节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-03-18
难易度:Low
关键字:bed of roses, teammate, association, opportunity, Olympics, downsize
Are you a fan of basketball?
Well, if you watch women's basketball, you probably have heard of Maya Moore.
She's a very successful basketball player.
And then reading this article, though we've just started, we know that her
mother is very important in her life.
And the beginning of Maya's story is a girl with some dreams.
In 1997 when she was 8 years old, she started to watch basketball and wanted to
participate herself.
Let's see how her story continues now.
(Music).
Maya Moore - Reaching for the Heights.
Three years later her mother, Kathryn, was offered a better job in North
Carolina.
Kathryn decided to make the move from Missouri because North Carolina provided
greater basketball opportunities.
Sadly, in under two months the company downsized, and Kathryn lost her job.
She remembers, "It was a bad, bad time." Maya says the difficulties brought them
closer, and she praises her mom.
"She's more than a teammate.
I know she's going to be on my side.".
It sounds like Maya's mother is very supportive of her.
And in the beginning of this section we see:
Three years later her mother, Kathryn, was offered a better job in North
Carolina.
And well, she made a decision.
Kathryn decided to make the move from Missouri because North Carolina provided
greater basketball opportunities.
So it sounds like her mother really cared about Maya's success in basketball.
Don't you think so, Nathanael?
I think that she cared very much about that because she made her decision not
only because of the job offer that she received,
but also because of opportunities for her daughter in this new place.
And we want to talk about this word "opportunities." It is a Word Bank word
today.
Opportunities.
It's like a chance to do something.
An opportunity to do many different kinds of things, and sometimes they are new
things.
How could we use the sentence, Gabe?
Well, opportunities don't come every day.
Big opportunities for success don't come all the time.
So when they come, make sure you take the opportunity to do something about it.
You can use that phrase: to take the opportunity to do something.
You don't get the chance every day, so take the opportunity when it comes.
Carolyn, how might you use that word?
Well, if you have the opportunity to study abroad, you should go for it.
Learn something new about another culture, another country, maybe even another
language.
It's a really great opportunity.
And what kind of opportunities has your school given you?
Or what kind of opportunities does your work give you?
Hopefully you get to try some new things, whether you're still in school or if
you're already working.
All right, continuing on.
It says: Sadly, in under two months the company downsized, and Kathryn lost her
job.
OK. This is not good news.
What does this word "downsize" mean, Gabe?
Well, when a company downsizes, that means they have to let go of some of their
employees.
So maybe there were a number of people working at the company.
But then because of cost, because it cost too much money to keep everybody at
the company, they had to maybe fire some people.
So that's what it means to downsize.
And I think maybe um, Maya's mother Kathryn was one of the people that was let
go from the company.
That's right, because she was probably one of the newest employees and she just
moved there.
And we see: She remembers, "It was a bad, bad time." So it was very difficult.
It was not a bed of roses.
They had just moved to North Carolina, and now her mother no longer has a job.
Well, how does the article continue, Nathanael?
Maya says the difficulties brought them closer, and she praises her mom.
So even though they had some hard or tough experiences, they became closer
through these experiences.
It had some good results.
That's right.
And we see that Maya says "She's more than a teammate.
I know she's going to be on my side." So it sounds like Maya is very thankful
actually for these experiences.
Even though it was a very hard time, they learned a lot from it.
And they became much closer, even more than a teammate.
So more than working together.
What do you think, Gabe?
Well, I think that... yeah, just like Maya says, Kathryn, or her mom is on her
side.
I think she would say the same thing about herself.
She is on her mom's side.
They are good teammates.
And she says these difficulties brought them closer together.
This just makes me wonder: What things in your life, maybe what difficulties
have brought you closer to the people around you?
Nathanael, Carolyn, can you think of anything like this?
Maybe what difficult times have brought you closer to someone in your life?
Well, I know when I've had friends that have difficult experiences, you just try
to spend time with them.
You can't always do something that will help them directly, but just spending
time with them can bring you closer together.
That's right.
It's very important to talk to people when they are having a hard time, when
they're going through these difficulties.
Sometimes just being able to listen to what they have to say can be a very big
help.
I think so, too.
Sometimes there are conflicts, maybe you get into a big argument about
something.
But when you work through it, you realize that your relationship is better.
You are closer with that person.
Well, I'm not sure all the details of Maya's relationship with her mom, but many
difficulties have brought them closer together.
Right now it's time for us to continue learning something with Steve and Ken in
the Info Cloud.
And there we'll enjoy a review skit, followed by Michelle in the Language Lab.
For the people you care about, there are many ways to express unity and support.
In today's lesson, Maya Moore says she knows her mother is on her side.
OK. You can show support of someone by saying to them: I'm on your side.
Now another phrase that indicates a slightly higher level of commitment and
devotion is: I'm in your corner.
It actually comes from the sport of boxing.
And it means you would stand by and support someone even to the point of
fighting for them.
That's right.
Now next, the even more loyal expression of support: I got your back.
"I got your back" assures someone you will act as his or her second set of eyes
to make sure they're safe.
You'll be watching what's behind them while they're looking forward.
And that you'll do whatever is necessary to help your friend through a tough
time.
"I got your back" is a phrase that most likely came from the battlefront where
soldiers guard and protect one another as a matter of life and death.
It's kind of like "I've got you covered," another good expression to assure
someone you'll be there to help any way you can.
Right.
If your friend forgets to bring his wallet - at a restaurant you can tell him:
I've got you covered.
Ah, what reassuring words!
(Chinese).
Go, go!
I'm practicing basketball.
I want to be like Maya Moore.
I know.
Hey, what happened to Maya after her mother lost her job?
Well, they moved to Georgia, and Maya continued to play basketball.
Was she on the high school team?
Yeah, and she played against some of the nation's best players.
Competition improves skills.
Maya led her team to 125 victories.
They won three state championships.
That's great.
Yeah.
She was named the national player of the year... twice.
Twice is nice.
Universities competed to recruit her.
How did she choose which university?
With careful consideration.
And?
And she chose the University of Connecticut.
And?
And she led the team to a 150 and 4 record.
And?
And after graduation, she was the first choice of the Minnesota Lynx.
Hey, they won the WNBA title last year.
Yeah. And Maya was named rookie of the year!
Wow! That's amazing.
Yeah. I think she's one of the best to ever play basketball.
Hey, pass me the ball.
Why?
I want to practice and be like Maya Moore.
Oh, yeah?
Well, I want to be more like Maya Moore.
No. I want to be more like Maya.
No, I... it's my basketball.
I want to be more like Maya.
OK.
(Chinese).
And let's see what our teachers are up to.
Today we've learned about Maya Moore and her mother, and how they are more than
teammates,
and the amount of support that her mother had shown for her daughter's success
in basketball.
And it makes me think of the people who support me and the decisions I make,
like my own mother.
Gabe, do you have anyone who supports you this way?
Well, yeah.
Actually, both my parents are pretty good at supporting me and what I want to
do.
I also think my little sister is a good support as well.
Um, there are a couple friends in my life who have really told me, "You should
really follow this dream.
You should do this, Gabe, because you're good at this." They've shown me they
support me as well.
What about you, Nathanael?
My family have been great supporters.
And I've also had some very encouraging professors in college that have helped
me along and fought for me, too.
Great. Well, I hope that you'll join us again tomorrow at Studio Classroom as we
continue learning about Maya Moore.
Goodbye.