节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-04-06
难易度:High
关键字:regardless of, clamp down on, feat, ultimate, strikeout, playoff
We've been learning all about Chen Wei-Yin, the pitcher, or one of the pitchers
for the Major League Baseball team the Baltimore Orioles.
And yesterday we learned about some of his statistics, his track record.
But today we're learning about his background so far.
Of course, when he was a young kid, he would play baseball in the neighborhood
alley.
And his parents, or his family, weren't always a big fan of that.
They didn't support that for many reasons.
But now we're going to continue learning about how his dream became a reality.
"Playing with the big boys." Let's read that now.
(Music).
Orioles Pitcher Chen Wei-Yin.
Playing with the big boys.
That dream became a reality in 2012.
However, he received a rude awakening on April 10, 2012, during his MLB start,
which was a game against the Yankees.
Derek Jeter, the first batter, hit a home run!
While the Orioles lost that game, Chen had the most wins, game appearances and
strikeouts of any pitcher for the Orioles last season.
Not to mention their entry into the playoffs - a feat they hadn't accomplished
since 1997 - came after he was on board.
"My responsibility... is to make every pitch my best.
My ultimate goal is to do the best for my team in every game." His reputation as
"a man you can trust" has definitely been well-earned.
We found that Chen is very dedicated to his team and doing his very best.
At the beginning of this section we see the title: Playing with the big boys.
So if he is playing with the big boys, then he is not on his high school team
anymore.
He is now playing professional baseball in the major leagues.
And the first sentence says: That dream became a reality in 2012.
And this was his dream to play with the big boys.
That's right.
If you ever see that phrase "the big boys," it's talking about something
professional or the people who are most serious about a certain thing.
The big boys.
Well, "however," we continue.
However, he received a rude awakening on April 10, 2012, during his MLB start,
which was a game against the Yankees.
Well, we see a phrase there: a rude awakening.
Carolyn, what might that mean?
Well, it might mean that it's something he didn't expect if he is rudely
awakened.
He has a rude awakening, then he is suddenly shocked by something.
It's a big surprise.
That's right.
It wasn't as easy as he dreamed that it would be.
You might use this phrase in another way.
Tom thought the class would be easy, but he was rudely awakened by his first
test score.
Maybe he didn't do so well.
It was a rude awakening.
So Chen Wei-Yin had a rude awakening as well.
That's right.
And we see why he had a rude awakening when he was playing against the Yankees.
We see Derek Jeter, the first batter, hit a home run!
So here Chen is trying to pitch the ball.
And the very first batter, Derek Jeter, hit a home run.
Yeah. Well, that happens in baseball.
And Derek Jeter is a great player.
He hit a home run, or a homer, as you learned how to use the other day.
He hit a home run.
Well, we continue.
While the Orioles lost that game, Chen had the most wins, game appearances and
strikeouts of any pitcher for the Orioles last season.
So he's still very impressive.
Let's talk about some of those things.
Um, Chen had the most wins.
That means that he was the pitcher who had the most wins for their team.
But what does it mean to have an appearance, Carolyn?
Well, if you appear somewhere, then you show up.
You are there, people can see you.
And so he had the most wins and game appearances, means he played as the pitcher
in a lot of games, perhaps the most games.
That's right.
And we see another word here: strikeout.
That means he pitched in a way that caused batters to strike out.
And if you strike out... how many strikes do you have at bat, Carolyn?
Well, when you are batting, you get three strikes, and then you are out.
So you can try to hit the ball three times, and then your turn is over.
That's right.
So Chen is very impressive.
Well, we continue.
Not to mention their entry into the playoffs - a feat they hadn't accomplished
since 1997 - came after he was on board.
And we see that this is a feat they hadn't accomplished since 1997.
And a feat is something impressive that you are able to accomplish.
How else can we use this word, Gabe?
Well, I might say she is an incredible runner.
She ran three marathons this year.
