Chapter 6 [Robinson Crusoe for Children]

1:hold breath

*context*
I held my breath and waited.
I held my breath and tried to swim.

*definition*
to deliberately not breathe out for a short time.
[ex] Hold your breath and count to ten.


2:farther

*context*
I could feel myself carried farther and farther toward the dry land.

*definition*
[ far/farther/farthest ]
a great distance than before or than something else.


3:struck out

*context*
I struck out with all my might for the dry land.

*definition*
to start walking or swimming in a particular direction,especially in a determined way.






When I was looking up "hold breath" on Longman English Dictionary Online,
there was a definition that I cannot understand well.

[ not hold your breath ]
used to say that you do not expect something to happen, even though someone has said it well.
[ex: He promised he'd phone,but I'm not holding my breath.]

Why do they say "hold my breath" when they mean "cannot expect"?

Robinson Crusoe for Children

I'm reading "Robinson Crusoe for Children" now.
So,I'll write down some words and sentences that I don't understand.


1:made up my mind

*context*
I was so tired of it that I made up my mind to try something else.

*definition*
to decide what your opinion is about someone or something.



2:reckon

*context*
We reckoned that each one of these would buy a slave.

*definition*
to calculate an amount


3:swallow up

*context*
We were swallowed up by the waves.

*definition*
if something is swallowed up, it disappears because something covers it or hides it




I have only read 5chapters yet.
Maybe I need a lots of time to finish this story...
Because I meet many many new words.

But Listening English story is very interesting for me.
So I read it step by step　:)

About "How to Learn English"

【a】Words

1: Overemphasized

*Context*
Studying grammar may be helpful at times but, in Japan, grammar is often overemphasized while students do not have sufficient opportunities to get used to English.

*Definition*
to give something more importance than it deserves or than is suitable


2: Recall

*Context*
If you can do this, you probably will not need to try to recall the definition you found in your dictionary.

*Definition*
Remember Something
---to remember a particular fact, event, or situation from the past


3: Equivalents

*Context*
Memorizing Japanese equivalents for English words does not work well for two reasons.

*Definition*
having the same value, purpose, job etc as a person or thing of a different kind



【c】

In this essay,"Words are like friends" made an impression on me.
Knowing a word likes to know new friends.
I like the phrase:To get to know a word well, you need to "meet" it in many different situations.
I want to "meet" many words in many books.

First Post

Hi, I'm yayuyo.

I love music,art and comic.
I like English but I'm not good at it...

I will do my best!!