A: 大家好! 歡迎來到美語訓(xùn)練班, 我是楊琳!
B:我是Kat, 楊琳,今天咱們學(xué)什么呀?
A: 今天,咱們要去快餐店大吃一頓,要談?wù)勎C(jī)公關(guān),還要告訴大家用美語怎么說“異地戀”和“左右為難”。
B: Sounds good! But first, let's learn a word.
Learn A Word innovation
今天我們要學(xué)的詞是 innovation. Innovation is spelled i-n-n-o-v-a-t-i-o-n, innovation. Innovation 意思是創(chuàng)新,改革。由于其主要顧客群在亞洲,諾基亞公司將把生產(chǎn)線完全轉(zhuǎn)移到亞洲。諾基亞市場部主管說,"By working more closely with our suppliers, we believe that we will be able to introduce innovations into the market more quickly and ultimately be more competitive. " 我們認(rèn)為,與供貨商更密切的合作能使我們更快地將創(chuàng)新理念帶入市場,并最終更具競爭力。美國總統(tǒng)奧巴馬強(qiáng)調(diào),It's very important to bring the spirit of innovation back to the United States. 將創(chuàng)新精神重新帶回美國是十分重要的。好的,今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的詞是innovation, innovation, innovation.
A: Kat, 我問你個問題,現(xiàn)在熱賣的蘋果電子產(chǎn)品,iPhone, iPad, iMac,這些名字的前面都有一個字母i,它代表什么呢?
B: Hmm, that's a good question. I guess it means Internet? Or... "intelligent"?
A: Internet--網(wǎng)絡(luò),Intelligent--智能,聽著都有可能。我想,是不是還可能是 individua--個人,或者是我們剛學(xué)的這個Innovatio--創(chuàng)新呢?
B:Quite possible! These are all good words. They give the products a cool, hip image.
A: 沒錯,干脆咱們這個節(jié)目名字也改改吧,前面加個字母i, 變成,i美語訓(xùn)練班,多時髦!
B: 照搬別人的做法?Nay, that's not original at all!
A: 也對,咱不能盲目跟風(fēng)。哎,我有一個好主意,咱們不用i, I不是“我”的意思么,咱們用U,U就是“你”,這下可不是跟風(fēng)了吧?
B: ???Then our show's name will be u美語訓(xùn)練班?
A:你得這么念──呦!美語訓(xùn)練班!哈哈哈!好了,咱們還是繼續(xù)聽節(jié)目吧。
B: Let's listen to Words and Idioms.
Words and Idioms Caught in the middle
現(xiàn)在播送<美國習(xí)慣用語>第 954講。我是楊琳。
M:我是 Douglas Johnson.
女:人們常常抱怨不想去上班,可對于我的一個朋友來說,她現(xiàn)在是更愿意去工作。她女兒最近整天都吵著要買一部智能手機(jī)做生日禮物,但是她丈夫堅(jiān)決不同意。她丈夫覺得女兒還太小,很多事情還負(fù)不起責(zé)任。我朋友同意我丈夫的觀點(diǎn),可是也知道她女兒的很多朋友都用起了智能手機(jī),所以不想讓女兒覺得自己被落下了。她這被夾在中間的狀態(tài),讓我想到一句習(xí)慣用語,那就是:
M:Caught in the middle. Caught is spelled c-a-u-g-h-t, and middle; m-i-d-d-l-e. Caught-in-the-middle. Caught in the middle.
女: Caught是catch的被動式,被抓住的意思;而middle, 中間。Caught in the middle, 被夾在中間,就是左右為難的意思。我朋友現(xiàn)在就處于左右為難的境地,She is caught in the middle regarding whether to buy her daughter a smartphone. 對于要不要給她女兒買智能手機(jī)這個問題,我朋友左右為難。不過她的處境跟下面的例子里的人比起來不足一提?他有什么困擾呢? 我們來聽聽看:
M: "Ever since my mother came to live with us, life has been difficult. She and my wife don't get along. If one wants one thing, the other is complaining about it. It's a constant battle. And I don't like being CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. They should settle their differences without expecting me to get involved."
[這段話是說:自從我媽媽開始來跟我們一起住之后,日子就不好過了。她跟我妻子真是合不來。其中一個人想要點(diǎn)什么,另一個人就會開始抱怨。這是個持續(xù)戰(zhàn)。我真是左右為難。他們應(yīng)該自己解決他們之間的問題。]
女: 這可真夠?yàn)殡y的。婆媳關(guān)系一般都很難處理,而丈夫夾在中間,向著哪邊都不好。The husband gets caught in the middle whenever there's a conflict between his mom and his wife. 一旦他的媽媽和妻子起了沖突,作為丈夫他真是左右為難。好了,為難歸為難,讓我們再來聽聽剛才那段話吧!
M: "Ever since my mother came to live with us, life has been difficult. She and my wife don't get along. If one wants one thing, the other is complaining about it. It's a constant battle. And I don't like being CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. They should settle their differences without expecting me to get involved."
