节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-04-08
难易度:Low
关键字:suburb, frustrate, overcome, make the most of, comfort zone, embrace
In our lesson Home Away From Home today,
we're learning with Pauline and her family as they have decided to move away
from their comfort zone of Taipei and live in the suburbs of Washington D.C.
This is not an easy decision, but they had a lot of questions that they needed
to answer as well because they had two teenage daughters.
And so they're wondering how they will adjust to this new life.
There are many questions that can only be answered in time.
But we're going to see how Pauline finishes her story for today.
Let's get started with the second reading of our lesson today.
Home Away From Home.
But we decided to accept the offer, so we are bravely embracing this challenge.
We have decided we can overcome any difficulties.
We also decided to make the most of it.
We plan to travel, explore and learn about "real" American culture and life.
Large numbers of tourists come here to see the White House, the Pentagon,
Capitol Hill and the Smithsonian.
We plan to go, too!
(Music).
It sounds like Pauline and her family will be very busy because they have so
many great places that they can visit around Washington D.C.
Well, at the beginning of this section of the reading we see:
But we decided to accept the offer, so we are bravely embracing this challenge.
They are bravely embracing the challenge of living in the United States after
moving from their home in Taipei.
Well, if you embrace something, what does that mean, Gabe?
Usually I think about this as like hugging something, not letting it go.
So you might embrace your friend when you haven't seen them for a long time.
We're talking about embracing a challenge here.
That means not being afraid of it.
It's the opposite of fearing it.
You are embracing it.
You're taking it on, letting it be a part of you.
Can you embrace other things in life?
Well, yeah.
If you go to a different country, you might embrace that culture.
What else might you embrace, Carolyn?
Well, you can embrace many different kinds of things.
And you can embrace the challenge.
You can embrace the culture.
It is a very useful word.
Well, continuing on we see:
We had decided we can overcome any difficulties.
So if they can overcome them, then the challenge is no longer there.
You can overcome difficulties.
How else can you use this word, Gabe?
Well, if you have a challenge, and you're not sure how to get through it, don't
give up.
I'm sure that you can overcome.
You can do what you need to do to overcome that challenge.
That's right.
And we see that Pauline and her family:
"We also decided to make the most of it." And if you make the most of something,
then you do your very best in the situation that you are in now.
How can you make the most of something, Gabe?
Well, I really like this idiom: to make the most of something.
So let's say, for example, that you are going on vacation, and you want to make
the most of your trip.
That means you don't just sit inside your hotel room watching TV.
Please don't do that.
If you're going to another country on vacation, make the most of your time.
Get to know the country and the culture.
Make the most of it.
It is great to make the most of your time to spend your time wisely.
If you are trying to learn English, then you should make the most of your time
and practice if you have a few spare minutes.
There's always time to practice.
So make the most of it.
That's right.
Make the most of it.
Well, we continue our lesson here.
Pauline says: We plan to travel, explore and learn about "real" American culture
and life.
So it sounds like they are going to make the most of their time in the United
States.
Now Carolyn, this word "real" here is in quotation marks.
What does that mean?
Well, usually if something is in quotation marks, then it has a slightly
different meaning.
And so if you have "real" American life, it's not just what you see in movies,
on TV, maybe on the Internet,
but they actually get to experience the real life of Americans in Washington
D.C.
That's a great way to put it.
Well, right now it's time for us to experience a real slide show - some pictures
that Pauline and her family have taken while living in the United States.
Let's do that now.
(Music).
Those were some very lovely pictures.
Thank you for sharing those with us.
Well, continuing on we see:
Large numbers of tourists come here to see the White House, the Pentagon,
Capitol Hill and the Smithsonian.
Those are some very famous locations around D.C. because it's the capital of the
United States.
Have you ever been to those places, Gabe?
Oh, great question.
I've been to D.C.
I've seen the White House, but not really up close.
And I've been to the Smithsonian.
That's a museum there in Washington D.C.
You can learn a lot about some history in the United States and see some cool
things at the Smithsonian.
Carolyn, did you ever go to any of these places?
Well, I actually worked in Washington D.C. for a summer.
Yeah! It was... it was a really amazing experience.
And I was working on Capitol Hill.
So I have been to Capitol Hill many times.
And I've also gone past the Pentagon, seen the White House and visited several
of the Smithsonian museums because they have many different kinds of museums.
That's right.
Well, D.C. is an exciting place to visit if you ever get a chance to go.
And as Pauline wrote here: We plan to go, too!
So they've heard about these famous places, and they also plan to go.
Well, right now it's time for us to go and visit Michelle in the Language Lab.
(Chinese).
Now I'll give the time back to our teachers.
Today we had a lot of fun learning about Pauline and her family and their move
to the United States to Washington D.C.
And it kind of makes me wonder if you could live anywhere in the world, where
would you choose to live.
Gabe, is there someplace that you would really love to live?
That's a great question because usually I might think about places I've been to
because I kind of know what they are like.
But I'm going to say somewhere in South America because I've never been there.
And from what I hear, the lifestyles are pretty laid back, which suits my
personality.
That's just one reason why I might want to go and move or live there.
Well, that does sound very interesting.
It would be quite an adventure to go to South America and live there if you've
never been.
I really like places that are convenient, have good food, friendly people.
And so I think that's why I'm very happy right now living in Taipei.
It's a really wonderful place to live.
Well, we've had a great time today learning from Pauline and her family's
experiences in the United States.
And we still have more to learn from her tomorrow in our lesson here on Studio
Classroom.
See you then.
Have a great day.