A conversation about Lunar New Year Hello you guys. I hope you're having a nice day! Honestly, it's quite difficult for me to write a notebook entry about Lunar New Year because I have so many ideas that I can't arrange them to make a complete one. Therefore, I wrote a conversation between me and my colleague at our office, as follows: Min: Hey Liz, Lunar New Year is coming up. What have you prepared for this special occasion? Liz: I've cleaned up, as well as decorated my house with Bonsai, Kumquat trees, and chrysanthemums. How about you? Min: Me too, I've made banh chung, which is a savory sticky rice cake with mung beans and pork. My mom also bought some boxes of seasoned dried cashews and candied coconut. Liz: That sounds good! I'll visit you on the first day of Lunar New Year and enjoy those treats. Min: Oh, I'm happy to hear that. Call me before you come. Thanks. ****Please help me correct my conversation above and give me your advice to sound more natural. Thank you so much!

A conversation about Lunar New Year Min: Hey Liz, Lunar New Year is coming (in English, we don’t say “close to us” when we’re talking about dates. No need). What have you done to get ready? (We use “prepare” when we’re making a meal “prepare lunch” or getting ready for a staff meeting “prepare a presentation”. Otherwise, we say “to get ready” for something) Liz : I've cleaned up, as well as decorated my house with bonsai, Kumquat tree, and chrysanthemum. How about you? Min: Me too, I've made banh chung, which is a savory sticky rice cake with mung beans and pork. My mom also bought some boxes of seasoned, dried cashews and candied coconut. Liz: That sounds good!. I'll visit you on the first day of Lunar New Year so I can enjoy those with you. (“Cuisine” is formal word not normally used in daily conversation with friends unless we’re describing another country’s food) Min: Oh, I'm happy to hear that. Call me before you come. Thanks ****Please help me correct my conversation above and give me your advices to sound more natural. Thank you so much! Your English is 还不错。 To sound more natural, remember this: we native speakers use simple words and we avoid long sentences. The shorter the better. We use formal language very infrequently unless talking to someone very high up the food chain. 加油！