Tran is the name of a princess who lived during the Tran dynasty in the history of Vietnam. As you see, there are many sports shops along this road. Those shops sell many kinds of sports clothes and sports equipment.

Now, we’re at the crossroads. And I am making a right turn onto Nam Ky Khoi Nghia. Going ahead on this street, you will see an icon of Vietnamese independence. Guess what?

It’s over there, on the right, the big building with many Vietnamese flags. Vietnamese people call it “Dinh Thong Nhat”. In English, it’s called Reunification Palace. Dinh Thong Nhat is formerly known as Dinh Doc Lap or Independence Palace. It was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu as the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Many historical events happened here, and the biggest one happened on April 30th, 1975. That was the moment when North Vietnamese Army entered Dinh Doc Lap, which ended victoriously Ho Chi Minh City’s campaign and the campaign for full liberation of the whole South Vietnam. Nowadays, Vietnamese people see it as a historical place.

In front of Dinh Doc Lap is Le Duan Street. On this street, you will also see Han Thuyen Park, Duc Ba Church, Diamond Plaza, Sai Gon Tower, some beautiful hotels and many interesting places. I think this area is the heart of the downtown.

But, first of all, would you like to enjoy some delicious coffee at Han Thuyen Park? Then, we will discover many interesting places that I have just told you. How’s that idea?

.

All right, let’s talk about a couple of words.

* “The street is long and covered with many trees”: Nothing is wrong with this, grammatically. However, people may have the image of a street covered with broken trees after a storm. It may be better written as: “The street is long and has tall trees on both sides,” or “The street is long and covered with a canopy of green foliage from the two rows of huge trees on both sides.” (But I don’t think we have this on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai though) 🙂

* “Terminate” may mean “to kill off”, like “I will terminate you if you don’t stop saying that” 🙂 Have you watched the movie “Terminator” by Arnold Schwarzenegger? It is better to use “end” here.
.

GRAMMAR HINT

* Generally, a countable noun must have THE, A, AN, or a NUMBER in front of it, or an S if it is plural,

Examples:

Let’s go into this furniture store and pick up a table. Ok, how about two tables instead?

People are crazy at times!

I like these chairs but don’t like the table.

• Generally, an uncountable noun goes by itself, or sometimes has THE in front.
Examples”

Life is wonderful.

The life of a teacher is tough. (Note: Now “life” goes with “a teacher” and it becomes definite, so we need the definite article THE).

You are as sweet as sugar. (If you keep saying this to a girl, you have a great chance of winning her heart, even if she is sư tử Hà Đông) :-).
.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

You have a pen pal in Australia. His name is Nick. And he has just sent you this email: “Dear XXX, this Vietnamese friend of mine has just given me the statue of a little boy on the running horse, and he told me the name of the little boy is THU DONG THIN VUONG or something like that. Who is he? Looks like a three-year old kid riding a war horse. Can you tell me about him?”

OK, guys. Have fun!

And have a great day!

Hoanh

Hi everyone,

Thanks, Loan, for the good piece. Your writing is very good, as you can see the minor corrections when comparing it with my version below.

I will have Loan’s writing here. And then my version, basically just correcting Loan’s mistakes, which are minor in general.

Loan’s version

Hi everyone !

I’m very glad when I tell you about my on Sunday

On Sunday, I often get up late, at 7 o’clock. I brush my teeths, wash my face .
After I have breakfast with my family.my mother is very good cooker. Following, I help my mother do the homeworks,go to the market and repair to have lunch.
After have lunch with my family, I take a nap about 1h.
In the afternoon, I usually go out in order to shopping, eating and drink with my friends.
At 5 o’clock, I go for a walk around in the park.
After have dinner. I usually go to the cinema with my sister and brother. Sometime, I go out with my family.at that time , I feel comfortable .the film is finished, I return at home.i go to bed at half past ten.
Have a wonderful Sunday!

.

My version

Hi everyone,

I’m glad to tell you about my Sundays.

On Sundays, I often get up late, at 7 o’clock. I brush my teeth and wash my face. After that, I have breakfast with my family. My mother is a very good cook. Then, I help my mother do chores, go to the market with her, and then help her prepare the lunch.

After having lunch with my family, I take a nap for about an hour.

In the afternoon, I usually go out shopping, eating, and having some soft drinks with my friends. At 5 o’clock, I go for a walk around in the park.

After dinner, I usually go to the cinema with my sister and brother. Sometimes, I go out with my family. I feel very comfortable going out with the entire family. When the film is finished, I return home. I go to bed at half past ten.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

OK, let me explain some words.

• Please look at the commas and periods carefully.

• Paragraphs: Breaking the writing out into paragraphs will make it easier to read.

• “A cooker” is a cooking machine, like an electric rice cooker. A cook is a person who does the cooking. A chef is a cook.

* “Homework” is for what you have to do at home for school. Works around the house are “house chores,” or “household chores,” or simply “chores.”

• “I usually go out to shop, eat, and drink” can be written as “I usually go out shopping, eating, and drinking.”

• But “drink” or “drinking” usually means drinking alcohol to Westerners. So it is better just to say “I go out to shop and eat,” or “I go out shopping, eating, and having some soft drinks.”

• If we say “I help mother go to the market” it will sound like the mother can’t walk.

• “After I have dinner” can be lightened as “After having dinner” or simply “After dinner.”

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

If you have not had this experience already, you may soon—a foreign tourist you have just met becomes your friend, and you want to show him the town.

So you take him on your motorcycle (or both of you take a taxi), going through several main streets of the town, to show him interesting places.

Of course, you have to explain to him a little about each place.

So, can you write down what you tell him as a tour guide?

Example:

“I am making a right turn onto Tran Hung Dao. This is the main street of downtown. This old building here, on our left, used to be a cinema, but it has been empty for several years. I heard that some investor is going to turn it into a hotel soon.

And that Buddhist temple over there, it is called Chua Buu Hoang and is the oldest temple in our city. It was built in the 17 century and has beautiful old statues inside.

And this bridge is called Uyen Nhu brige. It is the name of the daughter of the man who built the bridge in the 17th century. He was a very high ranking government official.”

All right, everyone. That is an example of you playing tour guide.

Could you do that? Just imagine you have a visiting foreign friend. What will you tell him on a tour of the city?

Have a great day!

Hoanh

Hi everyone,

Thanks, nucuoithienthan, for the response. You’re my hero, little brother. I couldn’t do that when I was at your age. You are doing very well.

I have edited nucuoithienthan’s writing as below, just correcting the mistakes and making it sound right. No fancy work. If you compare the two pieces, the answer will be clear to you. No need for any explanation. However, if anyone has a question, please feel free to ask.

