节目资讯
刊物:空中英語教室
日期:2012-03-28
难易度:Medium
关键字:curfew, limitation, at ease, likelihood, bring up
OK. I hope you had a great break.
Welcome back.
So we've met Sara and her mom who are discussing when Sara needs to be home at
night.
Sara's mom thinks staying out too late isn't such a good idea.
Can they reach an agreement?
Let's pick up the reading on line 14 and find out.
Curfews.
More likely than you think.
You know bad things can happen even when you're being good.
And we prefer that you're home when we go to sleep at night.
We shouldn't be waiting up for you at night later than 11 p.m.
OK, I promise to be home on time, but tomorrow can we sit down and discuss my
side of this situation?
There are a few things I would like to bring up as well.
Sure, we can do that.
Have fun with your friends tonight, and be home at 11 o'clock!
OK. So Sara and her mom are arguing about curfews.
What time is too late to come in at night?
Our parents often tell us, "You need to be home at this time." Now parents do
that because they care about us.
But we do feel like that means they're putting limitations on us.
So, let's pick up this argument.
Yeah. Sometimes you can feel like Sara, you think: Well, I'm with my friends.
What could possibly go wrong?
And her mom says: Well, it's more likely that you can get into trouble than you
think.
That's right, because Sara just said: What is the likelihood of me getting into
trouble when I'm with my friends?
Her mom says: It's more likely than you think.
So there we can see the two words working in the same context.
Right. And her mom here says: You know bad things can happen even when you're
being good.
Hmm, interesting.
I'm confused by this.
OK. Well, I think I see what she's getting at here.
She says that even when you're doing things right, sometimes other people might
do something that could get you into trouble.
Ah, yes. And you know, that's something we don't think about.
We think, "I'm just safe. I'm with my friends. We're being good." But you don't
know what other people around you are doing.
She says... her mother says: And we prefer - so "we" being her father - so we
prefer that you... and... that you're home when we go to sleep at night.
That is something my mom told me all the time.
That's true. And yeah, her mom is now saying this again; and I heard that all
the time.
Now the idea that even if you're doing something right, you can still get into
trouble is very true when you are driving.
Even if you are a good driver, other people on the road might not be.
That's right.
Or if you're hanging out at your favorite place, maybe your favorite park or
something, you don't know what else is going on in that location.
You don't know what other people are doing, or what they're going to try to do,
so you need to be aware of that.
And as hard as it is, we do need to respect our parents when... when it comes to
this.
That's right.
Now Kaylah, many times when I had a curfew, I would not want to be home by that
time.
And if I wasn't home on time, my parents would still be awake waiting for me and
angry.
Yes. Yes, yes. I totally understand that.
My mom hated going to bed before I got home just like Sara's mom.
She says: We don't want to be waiting up for you later than 11 p.m.
My mom didn't like staying up late waiting for me, but she also didn't like
going to bed until she knew I was home safe.
That's right.
So this is true for most parents because they care about you.
They want to make sure you are safe, so they won't go to bed until they know
that you are home safe.
Yes. Now I do know some parents... I have known other plants that do go to bed,
and they do worry.
And they say they don't sleep very well that night because they're just
concerned waiting for their... their child to come home.
Even though we're older, we're still their children.
And so we need to respect that.
That's true.
Now something that we should think about is, I know for me, as I got older, my
curfew got later.
So that could change over time as well.
That's right. But Sara knows this is not worth fighting over right now.
That's... curfews are not a fight worth having in the moment.
So Sara says: OK, I promise to be home on time, but tomorrow can we sit down and
discuss my side of the issue?
Now this is a great idea not only for talking about curfews but for when
anything is upsetting to you with someone else.
Take a night to think about it and ask them to meet up with you for the
discussion the next day.
Now I actually think Sara is a great daughter.
She actually... she agrees to follow the rules, but then she also says: Now Mom,
can we sit down and discuss the situation?
They can talk about it and actually get deeper.
I find it kind of hard to believe this character of Sara.
I know I would never have been this polite with my family.
They... she says: I would like to bring up a few other things as well.
There are a few things I would like to bring up in our conversation.
Her mom has told her her concerns.
Now Sara has some things she would like.
Yes. She wants to "bring up" something.
If you "bring up" something, that means you start talking about it.
So it sounds like Sara wants to talk with her mom about her side, meaning what
she thinks about curfews.
So this is a good way in any situation we are arguing.
Take some time, say: You know what, let's just go with whatever who's in the
authority has the position, and we'll talk about it later.
Her mom says, "OK. Well, sure, we can do that." We can have a talk.
She says: Have fun with your friends tonight, and be home at 11 o'clock!
So 11 o'clock is the time that they agreed would be curfew for this night.
Exactly. Now if you are a mother or a father, I think this is a great idea:
You can let your... your son or daughter go out and have fun. Make sure they're
home on time.
And if you are a child, I actually think that what Sara did was the best
response.
Agree and follow the rules.
And then decide to talk about it later.
Right. When your emotions are not controlling you, when you have calmed down,
you're not as angry or upset,
you take the time to think about it and give your parents a good argument.
You can not fight but have a discussion.
So hopefully this works out well for them.
Let's see what some of our other friends think about curfews in these
interviews.
I agree that parents should have limitation on what time children should be
home.
But as we grow up and become more mature, it is reasonable for us to stay out a
little bit later.
Parents shouldn't be over-protected.
Instead, they should teach us what to watch out and why is it so important to be
home earlier for we have to learn to protect ourselves.
For example, there is no time limitation in our home.
But me and my brother never gets in after 11 because we've been taught about the
concerns of our patents.
So I think that getting in at around 11 is just fine.
I don't think it's suitable to hang out with friends after 12.
It's too late.
Most of the shops are closed then.
And there are fewer people on the streets.
This is when people become less careful, and many tragedies happen.
In my opinion, I think that having curfews is not only important but also
necessary.
Teenager crime rate has no doubtly been rising because the lack of family
education.
Most teenagers have gone through the period of rebellion as they are growing.
Take me, for example.
I always thought that my parents put too many limitations on me.
They always call and ask me where I am, who I'm going out with, what I am going
to do and when I'll be back.
As I grew older, I gradually experienced that it is all because they are worried
and concerned about my safety.
So now they let me stay out until 9 o'clock every day.
If I'll be home later, I'll call them in advance because a person who wants
freedom has to discipline himself first.
Hi, everyone.
I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And I guess that's all for today.
I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
Thank you so much, Michelle.
In that transition period between childhood and adulthood, there lies the
curfew.
The curfew is a great testing ground for young people.
Permission to stay out later gives a child a greater measure of freedom.
But at the same time, it challenges the child to be responsible, to make good
decisions, and to cultivate and maintain the parents' trust.
We'll check in with Sara and her mom again tomorrow and find out if they can
reach a compromise on the curfew.
Until then, everyone, have a great day.