通勤學英語 15Mins Today

每日跟讀#750: Aesthetic makeover: TRA launches new tour train

When the plans for the Taiwan Railway Administration’s (TRA) NT$79 million (US$2.6 million) 29 “Formosa Express” passenger tour carriages were revealed earlier this year, the designs were met with an avalanche of criticism. In response, TRA director Chang Cheng-yuan announced in April that the company would hold consultations on the design, and that the most vehement detractors would be invited to contribute.

台鐵局今年耗資新台幣七千九百萬元，打造二十九輛環島之星觀光列車，曝光後設計卻遭批評。台鐵局長張政源在今年四月宣布，成立台鐵美學設計諮詢審議小組，「把罵台鐵最凶的統統找來」。由設計師吳漢中為代表，齊聚各界專家，把二十九輛當中尚未施作完工的十三輛列車，邀請在國內外得過許多設計大獎的台灣設計團隊「柏成設計」，導入美學概念重新改造。

Headed by designer Han Wu, the team of consultants brought together experts from various fields, and the award-winning Taiwanese design firm J. C. Architecture was invited to undertake an aesthetic makeover, designing the 13 cars yet to be converted.

Unveiled on Friday, the newly designed TRA Tour Train sports a black and orange exterior, imparting an air of gravitas to its new look. Redundant signs distracting from the minimalist interior design were removed, and soft lighting was introduced to create a comfortable, relaxing ambience, to give passengers the impression of being in a hotel.

新設計的台鐵觀光列車上週五亮相，外觀改用尊榮感十足的黑、橘色，內裝採減法設計，去掉多餘的指標，燈光使用溫和的色溫，讓旅客有如進到飯店的舒適氛圍。

The curtains in the carriages are based on the works of Yuma Taru, an aboriginal craftswoman, employing geometric shapes suggestive of mountains, while the upholstery utilizes blues and grays, a reference to Taiwan’s oceans, rocks and mountains. The overall effect goes beyond that of a simple means of transportation, and now has more of an emotional impact.

車廂中的窗簾，是參考原住民工藝家尤瑪．達陸的作品，以幾何圖形堆疊出山脈造型；座椅顏色為藍、灰色，象徵台灣的海洋、石頭與山，讓火車不再只是生硬的交通工具，同時也富有情感。

Commenting on why black and orange were chosen for the exterior, Nora Wang, co-founder of J. C. Architecture, says that black imparts a sense of mystery and sobriety, and that old photos of TRA train carriages show that black was widely used for train exteriors in the past. The orange, meanwhile, is a reference to the Chu Kuang Express train designs. The tour train’s black and orange theme is therefore a link to railway history, reinvented from and recombining older design elements.

列車外觀使用黑、橘二色，柏成設計合夥創辦人王菱檥表示，黑色具有神秘的尊榮感，尤其觀察過往台鐵車體照片時，發現有一段時期大量採用黑色設計，因此激盪出新的想法。經典橘色則是延續莒光號原有的橘，保有車輛的歷史，將舊元素重新組合，迸出新的設計火花。

Wang’s favorite design is the bar counter area, reminiscent of a hotel reception, featuring a small lamp on the dining table, giving boarding passengers the impression they are entering a hotel. Passengers get to experience the hotel-like service, too, reclining in the train’s parlor car accompanied by friends and family, leisurely sipping coffee. The windows offer magnificent ocean views to the east and vistas of rice paddies and mountains to the west.

有如飯店接待大廳的吧台區是王菱檥最喜愛的設計，餐桌台上放了一盞小燈，當旅客踏上這輛觀光列車時，感覺就像是踏進飯店一樣。跟親朋好友坐在客廳車，悠閒喝著咖啡，從觀景窗往外望，東邊有海岸線壯闊海景，西邊則有稻穗、山脈，帶給大家有如旅館式的服務體驗。

Wang says, “The TRA train is not just a means of transportation, it is a starting point for a journey.” She hopes that the TRA Tour Train will help promote rail travel in Taiwan. Tour trains in countries such as Japan and Italy attract visitors from all over the world every year, and Wang believes Taiwan has the potential to be like this. “Taiwan’s landscape is so beautiful,” she says, and “some scenery can only be seen from the train.”

王菱檥說：「台鐵不只是交通工具，而是旅遊的起始點。」她希望未來可帶動民眾搭乘火車在島內旅遊的風氣，放眼各國的觀光列車如日本、義大利等，每年吸引全球民眾到訪，「相信台灣有這方面的潛力，台灣景觀太美了，有些景色只有坐火車才看得到」。

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/12/17/2003727649/2

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Dear all,

John與Gavin老師在此祝大家聖誕快樂，新年快樂！聖誕節在國外就是每個家庭聚在一起的時間，就跟台灣再過新年一樣。大家在聖誕節聽著通勤學英語podcast就像一個超級大家庭一樣聚在一起。

在這個season of give and giving，特別感謝大家一年的努力，各位的努力相信都有嚐到甜美累積下來的果實！我們透過後台看到一路成長的數據就是我們持續做podcast的動力！

跟大家分享一下過去一年來累積的數據:

