first off: 首先
be pleased with: 对…高兴的，满意的
thus far: 目前为止
make progress: 取得进步
feel good about: 对…感到满意
mess up: 凌乱、混乱
tick off: [美国口语]使…生气，使…恼火

语意表达：referral: 提名
句型操练：Employee referral schemes are a popular way for organisations to recruit new blood.
对于企业而言，员工推荐计划是一个非常受欢迎的招聘方式。
If you win a promised referral from a company insider, help that contact help you.
如果某位公司内部员工答应帮你推荐，那么帮助那个人来认识你。
句型出处：I have an excellent referral.
我强力推荐她。

语意表达：coach 为…当教练；训练；指导When someone coaches a person or a team, they help them to become better at a particular sport.
句型操练：Beckenbauer coached the West Germans to success in the World Cup final in Italy...
贝肯鲍尔执教西德队，带领他们在意大利世界杯决赛中获胜。
I had coached the Alliance team for some time.
我曾在联盟队担任过一段时间的教练。
句型出处：Well, she would coach us.
她会指导我们。