互動英語教室 - Choosing your own accessories (2)

Lily intends to create an image of a fashionable "working women" (事業女性) for Barbara, so that she can illustrate (說明) her consummate (使完美) use of different accessories in her new album. The producer shares the same thoughts with Lily and suggests her to produce a video in which Barbara and Coney show the audience (觀眾) how to wear the hottest new trend in scarves (頸巾).

Lily: Hey Coney, our producer suggests making a short video demonstrating how to wear a scarf.

To Barbara, scarves conjure up (使人想起) an old-fashioned (老土) and uptight (煩躁的) image. She is rather reluctant (不情願的)to do a video about scarves. Coney tells her that scarves are not only used for warmth (溫暖) and comfort. A designer scarf can be tied in many different styles. Even a very plain (簡樸的) coat or shirt can be made to look fantastic by using a brightly coloured and trendy scarf. Barbara changes her idea and gives this a try.

Coney: It’s a good idea!

Barbara: Hi guys! Scarves are one of the favourite clothing items of women. You can be chic (別緻的) with classic silk scarves. A chunky (厚厚的) wool (羊毛) scarf can add a touch of warmth. Coney is my stylist today. She is going to show you the easiest ways to wear a scarf.

Coney: We are going to start with “the loop”. (圈)

Coney demonstrates how to wear scarves in fashionable ways without an obvious tie to the past. Barbara now believes that a scarf can represent her unique (獨一無二) personality (性格) and preferences (喜好).

Barbara: There are scarves made of different materials such as viscose (黏膠) and cotton (棉).

Lily has the impression that eyewear can change people's look and asks Coney for more advice.

Lily: Hey Coney, do you have any eyewear accessories?

Coney: Of course we do. Here are the fashion sunglasses (太陽眼鏡).

Coney is fashion conscious (意識到的) and into elegant (雅緻的)things. She immediately shows Barbara the newest sunglasses.

Barbara: Can I choose the ones that suit my mood?

Coney: Sure!

Lily: Barbara, this pair can enhance your fashion image and protect your eyes from harmful UV rays at the same time.

Barbara: They look great!

Lily: Barbara, the name of your coming album should be…”Barbara’s fashion world”!

Questions:
1) Can you name some materials used to make scarves?
2) Why Barbara is reluctant to demonstrate how to wear a scarf in the beginning?
3) Besides making a person to be fashionable, what is the other advantage of wearing sunglasses mentioned by Lily?

Answers:
1) Silk, wool, viscose and cotton.
2) Scarves conjure up an old-fashioned and uptight image.
3) Sunglasses can also protect ones’ eyes from harmful UV rays.

Script: Louise Chow / Lily Poon
Article: Lily Poon
Director: CP Chan
Actresses: Barbara Li, Coney Ko, Lily Poon

文匯報互動英語教室 (10) - Choosing your own accessories (1)

Barbara has signed a contract (合約) with Angel Music, a famous record label (唱片公司) in Hong Kong. Her manager, Lily, is aware of the importance of a singer’s image (形象) but initially has no idea what Barbara should wear while on stage. Lily decides to ask her professional (專業) stylist (設計師) friend Coney to create the best image for Barbara.

Lily has arranged an appointment (約會) with Coney for Barbara.

Barbara: Hi Lily, how are you? What’s the schedule for today?

Lily: You desperately need a makeover (改變外觀)!

Barbara: A makeover? I think my style looks just fine. Don’t you think so?

Lily: No way! I have to create a stylish (時尚的) and chic (有型的) look for you. Look at what you are wearing now! Who believes that you are a rising pop star? My friend has a jewelry shop (首飾店) around the corner. She designs and sells costume jewelry (人造首飾) and should be able to give you some style tips.

Barbara is excited about the opportunity to meet up a professional stylist. Lily thinks that Barbara has high potentials as a good singer but definitely had to improve her outlook. Coney is very confident that she can help to create the best image for her. Barbara is very impressed with the large variety of jewelry in the store. The materials that Coney uses to make her very own jewelry include precious stones (寶石), crystal (水晶), sterling silver (純銀), shell (貝殼) and many more.

Barbara: I am impressed by your unique (獨一無二的) collection of jewelry! Necklaces (項鍊) , bracelets (手鐲), earrings (耳環) and hats (帽子).

Lily: Coney, can you give her a glamorous (迷人的) makeover using your accessories (飾物)? She is going to have her first performance (表演) tomorrow.

