每日课程 9 - 29 JUN 2008

Learning English 学英语

A: Ralph, do me a favor, will you?

B: That all depends on what it is.

A: This is the problem, I'm still having trouble with my English. The instructor suggests that I ask an American to help me by telling me how he says the things I say which just aren't English. I wanted you to be the American.

B: What good'll it do? You never speak English unless you absolutely have to. I'll help you if you promise to speak noting but English all the time.

A: All right. Maybe I'll do that. It's the only way I'll be able to learn English fast enough, I guess.

Notes

What good'll it do? - it will be useless

Unless you absolutely have to… 除了你非…不可

Make a bargain with sb. 同…约定

A：拉尔夫，帮我一个忙，好吗？

B：这要看帮什么忙。

A：我有个困难。我的英语仍然遇到麻烦。老师建议我请一位美国人帮助，要他告诉我，我说的那些根本不像英语的话应当怎样说。我想要你做这个美国人。

B：这有什么用？你除了非说不可的时候，你从来不说英语。好吧！我跟你达成一个协议：如果你保证在任何时候除了英语外什么也不说，我就帮助你。

A：好吧，也许我能办得到。我想这是我能迅速学会英语的唯一方法。

每日课程 8 - 28 JUN 2008

Hearing and Writing 听和写

A: Tell me about your English class, Mary.

B: Well, yesterday the teacher wro-te some sentences on the board. The first was "if you can't produce the sounds of a langua-ge acceptable, then you can't really hear them when other people make them". Next he wrote, "if you can't hear the sounds of a language then you probably can't write the language well. Your inadequate pronunciation contributes to making your writing substandard."

A: Do you think that's right?

B: I don't know, Bob. I'll tell you when the course is over.

Notes

Substandasd--unacceptable, inferior

A：玛丽，给我说说你们英语课。

B：好吧，昨天老师在黑板上写了一些句子。第一句话是"对于一种语言如果你不能正确地发音,那么当别人发这些音时你实际上不可能听懂。"然后他又写道“如果你听不懂一种语言的发音，你大概也不可能很好地书写这种语言。你的不合格的发音将导致你的书写也不能令人满意。”

A：你认为这对吗？

B：我不知道，鲍勃。等这门课结束时我会告诉你的。

译文：

A：今天我上了第一堂英语课。

B：课上得怎样？

A：很在意思。老师告诉我们有三种方法可帮助我们学习语言。首先,除英语外不要用其他语言谈话。其次.背下大量完整的句子。最后请美国朋友告诉我们，我们在口语中感到困难的那些句子，他们是怎样表达的,并且要一直模仿他们。

每日课程 7 - 28 JUN 2008

The First Class 第一堂课

A: Today I had my first English class

B: How was it?

A: It was interesting. The teacher gave us three ways to help ourselves learn the language. First, stop talking anything except English. Then learn many complete sentences by heart. Finally, have American friends tell us how they say things we have trouble with, and always imitate them.

Notes:

by heart 默记

how they say things we have trouble with 我们感到难以表达的那些事物他们是如何表述的

imitate 模仿

译文：

A：今天我上了第一堂英语课。

B：课上得怎样？

A：很在意思。老师告诉我们有三种方法可帮助我们学习语言。首先,除英语外不要用其他语言谈话。其次.背下大量完整的句子。最后请美国朋友告诉我们，我们在口语中感到困难的那些句子，他们是怎样表达的,并且要一直模仿他们。

每日课程 6 - 27 JUN 2008

Sorry, I'm Late. 对不起，我迟到了

A: Well, you finally got here. It's about time. I've been waiting in this restaurant a full thirty minutes.
B: Sorry, Jeannie. You know me. I'm always late.
A: Everybody knows, and every body's getting tired of it. Five,
ten, thirty minutes all the time. No one is that busy. Even in school you always interrupt the teacher right in the middle of a sentence. The whole class has to wait while you sit down and put down your books. It annoys him and everyone else.
B: All I can say is sorry. Maybe I'll reform, but don't count on it.

Notes:
it's about time-you are late (注意：这是一句表示生气的话，用于责怪对方不遵守时间。在青年人中常用)
get tired of… 对…感到厌倦
it annoys him 这使他讨厌
reform 改正(作风、做法)

译文：
A：啊，你总算来了。你迟到了。我在这家饭店足足等了三十分钟。
B：对不起，珍妮。你是知道我的，我总是迟到。
A：人人都知道，人人都对此感到讨厌，迟到五分、十分、三十分钟，老是这样。没有人会那么忙。即使在学校里，老师讲话讲到一半总是被你的迟到打断。全班不得不等你坐好放下书本。这使老师和每个同学都感到讨厌。
B：我所能说的只有抱歉。也许我会改正，不过别对我抱太大希望。

每日课程 5 - 26 JUN 2008

Before class 上课前

A: Hello, Bob. Have you got your work done for today?