• 總下載(播放play) - 1,600,000以上

Spotify 平台followers : 6585 (一年裡有兩萬一千以上的unique listener)

Castbox 平台subscribers: 8700

Apple Podcast Top Shows : 前五名

15mins同學們，你並不孤單，有很多人跟你一起在利用時間，提升自己的英語力！

要持續一整年一直產出content其實不簡單，要面對的是如何平衡家人，工作，以及我們的節目的需求。很多時候就是看到大家一起想學習的努力，會促使我們風雨無阻的，即便有時感冒或超時工作之外還有動力繼續produce。各位的努力，就是老師們做節目的動力！非常感恩！

對明年的願望？Gavin老師說要exhaust his knowledge and keep learning! 那John老師希望通勤學英語繼續成長下去，每天持續累積動力跟能量，keep producing till I can't produce anymore !

最後，歡迎15mins同學們來信有興趣的文章或在學習路上啟發分享，在Apple Podcast, Spotify, Castbox訂閱通勤學英語的平台 （搜尋 通勤學英語 或 15mins 即可）。

P.S. 雖然今天得上班到十點，我們還是吃個常去吃的餐聽吃平安夜餐- Sushi Express

From John and Gavin

每日跟讀#749: About Christmas: Make your own Christmas tree with these money-saving hacks

相信大家都知道，節慶的裝飾品並不便宜，尤其是在亞洲地區。因此，也難怪有越來越多人決定自己DIY製作裝飾品打造出屬於自己的夢幻聖誕節。

Most people agree that decorating for the holidays isn’t cheap, especially in Asia. There is, therefore, little wonder that an increasing number of people have decided to make this Christmas season extra special by doing a lot of crafts on their own.

能夠把一樣東西化腐朽為神奇總是讓人著迷，而展示自己創意成品的最佳方式就是把它掛到聖誕樹上。

There’s something magical about turning something ordinary into something special, and there’s no better way to display your creations than on your Christmas tree.

許多人在網路上分享交流各自創意手作點子，在臉書上還能找到像是「低成本手作」等教你省錢做裝飾品的社團。裡面的成員不吝於分享用花串、燈泡和木框等簡易材料製作聖誕樹的秘訣。

Many ideas are shared online and through money-saving Facebook groups such as “On a Budget.” The members show people how to create a Christmas tree out of just garlands, lights and a wooden frame.

他們放上手作過程的圖片讓人一目瞭然，像是示範如何將常綠樹狀裝飾花串纏繞在三角木框上。

There are many photos that show some crafty methods of creating a tree by simply wrapping the green evergreen-like garland around the triangle-shaped wood frame.

最後，一棵固定在牆上、形狀完美的精美手作聖誕樹令網友驚艷，網友們紛紛留言讚嘆：「這個點子太棒了！看起來好美」、「很適合住在小房間的人用來佈置」。

The end result is a stunning, perfectly shaped wall-mounted Christmas tree. “What a great idea this looks fantastic,” one person wrote. Another said: “Great for anyone who has a small room.”

這些手作教學除了能吸引房間不夠擺不下一棵正規大小聖誕樹的人以外，對於那些不想花大錢買短期聖誕裝飾品的人而言，這些教學也相當實用。

In addition to appealing to people who may not have room for an actual tree, the hack is also useful for those who do not want to spend money on Christmas decor that is only good for a few weeks.

有網友留言稱讚：「手作DIY告訴我們只要善用創意與想像力，不用花大錢也能做很多事。」另外也有熱心的人分享自己的手作技巧，既簡單又能充滿節慶氣氛。

“Shows what you can do with imagination and a small budget,” one person wrote. Others shared their own versions of the hack, showing just how festive and easy it can be.

Next Article

Chimei Museum to hold pre-Christmas celebrations on weekends 超浪漫！奇美博物館超大聖誕樹成熱門打卡地

進入一年的尾聲也代表浪漫聖誕節即將來臨，各大百貨商場開始佈置聖誕裝飾並擺出超大聖誕樹吸引民眾目光。住在台南的你有福了！奇美博物館在繆思廣場擺放一棵13公尺高的「幸福耶誕樹」，每日下午五點半至十點半點燈，浪漫的燈光下搭配奇美博物館西洋建築外觀，絕對是聖誕節熱門打卡景點！

Christmas is around the corner and local department stores have already installed their Christmas decorations and set up large Christmas trees to attract the attention of shoppers. If you are living in Tainan, you should know that The Chimei Museum has also installed a 13-meter-high Christmas tree on its Muse Plaza. The tree lights up from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day. The installation is the perfect match to the western architecture of the museum which has become one of the top destinations for celebrating Christmas in southern Taiwan.

另外還有集結多達70攤的皇家聖誕市集於十二月十四、十五日、二十一日和二十二日兩個週末中午十二點至晚上十點展開，販賣各式美食飲料，還有皇家貴族最愛糕點。

In addition, the Royal Christmas Market boasts 70 specialty stalls on the weekends on Dec. 14-15 and 21-22nd from noon to 10 p.m., selling various delights, drinks and Royal family’s favorite pastry.