That is quite a feat - something that's not easy to do.
That's right.
And you might say that catcher was able to catch that ball.
It was not a home run because he grabbed it out of the air.
It was quite an amazing feat to see.
That's right.
Well, the sentence does say "not to mention their entry into the playoffs." So
they didn't get into the playoffs for a long time.
But let's take a look at that word "playoff." Yesterday we talked about a word
"postseason." Actually, the postseason games are the playoffs.
It's the same thing.
So the Baltimore Orioles had not been in the postseason, in the playoffs, since
1997.
That's a long time.
But they did once Chen Wei-Yin came on board.
That's right.
And we see that he came on board.
If you come on board, then you join something.
This is a very good phrase.
And it kind of makes me think of going on to a boat.
You join the sailors on a boat.
You are part of their team or their crew.
You are on board.
Well, speaking of teams, I'm glad that you are on board here at Studio
Classroom, Carolyn.
And I know that we enjoyed our time when Nathanael was on board here as well.
So there are different ways to use this word... this kind of idiom here: on
board.
Well, we continue with a quote from Chen.
He says: My responsibility... is to make every pitch my best.
Well, that's a good responsibility to have.
You want to do your best.
That's right.
And he continues: My ultimate goal is to do the best for my team in every game.
So his "ultimate" goal.
This is a word we want to talk about: ultimate.
So his main goal, his main achievement that he wants to do in each game.
He wants to do his very best each time.
That's right.
You might have an ultimate goal.
That's the... the biggest thing that you want to do, the most important.
You could use that word "ultimate" in a slightly different way.
Some people consider IMAX to be the ultimate movie experience.
There is nothing better.
And of course, Chen has an ultimate goal.
We continue.
His reputation as "a man you can trust" has definitely been well-earned.
And actually this was given to him, this reputation, by the Japanese Central
League.
They realize that he was a man that you can trust on the baseball diamond.
That's right.
Well, right now it's time for us to enjoy a review skit.
And then we'll learn something more with Michelle in the Language Lab.
Hey, mister, are you are lefty?
Yes. But it hasn't been easy, especially since I was born in a traditional
Taiwanese family.
Oh. Well, what do you mean?
Well, I used to get scolded for eating with the wrong hand.
Oh, that's too bad.
Yeah. But nobody scolds me now.
Why not?
Because I'm none other than baseball hero Chen Wei-Yin.
Mr. Chen, the made-in-Taiwan pitcher.
That's me.
Wow! Your family must be so proud now.
Yes. But it wasn't always that way.
When I was growing up, they weren't fans of me throwing baseballs around.
Well, why not?
Too many broken windows, bruises and black eyes.
Oops.
My parents clamped down on my ball-throwing at home, but they still let me play
at school.
Good.
So did you have dreams of joining the major leages?
Yes! And that dream became a reality in 2012.
I know! You have the most wins and strikeouts of any pitcher for the Orioles
last year.
Yes. And we entered the playoffs.
Oh. So what's your secret, Mr. Chen?
Well, I just do the best for my team in every game.
And you have a reputation on being a man you can trust.
Yeah. Not bad for a lefty.
Right... I mean, left.
(Chinese).
And let's go back to our teachers now.
The past two days we've been learning all about Chen Wei-Yin and his baseball
career and how it started and a little bit about his history at home.
He didn't always have an easy time when he wanted to play baseball.
His family didn't always support him and sometimes clamped down on his
ball-throwing activities.
And I kind of wonder: Has this ever happened to you?
Is there something that you were very passionate about that you may have
struggled with because you didn't have support from other people?
Gabe, have you ever had this kind of experience?
Well, I love playing drums, but my family did not always like it when I
practiced.
They like it better now that I'm a little better.
Well, drums can be a little bit noisy.
And baseball can be a little bit dangerous if the ball doesn't go where you want
it to.
Well, that's all we have today on Studio Classroom.
But we have much more to learn in our next segment.
See you then.