Шесть студентов и студенток из разных стран мира – что у них общего? Все они приехали в американский университет по обмену на один семестр. Они будут изучать английский язык, культуру США и дисциплины в своей области. Эта серия Ежедневных диалогов посвящена жизни студентов в течение семестра в американском вузе. Диалоги рассчитаны на владеющих английским языком на среднем или более высоком уровне.
Прочитайте текст и послушайте, как шестеро студентов (Люсия, Питер, Аджай, Ли, Акини и Яна) обсуждают различные дисциплины, которые они будут изучать в университете.
Lucía: Thanks for meeting up today, guys. I’m happy that I’ve met so many other exchange students already. It’s a big relief.
Peter: Yeah, we’re all in the same boat, so let’s try to support one another throughout the semester.
Ajay: Are we taking any of the same classes?
Lee: I think we all have different majors, so we might not be in any of the same classes.
Akinyi: What’s your major, Lee?
Lee: My major is environmental science. How about you?
Akinyi: Mine is quite different. I’m majoring in business.
Ajay: And my major is journalism. How about you, Jana? What’s your major?
Jana: I’m studying engineering. I’m not exactly sure what type of engineering I’ll eventually major in. Maybe electrical or aeronautical engineering.
Lucía: And I’m an American studies major.
Peter: That’s interesting. What do you study?
Lucía: We study the novels, music, film, politics, economy and history of the United States. I’m excited to be in the U.S. this semester to study as much as I can about the culture. How about you, Peter? What’s your major?
Peter: I’m an education major. I’d like to teach young children. They’re full of energy and curiosity. I guess kind of like us.
Слова и выражения.
To meet up means to meet a person or people in order to do something together. [“Встретиться, собраться.”]
The word guys is an informal way to refer to two or more people. Although the word “guy” means “man,” the informal guys can refer to men and/or women. Some people in the U.S. use the term guys in this way. However, there are others who do not agree with this usage because “guy” means “man” and does not include “woman” (or both man and woman) in its meaning. [“Ребята, друзья.”]
To be in the same boat means to be in the same situation as others. [“В равном положении.”]
In university and college, each student choices a major. A major is a chosen field of study, the specialization of the student. “Major” can be used as a noun or a verb. [Основная специализация студента, выбранная им самим.]
There are different ways to talk about one’s major. One of these ways is to say, “My major is _____.” For example: “My major is history.” [“Моя основная специализация такая-то.”]
Another way is to use the word “major” as a verb. When using the word “major” as a verb, use the phrase major in. For example: “I’m majoring in ____.” [“Я буду специализироваться в такой-то области.”]
A student can also use “major” as a noun to refer to him- or herself. For example: “I’m an American studies major.” [“У меня такая-то специализация.”]
One can also use the verb study to talk about one’s major. For example: “I’m studying biology” and “I study biology” both show the student’s major. [“Я изучаю биологию” в данном случае может указывать на основную специализацию.]
Not exactly sure: The person is not 100 percent certain about something. [“Не вполне уверен.”]
Вебсайт American English предлагает разнообразные бесплатные ресурсы для учащихся и преподавателей английского языка. Учебные материалы также можно найти на ежедневно обновляемой странице American English Facebook. Ежедневные диалоги разработаны старшим сотрудником отдела программ английского языка Хейди Холланд (Бюро по делам образования и культуры Государственного департамента США).