There are five people in my family–my father, my mother, my brother, my little sister and me. One of us is most pampered by my parents. It is my little sister Ngoc Han, because she is the only girl in my family. Now she is six years old. I am eight years older. she is really a very beautiful girl with ocean blue eyes, a straight nose, and long shimmering black hair. My mother likes to fondle her hair.

Ngoc Han always smiles. Everyone loves her. She likes to read and listen to fairy tales, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Prince Frog. My mother often tells her a fairy tale before she sleeps.

Ngoc Han likes to eat sweets, so she has only one upper incisor left. She has a passion for piano. She began playing piano when she was 3 years old. Now she can play more than 100 pieces of music. She also likes singing and sings very well. My father said that when Ngoc Han reaches 15, he would send her to a music college to learn. He always hopes his little and tender Ngoc Han will be a famous singer. I do too. Everyone in my family does.

GRAMMAR HINT: How do know you which noun is countable and which is uncountable?

Answer: Look it up in the dictionary 🙂

Ex: Look up the word “time” at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time.

“Time” has many different meanings; each meaning is a “different word” (for our current purposes). Generally, the meaning starts with “a” or “one” in the dictionary is a countable noun; the meaning starts with “the” is an uncountable noun.

So, depending on what meaning you want to use for the word “time”, it can be either countable or uncountable.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

OK, you guys. What do you usually do on Sundays? Sleeping until 5pm? Swimming? Visiting with friends? Going to the coffee shop? Working with the computer? On what?

Please tell us what you usually do on Sundays.

Come on, guys! Shoot!

Have a great day, everyone. 🙂

Hoanh

Hi everyone,

Thank you for participating very well in yesterday’s translation. Everyone is very good. It was hard for me to pick one over the others. It hurts my heart. I may have a heart attack eventually if I keep doing this.

At the end I decided to pick two–chị Kiêm Yến’s and Đức Minh’s writings. Viên Hy’s is very good, good enough for posting, but I don’t want to annoy the readers by posting too many. And JEa’s is also right there. JEa should be a little tighter in language when translating, though.

I did only a couple of very minor changes in Kiêm Yến’s and Đức Minh’s translations before posting. Hope you have already seen today. Thanks, Yến and Đức Minh. And, of course, Viên Hy and jEa too.

Nothing much to discuss on the translation exercise. You guys can just compare the original and the translations, and you will see all the points.

“Secondary performance”: I translate it as “Làm việc kiểu hạng hai.” Everyone misunderstood this term. But it probably is my fault. Had I written “second-class performance” or “second-rank performance”, it might have been clearer.

“At the individual level”: This is similar to what we hear often in economics–“at the micro level”–which means to look at things from the point of view of an average person, and not from the (higher) point of view of leader who looks at groups of people. Translating it as “góc độ cá nhân” in this context is good.

For Yen’s question: “Today we are in a much more exciting time.” “A time” here means “(một) thời đại” or “(một) thời kỳ.” In Vietnamese language, we don’t think about “một” here, but in English, the “a” is required–it is a countable noun in this meaning.

TODAY’s CHALLENGE

OK, every one, here it is, a couple of easy challenges for today for you to choose (or to do all, if you’d like to :-)). Write in whatever way you want, with you own words and your own level of writing. Make it easy on yourself.

1. Tell me about your most favorite female singer.

or

2. Do you have a niece, nephew, little brother or little sister? If yes, please write about him/her. I would love to hear.

That’s it. It seems you guys tend to shy away from writing English. But, that is the KEY. And it is much easier than you think. After several exercises, you will find it easy. Just do it. See the guy below?

Have a great day!

Hoanh 🙂

Hi everyone,

Wish everyone a good working week. We had some interesting talk over the weekend with Vien Hy, Be Rom, Loan, Quang on the subject of English challenge. Great discussion!

But…

You guys did not have an answer for the easy Saturday challenge! Come on, guys! Don’t let me down. I know you can do better than that. I probably know about your ability more than you do. Have faith in yourself. And, shoot!

Anyway, I have an interesting challenge today. Yesterday I ran into an article I had written three years ago in English, entitled “The Task of this Generation.” I was planning to translate it into Vietnamese to use as a Trà Đàm article for Đọt Chuối Non, but then I thought: “Why translate it? Why not use it as an English challenge (so I don’t have to do the translation myself)?” 🙂

So, here it is, the challenge for today. Below is my (long) English article to be translated into Vietnamese. I will select the best translation among your responses, edit it a little if necessary, and then post it to ĐCN as a Trà Đàm article (as I have done that with danh ngon translations by Wasabi and Vallikie and chị Kiêm Yến).

Because this is a long article, you can do that in more than one day. Each day, just post the part you finish.

This article may be harder than the previous articles to translate. You may have to work harder.

But, whoever finds this article hard to translate, please keep in mind that you should still work on any of last week’s challenges. Keep working and post them when you’re done. Don’t slow down. Don’t stop.

Practice makes perfect! Go! Go! Go!

Have a great day!

Hoanh
_______________

The Task of this Generation

Some months ago, sister Huyen mentioned in this forum something like “Our father’s generation was so exciting. They walked Truong Son to fight for the country. Today is so boring. We wish we could have a time like our father’s time.” Then many months later, I read Dang Thuy Tran Diaries. As my heart was put on fire by Dang Thuy Tram’s words, I remembered Huyen’s message. Following a generation that lived with death everyday probably makes us feel overshadowed. Tough! And it is even tougher when we look at the individual level. Hard for us to feel motivated if we can’t find great meaning in our life.

But let me tell you this. If we look carefully, today we are in a much more exciting time than our father’s generation, and our task is equall, if not more important and more difficult than the task of our fathers. Today, the first time in our history we have peace, advanced technology, advanced knowledge, and global connection to move our country toward greatness. This has never before happened in our history.

For thousands of years, we were just a little country in a little unknown corner of the world with China (and later France) as the center of our world. Today, we have independence, we have peace, we have the ability to sit in any corner of the land and gather information and knowledge from anywhere in the world. And we have a network of Vietnamese spreading all over the world to move things at the global level.

Our nation has never had that chance. This is the chance for us to get out of our own shadow of a poor and heroic nation to become a powerful and prominent nation. In other words, we are in a war against poverty and backwardness and a race toward greatness. How exciting would that be!

Today, we don’t have to look at China or France as the center of the world. We look at ourselves as the potential center of the world. Why? Because in the old days the world was too big for us to fathom. Today, we are in the little global village and it is not such a big ambition for any villager to dream of becoming a village chief some day.

We live in an era abound with great opportunities. Great opportunities bring with them great challenges. And the greatest challenge of all is our Self. Peaceful life brings with it inertia and the false sense of security. It is much easier to be on guard when we have to sleep with death each night. But when things seem to be so peaceful, that is when our inertia creeps in and lulls us into a long sleep.

