节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-08-22
难易度:Medium
关键字:application, launch, resident, creativity, CTO [Chief Technology Officer],
lieracy
OK. Welcome back from the break.
One advantage that teenagers trying to make it big in the business world have is
that they don't know the rules of the game.
That's a good thing because they'll be more likely to attempt things that older,
more experienced businesspeople say: That won't work.
Well, the lesson here is: Learn to think outside the box.
OK. Time to find out about our last successful teen entrepreneur, Adora Svitak,
on the top of page 44.
Amazing Teen Entrepreneurs.
Adora Svitak.
Washington State resident and young social entrepreneur Adora Svitak was reading
books by age 3.
She started writing soon after, and the year she was 7, she wrote 250,000 words.
That same year she also published her first book, Flying Fingers.
The book contains short stories as well as tips for would-be writers.
At 11, she was earning up to $10,000 for each appearance speaking to teachers
and educators about technology and creativity.
Now 14, Adora continues to write and travels around the world promoting literacy
through writing.
(Music).
All right, friends.
Over the last couple days, we've seen a lot of amazing teen entrepreneurs.
And we've learned a lot about their different stories and what they've done to
become so successful.
So who is our last teen entrepreneur, Kaylah?
Well, our last example is another girl named Adora Svitak.
You can see a picture of her on page 44 in your Studio Classroom magazine.
OK. Now she is a Washington State resident, and she is young social
entrepreneur.
And she was reading books by the age of 3.
OK. So she's a resident of Washington State.
A "resident" is someone who lives in a specific place.
So she lives in Washington State, which is on the northwest side of the United
States.
OK. Now Kaylah, I believe I was about five years old when I first started
reading.
How old were you?
Hmm... I don't know, actually.
I had a very hard time learning to read, so it probably took me a little longer.
But I know I was definitely not reading at age 3.
That is incredible.
I have a 3-year-old cousin, and she's close but not quite reading, so it's
really impressive.
Yeah. Well, and it's hard enough to be reading anything at the age of 3.
But here Adora Svitak was reading books by the age of 3. That's impressive.
That's right.
It says she was so interested in reading that she started writing soon after.
And when we use that phrase "soon after," that means very close to when this
happened.
So with this reading happened, and then very quickly, she started doing another
thing.
So soon after, she started writing.
Oh, yeah.
So maybe when she was either still 3 or maybe she was 4 or 5, she started
writing very quickly.
And then when she was 7 years old, she wrote 250,000 words.
Wow!
Yeah. That's impressive when you think about the vocabulary you would have to
have.
First of all, to be able to speak that many words,
but to be able to spell them, use them correctly, to format them into sentences
is an incredible task for a 7-year-old.
Yes, it is.
Friends, how many English words do you know?
Is it 250,000?
Well, this girl was writing that many words at the age of 7.
Well, that same year, she also published her first book, Flying Fingers.
Well, that's a fun name. OK.
And of course, we know if you publish something, that means you begin to print
it and sell it for people to buy.
And this book contained short stories as well as tips for would-be writers.
What does that mean?
OK. Well, for "would-be" writers would be people who are interested in becoming
a writer.
Can you imagine reading a book by a 7-year-old, very interesting short stories.
But at the end, it gives you advice on how to write... from a 7-year-old!
Exactly.
And it's good that this book has short stories, which are just... stories that
are actually short, they're not too long.
And that gives you an example of her writing style.
So you can see whether or not you like her tips.
I'm sure you would, though.
That's right.
A short story you can usually read in one sitting.
But she has a book of them, so that means there's a lot of them.
So you probably wouldn't read it all at once.
Probably not.
Now at 11 years old, she was earning up to $10,000 for each appearance speaking
to teachers and educators about technology and creativity.
I think about when I was 11, my allowance was probably about $3 or $4.
So I can't even imagine making this much money at such an incredibly young age.
That's true.
Now she was earning this money by making appearances.
What does it mean if you're making an appearance?
To make an appearance means you show up, that you are in a location.
Now it says making appearances to talk with teachers and educators.
That means she's probably hosting or teaching workshops, places where an
educator can go to learn more information.
So she would appear, she would be there and be giving advice.
And she's talking to these teachers and educators about using technology and
creativity.
Now of course, technology has to do with computers and the Internet and the way
that you can use that.
But what is creativity?
Well, "creativity" is your ability to produce and use original and usually
ununusual ideas,
so something that you come up with, something that only you could think of.
So it's to encourage teachers to help encourage creativity in students.
And I think that's very important.
If you're a creative person, that is a wonderful thing to be.
Exactly. And so people want to learn how to use technology to help students with
their creativity.
Now Adora is 14 years old, and she continues to write and travel around the
world promoting literacy through writing.
Now "literacy" means the ability to read and write.
And unfortunately, all of the world people do not know how to do that, even in
their native language.
So she's promoting that; she's encouraging people to learn to read and write.
That's right.
That's what promoting means - means to encourage people to do something.
And she's encouraging them to learn how to read and write through her writing.
People can read her writing and learn a lot from it.
Well, we've learned a lot. And hopefully,
you are encouraged to try something new and create your own ideas because of
these amazing teen entrepreneurs.
Thanks for joining us.
Let's jump over and visit Ken in the Chat Room.
So how is your nephew doing at Ohio State so far?
Oh, fine.
Thanks, Ken.
He said he's having fun but he's tired.
That sounds like my college experience.
What's he studying anyway?
Well, he is a would-be actor, so he is planning on majoring in drama.
A would-be actor?
Is that the same as saying he loves acting?
Sort of.
"Would-be" is an adjective that describes someone who has the desire and usually
the potential to do or be something,
like a would-be politician.
Hmm, I've read about a few of those.
Say, Bryan, I read an article once about the assassination attempt on President
Reagan.
It described the person who shot him as a would-be assassin.
In this case, "would-be" doesn't refer to potential, does it?
No. That's a good point, Ken.
In this case, the would-be assassin had the intent to kill the President.
But fortunately, he failed.
So "would-be" here refers to the person's intent to do something.
There's another term that is sort of like the opposite of would-be.
And that's - has-been.
Has been?
Has been what?
No. I'm using "has-been" as a noun.
So you might talk about somebody being a has-been.
Hmm. Can you give me an example?
Sure.
A has-been is someone who was once successful or even popular, but has since
faded.
Many pop singers in the 1980s are now has-beens.
So a has-been is someone who's passed... they... who's passed their peak?
Exactly.
OK. I guess we all get old eventually.
Yes. But we won't all become has-beens.
No, we won't let that happen.
I for one will keep on studying and improve myself every day.
That sounds like a good plan.
(Chinese).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And that's it for today's Language Tips.
Don't forget to come back again for more.
Thank you, Michelle.
We appreciate that.
Well, amazing teen entrepreneurs don't let their young age stop them from going
after their dream of making it big in the business world.
After all, a profitable idea can strike anyone at any time. Right?
Each of the five teens in our lesson has an incredible story of success.
But keep in mind that in their rise to the top, there was some stumbling and
falling along the way.
It's the successful entrepreneurs that know how to persevere and get back up
into the race.
OK, friends. Make the rest of your Wednesday great.
And then join us tomorrow when we "Chirba Chirba." See you then.