【大紀元2011年09月29日訊】A+B: 「美語訓練班」上課啦!
B:我是Donny。
A: 我是楊琳! Donny, 今天咱們節目的開頭很有氣魄哈！
B: 咱們內容也很精彩啊。你給介紹一下！
A: 好！今天咱們要去長跑，鍛練一下耐力, 看看剛來美國的人對這個國家的印象，討論更多在生活中給自己舒壓的方法, 還要告訴大家怎麼用美語說「菜鳥」和「沒轍了」。
B:當然，咱們還是先花一分鐘，學一個詞。
Learn A Word Fast-paced
今天我們要學的詞是fast-paced. Fast-paced is spelled f-a-s-t-p-a-c-e-d, fast-paced. Fast-paced, 快節奏的。 舊金山有家小店，專門將郵件轉為手寫的書信寄給收信者。店主說：”We move in such a fast-paced world that, sometimes, that world can feel kind of cold and impersonal.” 我們生活在一個如此快節奏的社會裏，有時會讓你感到冰冷和不近人情。Compared with fast-paced cities such as New York, I prefer to live in the suburbs. 與紐約這種快節奏的城市相比，我更喜歡住在郊區。In the fast-paced world of email and instant communication, the postal service has experienced drastic decline in volume in recent years. 在電子郵件和即時通訊的快節奏社會，郵政業務量近年來急劇下降。好的，今天我們學習的詞是fast-paced, fast-paced, fast-paced.
A: Fast-paced, 快節奏的。那麼慢節奏的就是slow-paced 嘍？
B：That’s right. For example, a lot of Americans think Europeans live a slow-paced life.
A: 沒錯，去歐洲旅行過的好多朋友都跟我說，那裏人的生活真是慢悠悠，可閒適了。
B: So do you prefer a fast-paced or slow-paced life,楊琳？
A:在工作的時候我希望節奏快，效率高，下了班我希望優哉游哉，慢慢享受人生！
B:你要求還挺高！好了，咱們繼續聽節目吧。
A:好，一起來聽「流行美語」。
Popular American Glued to one’s seat, at the end of one’s rope
各位聽眾，現在播送《流行美語》。今天 Larry 和 Li Hua 一起去聽講座。上課前聊起了彼此的興趣。 Li Hua 要學習兩個常用語：Glued to one’s seat 和 At the end of one’s rope。
LH: Larry, 老師上次佈置的作業你做了嗎？第五題怎麼寫呀？
LL: Number 5…number 5…I didn’t do that one either.
LH: 第五題你也不會啊，那怎麼交差啊…
LL: Hey! We can ask Amy. She probably knows how to do this problem.
LH: Amy? 可你怎麼知道她肯定會做呢? 搞不好她也跟我們一樣。
LL: But she’s always glued to her seat during the lectures. I’m sure she gets good grades because she pays so much attention.
LH: 你說她每次講座都粘在椅子上？有人惡作劇嗎？
LL: No, not literally glued to her seat. To be glued to one’s seat means to be so interested and involved with something that one doesn’t move at all.
LH: 哦，我明白了，你的意思是說 Amy is always glued to her seat, 她上課聽得特別專心，一動不動，所以學得一定不錯，那我們真地可以去問她！
LL: That’s right. That’s exactly what I was trying to say, Li Hua.
LH: 那我可不可以說，如果我看到白馬王子, I will be glued to my seat 嗎? 我一定會深深地被他吸引，無法動彈的…
LL: Mmm…you really dream about meeting Prince Charming all day long, don’t you? Usually, the term “to be glued to one’s seat” is only used to describe an activity. For example, you can be glued to your seat when you’re playing your favorite video game, or watching a suspenseful movie etc.
LH: 是嗎..所以這句話通常是用在形容對某件事情的熱情，比如說，Larry is always glued to his seat when he reads children’s books! 這樣造句對嗎?
LL: Yeah that’s right. Except did you really have to mention children’s books? I just like them because my mom used to read to me all the time.
LH: 哈哈，當然要提到你有多麼愛讀兒童故事書啊，這是我能想到的 Larry 唯一的嗜好，要不然你說說看，自己有更熱愛的事情嗎？
LL: Okay let me think! There’s got to be something that better represents my intellectual interests…
LH: 想不出來吧？你還是放棄吧。
LL: Fine. I guess I’m at the end of my rope.
