节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-12-17
难易度:Medium
关键字:disaster, quality, tuition, volunteer, diabetes, staple
Today we are continuing to learn all about 1919 and the programs that they put
on.
Today so far we've talked about two:
the disaster relief program which helps people when they are in need after a
disaster strikes,
and the second one, the emergency family relief program.
And what... what do they do?
How can they help?
Let's read a story and finish up our lesson for today.
(Music).
1919.
Ming-chung owns a small steamed-bun business in the south.
He developed diabetes and then had several heart operations.
As a result, he ended up with countless medical bills to pay, as well as rent
and his children's tuition.
Thankfully, 1919 stepped in and helped this family survive for several months
while Ming-chung was unable to work.
The food bank.
The 1919 Food Bank opened in 2011 and now serves nearly 4,000 families.
Everyday staples such as soap, rice and oil are donated by individuals,
factories or companies.
Volunteers package these items, which are then distributed every two months to
those in need.
(Music).
Well, I'm grateful for what the food bank here does.
OK, let's go back to the beginning and look at this story more closely.
We're learning about a person named Ming-chung. OK.
Ming-chung owns a small steamed-bun business in the south.
All right.
Well, I enjoy steamed buns, and I hope that his business is going well.
But what happened to him?
Well, tragedy struck. We read:
He developed diabetes and then had several heart operations.
So this is a very difficult thing to go through.
When you develop diabetes, it can be very serious.
And then having several heart operations on top of that would make life very
difficult, especially if you're trying to run your own business.
All right. So what happened?
Well, as a result, he ended up with countless medical bills to pay, as well as
rent and his children's tuition.
All right. So he's responsible for a lot of things.
He needs to pay for a lot of things.
Um... and he ended up with countless medical bills.
If you use the phrase "to end up" like this, it's kind of a negative thing.
I ended up with these bills.
Or I ended up paying the bill at the restaurant for everybody.
Or maybe you could say, uh, she was hoping for a ride home, but she ended up
walking home after school.
Yes. So it's the end result is not something good.
But we do see a word there from our Word Bank in the sentence: tuition.
He had to pay his children's tuition.
And tuition is the money that you pay for classes, usually college or high
school if you go to a school where you must pay tuition.
But many schools are also free.
OK. So what's one question you might need to consider or something you need to
think about when you want to go to a school?
You need to ask the question:
What is the tuition?
Can you afford the intuition?
Can you pay to go to that school?
All right.
And so Ming-chung, he has his own business, he has medical bills to pay and he
also has to pay for his kids' tuition.
He's got a lot of things to take care of.
But we continue reading:
Thankfully, 1919 stepped in and helped this family survive for several months
while Ming-chung was unable to work.
So this is really great news - 1919 was able to help him during this very
difficult time.
That's right.
We read here an interesting phrase: they stepped in.
All right. Let's take a look at that.
When you step in somewhere, that means you get involved.
You weren't involved before, but now you stepped in.
You got yourself involved, and hopefully you're helping people.
That's right.
So usually when you step in, it is to be helpful.
Maybe two of your friends are arguing, and you step in before it becomes a
fight.
You want to help them come to a peaceful conclusion so that they aren't arguing
anymore.
And here 1919 stepped in to help Ming-chung and his family when they were trying
to pay for so many expensive bills.
That's right. So they stepped in to help the family survive.
Now survive can mean many things.
Sometimes it means that you might live or die, you need to survive.
But here, I don't think they're going to die.
I just think they were having a really difficult time and they needed to survive
through this time, uh, with positive spirits.
And that's what 1919 helped to do.
Well, right now it's time for us to watch a video.
I think many people are very thankful for 1919.
(Music).
(Chinese).
It's wonderful to express thanks for something that is just so helpful and so
wonderful.
Well, we continue learning about another program that 1919 includes: the food
bank.
The 1919 food bank opened in 2011 and now serves nearly 4,000 families.
So not 4,000 people but families.
That's right. They serve a lot of people.
All right. Well, you know what a bank is, right?
It's a place where you can save your money.
But of course here we're talking about a food bank.
There's lots of food to provide many families with.
And we read here:
Everyday staples such as soap, rice and oil are donated by individuals,
factories or companies.
Um, staple, Carolyn.
I use a stapler to um, keep my pieces of paper together?
No, no. A staple is something that is just a basic need.
So these are all things that people need on a daily basis in order to have a
healthy life.
And we continue reading who is involved.
Volunteers package these items, which are then distributed every two months to
those in need.
All right. Well, I'm grateful for volunteers.
Let's take a look at that word from our Word Bank: volunteer.
That is someone who helps to serve in some way without getting paid.
This can be a noun or a verb.
You can volunteer to do something.
That's right.
So volunteers help with a lot of different events, especially relief programs or
charities.
There are lots of volunteers involved.
Are you a volunteer?
Would you like to be one?
Think about it. Talk about it in English.
And right now it is time for us to continue learning with Michelle in the
Language Lab.
All right.
(Chinese).
And it's time to hear more from our teachers.
So far today we've learned about different ways that 1919 helps people in need.
We've learned about their disaster relief program, emergency family relief
program.
And of course, they also have a food bank.
Well, what other ways can you help people who are in need?
Get creative.
What are some other ways that you can help?
Carolyn, can you think of any?
Well, I think if you personally want to help, being a volunteer is a great way
to start.
And then it can connect you to other organizations and maybe give you your own
ideas of how you can help or start your own organization.
All right. So get creative.
Think of your own ways that you can help people who are in a bad situation.
Well, we have more to learn about 1919 next time right here at Studio Classroom.
See you then.
(Music).