In war, we can’t be corrupted, because that would mean death. In peace, corruption may become a part of our life if we don’t guard against it. In war, secondary performance means death. In peace, both the best and the worst survive. In war, we know our mistake the minute or the next day. In peace, today’s mistake may show its consequences 10 years later. So today we are easily blindsided by the false sense of security and by mistake’s slow speed of presenting its own consequences.

If we see all this–the first time in our history we have great opportunities and great challenges to become a great nation in the community of nations–then we will realize that we are in a very exciting time, with a struggle that is equally if not more important than our fathers’ fighting for independence.

That is the task of this generation. Are we up to it? Are we keeping the flame of idealism burning in our heart? Are we looking forward with great vision? Are we keeping ourselves clean from corruption? Are we standing up straight to defend the truth and justice? Are we opening our mind to the most difficult issues of the nation? Are we doing our small part to bring our nation to greatness? As our fathers have told themselves “We fight to victory or to death,” are we telling ourselves, “We fight to victory until dead”?

I am thankful that I am allowed to live during this most exciting time of our nation. I hope that we of this generation will be faithful to ourselves to take on the great task of completing our father’s job–Keeping ourselves clean and patriotic, and turning our country into a great nation of the world.

Are we up to the task?

Have a great day!

Hoanh

5/14/2006

Hi everyone,

Thanks, Chế Lan Hương, for the posting. You melt my heart. I lived in Nha Trang as a child and, of all cities of Vietnam, Nha Trang still captures my fondest memories.

My family was in Thành, right outside Cửa Tây. If you go through Thành, from Nha Trang, into Cửa Đông, out of Cửa Tây, the fírst home you see on the right side of the road was the first home we lived when our family moved from Pleiku to Khánh Hòa.

I attended primary school in Hà Dừa, then 6th and 7th grades in what is now L‎ý Tự Trọng High School in Nha Trang. It was called Võ Tánh then. While at Võ Tánh, I stayed with a friend of my parents, on the ground of Department of Health, facing Tân Quang Theater. Wonder if the theater is still there. I can tell you about truckloads of memories I have of that town. Oh, nostalgia!

Anyway, Lan Hương’s writing is superb. What can I say! Just one or two minor typos. You guys are so amazing. I am glad I have run into all of you. It is a great pleasure to discover so many talented friends.

Well, let me just be picky and pick some very small points in Lan Huong’s writing to discuss:

“Nha Trang is a center of politics, economy, culture, science and technology, and tourism of Khanh Hoa Province.” We say “a center” when we mean that it is only one center among many other similar centers. But Nha Trang is not just a center of Khanh Hoa. It is THE center of Khanh Hoa—the biggest, the best. So, we should say, “Nha Trang is the center of politics…”

“The difficult beaches differentiates…” Obviously, this is a typo. Should be “differentiate.”

“It is an ideal place for organizing a lot of major national and international events such as Sea festival, Miss Viet Nam, Miss Universe, Miss World, etc.”

. No need for “a lot of”.
. “Hold” sounds much better than “organize”. Why? Because “hold” has only one syllable and people use it everyday.

So, let’s change it to: “It is an ideal place to hold major national and international events, such as Sea Festival, Miss Vietnam, Miss Universe, Miss World, etc.”

Please note:
The comma after “events” and before “such as”.
“Sea Festival”: Probably both words should be capitalized as the proper name of the festival.

Let’s hope that other friends will chip in and share more about other cities. I would love to hear about YOUR cities. This is more than English practice. I’d like to know more about you, how you feel about yourselves and people and things around you. We want to know each other more. Please share. Don’t be so shy.

TODAY’s CHALLENGE

For today’s challenge, please write about ONE THING in your city that you like most.

I know it’s hard to pick one when you like so many. 🙂 But let’s stay with one, to have some focus.

You can incorporate this new challenge into yesterday’s challenge about your city.

Have fun. And, have a wonderful weekend. 🙂

Hoanh

Hi everyone,

Thank you for being so enthusiastic! You are the best! You guys are much better than I expected. I was nowhere close to where you are now when I was at your age. You guys have just given me a tremendous boost.

Let’s get more friends involved in this English challenge program. We will do our country a big favor by promoting English.

In addition to the challenges that I have in this Daily English challenge section, don’t forget other things, such as the wonderful lyrics of the songs that chị Huỳnh Huệ posts. They can be used as translation exercises. Or other ĐCN postings that you would like to translate. Be free. We don’t really have rules here, other than the rule against offensive postings.

Today I have just placed 3 links below the “Thử thách Anh ngữ” link (in the right column of our homepage). They are for Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus, Tự Điển Ngoại Ngữ tiếng Việt, and Grammar exercises. These are to aid you in your study.

For yesterday exercise, I will pick out just some points to discuss.

“There are many trees and grasses there.” Grass is a non-countable noun. Change to something like “There are trees and there is grass.” Very simple, but rhythmic.

“My friend living in Đà Nẵng.” Not wrong grammatically, but unclear. It can be changed to something like “My friend from Da Nang who has arrived here three days ago on a visit.”

“My grand mother was fell down” should be changed to “my grandmother fell down.”

“Fortunately , the doctor said that she had been fine , but she must have been rest in bed for one months” should be changed to “Fortunately, the doctor said [that] she would be fine but she must be on bed rest for a month.”

“Not problem” should be changed to “No problem.”

“Not importance” should be changed to “not important.”

“My life looks like monotonous”:

To look + adjective: to describe the look. Ex: She looks so gorgeous with that ao dai. Or, the house looks much bigger in the sunset. Or, you look great today. Or, my life looks monotonous. But in the context here, “My life may look monotonous” sounds better.

To look like + noun : to compare. Ex: He looks like a monkey. She looks like a difficult princess.

That’s it. Let’s use these challenges to get to know each other more and more.

Now, here is the happy challenge for today:

Please tell me about the city where you live. I would like to know more about your city.

You tell me about your city and I will tell you about my city (Washington DC). Oh, if you have a couple of interesting pictures of your city, you can send them to me and I will place them in your post. I am at tdhoanh@gmail.com.

Have a great day!

Hoanh

Chào các bạn,

Trong tiến trình làm việc trong mục thử thách Anh ngữ này, mình vẫn trong giai đoạn khám phá và nghiên cứu vấn đề, để từ từ tìm ra các phương cách giúp các bạn phát triển Anh ngữ một cách hiệu quả nhất.

Vấn đề Anh ngữ to lớn hơn là vấn đề cá nhân và ý thích. Từ bây giờ cho đến vài thập niện nữa, đất nước chúng ta tiến nhanh đến đâu là do “dân Việt”, như là một toàn thể, phát triển Anh ngữ đến đâu. Các chính sách phát triển kinh tế khác đều được hỗ trợ hoặc kéo ngược lại do vận tốc phát triển của Anh ngữ. Các bạn nhìn Singapore, South Korea, India, Japan thì sẽ thấy. Càng khá Anh ngữ chúng ta càng khá trong “khu chợ quốc tế.”