LH: 甚麼？你說 “I’m at the end of my rope” 是甚麼意思啊怎麼連繩子都跑出來了？你可別想不開啊。
LL: To be at the end of your rope means to be out of options. It means you’re stuck in a bad situation.
LH: 原來是指你無路可退的意思，你看，我比你自己還要瞭解你，兒童故事書是你的最愛，還是承認吧。
LL: OK, quit laughing. It’s just a little hobby of mine that I read children’s books. I doubt your interests are any better. Hmmm let me think…you like to dance, you like to go shopping, you like to…
LH: 哎，不用想了! 不管你怎麼想，一定想不到一個跟讀兒童故事書一樣奇怪的興趣。You’re at the end of your rope Larry!
LL: You’re right, I am at the end of my rope. But once again, reading children’s books is just a good memory I have from childhood.
LH: 奇怪, 班上好安靜喔.
LL: Class already started! Hey, what about that question on the homework? We have to turn it in today!
LH: 甚麼？？已經開始上課了？ 那我們的功課怎麼辦呢？
LL: I guess we’re at the end of our ropes…
各位聽眾，今天李華從Larry那兒學到兩個常用語，一個是 glued to one’s seat, 是指一個人非常專注於某件事情，集中精力，一動不動；另一個是 at the end of one’s rope 意思是走頭無路，沒有其它的選擇
A: Donny, 上次你幫我把電腦修好，我真得謝謝你！你太牛了！我自己弄了半天都弄不好，I was totally at the end of my rope! 我真沒轍了！
B: You』re welcome！I can teach you some basic computer skills if you want.
A: 真的麼？太好了。我對動手啊、技術啊完全不在行，I don』t think I could learn this stuff even if I was glued to my seat studying for hours !
B：沒有那麼難。我以前也不懂，也是菜鳥一個啊。
A:哈哈，說到菜鳥，咱們來聽聽這個詞用美語怎麼說！
How to say it in American English: Newbie
Donny 在北京學漢語，他的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎麼說的詞，就會來請教他。今天是吳瓊要問的：菜鳥。
WQ: Donny! 我買了最新的 iPhone耶！
Donny: Wow, you got the latest iPhone? How do you like it?
WQ: 很喜歡啊！就是不太會用。我還是個菜鳥。咦？菜鳥英文怎麼說？
Donny: 菜鳥的英文是 newbie.
WQ: Newbie? New是新的，所以newbie就是菜鳥的意思。
Donny: That’s right. But don’t worry. Everyone has to start out as a newbie.
WQ: 我需要有個人指點我一下， give me…eh….give me….
Donny: A few pointers?
WQ: 沒錯，就是這個詞。pointer is spelled p-o-i-n-t-e-r, pointer 是指點，建議的意思。I need someone to give me a few pointers on how to find the coolest iPhone apps. 我想知道怎麼去找最酷的iPhone應用。
Donny: I have an iPhone. I can show you the ropes.
WQ: 你就有iPhone?太好了。不過，你剛剛說 You can show me the ropes. 意思是你可以教我對不對？
Donny: You guessed right! To show someone the ropes means to explain to someone how to do a job or activity.
WQ: 可是，這跟 rope 繩子又有甚麼關係呢？
Donny: A long time ago sailors had to learn how to control the ropes to set sail. Learning the ropes was a beginner’s lesson for sailors. So to show someone the ropes means to show someone the basics of doing something.
WQ: 我明白了，以前新水手第一個要學會的就是如何操控繩子。所以，to show someone the ropes 就是教導新手做某件事情。
Donny: Yup! OK, now let’s see what you’ve learned today.
WQ: 第一，菜鳥叫 newbie;
第二，指點某人是 to give somebody a few pointers;
第三，教初學者做某事可以說 to show someone the ropes!
B: So, 楊琳，when you first came to America, did anyone give you any pointers or show you the ropes about studying and living here?
A: 說實話，沒有。我出國前就在電視和電影裡看美國，到了之後才發現，真正的美國和美國人同電影裡的不一樣。
B: For example?
A: 在電影裡，美國是個時髦的大都會，我以為大家都穿得特別fashionable, 可來到學校，發現同學們都是t-shirt加牛仔褲，非常樸實隨意。
B: I』m sure there are other things that strike those who come to America for the first time.
A: 那，都是甚麼呢？
B: Let’s find out in today’s “Go English”.
