节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-04-09
难易度:Low
关键字:definitely, flock, capture, keepsake, National Cherry Blossom Festival,
commemorate
Well, today we have been learning some more from Pauline and her experiences in
Washington D.C.
It sounds like she is having a wonderful time and definitely has the opportunity
to enjoy many different types of seasons, all four seasons in Washington D.C.
She and her family were also able to enjoy watching the cherry blossoms bloom in
this great city.
Well, we have some more to learn in the next part of our article.
Let's read that now.
Home Away From Home.
We went on a Friday and joined the flocks of people already there.
They walked around the Tidal Basin.
They sat on the grass and took photos of the beautiful pink and white blossoms.
We were able to capture the Washington Monument in the background with the
cherry trees in bloom.
Of course, we bought some magnets, mugs and T-shirts as keepsakes.
We are very fortunate to have plenty of time to appreciate this place.
It's our "home away from home" for the next three years.
All right.
Well, let's take a look at that first sentence of this section.
Pauline writes: We went on a Friday and joined the flocks of people already
there.
So she's talking about her family going to join the National Cherry Blossom
Festival in Washington D.C.
But she uses a word here that I usually only use when I'm talking about animals
like sheep or those kinds of animals.
The word is "flock." Carolyn, what does this word mean?
Well, here it just means a large group.
So if there are flocks of people at this festival, it means that there are many,
many people at this festival, a very large group.
OK, so a large group of people, many people.
Of course, usually you would see this word when talking about sheep or...
animals like that.
Goats, flocks of sheep, flocks of goats.
Also birds in the sky, flocks of birds.
Well, we're going to continue.
We're learning about Pauline and her family.
And we're seeing that they walked around the Tidal Basin.
The people, the flocks of people walked around the Tidal Basin.
And how do we continue, Carolyn?
Well, we see they sat on the grass and took photos of the beautiful pink and
white blossoms.
So cherry blossoms here are pink and white.
And they are very beautiful.
We also see: We were able to capture the Washington Monument in the background
with the cherry trees in bloom.
This sounds like a very beautiful picture.
That's right.
And picture, well, maybe they did take some pictures with their cameras.
They were able to capture the sight of this.
Let's take a look at that key word.
It is "capture." And when you capture something, that means you catch sight of
it.
Here in this article, that's what it means.
It can also mean to catch something like maybe you are looking for butterflies,
and you can capture some butterflies and take them home.
You catch them.
But here it's talking about catching a sight of something.
How else might you use that word, Carolyn?
Well, in the article it is used in reference to a photo or a video.
If you capture something with your camera, it means that you take a picture of
it or you video-tape it.
You record it with your camera.
So here they have captured the Washington Monument in the background of these
beautiful cherry trees that are blooming.
That's right.
Well, if you have a camera, what kinds of things can you capture?
Maybe you can capture a beautiful sunset.
Or if your camera is really good, you can capture some shooting stars in the sky
at night.
And I think that Pauline has captured some wonderful photos as we have seen them
in some slide shows.
Well, we continue with the lesson.
Of course, we bought some magnets, mugs and T-shirts as keepsakes.
They bought these things as keepsakes.
That's another word we want to talk about.
And a keepsake is something that you have that helps you remember a time in your
life.
A keepsake.
That's right.
It is something you keep from a certain place that you go, sort of like a
souvenir.
They are very similar words.
So this keepsake, they bought several different kinds.
Magnets, mugs and T-shirts can all be keepsakes because they remind you of
something you did in the past.
That's right.
And you don't have to buy keepsakes.
Of course, most souvenirs, you... you have to buy.
But maybe you found something in nature, and it reminds you of your time.
That can also be a keepsake.
Well, the last sentence here is... or the last couple of sentences Pauline says:
We are very fortunate to have plenty of time to appreciate this place.
It's true if you're in a wonderful place, you don't just want to be there for a
short time.
You want to have time to appreciate it.
That's right.
So when you go somewhere, it is important to appreciate where you are at the
time.
And Pauline and her family seem to really be enjoying their time in Washington
D.C.
She says: It's our "home away from home" for the next three years.
So they will be in Washington D.C. for several years.
And it is their "home away from home." This is a very interesting phrase.
Gabe, can you explain it a little bit?
Well, yes.
The title of our lesson: Home Away From Home.
And this just means that you have found a way to be comfortable where you are
living now even though it's not your original home.
So where are you living?
Are you living in your home country?
If not, have you found a place that is your home away from home?
I hope so because it's good to be comfortable wherever you are.
That's right.
So for me, Taipei would be my home away from home since this is not where I'm
originally from.
That's great.
Well, friends, it's time for us to continue learning something with Steve and
Ken.
I think the Information Cloud is their home away from home.
And then we'll enjoy a review skit, followed by Michelle in the Language Lab.
Hi, friends.
What do you call the place you live in?
Is it a house or a home?
Well, we all live in houses, but we don't all live in a home, which is a place
one is attached to emotionally.
Right.
You might be moving into your new house, but it may not feel like home until
after you've lived in it a few years.
When Christmas comes around, many people go home for Christmas.
They go back to where their family is.
Our article today is titled Home Away From Home.
This is a common expression that refers to a place where you feel as comfortable
as you do in your own home.
A comfortable hotel that you stay at can be your home away from home.
When I have guests over, I always say to them: Make yourselves at home.
In other words, feel free to act just as you would in your own home,
even if that means putting your feet up on the coffee table or helping yourself
to whatever is in the refrigerator.
I'll remember that next time I go to your home.
(Chinese).
Hey, look!
My friend wrote a blog.
Lots of people write blogs.
What's it about?
She's really having a big adventure.
What kind of adventure?
She moved with her family from Taipei to America.
Oh, that's an adventure.
That will take some adjustments.
Yeah. That's exactly what she says.
So what else does she say?
Well, she says her family is enjoying the beauty of all four seasons.
Oh. Four seasons are nice.
Yeah.
She says there are flowers in the spring, sunshine in the summer, colorful
leaves in autumn and snow in winter.
Oh, that is nice.
Anything else?
Oh! They went to the Cherry Blossom Festival along with a million other people.
What did they do there?
Well, they sat on the green and took lots of photos.
Photos of what?
Everything! Pink and white cherry blossoms and oh, the Washington Monument.
Did they get souvenirs?
Uh, yes.
They bought magnets, mugs, T-shirts, all those keepsakes.
It sounds like your friend is really enjoying her time in the States.
Yeah. She says it's her home away from home.
Oh, that's so sweet.
Yeah...
What's wrong?
Does this blog make you miss your friend?
No. It makes me miss adventure.
I want to travel abroad.
I'm so jealous.
(Chinese).
And now keep listening as our lesson continues.
Well, we've learned all about Pauline and her family's experience in their home
away from home at Washington D.C.
Now I do wonder if you would be able to move to another country if you had to.
How would you feel about this, Carolyn?
Well, I have already moved to a place outside of the U.S.
And it's been very interesting.
And I did it because I wanted to.
Now if someone told me that I needed to transfer because of my job, I might have
to consider:
Oh. Well, where am I going?
Is it a place that I'm interested in living?
Is it a safe place to go?
Those are some things that I would have to ask before I said yes.
But I do love to travel, so I would probably go.
Yeah. Well, I think I would, too.
At least for a little while, I get a taste of the culture and see if I really
liked it there.
Well, friends, thank you for joining us for this lesson Home Away From Home.
And we hope to see you next time right here at Studio Classroom.
Goodbye.
See you.