Vì vậy, chúng ta cần biết rất rõ là một trong những cách giúp mình, giúp gia đình, và giúp tổ quốc hiệu quả nhất là khá Anh ngữ. Trust me. Mình đã nói chuyện với nhiều lãnh đạo kinh tế chính trị tại nhiều quốc gia.

Vòng lại chuyện của chúng ta, mình đã nhận thấy rằng cách học Anh ngữ của chúng ta quá khó khăn vì chúng ta học Anh ngữ như người Việt học tiếng Anh, thay vì như người Mỹ/Anh học tiếng Anh. Tức là ta học tiếng Anh qua tiếng Việt, chứ không như trẻ em học tiếng mẹ đẻ, học trực tiếp chứ không qua một ngôn ngữ nào. Học trực tiếp, không thông qua ngôn ngữ nào, làm việc học dễ dàng hơn, thấm nhanh hơn, và thấm được “luận lý nội tại” (inner logic) của ngôn ngữ mình học.

Vì vậy bắt đầu từ hôm nay chúng ta sẽ chuyển hướng từ từ, nghiên cứu cách học trực tiếp tiếng Anh, ít thông qua tíếng Việt. Mình nói là “ít” vì biết mỗi bạn đã thủ sẵn it nhất là một quyển tự điển rồi. 🙂 Chúng ta sẽ cùng nghiên cứu cách học với nhau. Các bạn cứ cho mình ý kiến về cách học khi thấy có điều gì đó cần suy nghĩ. Và chị Huệ, các ĐCN admins, và các bạn đọc cao minh khác, như anh Minh Đoan, đang đọc mục này, xin cứ tự nhiên góp ý với mình. Càng nhiều đầu óc tụ lại, ta càng khá. Đây là vấn đề lớn của đất nước.

Dĩ nhiên là mình sẽ nghiên cứu cách nào làm cho việc nghiên cứu của chúng ta vừa vui vừa dễ và vừa đủ khó một tí để thành thử thách. Từ từ chúng ta sẽ khám phá ra nhiều phương cách hay.

Vài điểm kỹ thuật cho WordPress system: Post “Thử thách Anh Ngữ hàng ngày” sẽ đổi tên thành Daily English Challenge. “Chuyên mục” (Category) thì vẫn giữ là “Thử thách Anh Ngữ”, và tag (thẻ) thì sẽ đổi từ “Nghiên cứu Anh ngữ” thành “English challenge.”

Sau đây là challenge rất dễ và vui ngày hôm nay:

Today is a beautiful day, even if you have cried a little for some reason 🙂 Would you like to share your day with all our brothers and sisters? We would love to hear from you.

Please write a short piece to tell everyone what you have done and/or what you plan to do today.

It depends on the time you write the response. Say, if you write at 12 pm, then write about what you have done since early morning till noon, and what you plan to do from noon till the time you go to bed.

Write whatever you want to write, how long or short as you like, in whatever style you like.

The best way to write is to do it in short and simple sentences, like this message that I am writing.

We just want to hear about your day. Life is beautiful when we can share our day with other brothers and sisters.

Have a great day!

Hoanh

Chào các bạn,

Thử thách Anh ngữ hôm này là phần II của bài Wise Word mà chi Huệ đã gửi phần đầu hôm thứ hai.

Phần này cách hành văn khác với phần trước. Phần trước, có nhiều chuỗi từ, mỗi chuỗi là nhiều từ nối vói nhau bằng đấu phẩy, tạo ra nhịp điệu rất hay.

Phần này chuyển sang lối viết lý luận, với những chuổi lý luận bắt đầu với “if”. Và nhiều câu hỏi hùng biện (rhetorical questions), tức là loại câu hỏi được dùng để nhấn mạnh một điểm, chứ không phải là hỏi để tìm câu trả lời.

Bài này là một bài viết rất hay, của chuyên gia chuyên về viết lách, cho nên các bạn nên đọc tới đọc lui để thấm ngôn ngữ.

Về bài viết cover letter, thì các bạn nên cố làm nhé. Vì nó ảnh hưởng nhiều đến sự nghiệp mình sau nầy. Nếu khó một tí thì cứ cố lên. No pain, no gain.

Chúc các bạn một ngày vui.

Mến,

Hoành
__________________

Mời các bạn dịch tiếp phần II của bài Wise Word với độ dài độ 230 từ như hôm trước

Do you realize how much power your words have to make a difference in the lives of others? Let’s think about this for a moment. Suppose you encouraged two people today, motivating each of them to encourage two others tomorrow. If the process continues everyday, 128 people will have benefited by the end of the week. If it continues for two weeks, there will be 16,384 beneficiaries. What if it lasted for three weeks? There would be more than TWO MILLION people benefiting from kind acts that you initiated! But let’s be conservative and assume that at the end of three weeks “only” one-half of one percent of that number would benefit. If so, there would “merely” be 10,000 people better off because of your two acts of kindness. Imagine if you were kind to two different people every day! Can you begin to appreciate the enormous power you have to do good?

Of course, the reverse is also true. That is, each of our unkind acts spreads and multiplies just as quickly. Is there any wonder there is so much suffering? Isn’t it obvious the world is in desperate need of our acts of kindness? Can we afford to let a single day pass without a kind word? Let’s begin to make a difference today. Although we can improve the world in many ways with the gift of speech, for clarity’s sake, let’s focus on one issue: ENCOURAGEMENT.

Chào các bạn,

Hôm nay chúng ta sẽ làm một bài tập quan trọng đến công ăn việc làm của các bạn. Hôm nay các bạn sẽ viết một cover letter, đến một công ty nước ngoài tại Việt Nam để tìm việc. Cover letter là lá thơ bạn gửi để chuyển resume (hay CV) đến công ty. (Và đừng nói: “Vậy hả? Từ trước đến nay em chỉ gởi CV, chớ có biết cover letter là cái gì đâu. 🙂 ).

Cover letter rất quan trọng, vì nó là bước đầu tiên quyết định bạn có việc làm hay không. Và nó phải ngắn, không bao giờ quá một trang (kể cả ngày tháng, địa chỉ người nhận, everything, không quá một trang giấy). Cho nên không có nhiều chữ để viết. Nhưng làm thế nào để lá thơ của mình đứng trội lên, trong số 500 lá thơ Giám Đốc Nhân Viên của công ty nhận được, đó mới là vấn đề, và nó đòi hỏi suy nghĩ và sáng tạo.

Hồi trước, mình phải tuyển luật sư cho chính phủ, vì có nhiều thư tìm việc quá, việc đầu tiên của toán tuyển người là đọc rất nhanh các cover letters. Cái nào không hay thì dẹp qua, cái nào hay mới để đó, rồi sẽ đọc tiếp resume (CV). Mình có thể nói, trong vòng loại đầu, cover letter quyết định 50%, résumé quyết định 50%.