GoEnglish: Where are you from─Advanced
各位聽眾，大家好！今天我們為您播出「美語三級跳」節目「你是哪裏人」單元的高級課程。
Professor: Kevin and Jose are new roommates who are meeting each other for the first time. Jose is from Mexico, and is telling Kevin about his experience coming to America. Winnie, in this first section, listen for the phrase “to strike someone,” which means to really catch someone’s attention.
Winnie: 哦，”to strike someone” 就是特別引起某人的注意。好，我仔細聽。
Kevin: What were some of the things that really struck you when you first came to America?
Jose: Well, my first impression is that everything was really spread out.
Kevin: That’s particularly true in the American southwest. Because there is so much space, many cities like Los Angeles grow outward rather than build taller buildings, like in New York.
Jose: Yeah, I hear that’s why the traffic is so bad there.
Kevin: Yes, everything is far apart so everyone needs a car to get around, so there is lots of traffic.
Professor: Winnie, what struck Jose about America when he first arrived?
Winnie: 他的第一印象是美國所有東西都很分散，spread out.
Professor: That’s right. And how has this affected traffic conditions?
Winnie: 正是因為很多城市都鋪得很開，所以人們的生活離不開汽車，造成了交通擁擠。
Professor: Exactly. In the next section, listen for the phrase “to stand out,” which means to be very obvious or noticeable.
Kevin: What about the culture? Was there anything that really stood out about Americans when you first started interacting with them?
Jose: Well, the thing that struck me was how casual Americans are. Even people who are strangers still call each other by their first names, as if they’re friends.
Kevin: Yes, Americans also tend to be very casual in business relationships. Sometimes people from other countries who are used to being more formal find this rude.
Jose: Yeah, I bet some people have a hard time getting used to that.
Professor: So Winnie, what really stood out for Jose about American culture?
Winnie: 他覺得，美國人很隨便，即使是在正式場合也經常對別人直呼其名。
Professor: Right. And does this sometimes cause problems?
Winnie: 美國人可能覺得這樣很親切，可是在某些文化看來，這可能是非常不禮貌的。
Professor: Right. In the next section, listen for the phrase “to keep someone at arm’s length,” which means to maintain a distant relationship with someone.
Jose: But you know, I find it interesting that even though Americans are very casual and friendly, they also value privacy more than people in other cultures.
Kevin: You know, I think you’re right. Even though Americans are friendly to strangers, some of them also like to keep people they don’t know at arm’s length.
Jose: Yeah, they really like to have time to themselves.
Kevin: I agree. If you’re from a culture in which people are always together, Americans can seem very rude when they’re trying to be left alone.
Winnie: 一點沒錯。我的美國鄰居每次見面都特別友好地跟我打招呼，可從來不請我去她家作客。
Professor: That’s pretty common. Americans like to be friendly in public, but they also like to have their own space.
Winnie: Hmm … 沒准她家特別亂，不敢讓人去？
Professor: Could be. In the next section, listen for the word “punctual,” which means “on time.”
Jose: You know, I’ve also noticed that Americans really value punctuality and like to be on time.
Kevin: That’s right. In some cultures, people aren’t so worried about being on time. They have a hard time in the United States because Americans don’t like for people to be late.
Jose: It’s true. Sometimes when Americans come to Mexico for tourism, they get really mad when the bus doesn’t leave on time. It’s strange to always be in such a hurry, even on vacation.
Kevin: You know, I think when you go to another country, you have to go with the flow.
Winnie: 美國人喜歡守時，但是 Kevin 覺得，如果他們到那些並不重視時間觀念的國家去，就應該 “go with the flow” 入鄉隨俗。
Professor: Yes, as the English expression says, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
A: 我也有Jose這樣的感覺。我的美國同學喜歡隨便坐在地上，草坪上，而且大家即使對教授都是直呼名字，這對我來說可真是culture shock!
B: 我到中國也經歷了culture shock啊！比如，大街上的女生手拉手走路。 I think that』s really weird.
A：這有甚麼？我大學時還和好朋友手拉手一起去廁所呢！
B: 所以說是Culture shock –文化衝擊嘛。對你來說是習以為常的，對別的文化的人來說，就很奇怪。
A:也有道理。好了，咱們換個話題，繼續說紓解生活壓力的事兒，來聽今天的「禮節美語」
Business Etiquette: De-stressing III
Claire最近工作上壓力很大，同事Jim和Tina給她出主意，如何減壓。Tina說，
T: You really have to make an effort to relax, and each person is different. My husband swears by classical music. He goes and sits in his room, turns on his stereo and listens to his favorite classical composers.