活動期間還有精緻音樂饗宴，邀請多位奇美藝術獎得主在館內大廳演奏弦樂、管樂、爵士樂等聖誕主題音樂。

What’s more? There will also be music feasts over the weekends. Some award-winning musicians are invited to play Christmas-themed jazz and orchestra music during the celebrations.

Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20191209-894509 ; https://chinapost.nownews.com/20191127-873777

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每日跟讀#748: About Japan: In high-tech Japan, cash is still king

Once a pioneer in cashless transactions, Japan is now lagging behind as the world’s biggest economies increasingly embrace electronic payments － because its ageing population still prefers physical money.

在全球各大經濟體如今逐漸擁抱電子支付之際，曾開創無現金交易的日本已落居人後，因為其人口老化的社會仍偏愛實體金錢。

Four out of five purchases are still made with cash in Japan. But in South Korea, some 90 percent of transactions are digital, while Sweden aims to be a cashless society as early as 2023.

日本每5筆消費中，有4筆仍以現金交易。但在南韓，已有90%的交易數位化；瑞典則最快在2023年，就可望成為無現金社會。

In Japan, where crime and counterfeiting is virtually non-existent so people feel more comfortable carrying cash, consumer response has been sluggish.

在犯罪和偽造幾乎不存在、人們對於攜帶現金感到自在的日本，消費者對於無現金化顯得意興闌珊。

At Katsuyuki Hasegawa’s bike repair shop customers are invited to settle their bills using PayPay － a tie-up between Softbank and Yahoo. But only two or three people a week are using the service.

在長谷川勝之（譯音）的腳踏車修理店，雖鼓勵顧客使用由軟體銀行與雅虎合資推出的行動支付PayPay，但每週只有2至3人會使用這項服務。

"We get lots of old people who like to chat while getting out their money. They don’t need quick transactions," says Hasegawa. "Personally, I prefer cash. With PayPay, you don’t keep track of your money."

40歲長谷川說：「我們有很多老人家喜歡在掏錢時閒聊，他們並不需要迅速的交易。我本身也更喜歡用現金，用PayPay就沒辦法掌握自己的錢。」

Next Article:

Lawmakers’ disaster helmet drill sparks Twitter debate 國會議員的防災安全帽演習引發推特熱議

Some Japanese lawmakers giggled in November during a drill to practice the use of disaster prevention helmets, at least one of which was put on backwards, prompting Twitter users to question if they were making light of a life-and-death matter.

某些日本國會議員在11月的一場練習使用防災安全帽的演習中咯咯笑，還至少有一名議員把安全帽戴反，促使日本推友質疑國會諸公是否太不把攸關生死的防災當一回事。

Video images broadcast on television and other media showed Finance Minister Taro Aso smiling after successfully donning one of the collapsible plastic helmets, and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi wore a broad grin.

電視與其他媒體播放的影片畫面顯示，財政大臣麻生太郎在成功戴上一頂折疊式塑膠安全帽後面露微笑，外相茂木敏充則是咧嘴笑到露牙。

"You never know when disaster will strike," Tadamori Oshima, the Lower House speaker, said at the end of Tuesday’s session, wearing one of the white helmets with gray chinstraps that are reminiscent of traditional samurai headgear.

「你永遠不會知道天災何時來襲，」戴著一頂有著灰色下頦帶、類似傳統日本武士頭盔的白色安全帽的眾議院議長大島理森，在週二的會議結束時如是說。

"I want you always to be on alert."

「我希望各位隨時保持警戒。」

Despite getting instructions on how to unfold and wear the helmets, at least one parliamentarian put his on back-to-front. Others needed a helping hand.

儘管有人指導如何展開與戴上安全帽，仍至少有一名國會議員把安全帽戴反，另有議員需要人幫忙才能戴上帽子。

Some Twitter users called the lawmakers’ levity off-key.

部分推友稱國會議員的輕浮態度很不妥當。

"The Speaker （of the Lower House） was talking about being on alert, but others were laughing," said one.

「（眾議院）議長正說要保持警戒，但其他人卻嘻皮笑臉，」有人如此說。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1338522 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1338579

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Summary:

Houses in small towns in Japan are given away for free. Japan is now facing an unusual property problem – more homes than people to live in them. According to statistics, in 2013, there were a total of 61m houses and 52m households in Japan. The aging society is going to make the situation worse.

Full article: https://www.15mins.today/blog/702-about-japan-japan-has-so-many-vacant-homes-it-s-giving-them-away

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Prefecture n. – a district under the authority of a prefect or governor.

• Tokyo prefecture is the second largest single metropolitan area in the world behind New York.

Household n. – a house and its occupants regarded as a unit.

• The average number of people per household in Taiwan is 3.07.

Next summary:

Embetsu agricultural high school in northern Hokkaido avoided being shut down by reviving the school’s sheep farming and lamb products that is now considered a souvenir / local specialty.

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Sth is at stake idiom. – something is being risked and may be lost or damaged.

• The school’s survival was at stake if it wasn’t for the great lamb products they produced.

Breeding n. The mating and production of offspring by animals.

• The Embetsu high school was responsible for the breeding of Suffolk sheep.

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