Từ từ chúng ta sẽ nghiên cứu thêm về cover letter cũng như cách viết một lá thơ business. Nhiều chuyện để nói, dài ngày. Hôm nay ta chỉ chú trọng đến việc viết chữ cho hay thôi.

Sau đây là một quảng cáo của một công ty nước ngoài tại Việt Nam tên là “World Travel” trên Vietnam Economic Times.

“World Travel is an international company with 80 offices in 30 countries around the world. Our Vietnam office is looking for an entry-level accountant. Applicant should have a bachelor degree in accounting, good academic grades, high people skills, good work ethics, good computer skills. English fluency is a must. Prior experience may be helpful but not required. We will train you. If you want a supportive environment to utilize all your talents to take on the world, we are the right place for you. We will help you grow with us. Please send your resume to Ms. Jane Cassini, Personnel Director, 500 Le Duan, HCMC. World Travel is an equal opportunity employer.”

Bây giờ bạn sẽ đóng vai một sinh viên mới ra trường, hoặc sắp sửa ra trường, với bằng cử nhân kế toán. Bạn viết một cover letter đến Jane Cassini để chuyển resume. (Bài tập này không có resume, chỉ cover letter thôi). Và ta cũng chưa cần các mục hình thức về tên họ địa chỉ. Bắt đầu bằng dòng chữ “Dear ….”

Nếu bạn chưa biết cover letter viết thế nào, Google “cover letter” là bạn sẽ có khối thông tin. Mình khuyên là các bạn đều nên viết bài này, dù bạn có post bài hay không. Đây là kỹ năng sẽ giúp ta cả đời. Đừng copy lá thơ khác dùng lại, kể cả lá thơ cũ của bạn. Mỗi công ty, mỗi công việc, cần một lá thơ. Đọc quảng cáo của công ty kỹ càng, nghiên cứu về công ty (cứ tưởng tượng ra cho bài tập này), và viết một lá thơ mà người đọc mới đọc được một hàng là muốn đọc hết, và đọc hết rồi là muốn gặp người viết (cả trước khi kịp đọc resume).

Cố gắng nhé !!

Chúc các bạn một ngày vui.

Mến,

Hoành

Chào các bạn,

Hôm nay chúng ta đặt link thường trực đến VOA Special English, là chương trình thông tin bằng tiếng Anh đọc chậm và dùng các từ đơn giản (trong khoảng 1,500 từ chính) cùa đài Voice of America (ở Washington DC). Những bài này vừa có chữ viết vừa đọc, nên rất tiện cho các bạn học tiếng Anh.

Để tiện nghi cho các bạn, Link này đặt nằm ngay dưới link “Thử thách Anh ngữ”.

Cho thử thách hôm nay, chúng ta có một đoạn văn chị Huỳnh Huệ gửi đến để dịch sang Anh ngữ. Đây là một đọan văn xuôi, tuy nhiên nó có nhịp điệu rất hay và, cũng như đa số bài văn hay, nó có ngôn ngữ rất đơn giản. Vậy khi dịch các bạn nên cố gắng đạt được hai điều đó, bên cạnh ý nghĩa.

Về bài thử thách hôm thứ bảy, các bạn vẫn cứ nên tiếp tục, rồi mình sẽ xem lại và phân tích thêm, nếu cần.

Mấy hôm nay phấn hoa ở Washington có rất nhiều trong không khí, làm mình bị dị ứng dữ quá, nên không hoạt động được như bình thường. Hơi chậm. Nhưng các bạn cứ tấn công các thử thách này, và mình sẽ thêm ý kiến trong những điểm quan trọng.

Chúc các bạn một tuần vui.

Mến,

Hoành
__________

Để các bạn cảm nhận sức mạnh của ngôn từ  từ   chính  các bản dịch của các bạn, hôm nay xin các bạnthử  sức với  một đoạn từ  bài viết rất hay về chính chủ đề này của tác giả Chuck Gallozzi có tựa đề Wise Words.  Phần mở đầu  này độ dài  230 từ.

“The difference between a mean word and a kind word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug

The Roman Statesman, Cato The Elder (BC 234-149), taught “Speech is the gift of all, but the thought of few.” When was the last time you thought about the power of speech? When speaking, are you always aware that we use speech to inspire, strike fear, dissuade, persuade, console, hurt, disappoint, encourage, educate, censure, exchange ideas, vent feelings, pontificate, argue, thank, threaten, ridicule, criticize, cheer, sadden, curse, brag, comfort, insult, provoke, incite, or apologize.? Before you speak, do you remind yourself our words can express understanding, hate, love, praise, appreciation, resentment, kindness, respect, rudeness, or wisdom? How do you apply the gift of speech? Do you use it to tell jokes, spread rumors, wrench tears, recite poetry, or instill hope?

Have you ever been hurt by the remarks of others? Many have. That’s why Pontianus, who was crowned Pope on July 21, 230 and reigned until 235, wrote in his Second Epistle, “The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.” That’s a strong commentary about the pain words can cause. But words don’t have to hurt. They can soothe, uplift, and give support.”

Chào các bạn,

Trong cuối tuần, mình sẽ từ từ phân tích thử thách hôm qua và các câu trả lời của các bạn. Cám ơn các bạn đã hăng hái vui vẻ tham dự trò chơi không tốn tiền này 🙂

Vì cuối tuần nhiều người có thể có thời gian hơn một tí, cho nên mình có 3 mục hôm nay để các bạn giải quyết từ từ.

1. Sáu câu tục ngữ Việt để dịch sang tiếng Anh.

2. Sáu câu danh ngôn Anh để dịch sang tiếng Việt.

3. Một bài viết của bình lụân gia Fareed Zakaria trên Newseek về cuộc chiến chống khủng bố ở Pakistan. Fareed Zakaria là bình luận gia có uy tín lớn trên thế giới. Bài này hơi dài, các bạn không cần phải dịch hết. Mình post cả bài ở đây để bạn nào thích đọc cả bài thì đọc, vì đây là một bình luận thời sự hay.

Chúc các bạn cuối tuần vui vẻ. Và nhiều hứng thú tấn công các thử thách này.

Mến,

Hoành
_________

Sáu câu tục ngữ Việt để dịch sang Anh ngữ

1. Lười biếng chẳng ai thiết,
Siêng việc ai cũng chào mời.

2. Quý kẻ xốc vác,
Chuộng kẻ ham làm.

3. Kết gạo hết mọi thứ;
Có lúa, có mọi đường.

4. Ngồi dưng ăn hoang,
Mỏ vàng cũng cạn;
Học thầy học bạn,
Vô vạn phong lưu

5. Bạc đeo đầy mình,
Không bằng thông minh sáng suốt.

6. Bố mẹ dạy không bằng thầy dạy;
Thầy dạy không bằng biết suy.

(Vũ ngọc Phan: Tục ngữ, Ca dao, Dân ca Việt Nam)
.