J: For me, sometimes I just need a good hard workout. I like to put on boxing gloves and hit a punching bag…makes me feel much better!
C: I’ve tried chanting and meditating a couple times, but I couldn’t stop my brain from thinking about work. I can’t seem to get in the zone.
Tina說，她老公覺得聽古典音樂特別管用。He swears by classical music. swear by something 意思是堅信某事的功效，用在人身上，to swear by somebody 則是很信任某個人。Jim說，他釋放壓力最行之有效的辦法是去健身，I just need a good hard workout. Claire說，她也試過冥想，但就是無法get in the zone進入狀態。
T: I saw a news article yesterday that says chocolate helps relieve stress. Maybe you just need a chocolate bar!
C: Now there’s a therapy I can get behind!
J: I think the main thing to keep in mind here is that stress is a serious issue. You’re not weak. You’re not a loser. You just have to find what works for you. Everybody’s different. Maybe rock music is what works for you.
Tina說，頭天看報紙上說，吃巧克力可以減壓，Claire開玩笑說，Now there’s a therapy I can get behind. 意思是這種療法我願意嚐試。不過言歸正傳，壓力不是兒戲，身體對壓力做出反應，並不意味著你脆弱，也不意味著你這人沒用。每個人都需要找到對自己有效的減除壓力的辦法。
T: Speaking of rock music…there’s a great concert happening downtown tomorrow night. We could all use a break. What do you say?
C: Sound like fun. and thanks…. you guys are true friends.
J: We’re all in the same boat. Modern life is very stressful.
T: That’s why we need friends.
C: You said it. See you tomorrow night!
T: It’s a date!
Tina說，明晚有一場rock music搖滾音樂會，問Claire和Jim要不要一起去, We could all use a break. 意思是我們都需要放鬆一下。use在這裡是享用的意思。比如 I could use a cup of coffee. 意思是我想喝杯咖啡。I could use some encouragement. 我需要點鼓勵。Claire對朋友的幫助表示感謝，Jim說，We’re all in the same boat. 我們的處境都一樣，大家生活都很緊張，都需要學會放鬆。
A: Donny, what do you do to de-stress?
B: I run. I’m a serious runner. I do it every morning.
A: 啊？這麼厲害？不會只跑兩分鐘吧？
B: 當然不是了，我和下面這個體育美語裡講的差不多，是長跑！
American sports English: jogging
P: Hey Yang Chen, what are you doing?
Y: I’m going jogging. 我要去跑步。You should come with me.
P: Are you insinuating that I need to go for a run?
Y: Insinuating?
P: I-n-s-i-n-u-a-t-i-n-g, which means implying.
Y: 呵呵呵，我不用暗示，我是很明確地告訴你 you need to exercise more.
P: Ouch. I’ll have you know that I exercise every day.
Y: Patrick, exercising your mouth and your remote finger don’t count.
P: Hardy-har. I’ll have you know I get up each morning, put on my running shoes, and jog for over three miles.
Y: 嗯，不錯。每天早上跑三英里。我猜呀，三英里正好跑到了前面的ice cream shop。
P: After I run, I make sure to eat healthy, unlike some people I’ve seen snacking in the office.
Y: Now you’re insinuating things.
P: Oh no, I’m not insinuating anything.
By the way, why the sudden interest in jogging anyways Yang Chen? Those look like some pretty new running shoes you’ve got there.
Y: Thanksgiving! 吃了好多火雞。I need to run off my turkey weight.
P: Hmm, run off your turkey. Good idea.
Y:你不用幸災樂禍，you need to run off your turkey too.
P:Oh, I don’t even eat turkey. So are you training for the 5k?
Y: 5k?
P: 5 Kilometer race. Lots of places have them after Thanksgiving.
Y: 5公里?
P: Why? How far have you run in the past?
Y: Well, 我一般不跑5k， 我跑 5m.
P: 5m? What’s a 5m?
Y: Oh you know, 5 meters!
P: You never cease to amaze me Yang Chen.
A: Training for a 5K?練習5公里長跑？天啊，That wouldn’t reduce my stress at all! 聽著就累！
B: Jogging can be very relaxing if you keep doing it everyday.
A: 啊？一天我都氣喘吁吁，別說堅持了。
B: 楊琳，生命在於運動，Okay?
A: 好啦，別教育我了, Donny老師！ 今天的節目時間差不多了。這次的撰稿人是曉北，編輯是蔚然。同學們，我們下次的美語訓練班再見!
A：Bye!