女:工作中有個好老板是福氣。如果你的老板待人和氣而又鼓勵創(chuàng)新 ,你工作起來一定會干勁十足。可是下面這個例子里的人就不那么幸運(yùn)了,他碰到了什么樣的問題呢?我們來聽聽看:
M: "My boss isn't making my job very easy. He assumes that I'll always be supportive of his decisions. The problem is that I think some of his ideas aren't good for the company. As a result, I find myself torn between wanting to be loyal and wanting to be honest. How can I overcome feeling CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE? "
[這段話是說:由于我的老板,我的工作并不十分愉快。他認(rèn)為我會支持贊成他所有的決定。問題是我認(rèn)為他的有些想法對公司并不好。所有,我經(jīng)常在忠誠和誠實(shí)之間左右為難。我怎么處理這種夾在中間的局面呢?]
女: 我也有過類似的經(jīng)歷!原來大學(xué)的時候我曾經(jīng)去做過家教,可是那個家里的爸爸說一套,而媽媽又有另一套,弄的我不知道怎么辦才好。The parents of the kid I'm tutoring have opposite views of what I should teach. I'm totally caught in the middle. 好了,我們再來聽聽剛才那段話:
M: "My boss isn't making my job very easy. He assumes that I'll always be supportive of his decisions. The problem is that I think some of his ideas aren't good for the company. As a result, I find myself torn between wanting to be loyal and wanting to be honest. How can I overcome feeling CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE? "
女:各位聽眾,今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的習(xí)慣用語是Caught in the Middle,意思是“夾在中間,左右為難”。好的,這次[美國習(xí)慣用語]就到此結(jié)束,我是楊琳,我是 Douglas Johnson。謝謝各位的收聽。
A: 最近我就碰上了件左右為難的事兒,我認(rèn)識一對情侶,倆人都是我的好朋友,But their relationship hit a rough patch, and they both complain to me about the other person. I'm caught in the middle and don't know what to do!
B:You don't have to do anything! Just be a good listener to both of them and let they sort out their own problems.
A: 我也這么想,這情侶之間的事兒,外人還是少給意見的好!
B:Speaking of relationships, 咱們今天不是要教“異地戀”么?
A:沒錯。Let's listen!
How to say it in American English: long-distance relationship
JESSICA 在北京學(xué)漢語,她的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎么說的詞,就會來請教她。今天是吳瓊要問的:異地戀。
JESSICA: 吳瓊,what's your plan for the weekend?
WQ: I'll be out of town! 我得坐4個小時飛機(jī)去看我男朋友!
JESSICA: Boy! That's a long flight! 你真是個好女朋友。
WQ: 沒辦法啦。異地戀就是這么辛苦。Jessica, 異地戀用美語要怎么說呢?
JESSICA: That's long-distance relationship. So, how long have you guys been long-distance?
WQ: We've been dating for a couple of years now. 不過,他最近因?yàn)楣ぷ鞅徽{(diào)去外地兩年,我們剛剛開始異地戀。I miss him so much, and I don't know if we can survive the long-distance!
JESSICA: Don't be sad, 吳瓊! I know dating over long-distance can be hard, but you got to have faith in the relationship! Hmm, tell me, what do you like about your boyfriend?
WQ: 他啊,最大的優(yōu)點(diǎn)就是真誠,不做作。
JESSICA: So he's a blue-collar kind of guy!
WQ: blue collar? 那不是藍(lán)領(lǐng)工人么?
JESSICA: Yes. But if you say a man is a "blue collar kind of guy", it doesn't necessarily refer to his job. Rather, it's about his down-to-earth, unpretending character.
WQ: I see. My boyfriend is a blue-collar kind of guy. 我就喜歡他這純樸勁兒。
JESSICA: So what does he like about you?
WQ: 哈哈,他也喜歡我清純,親切,不做作。那我就是blue-collar kind of girl了?怎么聽著這么別扭。
Jessica: Hmm, you can use the phrase "the girl next door".
WQ: The girl next door? 哦,就是鄰家女孩! 沒錯,My boyfriend says I'm nice and attractive, just like a girl next door! 不過,這次去找他,I don't want to be the girl next door anymore! 我要打扮得艷麗一些,給他個驚喜!
Jessica: I hope he likes it! Now tell me what you've learned today!
WQ: 第一:異地戀是long-distance relationship;.
第二:形容男人質(zhì)樸老實(shí),可以用blue-collar kind of guy;
第三:親切可愛的鄰家女孩是the girl next door.
B: Keeping up a long-distance relationship is hard!
A: 可不是么,異地戀成功率可不高!除非倆人真的特合適。
B: Yeah, and also, the couple needs to have an agreed-upon goal or a reason for having a long-distance relationship. They should know that they're not going to stay like that forever. For example, the goal could be career advancement or a better life in the long run.
A: Yeah! They need to have something to look forward to! 而且倆人目標(biāo)得一致,不是有句話么,Love is not just about looking at each other; it's looking in the same direction.