Sáu câu danh ngôn Anh ngữ để dich sang Việt ngữ

1. “There is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.”

– Napoleon Hill

2. “Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not remain so if you only perceive an ideal and strive to reach it. You cannot travel within and stand still without.”

– James Allen

3. “Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake…”

– Marie Beyon Ray

4. “Somehow I can’t believe that there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret – curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.”

– Walt Disney

5. The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one.

-Russell Lynes

6. “Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
– Mahatma Gandhi

.

Change We Can’t Believe In
Pakistan’s military has lost every conventional war. It’s far better at guerrilla wars.

By: Fareed Zakaria

Finally, we are told, the Pakistani military has gotten serious about the threat that militants pose to its country. The Army is now fighting back for real, sending troops to dislodge the jihadists who had spread out of the Swat Valley. We hear this from Pakistani commanders, of course, but also from civilian leaders as well as from U.S. officials, including the secretary of defense, Robert Gates. In an interview with me for CNN, Gates said, “I think the movement of the Taliban so close to Islamabad was a real wake-up call for them.”

Maybe. It was only a few years ago that Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani diplomat who recently became ambassador to Washington, wrote a brilliant book arguing that the Pakistani government—despite public and private claims to the contrary—continued “to make a distinction between ‘terrorists’ … and ‘freedom fighters’ (the officially preferred label … for Kashmiri militants).” He added: “The Musharraf government also remains tolerant of remnants of Afghanistan’s Taliban regime, hoping to use them in resuscitating Pakistan’s influence in Afghanistan.” The Pakistani military’s world view—that it is surrounded by dangers and needs to be active in destabilizing its neighbors— remains central to Pakistan’s basic strategy.

While President Musharraf broke with the overt and large-scale support that the military provides to the militant groups, and there have continued to be some moves against some jihadists, there is no evidence of a campaign to rid Pakistan of these groups. The leaders of the Afghan Taliban, headed up by Mullah Mohammed Omar, still work actively out of Quetta. The Army has never launched serious campaigns against the main Taliban-allied groups led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar or Jalaluddin Haqqani, both of whose networks are active in Pakistan. The group responsible for the Mumbai attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba, has evaded any punishment, morphing in name and form but still operating in plain sight in Lahore. Even now, after allowing the Taliban to get within 60 miles of the capital, the Pakistani military has deployed only a few thousand troops to confront them, leaving the bulk of its million-man Army in the east, presumably in case India suddenly invades. And when the Army does attack the Taliban, as it did a couple of years ago in the same Swat Valley, it bombs, declares victory and withdraws—and the jihadists return.

The rise of Islamic militants in Pakistan is not, Ambassador Haqqani writes, “the inadvertent outcome of some governments.” It is “rooted in history and [is] a consistent policy of the Pakistani state.” The author describes how, from its early years, the Pakistani military developed “a strategic commitment to jihadi ideology.” It used Islam to mobilize the country and Army in every conflict with India. A textbook case was the 1965 war, when Pakistan’s state-controlled media “generated a frenzy of jihad,” complete with stories of heroic suicide missions, martyrdom and divine help.

Pakistan was created as an Islamic state, with a population that shared little geographically, ethnically and linguistically. The country’s rulers have maintained power using religion as an ideology. And then the region’s geopolitics—the tensions with India and the battle against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan—helped create deep links between the Pakistani military and Islamic militant groups. The Pakistani military has lost the wars it has fought via traditional means. But running guerrilla operations—against the Soviets, the Indians and the Afghans—has proved an extremely cost-effective way to keep its neighbors off balance.

Has this all changed? The ambassador’s book, “Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military,” marshals strong evidence that, at least until recently, the Pakistani military made the pretense of arresting militants in order to get funds from Washington. But it never shut down the networks. “From the point of view of Pakistan’s Islamists and their backers in the ISI [Pakistan’s military intelligence],” Haqqani writes, “jihad is on hold but not yet over. Pakistan still has an unfinished agenda in Afghanistan and Kashmir.”

The book concludes by telling how Pakistan’s military has used the threat from these militant groups to maintain power, delegitimize the civilian government and—most crucial of all—keep aid flowing from the United States. And the book’s author has now joined in this great game. Last week Ambassador Haqqani wrote an op-ed claiming that Pakistan was fighting these militant groups vigorously. The only problem, he explained, was that Washington was reluctant to provide the weapons, training and funds Pakistan needs. He has become a character out of the pages of his own book.

In truth, Haqqani is a smart and honorable man with an impossible job. In its first months, Pakistan’s democratic government has been overruled by the generals every time it has asserted its authority. If Washington hopes to change Pakistan’s world view, it will have to take a much tougher line with the military while supporting the country’s civilian leaders, whose vision of Pakistan’s national interests is broader and less paranoid, and envisions more cooperation with its neighbors. The $15 billion Biden-Lugar bill, designed to help develop Pakistan’s civil society, is a big step in that direction.

Perhaps, as Haqqani’s op-ed implies, the strategy of the past six decades has suddenly changed. But I recall what Warren Buffett once called the four most dangerous words in investing: “This time it’s different.”

© 2009

Chào các bạn,

Hôm nay chúng ta có 2 thử thách.

1. 10 câu danh ngôn chị Huỳnh Huệ gửi.

Khi dịch danh ngôn các bạn để ý các điều này. Danh ngôn chỉ có vài chữ, cho nên mỗi chữ đều quý. Để ý nghĩa lý của từng chữ rất kỹ. Cách hành văn trong danh ngôn thường cũng rất tế nhị. Tác giả đã hành văn cách đó, mà không phải như cách bình thường, đương nhiên là có lý do. Đa số danh ngôn chẳng có ý gì mới, chỉ có cách nói là hay. Cho nên khi dịch, bạn phải tìm cách “nói” cho hay.

Mình sẽ dùng các câu dịch hay của các bạn, để post trong mục danh ngôn hàng ngày của Đọt Chuối Non.

2. Thử thách số 2 là một câu trích vê Tình Yêu mà mình thích nhất. Nó nằm trong Thánh Kinh. Mình đưa ra đây vì các lý do sau đây:

* Để ngoại giao giỏi với Tây Phương, các bạn không thể không biết Thánh kinh. Đó cũng như ngoại giao với dân Việt mà không biết Lạc Long Quân và Âu Cơ.

