节目资讯
刊物:空中英語教室
日期:2012-03-21
难易度:Low
关键字:electronic, set aside, concert, renew, unplug, scented


























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(Music).
Throw open the windows.
Grab some rags, fill up a bucket and get to work.
Welcome, everybody, to Studio Classroom Worldwide.
My name is Steve.
Yes, springtime is the time for spring-cleaning.
Now you might be wondering why this lesson is listed as a PSYCHOLOGY feature.
Well, it's because we're discussing more than dusting off the furniture and
airing out the bedspread.
We're talking about spring-cleaning our minds, our bodies and our emotions as
well.
So without further ado, let's begin today's reading with Spring-cleaning step
number 5, Unplug, on page 39.
Spring-cleaning.
Unplug ... electronic devices and the television.
During the winter, it's easy to spend hours each day in front of a screen.
But spring's nice weather seems to invite us outside.
Why not set aside a few hours, leave all electronic devices at home and go out.
You may be surprised how free you'll feel without non-stop texts and phone
calls.
Clear ... your mind.
Treat yourself to a spa.
Or create your own spa at home with a warm bath, scented candles and soft music.
Hello, friends. Thank you for joining us.
My name is Ryan.
And my name is Kaylah.
And we're back talking about Spring-cleaning just one more day.
Now we've already learned a couple of tips about spring-cleaning our emotions
and our minds.
So Ryan, what are some of those?
Well, you can reconnect, you can pare down.
And now we're going to learn about how to unplug.
That's right. We want to connect with things around us, back into nature with
family and friends,
need to get rid of clutter and junk and the needless money-spending that we
have, all these things.
Well, I like this tip a lot.
This next one is to Unplug.
That's right.
Now usually the word "unplug" means you are pulling the end of a cord out of the
wall.
So if you are using something that uses electricity, then you would pull that
cord out of the wall, and then it would not work anymore.
That's right. Now you can see a picture of a plug in your Studio Classroom
magazine.
Now if you are unplugging, we're talking about electronic devices.
So what does "electronic" mean?
OK. Something that is "electronic" means it uses electricity to work.
So a microwave is electronic, and a computer is electronic.
It says "electronic devices." Now a device is just referring to something that
would use electricity.
So a device - any type of machine.
So it says unplug them, and unplug your television as well.
So it's emphasizing the TV because I think we use this... we use the TV a lot
during the winter.
That's right.
A television is an electronic device.
But here the author makes sure to tell us unplug your TV.
Now this is meaning actually pulling those cords out of the wall.
But Kaylah, it could also mean just stop using them.
That's right.
It means don't turn them on.
It says during the winter months, it's easy to spend hours each day in front of
a screen.
Now this screen could be the TV screen.
It could be the computer screen.
It could be your iPad or your iPod or any of your little game players, any type
of screen,
something that is not natural, of human-to-human interaction.
We spend a lot of time in front of them.
That's true.
I used to spend a lot of time in front of the TV watching movies and shows.
But now I think it's more popular to spend time on a computer looking at
Facebook and YouTube.
And so this is still something you should stop using, especially now in the
spring.
Yes. That's right.
You know, it's... it's easy in the winter because we're stuck inside.
And if you look at a screen of something interesting, it's much more fun than
just staring at the same wall over and over again.
But spring's nice weather seems to invite us outside.
Yes, you are invited outside.
And the word "invite," of course, means it asks us to come.
And it feels comfortable, we want to go outside.
That's right. It's saying: Come out! We want you out here.
It's as if they're inviting us, bringing us to them.
So why not set aside a few hours.
"Set aside." What does that mean?
OK, let's talk about this phrase.
If you "set aside" something, that means you save it for a special purpose.
So maybe save a few hours.
That's right.
Save them, don't waste them.
It says "set aside a few hours, leave all electronic devices at home and go
out." Get outside.
You may be surprised how free you feel without non-stop texts and calls.
Yeah. And I like here that it says to leave your electronic devices at home
because it's not just walking away from your computer and walking away from the
TV,
you should leave things like your iPhone or iPad at home and go enjoy nature.
Maybe this is another way to reconnect with nature again.
Now I love doing this.
And I think my friends don't like that I do it.
I often just leave my cell phone at home when I don't want people to be calling
me or texting me all the time.
But really, I can go a few hours without people finding me. It's OK.
You know, we used to do it all the time.
They don't need to know how to find me all the time.
Take a break.
It is relaxing, and it feels fantastic.
Yeah. Now actually, I have a larger problem than you with this because I have a
smartphone,
and I often get a lot of non-stop alerts telling me I have e-mails and text
messages.
And that means it never stops.
It keeps happening and happening all day long.
And I can't relax.
Ryan, you need to unplug.
I think I do.
OK. Well, our next tip is Clear.
Clear, first of all, your mind.
That's right. Yeah, clear your mind.
Now this means you need to, well, relax a little bit.
Treat yourself to a spa.
OK. I think I will.
Well, a spa is a place that we go to relax.
Often we go, we get maybe a massage.
Or maybe you get your hair or your nails done.
It's someplace you go and just relax.
You don't worry about other things.
You go... it's a peaceful and beautiful place.
OK. Now this is something you might treat yourself to.
That means that you give yourself something special.
Of if you'd want to save some money, maybe create your own spa at home with a
warm bath, some scented candles and some soft music.
Oh. That sounds like a fantastic idea.
It does.
A warm bath and scented candles.
"Scented" means they have a pleasant and somewhat strong smell.
So something we like.
When you light a candle, and it gives us that beautiful smell in the room.
That means it is scented.
So a bath, scented candles, soft music... I think that sounds just like a spa.
This sounds great to me.
This sounds like a wonderful way to clear your mind: Enjoy those wonderful
smells from the candles and the comfortable, warm bath water.
That's right.
And you can ignore all of your electronic devices at the same time.
Well, we have a couple of more tips before we finish talking about this.
But first, let's watch today's skit.
Hey, the beautiful spring weather is inviting you outside.
Uh, what did you say?
I said the beautiful spring weather is inviting you outside.
Oh. Well, OK. Let me grab my cell phone and my MP3 player.
No... Set aside those electronic devices.
Go out and unplug.
Unplug? Yes, but I...
Unplug and clean your mind.
You'll be surprised how free you feel.
Yeah. Oh, maybe I'll go to the spa.
Or create your own with scented candles and soft music.
Yes! Then I can completely relax, and let my worries slip, slip, slip away.
Stop! Your mind is clear enough.
Now join a new group.
A new group? What?
Yes. Join a sports team or a dance class.
Or how about a photography club?
Learn new skills. Meet new people.
Well, now that is a great idea.
And don't forget to go, go, go this spring.
Yeah, go, go, go.
But where, where, where?
Well, a museum, a play, a concert.
Stretch your mind.
Feed your soul.
OK, I will. I'll welcome spring with a renewed mind and body.
Wonderful.
Of course, a freshly cleaned home is important too, dear.
You can start with the floors.
But...
And then dust.
But...
And then clean the windows, and don't forget the closets!
I'll beat the spa!