节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-11-25
难易度:Medium
关键字:proverb, theme, haste, exclaim
Today we are learning all about the pearls of wisdom that can be found in
proverbs.
There are so many proverbs that are used in the English language like: An apple
a day keeps the doctor away.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Have you heard these common proverbs before?
Well, many cultures have proverbs, and they have common themes.
So we are going to be able to learn more about proverbs from other languages.
Let's get started with the next part of our reading.
(Music).
Pearls of Wisdom in Proverbs.
For example, many cultures value old people for their wisdom and experience.
This idea can be found in proverbs.
A Chinese proverb says, "An old horse will never get lost." And a Portuguese
proverb states,
"An old pan is the one that makes good food." Many cultures also agree that
acting in haste is not a good idea.
The English say, "Good and quickly seldom meet.".
The Chinese say, "Think three times before you act.".
A Russian proverb exclaims, "Take your thoughts to bed with you, for the morning
is wiser.".
Well, these are great proverbs.
All right.
Let's go back to the beginning of this section to see some examples of some of
these proverbs.
We read: For example, many cultures value old people for their wisdom and
experience.
They value old people for their wisdom and experience.
This is a good phrase to know: if you value someone or something for something
else.
How else could you use that phrase, Carolyn?
Well, in our modern world with so much technology, we value computers, or we
value smartphones for their convenience.
Yes, we certainly do.
Now, let's see, you can also value people for something.
For example, Carolyn, I value you for your friendship.
I value you for your honesty.
I also value you for the way that you like to do things, you want things to be
done right.
I value you for these things.
Oh. Well, thank you, Gabe.
I value your friendship as well.
Well, you can value people for many different things.
And here we are talking about cultures valuing old people for their wisdom and
experience.
We read: This idea can be found in proverbs.
A Chinese proverb says: An old horse will never get lost.
All right. An old horse will never get lost.
Have you heard that proverb before?
Well, what does that mean?
That means someone who is older is wiser, and they know the way better, of
course.
Well, the next one is a Portuguese one.
And the Portuguese proverb states: An old pan is the one that makes good food.
What does that mean?
Well, that is a very interesting one.
So someone who has lots of experience produces good things.
They are able to have good results.
And this is a very common theme.
I know a lot of cooks who like to keep their pans not too, too clean.
They don't wash them thoroughly because they like the taste that is left after
you cook many different meals.
Hmm... that's why the meals taste so delicious.
Wow! OK, I'm going to stop thinking about food here. Continuing on:
Many cultures also agree that acting in haste is not a good idea.
Well, it's not a good idea to do everything quickly.
Let's take a look at that word "haste." OK.
If you do something in haste, that means you do it quickly.
And there is a common phrase: Haste makes waste.
If you do something really quickly, well, that's kind of a wasted product.
It's not going to be that great.
That's right.
So if you rush through something, you don't give it enough time to develop and
to really do a good job, then it's just a wasted effort.
So haste, we learn some proverbs about that issue.
The English say, "Good and quickly seldom meet." So good things and things that
are done quickly are usually not found together.
That's right.
Do you agree with that?
If you want to have a really good product, that's going to require you to invest
your time, energy.
It might make you tired.
You might need to work a long time on something.
But it will be a good product, not something you can do quickly.
That's right.
And we continue.
The Chinese say: Think three times before you act.
So you should take time to really think about something before you decide
whether or not to do it.
That's right.
Now I've heard the English phrase: Think twice... or think before you speak.
But this is something similar - Think three times before you act.
All right. Next, Russia.
A Russian proverb exclaims, "Take your thoughts to bed with you, for the morning
is wiser." I like that a lot.
Sometimes if you say something right away in your anger, you might say something
hurtful to somebody else.
So just think about it overnight.
You might feel better in the morning, or at least be wiser.
That's right.
And we see a word there from our Word Bank, the word exclaim.
Now if you exclaim, then you say something very loudly, very firmly.
You believe what you are saying.
You believe it.
I heard someone exclaim something a couple of years ago.
I went to a church and saw some people get baptized.
This person was sharing his story, how he came to know God.
And he said... just before he got baptized, he said, "I have no shame." His life
was changed.
Of course we feel shame sometimes for the things we've done.
But now he has a relationship with God.
"I have no shame!" And that's such an encouraging thing to know.
And he exclaimed it.
He did not hide it.
He said it loudly and firmly, just like this Russian proverb.
Well, right now it is time for us to enjoy a review skit.
And then we'll spend some time with Michelle in the Language Lab.
Proverbs are like pearls of wisdom.
Proverbs?
That's right.
A short statement that contains a general truth.
Oh, yeah. OK.
Proverbs are popularly known and often repeated.
Oh, yeah, like uh... like uh...
Like out of sight...
Out of mind!
And an apple a day...
... keeps the doctor away.
Don't put all your eggs...
... in one basket!
Hey, I know more proverbs than I thought.
Yes. You hear them often.
Does every culture have proverbs?
Yes. Some are special for one culture, but some have common themes.
Oh, like what?
Well, here is a Chinese proverb.
An old horse will never get lost.
Old horse.
And a Portuguese proverb: An old pan is the one that makes good food.
Old pan? Oh, oh! Those show value for the wisdom of older people?
Yes. Listen to some others.
An English proverb says: Good and quickly seldom meet.
Hmm.
A Chinese proverb says: Think three times before you act.
And a Russian proverb: Take your thoughts to bed with you, for the morning is
wiser.
Oh. Oh, oh, those proverbs value taking time to think about things carefully.
That's right, and to do things carefully.
Yeah.
I really enjoy proverbs.
I can see that.
(Music).
All right.
(Chinese).
And now back to our lesson.
Whoa...
Well, we've been talking all about proverbs here today.
And we thought it would be fun to bring some of these proverbs to life.
So as you can see, I'm dressed up like a doctor going to visit Carolyn because
she's sick.
Oh, no, no, Gabe.
No need to come.
I have this apple.
And an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
So you can go back over... over there. Yes, away... away.
Oh, man.
Yep. There you go.
Well, I noticed you have some baskets there.
What's that all about?
I do! Well, I have a bunch of eggs.
And I can't put all of my eggs in one basket.
So I have two baskets of eggs.
Oh, very nice.
That's very wise.
And as you can see, I have an old horse.
An old horse will never get lost.
So, horse, which way should we go?
Uh, to the apple?
You... you want the apple.
OK! Well, here you go.
Oh, well. Uh, we still have lots to learn about proverbs tomorrow here on Studio
Classroom.
So we'll see you then.
Well, not so fast, not... Haste makes waste...