节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-04-04
难易度:Low
关键字:comeback, determination, leather, down, columnist, Grand Canyon
Well, so far today we've learned an important point from the game of baseball:
Never give up.
Yogi Berra said it ain't over 'til it's over.
That means you need to keep on playing, keep on trying.
Whatever you're doing, be determined.
Have determination to finish well and never give up.
And we learned about an example.
We learned about the Colorado Rockies and how they were losing.
And at the bottom of the ninth inning, they had a comeback, and they won this
game.
So don't give up.
You could win.
We have some more to learn from today's lesson.
So let's get started with the second part of our reading for today.
More Than a Game.
Baseball fan or not, you can still learn from some of the greats.
An understanding of their careers shows that it's not all triples and
no-hitters.
These players found life principles throughout the great American sport they
gave their lives to.
In their eyes, baseball was much more than a leather ball and a wooden stick.
As columnist George Will wrote, "Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And
the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.".
We've been learning a lot about lessons from baseball.
And at the beginning of this paragraph we see: Baseball fan or not, you can
still learn from some of the greats.
So even if you are not a big fan of baseball, you can still learn lessons from
the great players of this game.
That's right.
Some of the greats.
You could talk about great players in a shorter way.
Just say "the greats." So you could talk about basketball greats as well, or
football greats.
Basically, any area of life where someone is really famous or is really
well-known, you might call that person a great.
So we're learning lessons from the baseball greats.
That's right.
And continuing on in the article we see:
An understanding of their careers shows that it's not all triples and
no-hitters.
And these are some baseball terms - triple and no-hitter - that are very
interesting.
Gabe, can you explain them a little bit for us?
Yeah.
Well, a triple is when you hit a ball, you're the batter, you're at bat and you
hit the ball so well that you get all the way to third base without stopping.
So it's not a home run.
It's not a homer.
You don't go all the way around, but you land on third base, which is pretty
good.
And Carolyn, what's a no-hitter?
Well, a no-hitter is when none of the people at bat are able to hit a ball.
Someone still might get on base for other reasons, but no one actually hits the
ball.
That's right.
So an understanding of these baseball people's... or baseball greats careers is
that it's not all triples and no-hitters.
There are great things that happen, and of course, bad times as well.
Well, we continue.
These players found life principles throughout the great American sport they
gave their lives to.
There are life principles, life principles like the lessons that we have been
learning: Never give up.
I also think of some other life principles that maybe you can learn from sports.
But they're good life principles like being patient.
Having patience is a good life principal.
Carolyn, are there any good life principles that you can think of?
Well, there are a lot of good life principles like being part of a team.
Learning how to do teamwork is very important.
But there is a phrase at the end of this sentence: gave their lives to.
If you give your life to something, then that is what your life is all about.
You might say that the scientist gave his life to science.
So all he did was research.
All right.
Someone gave their lives to research to find the cure for cancer.
That's a good thing to give your life to.
I also think about our boss here at Studio Classroom.
She gave her life to the people of Taiwan and the people of Asia, and especially
teaching English; she gave her life to this.
So someone who gives their life to something, that means they use all of their
energy on one thing.
So baseball players give their lives to the great sport of baseball.
And right now it's time for us to continue learning something which Steve and
Ken in the Information Cloud.
Hey, I'm really glad to have a friend like you, Steve.
You're a real pal.
Thanks, Karen.
You're a real pal, too.
You're a good friend.
Hi, friends.
We hope you can be our pals, too.
Today we'd like to teach you how to tell the difference between two words,
principle and principal.
One is spelled P-R-I-N-C-I-P-L-E.
The other is spelled P-R-I-N-C-I-P-A-L.
Now both of these words sound the same, but they have different meanings.
A principal, ending in P-A-L, is the head of a school.
And a principle, spelled with P-L-E at the end, is a rule, standard or belief of
one kind or another.