* Đây là câu quote vể tình yêu nổi tiếng nhất ở trời Tây. Không đám cưới nào mà không đọc. Đó là chưa kể nhiều dịp khác, như Valentines, Mother’s Day, v.v…

* Thánh Kinh là quyển sách được tôn trọng nhất ở Tây Phương. Mỗi từ mỗi chữ đều được tôn trọng hết sức. Cho nên khi dịch mình phải dịch từng chữ rất kỹ. Dịch Thánh kinh đòi hỏi kỹ luật cao nhất trên tất cả mọi loại dịch (cũng như dịch Bát Nhã Tâm Kinh của mình vậy). Không có chỗ cho mình thêm thắt.

* Bản mình dùng là International Version, bản Anh ngữ hiện đại hay nhất. Anh ngữ bản này rất chuẩn, rất hiện đại, và rất International, tức là không quá Mỹ, không quá Anh, không quá Úc…

* Dĩ nhiên la đoạn này đã được dịch ra trong các Thánh Kinh tiếng Việt, nhưng các vị ấy dịch kiểu không còn một tí nào tình tứ của bản chính. Các bạn đừng theo đường dịch đó.

Sau đây là hai bài thử thách. Chúc các bạn một ngày vui.

Mến,

Hoành
.

I. Ten quotes for you to face today’s challenge

1. Fall seven times, stand up eight
The work praises the man.
Do not kick against the pricks.
– Aeschylus

2. We live by encouragement and die without it – slowly, sadly, angrily.
– Celeste Holm

3. The glow of inspiration warms us; it is a holy rapture.
– Publius Ovidius Naso Ovid

4. You beat your Pate, and fancy Wit will come: Knock as you please, there’s no body at home.
– Alexander Pope

5. Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.
– Alice Mackenzie Swaim

6. In the long run men hit only what they aim at.
– Henry David Thoreau

7. The miracle is this — the more we share, the more we have.
– Leonard Nimoy

8. Winning doesn’t always mean being first, winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.
– Bonnie Blair

9. Ships in harbor are safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.
– John Shedd

10. There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream
– Unknown author

.

1 Corinthian 13 (Đây là Chương 13 của quyển Corinthian 1, trong Bible. Nhớ trong đầu để làm ngoại giao).

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

Chào các bạn,

Hôm nay chúng ta có 2 thử thách. Môt là dịch một lời nhạc của Trịnh Công Sơn sang tiếng Anh, do chi Huỳnh Huệ gửi. Và một bản tin kinh tế của Asociated Press (trên Newsweek) để dịch sang tiếng Việt.

1. Về bản dich TCS, vì TCS viết rất vắn tắt và hiểu ngầm nhiều từ, mình nghĩ là các bạn phải biến mỗi dòng của TCS thành một câu văn xuôi tiếng Việt rõ ràng thì mới có thể dịch được, nếu không thì không ai hiểu được câu tiếng Anh.

(Về thơ văn, có một số thơ văn chỉ hay trong ngôn ngữ của nó, như đa số thơ Nguyễn Bính, dịch ra tiếng Anh nó không còn nghe hay nữa. Nhiều nét đẹp trong lời ca của TCS cũng như thế, rất Việt Nam, nhưng không international. Tuy nhiên các bạn cố thử xem trong đoạn này mình có thể mang cái đẹp vượt biên giới quốc gia không).

2. Bản tin Newweek thì có đây vì mình nghĩ là các bạn nên tiếp tục làm quen với tiêu chuẩn Anh ngữ quốc tế, và các từ trong nhiều lãnh vực học thuật khác nhau.

Hai bài thử thách đặt ở cuối bài này. Bây giờ để mình giải thích một tí về bài thơ Grammar hôm qua. Mình chỉ nói về qui luật grammar, các bạn tự thấy qui luật sống.

• Live in active voice, not the passive.

Active voice là cách nói chủ động (thể chủ động) như là I love her.

Passive voice là cách nói bị động như she is loved (by my best friend :-))

Qui luật văn pham là chỉ dùng active voice để viết vì vừa mạnh mẽ, vừa rõ ràng. Không nên dùng passive voice, trừ khi mình bị bắt buộc vì lý do nào đó. Ví dụ: I love her thì rất rõ. Nhưng she is loved thì rất mù mờ. Who loves her? Cứ khắc khoải với câu hỏi đó trong đầu mỗi đêm có phải là đau khổ không? 🙂

Active voice cũng có ảnh hưởng rât mạnh về tâm lý. Các bạn đọc các bài tư duy tích cực của mình đều thấy mình đã lập đi lập lại điều này rất nhiều lần.

• Live in the indicative mood rather than subjective.

Indicative mood, hay declarative mood, hay common mood, hay fact mood, and plain mood, là cách nói bình thường nhất để diễn tả một sự kiện, như “it’s windy” hay “she is riding a bicycle.” Dịch ra là “cách diễn tả” là đúng nhất, mặc dù người ta hay dùng từ “chỉ định” hay một từ nào đó.

Đối với người viết chuyên nghiệp (professional writer), thì indicative mood còn có nghĩa là diễn tả một cách khách quan (objective), không chủ quan (subjective), có nghĩa là sự vật thế nào thì diễn tả thế ấy đừng mang cái chủ quan của mình vào.

Ví dụ: She pedaled the bike, very slowly, back bent, head lowered, looking down straight at the front wheel, her long hair blown slightly by the evening wind.

Đây là diễn tả objectively, mục đích là để người đọc thấy đến hình ảnh, và từ đó người đọc có thể đoán được là cô ấy đang buồn hay suy tư dữ lắm.

Nó mạnh mẽ hơn là “She pedaled the bike sadly.”

Tại sao? Tại vì khi mình mang tư tưởng chủ quan (sadly) của mình vào, nhiều độc giả sẽ bực mình (trong tiềm thức) vì “ông này nhiều ý kiến độc đoán quá.”

• Live in the present tense facing the duty at hand.

Thì hiện tại mạnh mẽ và năng động nhất. Nhiều nhà văn viết chuyện dĩ vãng nhưng chỉ dùng thì hiện tại. Họ có thể bắt đầu một chương bằng “Paris 1945”, sau đó là vô thì hiện tại từ đầu đến cuối chương.

Về cách sống thì đó là cách sống “Ở đây,lúc này” mà chị Kiêm Yến mới comment trong bài viết của mình hôm qua. Đây là cách sống chánh niệm của nhà Phật, là và hiên sinh (cách tốt, không phải hiện sinh ma túy) trong triết lý Tây Phương.

• Live in the first person.

Đây là một qui luật viết. Nếu viết về điều gì chính mình thấy, chính mình nghe, chính mình trải nghiệm, thì có sức mạnh và đáng tin hơn là kể lại chuyện của người khác.

• Live in singular number.