B: 說得好! Now let's switch gears and talk about food.
A:沒錯,咱們?nèi)コ渣c(diǎn)快餐!
GoEnglish Food: Beginner
各位聽眾,大家好!今天我們?yōu)槟コ?ldquo;美語三級跳”節(jié)目“食物”單元的初級課程。
MC: Doug and Liz 正開車去超市買菜,可Doug忽然覺得餓了,想順道先去快餐店買個漢堡吃。
Professor: Winnie, do you ever get hungry when you go shopping?
當(dāng)然有啊,所以每次去超市前,我都先要吃得飽飽的,要不然,到了超市里,我就會看見什么買什么!
Doug: Hey Liz, I'm really hungry. Let's stop and eat something.
Liz: Alright, where do you want to eat?
Doug: There is a McDonalds nearby.
Liz: Fast food is so unhealthy. But if you are really hungry, we can go through the drive-through.
Doug: No, let's go inside. I don't want to spill my drink in the car.
Professor: So Winnie, did you hear where Doug wants to eat?
他想去McDonalds,就是麥當(dāng)勞。不過,他說drive-through,就是中文里說的ǒ得來速ō,也就是不用下車的點(diǎn)餐服務(wù)窗口吧?
Professor: Exactly! Why doesn't Doug want to use the drive-through?
因?yàn)樗幌朐谲嚿铣詵|西,怕飲料會灑在車上。我也覺得,邊吃東西邊開車是很危險的。
Professor: That's true. I guess there are two ways eating fast food can kill you.
MC: 說得對! 吃太多快餐垃圾食品會把身體搞垮,如果邊開車邊吃還可能讓你出車禍!
Cashier: Welcome to McDonalds! May I take your order?
Doug: Yes, I'd like two hamburgers, a large Coke and a large fries.
Cashier: Do you want anything, mam?
Liz: No thanks, I'm on a diet.
Cashier: For here or to go?
Doug: For here.
Cashier: Alright, that will be 11 dollars and 50 cents.
Liz 說,she is on a diet, 正在節(jié)食,所以不吃這些高熱量的快餐。Doug 真應(yīng)該向 Liz 學(xué)學(xué)。
Professor: Yes, fast food has a lot of fat in it. But Winnie, does Doug want the food "for here" or "to go"?
Doug 說for here, 也就是在餐廳里吃。如果說 "to go",就是打包帶走的意思。
Professor: Yes. When you take food home from a restaurant, you can also say the food is for "take out." Now Doug and Liz are eating their food. Let's listen.
Doug: Do you want to eat my tomato? I don't like them. The only topping I like is ketchup.
Liz: Sure, I love tomatoes. They're a healthy food.
Doug: That's true. Are you sure you don't want anything?
Liz: Well I know the French fries are very unhealthy, but they look so good.
Doug: Come on Liz, try one. It won't kill you.
Liz: Well alright, I'll have just one.
Doug: Great! I'm going to get a refill of soda.
看來, Liz 的決心動搖了。雖然她一直在說快餐多沒營養(yǎng),可是一看到Doug的薯?xiàng)l,也忍不住要吃上一根。
Professor: That's right. And did you hear what topping Doug likes, and which one he doesn't like?
Doug 說, 在漢堡的所有佐料中,他只喜歡ketchup--番茄醬, 還說他不愛吃番茄。真奇怪,番茄醬不就是番茄做的嘛?
Professor: That's right. What does Doug say he is going to do at the end?
他說他要去refill他的飲料. Professor, refill, r-e-f-i-l-l, refill 就是續(xù)杯的意思吧?
Professor: Correct. When you go to a restaurant, you can ask the waiter, "Do you have free refills?"
嗯à這些碳酸飲料中的熱量已經(jīng)很高了,還要續(xù)杯?我看還是算了吧!
Professor: Now let's see what Doug says when he returns to the table.
Doug: Liz, where are all my fries? Did you eat them all?
Liz: I'm sorry, Doug. They were just so good! Once I started eating them, I couldn't stop.
Doug: Don't worry Liz. If I'm going to get really fat, you should get really fat too! We will look really cute together.
Liz: Wow, that is a really scary thought. I need to exercise right now!
啊? Liz 趁Doug不在,居然把他的薯?xiàng)l都吃了!不過,她顯然不想和Doug一起變成胖子,所以說要馬上去健身。不過首先,希望他們在超市能買些健康食品!
Professor: Well listen next time to find out!
A: 看看!Liz 沒堅(jiān)持??!炸薯?xiàng)l這東西,吃一根就很難停下來的。
B: The craving for fast food is your worst enemy if you're on a diet. Your friends should be supportive, instead of waving a bag of fries in front of your face!
A: 沒錯,減肥需要周圍人的支持,可不能老拿炸薯?xiàng)l來考驗(yàn)咱們的意志力!好了,咱們繼續(xù)聽節(jié)目吧。在今天的禮節(jié)美語中,We'll continue to talk about product recall.