节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-01-13
难易度:Low
关键字:exchange, obtain, broaden, procedure, eventually, competence, Secondary
Level English Proficiency Te
Today we are learning about how one young man decided to study abroad before
entering high school.
His parents suggested that he attend an exchange program in the U.S.
So he looked up information about Ayusa.
Then he made the decision to broaden his horizons and apply for the program.
Let's find out what else Alex experienced as a part of this decision by reading
the next part of the article.
Then Michelle will help us understand some important words from today's lesson.
Let's learn.
(Music).
The Decision.
But first I had to pass the SLEP (Secondary Level English Proficiency Test).
Then I had to fill out many forms and get a health check.
That helps the families decide which student to host.
Ayusa helped with other procedures like flights.
There was some fun during the process, too.
For example, Ayusa held a prom.
We practiced asking girls to dance.
At first, we were all shy, but eventually everyone tried and had a great time!
Now, off I go!
OK.
(Chinese).
And now let's go to our lesson.
Wow, our author has to prepare for a lot of tests.
That's right.
Earlier we learned that he was studying for the Basic Competence Test to get
into high school.
And now we find out that he had to pass the SLEP, the Secondary Level English
Proficiency Test, in order to participate in this exchange program.
And he needed to fill out a lot of forms and get a health check.
Now the author writes that host families choose which students they want to
host.
This is because host families are sent a list of students with their pictures,
home country and a short biography.
Yes. This is actually really important information for the host families.
For example, if a host family has a dog, they should not choose a student who is
allergic.
Right. Or if a host family loves to go surfing, they can choose a student who
also enjoys surfing.
These things help the student and host family to form a strong relationship.
That's right.
When my family had a chance to host an exchange student, we chose a Japanese
girl who is interested in music.
Can you guess why?
Hmm... um, because you were an exchange student in Japan?
That's part of it.
It was also because my parents still had two daughters living at home, so a girl
would be better for our family.
And one of my sisters was in band, so our exchange student could join the band,
and they could play music together.
Well, it sounds like your parents put a lot of thought into who would be the
best student for your family.
Yes, they did.
And our new exchange sister had a really wonderful year.
You know, the organization in the article, Ayusa, also seems to be very focused
on students' needs.
They even help the students with their travel arrangements.
This is a very important service for the organization to provide.
For many students, this exchange program is their first time traveling to
another country.
You know, I remember the first time I traveled by myself, and it wasn't that
easy.
Yeah. Getting assistance with procedures like booking flights makes traveling
much easier.
And the organization didn't stop with just basic procedures.
They even held a special event called a prom.
And that is a special type of dance held by high schools near the end of the
school year.
At my school, only juniors and seniors were given tickets to prom, but other
students could go if they were invited by a junior or senior.
How interesting.
So this event is usually in the spring.
Guys get dressed up in nice suits and girls wear fancy dresses, and then they
dance the night away.
Gabe, did you know that prom is actually short for promenade or promenade?
That's the formal name for this type of dance.
But for high school, most people just call it prom.
Now if you've been following along in your magazine, you'll know that the next
sentence has a great grammar point in it.
And of course, you know what that means.
It's time to learn something with Liz.
And then we have a great review skit to enjoy.
And of course, a summary from our editor Linda.
Let's go!
Hello, friends.
I hope you're all doing well today.
My name is Liz. And thinks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym.
In today's article, the writer says:
At first, we were all shy, but eventually everyone tried and had a great time!
That's our Grammar Tip sentence.
Our focus today is on the comma in the middle of the sentence, between the words
"shy" and "but." Why is the comma there?
It's because today's Grammar Tip sentence is a combination of two independent
clauses or complete sentences.
Part 1: At first we were all shy.
Part 2: Eventually everyone tried and had a great time.
Put the two together, add a comma and a conjunction "but" in between the two
sentences, and we have today's Grammar Tip sentence.
Let's have a look at some example sentences.
Part 1: We can go to the beach to watch the sunset.
Part 2: We can drive into the mountains instead.
Connect these two with a conjunction "or" and we get:
We can go to the beach to watch the sunset, (comma) or we can drive into the
mountains instead.
Here's another one.
Part 1: Timothy will handle the guest list.
Part 2: Maurice is in charge of the food and decorations.
Combine the two together with the conjunction "and" and we have:
Timothy will handle the guest list, (comma) and Maurice is in charge of the food
and decorations.
If you turn to today's Grammar Tip section in your magazine, you'll find more
example sentences there.
That's it for today.
This is Liz from the Grammar Gym.
See you next time.
Busy, busy, busy.
Busy doing what?
Preparing for the Basic Competence Test for junior high school students.
Ooh, you really are busy.
Yes. My life is busy.
But it's not interesting.
No?
No.
Excuse me... Hi, Mom. Uh-huh.
Really?
Yes... yes!
Wow! Hooray!
Well, so what was that about?
My parents want to know if I'm interested in attending an exchange program.
You mean an opportunity to study abroad?
Yes! I would stay with a host family.
How exciting!
Yeah. Let me look online and obtain more information.
A-Y-U-S-A.
A-ha!
Well, what does it say?
It's a great chance to improve my English.
Wow! Anything else?
I can experience different cultures and broaden my vision.
Well, that's great.
Mmhm...
But first I have to pass the SLEP Test.
The sleep test?
That's easy.
No. No... not sleep. S-L-E-P, SLEP.
Oh. Well, anything else?
Uh... Oh, I have to fill out a lot of forms and get a health check.
Hmm. Well, what about other procedures like flights?
AYUSA will help me with those.
Look, they even have a prom!
A prom! Wow! You'll have to ask girls to dance.
I can do that... eventually.
Well, tell me more! What else?
Not now, shh. I have to study for my SLEP Test.
I'm busy, busy, busy.
Yeah, busy but excited!
We begin a journey with our author Alex today.
He decided to take a year and go to America through an exchange program and
study in high school there.
Our article tells the steps he took to apply and some of the fun that was
involved along the way as well.
Don't miss it!
(Music).
Today we've had the opportunity to learn a little bit more about studying
abroad.
That's right.
Being an exchange student means doing research, choosing a program and filling
out a detailed application.
It also means getting a health check as well as taking a language proficiency
test depending on which country you want to study in.
Carolyn, did you need to do all of that to go to Japan?
Most of it!
I did have that 16-page application, but I didn't have to take a proficiency
test because I was only going for a summer,
and it wouldn't count toward school credit.
Hmm, I see.
Well, it's certainly a great experience that can have a huge impact on your
life.
Absolutely.
As our author writes, "Now, off I go," and it is time for us to be off as well.
Well, I hope that you will go off and continue practicing your English.
See you next time right here at Studio Classroom.
We'll see you then