节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-01-20
难易度:Low
关键字:set someone apart, junior, preparation, medal, Olympic
Welcome back to the studio, friends.
We are talking about Yuna Kim and her journey, her road to Olympic gold.
Now she is an incredible ice skater.
We learned about her speed, her jumps, and that she was winning competitions all
over the world.
Right before the break,
we learned that her coach in South Korea saw that she had incredible talent and
knew that she could go further than he could take her.
So she and her mother moved to Canada to work with former skating champion Brian
Orser.
Now Brian Orser was an Olympic ice skater in the 80s and 90s but never had the
opportunity to win Olympic gold.
So working with Kim became his chance.
Let's join Yuna Kim and her coach on their journey to Olympic gold starting on
line 11.
(Music).
Yuna Kim - South Korea's "Queen of Figure Skating".
The results could be seen within months when Kim won the 2006 Junior World
Championship.
Then she went on to win the South Korean National Championship five times.
These, along with Kim's other international wins, were all preparation for one
thing - the 2010 Winter Olympics.
In February 2010, the world watched Kim set a new world record in her first
Olympic event.
But she didn't stop there.
She went on to break the world record in her next event, winning the gold medal!
(Music).
Well, Yuna Kim and her mother have moved to Canada.
Ryan, they're working with Brian Orser, what are the results?
Well, we see they could be seen within months when Kim won the 2006 Junior World
Championship.
Now when we talk about "results," that means what comes at the end of something
that you're working towards.
So what she is working towards is increasing her ability in ice skating,
becoming a better ice skater.
So the results were her win.
Yeah. And she won the Junior Championship.
And the Junior... I'm sorry, she won the Junior World Championship, which is
even better.
Now something that is "junior" is referring like a low level uh, perhaps in a
job; or in this case, sports.
That's right.
But "junior" can also mean younger people.
And I think in this case, it applies both to a lower level but also to her age
because she is an incredible ice skater, but she was very young.
Exactly. So she fit both categories, and she still won.
She won that championship.
Then she went on to win the South Korea National Championship five times.
Wow! Now that is incredible.
In the South Korean National Championship, she's competing against other people
from South Korea.
And so she's not competing from people from around the world, but she still
managed to win five times.
This shows you that she is not only an incredibly talented person in her own
country but in her world championships as well.
She really is a shining star.
Oh yes, of course, "star," referring to someone who is famous or... has done
something really well to deserve fame.
Well, these competitions: the Junior World Championship and the South Korean
National Championship,
along with Kim's other international wins - so world competitions - were all
preparation for just one thing.
Yes. Now the word "preparation" here, Kaylah, is referring to getting ready for
something.
And so if you are preparing to go on a trip, you would pack things in a bag,
get all of your clothes ready and make sure you are "prepared," which means you
are ready.
But what is this referring to?
Well, when we talk about preparing, she sees... she's been having all these
wins,
a lot of times we would think, well, winning world international championships
is enough.
But they were really preparing her for the biggest competition in sports there
is.
And for her in figure skating, that is the 2010 Winter Olympics that happened in
Vancouver.
That's right. So she was getting ready.
All this time we thought she's wonderful, she's winning; no, she's also getting
ready for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Now I think that her road, her journey was one that was enjoyable to travel.
Even though she was working towards an end goal - the Olympics, she... I'm...
she had to enjoy the journey.
She has won so many competitions.
Well, yeah. She keeps winning. I'm sure that would be easy to enjoy.
Yeah, that would be very enjoyable.
But someone... even though if she wasn't winning,
I'm sure she would enjoy it as well because she obviously loves figure skating
that she's dedicated her whole life to it.
Exactly.
If you are willing to spend time to something, you should do it because you love
to do it.
That's true for any of you.
Whatever thing you love to do, try and make that your job, make it your career,
and you will enjoy it.
That's right. And even if it's not something that can be your whole job, can it
be a part of it?
That's kind of a challenge to think about.
Yeah, it is, a little bit.
I believe we have a couple of articles that we've talked about in the past that
are just all about that.
That's right.
Well, going back to Yuna Kim and her journey.
We're approaching the Olympics.
And in February of 2010, the world watched Kim set a new world record in her
first Olympic event.
Wow! She just keeps winning and winning.
And when she's done winning, she sets a world record.
A "world record" is referring to the best that anyone has ever done at
something.
Now there are differences in world records, Olympic records, all of them, she
broke them.
Exactly. She broke the Olympic record.
And that's impressive enough because people in the Olympics are... well, all the
best athletes that you can find.
But she also broke the world record, better than anyone in the world.
Now recently in figure skating at that very high level, the grading, the scores,
the way they do that recently changed.
It's only been around for a few years.
And it increased it and made it harder to score a high level.
And she was graded on this system and still broke the scoring record.
Yes. She went on to break the world record in her next event, winning the gold
medal!
That's incredible to not just break a record but get the gold medal.
That's right. In figure skating at the Olympics, there are two events.
There's the Short Program and the Free Skate.
And there are different levels and what you need for that.
She broke both records and won the gold medal.
Exactly. And the gold "medal" is referring to the reward that you get after
winning an event.
"Medal" is talking about something you usually would wear around your neck and
it is round.
In this case, the gold medal means you got first place.
That's right. It is an award that you receive.
Well, join us tomorrow as we talk more about Yuna Kim and what she gives to the
people around her.
Join us tomorrow.
Before we go, let's visit the Chat Room.
Wow! Hey, Bryan, did you know that the world record for running a marathon is
two hours three minutes and two seconds?
No. Wow! I didn't know anyone could run a marathon that fast.
Neither did I.
So Ken, are you interested in running a marathon now?
No way. I'm just reading about different kinds of world records.
Cool.
There are some pretty impressive records out there.
Yeah. I've actually been wondering about the difference between setting a record
and breaking a record.
I think that sounds like a great question to ask Doris.
OK. Let's ask her.
When someone sets a record, they are creating a standard that other people try
to match.
When someone does better than the previously set record, they break it.
For example, in a race, the first person to win and records their time sets a
record.
When someone finishes the race in a shorter time, they break the previous
record.
The faster runner also sets a new record, which other runners will then try to
break.
OK. So having the fastest time is setting a record, and doing better than the
record is breaking the record?
Right. But there are other kinds of records besides just speed.
Yeah, I've been reading about records for scores in sports like figure skating,
and even for weird things like having the longest fingernails.
By the way, I have another question.
Sure. What is it?
Well, what's the phrase "track record" mean?
OK. If something has a good track record, it means that it has been successful
in the past.
People, companies and schools can all have good track records.
So if a commercial mentions a car company's track record, they're talking about
the company's history of making high quality cars?
That's right.
I could also say that your track record of practicing English is paying off.
Thanks a lot.
(Chinese).
(Chinese).
And we have to say goodbye now.
I'll see you tomorrow. Bye-bye.
OK. Many believe if Yuna Kim were to stop skating today, she would still deserve
a place among history's greatest figure skaters.
She's that good.
Michelle Kwan, the most decorated figure skater in American history,
and also Kim's childhood hero once wrote that Kim's athleticism and artistry are
unmatched.
Her performance at the Vancouver Olympics raised the standard and changed the
sport of figure skating forever.
Wow! Can you imagine receiving such praise from your hero?
Surely, Yuna Kim is now herself a role model to many young aspiring figure
skaters.
Friends, before I go, let me wish each of you a fantastic Friday.
Bye-bye.