节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-01-04
难易度:Low
关键字:ski, steadily, challenging, skip, groom


























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Today we've been learning all about skiing.
Pauline and her family went to a ski camp and attended a beginners' class.
This winter sport can be a lot of fun as you learn to slide, to stop, to turn
and to get up.
It's important to stay warm while you ski, but it's also important to wear
clothes that don't hold in water.
Otherwise you might catch a cold.
Well, moving around in all of the ski gear can be difficult.
But once you're used to it, you are sure to have a fun time.
Let's continue with the second part of the reading.
Then we'll join Michelle to learn some important words in the Language Lab.
(Music).
Winter Wonderland.
The beginners' class was full of kids under 8.
They moved so fast and learned so quickly that we adults could hardly catch up.
My husband was brave enough to try the challenging "black-diamond trail," which
is usually steep and not groomed.
As for me, I stayed on the beginners' hill for a little while.
Then I went inside to sip my sweet hot chocolate.
I sat back and enjoyed the natural beauty of the snow.
It was a once-in-a-life time experience.
All right.
(Chinese).
And let's see what our teachers are doing.
Thanks, Michelle.
Continuing with the article, we learn that most of the people learning how to
ski were actually children.
Many parents who enjoy skiing want their children to learn at a young age
because they are able to pick it up very quickly.
The children in this class were quite young since many of them were under 8
years old.
And that's a good point.
It's interesting that this is called the beginners' class.
Are they in a classroom?
No.
Here "class" is used to describe a group of people who are learning together,
but it doesn't have to be inside a classroom.
In fact, this class should be outside.
You're right. When you learn to ski, you don't sit in a classroom as someone
talks to you about skiing.
They actually have you practice outside while they tell you what to do.
Learning in action!
I like it.
We also find out in the article that the kids in the class did learn much faster
than the adults.
They were able to move around on their skis and start skiing very quickly.
And Pauline says something interesting here.
She says "we adults." Why doesn't she just say "the adults"?
She wants to make sure that the readers know that she is including herself with
the other adults who are learning to ski.
If she only said "the adults," it wouldn't be clear whether or not she was
talking about herself or just other people.
So the kids were learning faster than Pauline and the other adults.
But Pauline's husband seems to have a bit more experience with skiing.
He decided to ski on the black-diamond trail.
That is very impressive.
Black-diamond trails are for very skilled skiers.
So he must have gone skiing many times before.
I think you're right.
Now would you want to try to ski on a black-diamond trail?
I actually think that sounds really scary.
The trails are not groomed, so there is no clear path.
Maybe if I were more experienced, I would try it, but not right now.
What about you, Gabe?
Well, I think I would need some more practice as well.
But I definitely want to try it out... sometime in the future.
Now while Pauline's husband took on the challenge of the black-diamond trail,
Pauline stayed on the beginners' hill.
That sounds more like me.
Uh, Gabe, did you know there is another name for the beginners' hill?
Yes, I did.
It's also called the bunny hill or the bunny slope.
Right.
It's a nice, little hill for bunnies or new skiers to practice on without
worrying about getting hurt.
You simply go to the top of a small hill and slide down.
You might be able to get a little speed, but it's very easy to slow down on that
hill.
All right.
Now if you have your magazine open, you'll notice that this sentence brings us
to our Grammar Tip of the day.
Let's go to the Grammar Gym and see what Liz has to say about this phrase: as
for me.
Hi there, friends.
Thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym.
My name is Liz.
In today's article, the writer mentions:
As for me, I stayed on the beginners' hill for a little while.
That's our Grammar Tip sentence.
Our focus today is on the phrase: as for me.
It just means for my part.
So in today's sentence, the writer is talking about her activity after she
mentioned what her family members were doing.
So consider using this phrase "as for me" when you want to talk about your part
or your activity in contrast to what other people's parts or activities.
For example:
Everyone wanted to go out and play.
As for me, I was happy to stay at home.
Or: My teammates all thought the proposal was a bad idea.
As for me, I think we should give it a try.
If you'd like to see some more example sentences, then check out today's Grammar
Tip section for more examples.
This is Liz from the Grammar Gym.
See you next time.
Bye.
Well, thank you so much, Liz.
I'm glad that Pauline was able to sit back and relax while drinking her hot
chocolate.
Me, too.
It sounds like she was able to enjoy her winter wonderland fantasy after all.
I think you are right about that.
You know what I would enjoy right now?
What would you enjoy right now?
Watching a review skit.
Oh. Well, that sounds like a great idea.
After that, we can enjoy a summary of today's lesson with our editor Linda. Here
we go.
(Music).
Is it snowing?
Is it snowing?
You always ask that question.
Well, that's because I grew up on a subtropical island.
I've always had a fantasy about a snowy winter wonderland.
Let me guess.
The snow is falling, and you imagine sitting around the fireplace enjoying
steaming hot chocolate.
Oh. And it seems so cozy.
Yeah. So where's the snow?
Well, in reality, snow can be very messy.
But... I love snow.
Yeah, I understand why.
Maybe you'll get two hours, oh, or a half day off school.
Maybe I'll get a whole day off school.
A whole day off?
Yeah. Let the playtime begin - building a snowman, sliding down hills... oh,
having snowball fight.
Well, for adults, snow is not that much fun.
We have to shovel the driveway.
It's such a bother.
Despite the trouble, snow can be exciting.
Exciting?
Sure. We can go skiing.
Skiing?
We don't know how to ski.
We can take lessons.
We can learn to stop and turn.
And get up after a fall.
Yeah! it will be challenging and exciting... and fun.
Maybe you're right.
Skiing is a great idea.
So, is it snowing? Is it snowing?
Yeah. Where's the snow?
(Music).
Skiing is a great winter sport when there is lots of snow.
You know, one year Pauline and her husband went to a ski camp in a state famous
for skiing - Colorado.
The description of Pauline's first experience with ski gear and trying to ski
brought back my own memories.
While her husband enjoyed a very challenging hill called the black-diamond,
usually very steep and not well-groomed,
Pauline enjoyed warming up with her hot chocolate and enjoying the beauty of the
snow - after her hard work on the beginners' hill.
(Music).
I just love hot chocolate.
Well, thank you, Linda, so much.
Now Carolyn, it sounds like you have skied before.
Well, I went skiing once.
My brother's housemate used to work at a ski resort, so my family and I went and
tried it out.
Did you have a fun time?
It was fun, but it was also very difficult because it was my first time.
The long skis felt strange, so it took some time to get used to it.
Now did you stay on the bunny hill the entire time?
Or did you try some of the other slopes?
Well, I spent most of my time on the bunny hill since I was a beginner.
But I went on one of the smaller hills later.
Was it a little bit scary or was it OK?
It was a little scary but not bad, so.
Have you been skiing?
It could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
That's right.
Well, thank you so much for joining us today.
And we will see you next time right here on Studio Classroom.
See you.
Get some hot chocolate. It's delicious.