B: No, But maybe the teacher won't ask for it.

A: No such luck. The last time he forgot to collect our homework was the day he came down with the flu. He's in better

shape now. He won't forget again.

B: I know. That was a great week. I went out with Mary three nights running.

A: Who's Mary?

B: You know, the dark-haired girl who sits in the front row.

A: Oh, her. I've never met her.

B: Sorry, friend. You won't if I have my way.

Notes:

no such luck 不会有那么好的运气

came down with… 患…(病)病倒了

in better shape 痊愈,复原

go out with… 同…去约会

three nights running 连续三个晚上

if have my way-if things happen as I want them to

译文：

A：喂，鲍勃。今天的功课做完了吗？

B：没有，也许老师不会收作业。

A：没那么运气。上次他忘了收我们的家庭作业，是因为那天他患流感病倒了。现在他已痊愈，不会再忘了。

B：我知道。上星期实在太忙了。连续三个晚上我和玛丽有约会。

A：谁是玛丽？

B：你知道，就是坐在前排的那个黑发姑娘。

A：哦，她。我同她从没有接触。

B：对不起，朋友。如果我按照自己的愿望行事，你当然见不到她。

每日课程 4 - 25 JUN 2008

Breakfast 早餐

A: Okay, Bob. I'M ready for beak-fast. Where's the coffee?

B: It's in that pan there. Jean broke the Silex last week, so I'm still boiling it.

A: It tastes like crankcase oil, but delicious.

B: That's good. You can always make beaskfast yourself if you don't like it.

A: What is the rebesides coffee?

B: I warmed a couple of snails, and your eggs are in the frying pan.

A: Say, what time is it? Is it really only seven-fifteen. My watch says eight-fifteen.

B: You forgot to set your watch back. Daylight saving time was over at midnight last night.

A: Gee.I could've slept another hour.

Notes:

Silex 一种咖啡渗滤壶的牌名

crankcase oil (汽车发动机中的)机油

snail 面包卷

daylight saving time 夏令时间(在美国大约每年四月上旬开始,十月下旬结束,把时钟向前拨一小时)

I could've slept another hour 我本来可以再睡一个小时的.

译文：

A：好，鲍勃，我已准备好吃早饭了。咖啡在哪儿？

B：在那只锅里。吉恩上星期把渗滤壶打碎了，所以我只能用锅煮咖啡。

A：这味道有点像汽车里的机油，不过还是很好吃。

B：那好，如果你不喜欢，你随时可以自己动手做早饭。

A：咖啡旁边是什么东西？

B：我热的两个面包卷。你的鸡蛋在平煎锅里。

A：告诉我，现在几点钟了？真的只有七点十五分吗？我的表已经八点十分了。

B：你忘了把表拔慢一小时。夏令时间已在昨天午夜结束了。

A：唉！我本来可以再多睡一小时的。

英语文化陷阱 2

You are in for a treat！
　　这天，同事们正在讨论为我和 Rhonda 开生日 party的事情，为了尊重寿星，大家让Rhonda 和我选择一家中意的餐厅。Rhonda建议去镇上一家叫做BBQ 的美国餐厅。我从来没有去过那里，于是就问她那里有什么特色。Rhonda便开始滔滔不绝的介绍他们的招牌菜，听得我十指大动，直咽口水，Rhonda便 笑着说: “You are in for a treat !” 我愣了一下，以为Rhonda要请我去那里吃饭，心里十分不好意思，试探着问过她之后，Rhonda 笑着解释说: “You are in for a treat means you’ll like it !” (摘自《世界日报》)

每日课程 3 - 24 JUN 2008

Breakfast 早餐

A: Okay, Bob. I'M ready for beak-fast. Where's the coffee?

B: It's in that pan there. Jean broke the Silex last week, so I'm still boiling it.

A: It tastes like crankcase oil, but delicious.

B: That's good. You can always make beaskfast yourself if you don't like it.

A: What is the rebesides coffee?

B: I warmed a couple of snails, and your eggs are in the frying pan.

A: Say, what time is it? Is it really only seven-fifteen. My watch says eight-fifteen.

B: You forgot to set your watch back. Daylight saving time was over at midnight last night.

A: Gee.I could've slept another hour.

Notes:

Silex 一种咖啡渗滤壶的牌名

crankcase oil (汽车发动机中的)机油

snail 面包卷

daylight saving time 夏令时间(在美国大约每年四月上旬开始,十月下旬结束,把时钟向前拨一小时)

I could've slept another hour 我本来可以再睡一个小时的.

