2024年的最新一期《经济学人》,关注英语教育和学习。
欢迎大家按照留言区里提供的方法领取本篇文章的全文进行阅读。接下来,我带大家一起解析一下这篇文章的前二段:
In preparation for the summer Olympics in 2008, the authorities in Beijing, the host city and China’s capital, launched a campaign to teach English to residents likely to come in contact with foreign visitors. Police, transit workers and hotel staff were among those targeted. One aim was to have 80% of taxi drivers achieve a basic level of competency.
为了迎接2008年夏季奥运会,作为主办城市和中国首都的北京当局发起了一项运动,旨在教当地居民与外国游客接触时所需的英语。警察、交通工作者和酒店员工都是目标人群。其中一个目标是让80%的出租车司机达到基本的英语水平。
Today, though, any foreigner visiting Beijing will notice that rather few people are able to speak English well. The 80% target proved a fantasy: most drivers still speak nothing but Chinese. Even the public-facing staff at the city’s main international airport struggle to communicate with foreigners. Immigration officers often resort to computer-translation systems.
今天,任何到北京的外国人都会注意到,能够说一口流利英语的人并不多。80%的目标证明是幻想:大多数司机仍然只会说中文。就连北京主要国际机场面向公众的工作人员也难以与外国人沟通。移民官员经常使用计算机翻译系统。
第一,学习competence的用法。这个词也可写作competency,表示the ability to do something well,能力,胜任,例:Students will gain competence in a wide range of skills. 学生们将学到多种技能。
第二,学习rather的用法。这个词作副词,表示fairly or to some degree,相当;颇,例:I was rather surprised to see him with his ex-wife. 我看到他和前妻在一起,感到相当惊讶。
第三,学习resort to sth的用法。这个词组表示to do something bad, extreme, or difficult because you cannot think of any other way to deal with a problem,采取,诉诸〔不好的事物〕,例:Officials fear that extremists may resort to violence. 官员们担心极端主义者会诉诸暴力。
For much of the 40 years since China began opening up to the world, “English fever” was a common catchphrase. People were eager to learn foreign languages, English most of all. Many hoped the skill would lead to jobs with international firms. Others wanted to do business with foreign companies. Some dreamed of moving abroad. But enthusiasm for learning English has waned in recent years.
自从中国开始对外开放以来的40年里,“英语热”一直是一个常见的口号。人们渴望学习外语,尤其是英语。许多人希望掌握这项技能能为国际企业工作。其他人则希望与外国公司做生意。有些人梦想着移居国外。但近年来,人们对学习英语的热情有所减弱。
第一,学习catchphrase的用法。这个词作名词,表示a short well-known phrase made popular by an entertainer or politician, so that people think of that person when they hear it,〔某演员或政治家的〕名言,时髦话,流行语。
第二,学习enthusiasm的用法。这个词作名词,表示a strong feeling of interest and enjoyment about something and an eagerness to be involved in it,热情,热忱,例:Gillian and Darren greeted the speakers with great enthusiasm. 吉利恩和达伦非常热情地接待了演讲者。
第三,学习wane的用法。这个词作不及物动词,表示if something such as power, influence, or a feeling wanes, it becomes gradually less strong or less important,〔权力、影响或感觉等〕逐渐减弱[变小],例:My enthusiasm for the project was waning. 我对这个项目的热情逐渐减退了。
2024年12月14日刊
2025考研er,关注公众号继续阅读 ↓↓
也许长,但必定值得耐心学习
愿你看待这个星球的眼光能够批判且不同