来自世界不同地方的六位学生在美国相遇。他们都是交换学生,到美国大学就读一个学期,学习英语,了解美国文化,同时修专业课程。英语“日常会话” (Everyday Conversations)系列围绕这六位学生在美国的经历展开。这套材料适于中级或中级以上英语水平的学生使用。
在这个对话中一个学生 (Ajay) 向另一个学生(Lucía)解释他将欢庆的不同节日。
Ajay: How’s the studying going, Lucía?
Lucía: I can’t wait for finals to be over! In another week, I’ll be flying back home. What are you doing over the winter break?
Ajay: Alan invited Lee and me to stay with his family. Home-cooked food for three holiday meals!
Lucía: Three holidays?
Ajay: Alan’s dad is Jewish, and his mom is Christian, so they celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. And his mom is a professional chef, so she goes all out for both holiday meals.
Lucía: And what’s the third holiday?
Ajay: New Year’s Day. They have all their family over, and Alan’s mom cooks again. Alan has raved about his mom’s cooking all semester, so Lee and I can’t wait.
Lucía: Holiday meals cooked by a professional chef. I want to hear all about it later. I’ve never had a traditional Hanukkah meal.
Ajay: Neither have I. I’m looking forward to it.
让我们来学习一些词语(也可阅读英文解释):
How’s (something) going? (一切或某事)怎么样?这是向一个人询问某事进展如何或者泛泛问他/她近来生活怎样的说法。例如: 可以说How’s the studying going? (学习进行得怎样?)。How’s it going?也是一种比较随便的打招呼用语,意思相当于 How are you?。
Can’t wait:等不及,迫不及待
A winter break:寒假,通常包含一些冬季节假日,如元旦
Home-cooked or homemade food:自己家里做的饭/食品
Hanukkah or Chanukah: 持续八天的犹太教光明节,时间通常在11月下旬至12月下旬之间,纪念2000多年前耶路撒冷圣殿的重新献祭
Commemorate:纪念(过去的重要人物或事件)
To go all out:全力以赴
To rave:极力夸奖,狂热赞赏
A holiday meal:节日传统餐,即只有在某一节日才会吃的菜肴,例如,美国许多家庭的感恩节传统餐包括蔓越桔酱,而它在一年其他时候很少见于餐桌。
有兴趣听更多英语对话吗?请浏览“英语学习”专题网页。
American English 网站提供可供英语学生和教师免费使用的多种英语资源。American English Facebook网页提供每天更新的英语学习资料。
“日常会话”由美国国务院教育与文化事务局英语语言项目处(Office of English Language Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)资深项目官员海蒂·豪兰(Heidi Howland)编写。