节目资讯
刊物:空中英語教室
日期:2012-03-03
难易度:High
关键字:cheer somebody up, mischievous, nonetheless, whimsical, governess, braille

OK, friends, I hope you had a great break.
Welcome back.
With her cute talking rabbit named Peter, Beatrix Potter knew she had something
special to share with everyone.
She just had a difficult time convincing them.
Now let's finish up this lesson with Potter's example of why you should never
give up on your dreams on line 12.
(Music).
Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit.
Potter then began writing her classic tale about the mischievous Peter Rabbit
and his adventure in Mr. McGregor's garden.
At first, every publisher she submitted her story to refused it.
Nonetheless, she never gave up and eventually found the right publishers, who
would go on to publish many more of her children's books.
Generations of children have grown up with her beloved characters - Squirrel
Nutkin, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Benjamin Bunny and others.
Her books have been translated into numerous languages as well as Braille.
Potter's whimsical stories will continue to spread joy to all who read them for
many years to come.
Beatrix Potter began writing her book, Peter Rabbit, after she had written
letters for young Noel who was sick.
And so now we're going to see how that book actually began.
So she decided that children around the world might just enjoy her stories like
Noel did.
So Potter then began writing her classic tale about the mischievous Peter Rabbit
and his adventures in Mr. McGregor's garden.
OK. Now if you know anything about the story of Peter Rabbit,
you know that a great word to describe Peter Rabbit is "mischievous." What does
that word mean, Kaylah?
It means behaving in a way that is slightly bad.
So he goes against the rules when he knows he shouldn't, but it's not awful what
he does.
Yeah. Usually if something is mischievous, it is bad but doesn't actually cause
real harm.
Right. So what could be mischievous?
A lot of little boys are very mischievous.
They take things, they throw things that they shouldn't do but probably will not
cause very much harm.
Actually, I was a mischievous little boy.
When my family would go to church, I used to try and escape and climb up to the
roof, which actually my parents don't know about.
So if they watch the show, they do now.
Oh. Well, that would be mischievous.
It means going against the rules but probably won't cause damage to very much.
Exactly. So this is a classic tale, Peter Rabbit.
If something is classic, that means it is well-known, it is old, very popular.
And it is a "tale." Now we're not talking about a rabbit "tail" here, Kaylah.
What kind of tale is this?
That's right. If we look at the spelling, that's T-A-L-E, tale, means a story.
Mmhm. OK. So this is a classic story, Peter Rabbit.
And he was mischievous, and he got into Mr. McGregor's garden.
Now I remember reading this book as a kid thinking:
What's wrong with Mr. McGregor? Peter is just in the garden. What's the big
deal?
But you know, as an adult you understand that, you know, gardens are not a place
you want rabbits.
Exactly. Rabbits usually like to eat the vegetables in a garden; and sometimes
Peter Rabbit did try to take Mr. McGregor's vegetables.
That's right. So she begins writing this classic tale, which was not classic
when she first wrote it.
It takes years for something to be considered a classic.
Yes. Now at first, every publisher she submitted this story to refused it.
They did not want to publish it.
That's right. They did not think that people wanted to read about talking
animals or would enjoy her drawings very much.
But if we look at some of her drawings in our magazines, the pictures are
wonderful how it's really one of the first times we see animals wearing human
clothes.
But they don't wear full clothes, they just wear cute little pieces that make
them very special.
That's true.
Now really fast, Kaylah, let's talk about "publishers" because at first no
publishers wanted to actually publish this book.
So we've seen the word "publish" - to make a book available.
But now, what is a publisher?
A publisher is the person who prints the book.
They buy the book from you.
They buy the story and the pictures, and they are the ones who pay to have
everything put together and then sell it.
And they get the profits, they get the money.
But it costs a lot to do that.
And so if they don't think a book will do well, they won't print it.
And that's what happened - she was refused.
Right. When she submitted the book to them or gave it to them, they refused it.
Now nonetheless, she never gave up and eventually found the right publishers.
Now that's something we should all remember:
Even when we get refused, if it's something we truly believe in to never give
up.
Nonetheless, never give up.
Yeah. Now the word "nonetheless," you might think of another word you could use
as being "however." So even though these bad things happened,
however, this good thing happened. You can use the word - nonetheless.
"Nonetheless" has three words in there.
And it's one of those few English words where we just take three words and put
them all together in one spot.
Now a good way to remember "nonetheless" means even though somebody said
something else, you keep doing something.
So if someone tells you, "You'll never be good at English," you say,
"Nonetheless, I'm going to keep practicing" because you can be good at English.
Exactly. So even though none of the publishers wanted Beatrix's book, she kept
trying.
And she found the right publishers.
And they would go on to publish many more of her children's books.
And it's... it's important to find the right publisher whenever you're putting
something out to the public, someone who can support you.
And I bet these publishers are glad they did.
Yes, exactly, because it wasn't just Peter Rabbit that became a classic tale,
there were many more of Beatrix Potter's children's books that did also become
classics.
And it didn't stop there.
Generations of children have grown up with her beloved characters of Squirrel
Nutkin, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Benjamin Bunny.
And there are many others, but these are some of the more famous ones we know.
Yeah. You can see pictures of the covers of these books on page 14.
Now Beatrix Potter's books have been translated into numerous languages as well.
As well as braille.
Oh, you're right.
That's impressive.
Not only they're in foreign languages, they're in "braille." And that is the
raised language the way we write so blind people can read with their fingertips.
Now Potter's whimsical stories will continue to spread joy to all who read them
for many years to come.
OK. When I hear the word "whimsical," the first thing I think of is something
funny, usually something that is funny and strange.
So if you haven't read Peter Rabbit or any other of Beatrix Potter's books, you
definitely should.
Now for right now, let's watch the skit.
Beatrix, I notice you've been working especially hard.
What are you working on?
I've decided to make a book about Peter Rabbit.
A book? I thought you were writing letters, not publishing a book.
I thought so too.
I created Peter Rabbit to cheer up my friend's son.
Yes, Noel Moore. I remember.
He was sick and stuck at home.
That's right.
So I wrote him letters about Peter Rabbit, and I included some of my drawings to
entertain him.
And was he entertained?
Uh, yes.
After seeing how much he enjoyed the letters, I decided to write a book about
the mischievous Peter Rabbit.
Mischievous Peter Rabbit?
Yes, and his adventures in Mr. McGregor's garden.
A rabbit in a garden? That is mischievous!
I've submitted the story to several publishers, but...
But they've all refused it?
Yes. Nonetheless, I will not give up.
Eventually, I will find the right publishers.
And publish many more books for children of all generations to enjoy.
Oh, yes. I hope so.
So, tell me more about Peter Rabbit and his whimsical friends.
Well, there's Benjamin Bunny, Squirrel Nutkin and Jemima Puddle-Duck.
Nutkin and Puddle-Duck. Ha...
Yes. What do you think?
I think your writing is a secret code again.
(Music).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And time's up! I'll see you next time.
Bye-bye.
So Beatrix Potter became famous by writing children's books about talking
animals.
Some reasons why her books were so successful?
Well, because she loved and studied nature and she practiced writing and
drawing, all of which are important elements to her books.
We learned that Peter Rabbit actually got his start in a letter to a child, only
later did Potter try to get Peter's story published as a book.
OK, everyone, I hope you have a great weekend.
And then join us Monday for a DIY lesson about taking pictures.
We'll see you then.