节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-12-11
难易度:Low
关键字:romance, bond, drift, costume, otter, hormone
Today we are learning all about happy facts that are sure to put a smile on your
face.
So far we've talked about three great ones:
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse's voice actors were married in real life.
Cows have best friends and want to be close to them.
And there is an adorable sport where rabbits jump over little hurdles and try to
go through an obstacle course.
Well, we have more facts to learn in the next part of our lesson.
Keep smiling.
(Music).
Happy Facts.
Hanging on: Otters hold hands when they sleep.
This stops them from drifting away from each other.
Hugs heal: When you touch another person, your body produces a hormone called
oxytocin.
Studies suggest that oxytocin actually helps heal physical wounds.
Superheroes visit sick children: Sometimes window washers at children's
hospitals wear superhero costumes.
The kids love these visits from their favorite characters.
Remember these facts, and you'll always have a reason to smile.
All right.
Well, I'm sure there are many other reasons to smile as well.
But let's take a look at some of these fun facts.
So the first one we read here is hanging on.
Hanging on could mean different things.
I get the idea of security if you're hanging on to something.
Is that what you think of, Carolyn?
Well, that is one way.
Another thing might be that you're afraid of something and you just need to hang
on so that you don't give up.
Well, let's see what "hanging on" here means.
We read: Otters hold hands when they sleep.
Oh. So they're hanging on to each other, Gabe.
Yeah. I had no idea otters did this.
Maybe I've seen a picture or two of them doing this, but this is kind of cute as
well. OK.
So these otters hold hands when they sleep.
And we read here: This stops them from drifting away from each other.
Well, let's take a look at that word from our Word Bank: to drift.
If you're being carried away on the water or in the air, then you are drifting
away.
That's right. So you might say that the raft drifted down the river.
It's not necessarily a bad thing.
It's good that your raft is going down the river.
That's what it should be doing so that you can enjoy the water.
But here the otters do not want to drift apart from each other.
They want to stay with their otter friends.
That's right. OK.
So what other things can drift away?
Well, like I said before, it could drift away in the air.
Maybe you are holding a helium balloon.
But then you accidentally let it go, and now it is slowly drifting away into the
air. OK.
So these things drift away.
And uh, you can see a picture of an otter in your magazine, and you can see a
picture here as well.
Otters are quite cute animals.
They are, and especially when they're holding hands while they're sleeping.
Well, we have another very happy fact - Hugs heal.
When you touch another person, your body produces a hormone called oxytocin.
So hugs heal, Gabe.
Why do we say that?
Well, because it's true, hugs can heal.
They can have the healing effect, especially for someone who maybe is not used
to hugging at all.
They're not used to being physical.
It's important to know that hugs actually can heal.
Now there's this... a hormone that's produced called oxytocin.
What's a hormone?
Well, there are different kinds of hormones.
I think of men as having the hormone of testosterone and women having a lot of
estrogen.
There are different kinds of hormones.
There are a lot of different kinds of hormones, and they all serve different
functions.
Now this hormone, oxytocin, that is produced with physical touch, we read:
Studies suggest that oxytocin actually helps heal physical wounds.
So if you are hurt in some way and someone gives you a hug, then your body will
start to produce this hormone, which can help your body heal.
All right.
So it's so important to know how to hug people and know when to hug people. OK.
Don't shy away from hugs.
All right.
Right now it's time for us to learn something new with Steve and Ken in the
Information Cloud.
Our lesson today tells us that hugs heal.
Well, giving a hug is a pretty simple thing to do, isn't it?
After all, that's how we usually greet friends in America - with a hug.
To most Americans and Westerners, yes, hugging is an everyday behavior.
But to most people in Asia, hugging someone can be an awkward thing to do,
especially hugging in public.
And I found that out the hard way.
When I was leaving China and tried to give a female friend a hug, she stiffened
up and... and tried to duck away.
And I bet she had a look of horror on her face.
Yes, she did.
So now, hugging is something I think twice about before I do it when I'm in
Asia.
But friends, if you ever visit the U.S., you'll find that people not only hug,
but they even kiss when they see each other.
And when they write a letter or a card, they sometimes put two circles and two
Xs at the end to indicate hugs and kisses.
Or they might write out "Big hugs" instead of "Sincerely" at the end of a letter
as a way of showing affection.
So friends, maybe you don't feel the need to hug and kiss to show affection, but
if you go to America, that's something you'll see Americans do.
So don't be shy.
Give a friend or family member a hug.
Maybe you'll find that you like it.
(Chinese).
Thank you, guys.
Hugs are very important.
Well, who can you hug today?
Maybe you can go home and give your parents a hug.
Continuing in our article with our next happy fact:
Superheroes visit sick children.
Now Gabe, this is a very nice, happy fact.
It makes me feel very warm.
Well, yeah, me, too - superheroes visiting children.
And of course we read how here.
Sometimes window washers at children's hospitals wear superhero costumes.
OK. So of course it's not really Superman outside, or Spiderman.
But of course they're wearing these costumes and they are becoming the
superheroes for these kids.
And they are window washers.
So they are on these little platforms outside the window.
And it looks like they are flying or being suspended from a rope.
So they seem like real superheroes from movies and comic books.
And they are wearing costumes, a word from our Word Bank.
A costume is an outfit or clothing that is worn by someone in a play, some kind
of performance, and they're trying to become a character.
All right.
So that's one time you would wear a costume is if you are performing.
And of course these window washers, they become these superheroes.
And they put on these costumes like Spiderman, Superman, Batman.
Who is your favorite superhero?
Who would you love to have come and visit you at the hospital?
Well, these kids love it.
And we read: The kids love these visits from their favorite characters.
It's a really special time for them.
Well, remember these facts, all of these happy facts, and you'll always have a
reason to smile.
All right. Well, it's time for us to learn something new with Michelle.
She always gives us a new reason to smile.
OK.
(Chinese).
Now I'll give the time back to our teachers.
Well, we've learned some happy facts today.
And they're very important to think about if you are ever feeling sad or having
a bad day.
It's good to think about something happy.
Well, what do you do to make yourself feel better if you are having a bad day?
Carolyn?
Well, I like to take time to talk to my friends about what is making me upset.
And if my friends are busy and maybe that's why I'm having a bad day,
I'd take time to read the Bible because there's always something in there that
is encouraging from God.
You know, I feel the same way.
He understands our pain more than anybody, and so He can encourage us in the
best way.
Sometimes I also write a letter to a friend that I haven't got in touch with in
a long time.
That might also make me feel happy.
Well, what do you do when you are sad to make yourself feel happy?
Thank you for joining us today.
And of course, we'll see you next time right here at Studio Classroom.
See you.
(Music).