Coney: Sure! You have come to the right place! (你找對了地方)

Coney tells Barbara to choose clothing that can represent her free spirit while staying stylish. One of the big advantages of wearing the right jewelry is that one can stay up with the latest looks. That’s why Coney is choosing the jewelry for Barbara carefully.

Coney: They are mainly vintage (古色古香的) style jewelry

Barbara: I read from a fashion magazine that the term “vintage” means nostalgic (懷舊) style!

Coney: Do you like this one?

Barbara: Not really. I prefer something simple. How about these hair clips (髮夾)?

Lily: No way. I am sure we will find something right for you.

Coney: How about this one? (Coney chooses a necklace made of fresh water pear (珍珠)

Barbara: Yes! It’s simple but elegant (雅緻的). This pearl gives me feminine (女性) charm (魅力).

Do you want to know what Barbara has chosen next? Don’t miss the next episode!

Questions:
1) Can you name some materials that can be used to make costume jewelry?
2) What kind of jewelry do you like the best?
3) What is the meaning of “vintage jewelry”?

Answers:
1) Precious stones, crystal, sterling silver and shell.
2) Necklaces , bracelets, earrings and hair clips.
3) The term “vintage” means nostalgic style.


Special thanks to Coney @ TAKA Accessories
Article by Lily Poon
Script by Louise Chow
Director: CP Chan

互動英語教室(9) - Let's go to an atelier (2)

After the interview, Sun and Chrissy shared the joy of painting with Lily and Louise as a way to relax and express what they had in themselves. Lily and Louise closely observed (觀察) the uses of colour and learned the basic principles. Lily had great fun while sketching (素描) though she ended up in using the eraser (橡皮擦) a lot. They both agreed that they could rapidly (迅速地) polish (磨鍊) their talent (天資) and skills (技巧) with a teacher’s guidance.

Louise was impressed by the drawing on a wall in the garden. Sun told them that drawing on walls had always been enjoyed greatly by his students. He encouraged (鼓勵) his students to draw whatever they could think of in their mind. This free-form (自由) style reminded Lily of graffiti (塗鴉)…

Chrissy: Did you enjoy yourselves?

Louise: Sure! I like the drawing on the wall.

Sun Ho: My students love to draw on walls.

Lily: I heard that drawing on walls is very common in the States. It’s “gra”, “gra” , “gra” …(Lily couldn’t recall the term)

Chrissy: Do you mean “graffiti”?

Lily: Oh! Yeah!

Chrissy: Graffiti means "to write". Now it refers to writing, drawing, or symbols (符號) applied to any surface without the permission (允許) of the property (物業) owner. Graffiti is often related to hip hop culture and can occur anywhere such as on railroad (鐵路) boxcars (貨車) and subways (隧道). People use a variety of materials such as automotive car paint (車油), spray paint (噴漆), crayons (炭筆) and permanent ink (不脫色墨水). Never draw any graffiti without permission from property owners. But now, you can create graffiti legally (合法) here!

Sun gave Lily and Louise a small paint brush and taught them how to paint on walls. He also showed them some common graffiti fonts and encouraged them to use more colours and be creative most importantly.

Chrissy mentioned that what made street graffiti so different from other forms of visual (視覺) culture was that the production of the image was unauthorised (未被授權的). Lily suddenly thought of Tsang Tsou-choi (曾灶財), also known as "The King of Kowloon". She told Chrissy that Tsang was a local poor man who scrawled (亂塗) on lamp-posts (燈柱), walls and phone boxes. Basically, his script could be found throughout Hong Kong. He was also known for the Chinese calligraphy (書法) he invented. He later became famous around the world after some of his works were displayed (展出) at the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition (威尼斯國際藝術雙年展) in 2003. Lily and Louise both thought that his unique art had become a part of the city's collective memory (集體回憶) after his death.

Lily and Louise discussed with their chef editor (總編輯) and decided to write an article about “painting and creativity” for the coming issue.

Questions:
1) What are the benefits to learn painting with a teacher’s guidance?
2) Are graffiti legal?
3) Where can you find graffiti usually?
4) What kinds of materials are used to draw graffiti?

Answers:
1) We can rapidly polish our talent and skills with a teacher’s guidance.
2) No.
3) Walls, railroad boxcars and subways.
4) Automotive car paint, spray paint, crayons and permanent ink.

Actress: Chrissy, Louise, Lily, Sun Ho
Director: C.P.
Article: Lily