A good way to remember the different spellings is to remember that a principal,
meaning the head of a school, is always your pal or friend.
Why?
Because principal is spelled with P-A-L at the end, just like the word pal.
Principle, ending in P-L-E, has only one meaning: a rule, standard or belief,
whereas principal, ending in P-A-L, has many meanings.
That's right, Ken.
As a noun, it can mean the leader of a school or the non-interest part of a
loan.
As an adjective, however, principal means most important.
(Chinese).
Continuing in our article we see: In their eyes, baseball was much more than a
leather ball and a wooden stick.
So in the eyes of these baseball greats, baseball was much more than just a ball
and a stick.
And we see that phrase "in their eyes." What does that mean, Gabe?
Well, that means "to them" or "according to them." So in their eyes.
I might also say: You know, in my eyes, you're the best.
How else would you use that phrase, Carolyn?
Well, in God's eyes, everyone is important and special.
All right. In God's eyes, everyone is important and special.
And in these baseball greats' eyes, baseball is much more than a leather ball
and a wooden stick, or the bat.
Let's take a look at that word "leather." What is leather, Carolyn?
Well, leather is made from the skin of an animal.
And a lot of people like to wear shoes that are made out of leather, or belts
made out of leather.
And here we find that baseballs are also made of leather.
That's right, baseballs.
And of course, a baseball glove is also made of leather.
And it could be made from different kinds of animal skin, maybe cows or
crocodiles.
There are different kinds of leather.
Well, we continue.
As columnist George Will wrote:
Baseball, it is said, is only a game.
True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.
Well, George Will is a columnist.
What is a columnist?
Well, a columnist is someone who writes.
It's a kind of writer.
And he was probably writing for a newspaper because we usually think of a
newspaper column.
So he writes a column in the newspaper.
All right.
And we see the Grand Canyon here.
The Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.
Well, if you've ever been to the Grand Canyon, it's not just a little hole.
It's a great, big, spectacular, fantastic place to visit.
So what he's saying here is that like the Grand Canyon, baseball has had a big
impact, a lot of influence.
Well, it's time for us to continue by doing something fun.
Let's go and enjoy a review skit.
And then we'll go see Michelle in the Language Lab.
Take me out to the ball game.
Take me, too.
I love baseball.
Baseball and the U.S. have a long history together.
Yeah. Baseball is as American as uh... American apple pie.
Yeah. And that's what people say.
People say other things, too.
Yeah, like the great baseball player Yogi Berra.
Yogi was the famous catcher and manager for the New York Yankees.
That's right.
And he said it's not over till it's over.
It's not over till it's over?
What's not over?
The baseball game.
It continues until the very last out.
Well, doesn't everyone know that already?
Yes. But sometimes one team is way ahead, and we are sure they will win.
Right. But they may not win.
Right. There's always a time for a comeback in baseball.
So play with determination until the very end.
Yes.
Never give up.
It's not over till it's over.
Hey, that's another great life lesson, isn't it?
Sure is.
You can find great life principles in this great American sport.
Yes, you can.
It's more than just a leather ball and a wooden stick.
So take me out to the ball game.
Yeah, let's play ball.
So... is it over?
Yeah, it's over.
Oh. Say goodbye.
Goodbye.
Bye.
It's over when it's over.
OK.
(Chinese).
And now let's get back to the teachers.
The past three days we have learned a lot of really great lessons from this game
of baseball.
And I wonder which lesson you think is the most important to you.
Gabe, is there one lesson that really stands out to you?
Yeah. I like what Babe Ruth said: Every strike brings me one step closer to the
next home run.
And so he didn't just view his failures as something to bring him down.
He knew there was something better coming, another home run.
And I think that I can learn about many different areas of life from that
lesson.
That's right.
It is important to think positively and always take a step foward.
Keep moving forward.
Well, we hope that you have enjoyed learning about baseball and the life lessons
it can bring here on Studio Classroom.
And we will see you next time. See you.