译文：

A：好，鲍勃，我已准备好吃早饭了。咖啡在哪儿？

B：在那只锅里。吉恩上星期把渗滤壶打碎了，所以我只能用锅煮咖啡。

A：这味道有点像汽车里的机油，不过还是很好吃。

B：那好，如果你不喜欢，你随时可以自己动手做早饭。

A：咖啡旁边是什么东西？

B：我热的两个面包卷。你的鸡蛋在平煎锅里。

A：告诉我，现在几点钟了？真的只有七点十五分吗？我的表已经八点十分了。

B：你忘了把表拔慢一小时。夏令时间已在昨天午夜结束了。

A：唉！我本来可以再多睡一小时的。

每日课程 2 - 23 JUN 2008

Getting Cleaned up 弄干净

A: Hey, Bob. I can't find my electric shaver.

B: I`m sorry. I used it and I guess I put it on the top shelf with my stuff.

A: Yeap，here it is.You might at least clean it up when you use it. The blade's dirty and I still can't find the cord.

B: Stop complaining and start shaving. Breakfast'll be ready in about five minutes and you won't. Your eggs are already beginning to burn. What kind of juice do you want?

A: Do we have a choice?

B: Sure. Tomato or V8.

A: Well you know how I feel about tomato. Surprise me.

Notes:

electric shaver 电动剃须刀

cord (电动剃须刀的)插头电线

do we have a choice? 我们可以任意选择吗？

V8 美国一种罐装蔬菜果汁的牌名(在超级市场均有售)

译文：

A：喂，鲍勃，我怎么找不到我的电动剃须刀？

B：抱歉，我用过了。我想是把它和我的东西一起放到壁橱上面的搁板上了。

A：嗯，在这里。 你用过以后至少应该把它弄干净。刀片很脏，电线也还没有找到。

B：别抱怨了, 快刮胡子吧。大约还有五分钟早饭就好了, 要不你就来不及吃早饭了。你的鸡蛋已经烧焦了。你想吃什么果汁?

A：有挑选余地吗？

B：是的，有番茄汁和V8。

A：嗯，你知道我对番茄汁的态度。 真使我意外！

英语文化陷阱 1

Turn the table
　　一位亲戚和妻子失和到了要离婚的地步。几天前接到亲戚电话，说他们在走进律师楼之前，先去求助于心理和婚姻问题专家。夫妇俩心平气和地坐下来谈了好多次，互相之间多了一份理解，少 了一份猜疑、埋怨，结果化干戈为玉帛。说简单也简单，就这么拯救了这场婚姻。我打心眼里为他们高兴，把这一消息告诉了同样也认识他们的一位美国朋友。这位 朋友挺激动的，连连说着“感谢上帝，感谢上帝”，她还补充了一句“He turned the table”。
　　这话让我心里很不舒服，她是指我亲戚动粗吗？我打抱不平说：“不会，不会，他很斯文，很有绅士风度，不会以粗鲁的举动压制对方，不会以高压让对方屈 从。” 结果，越说谁也听不懂谁。看着我那一脸不快的表情，朋友突然茅塞頓开了，以另一种方法向我解释。终于让我明白，她是说我亲戚“扭转了局面”，那 “table”和我想到的“桌子”根本无关。
　　再说远一点, turn the tables (on someone)这个短语也和“桌子”没什么关系, 它的意思是to suddenly take a position of strength or advantage that was formerly held by someone else (反败为胜,转弱为强), 例如: “She played badly in the first set, but then she turned the tables on her opponent and won the match. ”(摘自《世界日报》)

每日课程 1 - 22 JUN 2008

1. Wake up,Joe 乔，快醒醒

A: Wake up, Joe. It's seven o'clock. If you're going to work you'll have to get up now. Hey, Joe. Wake up.

B: Mmmmmmmm.

A: Joe. Get up.

B: Is It seven o'clock already?

A: Yes. It's seven.

B: Well, wake me up in twenty minutes. I decided to catch the late bus.

A: Uh, uh...you told me last night not to let you argue me out of getting you up on time. So, get up.

B: Okay, okay, stop yelling. I'm up.

Notes:

wake up 醒来

argue sb. out of dissuade, or persuade someone not to do something 课文中的you told me last night not to let you argue me out of getting you up on time 的意思是：昨晚你还告诉我。不要让你任性，务必叫你按时起床。

stop yelling 别嚷嚷了（美国青年常用语）

译文：

A：乔,快醒醒。七点钟了。如果你要上班,现在该起床了。喂,乔,醒醒。

B：嗯

A：乔，快起床。

B：真是七点了吗？

A：是七点了。

B：好吧，过二十分钟再叫醒我，我决定搭晚一班的公共汽车。

A：啊……昨天晚上你还告诉我，不要让你任性,务必叫你按时起床。所以，起来吧。

B：好吧，好吧，别嚷嚷了。我起床。