Đây là qui luật đừng nói về số đông theo kiểu vơ đũa cả nắm. Mình mới nói đến vấn đề này trong mấy thử thách English vừa qua, khi nói về chữ some. Nói về một phần, đừng bao giờ nói tất cả. Ví dụ Students today are reckless. Sinh viên ngày nay rất bất cẩn. Đương nhiên sẽ có bạn phản đối, “Ê, tui sinh viên nhưng tui có bất cẩn đâu.” Nếu nói some students are reckless thì không ai phàn nàn được.

Và nếu nói về một người nào đó mà mình biết rõ, thì bài viết của mình còn mạnh mẽ hơn rất nhiều.

Mình đề nghị là các bạn cần nhắc các qui luật ngữ pháp này trong bài dịch, để vừa nhớ ngữ pháp, vừa nhớ cách sống.

Và sau đây là hai thử thách hôm nay.

Chúc các bạn một ngày vui. 🙂

Hoành
.

1. Hôm nay xin mời các bạn dịch một phần bài hát của nhạc sĩ Trịnh Công Sơn, cố nhạc sĩ được yêu mến của nhiều, rất nhiều người Việt Nam ( và cả nước ngoài nữa )

Đảm bảo các bạn chỉ đọc 4 khổ nhạc ( như thơ ) lên đã thấy yêu đời .

Người gửi source này mong các bạn tiếp tục chọn trong nhiều niềm vui mỗi ngày, hãy chọn niềm vui đến với Đọt Chuối Non và tư duy tích cực yêu đời nhé.

Mỗi ngày tôi chọn một niềm vui
Chọn những bông hoa và những nụ cười
Tôi nhặt gió trời mời em giữ lấy
Để mắt em cười tựa lá bay

Mỗi ngày tôi chọn đường mình đi
Đường đến anh em đường đến bạn bè
Tôi đợi em về bàn chân quen quá
Thảm lá me vàng lại bước qua

Và như thế tôi sống vui từng ngày
Và như thế tôi đến trong cuộc đời
Đã yêu cuộc đời này bằng trái tim của tôi

Mỗi ngày tôi chọn một niềm vui
Cùng với anh em tìm đến mọi người
Tôi chọn nơi này cùng nhau ca hát
Để thấy tiếng cười rộn rã bay
.

2. Xin các bạn dich cả đầu đề nhé.

China’s premier says stimulus working, Chinese economy is better than expected
By GILLIAN WONG Associated Press Writer

(BEIJING) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Saturday the country’s stimulus package is working and the economy is “better than expected,” but he cautioned that complete recovery will take much more time because the global financial crisis continues to spread.

Wen, also China’s top economic official, pledged to pull the country out of its slump by expanding domestic demand, building major infrastructure projects, finding jobs for college students and improving the social safety net.

Wen spoke at the Boao Forum, an annual gathering of government and business leaders on the tropical southern island province of Hainan. The theme of this year’s conference, which organizers said drew 800 executives, was “Asia: Managing Beyond the Crisis.”

The premier, the country’s No. 3 ranking leader, said he was confident China could overcome the crisis but warned that global economic recovery will be a “long and torturous process.”

“We should not lose sight of the fact that the international financial crisis is still spreading, the basic trend of world economic recession is not reversed,” he said, adding that problems in the world’s financial system were still unsolved.

But Wen said China was in relatively good shape because the country has sufficient capital, a solid banking industry, rich labor resources that will help it overcome the crisis.

END

Chào các bạn,

Cám ơn các bạn đã hưởng ứng nhiệt liệt việc dịch bài thơ Dreams hôm qua. Bài thơ đó rất giản dị, không có nhiều điều phải mang qua bản dịch–chỉ có hai hình ảnh đơn giản và một ít nhịp điệu. Như các bạn đã thấy, thử thách trong một bài như vậy thường là làm thế nào để bài dịch của mình có nhịp điệu hay mà không phải thêm thắt gì mấy. Nếu thêm thắt vài từ vô thưởng vô phạt để lấy nhịp điệu thì chẳng ai phàn nàn. Và, như chị Huệ nói, việc chính là đọc lên nghe êm ái như thơ.

Hôm nay chúng ta có 2 thử thách (thay vì một 🙂 )

* Thử thách 1 dễ hơn, nhưng vui hơn (Luật đời là vậy, uống cà phê và chơi game thi vui hơn là giải toán 🙂 ). Đây là một bài từ chị Huỳnh Huệ gọi là Grammar for Life. Gồm các câu nói đến các qui luật grammar Anh ngữ, nhưng áp dụng cho đời sống, để các bạn dịch ra Việt ngữ.

* Thử thách thứ hai là một đoạn ngắn trong một bài báo của Newsweek để các bạn dịch qua Việt ngữ. Sở dĩ mình chọn Newsweek vì Newsweek là tuần báo hàng đầu của Mỹ, và được các thầy cô dạy Anh văn dùng trong lớp nhiều nhất cho học sinh. Newsweek viết bài cũng với mục đích được dùng để dạy Anh văn.

Mình nghĩ là các bạn nên đọc báo nước ngoài thường xuyên để từ từ ngấm “giọng Anh văn mẹ đẻ.”

Chúc các bạn một ngày vui. Hai thử thách này ở dưới đây. Nhào vô chiến đấu nhé.

Mến,

Hoành
_____________

I. Grammar For Life

Live in active voice, not the passive.
Think more about what you make happen than what happens to you.

Live in the indicative mood rather than subjective.
Be concerned with things as they are rather than as they might be.

Live in the present tense facing the duty at hand.
Without regret for the past or worry for the future.

Live in the first person,
criticising yourself rather than finding fault with others.

Live in singular number,
caring more for the approval of your own conscience than for the applause of the crowd.

And if you want a verb to conjugate,
you cannot do better than to take a verb “to love”.

II. Prisoners of the White House

Smart decisions don’t grow in a vacuum. The most successful presidents recognize the fact and encourage debate—and even rivalry—between their advisers. They do their best to consider the options fully. All the same, it’s harder than many people might imagine for our national leaders to keep the field of opinions from turning into a monoculture.

It’s the curse of the modern presidency. Our chief executives need to make an active, aggressive effort to reach beyond their immediate circle of advisers, to demand fresh thinking and avoid the sycophancy that comes with the Oval Office. Otherwise, they’ll only hear what they want to hear—or what their aides tell them. To judge from “War of Necessity, War of Choice,” Richard N. Haass’s new book on presidential decision-making with regard to Iraq, George W. Bush lived in a bubble, partly of his own making, that walled off creative dissent or even, in some cases, common sense.

Mindful of his predecessor, Barack Obama seems to be trying harder to make sure he hears all sides. On the night of April 27, for instance, the president invited to the White House some of his administration’s sharpest critics on the economy, including New York Times columnist Paul Krugman and Columbia University economist Joseph Stiglitz. Over a roast-beef dinner, Obama listened and questioned while Krugman and Stiglitz, both Nobel Prize winners, pushed for more aggressive government intervention in the banking system.

END